Archive for the ‘Personal Blogs’ Category

In the past two weeks, I have had SOOO much going on at work and in our family life.  I’ve hardly had any time to get my blog posts written.  I wanted to drop a quick note to let you know that this week you can look forward to the following posts:

*  Winner of ANM’s Beautiful Baby Contest

* Winner of Susan Jane Gilman Book Giveaway Contest

* Winners of Crazy Aunt Purl’s Home Is Where The Wine Is Contest

* Book Reviews on Elizabeth McCracken’s An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination, Seth Grahame-Smith’s Abraham Lincoln-Vampire Hunter, and Libby Malin’s My Own Person Soap Opera.

I also just finished O!Juliet, which was far better than I had originally expected. 

I’m off to get the twins to the movies, hit my second job, and then tonight I will hopefully get all of the winners posted.

I hope everyone is having a great Sunday and I can’t wait to get caught up tonight!

I missed last week’s Sunday Salon post because I was in the local mountains, Big Bear Lake.  Snow was plentiful due to the recent rains we’ve had in Southern California.  My sister, Karen, and her family, a family friend, and my family (including the pups) decided to take advantage of the holiday weekend and rent a cabin.  The twins were so excited because they haven’t snowboarded in a few years.  

The 8 of us (plus 2 dogs) had loads of fun which included great food, terrific wine, tasty cocktails & appetizers, snowboarding, sledding, cooking, watching the Olympics, decorating cookies and hitting the jacuzzi.    I was so relaxed and in the moment that I didn’t read any books the entire time I was there although I did read 2 trashy magazines and they were deliciously sinful.  (It almost felt like I was cheating on my books… the shame) 

On the last day of our trip, I took two spills on the ice.  Both times I landed in the exact same spot on the left side of my tushie and my lower back.  It ends up that I accidentally left my beloved pillow at the cabin and left my ability to walk and sit on the slippery ice.  As you can imagine, I spent Monday night and all Tuesday day/night in bed.  You see, I have broken the 3 lower vertebrate in my spine twice in my past, so my lower back is highly suseptical to future injury.  (Note to self:  Buy better snow boots).  

I went back to work on Wednesday with a pillow and in comfortable shoes.  I had to sit on my right side the entire day.    My back is now feeling much better, but my tushie is all shades of purple and fushia.  I didn’t know that bruises could be that shade of purple… so bright.  The bump that was once the size of a 1/2 pomegranate is now only raised up by 1/2″ or so and it is black and purple.  I can’t stop looking at the horror of it.  It’s the funkiest bruise I’ve ever seen.  If it wasn’t my tushie, then I would totally post it… but, I’ll spare you the horror.  I wonder what color it will turn next?

This weekend I am going to get all of my paperwork together for my tax returns and visit my nephew (aka The Stink).  Accidentally, he cut his “paw” and required out-patient surgery and a cast.  He has finally gotten his cast off, but now isn’t feeling well.  Poor baby!  I also want to clean out all of my paperwork and get organized for 2010.

Hey Y’all!!!!  TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO VOTE IN ANM’s 2nd Annual Beautiful Baby Contest.  It’s so easy… just look at cute pics and pick a favorite.  I was sad that this year we couldn’t add this beauty to the contest and my heart is with you, Florinda.   So all you have to do is click, click, click, and click!  THANK YOU!

If you are not a “Google Friend Connect” friend, I encourage you to do so today because I will be continuing to host more giveaways in the near future in addition to the two contests currently going on. 

This Week’s Reviews

This week, I reviewed:  

Prior February Reviews

Contests 

VOTE VOTE VOTE!

Enter…

On TV 

The Bachelor

Jake and Vienna… lots of thoughts out there in the blogisphere.  For this week’s recap, click HERE.

American Idol

I miss General Larry Platt andhis Pants On The Ground.    But, I am enjoying watching them pick the top 24.  I’m looking forward to it.

Modern Family

Is anybody watching this show?  I’m addicted… totally current humor.

Big Love

I was bored to tears in the first 3 episodes, but now I’m riveted by the poor choices that Bill is making. 

Hung

Did anybody see this show?  It’s another one that I’m oddly fascinated with.

The Olympics

I was horrified when I watched the film of the luge accidental death.  Why they showed it so many times was beyond me.  I most love watching the figure skating and am still getting caught up on the performances.  The moguls was something that I’ve never watched before… along with the biathalon.   Did you watch any of the Olympics?  What did you enjoy?

Anything Ghost

Ghost Adventures, Paranormal State, Ghost Hunters, Animal Planet’s Ghost Stories… any of it.   I record all of them and knit while I watch them.  That guy, Zak, on Ghost Adventures totally makes me laugh out loud.  Nice body, though…

The Bold & The Beautiful

What in the world was Bill Spencer thinking?  Can Steffie just get in a tragic accident and just be hospitalized in a coma for 1 year?  Bill is going to blow it with Katie and she’s way better than Steffie.  The drama is so out there that it’s funny!

The Rest… 

I have updated my bed with a new duvet cover and throw pillows  (I’m in love). 

Cole’s basketball team won the district championship.  The twins are already practicing for the soccer spring season.  I’m reading Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter and it’s pretty cool.  Other than that… nothing new is happening.  I can’t wait to read about what you’re all up to!

As always, my thanks to all of you for reading not only this post, but the others as well.   Your readership means the world to me!  AND, your comments are invaluable to me!

Young, completely infatuated with a 6′4″ hunk-of-a-man, and armed with a custom-made Valentines Basket filled with all the accessories for a night of torrid passion, I eagerly awaited our first Valentine’s Day together.  I had been planning for weeks and, like any good girl scout, I was prepared. 

That year Valentine’s was a rainy day, but the sounds of the storm would make the perfect backdrop for my envisioned romantic experience.  Because it was a Tuesday, that morning I was off to work and in normal “can’t-wait-until-I-get-out-of-here,” 20-ish girl mode.   By mid-morning, my belly was aching.  What had I eaten?  After a run to the ladies’ room, I feared that my stomach wouldn’t settle in time for my hot date.  No stomach ailment was going to get between me and my lovah.

By lunch time, I was burning up.   My boss, who by the way is a woman and should be understanding about hot nights o’ naughty, was being tough on me.  She assumed that I must be faking the illness as an excuse to get off of work early to get ready for my big night.  Doubtful of my honesty about being sick, she sent me to corporate to deliver some paperwork. 

While driving on the rainy streets of Southern California, I started to double over in pain.  I didn’t quite understand it because there was nothing left in the belly.  I am not sick.  I am not sick.

After I walked through the reception doors, I immediately plummeted into a chair.  Not even making it to the ladies room, I had a major tummy explosion right into the lobby planter.  I would normally die of embarrassment under such circumstances, but at this point I lost all sense of pride & common sense.  I was going to die.  Die in a planter of the lobby of the president’s office, on Valentines Day, and not even have sex!  God is not nice.  And, isn’t she a woman?  She gets this stuff!

I have no recollection as to how I got there, but I was soon awake in the emergency room.  My Babycakes was there with me and they were prepping me for surgery.  Apparently my appendix was about to burst.  I was resentful that my boss  didn’t believe me.  All I had was the sudden urge to call her up and say, “See?  I told you that I was not faking it!”  But, then came the drugs… those lovely, lovely drugs.  I felt elated, sexy, and in love with everything.

Later, Stud-muffin sat beside me in my private room while we awaited the surgeon.  When he arrived, I was shocked at how unbelievably HOT my surgeon was.  And, he smelled soooo good.   After he introduced himself, I asked him if he was “bummed” because he had to work on Valentine’s night. 

“I wasn’t at the hospital. I was on-call,” he told me.

“So… were you out on a date?” I asked.

He answered, “Yes, I was at sushi with my date.”

“Wow, what a bummer, dude!  You weren’t drinking sake were you?  Because if you were drinking sake bombs with your girlfriend, you can’t cut me open.  Well, you are so cute that you could  cut me open if you wanted to.  Which sushi bar were you at?  Are you sure you didn’t drink anything?  Your girlfriend is lucky.  I’m sorry that I ruined your romantic night.”  (yes, I did say this all in front of Loverboy)

Hot surgeon answered all my questions and both men in the room were laughing at me.  The last thing I remember before going out was telling Hot-Doc about how sexy he was and how sorry I was that girlfriend had to go home early. 

Since I’m as old as a brontosaurus, in the “olden-days” they didn’t have laparoscopic surgery.  I am now graced with a 4″ scar above the bikini line.  My Valentine’s Extravaganza was ruined and I couldn’t even get my rain check for 4 to 6 weeks.   Damned appendix!

January flew by!  I cannot believe that we are entering February of 2010.  Did y’all watch The State of The Union Address?  Since I was young, I always watched it with my family.  I was encouraged by the speech and am hopeful that our nation’s future gets brighter.  There were many things that our president said that I honestly applaud him for.  I’m hopeful in so many ways… but, most of all that the politics between the Republicans and Democrats starts to diminish so that they can find a way to work for The American People.  I agree with our president on that point, definitely.

So… the 31st is the last day to submit your photos and bio for ANM’s 2nd Annual Beautiful Baby Contest.  There are a few of you out there who haven’t sent your submittals in and I know you were going to… (hint, hint, hint… ).  I’m going to be posting the pageant this week.  Also, my email is sometimes wacky and sends email into my spam account, so if your submittal doesn’t appear, please contact me immediately.  If you aren’t submitting, please cast a vote for your favorite.  I know that I’m really looking forward to it.

My children have been very bad this week and are, once again, on restriction.  It’s almost as if they truly think they won’t get caught for improper behavior.  Yet, they always get caught.  When they are caught lying, they just get in double the amount of trouble.  They just can’t avoid testing those limits with me… like a moth to the flame.  Colie actually admitted today that they are in so much trouble that it feels like they will be on restriction forever.  Why is being a mom so hard? 

I asked their father to have a family meeting with me and, reluctantly, he agreed.  He did end up backing my position and agreed with me on points.  The girls just don’t seemed to be as affected by the family meeting as I thought they would.  The duo just acts so smug and like they are smarter than us.  I know they’re not… but, they certainly don’t believe that.  Like I said, being a parent and trying to do the right thing is hard.  You know, God should have thrown in a lifetime supply of Xanax as part of the deal for me delivering those twins!  God, are you there?  It’s me, Sheri.  HELP! 

This Week’s Reads

This week, I reviewed:  

Contests 

Once again, I’m reminding you to send in your photos for ANM’s 2nd Annual Beautiful Baby Contest.  You have until the 31st to submit your photos to anovelmenagerie@aol.com.   (Click the picture below to take you to the contest details).

On TV 

The Bachelor

Jakes starts weeding the wrong ones out of the group this week.  I think he’s going to be narrowing down the group considerably in the next couple of weeks.  I’m predicting Tenley and Gia for the finale as of this point.   For this week’s recap, click HERE.

The Rest… 

I am totally looking forward to a solid week at work and a mini-vacation in the mountains in February.  There is tons of snow and the twins will get to snowboard (if they ever get off restriction).  I am hanging in there on my diet and really miss Chardonnay!  The twins are starting spring soccer next week, which should tire them out some.  My wish to all the moms out there… have a great week and I wish you an easy  week.

As always, my thanks to all of you for reading not only this post, but the others as well.   Your readership means the world to me!  AND, your comments are invaluable to me!

Last week I shared about how I was so looking forward to the rain.  We had TONS of it!  I’m not sure if your news station reported the heavy weather that we ended up getting, but let me tell you that we got a pretty decent storm for Southern California. In fact, we even had a small tornado off the coast of my home town. 

Seeing as how our cities are not designed for torrential rains, we had considerable flooding.  On Wednesday, it took my Assistant 1.5 hours to get 2 miles on city streets.  From her poor experience, I learned about the beauty of Google Maps’ traffic view.  You can literally see where the traffic is light so that you can work your way around any major traffic alerts.  I made it home in 45 minutes, hit no traffic, and found that Google Maps is my truck’s best friend!

The pups didn’t like the rain so much and spent way too much time indoors.  Although warm, fat and happy, they weren’t their ususal exhausted selves at night because they had been lounging all day.  When they did go outside, they’d return covered in mud.

Other than the rain, extra work, and a few visits with friends, I had a rather mellow week.  I have a lot to get done this week and hope that I find the energy to get it all accomplished.  Now, the funny thing will be to see if I still love the rain in my next Sunday Salon post!  Onto my weekly reading update…

This Week’s Reads

This week, I reviewed: 

(Actually, Dee reviewed that one!)

In My Mailbox for Review 

Contests 

Last week, I announced ANM’s 2nd Annual Beautiful Baby Contest.  You have until the 31st to submit your photos to anovelmenagerie@aol.com.   (Click the picture below to take you to the contest details).

On TV 

The Bachelor

Say good-bye to my little friends… Michelle and Elizabeth (and, good riddens!).  For this week’s recap, click HERE.

The Rest… 

I’m getting ready to write and publish reivews for Crazy Aunt Purl’s Home Is Where The Wine Is, Scattershot:My Bi-Polar Family, My Own Personal Soap Opera and Hotel On The Corner of Bitter & Sweet.  I just started reading Game Change and it’s a pretty compelling book.

I’m having dinner with family tonight and have a lot of cleaning to do.  But, I keep putting off the cleaning and organizing because I’m knitting a blanket and I’d rather to that.  (I’m so lazy).

My diet is going really well and I’m losing weight (yeah for me). 

Other than that… I have NOTHING to report!  Tell me what you’re up to this week.  Anything exciting?

As always, my thanks to all of you for reading not only this post, but the others as well.   Your readership means the world to me!  AND, your comments are invaluable to me!