Dinner Bargains

So the plan was to make the Asian flavored marinated flank steak for dinner but that made me remember the whole someone doesn't cook on Sunday thing.  So the flank steak is still marinating and we pan seared some other steaks and sliced up some potatoes and put them in the oven to cook with some roasted garlic, onion powder, seasoned salt, cayenne pepper, and Tony Checheres (spelling on that not sure, and I'm being lazy so I'm not going to look it up).  Well both the steak and potatoes got the same seasoning, the potatoes just got some Italian seasoning and parsley too.  Both came out pretty good, potatoes had more of a kick.  I would imagine that was because my mother doesn't totally get the concept of rubbing spices heavily into the steak but no matter we ate good and will again tomorrow after I decide what to add to the steaks.  Any suggestions?

Oh and I forgot to add that I saw something on facebook that has me inspired.  It was a random photo but it encouraged everyone to find a jar and put a note inside of it every time something good happened throughout the year and at the end of the year you could look at what transpired--hopefully with a little less sadness and much more appreciation.  I have my Cupcake Provocateur jars I can use for now and if they all get filled up yeah for me.  Who's willing to give it a try?

Today, randomness personified

The weather here has been throwing me for a loop.  Some days I'm just fine and others I wake up and can't breathe for crap.  Today was the latter.  Nothing I took helped and I ended up hoping not to sleep through my phone interview.  I didn't even though I think I didn't necessarily answer their questions as fully as I could have or I was talking fast like I normally do--which I do a LOT.  Brevity is definitely one of my strong suits.  They seemed like nice folks though, not remotely weird and no one mentioned church as an activity, so we'll see how that proceeds.  They plan to meet next week and have site interviews in early January.  You know I'll let you know if I get to go back home again.  In the middle of the non breathing fest I ran the big box of badly wrapped Christmas presents for my brother to the post office.  They aren't that far away and things tend to get there in a few days but I didn't want to risk them getting there late in the Christmas hubbub since there are presents for him, the sis in law, the adorably cute nieces and the pseudo in laws.  I say pseudo because they are always sending us stuff but they are my brother's in laws not mine.  But heck they've been around the last almost twenty years, at least 15, of my life so they may as well be family.  And after the phone interview and the still lack of solid clear breathing I got the weekly whine fest about what is in the house to cook--mind you she buys it all and never seems to figure out she'll get tired of eating the same three main dishes she buys--followed by my weekly response of what do you want then.  The mere mention of me making homemade pizza ceased all whining so that's what's for dinner.  And a salad for her but none for me cause she used up all the salad mix lol.  Oh well, food is done, I'm going to try to go see some clients tomorrow, grade some papers and start on my hair.  Have a great weekend everyone.  Oh and check the new blog I added today.  Deliciously Ludicrous is freaking funny and she's giving away a free book so that's a win too.

Wash Day, Delayed but not forgotten

Today was not at all what I expected it to be when I woke up.  I did do my hair but after a happy delay.  My aunt, cousin, his partner and son stopped by after seeing his oldest son play in a game last night.  After joking with them for a while and letting them partake of the black walnut ice cream that I made for mom.  I prepooed way longer than I intended because I got a case of the "Idontwannas" after I took the Hair Therapy wrap off.  Plus my cousin who traveled all over the state when he was competing on the collegiate level in sports confirmed what I thought about the city I'm heading to interview in.  If it's not going to be as good as here then it may not be worth the relocation stress and leaving the clients locally but I committed to going and they may be able to change my mind.

I did remember to take photos in my length check shirt from Just Grow Already and it looks like I'm an inch or so from line one if I remember correctly.  The pictures are all right after I got my deep condition in.  I'll see what it looks like dry if  I do flat iron it to see what it looks like.  I'll know for certain when I add the photos.  One closer up and one from when I just turned the camera on and shot.  Even though there was more hair loss than I would like, considering I did a flexi set and didn't wash it all week it was better than could be anticipated normally.  Because of the interview I didn't want to do a curly set in case I got lazy the night before the flight and didn't want to redo my hair.  It will be as straight as I can get it this week and hopefully won't have to put heat on it in the morning.  I wrapped it and used setting lotion because the front was being difficult.  You know that's not even something I would have noticed a few years ago.  Just would have hoped it all worked out lol.  And my hair is actually about three different colors.  There's the shouting to be noticed grey mixed in with the mostly dyed black hair but with undertones of brown from where the grey is fighting with the black.  I can't always see all of them but today I noticed and I just am glad that there is hair on my head lol.  My cousin had to cut his hair because the bald genes were rearing their ugly head.  Ahh good old genetics, I'll take grey over bald ANY day.

Your Results May Vary

I am having a good day.  Didn't get to see all of my clients but it wasn't a wash of a day.  I feel like I'm making good connections with them and the social workers/directors of nursing in each facility.  I heard back from the private practice opportunity and will look forward to chatting with her sometime first week of October probably since we're both busy the next few weeks.  I have the interview out of town next weekend ish and still not sure that's what I want ultimately even though it would let me get somewhat closer to the family.  And this morning I got a call.  I get to teach a class next month and maybe in November too.  Either way I'm feeling better about my October than I was last week lol.  And to top it all off I heard back about my Zune and its ultimate fate.  It was the hard drive and it is nevermore.  But they can replace it easily and may have already done that if the shipping notice from Paypal is correct.  They tested everything else too to make sure it's working properly and while the down button that has been bonked for who knows how long is not working if you just scroll down with a light touch it works just fine.  They said they could fix the whole front panel where the button is but that seemed excessive if everything else is working fine.  Hundred bucks later and my red baby is headed back to me ready to be loaded with all of my music and help make my drives much more fun for me.  I may take a photo of it when it comes back since I've talked about it so much and it's coming back red and black instead of red and silver cause the back casing died a painful death in the repair.  Okay so I don't know if electronics feel pain but you get my point.  And I tried the steak and bacon flatbread melt at Sonic today.  It was quite tasty but I could probably scrap the bacon.  I think I'll make it home one day with a touch more barbecue sauce.

3 Hours Post (LOL) and One Full Year of Hair Growth

As I mentioned yesterday, today was relaxer day.  My hairdresser and I have synced up ridiculously and she keeps letting me be close to the last person in the shop so it's laughing, relaxing and no trying to work around folks who suddenly want more stuff done.  Anyhoo, I was expecting to be close to where I was last year when this whole thing started.  My last relaxer in May didn't seem to net much in the way of growth and I wasn't expecting too much retention because I hadn't been the most attentive to my ends.  I fully expected there to be some major clipping done today as a result too.  Let me just say it's good to be wrong.  I have done much better over the last year than I thought I would honestly.  I still need to do better with the moisturizing and sealing and I have no excuse not to do better with my ends now that I think I can do a low bun or a fake ponytail like my hairdresser suggested today.  She snipped a little hair here and there but for the most part most of my hair wasn't touched by clippers.  And nothing beats length but length and thickness.  I know I've been saying that too for the last few days but I haven't had to spend more than thirty minutes under a dryer in quite some time.  Even after an hour there was a spot dead center that was going ehhh I'm almost there but not quite (my hair was wrapped).  Looking at photos from a year ago my hair looks kinda pitiful now that I'm really getting healthier hair.  It was thinner, looking kind of dull and about to let that beautiful burgundy disappear.  Now there's a black dye fading off but hair looks totally different.  I'll let you be the judge of that though.  Pictures are after the break.  Thanks for going on this journey with me from KISS to here and offering words of support and ideas while sharing your own journeys.  I'm still going to make shoulder length the goal for December but if it's January or February I'll take that too.  Another 14 weeks will put me near my next birthday in December so we'll see if that works out lol.  And I even ran by  Red Lobster and had dinner with mom.  Endless shrimp and a mostly good convo plus fresh hair made for much better day.  Hope the mood holds lol.

my hair took forever to dry

My hair was washed and ready to air dry in my braids by 7:30, normally 12 hours later it's good and dry, sometimes sooner.  Today around noon it was still noticeably wet in places and still feels a little more moisturized than normal.  That could be the Shea Moisture curl setting lotion I used this time so my hair does feel good but if I need to add three or four more hours to air dry time then co-washing mid week may not be an option anymore.  Which becomes a problem with styles that tangle up my ends because they need a good separation.  I may just have to brush down and try a new style mid week.  I was just playing with my hair a bit and granted I'm 14 weeks post today so of course it's kinda of think, plus the braid out, but I have an actual thick ponytail happening now lol.  I still need the back to grow out and catch up but at least it's a covered slow growth section.  I'm craving food and sweets but have no desire to cook a thing.  Someone please come bring me food, preferably cupcakes.  Preferably in cute jars like the ones from Cupcake Provocateur.  K I'm gonna go finish reading your blogs and checking my mail.

Insomnia sucks big monkey balls & related things

I really hate when I can't sleep.  Granted my sleep cycle has been off because I've been feeling so so the last few days with no clear explanation.  I finally finished the oft delayed assignment for my old job.  I couldn't decide if it was deliberate that I was ignoring it or a mix of my life is really moving on and I don't want to deal with the past much anymore.  It was probably a little of both cause believe me I was annoyed when I got the assignment weeks after I left.  But it's in and if they like it or don't my time with them is done.  Just paychecks to collect and the rest of my life here to enjoy.  I finished around 11PM and debated sending it but since I want to go in tomorrow morning I didn't want to forget about sending it.  That gave me time to talk to the boyfriend and to check the assignments for the University of Phoenix training.  Got those all done and just need to create a power point for class next week.  On the plus side the dumb assignment let me know that I still had really good access to journal articles through my public library.  LOVE THEM.  We don't give the public library enough credit really, free movies and cds and books.  You get them for at least a week and late fees are still better than anything Blockbuster came up with.  Yes I know this is all very random but it's 3 in the morning what do you expect from me lol. 

What a Difference a Day Makes

Okay so emotionally I'm feeling a lot better honestly.  Not a clear reason as to why but I'm not feeling as blah.  It could be because I'm feeling like crud physically which stinks to high heaven but I'm not in agony.  Just feeling kinda  queasy and have a headache that I though I'd had gotten rid of but that is now coming back with a vengeance.  I went to sleep earlier hoping that would get rid of it and while the dream ROCKED as soon as mom came to bring me the mail my headache was raging.  I took some Aleve and that killed it for the last 90 minutes but I'm guessing the headache has decided to be stronger than the pain meds.  I got my Ben & Jerry's ice cream book so I can take the one I've been holding hostage from the library back whenever I head out again.  I also got a copy of The Science of Black Hair.  The price hasn't dropped dramatically and since I'm about to finish year one of healthy hair care I figured I'd check it out as well.  I've heard rave reviews and since the websites and watching youtube channels have helped before this might be a great addition to the collection.  If it's not maybe I can donate it to the library here since I know there aren't enough of us here to make it a viable purchase for them.  Heck I'm happy when they have the new brown kid cd or movie so a book this specific may not be in their budget.  It's not the richest state in the union by far.

My hair is PISSED but the brisket was good

I need to take my hair down and moisturize and seal again.  It's mostly been wrapped for the last two days save a short trip to Wal-mart to get supplies for today.  But as I went to wrap it a few days ago there was shedding and when I took it down there was more shedding.  Not so much that I'd start crying but more than I would like considering the amount of shedding I had on wash day.  But it seemed to appreciate the m&s better this week so maybe I've just been neglecting that more than I should.  Other than that it's being nice and just doing the normal yes I'm growing and yes I'm gray.  It actually looks white right now since my hair is so dark and not burgundy.  I'll tend to the hair in a few minutes.  I really only contributed brisket to the hot part of the meal today. Yeah I grabbed buns and other things to make sure we could eat how we wanted but I was tired.  Been feeling off the last week or so--could be lack of work.  I am so not a person that could work from home unless it was active work cause I swear it's painful.  Anyhoo back to the brisket.  I woke up much earlier than I wanted and since I was up I mixed two dry rubs that we had in the cabinet with some brown sugar and heavily coated it before letting it cook @ 250 degrees.  Probably a little too long but it was good and I didn't have to hear it's undercooked.  Mom is a seriously cook it till it's desert dry kind of human.  I may start working on another round of frozen yogurt.  I am trying to stay off the Golden Oreos as I prepare to get healthy again.  Okay enough witty banter now.  Trying to plan out how to do a good deed.  See ya.