Capricorn 1's corner of craziness!

Mercury Retrograde...what's all the fuss?

2008-10-07T00:50:00Z

Now that this last retrograde of the year is almost over, I can actually say...this hasn't been a bad one. I will admit the one before was, to say the least, a bit bumpy. Lots of energy flying around with that one, let me tell you!

I've always told those that have mentioned retrogrades, that Mercury Retrogrades are a time to clean up the mess from the previous few months. To close the door on the things that needed to be completed. To think before you speak, and to listen before you respond. And finally to take time out to inventory what needs to be cleaned up, dealt wth, and disposed of before we get to the next phase.

Now, don't get me wrong.......I've had a few scrapes with communications that have been a bit rough this time around. But once I took stock, I realized where I went wrong and corrected it before it got too far out of hand.

No one ever said the Journey to Enlightenment or that the Path in Life, period, was going to be an easy one. Sometimes the lesson has to be reviewed before the light goes on. But I prepared and have gotten through it relatively unscathed. The next one will get better and the next one after that even better.

And if there's any take away from this.......it's that you LIVE IT...LEARN IT.....KNOW IT!

Enjoy your day! Cheryl

Creamy Rice Pudding

2008-10-06T12:31:00Z

I made this over the weekend and thought I'd share it with you!

Enjoy! Cheryl

3 cups WHOLE milk

1 1/4 cups water

1 cup Rice

2 cinnamon sticks, ground before cooking

1/4 tsp salt

1 can condensed evaporated milk

1/2 cups raisins

2 tsp vanilla

Add all of the ingredients in a large pot and bring to just a boil. Reduce heat to simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.

Turkey and Hot Italian Sausage Chili

2008-10-05T11:42:00Z

This is a GREAT game day recipe. You can start it in the morning and let it simmer till game time!

When working with chili peppers, ALWAYS remember to wash your utensils immediately after using in hot sopay water. Wear rubber gloves to avoid getting the pepper juice on your hands. Refrain from touching your eyes. Enjoy! Cheryl

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound ground turkey
12 ounces hot Italian sausage, Loose, but if you can't find it, buy links and remove from casings and crumbled
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions
1/2 cup chopped green bell peppers
1/2 cup chopped, roasted and peeled green poblano or Anaheim chiles
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (12-ounce) lager beer
1 (28-ounce) can chopped tomatoes with their juice
2 cups cooked pinto beans, or canned beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese, garnish
Tortilla chips, on the side

In a large pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the turkey, sausage, and cook, stirring, until the meat is no longer pink, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the onions, bell peppers, and chilies, and cook, stirring, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, and salt, and cook for 1 minute. Add the beer and tomatoes, stir well, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring occasionally to prevent the chili from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

Remove from the heat and add the cilantro. Adjust the seasoning, to taste, and cover to keep warm until ready to serve.

To serve, ladle into large bowls and sprinkle each serving with 1/4 cup of cheese. Serve tortilla chips on the side.

When it's Time to Shut the Door

2008-10-05T05:00:00Z

Some time ago, I had to terminate a relationship that was destructive. While terminate has such a cold connotation, it is the most appropriate word to use. Her behavior is/was out of control. While this is about a platonic friendship, the same can be said for ALL relationships...................

When I first spoke with this young woman, I felt we had much in common. As time went by, what I got next was a laundry list of issues that I could not get involved with: Her Husband, while a partner in a Construction business, was no more than a laborer (he made GREAT money for the family however she has champagne taste on a beer budget) She consistently was overdrawn at the bank; She enrolled her children into private school and could not pay the tuition. She felt her husband should be the sole breadwinner; get a second job, and accomodate her demands. As her friend I began to notice how she manipulates people to not look at the real issues: She manipulates and controls to skate by. She is immature, childish, and not willing to take responsibility for her actions. She literally was sucking the life out of me. Our friendship began to suffer and I needed to break away.....I shut the door.

We belong to the same Civic Organization, so I could not totally divorce myself from her. Months before, we had volunteered to co-chair a committee and the event was drawing near. The President of the Organization had asked me to step up and be in charge as this other woman did not step up to the plate and finish. I did as I was asked and told this friend of the situation and to be gracious, and get through this with a minimum of angst.

Her response was to actually throw a temper tantrum. She was out of control. I informed her she stepped out of line and needed to change not only her behavior, but her stance. I felt that the time had come where she needed to decide if this was where she needed to be. She ran back to our committee members and began to direspect me by fabricating events and conversations (she lied).This woman actually made herself an outcast as result, but she doesn't realize it and her behavior continues. I stayed clear of any fallout, but the door was shut AND locked. I would no longer tolerate her behavior, and I would only deal with her when I absolutely had to.

She made an announcement that she was no longer going to serve on this committee effective immediately. The following week, she attends the committee meeting. When another member confronted her about the statements she made, I had agreed. What transpired was something from daytime drama: She began to relate how horrible her life was, how finances were tight (who's isn't?) and that I had no business making a comment because I was in the same situation she was (huh?) Then she told me to get a job (I have one already, Thank you).

The President of the Organization got wind of her tirade and asked what I thought should happen. At first, I wanted her membership revoked. But then thought it would only hurt the organization to have her leave..she doesn't do much but complain, but at one time she was a great member. I really believe in giving second chances. I then asked that she no longer be allowed to serve on committees so that her behavior would not be a detriment to the organziation. I haven't heard back, but will find out the outcome soon enough.

As I dissect what was once a good friendship, I find what her MO is: She gets more "validation" from the cries of "poor me"; "pay attention to me"; " He/she is out to get me". Sooner or later, those drama junkies, as I like to call them, have exhausted the compassion of those who have run to their rescue for so long. Relationships stop and they are left standing alone. We need to shut the door and walk away; sending the message "we're tired and we're not going to take this anymore"..........BEFORE we reach our tolerance limit.

Stop the behavior before it stops you and you have nothing else to give in any other relationship; especially with the most important person. Afterall, the most important person in any relationship is.........YOU. It is up to us to take the first step in loving ourselves.

................................the sound you just heard was the door shutting on a really bad relationship. Congratulations!!!!

Cheryl

Quick and Easy Dumplings

2008-10-04T16:02:00Z

When making a big pot of soup, don't forget the dumplings. I use this recipe to add a little something to my potato soup. You can add dumplings to stews too. Enjoy! Cheryl

2 cups flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

Mix together dry ingredients. Stir in milk. You can whisk the ingredients or you can use a wooden spoon. Drop large spoonfuls(I use serving spoons for large dumplings and tablespoons for smaller ones) into your soup mixture. Simmer for 10 minutes uncovered. DO NOT BOIL! Turn over dumplings and simmer for 10 more minutes.

Wild Rice and Shrimp Casserole

2008-10-04T12:25:00Z

I LOVE....LOVE...LOVE.....shrimp and wild rice. I've put them together to make one delicious casserole. Enjoy! Cheryl

1 (8-ounce) package wild rice
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
1 (10 3/4-ounce can) condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 cups grated sharp Cheddar Cheese
Kosher Salt and Coarse Black Pepper to taste

Cook the rice according to package directions. Drain and cool.
Bring 2 cups water and 1/2 tablespoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan and cook the shrimp for 1 minute. Drain immediately and set aside. Cover in ice to stop the shrimp from cooking.
Heat the butter in saucepan and saute the pepper and onion until soft, about 5 minutes.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine the rice, soup, 1 1/2 cups of cheese, shrimp and vegetables.
Add salt and pepper, to taste. Mix well.
Spray a 9-inch square aluminum cake pan or an 11 by 7-inch glass casserole dish with vegetable spray.
Place the mixture in the pan and top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
Bake for 30 minutes, until bubbly.

Baked acorn Squash

2008-10-03T12:05:00Z

Fall brings lots of great fruits and veggies to bake. Here's another fall recipe I hope you'll enjoy! Cheryl

2 acorn squash, about 1 pound each
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil, optional
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons amaretto
8 fresh sage leaves

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Split the squash in half through the middle lengthwise and scrape out the seeds with a spoon. Set the squash halves, cut sides up, on a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil, if desired. If squash are very large, cut lengthwise into quarters.

In a bowl, cream the butter with the sugar, and almond liqueur. With a brush or a spoon coat the cut sides of each squash half with the butter mixture and put 2 sage leaves on top of each. Bake until tender, 30 to 35 minutes, basting every 15 minutes with any remaining butter.

Easy Apple Pie

2008-10-02T12:30:00Z

We'd all like a quick and easy pie that looks good, tastes great, and your family will think you've slaved in the kitchen all day! If you're making two pies, double the recipe. Enjoy!!! Cheryl

Filling:

3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling
Freshly ground nutmeg, to taste
7 medium apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced. I use a mixture of tart and sweet apples
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1/2 stick butter, cut in tablespoon cubed
1 ready made pie crust. I use Pillsubury pie crusts. You can also use the ready made frozen crusts; just thaw prior to baking

Crumb Topping:

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon sugar

Dash salt

1 tablespoon butter, at room temperature

Mix all together and set aside.

Mix together the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl. In another bowl, sprinkle apples with the juice of 1 lemon and toss. Stir in the sugar mixture to evenly coat the apples.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Fill ready made pie crust with apple mixture. Dot with the cubed butter. Top with crumb topping.

Bake pie for 45 minutes. Let rest 20 minutes before slicing.

Apple Crisp

2008-10-01T13:53:00Z

It's that time of year that the cool, crisp mornings bring warmer afternoons. The smells of the fall leaves and trees. The vibrant colors of the Mums and leaves ...the reds, yellows, oranges, and browns, whites as they shout, "Fall is here!" And the taste of crisp apples and the first batches of cider. Here's one of my favorite and easy apple recipes to serve as the perfect ending to a perfect fall meal. Enjoy! Cheryl

8 cups firm apples, sliced. I use a combination of Granny Smith, Washington, Gala, and any other apple in season
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2/3 cup sifted all-purpose flour
2 cups uncooked oats
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2/3 cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a 9 by 12-inch glass baking dish, combine apples, sugar, and lemon juice. Set aside. In another bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. Toss with melted butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbles. Top apples with oat mixture. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until apples are tender. Serve warm topped with heavy cream, or cool to room temperature and serve with ice cream, if desired.

Halloween Chocolate cake.....Oh YUM!!!!

2008-10-01T05:01:00Z

I thought I'd repost this WONDERFUL recipe that I have used for years. Credit goes to the Hershey Chocolate Lover's Cookbook. I promise the calories have been removed psychically....LOL!!!! It's Fall and time to bring out my Favorite recipes to share!!!

Enjoy Your Day!!!!! Cheryl

Ingredients:

1 (6.0 oz.) HERSHEY'S Milk Chocolate Bar, broken into pieces
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1 cup boiling water
2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup dairy sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
CHOCOLATE COATED ICE CREAM CONE(recipe follows)
ORANGE FROSTING(recipe follows)
DECORATOR'S FROSTING(recipe follows)

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 12-cup fluted tube pan.

2. Stir together chocolate bar pieces, butter and water in medium bowl until chocolate is melted. Stir together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt in large bowl; gradually add butter mixture, beating until well blended. Add eggs, sour cream and vanilla; beat on medium speed 1 minute. Pour batter into prepared pan.

3. Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely. Meanwhile, prepare CHOCOLATE COATED ICE CREAM CONE. Drizzle ORANGE FROSTING over cake. Place ice cream cone into center of cake for pumpkin stem. Using leaf decorating tip, pipe leaves onto 'pumpkin' with DECORATOR FROSTING. 10 to 12 servings.

CHOCOLATE COATED ICE CREAM CONE: Place 1 cup HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Chocolate Chips or HERSHEY'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips and 1 tablespoon shortening (do not use butter, margarine, spread or oil) in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at MEDIUM (50%) 1 minute; stir. If necessary, microwave at MEDIUM an additional 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, just until chips are melted and mixture is smooth when stirred. Spoon melted chocolate over outside of flat-bottom ice cream cone. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm, about 30 minutes.

ORANGE FROSTING: Place 1/3 cup butter or margarine in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at MEDIUM (50%) 1 minute or until melted. Stir in 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons freshly grated orange peel and 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Stir in 2 to 4 tablespoons hot water for desired consistency. Stir in red and yellow food color for desired color.

DECORATOR FROSTING: Combine 3 tablespoons water and 1 tablespoon meringue powder in small bowl. Add 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar and 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract; beat on high speed of mixer until stiff. Stir in green food color for desired color.

Do you speak with forked tongue?

2008-09-30T16:51:00Z

When in a sticky situation does your opinion adjust to the audience you're addressing or do you make your argument and stand by it come high tide?

In a debate, do you waffle or are you firm in your argument?

Right, wrong or indifferent, do you express your stance or do you waiver when the topic gets hot?

Whether you're arguing your overcharge at the Department Store or Hospital or expressing your opinion in front of the school board, how you deliver your beliefs at the present, determines how you will be thought of in the future.

We lose respect for Politicians and other elected officials when in private they support your stance, and in a Public forum, they will say and do the opposite. Not to spark a debate on the upcoming election, but look at how divided the Democratic Party is right now.......even they cannot make a solid commitment on who should stay or who should go or if they both should run together. As a card carrying member of the DNC, I am disgusted at those whom we've placed our trust and vote in come November.

The same goes with people we deal with everyday....Doctor, Clergy, Friends, Advisors, Co-workers. How often have you gone to those you've trusted or wished to form an alliance; felt you had one and then........BOOM!!!!...They've broken your trust and confidence by running to the other side. When you ask why, they can't seem to give you an upfront answer. It would be OK if they said, with conviction, they weighed all the facts and then came to another conclusion. I can respect that; but when they cannot even tell you that, did you want their alliance in the first place? The answer should be a resounding.....NO!!!!

We all want to be liked and invited into the inner circle of a clique.......but at what cost? People should like you for WHO you are...opinions and all. And if you can't join the inner circle because you believe something different.......then they can step off...you shouldn't want to be in their company anyway. It doesn't matter either if your opinion is right, wrong or indifferent......You've got to express yourself! That's the difference between Respect and disrespect. Your true friends will respect you even if you've acted like the southbound end of a northbound mule. The false ones will drop you like yesterday's news. Scrape 'em off.....they weren't worth the effort.

Respect, like love, starts within yourself. You can't love or respect someone until you love and respect yourself first.
And remember.............................Opinions are like the holes in your body......everybody has at least one.

So the next time you're in a quandry about whether you should or shouldn't......... GO FOR IT!!! And remember...... It doesn't matter if you win or lose, but how you stand by your opinions, beliefs, and convictions.

Enjoy your day! Cheryl

The Chemistry of Kissing

2008-09-26T21:44:00Z

My friend just e-mailed this article to me after reading it in Cosmopolitan Magazine.

Just so you know, you're never too old to learn! Enjoy your day! Cheryl

You must remember this, a kiss is just a kiss… hang on a minute. No it isn’t! Because when it comes to dating, a kiss can change everything. Sometimes it’s spine-tinglingly magical and sends shivers from your neck to your toes. And sometimes, well, it feels more like licking a wet fish. While the chemistry you feel on your night out says a lot about how the kiss might go, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of butterflies, chills, fireworks, and other memory-making moments. Try these lip-smacking tips to make this the first of many kisses to come.

Read when the moment is right
Ever found yourself bumbling and mumbling at the end of a date, wondering if your attempt at a good night smack will be the kiss of death? You’re not alone. “This is, without a doubt, one of the most common questions people ask me,” says Sheila Lee, creator of advice site Kissingbooth.com. So how do you tell if someone would welcome a smooch from you? According to Lee, look for these signs: Is your date making tons of eye contact with you, or standing closer than a friend or business colleague would? If so, says Lee, this person probably wants you to go for it. If you really can’t read your date, make yourself available for your date to make the move. Lee’s suggestions: Stand close to your date, and let your arm rub against his or hers. Face your date with your arms open, not crossed, to show you’re open to a kiss. Tell your date you had a good time, and ask your date how he or she felt. And most important? “Smile. A lot of people are turned on by a smile, which shows you’re comfortable with the person you’re with and happy. If your date thinks he or she is making you happy,” points out Lee, “then he or she is likely to think a kiss can make you even happier.”

Lock lips in a place where you don’t have to hold back
Yes, it’s romantic to kiss, say, out on a street corner, but if you’re not the PDA type, you might end up holding back during your kiss. And those unsure feelings could hold back a fireworks-worthy performance. The fact is, kissing signals our brains to produce oxytocin, a hormone that gives us that wonderful, weak-kneed feeling. And the chemicals that produced that feeling prompt you to want to kiss more and create more, like a love drug. To make sure nothing stops that chemistry-building chemical process, make sure you’re in a spot where you feel comfortable and safe, and you’re not worried about what you’re doing or who’s watching: Move inside a doorway, behind a column, into a quiet room, or in the front seat of a dark car. That way, your and your date’s bodies will be free to do what they’re — ahhhhh, sigh, melt — supposed to.

Make eye contact before, during, and after your kiss
Eye contact immediately ups the intimacy level of any sexual act, say experts—so if you’re smooching with your peepers shut tight, you could be missing out! Even singer Jessica Simpson is a fan of opening her eyes during a smooch. “I love to kiss with my eyes open,” she’s said. “It’s kind of weird because you might only see one eyeball, but it’s amazing what you can see through someone’s eyes. It sounds clichéd, but the eyes really are the window to the soul.” So, before you go for gold, take a few seconds — one Mississippi, two Mississippi — to look at your partner eye-to-eye and establish this is a special moment between the two of you. After you first kiss, pull back, open your eyes, really look at your date, then kiss again. Then, open your eyes once during the kiss to bring the personal touch home.

Feel free to talk a little
Kissing is such a strong language, it’s easy to wonder: Does yapping in between smooches ruin the moment? Not always. In fact, says Michael Christian, author of The Art of Kissing, sometimes words can help ratchet up the chemistry. According to his research, the absolute number one sentence that kissers most like to hear: “You’re such a good kisser.” Following that, he suggests you also say either, “You’re so beautiful,” “You’re so hot,” or “I never want to stop kissing you.” These kinds of words do two things. “One, they show that you’re serious about the particular person you’re kissing, and that it’s truly personal,” says Christian. “Two, it communicates that you’re in the first stage of what your body wishes was a bigger, closer connection. Your feelings are so huge, you’re having to hold back. This says it’s not just a kiss, it’s the start of something incredible.” Let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to know they’re causing that?

Keep your hands to yourself
Sometimes we get so caught up in the human contact of a kiss, we grip our partner’s neck, reach around his or her back, run a hand along a thigh, and do all sorts of a grabby things over and, ahem, under clothing. The only problem? Sometimes all that touching is actually detracting from the kiss, say experts. A kiss, on its own, can sometimes be powerful enough. So, try keeping your hands to yourself for a few minutes, kiss and only kiss, and see how the chemistry takes over.

Don’t forget to use your nose
Some anthropologists believe that kissing evolved from sniffing, as some indigenous cultures rub noses rather than kissing, points out Vaughn Bryant, Jr., professor of anthropology at Texas A&M University. “Turns out that we have very powerful musk glands right underneath our eyes, and each person has a distinct smell,” explains Vaughn. “Kissing got started by people smelling each other and they would rub across the nose. Touching the lips was a natural outgrowth.” Sampling another person’s scent is a primal urge we share with other animals (including moles, dolphins, turtles and dogs), so take a moment to breathe in your date to kick the connection up a notch.

Convince your date to try it your way
You loved the dinner, you laughed the whole way home, and you were living for the good night kiss... until you got it. Turns out your date doesn’t kiss the way you do. Has your chemistry fizzled for good? No way! So what’s the best way to get your styles more in synch? “Don’t ever say, ‘I don’t like the way you kiss,’” says kissing advice expert Lee. “That will be a big blow to the ego, and will make them self-conscious the next time you kiss.” One option, says Lee, is to make the issue about you, by saying something like, “I like to kiss a little different than most people,” which will make them feel at ease (kind of like the old-fashioned “It’s not you, it’s me” line). Or, suggest you both branch out and experiment, says Lee, “so that they won’t take the change in kissing personally. Say, ‘I want to try something,’ and then initiate a kiss the way you want it.”

Thunderous Silence

2008-09-26T09:41:00Z

The past few days have been quite an experience for me............................. As you know, the older children have flown the coup. They are all struggling but refuse to ask me if it's OK to come back home. I'm sure very soon, my home with be abuzz with the stampede of big feet. My son for sure. The eldest twins have broken off their engagements and are living as single Moms. I have every faith they will move forward and stop the games they've been playing with the babies' fathers. But that's a story for another day. The younger twins have found that life is sometimes cruel and the people you thought you could trust have stepped on you horribly. I'm not quite sure they want to come home...they enjoy not having the structure I require.

The youngest one is on an extended school trip. For three days and nights she has been living in a cabin somewhere 86 miles Northeast of Dallas, communing with Nature. It's the annual Fifth Grade trip to disocver bugs, plants, animals, and the like. So, I've been home ALONE!!!!

Ambivalence set in on Wednesday........I am accustomed to the routine of picking her up at the Recreation Center after school and seeing her interact with the kids in her dodgeball team. And then see how she fares during her soccer game. She's not the strongest player, but she has heart!

When I didn't have to stop what I was doing and go after her, I got a little anxious; but it came and went just as quickly. I actually got to eat supper in silence and watch some TV without, "Mom, where's my .........?" The second anxiety wave came as the night wore on and bedtime neared. But I handled it and was able to read a good book in peace. I slept like a baby!

I got up and went about my morning routine without argument. I even went out to supper with a friend and had a very nice time. We could have an adult conversation without interruption.

The house is so quiet that I can hear the refrigerator run, the icemaker plop out ice and the clock tick-tock. the house is so quiet, it is deafening.

Now that I've become comfortable with the thunderous silence I've come to appreciate, she returns tonight. The old routine returns. I realize I enjoy my company and would like to spend more time with me.

I wonder when her next trip is?

Enjoy your day!

Cheryl

A Case of Mistaken Identity

2008-09-25T04:34:00Z

The story you're about to read is true. The names have been omitted to protect the guilty.

The premise of Innocent until Proven Guilty is pure Bull! I know from personal experience.

........................buckle up........you're in for a bumpy ride.

Several months ago, I set out on a professional quest. Unhappy in my current position, I made the conscious choice to change employers. I had my resume professionally done, printed it out on gorgeous parchment business paper and proceeded to submit for any and all positions that I'm qualified for.

The interviews went better than expected. I was wined and dined by some of the biggest names in Healthcare. I was certain I'd be offered my choice of positions.

Then.........................................nothing. I wasn't getting the offers, nor call backs. I was persona non grata.

I felt, "OK, I'm not supposed to have that job. there's another right around the corner."

In the meantime, I needed to get my driver's license transferred from PA to TX as well as my Nursing licenses. Texas does not allow multiple licensure so I have to make the decision to apply here or keep them in Pennsylvania where I originally became licensed. My licenses were about to expire so I renewed them in PA without a problem.

A friend of mine works as a professional recruiter, and I was talking with her about my dilemma. She offered to assist me in finding position normally not advertised for executive level positions.

As partof the process, she checked my background. All of my professional, educational background checks came back without issue. My drug screens posed no problem.

Then came my criminal background check. Now I have to interject here that the most serious thing I've ever done in my life is gotten a speeding ticket. No DUI's or felony convictions, or so I thought.

I also have to state I have been a civilian contractor with the Federal Government for 20 years. I have a high security clearance; my prints are registered with NCIC and I make certain to inform any potential employer to always check the Governmental and DOJ/OIG clearning house for any information.

Well, my friend found a small glitch in my background check. She called me and asked if I've ever been to Pasadena. I told her, "of course I 've been to Pasadena! Pasadena CA, is the home of the Tournament of Roses, you goofball!"

"Not Pasadena, CA, Cheryl........Pasadena, TX"

Pasadena, TX??????? Where the (heck) is Pasadena, TX???

"Outside Houston. did you ever go to Houston?"

"Uh, yeah! I had a lay-over there about 3 years ago. Why?"

To make a very long story short, there's another woman who shares the same name as I; born 2 months prior to myself who.....................................(you're gonna LOVE this)........................was convicted of felony robbery in 1981 and again in 2001. She's currently serving a 15 year sentence at a Women's correctional facility here in Texas.

Now, to try to see if I could move forward in getting my driver's and professional licenses, I proceeded to pay my money and apply. The driver's license is $24.00; the professional license fee is $200.00 each time you apply and/or appeal.

This part you're gonna REALLY love! According to the State of Texas, I am a convicted felon! Now, if this were true, I would not be able to renew ANY professional license in ANY State; nor transfer a driver's license. I'm currently licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and they do run criminal background checks with each renewal. I would not be permitted to fly anywhere because I'd never pass the security checkpoint at the airports and train stations. And yet, I've traveled to TX and back quite a few times this year.

I'd never be able to drive outside the boarders of Texas; secure a loan; buy a house, etc. My life would be a living nightmare for all to see. Just for kicks and giggles, I had her run a criminal background check in the other 49 States, DC, and Puerto Rico to see if I could pass the muster. I've had no problems in securing employment because my check comes out clean.

Did you know that convicted criminals identities are extremely difficult to get ahold of? I had to hire an attorney, file a motion to release to myself and the State of Texas, the other me's booking photo and fingerprints for comparison. The motion was denied, now I have had to file a lawsuit; suing the State of Texas, Harris County, and the Women's Correctional Facility in order to prove that she is not me and vice versa.

I've received a letter from the State of Texas Board of Nursing to Cease and Desist from using the RN behind my name because I am not a licensed professional nurse in the State of Texas. Of course, I can't get a license because, according to TX, I'm a convicted felon.....BUT they have copies of my licenses from PA that they requested to keep in their file. (see the absolute nuttiness of this whole thing?)

Now, as my capacity as Corporate Chief Compliance Officer, I do not need a nursing license. I keep them active because I worked my butt off to earn them. There's really no law that says I can't keep them active and until they do, I'll keep them active just for so.

On a go forward basis, I now clearly state on all job applications to run a criminal background check by my Social Security Number and DOB to collect the correct information. I also provide them with my DOD and DOJ clearance number and advise them to run a check using that.

I've spent THOUSANDS of dollars in my attempts to vindicate myself. So far all I've gotten is a bunch of Texas sized Bull.

California and Texas are the two most corrupt States in the Union, and yet, HONEST, DECENT, NON-VIOLENT citizens are treated horribly and accused of being whom they are not; having to prove themselves innocent while being accused of being guilty.

I'll have a great laugh in a couple of years over it. Right now, I'm to darned mad to see the humor in any of this.

It's pretty bad when you have to protect your identity from thieves AND cases of mistaken identity.

Enjoy your day!

Cheryl

Being terminated is a good thing!

2008-09-24T17:54:00Z

No, I haven't lost my mind and no, a fat embolus did not break off my back and flow to my brain. So, put your eyes back in your head, open your ears and hearts and........listen up!

We have to let you go!

At the moment Human Resources or your immediate Supervisor says those fateful words to you, you actually think you can see yourself from another part of the room...you're numb, bewildered, and dazed and confused.

"How could this have happened to me?" If you've gotten some warning and ignored it, uh, HELLO!!!! THIS IS YOUR WAKE UP CALL!!!

If you've been warned and your production or whatever you've been asked to improve upon, hasn't improved, you knew it was coming, but still are shocked that it happened.

Then there's the sudden out of the blue, slap upside your head...kinda like a freight train that you've just been hit by (and no, I didn't catch the number on the engine).

You've cleaned out your desk, POD, office, turned in your ID badge and head to the car thinking, "Now what do I do"?

So out comes the want ads, surf through the internet classifieds, and hope for the best. You could try Recruiters, but they don't appear to be hungry enough to want to bother with the 5 figure salaries...they want the big fish!

But months pass by and you're still unemployed and the question you still keep asking yourself is, "Why haven't I been hired?"

Well, darlin' it's because YOU HAVEN'T TRIED EVERYTHING YET!!!.

Have you considered changing careers?

OK, Cheryl, you really have to stop nipping at the Sherry, or kissing Jack in the afternoon!

But I'm serious! Remember in college, you had to pick a minor? Or remember when you worked in retail (pumping gas, fixing cars, flipping burgers etc) and worked your way through school? Have you considered instead of beating the dead horse and trying to get a position in your field, to step outside the box and learn a new trade? Or return to one you had years ago? This is a golden opportunity to wipe the slate clean!!!!

When I was first injured as a Trauma Nurse and was told I could no longer risk being thrown, pushed, shoved into walls; or lifting something too heavy and reinjuring my back, I was devastated at the fact I could not give direct patient care. I was angry and couldn't see what was already in front of me......I could teach, or I could move into Adminstration.

And then something wonderful happened....I was asked to work as a consultant in Healthcare and do Fraud Investigation in Military Installations. I eagerly accepted the challenge and doors began to open for me.

It's not the high drama of the ER, but I can still give great patient care; it's just a different kind.

So look inside yourself and discover the talents you've allowed to stagnate and turn termination into determination and get yourself and your talent back out in the workforce.

Enjoy your day!

Cheryl