Books and Accents

Reading is how I relax. For me, there isn't much better than curling up with a good book in a quiet house. Sometimes you come across a gem of a book where you can't put it down, first thing in the morning and last thing at night, you're reading it. And then occasionally you come across books that aren't amazing but keep you reading because you want to know how they end. When it comes to books I'm all about persevering, I've only come across a handful of books that I never finished. Last year I had two; Love and Summer by William Trevor and The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman. I think my mistake with Philip Pullman is that I brought the trilogy in one and after awhile there was only so much I could take. I'm certain that at some point I'll pull it off my bookshelf and finish reading but I will never read another book by William Trevor...how uncultured of me. I got half way through and just didn't want to...couldn't...read anymore.

Yesterday I just finished reading In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. It kicked my butt at some parts but the story alone had me engaged enough to want to continue. Of course, I did a couple quick internet searches and Wikipedia told me plenty but I wanted to hear the real story. The story according to Perry Smith and Dick Hickock. 

For some it might be a rather macabre choice of bedtime reading but I love reading true crime novels. To look into the reasons why some people kill and the complete detachment that some people experience. I once read a true crime story where a husband called his ex wife and let her listen whilst he shot their two daughters. How can someone go from being a functioning husband who this woman believes she knows deeply to someone who kills his own children?

I've also been following the Casey Anthony trial. I remember when the story first came to light about this little girls missing and the mother not caring or wondering where she was. I remember it was very quickly decided by the press and public that she was guilty. Never mind the concept of innocent until proven guilty. I know that there has been a very straightforward story painted by the prosecution but I honestly feel that there is more to the story and that her parents are keeping secrets. It is also puzzling to me that they have been unable to determine a cause of death. I suppose we should see how the trial plays out. I doubt very much that she will walk away free but I hope at the very least she walks away with her life.

Yesterday, Adam and I had a rather heated conversation about "the Southern accent" and my negative opinion of it. I've always said that I don't want my children to have an American accent. It really all goes back to a plane journey I had to the US. There were about three kids sitting behind me and they just had the moaniest accents I've ever heard. Now, I know that in the US where you live will determine how you talk about I also don't like the US word "mom". It is just far too foreign for me to feel comfortable with and I shall try my best to have my children call me "mum". Well, Adam asked me why I wouldn't want our kids to sound like the boys from Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby.  

Now, as much as I love this movie. I just think that the southern accent sounds unintelligent. That is not to say that I think people from the south are unintelligent, I just think that having strong regional accents can hold people back. You don't find news readers speaking in a strong accent because you want people across the country to understand what you're saying. Of course, Adam being from the south, he took great offence. Which was never my intention, it really was just my opinion. Wrong or right. I don't actually think he has a southern accent, sure he can put it on when he wants to but in every day speech he just sounds American. Well, it took lots of explaining and finally an apology on my part to get him to let it go but when he told his mom about our conversation, she agreed 100% with me! lol!


Right, off to get ready for work. I'll try and remember to post tomorrow for Fathers Day. I don't believe I have any men who read my blog. Never had. But I would certainly like to wish your husbands a Happy Fathers Day.

My Insanity!

A couple posts back I mentioned that I'd avoided getting my new passport because of the charges but my wonderful husband paid for it so that I could order my police certificate. My old passport had an awful picture in it which I'd taken last minute so that I could get it back in time to go on a class trip to Atlanta, GA. As promised, I've got a picture of my embarrassing passport picture. Every time I show it to someone they always laugh. Adam says I look like Sideshow Bob from the Simpsons in criminal get up. I'm surprised that it didn't give me more trouble every time I flew to the US but as the man pre-checking my passport says, the cheeks are the same!

 

I know that my blog is going to start to sound like a broken record of me constantly complaining about the slow process that is US immigration. I get frustrated at every twist and turn simply because I don't know where I stand, what is happening. When we started this process in Jan we were told to expect the whole thing to take about 6 months. Up until about March is was, then suddenly an update on the website says that we should expect it to take up to 10 months! Next we learn that our petition is not being processed in London but has been sent to Rome so that it can be processed in a "more timely manner". And now we discover that despite the website saying petitions are adjudicated in the order they are received, people who filed after us (in Feb) have received their approvals.

I am about ready to scream! Lol! It is slightly crazy of me but I just hate living in Limbo. And having Adam visit for a few days really set me back in how well I was dealing with the distance and getting on with my life. I'm hoping that I hear something soon. Next week is five months since we applied and also my birthday! I'm going to be 26...ouch! 

I am excited. Last year was the best birthday I'd had in a long time...maybe ever and I doubt it'll top it but I'm looking forward to going out to eat with some girlfriends. Of course, I'm moving on to the "wrong" side of 25, ever closer to 30 but I'm coming to terms with the fact that I don't have to have it all together right now. I have time. Adam and I will be creating our life together and I'm looking forward to that. I've been working on my "30 before 30" list, once it's complete I'll post it.

Adam has been moved to second shift at work so right now he works from about 4pm until 3:45am. Means we have to change our schedule of when we talk, it is strange for me to go to bed without him being the last person I speak to. He's adjusting to it and since we're apart he doesn't seem to mind too much but once I move he doesn't want to still be working such hours. Anyway, off to call the husband. 

You Call This An Update!?!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin


When I got married I honestly thought I would never have to be apart from my husband again. We'd already spent five long years doing the long distance relationship and frankly, we'd both reached our limit. The thing I'm discovering about life is that your plans don't matter. Unexpected bumps are around every corner, I suppose it's all about how you handle though bumps. Putting Adam on the plane back in January was horrible and it took me a long time to recover from the heartbreak. If I'm frank, I was actually mad at him for not being as distraught as I was and being able to make a life in TN without me. Which, I know, was the reason why he left. But for the first few months I found it incredibly difficult to be without him. Needless to say that I was over the moon when he came back. We had less than a week together and the time seemed to fly by much faster than I would have liked but it felt like he never left.

Drinks with the friends...you can see my work in the background.

My Family

The husbandly one and I.

We met with some friends for drinks and had a nice catch up. I've forgotten how much more fun I have when I go out with the husband. We went to play pool and Adam is "serious" about pool. Sometimes, when we play he'll let me get away with not calling my shots and sometimes gives me an extra go if I really play lousy. But not always, most of the time he upholds the rules and he didn't like the "sneaky" way us girls were playing.

Last weekend my niece celebrated her 6th birthday with a bbq bash which Adam was able to attend. Its funny because all the kids were really excited to see him again, especially my nephew who got very upset when it came time to say goodbye to him. Nathan and Adam had their ups and downs in the beginning but they really are peas in a pod. They both love watching Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel and are generally interested in the same things.

My Two Beautiful Nieces; Chanae 4 and Syan 6

The Birthday Girl trying out her new present.

Birthday Beauty with her parents and grandmas.

The Troublesome Two. Nathan 6 and Chanae 4

Nathan LOVES Bop-It. He is obsessed with beating my high score...he's pretty good though.

 

Chanae decided that she wanted Grandma to put some beads in her hair for the party.

The time I spent with Adam here was great and it just makes me long for the day when I'm approved to move to the US and we won't have to worry about being apart. Of course that day is still way off in the future. This immigration journey is taking a lot more out of me than I thought it would. Emotionally, it is incredibly draining. On my birthday it will be five months since we filed an I-130 petition with the USCIS in London. We found out last week that our petition had been forwarded to Rome for processing so we are still waiting to hear the outcome. This is only the first step in the journey. I will still have to apply for the actual visa and have a medical and interview before we find out if America will accept me. 

I'm going to try and update properly later in the week, for now I just wanted to share some pictures. And of course I have lots of blogs to catch up on.

The Husband is here...guess I'll update properly later. Right now, trying to make the most of the short time we have together!!!

Drunkard Debauchery...Again?

This morning I have what they like to call a hangover. Not feeling most fantastic but I did have a really good night out last night with some girlfriends. You always have that moment when you wake up and bit by bit your memory of the night before returns and the cringing starts. I met some good girlfriends for some good wine at a local haunt that we haven't yet outgrown. And call it destiny or just an additional reason to get sloshed, it was karaoke night! 

Lil Ole Me singing Mr Garth Brooks

Maybe it's just me but I prefer it when people aren't fantastic singers, I find it more entertaining. Its the same reason I only watch American Idol during the audition stages, when some people believe themselves to be fantastic singers when in actual fact they blow. There were a couple people who successfully belted out ballads, others who sang feel good songs badly but had everyone singing along and of course, there were the smear test bad singers. 

Lady J letting us know Club Tropicanas drinks are freeeeee

In homage to my Southern husband I sang Garth Brooks "Friends in Low Places" just because how fun is that song! My lady J sang "Club Tropicana" and my lady "M" sang Beyonce "Irreplaceable". Which incidentally was one of her songs that I was dancing around my bedroom to yesterday morning. Note to self and anyone else without common sense, it's not a good idea to try and booty shake whilst you have a hot curling iron in your head. Ouch. 

Lady M directing us to the left...don't ask about the guy behind her, too odd!

Honestly, the singing was just icing on the cake of a very fun night. It's nice to get out and have a good catch up outside of work and ultimately, if my visa does get approved, I want to spend as much time with my friends as possible before I leave. 

Me and Lady J chillin

And of course, we talked about boys. I'm starting to wonder if a group of girlies can get together, enjoy some wine and not talk about boys. The question of where and how to find good guys. I do think that I'm lucky to have found Adam because it really is slim pickins! Sometimes I ponder on the fact that I didn't date more guys and have that experience but at least I didn't have to kiss too many frogs to find my prince. After hearing some of their dating horror stories I realise that I'm blessed to have my punkish husband. I really never did that dating thing, unless you count one terrible Valentines Day where too many cocktails were consumed and drunken kisses and vomiting took place...not necessarily in that order either. I don't count that as a date. 

Me and Lady EKB enjoying our wine

Lady EKB enlightened me to the fact that I was clueless about the hookin-up bases. First Base: Kissing...Fourth Base: Sex. The bases in between are not something I could write about unless I had another couple drinks!

Lady M, Lady L and I. I work with the bestest ladies.

Its clear that all my friends want to get married, Lady L has her wedding and baby names planned out. But doesn't every woman? I know that long before I knew Adam existed, I had my dreams of meeting my prince and falling in love. Getting married, kids. All that jazz. And of course, once I did meet Adam, I fully embraced the girlie art that is signing my name with his last name all over my note books.

It was a fun night of singing, dancing and drinking. It seems that in this pub they have a total of 4 wine glass. This is not in any way an underestimation, they actually only have four wine glasses. Perhaps I'm fussy or perhaps I'm actually taking in some of the things my mother tells me but you can't drink wine out of anything other than a wine glass. Well, you can. But you shouldn't. I was not happy when they gave me this to drink my wine out of;

One of only four wine glasses in the place and my mixer glass.

Lady Ms wine glass and my mixer glass. Perhaps my glass size has something to do with the fact that I got very sloshed! Every time I went to the bar I asked if they had a wine glass, three trips later, they did!

Me, Happy to be drinking out of a real glass!

Yes, I am THAT excited over a wine glass! At the end of the night us girlies left very tipsy and most certainly merry. Lady EKB found a guy who caught her eye and for some reason I ended up writing his email address down with my eyeliner, must remember to pass on his details. He's on FB so I think some Facebook stalking might be required first, beer goggles can be a very dangerous thing when handing out your details!


I'll post some more pictures later. 

My younger brother went to get his hair cut yesterday. Now to most people this isn't a big deal but my brother is sixteen and he's never had his hair cut in his life. My mum is not at all happy that my older brother has decided that it's time to take Lil Bro to get his hair cut off. One would think that since it would mean she no longer had to braid it every week, she'd enjoy that extra time. Alas, no. I've yet to see what it look like due to my night of drunkard debauchery but I'll be sure to post a picture. I imagine it'll be strange to see the "new" him.


Since I have this weekend off I've been roped into cooking Sunday dinner. As I type I have roast beef cooking in the oven. Downside is that I've forgotten exactly how long ago I put it on so it might end up being very well done. We shall see. I've got a real craving for an Eton Mess and whilst I was toying with the idea of making the meringues myself, I might just run up to Tesco and buy some. 

I became Bi-Sexual for the night because....

This fella was making a move on my friend and she didn't wanna know...I think mixed signals maybe?

But then he left and she was branded Sherms' Bi*ch!

End of the night, on the way home silliness.

So much hasn't been said because as silly as my girlies were, I was just as bad. Its the wine code not to spill! xx

Mirror Mirror on the wall...

Today I'm in the mood for Pink. The artist, not the colour. I guess I go through periods of listening to different artists or the same songs over and over again. The past couple days I was into Musiq Soulchild in a big way, just the song "Just Friends". Today I suddenly got the urge to listen to Pink "So What!" and so I've been rocking out to her lyrics and awesome vocals. 

In order to get everything ready for my visa I had to get my passport updated with my married name. Yes, I've been married for two years and I'm only now getting around to it and it is purely because I have to. The reason why, they charge £77.50 for a new passport. All my detail are the same except that I got married but I have to pay the full fee for a new passport, not a happy bunny but Adam wired me the money for it. An anniversary gift, one that'll last for 10 years. I went today to get the photo taken and of course now you can't smile in photos. I honestly don't feel like it's me when I'm not smiling in a picture, it is very rare. I don't like my face when I'm not smiling. I took a couple non-smiling shots at home on my own camera, attempting to figure out Tyra Banks trademark "smize". And of course my lazy eye just pops off the page. Perhaps I don't have an overly noticeable lazy eye but I can see it. Most annoying. And then once I got started taking pics I just kept going, making silly faces. What can I say, it was a slow morning!

When I finally head over to the post office to get the passport checked and sent the lady behind the counter (who was the slowest server I've encountered for a long time, she really pushed my kind button) spent a good five minutes scrutinising my picture. Now, the picture in my passport is old. It was taken when I was 17 and had to get my passport in a hurry for a trip to Atlanta with my politics class. It's a horrible picture. Imagine SideShow Bob from the Simpsons in a red and white prison/rugby top. I shall have to post a picture when I get the old passport back. Anyway, she didn't think it was me or she thought I looked too different, I don't know but when someone else came along she asked for a second opinion. The gentleman looked at the picture and said "of course it'll be fine, you can see by the cheeks". The cheeks? What's wrong with my cheeks? Ok, I am being naive, they are huge! In high school people would grab them because they'd stretch so far. I used to fit whole burgers in my mouth. Basically, I have a big mouth in both contexts. But it was never a facial hang up, it wouldn't make the list of things I loved about my face but it wouldn't have made the hate list either. For me, cheeks are like my Philtrum. Just there, no feelings. I shall have to remember to post some pictures from my goofing around earlier.

I've plans to meet some friends for drinks tomorrow. I'm seriously starting to think that my friends and I should find places to meet that isn't a drinking establishment! And officially I'm getting excited for my birthday. If I keep focusing on celebrating and it possibly being the last one in London with my friends for some time to come, then I can forget about the fact that my life is nowhere near where I'd like it to be. Trying hard to keep the depression at bay. Distraction is my friend. The last few years I have not been excited about turning older, not because I'm getting old but because I'm constantly playing catch up with where I am and where I should be. Or at least where I'd imagined I'd be. I'm a planner and though I constantly end up disappointed, you know what they say "If you don't plan, you plan to fail" or something like that. 

I think you can really see that one eye is droopy! Maybe it's normal and I just need to exercise this muscle more? Maybe I should start winking! 

I've been experimenting with a centre part, it's something a little different. Usually I have a side-parting, which might not be interesting to most but hey I'm shaking things up for the summer!

This is more the style of the passport pictures. Looking straight ahead and no smiles.

OMGoodness! Seriously, if I stare at these pictures long enough I turn into a self-hating person. Not liking my nost and my face is generally FAT!

I think that last one is what I call my KISS look! Oh dear.

My brother has officially left High School, he's only going back to take his exams and then its off to college! I can't believe how quickly the last 16 years have gone by. I remember taking him to school before going off to college in the mornings myself. I remember him being an annoying but fun toddler. When he was younger I nicknamed him my Shadow, because everywhere I went, he went. I'm not sure when he stopped being my shadow and became a teenager who overshadows me. Such is life I guess, the children who once looked up to us for protection and guidance grow up. I'm very proud of him and I'm sure he'll do great in his exams. Don't tell him but he's growing into a wonderful young man.

My now 16 year old brother. My mum took these pictures and needless to say she's not handy with a camera. And also, she's pretty blind without her glasses! Below, my bro and a couple of his classmates.

Sherms In The Middle of becoming a Desperate Housewife

This is a post from yesterday, May 12th. Posted today because Blogger was down!

Lately I've been more adventurous with what I make for dinner. Every once in awhile I get bored with what I have for dinner, it seems like I eat the same things over and over again. However on my recent visit to Stevenage my friend gave me her Philadelphia cookbook and I got creative. After making two meals from there I opened up my other cookbooks and looked for fun meals to make. I do have a little chuckle with my girlfriends about the fact that we've graduated from talking about boys and makeup to swapping recipes and discussing wedding dresses...well, sometimes we do still talk about boys. Scratch that, we talk about the men in our lives over wine but what group of women don't!?!

If Adam comes back to visit later this month I'd like to make a special meal for him. Ever since watching the last season of Hell’s Kitchen USA I've been eager to try my hand at a Beef Wellington. I've never eaten one before let alone made one and I've been scouring my cookbooks looking for a good recipe. I'm a big fan of Ina Garten also known as the Barefoot Contessa, though Adam thinks she's creepy! lol! And I'll be sure to do a trial run to make sure that it turns out right. I've clipped a recipe out of my mums magazine for a No-bake Lemon & Lime cheesecake which looks delicious. I'm a huge cheesecake fan, I've heard of this place called The Cheesecake Factory, it is on my list of places to go when I move to America. My husband loves Peach Cobbler and though I've made it a few times for him, I've never been able to beat his mothers recipe and I've only managed to make something just as good once. Not that I'm in competition with my MIL or anything! lol! I get along really well with her and am looking forward to living with her. I just want to be a good wife, good to him. Which Adam tells me I am.

We didn't get married in a Church, due to time and financial restraints, we had a registry office wedding and planned to renew our vowels in a Church at a later date. Well, whilst discussing this with Adam last night he says that he has no interest in doing this. Or rather he has no interest in arranging it with me. As far as he's concerned we're married and that's that. There is no point in arranging a wedding to renew our vows. And whilst I understand that the marriage is what counts, not the wedding, I have two issues. Firstly, I want to be married in a Church. It's important to me, just have our marriage blessed. And secondly, yes I am a girl who wants that special day. I want to wear a white dress and stress over wedding vows, cake flavours and wedding favours. I'd like to take lessons for a first dance that will set the tone for married life. And I know that stuff isn't important but somewhere inside I still want that day. Maybe I can just have a really lavish 30th birthday or something instead. Needless to say in typical stroppy wife fashion, I said "fine, let's not bother". And though he asked me repeatedly if I was upset and if I was sure, I didn't budge. What a silly moo I am. But I want it to mean something to us both and either way, it doesn't change the fact that he's my husband. The man I want to be married to for the rest of my life.

Oh, did I mention that my culinary experiments included my Spatchcocking a chicken? I feel like a regular Julia Childs!

I think I'm struggling as a twenty-somthing wife, living apart from her husband, soon to be thrust full time into the role of "temporary housewife". When I get there I shall have no life or job or mode of transportation. I shall essentially be a housewife without the perks of coffee with friends or a black American Express card. I dont at all mind staying at home, if we can afford to when we start to have a family, I'd like to stay home with our children. Right now though, I'm in the middle of figuring out what it means to be a wife and how to be a good one. Hopefully, one day I'll wake up and know how to make the bestest Peach Cobbler. I'll know how to get red wine out of a cream carpet (though I shall not have a cream carpet) and I shall throw the best dinner parties in the neighbourhood! Lol! Can you tell from my wedding dreams I've watched too many Disney movies and from my wifey duties that I was too much Desperate Housewives!? Can't help but Love Bree!

I do have plans for when I get up and going in America but for now, gotta go call my lover!