"All Too Human: A Political History"
"The Glass Castle"
"The End of Mr. Y"
"PopCo"
Just lately... without getting up to look at my books, off the top of my head.
~Mari...
valentine's flowers
Almost a month later and I finally get around to posting them. In a few more weeks I should have some more images to post -- I've crocheted something that I want to display AFTER I give it to the recipient. Right now I'm working on crocheting a lining for my granny cart. Will post images of that when I'm finished too.
Not sure WHY I haven't been updating. I haven't sent a proper update since early January. There's plenty to say... I just don't know. I intend to try to do updates again, say maybe once a month at least... I've got to start though. So we'll see.
~Mari...
PS The flowers are from Shawn. :) They were delivered with the wrong card: "Hey baby, I wish I were there to deliver these personnelly. I have much love in my heart for you." The girls at work thought I was a horrible person for laughing -- but I KNEW my PhD-to-be wouldn't write like that... Moo haha!
Not sure WHY I haven't been updating. I haven't sent a proper update since early January. There's plenty to say... I just don't know. I intend to try to do updates again, say maybe once a month at least... I've got to start though. So we'll see.
~Mari...
PS The flowers are from Shawn. :) They were delivered with the wrong card: "Hey baby, I wish I were there to deliver these personnelly. I have much love in my heart for you." The girls at work thought I was a horrible person for laughing -- but I KNEW my PhD-to-be wouldn't write like that... Moo haha!
Shawn's GRIP
Here's the first picture of the Oklahoma Christmas trip. I have more that I intend to send out links to on my e-mail list... It's just finding the time, hopefully tomorrow for MLK day. ~mari.
MSCL 5.7 Mari Christmas, Baby
Greetings from the land of the oddest weather ever. Here it is December 18, and it is downright sweltering outside!!!
I hope you all are having a great Christmas season anyway and that the weather holds out for all of us travelers in the coming week. I wanted to e-mail a quick schedule of when and where I'll be in OK.
My last day in the office is December 20, and I leave around 3 p.m., at least that's the plan. Then Shawn and I will drive to his hometown for Christmas dinner. We will stay there until Friday afternoon, and we will fly to my hometown on Friday, Dec. 22.
Shawn and I went to the Christmas lights again in DC -- saw the Capitol Christmas Tree and the White House Tree. SO much fun. We also walked around Old Town Alexandria this weekend and it's all lit up and just so Christmassy (despite the bizarre weather!)... So it's good times around here. I bought some purple Christmas lights and Shawn hung them around my balcony glass door, and I have a ceramic little tree that Beth got me at a garage sale a few years ago. That's the extent of my Christmas decorations though.
I've been crocheting up a storm though -- a small snow storm in fact. Next year I hope to learn how to make angels. Gran has to teach me how to get the starch right though.
I've been having some problems with my eyes, nothing major but still annoying. I wear contacts and since starting this job have been working 9 or 10 hour days regularly and sometimes much longer. The majority of my job consists of working at a computer, and while I have a flat screen, I am in a cubicle, so the lighting is harsh and my eyes have taken a beating because of it. I went to the eye doctor (for a check up and also because I was having a lot of trouble seeing with my glasses -- it just wasn't safe to go out wearing them because I was afraid of being an even WORSE driver!). SO, the eye doctor said my corneas were scratched from the contacts and that my eyes were inflamed and irritated, etc. SO, long story short, I got my glasses prescription updated and have been wearing those nonstop plus putting drops in my eyes as often as I can remember. (Plus some gooey-er stuff before bed) My eyes feel better, but they're not completely healed yet. I will probably be able to wear contacts again (and a higher dollar version of them!) in another week or so. I like my glasses, but I don't like having to wear them ALL the time. I will just be glad when my eyes are healed.
In other medical malady news, I went to the dentist for the first time in two years and had my first cavity filled! Yipes. I guess that's good, and I hope that I have no more. It was a small one. I really like the dentist I found. She's about my age and just really nice and likes to educate her patients, which is always nice. She didn't give me a toothbrush after the cleaning though. Isn't that weird? I thought it was mandatory protocol for dentists to distribute toothbrushes. Oh well.
Everything else is rolling right along. I work a lot and Shawn and I play on the weekends. Mostly watching silly movies or doing things around town. We've been shopping a lot lately for Christmas stuff plus we spent this weekend baking/making candy to take to his family.
I've been in a Sunday school class for a couple months now. We're reading a really awful book, but the discussions are better and it's nice to know new people. I haven't seen any of them outside of the class (I guess that would be too friendly of me!), but I enjoy it none-the-less.
I had a great birthday with Shawn and his family. They treated me so nice while we were there for Thanksgiving. We got to play with the kids a lot (they range from 9 months to 10 years I believe) and ate so much I thought we were going to pop. This is my golden year, so I anticipate great things after turning 26 on the 26th. I even got a little charm necklace with those numbers on it. Very funny. I am such a nerd, and I know it so you don't have to tell me. :)
So that's an update on me and all the goings on here. Pretty standard stuff, just plugging along. Send me updates from you too! Would love to know how it's going.
Merry Christmas! Hope to see many of you very soon. Only 4 more sleeps til Auntie M squeezes Baby O!!!
Love, Mari...
I hope you all are having a great Christmas season anyway and that the weather holds out for all of us travelers in the coming week. I wanted to e-mail a quick schedule of when and where I'll be in OK.
My last day in the office is December 20, and I leave around 3 p.m., at least that's the plan. Then Shawn and I will drive to his hometown for Christmas dinner. We will stay there until Friday afternoon, and we will fly to my hometown on Friday, Dec. 22.
Shawn and I went to the Christmas lights again in DC -- saw the Capitol Christmas Tree and the White House Tree. SO much fun. We also walked around Old Town Alexandria this weekend and it's all lit up and just so Christmassy (despite the bizarre weather!)... So it's good times around here. I bought some purple Christmas lights and Shawn hung them around my balcony glass door, and I have a ceramic little tree that Beth got me at a garage sale a few years ago. That's the extent of my Christmas decorations though.
I've been crocheting up a storm though -- a small snow storm in fact. Next year I hope to learn how to make angels. Gran has to teach me how to get the starch right though.
I've been having some problems with my eyes, nothing major but still annoying. I wear contacts and since starting this job have been working 9 or 10 hour days regularly and sometimes much longer. The majority of my job consists of working at a computer, and while I have a flat screen, I am in a cubicle, so the lighting is harsh and my eyes have taken a beating because of it. I went to the eye doctor (for a check up and also because I was having a lot of trouble seeing with my glasses -- it just wasn't safe to go out wearing them because I was afraid of being an even WORSE driver!). SO, the eye doctor said my corneas were scratched from the contacts and that my eyes were inflamed and irritated, etc. SO, long story short, I got my glasses prescription updated and have been wearing those nonstop plus putting drops in my eyes as often as I can remember. (Plus some gooey-er stuff before bed) My eyes feel better, but they're not completely healed yet. I will probably be able to wear contacts again (and a higher dollar version of them!) in another week or so. I like my glasses, but I don't like having to wear them ALL the time. I will just be glad when my eyes are healed.
In other medical malady news, I went to the dentist for the first time in two years and had my first cavity filled! Yipes. I guess that's good, and I hope that I have no more. It was a small one. I really like the dentist I found. She's about my age and just really nice and likes to educate her patients, which is always nice. She didn't give me a toothbrush after the cleaning though. Isn't that weird? I thought it was mandatory protocol for dentists to distribute toothbrushes. Oh well.
Everything else is rolling right along. I work a lot and Shawn and I play on the weekends. Mostly watching silly movies or doing things around town. We've been shopping a lot lately for Christmas stuff plus we spent this weekend baking/making candy to take to his family.
I've been in a Sunday school class for a couple months now. We're reading a really awful book, but the discussions are better and it's nice to know new people. I haven't seen any of them outside of the class (I guess that would be too friendly of me!), but I enjoy it none-the-less.
I had a great birthday with Shawn and his family. They treated me so nice while we were there for Thanksgiving. We got to play with the kids a lot (they range from 9 months to 10 years I believe) and ate so much I thought we were going to pop. This is my golden year, so I anticipate great things after turning 26 on the 26th. I even got a little charm necklace with those numbers on it. Very funny. I am such a nerd, and I know it so you don't have to tell me. :)
So that's an update on me and all the goings on here. Pretty standard stuff, just plugging along. Send me updates from you too! Would love to know how it's going.
Merry Christmas! Hope to see many of you very soon. Only 4 more sleeps til Auntie M squeezes Baby O!!!
Love, Mari...
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...
but i love my job!
~mari...
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.
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...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Want to Order a Crochet Hat?
Thanks for your interest in silvermari crochet hats . Most of what I make are sized for infants and toddlers, although I can size up and dow...
-
Official artwork of this time *I love my initials* Housekeeping: I reverted the design of this blog back to "simply classic" o... -
Having just survived a big road trip with a 25-month-old I thought I'd share a couple successes for keeping her entertained. It was by n... -
OMG. I screwed up and missed November 13!