Another Door Opens

"When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us."

-- Alexander Graham Bell I am an Alaskan girl. Always will be. I was born in Anchorage and moved all over the state because my dad was a State Trooper. I must have been blessed with kamikaze angels as a young child. I wanted to go pet the moose standing in front of our picture window early in the morning, while everyone slept. I could never get the door open fast enough and they would be gone. I've searched for Easter eggs in spring snowfall. Worn ExtraTuffs with a dress, worked in a cannery and fell in love with the wildness of a southeastern Alaska commercial fisherman.  Never imagined leaving Alaska after getting married and having kids. Alaska felt safe and familiar. Anywhere else seemed crazy. Alaskans are a different breed. We are independent and fiercely protective of our right to live free, in the pursuit of happiness.... with our guns. Early this month, my husband and I were getting ready for an overdue date night out. A sort of late anniversary celebration, just the two of us. My husband noticed he had missed a call from my dad. I hadn't called my parents in a while and figured they were looking to talk to the kids. Then, I noticed they had called me too. As we drove to the restaurant, I got nervous, since both my grandmas aren't in the best health. I thought maybe something had happened. So I called back just before getting to the restaurant. Dinner was delayed for a bit while my dad slowly told me what was going on in Montana, and that the family had a proposition for us. With everything going on in our country, rising fuel and food costs that look to only be worsening, did we feel safe being far from family if something bad happened? What if Chad lost his job? What if there were food shortages? Well... people we had met were very good people, but they weren't family. We weren't sure. Those aren't the easiest questions to answer. Then, he dropped the bomb. Almost all in one breath: (paraphrased) Your mother and I have been talking and we want to pay your way to move down to Montana and live on the farm in the house your brother just built. Its a four bedroom, two bath, two car garage home with natural gas and wood stove heat on 40 acres of land. Your uncle wants you to manage the farm and Chad will be paid for his time to rebuild the barn, chicken coop, fence in the property, and salvage the wood from the old homestead and barn. In addition to that, Chad will be employed to paint one grandmother's house and renovate a bathroom. While the other grandma needs a garage and a possible add on. We will also pay six month's rent after which it will only be $600/mo. We want to eventually get cows, chickens, maybe alpacas, prepare a portion of land for alfalfa and have a large garden. All the tools are there, even all the farming equipment. You would be paid to help clean the house for one grandma and maybe chauffeur the other from time to time and your mother will help with the kids. It's a lot to take in right now, so don't rush into this decision. Take some time and think about it. ........ I am sitting there stunned. I get off the phone, and tell Chad. We are both stunned. What should we do? There is so much to consider. Can we really walk away from Alaska? Montana is so far away. If we left, there would be no returning because, we cannot afford to go, certainly wouldn't be able to come back once they had moved us (the next day my dad calls to say, if we give it a few years, and it's not working out, they would help pay to send us back to Alaska!) What do we do? How do we process this once in a lifetime offer? TO BE CONTINUED..... (for conclusion click here)

Sumptuous Peanut Chicken & Teriyaki Noodlin's

Oh my gosh! What can be better, than a dinner that is amazing immediately served, all steaming and calling to you? Well, that same dinner, leftover cold the next day. I found a fantastic recipe for a peanut chicken and just threw together a delicious teriyaki noodle that is delicious cold, even better served on top of a simple Caesar salad!

I have to credit the April/May 2011 issue of Garden&Gun magazine for the peanut recipe before I begin. However, the noodles are all mine! I am posting the recipe, with the addition of any changes I made during the process.

Peanutty Chicken & Teriyaki Noodlin's

• 5 Tbsp creamy peanut butter
• 3 green onions white and green parts chopped
• 3 Tbsp soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp rice vinegar (I used "seasoned")
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (I omitted this for the kids)
• 1 3-4 lb chicken (had thawed 4 large skinless thighs)
• 1 1-inch piece peeled fresh ginger (for my application, chopped coarsely)
• 2 garlic cloves (or 1 heaping Tbsp minced)
• handful of fresh cilantro

Heat oven to 450° F. In a small bowl, combine the peanut butter, half the green onions, soy sauce, vinegar, and cayenne. Gently, loosen the skin of the chicken and spread half of the paste between the skin and the meat. Or if you are following what I did, just slather it all over both side sides of the thighs. Rub the rest of the paste all over the outside of the chicken. Put the remaining green onions, ginger, garlic and cilantro into the chicken cavity. Since I only had thighs, I sprinkled that mixture in the bottom of the pan, then laid the chicken, meatiest side down. Roast the chicken, breast side down, in a roasting pan for about 20 min. Reduce the oven to 350° F and flip the bird (or in my case, the thighs) breast side up. Baste with any juices that have accumulated in the pan. Roast for 30-40 min, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 160°-165° F and juices run clear. Let the bird rest 10 minutes before carving.

Noodlins!

Trust me when I say, you might want to double this recipe. It's that good!

•  1 10 oz package Chinese noodles used for chow mein  
• 1-2 Tbsp butter
• 2 Tbsp minced garlic
• Kikkoman's Teriyaki marinade and sauce

Follow the directions for cooking the noodles, while those are going, begin sauteing the garlic and butter in a large pan until fragrant. When the noodles are al dente (about 3-4 min), drain and add to the cooking garlic. Toss noodles in butter/garlic sauce a few times, then add teriyaki sauce to your desired taste. I used about 1/2 C then left the bottle on the table in case anyone wanted more flavor. These noodles are amazing served cold over a plain caesar salad. Just trust me! There is a restaurant here that has a signature salad done this way and it is WAY popular!

The boys all raved about dinner. Lachlan slurped up the noodles happily. I was hoping for more leftovers.... looks like I'll be running to the store for more noodles to make up for a more adequate "leftover" lunch. Enjoy!

Fresh Outlook

With my 6 yo being Type I Diabetic, life can be pretty hectic. Especially when you throw in the fact that I am as well. Managing a chronic disease is really hard, but in the end can be rewarding when you meet others working through the same stuff.

Tonight, I met three amazing moms and some of their kids at the first gathering for Parents of Type I Diabetic Children. One of the moms was even in the same boat as me. She's Type I Diabetic too, with a 16 yo daughter struggling with coming to terms with her disease. It was so great to commiserate and offer each other inspiration, and the hope of better things to come. Our host was a wonderful woman named Ruth Clare, who is a diabetic educator in our hospital. She also helps with the diabetic camp I am hoping Connor will go to this summer.

Alaska Diabetes Summer Camp: Kamp Kushtaka

The kids got along really great and we all had a moment to laugh and share stories. We brainstormed about different things we want from the group and what we would love to see happen. I put forth that we should have a blog for our local group. So, I am going to work on putting one together that will have all of us putting in info and sharing ideas and just how we are managing our lives. It's hard to get together when life is so hectic, so I thought it would be another great outlet and help us work around each other's schedules so we can meet, while maybe attracting more locals to come to our meetings. Who knows, maybe a famous diabetic would be interested in speaking to our group? That would be awesome!

So, I have a fresh new zeal for getting more social with folks who share a common goal: our children's health. Be on the lookout for another blog about parenting and diabetic kids!

Treading Water

Drowning In Debt & the Sharks Start To Circle

I know we aren't alone, as we desperately tread water, coughing and sputtering from a wave or two along the way. We are adrift in a financial sea that threatens to steal our joy, every month. We forget for a while when we catch some calm from a little extra money from a side job, or from me being able to play the coupon game successfully from time to time. Our kids are very good at distracting us from the gloom, but it is a real struggle not to succumb to the despair.

Giving To Others: The Ultimate Reward

Winning the Lottery or some other sweepstakes would be SUCH a blessing (BTW we do NOT play the lottery, that would be foolish and a waste of money)! We imagine, getting completely out of debt, putting money away for each of the kids for education or their first home. We think of all the people we want to bless who helped us along the way: our parents, a few key friends, and our church. Then, a car that isn't about to fall apart, a truck for Chad to use for work and a home of our own, FINALLY! Then, the rest away to be doled out to charities and help others over time as well as keep us comfortable. No. No mansions or boats or excessive toys. Just to finally be able to return the favor and bless others would be huge for us. Give back. If we could figure out how to invest wisely, we could bless many for a long time!

See, right now it feels real hopeless at times. We do okay for a while, then something happens and we are at rock bottom again. Someone backs their rig into my parked car, smashing the front and side of the driver's side. Then don't bother to leave their info. Having to rent a car while it was fixed, the total was almost $400. Or, I get sick enough to need medical attention, and being uninsured, it's $300 just to be seen for 15 min to swab my throat that looks worse than ground hamburger to confirm it's strep. It never seems to really end, at least not for long. I am tired of telling the kids, "No, we don't have enough money to do that." when they ask if we can go to the book sale, or bake sale at school. I wish we could just catch a break for once.

The IRS has us in their grasp and, as I've been told by a CTP (certified tax preparer), "The days of the kindler, gentler IRS are over. They want their money and don't care about your situation." Apparently, though they will still take the $150 application processing fee, and happily, they won't tell you that you are guaranteed a no. I was told by the CTP that he was told by the IRS and other CTPs, that they aren't advertising it, but they do NOT do Offers and Compromises anymore. They need money to fund the gross financial mishandling this new administration is infamous for and do NOT care that the rest of the country is bleeding out financially. So, if you are considering some tax company you've seen on tv to help you with such a process, don't bother.

But what can we do against the destructive gobbling machine of greed that our government has become? What is the recourse for so many who are floundering despite following the directions as best as the could? We always filed our taxes and never hid anything. I was told to stay in contact with the IRS and they would work with us, but all it seemed to do, was help them keep tabs so they could obliterate us on a whim. I would tell them how we couldn't make a payment because no money was coming in... and was told to sell our only car that was used to get to work, get groceries and take our kids to school. I feel vulnerable and ruined. I never knew how little our government really cared about us, "We the People". We are taxed, over and over. Sucked dry of our hard labor and then we can watch our money go to drug addicts and lazy good for nothings who have learned to work the system, because the system doesn't bother with drug testing or check ups to make sure the people getting assistance are truly needy and actually making attempts to better their lives.

I am. So very tired of it all. I want to be done with this debt. I never wish to be in the clutches of greedy government men, who golf and fly to Paris with their wives on MY DIME, while our military men suffer in poverty at home and are abandoned overseas in wars we don't belong in. I am sick of nursing an aging car, praying for it to last for years because even a used car is too expensive, while fat government cats fly in jets, take limos or can choose from a fleet of brand new top of the line autos ON MY DIME. I'm tired of telling my kids, "We can't, because it's too expensive." when they want to buy a present for a friend's birthday party. Here's an idea: Drastically cut the salaries of all government political employees! WHO THE HECK needs $400,000/a year and benefits and paid vacations while the rest of the country struggles to pay basic medical care or goes without??? Ahem... Mr. President? Would you please step up? No? hm...