feeling is mutual-- the blog!

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3/03/2008

So here it is, the Blueprint clipping that has been in my wallet for the last year. It is everything my guest room wishes it could be. This is also the picture that began my obsession with Jonathan Adler's $295 Richard Nixon throw. Curses to you, Blueprint! At one point I actually wanted to try and reproduce the bed EXACTLY, pillow for pillow... but that would've set me back $800. For pillows? No thanks.

Plan B was to try and emulate the feel of the room without spending thousands of dollars. The idea was to keep the same light, airy feel. I loved the look of the photo's white linens with splashes of aqua and citrus introduced through the pillows. I also liked the mix of antique/vintage accessories with the modern designs of the pillows.

Thus, the problem was to find the perfect pillows... since, you know, the entire design of the room was hinging on them. After several false starts, I found two West Elm silk pillow covers on ebay. And then a couple weeks ago... when I least expected it... I found the final pillow! Could it be any more perfecter? No way,cause Nicole Mercurio at Couch Design totally spied into my wallet and designed the perfect pillow that I've always dreamt about. Exciting right? Oh, I know.

See. I told you it was perfect. It looks even better now that it has a pillow form. You'll just have to trust me on that though, cause it's too cloudy to retake the pictures.

The yellow lamp is one of my favorite junk store finds. The chair was salvaged from our old kitchen table set. The doll is purported to be a Canadian Pippi Longstocking and comes from ebay. The two prints are from the fabulous ashley g.

On the other side of the room... almost everything in this photo came from junk shoppin', except the quilt (made by my great grandmother), the pennants (from my dad's childhood room) and the stuffed cat/bear (Chris' baby toy). If you ever find yourself in Shawnee, OK, make sure and go junk shopping. It's totally worth the risk of being sucked into Shawnee's black hole forever and ever.

So there you go... a very long tour of a very small room. If you ever come to visit, this room could be yours for the night! I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out...and maybe someday the Richard Nixon will take its rightful place at the end of the bed. Argh, how it haunts me!

Labels: decor, design, house, life

posted at 11:16 AM

3 comments

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2/20/2008

The neighborhood has been in upheaval lately over the expansion of a homeless mission near our southern border. This could mean the death of us all (or at least our property values)... or it might only mean that a few more men and women receive a bed and a chance to start over. It could go either way.

In this week's UTW, Michael Bates weighs in on this issue – as he does – and neighborhood planning in general.
Read the column online at urbantulsa.com.
(Notice that in the photo cut line, the homeless are referred to as "substance-addled vagrants". I sincerely believe that this is meant to be tongue in cheek ... otherwise my bleeding heart wouldn't be able to take it.)

There is also an opinion piece stating that downtown is being run into the ground. The tone seems a little... cranky. Road maintenance is annoying at best, but it's also temporary and really hardly a reason to be hatin'. Most of the downtown development is still in planning mode – so maybe you guys can wait to start singing the failure song at least until construction starts. Yes, the Brady District has been the butt of planning errors. Yes, the prison location isn't ideal (what were they thinking?!). Unless you have arson up your sleeve, you're just going to have to deal with it... preferably in a constructive manner.

This is the line that bothers me the most:
"People are afraid to come to Downtown Tulsa in the daytime let alone at night. It is axiomatic that anyone who is fearful of venturing into Downtown Tulsa in the daytime is going to be even more fearful of driving or walking around downtown in the dark."

Who are these people who are afraid to go Downtown during the daylight!? Have they been Downtown? Have they been to Tulsa!? Decidedly.Not.Scary. It's "axiomatic" that Tulsans need to toughen up and live a little.
But then I live in North Tulsa... if I want to impress people I only have to tell them that I take out the trash after 9 pm. I'm pretty hardcore after all.

Speaking of being hardcore in Tulsa: I love Indie Tulsa so hard! Red Fork Hippie makes me want to unpack my Holga and take a day trip... after it warms up.

Labels: life, Tulsa

posted at 11:33 AM

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2/10/2008

Yesterday I found our neighbor's dog, Tucker, wandering around the ally without his collar. This is not an unusual sight as Tucker is a chronic escapee... poor guy just doesn't like being cooped up. But, what with the pack of wild dogs terrorizing the neighborhood, it's a tough life out there for a collarless dog, and so we're holding Tucker captive in our back yard until our neighbor's return home at the end of the weekend.
Just look at him... isn't he gorgeous? He's a chow/labrador mix and moves like a lion. These pictures really don't do him much justice.

I don't care how big the puppy dog eyes... when a dog's sole claim to fame is smashing through pane glass windows to freedom, I'm just not going to let him stay inside.

Fiona may be small, but she is not easily intimidated.

Fiona doesn't get much canine social interaction.... because she's a dominant terror with a Napoleon complex. I don't blame her... it's a hard life for us kids with stubbly legs.

It doesn't take long before Tucker bows to her obvious superiority... or maybe she just annoys him into submission. Fiona for the win!

Labels: life

posted at 5:25 PM

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12/27/2007

Labels: life

posted at 8:14 AM

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12/02/2007

My brother Sean came down to Tulsa for Thanksgiving and so I enlisted him in the hanging of our Christmas lights. Of course, it was after he and Chris defied death climbing on the roof that we discovered we hadn't bought hooks to hang lights on the gutters. Whoops. Taking advantage of their position, we decided that it would be an opportune time to remove the large metal awnings from the second floor windows.

So what do you think? With the awnings gone, our house definitely looks less squinty and it really shows off the houses original window panes.

We're doing our best to make the house look friendlier from the street. When we moved in, there was a wall of ivy on the side of the porch and metal bars on all the first floor windows. Even though there are still bars on the front door, hopefully it looks a little less like the people who live here are 80 year old shut-ins afraid of the light.

The story goes that the older gentleman who lived here during the '80s used to leave the house once a year, walk to the front of the yard and shoot his handgun into the air to see which of his neighbors were still around. As far as I can tell, the neighborhood has really improved since then.

While Sean was on the roof it was also an opportune time to take pictures for the sole purpose of making my mom nervous. Yes, that is a pirouette and yes, it did make my mom nervous. Mission accomplished. Sorry mom.

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Now playing: David Karsten Daniels - American Pastime
via FoxyTunes

Labels: house, life, remodel

posted at 7:46 PM

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11/29/2007

We're back on the interwebs! I would like to take this opportunity to say hello to the outside world, I've missed you all very much. All complaints as to my lack of communication shall be directed to the offices of Cox Communications, whose internet "service" is a joke.

For those who know me and Chris on a personal level, you know that we survive on a steady diet of House, MD and PBS. That's it...that's all we require. We don't love "I love New York", we've never seen a single episode of "The Hills", and even the History Channel in unnecessary. Just give us a set of bunny ears, and please don't call us between 8 and 9pm on Tuesday nights cause, suckas, we're watching Fox and you KNOW we won't answer our phones.

When I say that we watch a lot of PBS, I mean that it's all we watch (except between 8 and 9pm on Tuesdays). It's not because we're elitist or believe that TV will usher in the fall of civilization. We're just cheap. And really? PBS? Pretty awesome.

So, Tulsa, I just want to say that you have BROKEN MY HEART. Even with our state of the art bunny ears (not those $9.99 sets for the amateurs...we splurged for the $15.99 pair) the only channel that comes in is Univision. UNIVISION! Until They start broadcasting with English subtitles, this just will not stand.

I AM NOT going to be strong armed into buying basic cable. Cox Communications shall not win!

Labels: life, Tulsa, tv

posted at 3:39 PM

3 comments

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10/07/2007

We have a house! Someone seems to have taken the doorknob from the master bedroom as a souvenir but other than that everything is intact. Chris and I spent Friday evening wandering around the property and meeting some of our new neighbors. I wish that I could have stayed and visited longer but the mosquitoes were vicious! I think I have more bumps on my legs than non-bumps (Chris is supposedly immune because of his high pickle intake... but that's neither here nor there).
We toured the community garden and even removed some of the ivy from the front porch with some ancient looking shears that Chris found in the garage.
Along with the community garden, our new neighborhood comes complete with a community dog, a long-haired cat who thinks it lives on our porch and even a neighborhood kid who wanders unexpectedly into people's homes to make our sitcom experience complete! Wacky!

And shootings... there are also shootings. Hopefully this doesn't turn out to be one of those "very special episodes".

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Now playing: Norfolk & Western - Minor Daughter
via FoxyTunes

Labels: house, life

posted at 8:36 PM

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10/05/2007

Well, who's surprised that our closing date was rescheduled? Not me! After they waited two weeks to accept our offer and the upped the price on us twice...nope this sort of thing isn't unexpected at all. Good news is, we close today at 3 pm!!! Maybe I'll have a fancy closing picture but maybe not... my mom, who would be our photographer, isn't sure she wants to drive in rush hour traffic to the other side of town just to take our picture. But MoOoOom it's important! Anyway... we'll see. I'm off to spend nearly my entire savings in one fell swoop. Wish me luck!

Since when did Blogger acquire a "Now playing" signature? Hm. I think that's new but I have been kind of preoccupied lately, what with not packing and not finding a job.

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Now playing: Jenny Owen Youngs - Hot In Herre
via FoxyTunes

Labels: house, life

posted at 10:58 AM

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10/02/2007

Countdown to closing: less than three days! How about a house tour courtesy of crazy fish-eye-lensed Realtor photos? Objects in photos are closer than they appear.

Labels: house, life

posted at 5:38 PM

3 comments

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9/27/2007

Confession time... I'm getting a little bit excited... but don't tell! I don't want to jinx it. I have a song and it goes like this, "New house, new house! LALALALA!" It's very annoying. I'm quite proud of it.

If all goes according to plan, we close on Thursday. And then? Well, I guess we'll eventually move in. Next week I'm taking a bit of vacation to start packing and job hunting. You'd think that with only two people in our tiny 725 sq. ft. house, it would be a cinch to move. Wrong. We have so much stuff that sometimes it feels like we live in a storage unit... one of those plush units with temperature control... but still. I have a LOT of work ahead of me.

Here's a link to our new neighborhood Brady Heights. It is the awesome.

I've also begun a little bit of planning for the great amount of cosmetic remodeling the house will require. So, without further stalling... here is the very first picture from the new house to appear on the blog! Woohoo!

We'll start out small. Behind the dining room there is a second living area without much purpose. Chris and I have dubbed it "The Mystery Room". Since there is already a breakfast nook off the kitchen and we'll be using the third bedroom as a joint studio, most likely we'll be using the Mystery Room as a study. The space has a half bath attached to it as well as a door to the outside. Because of its lack of purpose and distance from the front door, as well as it's current status as the ugliest room in the house, we've decided to start our renovations here. Paint stripping will come first and hopefully the wood underneath will be gorgeous after a little staining. Add some Orla Keily wallpaper from Anthropologie, some paint, a fixture from Schoolhouse Electric ...and we're all set! I hope you guys enjoy my Photoshop mastery. If you have any advice or suggestions, let me know.

Labels: house, life, shopping

posted at 12:05 PM

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9/26/2007

Labels: life

posted at 2:29 PM

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8/01/2007

Three... three... three posts in one!

1.Why is it that whenever I use stock photography featuring "people-of-a-color-other-than-white" I have to have the awkward "it's a little too ethnic" discussion? Is this a normal customer reaction in all markets? How do you, as a designer, respond to customer requests for white-washing?

It really puts me in an awkward place morally as I have to find a happy medium between the client pleasing oh yes, what was I thinking!? White upper middle class faces coming right up! and self-righteous scorn. In my experience, when a client is given the choice of two ads, identical in every way other than the model's ethnicity, the client will always always choose the ad featuring the white model.

If any social scientist out there would like to conduct a study on race relations within small market advertising, I'm totally down with providing the data.

2. Check out this write up of ol' Tim Youmans published this week in the News-Star. It's not every day that someone essentially dubs you a present day incarnation of Woody Guthrie. I especially appreciated that the story gave me not one but TWO opportunities to say "Oh yeah, that Woody Guthrie guy? He was my marriage counselor." I don't get to name drop often so it was a very special day for me.
I saw Tim at lunch yesterday but I was too socially awkward to say hello... what with his new found fame and all. Listen to his free music for folks at myspace.com/timseantunes. Listen to the pretty melodies but to the lyrics above all. I can especially get down on (in a meditative way) the song "A Pretty Good Time", a touching tribute to Tim's youth group at First Baptist.

we will have a pretty good time
please be safe, in all the right ways
we’ll find there’s so much to give up
and in that, so much to gain
remember God in the days of youth
before we tire and grow weary
and we will have a pretty good time
as our lives shimmer and shine

3. On our way to OKC for our first official meeting of the Obama campaign volunteers, Chris and I were so psyched that, if asked, we would have driven all the way to Iowa to begin canvassing that very night! We had Hope in our hearts and Policy Reform on our lips! There was no greater man in Washington than Barack Obama and we, THE PEOPLE, were going to storm the White House in his name.

As we drove down the highway I imagined all the volunteers meeting together for the first time like old friends – all of us united in purpose. We'd pile on a bus to the tune of bird chirps and laughing children. We would all join and hands, guitars would come out of no where, and "We Shall Overcome" would be sung in 3 part harmony all the way to Des Moines! Somewhere, someone would buy the world a Coke.

Oh. My. Lord. What a gigantically excruciating disappointment.

When the meeting was adjourned we trudged back to our car... the only hope we had left was the hope that we would never ever see any of those people ever again.

Come with me on a journey towards disillusionment: The scene: An over crowded banquet room at "On the Border". Imagine that every person in the room was driven to attend the rally out of a desire for business networking rather than any kind of "audacious hope" for American politics. Imagine two straight hours of straining to hear the speaker over the "I'm richer than you" one-up manship going on around you. Watch in awe as business cards materialize out of thin air along with empty requests to "get with" their "people". Also, imagine that your refried beans were dry and crusty from being under a heat lamp too long and that the guy next to you, practically in your lap, is a little more than tipsy from a margarita the size of your head. Watch in disgust as Tipsy Man seems to really enjoy touching all the chips in the communal chip bowl.

Awesome.

"But Marissa", you say, "I was there! It was hardly the colossal waste of time and gas money that you imply!" Than I guess we weren't at the same table then, were we?

Special quotes from the evening:

"I would love to attend the Barack-B-Que, but I'll be in Aspen that weekend."

"Do you know _insert obscure name drop_?" "Oh yes! Her family used to summer near our beach home!"

"I'm voting for Mitt Romney anyway - have to look out for the ol' wallet."

Which brings to mind one other quote "I like your Obama, I do not like your Obama Mamas. Your Obama Mamas are so unlike your Barack Obama.” You tell'em Gahndi.

Thank you for letting me get this off my chest. Chris won't let me talk about it anymore.

Labels: barack obama, christianity, life, music, oklahoma, politics, work

posted at 7:46 PM

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7/06/2007

After a few technical difficulties (mostly of the "How do you turn this thing on?" variety) ... The escape plan is officially underway!

ohhhhh... how delightfully cryptic!

Labels: life

posted at 9:55 PM

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5/31/2007

The CD player in my car is broken beyond cheap repair ($300 bucks?! Wha-what?!) and of course it just had to happen right before the big Kansas City Road Trip of 2007. My CD player did not die in vain, however, for in its death, a new chapter has been penned in the life of Chris and Marissa.

We finally bought an iPod.

Oh yes.... We are that cheap... unless you're talking about our penchant for White Cheddar Natural Cheetos or our obsession with magazines that carry a cover price over $7.00.

"So this is what the kids have been raving about? Amazing!" says Marissa. "Welcome to the 21st century," says Christopher.
"Hey you kids! Get off our lawn!" says Marissa.

In honor of our new found technological up-to-speed-ness, Chris and I have hereby ceased referring to ourselves as "Ma" and "Pa". Now we can run with the hipster pack without worry about our walkmen bruising our hips.

Please help me name my new little green friend.
Choices are:
1. Andy (My Pal Andy)
2. Cedric (Cedric the Entertainer)
3. Loretta (Just Loretta thanks. Lolly for short?)
4. Iggy (Iggy Pod?! Oh no, that's terrible.)
or
5. Nanette (No, No, Nanette....or even worse... Nano Nanette)

Labels: life, music

posted at 9:18 PM

4 comments

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5/04/2007

Throw the sheets on the air mattress kids! Caitlin's coming today!
Chris and I even rented a steam cleaner for the carpets last Sunday in preparation for the grand arrival. Now, hypothetically, if someone over steamed their carpets enough for the pad to mold, how fast would their home start to have an odor? Hypothetically.

I've begun to really enjoy folk music... even some "alt-country" bands are floating my boat these days. Does it have banjo? Well then of course it is the most awesome music of all. So here is my quandary. I was under the impression that I now enjoy the pickin' and the grinnin' because it is genuinely good music and because my taste is evolving as the most awesome of tastes often do. However, I was suddenly struck with the thought that maybe my taste isn't evolving up... but that I'm now old and entering my "easy listening years". Is my developing love for American Roots music just my own version of AM Gold?! Pretty soon I'll be yelling at kids while exclaiming "That's not real music.. Turn that down, I can't even think!"
But anyway, The Wailin' Jennys? Fantastic. Check'em out.

In the plans for this weekend... Kolache Festival, Pre 1840 Mountain Man Rendezvous, Redneck BBQ. Pshew... Only the best for our girl Caitlin.

Labels: life

posted at 12:36 PM

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4/06/2007

Has anyone in this vast community of the interwebs read any books out of "The Voice" project? Lauren Winner's contribution,The Voice of Matthew, recently popped up on my amazon recommended list, and I was thinking about making the buy. Not that it's a huge purchase or anything but my "to read" shelf is becoming a little daunting.

It's snowing here in Oklahoma... It's EASTER for crying out loud. I am NOT okay with this. However, it did provide me with a nice opportunity for an "I told you so" since it took some prodding to get Chris to cover the tomato plants last night. I won't say it out loud because, as you know, I am the world's most perfect wife. My inner monologue is quite the harpy though.

Labels: books christianity, life, oklahoma

posted at 11:49 AM

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I was recently chastised by my father for being a little heavy on the Obama. I tried to explain that I'm not obsessed with the campaign... I'm just lazy about posting, so it just looks that way.
There are two solutions to the problem of perceived over-obamanation: 1) Create an entire post on the positive aspects of one republican pundit of my dad's choice in order to create balance. 2) Post more often.
I'll go with upping my post frequency since I'm tired and, as admitted above, lazy. Dad would probably choose someone like Ann Coulter anyway and, while I enjoy a challenge, I don't think my fragile soul could take it.

Things I'm enjoying at the moment.
1. Online Comics
2. New curtains in the studio
3. Today at work we're ordering biscuits for breakfast. ROCK!
4. New art in the mail from Ashleyg! Thank you!
5. Tiny Showcase
6. Rollie Fingers

Oh and happy Good Friday day!

Labels: art, artists, barack obama, indie shop, life, politics, Rollie Fingers

posted at 10:10 AM

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3/20/2007

Yesterday Chris, Aaron and I were privileged to attend Barack Obama's rally at the OKC Farmer's Market. I broke loose of the boys early on since we of short and stubby stature have a better shot at a decent vantage point when unincumbered by tall people. I'd like to give a special thanks to all the very kind, very tall men who offered to help me move up in the crowd.

One of the things I appreciated most about the rally was the climate of friendliness and community that was present among both staff and attendees. Despite the fact that we were packed in like cattle with what seemed like heat lamps above us, I never heard an ill tempered comment or witnessed any rude behavior. People easily joked and conversed with their neighbors. If I was a new age hippie, I would tell you that the room was filled with a positive energy (I might also say something about auras and spirit and...what is that smell?! Patchouli?).

And that's what this whole campaign is about–community... "the people"... Us. Sen. Obama's aim is to create a stronger community amongst the American people, focusing on ideas and issues that are universal concerns.

But nearly every campaign lays a claim on these ideals, right? It seems naive to believe that the best interest of the nation could truly be at the heart of a campaign, as opposed to the candidate's personal ambitions and desire for power. But when Sen. Obama says it, for some reason I believe it. I'm not the only one either. And like Sen. Obama said yesterday during his speech, "Every time the American people decide that things need to change, they change. When a million voices come together and make a decision that we're going to have change, we're going to have change."

It's been said many times that the people who are most appropriate for the role of president would never even consider the position because of the vanity and ruthlessness required. What other politician in recent memory could be described as "genuine", "honest", or "sincere"? How about "humble"? Sen. Obama is all of these things. Finally, a decent man has stepped up to the challenge. Sen. Obama is willing to put himself on the line because of, what appears to be, a genuine desire to change the United States for the better.

We don't admire him because of his celebrity or his "rock star status". We don't rally because we think he's physically attractive. We stand beside Sen. Obama because, in order to lead a nation, we understand that it takes much more than these superficial qualities. After all, wasn't it the election of charm and "good looks" that got us stuck with the last guy? At least this time around, maybe the soccer moms will be on our side.

I'll be adding links to accounts and pics from the rally as I find them. If you have anything to share please let me know in the comments!

• AP News Wire story from ABC News
• OklahomaObama.com
• BarackObama.com
• OK Blue Notes Official weblog for the Oklahoma Democratic Party
• Democrats of Oklahoma Community Forum Obama Rally Thread
• Photos from Flickr:
feelingismutual (me), tjsinokc, tamihollidayelder, fierce bunny

Labels: barack obama, event, flickr, life, oklahoma, politics

posted at 12:15 PM

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2/21/2007

More t-shirts?! Enough with the t-shirts!

1. No More Blood for Oil, No Star 2. One Less Car, Defunker 3. Keep The Dream Alive, No Star 4. Losing Faith, One Horse Shy 5. I Brought This Upon Myself, Vintage Vantage 6. 100% Wool, Cotton Factory 7. Smiles are Contagious, No Star 8. Jinx! You Owe Me a Soda!, Snorg Tees 9. Bring your own Boo Ya!, Cotton Factory

No I haven't been playing World of Warcraft... I don't know what you're talking about. Hush.

And now, a note.

Dear Dental Hygenist,
You're a very nice girl so please don't take this the wrong way. What I have to tell you is out of love.
Dude. You've got to tone it down. I mean, really, your schtick might work on the under-12 set, but I don't like to be patted on the shoulder or called "dear" by a 19 year old. You may have an endearingly apologetic giggle but it doesn't change the fact that you almost suctioned my lip off while you were busy chatting about Britney's hair. Call me a "real little trooper" again and I just might have to take my teeth elsewhere.
See you in September!
Marissa
P.S. No, I did not "make up" my name. There are actually quite a few of us.

Labels: design, gifts, life, shirts, shopping

posted at 12:13 PM

4 comments

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1/16/2007

Ahhh... There are many reasons why today is fantastic– not the least of which was this email that greeted me when I came in to work his morning:

Senator Barack Obama has announced that he has filed papers today to create a presidential exploratory committee. Exploration is good, but I'm a little concerned that an official bid for 2008 may be premature. Sen. Obama will be a wonderful president someday (see that? positive thinking) but he needs to be in the national spotlight a little longer in order to prove his worth to the entire country. As much as he is loved by his constituents and ardent fans, I'm so afraid that his flame will die if he tries to run too soon. He's too much of a talent to become another Howard Dean.

So far, the only negativity I've heard (that doesn't originate from hype-apprehension) are the very clever rhymes associating his name with that of Osama bin Laden. And have you heard? Barack Obama's middle name is Hussein? Well! We can't have that! So unless something earth shattering is revealed, Obama seems pretty safe from controversy and scandal.

On February 10th, Sen. Obama will announce his official plans. If his decision is to run in 2008 I will do everything I can to do my part in working towards his election. Dude, just call on me. I am a canvassing, button wearing fool!

Here's a little excerpt from my "very exclusive" email:

As you may know, over the last few months I have been thinking hard about my plans for 2008. Running for the presidency is a profound decision - a decision no one should make on the basis of media hype or personal ambition alone - and so before I committed myself and my family to this race, I wanted to be sure that this was right for us and, more importantly, right for the country.

I certainly didn't expect to find myself in this position a year ago. But as I've spoken to many of you in my travels across the states these past months; as I've read your emails and read your letters; I've been struck by how hungry we all are for a different kind of politics.

See Sen. Obama's Official Site for more information.

Labels: barack obama, current events, life, politics

posted at 2:40 PM

5 comments

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1/15/2007

First they take my dog food and now my pomegranate juice?! Is nothing sacred?!

I can't think of any real reason why animals need to be anywhere near my pomegranate juice, much less die for it. It seems like companies are really going out of their way to figure out how to torture animals. The experimentation Pom is conducting is so bizarre and needless.
Next I'll find out that Target is testing their decorative pillows by smothering puppies.

For more information on why POM should be added to the jerk list click'a here. Thanks mipmup for the heads up. I never would've guessed.

Labels: jerks, life, peta

posted at 11:59 AM

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12/27/2006

When you find a man who'll pose with Santa for you, you know you've found true love. Or you've found a weirdo. I think I'll go with the love bit though.

Hope your holiday was awesome!

Labels: christmas, holiday, life

posted at 4:49 PM

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12/20/2006

Chris and I were forced into the mall today to do a little last minute Christmas shopping. I imagine that hell is a lot like The Buckle. Everything looks attractive from far away – nice colors, interesting patterns– but the closer you get, the more hideous the clothing items become.

We finally found a cute gift that didn't jeopardize our financial stability when we were hit from behind by a perky blond salesgirl with a jones for commissions.

"Are you shopping for your daughter?"

We were stunned! I mean what do you say? Clearly, we're in our 20's right? We don't look like the middle aged parents of a teenage daughter, do we?! I swore off crossword puzzles on the spot and promised to pluck my lucky gray hair as soon as we got home.
Chris very politely replied that we were shopping for a sister. The girl continued her vain attempt at service despite the fact that we already had our selection in hand.

"Does she like brown," she asked with a huge dorky grin.

Seriously, what kind of question is that? I almost wish we had played along to see what other incredible things she had to say.

Idiot: Does she like brown?
Me: Oh yes! She loves brown!! I had completely forgotten about that fact until you brought it to my attention!
Idiot: Well this is your lucky day because we happen to carry clothing items in that exact color!
Me: Hurrah! Christmas is saved!

We made ourselves feel better by refusing eye contact for the rest of the transaction and continued to rip into her the entire car ride home. While stealing glances from the side view mirrors to check for wrinkles.

---

"Oh Marissa," you say. "You're just cranky because you've had 'Kokomo' inexplicably stuck in your head all day."

Maybe so, my blog reading friend. Maybe so.

Labels: life

posted at 6:39 PM

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As you can probably tell from the last post, Chris graduated last friday! Yay for Chris! You probably also noticed that he shaved and got a hair cut. Yay for personal grooming!!
We'd like to thank all the teachers, advisors and deans that made this graduation possible. Especially to Chris' French II professor who gave him an A last semester despite the fact that it had been 6 years since he took French I.

Things I'm looking forward to in the future:
• No more anxious calls from work to make sure Chris is awake for class.
• No more late nights studying and the era of the "all-nighter" is finally coming to it's long overdue end.
• Chris can finally have a normal work schedule again, which means the days of seeing my husband only between the hours of 11 pm and 2 am are in the past. I'm looking forward to seeing what he looks like in the daylight.

A special no thanks to the billing departments of both OBU and Seminole State College. If I ever win the lottery you guys will be the first to know – I promise. Now leave me alone.

Labels: event, life

posted at 2:07 PM

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12/19/2006

Labels: event, life

posted at 4:54 PM

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12/07/2006

1. I love snow a ton... but not when there is a ton on my driveway for seven whole days and then it turns into ice and then I fall and bust my knees everyday (almost). As if I needed another reason to hate going to work in the mornings. It was a little slushy when I got home last night which made me super excited... but it is now freezing back over as we speak, because the world hates my knees.
The weather has been so consistantly frigid that my chin is numb and chaffing from rubbing against my scarf.

2. After two and a half years of working for the man, the day of reckoning finally arrived. PERFORMANCE REVIEWS. Two years of dread, two years of looking through the classifieds every time the possibility of a review came up, two years of... hey hold on.... my review kicked the man in the shins! What's that?! I'm fantastic?! Well of course... you dared to doubt it!? Yeah, me too.

3. Marty,
I still have your copy of The Crane Wife. I'm guessing that you've long since come to that realization. I bet you left it at my house on purpose.... a hipster's response to an errant earring on my bedside table, perhaps?* Either way, a care package is in order. My phone's name for you and Linda when texting? "Kinda Nasty". I forgot about that little nugget of awesomeness.

* Not meant in a provocative way. Only that you're just looking for any excuse possible to come back to Shawnee. Like Mecca it calls out to you.

4. If anyone sees my tweezers, let them know that I'm looking for them and that I miss them very much. My eyebrows are going crazy with worry.

5. Ember Van Allen,
I miss you even more than my tweezers and I love your face. Your knees give me butterflies. No one wears a hungarian vowel quite like you. Seeing you twice in one year spoiled me and now my heart weeps because you've dropped off the face of the planet (my planet, at least). Maybe you'll get bored at your schmancy new job and google yourself, then you'll find this and realize the folly that is myspace neglect.

6. Even though It's freezing out, I know it will be a good day because I have a biscuit from Braum's. It fills my heart with gladness... takes away all my sadness.

Labels: life, work

posted at 10:08 AM

7 comments

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11/08/2006

What a beautiful day! It may be November but the sun is shinning, the grass is green, it's 80 degrees outside and the world is smiling!

Ever since I started caring about such things, Election Days always put me in knots and every single one has been a disappointment. But not this one! Rumsfeld was just icing on the yummiest cake ever (not that gross crisco frosting either.... the good stuff!). I don't even mind that my candidate lost since everything else went so well.

Let me tell you, there's nothing more depressing than a watch party for a losing candidate. I hate to see a grown man cry but, luckily, Chris and I left dinner on the stove so we had an excuse to leave early. I was going to play the hand shaking game before I left but skipped it since I thought it would seem like I was cutting out because we were on the losing team. Also, I didn't want them to retract all the wonderful things they said about me before the numbers started to come in!

I loved working in politics though, and I hope I have the opportunity to help other campaigns in the future. But only campaigns that don't have a vindictive old man running sabotage with dirty ad shenanigans (Just a tip for those with a future in politics, especially in Pottawatomie County– When you fire the guy who writes your ad copy, make sure you do so without bruising his pride. If you tick him off, his negative ad backlash will be quick and brutal).

Labels: life, oklahoma, politics

posted at 3:15 PM

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11/06/2006

This year, our trick-or-treater count went up in quality if not quantity.
Who needs hordes of greedy masses... all I need is one little boy in cargo pants filled with fortunes. He dug in his pocket for the perfect slip of paper, rejecting two before finally handing me the worthy fortune. He was so proud of himself, despite the frustrated glances from his chaperone sisters. My fortune is now proudly displayed on the fridge.

I know it's a little late to offer this as a tribute to Halloween, but perhaps it will give you hope as we enter Election Day.

Labels: halloween, holiday, life

posted at 9:03 PM

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10/31/2006

Wanna see something scary? Do ya? Do ya?

That's right. I'm a lucky woman.

Labels: life

posted at 10:03 PM

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Remember when all it took was a plastic sack and a cheap mask to instantly transform into your favorite character? Good times.
RetroCRUSH touts the webs largest collection of classic costumes (i.e. tacky...and plastic). Really brings back the Toys R' Us memories.

Back in 1983 I was rocking this ET action. And I looked good.

Happy Halloween! Don't forget to bring your children by my house... our candy is awesome this year. I promise it will be totally worth it. Even if you don't have children, we'll still give you candy. We're desperate.

Labels: halloween, holiday, life

posted at 4:52 PM

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10/21/2006

Yet another reason why I need to cull down my store of miscellaneous art supplies – they're dangerous! Fortunately for me, I was right next to my box of fabric scraps when I decided that it would be awesome to cut my leg and spurt blood everywhere. An instant bandage that would make Martha Stewart proud.

I told Chris that those scraps would come in handy someday... unlike that pane of "I'll use it someday" glass. Consider yourself culled, glass!

Labels: life

posted at 10:59 PM

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Today I woke up at 2 p.m. and only because Chris called during his lunch break with a hankering for mexican food. With my cloudy head and puffy eyes I thought that sounded like a swell idea. I rubbed in vain at the sheet scars on my face and wore long sleeves so people wouldn't look at my arms in horror and whisper "fire". There was also teeth brushing.
Off I went! I ate a chimichanga and consumed two huge fountain drinks in record time (everyone knows there's nothing better than ice cold fountain drinks when you wake up at 2 p.m.). I'm sure we talked of important things like politics, and pangea, and my swollen eyelids.
And now? Now I'm thinking that mexican food that soon after rising was not a good idea at all. It's 3 p.m. and I've been amongst the living for an hour. I really want to go back to bed.

A list
... cause it's been awhile.

• I have to consciously force myself not to start every single one of my posts with "So, ...". I'm a good writer, I is.

• I have a grey hair. It is five inches long and very angry looking. It has situated itself in prime territory- front and center and next to the part. It means business and I can't bring myself to pull it.

• Today is "organize the studio day" and it will be so lovely. I'm doing my best to cull through my supplies and send all the rejects to better more productive homes on freecycle.com, but i just keep thinking of so many great uses for book repair tape and 30 year old gold powdered pigment.
If anyone in the area wants a giant rubbermaid filled with broken dinner plates, please let me know cause I am not moving that sucker again.

• Nov. 29th is my first dentist appointment in 2 years and I'm deathly afraid that the dentist will yell at me for my receding gums. I've gone into preparation mode. On top of my regular oral care routine, I've been swigging listerine three times a day, flossing like it's going out of style and gargling with salt water, all in a desperate attempt to reverse the effects of hard brushing. I just found out that this could be making the situation worse. Now I just feel lost. Stupid gums.

• The political campaign I'm working on just took a turn for the dirty. Should make for an interesting work week. And give my an ulcer. Oh politics, you are a harsh mistress. Wish I... could write ... more... argh....

Labels: life

posted at 3:08 PM

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10/11/2006

Have you ever looked at the word "chihuahua"? I mean really looked at it and sounded it out? Funny word. "Tchi-whoah-whoah". Heh.

Chris and I are desperately trying to devise a plan to lure trick-or-treaters to our house. We always buy the best candy, we carve kickin' jack o'lanterns, we leave the porch light on, we stay at home during the prime hours of 6 till 9... and we sit...and we wait...
Last year we had six kids. Six total. All night. Two of 'em weren't even in costumes (and had facial hair). If we don't have more kids this year than I'm afraid the spirit of Halloween will leave our household forever. Maybe I need more Halloween décor. The kids love festive seasonal décor!

Check out these vintage inspired designs from Christmas Traditions:

1.Wise up! Painted Tin Sign Chris absolutely hates it when I hang seasonal junk on the door. Somehow he always ends up hitting himself in the face. I bought this one anyway...I know it will be different this time.

2.Painted Tin Garland This will look awesome above the piano! For sure!

3.Set of three Owl Ornaments None of these for me, since I've been mocked for my recent increase in owl related purchases. My husband is so cruel.

4.Jack O' Lantern Paper Maché Basket I'd be all over this if I hadn't just read about making my own in Martha Stewart Living (this one's nearly sixty bucks).

5.Glittery Garland When you live in a house the size of a postage stamp, you can never have too much garland!

More halloween goodness!

1. Scary Pumpkin Head Rattle of Doom! It's peal will summon the apocalypse! ... maybe we'll leave this one alone. Vintage Halloween Store

2. Little Chenille Pumpkin Men Much more fuzzy and less unsettling than the rattle.Christmas Traditions

3. Halloween Vintage Picks For fancy cupcakes and for poking people. Vintage Halloween Store

4. Vintage Treat Bags These should be framed, not handed out to unappreciative and sticky-handed children! Spook Shows

5.Tin Cat Head Container Cause it's always fun to stick things in a cat's head. Christmas Traditions

Labels: gifts, halloween, holiday, life, shopping

posted at 1:03 PM

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10/10/2006

Chris and I have advanced to a new stage in our relationship: Old People. Not every couple in their mid-20's can say that they regularly fall asleep on a love-seat while watching PBS. It's gotten to the point where Antiques Road Show is a highly effective alternative to sleeping pills. I'm not sure if I should attribute my newly aching body to "The Old" or to the couch sleeping.

Every night we dominate the crosswords. It's about time I found a reason to pick the paper up from the yard. If I had known about the forced subscriptions, I never would've taken a newspaper job. Bah. And Eugene Sheffer, you will be vanquished! 'Cause, dude, if the answer consists of 3 separate words then the clue would be a perfect place to let us know. Seriously. You better hope we never cross paths Sheffer... if so, I have a combo move with your name on it.

My birthday weekend was lovely, so thank you to everyone who helped make it rock. In related news, I am now the proud owner of a 1" button maker!

Does anyone else think that the arrival of the recent cold front and Karl Rove's presence in Oklahoma is a little too convenient to be a coincidence? I knew that the breeze felt especially evil yesterday morning.

Labels: life, politics

posted at 1:29 PM

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9/26/2006

Labels: life

posted at 12:42 PM

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9/18/2006

You know what I'm craving today? A nice spinach salad. It's a cruel, cruel world.

Look at all these suckers

My dream of becoming the "best juror ever" was cut short this morning after being in the courthouse for a total of one hour and 15 minutes.

I knew that the jury duty elves were working against me from the beginning. While in line for the court clerk, I overheard the attorney for the defense talking to the DA, something about having "no witnesses, and no case"... ohhhhhh bad sign.

When we checked in, the court clerk divided us in half with red and blue badges. Within an hour there was a coin toss (no really...a literal coin toss) and all the red badges were told they could leave. Weeks of excitement and anticipation led up to this single moment, and my jury duty fate was left up to a coin toss? Bah!

I don't care how light your docket is, I had a full week of pay on the line that didn't require actual work! Give me charts to file, envelopes to stamp, I'll pick up your pretty robes from the dry cleaners... anything to keep me in that courthouse for longer than an hour and 15 minutes!

I didn't even get to watch the orientation video! I love orientation videos... in college I went through training at Denny's for the sole benefit of watching sensitivity videos while drinking free coffee. Best 5 hours of my life.

I won't complain too much though... $20 for less than two hours of work? I made more money as a juror than I do at the day job. How many people can say that? Suckas!

I was summoned to jury duty and all I got was this lousy button.

Hey marriage licenses. We're in there!

Labels: life, oklahoma

posted at 3:17 PM

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9/11/2006

Top 5 reasons why I wish we had a dishwasher:
1. Raisin fingers
2. Cheese graters
3. Muffin tins
4. Colanders
5. Sharp knives

Today's in-law visit went well...or at least better than last time when I inadvertandly called Chris' mom "tacky" and felt like an idiot.

And now for aprons:
Chris and I went trolling for antiques last weekend and scored a new globe, an old step ladder...and these three vintage aprons! I especially enjoy the turquoise one with red trim. Neat!

On Saturday morning I actually did my house work in this get-up. Very Donna Reed. I should've pulled out my pearls and pumps but felt that was more fun than I could handle.

Labels: aprons, life, thrift

posted at 12:45 AM

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9/09/2006

New kicks...fresh from ebay via Hong Kong. I love me some corduroy.

My first mother-in-law visit is tomorrow and I should be cleaning house...but instead I'm taking pictures of my shoes. I am the perfect picture of maturity.

Labels: fashion, life, shoes

posted at 9:03 PM

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9/06/2006

Labels: life

posted at 11:18 AM

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9/05/2006

Labor Day...just...won't...die....

Okay, now it has. I'm done.
The final copy is at flickr. Download it at original size so you can make copies and pass it out to Starbucks workers and incite conflict in the workplace... be an organizer. Keep in mind that the poor thing was killed before the proofing process began so pass it out at your own risk.

Labels: art, craft, life, politics, work

posted at 11:45 PM

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9/04/2006

Happy Labor Day

Last week I worked up this illustration of "The History of Labor Day" for a special section in our paper. Sadly the piece was nixed as it was viewed by our publisher to be a little too friendly to organized labor and "not the message that we want to send out". Well. Fair enough. The guy is from Michigan so I understand his distaste for unions but when I was told to illustrate the history of Labor Day I wish someone had told me to keep the Labor Movement out of it.
So here it is...my unpublished labor of love.

And the man just keeps knockin' us down.

Our big labor day plans involved furniture re-finishment (Is that a word. Spell check says no). Chris left me alone to finish the task as he's one of the few who actually has to work on this national day of rest* and it took about 20 minutes of my inexperience to royally mess it up. Here's a tip. Don't use a power sander on ancient unidentified paint after soaking the piece down with a hose. Our last piece of fine grit sandpaper is now completely gunked up with blue paint...which is surely lead based and now seeping into my pores as it's covering my hands as well. And Chris made it sound so easy! I'm supposed to be at Lowe's right now buying more stain for our night stand...but the way thing are going I think the world is safer if I just stay indoors.

*Why is it that the downtrodden masses who inspired this holiday are the only ones forced to work it today?

Time again to vote for your favorite Oklahoma bloggers---> 2006 Okie Blog Awards. The fact that I've been nominated for bugger all should be enough to legitimize this contest (no Emmy like snafus there). Maybe if I hadn't offended the entire population of Stroud I might've had a chance. Lincoln County has mad voter power.
My favorite pre-marital counselor, Tim Youmans at Anabaptist Monk, has been justly nominated again this year for Best Inspirational Blog. I've officially begun my campaign to see that he wins it big.

Labels: art, holiday, life, oklahoma, politics, see jane work

posted at 5:17 PM

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9/02/2006

Green's Corner & a camera phone- Shawnee

Labels: life, oklahoma, thrift

posted at 12:12 AM

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8/25/2006

( via Something old, Something new)The work ofkhW Jewelry is exactly the style of jewelry I was looking for to wear on my wedding day. Ethereal and organic at the same time without looking too prissy.

These were the pieces I had intended on wearing to the wedding. A carnelian chokerand matching earings by a Thai artist named Busarin, featured on Novica.com. After all, if you can't buy from an independent craftswoman... buy freetrade!

yet more from Busarin...

As I said, I intended on wearing these pieces, but Chris had other plans. Right before the picture taking began, Chris gave me a special gift. When Chris and I first began dating he had given me a pearl that he had bought when he was a little boy. The story goes that he asked his parents to buy the pearl so that he could someday give it the girl he was going to marry... because evidently those are the kinds of things that nine year old Chris thought about. While the necklace was beautiful, the setting was in yellow gold so I rarely wore it (gold snob, that's me). As my wedding gift, Chris had the setting rhodium plated and replaced the chain. So what's a girl to do? Forget carnelian and go it sentimental style, that's what.

Labels: design, gifts, indie shops, jewelry, life, shopping, wedding

posted at 11:27 PM