ok, my creation for split pea and ham soup is a little....scary. I cooked it the two hours it suggested, and it looked like something you saw on The Exorcist. Seriously. Tried it, and yep, it tasted of peas...looked like it was already eaten peas, and was pretty bland. I added fresh nutmeg, garlic, and garlic salt, as well as a little cayenne. It tasted better, but still looks like....well, puke.

This morning I looked at it, as it sat out all night covered to cool...and it was now a solid form....now looks like baby food. or...crap?

Moving on.....

the beans I soaked for black bean soup.

Mind you neither of these soups I've tried before because I'm not a big bean fan, but it's cheaper than ordering more protein powders, and it's only for two days....


Mixed red onion, celery, (both cut last night while waiting on the soup) roasted red peppers, giant can of chicken stock, beans, garlic, oregano and parsley in pan, and cooked an hour

looks pretty decent. Smells great too

Then the fun came

pretty right?

poured into my Pampered chef bowl so it's easier to pour....pour into what you say?

Why the blender of course!

Look at that steam!!! Added some cumin and salt to the top and blend blend blend....

Doesn't that look uh....well...it looked prettier before huh?

Can you see his eyes in the background?? HAHAHA!

What's even more fun is to tell him it's for his dinner...

Joy....just noticed the bowl says I have 7 cups in there...well, I guess I have ready made food to last me a few days! LOL

Actually it's not too bad. I had a cup with a little mexican cheese on top. Pretty good actually, though I'm not a big cooked celery fan and I can taste it through all those other flavors.

Like the other soup, it'd be probably better as a dip or something as there's lots of good flavors in there.

As for now though, I miss chewing food.

This morning I was 169.8. The highest a couple weeks ago was 173.8..Cams 175....I'm finally under his weight! WOOT! BUT, I gained....this is one of those realities that kick in..."The surgery is NOT a cure, only a tool....you can gain it back just as easy as you did the first time."

Tis true...I think when I left for Bangkok I was around 162ish or maybe 164. Then Blam....probably went up to 175, stupid snacking, comfort food eating, bad habits!

SO, A gal I talk to on twitter and fb Andrea/Jnglgrl says she had started her 5 day Pouch Test, and I was like "Yeah! That'll get me started in the right direction again!"

For those that don't know...it's a condensed form of how wls patients (at least RNY patients) have to eat when they start out....2 days of liquids only, 1 day of soft foods (like cottage cheese, tuna, eggs) 1 day of medium foods (like ground meat) and 1 day of solid foods.....

No, when you have the surgery they go in about 2 week stages. I think my favorite thing was finding out about Wendy's chili! I'd never had it before (though when I first got to try it out, I used that stick blender to it...was more like a dip! LOL)

Anyway....this morning I was 169.8

What'd my day look like?

Breakfast Click protein with a little skim milk and a tsp of sugar free vanilla caramel coffeemate

snack (A DISGUSTING) Bariatric Advantage Strawberry protein shake (Not used to water in my protein only, usually got the kind that used milk)

Lunch
A Grande Skinny Dolce from Starbucks (long version "Grande Nonfat Sugar Free Cinnamon Dolce Latte") Extra hot No Foam

Snack
Those sample cups from Starbucks of their Chocolate banana Viviano when I was in target

Dinner
Butterscotch protein pudding (sugar free butterscotch pudding mixed with vanilla whey protein powder and skim milk)

Snack
Leftover fruit smoothie I made for the kids the other night (strawberries, banana, blueberries, vanilla protein powder, peach mango juice, milk)




Still with me? LOL


Started looking at a few recipes, and went to the store to get fixins to make Black Bean Soup, and a Ham and split pea soup....figure I can make a big ol pot, and put them in individual portions, so I can freeze some and grab as needed.

Right now (11:40pm) i'm cooking this "split pea and ham" soup...uh...yum? Never had it before. It's gotta cook 2 hours. Didn't know that at the time...now I sit here suckin down a smoothie waiting til Midnight so I can shut it off and go to bed. *joy* I guess I should be happy in knowing I have lunch and possibly dinner already done?

hmmmm...what else?

Sol wore me out today. I walked a mile alone while Cam was going to work and Sol was asleep, then we went on a "SHORT" bike ride to the bank and back, as he wanted to ride his bike (and he's on punishment for D's on his report card!) Think, sad eager puppy anxious to go for walkies...So, I pulled my bike off the wall, he pumped up the tire that was low, we went about a quarter mile, turned around and came home so I could change..I was FREEZING!

So, off we went...then the Blackberry goes a'chirpin. (it did that every time we were about to leave, which we ended up doing about 3 times) I asked cam to google the distance...4.2 miles...each way!!! THEN Sol wanted to show me some skeleton (like on stand by me? "Wanna see a dead body??") so we went another 5.-1 mile...my BUTT HURTS!!!!

Was taping random parts of the ride home, but I gotta figure out how to convert whatever these files are in now to windows format...Quicktime? Grrrr..

Oh yeah, look what the husband did with his key lime pie tonight! HAHAHA!

Seems weird, but I can't get into the swing of all of my old hangouts so to speak. I can't even think of anything to blog anymore, because, well, I guess I just lead a boring life and can't think of anything to say. Well, either that, or I'm too busy rambling my head off on Facebook and twitter to think of anything more creative to say here.

*sigh*

Then again, nobodys reading here anyway, no need to keep it up. like Myspace, this page might maybe disappearing soon.

Ok, actually Monday (memorial day) is our 13 year anniversary, but as it's our first year as homeowners, we're opting to stay home this year, and I'm going to work 5-close for our anniversary (but get to see Sol in his band in the parade! BONUS!!)

I didn't work tomorrow, so I asked if Cam could take the day off. The girl is in daycare anyway, and Sol will be in school, and he said sure! We'd do something for our anniversary a few days early!

YAY!!!

Then realized we're kinda low on funds, so what could we do? I don't want to spend my entire check on gifts and such, so what ever can we do?

Normally we don't usually celebrate much. Don't do many gifts, as we don't NEED much of anything. I get mad normally when he gets flowers, as I'd rather have something that can grow for years to come (though, I normally kill the plants lol) so....to spend time together alone is enough for us! Normally it'd be a trip to Indianapolis, us going out a night to dinner and that's it..

I told him the plan I wanted to do, and he's fine with it...what did he say? "you're a cheap date..." YEP...I like it that way, I can not have to worry about feeling guilty about going overboard, ESPECIALLY with a new house that needs work done on it....I mean, the electrician was just here to fix our air and the main outlet for the outdoor plugs were bad...AND he broke a window while cleaning it! LOL

Wait, I forgot to tell you what my plan was! LOL

Ok, well, we wanted to see Star Trek....we're going to see it! (yes, that was MY plan!) Wait...it's not like that $40 a trip between tickets and snacks...I'm frugal (and sneaky! LOL)

Yep, I'm one of those who will sneak candy into a theater. Sorry! If I can't have the stuff they're supposed to sell, at $4 a box, I will sneak in some soy crisps or sugar free options in there. Yeah yeah, I know....but c'mon....between the prices and low fat/sugar options, I'm bad, shoot me. Like YOU don't do it! At least we don't sneak burgers in there anymore! HAHAHA!!

Tickets for the theater I like the best? $5 per person til 6pm. I found out the movies start for Star trek at 9:30! Can't go at 9:30, Have to meet with sols Speech therapist at 9am to sign papers because she said he's good to go now....Told Cam he can drop Miss A off at daycare then go take care of that while I get dressed. So...10:30 I'm pushing for to go to the movies. If we don't make the 10:30 one, the next one is 11:20.

Another reason I like this theater other than cheap tickets? I get free popcorn with a drink purchase. So....we're at under $15 for a drink, two tickets, and popcorn!

Then we'll probably go to do a little window shopping afterwards. he wanted to show me a few things at Home Goods. Works for me! The MAN wants to go window shopping for items for the house....yeah, are we a match or what? LOL I have to take him to Kohl's too because I want him to see this color of a plate that is sooo pretty, I want it the color of the bathroom down here (kinda reminds me of Tiffany's blue!)

Lunch probably afterwards, it's right down the street. Where you ask? PF Changs!!!

Not PF Changs on a budget?! YES!!!

I had gotten a link for complimentary lettuce wraps with the purchase of an entree. Cam gets the entree, I get the lettuce wraps (WHICH I ADORRRREEEEEE!!!) and we split them both. Plus I can't eat and drink together anymore, so I don't even get a drink at a restaurant (which again, works for me at the theater) so....$25 MAX WITH tip at Changs.

Then we'll come back and hopefully finish edging the bedroom...I would like at least ONE room done soon, and I REALLY like the color we got for the bedroom...I was a little scared at first because it kinda reminded me of the peanut butter wall we had before but ALOT darker, But not as dark as the red room of 96....kinda mixed between the two...the color is called Chocolate Cherry... it's a little darker than what's shown (stupid flash....and another second coat was tossed on later. Will show finished product later)

If you've ever seen our apartments prior to getting a house, you know we have NO PROBLEM WITH color! I told him however I have no problem with LIGHTER colors either! (hence showing him the lighter blue for the bathroom down here! LOL)

So primer on the white ceiling, and touch ups on the paint on the wall...$0 as we already have it (btw, Lowe's has the paint we got to paint the room with for $15.48, and they have a $5 rebate per gallon, no limit!) We might get the kids bedrooms paint colors, (two colors each room, sols getting a Pistons room, ,Miss A gets taupe and Amethyst, per her purple and brown request....works for me, my two favorite colors!) not sure if we're getting them or just finishing our room.

Other colorful rooms? LOL

Well, first paint job in 1996


IN ORDER! LOL

Probably my all time favorite. A rusty orange color (we called it peanut butter) and "Bamboo" 2002/03ish Almost the same color as my chocolate cherry, but lighter.



Orange and light mint chocolate green anyone??



Note, other than the Vegas walls, these are the same rooms, SAME WALLS!....painted over and over again...we never painted another room in the apartments except sols bedroom in Vegas.

Green and blue

Anyway, if we don't get paint....MAX spent tomorrow is $50. NO gifts....this works for us. (I'm cheap, what can I say? Hell, the only thing I asked for on Mother's day was the room to be painted to begin with! LOL

He'll then help me edge the wall, and go cut the grass before getting baby girl from daycare while I make dinner for the fam...

I'm probably a little bit TOO easy with our anniversary I guess? Normally in years past when he was in sales, I was used to him working weekends as a requirement for his job...I don't care...kinda like valentines day...acknowledge me a little, and I'm set. (I actually ASKED to work for that time and a half! That'll pay for the Date day and still have enough for some coffee! LOL) I'm just thrilled we finally have a house! (WHICH MY father in law might be coming out to see in a couple weeks...another reason I want to paint! Gaaaah!)

Happy Anniversary Cam! I love you ♥

Continuing with rambling tonight but trying to stay on topic, I'll just say, all our stuff is here, we're settling in, as were some birds the past few days, but we put an end to that!

Part 1:

First day I'm here alone. Tuesday the whatever day after we got here. Anyway

Setting this up, this is between 2400-2800 sq feet of space. well, space, dirt, and boxes. Thats pretty much it...back when this happened there was no kitchen stuff, and my desk is the far end of the house back corner, like I've been naughty ;)

All is quiet in here except me tap tap tapping away. All of a sudden I'm hearing some weird rustling noises or something on the other end of the house, around the front end of the kitchen by the garage (I'm at the opposite end) I'm thinking "ok, that's probably nothing" and go bout my business.

It happens again...and again....

I'm getting spooked....

Now, I've told coworkers this, but can't recall if I said it online....

"You know those stupid horror movies where the white girl goes upstairs and white girl finds some killer who either kills her then and there, or runs and falls then gets killed?? Yeah....that's not me...I'm sittin my ass right here, and if there's a killer upstairs, he's either waiting a LONG time for my ass to be up there, or he's gonna have to come down here and GET me...."

yes, I said it...deal! LOL

It was a day later when I was doing laundry (after making absolutely positive the dryer wouldn't blow up after Cam hooked it up again after it being hooked up once, and when I opened the laundry room (which is upstairs next to the loft) that I found the sound was coming from someone, something, squwaking in my dryer vent.

We got a ladder.....well, CAM got a ladder. Finally went up a few days ago....ladder is too short.

*sigh*

I take the curly headed 4 year old with me, lugging said 12' ladder to Lowes, opt for 18' one that folds and does whatever maneuvering tricks so I only need one ladder.

Tonight we go outside to let him clear out whatever is in there. The house is on a hill....the ground is not even...the ladder is scary and tall, and now uneven.

To make it more interesting. Cam brings out a wooden box he got from his old job we'd store (on occasion) remote controls. Brave man...ladder is now leaning up against the side of the house with my husband on it clearing out a dryer vent with me getting blinded by the sun because I'm facing the sunset holding a ladder for dear life with the love of my life on it with half the ladder on a wooden box and half on soft ground....states he doesn't see anything in it further than the few hundred sticks inside (as in seeing no nest) and takes this pest cover he got on clearance at Meijer up with him and drill with screws and drill bit and closes vent.

Hopefully I won't be standing naked getting the crap scared out of me anymore by loud squwaking anymore like I was today.

There were those two birds, black with the orange spots on their wings glaring at us at the tops of the trees next to the swamp though. Wonder if they're my poor birds outta luck?



Part 2.

We got a grill. Pretty decent. Over 600sq feet of cooking space, char-broil, has a lid...no charcoal....not sitting on the ground...hey....improvement all around. lol

Put it together Easter Sunday, but opted for Olive Garden instead.

It rained a couple days so we kept it inside because I didn't want it to get dirty. We didn't get a cover yet because Cam said it was $40 bucks (at lowes...he got the grill the same time he got the ladder...we're slow when it comes to tasks at hand unless I'm takin de lead)

Put it outside in the morning because it was supposed to be 70 and daddy patties and watty's totty's were asked to be put on the menu (the kids make these names up, not us lol)

Looking outside I keep seeing this black bird that sits on the deck..like the little posts on the handrail are made just for him.

He sits and sings or whatever you want to call it, and I set up the camera to take pics. He leaves, and comes, leaves and brings friends, etc. I hide behind the curtain next to the camera and snap shots (which suck because he's in the shade....black bird + shade don't= good pictures)

Anyway, I think nothing of it, take the pics look at em, and that's that.

come dinner time is another story entirely.

I go to get the grill ready and I see a stick poking out....starting to get pissed because I think one of the kids put a stick in there, I kinda start to open it a little faster and then jump back afraid there'd be a huge hive in it (you see those pics of some dude with a huge hive in his grill??)

I had something a little more interesting

the beginning of a nest

And there was alot more underneath so maybe it was part of the entire grill being a nest and them getting pissed off the 'ground' was eating all their sticks.

Needless to say I found this SOOOO funny, so when Cam got home I had this stupid pure evil grin on my face that had him KNOW something was up. I actually video taped his response when he got to see the grill, but between having to get the car from the dealer (dead battery) and the ice cream run right after, I hadn't really done much of anything.

Ok, video HERE

So...between my awesome frogs , the newfound mosquitos we found EVERYWHERE while holding the ladder for him and pulling up a bush next to the house, and my birds trying to move in with us....

it's been an interesting home owning experience for us.

I can't wait to see what's next!

Right when we're getting the paperwork signed, I call my brother and beg him to come out and help us move so I don't have to deal with mentalcase brother in law.....which he obliges me (and I ADORE HIM FOR LIFE FOR IT) and brings my mom, sister in law and nephew. LOVE YOU GUYS!! They get the big stuff moved from the apartment to here, and go back to Indy...this is over 4 hours each way....he get there around noonish, worked nonstop, and left around 5iss....Cam goes for another round, BIL calls and says he's stuck in BFE (ok, Albion...an hour away) so Cam leaves the house at 11:30PM to get DA (dumbass) BIL, after moving ALL THAT STUFF, ALLLLLL DAY....

I'm just glad I didn't have to deal with him in person.

Only downfall to moving in soon as we got the house? There was no fridge and no stove. We'd drive out to the apartment to move a few things and I did cook a couple times out there. I opted to get a hot plate (electric cooktop) and reassured my mother 1, I could probably stand to lose an ounce, 2, it was cool enough in the garage for the food, and 3, between the hot plate, electric griddle she gave me that's older than Sol but works just fine, the rice cooker , microwave, and slow cooker, we'd be just fine with either cooking or take out.

Thank GOD for the First Home buyers credit! That 8k came last week and is now gone! Between the appliances, backed up bills, and now my dead car being resurrected, I have a mortgage payment saved, and that's it.

Appliances...love em. Fridge is too big for it's spot, but I don't care! Perfect timing too! Day after we got them, it was 70 out...no way the milk would've survived.

I told Cam all in all we can't say we haven't lived through some experiences. When we first moved out from Indianapolis to Phoenix we had no nada....no furniture but a friends dining table set (we never used!) we sat on the floor and would watch tv or eat...on the floor...did I mention my husband was a SOFABED SALESMAN??? Oh the jokes that would go around that....then my first 'furniture set' purchased after I got my first check? A PATIO glider and chair set!!! LMAO!!! Seemed fitting we were sitting on patio cushions on the floor!!! (We still have the patio set too! LOL)

Then moving from Phoenix to Vegas, we were dead broke after getting the apartment and appliances. We drove out and took longer than we expected. The office stated they'd leave the key to the apartment in the back patio (which was barely big enough for our 2 bikes)

Nope...they didn't...we had to sleep outside all night for that move. Almost did for Phoenix too, because those stupid trailers from Uhaul said not to go over 55...we didn't the first two days, the third day hitting AZ and not wanting the office to close? We were hitting over 90!

So...between living with no furniture, sleeping our first night outside, and then finally getting a house, but having no fridge and stove? Psshhhht....Dont ever tell me we never had to live through any interesting moving experiences!!!