Thank you MOM!

Thank you for being the best ever! You are such a great role model. I love you.

NAPA!

Adam won a free weekend in Napa from work, so we took a long weekend trip down to enjoy the sun and the wine, turns out we liked the biking the best!

Pictures - from top to bottom

• SilverOak Winery - I break for Cabernet Sauvignon. Adam did a great job taking this picture.
• Silverado Winery - We took a trip up a long windy hill to the Silverado winery where we enjoyed one of our favorite wines and a great picnic lunch underneath some olive trees.
• San Fransisco - We even had time to enjoy a part of our favorite city that we had never visited before, Golden Gate National Recreation Area. We also enjoyed a great lunch in the Marina area where Adam's sister used to live.

As always, we had a fantastic time. The company was the best part!

Now that is good tv, or it was...

The other week I was flipping through the radio and I happened upon NPR. I don't recall which program was on, but they were talking with one of the cast members from the HBO series, The Wire. I caught snippets of what they were talking about, but from what I garnered the show was critically acclaimed and ending after only a handful of seasons. The plot line was discussed and I thought that it sounded like something Adam and I might enjoy. I picked up the first few disks in the first season last Thursday, and so began an addiction with the program. It is an amazing show with so many well developed characters and the plot continues to prove engaging. I strongly suggest renting this series and giving it a chance. We are almost finished with the second season and it just keeps getting better.

Too long...not the name, but since I blogged

I know that being busy is not a very good excuse, but I guess since I finished with school for winter, my brain tried to disconnect with the computer at home for a while. I have also been busy at work. Trying to get on full time at MS. I love it there. It is such a great company to work for. I ask everyone to keep their fingers crossed for me as I am waiting for the results of two different interviews.

Wedding plans are well on their way and I am getting more and more excited to be Mrs. Lasky. Actually, the only thing that I am really having a hard time with is the name change. It is not because I do not like Lasky, I just think it is hard to say goodbye to a last name. I am so excited to be married to Adam that I feel guilty about the way I feel about losing my last name. I have had it for 30 years, which is a long time, I think. As much as I have complained about it being mispronounced ALL the time, I like it. I think of my identity and it's relationship to that name, it is tough to disconnect the two. It is unique and for those who know the story of Job in the bible, it is a admirable name as well. It is short, one syllable, and in the middle of the alphabet (before Johnson, which is nice). I already have two middle names, both of which I also love, so I won't be adding it as a middle name. I am not a "hyphenator" and I don't see myself just keeping things as is; therefore, it is something I must accept.

I must say I like the sound of Mary Lasky - both end with y, both two syllables, also in the middle of the alphabet. But the most important part, it is part of the love of my life, my best friend.

Are we in Whistler Yet?

Adam and I leave for Whistler for our fabulous weekend in 7 days and I cannot wait. I have been completely consumed with work and school these last few weeks. Last week I worked 47 hours and is looking like another week of overtime.

If you have tried to contact me lately and I have not gotten back to you...know that I am trying to keep my head above water.

Snohomish Junior High School Reunion - 2007

I haven't had much time to write lately and I really wanted to post some pictures from a really special night that I had with some ladies who I love and have shared some good and some bad times. When I went to junior high in 1989, I met some of the greatest friends I was to ever know. This is a group of women that I can pick up with right where I left off before. The funny thing is we all can, that is the type of relationship we have. It had been some years since all of us got together and when we met in December we were missing a few, but all and all it was a great time. It is weird because most people probably don't talk to the people that they met in the 7th grade, but we all are still connected so strongly. What is also interesting is that in most cases I don’t talk with these ladies on a daily or even monthly basis, but I will tell you that if I needed one of them they would be there without delay.

We went through some interesting times when we were younger that perhaps a lot of young people do not have to go through. There were many things that really connected us all, but one that comes to mind is really the first death that we dealt with in our young lives. Our friend Josh McDaniel died from a seizure when we were 14 years old. I think it was the first person that many of us knew who had died. Josh was such a great kid. He had an electrifying personality. After he died we all tried to keep in touch with his Mom and Dad, but eventually I think it was too hard for them to see us grow up.

And we did all grow up, eventually. It took some of us a while to determine which route we wanted to choose, but now we are all very well accomplished women.

Cheers to my dearest of friends, I look forward to our next reunion. Let it not take so long next time.

(Above) Clockwise from me, Tarah, Chelsea, Kati, Tiffany (not usually wearing a cowboy hat), Cassie, Renea, & Stacy
You can't tell but the woman to my left in the maroon (Kati) is 7 months pregnant with TWINS in this picture.

Breaking Bad - Great TV

Although it is on past my bedtime, it is on Comcast on demand a few days after its scheduled airing. Breaking Bad is awesome. It really has tapped into a subject matter that is at the forefront of the battle on drugs in America and the life that goes along with it. The premise is unique and the best thing about the show is I have no idea how each episode will end or where the next one will begin. It really isn't for kids at all, and frankly I can't believe they can even put some of it on TV; however, that is not the draw for me. The draw is my intense interest in the criminal drug world and shows that keep me guessing. I would watch it. It is on Sunday nights on AMC, which earlier this year came out with Mad Men.

BAD RAP

I strongly suggest going to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22844052/ and reading this remarkable story about the pit bulls that were rescued from Micheal Vic's home. It is a great story. I know how much we love Morgan and Mavie and how everyone who knows them loves them as well. As you can tell from the picture above, they are really vicious animals :)

Whistler and Adam's Birthday

Adam and I had the most fabulous weekend in Whistler. Our hotel was perfect, the dinners were amazing and the skiing was awesome. I arranged for a cake and lucky bamboo arrangement to be in our room upon arrival to surprise Adam on his 30th birthday.

It snowed almost the whole time we were there. Here is a picture of us the first night in the village. After dinner Adam climbed a snow bank and played king of the hill with some kids and we got a six pack of Labatts (classy)to head back to the hotel for a hot tub. This is a picture of us at the Mountain Club in Whistler Village, were we ate dinner the first night.
We spent Adam's birthday skiing, watching the Redskins (below Adam with "rally cap"), and eating an amazing dinner at the Wine Room in the Fairmont. Adam had venison and rabbit, I had lobster, cod, and duck. It was so fun. After all the festivities and ended up dancing to a bongo playing band in the center of the village. I asked a teenage boy if he could, "take a picture of me and the boss man dancing to the tunes". He happily complied with my request as you can see from the picture.

Congratulations Joan and Chris

Just when you thought it wouldn't happen to either of us...it happens to both of us in the same year. Chris proposed to my sister yesterday and she said yes. I am so happy for you Joan! Chris I look forward to having you a part of our family. Love you both!

Let's Get Sirius...Satelite Radio!

I got sirius satelite radio for the holidays! I really love it. It is going to help the long drives to and from work a little more enjoyable. Adam always knows what to get me.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Just like everyone at this time of year, I have been so busy. I started my new job a few weeks ago and I just love it. It is so great to be excited to go into work everyday and like what you do. My new team that I am working with is awesome, my supervisor is supportive, and the pay is also better! I am bursting!

I am almost done with classes for Fall. I finished my onsite class a week ago and I will be done with my online class this Sunday. It seems to have been a long quarter. I was very disappointed with one of my instructors and feel like I didn't get very much out of the class. I am hoping that next quarter is more productive. I will be taking managerial accounting and project management. I am going to take one online and one onsite again. It seems to work well with my life style.

Adam has been gone off and on a lot since Thanksgiving and things have finally settled down a little bit for him, PLUS he is home with me now. I am looking forward to being with him.

I managed to put up a Christmas tree this year and at one point I was decorating the tree while lighting the Hanukkah candles. I told Adam that he had to hurry home because Morgan and Maverick were confused. It is however plan to see that they were a bit scared of the tree and could really care a less about the candles.

Tomorrow night we are going on a shopping spree for our holiday gifts and I am looking forward to being in the midst of the holiday shoppers! Saturday we have four appointments at various venues for the wedding. I hope that we like one or more so that we can firm up a date and get this ball rolling. Then Saturday night it is off to Chelsea and Matt's annual Christmas Party. It will be so much fun as usual.

Forgive me if I have not been in touch in a while - I have been trying to adjust to the new job and the drive.

I wish everyone a very happy holiday season. This year let's hope for peace on earth.

Much To Be Thankful For

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Lasky for a great vacation and holiday. Thank you Grammy for making the trip to the cold temperatures to see us. And thank you Mom and Dad for saving leftovers for us upon our return. Both meals were so fabulous!

Dress, Check - Check

I found my wedding dress! How exciting is that! Well for me it is really exciting, but perhaps not so for everyone else. It is nothing I ever thought I would wear and it is really fancy, but it looks so beautiful on.

Joan, my Mom, and I went on a search on Saturday and we were successful. Maybe I should have looked around more, but the price was right, it was unique, and it was exactly what I was looking for.

So, one thing is checked off the list, actually two - groom and dress.

Baltimore!

Greetings from the East Coast!

We are in Maryland this week visiting with Adam's parents and having a great time. It is so nice to be here after all that has happened these last few weeks...FYI, I have a new job at Microsoft! Anyway, it is time to relax and that is what we are doing. Adam's parents are such great hosts.

Today we went to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. It was so beautiful and we got to see so many cool fish and birds. This is a picture of the Aquarium.

Baltimore also has a great skyline. It is a mix of old and new.

Tomorrow Adam and I are going down to the Mall in DC to see the Air and Space Museum and the Native American Museum, then we will probably do some shopping in Georgetown.

Good Time Friends - Ben and Beth (a.k.a. Benjamin Franklin and Bethesda)

Beth and Ben are coming to Seattle for a visit! For those of you who do not know Beth and Ben, you are missing out! They are our good friends from Arizona, but originally they are from Wisconsin. We are so excited to have them and show them around the area. There will definitely be some laughs. We will take lots of pictures to document the event - as always.

Thank You All So Much

Thank you to everyone who has made our engagement so special. The cards, the parties, the emails, etc. are just out of control and make us feel so special. Now comes the hard part...the planning...date, location, people, dress, food, table arrangements, invitations, oh boy! It should be a thrill.

Some photos of the weekend

I think that this photo describes best why I love Adam so much. He makes me laugh all the time. This photo is from the night before the proposal at Kelly and Josh's wedding.So now about the proposal: I almost didn't have a camera to take pictures with because my batteries ran out. Luckily the little cafe on the island had some to sell.
Adam and I took a ferry over to Angel Island for the day to do some walking and see a different part of the bay area. We decided to go on a walk about the island. I really had no idea this was going to happen. I knew that it was coming, but I really didn't expect it at all. So we started our walk and the main goal was to find a place with a great view.

As you all know I really like taking pictures of plants and all of that. This is the great tree I was talking a picture of while Adam went off to find a look out spot. I heard him calling to me to come down to the location where he was.

As I made my way down to where he was I thought it looked so great I should take a picture. Little did I know...Once I reached where he was at we hugged each other and Adam told me how much he loved me, which is not unusual. Then he said he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. I looked down and saw him holding the ring. I started crying. Then he got down on one knee and asked me if I would marry him. I said yes of course. Then we heard a noise, some rustling in the bushes and right below us we saw a baby deer. It was so close we could tell that it's nose was wet! I think it was a sign, and a good one at that.

This is the view from where we were standing when we got engaged. It was so perfect because no one else was around and it was just us and the baby deer.
Here is a picture someone took of us after the big event! As you can tell, I am pretty happy.
The greatest thing about the whole thing was that we shared this moment in San Francisco, in the outdoors. Two of our favorite places. San Fran has such a special meaning to Adam and I because we really do believe that is where we fell in love with each other.

I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with lovie. You are so great and you make me so happy all of the time.

I am getting married!

Adam proposed to me this weekend in San Francisco, on Angel Island, overlooking the city scape and the Golden Gate Bridge. I said yes of course and I am so happy. He is my love and my best friend.

I will write more about it later and include photos.

The best part is I was lucky enough to get his Grandmother's engagement diamond, handed down to Adam's Mom and then graciously given to me. Thank you Janet and Grammy!

I also want to tell my family how happy I am that Adam asked all of you for my hand and that you all said yes without hesitation.

We love you all so much.

New jeans? No, I've had these forever.

Put on a pair of jeans today that I haven't been able to wear in over a year.

Feels pretty sweet. I have almost reached my 10% goal, which is losing 10% of my initial weight.

Check this out:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/lose-weight-gain-tons-of-benefits