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I'll give you a chance to answer this one yourself, how's your move to Florida going?

The move hasn't been a smooth as we had hoped. The house in Tennessee still has not sold. We are renting an apartment in Lakeland and trying to go on with everyday life. The worry over the house is never far from mind, though. We are hopeful that Kaylea will get into a Magnet or Charter school for next year. If this happens then the house selling is not as urgent an issue. However, if she doesn't get into these "unzoned" schools, then we will have to reevaluate our whole rental situation. Currently, we are not zoned for the best middle school and I would not buy a home in this district knowing that Kaylea would attend its middle school.

So many things still unsettled, it makes my head spin at times. We just have to remember this is God's plan and it will work out the way He sees is best.

Ask me anything

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100th Post

Oh how exciting. I just realized that my Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe was the 100th post on My Crazy Little Mixed Up World. Funny, I had sorta planned out in my head what I wanted to do for my 100th post. Somehow, a recipe wasn't what I imagined. Oh well, maybe the 200th will have a little more pizzazz.

P.S. To those of you that have been around since the beginning, thanks for hanging with me. To those that are new comers, I hope you find something of interest and make me a regular stop on your tour of the blog-o-sphere.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

This is a yummy dip to serve at your next get together. I took it to a Superbowl party and it was a hit. You get all the flavor of Buffalo Wings with out the mess. What could be better?



Buffalo Chicken Dip

White meat from 1 Rotisserie Chicken (Mojo flavor if you can find it)
2 - 8oz. pkg Cream Cheese, softened
1 c. Ranch Dressing
Texas Pete Wing Sauce, to taste
1 1/2 c. + 1/2 c. Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Directions:
Shred the white meat from the rotisserie chicken. Stir in the cream cheese, ranch dressing, wing sauce, and 1 1/2 c. cheddar cheese. Spoon into a 9 x 13 pan and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 c. cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips.

Enjoy!

I'm sorry, but let the President speak......

If you haven't already noticed, I really try to stay away from controversial topics on my blog. I kinda made a rule in the beginning that I wasn't going to write about religion or politics. I just didn't want to open those doors and possibly offend any of my readers. I have done a pretty good job at sticking to my original rule; however, this whole hullabaloo about President Obama's speech has really left me scratching my head. I just don't get why people are SO upset. Why are they so opposed to their children hearing a positive, motivating, and uplifting message. Do these parents and politicians NOT want their children to stay in school? Do they NOT want their children to study hard? Do they NOT want their children to have respect for teachers and principals? Or, could it be that they possess such hatred for the President of our country that they can't support anything he says even if it is positive, motivating and uplifting? I tend to believe it is the latter of these.

Now before you start to think that our household consists of a bunch of bleeding heart liberals, let me explain that our house is one divided - one Republican, one Democrat. And it's pretty interesting how we BOTH support issues on BOTH sides of the political fence. I can say, however, regardless of our political affiliation we agree that staying in school, studying hard, and having respect for teachers and principals is a message we want Kaylea to hear over and over again. Bub and I communicate these things to her and welcome any reiteration from family members, friends, clergymen, law enforcement, and especially the Commander in Chief of the U.S. You see, it doesn't matter if I support Obama or if Bub supports Obama. The President's message is not about politics. It is about Kaylea and all the other children in this country and she deserves to hear what the President has to say to her.

I wish Kaylea's school would show the speech tomorrow; however, I can not make that decision for them. I do find it quite disturbing that the outcry from other parents with opposing views HAS made the decision for the schools. None the less, I will make sure Kaylea listens to our President's words. Tomorrow afternoon, Kaylea and I are going to sit down at the computer and we are going to listen together. And because Kaylea is aware of the HUGE controversy that has surrounded this speech, I believe a wonderful follow-up activity will be to have her write an essay on what she learned from President Obama and how she feels about adults in our country trying to keep her from hearing his message.

If you are interested in looking at the effects of the speech as seen through the eyes of a 5th grader, stay tuned to Curiously Kaylea. I will post Kaylea's essay once it is complete.

P.S.
I genuinely hope I have not offended anyone. If I can be married to a wonderful man with opposing political views surely I can have friends and readers with opposing views, as well. We will just have to agree to disagree and leave it at that.

The Anatomy of a Relocation in a Crappy Economy

Actually, this is a story of two relocations, both of which haven't turned out the way they were envisioned.

Our story: We were living our normal little lives and minding our own business in our quiet little town in East TN. Then in December, all hell broke loose. Bub had applied for and was chosen for a job in Tampa, FL. We were very excited about the possibilities this job held for our family. So many changes were about to happen, so many things we couldn't even imagine. The first thing on our relocation "To Do List" was to sell our house. We listed it in January with hopes that it would sell fairly quickly. We priced it below appraisal and thought it was such a great deal that anyone in their right mind would snatch it up ~ WRONG! Next, in February, Bub left Kaylea and me and the mountains of East Tennessee behind and moved to Florida to begin our new adventure. When he first moved down, his aunt and uncle were gracious enough to offer him a room at their house. We thought it would only be temporary, and gladly accepted. In the meantime, Kaylea and I were staying put in TN until the end of the school year. Bub and I agreed this would be the best thing for Kaylea. This way she wouldn't have to be uprooted in the middle of a school year. We had a plan and we were sticking to it.

Side story: My sister and brother-in-law, Mr. Bob, were living their normal little lives and minding their own business in their quiet little neighborhood in East TN. Then in February, all hell broke loose. Due to poor economic conditions, Mr. Bob, was laid off from his job. Naturally, he immediately started sending out resumes for anything and everything all over the SE. Well, it just so happens that he was offered a job with an insurance agency in Lakeland, FL (where Bub was living with his aunt and uncle). So, in February Mr. Bob left Sis and the mountains of East Tennessee behind and moved to Florida to begin their new adventure. Sis made a few trips down and began looking at real estate and rentals. Then their real estate agent told them about a great rental deal in a very upscale neighborhood in Lakeland. It was a nice 2800 s/f, 3 bed / 2 bath house and the landlord (the real estate agent's nephew) would let them do a month-to-month lease for a RIDICULOUSLY LOW amount (lower than most 2BR apartments in the area). Because they were planning on buying a house soon, the month-to-month lease was the perfect solution. So, they signed on the dotted line. Next, Sis packed their house in Tennessee and moved them (and their stuff) to Florida in May.

Our story (continued): No offers on the house in TN and the school year was coming to an end. What to do? Well, we decided that Kaylea and I should go ahead and move our little selves to Lakeland to be with Bub. Sis and Mr. Bob offered up their upstairs to our family, since it was just be sitting empty. We took them up on the offer, because we really couldn't afford to pay rent and a mortgage AND we were just sure that our house would be selling very soon. So, in June, Kaylea and I loaded up our clothes and headed south.

Side story (continued): July 10th, Sis and I were out looking at houses with our real estate agent and Sis gets a call from Mr. Bob. HE HAD JUST BEEN LAID OFF!

Our story (continued): OH CRAP!

Side story (continued): OH CRAP!

All of our story (continued): OH CRAP! Good news, though, Hubby still has his job ~ YEA! Sis, Mr. Bob and I are looking for work. Our landlord isn't having the best financial luck himself and has listed the house for sale or rent and it had a showing the other day. Needless to say we are a little worried. Remember he is renting to Sis and Mr. Bob for a RIDICULOUSLY LOW AMOUNT. If he could rent the place for more money, why wouldn't he? We really don't know how much longer we have before we will have to move. Because of the month-to-month lease EITHER party can terminate the lease by giving 30 days written notice.

So here we ALL sit - just waiting - just wondering - just hoping!




to be continued.............