Happy New Year!

I know, I have been silent through the last few months, but I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy New Year! For those I won't be seeing later today, I hope you have a safe, but fun night tonight.

Here's to hoping 2010 is better than 2009.

Until next time -
~Shel

Just Moving...

I know, it's been a very long time since I've blogged. Last time I was moving on from my job, now I'm moving from my apartment. I like to keep things interesting...

Anyway, I will update again soon, but anyone that wants to help move this Saturday is welcome!

Until next time -
~Shel

Moving On...

As some of you know, I was laid off last week.  This was not a complete surprise, but did come sooner than I expected.  However, never fear, because not even 48 hours after I was informed of the layoff, I had another job.  It's not an ideal job, as the firm is in the City, but I am very fortunate, so I am not complaining one bit. 

I promise to dish the dirt and give all the details to those interested when I see you, but I just wanted to let everyone know.  I just switched my cell phone from the firm account to my own, so my number will remain the same and for anyone who had my work e-mail address as a contact, I will not be checking that account anymore and will pass on the new address when I start the new job next week.  Yes, that's right, I start the new job on Monday. 

So that's it, really.  I'm off to the gym to enjoy my remaining time off, but I hope to see anyone reading this soon!  Happy Friday!

Until next time -
~Shel 

Happy Monday!

Hello all -
I just wanted to let you all know how psyched I am that there are only 4 work days this week and I will only be spending one of the (today) in the office!  After being shut up in my office all last week to complete my continuing legal education credits (so I can keep my license), it will be a relief to be back in the courtroom!  I  know, I'm strange, what can I say, I get stir crazy in the office and do things like troll people's blogs and facebook and anything else I can think of to keep from focusing on the fact that it is only 3:15 p.m. and I AM GOING NUTS! 

Anyway, I cannot believe this weekend is the 4th of July already!  I'm looking forward to the celebrations this weekend, but am astounded that it's already here.  I've fallen behind in my plans for the summer!  At least it's going to be cooler this week.  I love the summer, but 100 degrees is a bit much for me.  I couldn't even bring myself to go the gym until the weekend (it's sooooo hot in there on a good day), which sucked because I've already mentioned that I sat on my arse all last week watching stupid seminars on the computer.  BUT at a lovely 76 today and 70 tomorrow it should be perfect weather for  whatever I come up with!  Plus it will warm up to 80 again just in time for the 4th of July festivities at casa de Wudchuk on Saturday!

Well, that's it really.  I'm just killing some time, boring people with my nonsense, you know, the usual.  I will probably see anyone reading this over the weekend, but if I don't - Happy Independence Day!

Until next time -
~Shel

I suck...

I know, I know some people (or person) has been bugging me to update the old blog, but I don't really have anything fun to say.  I mean seriously, do you want a play by play of my day at work?  I didn't think so.  So, to pacify the masses, here's a joke I received today that made me laugh.  Enjoy!

An old Italian lived alone in New Jersey.  He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work as the ground was hard.

His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison.  The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:

Dear Vincent,
I am feeling pretty sad, because it looks like I won't be able to plant my tomato garden this year.  I'm just getting too old to be digging the garden plot.  I know if you were here my troubles would be over.  I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.
Love,
Papa

A few days later he received a letter from his son.

Dear Pop,
Don't dig up that garden.  That's where the bodies are buried.
Love,
Vinnie

At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies.  They apologized to the old man and left.  That same day the old man received another letter from his son.

Dear Pop,
Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now.  That's the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love you,
Vinnie

Until next time -
~Shel

Happy Friday!

Ha - I know it's only Thursday, I'm not that blonde; however, I took tomorrow off work, so it is my Friday! WOOHOO!

I really have nothing remotely interesting to say, so I hope everyone has a great and safe Memorial Day weekend. I will be enjoying some much needed rest & relaxation, probably some drinking too. Then I am spending Sunday with my favorite guy - hopefully he won't make me watch cartoons the whole time. And, since I am so boring, I leave you with another bad joke.

A blonde, a brunette, and a redhead are crossing an enchanted bridge in Magical Fairyland when they run into a fairy. The fairy says that they can be granted a transformation if they jump off the bridge and call out their wish. The brunette immediately jumps off the bridge and yells "Eagle!" She turns into a beautiful bird of prey and flies away. The redhead jumps off the bridge and yells out "Salmon!" She turns into a gorgeous shimmering salmon and swims upstream to spawn. The blonde is at this point so excited that she jumps off the bridge without thinking of her wish. She panics. "Crap!"

Until next time -
~Shel

A Bad Joke

Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and George Washington are on a sinking ship.


As the boat sinks, George Washington heroically shouts, "Save the women!"

George W. Bush hysterically hollers, "Screw the women!"

Bill Clinton's asks excitedly, "Do we have time?"

Have a good week!

Until next time -
~Shel

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I know, it's been a while. I'd offer excuses like, "I've been busy" or "work has been crazy" or "I was working on my plan for world domination", but let's be honest, there's no excuse for ignoring my duty to spread my useless blather to the masses, and for that, I apologize.

It's St. Patrick's Day, a day a wee Irish lass like myself should spend in a pub, unfortunately, I'm at work. It's a beautiful, 70 degree spring day and I'm stuck in the office. I was in court this morning sporting my wicked cool shamrock socks (probably a good thing no one could see them). Now I'm getting ready to do 2 hours of excruciatingly boring training on a new computer system. I will probably need whiskey when I'm done.

Tonight I will begin packing for my big vacation next week. I am so excited! Though, the hardest part of packing for me so far is what books to bring with me... Hmm. I'm torn. I will probably err on the side of caution and bring waaaayyy to many, but I can never decide what I will be in the mood to read! If anyone has any recommendations, I'm open.

I hope everyone has a safe and fun St. Patrick's Day. Sláinte!

Until next time -
~Shel

Midweek blahs

So, I am currently sitting at my desk trying to figure out how to pay $500 in bills with the $79 currently residing in my checking account. It's making me want to have donuts, or cookies - yum, cookies. I bitch and complain and whine that I didn't win the huge lottery jackpot last night (which, I might have if I actually bought a ticket, but that's besides the point!) and then I thought about this old guy I ran into this weekend and I feel a little better about my current financial woes.

I was walking through Target on Saturday picking up a few essentials (doing the laundry without detergent is not quite as effective) when this old guy stops me and just starts talking. He kind of reminded me of my Dad. He is 74 years old and a retired marine. He asked me what I did for a living and when I told him, he smiled and said that he could remember a time when a "smart girl" like me went to college, the only things I could have hoped to be were a teacher, a receptionist or a nurse. He said he never understood why women didn't riot for equality like other minorities had (which I agreed with). Then he went on to tell me about his wife of 50 some odd years (he's having some memory problems, but we forgive him for that. He said his wife has Alzheimer’s disease and tells me about how they met. It was very sweet and the old guy was nearing tears. I think what struck me the most was that when he said goodbye he said, "Be sure to tell someone that you met a nice old man today." Of course, he also told me I had two things going for me, my "personality" and my "face", not really sure how to take that, but let's just go with it! So, while my money problems may suck, there are people out there with much more devastating problems to worry about.

In other, much less depressing news, the new U2 cd came out yesterday. I am looking forward to getting a good listen. Also, a big Happy 1st B-day to Ana the Biscuit! Oh and enjoy the nearly 60 degree weather tomorrow! WOOHOO!

Until next time -

~Shel

Monday Giggles

I know, there's something very wrong with me - I pilfered these pictures from another blog because they really made me laugh. No, I have not matured thank you very much. My question is, do you think she noticed the guy next to her was giving the camera a peep show?

I hope they made you giggle too.

Until next time -

~Shel

Random Thoughts...

It's been a crazy couple of weeks for reasons that don't warrant time on my blog, but needless to say I am in desperate need of relaxation.  To that end I had a 90 minute massage last night, which was wonderful until I noticed the bruises down my back.  I'm guessing my deep tissue massage was a little too deep.  Of course, the bruises hurt like a bitch.  I usually sleep on my back, so that was a little painful last night.  I may have to rethink the massage as a birthday tradition...  Hmmm.  Anyway, I made full use of tylenol and my heating pad last night, so we will see how the day goes. 

In other news, it's supposed to be 50 degrees on Saturday!!!! WOOHOO!!!  It's pretty well documented that I hate the cold and I cannot tell you how happy I am to have this reprieve, even if it doesn't last.  According to this mornings forecast, it is supposed to be above 40 degrees everyday for the next week at least.  AND it was still daylight at 5:30 p.m. yesterday!  YAY!  Spring is coming!!

Oh, and I am going to London in March!  Yep, some friends of Thump's hooked me up with a voucher they didn't want for airfare, so I booked my ticket and I am all set!  YAY friends of Thumper!!  You rock!!!!  I am psyched because I don't think Thump and I have spent 7 consequetive days together since I was in law school.  At least not that I can remember...  Plus, it's England, so that's awesome! 

Hmm, I think that's it, but my brain remains pretty fried, so I may be forgetting stuff.  Anyway...

Until next time -
~Shel

Hee, hee - chia Presidents!

Pure Exhaustion

Today is just a quick post. I have had a marathon week at work and am completely exhausted. Welcome home to all of my friends that ditched me for Mexico and a big congratulations to Q & K. I hope you had a great seaside wedding. I leave you with a couple of funnies that made me smile...

Until next time -

~Shel

Inauguration Communication

I believe I have mentioned before my love of a good speech. I'm a sucker for it, thus I admit that I enjoyed yesterday's inaugural address. Good oratory is an art and it seems to be a lost art in politics, but every once in a while we are blessed with a gifted speaker - regardless of what we think of them as leaders, politicians or people, you have to admire their gifts. Below are some of my favorite lines, along with other portions of the speech for context. I hope everyone has been the video, if not, you can find it here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27721638

If you prefer to read the entire text, you can find it here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28754569/


"Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our healthcare ... is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land -- a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights...

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics. We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted -- for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom...

Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America. For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act -- not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth.
We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise healthcare's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do...

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions -- who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them -- that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply.
The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works -- whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account -- to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day -- because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government...


Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history...

In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood.
At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive ... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come.
Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."

Until next time -
~Shel

Starting a New Year

Every year, millions of people make resolutions for the beginning of a new year. Some resolutions are great - quit smoking, exercise, learn Japanese, teach your dog not to hump the neighbors leg, etc. But I don't really get resolutions only at the new year. I am a little crazy, we all no this and normalcy is not my strong suit, but I generally start each day with a resolution. I resolve that I will not hit that pompus jackass at work. I won't stay in bed that extra 15 minutes that has me running for the train (or more likely missing the train). I will not have pie for dinner. I will avoid the leg humping dog... you see where I'm going here. Even though I don't really make New Year's resolutions, I always enjoy hearing other people's resolutions. I haven't heard any really good ones this year though. Anyone have any good resolutions?

Usually at this time every year I am preparing for my annual business trip to California, but it's not happening this year as operations for my client are being moved to the midwest. And while this trip usually consisted of hours of boring meetings, it was 3-4 days of blissful warmth and sunshine (except that year it snowed in Los Angeles, but really how often does that happen). I am going to miss that meeting. I need to find more client's in warm weather locations. Think I could find one in Hawaii? That would rule.

I don't really have anything fun to report. I did see Marley & Me last week. It was a good movie. It sucked you in with the dog doing all this hilarious stuff, and then BAM! It rips your heart out. I really hate to cry. Stupid dog. Why did he have to be so cute?

Well, I'm off to catch a train.
Until next time -
~Shel