Promise, last blurb about engagement and wedding for a while! The date has been finalized.

Mark you calendars for Saturday, October 31st! Yes, it landed on Halloween and I didn't plan that AT ALL. But hey, when you project what would make you most happy, all the universe conspires to make it so!

Thanks everyone for your congrats! We are super stoked about it! Rather than planning the wedding surrounding some grand idea I've had since childhood (because I don't have one), we're letting the circumstances play out and kind of determine the details.

Thus far, circumstance has told us it's going to be in the US, most likely in Buffalo. It has also told us it's either going to be October 30th or 31st.

Now I know what some of you are thinking. Yes, I love Halloween to bits but I seriously did not select these dates! But I can see having lots of fun with it, fo sho! Keep your calendars free!

I think we'll try to get to the states late summer to take care of 'in person' details. So, I'm sure we'll throw together a nice big bonfire experience and hope you'll all join us for a little engagement celebration :)


Here's a pic shortly after he asked me. I look weird, but whatever, I was all kinds of crying and shaking and it's hard to take two person self-portraits. At least my long arms come in handy sometimes!


This was our little 'celebration' at London Heathrow Airport while we were waiting for our flight back to Doha. Seriously, the Virgin Atlantic lounge is freaking amazing there!

(e:Rory) and I are formally, officially, 100% engaged! We are so happy!

This is how it went down:

He asked me on Friday the 13th in an old graveyard next to the old church in Ingatestone (his hometown). He got down on one knee. I was so overwhelmed with emotion I could hardly speak.

A small group of teenage boys that had just gotten out of school were coming down the path behind us, saw him on bended knee, and started shouting various congratulatory remarks and woohoo's. They passed us as we hung in a tight embrace, savoring the moment.

As we left the graveyard we rounded a corner to the Co-Op and the same boys were standing outside. They lined themselves up by the door and as we walked in started humming/singing "Da dum de dum, da dum de dum". It was very cute.

We just wanted to share our joy with all of you!

Today has been joyful and taxing. We finally finished our 3rd full day of interviewing candidates. It has been great having the opportunity to interview folks for professional position. I've interviewed loads of student staff, but this is different. I guess it was also fun to sit on the other side of the table, knowing they are experiencing the same things I was a few years agao.

Once we were finished and tore down our booth, I took an adventurous little trip to Target. I did my homework online to figure out the bus route. It took about 40 minutes to get out there (only 20 to get back) and it was worth the journey. Of course, it didn't cost a dime to get out there, which is either odd or we did something wrong and cheated the system. I don't quite understand how the buses work here. I know it's free in a certain downtown zone, but we rode way the hell out into the burbs. No matter...I was able to pick up (e:Rory)'s requested jersey sheets and some more pumpkin candles, as well as a few other bits and bobs. I grabbed a few Easter eggs for an activity I'm doing and stocked up my favorite gum. Yay.

I've been having a hard time sorting out a change in my return flight because of the major time difference. So, I began to panic this evening. We found out when (e:Rory)'s grandfather's funeral is, and I am doing whatever I have to do to be there with my amazing future husband and his family.

I talked with my boss and supervisor about the situation and how it's very important to me to be there. They agreed. It means giving up another presentation (I see a trend in my professional development follies) but there is no question in my mind that I should be with (e:Rory) instead of in a room talking about sustainability. My supervisor has graciously agreed to step in for me and that means a lot to me. I am going to miss her when she leaves QF.

It's snowing here. Pretty big change from the 80F in Doha. Seattle, what little I've seen of it, is really nice. It has a very walkable downtown area, and there are bookstores everywhere. I think the people at Barnes and Nobles know me already I've been in there so many times. That's something I really miss, bookstores and libraries. Sometimes you forget just how much you miss them until you have access to them again!

I'm on a short break from another long day of interviews. The great news is we have a few strong candidates and I'm excited about getting to work with someone I like. It's important to me, especially in the work I do, to have comrades. I really like that I get to have input this time, unlike last time, which was a negative experience.

Good things are on the horizon, I can feel the tingle in my tummy!