A Quote...

There are lots of ways of being miserable, but there's only one way of being comfortable, and that is to stop running round after happiness. If you make up your mind not to be happy there's no reason why you shouldn't have a fairly good time.
- Edith Wharton

Halloween Costume

Shawn and I met at a Halloween party. I went to a work-related one tonight. I didn't know what to dress up as, so I perused the costume store. When I saw this purple wig, I knew I had to have it! So I didn't really have a costume, other than I was wearing a wig, fishnets and black. :) I guess I was a "starlet" or something. Or maybe I was just "incognito." I have another party to attend next week - we're supposed to go as our "alter ego" - so I think this will suffice for that too. We'll see if I have a brilliant idea between now and then.
~Mari.

black & white...

Inspiration
This was* black and white damask. I like the graphic quality, the contrast of the black against white, and splashes of purple will really POP against it. I'm thinking a "seasonless" wedding - not something super spring like or floral. i may even pick a different black and white pattern, depending on what i can find and like...
onward.
~mari.
*image removed at some point, and post updated March 2010

Future: New York

The city so nice they named it twice?

This was the start of a post I never published or finished. So I'll give it a brief go now. I need to get back to work!!!

I am preparing to pack up and ship out sometime in the next couple weeks. Should be interesting. I'm selling off much of my stuff. So anyone who needs a loveseat and comfy chair should e-mail me immediately! :)

~M.

Yikes!

The wedding's off -- see you in court! | Oddly Enough | Reuters

$48,800 diamond engagement ring. ... Both were 21 years old when they became engaged in December last year, but by September this year the wedding was off.

How could two 21-year-olds afford a nearly $50K ring?!?!?!

a crochet project

12 teddy bears. I didn't get a straight on image, but it ended up being really cute, and not too hard.

~Mari.

BOO on Craigslist

I'm just trying to sell my stuff, but the THREE people who agreed to come buy stuff today are no-shows. I'm tired of waiting around and could be out running errands, or just more able to relax/take a nap/etc. I guess now I've just got to give it up.

Annoyance!!!

I am having FUN on the internet looking at wedding stuff. I am SO going to be able to do this... I've also registered for a bunch of the bride sites...

Ah, someone is coming to pick up the silver lamp. And maybe I can sell him some of the other stuff people haven't picked up yet!!! I need to repost some stuff. LAME!

back to it. ~M.

The Engagement Story

SO, here's how it went down. (Not a surprise to me either, but I'm OK with that - imagine how close I was to telling more people than I actually did!) We went to Coney Island during the day, just as something to do. It was beautiful and we had authentic Nathan's hot dogs, went on the Wonder Wheel and sat on a bench talking/looking at the water. Then we came back to his apartment, got dressed up and went to dinner - a sushi place nearby. We were stared at VERY hatefully by a "true New York" couple - accents and all. Our chopsticks skills leave something to be desired, but we were pretty happy and ignored them for the most part. Something to get used to I guess - some people are excruciatingly rude here, but I digress.

We had tickets for the observation deck at the Top of the Rock, and we were able to go get in line at about 8 p.m. It took about 20 minutes to actually get to the top because there are only two elevators for that. But once up there (69th and 70th floors), it took our breaths away. You can walk all the way around for 360-degree views of the city. Literally city as far as your eye can see, and you know there's more beyond that. Crazy that we were so high up and still couldn't see many stars (although we did see four planes in the sky AT ONCE...) There were kids on a field trip and other tourists. The kids were throwing pennies off the top - they kept telling their teacher it would be OK because hadn't he seen Mythbusters about it? Ah, kids.

So, the actual proposal was pretty awesome. He read me a little poem he'd written, and he did get down on one knee. I plucked the ring out of its box and put it on my finger quickly before he changed his mind! But then I actually let him slip it on my finger once he stood up. :) It wasn't exactly movie-worthy, but it was special for us... There was no cell phone reception, so calls home had to wait until we got back to the apartment. I was wearing spike heels (so dumb, when will I learn?) so my feet were killing me from all the walking - and we just stayed up at the top for an hour or so. Just looking at this place we're going to call home...at least for now. But then we came back here to his apartment (with me hobbling the last bit of way -- blister city people), and we made our phone calls to start the word spreading.

Answers to main questions:

What's the ring like? 1.25-carat diamond hearts & arrows/round cut in a replica Tiffany setting in palladium
When's the wedding? sometime in 2008 (either May or November - pending Shawn's teaching schedule, my job situation, etc.)
When will you DECIDE when it will be? After I get moved and settled and figure out where I'll be working - basically before the end of 2007, and hopefully in the next month.
Where will the wedding be? Indiahoma, OK (UMC for ceremony; reception TBD)
Other wedding details? TBD
Where will you live? New York City

We're ENGAGED!

Mari, Ring & Shawn's Good Side
Originally uploaded by silvermari

HOLLA!!! More details soon. ~Mari.

work schmerk

Things are about the same as always. I'm just trucking along. I am crocheting a blanket - in the 12 teddy bear pattern from Gran - that is turning out SO cute. I'm starting to get hand cramps from so much crocheting!!! so i'll have to finish it later this week.

I guess...I don't have much to say. More in the next week though... STAY TUNED!

~M.

A new haircut

DSC00614
Originally uploaded by silvermari

My friend Barbara took me to a salon called Frizzles. Too funny. But I got a great haircut with loads of layers - and the blow out is great - she added curls at the end with just the brush and blowdrier. I can't stop looking in a mirror!

More photos on Flickr (click the photo to see - add me as a contact to see them all!) - this photo was trying to show the back too - with all the cute curls. This cut is going to look good curly or straight. Can't wait to play with it more!

To sleep. ~Mari.

sinusitis

I've been laid up for the past few days. I caught a cold from owen at his party, which morphed into a sinus infection. Me, being uneducated about such things, thought it was just a cold and that I'd get better. Well, pushing through/toughing it out was a BAD idea - i got sicker and worse with each day.

Finally on Thursday I went to the doctor, got some antibiotics and went home to lie in bed. SO I missed Thursday and Friday from work. Even though I got dressed for work on Friday thinking I could make it, my head was throbbing and just the pain. Unbelievable.

Today, Saturday, I'm feeling somewhat better. We'll see how it goes.

~Mari.

Don't Take Things Personally

"Rain does not fall on one roof alone."
-Cameroonian proverb

Remember not to take things personally.

(From my sheet-a-day calendar)

chest cold

i am still fighting this cold that i contracted from owen. yes, it was worth it to kiss his face, but now i've felt yucky for nearly a week! no fun. i hope to get better soon...

i've been resting up this weekend BUT yesterday my power was off, then the AC wasn't working, so the apartment was gross and almost uninhabitable. (with no power, i had no fans, so i split - saw Nanny Diaries - ugh) today the power is back on.

Sunday School started up again today. We're going to be starting a book about Hebrews next week. Should be pretty good. (The books hadn't arrived by today b/c had to be special ordered)

I had brunch at my friend Christine's house. I caught up with Emily who was there too. Emily and Christine worked at my job - E as receptionist and C as an intern. Christine made pancakes. Yummo! And BANGIN hashbrowns. Plus there was pineapple, juice and coffee. I drank from an Orange County Starbucks mug -- one of C's roommates is from the OC, just like my mama!

SO I haven't exactly been chained to my bed, even though I probably should be. I am treating the cough with Robotussin. And I have taken naps, going to bed early, etc.

I am looking forward to the VMA's tonight. Am I a NERD or what?

~M.

PS Wash your hands! Especially after playing with a sweet little 3-year-old! And don't share drinks... no matter how much he begs. :)

zum...

today is daddy's birthday.

i am writing a post from my new office! isn't that exciting? and naughty of me to blog at work. oh well, just wanted to share this moment.

it's COLD in here.

~mari.

Paparazzi

Owen's Birthday 2007 054
Originally uploaded by silvermari

By the end of the weekend Owen was a smidgen tired of having his picture taken. I definitely didn't take as many as the first couple times, but enough. Head on over to Flickr to see the rest (just click the photo) - they're mostly private except for what's on this blog, but if you become my contact i would be delighted to share my entire ~1800 photo collection.

Photo entries are SO FUN!

don't give me no lip

This is the lipstick I wore on the night I met Shawn: October 30, 2004. Owen had been alive for two months.

Wearing lipstick is something I should do more of - makes my teeth whiter and keeps my lips softer than normal - plus I can look more put together, right?

The only thing I dislike is how it wipes off. And it gets dry - the lipstick that is "long lasting" and what have you.

there was a little girl who had a crooked smile. she thought it was charming - like heather locklear's but not so much in reality.

"Never a lip is curved with pain That can't be kissed into smiles again."
Bret Harte

~mari...

liquid eyeliner

i've been digging loreal's felt tipped eyeliner marker. good times.

but this is a picture of my eye from a few years ago. i should do more and more eye make up.

my eyes are some of my favorite features. i love mostly wearing copper and bronze shadows now - something to make the blue appear bluer. i also buy blue shirt after blue shirt in the attempt to further blue-it my eyes. it's part of what makes me me.

lips - that's another story...

~mari.

Sneak Peek

Owen's Birthday 2007 026
Originally uploaded by silvermari

HOPEFULLY I'll get my act together and write a proper entry about the fun that was Owen's THIRD birthday party!

It was a blast. I am exhausted. Travel was easy and actually fun. I love getting to watch TV on an airplane, and I'm starting to like "How I Met Your Mother." Goon bait!

Off to bed in the hopes I can still fight off this icky germy cold... but it was worth it to kiss owen's face!

~M.

notes from shawn's dissertation

July 30, 2007

18 people plus Shawn. Most, even his adviser wore jeans!

Sitting and watching, I could see the water fountain. We had been warned not to drink the water - tastes pretty gross. I did find out WHY it gets so gross. An older Asian man (likely a professor) rinsed his hands in the fountain, splashing water into the mouth piece. ICK!

Shawn used a beautiful, simple PowerPoint. Dark purple with white text and lively movies.

This work may have biomedical applications, such as automatic testing.

I think he used the word "crap" when talking about the device of the experiment.

~Mari...