Deux

Wow, two posts in one day. This is crazy! (Although, I had wrote most of my other post last week, but didn't finish until today.)

I do not usually cook and I (sometimes) feel guilty. But, it is tough because I am vegan and Zach is not. (I am not hard-core vegan. Last week I took a break and ate dairy. I seriously went crazy. I blame the lactose and delicious cheese.) Anyways, tonight I made a vegan quiche so Zach wouldn't have to have another taco, avocado sandwich, or out-of-the-box Thai noodle meal for dinner.

Here is what I used for the quiche:

- 2 tablespoons vegan butter
- 1/2 onion
- 10 oz spinach
- some artichoke
- 2 cloves garlic
- handful of vegan cheese
- The equivalent of 4 eggs of egg-substitute

The last two ingredients are not always fun. I didn't use a lot of the cheese because it usually grosses me out. But, next time I am going to use a little more. As for the egg substitute, it sort of let me down, but it was my first time using it. I mean, I knew I wasn't going to get the same consistency of regular quiche, but I was hoping to get close. Next time I am going to add more egg substitute, but aside from the not so quichey consistency, it was really yummy. And one day I will upload a picture, but my lap-top is d-e-a-d at the age of 1.5 years and Zach's computer is a dinosaur, so I am having some issues. Oh, how I would love a Mac.

Well, I should go because Zach thinks that just because his foreign co-worker pronounces "focus" as "fu-cus" (Don't say it out-loud!!! It sounds like a very bad cuss word!!) he can say it that way too, but he shouldn't.

Nighty night.

Livin' the Thug Life

I mentioned in my last post that I am just fascinated by gangs these days. I started watching "Gangland" on the History Channel and could not get enough. So then I read Monster by "Monster" Kody Scott. I was simply floored by the violence and mindsets. Now, I can understand how a child living in poverty and in a broken home seeks out the gang life for a sense of family. What is crazy to me is that these children transition so quickly to violence. Not only that, but gangs recruit from elementary schools! AND, usually those children already have a glorified idea about that gang. It is crazy and leaves me wondering "what can be done?" Obviously they desperately need Jesus, but the ideals in "gang life" are so opposite of Jesus' teaching, I wonder what it is like to try to reach them. Not hop. Any one have ideas/thoughts? (Becca - I am sure you do, and I would love to hear them!)

And now, I would like to interrupt this blog post for a vent about.... ARMY. Zach just switched jobs or went back to another battalion or something - whatev, not important. What is important is this: in his old position he got up around 5:45 to make it to work for PT and got home around 4ish. Now, he has to BE AT WORK at 5:45 for a meeting. And yes, I mean 5:45 AM. His alarm is now set at 4:40 AM. But it gets better. They also have another meeting in the afternoon that keeps Zach from getting home until 6 or later PM. This. Is. Every. Day. GROSS.

My sweet mother tried to put things into perspective by saying, "Well Steph, if he was working in NYC*, he would be leaving that early AND wouldn't be getting home until 8 or 9 at night."

And she is right, most business men in NYC are workaholics. However, they do not deploy and they make at least 4 times Zach's salary. Um, good try, Susan, but you are going to need to try harder than that :)

*My mom is from NJ and both my parents started out working in NYC, so that comment really didn't come out of left field. Just so you know, my Southern friends :)

And PS - I am aware that many people have to work longer hours than Zach and may make even less than he does. I am thankful for what we have, don't get me wrong. Really, it is not about money. I am just in an iwantmyhusbandhomeplease sort of mood. The Army has a unique way of annoying me. Story of my life. Well, my life for the past 3 years. OMG I have to stop now. I am thinking in crazy circles.

Okay, peace out.

"I DO know, I KNOW" - that was for you, Kara Grimes.

Martha, Martha, Martha

Tonight is a big night, blog world. Tonight, for the first time ever, Zach and I are hosting our community group.

I'm feeling a little "Martha" right now (Luke 10:38-42). Here is why: there is a good chance that all night (and all day up til tonight) I will be distracted with thoughts like this:

- My little condo is so small, people are going to be sitting on top of each other
- My breakfast nook is not finished and people are going to judge my bare wall
- My little dog is going to be so annoying (that is a pretty legitimate concern haha)
- I will miss a spot dusting and it will gross someone out
- And the list goes on and on...

Um, how ridiculous am I? Pretty ridiculous. First of all, I have never had any of those thoughts about anyone's house. Second of all, I don't want to miss out on what I might learn tonight - or any time today! So, right now in this moment, I am going to take a deep breath....Check. Say a little prayer..... Check. And re-group.... Check. Okay, I am feeling better already!

Anything distracting you today, or am I the only one? :)


(PS- Later this week I am going to blog about my new fascination... gang life. Brace yourself. Or yo 'self. Whatev.)

Millitary Balls & Nightmares

i didn't actually have any nightmares about military balls, but zach's unit or something had one last thursday and i DID NOT want to go. but ya'll, i am so thankful i did because i saw a real fight. that's right, at a "formal ball" i saw two grown men take off their jackets and fight on the ground. it was amazing. even if that fight hadn't happened, i would have called that night a success - i had lots of fun meeting people and just hanging out. the military is made up of all kinds of people and i love to meet them. and people watch.

ok, if you want to read about crazy dreams, read on. if not, i understand... stop reading now and have a great night.

alright, so i have been having CRAZY SCARY dreams. let me sum it up like this:

nightmare #1: i go to get a shot. but instead of pushing the medicine in with a small thumb bar, this shot is administered in a huge needle thing that requires a NON MEDICAL person to give the shot like she is pumping a nerf gun. and then she drops the huge shot and it dangles in my arm.

nightmare #2: i am babysitting an infant. other things happen in my dream. i go back to the baby and feel really guilty because she has a dirty diaper and i left her. i mean, i feel horrible - but other people were there - in my defense. so i go to change her diaper while i feel so bad for her and then she SPEAKS TO ME IN A SATAN VOICE: "i am going to tell on you. you left me. i am going to tell my mommy." seriously, that one was the scariest thing EVER. it messed me up the entire day after that nightmare.

nightmare #3: i am hanging out with egyptians in a large hotel. we are being held captive by evil egyptians. every hour a group of us are forced outside where lions and other wild animals try to attack us. nice egyptians protect me. then a large number of us are ushered into a very large, dark conference room. 6 people are taken from the room and we think they are saved. oh no, they were cooked. i had a nightmare about evil cannibalistic egyptians.

i can't figure out the first 2, but i will say that the night before the 3rd nightmare, i had just read about moses leading the israelites out of egypt.... so there ya go.