"Shot & Killed Sounds Way Too Violent"

I was helping B with his 3rd grade homework. His assignment is to write a timeline on someone famous, someone he admired or someone he knew. He chose Martin Luther King, Jr.. (Side note: this shows how sweet & intelligent my kiddo is because he was talking about facebook recently and my suggestion was for him to do the assignment on the Zuck. Instead, he chooses MLK. I really should be ashamed of myself lol)

So I was telling him the date MLK was shot & killed so he could write it down.

Braidon: "I'm not sure my teacher wants me to write something as violent as he was "shot & killed."

Me: "Well that's what happened and it *was* violent so how would you like to word it?"

Braidon: "How about 'he was hit with a metal piece that came bursting out of someone's gun? Probably on accident' because that sounds less violent."

Me: *staring at him with big, round eyes* "Honey, you're turning this in to your teacher whom I'm sure knows how MLK was killed."

Braidon: "Isn't there enough violence in the world without me having to write about it?"

Me: "touché son, touché."

It's sad when you can summarize the last 8 months in one paragraph...

I'd like to have some amazing, fabulous story to share about my disappearance from the blog world for the past 8 months. Some astonishing, outrageous, wonderful reason I stopped blogging.

But I don't.

I found a job that has become the bane of my existence. In a call center. Listening to whiny ass people complain all day. To say that I loathe this job wouldn't do justice to my feelings. I detest it from the tips of my purple painted toe nails to the top of my recently rebellious frizzy haired head. (Seriously, I've never had frizzy hair until the past 6 months. What IS that all about? Why now in my late 20's? All right, fine! Early 30's. Whatev...)

Let's just say there's been lots of rum & Xanax involved on a daily basis since I started. But, at least it's work right? So I shouldn't complain. Hey, I didn't say I wouldn't, just that I *shouldn't!*

Lots of things have been shaken up here at home so it's been hard to find the time to blog. Plus my poor laptop wheezed & shuddered & then went to the little laptop heaven in the sky. I should have it back in a few days and I'm so excited I may wet myself. Just a little. We have a fancy computer downstairs, where I'm currently writing, but it's too scary to use. When we got it months ago there was lots of talk from Mr. Man in fancy acronyms and computer gibberish I couldn't understand, it does a billion things I wouldn't have the slightest clue how to use (or why we need them) and so I stay away from it. Luckily i have a Droid for my cell so it's kept me online while my laptop was being fixed.

In short: got a job, had a crappy shift, didn't have a life or time for anything besides work for the first 6 months there, never saw Mr Man & B, my health got worse because of the stress, my family was hit by the economy and 2 members have lost their jobs, my mom had major surgery (and is still recovering), changed to a less crappy shift at work but have to work weekends now, went on a trip to Vegas (wahoo), agreed to let 2 of our friends have their wedding in our backyard this month (I know! What was I thinking?!?! lol), and found out I have ovarian cyst problems.

There it is, in a nutshell. Good times people... Good times.

So, since I'm terrified of this fancy computer, scared I will press some innocent looking button & it will blow up a neighboring city somehow (the damn thing is blinking furious green & blue lights at me from all it's little connected boxes) I'm signing off for now.

Creamy Roasted Green Chile Chicken & Rice Soup

I don't think I've ever blogged about a recipe but this one is too yummy not to share. I've been making this soup for years and have no idea where I ran across the original recipe. Doesn't really matter since I've changed it up. I have a hard time following a recipe exactly the way it's written and usually the only recipes I have are for desserts since you have to be more exact in baking.

This is how I like to make this one:

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 medium onion, diced
3 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbs oil
10 cups chicken broth
6 roasted green chiles, peeled & diced
2 cups minute rice*, uncooked
2 tsp salt
3 tsp cumin
3 tsp oregano
1 1/2 tsp black pepper
3/4 tsp cayenne pepper
2 cups sour cream
1 cup heavy whipping cream

Saute the chicken, onion and garlic powder in the oil until the chicken is no longer pink. Add the broth, green chile's, rice and all seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir in sour cream and whipping cream. Serve immediately.

*Instead of the rice you can add 5 peeled & diced potatoes or 2 cans of great northern beans.

Enjoy!