sherylshearer's Xanga

Monday, June 02, 2008

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:53:57 GMT

finished the book.

endings are so challenging in writing--endings and intros. this is simply one of THE BEST endings i've ever read. so extremely satisfying.

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:20:46 GMT

as the Superintendent, principal, and Head Teacher at Shearer Academy, I have made an executive decision:

SCHOOL IS OUT. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY!!!

Rather than waiting another week as planned, I have decided to start summer break one week early. We'll be off for June and July and resume in August.

Just. Can't. Do. It. Anymore. Need. A. Break.

When I regress to my oversleeping and have difficulty getting out of bed for work, then I know I need a vacation. I've been too snippy and unenthusiastic about school. Okay, we all have been snippy and unenthusiastic about school. We have been going so hard for so long without much break, that it's just time. With me being sick and I's birth, it's just time. So, we are tying up our loose ends with their workbooks and final special project (D-castles, H-Brazil with a special Brazilian dinner, and HH-??? she wanted to do castles ("No, that's D's project"), then cars, then butterflies. *shakes head* I think she'll do our most recent memory verse--Psalm 121: 1-3). I think we will all benefit from the break. We're ready for lazy days and fun local trips.

Did I tell you that we finally found a babysitter???! of course I didn't because I don't update. anyway, She's awesome. She lives on the base and is an extremely mature, responsible fourteen year old. Yes, she's only 14 and watches all four of our kids. Her parents have done a fine job. Anyway, we get to go on dates! Last Saturday we went out for coffee in Highland Park. Yesterday, we went to a murder-mystery dinner with fellow Chaplains. That was interesting; never done that before. It was set in the 50s and we had to determine who killed Rock N. Roley. It was long, but fun. The hosts did an amazing job setting up their home as a 50s diner--complete with waiters and waitresses, a menu with burgers & fries for 30 cents and banana splits for 5 cents!, 50s music playing in the "jukebox", and coca-cola items everywhere.
the guy in the leather jacket is our 50-year old neighbor and fellow chaplain (Roman Catholic priest) wearing a wig! he's a hoot. because we couldn't find anything else, B went for the preppy 50s look of button-up shirt and cardigan (Salvation Army), complete with penny loafers (SA) and pennies, and gooped back hair (what little hair he has!). you can't see it, but i did the ponytail and bow do with cheap pearls. (say anything about the size of my chest and you're history. blame on the nursing kid. it's a source of angst and contention with me, but it must be done. this shall pass. well, the nursing part will pass, but the size??? oh Lord, i hope so...)

*

i'm nearly finished with this 500 page story! oh my goodness---it is a page turner. it is a similar suspense/thriller style to Grisham, but with an English twist and much better. Wow. Definitely a great summer reading book. I'm in the last 50 pages, so I'm off to find out who is guilty!

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Sat, 31 May 2008 01:44:59 GMT

is it already Friday??? and by the time i'm finished writing, it will be saturday. oh my, how time flies. the older one gets, the quicker time goes. i don't like that.

i would like to update more often, but i am feeling rather empty lately--empty, tired, pessimistic, whatever fits in with the postpartum blues, that's where i am right now. picture posts will have to suffice.

i'm reading a lot, mainly fiction, i.e., novels. i just can't concentrate on nonfiction these days.
tuning out the television. since the Spurs lost (augh!), basketball season is definitely done for me. i won't watch the NBA Finals, but all i have to say is: Let's Go Celtics! and trying to cut down on Internet surfing. just sucks up too much time.

*

Isabellah is cute and a bundle of fun. We all adore her.

*

praying about the location of our next duty station, asking God for direction and clarity and peace while we are still here. the cold weather is a challenge for us all. especially weeks like the last one--a rainy, windy sunday, 80 degree monday, and low 60s tuesday through thursday, a windy/stormy/rainy friday morning and a sunny 70+ degree afternoon. we just cannot take the drastic weather changes. for crying out loud, it's the end of may and we're still using our heat!

i am completely and utterly disgusted with the presidential candidates that we have--three (soon we will have two) senators. S-E-N-A-T-O-R-S. Out of 43 POTUS, only TWO have been elected as incumbent senators: Warren Harding and John F. Kennedy. TWO. That's because governors make better Presidents. And of these current three candidates, we have a complete novice who has served less than 2 years as a US Senator, with NO major legislation passed and who thinks that we have 57 plus 1 states in our country (hello?!?)--one among his many ineptitudes (this would be the rock star/presidential candidate/messiah Obama); another Senator who has some senatorial experience, but has passed NO major legislation in her tenure, who cannot tell the truth, and cannot beat a novice, gift-giving-gaffe-machine junior senator's campaign; and the third senator who looks awfully similar to the other two in policy, except the War in Iraq and the promise to not raise our taxes.

It's. Completely. Insane.

So much craziness everywhere. And I don't even watch the local news. the newspaper (yes, i'm one of the few who actually subscribe to a local newspaper instead of reading it online) and Internet provide enough of the insanity for me.

but i digress....

just so this is not a complete bummer post, we did save a bunch of money by switching to Geico. kidding!

seriously, after a long time of saving, we bought our first Mac! do i have to tell you how much better life is? Watch the "Group" Apple commercial and you know what I'm talking about. I don't have to find a PC support group anymore because I'm FREE from PC!!! Hallelujah. There is simply no comparison between the two. I don't have to wait nearly 10 minutes when I turn on the computer to open a Word document and then another 5 to get online. With my iMac, it's instantaneous. And no Trojan Horse deleted messages from my antivirus software. No more wasting 1 hour in order to do a picture post. and how cool is it to rent a movie online if i feel like it and then not having to wait an hour for it to download, even with DSL? (think the Slowskys commercials with Comcast). one of the best investments we've made. it's a lot of fun. the girls luuuuv the photo booth.

btw-for you Mac users: how do i change the text in a xanga blog post with Safari? I don't have any options to alter the text. Does anyone know?

a very good book. jeffrey archer is a wonderful story teller. i read his Kane and Abel in high school. when I should've been doing homework or sleeping, i was up late at night reading that tome.

that's all for now.

Remembering on Memorial Day

Mon, 26 May 2008 20:08:25 GMT

as a veteran, these are the days that meant so much to my dad. i miss him.

happy 9th birthday Deborah!

Sat, 24 May 2008 01:55:09 GMT

D turned 9 on May 13. Here is a photo montage of year no. 8.

In MN to help Gma move. She squeezed in some dance lessons.

In Montana visiting relatives (and their dogs!)

the girl who never leaves home without a book

Road Trip!

Her Favorite Friend

Let's Go DUKE!

Never Too Old to Play

The (future animal) Doctor Is In

@ Ravinia

@ "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown!"

School Presentation

Dad's Bday

Saying goodbye to Gma at O'hare

Some of Her Favorite Things

Making a Mess

Sisters

The Last Day of 8

Happy Birthday D! We Love You!

pictures for grandma

Thu, 22 May 2008 20:53:55 GMT

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Tue, 20 May 2008 00:07:10 GMT

i love this onesie from my sister-in-law. so funny.

Baby News month 1 in review

Sat, 17 May 2008 20:04:27 GMT

yes, it's been a month. normally, one would say--wow, that went fast BUT without a full night's sleep, i can't say that. it's getting better though--the night feedings are spreading out to four and five hours. woohoo!

so, here's a month in review of Isabellah. (Pictures of other recent events are forthcoming. Don't hold your breath on when those will be posted.)

From this . . . (a profile pic especially for my Aunt Teresa)

To this!

The siblings get their first peek at the little person who was growing in mommy's belly!

First Family Picture sans Mom

We're home!

First Check-up

Happy Sisters

Isabellah and her dad

First Walk (um, that would be yesterday. it's a slow process.)

Chillin' outside with Dad and HH

ONE MONTH!!!

it's a girl!

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 13:31:18 GMT

say "hello" to the newest addition to the Shearer family ~

Friday, April 11, 2008

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:04:12 GMT

when will it end . . .
goodness, this PG seems like an eternal one. things are progressing, but still no regular contractions.
i am so tired. and delirious. (but that goes with the 9th month PG territory.)

39 weeks today.

*

we celebrated HH's 4th bday last week on april 3.

as is our custom, this is her last day being 3. (we forgot about it and had to get her in bed!) and her first day of being 4.

we had a family bday party. after the baby arrives, we'll have another party for her with friends.