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Chicago Sheri

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Went downtown Chicago for the day yesterday. Meet up with friends.
I went to the Starbucks in Sears Tower, I was a regular there and like them too.
Met up with a guy from work for our morning coffee, then some other people from work joined us.
Had an 11 o'clock waxing appointment with Elaine. Caught up with her, told her about getting fired.
Had lunch in the Sears Tower at Dos Hermanos with Katerina, Don, and Marcin. Then walked down to a 7-eleven and got a slurpee...mmmmm...good slurpee! And then went to the Starbucks on Wacker near the river to see Jeannine. Hung out with her awhile, caught up. She is doing really great in her new store.

Then went to the W Hotel (fancy schmancy) and went upstairs to the lounge and took a nap on one of their sofas. Enjoyed the air conditioning and we are so cool dim lighting for my nap. Then headed back to Sears Tower to meet up with people again after work.

Bumped into my old boss. He looked uncomfortable but approached me while I was waiting to meet up with some friends. I gave him the chance to avoid me by acting like I didn't see him and looking another way, but he still went for it. Came up, said hi, "hi", asked how things were going.."fine", then I saw the people I was waiting on and stepped away from him and walked towards them.

Returned a call I got yesterday for a job in the loop this morning. Left a message. Have my resume out on Monster. He just called for a mini-interview. He is gonna pass my resume around his group and call me back for an interview sounds like. Could be good.

Monday, June 27, 2005

Very funny!

Sunday, June 26, 2005

Got up watered the flowers, then read the paper in bed while listening to XM Satellite Radio.
Went to the mall to people watch and split some ice cream. Also took pictures of random women showing cleavage cause if I do it...eh...what are ya gonna do?





Went to Meijer and got corn for dinner and few other items.

Another sweltering day, and I walked dogs.
I walked Goldie first. Female pit bull. Looks like she had a few litters, and had a lot of scratches on her, they told me she was rescued from being trained for dog fights. She just didn't seem the type. So lovely, leaned into me at all times. I layed down in the grass and she sat down on my stomach, and looked down at me. Full of kisses and lovey doviness. Another dog came by, she was wagging her tail so I slowly let her inch towards the other dog to say "hi". She was wagging her tail the whole time, the dog froze in hesitation then she lunged at the other dog going for the throat. I felt so bad, we got them apart, she had a little blood on her lip, I think she bit her own lip though. And she was still wagging her tail, very pleased and happy like she just did a good thing and thought it would make me happy. I felt so awful.






I walked Crash next. Can't tell in the pictures but he is huge. When he jumps up on me he has to slouch to be face to face with me. Very thin, still growing puppy. Shedding his summer coat, I sat and pulled handfuls of fur from his butt. Like a big Baby Huey.






Then I walked Duncan. Duncan looks a lot like Crash, just as big, but 3 years old (not a pup) and his ears stand up. And also taller than me. I heard the two get along really well too.






A couple other things happened I didn't get shots of. One was psycho dog, a Lab. Psycho is named Liberty of all things. Liberty wanted to tear me apart and taste my blood. As I walked the other dogs near Liberty, I could feel the steam coming from his mouth as he barked and tried to get at me, he sprayed me with spit as he bared his teeth. I tried talking to him a few times, nicely and firmly. Nothing worked, so I let him be. Then as I walked by to put another dog back in, he was being nice, didn't go ape shit like he had been. So I stopped, and he wanted to kiss me, and looked like he really wanted to get out. So I opened his door cautiously, and he gave me a bunch of kisses like he was a completely different dog. So I took him out. He was kissy and nice to the other volunteers too, who were also completely floored by his Jekyll and Hydeness. I kept teasing him saying that he was only kissing me to see how I tasted when he would rip me apart later. But he stayed good. It was weird.

While I was with Psycho, an odd little Corgi jumped into a volunteers car that was sitting in his car and checking his voicemail. They thought it was cute and called me over. The dog wouldn't get out, and just laid down on the passenger side. The dog decided that he was a car dog and this was his place and no one could tell him otherwise. But then when they tried harder to get him out, he growled....he was serious...don't mess with him. So the guy got out of the car, but left the air on for the dog while he went inside to lure the dog out with treats. So Psycho and I sat in the shade and just watched the excitement. The treats didn't work. Didn't want no stinking treats! And now he wouldnt let the guy back in his car either. If anyone came near the door he barked and growled and got really pissed off. So then about 5 people approach the car, with the sticks with ropes on the end and everything. Once the sticks came out, it was over with fairly quickly. I felt bad for the dog though. He went back in quietly after that.

Friday, June 24, 2005





Went to a local water park today with Emily, Chris and Alex.
Had a really good time, LOVED the big slide, and spent a lot of time in the lazy river.
But now I am totally wiped out from the sun, I had to nap before Brad got home and I am still really dazed and out of it.

Take Your Dog To Work Day

Thursday, June 23, 2005



I ended up going over to Emily's. She was on her way out to get a new swimsuit for our fun at the water park tomorrow, so I went along. Alex insisted on going with us. After a few of his "Sheri, you know what..." stories he passed out asleep before we even got to the store. I sat with him while Emily tried on suits and I took pictures of him sleeping with his S'mores Luna bar chocolate covered mouth. He is so precious.



Hot HOT HOT!!

The meter guy came by this morning, got that fixed. He used to be in the IT business too and got laid off. Also italian! So after some talking he told me he could fix the tiles in my bathroom too and cut me a deal doing it for $200 rather than $400 or $500. Rip old tiles out, re-tile, caulk, he'll even bring in his steamer to clean the shower and we will caulk that too. He said he would do it if I helped him. HELL YEAH I'LL HELP! He said otherwise he would have to bring in another guy anyway. So great, getting another thing fixed too!

Went to Home Depot and bought flowers for the pots in the back and front of the house, and 4 hanging baskets of flowers for the back. Then the Pet store for 2 Algae Eaters for our fish tank. Got some ice cream from Dairy Queen (ate half and put the other half in the freezer)

Now gonna either go bother my neighbor and meet her new dog, or go bug Emily and get out of the maids way while she is around working.

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Got a lot done today:

Went to Century Tile to see about fixing some tile in our bathroom. (Took pictures to show them what I meant)
Library to see about getting some movies, changed my mind and came out empty handed.
Target for shoe laces and a photo album.
Mowed the lawn.
Returned the call of a recruiter.
Got gas in the car.
Mailed a movie back, and got Seed of Chucky today...might watch that one tonight.
Took pictures of meter in back yard for Brad to see about someone fixing it.

Tomorrow:
10am some guy coming over about fixing our meter reader in back yard.
Paint by numbers - Perfect time for me to start The Last Supper.
Home Depot - Flowers for pots in back and front, and get some hanging pots for backyard.

Friday:
Hoping to go to a water park with Emily, Alex and Chris. Supposed to be a hot one!


and every morning I start my day by going to the local downtown area, getting an iced coffee from Starbucks and then walking down to the river to drink it and do my morning papers crosswords.

Now it's nap time!

Sunday, June 19, 2005

I went on a 2 week family road trip.
Drove on a Friday night to Ohio, mom was waiting up for me outside on her porch when I got there.
Spent Saturday with my sister Sunny, her kids: Dylan, Ben and Ensley.

Went to church (yes church!) with my mom on Sunday. She had a church meeting after the mass and I got to see a bunch of her friends that hadn't seen me in awhile. Then went to my nephew Dylan's birthday party at an ice rink, they played broom ball. His friends are really cute and sweet, very good boys.

I went with my sister to her gym, me and Dylan hung out by the pool while she did a class and the younger two were in daycare.

Monday mom and I drove to Birmingham Alabama to visit family. We stopped in Nashville and checked out the Opryland Hotel for a driving break and lunch. Really pretty, huge glass ceilings, boat ride, gardens and waterfalls all indoors. When we got to Birmingham, I went out and played on the trampoline with my cousin's kid Justin and his friend, then we had Golden Rule BBQ for dinner and everyone came over. All my Aunts, Uncles, cousins and all their kids live there.

I spent a lot of time with my cousin Lesa's daughter Sidney watching Hillary Duff movies in the back of the car as we drove around. We even went to go see a chick flick with all the girls, The Traveling Pants movie. I am supposed to be too cool to admit I liked it...but I'm not that cool. It was a cute movie, and I even like watching the Hillary Duff movies too. We went to the Cedars Club, a Lebanese club some of my family are members of, went swimming and had a big Lebanese dinner. Grape leaves, stuffed cabbage, stuffed squash, kibi (not sure if that's the right spelling...) We left Thursday morning, it was a nice visit, I hadn't seen them all in awhile.

That Sunday my sister and I participated in my mom's church bake sale. I made cupcakes and brownies. And they sold! :) It was for the Feast of St. Anthony, kind of a big deal at the church, had a lot of stuff going on.

My cousin Jennifer twisted my Uncle Franks arm into letting her fly to Ohio and hang out with us. This was her first plane trip. Very big deal. She came out on Sunday, after the bake sale we went to the airport to pick her up.

I took her to the zoo since she said she had never been to a zoo before. She loved it. My sister took her out on her boat with the family. Great fun...my first time on their boat too! Took her to the OSU campus, North Market, Polaris, Easton..had a huge list of stuff that we ran around doing! Also took her to Shadowbox Cabaret. A place where they do Saturday Night Live kind of skits and music. A friend of mine has been with the group for about 10 years now, it was nice seeing him again and catching up.

I had a great trip. Really enjoyed the time with my mother and sister. Usually I only get to spend a few days and it just isn't enough time for me. And I really got to get to know my cousin Jennifer, I think her and I were good for each other and kept each other busy. After she left I was whooped! The night before I left my brother in law watched the kids so me, my sister and mom could go out together. We went to see Mr & Mrs Smith (it was ok) and then out to dinner in Grandview at Lulu's. We split fried green tomatoes, beef medallions, and a cheese plate. Got back home to Chicago yesterday afternoon. Good to be back! I missed my Brad.

Way too many pictures!! :)

Ensley


Ben & Ensley


Ben


Opryland Hotel


Uncle Anthony


Jennifer & Sidney at Cedars Club


My cousin Benard


Church Bake sale lady I think her ankle was bothering her...


Ben: "Mmmmm sprinkles"


Dylan poolside


Out on my sister's family boat at Alum Creek


Dylan


Flamingos at the Columbus Zoo


Penguins


Baby monkey


Baby Gorilla


Baby Elephant


Ben, Ensley & Jennifer

2 weeks ago I went to the downtown Columbus, Ohio Arts Festival and got this picture of a handicapped parrot. It was cute cause his person was handicapped too, and they both rode around on the scooter.



I am back from my roadtrip to Ohio and Alabama to visit family.
The above picture is a large poster that hangs in the hallway outside my old bedroom at my mom's house of me and my sister in Florida on a family vacation.

Friday, June 03, 2005

I am waiting for my new cell phone to arrive, need to charge it a bit and then I hit the road!
Driving to Ohio to visit with my sister and her family and my mother. Then me and mom will drive to Alabama to visit with more family and then drive back to Ohio where I will then stay and hang out for a bit before coming back to Chicago and jumping in the game.
I'm pretty sure my resume is done. I am happy with it. I'm sure I make a few tweaks here and there, but for the most part DONE! Whew! Big relief, I found that to be very overwhelming to put together and made me really cranky having to deal with it.

I am all packed up..just waiting on that phone.....

People I worked with have sent me their resume, and other people's as well to help me out. Isn't that cool?!?! Everybody has been really cool to me about this whole thing, emailing me, looking for jobs for me, asking me for my resume, offering to be references...JUST AWESOME!!

I am ready to get out of here for a bit...clear my head. Forget about all this stuff...just for a little bit. Touch base with my family..all of them.

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

I got an express envelope with a check of unused vacation from the bank I was fired from, ran out to deposit it. Ok drove. Stopped at a mail box to send more mail, went to a GNC to pick up some B complex pills, got an iced coffee and went over to Emily's to see if she could go with me to a car dealership to drop off Brad's car. Her and Alex went with me, ran some errands heading back to her place and then we picked up Chris and went out for a late lunch to California Pizza. I got a thin crust Sicilian, and split a chocolate cakey thing with vanilla ice cream dessert with Chris. Had a pasta fight in the car on the way back to their place with Alex's uneaten lunch.
Went back to their place and we all walked to a park, brought the dogs Ginger & Nacho with us, and Alex rode his bike. I sat on the swing with Nacho in my lap. Went on the jungle gym bars and hung upside down and found where a missing piece of pasta went when it fell out of my tank top while upside down. Then Alex started a water bottle fight and soaked all of us, and we walked home. Watched Shrek 2 until Brad came to pick me up when he got off from work.
I'm gonna bother Emily again tomorrow so I can go pick up the car, since the work should be done some time tomorrow.

Me and Nacho on the swings


Alex


Alex


Chris and Emily


Brad and I laid down in bed and talked a bit, and then watched In Good Company together. Not great but cute movie.

Today I have to drop Brad's car off cause the service engine light came on yesterday. Just got out of a bath, and washed my hair. Trying to figure out when in the next few days I am going to Ohio to visit with my sister, her family and my mother. Then me-n-mom and going to drive down to Alabama together to see family, and maybe stop in Nashville or Gatlinburg on the way back to Ohio. I just think it would be good for me to get away for a bit and clear my head before I jump into a new job. I know Brad doesn't like that, me losing a job stresses him out too, but I really think it's for the best.

I should have my resume done in the next day or so, working a bit on it everyday.

Here are some pics from the zoo on Monday. I'm not gonna overwhelm you with all of them, so I just picked out a few of my favorites.











Mama and her baby!!