Spring is in the Air

Well let's just get the news out of the way...Marni and I are now engaged!

And here's how it all went down...

Friday 3/16
I am at work until 11pm frantically trying to find a limo to take us to the airport. You see, there is a major ice storm occurring in New York and we have plane tickets for a 6am flight to take us to Ft. Myers, Florida for my family vacation. I've had a limo reserved for weeks to take us there. Long, black, stretch limo, with the divider and everything. It was going to be fun, and private, for when I pop the question. But then the ice storm hit, and no limos were operating anymore in NYC. I finally found a car service at 1am to pick us up at 4am. By the time I got it all figured out M was asleep, and under the assumption that we'd be taking the subway to the airport at 3am...and that she'd be a single gal for a while.

Saturday 3/17
It's Saint Patricks day. Our alarm goes off, M is very happy to learn that I found a car and that we wouldn't have to subway to the airport. We eat, get ready, and head out the door. We get in the car and off we go. About 4 blocks down the road, I pinch M, hard. She wasn't wearing green! Well I felt bad, so I asked her if she'd like me to make it up to her. I told her to close her eyes, and out came the ring in my pocket. She opened her eyes, and we sat there. And sat there. And sat there. Until she finally said "are you going to say something?" I guess I was nervous, but finally, I asked her to marry me. She said yes immediately! Here we are still sleepy, but in the car, post question-popping.

M in the Tampa airport calling her mom.

We then proceeded to break the news to all of my family as they arrived in Florida, starting with my parents. My mom cried (whoohoo!).

Sunday 3/18
We got up early and headed to Ft. Myers for the Twins vs. Phillies spring training game.

We got to see Johan Santana pitch, and Justin Morneau hit a towering homerun. We then came back to the house we'd rented. My aunt Pat and uncle Mike who live part of the year in the Florida Keys came up to visit us and have dinner. Here's our after dinner family photo by the pool.

Monday 3/19
Half of us went to the beach while the other half played golf. The water was cool, but the sun was still hot.



Tuesday 3/20
We spent the day around the pool inventing new games to keep us entertained. Here's Aaron and Wyatt playing "Batty Batty".

There was also "Shooty Shooty" and "Throwy Throwy". Very inventive naming. Late afternoon we headed to the Twins vs. Red Sox game. It was so much fun. Here is a picture of me with Torii Hunter by the Twins dugout.

And here is my brother Elliot with Michael Cuddyer in the outfield.

And here is Joe Mauer signing autographs after the game.

Wednesday 3/21
This was our final day in Ft. Myers. We went to the beach again, but this time with the whole group. Here's some of us about to test the water.

When we finally got home we were wiped out. We'd had so much fun. So much good food. So much love and support from our families and friends (some via phone) we didn't want it to end, but now it is back to reality. However, we now have a very big and fun project to work on in the coming months. Our wedding. I am sure you will be able to read all about the plans as they develop (so far we are revelling in the excitement, not the details).

Tabasco Heist

M's been working hard still on her art projects. We spent the day on Saturday at my office again working on our respective projects. Here's M at home though working on a construction project.

We had plans to see The 300 this weekend, but we didn't end up going. We just had too much to do, and the theaters were probably sold out anyway. We'll find time this week hopefully to check it out.

We didn't get home until late on Saturday so we decided to grab some dinner at a nearby restaurant. Here I am eyeing the many varieties of sauces...especially the unopened bottle of Tabasco.

Here's M using that very same Tabasco on her burger.

And here's the same bottle of Tabasco in our cupboard at home (we were in need, and had passed up the $3 purchase earlier in the week in the hopes we might "find" some at Chipotle or another restaurant).

It's warming up in NY. High 50s all week, so we're looking forward to that. However, at the end of the week we'll be enjoying 80 degree weather in Ft. Myers, Florida as we will be enjoying some Spring Training baseball action with the rest of my family. Hopefully we'll have some good pics of us with Twins and Red Sox players next week.