February Meal Planning.....

Im trying to menu plan this year....
Since I know love to cook....hehehehe
It only took a new kitchen and 22 years of marriage......

So I made a monthly calendar (ok I bought one).... then I went thru all of my newly organized recipes and put them onto the calendar.... from there I made a weekly grocery list with the recipes attached (in case I had questions about the ingredient), then before I leave for the grocery store, I check all my cupboards, refrigerator and freezer to see what I already have and cross them off my list, so that I am only buying the things that I need....

So my challenge or goal for the month of February... is try to use the meat that we have in our freezer and also the side dish stuff (i.e. frozen corn, potatoes, green beans....)

Once I make a recipe and decide that it is a keeper, I usually post it on Facebook for everyone to enjoy. I will do my best to keep that up as well.

So here goes......
Click on Calendar to enlarge

So remember the reason you dont see many side dishes on this month is because Im trying to use whats in my freezer......
Enjoy!!!!

Interesting Information

I ASKED THIS QUESTION TO A 911 DISPATCHER THAT I KNOW……
ok so my paranoid daughter has a question that I can’t answer... If a girl is at home alone and someone breaks in.... hides in a closet and knows that she cannot call 911 because the perp would hear her, can she txt 911???? My answer to her was to call 911 and just put the phone down..... but then she quickly said...well it’s a cell phone and wouldn’t they go to the address that the cell phone is registered to???? Her phone is registered to me in elk grove and she lives in San Jose? So can u explain how that all works... Need to give her piece of mind... She is living in a secured apartment building but she is living alone....

SUGGESTIONS FROM A 911 DISPATCHER (FRIEND)……. (Note: I did not call 911)
I can suggest a couple things...

1. Go on the website or call the carrier and make sure that they link her cell phone number w/ a physical address. If you have a family plan each number should be able to have a physical address (not billing) associated with it. I have tmobile family plan and there is a section in account settings on line that says something like "911 info". That being said, it is on record, however at this point it takes more than just a phone call to get the physical address out of the cell company (i.e. faxed req from PD etc) and that can take important time away from getting to her location. Still its a good idea to have that info on record.

2. Cell phone companies are slowly implementing a GPS type of system. When we get a cellular 911 call we get Latitute/Longitude numbers that can be mapped thru google or mapquest or some dispatch centers have maps installed in conjunction with their phone system that maps it as the call comes in. NOTE: the GPS is not 100% accurate. It is usually a diameter area that is about 100 yards from actual location of the phone. Also if she has a cell phone that has gps that she can activate, then have her do that. If the cell phone is on IT CAN be GPS'd, even when she is not on the phone. Tell her to always keep the battery full and never turn it off.

3. As for the texting... I know its coming, but as far as I know, California has not yet got on board with that technology.

So, my advice (both professionally and as a parent) is... Definately dial 911 first... Some agencies have location information that is associated with a name or phone number if she's called 911 before. She should ALSO make sure she has programmed her local police department's direct emergency phone number so that she won't go to CHP dispatch when she needs San Jose PD... they would have to transfer her and CHP is inundated with calls and often there is a hold time. Also, the number will always pop in, so if she has any time at all to say her address clearly and quickly she needs to first say that before telling the dispatcher what the reason for the call is. An open line without talking can be very helpful for a few reasons... one, gives the gps time to zoom in... in other words, we can retransmit the signal and it sometimes narrows in closer to the correct location, two, the dispatcher can ascertain alot just by listening to what is happening and then be able to tell the officers what they are hearing.

Another idea would be to just call her local police department and see if she can give her info for them to put into their system (depending on the type of computer program they use).

Another idea would be if she has time to text anyone... she could send a text w/ a brief mssg saying call 911 for me .. need help someone breaking in .. etc., but that would have to be someone who knows her address. We often get calls at our 911 center for another agency to answer. For instance yesterday a female called 911 for a medical aid for her brother in Fresno. She was on the phone w/ him and he couldn't talk so she called us and we were able to get the info and call Fresno Fire/PD to get help to him.

I know its scary and complicated, but dispatchers are trained to handle the wierdest, scariest, funniest etc., situations possible and we can be creative and at least give it our best shot to get help to the caller.

I AM POSTINF THIS INFORMATION ON MY BLOG BECAUSE I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT UNTIL MY DAUGHTER POSED THIS QUESTION TO ME..... THEREFORE I AM TRYING TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE.

Fischlin Family Pizza Night 1-11-2010

Uncle Marty thought it would be nice to get everyone together... So we ended up at Old Towne Pizza and took the place over...It was a very fun night! We watched a slideshow of pictures that I had scanned in for Grandma's funeral.




Sadie Hawkins Dance 1-9-2010

Carly and her date Mikey Saso!



End of a Generation 1-8-2010

Today my grandmother passed away. She was 97 years old. She lived a good LONG life. But as I got the news from my mom this morning I started to think about it.. a little reflection I guess....But not only is it sad that she is now gone but for me on my family's side it is also the marking of an end to a generation. I have no more grandfathers or grandmothers. I was able to collect some pictures from my grandmothers house a few months back and going thru some of the family history as been absolutely fabulous for me.... I just wished that I would have done this years ago so I would know a few more people in the pictures.... I did however find a lot of pictures of my dad. Pictures that I have never seen before when he was a child and some when he was a baby. He was so cute...I guess I took after him...hahaha (I love you Mom). I know that my grandmother lived a long good life but that still doesnt make it any easier with this loss. Unfortunately Nana's passing is also still a very fresh wound. I really thought that 2010 was going to be a better year. Hopefully we have gotten thru the bad and we can now move on!!!! Rest in Peace Grandma Bert. Please tell all our loved ones hello for us.... We miss them all dearly!!!!

Lexie 12-27-2009

Lexie loves snuggling in the blankets!

Lexie 12-26-2009

Lexie is very attentative when Kevin is eating popcorn... She will sit in one spot for hours.... Of course Kevin loves to bite off little pieces and gives them to her for being so good!!!

Christmas Afternoon with the Fischlin's 12-25-09

Christmas with the Fischlins is always in the afternoon and we always have a ton of snacks and then a really great meal.... This year a lot of people had other commitments and so there wasnt many left here to eat, but it made for a very nice and relaxing day!!!



Christmas Morning with The Stewart's 12-25-09

Christmas morning with the In laws..... This year was hard since we lost Nana in October... It just wasn't the same... She will always be remembered and we will always miss her terribly. She would have been very proud of the spread that we had for dinner though. I learned a lot from her. She was a truly amazing woman. I wished that everyone could have stayed longer but also understand all the other family commitments that everyone has.


Christmas Morning 12-25-09

Christmas morning with the family.... This year Lexie made it quite interesting. She kept wanting to help open presents and when we would throw the garbage to Kevin, it was like playing monkey(or Lexie) in the middle... It was a lot of fun though!! We truly enjoyed having her here with us. Of course the girls loved all of their presents. My husband spoiled the crap out of me... I love him so much!!! He got his IPOD so he isnt going to divorce me either... Thankfully Santa remembered that all he wanted for Christmas!!!!


Christmas Eve 12-24-09

Christmas Eve at the Silver's (my brother in law's sisters house)... Our family tradition since 1993.... Crazy!!!! But we love it.... It's our extended family twisted into our family!!!! I love how our families merge and love each other unconditionally...



Baby Kaden 12-22-09

My Great Friend Kara (and her husband Todd) mostly Kara, gave birth to a beautiful baby boy named Kaden Robert.... It was the best phone call I rec'd this holiday season.

My Best Friend Ever & my beautiful God daughter 12-21-09

This is my best friend ever... No matter where we live, how busy ours lives get, we always remember each other... She gave me the greatest gift of all a few years back...ok a lot of years back... She named me as the Godmother to her daughter. I feel truly blessed to be in her daughters life like we had always been in each others lives.... We have so many wonderful memories with each other... we shared some of our memories this year with our girls and all 3 of them got a really good laugh.. We really were GOOD kids.

Me & Angela

All 5 of us!!!!!

Just the girls!!!!

Angela and Lexie....they became great friends very quickly....

Lexie 12-19-2009

This was after a few hours of candy making with my kids.... Nikki was wiped out from having to get up in the morning hours (like normal people). Lexie thought she'd keep Nikki company!!!! What a good puppy!!!

Decorating the Tree 12-17-09





We waited a week to decorate the tree after we got it put up and lighted....so that Nikki could be home and help (she threatened us bodily harm last year) Lexie even tried to help!!!!

Dogs 12-15-2009

Getting treats in the garage(aka man cave). They are in heaven!!!!



Dogs 12-13-2009

We raised the gate so that Lexie could go back and forth to see her friends who were visiting from outside... She loved it and we didnt have to listen to her bark at them. Kimber loved it for other reasons......

Dogs 12-10-2009

The dogs hangin out in the laundry room.... I think that they would love it if it was always below freezing...so that they could come in the house!!!!