About Me

Hello! My name is Shari. Rhymes with "starry."

I live in my adopted hometown of Las Vegas. Well, that's my postal address, anyway. Very few people who live in Las Vegas actually live in Las Vegas, you know? Even the Strip's not in Las Vegas proper.

I love it here. Snowy mountains, national parks, isolation, plenty to look at, lots of food-and-free-stuff deals for locals, and a short commute to Disneyland and the Pacific ocean. People do drive like idiots, though, and it's probably pretty bad that I've started using expressions like, "It's only 108 degrees today. Not too bad."

I arrived on a cold Thursday in January 2005, and I doubt I'll move again until it's time to settle down overseas. Which brings us to...

I'm married to a splendid man named Mike. He's Australian, tall, cheerful, kind, and smart. And super funny. (I'm just saying.) We met online back in 1997. He wasn't able to move here until 2006. That was difficult. But, so worth it. Never let a little geography get you down, right?

Because I have a pulse and a license and perhaps because my heart is essentially good, someone has seen fit to give me a job as a high school English teacher. In theory, I love this job. I love empowering people, love the content, and love the schedule (even if the timetable is never quite as breezy as people think).

In practice, I teach at an inner city school, and it's beginning to wear me down. The daily lack of preparation, the apathy, the tensions over speaking Spanish vs. English, the struggle to get people to stand for the pledge and not say "The United States of Mexico"... I could go on. I often do.

However, I've temporarily "unpublished" most of my recent posts about teaching - even the venting was getting me down. (Update: The 2009-10 school year seems better. Could be the AP classes talking.)

Mike and I have three little Russian dwarf hamsters. We've had a "hamily" going for eightish years, and we're just crazy about our pets. Just when we think we're done (the average lifespan of a dwarf is 18 months), we do something stupid like pop in to the SPCA to "just look around." (The SPCA, where every hamster is pre-loaded with special bonus hamsters that arrive after you get home.) So, every once in awhile this turns into a hamster blog. Try not to squirm.

Before I was a teacher in Las Vegas, I lived in Texas and ran the web development operations of an ISP. (An ISP that my entrepreneurial father started within weeks of me showing him the Internet, so amplifying the bonding and the stress by 100.) I was also the technology columnist for a certain newspaper of respectable size. All of that lasted about ten years and feels like a long time ago. For now, it's better that way. There are a lot of crazy hours and crazy people I'd like to put behind me.

Before that, I was all kinds of things in all kinds of places. Clerk, operator, fortune teller... Before moving to Texas in my mid-teens, I grew up in Michigan, amongst other places, with my southern parents, which left me all kinds of messed up. I can't even pronounce "pecan" in front of other people now.

For someone who probably (and regrettably) sometimes comes off as exasperated and intolerant, I really like a lot of stuff. Genealogy, geocaching, photography, ancient coin collecting, stamp collecting, paper crafts, reading, experimental cooking, experimental eating, postcrossing, astronomy, cruising, "hasbeen" concerts, performing Shakespeare in the living room with my agreeable but long-suffering husband, traveling, writing, musing, dancing, Irish language, research of any sort, movies, TV, theatre... pretty much everything except getting a proper haircut, moisturizing, or knowingly offending others.

(I'm not claiming I'm good at any of these things; I just really enjoy them.)

If you want to feed me, I adore Indian, Italian, and Tex-Mex. (I'm also a vegetarian. Mike isn't. Thus, any eye rolling is completely good natured.) But don't feed me too much because, not to scare you away, but I'm pretty fat. I wasn't always fat, but now I am, and it takes time to change these things. I know I'm fat, what with being wealthy enough to own several mirrors (that's my luxurious teacher salary talking), but sometimes people feel a need to tell me. Like, in the comments of a post they don't like. And that's just good common sense, really: if someone happens to mention that they didn't enjoy your favourite movie/book/song/recipe, call them FAT. That'll show 'em.

The "overweight internet nerd" stereotype wouldn't be complete without mentioning that I really like to play World of Warcraft. For the Horde, baby!

I'm 40, I don't have/want kids, and I refuse to finish either of the grad programs I've started no matter how much long-term financial sense it makes. (Because I swore the next degree would be for love, not money, and that means astrophysics or archaeology or maybe even art history, not more English lit. Basically I'm looking to enter the Stargate program, I guess. Alas, adequate funding has yet to appear.)

That's all I can think to say about myself. All I would add is that this website is just a little personal thing, a blog, a diary, a shady porch you've chosen to stroll past in your walk to somewhere more important. If you aren't satisfied with the view, keep walking. If you want to sit down, here's another chair. I'm not fussed. (And if you need to contact me, leave a comment on any post.)

(Note: this post was actually written on 5 December 2007 and is updated as needed. I just changed the date to the start of the blog to keep it separate from the "regular" content.)

Comments

[shari clement]

hi shari,
my nanme is shari too.
i live in australia. i like your web page it's funny and interesting.

[Shari]

Hi Shari in Australia - thanks, and it's great to hear from one of those rare Aussies Sharis! :) (Or at least by husband says they're almost unknown in Perth?)

(Bobby, howdy! I don't think I have anything further on Asa, but I'll look. I'm mostly on hiatus from genealogy again; my Ancestry subscription runs out on Thursday, so that will be that until summer at the soonest. Note: Bobby's comment has been temporarily unpublished to avoid some search engine problems.)

[Shari]

HI! My name is also Shari! I am in lame old Iowa though. Funny. Three Shari's wonder how many more will find their way here!

[HEather in PA]

I've been reading your blog for HOW long and I've been saying your name wrong the WHOLE TIME.

Not that you would ever have known that if I hadn't admitted it. Starry Shari. Not Stare-y Shari. Ok. I'll have to practice that.

:)

Oh, did I ever mention my Bachelor's degree was in Art History?

I love sitting on your porch. It's comfy and the view is fantastic.

[Shari]

Wow, you've been saying my name? ;)

A PERSON WITH A DEGREE IN ART HISTORY HAS BEEN SAYING MY NAME!

I will put an extra soft rug out on the porch just for Sherman. :)

[Heather]

aww, heck, it's just a Bachelor's....

:)

Sherm wags thanks and we both hope you're feeling better soon. How about trying some sorbet? or popsicles? No dairy to make you more phlegmy, nice and cool on the sore throat.... and really, it's just frozen liquid so the upchuck factor should be low, right?

O

[Shari]

Hello Shari, I was walking down the street and seen you relaxing on your porch and thought I would join you for a tea. My name is Shari as well, rhymes with stare-y though. I've never been to vegas but I watch the show (Las Vegas) and I love it, thats as close to the action as I can get. I live in the wonderful country of Canada in the beautiful province of Ontario, not far from Niagra Falls, thats where our casinos are haha, been there TONS of times, I think I'd go bankrupt if I lived in vegas, and its a darn good thing that The fall is about a 45 minute drive from me, not worth the gas money to lose more money, just for fun once in awhile. Well thanks for the tea, Take care
Shari from ON

[NIkky]

Hi Shari,
I read ur blog , really interesting . I read it twice. Yu seem so be interesting dude.
~Nikky

[Nikky]

Hav a look @ my blog too, and let me knw how I can make it more interesting and nice.
http://awaitedfriend.blogspot.com/

[shari aslam]

OMG
mi name is shari tooooooo
i have never known anybody with the name of shari in mi entire life that's why i typed in www.shari.com and look wat i found ike 4 peepz with the name shari hey i like experimental cooking and art too. Experimental cooking is fun even though it dosen't always taste nice.

luv ya
shari

[Shari M]

Hi Sharis everywhere!!!
Yes I am indeed another.
I aldo love experimental cooking cant use a recipes to save myself! Boyfriend wants to put camera in my kitchen to be able to write down recipes, Good Luck.
I am formerly a fashion designer but now manage holiday apartment on Manly Beach Sydney Australia.
I have Much better lifestyle now.
Ciao

[sharie]

hello!!! im sharie 2 very nice nme!!! well!!! hehheheh,, lots of things in common!! hmmm,,, i think we can get along well too..
by the way tke care and glad 2 c ur site!!

[shari jenkins]

Hi! Yet another - Shari, that is. I live in Reno, Nv. Not too far from you, but a world of difference. I, like you, love it here. We have less sever weather than Vegas and so much to do.
Anyways, I enjoyed reading your blog, and just wanted to add another "Shari" to your list.
Good wishes to you!

[shari s.]

hi!:) just adding myself to the "shari list".. this is fun.. Btw,my name also rhymes with starry.. take care!

[shari s.]

one more thing in common, I'm also a teacher.. :)

[Shari BB]

It's a Starey-Shari here, since all the other Sharis are dropping by to say hi. I'm from Canmore, Alberta, a lovely mountain town. I have enjoyed your stories about your hammily, the oddities and perks of LV, and your struggles to educate inner city youth. I'm in marketing now, but worked in community newspapers for the first 15 years of my career. I like how you put yourself out there, so bravely, for all to see. I admire that. It's really the only way to be, I think. I have always liked people who are those 'what-you-see-is-what-you-get' kind of folks. I come from those kind of people. Good luck to you, enjoy your hotter-than-Bejesus summer, and know that you have admirers, Sharis and surely many others!

[mcbrecycle]

"the Strip" IS in what you call "las vegas" proper. what the hell are you talking about?
i hate transplants...
-LV native

[Shari]

Sorry to incur your ire (if not actual "hate" - my goodness), but I was referring to the funny fact that the actual city of Las Vegas is north of Sahara, leaving out most of the (popular part of) the Strip.

Obviously the cultural boundaries of Las Vegas are different, but that wasn't my original point. It was just a fun bit of trivia to share that not everyone knows.

That said, the legal boundaries of LV have been important to some of us at times, such as when the city was offering incentives for teachers willing to live in or work in actual Las Vegas.

I hope this clarification helps. I'm sorry that you hate transplants, but some of us are a necessary evil. I was recruited from out of state because there weren't enough local teachers.

Hopefully this, along with a willingness to respect the existing culture of my new hometown (from changing how I pronounce "Nevada" to even caring where the borders of things are), might mitigate your low opinion of me.

[Allie]

Hi Shari!

I'm a huge fan of your blog. I wanted to give you a heads up about a new site, ideeli, that you would enjoy. I actually work for the site, and we sell really great bags and accessories at unbelievable prices. I thought you might want to check it out and see what we've got coming soon, because you (and all of us who read your blog!) should always be in the know about sites like this one. It's members-only, but if you'd like to see what's up on the site, you may use my private code: vip1. Just go to www.ideeli.com to see for yourself :) If you like the site, we'd love you to feature us, and I'd be happy to set up a special invite code for your readers - just let me know!

Best,

Allie

[Shari]

Thanks Allie. Hey, are you related to Emily?

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2007/12/17/diamonds-were-a-girls-best-friend-now-its-ideeli/#comment-229466

:)

[Jeri]

Shari,

WOW! Apparently, we are related somehow. I've been trying to trace the Montpellier line as well - as Sara Montpellier was my great great grandmother (and also the granddaughter of the Montpellier-Nezat line.) Would love to hear from you and find out your connection.

Best Wishes -

Jeri

[Lauren]

Hi, Shari! I actually found your website in a (thus far) unfruitful quest to find a way to get the delicious Smart Watermelon soda to my little apartment in Michigan. My husband and I will have to console ourselves and our cats for a bit longer, I suppose. It's a neat place you've got here, though, and I'm glad I stopped by.

For the horde!
-Lauren

[Jason]

Hi Shari,
I was reading your very interesting page (and great pictures) of the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA. The history there is so interesting, as are the ghost stories. I recall my trip there back in 2003. I have this fear of getting stuck in an elevator, and the members of my "party" decided they really wanted to take the elevator, as old as it is. We did, and we survived, but the waiting for the door to open (which took about 25 seconds after the elevator had reached the floor) about drove me crazy. I took the stairs the rest of the day there.

But the most interesting part comes at the ever-so-popular propeller box. Much like you, this scares the absolute daylights out of me! You put it perfectly when you said something about boat propellers and running gear looking scary underwater, it's so true! I am a boater and own a mid sized twin engine boat. I am afraid to put on goggles and go under the water, the site of the propellers makes me so scared. So you can imagine how nervous I got while looking at the propeller on the Queen Mary. I couldn't even imagine being the guy who's in charge of collecting the change from the bottom, or cleaning that tank. No way!!!!!

Was there a mannequin dummy diver in there when you went? They had a mannequin dressed in a diving suit, complete with a mask, air tank, etc when we were there. That was freaky looking too, but not nearly as bad as that prop! Ewwwwwwwwww!!!!

[Shari G]

Hi Shari
I was wondering if you wanted to sell your domain name shari.com?

[Shari]

Gee - more Shari's in this world. I say my name as S-Hary. but you are right only WE say it correctly.

Love the site and learning more about US - those that call themselves SHARI

and i though there were few of us. I am from New Jersey - but now in a small town in Georiga, USA
Dahlonega.

thanks

shari

[Tobias]

Hi there...
I was just sitting here writing code for a customer's website and looking for some random comment to hide in one of the files (one of way we coders amuse ourselves).

Suddenly I remembered the phrase "Have you found the lost Hawaiians" which was etched around the inside track of one of my sisters Adam and the Ants albums.

We used to puzzle over that question. I think I looked up the phrase on Google a few years ago, but there wasn't much about it.

Anyway, I thought I'd give it another shot, and your blog was right there near the top of Google results.

So I thought I'd say hello.

Hello!

[Shari]

LOL Tobias! Thanks for the howdy. The vinyl whispers of Adam Ant live on!

I used to be in web dev, but I never wrote anything that cool in the HTML/perl/whatever code. I was more the "ARGH! FIX THIS FLIPPIN' KLUDGE LATER" type. Kudos to you for raising the bar of cleverness. :)

You inspired me to poke around the web and I found VinylRemarks.com, but no one has listed the Ants there. Shhhh - I guess the secret handshake of the new wave movement continues...

[Rhonda]

This is your cousin. Would love to hear from you