birthday necklace

 

Mari's So-Called Life 5.6 (truncated version)

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--I just realized the last "real" update I sent was July 23! Apologies. I have been regularly updating http://silvermari.blogspot.com with pictures, etc. So even when I'm a doof about sending mass updates you can check that. PLUS I always respond to one-on-one e-mails!

So I had an update written out and Firefox shut down, so I'm re-doing this. I should know better. But there you go.

The job takes up my entire life it seems, and it is INTENSE. I work more than I ever thought I possibly could. In terms of how the job is affecting me, it's good and bad. I'm gaining a lot of great experience and the people I work with/for are great. I'm exhausted though and insomniatic -- I can't get to sleep most nights because I'm worried about all the projects that are going on and what I may have forgotten (an example: I left a powercord to a laptop at an event venue…we got it back, but it was still a major stressor!). I work 9 a.m. until as late as 7 p.m. I rarely leave before 6 p.m. (we're supposed to go home at 5:30). But my boss stays late (she gets in around 10 most days) and there is ALWAYS more work to be done. I am a stickler for deadlines, and a lot of the work I do depends on other people, causing me to miss deadlines… It's a struggle but I'm making it.

Physically I haven't been taking the time to work out or really take care of myself other than basic things. I get home at night exhausted and just want to lie down… not work out. So I hope to get started on waking up early and getting the workout over with… I'm such an anti-morning person though so we'll see how it goes. I feel much better when I exercise -- I sleep better, etc. etc. so I just have to keep that in mind.

Last weekend Shawn and I went sailing with Dr. Nemecek and her husband, Glen. My undergrad thesis adviser was visiting DC on a book tour (I think) and so it was really fun to catch up with her. Shawn got to be "Commodore Walker" for a while and take control of the boat. That was exciting!

I got to go home for Owen's second birthday. It seems insane that he's already a little toddler instead of an infant. Life just goes by SO fast. He's growing and doing great, learning to speak. He can say "Mari," although it sound a little like "me-me" it's the BEST sound in the world. I love that kid. He's getting better about talking on the phone and we still web cam every week. It just isn't the same as living near enough to see him more than a few times a year. This is my main turmoil in life: wanting to be in two places at once: home in that life with Owen, Gran, Beth, Mama, etc. and here in this life with Shawn and my job, etc. Really how do you balance the two? Any suggestions are welcome…

My two worlds will collide at Christmas time. Shawn will be coming with me for Christmas. It is insanely scary but I think it will be a good time. I've got my vacation time approved and we have bought our plane tickets. I have to save my pennies to pay for the ticket, and I need to start my Christmas shopping… One thing I have to say is NO TICKLE ME ELMO FOR OWEN! Seriously… I guess that's really Beth's request, and she may differ from my opinion, but I can't imagine anything more annoying…

If you want the "full" version, e-mail me. ~Mari.

9/23/06: Sailing in Annapolis

Mari, Maureen & Jami on the Seville, Maureen & Glen's sailboat. What fun we had! 

Sailing 9/23/06

Shawn at the beginning of our sailing adventure.


Commodore Walker


Mari (w/ Glen in the background) 

Owen is TWO (5)

YUMMO!

Nonni Wanda and Owen

Having some grapes and milk for breakfast -- b'fast of champions!

Birthday offering with "Pa" and Momma Beth 

Owen is TWO (4)

Oh the party will be fun!

WOW, Momma Beth is H-O-T-T!

Riding on the new tricycle from Dan & Georgia.

Eating the birthday cake that Momma Beth slaved over. YUMMO! 

Owen is TWO! (3)

Double fisting: Juice and Milk

Heart shaped potato chip -- what are the odds?

Pre-party juice and new Thomas the Tank Engine video

First look around the party room 

Owen is TWO! (2)

I think I've seen this picture before!

Eating some grapes.

With a present from Aunt Lee Ann -- a pig puppet! (Plus a dog, cat and horse puppet)

The Cat and pig puppets -- plus Momma Beth wearing Auntie M's shoes! 

Owen is TWO!

Auntie M. Loves Baby O!

See how much fun we have?

Owen and Aunt Lee Ann

Sometimes Auntie M squeezes TOO much! 

Make Mine Virginia Wine...

Good times with Gunther and his girlfriend Jennie. The four of us went wine tasting in Loudon County... Good times and good wine. Things got a little cranky at the end because of a lack of food throughout the day. It was my first time to go to a tasting. You can see we bought a bottle at this winery. Woo! Now Shawn and I will have to find reasons to drink it! We are so non-lushes...

In other news, I finally had people over for "housewarming" -- and it was fun. Very small crowd, but it was somewhat short notice and I wasn't expecting much. I made crab dip, which went over really well, and Brooke made peach pie.

I am contemplating buying my name as a URL... I am so dumb but I would like to have that. It would be less than $20 a year, so maybe it's worth it... We'll see. It is still available though...

I am going to get back to it -- some laundry, dishes, etc. I need to prep for the workweek, etc. It's only FIVE more sleeps til I squeeze a Bubba Max! YIPPIE!!!!!!

~Mari... 

riddle me this

HOW does one figure out what type of car insurance one needs? And how might she get all that finished up? Well when she is me, it is a rough question and tough stuff. I am slowly muddling my way thru, and hope to have insurance within the next few days (perhaps tomorrow) that is different from what i have been on (my parents' policy)... being an adult blows.

but i love my job!

~mari...

The Swamp - Chicago Tribune - Blogs.

The Swamp - Chicago Tribune - Blogs.

No FUN being an adult

I'm sure it's less fun than being a baby, although Owen might disagree.

At issue 1) a dispute with comcast over some creditors they have sent after me regarding arbitrary numbers for which I never received actual comcast bills. I *think* I have it taken care of, and two customer service reps (one from PG and one from Alexandria because I've had service in both areas) called me within a day or two of me e-mailing the complaint letters (and I sent those letters snail mail to the actual creditors on monday). It's possible this is because I sent the letters not only to the comcast e-mail for customer service but ALSO to the PR office, mentioning the fact that I am a trained journalist (not exactly a lie, right?)... Hrm.

2) Apparently I was supposed to get my car licensed, insured, etc. in VA w/in 30 days of moving here, SO I'm giving myself 30 days from today because I just realized this and I can't rewind time. It is going to be a pain in the ass but at least I have Friday afternoons off in August to spend at the DMV, etc. I've been searching the internet for insurance quotes, and they range so much it's hard to know what's what. I don't understand liability, etc. I can't believe I have a master's degree and I'm so INEPT at just functioning in an adult world. GAH!

Today at work was good. I went to a PRSA blogging event and found out about ways to get media exposure in blogs and some ideas for starting a blog at the actual company. We'll see though. Some people seem very against the idea of a blog, and we do have more work than we can possibly do with the staff we have now so we'll see.

I'm really tired and have no new pictures to post. I promised an update about the Danville adventure and hopefully it's coming, probably intermingled with my first visit to the VA DMV. And I keep calling it a state even though it's a commonwealth. I don't live in a county either. It's the city of Alexandria, and it's just not in a county. so weird.

SO tired. ~Mari.

HYSTERICAL

I found this picture as I was browsing my Picasa files and nearly died laughing. It's from our New York trip in March. Sorry for all the picture entries -- they're the kind I love best though! ~Mari... 

Baby O

THIS is what love looks like. He's a precious little moo hoo and I can't imagine anyone more loveable. I think I am too doting but I cannot help it. I love this child and everything about him. So there it is.

~Mari!... 

Dispatch from Danville -- July 29, 2006

This is delayed, and I need to write a complete update about it, but here is a brief view in pictures:

The first is a cowgirl I made with the confetti on the table at the anniversary/birthday party, which was a BLAST (as you can see by subsequent pictures).

The picture of Shawn and Dale (his mom) is from earlier in the day when we were sitting in her carport (she and Steve have cats, to which I'm quite allergic, and luckily in the shade with a fan we were OK to sit outside and visit!).

The next is of me and Shawn. Weird that my (blue) eyes were "red" but in the pic with Shawn and his mom and the same pic with Shawn -- their (brown) eyes were NOT "red." Curious. Although I'm sure the daylight had something to do with the Shawn/Dale normal eyes... Or maybe I'm just EVIL!

After that is a pic of Shawn and a couple of his buddies from high school days: Aaron and Josh. Kyle had already left, but there was quite the D&D contingent at this party... Ah, memories. :)

One more post and then I'm off. ~Mari.




 

Daddy & Jack

THIS is Indiahoma.

Here is my dad with Grandpa's llama, Jack. He and Shawn have a running joke that he (Daddy) will ride Jack to UMD for Shawn's graduation... Hope that isn't a requirement for Shawn to graduate, otherwise he really WILL be a professional student even more than he is!

~Mari...


 

Perfect 10s and the Odds of a Pink Nursery

Perfect 10s and the Odds of a Pink Nursery

Blogging from work is wrong, but this is TOO funny! ~Mari.

Indiahoma, Oklahoma (OK) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hotels, hospitals, schools, crime

Indiahoma, Oklahoma (OK) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hotels, hospitals, schools, crime

This is the FUNNIEST web site I've seen in some time. Ah, home.

~Mari.

Mari's So-Called Life 5.5

This is just a quick update on a few things. Namely the fact that I posted pictures of my apartment and a cheesy self-made floor plan. :) You'll have to come visit if you want to see for yourself! See entry below for "coded" message about where to find these pictures -- available if you know me.

Fourth of July was fun. We survived a torrential downpour and watched the fireworks in front of the White House. Pretty cool, huh?

I'm busy busy busy at work and life is just rocking along. It's hot here, but my AC has been working OK *knock on wood* and it's ALWAYS cold at work.

Otherwise things are just the same, and I'm filling my time with apartment arranging, searching for a table top (see the plywood in one of the apartment pictures) and counting down to Oklahoma time with Baby O! He turns two on Aug. 30, and I will be in I-town for his party on Sept. 1! WOO HOO.

Best wishes, and let me know what you think about the apartment. :)

~Mari...