Training at Work

*yawn* Two days of this? Seriously? At least I get paid for it ... And I didn't have to travel, unlike the last time I had an extended training session, which the company paid for (trip to VA nearly 5 years ago, saw my aunt and her family while I was there). AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

I'm ready to start typing on a real account now, TYVM.

CD 24 of my 30-day cycle ...

Yeah, this is totally becoming my TTC blog. hahahaha!

My new theory is that TTC makes smart people stoopid and irrational. I want a baby, therefore I am pregnant, even when you don't know you are. I'm not nearly as nauseated as I've been some months, but my boobs hurt and I'm flipping exhausted -- I think I slept 10 hours each Friday night and Saturday night and Sunday night ... And would have happily done so last night if not for work. That's not normal for me these days. So today, I picked up some progesterone cream -- put some on my inner thigh. Hopefully it doesn't trigger a flare of body acne, but what the heck, I'm already having one. The last time I had acne like this on my body and face, I had the IUD. In my whole life, I didn't start having acne issues until I was pregnant with Munchkin, so having the acne already before the progesterone cream made me think maybe I'm pregnant, and then thought maybe I should get some cream and try and help the bean stick.

Anyway. If AF shows up next week, I'll start the cream much earlier next cycle -- after ovulation. I started temping around ovulation time this month to get in the habit of doing it, and then someone told me vaginal temps were more accurate -- which I can totally believe because the nights I'm cold my oral temp drops a lot, and the nights I'm warm, it shoots up, so it's not giving me a good idea of anything at all ... so today (a week into temping) I changed to vaginal, which of course is higher, but at least I'm getting into habits of doing this stuff *just in case* I'm not pregnant this month. So my chart means *nothing* this month, but at least I'm doing it! Makes me feel better at any rate.

Back to work.

Garlicky Goodness

So, I've been eating very well lately, aside from the chocolate pumpkin massacre. Fruit, veggies, chicken, fish. No red meat in the house. The last few days, I have been absolutely craving it. Oranges and apples and lettuce only stick for so long, y'know?

We had a steak in the freezer. I made it, ate it with brown rice and brown gravy. I even shared some with hubby.

Two days later (today), I'm still craving RED MEAT and wanting grease and garlic in the worst way. I've never had cc's recommended garlic burgers, but man, they sounded good. So I went to the store today -- garlic, red meat, whole wheat hamburger buns, tomatoes, mushrooms ... and since I'd promised hubby I'd use the avocadoes in the fridge instead of letting them go to waste, I made guacamole -- mashed avocado, lemon juice, salsa, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, a little fat free sour cream. Then I diced the garlic, sauteed it in butter, tossed it in a bowl with the meat, worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and mixed it all up. Made 4 giant burger patties and one small one, cooked thoroughly, topped with cheese and let melt. Sauteed the mushrooms in the garlicky pan. Sliced the tomatoes. Oh my gosh ... garlic burger with garlic mushrooms and garlic guac and a tomato slice ... we're all oozing garlic, but man ... I'm full and satisfied for the first time in DAYS. and Princess Picky said "yum!" to the burgers (hers was about one-third the size of ours on half a bun), and she ate the whole thing without arguing or complaining), then stuffed herself silly with guac and chips.

Yum.

Last night, I made a huge salmon filet (topped with melted butter, lemon seasoning salt, dill, parsley, and lemon juice, then broiled). That was good, too, even if I wasn't completely satisfied after dinner like I am right this minute!!!

Auntie Voodoo, visit 3

Well, my reproductive parts are doing better apparently. The rest of me is still fubared, but whatever.

I have gone walking a couple of times -- out to the bus stop, deliberately parking farther away in the parking lots, etc. I need to keep it up, and I need to be doing yoga and other stuff, but my brain has been sucked out by the 2WW (two week wait) of my cycle before I can test for pregnancy. See, it was sucked out for a few days while we BD'd during my "fertile" time, and now it's sucked out while I wait until the day I can test. I'll actually probably test early since hubby's birthday is next Saturday and I'm not due for a period until after that, but ... i have no brain and no desire to wait. lol. anyway. This is what occupies my mind quite a bit of the time now: Pregnant or not pregnant, that is the question ...

Confessions of a Girl

1. Is it cute when guys kiss you on your forehead?
If by "guy" you mean DH, then yes.

2. A big poofy dress or a short party dress?
Uh ...

3. What would you do if you received a long love letter?
Put it with the rest of them. :)

4. Group dates or single dates?
Single dates with DH ... We have group "date night" with his gaming friends, where we all game. I'm not kidding. I need a DATE with him, away from the house, TYVM.

5. Do you hate it when guys act different around their friends?
yes!

6. Are diamonds a girl’s best friend?
Nah, but they're sure nice to get!

7. Is your hair up or down today?
Up ... like most days.

8. Do you straighten your hair?
Sometimes

9. Favorite mascara?
One that doesn't make my eyes itch

10. Do you get your nails done?
No.

11. Small or large purses?
Yes? I have some of both and medium, too.

12. In your purse, what are your must haves?
Phone, keys, camera, wallet, lip gloss ... sunglasses ...

13. Jeans or sweats?
Jeans, if I can find any I like.

14. Do you wear clothes/shoes/jewelry that’s uncomfortable?
sometimes

15. Do you text message a lot?
not so much

16. What would you do if you got pregnant?
I'd probably be thrilled, since we've been trying for ... 9 ... months.

17. What’s your favorite color?
Green? Blue? purple? all three.

18. Heels or flats?
Flats. I'm old. I do wear heels, but mostly pumps, not spikes.

19. Did you ever cry during a romantic movie?
Yep

20. Would you ever leave the house without make-up on?
Yes, frequently do

21. Walmart or Target?
Depends. What am I buying? :P

22. Do you wear collared shirts?
No ... actually.

23. Do you like preppy boys?
No

24. Do you think lip gloss is the best!?
The best!? Maybe close to the best. I sure like it.

25. Do you own any big sunglasses?
Not so much. Need new ones.

26. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
If I'm going somewhere besides dropping off the Munchkin, about 30 minutes. If I"m taking her to school and coming straight home, about 5 seconds.

27. Do you like to wear band-aids?
No

28. Do you like skater boys?
No

29. Do you often wish there was something you could change?
Yes

30. Gold or silver?
Silver/white gold

31. Do you like to receive flowers?
YES

32. Do you like surfer boys?
No

33. Do you dress up for the holidays?
Sometimes

34. Do you like to wear dresses?
Sometimes

35. On a scale of 1-10 how much do guys confuse you?
3

36. In the last 48 hours have you hung out with a guy?
hubby ... the gamers online ...

37. Would you date a guy shorter than you?
I have. Not anymore though, since hubby is taller. :P

38. Do you like to hold hands?
Yep

39. What is the youngest you would date?
... hubby.

40. What is the oldest you would date?
... hubby.

41. What do you notice when you first meet a guy?
BUTT, eyes, smile

42. Is it hott when guys sweat?
it depends on what he's been doing. -- Amen, sistah

43. What is the best feature in a guy?
Kindness

44. Do you like making eye contact?
Yep

46. Would you kill for chocolate?
Not today.

47. Did you ever spend all day/night getting pretty for a guy?
YES. And an entire weekend before the wedding!

48. On a scale from 1-10 how fun is shopping?
Depends on what I'm shopping for and if I'm pressed for time and if I have kids with me. Usually, it's a 3. If I'm having "Stewie" time and can really SHOP, an 8.

49. Do you freak out if you miss your favorite show?
I don't watch TV

50. Do you yell a lot?
Only once a month ...

51. Do you wear sweatpants/pajamas to school/work?
Yes. I work in my house, and am frequently wearing PJs or G's.

52. Have you ever dressed unlike yourself to impress a guy?
Maybe?

53. Do you write a lot of mushy love poems?
NO.

54. What makeup could you not live w/ out?
Eyebrow pencil and lipgloss

55. Do you fall in love easily?
No.

56. Do you have cramps?
Not today.

57. Do you think you have the bestest friends ever?
Well, if I didn't think they were the best"est", they wouldn't be my friends. :P


*****

On the news front, preggo SIL in Japan is in the hospital. She started hemorrhaging over the weekend. They were able to stop the blood and amniotic fluid leak, and she is now stabilized and out of her "emergency" (ICU) room. Baby bean is still swimming around in what little amniotic fluid is left. Hopefully she can go home soon, even if she's on bedrest, but we're all just glad she's still alive. And we're glad the baby is okay, but since she's only toward the end of first trimester, she has a long way to go.

Saw Auntie Voodoo again today. Things are progressing.

Work is *okay*. Wish I could get more focused again. Gah.

AND, today is my mommy's and cc's birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Birthday!!!

Pumpkin Muffins

This is a zucchini bread recipe, but you can use pumpkin or applesauce in place of the zucchini. It was my friend's mom's recipe, who gave it to my mom when we lived in the same ward when we were kids. A couple of years ago for Enrichment, we made all three kinds plus some other quick breads for the refreshments, and it went over quite well. Works well for muffins, mini muffins, or bread.

1 c brown sugar
1 c white sugar
1 c oil
3 eggs
2 c grated zucchini (or pumpkin puree or applesauce)
3 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp cloves
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
12 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c chopped nuts*
1 c raisins*
1 c chocolate chips*

*is optional; i only use the chocolate with the pumpkin. i wouldn't use all three in any of them. ew.

Preheat oven to 325. Beat eggs; gradually add in sugars and oil. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add to first mixture alternately with zucchini. Stir in rains/nuts/chips and vanilla. Pour into two slightly greased and floured 9 x 5 loaf pans. Bake at 325 for one hour. Let stand 10 min before removing from pans.

*I did mini muffins, spraying the pan with pam in between each batch. They only took 14-15 min to cook each batch, and they turned out beautifully. Probably made 4 to 6 doz mini muffins, hard to know since I made a double batch and they disappeared as soon as they were out of the oven, and I gave away 4 dozen.

*****

Munchkin (the pickest eater EVER) gobbled them up. So mamafjord, I'm not so weird. :P

Friday Fave Five!!!

*snort* made you look. It's Tuesday/Wednesday, but I'm in a mood.

1. Sinus Rinses. MONTHS ago, maybe even a year ago, I was looking up a product for a report I was typing, and thought, "I should try that." I even told DisGrace about it, who bought it and has been using it. I never did anything about it ... until now. I bought it yesterday when I was at the pharmacy picking up my BBT thermometer, and used it this morning and tonight. It is so nice to be able to BREATHE. I can breathe deeply through my nose for the first time in recent memory, AND I didn't have to take any allergy meds today. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! It is weird to do, but oh my stars ... I'm sure I'll post again whether it gets better, worse, or stays the same. But for now, I can BREATHE!!!

2. Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. They are oh, so good, but evil.

3. Warm socks and a space heater. Office is cold.

4. My SIL in Japan is still alive. She's having really serious complications with her pregnancy, but so far she and the baby are both still alive. She's still in the hospital even as I type.

5. Hubby has been helping around the house again. GO HUBBY!



I have the funniest kid ever. She's going to be my WoW toon for Halloween. Try explaining that to A) A third grade class whic has never heard of WoW, B) Your in-laws who don't know you play because they *hate* videogames, C) Your friends who also hate WoW and don't know you play, and D) Random people in the grocery store asking her what she's going to be.

I told her to tell them all she's a witch ... wearing red and white robes, a black pointy hat, carrying a wand, and holding a black cat. The thing is, it's Halloween in WoW, and they celebrate by doing fun things ... My toon now has a pointy hat and a Siamese cat and rides a broomstick. She's always had a wand. Close enough, right? GAH.