cup
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
eventful
My life doesn't move very fast these days - nothing does in the humid heat of Southern GA, I'm afraid. It doesn't mean, however, that the slowness equals boredom. Last week, Shon went back to the studio in Colbert to finish recording the two songs he started a year ago. I went with him (not for the first time) and had fun (for the first time). Normally, recording means there are 3-5 guys in a tiny room, all talking at the same time and sharing their highly knowledgeable opinions about what is being done. I end up on the couch in the living room, reading or crocheting, trying to stay out of the way.
This time though, it was Shon, and Chad (the guy who does the recording), and me. Since it was mostly about recording vocals, I could actually contribute an opinion, and the guys actually listened to it - and even acted on it once or twice. And also I got to help out with background vocals - something I've never done before. It was scary at first, but turned out to be easier than I imagined.
The next day we went to see our dear friends play a show at a coffee house in Clarkesville. Randy and Mack are absolutely amazing. Here is a link to one of their songs http://www.youtube.com/user/mackenziechester#p/a/u/1/IFpWRWffTrk
On our way back from the show, I realized I had a bad headache which turned into a beginning stage of a cold by the time I went to bed. It would have been okay, have we not planned a 2-day motorcycle trip to Hendersonville, NC with CMA! I took NyQuil (the only thing there was in the house), got on the back of the bike, and tried very, very hard to stay awake for the next 6 hours on the road. I survived, but that Saturday night was miserable - the worst fever I had in the last 4 years or so. It was all fine the next day, but it's Friday today and the first day it doesn't hurt as much to swallow. There are sores in my throat. Never had that before!
What else... I did not get the job at Andrew College I applied for - in fact, they never even acknowledged the two emails I sent them. I pray that something else will work out. We did get a lead on a new rental place though. In fact, Shon's on the phone with the guy right now. It will be AWESOME to have a new place!
Well, this has gotten really long. More later.
Hugs,
Jenia
This time though, it was Shon, and Chad (the guy who does the recording), and me. Since it was mostly about recording vocals, I could actually contribute an opinion, and the guys actually listened to it - and even acted on it once or twice. And also I got to help out with background vocals - something I've never done before. It was scary at first, but turned out to be easier than I imagined.
The next day we went to see our dear friends play a show at a coffee house in Clarkesville. Randy and Mack are absolutely amazing. Here is a link to one of their songs http://www.youtube.com/user/mackenziechester#p/a/u/1/IFpWRWffTrk
On our way back from the show, I realized I had a bad headache which turned into a beginning stage of a cold by the time I went to bed. It would have been okay, have we not planned a 2-day motorcycle trip to Hendersonville, NC with CMA! I took NyQuil (the only thing there was in the house), got on the back of the bike, and tried very, very hard to stay awake for the next 6 hours on the road. I survived, but that Saturday night was miserable - the worst fever I had in the last 4 years or so. It was all fine the next day, but it's Friday today and the first day it doesn't hurt as much to swallow. There are sores in my throat. Never had that before!
What else... I did not get the job at Andrew College I applied for - in fact, they never even acknowledged the two emails I sent them. I pray that something else will work out. We did get a lead on a new rental place though. In fact, Shon's on the phone with the guy right now. It will be AWESOME to have a new place!
Well, this has gotten really long. More later.
Hugs,
Jenia
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
A Very Angry Post
My husband, who works for a public school system, is supposed to be paid on the last day of the month. We weren't too worried when the check didn't arrive on Wednesday, June 31st, because, well, we learned to expect things to be a little slow. When the check didn't show up on Thursday, July 1st, we were getting a bit nervous, but still not enough to call the Board of Education. When Friday arrived and the check didn't, Shon called only to find out the Board was closed. We transferred the meager funds from our savings to our checking account and went up to Bowman for the weekend.
Today, on Tuesday, July 6th, Shon called the Board again (no answer), and then the high school. The principle told him the Board was off this whole week and offered to call the superintendent at home. She called back 10 minutes later and said that the superintendent will not do anything until Monday, July 12th.
Since I haven't been able to find a job in the area, Shon's salary is the only income we've got and it hits us hard when the payment is delayed. If not for my parents, who wired us a little money last week, we'd literally be living on bread and water now. Even though we aren't going to starve, however, we will be penalized for not paying our bills on time.
I am not angry about not having money - I'm too used to that by now. I am angry, because the local Board of Education cares that little about people who work for it. How difficult is it to get to the office, find the check that somehow didn't make it to the post office before, and mail it? To me it feels like lack of common decency.
Also, I am angry with my husband, because he refuses to make the situation public knowledge (say, write to the editor of the local newspaper). He is afraid it will hurt him - or us. I, having grown up in a country where nobody ever complained about things like this, know where this silence leads.
Lastly, I am angry at myself, because I called Shon a coward and because I can't back off the way I normally do when we disagree. I really believe that it's not right to keep silent. I won't go against my husband. I won't send a letter to the editor. Instead, I'm just sitting here, typing away my anger, hoping to replace it with something close to peace and ending up with numbness instead.
Today, on Tuesday, July 6th, Shon called the Board again (no answer), and then the high school. The principle told him the Board was off this whole week and offered to call the superintendent at home. She called back 10 minutes later and said that the superintendent will not do anything until Monday, July 12th.
Since I haven't been able to find a job in the area, Shon's salary is the only income we've got and it hits us hard when the payment is delayed. If not for my parents, who wired us a little money last week, we'd literally be living on bread and water now. Even though we aren't going to starve, however, we will be penalized for not paying our bills on time.
I am not angry about not having money - I'm too used to that by now. I am angry, because the local Board of Education cares that little about people who work for it. How difficult is it to get to the office, find the check that somehow didn't make it to the post office before, and mail it? To me it feels like lack of common decency.
Also, I am angry with my husband, because he refuses to make the situation public knowledge (say, write to the editor of the local newspaper). He is afraid it will hurt him - or us. I, having grown up in a country where nobody ever complained about things like this, know where this silence leads.
Lastly, I am angry at myself, because I called Shon a coward and because I can't back off the way I normally do when we disagree. I really believe that it's not right to keep silent. I won't go against my husband. I won't send a letter to the editor. Instead, I'm just sitting here, typing away my anger, hoping to replace it with something close to peace and ending up with numbness instead.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Potato-Swiss Chard Curry
Turns out, having your recipes online is very helpful when you are far away from home! So here comes one more.
Ingredients:
3 potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 1" pieces
oil
2 Tbs sugar
2 tsps ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
3 cups chopped Swiss chard or Collard greens
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
Method:
Boil potatoes 4-6 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain. Heat oil in a large skillet over med-high heat until hot. Add potatoes, sugar, spices. Cook 2-3 minutes. Stir in Swiss chard and tomatoes. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 4-6 minutes or until the greens are crisp-tender.
From Cooking Pleasures magazine
Believe it or not, the first time I ever had collard greens was when I first made this recipe. Yes, I do live in Georgia.
Ingredients:
3 potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 1" pieces
oil
2 Tbs sugar
2 tsps ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
3 cups chopped Swiss chard or Collard greens
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
Method:
Boil potatoes 4-6 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain. Heat oil in a large skillet over med-high heat until hot. Add potatoes, sugar, spices. Cook 2-3 minutes. Stir in Swiss chard and tomatoes. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 4-6 minutes or until the greens are crisp-tender.
From Cooking Pleasures magazine
Believe it or not, the first time I ever had collard greens was when I first made this recipe. Yes, I do live in Georgia.
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