This little light of mine

I'm gonna let it shine

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Ain't gonna make it shine

Just gonna let it shine

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Sucky Lessons Learned

4 days; 3 interviews; 2 evening presentations; 2 day-time presentations = 1 exhausting week!

I have had friends who have had to go on interviews; I have had friends who lost their job. I was always, ALWAYS the first one in line saying, "You'll be OK, everything will work out," or, "It's for the best," and, "Hang in there." When it came to interview advice, same thing, "Don't be nervous, you're gonna do great!" or, "Give it your all, be yourself, you'll be great."

I didn't realize how unhelpful all of that crap was until the last few weeks!

Interviewing is freaking exhausting (emotionally) and it's nerve racking! I have this large inner dialog with myself where I try and reason with me and talk me out of being nervous. It doesn't work. Freaken inner dialog!

Additionally, in my head, I know I am going to be fine and that this lay off is not the end of the world...I'm kind of tired of people telling me that, though! (I am only partially kidding.)

I have learned that there's a lot to be said for a little sympathy!

When I told my father that I got laid off, he sounded as though someone punched him in the gut, and that made me feel better! (I know, I'm a sicko)

I am very blessed as I have a lot of supportive people in my life encouraging me while at the same time being sympathetic.

Those few that weren't, those few that acted like me losing a job that I have had for 4.25 years was no big deal, was karma coming back and biting me in the big ol' fat arse, making me eat my words, big time! Oh, karma's a B****! I now more so than ever, realize the power of words...and how much I sucked when I was giving my friends those meaningless sentiments, "You'll be OK, everything will be fine," when life threw them a curve ball that gave them a black eye. They needed ice, I gave them water. Still, better than nothing; but, I have learned that those sentiments do not offer comfort!

SO! I pledge to you here and now, if something sucky ever happens to you, I promise to give you sympathy and comfort... and to help you get revenge on the bastard that hurt you! (By 'bastard' I am not implying 'man', no sexism here, folks! By 'bastard' I am referring to whatever entity caused pain.)

And, I'm not really serious about the revenge part...cause I don't want any more karma!

I've been really busy updating my resume, getting things in order, etc; but, wanted to give you some payoff for checkin' out the blog! So, for your viewing pleasure...(hope you enjoy)

Pooped after a day at DisneyLand

A long, long time ago...

Aging bodies! UGH!

What dorks ride "Space Mountain" enough times to know where the camera is...and then pose for the picture in the middle of the ride?!?!

Girls

Family

He looks how I feel when the alarm starts ringing

I'm so proud of him!

Sheesh

Sheesh, the range of emotions that I feel because of this lay off is quite surprising to me. My tummy is in knots; but, my head feels fine. I mean, I'm not too worried, in my head, about what is going to happen...but, I must be for my tummy to be in knots.

It's hard for me to fall asleep at night and then, when I am asleep, that's all I want to do. I just want to stay in bed. (I know, that's healthy, right?!)

Yesterday it hit me that I am going to have to start all over again. ((SIGH))

A slew of caring people have told me not to stress, because that's not good for my asthma and I'm in the middle of fighting a cold and fighting off my cough; so, to stress now, would be to exacerbate my asthma. What a freaken pain in the neck!

So, I have not cried and I am taking all asthma medicine that I can. I have not cried because 1) I hate crying and 2) the mucus (I know, lovely) that crying creates is a recipe for disaster with my asthma, I feel. It's the same reason I didn't let myself cry when we found out my doctor thought, in January, it would be one month before I could return back to work while Dave was already out of a job.

As I am typing all of this, it makes me feel resentful of a certain person. So, to you, person in my life who likes to call me weak, I'd like to say to you that you really have no idea what you are talking about. All you have managed to accomplish is to show me that 1) you don't know me at all, nor respect me and 2) you don't care about me. I'm not going to be anybody's punching bag. I have no room for that in my life.

I think that's about all for now.

Laid Off

This week I was informed that I (along with others) am being laid off from my job. Thank you California economy! (I hope the sarcasm does not taste too bitter.)

I knew this was a possibility and unlike last year, I stayed quite optimistic and had faith that whatever was going to happen, was going to happen, that it was out of my control and that I'd be OK no matter what. I decided that in the mean time, I would do my job to the best of my ability and if I did get laid off, I would have no regrets.

It still didn't soften the blow.

Have you ever had something happen where the ensuing quiet seemed excruciating loud? The air in the room bangs on your eardrums and it's as if you were in the front row at a KISS concert.

I have so many mixed feelings.

#1, of course I'm bummed. I have grown quite accustomed to seeing certain familiar faces 40 hours a week now for four years straight. I will miss certain people.

#2, of course I'm stressed about money. When you don't live with mommy and daddy anymore, stressing about money is just one of those realities, right? Or, am I doing something wrong?!

#3, there is a teeny, tiny part of me that is excited, anxious, to see what the future holds for me. I hope and pray that, like my Mom said, I am on to bigger and better things! I hope that whatever is next in store for me is something that I truly love and something that makes me uber happy.

I guess it's that #3 that keeps me going.

Easy Peasy Chicken Fajitas!

OK! Since I successfully pan fried chicken for the first time ever (Go, Me!) AND the meal didn't make us sick, was affordable, healthy (to my standards) and tasty I am going to share with you, my folks!

First, you need a good, strong helper who isn't afraid of fires and hot oil. A helper who laughs in the face of danger!

Here is what else you need:

For this recipe, you will actually need 2 bottles of Italian salad dressing, you'll use the other one later. And, soy sauce...but, I don't have a picture of that, sorry!

To make this meal healthy, we need veggies:

FYI, I cut those green peppers, red peppers and onions all by myself. For your information, I had never cut an onion before this night. For your information, I did a pretty good job!

Ya also gotta have some refried beans:

To make said Chicken Fajitas, one must cut up defrosted, thawed, (whatever) chicken and marinate in 1/4 cup soy sauce and 1 bottle of Italian Salad Dressing. I don't care how little or how long you marinate it because this is easy, simple and care-free cookin' Missy style! But, if you must know, my chicken marinated for at least 4 hours.

Before you pan fry the chicken (yes, I know I could have just said, 'before you cook the chicken' but since this is the first time I successfully pan fried chicken, I am going to keep saying, 'pan fry' mmmmkayyy???) dump it in a strainer in the sink and let the marinade drain down the sink. I was told not to pan fry chicken in the sauce used to marinate it. Something about salmonella and getting sick.

Put a lil' soy sauce and Italian Salad Dressing in your frying pan (I used it in the chicken frying pan and the veggie frying pan) and start cooking at MedHigh heat. I, because I'm finicky, toyed with the temps a lot and I stirred the veggies gently and the chicken every now and then...'every now and then' is my technical term: KISS (keep it simple silly; remember, this is Missy, we're talking about , here!)

Look at me go! No smoke! No flames! No fire! AND, I'm taking pictures!

WHOOP WHOOP!

After the chicken pan fried (haha) for 15-20 minutes I cut into a piece to make sure it was done (I didn't want to see any pink):

And, then, eat...eat to your heart's content...

I know this is dorky...but, that's what I am, dorky...dorky and proud of it!

If you try this, I hope you like it. My mom made these chicken fajitas when I was growing up and I just love them and now, so does Dave!