Blogger's Block

I've been thinking about my Tuesday blog and I don't know what to write about.  This has been a pretty low key week...no major events (other than Greg's new job and I already blogged about that), no pictures taken, no big stories to tell.  I went through the stored up ideas in the BlackBerry and just am not feeling any of them.  Perhaps I'm feeling a little blah this Tuesday.  Perhaps I've been feeling a little bit blah for the last couple of weeks.  Maybe it's the change in weather, maybe it's going from traveling constantly to sitting perfectly still, maybe it's just a mood...who ever knows why we feel blah.  Perhaps it's time for another list of things to do to pull me out of my "blah" and get me off to the right foot in September...

Let's see here...

1. Join a book club (this one is kind of cheating because I've actually already joined a book club but it doesn't start until September 16th)
2. Get a massage (again with the cheating!  Greg bought me a gift certificate to the Spa at our gym and I'm scheduling it for next Friday)
3. Learn to knit (finally, no cheating!  I've always wanted to learn to knit so I could have cute hats and mittens on demand...and just in time for fall/winter)
4. Make a gift for someone (sometimes doing something nice for someone else just takes your mind off of the "blah")
5. Organize the office (our office is the "catch-all" room in our house...we only have 2 rooms so that's not so great!  Time to get it into shape)
6. Go to a wine tasting (Warden's has a GREAT wine tasting every Thursday night and I've only been ONCE...that was like 8 months ago...think it's time to get out of the house a bit)
7. Volunteer (I've been meaning to do this...I just don't quite know where my volunteering will fit in...guess it's time to find out and take action!)
8. Go on a hike each weekend in September (with me traveling almost every other week this Summer there was no time for hiking.  It's something Greg and I really enjoy doing.  I think Fall is the perfect time for hikes...not too hot, not too cold!)
9. Get caught up on Scrapbooking (I don't know if I can get totally caught up in the month of September as I have about 2 books to finish, but I can make a good effort)
10. Download some new music (this is cheating a little bit too...I have a list of songs stored up in the BlackBerry that I've been meaning to download...just need to get it done!)

So there you have it...Tuesday's blog, a plan to get me out of my "blah" and a good start to September!

BIG Day

Tomorrow is a BIG day.  Tomorrow is the FIRST day of Greg's CAREER!!!  I could not be more excited for him.  When we moved back to Missoula in 2006 in order for Greg to pursue his education at the University of Montana it was a HUGE step of faith for both of us.  We both took major pay cuts, had to learn some tough lessons and sacrificed A LOT of time together as a couple.  When he graduated in December of 2009 it was not necessarily the best time in our Nation's economy to be graduating from college.  Especially with a degree in Political Science!  For FOUR MONTHS he applied and applied and applied for other jobs while maintaining his part time job in retail.  In April he was finally hired by a bank in town.  In July he was told that the department of the bank he was working at was closing in 60 days.  Three days later he was told that he was absorbed by a different branch of that bank.  This was not his DREAM job.  He went to work everyday because it's what WE NEEDED him to do.  He continued to apply and apply and apply.  He never gave up complete confidence that the RIGHT position was just around the corner!  TOMORROW he starts that job!  Greg has been hired on by the Forest Service!!!  We are both so excited, relieved and thankful.  And as a wife I could not be more proud and more humbled that I have been a small part of it all.  I love having a front row seat to the life of this AMAZING man!  I truly feel like the LUCKIEST girl in the world.  Here's to tomorrow!

Salmon Cakes with Cool Lime Sauce

I'm just going to start this post by apologizing for the absolute lack of pictures.  I usually try to take pictures of my creations, "Just in case!", but lately I haven't been LOVING any of the creations.  I went into this recipe a little negative.  I thought, "I'm sure it will taste okay, but probably nothing I'll want to post to the blog."  What happens?  SO MUCH BETTER THAN OK!!!  Greg and I LOVED this recipe.  In fact last night around 10 I told him, "All I can think about is having more of those Salmon Cakes!"  So here it is...hope you and yours enjoy it just as much.  I think it's a really nice appetizer or even a light summer meal with slaw.  I could even see enjoying them in the winter with a cream based soup!  OH SO YUMMY!!!

INGREDIENTS

Sauce:

• 1 Lime
• 1/2 c. mayonnaise (recipe calls for fat-free but I don't believe in that stuff)
• 1/4 c. sour cream (again with the fat-free)

Salmon Cakes:

• 2 cans (6oz each) skinless, boneless pink salmon packed in water
• 1/4 c. finely chopped red bell pepper
• 1/4 c. thinly sliced green onions with tops
• 1 Tbs. snipped fresh cilantro (or more...you can never have too much cilantro!)
• 3/4 c. unseasoned dry bread crumbs (I used Italian...and you will probably need more than 3/4 c.)
• 1/3 c. mayonnaise (yes "fat-free" and this is in addition to the 1/2 c. you need for the sauce)
• 1 (or 2) egg white

1.  For Sauce, zest lime to measure 2 tsp zest (I just eyed it, it was great).  Juice lime to measure 2 tsp (again, just juice the lime...you kind of get what you get!).  In small bowl combine zest, juice, mayo and sour cream.  Mix well.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.  ***This makes WAY MORE SAUCE than you will need for your cakes.  I think it would be a nice dressing for a slaw with some white cabbage and shredded carrots***
2. For Salmon Cakes, drain salmon.  Place in small bowl and flake with fork.  Finely chop bell pepper and thinly slice green onions.  Snip or finely chop cilantro.  Add bell pepper, green onions, cilantro 1/2 c. of the bread crumbs, mayo and egg white to salmon.  Mix well.  ***depending on the consistency I would add extra mayo here or another egg white.  Mine was initially kind of dry and you need them to be a bit sticky for the cake to form)
3. Heat skillet over medium heat until hot.  In the mean time, sprinkle 1/4 c. bread crumbs (or more) onto bottom of shallow dish or plate.  Using hands (this is messy!!!) scoop up some Salmon mixture and form a ball then pat into cake about 1/2" thick.  Turn to coat evenly in bread crumbs (both sides), set aside until all cakes are ready to cook.  Makes between 6 and 8 cakes so separate Salmon mixture accordingly.
4. Cook Salmon Cakes 3-4 min per side until golden brown.  Serve with Sauce 

Perspective...

This is not one of the posts that I have stored up in my BlackBerry.  This morning I went to the gym.  I've been trying to lose a little weight and today was "weigh myself day."  My first goal was to lose three pounds, which was only one pound/week from the last time I had "weigh myself day."  So, I stepped on the scale and what did I see???  I GAINED 1.5 pounds???  I GAINED weight....URG!!!  I was so frustrated, but what are you gonna do?  So I went upstairs and held my date with the trusty treadmill.  When I'm working out I really let my mind wander for the most part.  It's kind of my "me time."  No cell phones, no computers, no TV, no one asking me for anything...just me, the treadmill and my thoughts.  I thought about our upcoming trip to Portland, I thought about Greg's job, I thought about hiring a personal trainer (which I can't afford...just a pipe dream), I even thought about what I would blog about because as you know Tuesdays are for blogging!  But mostly I was beating myself up for gaining weight.  Just then a guy got on the treadmill next to me.  I noticed that he had braces on his legs and has probably had them for all or most of his life.  Clearly walking is not an easy task for him.  I imagine he does it because it's good for him, because it's what the doctors tell him to do...what discipline!  He was probably walking at less than a 2 mile/hour pace.  And get this...he was SMILING!!!  Here I am walking on a 10% incline at a 3.5 mile pace pissed off because I gained a pound and a half and this guy is smiling through a workout that is clearly very uncomfortable for him.  Perspective kind of slapped me right upside the head this morning.  So what about a pound and a half.  I can get out of bed in the morning with relative ease, I can walk however fast or slow I want for the most part, I can golf and hike and live my life pretty much the way I want.  What do I really have to complain about?  And this man probably gets stared at all the time.  Getting up from the table to get a cup of coffee is probably a really big chore for him.  Getting in and out of his vehicle is probably very difficult.  And he doesn't complain, in fact he does it with a smile!  So for the rest of the week that's my goal...Do it with a smile.  Whatever "it" is...SMILE!

4 Years and Counting

As most of my upcoming blogs will be, this entry is quite obviously LATE!!!  Greg and I enjoyed our 4th anniversary on July 23rd!  For our 1st, 2nd and 3rd anniversary we spent quiet dinner dates together, exchanging gifts and just enjoying each others time and company.  This year was slightly more adventurous.  My family arrived on July 22nd.  My brother Jon, sister in law Tory and their children Jaxon and Samantha drove in from Portland.  While my sister Jacki, her boyfriend Chuck and my grandma Marge drove from South Dakota.  Greg and I still could have enjoyed a quiet dinner with just the two of us for our anniversary.  No one in our family would have made a fuss.  However, I only get to see my family about once a year.  I WANTED to spend time with them.  So at 7:45am the day of our anniversary Greg and I arrived at my parent's house to pick up Jacki and Chuck for White Water Rafting.  We had reservations with 10,000 Waves, while my dad, Jon and Tory would float behind us on my dad's pontoon.  I have only had one other rafting experience.  I was about 18.  It was MISERABLE.  I STRONGLY disliked it.  Needless to say I had my doubts about this rafting trip.  BUT my dad had already paid, reservations were made, people were counting on me...I had to go through with it.  I LOVED it!!!  Greg and I sat in the front of the raft (where most of the "action" is according to our guide).  It was so much FUN!!!  I was really nervous for the first rapid, but after that it was a blast!  I also learned something new about myself.  Apparently my reaction to somewhat dangerous, unknown situations is to LAUGH...hysterically!!!  The best part is that there is a photographer who takes professional pictures of rafts going through the Level 4 rapid, Tumbleweed and he caught it all on film.  What would be my first blog back with out pictures.  The photographer's name is Mike Malament with Montana River Photography.  Jacki and I just decided to buy a CD with all of our raft's pictures because we LOVE scrap booking.  Below are just my FAVORITES of the day.  If you want to see all 34 frames of Tumbleweed visit this site: http://www.photoreflect.com/store/Orderpage.aspx?pi=1MQD004R000000&po=0&pc=34
ENJOY!!!

Nice leisurely stroll down the river...

A little LESS leisurely now...

OMG!!!...

I'm okay...I'm okay...

FAVORITE picture!!!  Greg and I looking at each other saying...OMG!!!  That was AWESOME!!!

Our AMAZING float guide, Tyler...

Family Photo!!!

Tuesdays Are For BLOGGING!!!

Hello sweet blogging friends!  I have really missed you!  As you may recall, I have been traveling to Billings for work for the past three months.  During these three months I have missed putting my life in words for all to see (well all three or four of you anyway) and I have missed being part of the exciting things going on in your lives as well.  I have felt like a bad blogger.  I have felt guilty for not checking in.  I have fretted over how to fit blogging into a more consistent space in my life.  Hence my title for this blog, Tuesdays are for blogging!  I don't work until 10 on Tuesday mornings.  I am going to make a concerted effort to be a consistent blogger with at least one post a week using Tuesdays as my time slot.  This is not to say that Tuesdays are the ONLY day for blogging, but they are at least a designated day in my crazy little world.  I have several blog ideas stored up in my BlackBerry, just WAITING, HOPING, WANTING to be shared with my little blogging world.  So, stay tuned for Tuesday....

What Summer?

I have been a BAD, LAZY, INCONSISTENT blogger.  BUT, I have a good excuse...Since the middle of May I have been traveling back and forth to Billings for work.  It is exhausting, but I'm making good money doing it.  I strongly dislike being away from my husband and my parents and my friends, but it is part of my job.  I often have to leave on a Sunday so that I am there on Monday morning to open the store.  I often don't get home until LATE on Friday nights because someone has to close the office.  Already I find myself at the END of JUNE, wondering where has my Summer gone?  I am actually writing this blog a mere 10 minutes before I have to put the suitcase in the trunk and leave for Billings for a two week stretch.  I have lots of blogs to write...new recipes, a picture of my first Lotto Ticket purchase, pictures from our Annual Mother's Day weekend, pictures from Father's Day at the Bison Range, etc, etc, etc.  For now those blogs will have to wait, because all I want to do when I am home is hang out with my family and get a little refreshed before it is time to leave again.  So, please, stay tuned...I swear there will be some new blogs with substance soon!