Just...everything

Hi, everyone. It's been a while. Like a year a while. Maybe two. But still a while. And boy, has life changed since I last looked here. Really changed. Some good, some not so good. Some looking for new opportunities, some real changes. I'm not even really sure where to start. Y'all have any suggestions?

Okay, work-life then. We'll start there. So, back in February of 2011, I lost the job I'd had since 2008. Not getting into the whys, the whos, or even the damn the economies. It just happened and there it is. But, with that said, it means the past year has been pretty tough. I've been doing independent organic inspection work. I've started inspecting for about 4 different agencies somewhat regularly over the summer. But in about October that work disappears. Okay, maybe not entirely, but a lot. So my income has been significantly reduced. And that was really hard at first. I mean, a cut in income of over $25,000 is hard on a household. So, I had to find a part-time job. And I did. I've been working as a barista at a Starbuck's inside the Raleigh Marriott City Center since April, 2011. It's actually pretty cool. I have some great co-workers, some not-so-great co-workers (much like any other job, n'est pas?), and sometimes get to meet some amazing people that are guests at the hotel, like Rhiannon Giddens of Carolina Chocolate Drops. She was kind, generous with her thanks for simply getting her some tea, interested in young musicians, and, quite frankly, has such a musical voice, she even sounds like she's singing when she's speaking.

And on to trials and tribulations of OrganicGuy. He lost his shirt. Literally. Like right now, he's walking around the house without one. Okay...that's just me being silly. But he did figuratively lose his shirt. I don't know if I ever mentioned that he is/was a general contractor. And he was working on a spec house starting in 2006. It was big, and beautiful, and fit in to everything that was happening in Raleigh/the greater Triangle region of NC. It had gorgeous marble floors in some areas, and teak in others. All the teak floors were designed by OrganicGuy; things like different sizes and shades of the wood creating diamond patterns in the dining room. He did all the work himself with the exception of electrical, pluming and drywalling. That's all that was subcontracted. Everything else he did. And it was finished, with a full certificate of occupancy in October of 2008. Yeah. THAT October. The one where the housing market collapsed. Where the beginning of financial free-fall happened for so many. And no one came to look at the house when it was up for sale. We had about a half dozen walk throughs in 12 months. Then the company that financed it started foreclosure proceedings. And then OrganicGuy's company filed for bankruptcy and closed doors.

And just like that, there we were. I didn't have a full time job. He had to sell most of his tools and equipment, and had no work coming in. And it became hard to breathe. So, yeah, this blog, and a whole host of other things got neglected. But now, OrganicGuy has a job, and seems to like it. I convinced him to apply for a position in the engineering department at the hotel where my 'Bux is. He got the gig, and they really seem to like him. And my sweet guy is starting to get back to being himself again. The bankruptcy hit him hard, but we've made it through so far.

And I could go on and on about OrganicKid, and about other things happening in my life, but I think for now I'm going to stop here. Because it's late. Because OrganicKid is with her dad this weekend, and OrganicGuy just got home from work. But I am starting to feel like writing again, and may do more in the near future. And even if no one sees this, I really don't mind. This was sort of therapeutic. We'll see. But, after the past year, I'm finally in a place where I'm starting to look forward. And from here, the view is still pretty hazy, but it's clearing, and it looks like it just might be an okay year.

Christmas Cookie-ganza

It really doesn't seem like it's been over two months since I last wrote. Most likely because it was the holidays, which involved concerts, cooking, and travel, and cooking and snow.

I think I'll start with just two things...Thanksgiving and cookies. And hopefully, I'll be able to add more as time goes on. See, we had a really low-key Thanksgiving here at casa del Wombat. Just OrganicGuy, his parents and me. OrganicKid was off to South Carolina and Georgia with her dad. She had a wonderful time, got to see her cousin, her grandpa, and spend quality time with her dad. Which I DO appreciate. And we were lucky enough here to be able to get the motorcycle out over Thanksgiving weekend. OrganicGuy and I spend the Saturday after the holiday driving all over Chatham, Alamance, and western Orange Counties. And, the Huskers beat Colorado. So, overall, a perfect holiday weekend.

When OrganicKid got home, we made Christmas cookies. This year we really scaled back the effort. When we started, the kitchen looked a bit like this:

And then OrganicKid and I went crazy. We spent a whole weekend melting, mixing, chopping, rolling, cutting, frosting, and anything else you can do with flour, eggs, nuts, and chocolate. Actually, we scaled back this year. Some years, we've made over 15 different types of cookies. This year, we just made a few favorites.

Just Chocolate Crinkles,

Lemon Poppy Seed cookies,

White Chocolate Macadamia Coconut cookies,

Cocoa Ginger Crisps, and Stained Glass cookies, Sugar Cookies, Chocolate Bliss, and Dark and White peppermint bark.

Unfortunately, since for some reason I never have AA batteries when I need them, I don't have any other pictures. But, they were excellent cookies. And, in her annual attempt to bribe her teachers, OrganicKid took plates of cookies to each one. But, since she's so much help in making them all, I have to let her. See, she's all kinds of help:

She mixed, spatula-ed, cut, decorated,

and, most importantly....

Provided quality control. MMMM....cookies......

Sesame Street

I'm a Sesame Street Kid. No, I wasn't on the show. I've never even been to New York, where I always assumed Sesame Street was. But I was raised in part by Sesame Street. I'll admit it. I watched it as a kid. And somehow it's the one show that no one denies. People might say they never watched Gilligans Island or the Brady Bunch, Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, or the Shazam/Isis hour on Saturday morning. But nearly everyone I know that is my age cops to Sesame Street. We all saw it.

I really don't remember watching Sesame Street for myself. I DO remember watching with my younger sister. I remember "La, la, la, la Lemon." When on the way to the grocery store, sometimes I confuse my daughter by saying that we need a loaf of bread, a container of milk, and a stick of butter. I've wanted to attend a ladybugs picnic. I cried when Mr. Hooper died. I cried even harder when Jim Henson died. When he did, I knew I was a grown up. And I knew the world has lost one of its greatest magicians. One who could take a mundane object or concept, like a number, and make it fun. Who understood that in a child's world, magic happens every day, and animals talk, and not all monsters are scary.

So, I just wanted to say, Happy Birthday Sesame Street. And thank you for 40 years of magic.
And for all of you, one of my favorite Sesame Street moments:

Wednesday Night

And once again OrganicKid is cooking. Tonight it's rosemary and lemon roasted salmon with roasted asparagus with lemon butter. MMMMMMMM. I am SUCH a lucky mom to have such a talented kid.

And...she's also getting her musical chops. She's playing the double bass violin. Yes, the big thing. She's currently playing on a 1/2 size instrument, and it's STILL by far the hugest thing in our house! But she's definitely learning. Earlier tonight I was listening to Beethoven echoing through the house. I could recognize it. And it sounded good. There's a concert coming up in December, and I'm looking forward to it. I remember when I started playing the flute. I don't recall if I felt sympathy for my parents, but now I do. I KNOW when I first started, it was squeaky, and high pitched. It couldn't have sounded nice. But I practiced, and they put up with it. I feel so lucky that OrganicKid chose a nice mellow instrument. I don't think it can sound bad. Yeah, it can be a bit squeaky now an again. But the sound is so deep, and full, and, really, calming. I just hope all the other kids in the beginners orchestra is putting in the same practice time OrganicKid is, because I know she'd be disappointed if the concert doesn't sound that good because everyone else BUT her isn't as dedicated. I'm not too worried, though. One of OrganicKids pals is also in the orchestra, playing cello, and they're planning on getting together this weekend to practice, and perhaps enter a beginning strings competition. I'm certainly pulling for them! And I need to get a camera that does decent video before the concert. Because I know how my first concert probably sounded, and I want to be able to send the video to my mom, so she can compare it to the pain I put her through....

The New Chef of the House

Organic Kid has decided she wants to cook. She's made up her mind that one night a week, she will be the one to get dinner on the table. She decided this about a month ago, and for the last three weeks, Wednesday night is her night to cook. I'm there, helping if I'm asked to help, answering questions, lifting heavy things, being a second pair of hands. But I'm NOT planning menus, making grocery lists, or any of that. I'm somewhere below the sous chef. I'm the background noise. And I'm loving it.


Better yet, SHE'S loving it! And Organic Kid is really stretching; making dishes that I was afraid to even try until the past 5 or 10 years. She's making complex Indian dishes; Roghan Josh (with lamb no less, not even batting an eye and thinking of making it easier with a more familiar protein) and Chicken Korma. Last Wednesday, she went all out, and made not only the main course supplemented with an easy side like a salad, she made chicken stuffed with goat cheese and herbs, and asparagus with hollandaise. Yeah....Organic Kid made home made hollandaise. Emulsification at its most tricky, what with the raw egg and hot melted butter and all. And it did not curdle one bit. And it did not break one bit. It was a smooth, elegant sauce, with just the right vinegary tang meshed with the anise-y tarragon. Perfect hollandaise. Hells, I can't even do that consistently! And Organic Kid got it right the first time.

This morning, before school, she already started combing through cookbooks. She pulled out three different vegetarian ones (including the classic Moosewood Cookbook...Organic Guy came into our marriage bringing the first printing of that, to match with my classic 60's version of Joy of Cooking). Organic Kid isn't completely sure what the plan is yet for Wednesday. But she's planning something. And I for one can't wait!

It's All Good

Okay, I found a new festival. Organic Guy and I decided to forgo Bonnaroo this year. Ticket prices increased significantly, and yeah, like everyone else, we are trying to cut spending. But we couldn't fathom a music-less summer (especially Organic Guy who has attended at least one big festival concert every year since 2000 (maybe 1999, but he doesn't remember for sure). So we checked out All Good, in Masontown, West Virginia.

We all know the old joke about West Virginia, don't we? It's the only state where their motto is a question..."Almost Heaven? West Virginia?!?!???" And then I got to the camp site. And I saw this:

And I saw this:

And this little guy came to our screen room to visit:

We also saw That 1 Guy, and Yonder Mountain String Band, and moe. and Robert Randolph, and Ben Harper and the Relentless 7 and Umphrey's McGee.

I don't know about the rest of West Virginia, but for 4 days....yeah, almost heaven sounds about right.

Insurance Fools

Okay. Just last night, we finished cataloging the personal items lost in the fire. When an 800+ square foot building is primarily used for storage, it's AMAZING how much stuff is in there. We talked to the insurance guy about just a flat amount of money for rebuilding and replacing. We really didn't want to go into the personal items too much because it would take forever. We would have to sort through piles of rubble that had been pushed out of the Rec Room down the hill by the firefighters. We would have to photograph everything, showing the level of damage. We would have to look up many many things. The insurance guy said ITEMIZE! Okay. So we did it.

For the last 6 weeks (with one break for going to Allgood, and it was SO WELL WORTH IT! More on that later), Organic Guy (with the help of Organic Kid, 'til she went to visit her dad for the summer) dug through piles. Had clipboards and many notebooks. Wrote down many many things. Tried to find serial numbers. Looked for model information. Washed things that would just be thrown away, trying to determine what it was. For the past week, I've looked things up as Organic Guy read them off. Looked up replacement cost. Looked up auction prices for things that can't be replaced. Contacted an antique dealer we know and sent before-and-after pictures. Learned more about reloading equipment than I ever thought I'd need to know. Learned more about Organic Guy's mom's life before retirement, and decided I wanted to spend hours talking to her about her life (that woman is AMAZING!!), and getting it all written down, because she's been such an adventurous spirit her whole life. And then, I've been creating a huge spreadsheet.

Last night, at about midnight, while watching South Park re-runs (I LOVE South Park!!), we finished the list. And totaled it. And gasped. Every dollar figure can be backed up, we can look it up somehow (and I am SO GLAD I have family that works at Cabela's, because I thought of them while looking up stuff, so that became the source of dollar figures for all camping, hunting, reloading, fishing, pet gear, which comprises about a third to a half of the whole list). And we found out something important.

Insurance agents are fools. The agent that told us to itemize...yeah, okay, we did. And now that flat figure we suggested...umm...it's doubled. That's right. We WAAAYYYY underestimated the value of the stuff that was in the Rec Room. We underestimated HUGELY. They've already determined the construction cost. So this huge spreadsheet that we're sending today, it's all above and beyond that. Actually, the total of items exceeds the construction cost. We're anticipating getting challenged on some items. We now have BINDERS of information for any dollar figure found on the web. We have a Cabela's catalog to hand them. We will walk through Lowes and Home Depot with them. Like I said, every single number has something backing it. I think they're going to be very, very, very sorry they told a stubborn, detail-oriented, person who likes knowing ALL the rules because it's easier to figure out how to get around them to itemize.