Listening to Dolly Parton & typing for you (and me)

1.16.13 - A day of thanks and outdoor bathing.  Save energy and take a bar of soap in your backyard.

Yesterday I wrote a blog, closed my computer and commenced on spending q time with the daughter.  I didn't think anything else of the blog.

Around 5pm I checked my email and was a bit overwhelmed.

"Thanks so much for that blog post today.  You may not know it but you read my mind about some issues I've been having with my marriage."

"Your blog today was just what I needed.  Thanks for that life preserver."

"I stumbled upon your blog and I think its the best thing that's happened thus far in 2013.  I enjoy escaping to Brownieworld each day you post."

"I'm a mommy too and you make me laugh so hard, cry, and say yay there's another mama like me!"

"Your faith inspires me.  I'm not a big time religious person and hate these blogs that throw it in my face but you come about it differently.  I see goodness in you."  (That one really really humbled me)

"Keep it up!!!  Please!"

I started a blog to put memories in order and share little things - I never thought I'd have anyone really read these posts but I was wrong.  Thanks to each of you who sent me such awesome emails.  I have taken all your requests and advice and I hope this blog continues to be a little bit of happy and help and hope to each of you.  Believe it or not you are all my happies, helps, and hopes.

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Enough!  We all got sappy there for a minute.  Wipe that sugary, sticky stuff off your hands - there's a wipe in the baby bag.

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So in the event you are thinking like me and living in one of the "second-coming-of-the-great-flood" areas of the United States we can commence on our ark building this afternoon around nap time.  If that works for you guys it works for me.  Remember everyone needs to bring their own bottle of wine or water.  Also, a finger food would be good as well. (Can you tell I was raised a Methodist....we love finger foods).

It is day 515 of downpours. grey skies, and flooding in North Carolina.  My child is getting good use out of her rain boots.  I do keep telling myself - good ground for the spring, good ground for the spring - however I am now thinking - budget in a trip to Fiji surely it isn't raining there.

Music choices for ark building:  Have You Ever Seen The Rain by CCR & Islands In The Stream by Dolly and Kenny!

Speaking of trips....we may have found our anniversary getaway location and accomodations.  That's a good feeling ya know...I had expected to be looking and researching up to the day we left.  Alas, we have more than likely found our little Anniverary Eden.  How does Tennessee sound?  Currently, if its not raining, great.  Any readers in TN?  We love your state!

And that's a great lead in to Wednesday tv in the house that is our home.  This is our Modern Family, Suburgatory, and Nashville night.  The kids are in bed by 8.  We are showerd and pajama-ed and on the couch with a snack and glued to laughing at the tv for two hours.  This is also a crucial part of our marriage - vegging out side by side with some tv that makes us laugh.  What would Wednesday be without Cam and Mitchell? What would Wednesday be without thick Colombian accents?  What would Wednesday be without a single dad in the suburbs?  Lastly, what would Wednesday be without a cheesey nighttime soap opera that both man and wife watch together?  Yes, Wednesday I love you. 

Now after typing about Wednesday I am sitting here going....."When did Wednesday get here so fast?"

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When I wasn't a stay at home sex kitten....did that make you laugh?  I was a working girl.  I got my first job at 13 and loved it!  I worked 2 hours every afternoon (m-f) doing payroll for a company in my hometown.  I LOVED WORKING!  You know why?  I loved having my own money.  I made 70.00 a week in 1995 and boy was I the shiz!  I kept working until I had my first baby.  At that point I became a stay at home mom for about 7 months then went back to working outside the home.  I loved meeting new people, having a desk, learning new things.  Then a lay off came at my last formal employer and I was one of the many who got escorted away from the building (no not in handcuffs but in the "we will blame this on the president when really we are greedy jerks" way.  Then the baby was born.  In today's world of "regular people" it wasn't feesible for me to go back to a normal out of the home job because I would be working to pay childcare for two children.  So I became a stay at home mom.

God bless the SAHM.  This job is filled with non stop excitement, dull intrigue and a clock that seems to whirl through the seconds, minutes and hours.  When I was in the traditional job setting I would stare at a calendar and think "Friday would you please come soon?"  Now I look at the calendar and say "What the crap?  It's already Wednesday?  Where is time going?"

Kids speed up your life.

I've had a lot of jobs in my short life.  The hardest job I ever ever have had is keeping a home and raising the kids.  My new job never ends.  At first it was overwhelming.  I felt like I could never just stop and breathe.  I had to be in constant motion.  My job - though the best in the world - was also the worst in the world. 

Dresscode, none.
Lunch break, when you made it.
Deadlines, unclear.
Coworkers, unavailable during business hours.
Consumers, always needing something.
DOL Rules, not applicable.

Some days I would just cry in the bathroom.  I want out!  I want somewhere to go!  So I would attempt to load up the kids and get in the car and drive to Walmart.  I would give up before we made it to the door.

Some days I would look for a job only to realize that I was not the demographic that was wanted in the work place and my money would ultimately belong to the childcare provider. 

Then I would feel guilty.  My children need ME, not some stranger who doesn't wash their hands and takes fifteen smoke breaks an hour or sees her job as getting paid to text.  (No, this isn't all childcare providers but at the rate I could spend without breaking bad...well that's probably what my options would be.  Our old childcare provider is near retirement and at capacity.)

Then it happened.  My epiphany or revelation or ah ha moment.  IF this is to be my job, I was going to make it like a job out there in the traditional work force.  I wouldn't be sad in the bathroom anymore (even though I did have a job in the traditional workforce that did make me cry in the bathroom).  I wouldn't be craving a Walmart trip to see that other people existed in the world (though in Walmart they are often times very scary and I would be better off not seeing such scary beings).  I created a schedule.

We are humans and humans - though you fight it and lie and say you do not - need schedules.  We need routine.  We need habits.  I was going about my day like a lab rat who needed ritalin.  I couldn't focus, I got overwhelmed, I was trying to do fifteen things in fourteen minutes.  I was a school teacher's nightmare.

So here's a slight taste of my schedule, maybe the new stay at homers will find it helpful.

6:30-6:45 wake up (open the eyeballs and look at the clock, take a deep breath, get up)
clock in
6:45-6:50 pee, wash hands, pour coffee, make bottle
6:50-6:55 change baby's diaper and hand baby over to baby daddy for feeding (this is the only time you get to be holy and personal for your own well being take advantage of it)
6:55-7:15 drink coffee, pack hubby's lunch, get on FB and find my "veggie" of the day and share, watch weather report, apply makeup (this is my holy time)
7:15-7:30 awake the daughter, help her get dressed, fix her breakfast, lay out her coat and bookbag
7:30-7:40 get dressed
7:40-8:50 on the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again
8:55-10:00 light housework that can be done within mere moments with or without baby on hip, blog, email (now is a good time to pee)
10:00-11:00 change and feed and play with baby (currently we shriek at each other because its all the rage as is sticking out the tongue....)
11:00-11:10 veg out for a hot second with Kathie Lee & Hoda (what are they drinking today? Could i get away with a bottle of wine at 11am, no don't try it then I'll be on Dr. Phil)
11:15-11:50 On the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again
12 noon - lets fix lunch, lets eat lunch
1:00 Lets feed the baby, play with the baby, hope baby naps (perhaps pee again)
1:30-2:00 craft time or something to take place of a craft with the daughter
2:00-4:00 housekeeping (daughter assists...children need chores/jobs and when she gets done she can play a computer game.....best day evahhhhh)
4:00-5:00 supper making
5:00- big kid bath time (need to pee? mom you not the kid the kid may in the tub if you have a child under 3)
6:30- dinner, feed baby
7:00- baby clean up time
8:00-all good children should be in bed so Santa comes....(in 11 months)
I clock out.

This is a general routine for a few days out of our week.  Please note Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday have different schedules.  Every week I account for things such as:  library, church, dance, visit the great senile grandma....Saturday and Sunday are flexible work hours.

So as you can see my days of eating Dove chocolates and watching As The World Turns, botox injections, and spa trips are well.....for the Real Housewives of whatever county or city.  If they did a show on us real women....mmm mmm mmm they couldn't handle it.

I have never in my life been so stressed in a job and then so wonderfully rewarded by knowing I am the imprint on my children that strives to be the most positive force possible in her life and his life.  It is a blessing to be able to be here with them.  My job now shows me so much more that I never could have learned in a government or private sector job.  Every day I teach my children and every day they teach me simple lessons that make the most influence.

I don't cry in the bathroom anymore (unless I haven't drank enough water).  I love my job.  I don't think I care about retiring.

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Last night we had the meal that I say was how the South became so incredibly welcoming....chicken pie.  Chicken pie was my late "Dad-o's" favorite meal of choice.  I think he would have been super proud of the one I made.  My husband fell in love with me all over again thanks to this dish....he had two servings that according to my nutrition education (thanks UNCG) was probably more like 6 servings.

Brownie's Chicken Pie

Pie crust - I cheated on this one and bought pillsbury, the rolled up ones.  You will use both.
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 can of creme of chicken soup
2 cups of broth from my chicken breast I cooked
2tbsp unsalted butter
Black pepper (use however much/whenever you want to, its a staple in our kitchen)

You should know to unroll your piecrust and place it in the dish, prick the bottom of the crust.  Save the other for the top.
Cook up your chicken in a pot (boil it baby)
After you get it all nice and cooked take it out and shred with 2 forks
In a small bowl mix together your creme of chicken soup and broth
Put your chicken in the pie shell
Pour in your liquid mixture
Pepper it baby, pepper it good
Put your top pie crust on
Prick it, x it, whatever (the top pie crust so your pie doesn't explode while baking)
350 degrees for 45 minutes

Slap your mama good and then hit your knees and beg for forgiveness, you never should slap your mama....unless your mama is on meth.

Serve with a green vegetable and mashed taters.  Sweet tea or water....save the wine for tomorrow.

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Until we meet again -



Brownie