Throwback Tuesdays #3

Recently created *NEW* Throwback Tuesdays : A recently new writing ;ink up to help promote older posts. Help bring them back to life. This link up allows you to write old things, memories, or people from yesteryear. As well promote older posts or article that need more lovin'.

In case you haven't heard, I compiled a weekly writing link up stored in one place. I found a link for every day of the week. You need to read the rules for each day. As some are different. If you have a link up and wish to add it, let me know in the comments below.

Monday Madness Writing Link Up

It is time once again for another Monday Madness Writing Link Up.

Rules are simple :
Share as many writing links as you want me to look at and comment on. This writing link up goes on all week long. The writings can be on your blog, or any writing website online. Write2earn, Blogger, Blogjob, and more. If I am not a member of the writing site, I will still view your articles you link up, I will comment in the comment section below. I will promote any writing link I comment on, on other social networks.

Let's help fellow writers out by sharing this link up and getting the word out to as as many as possible to be able to join up and link up together.

Spinach Stuffed Shells

Spinach Stuffed Shells
~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 box of jumbo shells
8 oz. cottage cheese
7 1/2 oz. of ricotta cheese
1 lbs of hamburger
1 pkg. of shredded cheese (I used Mexican blend or mozzarella)
1 egg
2 c. spinach ,chopped
1 jar of any flavor of spaghetti sauce
Everglade seasoning to taste
1/2 tsps. Italian seasoning

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

To begin with you brown the one pound of hamburger, drain. In a large mixing bowl, you add hamburger, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, a nice handful of shredded cheese, egg, spinach and Everglades seasoning to flavor. Mix all together to mixed well. This is what you will place inside the shells. For a pretty look, other people add parsley in the mixture. I get the same look with spinach.

Take a nice side casserole dish. Place some spaghetti sauce in bottom of pan. This is so the shells do not stick. Than take a shell and fill the inside with the mixture. Place in casserole dish. Keep doing this til full. (I had shells left over in box). Than take the spaghetti sauce and pour over the stuffed shells.

Place in oven. You may want to cover with tin foil or lid for a quicker and more even baking time. Otherwise the tops of shells tend to be a little tough or crunchy. You want them tender.

When shells are tender, they are done. This is where you add the rest of the shredded cheese on top of dish. Put back in oven till cheese is melted. Than serve.

Time for me was approx. 45 minutes.

Note : For this same dish, I have added onions, mushrooms and other veggies to help fill the shells in order to give it a more healthy option. I also have used the healthier version of cheeses. The choice is really up to you. If you're anything like me. You try and incorporate as many veggies as you can to a dish. As I have  a teen who is a picky eater. If he had his choice he would skip all veggies.

Photo from Google free re-use images.

Isolated, Intrusive, and Ill Tempered

Today's letter in the 26 week emotions challenge is "I". I choose to write about being isolated, intrusive, and ill tempered. As all three of these words go hand in hand with someone being disabled. I have spoken out many times about being disabled and the challenges I face on a  day to day bases.  One thing I noticed from being able body to becoming disabled......Isolation, Intrusive questions, and Ill Tempered.

Sometimes I feel like I must have some contagious disease, or invisible to everyone surrounding me. I live in the city and am lucky if I get out of my home to go anywhere besides a store or possible out to eat. I might as well live out in the country with nobody stopping by. When people see me, them seem to look right through like I am not even there.

I don't blame anyone, as I know I have pushed many people away. I was trying to rid the people I felt that was bad for my family and me. One that cause my depression to soar, those who stole off me or were only using me for their gain, and those who would deliberately seem to sabotage any ounce of happiness I might get. Plus, those who take delight in causing drama and hurting others. 

One lady in particular I pushed away, as she has a bad drug habit. She is an ex roommate. She brought crack in to my house. After being forbidden to. I remember that day clearly. As it was the same day she had a couple of her friends scream and threaten me when I kicked her out. Her friends were mad because I placed a damper in their plans to take her money at the beginning of the month. They wanted to include me in. I refused. I was in my room being blocked away from the door by two of her friends screaming at me what to do. One placed her hands on my shoulders. I pushed her as hard as I could. It sent her flying to the floor hitting her head on the nightstand before bouncing on the floor. I took my chance and got out of my room quickly.

As I was leaving the room a male friend grab my shoulders. As he heard screaming. However, I think he knew what was up. I was still in defense mode. I raised my fist and pull my hand back. He seen I was about to punch him. So, his hands flew up as he said okay. As he allowed me through. I looked straight at the ex roommate and told her, "You want to send your friends in my room to attack. You are out of here by the 1st of the month. I am done with your nonsense drama." As she started crying.

I actually stayed friends with her once she was out. Til she started causing trouble between my boyfriend and myself. Which she did twice. The topper was when she was begging me to come see her. As she didn't have a vehicle. I told her, "I don't have one either. You know this." Her response,"You could walk."  I hung up on her and that was the last time I tried to talk to her. As she knew from living with me for over a year. There was no way I could walk that far. Not with my disability. She was going back to old ways to try and guilt and push me in doing something I know I can not physically do.

Isolation happens when it is hard to get out and meet new people. Meeting new people tends to bring on intrusive questions. Ones that has been asked of me many times.  I get tired of repeating the same answers. I know they have heard it for the first time. As I am saying it for the millionth time. 

It seems to be the same old routine and dance. Once the person gets their fill. They move on their way to not hear from again. I know I can't do everything an able bodied person can. However, I can do alot more than what people think I can. I just do it different to get the same results as them. 

I am not incapable of being active. I actually enjoy getting out and doing things. I can't walk long distances at one time. I can use a walking stick to help me get further before I have to sit and rest from the pain. It takes me longer to get somewhere. At times I have had to use a scooter. If I am in an area where one could be rented.  I can not ride a bike anymore. I can drive but can't more than an hour before needing to pull over and rest and stretch my legs from the pain.

When the pain is too great or my sugar is out of whack. I become ill tempered. Sometimes I don't realize I am being that way till someone tells me. Which leads to me being embarrassed, apologizing and wanting to hide away.

My isolation stems from the fear I have felt since getting disabled. I had many people tell me I am fine, to quit faking it. I no longer talk to those people. Why should I subject myself to those who don't believe me? Stupid if you ask me.

I am at the point I am okay with being isolated from alot of people. Sure I get lonely every now and again. However, those who surround me now. Don't tell me I am faking it. They believe in me. They believe I am capable of many things. My temper doesn't grow short with them. As they will wait and walk beside me as I am slower. Instead of me always following trying to catch up. The best part, they accept me with my limitations and ill temper. They understand. They are what you call .............true friends.

Funny thing is, that ex roommate contacted me the other day via Facebook asking if my boyfriend was around. Wanting his phone number. No clue why. Never of us had talked to her in months. I told my boyfriend. He said to tell her he has no phone anymore. Which is exactly what I did.

One thing I have learned being handicapped. One does not have to be isolated. Many times a handicap person needs someone to listen to their woes. I mean really listen. Not pass judgement. Finding the right people to surround yourself with matters. It can make all the difference in the world with which way your life is headed.

Challenge : To write about an emotion or two thats starts with the letter "I".

Here's a list of my other articles in this series :

A - Z Emotions Challenge : Abandoned

A - Z Emotions Challenge : Blessed

A - Z Emotions Challenge : Complicated

A - Z Emotions Challenge : Delightful

A- Z Emotions Challenge : Emotion

A - Z Emotions Challenge : Forgive

A - Z Emotions Challenge - G, not one many

A - Z Emotions Challenge H - Handicapped

Photo from Pixabay. A free use photo website.

Daughter is a Self Cutter

My daughter is 14 years old. She has ADHD and ODD. She has learning disabilities. Her reading level recently improved to a 4th grade reading level. She is a self cutter.

She will use whatever she can to cut herself. It seems every few months. She starts cutting herself again.

This last time I was alerted by a teacher at her middle school. As I was awoken by the call. The teacher was concerned and had to pass along to me the news. She knows I have a tough time with my daughter in but I am not willing to give up on her.

My daughter latest excuse for cutting is because everyone pays more attention to her teen brothers grades, than hers. Pure jealousy. I told the teacher there is nothing I can do about the jealous. Her teen brother excels in school, where she does not.

She understood but wanted to make sure I am aware of what was going on and to make sure I was getting my daughter help. I told her my daughter sees a psychiatrist and which agency.

By law she had to report to me about my daughter. I explained to her that my daughter is using the sporks given at lunch time to cut herself. As well as other students in the school. That my daughter mention a  certain student who recently went to jail for cutting herself.

Sometimes I truly do not understand my daughter at all. Self cutting because her teen brother excels at school is one of them. I know she struggles.

One time I would like to celebrate or enjoy one of my teen son accomplishments without my daughters drama and all about her overshadowing every moment. He deserves to have a special moment too. However, I also know with special needs children it is really hard for the other children to receive the attention they deserve. I hope my teen son understands I am not trying to ignore him. I am proud of all three of my children.

Bob Evan's Review

My boyfriend and I went out to dinner the other night. We decided on going to a place we had not ate at in a while, Bob Evans. As we wanted to go to a sit down restaurant.

If you have never visited a Bob Evans before. Please by all means click on the link above to see what all is offered on their menu. They have a variety that changes with the seasons.

While my boyfriend and I scanned the menu trying to decide what we wanted to eat. We discussed what has been going on with my daughter. She is self cutting again. I'll have to write about that on my "Rant and Opinion" blog and link it back here later. As that really isn't a subject I wish to broach in this post.

We also talked about my teen son who recently received a letter for a chance to travel to the White House to talk to the Security of Dense. As he was nominated for that position. The first one in his school since 2010. What an accomplishment!

We decided to order from the three course meal page on the menu. Where you get a soup or salad, biscuits, cornbread or a muffin, the main course and a dessert. Which is a sunday.

We both decided to get the soup. We both choose the broccoli and cheese soup. Oh how I love to eat broccoli cheese soup. Bob Evans does a great job making theirs. The biscuits, we both choose, we soft and warm. No need to add butter as we dipped our broccoli and cheese soup. As no crackers were provided. The biscuits worked out out great. I only ate one of mine. I took the other one home.

As we waited for the main course to come out. We ordered a side of breaded mushrooms. It came with a side of ranch dressing to dip in. The ranch dressing portion was way to much for the amount of breaded mushrooms that were given.

I liked the breaded mushrooms. As I always wait a few minutes after receiving them to eat them. My boyfriend dug right in and grab one, dipped it in ranch dressing and made a face. Yuck! He didn't like them. He said the mushrooms were to slimy. That there was too much room between the mushroom and the breading. He quickly washed it down with Sierra Mist. I reminded him that mushroom shrink when they are deep fried. That excess oil gets in the fried mushroom. That they must sit a bit for the oils to run out before taking a bite. That is why I always wait. he refused to eat anymore. I ended up taking most of them home as well.

Finally the main course arrived. My boyfriend got the broasted chicken breasts and mashed potatoes. One of his chicken breast was raw. He informed the waitress.

Who asked if he wanted another one or something else. he asked for another one. The second one came back cooked all the way through. However, my boyfriend did not eat it. We took it home. I think he filled up on to much broccoli and cheese soup or the raw chicken turned his stomach. So, far his experience wasn't so good. The waitress was very helpful and pleasant to deal with. I left her a tip in cash on the table for her good services.

I ordered the breaded baked cod and a side of broccoli. As you can tell I received more broccoli than the piece of cod. Also the cod was not breaded or looked like the picture in the menu. Not sure what kind of fish I ended eating. However, I squeezed lemon juice over my fish and broccoli. I ate it all. It tasted good. The fish was thoroughly cooked.

For desserts we both ordered a sundae. I choose the caramel sundae. He chose the chocolate fudge sundae. The sundae's were really good. I could not eat all of mine. As I had filled out up dinner. I should have never ordered that side of breaded mushrooms. I felt stuffed. My boyfriend managed to eat all his sundae.

From a scale from 1 to 5. 5 being the best rated. I chose to rate this outing a 3.

Reasoning :

My meal was good but looked different than what I thought it was suppose to be. The fish was not breaded properly.

Boyfriend broasted chicken breast was raw. Boyfriend had issued with the breaded mushrooms. He also would of ordered a salad over a soup. However the place doesn't carry French dressing.

For these reasons I must give the rating a "3". We will eat there again. However, it will be a minute before we do.

My Son Received A Letter To Go To Washington

A celebration is in order. My teen son was nominated to go to Washington to the White House to talk to the Security of Defense for six days.

This is a huge honor. The only problem is the expense of the trip. I would really like him to go. The boy is smart, athletic and is on the right path to going places.

As a mother I am going to do my best to see he can go as far as possible. I want him to meet his goals. I gave everything up to be a mother. I don't want my son to have to give up his dreams. I don't regret giving mine up. As I am very proud to the mother of all three of my children.

I am going to do my best in trying to figure a way to get my son to Washington. I may have to start a GoFund, as I know I can't do it on my own. I am a disabled mom living on a monthly income.

This is not letting something stop my son from going places. This is a side step til I can get him there. That alone is a cause for a celebration.

Wordless Wednesday #5

Wordless wednesday is sharing a post with few to no words. Also sharing anywhere from one to multiple photographs.

Birds are chirping feed me

Beautiful sunset 

Tree budding in the front yard

Dandelions growing on the side of the house

Throwback Tuesday Link Ups

I decided to create a Throwback Tuesday, instead of a Thursday as I am changing it up a bit, for those who wish to bring more attention to an older post, article or blog.

Or to share a link about something old. It can be an old photograph, memory of someone that has past away. It can be about antiques, old cars. Really it can be about anything from yesterday year or an older post, or blog you would like more attention to you content.

This link up will be going on all week long. So, you have a chance to link up. Thank you for taking the time to view my Tuesday Link up.

FYI : Besides me visiting your link. I also share on multiple social media after viewing it.

Monday Madness Blogger Link Up

Good Morning, good affternoon, and good evening my fellow bloggers! Trying once again to get others to link up for my Monday Madness Link Up. Last time only 4 blogs were linked up. Let's see if we can beat that amount this time. I am hoping others will join in this linkup.

You can submit as many links you want from any blog or writing website you want. If you have time, please check out some of the other linkers links.

Thank you in advance for linking up and sharing this link up with others.