Posted by Shelley on Sep 1, 2010 in
Real Life Stories,
Uncensored Shelley sooooo, I haven’t blogged in so long I thought I would post one that I wrote a few months ago. In February. February 26th, 2010 to be exact. At 9:18 in the morning. I will post it *as is*; I will not add, delete or change anything from that moment in time when I originally wrote it.
What is interesting about this post is seeing that number one and number seven are in every way, shape and form, more wonderful than we ever could have imagined back in February. It also makes me laugh that number 5 is happening yet again, (this Friday) and number eight has become a necessity, much like my iPhone. And oxygen.
As for the whole number twelve thing I would like to note that there are no spelling words in 6th grade. At least not yet. And if there are I think being in 6th grade means you get to call them out to yourself.
1) my sister Stacey told me a couple of weeks ago that she is expecting a baby! wow! God is good!
2) when I gave Canon his Valentine he said, “you made my heart super happy mom.”
3) Became better friends with those I need to become better friends with. You know who you are!
4) Won $54.00 or so at the Kenny Roger’s slot machine. This is not a bad thing. But does that really make it a “good” thing? Discuss amongst yourselves.
5) Finally got some blonde highlights back in my hair.
6) Facilitated Molly’s baby’s daddy making a visit (like 8 or 9 visits). Not sure if it worked or not but there’s nothing like having your dog right under your foot when this type of thing happens.
7) Helped mom make an offer on a house. It might not be “the one” b/c it’s not gone to contract yet but that is a huge step. HUGE.
Began setting the coffee maker for 6:30am. With coffee in it.
9) Realized more. Thought about it less.
10) And on that note, I began appreciating the freedom one experiences when you don’t care so much. I care, but just not as much as I used to.
11) due to an excessive amount of something I do not know what I will write here in the number 11 space.
12) and Melodi recognizes that at least spelling words are *something* she will use in the future. not to say that all that other 5th grade academia is not important. I’m sure it is. Like I use it so much everyday that I remember it on a regular basis. yeah. right.
13) February was good. All in all, it was good.
14) confirmed that most events you want to remember are the ones that you walked away from but were glad you have a picture in which to remember it.
Posted by Shelley on Jun 28, 2010 in
Uncensored Shelley FOR TODAY
Outside my window… it’s bright with blue skies, a beautiful start to a southern summertime day.
I am thinking… it was hard to sleep last night. One of those nights too much in my brain. Can’t believe in a few days it will be July 4th. So many of my thoughts are flooded with this time last year. Whew.
I am thankful for… Mike keeping the kids last night while I went out with some old friends. He kept them so busy they were all just exhausted by the time I got home! What a terrific Dad he is!
From the kitchen… I made the Betty Crocker gluten-free brownies yesterday and they are nearly gone. P.S. goes great with coffee for a breakfast treat!
I am wearing… jammies, robe, slippers – I know I’m too sexy for this blog – ha!
I am creating… some kind of plan to keep the cats from driving me crazy.
I am going… to take Melodi to her first guitar lesson today! she has a beautiful classical guitar that Mike gave her for her birthday. now I’m going to get out the Esteban DVDs from a few Christmases ago and watch her start rockin’ da house, b/c I know she’s got some skilz.
I am reading… comic books. In particular The Amazing Spiderman from the Marvel series. Love those stories with Mary Jane. And they are in such pristine condition…wow…
I am hoping… that I can finish this blog without anymore interruptions.
I am hearing… LOTS of chirping or something like it from some kind of insects that obviously love the woods – I mean, they are loud. they must’ve been having some baby bugs or something.
Around the house… it is still quiet and dark, we are totally taking advantage of not having to be anywhere and the kiddos have been perfecting the Shaw art of sleeping late. Very late.
One of my favorite things… coffee in the morning. and I love it when Mike makes it for me and brings it to me before I even wake up! Bliss!
A few plans for the rest of the week: I’ll be helping out over at my mom’s house, she had some outpatient surgery and is on the mend. She’s got a neighborhood pool so that works out well! Scanning pictures for our highschool reunion (less than a month away now!) and maybe cleaning out and organizing a closet or two? We shall see about that last one.
Posted by Shelley on Jun 21, 2010 in
Uncensored Shelley Today is the summer solstice. And my dad’s birthday. Sol + stice derives from a combination of Latin words meaning “sun” + “to stand still.” As the days lengthen, the sun rises higher and higher until it seems to stand still in the sky.
This will be the longest day of our calendar year… it has always coincided with my Dad’s birthday, they fall on the exact same day. Here is a picture which is in remembrance of him and my attempt of combining two pictures so that time “stands still.”
This was our last family picture taken of all us together in May 2009. The accuracy is amazing. The memory is a good. And this is how he would want to be remembered.
Happy Birthday Dad!
Jane, Mitch, Shelley, Stacey and Kelsey May 7, 2009
Posted by Shelley on Jun 14, 2010 in
Uncensored Shelley FOR TODAY
Outside my window…finally a break – I think it’s 89 degrees and dusk is just an hour away. It is actually pretty cool under the porch ceiling fans. The sun is bright orange, glistening through the trees as it decides to leave us for today.
I am thinking… about how to keep these kids busy this summer! Would love any comments on that one!
I am thankful for… my sweet husband and the totally awesome date we had this past weekend! too much fun!!! mike is the definition of “dear husband”. I <3 my DH.
From the kitchen… gluten free spaghetti noodles with gluten free pasta sauce with sauteed chicken and mozarella – canon even said, “mama mia thatsa the besta!” it was good.
I am wearing… shorts and a tee, surprised?
I am creating… I am still stumped on this one. Me and Canon planted some sunflower seeds. does that count?
I am going… to hit Whole Foods or the Farmer’s Market and make sure we are eating healthy this week. That’s after the kids finish up the Shipley donut holes.
I am reading… Facebook statuses and the news feed.
I am hoping… for a great colorguard reunion this Friday. That was a huge part of my life even though in the grand scheme of things it was a short amount of time… many of us are reminiscing and thinking we might catch a glimpse of the glory days once again.
I am hearing… earlier today – when I started this post it was the kids watch Tom and Jerry. You don’t hear much but the animated music – you know, those mice didn’t speak did they? That was back when cartoons were cartoons, but that’s another post. Now it’s the back porch noise of insects and the highway. and mike singing “buffalo dolphin” in honor of the gulf coast (to the tune of buffalo soldier)
Around the house… we are home much more right now so there is much more of mess. Legos on the floor, spilled lemonade in the kitchen, cat food dumped out around the bowl… wait, that’s not just the summer, that’s ALL THE TIME.
One of my favorite things… is summertime. I was born to be on vacation!
A few plans for the rest of the week: reunion planning, outfit shopping and avoiding the heat.
Here is a picture for thought I am sharing…
Picardi roses from Mike this weekend - the same kind we used in our wedding
Posted by Shelley on Jun 9, 2010 in
Uncensored Shelley An idea “borrowed” from my sister-in-law’s blog and “inspired” by The Simple Woman’s Daybook….
FOR TODAY
Outside my window… it is dark, only a few lightening bugs remain.
I am thinking… that I am really not a simple woman but I will give this a try, it’s time to change the direction of this blog.
I am thankful for… my mother. I would do anything in the world for her.
From the kitchen… we have a new rice cooker/steamer which actually is a way cool new appliance. but not as cool as the Egg Genie. and we have one of those too.
I am wearing… shorts from a consignment store and a top from Walmart. yep, you read that right.
I am creating… gotta give this one some thought – a mess? a light in the darkness? a scrapbook? definitely not a scrapbook.
I am going… to get my hair did in the morning – finally!!!
I am reading…“Preparing Your Daughter for Every Woman’s Battle – Creative Conversations About Sexual and Emotional Integrity”
I am hoping… this gets a little easier – I am supposed to be very descriptive but keep it short at the same time.
I am hearing… our fish tank. it’s trickling – it needs more water. and it’s making me want to head to the bathroom.
Around the house… the boy is in bed and the dad and daughter are in the man cave playing on the computer.
One of my favorite things… Canon’s impromptu “I love you mom” – I must hear it several times out of the blue, everyday
A few plans for the rest of the week: looking forward to date night this Friday! possibly mellow mushroom to try their new gluten free pizza? or maybe we’ll just stay home and play some checkers since both the kids will be spending the night out 
1989 drum solo - I'm scanning old pics for our colorguard/maj reunion - that's me on the end
Posted by Shelley on May 22, 2010 in
Uncensored Shelley You didn’t ask for it but here it is 
Mike bought some Ugly Dawg salsa. It is gluten free. Says so right on the back of the jar. We managed to eat 3/4’s of it just now. It’s dawg-gone good. Might be sending him out for some mo’ here in a minute.
Ummm…. AOL radio “totally 80’s” is about the best app my iPhone currently has going. PYT is on right now. Need I say more?
And did you know the word “awwwww” actually comes up in spell check on the iPhone? It has several more w’s in it btw, in case you are grammatically correct when it comes to these things. It also spell checks the word “ya’ll”. Which is “ya’ll” according to the iPhone. But really it is short for “you all” which should be “y’all”, at least that I was I learned in the previous century. I double checked this with the 5th grader in the house who actually has a (albeit 21st century) grammar teacher. She said “y’all” is correct. Which means the iPhone is wrong. Aren’t you glad you decided to read this far?
So there is this blog by the Christian author who is “pretty out there” which means, she basically just throws it out there kinda like me but she’s written a few books and actually has a “following”. She’s very genuine and honest and I have the utmost respect for her. Her latest is on “The Idol of Hurry.” I concur. Except I think most of the folks I know, including myself, are all about the idol of busy. Think about it, if you’re busy do you really have time to connect, bond or really, really care? You know the answer to this but I don’t blame you if you don’t answer. It’s a shame. But it’s the truth and I live, breathe and walk it out every day determined to change it. But that’s hard to do when the mind is willin’ but the spirit is weak.
Well, awwwwwwwwww…. not sure if that’s right not, b/c wordpress is not picking up on it… my kids are finishing up school this week. My son brought home his 5K memory book and I got out my daughter’s 5K memory book from 2004-2005. It is about the fourth of the size of his. Why do I mention this? For a variety of reasons but I think I will stop there. This deserves its very own blog entry.
Well, “99 Luft Balloons” just came on AOL radio and I think that is my cue to stop and listen to the wonderful lyrics of this song. Are they in German? and if so why I am listening to a German song on AMERICA online radio? good grief.
It’s all good now. “Jungle Love” is on. And you just can’t go wrong with Morris Day and the Time, I don’t care what decade you’re in. Oh-wee-oh-wi-oh.
so here it is!
I’m about to watch “Avatar” on blu-ray and I wish it was real. I mean, a real place to go and re-discover yourself. But it’s not. So I’m gonna sit in Hoo-vah and do it. That is, re-discover myself.
And btw, if you didn’t know yourself to begin with, how do you RE-discover? discuss amongst yourselves.
Both my kids are beginning new schools for 2010-2011. Which means I’ve been to some meetings, filled out some paperwork and made some decisions that I hope are right. Time will tell.
Autoimmune update: I went down a .5 milligram on my prednisone today. Amazing what that will do to ya. I am completely agitated. Not that you needed to know that. I don’t recommend steroids for stablizing your emotions, but, it will however, control the amount of inflammation in your body so you can function. Gluten free – the way to be. At least for those of us with mental disorders in our genetic history. More on that later.
Posted by Shelley on Apr 15, 2010 in
Mental Illness,
Uncensored Shelley One year ago a series of events led me to my first counseling session. I believe God is an on time God. My counseling needed to happen sooner but instead the one who made me, the one who has the best plan, the one who holds my past, present and future in His hand gave me a reason to go last April. Only a short year ago.
I could tell there were mental processes I had that were not “normal”. And I know, “normal” is simply a setting on a washing machine. But since October of 2008 events were beginning to weave the golden thread that only an omniscient God could sew together. The time had come. The time was now. Shelley Shaw, won’t you please go now (to counseling that is)! You might recognize the rhyme from the Dr. Suess book, Marvin K. Mooney.
It is not necessary for me to blog about circumstances that brought me to that point. I can tell you however that many, many things were beginning to connect. For instance, my childhood long lost friends contacted me on FaceBook. In sequential order. Folks that I thought didn’t matter anymore all of a sudden became top of mind. I found very old diaries, completely on accident. But they became the love letters I had written to myself since the time I was 6 years old and they gave me a picture of why I was the way I was. His loving kindness was ever present. God’s fingerprints were all over my life.
My counselor led me to a book entitled, Changes That Heal: How to Understand your Past to Ensure a Healthier Future. It is a book that set me on a path that was going to become very important by last August. Less than 250 days ago.
My past? Kinda normal. I mean, I guess. When you grow up one way you really don’t know that other ways exist. Right? Until you meet other people, possibly have children and begin a family of your own. There is just not enough blog space to explain how my “roadmap” had been messed up. It still is for that matter. All I can say is something told me to stop passing on the issues. To many, especially Christian believers, this is called “generational bondage”. And I knew it existed in my life but didn’t know what to do about it.
The book is excellent and I highly recommend it. The counselor told me, “The first part of this book is probably not what you need but the second part will get you where you want to be.” The first part of the book addressed bonding. The second part addressed boundaries. And I can honestly say the ENTIRE book was spot on what I needed. Not just one chapter. Not just one paragraph. But the whole book.
You are now officially welcome to join my club, called the “bonding and boundary issues club”. This is not about a mental state. It is not about what color you are, how much money you make or if you have a college ed-u-ma-ca-tion. It is about living in a broken world, accepting it for what it is and figuring out how to make the best of it. Basically, it is not about blaming someone else for your issues. The time has come. The time is now. Grace and acceptance won’t you please come now?
One day a cricket was minding his own business. The life of a cricket is pretty routine…chirping, eating, chirping, trying not to get eaten, chirping…
But this day was different. Someone needed to feed some lizards back at the pet shop so this cricket had a date with destiny.
He watched as other crickets were picked up and carted away in plastic bags with egg crate looking things in them. He held his breath. “I am just an innocent bystander here, looking for something to eat and now THIS!” How did this happen he wondered? Most definitely the wrong bug time at the wrong bug place.
It was over in a matter of minutes. And there he stood – untouched. No worries. So he thought.
But everytime he went out he had visions of big sneakers and plastic bags and well, he just couldn’t shake it. All I want to do is live peacefully but what do I do with what I witnessed? Where do I put that in my little bug cricket brain, he asked himself?
Other crickets said to him “get over it!” or “it wasn’t you, it was THEM, you’re still here, it’s all good.” He wanted to believe them, really he did. But it was not sinking in. Just too much drama in that one tiny moment of his little cricket life. Now, it was chirp, eat, worry, think, lament, panic, eat, try to sleep, chirp, eat, worry, think, lament, panic…well, you get the picture.
Amazing how one moment in time changes the way you chirp.
Posted by Shelley on Mar 13, 2010 in
Uncensored Shelley Well you didn’t ask for it, but here it is:
I am so grateful for spring break. My kids work harder than I ever did in 5k or 5th grade. And they need a break. Honestly, I didn’t know what I was signing them up for. But it’s spring break and they can be as lazy as they want to be and I won’t say a word about it. Promise.
I am loving all the old furniture in our house. I am sitting in a chair that is at least 50 years old. Old is good. It means it has what it takes to stick around for a while.
The Time Traveler’s Wife is a great movie. It would be great to have the future Shelley come visit with me right now. Although, sometimes I think she already has. Seriously.
The fact that I can have an incredible chat on Facebook with my husband is intriguing, especially when he is sitting less than 3 feet away from me. How is that? Wait. I won’t question it, I will just enjoy it. So there.
I’m very glad it is now and not then. Or even would have been. Right now is better than yesterday. Or tomorrow. It is crazy to think of where I’ve come from, where I’m going. And who might be sitting in these chairs 50 years from now.
