Raining Cats & Dogs!

Well, it's raining. Not a nice, slow steady rain. Not a light sprinkle. HEAVY, BIG, FAT DROPS. SHEETS OF WATER ARE FALLING FROM THE SKY. We are--and it's predicted will be--under a flash flood warning until WHO KNOWS WHEN. It's crazy....crazy I tell you!!

This is what www.weather.com has to say about the flooding in Gillespie County [which for those of you who do not know is where Fredericksburg is located]:


Flood Warning Update
625 AM CDT FRI MAY 25 2007
THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE PEDERNALES RIVER AT FREDERICKSBURG. * AT 6AM FRIDAY THE STAGE WAS 28.4 FEET. * MODERATE FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND MODERATE FLOODING IS FORECAST. * FLOOD STAGE IS 22.0 FEET. * BANKFULL STAGE IS 12.0 FEET. * IMPACT...AT 29.0 FEET...MODERATE LOWLAND FLOODING INUNDATES SECONDARY ROADS AND BRIDGES FROM THE HEADWATERS ABOVE HARPER TO BELOW STONEWALL - FENCES AND SIGNS ARE DESTROYED IN LBJ NATIONAL PARK AT STONEWALL AS FLOW IS WELL INTO THE FLOOD PLAIN AND MANY FEET OVER THE PARK ROAD 49 BRIDGE. &&
BELOW ARE THE LATEST RIVER STAGES AND FORECASTS:
BF FLD OBSERVED FORECAST 6AM LST LOCATION STG STG STG DAY TIME FRI SAT SUN MON TUE

I'm okay....well except for the water that's coming in under my patio door, SOAKING my boxes of books that were happily hanging out waiting for transport to storage. Are we all just SOOOO excited about May showers?!?!?!?!?

:I SHEZ

Beginning of the End

Well, today is my last day at the wine shop. It's hard to believe that it's here, but it is....of course, there's still a lot to do, but today's going to be dedicated to packin' & drinkin'--although perhaps not in that order.

Of course, Izzy swears I'll be back--and of that I have no doubt, as it's my home away from home. Turning in the key is going to feel strange, but it is time to move on.....

:ISHEZ

Start Spreading The News....

It's official--I'm headed to The Big Apple! New York, New York. Home of Columbia University. I officially submitted my acceptance and sent in [eeck!] my $500 deposit yesterday. Now would be a great time to solicit for the Sherry's Going Back to School Fund. Please give generously and often!! no? not interested? Okay, how about the Stella & Addy Fund to Keep Us Living in the Cush Life to Which We Are Accustomed? still no? okay, fine....

Tom has very eloquently reminded me that technically I am a non-traditional student and should have more access to grants/loans/scholarships. Hmmm....was that a polite way of calling me old????

Okay, gotta go--lots to do in the upcoming weeks, but will keep you informed of the WHOLE process!! Am excited, am nervous, am officially crazy!!! but how fun it is!!!

YAY FOR ME!!
:I SHEZ

HELP!

Okay, technically, my pic should be in the wanted poster, but we alllllllllllllllllll know how technologically challenged I am--perhaps I'll work on that later this evening, but I'm not making any guarantees!

Anyway, I'm getting locked up...for good!! At least for an hour or so--it's to help raise money for MDA and I have to collect Bail Money to get out. Here's hoping the Judge is lenient enough to not keep me there forever [of course, there = Chili's....so I'm imagining serving out my sentence with a Grande Margarita!!] sigh...I can dream, can't I????

If you'd like to help bail me out of jail, please send contact me as soon as possible for your pledge. Arrest date is May 24, which is right around the corner. Just remember that even if you like the thought of me being locked up, there are kids with Muscular Dystrophy who need your help. To learn more about MD, go to www.mdusa.org

:I SHEZ

Whatta Wacked Out Weekend!

What a crazy, busy weekend! Not only was it Easter but of course, I was working all weekend. It all started Friday afternoon with a call from DDC. Stella & Roxie [Sheila's dog] got into a fight. Now we all know that Stella & Roxie are very verbal with each other and DDC knows not to put them together in the big pen. However, there is a new girl and new girl was moving the dogs around and didn't properly close the gate to the big pen. Roxie seeing an open gate, pushed over the new girl and beelined for Stella. SIX stitches later...my poor baby is limping and moping about...of course, she was overly excited about getting to go out to Grammers--gimpy leg and all!

We went up to Mom's Friday night for a little R&R. I thought it'd be nice since I was working Easter lunch, however, TOTALLY forgot that Andon's 1st birthday party was scheduled for the next day at Mom's house. So, there was NO R&R to be found anywhere! I perfectly timed our arrival so that I could let the girls run around for a bit and add my two cents about what to do for dinner. After dinner, we all looked for Sammy [Mom's cat] who with all the hoop-la went on walkabout sometime in the afternoon. Stella eventually found him--which also created some excitement. Unbeknownst to any of us Aunt Barbara delivered the cakes while we were at dinner. Dean...funny, goofy Deano in being silly with The Girls, stuck his hand in one of the cakes. DOH! Teresa fussed, but Momma fixed it--mostly. [we found out the next day when Aunt Barbara came out, she had already messed it up on the drive out!!]

The next morning I was puttering around the house; threw The Girls outside to run around and play before we had to leave. It was kinda dreary out but Addy loves water and Stella loves to run around and I didn't think anything more about it....until about 15 minutes later they were BEGGING to get back in. Of course, I fussed a bit [go play. you never get to run around. go!] I felt kinda bad because it was sleeting. Oops. I let them in as soon as I realized it wasn't rain, it was sleet. Stella's never been more happy to come inside in her life! Bad Momma! Well, sleepy not fully caffeinated Momma! 45 minutes--that was the driving time back to town [it only took 25 minutes to drive out] because of the roads and the sleet. I figured it would stop, but alas, no--it didn't...in fact, sleet soon gave way to SNOW! it was magical and so-very-UNEaster-in-Texas. Of course, the temp was too high to stick to the ground, but we got the big, fluffy white stuff!!

Easter was good. Brunch was busy--not crazy busy, but a nice steady busy. Afterwards, Bubba & Lauren and the girls stopped by on their way back from Mom's [who on the phone was a little toooooo happy for me not to come out...I think she was wanting peace & QUIET!]--Lala and Reesie were asleep, but I got rid of the last of my Ranch stuff [woo-hoo!]--books & etc that were Bubba's.

The Girls & I had a quiet evening at home. All is well.

:Ishez

PS--forgot to mention most exciting news of the weekend: Kevin and Monique got engaged!! :) wedding date: October 27

Ain't No Foolin'!

I am pleased to announce that Penny & Michael now have a beautiful addition to their family--Miss Adelaide Zipporah Ayling. She was born on March 31st at 5:19pm. She was 12 days early [headstrong, like her Mum!!] and weighed in at 5lbs14oz. Mum & bubba are doing well and according to proud papa, Adelaide is "testing her new lungs and larnyx to good effect".

Welcome Baby Adelaide!
Love,
Auntie Shezza

Spring Cleaning!

Happy Spring Equinox
[even though technically it happened at 12:07 GMT, as April was quick to remind me!]

Spring has sprung and so too have the urges of spring cleaning. Monday--amongst everything else that I had to do/supposed to do, I hunkered down in the apartment and did 7--yes SEVEN--loads of laundry. threw out ALL non-paired socks [talk about liberating!] and FINALLY went through the remaining boxes from the ranch [talk about uber-liberating!] I threw out all sorts of papers and crap, crap, crap. I think I--all by my lonesome--filled an entire dumpster! Some of these boxes hadn't been opened for 10+ years, so I figured if I've lived without it for this long, I probably don't really need it anyway...so I kept a few mementos that would fit into my scrapbooks and ditched the rest!! I have reclaimed my dining room!!! YAY!!

of course, the reclaiming lasted about 5 minutes until I could move the dog crates into the space. Dog crates, you ask? Yep, I finally broke down and bought them each one. They're huge, but luckily were on sale, so I paid a whoooooole lot less than I thought I would! double YAY!! I probably didn't need the biggest ones, but NOTHING BUT THE BEST FOR MY BABIES! Stella & Addy are adjusting to them. Addy likes to lay in Stella's crate when they're open [ie I'm at home and it's raining so I won't let her outside]. Stella's very good about going in when I say "kennel"--Addy, not so much, although she's getting better [she is afterall, just a puppy!]

So, now that my house is pretty much cleaned and organized--save one closet, which is clean--just needs to be reorganized! So I feel very productive....and the wineshop is next!

Happy Spring!
:I shez

Chhhhhh-changes!

Well, I'm in the final countdown to hearing back from universities....so needless to say [but I'm gonna say it anyway], I'm a bit panicked! But in an effort to remain true to my leaving The 'Burg, I've started job searching and putting out feelers for where is next for Stella, Addy, & I to live. Of course, job searching for me is not easy, as there's a lot I can do and a lot that I'm interested in but mainly what I really want to do, I'm not qualified for without further schooling and some experience. So I've taken to also looking into different places I might want to live and then job searching specifically in those cities.

clear as mud?

i found the website www.findyourspot.com took their little quiz [okay, it's like 7 or 8 pages, so not so little] and here are the top 24 cities in the USA, based on my answers:

Albuquerque, NM
Hartford, CT
Portland, OR
Honolulu, HI
Boston, MA
Providence, RI
New Haven, CT
San Jose, CA
San Fransisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Baltimore, MD
Denver, CO
Little Rock, AR
Worcester, MA
Washington, DC
Las Vegas, NV [baby!]
Carlisle, PA [huh?]
Milwaukee, WI
Cincinnati, OH
Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
Oakland, CA [uh, i don't think so!]
Knoxville, TN
Baton Rouge, LA

notice anything particular? NO TEXAS CITIES!?!?!?! I'm not exactly sure how that happened, although I did mention something about liking definite season changes and not insanely long, excriutatingly hot summers...oh wait...[ding!]

while I haven't been to many of them, there are quite a few on the list that for me, would rank a LOT lower than Austin, Dallas, or San Antonio. But there are a few surprises that I might check out as well--and NO it's not going to be Oakland!!!!!!!

very interesting. wonder if they have anything similar but with international cities???

more later!
:I shez

ps--new wires on braces--hurt waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more than getting braces on....please refer to my previously written Christmas carol and multiply times 10! :(

Introducing.....Addy!

Okay, it's official--I'm nuts!! [of course you knew this]

Stella got a sister. Her name is Addy. Someone just dropped her off at DDC and she was bouncing around among the staff and I just couldn't stand it...I couldn't.....I just couldn't. So I brought her home--with the understanding that IF Stella couldn't adjust, I'd have to bring her back, as it is Stella's home and she has to be okay with it.

I mean seriously--could you say no to this?

Of course, I didn't realize that she was still a puppy! Her original name was Bella, but that had to be changed, so I named her Addy--as in Adelaide, Queen of England from 1830-1837 [and is also the capitol of South Australia].

There have been a few growing pains--many caused by the fact that Addy is a lab puppy and doesn't know how to back down, much to the chagrin of her big sister. But because they're about the same size [YES, I AM CRAZY!] they play really well together. And Stella has taught little sister a couple of very handy things, such as jumping on the furniture and barking [Thanks Stel!] Stella likes to act very put-out by the new addition to our family...but seriously--does this look like a distressed dog?

tired? yep? distressed? i think not.

Unlike her big sister, Addy is a cuddly, follow Momma everywhere kind of dog. Although when I am stationary [ie sitting in the chair reading, playing my ds, watching telly], she will go outside and bask in the sunlight. Stella perches herself on the couch or bed to observe [i think mainly to avoid being pounced on by little sister!] And on a positive note for me, my arm muscles are starting to take more definite shape from walking these two mammoths!

crazy, i know....but happy!

:) shez

Holy Super Closet Cleaning Batman!

I just found out--or actually was just reminded--that I have carpet, albeit old, in my closets! Who knew?!?!? I have begun the countdown until leaving--which may be in May or may be in June--but I am systematically, slowly, and thoroughly going through EVERY SINGLE INCH of my apartment and sorting everything--throwing out and giving away a large chunk of it!! I'm being very slow, but very productive!!

But it's giving me something to do in my spare time. Why all the spare time: Cuvee closed. Yep for good. Why? Who knows what really happened. All I know is that this put a HUGE kink in my getting out of here by May [which is why I'm not sure if I'm leaving in May or June] So, now I'm looking for another night/weekend job...unfortunately, it's slow here in The 'Burg right now, so not many people are hiring and of course, the wineshop is my first priority which doesn't make my schedule very flexible. Plus I was extremely spoiled and the thought of "breaking" in new people isn't appealling right now!

I am enjoying the quiet evenings at home....of course, since we were given NO warning about Cuvee, I didn't have time to budget adjust, so I'm uber-poor right now. I've adjusted things like phone, car payment, student loan payment and cable, but not in time for February payments. Oh well, thank goodness February is a short month--6 days down, 22 to go!! Fortunately, I just bought coffee--otherwise the rest of the month might have just gotten ugly!!

Alright, must go--mountain of laundry [blocking the shower & toliet...you laugh, I'm serious!] is calling....

ciao for now!
:I shez

Happy Australia Day!

It's Australia Day--although I realize that by now, it's no longer Australia Day in Australia.

Australia marks the day [January 26, 1788] when Captain Arthur Phillip took formal possession of the colony of New South Wales and became its first Governor. The fledging colony soon began to celebrate the anniversary of this date. Manning Clarke notes that in 1808 the "anniversary of the foundation of the colony" was observed in the traditional manner with "drinking and merriment". The first official celebrations were held in 1818 to mark the 30th anniversary of white settlement. Governor Macquarie officiated at a thirty-gun salute during the day and a dinner ball at Government House that evening. [click on www.australiaday.gov.au to learn more, which is where I got the previous statements]...I'd love to tell you all about my previous Australia Day experiences, but I can't remember them--I have no doubt a lot of "drinking and merriment" were involved!!

So in honour of Australia Day--as no doubt you've heard numerous times at the Sydney Olympics and subsequent sporting event involving Australians: Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi!

Oh and before I forget--Happy Birthday Jordan!! :)

cheers!
:I shez

Snow Angel....

I have created the perfect snow angel...check it out!!

It dumped and I mean dumped a LOT of snow on Amarillo, just in time for my arrival on the 21st. Ironically, it was my plane out of Austin that got cancelled due to fog rather than my plane from DFW to Amarillo because of snow. I caught the next flight [at 6:30am] to DFW and got there in just enough time to barely catch my flight. OF COURSE American was actually thinking ahead and switched me to a later flight into Amarillo, but given I only had 52 hours in Amarillo to begin with, I didn't want to spend 2.5 hours sitting at DFW if I could actually make my original flight. The flight attendant told me if I could make it--across four terminals in 10 minutes--I could board the early flight as it wasn't yet full. So I am running through the airport like OJ while trying to call Christi & Becca to see if I got the early flight, could we go back to airport 'cuz there was NO WAY my luggage was making it! Literally made it just in time. Didn't get a seat assignment, they didn't even scan my boarding pass before i boarded [because well, it said that i was on a different flight]--the flight attendant was doing that as I was running down the boarding ramp and on to the plane. Just sit anywhere she said. Well I don't know--the plane only seats about 30 people....and the head count before I got on was about 10. The flight to AMA wasn't bad--it was kinda' cool because you could actually see the snow line on the ground....ahhh....how pretty. how white. how the hell are we going to land?????????????

Speaking of white, that was the color of my knuckles as we approached the runway, which we were now close enough to notice that it had a nice thick covering of ice and snow. We touch down, we bounce a bit, the plane fishtails, we sway back and forth and back and forth. I look out and realize "why worry? the worst that could happen at this point is we'd slide off the runway and into a field of snow." I get out my phone and snap a few pictures of the snow on the runway. Apparently the roads were just as bad as Becca, Eugene, Christi, Tracy, Xavier, and Victor were late in picking me up. I saw why when I piled into the suburban [how else are that many people going to travel in one vehicle] and we were headed back to Cindy & Lynn's house.

The rest of the afternoon was fun-filled and exciting. Well, except for maybe a trip to Wal-Mart with Becca on the way back from getting my luggage. I think at one point I was jumping up and down yelling "let's go, let's go, leeeet's checkout" I'm not sure, but I think I heard Becca mumbling something about needing to check medication. Hers or mine?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!? Cindy made an AWESOME dinner [as usual--when doesn't Cindy make something awesome!], we exchanged gifts--i got a box of chocolate covered cherries [that also came with a Nintendo DS], scarves, a coffee mug, a book of short stories, a book Elizabeth made me, a vest Becca crocheted, measuring tapes [I believe my comment as Christi, Chelle, and I opened our measuring tapes and just stared at them was "are you calling us fat???" but no, just was just sick of hearing us tell her that we didn't have a measuring tape when she called about a measurement for something she was making us], Tracy provided entertainment [no pervo, there were kids there--I was talking about a magic show!] and we ended the evening with several games of B-I-N-G-O! I actually won one game. SHOCKER! I never win! My prize was a magazine promising to lose 10 pounds quickly and had a chocolate cake on the cover....I've eaten a lot of chocolate cake, but have yet to lose that 10 pounds!

Monday we attempted to go to Borger, but the roads were too bad. After driving an hour and only getting about 20 miles, Lynn called it quits and we turned around and headed back to Amarillo. I was very sad not to get to see Nanny & Grandpa. It did, however, allow us a bit of free time, in which I got to make my snow angel in the front yard. At 3pm, Christi & I picked up Jillian, Caroline, Jarod, & Elizabeth from school and walked them to J & C's house [about 4 blocks] of course, we didn't realize that we'd have to cross a field o' snow to do so...and I actually ended up carrying Elizabeth across 1/2 the field! Tracy was waiting at the house and the kids tried to get him outside to attack him with snowballs, but we couldn't coax him out [although Jillian & Caroline got him pretty good when it was time for us to leave!]

It seemed to be a blink of an eye and I was back at the airport, noticing that the runway had been cleared of the ice and snow, heading back down to where the temps were a tad warmer. It was a fun trip, but waaaaaaaaaay too fast! at least this time the kids recognized me....

:I shez

Soggy Surprise!

Happy Birthday Momma!

Teresa & I decided it would be fun to throw Mom a surprise birthday/housewarming party. Everyone was to show up at 7pm at her gate [it's about 1/2 mile from gate to house] and we'd all drive down to the house together and everyone surprise her! I have to admit we are genius! It was great...even though the weather was NOT cooperating. Bubba kept complaining about why we had to do it on the messiest, yuckiest night of the year. I reminded him we were actually only 19 days into the year and blame Granny & Grandpa, as this was the day [53 years ago] that she was born. Pretty much everyone invited showed up, brought food and alcohol, and a great time was had by all. All counted there were +50 people there and Momma was surprised when the cars kept coming down the lane and people kept pouring into the house. Regardless of the mud--and JeannieBel's prediction--the floor stayed pretty clean. Although it's stained concrete, so cleaning was a snap! The low moment came when we discovered it was also Larry's birthday and Teresa decided to add his name to Mom's German Chocolate Cake...in ketchup. Yep [and yuck!] you read that right! Since the icing was dark, nothing else showed up....aside from maybe mustard so ketchup seemed the less of two evils. Strangely no one wanted those pieces of cake and Teresa hadn't had that much to drink at that point!! While there were a few that left early, most everyone left around 11:30pm--which was a further indication about how successful it was!

Happy Birthday Momma!
:I sheshie

The Dawning of the Sign of Aquarius

Okay, depending on which astrological chart you're looking at we're enter the sign of Aquarius at any moment now...why am I mentioning this? just to wish

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS to Momma & April!!!! :)

:I shez

Agoraphobics & Snow-Ins Rejoice!

Did you know amazon.com has everything? literally everything. 36 categories--I'm shocked, I'm amazed, really I'm in awe! This is what you can get if you go to www.amazon.com RIGHT NOW:

Books, Music, DVD, Unbox Video Downloads [what the?], VHS, Magazines & Newspapers, Compture & Video Games, Software, Amazon Shorts [again, what the?], Electronics, Audio & Video, Camera & Photo, Cell Phones & Service, Computers & PC Hardware, Office Products, Musical Instruments, Outlet [watch out Tanger & Prime!], Home & Garden, Bed & Bath [but not Beyond], Furniture & Decor, Gourmet Food, Kitchen & Housewares, Outdoor Living, Pet Supplies, Automotive, Tools & Hardware, Industrial & Scientific, Apparel & Accessories, Shoes, Jewelry & Watches, Grocery, Beauty, Health & Personal Care, Sports & Outdoors, Toys & Games, Baby....whew! I think that may be it....

Groceries???? when did this all happen? what happened to just books, movies, music?????? but for those of you who don't want to get out, can't get out, or are "above" going to the SuperWalMart, but need tampons, motor oil, a new cell phone, and a flute--go to amazon.com and what the heck--get the lastest book in Oprah's bookclub....

okay, i have to go--i need to see what kind of groceries and gourmet foods amazon can provide me. plus I can just add it to my wishlist [sjerrij@gmail.com in case you were wondering how to access my wishlist! :D] YAY!! this is going to be fun, albeit strange....

:I shez

ps--for those of you like Sheila who want to know: yes, there are condoms available--3 pages of any shape, size, or preference you might want!!

Slip Sliding Away!

Yes, I braved the elements to bring you this hilarious update about the weather....

walking Stella is freakin' hilarious!! firstly, i'm walking on the grass, which is covered in ice and crunching beneath my feet. The dog HATES walking on the grass with the ice crunching beneath her feet, so she chooses to walk on the sidewalk or street. Since she can't get much traction, so looks more like she's skating rather than walking, but the funniest is when she sees a bird, cat, deer, chihuahua [she thinks they're funny, noisy cats with strange hair], she wants to run after it, but she slips and slides and with her long legs flailing about is just damn funny. Of course, this usually happens right about the time that I've run out of grass and have ventured on the ice-covered street. So not only am I laughing out loud, but trying my best not to slip and slide and end up on my backside.

This is my patio fence--which accumulated about 2 inches of snow....

Since it's not raining, icing, sleeting, and snowing today [which it did ALL day yesterday], I decided to take her for a longer walk this morning. We hit a bit of an decline, which you tend not to notice when the street is not covered with a sheet of ice and we essentially slid one complete block--it was fun while it lasted....but truth be told, I was happy to make it down without falling on my keister!! We stopped in at Teresa's--who had warm coffee for me and a big backyard for Stella--so she got even more exercise galloping from one end of the yard to the other [yes, the dog is big enough to gallop!]--so she was happily dozing in a ball on the couch when I left her...

tomorrow brings slightly warmer weather--hopefully enough to melt all the ice and the weekend we're back into the 60's but still wet and yucky [gotta love Texas weather]

:I shez

BRRRRRRRR!!!

Not that in the grand scheme of things is it really cold here, but it's the coldest it's been so far this winter. Plus because there is a winter weather advisory in effect until thursday, everything has pretty much shut down and the shelves at HEB [the local grocery store] are looking pretty bare. Of course, everyone north of here is no doubt laughing at us. But I do have to say that when it gets icy, the roads here are a mess, topped with the fact that NO ONE is capable of safely driving--as they think that their 4WD is going to help them not skid on the ice!!

There's not a lot to report--I've come into work to do a bit of paperwork, but as no one is voluntarily out in this mess, I'm going home to watch movies and snuggle with Stella, who is annoyed because our walks have be dramatically cut to "would you hurry up, it's freaking too cold to be walking 45 minutes", so a quick walk around the block and we're back inside!

For those in colder regions--stay warm! For those in warmer regions--enjoy!!

bye fffffor now!!
:I shez

Gluttonous Gluten

Okay, so I haven't been feeling great of late [I'm sure many of you are sick--ha ha pun intended--of hearing me complain about being sick!]. Since they [being my doctor] can't seem to explain why I'm feeling tired and run-down and bloated and a general feeling of blah--phyically, not so mentally, I decided that perhaps it's my diet. I'm sick of the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesause, and toast)--which I lived on for about 2 weeks after I got out of the hospital, but is the most pleasing to upset stomaches. I've decided not to cut my diet that dramatically and went to the local health store and got on-line to figure out where to start. It was suggested to me that the most common--and often least diagnosed--food problem was wheat. So, I'm going to cut out wheat and all wheat products for the next several weeks and see if it helps. Fad diet--nope, but worse case senario, I'll be a bit healthier without all that refined flour in my body and hopefully, I'll have a bit more get-up-and-go, so that I can get up and go and not feel like a sloth, catching zzzz's every opportunity I can get. Best case senario, I'll feel better and look better and maybe even drop a few pounds!! fingers crossed!!
:I shez
ps--YAY! winter weather is finally coming. I know, I know you all probably think I'm nuts, but I'm excited! I love the cold, crisp weather!! :) oh and I'm babysitting tomorrow!! perhaps, I'll make them help me clean out boxes....

Pris-Stella

Yay! Inventory wasn't as bad as originally thought! We were done by 2pm and that included a small lunch break for pizza. Of course, we had special help from Landri because, unbeknownst to her mother until they arrived and everything was locked up, pre-school was closed on the 2nd. Landri's job was moving empty boxes, so as to block the back door [yes, I said to block] and keeping everyone entertained with "hey, sheshie....hey sheshie....hey sheshie" Apparently my niece has inherited my gift of gab....

After that we made a few stops and then went to pick Stella up from "school" as Landri referred to doggie day care. However, Aunt Priscilla OBVIOUSLY made an impression during Christmas because rather than saying "Stella," Lala kept calling her "Pris-Stella." Hey Pris-Stella. Hey Sheshie Pris-Stella really likes me. Hey Pris-Stella, do you want a treat? Pris-Stella how was school? It was all I could do not to laugh. My brother couldn't contain his laughter as Landri was telling him about how she & Pris-Stella played all afternoon and how Pris-Stella didn't eat her snack [although I know that Pris-Stella doesn't like carrots...although I don't know how the cheese stick survived!]

Pris-Stella was so worn out by Landri, I actually had to cajole her into going for her evening walk! Perhaps Landri needs to come over a bit more often!

:] shez

HAPPP PPYYY NEW YEAR!!

Okay, so NYE sucked. Like huge. It was insane crazy busy at Cuvee and the kitchen was horribly backed up and it was 1:30 when we finally finished cleaning up--we even had regulars asking if they could help us--that's how freaking sorry they felt for us!

But we did dress in black with black top hats and bow ties, so I must admit even though we were running around like chickens with our heads just cut off, we looked damn cute doing it!

I hope that everyone had a great NYE and I've decided that I'm now on a mission to find a job that doesn't require working NYE. Last year was great. This year: sucked big time....

But everything was rectified on the 1st, as we went to brunch and all chipped in for Dom. There's nothing like starting the new year with eggs benedict and Dom Perignon. Of course, that's just my humble opinion! I had all these plans for cleaning/organizing my house for the new year [one of my resolutions], but my tired, aching body prevailed and I lounged on the couch all day watching the CSI:Miami marathon on A&E...although I did at some point take Stellabella for a walk and made a big o' pot of black eyed peas for a prosperous new year. And I'm hoping at this point the more b.e.p. you eat, the more prosperous you are because well, it's just me and I have a big o' pot of b.e.p.....

So, here are my resolutions for the new year:
1. Get healthier [which I've already been trying to do]
2. Get my house more organized [I don't know what the hell happened, but my closets are suddenly GREAT examples for the chaos theory]
3. MOVE. not that I don't like living here, i'm actually enjoying it right now, but it's time for a new adventure.
4. Be better about blogging and corresponding with everyone on a regular--rather than sporadic--basis
5. Be debt free!! [which would have happended last year, until I took a three day vacation in the hospital last july...]
6. Volunteer more--as in, not just Rotary but other places as well....

so that's it. that's the plan for the new year. :) must go....today is inventory day. happy, happy, joy, joy....NOT!

Happy New Year!
:] shez

ps--in case you're wondering, while I AM getting used to them and people are actually commenting that they think I look cute [bleh!], I still hate my braces--although I am seeing changes in my teeth...so perhaps I won't need them on as long as the Dr. thinks!! fingers crossed!