Black Friday

Howdy folks! Hope everybody had a Happy Thanksgibbing. I am not sure why, but I am just not feeling the holidays like I used to. I don't know if it's because I've been living back in St. Lou again for a few years now, where usually I'm living away from here so I have the anticipation of visiting...oh I don't know. Maybe it's because I had to work on Thanksgibbing. I work from home, but I still had to miss dinner at Monda's (mom and Linda's...my sister) so blah blah blah. But I am feeling a little restless. So here are some random thoughts:

I can't stand when people pull their carts behind them at the grocery store rather than push them. They take up too much room! Plus they don't look behind to see if their cart is blocking someone from getting to what they need. I mean, I remember as a kid my mom used to do that when she let me push, but that was obviously so nobody would get a "flat tire" since I could barely see over the push-handle. That's different. Also, people who pull their carts seem very arrogant to me.

Beware of people driving in front of you who have their washer-wipers going at high speed during a light drizzle. They apparently tend to overreact, so steer clear of them.

And can we please stop doing the wave? It is so 80's and I am over it. I just don't see it as one of those longstanding sports traditions that needs to continue. Peanuts, yes. Beer, yes. Even "We Will Rock You" - mmm, okay. But please let's let go of the wave.

How is it that cars can continue driving for what seems like miles with their brake lights on? And why do they always seem to be in front of me? Of course, this coming from someone who really doesn't like to use my brakes at all if I can help it...

In keeping with the holidays, I will say that in all the places I've lived away from St. Louis and my family at Thanksgiving or Christmas, one thing has always been true: there are really nice people who never want you to be alone and will ALWAYS invite you to dinner. Humanity CAN be kind!

I admire people who are passionate...it doesn't matter what their passions are (excluding violent crimes or crimes of any nature really) but if they are gung ho at 110%, I think it's great. For example, I saw a commercial for a barbeque contest on some channel, and this lady says, "I'm not in it for the money, I'm in it for the prestige!" I thought, more power to you lady - these people LOVE their barbeque! Or the paranormal people...they are passionate about their ghosts! I don't know if I have anything that I am that passionate about...I am too lazy to be so passionate, at least these days.

I am in love with David Bromstead on Color Splash, HGTV...yes, he is gay but I find him incredibly adorable and check out those arms...whew.

I am also in love with Dr. Spencer Reid from Criminal Minds. Now with his hair growing longer, he's looking good and yummy!

I think I may have found something I am passionate about: gorgeous men I can never have.

Oh, this is sorta funny. Sometimes I work selling jewelry cleaner at the local home shows/womens' shows at the Ed (Edward Jones dome) and out in St. Charles. It's fun because it's so opposite what I do all day every day - I actually get to talk to people! It often reminds me of why I do enjoy working at home, alone. Anyway, I think it was the last one I worked where there were several little incidents that made me laugh and/or shake my head. And when I say laugh, not in a good way. First, I was cleaning this guy's ring...it was an okay ring. I'd seen many men's rings that were way nicer, but you know...I don't judge. Anyway, I finish cleaning it and hand it back to him...he looks at it proudly and says, "Yeah, uh, what do they call this - ling ling?" I had to stop and think because my mind immediately went to a panda. "I think you mean...bling bling?" I was nice and left off the part of it not really meeting that criteria..."Oh yeah," he said laughing in a creepy way. He was sort of a greasy guy who thought he was cool, but ewww ~I couldn't believe he actually seriously said "ling ling." It was a little weird.

Then, a little while later I look over and see my co-worker cleaning a ring for a lady, and the lady's family was sort of hovering over looking to see the whole process. Well I couldn't help but notice her husband's shirt - it had a picture of a fish on the front and, after clearing any blurriness from my eyes and double checking, it said, "Here Fishy! Fishy!" Really now. I wiped my eyes and looked again...yep, it was still there. Aww. He probably got it for his birthday or even Christmas, probably from his kids. I am learning that perhaps I am shallow and horrible because personally I think a shirt like that is just cause for divorce. But I have no depth at all. Luckily he met a woman who didn't care about that stuff. That leaves only one thought - I will always be alone.

Last year when visiting my grandma, we were sitting at the kitchen table watching...well, the Lawrence Welk show. Not exactly the Lawrence Welk show, but some sort of flashback show - anyway, it doesn't matter. We're playing Yahtzee and half-watching when this guy is introduced...I don't know what his name was - Steve something maybe? Anyway, my grandma pretty loudly exclaims all of a sudden, "Oh I can't stand that guy - he is such a PUKE PUSS!" What the hell is a puke puss? I just looked at my grandma and couldn't say a word ~ I had never heard that expression, and certainly not from my 89-year-old grandmother! I love my grandma...she is the best.

A few weeks ago I saw a Hummer parked at a Bank of America ATM. I thought to myself, "Isn't that the picture of America these days!"

And to finish up here, while at a Blues hockey game with my brother and my nephew, we were sitting pretty high up where, as my nephew says, "the real fans sit"...well one of those real fans was very frustrated with the way the Blues were playing - not just with this game but with the past few. The team just couldn't get anything going...so this guy, I'm assuming a future NHL coach, takes an opportunity during a quiet moment to yell at the top of his voice...."QUIT SUCKING!!!" It was hilarious - we all laughed...those were the best instructions I have ever heard yelled at a sporting event...EVER...please feel free to use it if necessary - I'm sure the guy won't mind!

Well, signing off for today...Black Friday. See ya soon!

Shermie

Thankful for what?

Hey there Friends of Shermie (or as we say in Ireland “Friends O’Shermie”! It’s been a while - too long!!! Long time no write, so there is a lot to talk about. Unfortunately I started talking quite a while ago and then lost everything due to not knowing how to work this computer. It’s tiny, so I think I hit something and all of a sudden it shut down and goodbye and goodnight! Anyway, we won’t waste time or energy worrying about that right now.

I must say, as long as it’s been, I am going to talk about today. Right now I am hanging at my local Borders. I had a blueberry scone (dry, but I think they’re supposed to be since they are European) and a most delicious beverage called the Sugar & Spice Latte (to which the nice girl added a touch of chocolate, making it the ultimate , most best tasting ever!) At first I was feeling very conspicuous amongst the students who look so cool with their Macs and big laptops, and me with my tiny purple netbook. The problem isn’t really my computer though; it’s more my wardrobe. Here I am in my maternity looking sweatpants and matching sweat jacket, although I must say my striped scarf is pretty cool (Target $10). So maybe I’m not too much of a lost cause. I don’t think people are looking at me disapprovingly, and I must say there is quite an assortment of folks who have wandered in to take a seat. Okay I feel better because some kid (kid being in his 20s) just came in wearing what I think are South Park pajama bottoms, so I’m feeling pretty good. Hold on while I save what I have written thus far, so as not to make the same mistake! Those who do not have a good memory tend to repeat their mistakes, or whatever that saying is…

So I’m not a big fan of my day today. Of course it is Monday, and oh joy of joys I am off from the full time job tonight! Whew…it was a busy weekend, so I am grateful. Anyway, the girl I work with at my part-time job in the mornings (Tracy – you’ve heard me mention her before…the friendly Republican) had her baby on Friday, which is great in itself because all are happy and healthy!

But of course we’re talking about me here, so my drama is just beginning. The Most Organized Tracy left me a detailed list of what to do with certain emails, forwarding them appropriately, etc, and I am a nervous wreck. So I go in and log on to her computer to get into her email. Another lady comes over to say that so-and-so is looking for an email from Friday that Tracy ALWAYS sends out on Friday morning…then, carefully following my list, I forward an email that is to be sent to certain people, correctly I thought, until yet another lady, Diane, comes over to say that I did it different than Tracy does it because she can’t get into it without a password. Great. So I figure out what I did wrong and re-do it. Being me, I added a cute little note in the subject line saying that now it should be able to be opened (by cute I mean friendly sounding). I have to send these from Tracy’s computer, so it won’t let me put my name in the line about who is sending it, right? Anyway, I get a response from a guy who I would say is pretty far up the food chain in our office. In the past I’ve had trouble figuring him out…I know he voted for Obama (according to Tracy because he’s Jewish and I’m not sure what that means) and he seems to have somewhat of a sense of humor… I always think I can get him to crack a smile, but so far not and I always chalked it up to his having one of those “dry” senses of humor. Well, see how you would interpret this email…it’s from him and it says, “Uh…who is sending this email? Is it Tracy or somebody pretending to be Tracy?” I took it to be humor, beings that everybody knows Tracy is not in and won’t be for 3 months. And as far as the pretending to be Tracy remark, I took that as me being a Tracy “wannabe”…I thought it was funny! So I respond to him, “Watch it mister.” I felt pretty lighthearted about my spirited and good-natured response, but about 30 seconds later I heard his door open and heavy footsteps (he’s a big guy). Not so funny I guess. He said it was too “confusing” to be receiving emails from Tracy’s address and that we needed to set up a way to send them from mine. Oh boy…really? Confusing? Okay…she JUST had a baby like 48 hours ago. She is not here and I can’t put my name in the line to say it’s from me. Just TAKE IT EASY MAN! So Day 1 is already a disaster in my mind.
Between the deal with the big guy, the first guy complaining, and the unopenable attachment sent to everyone, my lighthearted mood disintegrated to the point where I was plotting my resignation the minute Tracy walked back in the door from maternity leave. Oh yes I would show THEM. Anyway, day 1 is behind me and hopefully day 2 will be better. Luckily it’s Thanksgiving this week, so it’s a short week and there is less chance of me screwing anything up majorly.

Of course then I came home and after shoveling in some ice cream, I decided it was nap time. My naps (oh and I guess the ice cream shoveling too) are coming to an end though, people, because it is time to get serious about fitting into those cute clothes in my closet. It is time to become the person that fit into those clothes…don’t get me wrong, I am not saying I am not comfortable in my own skin, but actually right now I have more skin than I need. It’s time. I got the cool Skechers tennis shoes with the rocker bottoms that are supposed to really help tone up the butt while walking, and I am going to try a product called Nexagen which is supposed to help curb cravings and appetite, not to mention boost my energy (which really my naps never did because I took too long of naps) so I am ready to hit it! I will keep you, my friends, up to speed on how that goes. Please feel free to add your comments, advice, stories, etc. I’d love to hear from you!

Well friends, I’ve listened to about as much Christmas music and Norah Jones overhead as I can take in one evening, so I am going to close up shop here and head home. With my new transportable way to write, I will be adding more daily, so please come back and visit! Next time I’ll try somewhere else to check out the folks there so I can talk about them to you, and possibly there will be a good story that unfolds before my very eyes!

Remember, if you’re bored with your life…YOU’RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION!

Bye for now friends!