Category: friends


Jan
2015

Ask yourself this question

categories: friends

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I was recently on the phone with a friend and before we hung up, she said, “I have one more question for you.”

“OK, shoot.”

“How can I serve you?”

“What?”

“How can I serve you? I’m trying to make a concerted effort to be more conscientious and present in the new year. So how can I help you?”

I just sat there, a bit dumbfounded and a lot baffled, processing what she said while also trying to think of something. I couldn’t think of anything off the top of my head, but the question really made me contemplate. I’ve heard that question a million times in church (and the answer), but I’ve never heard it outside of that context. What an important and impactful question to ask a friend (or anyone really). I still can’t think of anything that she might help me with, but when I do think of something, I will know who to call. And I’m very grateful for that knowledge even if I never have to use it. The simple offer of help – for whatever I may need – was enough to bring comfort and a smile. I asked her if I could borrow it and she absolutely agreed. So, how can I serve you? How can I help you? What can I do for you to make your life easier? If I can’t do it, I bet I know someone who can.


Nov
2012

All in a Day’s Work (and the grand tip total!)

categories: art, charity, forest perk, friends

I last posted for #bloglikecrazy on Thursday. I knew posting Friday would be tricky because I work all day and then had an event to go to that night right after work. I was right. I had planned on blogging on Friday when I got home from the event, but ended up staying out until later than expected (happily) and didn’t make it. I blame my missing days on Friday and all the goodness that came with it.

I previously wrote about guest bartending at Naked Art Gallery on Friday evening for their Kitschmas Holiday Opening/3rd Friday in Forest Park and also trying to collect tips for the Crisis Center while I was at it. I don’t volunteer at the Crisis Center (yet), but I have many friends that do and some that work there, as well. It was a natural choice when deciding on where to donate any tips I might make on Friday night. I scooted over to Naked Art a little before 5 p.m. on Friday with Crisis Center literature in hand, ready to take on the masses.

I’ve been to 3rd Friday in Forest Park many times and it’s always a good showing. I think this one was particularly well-attended because a lot of the merchants were kicking off their Black Friday specials that night and there were carolers and other entertainment to start the season. I was also advertising free hugs with drinks and tips during my stint from 5 – 9 p.m. that night. I had no idea how many people were going to take me up on that offer, but I know I hugged at least 100 people. I had the time of my life! Friends, co-workers, Janes, neighbors, everyone came out. I was so tickled to see so many familiar, beautiful faces in the crowd and even happier to be serving them. What was the best part of the night? Swinging a little girl around in circles during her hug. Best.moment.ever. It was even better than counting the tips tonight to the tune of $208! I am floored and in awe though I am not surprised. Birmingham shows me everyday how generous her people are. I’m honored to call you friends. Update: I ran into a friend this morning (11/19/12) at the grocery store who wasn’t able to make it out on Friday night, so gave me a donation in the parking lot and she got her hug. New total is $213!

I cannot begin to thank you all enough for supporting our local artists, merchants, and non-profits. The Crisis Center thanks you. Vero and Naked Art thank you. I thank you. And if you didn’t already get your hug, be sure to stop me the next time you see me and ask for it. They’re FREE and I love to give them!

As always,

Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.

images taken by David Phipps, courtesy of Mr. Phipps and Naked Art


Nov
2012

I’m late! I’m late!

categories: friends, Uncategorized

In retrospect (all of 5 seconds ago), I probably should have chosen a different title for this blog post. I realize some of you are going to immediately click on it to find out if I’m pregnant. I’m not (but thank you for caring enough to check right away). This title is referring to the White Rabbit in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

From Wikipedia:

The Rabbit was perhaps most famous for the little ditty he sang at the beginning – “I’m late! I’m late!
For a very important date! No time to say hello, goodbye! I’m late! I’m late! I’m late!”

Some believe the rabbit was late for the announcement of the Queen to the royal garden. The panic the
rabbit showed was his fear of losing his head. Upon her arrival (where Alice has been helping to paint
the roses red) the cards finish their song and the rabbit blows his trumpet (which he had been carrying
for most of his lines) royally introducing the king and queen.

Do you ever have those days (or weeks or months) where you feel constantly hurried and harried? Do you ever feel like you’re going to lose your head? This year and gotten increasingly busy and everything is moving at warp speed. Gone are the days when I would take the weekends to relax and rejuvenate. They are now as jam-packed as my work-filled week and I don’t even have 2-legged kids! I have enormous respect for those of you who manage to run a household, work a job, and raise a family, among all your other responsibilities.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I lead a very fulfilling life – my work is challenging and I work with some of the most talented (and friendly) people on the planet, my boyfriend is amazing and shows me everyday that he cares, is ambitious and inspires me to be a better person, and God, my family and friends are the center of my world. I often comment on Facebook how lucky I am to have the most amazing friends and it’s true. I’ve evolved from a pair of extremely close girlfriends all through school to a wider circle of close confidantes and an enormous stretch of beautifully talented friends and family. Many have been with me for years and have seen me through marriage, divorce, beginnings, endings, moves across the city, state, and even the country, animals, a million hair colors, styles, and transformations inside and out. Even when time or distance us separates us – sometimes for years – I know I will always have my gals. I can never repay them for the love and support they’ve always shown me through the years, but I hope they know how special they are to me. That being said, I don’t see them nearly enough anymore. Life has gotten in the way and I’m not sure how. I love to be with my gals and nurture those relationship, yet somehow I only see them a few times a year, if that. What is so important that I can’t take a night or weekend here and there to make time for all these women who have become such an integral part of my life and helped me becoming the woman I am today? Nothing, that’s what. Same goes for my dad – I don’t see him as much as I would like. Nothing is more important than these people, these relationships, these memories we are making. I tend to forget and take each day for granted. There are still a million things I want to do with my life and I’m working on some of those “goals” already. But one short and long-term goal should be making more time for the very important people in my life who have influenced and supported me for years. You know who you are….I’m coming for you.

Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.

P.S. I also have a few pretty amazing guy friends, but I’m going to save them for another post. 😉

P.S.S. I know it’s election day, but I could get mired down in that for hours and you still need to finish work and get dinner taken care of. 🙂 I got out and voted today. I hope you did too. It is such an honor and privilege that we have the freedom to choose our next leader. Thank you to all those who have served, are serving, and will serve so that we can exercise that freedom. I salute you.


Sep
2012

Bad Sherri

categories: fall, friends, happy

Bad, bad Sherri for not writing in a month. You have no excuse. Yes, you did a million things in the last month, but you should always find time to write at lease a few sentences at lease ONCE a week. Bad, bad Sherri. You should be ashamed!

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, how the heck are YOU? Long time, no talk, eh? By the way, I just got back from Wisconsin. Can you tell, eh? I have the cheese curd to prove it. I’m pretty sure I brought all the cheese curd back from the entire state. 😉

I got back late Friday night and am currently sitting in Crestwood Coffee enjoying brunch while it rains outside. I couldn’t be happier. I love this time of year. And it’s so nice to be home, though I had a wonderful time (yet again) visiting my sister and her family this year. I don’t mind the 12 hour drive to Wisconsin when I think about seeing those cute, little faces upon arrival. And spending quality time with my sister, now that she’s mature enough to reciprocate the love. 🙂 We get along so well now and spend a lot of our time together laughing, either at ourselves or the kids (much to their chagrin). I posted a few pictures to Instagram during the trip and will be posting the rest to my Facebook page this week.

So much has happened in the past few weeks in Birmingham and life that I’m sure I will forget something or someone, but I would be remiss if I didn’t try. So, in a nonsensical fashion, I’m going to list some of the fun things that I have done the past month. Watch out:

Fabulous dinner at Rogue with Shira and Jennifer
Birmingham Barons last home game at Regions Field
The Color Run in the rain (fabulous)
Went to shooting range and finally shot my pistol using my Living Social deals
Artwalk!
Artwalk after party!
Supper Club
Saw Train in concert
Sidewalk Film Festival volunteer thank you party
Nashville for a weekend to see Christopher Titus (stand-up) at Zanies
Went to Wisconsin for 8 days to see family
Dinner with Sara, Paul, family and friends for his birthday.

There was a lot more goodness in there and many memory-making moments, but those are some of the highlights. I’m so very lucky to live in such an amazing city with some of the greatest, most civic-minded and active people ever. And I love where I live. I drove through many towns on my way to and from WI that I knew were not for me. One day, I would like to move to Milwaukee to be closer to my sis and her family. I would love to be a regular part of their lives more than once a year.

Iron Tribe is going well. I just finished month 2 of regular workouts. I surprised myself by going yesterday morning after driving 12 hours straight the day before. I also went to work out at a gym while on vacation (words I never thought I would say). I still haven’t seen a lot of movement on the scale, BUT I can definitely see muscles where I never had (or saw) them before. It’s a little freaky and amazing to watch your body transform bit by bit and see definition taking shape. I know I’m getting stronger as my previous dead lift record (one of our exercises) was 65 lbs. and I lifted 175 lbs. while I was in WI. #achievementunlocked

I have a busy few weeks and months coming up including Theatre Downtown’s Hobo Awards tonight, comedy shows, Park in the Park, Crestwood Crawl, Cornhole Tournament, “Doc” Adams Book Release, DISCO grand opening, more dinners with friends, Magic City Post’s Zombie Walk, Supper Club, Warrior Dash (supporting friends), Tribe Quest, Race for the Cure (you can donate here if you like: http://www.info-komen.org/goto/yougotrossed), birthday parties, Halloween parties, birthday Halloween parties, Rebecca Loebe concert, Fall Festivale, lots of local theatre shows, VOTING!, planning the next Birmingham Dance Walk, and celebrating life. Comment or message me if you would like more info on any of those things or want to join me!

Signing off for now. A more meaningful post to come, but definitely wanted to say Hi and let you know that I’m still here.

Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.


Aug
2012

When One Door Closes….

categories: forest perk, friends, love, moving

 

It’s taken me a long time to muster up the strength to write this post even though it comes from a happy place.  One of my best friends, Caleb, is moving back home this weekend. While we haven’t known each other that long, it feels like forever. I thought I would share my story of going home and how I met Caleb as I wish him well on his new adventures.

I moved back to Birmingham on November 26th, 2010. My brother and I left in the wee hours of the morning that Friday from Virginia, him driving the large U-Haul and me following behind in my car. We parted ways in Alabama about 1 a.m. in the pitch black on I-59; he split off to go home to Clanton (taking the truck with him) and I finished the last few miles into Birmingham, tears streaming down my face as I saw the city lights come into view. They were tears of joy; I was beyond happy to be “home.” I loved living in Virginia and missed the people there more than I could show them, but this was home. This was where my girls and most of my family were.

I hadn’t seen my new home yet in person. My Bham bestie – Lee – had worked with me over the miles to locate, tour, and eventually secure a beautiful townhouse for me in the south side of town. When I arrived to the address in the middle of the night, I was nervous, hopeful, and scared to death since I didn’t know this side of town that well. 🙂 Needless to say, she’d planned wonderfully for my impending arrival: paper plates, cups, utensils, napkins, munchies, hand soap and hand towels, night lights throughout the house, and – most importantly – toilet paper and a huge bottle of wine (and wine opener) chilling in the fridge. She had thought of everything I could possibly need in the middle of the night after a 14 hour drive. I know I’ve thanked her for her friendship and thoughtfulness since then, but she’ll never really know how much it meant. Or how much I will remember it as a lovely story to tell for years to come.

I got Millie, my dog, settled and went about inflating my air mattress in my new bedroom (as much as I could tell it was the ‘master’ in the middle of the night). I’m sure my new neighbors loved the air blower cranking up at 2 a.m. “Welcome to the ‘hood, Noisy!” I slept as peacefully and as much as I could in an unfamiliar place that I couldn’t see very well, while trains rumbled right outside my window. I rose bright and early Saturday morning to get re-acquainted with my city…in my PJs because I couldn’t find my clothes.  My first stop: COFFEE! I tootled down the street and lo and behold, a local coffee shop – Forest Perk Coffee. I was beside myself at my good fortune of having an independent coffee shop so close to home. I grabbed my once-familiar Black & White and (literally) bounded up to the counter to place my order. I was so excited about being home that the young man behind the counter (seriously) asked me if I was on crack. I politely explained that I was not a) on crack b) drunk or c) on medication – I was just very happy to finally be back in Birmingham. He thought I was a nut, made my mocha, and we parted ways. His name was Tim and I knew we’d be fast friends.

As the weeks went by, I would stop at Forest Perk more often and get my medium mocha. I found myself drawn to the quiet, studious barista – Jeremy – and the crazy, talkative one – Tim. The owner, Caleb, was very polite yet we never made it past the obligatory formalities even though I bounded up in there nearly every day. Finally, one day, I was inviting them to some local event and Caleb passed me his phone number on the way out the door. I was thrilled! I was IN! In what? No idea, but I was in! I texted him the moment I got to work and we started our friendship over cell phones that morning. It wasn’t long before we were thick as thieves and going everywhere together – we were both single, both dog lovers, both coffee lovers, and had a million more things in common.

Fast forward two years later to now: We both have very special Birmingham people in our lives, we both have more animals than when we first met, we both have different cars, and we’ve both been through more ups and downs the last few years than I care to recall. But, we’ve also been there for each other more times than I can recall. There’s never been a cross word between us, never a fight. Of course there have been times we’ve driven each other crazy and needed a little time apart/to ourselves, but it always reminded of us how important we are to each other. And how much we miss the other one when they’re not around.

Caleb, you’ve been my best friend and “husband” for the past few years. There aren’t enough words to describe what you mean to me and what a joy it’s been having you in my life – helping me, watching over me, looking after me, and supporting me with your love, words, and Toby’s saliva. 😉 I know you will be great wherever you go and whatever you do. As sad as I am today and these past few weeks, a bigger part of me is happy for you…happy that you’re doing what is best for you right now, happy that you’re the son your parents raised you to be, happy that you’re a wonderful father to the boys, and happy that you have been such an intricate part of my life these past few years. I know you’re only 1 phone call and 90 miles away at any time. That goes both ways – I am always here for you. You will never be forgotten, you will always be loved, and you will always be my best friend.

I love you.

Sherri