Liebster!

What an honor to be nominated for this award from a fellow blogger and bestie, That Olson Girl. Like her, I had no idea this award even existed, but I love the concept! Check it out!

The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. So, what is a Liebster?  The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. Isn't that sweet? Blogging is about building a community and it's a great way to connect with other bloggers and help spread the word about newer bloggers/blogs.

I blog because I enjoy it. I like sharing my opinions and thoughts on life and the events that fill my life. Sometimes my posts are personal, sentimental, reflective, funny, crazy, or totally random. That's just who I am. My blog is me! 


So to follow suit, I am going to answer the questions that were given to me. Ready, set, go!

1. If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
This is like asking "what's your favorite movie" because there's not one single answer. But I'm going to give an answer. Growing up, one of my favorite meals (that we still have as a family today) is grilled steak, homemade french fries, and chocolate malts. That's what I pick. 

2. Describe your favorite childhood memory.
Again, another difficult question, because I have so many great childhood memories. One of the best was spending my summers at the pool. Endless hours of going off the diving boards and playing "Shark" in "the red: a.k.a. the 12 foot." So fun. 

3. Which celebrity would you do anything to go on a date with?  Spill the details on why and what you would do.
I have many celeb crushes...but I am in love with Nathan Fillion. He plays Richard Castle on ABC's "Castle." He is so witty and charming, and so damn cute. I have no idea what we would do...I'd probably behave like a giddy school girl all night and not know what to do with myself. 

4. Would you rather do laundry or dishes? 
Curse you Cassie, you know I hate both. I'd have to say dishes, because laundry takes forever!! I hate every aspect of doing laundry. 

5. If you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Right now, I'd really like to see Santorini, Greece. The pictures I've seen are absolutely breathtaking, an I'd love to take a trip (with a companion, of course). 

6. What is your favorite treat?
Easy. Ice cream. Hands down. No contest.

7. Which skill would you like to learn how to do?
I'd love to learn how to sew. I learned the basics when I was in middle school, but those skills have long left my memory. 

8. Favorite movie?
Did I not say this was too difficult to answer in question one? There are too many! It's impossible to pick one because there are too many different genres. The first one that comes to mind is Bridesmaids. Hilarious. 

9. If you could go back to any era for a month, which would it be and why?
I'd say the 40's. Love the style of the era, the cars, and the way a gentleman treated a lady.

10. The best advice you were ever given?
I've received a lot of good advice over the years. A former boss of mine would always tell me that work should be one of the lowest priorities on your list. There are so many more important things in life. Do what you want to do when you want to do it. Go see places. Do fun things. You never know what tomorrow might hold, so take every opportunity you can. Work is not my life. It's a part of life, but my family and friends are my life. They are who I love and what makes me happy. Time spent with them is never wasted. 

11. What was your favorite place to go in college?
4th and Adams. The good times never ceased. A group of my guy friends lived there and there was never a dull moment. I so miss those carefree days.What wonderful memories!! 

So that's the last question. Time to pose 11 new questions to some other bloggers! I don't know many other bloggers, but two that I read on a regular basis belong to some friends of mine. I'm passing the torch to you Joanna and Bonnie! 

Here are your questions:
1. What is your favorite season? Elaborate, please.
2. Describe one of your biggest pet peeves. 
3. You just won $1,000,000. What do you do with your winnings?
4. Fill in the blanks. I couldn't live without _________ because __________. 
5. Who is your favorite sports team?
6. What lesson did you learn the hard way?
7. If you could pick a different career, what would it be?
8. What is the craziest food you've ever tried? Was it awful or wonderful?
9. Where was your last vacation spot? 
10. Silver or gold?
11. If you could share one piece of advice with the world, what would it be?

Can't wait to see what you gals come up with. :) 

-S

Is it 4 yet?

Busy day at the office. We had my co-worker's retirement party this morning. Any of my friends will tell you that I'm the "planner" in our circle. I like to have things in line, organized, ready-to-go. I plan. I schedule. I make lists. Lots and lots of lists. It's how I keep a shred of sanity when there's an event or party to be had. Maybe it's because I don't have a very good memory. Who knows?
Anyway, I was responsible for this party today. It went great, however, in typical Sheila-fashion, I hardly got a wink of sleep last night. I can't help myself from worrying about something that could go wrong. I hate to think how sleep-deprived I'll be for my wedding some day. I also like to do things myself, because that way I know it will be done how I want. At least I know I have a problem. I always have terrible dreams before these things too. Last night was no exception. In my dream, I showed up 30 minutes late. When I got to work, the cake was destroyed. I have no idea what happened. That's really all I remembered from the dream. But, of course, things went just fine. The same kind of dreams happened when I was renovating my house. Anything that could go wrong, did. But when the actual even comes, things go just fine. So now, I'm really sleepy and could use a good nap. I just have to stay awake through these next 3 hours, then I can go home and snooze on my comfy couch.

Just wanted to share a fun story from this morning. One of the guys was leaving the party, and I had to go grab some more nuts from Dollar General. I walked out the door and here he is, carrying a fluffy kitten in his hand. I said, "Scott! Why do you have a kitten?" He said, "It's a good thing I do my walk around before getting in my truck. This guy was sitting on my tire!" Scott drives a BIG truck for the company. The kitten was so cute, I wanted to take him home. Seriously. We found a place to set him down, now I'm just praying that the next person to come across him has a kind heart. Anyway, that was some excitement to my day. A cuddly kitten who wanted to come home with me.

Happy Friday y'all.

-S

Bad Timing

Note: This post contains TMI at times......just preparing you ahead of time.
As if I didn't have enough going on in my life right now, add an emergency appendectomy to the list.
Last Wednesday night, out of the blue, I was in an unbearable amount of pain. I finally had my mom take me to the ER to see what the heck was going on around 10:00 p.m. We waited for blood test to come back from the lab which showed elevated white blood cell count...but that still didn't reveal much about what was causing me pain. Since my pain was right below my chest, the doc thought maybe a "GI cocktail" might give me some relief. Wrong. And, don't let the name fool you. It was the most awful tasting cocktail I've ever had. After waiting 90 minutes with no relief I was admitted, hooked up to an IV, and finally got some morphine to relieve my pain. I was miserable. It was decided that I would get a scan in the morning, so I had to start drinking some awful stuff to make my insides glow so we could see what the problem was. Took my fist dose of berry flavored yuckiness around 12:30. I was on a fluid drip, so of course, I was up every 60-90 minutes to relieve my poor bladder. I got an hour power nap in there, but woke up around 2:00 a.m. The only good thing about waking up at that hour is that The People's Court is on! Entertainment! More brief moments of sleep passed mixed with getting up to use the bathroom. Finally, 5:00 a.m. rolled around. More blood work. At this point, both arms had been poked and prodded. I still have the bruises to prove it, but I figured, what the hell. Anything that is an attempt to make me feel better is worth it. Also, I needed another 5 ounces of that berry crap. Then more at 6:30. More at 7:00. And  finally, more at 7:30, minutes before my scan.
At this point, the morphine had masked some of my pain, I was feeling much better than the 8 hours prior. I decided to let Bex and Cass know that I was in the hospital since mom had already notified my family. I took a picture of my IV. I said, "In hospital. Doing OK. More details later." They were both like, "WHAT?!" Since Cass lives in the same zip code, she came out to the hospital and kept me company and ran an errand for me. Mom had run home to get dad going. The doctor came back and told me that I had acute appendicitis and my appendix needed to come out as soon as possible. So, it was off to Grand Island to have surgery.
After stopping at my house to grab my favorite blanket, mom and I hit the road. We got all checked in, and it wasn't long before I was called back to my room to answer a long list of questions and get prepped for the procedure. After about an hour of surgery, my angry appendix was out, no longer able to cause me pain. Little did I know that I would be in a whole new category of pain post surgery.
I was exhausted. I was trying so hard to open my eyes. I. could. not. do. it. I tried, but was just sitting there like a zombie. I only remember brief pieces of conversation between my mom and the nurse...but remembered hearing, "here comes Sleeping Beauty." Very funny. The it got a whole lot NOT funny. I did not react well to the anesthesia and well, you can imagine what happened next. Needed a wardrobe change as my access to a puke bag was not readily available. The nurse immediately came back and gave me a shot to stop the nausea. As you can imagine, having surgery in an area close to your stomach combined with vomiting was NOT an enjoyable experience. I just sat there and cried.
Then the nurse said, "Okay, time to use the bathroom and eat something! I can't give you any pain meds until you eat something." Great. Another hurdle. Pain, pain, and more pain. I was hungry and thirsty as I couldn't eat or drink anything before surgery. I had never been so happy to eat orange jello and drink water! But, I made it, and I finally got the okay to head back home. My wonderful mother loaded me in the car, stopped at Walgreens to get my prescriptions, and even got me a chocolate shake when we went through Central City. I couldn't swallow very well due to the breathing tube they used during surgery, so the ice cream went down smooth.
I got home to be greeted by my family. It was good to be home, but I was so very sore. Getting into and out of seats and bed has proved to be my most difficult tasks, but it gets easier every day. Time heals all wounds, as they say.

Needless to say, all of the plans I had to work on the house (get it prepped for new flooring that was coming Monday) went out the window. Mom, Teresa, Joel, and Angie were just wonderful in helping me get done what I needed (and by helping me, I mean them doing the work, me watching). Cassie has also been a wonderful friend, constantly checking in on me and keeping me entertained with movies and Mario. :) So, thank you to everyone for all of your get well wishes and prayers. They made this process a bit less painful. I am on the mend and can't wait until I am able to function pain free (which I know will be soon)! Moving day is Saturday, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to do more than supervise.

-S

I can't do it

I just can't. I have avoided viewing any articles talking about the 19 firefighters who lost their lives in the Arizona blaze. I knew I wouldn't be able to stomach all the images and videos of crying widows, children, family and community members. I caved today and have watched a few. But that unveiled a new "can't." I can't watch anything about it without getting weepy. The lump in my throat grows each time I see a new article. My heart is aching for those people.
It's times like these when I reflect on how thankful I am for the life I have. Is every day good? No. But there is good in every day. I know I've talked about that statement before...but it is one of my favorites. As you're enjoying you day off tomorrow, take a minute to send up a prayer or think about those who just lost their daddy, hubby, son, brother, friend, etc. Life is a gift, and you're only here for a short while. How does the saying go? "Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery. Today is a gift, that's why it's called the present." Kind of corny, but true.Okay, that's enough of the heavy.

I wish everyone a fun and safe Independence Day. I am super excited for a day off of work to do whatever I please. I'll be putting on coat number two of paint at the house in the morning, but after that, I will have some fun in the sun followed by burgers, family time, and fireworks. My sweet B has her 4th birthday party on Saturday. I can't believe that she'll be going to preschool in the Fall! Seems like yesterday she was calling me "Shasha" and dancing to Sesame Street's "Ladybug Picnic".

-S

Defining Lazy

I'm pretty sure that you could look up the definition of lazy and find my picture. I have felt beyond lazy  for over a week now. Sluggish, unmotivated, lethargic, slow-moving (well, that's all the time). Let me enlighten you.
Example 1
This weekend, I finally had a clear calendar. No events going on that required my attendance. Perfect weekend to work on the house, right? Wrong! Instead of sanding walls and stripping wallpaper, I thought it was a better idea to sit on my couch. All. Day. Now, I did dust my rental and clean the kitchen, but that was about it for Saturday. Besides, I had all day Sunday to do stuff. So Sunday arrives. Again, I'm thinking of everything I can do that doesn't involve working on the house. So, an impromptu trip to Norfolk sounds like a great plan. In my defense, I did need to get out of town to get my mom and niece some birthday gifts. So, at least I can cross something off my list. But instead of doing some laundry or unloading the dishwasher when I got home, I decided I wanted to hang out with Cassie. My laziness must have rubbed off on her, because we went to Pump and Pantry and rented 2 movies. I remember saying to Cass, "I love our Sundays."
Example 2
I'm not one of those people who can reuse a bath towel after I've dried off with it. It grosses me out. So, I feel like I'm constantly washing towels. Anyway, after I got home from work, I got some groceries and took my mom her birthday gift. I came home and dove into a banana bread recipe because I had 3 very brown bananas that were stinking up the place. (How can something so icky make bread that is so good?? Oh yes, now I remember. Adding sugar and butter usually does the trick.) When the bread was in the oven, I threw a load of towels in the washing machine. Cassie had just returned from Norfolk and was eager to show me her purchases. Once I switched the towels over to the dryer, I took off for her house. After a leisurely bike ride to see my blooming tiger lilies (they are gorgeous) we went back to her house and played some Mario Brothers. I love us. We just refuse to grow up! Anyway, my bedtime approached and I rode my bike back home and convinced myself I was too tired to walk down 10 stairs and change my laundry over to the dryer. I wasn't too tired, however, to track radar of the approaching storm and soak in the glory that was the sound of thunder and rain which eventually lulled me to sleepy-town. Ahhhh.
Example 3
I wake up this morning at 6:20 a.m. so I was already running behind. I jump in the shower and remember that ALL of my towels are in the basement, because I was too lazy to go down last night and bring them upstairs. Instead, I dried off with 2 hand towels. Yeah, that's what laziness gets you. It probably just added time to my morning routine.
I think laziness and procrastination go hand in hand. I did myself no favors in college either...always waiting until the last minute to do things. Then I heard a quote one day that was just perfect. "Procrastination is like masturbation. It feels good at the time, but in the end, you're just screwing yourself." Yes, a little inappropriate, but accurate. And if that offends you in any way, you probably shouldn't be reading my blog. I just don't see a cure for laziness in my future. And I think I'm okay with that for now. If I had enough ambition to search for a cure, I'd probably put it off until tomorrow.

But before I sign off here, I'd like to wish my fabulous mother Sally a very happy birthday! She is simply the best and deserves to have the best day ever!

-S

Kickin' Butts and Sinkin' Putts

It's amazing what one golf lesson from Joel can do for your golf game. Swing with half the speed you want to, head in a vice. Then when you're teeing off, just repeat to yourself over and over, "head in a vice. head in a vice." I haven't golfed in 2 or 3 years, but I actually didn't play too bad this year in the UNL Campus Rec Alumni Golf Scramble. I had the help of some of the best teammates pictured below. That's me on the left, my brother Joel, my sister Teresa, and my cousin Katie.

I didn't have high expectations for myself....mainly just went because I thought we'd have fun. Who knew that I'd walk away with a pin prize for longest putt made on the green (women only)...

and better yet, a 2nd place team finish in the mixed division?!??

We finished 6 under par. Even had an eagle on a par 5! I still don't think it was quite fair that the team who beat us had a girl playing who had played on the UNL golf team.

Anyway, the day was a huge success with many applications of sunscreen. Definitely a better showing than in years past. (My apologies to the Obermeiers and other former teammates...ha ha.) It was a beautiful day for golf. A bit hot, but there was a breeze. A good time was had by all.

That's all for today, just wanted to share our triumph. I've never seen a team more proud to wear silver. I have a feeling we'll be back next year to shoot for gold. 

-S

Summer Love

I love many things about summer. Why not dedicate a post to those things? Sounds like a good idea to me. 

I love baseball. And softball. I've  yet to catch a softball game this summer, but I've made a few baseball games. Last night, in the 90 degree heat, Cass and I went down to the field to watch the seniors play. They beat Seward 4-0. Seward, by the way, gets the award for the ugliest uniforms I have ever seen. Wow. I hope those were donated and they didn't have to pay for them. Baseball makes me think of summers when I was in high school. Me and the girls would load up in "The Brown Turd" (Becky's car) and head to wherever the boys were playing. Ord, St. Paul, Columbus, you name it. We loved watching our boys play, and I still love it today. We would blare the radio and roll the windows down, tossing every care in the world aside.

I love fun in the sun. As a child, I embodied the term "pool rat." I lived at the pool, only going home for meal times. I would literally ride my bike to the pool, with nothing but my swimsuit and towel. Shoes optional. Hours upon hours of playing Shark in the 12ft, diving off the boards (that was back in the day when the high board was actually high) and basking in summer glory. During middle and high school, my family had a SeaDoo. We'd load up the vehicle and drive to Calamus to spend an entire Saturday or Sunday at the lake. Now my fun in the sun consists of laying out with Cass at the pit or, my most recent endeavor, going to Stiers Lake in Columbus. Paradise. My friend Scott is in Med school and is doing a rotation near Columbus. He's staying at a relative's house who lives on the lake. So, Cass and I packed our bags for a relaxing day on the lake. We pull into the driveway and this house is unbelievable. The people were even more unbelievable. The nicest people you will ever meet. Such hospitable, interesting folks. I wish we could have been there all weekend. It was such a wonderful day!

I love my friends. They are the best. Willing to help me out whenever I need them. I am doing some home renovations right now, and I don't know what I would do without them. Last weekend we stripped a bunch of wallpaper. Word to the wise, if you ever need to do this, I cannot stress enough how much easier your life will be if you use a steamer. It is a godsend. One of the best creations on this earth. Also, this is not a solo project. Have someone help you. Not only are my friends willing to help me when I need it, but they're always up for a good time. Though we're not as young as we used to be (like we're old...we're not even 30 yet!) we still know how to have good fun. I love them unconditionally.

I love the Drive-In. Nestled in Neligh, NE, there is a gem. It's the Starlite Drive-In. It shows 2 movies and has some of the best concessions food ever. I would highly recommend the chili cheese fries! Be prepared for a long night though if you choose to stay for both movies. With the first one beginning at sundown (usually around 9:30pm), you will be out well past bedtime. So happy to have a Drive-In so close to home! You just don't see many of them around anymore.

I love to grill. I am a year-round griller. I love the taste of grilled food. Steak, chicken, burgers, veggies, you name it. The other thing I love about grilling is that it's commonly done with friends...and beer! Is there a better combination? Ha!

I will conclude my list there.......as I could probably ramble on for hours. Happy Summer!! :)

-S