We had a meeting this morning and Transportation is off the chopping block for a couple months (until the major project we are pursuing is awarded). Apparently management went to Denver to discuss budgets, make future business plans, and plead our case to the powers that be.
Thank goodness for persuasive managers!
I admit I am not as overjoyed as I thought I might be. This whole situation has certainly brought to light what kind of company I work for. We will see what the future holds.
Don't get me wrong, I am SO grateful to still have a job.... especially when so many are struggling. I suppose the situation has just made me think more of where I want to be in the future.
For now, I will stop worrying about work and focus entirely on Sisters weekend!
I. AM. SO. EXCITED.
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
Every other sentence at church has been "My sisters are coming!". Pretty sure my Mia Maids know I am excited.
I might have already inflated all the blowup mattresses... and made all the beds.
And eaten all the ice cream. Don't worry sisters (and Mother), I now have money to buy more :-)
Monday, March 16, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
100th Post!
I had big plans for this post. It was going to be uplifting and inspiring, all about Stake Conference last weekend and how wonderful the talks were by the General Authorities, Elder Bednar, and Elder Monson which were broadcast to all of the Nevada Stakes. Wonderful things about the importance of revelation, how important the gift of the Holy Ghost is and how to keep it with you always, and making our own temple bodies a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of glory and a house of order.
But it is not to be. I find I cannot write about such things with economic woes hanging over me at work. No, I haven't been laid off --- yet.
Tuesday the Transportation Lead Ken (for a picture, u might want to scroll down to the bottom of my train post) called an all-hands transportation meeting. We were informed that major (his words were "deep", all that's left is a "skeleton crew") cuts were going to follow this week. He is very frustrated with Jacobs (the HUGE publicly traded company that bought out the MEDIUM sized company Carter Burgess I worked for). The news had come down from corporate that our office had to make up 1.6 million dollars by April 3rd. Our management suggested salary decreases, reduced hours, work share with other offices, and convenience leave but it was not enough. Jacobs doesn't operate that way. The company wants to report earnings and project growth to the stock market in April (credit to Marcia for pointing this out). Marcia also mentioned that Jacobs has NEVER reported losses.
The REALLY bad news is that this major project we have been pursuing comes due the middle of April with the project being awarded in the beginning of May. With half the staff gone at the beginning of April.... Jacobs is shooting itself in the foot.
Rumors are flying despite an email from our Office Manager asking everyone to keep it down. Right.. please put those black cats back into the bag after they have bloodied everyone in sight and nobody can find them. We were told we would find out who was effected at the end of this week, but it looks like it won't be until Monday. Right now everyone is assuming 1/3 of the office will be cut. This means about 10-11 people's (out of the 28 in transportation) last day will be April 3rd.
I have been trying to be fairly calm about the whole thing and this is the first night I have had trouble sleeping. I suppose I have been using some of the things I learned in Stake Conference last week :-). What happens will happen and once I know I will be able to make decisions. Worrying now will not help, even though as time wears on it is getting harder to feel this way.
I will keep u posted. I thought I could spare you hearing about all this drama because I was planning on writing today of certainties rather than speculation. But u will have to wait until Monday.
At least this weekend I will be VERY busy getting ready for my sisters to come next week. I am so excited! No economic woes can make me less excited for that. It just makes me kinda tired :-).
But it is not to be. I find I cannot write about such things with economic woes hanging over me at work. No, I haven't been laid off --- yet.
Tuesday the Transportation Lead Ken (for a picture, u might want to scroll down to the bottom of my train post) called an all-hands transportation meeting. We were informed that major (his words were "deep", all that's left is a "skeleton crew") cuts were going to follow this week. He is very frustrated with Jacobs (the HUGE publicly traded company that bought out the MEDIUM sized company Carter Burgess I worked for). The news had come down from corporate that our office had to make up 1.6 million dollars by April 3rd. Our management suggested salary decreases, reduced hours, work share with other offices, and convenience leave but it was not enough. Jacobs doesn't operate that way. The company wants to report earnings and project growth to the stock market in April (credit to Marcia for pointing this out). Marcia also mentioned that Jacobs has NEVER reported losses.
The REALLY bad news is that this major project we have been pursuing comes due the middle of April with the project being awarded in the beginning of May. With half the staff gone at the beginning of April.... Jacobs is shooting itself in the foot.
Rumors are flying despite an email from our Office Manager asking everyone to keep it down. Right.. please put those black cats back into the bag after they have bloodied everyone in sight and nobody can find them. We were told we would find out who was effected at the end of this week, but it looks like it won't be until Monday. Right now everyone is assuming 1/3 of the office will be cut. This means about 10-11 people's (out of the 28 in transportation) last day will be April 3rd.
I have been trying to be fairly calm about the whole thing and this is the first night I have had trouble sleeping. I suppose I have been using some of the things I learned in Stake Conference last week :-). What happens will happen and once I know I will be able to make decisions. Worrying now will not help, even though as time wears on it is getting harder to feel this way.
I will keep u posted. I thought I could spare you hearing about all this drama because I was planning on writing today of certainties rather than speculation. But u will have to wait until Monday.
At least this weekend I will be VERY busy getting ready for my sisters to come next week. I am so excited! No economic woes can make me less excited for that. It just makes me kinda tired :-).
Monday, March 9, 2009
Strike Three, YOUR OUT!
Strike One:
Last week I decided I should see if I can jump on the coupon bandwagon. I found a couple of coupons I could use at Vons ("Safeway" in the rest of the west) in the mail circulars on Saturday. Of course, once I had waited in line and was rung up, most of the coupons didn't start until the NEXT day. I sent the water back cuz it was pretty expensive, but with the huge queue behind me, I grinned and bore the rest.
The good news is that now I've learned to look at the START date and not just the EXPIRATION date. (and I now have TWO of everything I was planning on buying only ONE of.. 'cept the water)
Strike Two:
Friday afternoon I went to pick up Allison Croggons new book at Barns and Nobles and use a 15% off coupon I had received through email. On the way I ran a bunch of other errands (see strike one). When I finally got to Barns and Nobles, there was no coupon in the car. I looked. Under the seats (found my CD's), down the sides, and even in the back. Fine. Of course, I had deleted the email. I was worried it had accidentally got stuck in the book I returned to the library and I would never find it. Nope, there it was sitting on the table where I had left it.
I went back and got the book... and another one just for good measure.
Strike Three:
I decided this weekend to take some shop drawings home from work since they were taking me longer than they should. I knew I wouldn't work on them, but I took them home anyways. I guess Hope springs eternal.
This morning as I was walking in the door to work I realized I had left them at home. Sigh. 45 minutes later I had returned this time WITH the shop drawings, hoping nobody would think I had forgotten about daylight savings... cuz I HADN'T!
Well, that's it. I'm OUT! Guess my sisters will all have to come and help me get back in :-)
TWO WEEKS!!
PS. I've decided that people who aren't funny are just those who are prideful. They won't share all the dumb things they've done!
PPS.. after all of these incidents I called my Mom so she would commiserate with me. Poor Mom.
Last week I decided I should see if I can jump on the coupon bandwagon. I found a couple of coupons I could use at Vons ("Safeway" in the rest of the west) in the mail circulars on Saturday. Of course, once I had waited in line and was rung up, most of the coupons didn't start until the NEXT day. I sent the water back cuz it was pretty expensive, but with the huge queue behind me, I grinned and bore the rest.
The good news is that now I've learned to look at the START date and not just the EXPIRATION date. (and I now have TWO of everything I was planning on buying only ONE of.. 'cept the water)
Strike Two:
Friday afternoon I went to pick up Allison Croggons new book at Barns and Nobles and use a 15% off coupon I had received through email. On the way I ran a bunch of other errands (see strike one). When I finally got to Barns and Nobles, there was no coupon in the car. I looked. Under the seats (found my CD's), down the sides, and even in the back. Fine. Of course, I had deleted the email. I was worried it had accidentally got stuck in the book I returned to the library and I would never find it. Nope, there it was sitting on the table where I had left it.
I went back and got the book... and another one just for good measure.
Strike Three:
I decided this weekend to take some shop drawings home from work since they were taking me longer than they should. I knew I wouldn't work on them, but I took them home anyways. I guess Hope springs eternal.
This morning as I was walking in the door to work I realized I had left them at home. Sigh. 45 minutes later I had returned this time WITH the shop drawings, hoping nobody would think I had forgotten about daylight savings... cuz I HADN'T!
Well, that's it. I'm OUT! Guess my sisters will all have to come and help me get back in :-)
TWO WEEKS!!
PS. I've decided that people who aren't funny are just those who are prideful. They won't share all the dumb things they've done!
PPS.. after all of these incidents I called my Mom so she would commiserate with me. Poor Mom.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Peroskie Recipe
So others besides Mandy has asked for the recipe. I thought I would share it, even though its not mine and the authors don't get any money from me sharing. I'll repent later :-)
Its from this cool cookbook I got for Christmas called "America's Best Lost Recipes" made by the editors of "Cook's Country" Magazine. Emily and Mom LOVE this magazine. I love my new cook book! They give an explanation of where the recipe came from and how the cooks experimented to make it better. Its really fun! You learn alot about how ingredients change the taste/texture/time of the recipe.
This Recipe calls them -
RUNSAS (Beef and Cabbage Buns with Cheese) (it says its originally from Germans that settled in Russia and then immigrated to the US Midwest)
Dough
3/4 cup warm water
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk (I just used regular 1% and it was fine)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons sugar
1 large egg
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I did half wheat this last time and it was great)
2 packages rapid-rise or instant yeast (I used just regular and didn't put quite as much in (each package is 2 1/2 teaspoons of yeast) since you raise the dough twice. It still worked with the wheat flour even though it took a little longer for them to rise)
1 teaspoon salt
Filling
3 tablespoons unsalted butter (I actually didn't use any)
1 1/2 pounds 90% lean ground beef (I used sausage... tastes so much better!)
1 large onion, chopped fine
1/2 small head of cabbage cored and chopped (about 3 cups)
salt and pepper
8 slices deli American cheese (since I used sausage, I didn't need any cheese and I also didn't use salt and pepper to taste)
Dough: Lightly grease a large bowl with cooking spray. Mix the water, mild, oil, sugar, and egg in a large measuring cup. Mix the flour, yeast, and salt in a bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the dough hook (they are so specific!). With the mixer on low, add the water mixture. After the dough comes together, increase speed and mix until shiny and smooth, 4 to 6 minutes. Turn the dough out onto a heavily floured work surface, shape into a ball, and place in the greased bowl. (I just kneaded the dough in the mixer and left it in there to rise... it stuck a little to the sides but not that bad). Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rest in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Filling: Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet. Add the beef and cook until just beginning to brown, about 6 minutes, breaking up any large clumps. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beef to a paper-towel-lined plate. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat from the pan. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the cabbage and toss until just beginning to wilt, 2 to 4 minutes. Return the beef to the pan and season with salt and pepper. (YA RIGHT! I browned my sausage, threw in whatever I wanted, including grated carrots and cooked it. This is why I had some juices left over to cook more cabbage in after I used all my meat mixture.. Didn't pour off anything :-)(They also mention in their notes not to cook the cabbage too much cuz u want it crunchy... not me. I want everything good and cooked. )
Assemble: Heat oven to 350. Coat two baking sheets with cooking spray.
Here is where I very much deviated from the recipe. They say to divide the dough into eight equal pieces and roll them out into 7" circles. They use a cereal bowl to help create the filled rolls. I thought those were WAY too big (they say to put 4 on each baking sheet!), so I cut them in half (16 peroskies). I rolled them out, cupped them in my hand, filled, and then brought all the edges together in one pinch in the center. I was much better at it this second time around. When placing the buns on the baking sheet, place them seam down. My buns leaked and ran a little, but they still stayed together and cooked all the way through. Everything came off the cooking sheet as well, even thought it browned.
Cooking: Cover and let raise until puffed, about 20 minutes. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Brush hot buns with butter (I didn't bother cuz my butter was all frozen).
Enjoy! They freeze REALLY well and warm up in the microwave crazy fast. I took some out of the fridge with me to YW Thursday night and put them in the microwave for 1.3 minutes. WAY too long. Had to wait to let them cool and I was starving!
Its from this cool cookbook I got for Christmas called "America's Best Lost Recipes" made by the editors of "Cook's Country" Magazine. Emily and Mom LOVE this magazine. I love my new cook book! They give an explanation of where the recipe came from and how the cooks experimented to make it better. Its really fun! You learn alot about how ingredients change the taste/texture/time of the recipe.
This Recipe calls them -
RUNSAS (Beef and Cabbage Buns with Cheese) (it says its originally from Germans that settled in Russia and then immigrated to the US Midwest)
Dough
3/4 cup warm water
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk (I just used regular 1% and it was fine)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons sugar
1 large egg
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I did half wheat this last time and it was great)
2 packages rapid-rise or instant yeast (I used just regular and didn't put quite as much in (each package is 2 1/2 teaspoons of yeast) since you raise the dough twice. It still worked with the wheat flour even though it took a little longer for them to rise)
1 teaspoon salt
Filling
3 tablespoons unsalted butter (I actually didn't use any)
1 1/2 pounds 90% lean ground beef (I used sausage... tastes so much better!)
1 large onion, chopped fine
1/2 small head of cabbage cored and chopped (about 3 cups)
salt and pepper
8 slices deli American cheese (since I used sausage, I didn't need any cheese and I also didn't use salt and pepper to taste)
Dough: Lightly grease a large bowl with cooking spray. Mix the water, mild, oil, sugar, and egg in a large measuring cup. Mix the flour, yeast, and salt in a bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the dough hook (they are so specific!). With the mixer on low, add the water mixture. After the dough comes together, increase speed and mix until shiny and smooth, 4 to 6 minutes. Turn the dough out onto a heavily floured work surface, shape into a ball, and place in the greased bowl. (I just kneaded the dough in the mixer and left it in there to rise... it stuck a little to the sides but not that bad). Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rest in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Filling: Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet. Add the beef and cook until just beginning to brown, about 6 minutes, breaking up any large clumps. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beef to a paper-towel-lined plate. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat from the pan. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the cabbage and toss until just beginning to wilt, 2 to 4 minutes. Return the beef to the pan and season with salt and pepper. (YA RIGHT! I browned my sausage, threw in whatever I wanted, including grated carrots and cooked it. This is why I had some juices left over to cook more cabbage in after I used all my meat mixture.. Didn't pour off anything :-)(They also mention in their notes not to cook the cabbage too much cuz u want it crunchy... not me. I want everything good and cooked. )
Assemble: Heat oven to 350. Coat two baking sheets with cooking spray.
Here is where I very much deviated from the recipe. They say to divide the dough into eight equal pieces and roll them out into 7" circles. They use a cereal bowl to help create the filled rolls. I thought those were WAY too big (they say to put 4 on each baking sheet!), so I cut them in half (16 peroskies). I rolled them out, cupped them in my hand, filled, and then brought all the edges together in one pinch in the center. I was much better at it this second time around. When placing the buns on the baking sheet, place them seam down. My buns leaked and ran a little, but they still stayed together and cooked all the way through. Everything came off the cooking sheet as well, even thought it browned.
Cooking: Cover and let raise until puffed, about 20 minutes. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Brush hot buns with butter (I didn't bother cuz my butter was all frozen).
Enjoy! They freeze REALLY well and warm up in the microwave crazy fast. I took some out of the fridge with me to YW Thursday night and put them in the microwave for 1.3 minutes. WAY too long. Had to wait to let them cool and I was starving!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Chrochet Musings and How Wonderful AM I
This is what I gave the newest baby born last week in my family ward. I admit the edging on the blanket isn't as pretty compared to others I've done, but I didn't know it was going to be ugly when I started. When people look at it they will just think its old fashion. I probably should stick with the tried and true, but how boring is that?(And no, I didn't say that to catch some compliments on my fishing pole. Most of u know I am very opinionated when it comes to pretty vs ugly crocheted things. I've made some pretty ugly things in my day, but luckily was able to give most of them away :-))
The last 2 babies blessed (2 boys) from our ward wore white booties made by me (I didn't realize I gave everyone those white loafers with blue edging!).
It made me feel so happy when I realized that! When I make things, sometimes its hard to imagine someone actually using them. Especially people other than my family. The Fam loves me so I know they'll use what I made regardless of the actual usefulness of the article.
Jamie created this picture of Mandy's Kimball wearing the sneakers. Isn't it awesome? She was so excited that she called me at work to tell me to check my email. Yes Jamie, it is so awesome that I'm putting it on my blog!When Angus showed his new daughter off at work she was wearing booties I made as well.
I guess I'm just spreading the love!
Truth be told, I just like to sit in front of the TV. I feel perfectly justified in sitting in front of the TV if I'm crocheting. I AM being productive... rather than the rest of you evil time wasters! Shore, ur house is clean, food is on the table, laundry done, scrapbooking up to date, appointments made, VTing done, garden tilled, flowers planted, and Sunday lesson planned; but I am surrounded by crocheted blankets, booties, sweaters, afghans, stuffed animals, and a table insert I'm experimenting with.
HA. Where are ur priorities people?This is a picture of Melissa's brothers son in a sweater I crocheted and laying on the blanket I edged. Its hard to know what to do with all the sweaters I made last summer because nobody can use them here in Vegas :-). Plus, I'm not so good on the whole size thing (see how its big on that baby? Like I would know how old the baby needs to be before it fits!).
FYI, those of u having babies soon or not so soon... I need the flavor and addresses, but don't share until u want to actually receive the package. Otherwise I'll forget.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Domesticating Smart
This weekend I felt very domestic. I thought I would show u the fruits of my domesticity.
First, I showed Melissa how my massive Rosemary plant was trying to take over the corner of my garden and how ugly it was, all flopping over. I guess its something ur supposed to prune.... Not much into prunes here.
And the pile of stems I cut looks small in the picture... its not. It's huge! See the scissors and twine there for size? 
Look how domestic that looks (now if I just knew what to do with it) and every time I go into my garage it smells like Rosemary. I suppose that's better than the smell of Raid.
Sunday I was soooo hungry (fast Sunday) that I made 2 meals for dinner, Mexican Stack-Ups and Peroskies (my cookbook calls them Runsa and Melissa calls them Patsys(?)). Mexican Stack-Ups are boring so I didn't take a picture, but Peroskies are hard (apparently I thought a half peeled cucumber would look pretty in the picture).
First, I showed Melissa how my massive Rosemary plant was trying to take over the corner of my garden and how ugly it was, all flopping over. I guess its something ur supposed to prune.... Not much into prunes here.She suggested drying it and giving it as presents.
Um... OK. I've seen Elizabeth and Jane hang up plants to dry in "Pride and Prejudice". So I cut a bunch of it down. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the ugliness before I cut it back. And in the finished picture it looks almost cute... Its not. It's sad. (Did I mention this poor plant sat for 3 years in a small pot struggling to live? 2 years in the ground has made it a monster.)
And the pile of stems I cut looks small in the picture... its not. It's huge! See the scissors and twine there for size? I tied the trimmings together into bunches. Everything smelled so strongly of Rosemary; the courtyard, my new gloves, my clothes, Spree (he was helping by warning off all the other birds in the vicinity).
I then washed the bunches (didn't really want to dry spiderwebs) and hung them in the garage.
Look how domestic that looks (now if I just knew what to do with it) and every time I go into my garage it smells like Rosemary. I suppose that's better than the smell of Raid.I then cleaned and dusted my room which tired me out so, that I had to read 2 books. I couldn't be TOO domestic this weekend. (I was pretty proud of myself for not reading that third book I bought)
Sunday I was soooo hungry (fast Sunday) that I made 2 meals for dinner, Mexican Stack-Ups and Peroskies (my cookbook calls them Runsa and Melissa calls them Patsys(?)). Mexican Stack-Ups are boring so I didn't take a picture, but Peroskies are hard (apparently I thought a half peeled cucumber would look pretty in the picture). This time I doubled the recipe because last time I had lots of leftover filling. I made 22 peroskies with sausage, cabbage, carrots and onions; 6 with just cabbage I cooked in the sauce left at the bottom of the pan (I ran out of the meat mixture); and then 4 plain rolls.
And after all this cooking....(drum roll please)..... I CLEANED UP! HAND WASHED the dishes and STARTED the dishwasher.
Yes... I think I may actually be becoming domesticated.
PS... my garden has WORMS!! I found them when I planted my tomatoes and peppers. I was so excited that I danced around my courtyard yelling "I HAVE WORMS!!".
Saturday, February 28, 2009
I'm shore I have Diabetes
I've decided.
If you look up on the Internet you'll see I have all the symptoms.
I have to go to the bathroom all the time (lets ignore the fact that I drink 2 full nalgene bottles at work), I am lethargic, and I am always in a sugar low (meaning... I WANT/NEED sugar NOW).
Doesn't that mean I have diabetes? I don't want to get out of bed in the morning (except weekends). I just want to lay their and dream instead of going to work and... well... working. Then when I do get up, I just want to lay around and read new books or watch TV while crocheting or doing puzzles. See? Lethargic.
And every time I pass candy, chocolate, or fruit... I MUST take a piece. Its the rule. My body demands it.
Definitely Diabetes.
I'm also pretty sure I have Celiac Disease. You can read all about it on line.
I'm irritable if people don't do what I want, I sometimes have stomach problems (especially after eating too much pizza), and I had unexplained weight loss two years ago (I really wish I could explain it cuz then I would do it AGAIN!).
I read that 1 in 133 people have it and 90% of them don't even know they have it. How is this measured? If they don't know they have it, why don't the researchers tell them? Obviously they know in order to have the statistical information. Right?
I believe them even though about 75% of statistics are made up on the spot. Engineers are notorious for this.
I did it the other day... The bridge depth is about 98% shorter than recommended but its close enough, right Arvid?
Its a small chocolate square with a cracker attached to the back. Very tasty but kind of strange.
I think they put the cracker so they don't have to put as much chocolate. (Notice there are only 2 left? I ate the rest at work and would have eaten the last 2, but knew I wanted to take a picture at home.. see? Diabetes)
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