Patho-ver me

Yesterday was the first day of my pathophysiology class. I'm very excited. I have a few days before we're divided into discussion groups and start working, so I'm putting up the bat signal for anyone who's taken it and can recommend good study guides. I LOVE Springhouse Notes (the A&P book was immeasurably useful to me), but they don't seem to be in print anymore, and they never seemed to have a patho volume. Boo. There's the Incredibly Easy series, but I don't know. Seems like false advertising. Anyone ever use one?

I really don't want to buy any textbooks, but I'm willing to be convinced.

Another successful day of mothering

down the drain.

Hey, I have an idea: let's have a bath! Relaxing, cleansing, fun. Right?

Tell that to the two tearing around the upstairs hall shrieking at the top of their lungs (now with fighting!). I warned Dude that standing up in the tub meant an automatic end to bathtime and he didn't believe me. NOW he wants to wash his hair, which I couldn't bribe him to do with all the tea in China (or jellybeans in the candy factory, which is a far more likely option). Perp didn't want to get out because she wanted to play mermaid, but I really want to get them fed and down early. So I wrestled him out, threatened her out, and now they're banging on my door and trying their level best to break the sound barrier.

TO hell with the kids, it's a wonder any of the parents survive.

I wish you could hear them. It's really quite astonishing.

Because I so totally want to win this

I'm clueing you in, too. Simple Mom has an awsome contest up at her site (closes tonight, so hop to it!). She also had a great post today about tasks. Multi, single, reallynotnecessary, and how they can get in the way of parenting. (guilty).

Must be time for a vacation

Perp: I wish I didn't have a little brother. Then we could go to lizard land today.
Me: Where's that?
P: Mmmm, it's by Mexico.

Very satisfying

I whipped up three batches of blueberry muffins that I'm putting into the freezer against the fall and winter. I usually just freeze the batter in trays, bag the nuggets up, and then bake them as I need them. You don't miss out on crunchy muffin tops that way. <---- clever!

I also got a copy of Fix, Freeze, Feast and put 9 bags in the basement. It took about 4 hours, but I was wrangling kids. Solito, you could crank them out in about an hour, I think. It's basically the same thing you do at Super Suppers or Meal Time, but you do all the prep and shopping yourself. I don't mind the shopping or the prep, so it works out well.

A few friends and I are trying to make a date to whip up a few more meals and share them. So far I can tell you that Swimming Rama is tasty, though I added a lot of ginger and a few tablespoons of peanut butter to the sauce. It really makes a difference. Sweet Asian chicken was a hit, too, but again, ginger, and if I knew the kids weren't going to partake, I'd add the pepper the recipe calls for. The honey-glazed chicken thighs are okay, but I don't think I'll repeat that one.

I also plan on putting a shepherd's pie away (LAMB! not beef!). I could eat that just about every damn day.

I lovelovelove having a ton of food already set up and just needing heat to make it into dinner. My favorite thing about this book (and the meal prep places) is that you don't have to prep, COOK, and freeze. You just put it away raw and cook it when you want it. I think that's the secret to freezing a lot of meat dishes, frankly. But I'm making that up as I write it, so feel free to disagree.

Knitting Olympics

They started last Friday! Unfortunately, I miscalculated and it's at 7 AM, not a lovely and civilized 7 PM. Ah well.

My choice for this year's competition: Phazelia's Ribboned Baby Jacket. Yum.


I'm wrestling with myself over whether to stasbust or take advantage of the 20% discount at my LYS. I know what most of you would say, but I think, given the GORGEOUS marino fingering I got at a local show this summer... well. Smaller stash equals more room to cram something new, right?


eta: I'm just at the neck section now and it's going quite well. Kiss of death to say that, but whatever.