A little of everything

I am not particularly fond of this time of the year. Why? It's TAX TIME! Granted, I am not a tax accountant. Thank goodness. However, I help oversee a payroll that consists of approximately 285 part-time employees. The part-time employee base is mixed; students, home makers, and retirees. The students are the worst around tax time. The students start coming in asking why there weren't any federal or state taxes taken out of their paychecks. They were hoping for a refund. I try to explain this is the most basic terms possible. Some students get it, some students will never get it. The students who don't get it, better hire a tax attorney right after college or marry someone who has a clue about taxes and withholdings.

This time of the year also brings a new host of fresh meat, interns that is. I have two this semester. One of them is great right off the back. He actually gets here right around the time I do. Impressive. The second one, well, I just get this vibe that I am not going to like him too much. However, I must treat all interns the same. I think the second one is fake. Fake pesonality; faking to be interested in this internship. Yes, I know I hired him, however, he was the second best out of the pool. What was I to do? Only three more months.

I found some great recipes last week. The first one is San Francisco Pork Chops. Not too sure why it's called San Francisco. I was able to convert it so it was gluten free.

The other recipe is from one of Rachael Ray's cookbooks. I can't think of the name, but it has spinach, black beans, red peppers, onions, garlic, and other items. I'll post one day. It's a good recipe to add your own twists too.

I am looking forward to trying a recipe boyfriend and I found in one of our New England cookbooks. Basically, you take salmon, vermont maple syrup, brown sugar, and butter and grill it. Don't have a grill, so I am going to make it work on the stove top. Will let you know how it works out.

Thanks, aLs for adding my link. Check out his blog, if you have a chance. It's always a good read.

Seven Years

In my short life span, I have had only one real relationship. I dated two other people prior to my current relationship, but as you can see it didn't work out. This one real relationship has lasted seven years as of Sunday.

Boyfriend and I met during my freshman year and his sophomore at college. We met on the internet back in December '99. We communicated through email for about a month or so then decided to meet. Less than two weeks, we were actually dating. We instantly clicked.

In the seven years, we have had our fair share of battles, but nothing too big. We agrue once in a while. I like to think that we bring the best out of each other.

In the seven years, there were a lot firsts for me:
* Attending professional basketball, football, baseball, and hockey games
* Attending college hockey and basketball games
* Trying Portugese food
* Exploring a lot of Southern New England
* Attending a NASCAR event (I enjoyed myself)
* Trying New England Clam Chowder
* Trying clams, quahogs, oysters, little necks
* Trying a variety of new seafood (Little Necks)
* Watching my boyfriend try some of my food from backhome, scrapple and Tasty Cakes.
* There were many more first items during this time, but I can't think of all of them

It's been a good seven years and looking forward to many more. Yes, one day, we will eventually get married. But, I am in no rush to get married. It will happen in the next few years.

My boyfriend and I have it easy, we don't celebrate our anniversary! We spoil each other year round.

Recap

It's been over a week since I last posted. I had a bunch of deadlines that I had to meet last week. Never want to go through that again.

Recently when I am watching television, I noticed that I would rather watch Trick My Truck on CMT (TMT) over most other television shows. Not too sure why. Maybe it reminds me of being back home, where life was easier and calmer. I know TMT is based on MTV's Pimp My Ride. However, I can't stand MTV's version.

Thinking of about being back home, I miss scrapple. I sooo miss this breakfast treat. When I was home visiting my mom last time, she took me to an auction. On the auction premises there was a small restaurant operated by an Amish family. (Not sure if they were actually Amish or something close.) There they had homemade scrapple. I cheated! I had to have a piece. The piece of scrapple was one inch thick and about 6 inches across. It tasted so good. Unfortunately, I paid the price, but that is the one and only time I have ever cheated while being on gf diet.

Frustrations

There are some days I just want to punch something, cry, and go for a long walk all at the same time. I have been feeling this way since the beginning of the year. When I am angry, frustrated, or sad, I get like this. I am not angry or sad, just frustrated that there isn't enough time to accomplish everything in one day. I don't allow myself get stressed. I actually do quite well handling stress. I have a lot on my plate both personally and professionally at this time.

I usually manage my time quite well. I make lists prioritize them and usually follow them. I need to work off of lists. I have been staying late and coming in on the weekends to catch up on my work. By staying late and coming in on the weekends, I am neglecting somethings in my personal life. It's a vicious cycle.

I was going to watch Sunday's AFC Championship game (Go Patriots!) with my boyfriend and his family, but I am thinking that my time will better spent working during the day and prioritizing my personal life at night. I don't know when I last balanced my checkbook. Don't worry, I check the balance online and have a mental account for everything, but come on, I am an accountant. Even though it's online, I still need to have everything in my check register. It's drilled in me.

I am hoping once my new interns start in little over a week, things will calm down at work. Some of my other co-workers don't understand that my two interns do a lot of work for me. When they aren't here, the work is left up to me. The vicious cycle starts again.

During the summer in college, I was able to walk after dinner. I would go walking/running 10 miles 4-5 times a week. Talk about feeling relieved. I used that time to clear out my mind. I didn some of my best thinking during that time. Once I finished college, my company allowed employees to join a gym at a discounted rate. I enjoyed that time too. The company that I have been with for the past 2.5 years, doesn't have anything like a discounted rate for a gym membership, etc. I am not about to pay those outrageous gym membership fees.

I am also not about to go walking in the New England weather. Yes, the New England winter weather has finally arrived. I left the apartment around 7:00 this morning and it was 10 degrees. Not sure what the temp was if the wind chill was included.

I need to find something to clear my mind and get rid of my frustrations.

Childhood Memory

I went to my part-time job last night. As I entered in the breakroom to put away my belongings, there it was on the refrigerator hanging. The paper was approximately 4 x11 with 8 boxes displaying the products that were being sold. You could put your name and phone number along with how many of each product you wanted. Each product sold for $3.50.

I stood there starring at that simple piece of paper. It was one of my manager's children selling these products. I used to sell these products as a young child. I always looked forward to selling and consuming these products as they only came around once year. After you were finished selling them to family and friends, you would go to the local market to sell more products with other children and adults.

I realized at that moment, that I could not buy any of these products for the first time in my life. I wanted to rip that piece of paper up when I realized that I couldn't consume these products anymore. Damn my gluten intolerance! I know I could probably make something very similar to what was being sold, but it's just not the same. I can't wait to see that piece of paper leave the refrigerator. It's a constant reminder of what I can't enjoy now.

Does anyone know what product(s) I am referring to in my post?

Warning Labels

Wacky warning labels

Never thought of putting a warning about not ironing your lottery ticket.

Nothing much

Just have been laying low trying to recover from last week. I am still sick with this annoying cough. Finally made an appointment with the doctor for today.

A New Year

I thought I was well rested. Hah! Now I have come down with an annoying cough and sore throat. Non-drowsy cough syrup makes me loooopppyy. But cough syrup is the only thing that works for me cough & sore throat. Currently it's a lose-lose situation.

No news in regards to my father's condition. My brother said he would try to find out some more information.

Other than that, trying to lay low and get rid of this annoying cough. Hope everyone had a nice New Year's.