Sharry Miller

Birthdays and Old Friends

Today is my best childhood friend's birthday. Wendy and I became friends in first grade and were inseparable through our junior year. Unfortunately, we grew apart as seniors and never became close again. We've kept in touch occasionally through the years and Facebook has made it easier to keep tabs on each other, but it's just not the same. So much has happened in each of our lives that we both should have been there... Read more →

Headlong into Geekdom

The worst is happening. Thane and I are having a Rowan-free evening so we decided to go out for dinner. As we're sitting there finishing our beers, what's the best we can come up with?: Pulling out our cell phones to check out a direction-finding application. So much for real conversation. Now we're sitting at home: I was checking my e-mail on the computer while downloading a geocaching app on my phone and Thane's browsing... Read more →

An Extra Day Off

One of these months I'm going to take an actual stay-cation. Of all the neologisms I've heard, I think that is one of the best: a vacation during which you stay home. Needless to say, it doesn't count if you spend the entirety of it doing chores or otherwise working at home. At least a significant portion needs to be sheer indulgence. If indulgence for you is working in the garden, so be it. Most... Read more →

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ugh! I was doing all right until those two slivers of pecan and pumpkin pie. At that point it officially became Thanksgiving - I was stuffed. We had a fabulous dinner with friends new and old and plenty of wine to drink. Much to be thankful for. My favorite part of visiting Dave and Linda's was trying out the Human Touch massaging chair. I must have one! It doesn't vibrate (which make me a little... Read more →

Thanksgiving Eve

Rowan and I have been cuddled up on the couch watching the Planet Earth episode on mountains. We shared a bowl of popcorn and a rum and coke (no, wait, that was just mine; hers was just a plain diet Pepsi) and oohed and aahed over the snow leopards, pandas and pumas. It was great to look at all of that fabulous mountain terrain and say, "Hey, it looks like that here at home!" Minus... Read more →

Back Home

I had a wonderful time wandering around Seattle this weekend: I got some Christmas shopping done, bought a few things for myself that I didn't really need , and ate delicious curry at Pike's Place Market. As much as I love wandering cities by myself, two days was plenty. Maybe I've just been to Seattle often enough that it doesn't have the novelty to keep me entertained like it used to. Whatever the reason, it's... Read more →

Marriage

Marriage: after 18 years I still wonder what in the hell I'm doing. It just doesn't seem possible some days that two sane adults can coexist in the same household without killing each other. Yet we persevere, and most days are happy and contented with each other and our relationship. Perhaps we're just lucky to have made it this far without self-imploding. (I read somewhere recently that most mid-life crises coincide with one's children becoming... Read more →

The Long History of Glass

In the final few minutes before I concede to the ignominy of going to bed at 8:30 (I only slept about an hour and a half last night), I've been looking at a new book I got today, Warm Glass - A Complete Guide to Kiln-Forming TechniquesbyPhilippa Beveridge, Ignasi Domenech and Eva Pascual. The first chapter (all I've managed to skim so far) is on the history of glass. I was somewhat surprised to learn... Read more →

Planning a Vacation

It shouldn't be so hard just to go on vacation. Every year I spend hours upon hours on the internet trying to find the perfect place to stay and the flights that won't take too long, all at the right time. It wouldn't be so difficult if Thane weren't so picky. We frequently go to the Big Island of Hawaii, but have never stayed in the same place twice. Thane always wants somewhere that is... Read more →

Glass with Rowan's Class

As part of a leadership project, Rowan's fourth grade class had a sleepover at the school last night. They did a scavenger hunt to collect food for the food bank, had snacks, played games and engaged in all the usual shenanigans (or so I hear). Thane and I thought we were free for the night, but a few days ahead Mrs. Beck called to ask if I'd do a craft project with the kids. I... Read more →