Long Time, No Blog

I have done a terrible job keeping this blog of late. I just spend so much time on the computer with Axia...and my regular job, that the last thing I want to do is spend more time writing. My "leisure" computer time is really suffering!

I'm finished with the craziness of my regular job. School starts up again in a week. This summer, I taught a new course that included a research paper at the end...so I had to grade 70 research papers...blech! I put it off as long as I could, but finally finished last weekend. I felt so guilty about all the time I was spending working that I let each of this kids spend $5 at Target. LJ got a little Lego set and PJ got a Matchbox truck that hauls a car.

Axia has "read/discuss" weeks and "work weeks" - work weeks require little time or effort as the students are working on assignments, but read/discuss weeks are tough. I have to provide feedback on all the assignments they did during the work week AND I have to participate in discussion with them. I get paid on the 25th and I'm hoping that will make it all seem worthwhile. I want that addition to the house - as soon as monetarily possible...so I'm willing to sacrifice my "free time" to make some money!

The kids are fine. LJ cut his knee today...badly enough that we weren't sure if he needed stitches or not, so I took him to the dr. They glued it a put a steri-strip on it. Good as new...but no swimming for a week. LJ is bummed.

PJ is in a "no minding" mode. It is bothersome. Otherwise, he talks quite a bit.

I am still going to the gym - I can feel my triceps now. I'm still waiting for the fat to go away.

I'm also cooking a "gourmet meal" once a week. I'm taking recipes from Cook's Illustrated magazine and actually cooking them. That magazine fascinates me, but I've never made a recipe from it. Last week, I made Steak Au Poivre, Roasted Cauliflower, and Mushrooms with Bread Crumbs and Parmesan Cheese. It was all rather good, but the steak was little tough. I cooked it to a perfect medium though. The sauce was YUM! I bought myself a garlic press too. I decided that if RJ can buy a tool when he needs one to make job easier...I can too. So, I treated myself to the garlic press (and a new wooden spoon).