Day 3: A picture of you and your friends This one was hard for me, only because my best friends and I find it difficult to coordinate our schedules so that all four of us are together. Since we've grown up we've all moved to different parts of the country and we've all got very different schedules. It's disappointing, especially considering I might be moving out of the country shortly. But without these girls, there is no way I would have made it through high school. All of my best memories from 13 to present day, involves one of these ladies. I just hope that we continue to be in one another's lives because they've made mine wonderful.
This one's an oldie but a goodie. Taken on my 23rd birthday celebrations xx
**After looking I found a slightly more recent one of the four of us, taken Jan 09**
Sherms In The Middle *because I'm in the middle of my twenties *because I feel like I'm in the middle of who I am and who I want to be *because I'm the middle child *because Malcolm In The Middle is an awesome show *more recently, because I'm in the middle of another immigration journey
Day One: A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself.
I'm not quite sure what'll pass for interesting these days but I'm willing to give it a shot.
1. When I was a child I was obsessed with Eddie Murphy and would pretend that I was his wife and we had children. I slowly grew out of it but after the Mel B scandal, I can't bring myself to see him as anything other than an ass. 2. As if number one didn't tell you, I am a huge Spice Girls fan. I grew up on them but never quite grew out of them. I had the clothes, the bedspread, the music, the posters...up until about three months ago when I started downsizing to move, I even had their collectible postcards. 3. I am sandwiched between two older brothers, a younger sister and younger brother. I do not like being the middle child. I feel like too much was placed on my shoulders and harbor buried resentment over this. I still struggle with this but the husband is teaching me how to put myself before my family...he hasn't taught me how to deal with any guilt this leaves me with. 4.When I flew to Florida to meet the husband for the first time, I went alone. I told a handful of friends what I was doing but kept my family totally in the dark. My mum thought I was going with a friend to look at colleges. I got a lot of heat for it, especially from my other brothers but love makes you do crazy things. And thankfully, it all worked out perfectly. 5. I am afraid of birds. Need I say more? Pigeons especially. Come visit London and have a pigeon fly directly at you or poop on your head, then tell me that birds are harmless. 6. I love to bake but haven't done so in years. Whenever I buy baking utensils purely for my baking, someone in my house will mistreat them and it'll no longer be fit for purpose. My pet peeve is when the non-stick plating is scratched off. Hopefully, once Adam and I have our own home I can do a lot of baking. 7. Reading is what I love to do above everything else. If I have a good book, don't even try talking to me or getting me to go out with you. From the moment I wake up until the moment I fall asleep, I will be buried in that book. Of course, if it's not such a great book, I'm all yours. 8. Up until the age of 19, I spoke pretty good German. Unfortunately its one of those things where "if you don't use it, you loose it". I hope to pick it back up again soon, when I have time on my hands. I've been to Germany a few times and did a two week exchange whilst I was in college. 9. I get incredibly frustrated with people who have no ambition. I think that is the main problem with society today, esp young people. They want fame and glory and think that silly shows like Jersey Shore or Big Brother are the way to get it. They lack direction and integrity. I feel angry when I see young people who don't want to make anything of their lives and just sit at home expecting everyone else to take care of them. Now, I know its not easy to get started. I don't have the best job in the world, I'd probably be financially better off not working (which is insane, my government needs to sort that out!) but I guess I'm just not made like that. 10. Last year I went back to school for Creative Writing (anyone who's read my blog for the past year knows how that turned out) and it was the best time of my education experience. I was wary that I was a little too old, older than the other students but I enjoyed not only being encouraged to write but having to read my work to others. That is intimidating but I learned a whole lot more about myself. 11. My husband and I technically met online but I actually met him through his brother. Before I was Shermeen0621 with Aol, I was Shermeen2106 with Aol. One day my instant messenger started to send out messages all over the world and one got sent to Adams brother. I changed my screen name but we continued emailing and instant messaging and became good friends. A couple weeks later I met Adam online and I guess as they say, the rest is history. 12. I didn't kiss a boy until I was 17 and it is something I regret even to this day. I suppose I could equate it to other girls regretting sleeping with a guy. I was at a party and I got stupid drunk and kissed him because all my other friends had kissed guys and I hadn't. If I could go back I would slap myself really hard across the face and say "No!". 13. I worry that when I move to the US, I'm gonna miss my nieces and nephew so much that I'm gonna wanna get pregnant right away. Adam and I talk almost every day about having children. He wants them in the next two years whilst I want to wait about four years...of course, I worry that my emotions and hormones might get the best of me. 14. I've had a botox injection before...in my anus. A very long story. 15. Before Sherms in the Middle, I had another blog called Public Thoughts. It's all closed up now but I keep it so I can look back on the memories. I've adjusted to blogger but I really miss the community of AOL journals.
If there is ever a day, an event, that will forever be in our memories, it is September 11th 2001, when 2,996 innocent people lost their life.
2996
It is easy to miss the enormity of that number. 2,996 people. 2,996 friends and family members. Mothers, Fathers, Husbands, Wives, Grandchildren, Best Friends. For those who lost someone they love, 9/11 is just another day without the person they love. Yes, it's an anniversary of sorts but 10 days or 10 years doesn't diminish the pain of their loss. And it's important to remember that each number represents a person. When I first signed up for Project 2,996, I got to know a woman named Dianne Synder - albeit posthumously. Each year since then, I always think of her. Her smiling face enters my mind, I think of her children and husband and she's never just a number. For nineteen years she had worked for American Airlines and was on board AA Flight 11 when it stuck the North Tower.
Along with her husband John, she raised their two children Leland and Blakesee in Westport, MA where they had built a colonial-style farmhouse. In these ten years I cannot help but think about all the things Dianne missed out on. Taking her daughter shopping for prom dresses, seeing her children graduate and attend college, eventually watching her children get married. I cannot imagine the personal journey that grief took her children on, their quiet resilience is testimony to their upbringing. They however, are not her only legacy, in their home town a scholarship is offered in her name to students studying teaching. Before postponing her career to raise her family, Dianne had qualified as a special education teacher and had planned to renew her credentials once her children were grown. Before the events of September 11th 2001, I imagine Dianne would have spent her days tending to her garden, her latest hobby. Or perhaps making a quilt, not unlike the many she'd made before for friends and family. And perhaps she'd had plans to play tennis at the weekend at the Dartmouth indoor club where she was a member. To know her or about her life, I am certain there is something everyone can relate to. I'm not a fantastic tennis player and I could never imagine having enough patience to teach children but I am a wife. The story of how John Synder drove 14 hours on a rainy night in 1983 to ask Dianne to marry him reminds me of my own relationship. It reminds me of the crazy things you do...like get in a car and drive cross country or on a transatlantic flight...that make so much sense when you're in love.
"These acts shattered steel but they cannot dent the steel of America's resolve" I cannot quite explain the emotions I feel behind September 11th. I remember when I first heard about the attacks, sitting in my politics class and watching the news with our teacher. I don't think at that time I could fully acknowledge the devastation, today I think of the lives lost and the family members they left behind. When you look at each individual person who died and the loved ones they left behind, it is overwhelming. "Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings but they cannot touch the foundation of America" I am not an American but I feel so proud of America, of the American people and their determination not to let this ruin their nation. I shall continue to remember not just Dianne but the other 2995 people who's stories I have yet to learn.
Before you worry that I've had millions transferred to an offshore account and changed my name, let me just say...I'm a lotto winner of £7.60! Guess I'll be cancelling that luxury yacht.
The winning numbers for Friday's Euromillions draw:
05 21 28 31 34 and the lucky stars were 01 02
I only had four people respond in time to play their numbers. Then I chose 28 because its the date of my interview. And 01 and 02 for the lucky stars because 21 is my lucky number. My birthday, Adams birthday, the date we got engaged, the date he moved here, the date our application was accepted...21 just seems to be a reoccurring number in our lives.
Of course the tricky question is what to spend the winnings on!
Project 2996 is an online event that I participated in a few years back where bloggers and website owners write a entry about someone who lost their life during the September 11th terrorist attacks.
Ideally, 2996 people would take part in this event and each pick a person to write about, however this year they are very short on writers. I urge everyone who reads my blog to check out this site and write about someone. If you don't feel up to this task, please advertise Project 2996 on your blog so that word gets out.
This event is purely about remembering those who lost their life and I would hate to think that by Sunday, there aren't 2996 people taking part.
"The tributes should celebrate the lives of these people–kind of like a wake. Over the last 10 years we've heard the names of the killers, and all about the victim’s deaths. This is a chance to learn about and celebrate those who died. Forget the murderers, they don’t deserve to be remembered. But some people who died that day deserve to be remembered–2,996 people."
I purchased a lotto ticket after work today with the numbers you lovely ladies picked. And then I chose one more, as well as the lucky stars. I'm not sure what time they do the draw but I'll check the numbers in the morning and see if we win!
Our numbers are: 02, 04, 09, 11, 28 and the lucky stars are 01 & 02!
One of my favourite pastimes is reading, so I'm super excited that the 2011 Man Booker short list has been released. Last year there were some fantastic reads that I'm still working my way through but now I have new books to add to my Amazon wish list.
I really can't decide which of these books I want to read first because they all sound amazing and its even harder to determine which one might win. I'm certain it'll take me some time to get through reading them all but I'm excited to compare my decision to that of the judges.
At present I'm reading The Bell Jar and to be honest, it is draining on me. I just haven't connected with it the way I usually do with great books. However, I am determined to persevere and finish it. Hopefully enjoy it...though I don't think its a book to be enjoyed but certainly to be appreciated.
Hopefully I'll be leaving London next month (crossed fingers) but I will be missing out on the most exciting event to happen in a long time...The London 2012 Olympics!
I don't play a lot of sports, perhaps if I did I'd be in better shape but I certainly enjoy watching them, especially the athletics.I watched the World Championships in Daegu, Korea this year. In fact athletics are usually a family event, we all sit down and cheer on the team/country/athlete we want to win. I was so impressed with Russia this year, they have some fantastic athletes. Of course, I route for Britain whenever I can. I love Jessica Ennis, anyone who can compete to her standard in seven events is amazing. It's a shame that she didn't dominate again this year but I'm certain that the home field advantage next year will see her back on top.
I was so disappointed for both Britain and the USA in the mens 4x100 metres relay. When the USA tripped I almost cried for them, so disappointing and they'd performed so well in the trials. Hopefully they'll come back better and stronger next year but did you see how fast Usain Bolt ran. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be the fastest man in the world, I think he really needed a strong win after being disqualified. Please tell me you heard about that? I'm not a fan of the new rules where runners are automatically disqualified after a false start. And I think the fact that the fastest man in the world couldn't compete in the 100 metres doesn't make much sense. For sure I'll be watching the Olympics next year, Adam tells me that America isn't so hot for athletics. I say "Why not America?" It's awesome.
I'm gonna end this post with a little pet peeve I have at the moment. I love the new blogger interface but it automatically does a spell check as I type. And it seems to be set to American English. So when I type words like, favourite and colour and realise and hypnotise, I get that annoying read squiggle underneath. I am not happy about it and I can't imagine changing my "s" for a "zee" YICK!
