What The-What?!

File this under, "really?!": Last night my parents told me that they aren’t going to be able to watch Baby Girl— At all. They have a huge construction project going on at their place and they said they can’t keep coming down to watch the baby like they've been doing for months. So now, rather than putting Baby Girl in daycare next month, she’ll be going in next week. Awesome. I can’t even begin to say how this messes us up. But I can’t let this get me stressed out. I really have other things I need to focus on. One of the main things is getting the dog back on track with his training. Until Saturday, we were doing really well with the training. Then Aaron had to come and completely mess things up. I went out on Saturday (late morning to midafternoon) and asked him to make sure to take him out before he goes to bed (noon-ish). What does he do? Ignores what I asked him to do. So the poor dog pooped and peed all over his bed, inside his crate. This pissed me off because now the damn dog thinks doing his business inside his crate is okay. F**K me! Aaron, of course didn’t think that would be the case and wondered why I was so mad. That is, until he started ‘going’ inside his crate again. Hu-f***ing-zah! So now we’re back at square one with having to take him out every three hours till he gets back into the swing of things. Once again, Aaron doesn’t think it’ll be hard. No, of course not. That’s because he’s not the one doing the training. I am. He just comes home, maybe takes him out for like, five minutes. Then tells me, “he didn’t do anything,” or “I can’t get him to ‘go’ outside” and puts him back in his crate. Oh wait, it gets better, he outright doesn’t bother to take the dog out if it’s raining. The jerk actually purposely let him go on his pad inside, rather than once again— adhere to my strict orders on when to take him out— because it was raining outside. WHAT?! Meanwhile, I’m once again getting mad because this sets him back some more. Tell him that the rain isn’t going to mean he won’t have to go to the bathroom. I swear, sometimes it’s like I am living with another child. Oh and don’t even get me started on the behavior. He completely lets the dog get away with anything. I constantly correct behavior and am left wondering why nothing seems to stick. Case in point, he just lets the dog nip at feet and pant legs. This doesn’t fly with me. He also lets the dog take the lead during walks. Nope. I absolutely keep him at my side (side holding the leash) and keep the leash short to keep him from taking over. I know what you’re thinking, I sound a little militant with the training. And you would be dead on. I am strict. I would much rather be strict now than have to train a dog out of bad habits. Sigh... I swear sometimes, I just want to tell people to piss off so that I can cuddle with Baby Girl on the couch and watch Peppa Pig.

And They Say Time Flies…

I can’t believe it. This morning I turned on the radio and there they were; two stations playing Christmas music. Holy crap we’re back in the holidays!
I feel like I’m a few steps behind already. Blech… I mean usually, I have some gifts worked out and I have a good idea of what I’m getting Aaron, but it feels like the whole thing just snuck up on me.

The good thing is; I DO have Thanksgiving worked out. Even though my “sous chef” (Aaron) is going to have work overtime the day before the big day. Yes. You read that correctly, this year, for obvious reasons, I am actually calling in an assistant. I’ve also modified the side dishes. They’ll be a lot less complicated.

What I’ve got so far:

Turkey (a slightly modified version of Alton Brown’s Roast Turkey)
Stuffed Mushrooms (app.)
Butternut Squash Soup
Cornbread (the spoon bread version I make every year)
My Mac N’ Cheese
Sautéed Brussels Sprouts
Sautéed Green Beans with almonds
Wild Rice w/ Red Grapes
Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Pecans
Cheddar and Sage Biscuits
Stuffing/Dressing

I know I’m missing an item or two but I don’t have my list with me and I can’t remember at this point.

As I said, the dishes are a lot less complicated and I can do a lot of the prep ahead of time. Unfortunately I may have already hit a bit of a snag. I have been preparing Aaron for this—well, more like training— but unfortunately, he just learned yesterday that he has to work overtime the day before. SO… I may have to work with my Mom on this. This is kind of getting me a little nervous though. My Mom and I have very different takes on how things are done. She likes to throw things in or change things up on the fly, whereas I don’t. I’ve gotten most of these dishes down to a science and it would make me freak the hell out if she starts "tweaking" or changing things up on me.

Evan, my brother-in-law volunteered to help with prep. I told him it be best for him not to. It was very sweet of him to offer, but that could potentially be disastrous. He doesn’t “cook.” His idea of cooking usually consists of throwing a group of pre-made items together and calling it a meal. I need someone who will understand what I want when I say, “mirepoix,” “chiffonade” and “finely grate,” and will know that there is a difference between, stock and broth, finely mincing and chopping. Hell, we’re talking about the same guy who, just the other day, used my pie dough cutter as a pizza cutter! (I wish I were kidding).

Don’t get me wrong, I really love cooking for the holiday. It’s one of my favorite meals to make. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t. I’m just very particular about the way things are done. I mean, I plan things out weeks in advance and usually have the timing worked out so that all dishes are pretty much done at the same time. So it’s not a pretty sight when things gum up the works. Imagine if you will, one of the crabbing boat captains from Deadliest Catch… yeah I have the potential to get that cranky when things don’t work out. I almost stormed off when my brother burned one of my dishes and my one of sisters-in-law decided to not start one of her dishes until everything else was already finished. She held everything up by about an hour.

Ah well… We’ll see, perhaps I can get an even earlier start and not have to call in the reinforcements. Wish me luck!

Hello Mrs. Snippy-Pants

I’m assuming the hormones have me a touch on-edge. I’ve noticed lately that I keep losing my temper with people. I mean really losing it to the point where I find myself clenching my jaw and fists to keep from lashing out at people. I feel bad but so far I’ve been able to put up a good front. The only who really seems to notice is Aaron. When he sees this happening, he smartly pulls me away from the general area and finds a way to defuse my ass.

Unfortunately, he’s not there to do this while I’m at work. And of course, this has been where my temper has been flaring up the most. I know, I know, doesn’t that happen to most of us? Yes, but I’m mean even I felt like hissing at the phone when I was in the middle of writing up an e-mail earlier today. Then of course there was the co worker who came by to just say “hi.” I almost jumped down her throat. I felt awful afterwards but I was at least able to restrain myself, smile and say a quick hello. It gets a lot tougher when I get the stupid questions or get things back that don’t make sense. Good lord!

But yes, Aaron has really stepped up his game and has been incredibly helpful (he even helped me put on my socks the other day when I was having issues reaching my feet) and even keeled when I start losing it. Luckily, he’s also there to be my Pit Bull when it I’ve had a reason to be angry.
Inhale… Exhale…


Oh yes, and just because it's suits my mood today, and because the song is catchy as hell adn makes me smile... (enjoy)

Control Your Anger Young Jedi…

I swear it is getting harder and harder to not to biotch-slap people. This morning Psycho-Biotch showed up nice and early and even accompanied me to work.

Psycho-Biotch is my personal version of Jenny McCarthy’s Psycho-Chick from her book, “Belly Laughs.” By the way, I burned through her book on Saturday afternoon and loved every page. I’m now mildly afraid of the surprises in the delivery room but, hey, at least I now know what may or may not pop up.

So as I was saying… Yes, Psycho-Biotch. I’m normally pretty flexible when it comes to routines. Yes, I’m totally a creature of habit but when things come up, I normally go with the flow. No biggie. Yeah, no one told Psycho-Biotch that. I normally take a shower, do my hair, eat breakfast then do my makeup. I do it this way, because I hate having to retouch my makeup after eating breakfast. This morning, however, my brother-in-law jumped into the shower as I was eating breakfast. Normally, he’s never up at this time. And so it’s never been an issue. But for some reason the fact that he dared go into the bathroom without consulting me first, burned me up. I know, I know. What the hell? It’s not like he’s a mind reader, nor did I put a sign up or anything like that. It was completely irrational. I understand this. But still, I was pissed! Then he took forever and I couldn’t get my makeup on by the time I had to leave for work. I was pissed. In fact, thinking about it now-- knowing full well the anger is irrational-- I’m still getting pissed. Ooh yeah, but that was only her entrance.

As I walked around getting my stuff together I then noticed the shoes in the entrance were out of order. Actually, no. Not out of order. They just weren't where they were supposed to be; on the rubber mat. In fact, the only shoes that were on the stupid mat were mine and half of one of Aaron’s shoes. This burned me the frick up. I got the mat so that when you come in, particularly on a rainy day, you can leave them on the thing, rather than track water, mud, etc. all over the apartment floor. Then I noticed dried mud on the area rug in the entrance. That did it. I went bonkers. I kicked a shoe halfway down the hallway and began raising hell about how neither one of them bothers to help keep the place clean and how I may as well just leave shoes strewn all over the ****ing place. Or perhaps I should just start carting in loads of mud since they liked living in a ****ing sty. Aaron was so confused.

He his attempt to calm me down was giving me a hug and kisses. The problem is my nose has been replaced with that of a bloodhound. So him trying to kiss me while rocking the morning breath was not only displeasing me but displeasing the wee one and it was starting to let me know it. I politely tried to break away, which in turn, made him try even harder. This was not good.

I tried to sound as calm as possible (ha!) and tell him that as much as I appreciated the attempt at making me happy, his breath was having the opposite effect and that I was angry about having to go to work without makeup and seeing the place get dirty after being clean for only one day. He apologized for the breath and told me I still “look beautiful.” I called him a wonderful liar but that I appreciated his effort.

I went to work, still kind of fuming. What greeted me at work was not a pretty sight. I will once again spare you the gory details but I was in a meeting and left with nail imprints on the bottom of both my palms. I also felt the powerful urge to throw my computer through a wall when I got an e-mail that just pissed me the hell off. Yeah. Psycho-Biotch is kind of hard to rein in, but at least the bouts of queasiness from time to time, seem to be keeping her at bay a touch. Basically, if I move too quickly, the wee one will become even more agitated and make me boot. I nor Psycho-Biotch want that.