Category: Daily Life

* I feel horrible for losing my temper.

* Beef jerk on dehydrator

* Working on php/mysql – time to don the headphones

* 1 hour to decide on the 11mth contract. They’ve asked if I were to do a 12×4 (Mon-Thur) if that would make a difference. Crap crap crap! I could have a paycheck by next Friday.

* 9:27 wife still in bed with a migraine. I should be calling my client to say I’m done but I still have some solid work to do. Baby is unwatched. 13 yr old is trying to have a fight. I haven’t been able to bathe and get dressed. Sears has called and I uncomfortably wrote them a check for 2/7. Employment agency called and asked if I could do 12 hours a day Monday – Thursday to make the contract happen. * Proceeded to go upstairs and do battle with the 13yr old. I reverted to my old forceful ways and handled him wrongly. I’ve been doing so much better. I am very disappointed in myself. I pushed him into the bathroom causing him to scream and disturb the 7yr old and his friend, the baby staring in confusion, and wake the wife. He refused to do anything but sit on the floor screaming so I pushed his 170+ pounds half way into the tub and began watering his head down. I left and when I returned he still refused to make any move so I put him in the tub and turned the water on where he proceeded to simply sit and let the water cover his jeans. — I shouldn’t take my anger and frustration out on others. Yes, he was picking a fight since he woke up, had several times baited me with yelling and anger but I should have more tolerance. Turns out he is in a bad mood because the other kids have today off but he is being made to do schoolwork today since he really didn’t work this past week as hard as he should (and he has it pretty easy).

A New Day!

Let’s start the day off with a PayPal donation link:

This Morning

* The 7yr old and friend were up at 7:30. The 19mth old was up at 7. I really wanted to sleep in. Brought her upstairs 7:30ish for breakfast and tv babysitting.

Last Night

* I was up at 1:45am and ready to go. Should have stayed awake and worked. The 7yr old and his friend sleeping over were still up.

* I just flung white glue throughout the innards of our nicest dvd player.

* Always have focus problems in the afternoons. I should work like 4am – 1pm. Wife at store with the girls. 7yr and 3 friends were upstairs. We are now down to 2. Kept the 13yr old from them but have released him to do whatever he wants now.

Hey! That bridge is a burnin!

Turned down an opportunity to work for Fedex. I’m in shock. I’ve chosen family. “No success at work is worth failure in the home.” What if I fail to cloth, feed and house my family? I’m nearly shaking.

* turn down $39/hr and no benes or not??

* 7 yr old and friend home. 13 yr old’s school work is magically complete.

* just wasted an hour watching the 13 yr old practice handwriting. He was pissed because I wouldn’t allow him to use old work as “I just did this” and I made him actually do the assignment correctly. Lots of yelling from him but I kept myself calm, quiet and to the point.

* visio docs created to get a hold and rope in this php/mysql project

* time spent lecturing 13 yr old trying to convince him that school and more importantly the concept of “caring” is important. How in the world do you instill “caring” into someone that really has never considered the concept beyond vocalizing “I do too care!”

* Ate omelette for lunch. (Let’s see how many times we can misspell taht[sic])

* working again

Wahoo! Good Karma!

Despite missing the last payment, the student loan is coming out of default and is being reconsolidated under a new loan with today’s interest rates. Balance should drop from roughly $46000 to $40000 because they are going to waive all but 18% of the late fees. I just need to be able to say I have income (real soon!).

* coffee break over. Wife says I’m dressed like a pirate today 🙂 Or Michael J Fox from Back to the Future. I can’t wait until our debts are paid down and I can get a new wardrobe.

* Sliced and marinated the brisket for beef jerky (see Dietrich’s Jerky Recipe Found that salt has no shelf life unless its seasoned salt

* Fixed wife omlet

– I love to cook!

Dietrich’s Jerky Recipe

Dietrich was a close friend in college with some great outdoors skills. Also introduced me to Oakley sunglasses…thanks for the expensive habit 🙂

recipe: Get a cut of brisket from the store with as little fat as possible. Cut into strips. For chewy jerky cut against the grain (my preferred method) or for less chewy jerky cut with the grain. [I recommend doing this by hand to appreciate the art but after a few times get the butcher to machine cut it. You’ll end up with more fat but its less work. I personally find the cutting an enjoyable and relaxing.] In a tupperware dish or baking dish lay the strips out and sprinle lightly with garlic powder, and kosher salt. Marinate in Dale’s Steak Seasoning for as long as you like. I usually do it overnight. Then dehydrate. Method 1: oven. Cover your bottom rack with aluminum foil. Clean the middle rack then lay your strips of marinated brisket over the rack. Put the oven on the lowest possible setting and dry the meat for 14 hours. Method 2: Using a dehydrater, dry the meat for 8 hours (give or take depending on the dehydrater and your preference–the jerky can be over dried and is horrible when it is). Just like the old cowboys you now have a preserved meat that does not need refrigeration, is tasty, and filling. Enjoy!

Warning: It’s habit forming!

* coffee break

* talked to staffing agency. led them on a little to be able to get the guts to turn them down. Will call this afternoon and explain I had lunch with the inlaws and … something from there.