Charlotte’s Tips

We could get up to 2 ft of snow starting this afternoon and continuing into late Saturday night. As soon as the weather word, that we have a blizzard warning, got out Shoprite got crowded like they were having a super daily deal and giving stuff away.

I went past Shoprite yesterday and it was jam packed. There was almost a couple accidents with people trying to get into and out of the parking lot. Luckily I went and got food on Tuesday so I’m good for the weekend.

I should really go there because JoJo is almost out of her food, but I think there might be enough until I’m able to get the car dug out. If not I do have a couple cans of canned food for her.

The other day I drove past a house and they were having a yard sale. The temperatures have only been in the 20’s and 30’s here. There weren’t very many people there and they had a lot of stuff out. I could see something that looked like a cigar store Indian too.

I don’t know why they didn’t wait until spring or a really warm day to hold a yard sale. I know I wouldn’t want to tramp through several inches of snow in someone’s yard to buy some over-priced items.

Andi has decided to start taking online classes. At one time she was thinking of getting a criminal justice degree and becoming a cop. Now she’s going for medical billing and coding classes.

Northwestern College has a mission to provide a quality education to students who want a better life for themselves by offering career-focused college degrees. Their programs are accredited and are associate’s degree programs and are taught by very qualified instructors. The online format is convenient and gives flexibility to arrange coursework and study time around busy schedules.

They also have a lot of different services to help students prepare for the next steps in your career. Financial aid is available and help is available to students to get them through the process. Every student gets a Personal Student Services Coordinator to help them with any questions or problems.

Northwestern College is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

JoJo, my cat, must have been reading over my shoulder when I posted about her in an earlier post. Right now she’s running back an forth like a crazy cat who’s trying to get rid of belly fat. Her eyes are wide and wild looking as she zooms from one end of the camper to the other. She looks around like the devil himself is chasing her.

I should get out my video camera and record that the next time she acts that way. Someone might get a laugh or two out of it.

I know my readers must be sick and tired of reading posts about my problems but I’m sorry here’s another one. I’m still unemployed and have been for over a year now. The job market is really bad here in my part of New Jersey. Just yesterday I got a rejection email for a job that I sent my resume in for. They didn’t even bother to call me in for an interview. They just looked at my resume and rejected it. I was perfectly qualified for that job too.

The stress of not being able to find work is taking a huge toll on my life. I don’t eat much at all which has got to be one of the best diets that work of all time. My pants have gotten quite loose, which really isn’t good because I can’t afford to buy new clothes that fit. I’ve found a lot of new wrinkles and more gray hairs. Sadness and depression rule my life.

I know I haven’t been posting a lot lately. I seem to be at a loss for words when I bring up my blogs. I don’t know if it’s writers block, depression or what that’s keeping the words at bay. Lately I just sit and watch the cat get fatter and wonder if there are any natural weight loss products for cats.

I think it’s more on the depression side. But more on that later.. if I can get the words to form in my head and transfer to my fingers.

This is good for these cold winter days. It’s 150 calories per serving so you won’t need to invest in herbal diet pills!

1 pound beef boneless round steak
1 pound small red potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices (4 cups)
2 medium stalks celery, chopped (1 cup)
2 medium carrots, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon beef bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 cans (14.5 ounces each) beef broth
1 jar (6 ounces) sliced mushrooms, undrained
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1. Cut the beef into 1 1/4-inch pieces. Mix beef and remaining ingredients except water and flour in 5-quart slow cooker.

2. Cover and cook on Low heat setting 8 to 9 hours.

3. Mix the water and flour in small bowl; gradually stir into the soup until blended. Turn to High heat setting. Cover and cook about 30 minutes or until slightly thickened.

1 Serving: Calories 150 (Calories from Fat 20); Total Fat 2 1/2g (Saturated Fat 1g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 25mg; Sodium 1200mg; Total Carbohydrate 18g (Dietary Fiber 3g, Sugars 2g); Protein 15g

Since we are living in a camper there isn’t much room for stuff so I have to purge stuff from time to time. I have to recycle the junk mail constantly and get rid of all of the magazines full of colon cleanser reviews, sale papers, credit card offers and such.

It’s surprising just how fast that stuff piles up. I take all of the bills that are due and put them in a prominent place so they don’t get forgotten and put the paid ones into a shoe box and put that box into one of the upper cabinets so it’s out of the way.