Archive for November 2009
I know.
I haven’t been around lately.
No, I didn’t forget about you.
I’m simply in a class that is seriously kicking my ass and taking names.
Fundamentals of Programming with Algorithms and Logic.
Yeah.
Sounds like boat loads of fun doesn’t it.
Ummm….
It’s not.
It’s anything but fun.
Needless to say I’ve been spending A LOT of time trying to understand it all and less time here.
I am hoping that when my textbook (that I ordered because the online version we are given doesn’t help) arrives that I will be able to understand things better.
Because really if I have to be in this class for another 7 weeks ( 9 if you add the 2 weeks I have off for Winter break), I am seriously going to lose my mind.
So, the book should be here this week.
I’m hoping it arrives tomorrow.
Because yes, I admit it, I am lost right now.
But.
I am not alone.
There are others in my class who are just as lost as I am.
So at least I don’t feel totally stupid.
On another note,
Our family of 5 managed to survive 3 (yes, 3!) Thanksgiving dinners and there was minimal drama. (Read: I am sick of everyone thinking I am unable to succeed at anything in life because I have taken a different life path then them but guess what, you can suck a big fat one because when I do finish school and have my degree you will not be able to mock me anymore!)
Phew.
Yea.
Family drama.
That was the most we saw of it.
We somehow managed to miss out on what appears to have been (from what we heard) a wicked awesome family falling out at one of the other holiday festivities.
I, needless to say, was disappointed that I wasn’t there to witness it.
Sometimes, yes—sometimes, I enjoy a little family drama.
It makes for more interesting holidays and family functions.
Other then that, there hasn’t been much going on.
I didn’t participate in Black Friday events this year due to the lack of cash but the Hardworking Hubby did sit outside of Best Buy from 12:30am until they opened and secured some items his mother needed and then lurked around the store for 2 hours until she was finally able to get there and pay for everything.
This week I am looking forward to getting ready for Christmas since for some strange reason I am ACTUALLY looking forward to it this year. The kids have lots going on all week and on Friday we plan on getting our Christmas tree, putting it up and decorating it. Saturday there is a babysitter all lined up and plans made to go out and celebrate my birthday ( 10 days early) since it’s the only free weekend we have.
I’m really excited that I will be attending my first blog event with a great Twitter/Blog friend Stacie on the 11th and we will finally be friends IRL!
So, that’s what has been going on in a nutshell.
I have also been writing more and will be posting some more Tales of My Shady Past soon.
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I recently made a Twice Baked Potato Casserole to bring to my parent’s house for Turkey Day. I was very pleased with the results and how quick and easy it was to make. It was so good that my mother has requested that I bring it for Christmas as well. I figured since I have already been asked for the recipe a dozen times I would post it here for all. 
Ingredients
- 10 large russet baking potatoes (about 7 pounds total)
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 3/4 pound bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled
- 1/2 pound sharp white Cheddar, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 3/4 pound mild Cheddar, grated (3 cups)
- 1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Scrub the potatoes well and rinse under cool running water. Pat dry with paper towels and prick the potatoes in several places with a fork. Place the potatoes in the oven and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until tender. Remove from the oven and set aside on a wire rack until cool enough to handle.
When the potatoes have cooled, cut each potato in half and, using a spoon or a melon baller, scoop the flesh out of the skins, leaving as little flesh as possible. Place the potato flesh in a large bowl and add 1 stick of the butter, the sour cream, heavy cream, salt, and pepper and mash until chunky-smooth. Add the bacon, cubed white Cheddar, half of the grated Cheddar, the green onions, and eggs and mix thoroughly.
Butter a 9 by 13-inch casserole with the remaining tablespoon of butter and reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F.
Place the seasoned potato mixture in the prepared casserole and top with the remaining grated Cheddar. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until bubbly around the edges and heated through and the cheese on top is melted and lightly golden. Serve hot.
I recently read Diablo Cody’s memoir Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper thanks to this post for inspiring me to do so.
I LOVED this book!
I read it cover to cover in less than 24 hours.
It made me what to turn back the hands of time (READ: Before I had kids) and be as daring as she was.
Ok, so maybe there was a time when I was 18 daring.
**WARNING**
If you are related to me, yes Mom, I mean you and oh yeah, you as well my dear sister, you might just want to click on that little X in the top right corner of your browser and close this. If you do continue to read it you will not be allowed to mention it or discuss it with me at any time. Okay? Okay! The same goes for you other family members who stop by and read every now and then!
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So……
Back to that time when I was 18 daring, I did pull what I now like to call a Diablo Cody on a dare.
This again was back in the day when I weighed 145lbs, had a flat tummy, perky breasts and zero stretch marks.
With all of this, I obtained confidence.
Nothing scared me.
Yeah….I know….back to what I will forever refer to as pulling a Diablo Cody.
During the time when I was 18 daring……
I may or may not have participated in an amateur night at a local club where the ‘entertainers‘ may or may not perform on a stage that has a pole erected in the middle of it and offers some unflattering lighting.
I also, may or may not have donned the aforementioned stage and I may or may not have danced seductively around that stage while I may or may not have removed my clothing and brushed certain body parts up against skeezy men and sweet women who pulled up a chair at the tip rail in exchange for folded up dirty $1, $5, $10 and $20 bills
and
I may or may not have even taken home the $250 prize for the best amateur that night.
Being 18 daring was a long time ago so forgive me if I cannot recall if these events did in fact happen or if they are all just a figment of my imagination.
Again, that is for me to know.
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Anywho, if you are looking for a great read and want to know what it really is like being a stripper, I suggest you pick up this book and give it a try.
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