It's been a few hours since my last post, and I thought I'd give you an update.  I am currently sitting (in my jammies) at my puter desk, with my wrist in a brace but feeling much better. 

I just finished eating some YUMMY casserole, and I have 1 more casserole (in a HUGE pan) in the oven. 

I have folded & put up 3 loads of laundry.  One more is waiting in the washer to be put into the dryer.

I washed 60% of the dishes, the icky ones are soaking (from my chili yesterday). 

I changed PsychoKitty's litter, and washed the litterbox out before putting new litter in.   

I read my chapter of the Artist's Way.  IMPORTANT NOTE FOR MY BLOGREADERS: This week in the Artist's Week we are doing a Reading Deprivation.  That means that for 6 more days I will be trying to stay off of all blogs, with the exception of the ones about knitting.  I probably will also try not to post much on my blog.  I don't promise to succeed, because I DO work 40 hours a week at a very boring job, and I DO work an additional 20 hours this week and my second, sporadically boring, job.  But, I'm going to try.

What will I do in the meantime?  I plan on working on web design, maybe learning some Spanish, and probably spending LOTS more time chatting on instant messengers LOL  I also hope to be able to put my MMM, Self-Portrait Tuesday, Illustration Friday, and possibly 52 Figments online.  This will be my first time participating in IF and 2 Figs.  (Yeah, that's what I think I'm going to call it for short! *giggle*)

I give apologies to:  the Other Jana, Mei, Romi, and any other neglected blog-friends that I had planned on visiting & commenting on.   I may break my vow, to visit you three and post the comments I meant to make forever ago but never got around to. 

To add to my deep frustration about the course of my life... I was awake all throughout the night Fri... I had a little pattern going even.  Wake up, blow nose, drink, pee, sleep.  Wake up, blow nose, drink tea, pee, sleep.  Wake up, blow nose, take cold meds & a vitamin C, pee, sleep.    This cycle was repeated all throughout the night.  I finally got good restful sleep from 8 to noon.  Yeah.  I really slept that late, which means you know I was sick/drugged.

So, I'm starting out my day, thawing out some of my roomates chili we'd put in the fridge, (which by the way that is some SACRED stuff.  It was the LAST of the leftover chili even.) when from my bedroom I hear a dredded sound.  The doorbell.

Roomate comes back saying "James is here".  I wanted to cry. Or murder. Or something. 

So, James stayed for a couple of hours (no we're not dating), we watched a movie, I shared my chili with him,... then I kicked him out so I could be productive LOL

Unfortunately, all I wanted to do was sleep.  So, instead I installed a new computer game (Beyond Atlantis, which is very fun but I wish they'd clothe the native women a little more.), did a few dishes, knitted a little, read some, watched 2 episodes of Law & Order... and that's all.   Oh, and once I changed out of my jammies to admit James into my home, i never had the energy to change back.  *sigh*

No casseroles were made, so there's nothing to eat in the house.  No laundry has been done, there are still more dishes to do, I haven't read chapter 4 of the Artists Way, i haven't created anything, scanned anything.  

So now it's Sunday, i didn't get up for church this morning, I have no cold medicine left except for a few Benadryls (which will make me sleep all afternoon, which is bad), laundry to do, casseroles to make, and still groggy from the cold medicines I took last night. 

And to top it all off, I got my new schedule from job #2, and i'm scheduled Friday AND Saturday of next weekend.  So much for a day off.  *grumbling*

Altogether this weekend is just really sucking.  *sigh*

Ugg.... I didn't realize how bad I'd been this week until it came time for the check-in.

1. How many days this week did I do morning pages?  one or two.  *shaking head*  I was reading in week 4's beginning (i have only read a little of it so far) about how "extreme emotions" can make you want to avoid the morning pages, and that really resonated with me.  The stresses of knowing I can't keep up these 2 jobs, not knowing what kind I want to look for, fearing that the new job I find will suck too... plus the fact that this chapter was on childhood... I seem to have hidden from my emotions this week. 

2. Yes I did my artists date this week, it was nice. I blogged about it earlier I think... or at least i meant to.  Anyway, I went to the Native American History Museum and it did DEFINATELY inspire me.  I have 4 books about Native American art/crafts to prove it! (All checked out from a woman working in the library, who is very into art, and who I DEFINATELY plan on chatting with more often!)

3. I experienced a little bit of syncronicity when I noticed that someone else (or actually a couple) were having a lot of reistance this week. 

4. Were there other issues this week?   Hmm.... no good ones.  I loved Melba's idea for MMM this week, it went perfectly with our chapter... I had this vision in my mind of what I wanted my MMM to be... a Portrait of Jana at 12...  but I couldn't get it on paper.  I tried, and tried, and tried... I emerged a very frustrated person.  I hate not being able to put what's in my mind on paper! 

Something very odd happened today... I came home from work, and my PsychoKitty was in the living room again.... okay, I expected that.  What I DIDN'T expect to see was her FROLLICKING! Yes.  Frollicking.  (Spelled wrong but who cares!).  My evil, psychotic, spawn-of-Satan, mood-swinging, large-dog-scaring, mother-of-zillions-of-kittens, way-to-mature-for-toys, anti-social little Psychokitty, nicknamed "Kitty Capone" for her homicidal tendencies, was rolling around on the floor playing with a stuffed mouse. 

If you ever needed proof that strange things happen to females when it's their time of the month, I think this would single-handedly prove the theory. 

Yes, you read that right.  I don't have to work tomorrow, so from 9 PM tonight until abot 9AM Sunday, I am FREE!!!!  I plan to go to Kroger, buy OJ and casserole supplies, some throat lozenges, and then head HOME to change into JAMMIES!!!!!  Woooooo hoooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I noticed today that I was sniffling worse again... by the time I got here at job #2, I had the full sore-throat/chills/sniffles thing going on.  I took 2 Comtrex nighttimes, so by the time I leave here I'll be in a lovely little daze! :)

Once I get home, I plan to stay up late, sleep late, and lay in bed and read at least for a while, whether I'm sick or not! I checked out some books about Native Americans and their art, so that'll be cool... I still have East of Eden, which I'm only about 3/4 of the way through.  Unbelieveable for a bookworm like me to have taken THAT long reading a book.  I also just started knitting a shawl... I did a practice start with the ugiest yarn on earth (what was I THINKING when I bought it?!), and it's working okay.  If I get a few rows farther with no problems, I'll start with real fabric! I'm excited about that... it is WAY better than a scarf! LOL  And I have two unwatched Star Trek TNGs at home waiting on me!  This weekend should be absolutely SPLENDID!

1 hour and 1 minute until my weekend starts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Howdy everyone!!  Sorry I didn't get anything spiffy scanned yesterday, by the time I got home from works, it was after 9PM.  I walked in, and my cat was in the living room! She'd previously been TERRIFIED of that room... but she was calmly sitting inside, waiting for me.  So, PsychoKitty and I had some quality time on the couch, her on my lap, finding interesting comments and pictures in magazines to use in future collages.  Great fun but not too productive LOL  (Tho poor Miss Psychokitty, who is currently in heat, would beg to differ with that statement LOL)

More problems at work... yesterday my boss gave me a huge lecture because I was only a minute early.  (well, like a minute 15 seconds early on the clock we use for time, but then he decided to use one on his computer that was 30 seconds faster... *sigh*)   I was amused at the time, especially when he accused me of "playing games" (Oh yeah, when I quit this job I'm sure Hasbro will be ALL about marketing it! Bwah-ha-ha)   So this morning, after getting up early, I get all ready to leave (5 minutes early) and can't find my keys ANYWHERE! So, finally used the spare car key, arrived at work 1 minute late (actually, less than a minute) and was greeted by the phrase "YOU'RE LATE!"  *sigh* Some days I wonder why I get out of bed, ya know?

I have figured out the reason for my main hesitancy for looking for a new job... Somewhere deep inside, in some completely logic-defying part of my heart, I hear a voice telling me that I deserve it.  I'm afraid that the voice is right... I'm not the perfect employee.    I play on the internet while I work, especially when I"m out of things to do.  I forget silly things. I make mistakes.  The voice tells me that I am the reason that I've had such horrible luck with bosses... that I drive them to it.  Totally not true, my brain knows it.... but my heart is afraid it's right.  Afraid I'll never be happy in a job just because I have too high of standards.  Afraid that the people who said I'm flighty, unstable, immature... are right. 

So how do you convert your heart to see truth?

Well everyone, I had promised myself that if I stayed faithful to the Artist's Way for the month, and had enough money saved to also pay my debt to 5/3 bank, I would buy myself a scanner.

So, as of today, I am the proud owner of a HP Scanjet 4370 which I am now madly in love with!

Tradition decrees though that the first image scanned onto any type of scanning/copying device must be something completely nutty, so I thought to myself "what can I scan that is totally nuts?"

Unfortunately the laws of physics decree that my butt is not a logical choice if I want my scanner to last past today.  Hahaha

So, I choose the next best thing:

The butt of my stuffed dragon puppet, Fredbert!!!!

Hahaha sorry, I had to do it! 

But, for those of you who are more serious about life... I'll have some art online soon.  I have my idea ready for MMM, I hope to create it while I'm at work tomorrow night.  So, soon you'll have all kinds of neat stuff being scanned into this little puter! :)

I also bought a spiral-bound sketchbook, and a new (much much better) wrist brace.  So, I'm really excited about those.

Well, I'm off to bed!

Hi everyone!

Thought I'd update you all on my life...

Went last night for the second time to the __________ Mentoring Center (city name is none-ya-biznes!)  to work with my little hillbilly ghetto kids (who were MUCH cleaner and better behaved this time!LOL).  Still getting into the groove of it, but now it's switching to Thursdays instead of Tuesdays.  So, we'll see if I'm able to get Thursdays off at job #2 so I can continue to work there. 

Confronted my resistance, and started working on my AW tasks last night.  Did task one and then went to bed. 

Joined two knitting projects! I'm pretty excited about those.

Had to wash my wrist brace last night so I'm hurting pretty bad today.  I probably won't be posting much, just bloghopping here and there.  Which is okay, cause I don't have many deep thoughts or adventures to share today anyway.  :)

(La Semana de Comida Mexicana!)

My goodness y'all!!!! Aren't we just t!e cullinary masters today?  TWO, count them TWO of my bloggin friends posted recipes for Mexican stuff today! 

(Note to AW Friends: JEENKIES! A Syncronicity!)

So, if you want to check out the recipes, you can look at them here are Jocelyns blog and Moni's blog.

Now I'm issuing a challenge... 

How about we all post our favorite mexican recipe on our blogs?  After you do it, leave a comment on my blog so we know you've got a recipe!

Here's my favorite: *putting on sombrero and some Mexican music as I demonstrate*

Flautas (prounounced like fl OW tas... like the kinda OW you say when you hurt yourself!)

1 package small corn tortillas (the white kind)
Grated or finely sliced cheese, any flavor but I like the white cheeses the best myself
Pre-cooked meat (chicken breast, hamburger, we even used hot dogs once!)
Vegetable Oil

First, put oil (about 1/8 an inch maybe?) in the bottom of a skillet.  I use a small skillet, it makes it easier.  Heat oil on low heat until the oil sizzles dramatically when you put a drop of water in it. 

Next, put a small row of meat & cheese towards one end of a tortilla.  Roll the tortilla up, as small as you can (You know, like kids roll up pieces of paper and then look out of them?) .

Being careful to prevent burns, put the flauta in the skillet.  When it's lightly browned, turn it.  Repeat for all sides. 

Take flauta out of the skillet, and place it on a paper-towel covered plate (to absorb excess grease).  When you have cooked as many flautas as you want, lightly salt them all, and then serve.

Troubleshooting:  If the flautas are soggy (gross!) your oil is not hot enough.  They should cook pretty quick if you want them to be nice and crunchy.

So what about you all? What's your fav Mexican dish?  Let us know!

And whether you give us a recipe or not, make sure you all go check out Jocelyn & Moni's blogs and give 'em some love okay?   I'll give you all a formal introduction to Jocelyn the next time I do a "Best new blogs I've found" post.  But for now, if you wanna get acquanted with her or re-acquanited with Moni and Baby Silas, you'll just have to go hop to their blogs! :)

Anyway, send in your mexican recipes folks!!!!!!!! lol

Yesterday I was happily browsing at Family Dollar after doing my artist date... and guess what I found?  A Star Trek episode VCR tape! How cool.  So, bought it as well as some hairthings, a car air-freshener (tropical scent) and some other things. 

Went home, and guess what was on the Sci-Fi channel?  A movie, Star Trek: First Contact!  It was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO awesome, one of my favorites because it has the BORG! (You know, the people who say "I am Jana of Borg - prepare to be assimilated - Resistance is Futile")   So I watched it, loved it as usual...

And the Borg, as well as this blog post, made me think about my AW this week.  I don't have the book in here right now but I think chapter 3's focus was on anger.  (She discussed many topics in the chapter, but I think that was her focus?)  She had us focus on our childhoods, which for me the topic of "anger" goes well with focusing on my childhood.

So, I have had a lot of resistance already this week about doing my AW things... morning pages, tasks, everything.  I just really have no desire to rewind my life to the days of screaming voices, fear at home, torment at school, and all other such things.  None. 

I know I need to, I know I can't grow as an individual, as an "artistic-ish person", as a spiritually, or anything else really until I deal with some more sludge from the past... but I am really just NOT wanting to deal with it.  Can't I put it off? Hide from it a while? Trade chapters with someone else?  Trade CHILDHOODS with someone else? LOL

But, just as the Borg say, "Resistance is Futile."  I will probably become temporarily slightly emotionally unstable in the process, but it is necessary for that to happen in order for me to become more emotionally stable in the future.    I WILL do my morning pages this week, I WILL complete at least half of the tasks at the end of the chapter, and I WILL be glad I did after it's done!