Hurry Up and Wait

Before I start getting ready for an impromptu trip to San Francisco to see my sister (thanks to my Dad) I thought I’d jot down a few thoughts.

I’ve been on a bit of an emotional roller coaster the last week.  My husband is talking about joining the Army due to issues with our income and lack of stability with a new baby on the way.  Of course, I will support any decision that will put us in a better place financially, but I’m not thrilled with the idea of him leaving for months to train and then being shipped out, while I have a newborn to care for.

So, I have been sending out his resume like a crazy woman.  Not one bite!  Not one!  Recently while I was running through the newly posted jobs on Craigslist I ran across an ad for a Bed & Breakfast Manager.  I read the ad and it seemed as though the poster had described the need for a person with all of the random things I’ve done and learned in my life.  I’ve often wondered if one day all of these “careers” would culminate into one awesome career.  And it seemed to me that the position described on my computer screen was THAT career.  Knowing this would mean that I would not be staying home with my new baby, I quickly responded to this ad.  I went to bed that night and basically said a prayer, asking for an answer to this dilemma I’ve felt about Randy joining the army and the idea that staying home with Lilly may not be a luxury I have right now.  Up until I read this ad I felt stuck.  As I fell asleep that night I felt free, light and hopeful.

The next morning I jumped on my laptop unrealistically hoping for a response from the poster.  To my surprise, he had responded!  He was happy with my resume and cover letter and asked me to fill out a questionnaire.  I carefully answered his questions and decided that to start out on the right foot I would let him know that I am pregnant.  Some of my friends think I should not have done this.  But I put myself in his shoes for a moment.  What if he was as excited about me/my experience as I was about the position?  Then I walk in to meet him and my pregnant belly screams at him, “Oh no!  She’s going to be taking 3 months off work in a few months!”  That is a major let down for an employer, and I did not want to start that way.  This gave me the opportunity to assure him that Lilly will be here during the slow season and that I would not be looking to take too much time off.  I reiterated how excited I was about the position.  I sent the email off and waited.

I didn’t get a response to that email.  So in another email I asked if he was considering me for an interview, he replied saying that he was.  Now, I’m waiting again.  We all know that I am not a very patient person, so this has been like torture!  Now I’m leaving for close to a week and I will need to keep waiting.  It is hard for me to focus on anything else.  I keep checking my email looking for a response.  When my phone rings and it’s a number I don’t know I get my hopes up.  Blah, blah, blah.

So, I’m off to San Francisco with my family.  I’m sure that will be enough to keep me from worrying about the job.  I hope to get a few unique food experiences in while I’m there.  You can’t take a foodie to San Fran without testing the food!!!  I’ll post my food findings and experiences for you all.  🙂

Choc-ful-o-Veggie Soup

Now that I can use my gas stove I can’t wait to get home from work and cook dinner.  Tonight’s creation has been in the works for a couple days.  I decided I wanted a nice veggie soup.  Fall is here and it’s time for hot soups.  I had a veggie tray left over from a poorly attended Open House, so I decided to make soup!  But, instead of chicken, beef or ham as a source of protein, I decided to use beans.  Since I do like to cook healthy most of the time I chose to skip the canned beans and cook my own.  After a night of soaking beans I came home to perfectly cooked beans ready for my veggies.  (I cooked navy beans and black beans together, which gave me black navy beans!)

I dug around in the fridge and found some fresh spinach, broccoli and a few red potatoes that needed to be used or kissed goodbye!  I added those to carrots, celery, green onions, zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes and the beans.  I used a little chicken base and a little ham base for added flavor.  If you prefer to stay on the vegetarian side just use a little sea salt and garlic (fresh or powdered).  That will complement everything nicely.  Once the veggies were tender I added some avocado chunks just for fun.

I tend to do these one-pot, mystery concoctions a lot.  I find them fun, my husband seems to dread them.  This one came out quite tasty (in my opinion)!  We’ll see if Randy eats it.  🙂

Holy Crap, I can cook!

Can you believe that after 3 months of living in this house I now can cook?  What…?  I’m so excited!!!!  I have gas!  Yes, finally.  I’ve asked my beautiful, wonderful, non-handyman-like husband to at least pay the gas company to come out and get the gas going to my stove (for the last 3 months!).  As most of you women can guess, no calls were made!  At least not by him.

I woke up this morning and decided that I was tired of waiting.  So, I put on my big girl panties and called the gas company myself.  (Ok, so I make it sound like I finally found the courage to call the gas company myself but the women reading this know where I’m coming from.  I gave my husband ample opportunity to be “the man”.  At some point he decided a working gas top stove was not on his list of priorities.  So, after the given amount of time, I called myself.  I allowed my husband his right to take care of it himself, when that didn’t happen, surprise, I did it myself.)  And tonight, I cooked boxed Chicken flavored rice!  Yeah baby!  That’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout!  I was so excited I had to take some pics.

Which one of these do you think I indulged in tonight?

🙂  Your favorite Foodie/Wino,

Shanna  🙂