And no, this post is NOT a day late.  If you think about it, today is next year’s Christmas Day!  Right?  I know!  Genius!

I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas.  I did.  The dynamics of my family are changing.  This person who is going to be my son-in-law is a great guy!  He cooks sausage.  He washes dishes.  He picks up the Christmas trash.  Later we played Catch Phrase and Uno.  I hope we didn’t chase him away.  Apparently my family is a bit competitive.  Gulp.  Yes, I did get great pleasure in playing all those draw two and reverse cards against him!  LOL!

I have two days of vacation left.  So far this morning I’ve accomplished…..nothing.  I ate cookies for breakfast, laid on the sofa in my jammies, started the laundry (well at least THAT’s something), and started watching old movies (Bridget Jone’s Diary).  I think that is the agenda for the day.  A whole bunch of nothing.

I hope you all have a great day and enjoy the things that matter most….friends and family.

Peace!

Check back.  I may post some pics.  Since I’m a little lazy today, I will direct you to Flikr (see the side bar)?  I did something really fun this year.  I hostessed a cookie baking day.  Nine ladies came over and we baked, baked, baked.  We may have drank a  it as well.  It was great!

My last day of work until the 28th!  I have not taken an entire week off since 1998.  I am so happy!  To add to my exuberance, the sun is out in H-Town. 

You know, the older I get, the less it takes to make me happy.

BTW-Thanks for the advice in the post below.  It is my daughter’s wedding and she should decide who she wants to have attend.  I guess I was more or less involved because she asked me who of my family and friends should be invited.  Can anyone tell that I’m an ENABLER?  I know, right?  I would never have been able to guess that.  I always want to make everyone else happy.  Thus created the crisis of whom to invite.

Let’s say you have a sister and a half brother.  Let’s say that you see your sister about twice a year and talk/email frequently.  Let’s say that you’ve seen your half brother twice in the last 20 years.  Let’s say your sister and half bro don’t get along…..AT ALL!  In fact hate may be a word to describe their feelings towards each other.  Let’s say that you (me) weren’t involved in the major downfall as to why they hate each other.  Now, let’s say one of us (me) has always felt a little guilty about not involving half bro in her life and the life of her children.  Why?  Let’s say she (me) avoids conflict at all cost.  That’s her (my) coping mechanism.  Her (my) half bro has some character flaws that itch my spine, but its nothing that can’t be tolerated for brief periods.

OK, I’m confusing myself. 

Long and short, the peeps don’t get along, yo, and I’m in the middle and shit. 

My daughter is getting married….most likely on Valentine’s Day.  Valentine’s Day was the day that my mom and dad were married.  My half bro is my mom’s child.  She brought him into the marriage.  Anyway, Valentine’s Day was always a very special day because of that.  Their marriage made my mother so happy, she was buried in her wedding gown.  Creepy, right?  I know!  But hey, at least we all agreed as to what to bury her in, cause we sho didn’t agree on nothin else!  Word!

I want my sister to come to the wedding.  I would like to invite my brother, but, I know my sister won’t come if he does.  I feel kind of awkward inviting my brother because we haven’t been very close, but, heck, we aren’t getting any younger, and really, he is family.  Like I said, I wasn’t the one who had the fall out.  I was indirectly involved.  What he did to my sister pissed me off, but she did some things to him that weren’t too nice either.  But now that my BABY is getting married (did I just say that out loud?), I would like by-gones to be by-gones.

What would YOU do if YOU were me, her, it?

Since both people who read this blog are intent on me posting regularly, I will give you a little easy reading.  I’m quite intrigued that people find the boringness of my life interesting enough to come back.

Recently there seems to be this sort of ritual in my house.  Every morning I wake up and think I know what I’m going to wear.  In my head my outfit is total awesomeness.  I drag my feet while pouring coffee down my throat all the while thinking “no problem, I know what I’m wearing.”

We all know what comes next, don’t we?  Well, if my floor, closet, bathroom, and dressing area are any indication, we’ll suffice it to say, it’s not pretty.

It all started with this brown sweater.  It’s a cute brown sweater that I bought the day after Thanksgiving while Christmas shopping.  Shut it.  I had to have it.  I live in Texas.  When you find something that is cute, not summer like, but not “Nanook of the North” like, and it’s in the JR’s department, and it FITS, and you have a 25% off your ENTIRE purchase, you buy it!

Still not following?  The thinking outlined above?  My husband calls that “Sheri Thinking”.  Nough said!

I bought the sweater because, well, I already said why, but mainly because I have a cute brown pair of pants, a cute skirt that has some brown in it, a slamming pair of brown boots, and I’m sure if I looked hard enough, I could find my leopard print scarf that would pull everything together.  Logical, yes?  I thought so too until I got dressed and looked in the mirror.  Do you know how many shades of brown I own?  MANY.  Now, ask me how what I have matches the sweater?  You got it, NONE!  When I looked in the mirror today, I looked like a gingerbread man!  I kid you not.  And what’s worse?  My husband was going to let me walk out the door looking like that!  Thank goodness for my brutally honest 16 year old.  When he asked “you aren’t really going out looking like that, are you?”  I knew things needed to change…..and fast! 

I did find a skirt that matches the sweater (cause we all know I now HAVE to wear the sweater) and a necklace that rocks; but, in my haste I grabbed hose that have a run and shoes that are too big.  I feel like my polish grandmother as I clop through the office.

Now, if my day would have stopped there, I’d be OK.  Did it?  Hell to the No.  I get to work.  I’m early.  Things are good.  I set my coffee down, go to turn on the radio, and boom, I knock the hot, black coffee all over my desk, my leg, the floor, everywhere!  I was lucky enough to miss my computer, the Blackberry, and my Coach bag! 

Hey, I guess it wasn’t as bad as it could have.  I mean really, I saved the Coach!

I’m sure that’s what you’re saying.  Heck, that’s what I’M saying! 

It’s been a rather crazy month.  Really, it’s only been a month?  It feels like a lifetime.  There are many, many things going on.  I’m not completely ready to talk about all of them.  Heck, I’m trying to deal with most of them myself.  Recently I’ve also learned that my wit and charm may not be perceived as wit and charm by others. 

Crap!  I just can’t do it.  I can’t be politically correct.  OK, the shit hit the fan at home and at work.  No, no one is in jail.  No one is sick (of course they may wish they were by the time I’m done), and no one is divorced.  There has just been a whirl wind of activity.

I will tell you this.  My daughter is engaged.  Yes!  I know, I can’t believe it either.  We are very excited.  I really like my future son-in-law.  You’ve probably read about him on this blog a time or two.  Just think, you will now be plagued with many, many stories of wedding planning and the likes thereof.  I’m sure there will be an exciting story (or 60) of run in’s with my ex.  Note to self, consider making blog private!

That’s just one of the many juicy tidbits of activity.  In other news, I’ve learned that Facebook is not private even if you set your profile as private.  I also learned that if you have not friended someone or any of their friends and they copy stuff that you’ve posted, they are in the wrong, not you.  Regardless, even if names or places of employment are NOT mentioned in you status update, don’t write anything about work or the crazies with whom you work!  Yeah, I’m still a little raw over that.  I feel like my rights have been violated and my freedom of speech taken away.  No worries, I will be back on FB in the future.

Well, lunch is almost over and my free wifi usage will soon come to an end.  With that I say……

 what?  You can’t complain about this being a lame post.  That’s all I got after stuffing a chicken and avocado sandwich down my throat.  Gah! 

Have a great day!

The last post was a little sad. Hopefully you all looked at it for what it was….a cleansing. We all have skeletons in our closet. Sometimes we have to acknowledge those skeletons in order to be free. I am one step closer to freedom.

With that I’ll leave you with this thought:

Today is a new day; only I can decide what kind of day it will be!

Peace!

You did notice that I called you Dad, not papa, daddy, or pops.  You were not the endearing, lovable, teddy bear of a father that most girls have.  In fact, you really weren’t around.  I’m not sure why?   Perhaps it was because any time you tried to do anything, mom ridiculed you and told you that you weren’t doing it right.  Unfortunately you have daughters.  Daughters tend to pick up on what their mothers do.  In my eyes, you became the man who couldn’t do anything right.

That being said, I know beyond knowing that you loved us.  I know beyond knowing that we were a hard bunch to love.  I think we put the “f” in fucked up.  Actually, make that a CAPITAL “F”!  Yes, our family was very fucked up. 

Dad, I think the thing that I regret most was going from this little girl who thought the world of you, to going to this girl who just didn’t fit into your heart.  It was like suddenly I turned 5, you taught me to ride my bike, and then never wanted anything to do with me again. 

I often wonder what I did to make you not want me around.  I just can’t figure it out.  Perhaps I embarrassed you.  That wouldn’t surprise me.  I excel at that!  Why do I say this?  Well I remember overhearing mom, you and Diane talking about the teachers wanting to test me because I was a slow reader.  Apparently I wasn’t on level.  I remember mom saying, “eventually those teachers will figure out that she’s just lazy and isn’t going to read unless there is true motivation.”  So true!  Boy was that the truth.  But do you know what your response was?  You said, and I quote because I will never forget it, “well honey, she does seem slow.  I think she may be retarded.”  Do you know what hurt about that?  You weren’t kidding.  You went on to say, “she always seemed kind of off to me.” 

Dad, I wish I would have known then what I know now.  I wish those words wouldn’t have hurt me as bad as they did.  I wish that I wouldn’t have let those words keep me from being the best that I could be.  Those words continue to ring in my head.  Every time I try something new, step out of my comfort zone, or majorly screw up something up, I hear your voice.  I hear those words.  Thankfully I am now old enough to yell “shut the fuck up” (which I literally say out loud when those feelings crop up).

You died 13 years ago.  It’s taken me that long to write this; to acknowledge some of my feelings.  Dad, I will tell you that deep in my heart, I forgive you.  As a parent I better understand that what you said you said out of concern.  You were trying to address the problem and perhaps try to get me help.  I hope that was the case.  In my mind I’ve justified what happened by thinking this.

Dad, I love you.  I miss you.  I want to thank you.  Even though you weren’t around much and you didn’t know what to say when you were around, you taught me a lot.  I have an excellent work ethic.  I’m usually at work 15 minutes early and willing to stay late to get the job done.  I almost always start what I finish.  I kick ass when it comes to numbers.  I love my animals and take care of them well.  Most of all, dad, I try to be the best mother that I can be.  All of this I learned from you.

I’m still angry at the doctor who let you die.  You shouldn’t have died.  If they would have diagnosed you properly, you would still be around.  But Dad, because of your death, Diane and I actually have a relationship.  We actually talk to each other, email, and she comes to visit on a regular basis.  Your death was what brought us together.  I just wanted you to know that because I think that would make you happy.

Dad, I regret not being able to say these words to you before you died.  I love you dad.  Thank you for being the best dad that you could be.

RIP  10/26/96.

kashi car seat

Originally uploaded by sheri_and_suzan

Not once, but twice! Two times on a Friday morning I’ve dumped my oatmeal upside down…..in the car!

I eat my oatmeal from a travel mug on the way to work. The mug keeps it hot and the eating of said yumminess makes sitting a traffic a wee bit more tolerable.

A few weeks ago I was sitting at a light two blocks from my house. While picking up the cup, I clipped the radio/CD players thing. Upside down! It was everywhere. I eat the healthy stuff – Kashi oats and crap. My car smelled like a plant for two weeks! I’m not kidding. It slid down the console, on the mat, on the carpet, everywhere!

Today….same scenario, same cup, same light. There was a little chill in the air-perfect for Oatmeal. I go to pick up my cup…..bwammo! Upside down….Ugh!

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

That word describes my weekend.  We had some kick ass weather this weekend in H-Town.  Low in the 50’s high in the 80’s!  Humidity pretty much non existent!  Wow!  If we could have a few more weekends like that I may just lose my stabbiness (word)!

I’m not one to crave waking at Oh Dark 30 to hit the garage sales.  SuZan says you get the best deals when you’re first.  Pfffft.  When she suggested venturing out for a day of garage sale-ing AND she suggested not leaving until 8 a.m., I was in! 

Let me tell you, not only is Suz the decorator extraordinaire, she is also a garage sale expert!  As we drove to the 1st neighborhood, all of a sudden she slammed on her breaks.  I’m all like “WTF?” and she was all “Look, right there, a table….it would be perfect for your living room!”  I’m still going “Huh?  Where?  I don’t see……Ohhhhhhhhh, let’s stop”.

Sho nough the table was perfect.  The table happened to have a friend named side table.  The coffee table was originally marked $120 and the side table $80.  I got both for $75!  Score!

Now, you may think “What?  She buys stuff from a garage sale for her house?”  Yes, I sure do.  I have A D D as well as a multitude of other disorders (just ask my husband.  Apparently I have a house work and cooking disorder as well).  People who have A D D tend to change things often and tire of them quickly.  In two years, who can gripe if I get rid of tables I paid $75 for?  Exactly.  Plus, I’m slowly kicking, encouraging my children to leave the nest.  I figure my garage sale purchases will make perfect furniture to help feather my children’s nest as they leave!

You want pictures?

Sorry about the blurriness of the pic.  I was trying to show the detail.  Those tassel things?  They match the tassel things in my wall paper!  Triple score!

Better get back to work!  I hope everyone has an AWESOME day!