Jobs and Cats and Cars. Did I mention typhoid? Oh My!

So remember that job I briefly mentioned on here? Yeah, didn't materialize into anything other than the most standardized of all standardizations of form rejection letters. I was apparently the second choice candidate, which I think makes it even worse. What did the guy they hired have over me? Certainly not the 'ins' with the company. My father-in-law is their longest tenured sales rep (and quite successful if I may add). I really wish people could get past the "I-had-an-internship-for-writing-but-really-the-only-thin-my-resume-tells-you-is-that-I-can-raise-children" part of my resume. And I forgot to mention the "I-have-a-stereotypical-liberal-arts-degree-that-taught-me-how-to-think-but-you-can't-get-past-where-it-says-english-writing-major-because-it-doesn't-say-business-despite-the-fact-that-all-the-skills-you-need-for-a-job-you-learn-on-site-so-really-college-degrees-are-meaningless-unless-you-are-in-medicine-and-then-you-learned-it-on-site-during-your-practicum." Not that I'm bitter about being smart and unemployed. So I'm back on the hunt.

Cats are really entertaining little creatures. Since I am at home most of the time (see previous paragraph for explanation of why I now call my job title as "homemaker" on a product warranty card) I have really gotten to know my little kitties better. Dagny is so full of mischief and playful. Always willing to snuggle. Loud purr and cute trill noises after being left by herself. Fjord? Different story there. Affectionate and snuggly(after we were gone this past weekend skiing up north in -30* with the ski team S. coaches). Favorite place is perched in the front window watching the world and snowflakes and cars drift by. Can often be found where he isn't supposed to be (read: counters) licking the pan I haven't gotten around to washing (which was only from lunch, less than an hour ago... I'm not a slob. My house is immaculate because I am a homemaker!... ) He really likes macaroni and cheese. Or ham. Or rice. Or onions (despite toxicity to cats). Or bread. Or ______. He eats anything and everything. Then he gets sick. Not that he would ever have any access to food snivels because my house is immaculate.

So our 2000 Ford Taurus has been acting up for a month or two. It has no heat. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Which makes for some long cold drives. Especially the whole -20* thing. Without windchill. And then you have to scrape ice off of the inside of the windshield. While you are driving. Needless to say, this has made transportation difficult. It got sent to the mechanic yesterday and I am awaiting the "your car will cost five million dollars to repair" phone call. Oh did I mention the part about the engine temperature gauge constantly fluctuating and the permanently residing the the "your engine is dangerously hot" area of the temperature range? Yeah. It tries to tell me that it is really hot. But I know better. And so do my purple/red chapped hands that feel colder than dry ice and Oksana Bauel (Blades of Glory? Eh? Eh?).

We are renting out our basement to one of our friends. J. is going to China in a few weeks and has thus been taking the live typhoid vaccine. He has gotten quite ill with this vaccine, so pray that his body will fight off the infection and he won't be any worse for the wear. He has one more pill left to take (tomorrow night). So here's to hoping that his stomach will stop cramping tremendously.

Cheers!

Updates Galore! (and a chance to win Lightroom or Photoshop!)

1. I went and came back from a week long all-girls vacation in Hawaii (Maui).
2. I have been setting up our house for Christmas, despite having two furry helpers (one of which I found sitting in the Christmas tree.
3. I have my Christmas shopping done!
4. I have had three interviews for a job that I would really really like to get. I find out on monday.
5. I am resolving to write on this more frequently. Whether that be recipes, random thoughts, complaints etc.
6. If you want a chance to win a copy of Lightroom 2 go here.
7. If you want a chance to win a copy of Photoshop Elements go here.

8. Watch for a shortbread post coming soon!!!

You Capture

So I decided to try this whole thing out... I found this initially through my friend/fellow blogger, Allison (if you don't read her, you should. She is hilarious. And has an adorable baby).

So... Here is my first You Capture post brought to you by I Should Be Folding Laundry. (Which, incidentally, I should be doing, but instead I am watching my little nanny boy who has been home sick from daycare this week with the swine flu. Pardon. H1N1.) I figure trying this out when I have a free choice is a nice and easy way to ease into this.

These couple pictures are from a little session that my sister-in-law and I did for a friend of hers.

Anyone who has Children...

http://resolved2worship.xanga.com/715041187/about-boys-and-other-things/

go read that. It is AMAZING.

addition to our house!

no, not a pregnancy... we got another cat! Meet Miss Taggart aka Dagny aka Micro Cat aka Peanut aka Meowenator. ;l...................... (that was courtesy of our first cat, Fjord - not too bad for feline typing skills).

She is 2.2 pounds of fearless kitten. She thinks she can take Fjord on. Sometimes she is right (typed as Fjord skitters spastically from her door out to the living room). She loves people and love Fjord. She would play all day if we let her. Fjord groomed her this morning for about three minutes. That was all she could take before batting him in the face and taking off like a bullet.

Tonight is my sister's birthday party. At our house. My house is messy. Thus, I need to go clean it.

hot damn

Brett Favre is good.

Black Bean Feta Tacos and Photoshop...

Delicious, delicious, delicious! Even my meat loving husband thought these were swell. And he hates feta. I found these at Smitten Kitchen and modified to suite my tastes.

2 cans black beans

1 tbsp. cumin

2 tsp. garlic salt

olive oil

juice of 1 lime

red pepper flakes

1/2 cabbage, chopped

1 carrot, shredded

2 green onions, chopped

fresh cilantro, washed and chopped

feta cheese

Franks Lime/Chili hot sauce

flour tortillas

Rinse and drain the black beans. Place beans in bowl. Mix in cumin and garlic salt while slightly mashing the beans.

In a separate bowl, mix lime juice and oil oil until it emulsifies. Stir in a couple shakes of dried red pepper flakes. Add cabbage, carrot, green onions, and cilantro. Mix. Set aside.

Heat a skillet on medium heat with a little oil (I use coconut oil... whole other post on that). Place desired amount of bean mixture in tortilla. Fold. Cook tortilla on both sides until crunchy and beans heated through (approx 1-2 min/side). Remove from skillet. Add the cabbage mixture, feta, and hot sauce. Enjoy!

I promise these are tasty... my husband made fun of me until he ate one. Then he proclaimed (although not too loudly - he thinks vegetarians are a little odd) that they were 'pretty good and filling.' That would be a resounding 'Yes HONEY! These are delicious.' At least the way I read it. Low fat, cheap, and delicious!

Now he is hanging our artwork in our living room as we wait for our friend to arrive. He had to work late. Very late. And talk on the phone for 5 hours.

Here are some of the shots from yesterday's endeavor.