In The Bleak Midwinter

I'm super-cheered-up by:

- Needle and thread

- Two weeks of having two vehicles

- Gmail

- Visits from a dear friends

- Awesome ski trip

- Ibuprofen

- Cameras

- Snow

- Happy yellow flowers

- Tall lovely roses

- Laughter

- A new shelf

- Peanut butter and apples

- Dishsoap

- My curling iron

- Turbo kick boxing

- Online workout videos

- Fresh towels and clean bedding

- Creme Brulee scented candles

- Creme Brulee

I might be grumpy if--

I've realized that I am often grumpy for extremely quantifiable (and preventable) reasons.  Here are my top three...

I might be grumpy because:

(1)  I tried to cheer someone up, and they totally didn't notice.  Or I did a nice deed, but someone disregarded me (and my deed) utterly.  I reached out emotionally, and got slapped.  OR someone else is grumpy, and I can't figure out how to cheer them.  And so, I'm now sulking bitterly, and have vowed never again to waste my energy on selfish human beings.

(2)  I haven't been adequately productive.  I procrastinated; I didn't tackle that neglected, undesirable, looming task.  Maybe I browsed Facebook for an hour, claiming a right to have "downtime."  Maybe I just ignored parts of my to-do list.  Bottom line:  I somehow wasted time today, and I don't want to admit it, but I know it - and I feel it keenly.

(3)  I need light, or warmth, or food, or sound.  Sometimes it takes me hours to realize I'm working in a dark room, or to walk upstairs and put on warm socks, or to heat up a bowl of soup - because I'm "busy."  And often, I just need sound.  Music.  A background video.  Radio.  Sound makes a world of difference for me, and puts me into "productive" mode, which assists in avoiding Reason #2 (see above).

How about you?  What curable things cause your grumpy moments?

Sorry I could not travel both...

Most military spouses desperately want to get stationed abroad.  Somewhere.  Possibly anywhere.  I’m among the non-picky – I’d take anywhere.  I love America – but I love traveling.  I love new cultures, new places, new people, new mannerisms, new languages…  So yes, I frequently ask dear Husband, “Any OCONUS billets?”  And last year, we made it across 23 contiguous states... but no oceans.

However, one thing I love about our current station is that the international world has come to us, in the form of "Republic of Singapore Air Force."  And by "come to us" - I mean, our whole world is shared.  The other half of our duplex belongs to a sweet Singaporean family.  Many of our kindest neighbors are Singaporean.  And they are as excited to be here, as I would be in England.  =)

I met Allison at PWOC - she just arrived from Singapore with her husband, three children, and family cook/maid - and was an instant delight in my life.  She and I became walking buddies - and she braved the frigid hundred-MPH gusts like an Alaskan native.  So did her 1 year old.  Go him.  Then, she invited me to her home, to eat delectable pineapple pastries and a noodle lunch... aww!

We went out to pizza after church with their family, and in between the natural cacophony of public family eating, we discussed everything from real estate markets and cycles of business growth, to social views of children and the age-old Security-vs.-Liberty debate.  Jerediah, Allison's husband, explained that Singapore falls very firmly on the "security" side, and was fascinated to hear arguments for "liberty" instead.  (Husband and I had just finished judging a 2-day debate tournament, and could easily defend either side, after listening to hundreds of teenagers attempt to do so.)

It warms my heart to see them enjoying my country so much.  They are psyched about putting their nearly-five-year-old son on the soccer team.  Visiting REI (for the first time) was like glimpsing Utopia.  AWANA, gymnastics classes, Bible studies, skiing - all these things are novel luxuries to her, and she is so grateful for them. 

It's convicting to me.

We may or may not ever go abroad.  But, military life compels living in the present - lest you go nuts, thinking about the future.  So for today, I'm super-thankful to have Allison, whose awe and excitement remind me of all the blessings I have here.  And for the awesome international section of our commissary.  And for the excellent sushi bar.  And for the library, with all its travel videos.  And for all the little dark-haired children, playing out front.  And for all the joy and variety and perspective they bring to my otherwise homogenous little world.

3 (More) Cheap Meals

1) Breakfast for Dinner:  Omelettes, Oatmeal, Dutch Baby Pancakes...

 

Who in their right mind decided that restaurant omelettes should cost $8-10?!  The actual cost of an omelette (assuming 1-2 veggies, and a healthy amount of cheese) hovers right around $1.  Yup.  Not even kidding.  Using 6 eggs, 1/2 minced green pepper, 1/2 a diced onion, and a sprinkle of cheese - you can feed 3 adults nicely.  In other news, instant oatmeal actually saves you hardly any time (despite the "instant" marketing - boiling oats the old fashioned way takes around 3 minutes) and costs you alot of extra money.  Try using the "stovetop" formula on the side of the Quaker Oat canister, to economize your breakfast.  Finally, ever hear of Dutch Baby Pancakes?  Basically the best combination of flour, butter, milk, and eggs EVER...

Note:  The "pancake" is supposed to puff up, and then fall.  So, don't freak out.

Total Cost (three servings):  Under $3.

2) Beef and Barley Soup

Now, you're about to protest that beef is expensive.  I agree.  Mildly.  But, not if you shop at Paul's, and not if you use a crockpot (which, on low for 8-12 hours, can render ANY cut of beef into a tender, mouth-watering substance).  And barley, let me just brag on you a moment.  Barley is SUPER good for you, and SUPER inexpensive.  Barley lowers cholesterol in study after study, and is a yummy part of a fiber-rich diet.  Barley tastes delicious, and uses only water to cook.  Conclusion: Barley is our friend. 

To make this soup, simply put 1-2 lbs of beef into your crockpot at O'Dark-Thirty (10-12 hours before you want to serve it), with about 1-2 cups of water, any spices you like, carrots/onions, and a spoonful of Beef Better-Than-Bouillon (if you want extra-delicious broth).  Then, leave the lid on.  Seriously.  That is the hardest part.  Eventually, a few hours before supper, boil the barley in a TON of water (at least three times as much water as barley) and after it's thoroughly cooked, add it to the crockpot.  (I prefer this method, because then my barley absorbs less of my yummy broth  :-))  This meal will also stretch for a while - and costs as little as you want.  Water is free, beef is negotiable, and barley is cheap.  So are carrots, and onions.

Total cost per meal (2-3 servings): Under $2.

- Pork (or ham) and Bean Soup

If you live where we live, hearty soup dinners are a balm to your soul.  Kinda like how chapstick staves off that searing wind out there?  You know exactly what I mean...

So, try putting 1 diced onion, 2 diced carrots, 2 lbs of pork (or ham), one bag of mixed "soup" beans, (presoak them for at least 1-2 hours - overnight is best), and 2 tbsp soy sauce in your crockpot (exclude if you're using ham).  Cover liberally with water.  Cook for about 8-10 hours.  Season with bay leaf/Mrs. Dash, salt/pepper as you like.  The entire pot will cost you under $5, and will last you for, like, a week.  Not even kidding.  Freezing is recommended, after Day #3.  Not because it won't keep in your fridge - it will, indefinitely.  Mostly because you'll be sick of it, long before it runs out.

Total cost per meal (2-3 people): WAY Under $2.

And then, there were dogs.

The-Day-After-Valentines here in Militaryland means one thing: Active combat with other spouses over the clearance-priced-chocolates at the BX.  Warned by maniacal ("Those Dove chocolates are MINE!") blog posts, I opted to do my scavaging "in town."  With retired, laid-back locals who saunter out of their homes around 9:30, after the cows have been milked, chickens fed, breakfast consumed, and the entire newspaper re-read.  (It only comes out once a week.)

I underestimated.

First, someone dropped a thermometer in the highschool.  Which required a HazMat team, school-shut-down, and evacuation of the entire area.  Beg pardon?  Yes mercury is bad, but it's not nuclear... golly.  So anyhow, displaced highschoolers flooded the (narrow) streets.  And the grocery store.  Which is an unofficial school cafeteria. Because McDonald's is on the other side of town (a whole mile away).

Second, apparently these stores are miserly.  Bags of chocolate, originally priced at extortionist prices ($6.50?  Really?  For 18 pink Butterfingers?) were now 50% off, yes, which means they are now normal prices.  Not sale prices.  Not prices I was willing to pay.  Guess they've figured out we spend a mint in gas, driving to the nearest "city", so a 30% increase on "city prices" actually saves money and compel us to buy here.  Meh.

Third, those retirees are fierce!  *wide-eyed*  I retreated from the Hersheys kisses so fast I collided with the magazine rack.  And no one helped me up.  They were too busy digging for their favorite version of Werthers.

So, I bought non-sale, but-still-cheap chocolate from the Dollar Store.  Then, I went to Walmart and bought baby clothes, (that section was deserted) because ALL my neighbors/colleagues/friends are pregnant, and I foresee a busy baby-shower season.

Then, I headed back to base, because I had a noon-deadline to meet.  And as I approached the gate, I slowed down to exactly 15MPH (because their awful horn blows your eardrums out, if you are going even 16MPH) like a law-abiding citizen.  And was pulled over.  For my first RAM.  (Took me several minutes to deduce that RAM is a Random Anti-terrorism Measure, and not a rebuke/citation/ticket.) 

The ominous guards asked me to open all my doors, my hood, and my trunk.  Trouble is, this is my husband's car.  I don't know how to pop the hood.  So after much negotiating, and me using the correct phrase "You have my permission" Sergeant-Schultz's-twin popped my trunk.  Then I tried to unlock the trunk, but it didn't work.  No matter what I tried.  So, several idiotic minutes later, and two more "you have my permissions," they wrestled my trunk open.  And brought out the dogs.  Who were VERY interested in my chocolate.  And of course, I passed my random inspection.  The guards gave my ID back, and strode over to their next victim.

But then, I couldn't get the trunk to shut.  Silently yelling at my dear husband for never getting the latch fixed, I slammed, and slammed, and slammed, and slammed.  Nope.  Nothing.  Finally, SGT Schultz comes back.  "Everything alright, ma'am?"  Feigning non-embarrassment , I admitted, "I can't get it shut."  So (I gave him permission) he slammed.  And slammed. For ten minutes.  His friend came over and tried.  Nope.

Beet-red, he suddenly (apologetically) inquired, "So, how is your day going?" 

I groped for a diplomatic response.  "Well, there wasn't as much Valentines' clearance chocolate as I was hoping for.  But... the weather is nice."

He grunted, and slammed my trunk again. "Well, you win some - you lose some."

Oh Happy Day

Today is grey and windy, bleak and demoralizing.  It's 55 degrees currently, which, bizarrely enough, feels much colder than the pleasant 30-degree days we had last week.  Go figure.  People are huddled in their homes, loitering in the common buildings, irritably purchasing last-minute Valentines' flowers, and fervently wishing this week were over.

I feel it, too.  Husband is working another 15 hour day today, and (come to think of it) every day this week. Sinking is instinctive, amidst the lonely dimness here.  To dwell on what I don't have - to mope rather than improve.  To waste time instead of be proactive and productive.  But, I'm a rebel.  So here's my happy list.  And then, I'm going to go clean house, darnit.  And listen to Adventures in Odyssey.  And make dinner, for when he eventually comes home.

- A fresh, new haircut

- Sweet notes from my husband

- Affordable curtains

- Fun, chunky jewelry

- Decor possibilities

- Hairspray

- Bean and Cheese Burritos

- Concealer

- Borrowed cars

- Hand-me-downs from PCSing families

- Completed laundry

- Socks

- Cheerful blogs

- Hot Soup

- Google

- Our freezer

- My singing chipmunk, who makes me grin, no matter what

3 Cheap Meals

These are for the times when money (savings) outranks nutrition (within reason - we still don't advocate ramen-level-departures from health...)  I hereby acknowledge that these (at least, #1 and #2) aren't diet foods.  However, they make great family meals.

1)  Fried potatoes with ham and onions. 

This one is easy (and one of husband's favorite).  Saute one chopped onion in (minimal) olive/coconut oil, then set them aside.  Chunk red potatoes (6 or so) and fry them on medium-high (in the pan with the previously-used onion oil) until crispy, then add the onions and one package of diced ham ($1 at the commissary).  Salt and pepper to taste (and ketchup, if you like) make this a comfort-food winner.

Total Cost for 2-3 People:  WAY Under $3.

2)  Fried Rice. 

You can do this the junky way - with a cheap, instant, boxed mix (complete with three days' worth of sodium) - or you can do it the old fashioned way and spend roughly the same amount and have a much healthier meal.  Just scramble 2 eggs (approximately $0.50, even if you buy the organic kind, like we do), cook brown rice, then remove the eggs from the pan, add a tad of oil, and combine the rice, frozen mixed veggies (any kind!), and scrambled eggs.  Add a smidge of soy sauce, if feeling indulgent.  ;-)  (Ditto to making your own chow mein - just saute sliced cabbage and soy sauce and noodles.)

Total Cost for 2-3 People:  WAY Under $2.

3)  Rice and Beans. 

At $2.00 per 2 lb. bag, one serving (1/4 cup uncooked rice) is exactly $0.10.  Not joking.  Beans are similar, if you're willing to buy the dry kind, then soak and gently simmer/cook them yourself.  Which isn't hard.  =)  Then, add whatever you like/can afford! Avoid/minimize using cheese, sour cream, avocados, and pre-made salsas, as they cost more per ounce.  But, pork is an inexpensive meat to include, (especially from Paul's) as is chicken (sometimes).  Also try diced celery, raisins, corn, (think: Chipotle) tomatoes, onions, cilantro, a splash of lime, and sea salt... mmm!

And guess what?  You're still WAY under $1, per serving.  WAY under $2, for 3 portions.

... and now, don't you feel inspired?!  In spite of today's undulating economy, rising gas prices, and exorbitant food costs, we can manage.  Just watch us, world.

Bright copper kettles, and warm woolen mittens

- Patriotic music
- Indoor heating
- $6.34 refunds
- The miracle of salvation
- Realized/corrected budget errors
- Sunny/Rainy/Windy/Snowy/Sunny-Again Days
- Hair ties
- New words
- Plans to dream over
- Fingernail files!
- Hungarian Mushroom Soup
- Shampoo
- Dry cleaners
- Receipts
- Online banking
- Candles

*Addictive* Guacamole

Essentials:

- 1-2 Avocados (ripe, but not-quite-dead/icky-squishy)

- About 1/6 of one juicy lime (give or take a little)

- Mrs. Dash (how could we surive without this stuff?!), to taste

- Seasalt, to taste

- Your favorite tortilla chips

Optionals:

- 1/4 Cup Minced Onion

- 2-3 Cloves of Garlic (squished through This, Our Favorite Gadget)

- Diced roma tomatoes (1/4 cup)

First, slice the avocado in the middle, like so, and remove the "seed" in the middle.  (Trick:  Try quickly spearing/whacking the seed with your knife, to snag it on the blade - then pull gently.  Beats trying to dig it out any other way!)

Then, we recommend you slice them in half, until you have this shape.  Then, peel the skin off easily.  (MUCH easier than shoveling the pulp out with a spoon.  Trust us.)

Next, take about this much lime, and squeeze it until there is no more juice.  (You can obviously adjust the size your slice - all limes are not equally juicy.)

Finally, sprinkle about two shakes of Mrs. Dash, and a few pinches of salt (again, adjust for your own taste), and TA-DA.... you have this!

3 Perks to Small Towns

The grey, baby mouse was curled into a tight fetal position, and looked so cold/scared that I (in spite of my gender) instinctively pitied it. 

But then, I flinched.  The tiny creature was perfectly flattened against the pavement, the obvious victim of a heavy, rural truck tire.

This all happened at the edge of the shadow cast by Paul's Grocery, the town's family-run market.  I was picking my way across the icy, cracked asphalt in an effort to obtain my "10% off" military discount, offered on the one day when our commissary is closed (clever businessmen, these smalltown folks). 

I shuddered, veered around the mouse, and darted through the automatic door - which has a tendency to close randomly, so you better be quick.

Inside, I found a tub of raw, wild, local honey for a fraction of what the neatly labeled, machine-manufactured, bear-shaped options cost.  And lamb (which isn't sold in the Commissary).  On clearance!  And people waved at me as if I was an old friend.  No one assessed my clothes, or my hair, or seemed to judge me at all.

Thus, I gradually recovered from my trauma with the mouse and began realizing that, as much as military spouses complain about living "in the middle of nowhere!" (which is true) and wishing for "civiliation" so on... there are a ton of (easily-overlooked) perks to living here.

I'll list only three today, because, well, it's the daily number... but, you can add your own.  Or I may add more, next Wednesday.  ;-)

(1)  I can do several consecutive hours of grocery bargain hunting/couponing, and my frozen groceries stay conveniently rock solid, even in our car.  Score!

(2)  Old folks are extra-well-preserved here, because it appears they simply have to keep living (and living) at the normal pace.  92 year old men are trim, and still fit into their 3-decade old Wranglers.  Possibly because they don't so much as have benches here.  Not even at the pharmacy.  Moreover, there's no mall where they can nap.  Only thing close to a mall here is the hardware store, where loiterers congregate as if it's the Mayberry Barbershop.  And there are no benches there, either.

(3)  We never wash our car anymore.  Ever.  (We don't even own a sponge.)  We'd just be considered snobs.  After all, who's gonna judge you for being a little muddy/dusty? 

Oh wait - only city people would.