Sick Day

Last night at work, I noticed my throat starting to scratch and my head starting to hurt.  I swallowed a couple Tylenol, drank some water, and thought nothing of it.
This morning when I woke up, it was worse, but I decided to try to go to church anyway.  I made it to the offering before asking Mom for her keys and heading home.  On the way home I called into work.  Mark told me that I had to have a doctor's note tomorrow, since this is my second sick day.  How convenient for me.

I got home at 11, went downstairs, and went to sleep.  At 4:00, I woke up, ate some lunch, and went back to bed for a couple more hours.  I've been awake from around 6:30 until now, and I'm going to sleep in a couple minutes.  Sore throat, headache, low fever, extreme fatigue... basically, the exact same thing Bo's had lately.

So, I have to go to the doctor tomorrow, pack, go to the library, and finish my lesson plans, before 3:30.  I work 3:30-9 tomorrow night, then 8-2:30 on Tuesday, then I'm leaving for California! I am SO READY for this vacation.  Get ready, Jenney-- I am going to do some HARDCORE relaxing in between our movies, zoo trip, theatre night, cooking, beach days, tacos, Bergsteining, and laughter.

Prayers that I'll feel better soon would be greatly appreciated.  I hate being sick, and it always happens at such inopportune times. :/

Extreme Makeover: My Room Edition

I had Tuesday off, so I decided to tackle a MUCH needed task-- cleaning my room.  And by "much needed," I mean, "I still hadn't unpacked the suitcase I took to my grandparents' house for Christmas."

Before... note the bag from winter retreat, the clothes all over the couch, the junk on the floor, and the wide-angle-lens distortion :)

During... Two boxes of stuff to get rid of, and half the clothes from my closet

Dirty clothes, stuff that goes upstairs, stuff to give away, and trash. Also, my heater.

So. Many. Hangers.

After! Sooo clean! Moved my bed to the other wall, took out the couch, dusted, vacuumed... ahhhh.

My bookshelf. Dan Stadt turned all of those bottles upside down when he stayed in my room at New Years.  I didn't notice for a week.

Another view... note the desk, Peruvian flag, letter on the bed, aaaand, wide-angle lens distortion :)

Mandarin Chicken- The (super) Easy Way

I found all of these pictures on my camera, and I can only guess that I intended to blog this "recipe."  Although, it's not so much of a recipe as it is a way to use store-bought sauce... but it's still delicious.

Gather: instant rice, garlic salt, cumin, an egg, Mandarin Sauce (make your own if you're more ambitious than I am), lemon juice, olive oil, cherry tomatoes (or grape tomatoes. or Roma. or any kind of tomatoes, really), an onion, and one large boneless skinless chicken breast.

Chop the chicken breast into (roughly) 1-inch cubes and sprinkle with garlic and cumin.  

Go easy on the cumin.  It's a pretty distinct flavor (sort of like chili-cheese Fritos) and can be overpowering.

Put a tablespoon or two of olive oil in a frying pan and throw in the chicken, diced onion (about 1/2 cup), and chopped tomatoes (1/2 cup to a cup)

When most of the chicken is white on the outside, and the oil is bubbling, make a well in the middle of your pan.

Turn the heat to medium-high. (I have no idea why I took a picture of this)

Crack your egg into the well and...

...scramble it up with the chicken and veggies

Pour in a capful or two of lemon juice.

Add around 1/8 to 1/4 cup of mandarin sauce

Then turn the heat to low and let it simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally

The sauce will get less... well... saucy... as the food simmers.  

Cut open a couple pieces of chicken to make sure they're fully cooked.

Serve it up over a bed of white rice.  I used instant, but I'm sure "real" rice would be even better.

Yum.

Retreat Recap

(I think I've been neglecting this blog a little bit.  My apologies :/  I've been blogging elsewhere, and have forgotten to stop in here.  Of course, since pretty much only Jenney reads this blog... I don't feel too awful.)

Last weekend was the CRF Winter Retreat, and it was positively epic.  I got to spend tons of quality time with some of my favorite people ever.  Here are a few of the many pictures :)

Maggie, Bruna, and I, shortly after arriving at Portage Lake (approximately 1 am)

Andrea and I on the bus to Caberfae Peaks.

I absolutely LOVE these girls.

Dawn and I are super legit. And by "Dawn and I," I mean, "Dawn."

My non-skiing buddy <3

My best friend <3

I just love my Maggie.

Laughing with Levi is the best thing ever.

Look! A smile!

Errrrrbody do the John Wall, the John Wall, the John Wall

Errrrbody do the Narwhal, the Narwhal, the Narwhal

Wittenbach family Christmas Card photo. Tradition.

I simply adore them

My favorite German cousin

It's SNUGGIE time.

Praying and Pondering.

I've been feeling a tugging on my heart from God regarding what I do with my summers.  I have no idea what this tugging means, if it will lead to something different or simply to a change in my attitude regarding my current plans.  However, I was in the car alone for about 3 hours today.  This song came on towards the beginning of my drive, and I repeated it several times while praying and thinking...particularly about the verse I have pasted below.

I've lived in this place and I've known all the faces

Each one is different, but they're always the same

They mean me no harm, but it's time that I face it

They'll never allow me to change

And I never dreamed home would end up where I don't belong

I'm movin' on.

I GOT INTO MOODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Standard Day

Wake Up
Drink a breakfast shake
Go to work
Come home
Flop on couch
Eat dinner
Stare at computer for an hour or so
Shower by 8
In bed by 9
Asleep by 10
No big deal.