This Thanksgiving

This morning I was watching Good Morning America.  It is Robin Roberts 50th birthday.  George and the gang surprised Robin with one of her favorite artists and friends, India Arie, who stopped by the studio to sing "It's a Beautiful Day".  This is a song that Robin co-wrote with India.

Maybe it's because Robin is a breast cancer survivor whose story I have followed even before I learned that I had breast cancer myself.  I'm not sure.  Maybe it's because I am a survivor like Robin and appreciate each and every day so much more now.  I'm not sure.  But when India sang "It's a Beautiful Day" to her, I was moved and have had the lyrics stuck in my head all day.


What I AM sure about is that I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving - more so than any other Thanksgiving in the past.  And if you are reading this blog post over the Thanksgiving holiday, know that YOU, my friend, are one of my many blessings that I am thankful for this year. 

Here are the lyrics to the song . . .

Life is a journey, 
Not a destination, 
There are no mistakes, 
Just chances we've taken 
Lay down your regrets cause all we have is now 

Wake up in the morning 
And get out of bed 
Start making a mental list in my head 
Of all of the things that I am grateful for 

Early in the morning 
It's the dawn of a new day 
New hopes new dreams new ways 
I open up my eyes and 
I open up my mind and 
I wonder how life will surprise me today 
Early in the morning 
It's the dawn of a new day 
New hopes new dreams new ways 
I open up my heart and 
I'm gonna do my part and 
Make this a positively beautiful day 

La la la la la la la la la

It's a Beautiful Day

Life is a challenge not a competition 
You can still smell the roses and be on a mission 
Just take a moment to get in touch with your heart 
Sometimes you feel like you've got something to prove 
Remind yourself that there's only one you 

Just take a moment to give thanks of who you are 
Early in the morning 
It's the dawn of a new day 
New hopes, new dreams, new ways 
I open up my eyes and 
I open up my mind and 
I wonder how life will surprise me today 

Early in the morning 
It's the dawn of a new day 
New hopes, new dreams, new ways 
I open up my heart and 
I'm gon' do my part and 
Make this a positively beautiful day 

La la la la la la la la la
It's a Beautiful Day

Let's make this a wonderful 
Let's make this a powerful
Let's make this a Beautiful Day 

It's a Beautiful Day 

Life is a journey, 
Not a destination, 
There are no mistakes, 
Just chances we've taken 
Lay down your regrets cause all we have is now

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

My New Journey and an Outpouring of Love

I promise I won't turn my blog into a cancer journal, but I wanted to let you know what's going on so if at some point I am not posting regularly, you can rest assured I'm just off fighting the fight and winning the battle! 


Sunday, August 1st:  While doing a self-breast exam, I found a rather large, hard and tender lump in my right breast.


Wednesday, August 4th:  I went to my primary care physician to get the lump checked out.  While I was there, they took my blood pressure (as they always do) and it was too high for the 4th visit over the last 6 months.  So I was put on BP medicine.  Started out with a 10mg dose of Lisinopril.

Thursday, August 7th:  BP "through the roof".  Back to the doctor.  EKG.  trip to the E.R.  Pressure brought down after a stay in the hospital for a few hours. 


Wednesday, August 11th:  Mammogram and ultrasound on right breast

Saturday, August 14th:  Spent the day at Stamp Fever's Grand Opening, came home, settled in, took BP three times every 15 minutes, BP over 200, back to the E.R.  Now on 50 mg of Atenolol plus the 10mg of Lisinopril.  Back home at 2am


Tuesday, August 16th:  Biopsy of Tumor 


Thursday, August 19th:  Results in - Cancer


Saturday, August 21st:  Primary Care Physician (Dr. Lin) called to tell me he was so sorry to hear about the results and that he would be praying for me.  He also increased the Lisinopril to 20 mg.  Said I needed to get my blood pressure down for any surgery I would have.  


Monday, August 23rd:  Breast MRI


Tuesday, August 24th:  Results back from MRI.  Further investigation needed for the incidental findings in both breasts.  Why do they call them "incidental findings"? and if they're incidental what's the issue?  Some good news!  So far the cancer hasn't spread to the lymph nodes


Friday, August 27th:  Bilateral Mammogram - pulling and tugging for 14+ (I lost count!) photos and another ultrasound.  Mammogram found three "incidental findings" on the left breast and one on the right.  Ultrasound?  - couldn't find a thing after 40 minutes of applying and reapplying jelly and moving that paddle around.  After waiting in the t.v. room with other women clad in hospital gowns for another 30 minutes, I was told I could leave.

NEXT UP:
Wednesday, September 1st:  Appt. with the breast surgeon
Monday, September 13th:  Appt. with the Hemotologist/Oncologist


So that's my new journey so far.  


So here's the "Outpouring of Love" part of this post . . .
Lezlei Young for planning to come out and play caregiver when I have my surgery . . . Linda Bucci for going with me to one of my scarier appointments . . . Linda Ledbetter for the "special edition post" on her blog August 20th and checking in on me and making me laugh or smile every day with her e-mails and tweets :) . . . and this evening I went to my mailbox and it was just bursting with well-wishes of encouragement!


A big THANK YOU to my friend Eileen Bellomo from ART SAVES LIVES for the Art Angel you created and sent to look out for me and hold the prayers you have for me.  She is just gorgeous.


Thank you Lynn Stevens (from Trash to Treasure Art) for the simply BEAUTIFUL book you made for me.


Thank you Terry Horrall (from the ATT Yahoo Group) for the "Encourage Your Hopes not Your Fears" magnet you made for me to display, and the Hope, Live Trust tag.  Both are just wonderful creations that I will live by.


Thank you Judy Wood (from the ATT Yahoo Group) for the pretty handmade card with the thoughts and prayers enclosed. x o 

Thank you Mary Joyce (from the Scraps of Color Group) for the beautiful handmade "You've Got a Friend" card.


Thank you Carolyn Summers from Carolyn's Creative Whims for the gorgeous card and supportive words!  Nice meeting you Carolyn :)

And to all of you that have called, e-mailed or prayed for me from afar, thank you thank you thank you!

Now let's get back to making some ART!

Point A . . . Point B

Wednesday morning I drove to Escondido for "The Day Job".  Just before I left home, it started POURING down rain.  Oooooooh, I so love the rain!  But to drive in?  Not so much.
Here's a look at the rain from my balcony . . .

My potted plants getting a nice drink of water . . .

As soon as I left home the rain stopped and I spotted a rainbow in the sky ahead . . .

Once on the freeway, the rain started back up again and people were driving like there wasn't a raindrop in the sky.  Not sure why people seem to drive faster and crazier when it rains here *sigh*.  
As I was heading south on the 5 freeway "duckin' and dodgin'" the unsafe motorists, I noticed a sign on the side of the road that read "View Point 4".  So when I reached the entrance I exited the freeway to this little stretch of the world . . .

I parked right here where the birds were looking out over the ocean . . .

I think the birds noticed that I was taking photos and decided to put a little show on for me that morning . . .

I wish I had video taped what I saw!  Right where each bird was standing, each one of them left the ground vertically in slow motion and then did a dance in the sky that seemed to be just for ME! . . .

It was such a sight to see that morning.  Once the birds completed their dance and returned to their spots back on the ground, I turned around and took a photo of the freeway - the freeway that now didn't look so "mean" to me . . .

Once I arrived in Escondido and got settled, I took these photos from the 3rd floor office . . .

I have to say, that little detour off the freeway to get out of the car and feel the morning ocean breeze blowing in my face and attending that private bird ballet, really got my day off to a great start on Wednesday!

"Some of the secret joys of living are not found by rushing from point A to point B, but by inventing some imaginary letters along the way" ~ Douglas Pagels

PUSH

I've been noticing several bloggers have been coming up with one word resolutions for the new year.


Some I saw were:  love, peace, joy, patience, health, sanity (I liked that one a lot!), listen, focus, release, forgive, seek, build, moderation.  Ohhhh the list goes on and on.

So I was at "the day job" today trying to think of a good word to focus on for 2010. Then all of a sudden the word "PUSH" came to mind!  I thought, yep, that's gonna be my word this year!
The word push means to apply pressure against for the purpose of moving.  
To move (an object) by exerting force against it - thrust or shove.
To force (one's way).
To urge forward or urge insistently; pressure.

To extend or enlarge.

To advance despite difficulty or opposition; press forward.
To expend great or vigorous effort.

Push on:  To continue or proceed along one's way

"Cause when push comes to shove,

you taste what you're made of.

You might bend till you break,

cause it's all you can take.

On your knees, you look up,

decide you've had enough.

You get mad, you get strong,

wipe your hands, shake it off.

and you stand . . ."

Rascal Flatts - Me and My Gang

What about YOU? Did you come up with a word to live by for the new year?

Our Daily Bread

This blog post in no way has anything to do with arts & crafts or any upcoming events as I usually post.  This post is about James 4:7.  So if this is not something you are interested in, please move onto the next blog and I thank you in advance for refraining from leaving any negative comments.  However, if you ARE interested . . .

I was going through some old papers and bills and just stuff that needed to be shredded/thrown out, and I ran across a copy of "Our Daily Bread".  My aunt always renews my subscription to this little booklet every year.  


When I opened this issue, I saw that it wasn't one of the monthly booklets, when I opened the book to this story.  It was the perfect read for me today!  I thought I would share it with those of you that may be needing a reminder on how to resist the devil:


A 16-foot shark left a couple of 2-inch-long teeth and more than 30 gashes in a small Japanese fishing boat.  According to a news release out of Tokyo, the boat was occupied by a lone 71-year-old fisherman who beat off the attacking shark with a long wooden pole.  "I thought I was going to die, so I tried all means to repel it," said Yoshiaki Ueda.  The shark rammed the small boat several times before leaving.


That shark attack reminds me of the attacks of our spiritual enemy.  James said, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you."  But how?  Certainly not with a stick.  What will discourage him?  James, Job and our Lord give us the answer.


Immediately before saying, "Resist the devil," James said, "Submit to God."  


Job did exactly that when he resisted Satan's attack by saying, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21).  


Our savior resisted the devil in the wilderness by quoting the Scriptures and submitting Himself to the Father's care (Matthew 4:1-11)


So how do WE resist the devil?  Not by shouting or swinging, but by submitting to the One who can deal with the enemy of our souls.  Trust God for the victory.

When Satan launches his attack,

We must take heart and pray;

If we submit ourselves to God,

He'll be our strength and stay.

No Matter How You Say It . . .

Happy New Year!

Onnellista uutta vuotta

GODT NYTÅR

Buon Capo d'Anno

Feliz Año Nuevo

Gott Nytt År

Sun nien fai lok

Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu

Feliz ano novo

Xin nian yu kuai

Gelukkig nieuwjaar

Aide shoma mobarak

Bonne année

Aith-bhliain Fe Nhaise Dhuit

Gutes Neues Jahr

Hauoli Makahiki Hou

Shanah tovah
Happy New Year hun -
(said in an English/Cambridge accent by Linda Elbourne)

and remember:  "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."   Ralph Waldo Emerson

At The Movies

I'm sure you've already heard about the recently released movie Precious.  But just in case you haven't, this is the Lee Daniels' movie that was adapted from the novel "Push" by Sapphire.  I have read that the book is non-fiction, but I'm not certain.  The movie was the winner of three awards at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, including the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award in the U.S. Dramatic competition.

This is about a morbidly obese and illiterate 16-year old girl (Claireece Precious Jones) that lives with her abusive, welfare-scamming mother, Mary (played by Mo'Nique) which takes place in 1987 Harlem.  I won't go all into the movie, in case you are planning to go see it yourself.  I must warn you though, the movie is rated "R" for child abuse including sexual assault and pervasive language!

I don't get out that often to the movies.  I usually wait until movies come out on cable and watch them at home.  But, I was hoping this would be a movie worthy of the high price of a movie ticket.  So Sunday afternoon I went to see Precious.

I cried, I laughed, I gasped, at times I cringed.  And when the movie ended, I was sitting there in my seat left wanting more.  I should have read the book first, because that's usually the way it is with a good movie - they can't tell the "whole" story in a couple of hours on the screen - I'll have to get the book the movie was based on - Push

The movie stars Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Sherri Shepherd, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz and introduces Gabourney Sidibe (as Precious).  I'm no movie critic, but I think that Mo'Nique will be someone to watch as an Oscar contender for her performance of Mary in this movie!

Have any of you seen the movie yet?  It's still only in a few select theaters here in my neck of the woods.

More From Don Miguel Ruiz

With The Four Agreements still at the forefront of my mind, I thought I would share some quotes of Don Miguel Ruiz with you.

Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive . . . the risk to be alive and express what we really are.

Your life is the manifestation of your dream; it is an art. And you can change your life anytime if you aren't enjoying the dream. Dream masters create a masterpiece of life; they control the dream by making choices.

This is an atc I created of my Great Aunt Fannie Violet Hyde on her wedding day.  

You face life depending on who you believe the main character is, the way you learned to be. Your father tells you that you are this way. Your mother tells you that you are that way. And that's what you become.

Every human is an artist. And this is the main art that we have: the creation of our story.

A Reason - A Season - A Lifetime

Collage by Romare Bearden

This morning's post is one that I had put on the back burner for awhile.   After receiving an e-mail from a friend of mine this morning, I was going to send this to her (only), but instead thought it would be good to post for others to read as well.

Most of you have probably read this somewhere before, but it's like The Four Agreements - even if you've read it before, it's good to re-visit.

A Reason - A Season - A Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.  They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually.  They may seem like a godsend - and they are!  They are there for the reason you need them to be.


Then, without any wrong doing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.


Sometimes they die.
Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met,
our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered, and now it is time to move on.


Some people come into your life for a SEASON.
Because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it!  It is real!  But only for a season.


LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons.
Things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.  Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.  It is said that love is blind - but friendship is clairvoyant.

Author Unknown

Don Miguel Ruiz and The Four Agreements

Given my recent art cruise to the Mexican Riviera, Don Miguel Ruiz came to mind.

Born in 1952 and raised in rural Mexico, Don Miguel was brought up following Toltec ways by his mother who was a Toltec faith healer. However, Don Miguel pursued a more conventional education which led him to becoming a surgeon - practicing for several years.

After a car crash, Don Miguel reverted back to his Toltec roots in the late 70's. He first studied and learned in depth, the Toltec ways and then teaching, healing, and writing throughout the 80's and 90's. In 1997 he wrote The Four Agreements. My friend Dianne gifted me with this book several years ago.

The simple ideas of this book provide an inspirational code for life - sort of a template for personal development, behaviour, communications and relationships. Here is how he summarizes The Four Agreements:

Agreement 1: Be impeccable with your word - Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Agreement 2: Don’t take anything personally - Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

Agreement 3: Don’t make assumptions - Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Agreement 4: Always do your best - Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

Don Miguel has also written The Mastery of Love (1999), The Four Agreements Companion Book (2000), and Prayers (2001).

Sharing My Monday Morning Thoughts . . .

I belong to a Yahoo Group called The Latest Trends in Mixed Media Arts. I don't participate much in the group, but I love reading what everyone is up to. I also look forward to the weekly quote that Sherre Hulbert posts.

Today the quote was from The Painter's Keys, but may be more familiar to you coming originally from Ecclesiastes 4:6 in the Bible. Here's the quote:

"Better is a handful of rest than a double handful of hard work and striving after the wind"

Some people are workaholics and put their job before anything else and others just want to get through the day and be done with the work. Which one are you? What's the balance?

Working too hard or too long can be counterproductive - a vain "striving after the wind." Why would this be?

We may do injury to the very things that are responsible for our greatest happiness - things like our relationship with family and friends, our spirituality, our health, and even how long we live (1 Timothy 6:9, 10) 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

We should be content with less material gain along with a reasonable measure of peace, rather than be bogged down with a double dose of work with misery and strife.

Tweet THIS!

Ok, so at work yesterday my cell phone is beeping about every half hour, indicating that I have a new e-mail. I have absolutely no idea why, but all of a sudden everybody and his mother is following me on Twitter. Well, maybe not everybody, but you know what I mean.

But here’s the kicker. I never even joined And if I did, I must have done so on an uneventful Saturday night after a couple of glasses of Pinot Noir on an empty stomach. Mistakes can be made when that happens!

Seriously, when the heck would I have time to twitter? Isn't a blog enough?


And, isn’t Twittering something you do all day long to let people know what you are doing? Well, I can tell you right now what I’m doing - and going to be doing - so I won’t have to Twitter about it.

So here's my tweet, twitter, chirp or whatever it's called!

If it’s Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, I’m probably at “the day job” working.

If it’s Saturday, and I don’t have any plans, I’m in my pj’s and on the computer (probably Blogging), watching old movies or creating something. If it’s Saturday and I DO have plans, then I’m out at the break of dawn and won’t be back until after dark.

And if it’s Sunday, I’m at somebody’s church, flea market, and/or brunch – unless I opted for the Saturday no-plans schedule above.

So tell me, why would I need to twitter? Do any of YOU twitter? And if you do twitter, can you tell me why?

Funny video on You Tube - check it out HERE!

Etsy versus ArtFire

I need to get your opinion. On February 13, 2009, I joined ArtFire at the urging of my friend Mary Ann. We both got in on the $7 a month lifetime membership. To join now, the fee is $12 a month. And the "regular" cost is $20 a month.

I didn't do anything with my ArtFire shop until around the end of March. And since I opened shop, I have not had one sale. I almost had a sale, but when I contacted the buyer to gently ask her to pay, she wrote back and said she had clicked too fast and didn't realize she had actually made the purchase. So, still - no sale.

When I list the same item(s) in my Etsy shop on ArtFire, the item(s) in Etsy gets more "hits" than my ArtFire shop, and I'm getting some sales on Etsy.

So here's what I need your opinion about. Do I continue to pay $7 a month and keep listing on ArtFire, or stick with Etsy? OR, do I keep both and give ArtFire some more time? And if I stay with ArtFire, how long do you think I should give it before hanging up the towel?

ETSY - WHAT'S GOOD:

• Has been the industry leader in providing a venue for buyers and sellers, and until recently, they've largely gone without competition, until Artfire arrived on the scene in 2008.
• Superior to Artfire in design and visibility.
• Has a clean, streamlined design that is visually appealing and easy to navigate.
• Their simple blue and white color scheme is uncluttered.
• The important links to buy and sell are at the top next to their unfussy logo
• Etsy wins in visibility and popularity. It has been around since 2005, making it a proven commodity.
• Its userbase of buyers and sellers is large and diverse.
• It has a Google PageRank of 7 out of 10 and returns over 11 million hits on a Google search.
• Etsy has been featured in the mainstream press and made over $90 million in sales in 2008.

ETSY DRAWBACKS:

• Etsy's size can be a negative to new sellers who find it difficult to get a foot in the door when there are already so many others selling similar items.
• Etsy has been criticized for "playing favorites" with their featured sellers.
• They have been accused of focusing on high-volume sellers, those who can put more into Etsy's coffers with the fees Etsy takes.
• There are no fees for buyers other than what they spend on an item, but it costs SELLERS!
• Etsy takes .20 for each item listed, then an additional 3.5% of the price for each item sold.
• Relisting items regularly can boost a seller's visibility and sales, but those fees can hurt profits.
• For a new seller, in particular, it's a double-edged sword!

ARTFIRE - WHAT'S GOOD:

• No additional fees - just $7.00 a month (or $12 if you join now)
• Artfire's homepage is also less discriminatory than Etsy's. It offers a large rotating gallery of recently listed items.
• Its item of the hour is chosen at random.
• Artfire is taking strides in integrating social networking. It makes it easy for sellers to integrate their listings with Facebook, Twitter, and other sites.

ARTFIRE DRAWBACKS:

• Artfire's current homepage design is cluttered and overwhelming, although a new design is on the way.
• There are too many categories and the gallery is too big.
• It requires too much scrolling to get to other homepage items, such as the featured seller and Artfire's official blog.
• Artfire is still far behind in visibility.
• Its Google PageRank is 4 out of 10 and a search brings up fewer than 500,000 hits.

So, what do YOU think?

Post Script: I just read (it's good to do that sometimes) that Artfire has a Basic Membership that is totally free where you can list 10 items at a time. Huuuuuum, maybe THAT'S the route I should go with them.

Got Money?

I thought I wanted a career.

Turns out I just wanted paychecks???

Have you ever taken a good look at your paycheck stub? There's one area for what you get and ten (or more) different areas for what somebody else gets.

State income tax withholding.
State disability insurance withholding (SDI)
Employer training tax
Worker's compensation insurance
Federal income tax withholding
Medical
Dental
401K
Additional Federal WithholdingIncome tax withheld from completed W-4 form
Medicare was combined with Social Security until 1992
FICA: This is the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (the proper name of Social Security). This is divided in 2 parts (1) OASDI - Old Age, Survivor and Disability Insurance and (2) Medicare - Retirement health insurance
Medical Aid & Supplemental Pension Labor & Industries based upon the hours worked
TIAA/CREF, WSTRS I, II & III and PERS I,II & IIIRetirement plans
Group Life Deduction
Life Insurance
LTD DeductionLong-term disability insurance
Medical Insurance Premiums
Supplemental insurance plans
the list goes on . . .

That reminds me, it's time to do those taxes. urrrrrrrrrrrgh

Thanksgiving Day Dinner and Football

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare.

They are consumed in twelve minutes.

Half-times take twelve minutes.

This is not coincidence.

~ Erma Bombeck ~

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours - Love, Sherry

tennessee titans at detroit lions 12:30 est on cbs

seattle seahawks at dallas cowboys 4:15 est on fox

arizona cardinals at philadelphia eagles 8:15 est on nfl network

Things I have in common with Barack Obama - Or Maybe Not

He is left-handed (the sixth post-war president to be left-handed)
I'm right-handed

He doesn't drink coffee and rarely drinks alcohol.
I LOVE coffee and as for the alcohol, he's the President elect - I'm not.


His favorite meal is wife Michelle's shrimp linguini.
I love shrimp!

His favorite music includes Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Bach and The Fugees.
I like Miles and Bach.


He promised Michelle he would quit smoking before running for president, but he didn't.
No comment on THAT one. Let's move on.

He has read every Harry Potter book.
I haven't read even ONE!


He kept a pet ape called Tata while in Indonesia.
I've had 3 dogs and 1 cat in my lifetime so far.


He applied to appear in a Black pin-up calendar while at Harvard but was rejected by the all-female committee.
Ok, so THAT'S why I can't win First Place in that daggone atc contest at Carson. It's all in who is doing the judging! LOL

He and Michelle made $4.2 million last year, with much coming from sales of his books.
I've read a lot of books.

He enjoys playing Scrabble and poker.
Scrabble is my favorite board game! I'm not a good poker player.

He can bench press an impressive 200lbs.
I sit on a bench (that's probably 200 lbs.) when I go out for a break at work.

His favorite films are Casablanca and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
I like both of those movies as well.

He hates the youth trend for trousers which sag beneath the backside.
I hate that too!

His house in Chicago has four fireplaces.
I don't even have ONE fireplace at this time.

He uses an Apple Mac laptop.
I'm a PC girl. Although, I AM thinking about going "MAC"

His favorite fictional television programs are Mash and The Wire.
I loved the Wire when it was on, but wasn't a big fan of Mash.

He plans to install a basketball court in the White House.
I have a basketball court at my complex.

His late father was a senior economist for the Kenyan government.
My daddy worked for the Chicago and Indianapolis Post Offices.

His speciality as a cook is chili.
That's one of MY specialities as well.

He wears $1,500 Hart Schaffner Marx suits.
I don't wear suits any more, but I do have a Coach bag and a Prada bag that were gifted to me.

He keeps a carving of a wooden hand holding an egg on his desk, a Kenyan symbol of the fragility of life.
I keep a Bencini of Italy art piece on my desk.


He repaid his student loan only four years ago after signing his book deal.
I worked overtime for 2 years and repaid my ex-husband's student loan before he even graduated!

He owns four identical pairs of black size 11 shoes.
I have duplicates of arts and crafts supplies. LOL

He would have liked to have been an architect if he were not a politician.
I would have liked to have been born rich - period.

His desk in his Senate office once belonged to Robert Kennedy.
My desk at work once belonged to another employee.

He collects Spider-Man and Conan the Barbarian comics.
I collect ephemera.

He visited Wokingham, Berks, in 1996 for the stag party of his half-sister's fiancé, but left when a stripper arrived.
I would have stayed and partied!

His name means "one who is blessed" in Swahili.
The name Sherry is of English origin and is the phonetic spelling version of a French name "Cherie". It is believed to mean "dear" in French.

He ate dog meat, snake meat, and roasted grasshopper while living in Indonesia.

I have eaten snake meat as well. However, I have not "knowingly" eaten dog meat or roasted grasshopper.

So, what do YOU have in common with our President elect?