sluggiest tuesday ever

Bad things that I've done/have happened SO FAR today:
  • Awoken to intercom buzzer after Shawn has left for work (I know I should have better sleeping habits and be up-and-at-em earlier) - it's the window repair guy, sent to fix the window that's been broken as long as Shawn has lived here and that he reported at that time. No notice that someone was going to come fix it - let alone first thing in the morning.
  • I welcome this workman stranger into my home while wearing PJ's and a hastily thrown on sweatshirt to save face (or save something else, if you know what I mean)
  • It takes TWO HOURS to fix the window - which involves breaking the window entirely, leaving it effectively open for 1.5 hours (brrr ... and did I mention I was still in my PJ's? hard to get dressed when you live in one room and there's a stranger IN that one room), and an overwhelming chemical smell that he said was the silicon/caulking stuff.
  • Two work things that made me want to crawl into a hole - one just a circumstance and the other totally my fault - nothing bad will happen but I just hate it.
So it has been a bad, bad day. I need to go out to the post office and mail off some birthday gifts to my Feb. 23 birthday girls. Really all I want to do is turn out the lights, crawl under the covers and wait until it's Wednesday, which will hopefully be better. Right? Right? Right?

[In the grand scheme of things, I DO know these are petty, stupid complaints but it's been a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day for me]

What I Love ...


Shawn Owen SI Ferry
Originally uploaded by silvermari
On Twitter someone suggested posting a picture of something you love on Valentine's ... I couldn't remember my Flickr password to share this one of my Valentine husband and sweet baby nephew - on the Staten Island Ferry last summer. Aren't they CUTE?! My precious moo - hoo's.

Ads I Hate: Open Hearts


I think this jewelry looks like two parts of the female anatomy - boobs and butt. And I think it's gross. (How's that for juvenile and unpersuasive?) The ads themselves rub me the wrong way too - mostly that she's so proud of a swirled mark being turned into jewelry. That said, I loved Dr. Quinn - a favorite show I watched with my grandparents when I was a kid...

Shakesville has a series called "Assvertising" - less about commercials or advertisements that annoy them and more about such things that exploit women/are offensive for some reason. Here's the latest about McDonald's ads targeting Starbucks "elitism" - with links to the previous 41 (!) Ass-vertising posts they've previously done.

Jezebel also has a similar series (Badvertising), which co-incides with my loathing of specific commercials, such as the Oreo Cookie 100 Calorie pack TV ad - which is absolutely insane. (Because really? REALLY? If women want a snack, they'll just go buy it - not chase down a guy in a truck for it - and that's not even the real problem with the ad... Jezebel says it better than me anyway/always).

And in the spirit of not ALWAYS being negative, a couple ads (or at least ad-lines) I've liked recently (literally laughed out loud when I saw both of these):
  • Match.com: "I'm just a goof, looking for her ball."
  • Monster.com: EMT falls backwards at sight of blood. VO: "Need a new job? We can help."
Interesting that they're both traditional TV ads for web sites. Two point oh no.

Good times (or bad, as the case may be).

Thirteen

In honor of Friday the 13th, something scary (image from yesterday, I play around way too much on the computer after work):


Looks like this site could be a way to make digital photos into cartoons (a la our 2008 Christmas Card, although I did that myself in a photo editor)...

Five Simple Things I Like

A post today on Productivity 501 has got me thinking - what are five simple things that I like? And to be honest, this is kind of hard. Not because I want expensive, extravagant or luxury things (give me a bedbug-free life and I'd think I was a queen), but because I am so negative these days. Like wading through murk of my own making - or something like that.

1. Webcamming with Owen - did this last night and we had fun stealing each other's noses through the Internet. He was too cute eating his cookies - but he couldn't share, since I'm "just on the computer, silly."

2. In the spirit of Valentine's, a smooch from Dr. Walker (and we're talking my husband, not my undergrad English professor who gave me the only B of my OSU career - let's talk irony - but that's another post entirely)

3. A completed crochet project. There is nothing more satisfying than finishing a blanket, especially for a baby, and knowing all the time, love and energy that went into it.

4. Hot black coffee. I have been remiss and not making myself java lately - and I miss it. The dark bitter taste and smooth richness going down my throat.

5. A piece of white page and a freshly sharpened pencil (or full fountain pen). Sure typing and blogging is fun, but there's something comforting and nostalgic about writing in long hand. I take notes and scribble here and here, but I do still make time to write in a regular journal, although they take me longer to finish each book since I supplement with electronic musings. In fact, I finished a beautiful leather-bound book last week - chronicled just under 3 years of my life and was a Valentine's present from Shawn in 2006. I also love a stack of notebook paper - that gave me a thrill even in high school, trying to write stories or notes to the boyfriend.

So I guess it doesn't take much - and this was a good exercise (and my list is confirmed by the fact that the five things - Owen, Shawn, Crochet, Coffee and Writing - are already tags for posts on this blog). You should make a list of five simple things you like too!

FWD: The Banana Test

There is a very, very tall coconut tree and there are 4 animals, a Lion, a Chimpanzee, a Giraffe and a Squirrel.


They decide to compete to see who is the fastest to get a banana off the tree.



Who do you guess will win?



Your answer will reflect your personality.


So think carefully . . .

Try and answer within 30 seconds. Got your answer?

Now scroll down to see the analysis.













If your answer is:

Lion = you're dull.
Chimpanzee = you're dense.
Giraffe = you're a complete moron.
Squirrel = you're hopeless.


A COCONUT TREE DOESN'T HAVE BANANAS.
Obviously you're stressed and overworked.
You should take some time off and rela

Metallic

Sitting in the apartment/office/home/whatever - and am suddenly overwhelmed by a metallic smell. I've smelled it at least once before - either this week or last - and thought nothing of it. But now my Scooby senses are tingling (that's a thing, right?).

Yesterday I went to mail my valentine cards and man got on the elevator on the 4th floor - he was a worker I didn't recognize and had on a white Hazmat-type suit, plus booties over his shoes and a mask. I saw another similarly suited dude at the service entrance to our building when I walked past... I didn't have the nerve to ask them or the doorman what was going on. BUT ...

All I can think is bedbugs on the fourth floor. AND now that I can smell this metallicy awful smell - with the knowledge of the suited workers - I am guessing that the apartment directly beneath ours is being sprayed for bugs, which means, of course, that the bugs that were in our apartment have migrated down. Perhaps this could have been prevented if the apartment below ours had been informed of OUR spraying?

Whatever the case, I find myself more and more disgusted with our building management and the utter disregard for tenants' safety and general well-being. I've been feeling massively depressed for a few days and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Maybe the chemicals are leeching into my system and making me even sadder then I might normally be. I should get out more, but I've known that for a while.

Horoscope

Ominous? No - because I'm conscious of all my growing frustrations...

You may be more willing to put in extra effort this year to get ahead professionally. Today, however, you might be tired of all the hard work. Pay careful attention to your feelings, for if you are unconscious about any growing frustrations, they can create problems down the road. Holding them in might be okay for a short while, but could lead to unexpressed resentment or even an emotional outburst. Sharing your feelings with a friend now should help to alleviate the tension.

[Review] Atonement

Atonement Atonement by Ian McEwan


My review


rating: 2 of 5 stars
Again, shouldn't have picked a book just because I'd seen the movie. It was well written, I'm sure, but the annoying plot (basically the central THING that happens in the book) drove me crazy and left me trudging through this book - not a good sign. I'd much prefer devouring.


View all my reviews.

Ads I Hate: Valentines

So I'm always making lists, and I started one while watching TV recently of commercials I hate. Thought about making it into a regular feature - since b*tching and moaning are the name of my game. So we'll see. Then I saw this ad on my AOL login screen and thought it deserved a place on the list too. Since it's the week of Valentine's (and why the ad was up in the first place), I thought I'd blog it.



And the reason I hate this ad is NOT because of the sniffle-inducing cat in a weird, non-natural position. It's the fact that Valentine's Day should be a deadline or something for getting a date. I hate, hate, hate it. I can handle the commercialism - God knows our economy needs it - but it's ... implying that a woman's worth is defined, at least on this one day, on whether she has a date WHO WILL SEND HER FLOWERS. Give me a break. Flowers die, which is beside the point. I just think there are more appropriate ways to promote/advertise an online dating service.

~M

Wordle

Wordle: SilverMari

Domesticity

Have been meaning to do a brain dump. I used to write long updates about my life, what I'd been doing, etc. and send them to people from all aspects of my life (lives perhaps) - but I haven't done that since well before I moved to NYC. Maybe I'm not doing anything? Maybe I let blogging serve as the de facto outlet for such writing? But some people who received the "Mari's So-Called Life" e-mails don't read my blog (or don't have e-mail - my mom printed copies for some of the folks at church).

On the home front, we've been slowly re-setting our apartment for comfort. We finally purchased a new comforter (try sleeping with a throw every night when the temps drop well below freezing) - it's an overpriced thing from the Manhattan K-Mart. But it's sufficient. We also trekked to Ikea last weekend and got a Poang chair. It's black framed with a black cushion. It's a glorified lawn chair, I know, but we got the cheapest model/combination that wasn't hideous, and I've finally got a place to sit besides the bed (Shawn doesn't mind sitting in the office chair, but after sitting in it all day every day, I like a little change of pace for my TV watching and crocheting).

Speaking of TV, I have fallen in love with Friday Night Lights. I mean IN LOVE. It's horrifying actually how much I like this show - it could be on par with my love affair with My So-Called Life. If not, definitely like it as much or more than Felicity. FNL reminds me of the good parts of home and my high school life - athletics, crushes and such. Plus the accents just wrap around my heart. Not sure they're entirely accurate, but maybe someday I'll find out. Keep dreaming.

I've got three big work projects. I could write a lot about work, but I won't.

I don't think the heat is working in our building - or something. I've got the windows closed and it's FREEZING. Generally I have to keep the windows cracked to let out some of the oppressive heat from the radiator - if that's even what it is. Meh.

Tired of writing snippets all day so going to change the time and publish. Grrr.

[Photo] Oldie but Goodie


Originally uploaded by silvermari
Man, look at this little kid. This was late 2005 - in a hat I crocheted for him. I made Gran a matching one, which was too small of course. His fit like a glove. I love the toothy smile and the pure joy in his face. I love this kid beyond measure.

Sleep for Cash?

How sad is it that I momentarily considered doing this? (Only problem is I have a day job!)

(18-40 Female )
Participant profile Women aged between 18 and 40 who are willing to come and sleep at the Museum during its opening hours to the public. Volunteers who can make a long-term commitment and who have current valid health insurance will be given priority. The New Museum will cover the cost of a visit to each participant’s regular doctor as well as a prescription for a sleeping aid. Participants will have to come to the museum by 11:45 am, consume a sleeping aid, get into a bed installed in the exhibition space, and sleep as many consecutive hours as possible.
The New Museum seeks participants for Chu Yun performance.

Just a crazy thing that comes across in my RSS feed and I felt the need to share.

ball-ocks

Went to the gym last night for the first time since the Great Ice Skating Debacle of Aught Nine. It hurt, but not really bad. And the way I was compensating for my knee did a number on my calf muscle. But the good news is, I got some exercise. I'm walking almost normally - and feeling pretty good. Probably flat walking would be the thing to do for now - instead of the elliptical which requires a little more joint movement (or am I imagining that?) ... It's a start.

Tonight our plans are to attend an NYU basketball game. They're held at our gym - so I've seen snippets while stretching and so-forth. It's a girls' game at 6 and then the boys at 8. Out the door.

One Word [Meme]

USING ONLY ONE WORD

Where is your cell phone?
desk

Your significant other?
shawnee-poo

Your hair?
frizzled

Your mother?
blonde

Your father?
crazy

Your favorite thing?
TV

Your dream last night?
hairy

Your favorite drink?
coffee

Your dream/goal?
babies!

What room are you in?
bed/living/office/dining

Your hobby?
crochet

Your fear?
bedbugs

Where do you want to be in 6 yrs?
family

Where were you last night?
home

Something that you aren't?
calm

Muffins?
chocolate

Wish list item?
chair

Last thing you did?
swig

What are you wearing?
clothes

TV?
overindulgence

Your pets?
nada

Friends?
distant

Your life?
plod

Your mood?
apprehensive

Missing someone?
owen

Drinking?
soda

Smoking?
never

Your car?
nada

Something you're not wearing?
diamond

Your favorite store?
WALLY'S

Your favorite color?
purple

When is the last time you cried?
sunday

Who will resend this?
nada

Where do you go to over & over?
bathroom

Five people who email me regularly?
oneword?

My favorite place to eat?
cozy's

Favorite place I'd like to be right now?
Oklahoma

Four people I think will respond
nada

One TV show I watch all the time: House

Bee Positive

i wrote the title for this post, then i did a Google image search - thought i'd get a nice fat bumble bee picture or something... but turns out there's a T-shirt design "Bee Positive" - you can get it at WrongTees apparently.

we all know i'm not the most optimistic person. i wouldn't say i'm unhappy, but i tend to look on the dark side more than the bright. i also have a tendency to be real snippy - even to strangers.

when we went to see Gran Torino this weekend (and AGAIN i'll recommend it) - i got really huffy with a Staples employee when we stopped in to replace my ink cartridge. all because she wouldn't give me the $3 rebate for my old one. they've given it to me in the past, but maybe their policy has changed. i just kept the old cartridge and went on, but not before acting completely insane and pouty. i mean, come on!

then on the way out of the movie, we were going out the exit. this theater blocks off its exits - and makes people go around the corner to enter the building. someone walked up to me while i was exiting and i stood in her way like i was throwing a block in football - and then she side stepped me and i pulled my left (bad) foot behind me and tried to CLOSE THE DOOR ON HER. what kind of person does this? i wasn't fast enough/she was too fast and got around me and in the out door, but come on. why do i have to have these knee jerk reactions that cause me to be a visible *itch to folks?

could it be that NYC has seeped into me? no, since i've been this way long before i moved here. also, i can be a charmer. i really know i can. and i can make fabulous impressions on strangers - i don't have to be the snarly crank pot that i sometimes unleash on the world.

i want a positive outlook. i don't want to let things get to me - either things from strangers OR from people i know, including work related hassles that i don't handle well. and being removed from people doesn't give me opportunity to interact and really improve my relational skills. so i don't know if working from home does more harm than good.

but i'll always always always be, the GRETCH, unfortunately.

End of Weekend-itis

USA usually has a marathon of House every Sunday night. This weekend they've got a stupid "Super Bowl withdrawal" movie block. Whatevs. I've already seen almost all the eps anyway. Meh.

Saw Gran Torino this afternoon. Wowza. I mean, I thought I would like it, but something about it... I don't know. Reminds me. I'd recommend it for sure.

The "chew chew" spoon pictured is $17, which cracks me up. It's basically a spoon with a wooden train stuck on the end (and it's "removable" so it really probably is just a hold drilled in the toy for the spoon space). Owen might like it, but it's not worth $17! Plus he's a big boy now!

I'm back into crocheting - started on the first of two "mirror" blankets (the finished blankets will be the same but opposite) for a set of twins coming to one of my friends. I failed on my purple wool hat (bought the yarn at Hobby Lobby and carried it all the way back to NYC ... and it's just not working out) - maybe I'll froggit (i.e. ripp-it, ripp-it).

I haven't finished my book this week - Atonement - because I've seen the movie and know what's coming and it just made me mad in the movie, so I'm sure the same will be true for the book. WHY do I do this to myself? Pick books?! Grrrr.

I guess I'll get back to crocheting. I still have a list of posts to work on, but honestly ... not sure where my heart is.

Complimentary

I received two complements (compliments?) yesterday. One about my skin, one about my sweater. Surprisingly, both were horrid - my skin is all dry and flaky and the sweater makes me look dowdy/matronly. But whatever floats your boat I guess.

what i did yesterday (or Mari on a train)

So - I took the train to DC yesterday. It was a last minute thing, and in retrospect I really should stay at least one night, to break up the loooong rides. BUT with my bum knee and the physical issue of carrying a suitcase (even a rolly one) was more than I could handle on short notice, so down and back it was.

When I arrived at Union Station, it was jam packed. I mean JAM packed. Showing how much I know, yesterday was the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, and DC was filled with protesters. I would guess that everyone I saw was a Pro-Life person, judging by their T-shirts, signs, stickers, etc. But maybe the supporters were just gathering elsewhere. They were mostly very young people (and very white). It caught me off guard AND made my taxi ride turn into a 45 minute ordeal - taking 15 minutes to get away from Union Station because of the crowds of oblivious people wandering in and out of traffic.

I didn't twitter at all yesterday, didn't write anything ... not even anything for work, unless you count the few emails I got in before I left (about 1 hour of online work time) or when I was in the office (for about 1.5 hours of online work time). And my knee is hurting more. I need more Motrin, and I am tweaking a muscle in my left leg because of the way I'm hobbling. If it's not one thing, it's 20 others.

At least it's almost the weekend. ONWARD.

My LTE Never Published

Re: Getting the Bedbugs Out

Dear Editors:

Thank you for your continuing coverage of the bedbug epidemic.

I agree with your list of items our city officials must press for to fight bedbugs. I'd like to add one more: owners and superintendents must be open and honest with tenants about bedbug treatments.

After living in our Manhattan studio for a year, I began having a severe allergic skin reaction. Six weeks and many dermatologist visits later, I discovered bedbugs were the culprit, despite my husband not being affected. Mystery solved, the excruciating extermination process began.

We have discovered at least one apartment on our floor and several others in the building received bedbug treatment before us. Tenants are not notified of others' treatment, which drive bugs into other parts of the building. My six-week skin mystery was a direct result of management keeping the bedbug secret.

We shouldn't have to fight bureaucracy in addition to the bedbugs.

~Marilyn Walker

At Last...

I could watch this all day: Obamas' First Dance. I can't embed it - probably smart of ABC to send ppl to their site. But anyway, I'll be floating to "At Last" in my head for at least today... maybe longer, but we'll see how work goes.

Most Depressing Day in History?!

That's what the UK's Daily Mail is saying:

If you woke up feeling blue today then the chances are you are not alone. For Monday, January 19, 2009, is going to be the most depressing day in history, according to experts.

Cold weather, fading Christmas memories and broken New Year resolutions mean this period is usually miserable, but the effects of the economic downturn makes this year worse than ever.

Millions will feel so glum they will decide to stay in bed and up to a quarter of workers are expected to call in sick, research suggests. Psychologist Dr Cliff Arnall has devised a mathematical formula that pinpoints today as Blue Monday.

I guess lucky for Americans, many of us get the day off. Although this day is the same for me - at my computer, checking e-mail and doing a few things. BUT I slept in and will probably try to go out (for the first time in DAYS since my knee injury). So I'm not feeling any more depressed than normal (which isn't saying that much I guess).

Article via Jezebel

[Review] Shopgirl

Shopgirl: A Novella Shopgirl: A Novella by Steve Martin

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars

A quick read, which makes sense what with it being a novella. I saw the movie when it came out, as I'm a HUGE Claire Danes fan (stemming from MSCL days). The book was OK, but not overwhelming or offering any insight into myself, which I guess would be my criteria for something special.

View all my reviews.

Knee Jerk

I feel like a jerk - a big useless pansy jerk. But let's re-cap yesterday's trip to the ER, which when you think about it, makes ice skating the most expensive NYC-activity in which I have partaken (and I've got tickets to West Side Story in March!)...

I woke up and the knee was swollen and I couldn't walk at all. I was crying and the whole thing was just embarrassing. Shawn had to help me put on my socks! After some bickering and online searching we decided to go to an "in network" ER. there aren't any walk-in clinics in our insurance network, and the NYU university health center is for students only if you can believe that crap.

So it was snowing and colder than a witches you-know-what, and I'm hobbling/hopping on one foot in the icy streets while he gets a cab. The end result was a day (a good 5 hours anyway) in the ER/fast track section (where I continued to take work calls, as I had three conference calls scheduled AND was really sitting and waiting for most of the time anyway). They took X-rays (nothing broken), gave me a scrip for Vicodin, wrapped up the knee and gave me crutches. At least now I can get around (and I have more in common with Dr. House* than just my dry wit!)

I am taking a lot of ibuprofen/Motrin - which seems to help. And I took Vicodin last night, but when I woke up this morning I thought I was going to throw up** - I got super pale and had to lie down and sleep for another 45 minutes. Once I ate lunch I felt better, but by now the Vicodin should definitely be out of my system. SO I don't know if I'll chance that again tonight or just stick with the Motrin.

All of this proves that NYC hates me and wants me to leave. I would oblige, but still waiting to hear on job opportunities for my husband. Praying we go somewhere near one set of parents.

~mari (adding sig to this entry to give clear definition for the asterisk/footnotes)

*The actor who plays House, the GENIUS Hugh Laurie, will appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight - as part of "The Band from TV" - a band created by Greg Grunberg, actor on Heroes and Felicity.

**I promise this is NOT morning sickness. I can't handle another rumor flying about me like that - although I'm sure those will be relentless until there's actually some TRUTH to that!

FWD: This is beautiful

Another Forward - it may be the pain in my knee, the chill in the air or my general attitude - but I did tear up at this.

This is beautiful!

She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: 'How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?'

The surgeon said, 'I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it.'

Sally said, 'Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care any more? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?'

The surgeon asked, 'Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the university.'

Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good bye to son. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair. 'Would you like a lock of his hair?' the nurse asked. Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally.

The mother said, 'It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the University for Study. He said it might help somebody else. 'I said no at first, but Jimmy said, ' Mom , I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom .' She went on, 'My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could.'

Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car.

The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room.

She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She lay down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.

It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Lying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter said:

'Dear Mom ,

I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say 'I Love You'. I will always love you, Mom , even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a lit tle boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know.

Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom ? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom ? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you.. God said fo r me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'where was He when I needed him?' 'God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children.

Oh, by the way, Mom , no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm sure the food will be great

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore the cancer is all gone.. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that?

Signed with Love from God, Jesus & Me.

Update: I'll Never Be a Figure Skater ... Or a Hockey Player

Here's the story as I'm telling my coworkers, more or less:

I should have KNOWN better than to try to have NYC-fun. Last night we went ice skating in central park, with the tall buildings around us, it was gorgeous. Shawn and I had never done it before, so we were clinging to the wall.

I used to roller skate a lot as a kid, and I was getting the hang of the ice, moving away from the wall a bit to move around stragglers, etc. When I did that on the end of my 4th round, a faster skater swooshed by me (at least that’s the story I’m telling) and I lost my balance, lunging toward the wall and falling on my knee while my leg kind of twisted out…

Once I got off the rink I was able to walk/limp to the bus stop (no way was I taking the subway with all the stairs). This morning it was hurting SO bad and was so swollen – I couldn’t even move around our dinky apartment with Shawn’s help…

So we went to the ER and I now have crutches and know it isn’t broken. If it’s not better in a week I’ll follow up.

This makes three giant “only in New York” horror stories – the bedbugs, Waldorf shooting and the ice skating that led to an ER visit… This city is truly trying to tell me something… :-P

UPDATE - thanks to Holly who points out I never say WHAT is swollen and hurt - it's my left knee...

Bad Idea

Skating was the worst idea ever. It was almost fun until I fell. Now it's going to turn into a medical nightmare, as I can't even walk or hop around the apartment (am moving about in my rolly chair as much as I can and holding onto other things to get to the bathroom). The pain is excruciating, the knee is swollen somewhat, although no bruising that i can see, unless it's on the back of the knee. i probably should have gone to the doctor last night when i could still walk a little. instead i took the bus and walked back here.

i can't even get to the kitchen if i want breakfast. i doubt i could make it over to the window to open the shades - apparently it's snowing outside.

it's really cold here too. i don't know how i'm going to get down to the lobby to even get a taxi to go where we need to go. Apparently we need to go to the ER at St. Vincent's. I'm sure that will be a hell of a time.

this is the most humiliating and painful thing that's happened to me. it's less of a pain in the ass than bedbugs i guess, but a solid second place. (and i had a spot on my jaw yesterday that looked suspiciously like a bedbug bite. so i'm not convinced that saga is over yet)

i don't even know how i'm going to get dressed. there's no comfortable position - right now i'm in the rolly chair with my legs propped up on a dining chair - so at least my knee is higher than my waist (is it supposed to be higher than my heart? if so, i'm screwed b/c i have no way to do that unless i lie flat on my back).

i have a busy afternoon full of meetings. i just can't believe my luck. NYC really hates me, and as we all know, I hate it right back.

Christmas Gift Joy

Christmas 2008 was good to me!

Pictured at left, I'm enjoying my new TV headphones in the NYC. OH YEAH, thanks to Shawn's mom, Dale, I can now watch TV without disturbing Shawn. A gift that keeps on giving ... to both of us!

At right, a picture of me in the Walkers' basement in Danville as we opened our gifts. I'm holding up another favorite gift from Dale - my projection alarm clock! I got my cousin Matt one last year, and was a little jealous when he was trying it out. But I never got around to buying one for myself. Shawn thinks it's ridiculous BUT I had to throw away my alarm clock because it was right in the bedbug infestation (that's right - they can live inside electronics ... one more TMI thing you didn't want to know about the little critters). And I love being able to push a button and see the time. PLUS it has an inside thermometer, so I can always tell what the temp is in our apartment, something I haven't had the luxury of knowing since I moved here - since my inside thermometer was misplaced in the move. Am I easy to please or what?

Not to be outdone, my mommy got me some great gifts too - including a stocking stuffed "plum full" of goodies. One of my favorite things, which I use every time I go outside, are my mittens. They're mittens that flip back to let your fingers work when you're inside, but flip down over your fingers to keep those digits toasty warm. And they're PURPLE. Does my mama know me? I also got a digital photo/media player that will be excellent once I really get into it. Mama filled it with pictures from Holly's wedding, so I'm thinking I will unload those to my computer and send them to the blushing bride...

I haven't taken pics of the gifts from my mom, mostly because my camera was pointed at the O-man while we were in Oklahoma.

Can you see why? He's just the MOST precious little thing. This is actually his fifth Christmas (and my 29th!). Here he's seen posing with his gift from Uncle Shawn - an educational toy that teaches shapes. It was the first present Owen opened during this round of present opening and he was SO excited about it - saying "Exactly what I wanted!"

Shawn doesn't believe that, but it's TRUE.

PS I'm setting this post to publish automatically in the morning. What, did you think I was an early bird or something? Bish pls.

[Photo] Owen Jay


Couldn't resist - one more Owen pic... Man, Braum's is good! And that's a good shot of Sideburn Willy.

Tales from the Library

My library stories could never top my mom's, but this one was pretty good.

Last Saturday I went to the library and trudged through the snow to pick up a book (previously reviewed Moose). While in line, a little girl and her brother were handing out slips of paper to patrons. They explained that they were tickets to next week's circus.

Their mom was in line in front of me, and I could gather that the girl's name was Erin (she was probably 6 or 7) and the boy's name was Nicholson (!) (he was probably 3-4).

While I continued to wait, with my two new circus tickets, Erin and I had this conversation:

E: "Guess what I've got on under here?" indicating under her sweater.
M: "I don't know, what?"
E: "A BATHING SUIT!" cracking herself up
M: "WHAT?! Are you going swimming in this weather?" laughingly as well
E: "No way!"

Then Erin's mom said they had done "summertime in wintertime" earlier that morning. I told her I had seen that very thing on a Little Bill episode not too long ago. She laughed at that, and we moved on.

Kind of sweet, and reminds me of my deep desire to be a mom myself. And makes me miss Owen like nobody's business (because without him I wouldn't know who Little Bill is, not to mention Thomas, Bob and Pinky Dinky Doo)...

New York Times: Bedbugs

Right - there's an editorial in today's New York Times about bedbugs (thanks to my boss' boss for pointing it out to me - gotta love it when someone sees bedbugs they think of me!).

I submitted a 150 word letter to the editor. I should hear within seven days whether they're going to publish it. And if not, I'll be free to post it here. Writing so briefly was a CHALLENGE to say the least - so I wrote first and then chopped and edited to get it down. Kind of fun. I forgot how much I missed ... oh wait, I do that kind of thing every month with our newsletter. Nevermind. :)

Anyway, the article is about the lack of help people can get for bedbugs - i.e. no one agency has all the information you need... I can attest to that. PLUS looking online can just make your heart sink, because you end up with horror stories and such. An excerpt from the editorial (which you should really read!!!)
Complaints about bed bugs in New York City are rising steadily. As any health official can attest, the only good thing about these nighttime pests is that they don’t seem to cause disease. That doesn’t count panic attacks and the outsize frustration for residents who try to get help from a maze of local and state bureaucracies.
Unrelated update: I'm expecting to go ice skating tonight for the first time. Here's hoping I don't fall and re-injure my back (it's been feeling a little twingy this week - maybe has to do with the cold weather?)...

FWD: Coffee Filters

Below is a forward. I like some of the ideas and wanted to keep them at hand w/o having to save the e-mail. Thanks Mama!

Coffee filters ..who knew! And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for ...yep, a dollar! COFFEE FILTERS: Not just for making coffee...

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

2. Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.

3. Protect China. Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.

4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

12. Put a few on a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc., on them. Soaks out all the grease.

[Review] Moose

Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp by Stephanie Klein


My review


rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book made me hungry, I can't lie. I read Stephanie Klein's blog - but had never read the archives to really get what she writes about, etc. It was a fast read - picked it up from the library yesterday, finished this afternoon. I guess that's what lazy snowy cold weekends are for. Definitely more than just a fat camp memoir. I liked it. (How's that for insight?!)


View all my reviews.

Outside the snow is falling...

... and no one's calling 'you-hoo'

Things got sorted out with my work problems - I had to get a new CMS log-in created, someone had transposed some numbers in the IP-reroute of the microsite, and all should be well. There's still the issue of the admin side of our secondary site not showing up anything ... but I've been assured a solution is forthcoming.

About to head to the library - in the snow - DAZZLING - about a 15 minute walk, blugh. Then thinking a trek to the gym and finally home to hunker down. The storm is really supposed to hit late this afternoon and evening, It's almost 2, so I'd better get a move on.

~M

Nothing Is Working...

I can't log into my work's website content management system. Pretty problematic. Everyone else seems to have no trouble, SO I'm packing up this afternoon to try out working at Starbucks. If I still can't access it from there, then I'll know it's more than just me ... but I don't know where I'll go to find access. (The CMS login worked for me up until Wednesday, it was only yesterday that I started having a problem - and we've reset the router, modem and tried different configurations and computers to see if we could connect - No, sir)

Of COURSE, I've got a TON of web work to do in preparation for next Wednesday - a release and added content to the site ... so I'm losing time because of whatever the problem is. So solution needs to come to me soon. Grrr.

Another work website lets me log in, but it doesn't have any content on the admin side (although the front ends of all sites are working OK, which is good). I am three weeks behind on updating the contact information on that site - just because the admin site itself was messed up b/c of PHP upgrades/roll backs and what-have-you.

Our URL masks a subsite - basically a group/social networking site - and no one outside of the office network (including me) can see it - and I can't get answers/clarification as to why this might be happening. Maybe has something to do with DNS - maybe not. I feel ignored by the web and IT people who work for RA. Does everything I'm involved with technically have to turn to dust?!

Gone to the gym a few times this week, and planning to go again tonight. Scheduling is hard. I'll never be someone who hops out of bed, and working from home, my mornings are SLOW to start. SO I have been going to the gym after work, which really impedes my ability to make dinner, since by the time I get back it's after 7 pm and I'm weak and wobbly. Maybe I'll resolve my issues and get a better schedule, or at least be less weak and plan meals better. I REALLY wish I had my crock pot - it's in my bedroom at my mom's house, probably in the closet or something. Blurgh.

OK, am going to do a little photo editing/resizing and then am going to bundle up (baby, it's COLD outside ... and snow expected tomorrow!) and head to Starbucks in hopes of connecting and getting some web work done. (posting the resized images is only PART of the plan - oiy)

~mari.

Cheese Wagon!

Q: What does Uncle Shawn say when he sees a yellow school bus?

A: He says, 'Hey, there goes a CHEESE wagon!'

Hysterical laughter... Who knew Owen would think that was so funny?!

[PHOTOS] Owen Max!

Corn on the Cob at Chili's
Corn on the Cob at Chili's - Lawton, OK


Sleeping in the Hobby Lobby Basket
Asleep in the basket at Hobby Lobby - Lawton, OK


Spaghetti at Olive Garden
Spaghetti at Olive Garden - Wichita Falls, TX

[PHOTO] Does This Come With Film?

Does This Come With Film?
Does This Come With Film?
Originally uploaded by silvermari

I love this photo - and we loved giving her this gift!!! Looking forward to MANY photos from Dale!

Ideas for Posts Runneth Over

After the hiatus of travel, I have lots of material to write. But no time to write it... So I'm going to do some bullets, some of which will hopefully inspire me to write full posts ... if not, they can be memory joggers for myself when i'm looking back on this blog. So, in no particular order, my holiday in bullets:
  • The sweetest five year old ever telling me about her new "princess diarrhea" when she meant princess diary. Man, I had fun playing with her and seeing GIRL toys!
  • Playing Wii bowling
  • Snuggling on the air mattress
  • A goodbye smooch at the airport - was a really good kiss
  • Baking cookies at Dale's ... and realizing all the things she needs to have a cookie-friendly kitchen (uh, timer anyone?! and a big, big bowl?)
  • Watching movies at Diannia's - HEART ATTACK (seriously, she called it when an old guy grabbed his ELBOW that he was having a heart attack!)
  • Crazily searching for wifi in Danville when Dale's internet went out (when in reality it was just the faulty wires)
  • Three words: Super China Buffet (pronounced like Jimmy's last name)
  • Seeing our Christmas card cartoons, 2007 crocheted wreath ornaments with our pictures and wedding bell favors in everyone's houses
  • Church in Danville - friendly folks, and at Christmas Eve service - the MOST embroidered Christmas-themed vests and shirts I've ever seen assembled in one place
  • Chickens, geese and turkeys under the water tower near the church
  • Silent night - singing while the candles were lit
  • Dale's description of communion - very visceral
  • The sweet little girl in a Santa dress who made faces and me and Shawn during the CE service
  • The boob cup in Steve's basement - and Robbie pointing it out to me and Shawn ... NICE
  • Shopping with Dale - including a 30 minute interlude at Belk's where we brainstormed ideas for Shawn gifts
  • The Legion Christmas party - too smoky
  • All the fast food stops and stores in Danville (did I mention they now have a Sonic?! HUZZAH) ... Papa John's pizza
  • Watching a movie with Dale that had VERY graphic scenes (FYI leave the "uncut" versions of R rated movies for home viewing!)
  • Cooking dinner at Dale's on Xmas Eve - steak, rolls, sweet potatoes and green bean casserole
  • Dale's Ephemera Encyclopedia - now I hear the word everywhere and am becoming obsessed (or maybe I always was and just didn't have the WORD for it)
Oklahoma:
  • Juggling Owen's head (so funny and probably bad for his spine ... never again)
  • Patty cake variation: "Roll 'em, roll 'em, roll 'em, THROW 'EM IN A PAN!" where the last part is screamed while throwing up Owen's hands ...
  • Great discovery set - too much fun (Thomas is havin' a whale of a time, he's trapped inside a disused mine; He's rockin and rollin down the flooded track; We just can't say when he's comin' baaaaack)
  • Wall E and Kung Fu Panda (although I slept through 2/3 of KFP - LOVED Wall-E)
  • Boo hoo Choo Choo, don't be afraid of the dark ... part of the "Thomas and the Jet Engine" DVD I bought Owen ... Auntie M is a sucker for that sweet face!
  • Dancin on New Year's Eve to the original Armadillo Express
  • Owen snoozin' with 15 minutes left in 2008 (no new year's kiss at all!)
NYC/travel
  • The MOST talkative cabbie in the universe. I could only hear every 3rd word he said ... and I'm pretty sure he ignored my responses. Made for an unbearably long ride - plus he went the long way to get to our apartment ...
  • Forget snakes on a plane - there was a DOG on my plane... in my row in fact. UGH.
  • My small roll-y luggage was too fat to fit in the overhead bins - so I ended up checking it. But checking plane side meant no $15 fee. So there's that
Obviously I made more notes from D'Ville than I'Town. Hrm. Will try to think of others to add to my list.

Inner Life in Ladies Home Journal

An article in Ladies Home Journal, "Why Gum Makes You More Alert." says studies have shown chewing gum increases blood flow to the brain. After 20 minutes of chewing, alertness goes up by almost 19 percent! It also lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol by about 16 percent.

Read an eHow article about gum.

Now if only something could be done about my TMJ from all that chewing.

[Review] Revolutionary Road

Revolutionary Road Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I long for suburbia, but not the unhappiness that seems to surround the characters in this book. It was a fast read, and I hated that Kate and Leo were on the cover. I read it on a plane - so I guess I am what I wish not to be - someone who reads books only when there's a movie made about them (or something like that).

View all my reviews.

Dunkin Donuts Free Coffee Sample

Dunkin' Donuts. Dunkin' keeps me blogging. Try Dunkin' Donuts Coffee For Free. Get a Sample
Am currently enjoying home brewed Fresh Direct brand coffee - but will let you know how my free sample from DD turns out (via Wise Bread - takes 7 weeks for delivery).

Real post pending ... am also contemplating a New Year letter to non-blog readers (i.e. my mom's church friends) - with a story like bedbugs and a Waldorf Astoria shooting, seems fitting, but we'll see. So little time, and so little concentration on my part. (Concentrate is a word Owen knows - what a silly little kid!)

~M.

goodbye to the old

today is new year's eve! huzzah.

we have mini plans - going to hang out with Gran a bit - go to the church festivities, then my dad's band is playing in medicine park (where uncle shawn and i had our mini honeymoon stay in a cabin) so we'll go to that - then back to beth-a-roo's for some mac & cheese (homemade) and chicken bites (via walmart - prepurchased) and maybe a drink or two and a movie before ringing in 2009. placing bets on whether o-man will stay awake? safe money's on YES. he's quite the night owl.

los tres amigos today - the place where uncle shawn got cheese sauce dumped on his head the first dinner out with my family ... didn't scare him away though! (this was pre-pre-engagement) - then wayne's for a vanilla diet coke - a lawton-only restaurant similar to sonic, only different. nom nom nom.

missing my new year's kiss, but i guess i'll get that on jan. 4 in the evening once i make it back to bed bug city. YIPE!

~marilyn jean...

PS - Rumor dispelled: I am NOT pregnant, despite rumors to the contrary (that's right - someone told me they'd heard from someone at church that i was expecting ... uh, news to me)..

post-Holiday

just a few days left in 2008, which has been a whale of a year.

i made notes about my Danville holiday experience - a first newlywed christmas/our first christmas as Dr. and Mrs. so i could do a whole SERIES of posts about that.

i need to keep notes about my Oklahoma experience as well - i'm at Beth's apartment right now, waiting for her to bring me lunch, with Wall-E on the TV for Owen and working away on the January e-newsletter. pain in the ... but it's getting done. need to work on Feb line up and a few other maintenance things - then will be done for the year. Holla.

plan to go to Hobby Lobby this evening - SO looking forward to that. am planning to crochet myself a floppy-ish hat - sort of a beret, hard to describe. have a pattern and will post pics upon completion. i haven't completed anything in a long while because i'm still working away on the bedspread, and even that is slow going because of the bedbug situation and no good place to crochet at home.

weird to spend so much time away from shawn - but that's a post on its own.

dur. ~m.

chilled to the bone

colder here than i expected. i didn't bring enough sweaters (basically because they're bulky and i was trying to pack light). oh well - going shopping today and hope to find some presents to myself!

as shawn says, no matter how crowded it is here during christmas shopping time, it will never be as bad as a regular day in NYC - or the worst was the day after thanksgiving when beth and i went to macy's - as in THE macy's. oiy. goodtimes and good memories.

guess i'll get going and hope to find some sustenance/lunch soon too.

funtimes! ~mari.

Re-worked

DANVILLE, Va.--I was supposed to be working in my in-laws' basement. But, of course, with my previously mentioned country-song luck, the internet at their house is on the fritz - and I've been forced to seek wifi elsewhere.

First I spent a couple hours at Starbucks - about 15 minutes from their house. These southern people are SERIOUSLY nice. I can't remember hearing baristas be that nice - I guess the grumpy stereotype doesn't always have to be true!

Then Shawn brought me to the Mount Hermon Public Library - a branch near their home - that has wifi. It's pretty quiet. There's no table, so I'm sitting in a "comfy" chair with my laptop heating my legs to about 300 degrees (I'm known to exaggerate of course). And of course the system keeps bumping me off and requiring re-logging in. And usually when I'm in the middle of something - not sure if I hit a wrong key to refresh it or what. It's a totally insecure network anyway and if I had any skills I could access it without the login. But whatever.

But I'm sitting here - listening to some Christmas music and my view is of their wall of DVDs - they've got some good/new ones - Baby Mama, Wall-E, Forbidden Kingdom, Battlestar Gallactica, Veronica Mars, Heroes, Coupling (!), etc., etc. Wishing I had such a branch library near me - behind me is a rack of latest magazines - I would love to spend a few hours perusing the women's magazines. Something about those ... I just adore them!

A lot of things going on today at work, and I'm envisioning some work falling on me tomorrow (not a problem if I have internet access at the inlaws' - although I cannot and will not stay online all day - and I won't make the trek around the city of Danville to find free wifi) - and I worked this weekend - probably about 45 minutes of work total. Not exactly my idea for a fun Saturday break, but whatever.

Gonna stop diverting even bits of attention to this - have been writing this for a long while, a few sentences at a time. Am ready for 5:30... We have our Evans family christmas party at 6. OIY!

Danville Has a Sonic

ALERT ALERT ALERT

My husband's hometown now has a Sonic restaurant - so my time here is so much happier. Also, Claritin may be working to stop my symptoms of allergic reaction to his family cat.

Christmas MIRACLES!

~m

k thx bai

Prayers for safe travel and on-time departures much appreciated. Car to the airport coming at 9:30... snow has stopped. Amtrak was sold out anyway - here's hoping.

Shawn's got the dadgum windows taped open - so it is colder than a ... well you know.

See you on the flip side, assuming we can flip.

Bah humbugs still lingering, but pressing on.

whether, weather?

I guess this is what you'd call a Nor'easter. Blugh.

Snow started this morning - snowed all through the day then turned into sleet. Major airline delays. Our flight is scheduled for tomorrow at about 11 am. It's a direct flight to Raleigh, but then another hour plus drive to Danville.

US Airways will allow us to change our plans BUT the flight has to be taken within seven days of the original travel (i.e. would have to be by next Saturday) - and that's not really happening. Maybe I'm misunderstanding their rules, but that's how it seemed.

If US Airways would just give us a credit to use on our next flight, we could just get Amtrak tickets and be directly in Danville in about 9 hours - not bad, especially when considering delays and other nonsense could have us at the airport at least that long ... perish the thought.

But who knows - maybe we'll wake up tomorrow and it won't be so bad ??? Somehow I doubt my luck would be that good.

WHAT IS IT NEW YORK?!?!?! Do you want me gone or are you trying to trap me here?

My to-do list in preparing for the trip, one way or another we'll get out of here.
  • Sew button on coat (that's right, a button fell off the other day - am I cursed, unlucky or just really ... I don't even know the right word?!) - done
  • Pack toiletries and make up - including the 3-1-1 airline regulation baggie (ugh) - done
  • Pack USB stick for work - in progress
  • Load iPod with latest podcasts - done
  • Find backpack (done - woo hoo!) and pack it as carry on (in lieu of purse and with my laptop bag stuffed inside it) - backpack will make trudging with laptop MUCH easier - plus I've got my new Samsonite rolling suitcase carry on, so I'll be within the 2-item limit if we fly. Huzzah! - few last minute things to add
  • Get cash
  • Light cleaning
  • Put away Christmas decorations (semi-done)
I've done most everything - still have to venture out for cash. We need something to eat tonight too. This weather is so depressing to me. It's cold and nasty and just UGH. Nothing seems to be going right, and I can't do anything quite right workwise, lifewise or otherwise.

BAH HUMBUG has been my battle cry today - I hope this weekend it is better.

~mari.

Photo from Flickr - peterjr1961

Sweeeeeet

Sweet peanut butter kiss cookies - yum!

My free "luggage tag" turned out to be a travel wallet! WOAH! I had been looking for these forever for my sister (I got her something else, although she doesn't read this blog, let's keep it a secret anyway) - but I love this - AND it has purple on the inside, so I'd say it's meant to be!

I love HARO! What what. Cover says "high maintenance doesn't begin to cover it." how appropros!

Housekeeping Monthly


Real 400:

DRAT - there was a rogue duplicate draft throwing off my entry count. 400 isn't even that much. I've twittered 428 times as of this moment, and I started that in July!

About to have the phone call/meeting to discuss how 6-7 people are going to organize and run a monthly meeting. Recipe for disaster.

~m

Post 400: Elf Yourself

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Haiku for a Luggage Tag

@skydiver did a mini-contest today - the first 10 people to write a haiku about his Help a Reporter Out site won a luggage tag. I was #2 with my haiku:

Help a reporter
Be a top expert on call
Reap the accolades

Bully for me!

Via Gawker: Bedbugs at Marie Claire?!

It has NOTHING to do with a "filthy intern" as one of the first commenters says. UGH.
Bedbugs aren't just for dirty hovels like Fox News and hipster Bushwick. The filthy bloodsuckers have allegedly infested the very flower of our national womanhood—the offices of Marie Claire:

A tipster tells us this dirty rumor:

"Marie Claire magazine in the brand new hearst tower was infested by bed bugs on Friday, courtesy of a fashion intern. employees in the affected area were sent home on Friday.
Over the weekend, total fumigation of the floor. Will it appear in the reality show they've been filming up there?!
The girls were acting like they'd contracted HIV."

Read the whole Gawker tip here - and hopefully they'll update the post or do something new when they get more info. How insane am I to follow things like this?! (and i didn't search for this - came thru my twitter ... i follow Gawker)

Trisha's Wishstory

Christmas Music

I have almost six hours of holiday music that I've been enjoying ... and because I purchased some Amazon music as gifts I got a free $5 Amazon MP3 download, and the new Faith Hill album happened to be $5 - so now I have a little bit more Christmas music to enjoy. SCORE!

Cleaning up my receipts. I never fail to misplace every single $5 Duane Reade reward coupon. Why can't it all just be on my card? Why do I have to keep up with a slip of paper. And I usually get the reward (which you get for every 100 points you earn, each point being one dollar spent) right as I'm about to leave. I have a week left here before we jet off to VA, but I hope I find the coupon by then. They expire two weeks after issue or something.

I have to get new glasses. The frames - Prada, the most expensive I've ever had - were cracking the lenses, which were high dollar polycarbonate that shouldn't break even under pressure. So basically a flawed design - WTF?! I went back to the place, picked out a new frame (it's similar but a different color and brand). I should get them in a few days, definitely before the trip. They were about $50 less, when all was said and done, so I just got some contacts with that money (plus paid a little extra). I've got contacts in now - SO nice to see. SUCH a drag ... these glasses have been nothing but T-R-O-U-B-L-E!!!

Update: Found the DR coupon - in my coat pocket. Argh.

Some baking I did yesterday: Peppermint Cloud Brownies (gag) and White Velvet Cutouts (YUM!) ... Let's see how they hold up in shipping.

Shawn and the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, then Mari and the Rockefeller Christmas Tree:

(who's the better photog?)

Shawn and the Saks Fifth Avenue Snowflakes (SO pretty):

Me and SOME of the gifts we're giving this year. Some are already in Oklahoma, others are already being shipped, etc. It's exhausting, especially ... well we all know my life the last six months has been like an awful country song (along the lines of "my wife left me, my dog died, i lost my job, then my best friend ..." - you know, everything going wrong).

I think I'll edit a few newsletter articles, just to get them going for this week. The more times I can look at a given article, the better I can make it.

~mari.

PS WOW am on "A Baby Changes Everything" on Faith's album. SO good. Can't wait for a baby to change my everything ... but that's another story.

funky, funky christmas

right - just looked at Amazon to see if i might want to get a new christmas album download (i put several on my wish list, but i wouldn't get to enjoy them until next christmas, but i digress)... i checked out NKOTB's ... and it wasn't as special as i remember.

in the old fashioned bedroom, the three girl cousins sleeping together, with a small tape player and the NKOTB tape being worn out from so much use. i may be melding memories together, but i remember trying to convince Lisa to stay up all night so we could prove there wasn't a santa claus (she believed, i did not). i remember the NKOTB tape and giggles. we fell asleep i know for sure - because i never proved his non-existence (but neither did she prove his existence).

about to head to Shawn's office party. i am having writer's block on the annual report sections i'm working on, so hope to come back with a clear head and give another stab...

in other gretching news - my $400 Prada glasses are cracking the lenses again. so i'll have to go back to Lenscrafters and pick out a different frame. i'm thinking plastic and sturdy. blurgh. also, the contact prescription the doctor gave me has got to be incorrect, as i can't see ANYTHING when i put them on. so right now i'm rocking old lenses (old prescription, not physically old or funky ... not that type of funky xmas), and i can see somewhat OK, but i wouldn't want to drive like this.

i hope 2009 proves to be less horrific for me, although 2008 was my wedding year for crying out loud.

~M.

tweet tweet cloud


gotta click on it to see it clearly - but obviously WORK is what i tweet about most ... whoops!

The Meaning of Christmas

Right-a-roo

This is my fave part of this CB Christmas, and I used part of this scripture on our Christmas cards, which will be in the mail tomorrow! HUZZAH!

Forward: The Crocheted Table Cloth

I don't believe this for one second, but put "crochet" in an email subject line and I'm going to open it...

The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn, arrived in early October excited about their opportunities When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve.

They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc, and on December 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished. On December 19 a terrible tempest - a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days. On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high.

The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.

By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later. She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area.

Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet... 'Pastor,' she asked, 'where did you get that tablecloth?' The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria.

The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the tablecloth. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria. When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and never saw her husband or her home again. The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth, but she made the pastor keep it for the church.
The pastor insisted on driving her home; that was the least he could do. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.

What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return.

One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving. The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike. He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between.

The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.

technical difficulties

Currently I cannot reply to emails in my work inbox, but I can read them, so that's something. I don't know if it's IE that's acting up or what. I can reply to things in Firefox, but Outlook/MS Exchange e-mail HATES Firefox, as in, doesn't display properly, you can't preview messages (or I don't know how to configure preview), etc. etc.

This morning, into the afternoon, I spent more than three hours on the phone with an IT guy from work - we don't have an on-staff IT support person, but we do outsource that. Anyway, he had to remote in to my computer, meaning he was working on my computer and I could not. NICE. If there had been deadlines or something I could have figured out something else, but as it was, it kept being "only a few more minutes" or "let me try one more thing."

In the end, the problem isn't fixed. They're sending out a tech tomorrow afternoon (the IT firm has an NYC office, which is lucky).

Back from the whirlwind trip to DC and back - we had the holiday party and a gift swap. Here's what I ended up with - a $35 glass candle holder. Um, the limit was $10 - I took a $9 picture frame that I bought in Austin (that many people loved).

For my coworkers I created little gifts - magnets! Based on this tutorial at Not Martha, I made 23 small tins of magnets, using CHEAPIE CHEAP stuff, and they turned out so freaking cute. I think my favorite was an image of the Capitol dome in moonlight.

Speaking of Christmas, I still have a bit of holiday shopping to do. Was looking at my list, and I've done PRETTY good, but not completely finished. Hope to be able to go shopping this weekend and finish off the list. Not sure what "good" gift to get Shawn. We originally were going to get each other Ikea chairs - but we don't think our apartment/life will be back to normal any time soon, so that idea is toast.

Ah, and ideas for me - I will be updating my Amazon wish list. OK, in updating this it's a little depressing to look at my "recommendations" from Amazon - so much about bedbugs, because I bought our AllerZip bedbug proof mattress and box spring covers from Amazon.

Starting on dinner. I don't think I'll ever post as much as I did in November (although it was fun, I didn't even win any prizes from the NaBloPoMo Ning group), but will strive to put something up about my day during the week.

~M.

guesstimano

At Starbucks waiting for housekeeping to finish our room so I can go lie down as I am still sick and need to rest more! I went to target at pg plaza and almost fainted. I am ok but obviously not well enough to go out or have fun. Boo hiss!!!

Am not good at iPod typing so this is just a time killing short post.

Mari...

Last Week in Photos


Mari & Shawn at Micah & Abby's Wedding - Nov. 22, 2008


Uncle Shawn and Owen working on "J" homework


Shawn & Mari's Pumpkin Pies - Gran's Kitchen, Nov. 26


Uncle Shawn and Owen bowling - Nov. 26


Austin skyline - my camera couldn't handle it - Nov. 29, 2008


Owen's sad face en route to the Austin airport (he was sad about not getting to go to Toys-R-Us, not necessarily about me leaving), Nov. 30, 2008

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...