Freedom to Be Me

Hmmmm...a very ambitious title to be sure.  I do not believe I will actually achieve this aim until I am dead since we are in process until that infinitesimal speck of time has our soul separated from our fleshly cage.  Fleshly is a very gucky sounding word.  It resonates, usually negatively.
Anyways (for those Mr. Hartung fans), at my previous place of employment-cue week 3 of gainful unemployment- I could not be me.  
There are several facets to this:
1.  The work itself is self-defeating, you will not be able to complete the tasks set before you.  I believe they wish for the work to be completed but either the training/tools/resources are inadequate or incomplete and/or the staff is now in a state of apathy and cannot assist themselves or the rest of the department.  Hence...2 years later and the same issues apply.
2.  Goals achieved or challenges overcome are not rewarded, even verbally.  Feedback is essential for the care and feeding of the employee.
3.  Political Correctness -PC- is blinder than Lady Justice.  The "rules" apply unevenly.  My opinions will offend, but I am obliged to tolerate that which deeply offends and sometimes disturbs.  They will never know the real me in that office environ.
4.  Wading  with piranhas is not as fun as it sounds.  Like my favorite magnet states; "Raising children is like being pecked to death by a chicken".  Piranhas are nibbling their way to shark status, but the bites still hurt and the accumulation leads to an eventual transfusion in order to live.  I for one do not wish to navigate my entire life wearing a suit of armor.  It is heavy, awkward, hot, rusts easily, and no one will ever see me...ever!  And I do not wish to contemplate too much on how knights went to the bathroom.  Yuck. 
5.  Friend today, speed bump tomorrow.  It is inevitable, you will find yourself thrown under the bus voluntarily or otherwise.  Wise as serpents...makes it hard to access the dove within.
6.  Misery breeds contempt.  The lowest feeling in the joint is the lowest common denominator for a reason...we love to wallow, especially corporately.
7.  You are expendable, trust me on this.  Mud will ooze over an opening like lava rushing to the sea.  And yes they will find it easy to forget whatever you did for them.  Tomorrow is another day indistinguishable from any other.
***One major change to recapture me****
Becoming Trish

Sundays

Sundays have changed over time.  Years of getting up early for Worship warm up before the actual service.  And we usually had to drive 30-60 minutes away depending upon where we went to church that year.  One certain Pastor liked to preach for a very trying 2-4 hours then lunch together after, potluck style.  Whew!
Now we only drive 5 minutes away and enjoy a reasonable worship and a great message able to be delivered in under an hour...all is completed in 90 minutes.  Wonderful.
We have tried to adopt family day for the Sunday afternoon, depending upon what is going on with everyone.  Now Gina and Terry have moved to Prescott and they will make it when they can.  They made it today but Brit and Maddox did not and Vanessa had to work.  
This morning before church I tried out some techniques I saw at the convention yesterday.  My scenescapes were messy and not as vibrant as his.  I did love the stamp of a baby and Mom sleeping...used a brayer with dye ink over the stamped image on glossy paper and placed it over another sheet of white CS run thru the Big Shot with a cute Spellbinder diecut.  I brayered dye ink over that as well.  Loved the results.  Added the small  glass stones in aqua and lime green and amber.  It will be great on a journal.  
Judy www.awingandapear.blogspot.com has been making journals to take to the Phoenix Children's Hospital and I would love to participate. 
Have a great background now for my sexy Marlboro Man mixed-media piece I have been gathering for.  He will be taking shape soon.  Stay tuned.
Sang How Great Thou Art today and it made me think of Grams...it was her favorite song.  Jen and I sang it at her memorial service.
Rough time this year.  Dad was dying this time last year after fighting so hard since January.  
Time for beddy bye.

Wow I am bigtime now. I can blog from my BB. Woohoo!!
Judy is getting a Mac & blog lesson from Kimbo. A delish dinner, dreamy dessert, & delightfully dark drink

On A Detox Diet. Since I can't eat it....enjoy!

Cinnamon Raisin Biscuits


1-2/3 c. all-purpose flour
1½ c. sifted cake flour
¼ c. sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ c. plus 1 Tablespoon butter
1 c. raisins
1 c. milk
Butter, melted
1 c. sifted powdered sugar
1 to 2 Tablespoons milk

Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl; cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add raisins and milk, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead lightly 10 times.
Roll dough to ¾-inch thickness; cut with a 2-inch biscuit cutter. Place biscuits on baking sheets; brush with melted butter. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until biscuits are lightly browned.
Combine powdered sugar and milk, stirring until smooth. Drizzle over warm biscuits.

Yield: 16 biscuits.



*I was thrilled when I found this recipe in my Southern Living Five Star Recipe Collection. These remind me of the huge cinnamon biscuits that Hardees had. Using the cake flour makes them fluffy and just like the originals I used to buy. One of my favorite breakfasts. Serve them warm and save any leftovers for a cold snack.

Favorite Movies

This is a fairly neutral topic to most people unless you like a movie I detest...haha.
Favorite movie of all time: French Kiss
Favorite Romantic comedy: depending upon the mood it is either Moonstruck, Only You (the Marisa Tomei version), French Kiss (again), or Under the Tuscan Sun....to name a few.
Favorite Comedies: Vegas Vacation, Money Pit, Overboard, & Dutch.
Favorite Musical Comedy: A Mighty Wind
Favorite Christmas movies: Christmas Vacation & the ever popular Christmas Story
Favorite Biography: Amazing Grace
Favorite Bond movie: Casino Royale
Favorite B-Grade movie: Soylant Green
Favorite Hitchcock movie: Most of them, but really Marnie is the creepiest & Rear Window the most satisfying.
Favorite Action movie: can't think of one...
Favorite Horror movie: hmmm, can't think of one of those either...
Favorite Zombie movie: Night of the Comet
Favorite Musical: The Sound of Music
Favorite Tearjerkers: Steel Magnolias, Terms if Endearment, or The Notebook.
Favorite Classics: Gone with the Wind & The Heiress.

That is all I can think of at the moment. How about you?

Ciao.

Long Time No Blog

Thanks to Lorri Miller I am blogging again...
The 1st 6 months of 2009 has the distinction of winning the "I Want A Do-Over" Award.
I may or may not be able to share outloud all of the nasty ***** this year has brought/wrought.
I can share the good tho:
My 2 beautiful, intelligent, above-average grandsons; Maddox & Frederick. Now 15 months old, talking, walking, climbing, dancing, and generally being boys.
My granddaughter soon to make an appearance in November.
My sexy, hardworking husband Bob. Driving his life away, dreaming of a Harley, reading to his grandsons when he is home, and staying in touch with us all day via cellphone. Boy do I love that man.
Gina & Terry are searching for a house while Gina is awaiting word on her promotion to Senior & possible transfer to Prescott.
Brittany is top of her class at Avalon & due to graduate in Feb '10. The best Mommy that Maddox could ever hope for.
Vanessa is also top of her class at Avalon, lots of friendly competition here. And she is working toward AM 3 at Harkins.
Kimberly has had the most changes. 16, ready to drive, changing to a new awesome school-NSAA, excelling in photography & mixed-media & creates a killer business card.
My job with ProSource is great. The work keeps piling up & I will never be caught up even if I live to be 85. But I love it! Pam Goodwin, my own personal Pollyanna, has done a great job of filling in the important gaps, & has made herself indispensable...don't ever leave me Pammy!
My 2nd job I love even more! Stampin' Up! has been the best company to sign-on with. I have expanded to Roving Workshops, a Monthly Class, & next is video teaching.
I am going to Art Unraveled this week for Gorgeous Glass, making card fronts for Rachel to take to the SU Convention, & starting a new Mixed-Media project I have had brewing in me for a while.
Oh, yes I almost forgot...Lorri has resurrected our co-op, Lionshare. I'm so excited.
Ok, one bad thing I will share...I have gained 3 pounds on my diet! What is that?!?
Ciao,
Renaissance Woman Extraordinaire

Pow Wow Wow

The Quartzsite Pow Wow....wow. So many people, so much to buy, so relaxing? I know... who'd think a 2.5 hour drive & massive crowds could induce enough endorphins to conjure euphoria? Part of the draw is the hunt. We just are never really sure what we are hunting for. An elusive relic just waiting for our greedy hands to be sure.

The East Valley Mixed Media group was on a field trip. We formed individual hunting parties and stalked our prey.

Kimberly & I began with an old rock hound named Jim. After accurately pegging the interests of his perusers & correctly predicting our eventual return we moved on to the stand with one of my favorites...costume jewelry pins. My, my my...so many to choose from. Glittery, tacky, elegant, or novelty? Gold, silver, plastic, or bone? Enamels, crystals, beaded, or sleek? Choices decided, bargains made.

Then across the dusty trail to Mike's stand...who could beat Jim's prices because Jim was selling stuff he bought from Mike!! What a hoot. And what a bargain. Kim found a wonderful siver & garnet ring & I chose a beautiful faceted sunstone from Oregon. Mike put it in a clever silver setting that very day, added a silver chain & now I have an heirloom piece at 20% of the retail price. Woo, hoo!

More wandering/hunting & then lunch at the Best Mexican Restaurant...seriously the name & seriously the best. The best salsa I've had in a while, pureed with a hint of smoky sweetness. The best machaca I have ever had, flavorful & tender & moist. Man, I am now hungry.

Next Kim & I tried the swapmeet area, too much commercial but a few great finds. Then back to Mike to pick up the sunstone & across the street to Jim. We spent quite a bit of time picking thru his raw cuts, I found an unpolished piece of jade with awesome lines. Then home it was....we were tired but very content. I was flying high on some potent endorphins, sure to return next January for hunting season.

Ciao...Trish