Deep Thoughts By Muir

So I was watching Oprah 25 Years:  Behind the Scenes yesterday and they were talking about Oprah's diaries...she's kept one, I think, since she was 15.  I was thinking to myself, "Hmm...I used to try and keep a diary when I was a kid but I could never stick with it."  And I thought too of how I wish I did keep a diary just to look back on and remember the crap that I've done and how I've grown from it (or not grown).  And then I thought, "You moron, Muir!  What do you think your blog essentially is?!"  Of course I don't write down every little thought that goes through my mind because that isn't really for public consumption but I write down the things that happen to me and the important events! 

By the way, today is May Ray Day!  It's a day where you're supposed to celebrate the warmer days of summer (HA!  What a joke!  We set a record the other day for having the lowest high for this time of year - 51 degrees!  Ridiculous).  This day is also supposed to be a day to celebrate all people named Ray - or RAE as my mother's middle name is spelled and as Eva's middle name will be spelled!  Wouldn't it have been great if my little thundercat had decided to make an appearance today!?  But she's not that cooperative. 

Speaking of cooperative - Maggie has her last dr.'s appointment this morning before her INDUCTION!!!  We'll see if she's dilated or not - cross your fingers!

By the way - I just took my pills (fish oil, naproxen, allergy and vitamin) and it's making me want to yak!  BLECH!  I hate it when it makes me nauseous...usually it doesn't but for some reason this morning - ICK!

Made a new recipe the other night - really delicious and simple.  The pasta is in a weird place at Kroger - near the deli in it's own fridge case not down an aisle.  I think next time too I will try a similar pasta, not the one called for in the recipe - maybe a tortellini.  Here it is:

Italian Chicken Pasta Bake

Ingredients:
- ¼ cup Frozen Chopped Onion (I used fresh)
- 2 Garlic Cloves, crushed
- 8 oz White Sliced Mushrooms
- 2 small Zucchini, diced
- 2 - 14.5 oz cans crushed Tomatoes
- 2 tsp Italian Seasoning
- ½ tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Ground Black Pepper
- ½ tsp Sugar
- 1 Kroger Wholesome  Home Savory Slow Roasted Rotisserie Chicken, deboned and broken into chunks
- 8 oz pkg Finely Shredded Italian Cheese Blend, divided
- 9 oz pkg Kroger Wholesome Home Chicken & Bacon Borsetti Fresh Pasta, uncooked

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray 13x9 baking dish with cooking spray.
2) Heat large skillet over medium-high heat and spray bottom with cooking spray. Add onion and garlic and sauté 1 minute.
3) Add mushrooms and zucchini and sauté for 5 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and sugar. Stir to combine.
4) Remove from heat, add chicken and1 cup Italian cheese. Stir to combine.
5) Spread uncooked borsetti pasta evenly in bottom of baking dish. Top with chicken and vegetable mixture, making sure all pasta is covered. Sprinkle remaining cheese over top.
6) Bake uncovered for 20 minutes on center oven rack, until heated through and cheese is melted and bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Well, that's all I've got...best head to work to figure out what I'm going to do for the rest of the year and exams.  Ugh!  Later!
Oh, here's a funny:  My parent from last year - you know, the one that caused all my mayhem at the end of the year...got me written up?  Adopts all these boys?  Well, he adopted two more recently (to replace the two he booted out and left to fend for themselves after they turned 18 last year) and wouldn't you know it!  One of the boys qualifies for special ed!!!  So our school psyche who does our evaluations that determine if a kid qualifies sent out an email asking if one of us would take him on our caseload - a huge undertaking because A) the parent is a pita! and B) the IEP would have to be done BEFORE the end of the school year.  I of course volunteered!  NOT!!!  I did email the school psyche to say that "I would but I don't think I'm allowed!"  He emailed back and said I should take him anyway for entertainment purposes!  Ha!  Later