Susie's Leaning Tower of Chocolate for 2004 April

Well, we're home, and even though it should feel earlier than the time thinks it is, I'm exhausted. we had a lot of fun and a lot of food. I went to a baby shower, a double birthday party and an Easter Egg Hunt (which John and I got to participate in). Not to mention all the tickle fights, games of tag and red light/ green light, etc that go on with all those kiddlets around.

Here is my yummy Beef Stroganoff easy version recipe:

1 lb. ground beef
Brown beef and remove from pan.

3 T butter
1 c. chopped onion
1 clove garlic
1/2 lb. fresh sliced mushrooms
Cook in butter until onion is golden.

Add and stir until smooth:
3 T flour
1 T ketchup
1/2 t. salt
1/8 pepper

Gradually add 1 can beef broth. Bring to a boil. Simmer on low 5 minutes. Add 1/4 t. dill and 1 1/2 c. sour cream (I don't use that much).  Stir. Add beef. Simmer just until hot.

Well, we're home, and even though it should feel earlier than the time thinks it is, I'm exhausted. we had a lot of fun and a lot of food. I went to a baby shower, a double birthday party and an Easter Egg Hunt (which John and I got to participate in). Not to mention all the tickle fights, games of tag and red light/ green light, etc that go on with all those kiddlets around.

Here is my yummy Beef Stroganoff easy version recipe:

1 lb. ground beef
Brown beef and remove from pan.

3 T butter
1 c. chopped onion
1 clove garlic
1/2 lb. fresh sliced mushrooms
Cook in butter until onion is golden.

Add and stir until smooth:
3 T flour
1 T ketchup
1/2 t. salt
1/8 pepper

Gradually add 1 can beef broth. Bring to a boil. Simmer on low 5 minutes. Add 1/4 t. dill and 1 1/2 c. sour cream (I don't use that much).  Stir. Add beef. Simmer just until hot.

Rich (my boss) called me into his office today to tell me that the Rec Therapy program is for sure (again) moving to evenings and weekends. So, M, T, Th and F I'll be working 12-8, Wed 9-5 and a rotating Saturday. For Sure. Rich has three weeks to rework the original evening schedule we worked out.

In other news. Hmm what was my other news. Oh yeah. Now that I am finished reading The Chronicles of Narnia, I've started up on Harry Potter again. I finished #2 this afternoon. Jodi borrowed John's #3 so we took a walk to the library to check it out. Then John bought me KFC, yummy. The library had at least 30 copies of HP #5. We laughed. The demand is so high in the beginning, but now, they are all just sitting there!

Yesterday I went to the mall to buy a sweater for Jodi's wedding. We are all (sisters-in-law) wearing the same sweater with khaki skirts. I really like the sweater. It's lavender with trim on the 3/4 sleeves and the waist. I especially am happy we all found something we like.

If chapstick (tm) were food, I would eat it.

I am at work chilling until group therapy is over (about the only time we get anything done around here). Next week is Spring Break, and we will be starting our new schedule the day after that. hrmph.

This morning I made Stuffed Shells to bake for my cutie John tonight. It will be yummy. Well, I should get back to work and find something "productive" to do, or at least worth Heritage's money. Just thought I'd say that I made a yummy dinner for tonight!

Our department is being restructured, which isn't good news and we have all been quite grumpy at work.

Today John and I went around finding good deals on clothes we needed. We also cleaned out our closets. I love getting rid of stuff. I'm hungry.

I have finished HP #5. When is the next one coming out? I understood them a lot more this time around. John and I bought lots of clothes yesterday with book buyback money.

Today I made two batches of pretzels and our yummy favorite, Zesty Chicken and Potatoes. Then we got lazy and had corndogs for dinner. Actually, I was going to make Chinese Cabbage salad, but, unbelievably enough, we didn't have any Ramen. What a sad, yet blissful, day of college life.

What did I ever do in the mornings before I started reading? Sleep in, I guess. If I keep my current job (well, the one nearest which would be possible for me to have) I will be working 12-8 everyday. Seriously, what do people do all morning?

Luckily, today is a non-school day and John has left the computer home to go work all day. He's working lots for me this week, especially since he can take his final while I'm at Enrichment (gardening) and not have to take time off work.

I am making Cheesy Bacon Spanish Rice for dinner. Yummy. I guess it wouldn't kill me to leave for work now.

John and I are going to see Grandma June on Saturday and do a puzzle with her. I also got a thing in the mail about Saturn owner's night at the zoo sometime in May, so we might take Ember and Logan.

At work today, one girl announced she wouldn't be reapplying for her job, so that at least takes some of the pressure off.

Dinner was yummy. Now we're going to the mall to return the skirt I originally got to wear to Jodi's wedding. Cute husband is coming with me. That's for FHE today.

Enrichment tonight was on gardening. I got to plant some seeds in a little egg shell and now I am looking online for ideas about growing things with no outside space. This is the best site I've found.

Happy Birthday Dear Mommy!!!!! Happy Birthday to You!

I have an interview with the "Executive Committee" in half an hour and suddenly I am really nervous...

I lost my job today and I am very sad.

Please refer to John's page for a history of yesterday's events. Today we went to Grandma June's again for dinner and some bridal shower planning with Mom, Dad, Jodi and Franco. It's nice to have a grandma near to spoil us, even though I miss the one far away. Grandma June is 86 and is very active. She is a fun lady.

On the schedule for tomorrow: Job Search, Job Search, Job Search.

I have applied for approximately eleven jobs so far, one of which was as a Rec Therapist at a place similar to Heritage. Most of them are office positions, for which, according to the two office skills tests I took today, I am most qualified. I had to take the BYU one for the BYU jobs and the DWS one for the government jos (dept. of substance abuse etc), and if I don't have a job by Wednesday I will have to take the Kelly Services one. My ten-key scores keep going down; am I really that bad?

I made yummy-smelling BBQ chicken, rice and carrots for dinner. I am using a new kind of rice, "Calrose", because it was the least expensive. I usually buy just the long-grain white rice. This kind looks really fluffy.

I found this story while looking for an address for BHS.

Job is going ok. I had an interview at a place similar to Heritage the other day. If I'm hired they'll require (and pay for) Lifeguard, EMT, River Guide, and Ropes Course certifications and wilderness survival training. How fun! Tomorrow John is going with me to see if I can learn how to rock climb. If so, I can do anything!

Still making seminar confirmation phone calls. Could be worse.