Beef Bulgogi

The only thing I really miss while living in a hella small town are the eateries. I miss being able to run down to the Golden Palace and eat my fill of fried rice and sushi. Or run to the Korean House and eat fried tofu, pickled sprouts, and beef bulgogi until I feel like I am going to blow up.

I know, most people would miss the shopping. We don't have the money to day any extra shopping, so I welcome not being able to window shop and feel sorry for myself.

Last night, one of my friends mentioned something about Korean food on her FB page. Right then, I started to google recipes for Beef Bulgogi. I found one and it is so damned yummy. Now if it could figure out how to make fried tofu with out messing it up, I would be set. Here is the recipe we used last night.

SERVES 4 -6 (change servings and units)
Change to: Servings US Metric Close

Ingredients

* 1/4 cup korean soy sauce (we used low sodium regular soy sauce)
* 3 tablespoons sugar
* 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
* 1 teaspoon sesame oil
* 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds (we did not have this in the cabinet, so did not use it)
* 3 medium garlic cloves (crushed)
* 3 green onions (chopped, including greens)
* 2 lbs sirloin

Dipping sauce

* 6 tablespoons korean soy sauce (used low sodium regular soy sauce)
* 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
* 1 teaspoon fresh ginger (grated)
* 2 teaspoons crushed toasted sesame seeds (did not use)
* 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
* 1/4 teaspoon sweet paprika
* 1 pinch sugar

Directions

1.Mix ingredients (except meat) and set aside.
2.Slice sirloin paper thin against the grain of the meat(works best if meat is not completely thawed).
3.Marinade sirloin for 30 minute.
4.Mix ingredients for dipping sauce and refrigerate until ready for use.
5.Grill or pan fry, serve over rice with dipping sauce.

We doubled the dipping sauce and spooned it over the rice and meat. Yum Yum. :D

Yes, I am alive

I know, I have been totally MIA for the past, what is it, two months now. Seriously, I am alright, no need to send out the cyber hounds. It is a good thing most of you have found me on Facebook or via e-mail or I would have all sorts of craziness going on here. LOL

Not much to report, I have been a wee bit depressed, trying to go back so school, still trying to find a job (just submitted paperwork for two more, cross your fingers and toes), and spending the weekends out hiking with the fam.

Yes, I know I could probably go on and on about the other trivial shit that has been floating around in my head, but I won't do that right now. It would just be random whining and bitching about one thing or another and I am just tired of doing it. If you are not already on my FB Friend's list, please leave a comment and I will add you or send you my info privately. Hell, I think I may have it already on here. LOL

THE BELTANE ANTICRAFT IS HERE!!!!!!!!!

Okay, I am a wee bit excited for the new issue to be here. There were some groovy things in the last one, but it did not leave me feeling "complete". There were only three things in it. Okay, let's be honest here, I was thoroughly upset by it. Now jump onto your crafty broomsticks and take a ride with me to check out the awesomeness that is The Anticraft!:

this issue is full of merkins

The Honey Pot - Granted, it is for the naughty bits (along with the symbology that goes along with fertility, but this could be something cute for around the house during the honey sort of months. This would also be a great project for the bratlings to help you with. They could make all of the honey bees. Although, I am sure you could always turn it into one. You know, make a whole theme out of it for a fun night. ;-)

Monkey Around - Now this could lead to a fun night of monkeying around. Why is "George, George, George of the Jungle" playing in my head?

Safety First - Every person trolling the bars needs one of these. Either to wear or to just have on their body in case of emergencies. Now enter The Safety Dane



Neko Manko Chan - Is it a toupee? It is a kitty (giggle-giggle)?

Classique - There just are not words to describe the giggles going on right now. I feel like a thirteen yr old. :D

Be Prepared - For the boy scout in all of us. :D

Supurbia - Do not wear if you are playing hide and go seek in the dark. Well, that is, not if you don't want to get caught. :D

Mo'Hair - Oh, you know you just want to clown around.

Fly Fishing - Father's Day is coming up in about 2 months.

High Drama - Totally reminds me of an older SNL skit where these dudes are getting their penises dressed up in costume for a sort of play. GAWD, I wish I could find it on youtube.

One side will make you grow smaller.....

In 2007, when Goob was 4, he was diagnosed with severe ADHD and ODD. I usually do not bring this subject up since most peeps look at us funny when we tell them about his problem. You see, when he is medicated, he acts like a normal boy. He is at the top of his class in both reading and math, he can concentrate on drawing and not just scribble all over the paper, eat, play, and do the things a normal child can do. In April of 07, after about a month of Goob's outbursts becoming extreme, they asked us not to bring him back until he had been evaluated by doctors. I about died. I had already started to come to the realization that he may be mentally slow (he was severely behind all the other 4 year olds at his daycare/preschool), but to think that something could actually be wrong with him about killed me. On top of all of this, my boss was giving me the guilt trip from hell, I fell into a severe depressive stupor, and I was on LWOP (leave with out pay) indefinitely.

Soon after this, we found a Behavioral Therapist that delt with children's issues. After we talked to the therapist and she gave us her initial assessment (there were still tests, and paperwork for us and the daycare to fill out) I started checking out my local herbal store for alternative/homeopathic/naturopathic remedies. During the month of testing and evaluations, we went through over 300 dollars of supplements, vitamins, flower essence, tinctures, and dietary changes with the hopes of keeping him off of "regular" medicine. (personal views, perscriptions are written too many times to either put a band-aide on the real problem or to fix the symptoms, not the route cause) I conceded defeat (with the help of Fae) that a "normal" western medication may be the only way to help him.

After talking to some friends, a bit of research, and many discussions with our doc, we decided Adderall would be the best ADHD treatment for him. Since this is not a medication that is based on weight, we started with the lowest dose of 5 mg. The one good thing with the medication, it does not have to build up in the system. With in an hour of taking it, you should be able to see a definite difference in the child's behavior. (Okay, I am not talking about the Ritalin horror stories of kids being overly doped and lethargic.) Day one, no difference. Day 3 10mg, no different. Day 5 15mg, maybe saw a bit of difference. Day 7 20 mg, OMG, My SON IS BACK!!!! Goob was a little boy again. He was not some wild little terror of a beastie running around like the Tasmanian Devil from Loony Toons any more. OMG, and he can draw. He actually sat down and drew a whole scene from Wizard of Oz. I mean, all of the characters, the Emerald City, and the poppy field. Did I mention that he could barely scribble on a page before this.

After a month of assessments, twice a week visits to the therapist, numerous doctor visits, and my own judgment of my sanity, things were starting to get back to normal. I went back to work for about three days when another phone call came in. Now that he could focus, the ODD was starting to rear it's ugly head and take center stage. One call to out doc and she wrote out a script for a behavioral modifier for us to fill that evening. After Bear called me with the name of the medicine, Ablilify, I was on the puter and researching it. The thing that bothered me most was there were not any clinical studies on children of 4 years old. There was a child 6 yrs old in one study, but 99% of the studies were conducted on children no younger than 10. I made sure Bear called in to take the day off from work the next day to stay with Goob it first day on t he Abilify. He as a total trooper. After about three days on it, his emotional breakdowns were minimal, violent outbursts were minimal, and he would actually sleep.

About a year ago, we were with out insurance and could not afford all of his medicines, so we decided to try to minimize the amount of medicines he was on. He stayed on the Adderall (but switched to a generic) that worked alright for school, but he was a ball of emotional energy just waiting to explode everywhere else. The Abilify was over 90 dollars with our awesome insurance, and there was no way we could afford it with out insurance, so we talked to the doc about taking him off of that. He was fine at first. Gradually, over the past few months, the emotional breakdowns and out-bursts have started to come a majority of the time, not a minority of the time like they should for a 6 yr old.

I had talked to Bear for the past week about talking to his doc about putting him back on Abilify since the kids are now covered by CHIPS and we should be getting the cards for insurance through Bear's work any day now. Goob visits the doc about every 2 mos for a med eval to see how he is doing and it just so happened this past Monday was his most recent one. I asked Dr. C about putting him back on after explaining how his outburst have been coming more often and with less and less rational. She agreed and wrote out the script. (I really love having a doc that actually listens to you, appreciates your quest for research, and also looks kindly on natural medicines) Tuesday was his first day back on the Abilify and it was a wee bit better. Yesterday, he got ready for school with out me calling up "Goob get dressed" every five minutes, actually had time to read and play in the morning instead of rushing, did not argue and fight after school and when we went to the grocery, and went to bed with out spending two hours arguing and destroying things in his bedroom. This morning, he was actually dressed and ready for his medicine (with shoes on and everything) before I even got dressed). YIPPIE!!

This long story was supposed to actually be an into into some observations I have made while subbing and dealing with kids who are supposed to have the same issues as Goob. Oh well, this is the two year anniversary month of getting my little boy back, so I am sharing my painful revelation and HEA (happily ever after) with you.

To Eat, or Not to Eat....

I seriously know why all of those Stepford Wives back in the 60s took drugs. OMFG, I was about horse by the time we left for school. Goob, took almost half an hour to just go potty and get dressed, then another 20 minutes to eat a bit of yogurt (for his medicine), brush his hair and teeth, and get sox and shoes on. Then Boog, OMFG that boy is on about my last fuk'n nerve. He cannot find his jacket after taking it to a friend's house this weekend, told me he cleaned the bathroom (to include the back of the toilet seat and around the top of the sink) and then proceeded to give me three different reasons why "he must have done it". OMFG, you only say you must have done something if you cannot remember doing it in the first place but there are reasons to lead you to believe you have done it. And then poor Stink has to suffer and listen to this shit. Hell, she remembers getting into to trouble for the same shit when she was Boog's age. It is just double right now since the boy brats are going through it at the same time. ARG!!!!!!!

Whiny bitch fest 3/34 is over for the moment. I am off to read Rav Twi threads. I wish the pre-order via Amazon would hurry up and get here. Since they could not guarantee it's arrival since it was a freaky Sat release, I have a free Amazon movie view ticket. I may just have to do that. View the prettiful RPratz eye candy to calm my ailing nerves. :D

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

You got me, Sunday was not that bad, but Saturday was full of teen angst and tears. Stink came home from school on Thursday and told me that she was going to prom. I was like rock on, and proceeded to my "MOMMY" type questions. I was informed that one of her guy friends had a spare ticket and they would be going at pseudo-dates. This girl L was supposed to call her up so Stink could borrow a dress. (you see, we were just in the big city a few weekends ago and did not think to pick up a dress for her) I told Stink to make sure to talk to D about whether or not they were meeting there or he was picking her up. Friday went by with out the call from L and catching D at school. Of course, Stink could not find his number and all. Finally, on Saturday, Stink got ahold of Cyn and they walked over to D's house. OMFG, L had told D that Stink had a ticket but no one to go with. Then L told Stink that D had an extra ticket but no one to go with. WTFH!!!!!! This girl, who was supposed to be a friend of Stink's and even invested time into this farce of a friendship, had set Stink of for embarrassment at the dance in front of everyone. The only thing I can think of is that Stink is the new girl. You know, the shiny new toy and some of the boys like her. Plus, she boys that like her also get a kick out of me from the times I have been around them. You know, I listen to groovy loud metal and am not wound all tight and all that jazz.

Since I have had extensive training from too many teeny flicks since the 80s, I know exactly how to handle Stink. I got Cyn's dad to let her stay the weekend, to include last night. We had hamburgers and fruit salad (we could not resist the beautiful day). The girls hung out with their friend's outside of prom on Saturday until 11. Oh, and the girls had a blast playing with make up, dressing up, and drinking too much coffee. :D

There was a bad spot right before dinner when I took some lettuce over to George's home and he was literally belly up in his food bowl. George is the mini hamster we adopted in September of 07. I figure since they are a small rodent, they do not live too long. His brother, Fred (can you tell we are HP fans LOL) died after living with us for only 4 mos. We will be taking a trip to the pet store in Libby next weekend to get a new furry friend. Stink want's a Chincilla. I was like "CHAAAAA!" I am not going to spend about 120 for an adorable furry creature right now. The biggest thing will be a Guinnea Pig. I so love their "squee-squee" sounds. Okay, that would probably get quite a bit annoying in the middle of the night. We will see. Either way, we will need to get a new cage. Bear punched George's home when he bit Bear one morning. LOL

Oh, we also have a new gold fish. His name is Harry Potter at the moment. It has changed about three times since Friday. Goob won him at the spring carnival the PTA put on on Friday. We have a small beta tank from when Alpha first came to live with us, but I cannot stand to see a fish in a small home. We will also be looking for a bigger tank that can partition. I really do not want to take the risk of Alpha eating Harry.

And the Spring Popknits

YIPPIE, it is totally new Ezine day at the Knitted Specks house. YIPPIE, INSPIRATION!!!!! Now on to the new Popknits:

Panoramic Eggs - These are just too cute. The great thing is the range of patterning them. Helz, if you want, you can totally do faith based themes or goth them out with skulls like the felt ones in The Anticraft

Sweetgum Duncan - OMG, this totally reminds me of all those Donna Reed like sweaters the girls wore back in the 60s with the long skirts. OH, or the black sweaters the beatnik girls wore to the coffee/poetry houses. Oh, a black sweater with dark purple stripes. Yum Yum

There were only 6 patterns this issue, and I liked them all, but I am not that big into hats since the bother my head. Nor am I really into scarves or things wrapped around my neck. Please enjoy. :D

Woo Hoo, Spring Knitty is Here!!!!

I am so behind the power curve lately. Feeling stagnant really does take a toll on everything for me. To climb out, I have submersed myself in fanfiction and have neglected knitting, spinning, blogs, and so on. I cannot believe I did not realize the new Knitty had come out. Bad Jenger.... Here is my wee bit of a review. I am already finding some major inspiration. :D I just dies up some beautiful turquoise roving. YIPPIE!!!!

Shipwreck - This is so calling the pound of turgoise roving I just dyed up. Or maybe if I spin up enough of the wonderful green and blue merino. And the thrill of playing with the beads.

Santeney - OH this could be knitting in a prettiful spring time cotton. Squee, I feel my muse coming back.

Pioneer - I think I found Stink's Bday pressie. Yet another that would be great in a cotton to wear during the summer. Or a wool and worn with a tight long sleeved T under. The ideas are endless. :D

Imagine - You just cannot go wrong with an over sized comfy sweater sporting a peace sign.

Decimal - Knitty has done a great job at having awesome patterns that also look good on us fluffy girls. I think I need a new button cardi.

Andy - The grooviest sport jacket ever. It would be great for both chicks and dudes. I may need to see what Bear thinks of it.

Topaz - Why is it that all of these cutey patooty patterns are always to small for the girl I could see them on. I would love to make this for my cousin's daughter O. The problem is that she is 4 yrs old (please forgive me if I am wrong).

Steggie - I can see myself knitting these until my fingers fall off. You know, dark primary colors for boy Steggies and pretty pinks, purples, and soft colors for girl Steggies.

Absinthe, Cirque, Cachoeira, and Sourwood Mountain - These are the reasons I need to find a way to be able to knit sox and mits again.

Flock = Even if you did not have kids, these would be great in the sun room, hanging on the deck, a groovy mobile or wind chime, the ideas could go on forever. Oh, on a groovy macrame pot holder. :D

A Bit of Sunshine....

Yesterday went about par for course. I did laundry, dinked around on the interwebs, picked up bratlings at school, and around 430 I go outside and piddle around until Bear comes home. I know, it sounds sort of sappy, but I love that big lug of a bear to death and cannot wait for him to get home. Sounds funny since we are working on our 9th year of marriage. :D

So I'm telling him about my OH SO EXCITING day when he blurts out "Can you say promotion?" I was like "Da wa..." He repeats, "Can you say promotion?" I was like, holy shit. He was working the greenchain (the low entry position at the cedar mill) when he was approached by one of the supers and asked if he wanted to move up to another position. *enter squeeing* About 5 minutes later, this chick who has worked the greenchain for over a year and tries to boss everyone around comes up to Bear to inquire as to what the Sup wanted. Bear told her and was got all hughy about how that was not fair. The prob is that she pisses in everyone's wheaties and does not go above or attempt to make the work place better. Bear has worked there for almost 2 months and was put on the safety team almost three weeks ago and is not being moved up to a new position. Again, YIPPIE!!!!!! I am so excited for him to start his new training on Monday. :D

Bad Kitty....

I know, I know, I used to blog a hell of alot more often, but I am just too boring now. Seriously, what would I blog about, sitting on my ars, reading fanfiction, riding the bratling's arses, doing laundry, cooking dinner..... The list could go on and on, but it is what I consider boring, mundane bullshit. Staying home and playing the Domestic Goddess roll is driving my fuk'n insane. Unfortunately my wonderful ADD keeps rearing it's ugly head and distracting me from attempting to figure out what I wanna be when I grow up. Nope, don't know that either and I cannot justify spending the time on school when I am not even sure if I am going for anything I seriously want to do. Fortunately, I have settled on a BusAdmin degree. I figure this is a good all around degree. If I wanna open an herbal/organic store in the future, this degree will lend a helping hand to the business aspect and such. I know, I know, I am a mental case. I swear, things will get better once the thaw starts and I can open the windows of the house (they are covered in plastic right now) or just go out for a walk with out having my hazards on (I am a klutz on a good day, now you add in this ice shit ARG).

Since that run on paragraph of jabber is done, I will fill you in on the past week.

- I subbed at the high school on Thursday, Monday and Tuesday. Not too bad, but this one lil brat girl is bound and determined to be a thorn in my bum.

- Went to Colville and survived (the following will pertain to this weekend in Colville)

- Bear had a funeral to go to. His ex-girlfriend's grandmother died. I know, that sounds a wee bit off. This is a chick that he dated in HS (many moons ago) for only like 6 mos, they were better as friends or friends with benifits than they ever were in an actual relationship. This was back in like 94-95 time frame. Oh, and she is fatter than me. *insert happy dance* I know, I am a petty selfish being, but HA!!!! I am three years older than her, have had three kids (she has only had one), and she gets a hell of a lot more movement than I do (like working with hay fields and such). Nothing makes a fluffy girl feel better than to see the chick that was supposedly your hubbies love of life looking bigger and worse than you. :D Oh, and did I mention that MIL P and Gay Aunt D spent alot of time and energy working a smear campaign against her. I was expecting bother H (Bear's ex) and Bear to get all weird eyed the first time they saw eachother around me in 93. Nope, I actually like her.

- Survived the surprise party for Aunt M. Of course, I was treated like I had koodies or something. You know, since I stole everyone's precious baby Bear away. Fuk'n gag me with a spoon already and get it over with. He moved away over 12 years ago, was not going to move back with all of you after he got out of the service, and then married me over 8 years ago. OMFG. Get the hell over it. He is a grown man in his thirties (not my much but he is). Okay, I hear a lil voice in my head that is yelling "ADD MUCH" which indicates I have strayed from my original subject. "NOW BACK TO THE PREVIOUS BROADCAST" The only people I actually got along with, with out forcing anything, were the two people that were invited due to keeping up appearances. You know, Aunt M's male companion for the past million years, R. R and I had great conversation about homesteading and he was actually impressed with the ideas and plans that Bear and I have set up for ourselves.

Aunt M was great to me once she blew a J. No, you did not read that wrong, this woman is turning 50 and ran off to the back bedroom (yet again, you did not misread) and locked the door with at least 5 other people and toked it up. Okay, I seriously do not have a problem with what you do on your time, but there were atleast 6 kids at in the house. And then, like a damn 13 yr old, she attempted to pass herself off as sober. UM, NO!!!! I have only been around Aunt M a small handful of times, and I can definitely tell the difference. One minute she was half way pleasant but still cold. The next minute, she cannot keep her hands still long enough to read her cards and can barely open her gifts. Oh, and she was nice as hell to me. You know, overly lovey like I am when I get too drunk on Tequila.

I will not even mention the woman smoking while on an oxygen machine (my classy MIL's sis) or the chick who is at least 5 mos preggers and smoking.

- We did have a wonderful time staying at DL's house. They crack me the hell up. D has been busy on the off season studying law. Longs story short (I know, I am a wee bit long winded), L's brother was sent to prison by the corrupt legal system where they live. D has the transcript of the court proceedings and has over fifty instances tabbed where the same cops kept changing their story. And the whole,search and seizure before the warrant was even issued. Kind of hard to call the cops when the cops are the ones illegally taking your shtuff.

Stink was able to help L with the horses. I treated everyone to yummy peanut butter chocolate brownie muffins. DL's daughters came over, so the boy brats were able to play with their cousins. Oh, and we were able to meet S's man. He is so yummy and perfect for each other. This is seriously someone I have always imagined for S. He is strong, out doorsy type of dude, artsy, extremely masculine, and extremely sensible. Of course, we (well I, but Bear agreed) invited them to come up after the thaw so we can all go hiking and groovy out door stuff. Oh, plus L want's to liberate some of the beautiful rocks along the river banks. They are purple and green. :D

- I have come to the realization I am not meant to be around breeders. They were everywhere this weekend. I could not get into the restroom at Helmart cause they were congregated around the entrance with what felt like a million kids. We were even assaulted with breeding questions while at H's house Sunday morning. Bear and I about fell out our chairs when T (H's mom) stated that she bet Bear could not wait to be a grandpa. OMFG!!! I am so glad he did not have coffee in his mouth. Stink is only 14, will be 15 in August, and she is going to university. Once Bear composed himself, he was like, I don't want to be a grandpa for at least another 10 years. That would put Stink at 24, Bear at 40, and me at 43. We would still have Goob at home for sure since he would only be 16. I have been a mom since 18, I want run around my house nekkid time.

-The ride home on Sunday afternoon blew ass. It was almost white out conditions in some areas higher up, the plows did not show up until we were almost over the pass and along the river, we could not keep the windshield from fogging over with the crazy temp changes, we ran into severe rain and hail storms all along the river, and after we got dinner and were only half way home, the speedometer decided to shit the bed. A drive that should have taken us only 3 hours of continuous drive time took over 5. I was so stressed and tense during the first hour or two of the ride (going over the pass and through the severe storms) that I had my fists balled up and tucked under my armpits. OMFG!!!!

I am pretty sure the Subi had a talk with the weather. Subi knows that once the Volvo thaws (there is an ice mound around it), Bear is doing what he needs to in order to fix the oil leak. I want my Volvo. She was supposed to be mine in 05 when we bought her and Bear and purposely not fixed her so I will not drive her. She is just awesome and great. Oh, and she has a hidden seat in the back of the wagon to seat 2 more peeps. YIPPIE, a 7 seater car again.

Okay, that is what happened over the past weekend. You know, the usual family drama and bullshite. We have been having a mix of rain and snow for the past three days. So the weather has not really improved. Well, the muddy, grassy parts of the yard are back.