Hello everyone!!! I know you have been waiting patiently to find out when and where our wedding is. I think a lot of you have already heard by word-of-mouth, but in case you haven't....
Wedding Day: May 1, 2010 (that's right, exactly one year from the date he proposed!)
Ceremony location: Beth Israel synagogue
Reception location: Omni Houston Hotel
We are currently working on our web site, which should debut very soon. We are also planning on sending out save-the-date cards within the next few months. Everything you will need to know will be on our web site.
We do want to warn everyone well in advance to begin looking into flights as soon as possible because there is a worldwide oil and gas conference in Houston the week of our wedding and there will be several airlines escalating their prices as it gets closer to the date in order to make more money on the thousands of people that come in for the conference.
For those of you who don't want to/would rather not pay for a guest room at the Omni hotel, we will be providing a couple other hotels in the same area that are a little more cost-effective. We promise to provide those options very soon as well.
Oren and I are already in the full works of planning and we're getting really excited. The date and location were the biggest accomplishments and we feel great about those decisions.
We hope this finds you all very well and stay tuned for the launch of our new web site!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Thursday, May 07, 2009
An Engagement Story
Once upon a time, there was a tall, dark and handsome young man named Oren. Oren, being the hopeless romantic that he is, decided to take his lady on a vacation and ask her to marry him at a beautiful winery in Napa Valley, California on their one-year anniversary.
After arriving at the first winery, which was the famous Robert Mondavi winery, it had suddenly begun raining. Fortunately, the rain only added to the romantic feel as it lightly fell upon the vineyard and flowers and trees in the distance. There were beautiful mountains in the background with mystical clouds hovering over them. The setting was as if it was taken out of a storybook.
As Oren and his lady walked along under the covered portion of the open area, Emily pointed out a beautiful rose garden. The couple walked over there and stood staring at the pretty scenery. As they stood there, Oren was building up the guts to say some important things. He finally began and it went a little something like this:
"Well, it's been a year since I first asked you to be my girlfriend. And I knew on that day that this was the start of something really special. Emily, I love you. I am so in love with you. There comes a time in each person's life when they have to decide who they want to spend the rest of their life with. I have made that decision and want to spend the rest of my life with you. [Oren gets down on one knee and pulls a ring box out of his pocket and opens it]. Emily, will you marry me?"
[Emily shaking and having an out-of-body experience looks at Oren and the ring and back at Oren smiling] "Of course I will! It would be an honor." [Emily bends over to hug Oren and he gets back up holding on to her. They stand and hug for a long time and after a minute or so they both start crying. They tell each other how happy they make each other and how excited they are to be the other's life-long partner. After several kisses and hugs, some photos are taken and the cell phones come out. They take turns calling parents, siblings and best friends for the next hour or so.
The rain doesn't let up once, yet the newly engaged couple begin their wine tasting journey. They only get to go to three wineries before closing time, but at most places, the employees found out about the engagement and gave the couple an extra free souvenir glass with extra wine or champagne to express their congratulations.
Later, the lovebirds went to a lovely french bistro in downtown Napa Valley called Angele. They were led to a more private, quiet room where they were given yet again another two glasses of champagne to celebrate the occasion. Oren ate the steak and Emily had the halibut. It was rich and delicious. They were both pretty exhausted from such an emotional day so they returned to their lovely Marriott hotel and day spa in Napa and retired.
The next morning they awoke and ventured over to the day spa for a one-hour couples massage. The spa was so relaxing and peaceful with steam rooms and jacuzzis and other fun amenities. After a blissful experience, they returned to their room and ordered room service breakfast. It was very tasty. They soon departed and made their way to Sausalito where they were to spend the rest of their vacation with Emily's brother and family who also helped make the occasion super special and enjoyable.
THE END
------
We are so very excited in this time in our lives and have many people to thank for being instrumental in helping with the proposal, the ring, and accommodations. This was an unforgettable and beautiful experience that we will forever treasure. We promise to inform everyone of a date as soon as we get it finalized. Until then, we are trying to enjoy a few weeks in engagement bliss before all the planning gets under way. There will also be an official web site for the wedding, where all of the pertinent information and photos will be provided. We love you all and can't wait to share such a wonderful experience with you.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Oren's birthday surprise
So...many people have asked me the details of Oren's birthday surprise and I ended up just summarizing so I thought I would go into detail here, along with some fun photos.
He turned 27 on March 15, but we celebrated the night before on the 14th. Oren once told me that he had never been in a limo (other than when he was 3, and it doesn't count because he can't remember it). I stored that little fact in the back of my brain knowing I would do something to change that one day. :)
So, I rented an 8-passenger limo (it ended up being a Dodge Magnum limo, which isn't quite what I was told I would get but it was still nice) and invited his sister and 6 good friends to come along for the ride. I had everyone meet at his apartment complex but stay outside in their cars until the limo arrived. Then, they all hopped in there to wait for us. I blind-folded Oren and slowly led him down the stairs. He kept saying he heard an engine and I kept saying "well, it is a parking lot!" So finally I took his blind fold off and he got to see his long-awaited surprise. He was very shocked and thanked me immediately. Then we had the driver take this picture:
He saw heads inside so he knew it wasn't just us. As soon as he opened the door they all yelled, "Surprise!" Our first (and only) stop was at the wonderful and delicious Melting Pot fondue restaurant. Oren had also been wanting to try that for almost as long as I have known him. I kept telling him it was much more fun to go with a big group so that we should wait until we can arrange that. This was the perfect occasion to go!
The only downside to the awesome meal, was the amount of time it took. I believe we were there for nearly three hours! We only had the limo for 5 and had spent a little while in there before dinner so time was whittling away. The original plan was to go to Midtown and do a little bit of bar hopping, but with an hour and change to go with the limo, we all decided to stay inside the fun vehicle and party it up in there. We shared a bottle of champagne and another bottle of wine (Yaniv was the professional limo wine pourer), listened and danced to music and had a really good time.
After our time was up in the limo, everyone went back to Oren's apartment and played Guitar Hero for another hour or so. Oren was very happy with the evening and said it was his most memorable birthday yet! So I did good. :)
He turned 27 on March 15, but we celebrated the night before on the 14th. Oren once told me that he had never been in a limo (other than when he was 3, and it doesn't count because he can't remember it). I stored that little fact in the back of my brain knowing I would do something to change that one day. :)
So, I rented an 8-passenger limo (it ended up being a Dodge Magnum limo, which isn't quite what I was told I would get but it was still nice) and invited his sister and 6 good friends to come along for the ride. I had everyone meet at his apartment complex but stay outside in their cars until the limo arrived. Then, they all hopped in there to wait for us. I blind-folded Oren and slowly led him down the stairs. He kept saying he heard an engine and I kept saying "well, it is a parking lot!" So finally I took his blind fold off and he got to see his long-awaited surprise. He was very shocked and thanked me immediately. Then we had the driver take this picture:
He saw heads inside so he knew it wasn't just us. As soon as he opened the door they all yelled, "Surprise!" Our first (and only) stop was at the wonderful and delicious Melting Pot fondue restaurant. Oren had also been wanting to try that for almost as long as I have known him. I kept telling him it was much more fun to go with a big group so that we should wait until we can arrange that. This was the perfect occasion to go!
The only downside to the awesome meal, was the amount of time it took. I believe we were there for nearly three hours! We only had the limo for 5 and had spent a little while in there before dinner so time was whittling away. The original plan was to go to Midtown and do a little bit of bar hopping, but with an hour and change to go with the limo, we all decided to stay inside the fun vehicle and party it up in there. We shared a bottle of champagne and another bottle of wine (Yaniv was the professional limo wine pourer), listened and danced to music and had a really good time.
After our time was up in the limo, everyone went back to Oren's apartment and played Guitar Hero for another hour or so. Oren was very happy with the evening and said it was his most memorable birthday yet! So I did good. :)
Thursday, March 19, 2009
please let me win a trip to Hawaii
Dear Ellen DeGeneres,
I know you are going to get tens of thousands, if not millions, of submissions from fans trying to win that glorious trip to Hawaii. But if you ever got to know me, which oh my God that would be so great if you did because I think we could be best friends, then you would know just how much I am aching to go! Here is my very short story you requested of why I deserve to go to Hawaii:
To be surrounded by beauty. That is all I wanted after my world turned upside down one day almost exactly two years ago. I came home to my boyfriend of three years to find him sitting on the bed and telling me our relationship was over. The man I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with completely broke my heart and left me there to pick up the pieces. After quitting my job and moving back home to live with my parents (and after lots of crying) I knew I wanted to travel. I had always wanted to go to Hawaii. It was just so beautiful in every TV show and movie that I ever saw. My mom reminded me that I was once there...in her womb. She was about six months pregnant with me and my twin brother when she went on vacation with my dad. I remember asking her when I was little, "Mom, why didn't you make a window in your belly so I could have at least looked out at the beautiful scenery?" She would just grin and tell me I would get back there one day. After buying the Fodor's guide to Hawaii and lots of research, I decided that I simply could not afford to go. Also, I was told by many people that it's not really a place to go as a single, depressed girl. It would hurt to see all the happy honeymooners there. So I decided to do a six-month work/study program in Spain instead. I had the time of my life there, but I have never let go of my desire to go to Hawaii. Now with an awesome new man in tow, I think it's about time I see that beautiful state. Without any windows.
*The deadline for submission was today and the winner will be chosen next week.
I know you are going to get tens of thousands, if not millions, of submissions from fans trying to win that glorious trip to Hawaii. But if you ever got to know me, which oh my God that would be so great if you did because I think we could be best friends, then you would know just how much I am aching to go! Here is my very short story you requested of why I deserve to go to Hawaii:
To be surrounded by beauty. That is all I wanted after my world turned upside down one day almost exactly two years ago. I came home to my boyfriend of three years to find him sitting on the bed and telling me our relationship was over. The man I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with completely broke my heart and left me there to pick up the pieces. After quitting my job and moving back home to live with my parents (and after lots of crying) I knew I wanted to travel. I had always wanted to go to Hawaii. It was just so beautiful in every TV show and movie that I ever saw. My mom reminded me that I was once there...in her womb. She was about six months pregnant with me and my twin brother when she went on vacation with my dad. I remember asking her when I was little, "Mom, why didn't you make a window in your belly so I could have at least looked out at the beautiful scenery?" She would just grin and tell me I would get back there one day. After buying the Fodor's guide to Hawaii and lots of research, I decided that I simply could not afford to go. Also, I was told by many people that it's not really a place to go as a single, depressed girl. It would hurt to see all the happy honeymooners there. So I decided to do a six-month work/study program in Spain instead. I had the time of my life there, but I have never let go of my desire to go to Hawaii. Now with an awesome new man in tow, I think it's about time I see that beautiful state. Without any windows.
*The deadline for submission was today and the winner will be chosen next week.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Writer's block
I'm having trouble following up the Hanna Montanashevitz post. Nothing is nearly as captivating that I can currently think of at the top of my head. In case you don't know, I rarely have this problem...
Friday, February 13, 2009
funny
So last night Oren needed me to open a new tissue box and I told him to get one from under my bathroom sink. He picks one up and says, "Um, Emily...did you know you purchased this box with Hanna Montana on it?" Well. I gasped in horror. Not a big fan of Hanna Montana/Miley Cirus. I think she has slim to no talent and is just plain out annoying. For no particular reason, I have a very strong aversion to her.
So, Oren and I sat there brainstorming for about three minutes as to what we should do about this dilemma. Yes it's a dilemma for me OK???
After covering several options, I got my Sharpie permanent marker out and gave Oren full rights to use whatever inspiration came to him to do with the pen and tissue box. With about 10 minutes of cracking up to the point of tears and a few suggestions on my end...here is the result.
This photo is not meant in any way to offend any sector of the Jewish population. We were just being silly and trying to make Hanna Montana look better. If anything, it's a compliment.
So, Oren and I sat there brainstorming for about three minutes as to what we should do about this dilemma. Yes it's a dilemma for me OK???
After covering several options, I got my Sharpie permanent marker out and gave Oren full rights to use whatever inspiration came to him to do with the pen and tissue box. With about 10 minutes of cracking up to the point of tears and a few suggestions on my end...here is the result.
This photo is not meant in any way to offend any sector of the Jewish population. We were just being silly and trying to make Hanna Montana look better. If anything, it's a compliment.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Venting
The past few working days have been unbelievably annoying and so I felt the need to vent a little bit. Basically, for the first time in 17 years (according to my managing editor) the entire Houston office experienced a full-on computer virus outbreak. I walked into work on Tuesday morning and was told not to plug in my computer (I use a laptop that I insert into a loading dock). I sat around for a complete 3 hours, doing absolutely nothing as I watched the IT people run around like chickens with their heads cut off.
Once it hit 11 a.m. and I realized there was no way we were going to make deadline unless we started writing pronto, I told my manager we better just go home and try to work remotely. I don't know why I honestly thought the IT department would figure things out and fix things quickly. That would be too easy.
We are lucky because most of the programs we use to do our research are web-based. Therefore, we were still able to use those sites at home to get the information we needed. However, we were unable to use the program where we actually write and publish our articles. We also couldn't access the shared drive that we use to post maps so Denver (our headquarters) could get them and format them into our stories. I can't express enough how frustrating it was to find as many loopholes as possible to get something out. We ended up writing our stories in Word and emailing them along with the attachments of maps to Denver and left it to them to do double the work to put it into a normal publishing form. Of course each of us only got two stories written when we usually each write a minimum of four.
The next day, after receiving a voice-messaging system alert at 5:55 a.m. announcing that everything had been solved and we can return to work, I walked in and my editor told me once again not to plug in my computer. Apparently everyone who had, ended up still getting the virus. And so after one hour of waiting on IT to say something, I walked back out and went home to work. This time I was able to access the network. Everything was so freaking slow though and IT was threatening shutting the network down again, so I had to work as fast as humanly possible (with the slowest remote programs in the world) to get my stories out. Three stories took the entire day, but the network never went down on me. After they were published, I was exhausted.
Today I walked in and no one was saying anything. I wasn't sure how to interpret that. I hadn't been told much the past few days so it wasn't necessarily an "all systems go" kind of thing. I ended up deciding to take my chances and plug my computer in. So far so good. swaeho[gtno[inmg. Just kidding.
The other writer in my department (who has a brand new computer) seems to have gotten infected and is dealing with the IT department to get things straightened out. He found out that half of our office still has the virus. What the heck? Why can't they solve this?
I think I have two main problems with this whole debacle. No. 1: The IT department has had the poorest communication in the universe when it came to instructing employees what to do and what not to do. It was my decision both days this week to work from home because I didn't want to risk getting infected. Had I not gone with my instincts, my computer was very likely to have gotten infected. I would have appreciated much more than a little flier that was posted on one door outside the elevators stating there was a problem and IT was working to resolve the issue. I have no idea how many IT employees there are here but I know there are enough to at least make some rounds explaining what was happening and what we should be doing about it. I mean come on. This is a large corporation that depends on communication to function. Why was this element so lacking in one of the largest crises our office has ever faced.
No. 2: Why did we even have this problem to begin with? Our world today basically runs off of technology. It would not function without it. The United States is touted for being so advanced in the technological world and the people here stand proud of how much more efficient we are because of technology. Why then, are things as fundamental as computer viruses even capable of infecting an entire corporate office? Why is this company shelling out thousands, if not millions, of dollars per year to fund the top technological experts who can't even prevent or for-see a computer virus from taking over an entire office? Maybe my expectations are too high. But come on. Aren't we past this in our technologically advanced world?
I'm still not out of the water with this virus. It's very possible my computer is getting attacked as I type. All I have received communication-wise is another flier mentioning that the issue is still not solved. Great. Thanks for the instructions.
Once it hit 11 a.m. and I realized there was no way we were going to make deadline unless we started writing pronto, I told my manager we better just go home and try to work remotely. I don't know why I honestly thought the IT department would figure things out and fix things quickly. That would be too easy.
We are lucky because most of the programs we use to do our research are web-based. Therefore, we were still able to use those sites at home to get the information we needed. However, we were unable to use the program where we actually write and publish our articles. We also couldn't access the shared drive that we use to post maps so Denver (our headquarters) could get them and format them into our stories. I can't express enough how frustrating it was to find as many loopholes as possible to get something out. We ended up writing our stories in Word and emailing them along with the attachments of maps to Denver and left it to them to do double the work to put it into a normal publishing form. Of course each of us only got two stories written when we usually each write a minimum of four.
The next day, after receiving a voice-messaging system alert at 5:55 a.m. announcing that everything had been solved and we can return to work, I walked in and my editor told me once again not to plug in my computer. Apparently everyone who had, ended up still getting the virus. And so after one hour of waiting on IT to say something, I walked back out and went home to work. This time I was able to access the network. Everything was so freaking slow though and IT was threatening shutting the network down again, so I had to work as fast as humanly possible (with the slowest remote programs in the world) to get my stories out. Three stories took the entire day, but the network never went down on me. After they were published, I was exhausted.
Today I walked in and no one was saying anything. I wasn't sure how to interpret that. I hadn't been told much the past few days so it wasn't necessarily an "all systems go" kind of thing. I ended up deciding to take my chances and plug my computer in. So far so good. swaeho[gtno[inmg. Just kidding.
The other writer in my department (who has a brand new computer) seems to have gotten infected and is dealing with the IT department to get things straightened out. He found out that half of our office still has the virus. What the heck? Why can't they solve this?
I think I have two main problems with this whole debacle. No. 1: The IT department has had the poorest communication in the universe when it came to instructing employees what to do and what not to do. It was my decision both days this week to work from home because I didn't want to risk getting infected. Had I not gone with my instincts, my computer was very likely to have gotten infected. I would have appreciated much more than a little flier that was posted on one door outside the elevators stating there was a problem and IT was working to resolve the issue. I have no idea how many IT employees there are here but I know there are enough to at least make some rounds explaining what was happening and what we should be doing about it. I mean come on. This is a large corporation that depends on communication to function. Why was this element so lacking in one of the largest crises our office has ever faced.
No. 2: Why did we even have this problem to begin with? Our world today basically runs off of technology. It would not function without it. The United States is touted for being so advanced in the technological world and the people here stand proud of how much more efficient we are because of technology. Why then, are things as fundamental as computer viruses even capable of infecting an entire corporate office? Why is this company shelling out thousands, if not millions, of dollars per year to fund the top technological experts who can't even prevent or for-see a computer virus from taking over an entire office? Maybe my expectations are too high. But come on. Aren't we past this in our technologically advanced world?
I'm still not out of the water with this virus. It's very possible my computer is getting attacked as I type. All I have received communication-wise is another flier mentioning that the issue is still not solved. Great. Thanks for the instructions.
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