justjoslyn

(This picture is actually in antique finish, but it’s really hard to tell. I’m still trying to learn how to use my new camera and create the best effect with my photos.)

 (This picture is in black and white. Also hard to tell because of the stark conditions today.  These trees are in our backyard.)

(I desperately tried to catch the flurries of snow in the picture and you can only sort of see them in the upper right hand corner. This picture is actually in color.  I might try and use it in a scrapbook page that was featured in February’s Creating Keepsakes magazine.)

I was trying to think of how to categorize this post, because it’s rather vague, but also somewhat of a hot button issue.  I am entirely disgusted that the agency at which I work did not close due to the winter weather storm we have had since last night at 6pm.  Here is a picture of what it looked like down my street earlier this morning:

When I wake up and hear that a slew of govertment offices, schools, organizations, and churches — on Ash Wednesday! — are closed, but not my agency, I get a little peeved.  Like a good employee, I decide I’m going to brave the weather, mostly because I cannot afford to take another vacation day after taking the trip to Idaho last month.   I am only 1/4 of the way into my commute when I get a call from the General Manager at Old Navy letting me know they are closing the store and I don’t have to come in tonight for my shift. Then, I hear on the radio that the mall is closing! The mall!  I can barely see 1/4 mile ahead of me, can’t see street light colors because they are covered with snow and can’t see stop signs since they are covered with snow, as well.  I call my program supervisor to let her know that I have decided not to come in after all.  I also voice my frustration towards the head honcho at the agency who is choosing to have his employees risk their safety and emotional health by having them feel inclined to drive in for a day of work. 

All in all, I might not have to take a vacation day for choosing to stay home today so that will be a plus. I just wish the bigger picture would be taken into consideration by people in superior positions instead of worrying about how much money the agency might lose by closing for a day.

This is going to be a very brief post — mostly pictures — regarding my trip to Boise, Idaho, last week.  I was able to take some photos of the mountains from afar, and then zoomed in on them with my photo editor.  I was also able to spend quality time with the kiddos, and posted a few pics of them here, too.  It’s unfortunate that my trip was concluded by being delayed at the Boise airport for 6 hours last Monday, then had to wait for my plane’s wings to be de-iced.  Once at O’Hare, I learned I was 15 minutes late to catch my bus into Rockford and therefore had to wait another 45 minutes for the next bus. I finally got home at midnight Monday night and was miserable and totally fine not setting my eyes on another airplane for a very long time.

That is, until I go to Austin in April.

-View from the plane-

-Haleigh, 9 years old-

-Alaina, 6 years old-

-Ben, 4 years old-

-Rocky Mountains-

-Sunday night, my last night-

I can tell by Brad’s nervous behavior and uneasiness that he is on edge not quite knowing what to expect from me in the very near future after learning this information today.  All I can say is that I am squealing with delight on the inside (okay, maybe a little on the outside, too, which is what leads Brad to be very, very scared).

This is how today’s weather was being predicted by local weather authorities over the last week.  Everyone seemed to be preparing for it, and luckily I was unscheduled at Old Navy today so I had the luxury of staying at home all day.

Except for the fact that I needed to get gas for my car and run a few errands in preparation for my upcoming trip.

You know it’s bitter cold when you get a “cold” headache while standing outside pumping gasoline.  You know it’s bitter cold when you can feel your nose hairs freezing inside your nostrils.  You know it’s bitter cold when you have been inside for over 10 minutes and your skin is still cold underneath your jeans.  You know it’s bitter cold when you almost get the wind knocked out of you while walking the few feet from your car to the store as a result of the freezing air entering your lungs.

The Weather Channel website says the high today was 1 degree and the low -8. There is a wind chill advisory until noon tomorrow.

Funny how it is actually going to be warmer in Idaho this week!

Brad and I had the pleasure of entertaining our friends Amy and Cory and their ani-baby, Otis the Beagle, this past Sunday evening.  I had committed to making dinner and didn’t want to prepare just some old meal that was handed down to me from my mother, but wanted to make something unique and creative.  Early on, I had decided to make a Thai-themed meal, but after the list of ingredients I would have to buy ended up looking more like dollar signs than produce and spices I quickly changed my mind and chose a simpler, Mediterranean dish that required fewer, less obscure and already-available-in-our-pantry ingredients.

I ended up choosing a menu from 30-minute Get Togethers by Rachael Ray. The Road to Morocco Double Date Night theme included two recipes: “Quick Tagine-style Chicken with Couscous” and “Green Pepper and Tomato Salad.” (Although this was the first time I have even attempted to prepare anything from this cookbook, I love how Ray has separated the recipes into themes and even makes suggestions for setting the mood and has a variety of menus for variously sized parties and uses a range of ethnic flavors).  For people familiar with Rachael Ray’s approach to cooking a meal, she teaches techniques to keep it 30 minutes or less to prepare.  However, this concept is difficult for me to follow — me, the girl who doesn’t understand the concept of “eyeball it” or “palmful.”  I have to measure everything and re-read directions dozens of times.  This is most likely due to the fact that I don’t have a lot of experience cooking and was never expected to prepare meals growing up.  Earlier in the day, Brad helped me measure, chop, slice, and combine what we could so that it would be easier to complete the meal at dinner time.  Once everything was ready to go, the meal did not take long to cook and tasted excellent!  The side salad could have used some feta cheese or additional dressing, but was flavorful.  For dessert, I prepared Ultimate Carrot Cake from the back of a Betty Crocker Carrot Cake box cake mix minus the nuts per Brad’s request.  Come to find out, Cory doesn’t even like carrot cake.  At least he could feel better knowing that he showed me how the cake stand I received as a wedding gift three years ago can also be used as a punch or trifle bowl.  Go figure!

The rest of the evening was filled with good conversation, belly laughs, and free entertainment provided by the animals.  Best of all, we had a relaxing time with good — make that great! — company.

When I get really frustrated about something, or I feel as if justice has not been served, I often find myself saying, “I’m going to write a letter!”  Due to my lack of follow-through with this seemingly bold statement, Brad has learned to humor me, and now simply replies with, ”of course you are.”

Things changed today, though! I sent an E-mail to the Editor of People Magazine after reading an article from the January 14th issue regarding Teen Pregnancy.  Unfortunately, People doesn’t post magazine articles on their website (which makes sense because they are trying to get people to buy the magazine!) so I will have to just post the E-mail I sent and you should be able to figure out some of the content of the article:

“I believe your article from the January 14, 2008, issue regarding the “struggles” of teen parenthood was more of an encouragement to teens than a deterrent.  Getting to move in with your boyfriend and taking night classes only shows teenagers that everything “works out”, so why not get pregnant? And the images? A smiling, 16-year old couple with the baby’s daddy hugging the mom’s belly, girls getting to be in a People photo shoot all because they are pregnant? All of this is glorifying teen pregnancy, which is what I thought the article was written to discourage! 
 
Next time, maybe talk about how most teenage mothers end up living off of welfare and in housing projects, or how they put their families in compromsing situations, like with child welfare services…”

I was pretty infuriated at this article and hope that my comment makes it into People’s MailBag section in the next couple of issues.  After reading the article, I seriously felt like there were no good reasons stated about why NOT to get pregnant at age 16.  I mean, one 16-year old girl featured got pregnant while on vacation by a 14-year old boy in another state!  The boy, who got himself a little part-time job at Wendy’s, is quoted as saying, “I’m more happy than disappointed.  I have a purpose.” So, kids are supposed to have babies just so they kind find purpose in life?

It was just a ridiculous article.  Please try to read it. Or, I’ll try to scan it and post it here.

Some of you already know that I traveled to Boise, Idaho, last October to visit my wonderful friend Cole, and her three charming children who lovingly refer to me as their aunt.  I am going back in two weeks per Cole’s request and her offer to pay my way didn’t hurt my decision-making, either.  Not that she had to really convince me.  It’s beautiful there and I am looking forward to seeing the landscape in full winter mode.  I am also very excited that I have my new camera with which to take more pictures — not only of the awesome snow-capped mountains, but of my cute little adopted-nieces and nephew (and the three dogs, too)!

Here are some photos taken when I was there last fall, which were taken with our Sony Cybershot.  I was very happy with the way they turned out, but they are very one dimensional.  Keep checking back after my trip for new pictures taken with the Nikon D40.  

   p.s. having your child call me “Auntie Joslyn” is really the way to my heart.

This is Yummy moments after she decided to claim Kate’s purse as her own.  I even said, “I wonder how long before Yummy climbs in there” after I noticed Kate had left it open on the floor.  She is becoming pretty predictable, that kitty of ours.

After a brief hiatus, justjoslyn.com is back online and ready to wreak some havoc!  The regularity of my posting is yet to be determined, due to the undeniable fact that I have one full-time job, a part-time job, am a mom to ani-babies Bailey and Yummy, and take care of a home. 

However, I make my vow to you — mostly friends and family — to write often and keep those of you who care up-to-date on how things are evolving in good ol’ Machesney Park’nsas.

I am striving to compose a “Happy New Year” letter like I did last year, so look forward to seeing that. I also got a nifty little present from my hot husband for Christmas and as soon as I figure out how to upload normal-size pictures for this new blog, I will post beautiful photos taken with my nifty little present.

 With that being said, Happy New Year and hopefully, happy reading and commenting nicely on justjoslyn.com!

Love, Joslyn