Just Engaged (and now bragging about it)

Just want to officially announce that I got engaged this past weekend to my wonderful girlfriend of 10 years, Leanne. To be more specific: at Genesee Beach in Atlantic Beach, NY on Friday, July 1, 2011 (7/1/11) at around 6-7 p.m.

Here's the story. Leanne is from Syracuse and I'm from Atlantic Beach / Long Beach. We met while attending the University at Albany (State Quad baby!). The summer after our freshman year, I was life-guarding in Atlantic Beach and she was teaching cheer-leading for UCA (toured east coast). The one location where her and I were close enough to "hang out" was near Albany, so I decided to pick her up there after her cheer-leading camp. I drove for at least 10 hours that day; all to be with my love.

Upon arrival in Atlantic Beach, I was so excited to show her around. I took her to my job location...Genesee Beach. We walked into the dunes, I put a blanket down, opened up a bottle of wine, and we watched the sunset. It was beautiful. But for the details, I'll stop there. What you should know is that a few days later, Leanne and I were officially boyfriend and girlfriend.

Fast forward a few apartments, job changes, quarrels, and many meals to July 1, 2011. We've been going out for 10 years. I arranged to stay at my buddy Sloan's place for the holiday weekend. Within an hour or so of arriving at his place, he let me borrow his Audi S4 (ridiculous car) to take Leanne to Genesee Beach to enjoy a bottle of wine (as we've been accustomed to doing).

It's almost 10 years to the day, full circle, that we're doing the same thing at the same spot. We walk into the dunes. I lay down a blanket. I take out a bottle of Moet Imperial [in an insulated case] and ask Leanne to open it. As she's doing so, I reach into my bag and grab the ring box. I start my speech. I ask her to marry me while opening the box to reveal her ring. She's stunned and asks if I'm kidding. I said, "no." She's speechless. I'm still on my knee. She finally says, "Yes." Tears of happiness.

We enjoy every minute moving forward...plus a nice cold bottle of Moet. Couldn't have asked for better weather. God must have approved, because he threw down sun rays at a perfect time.

Here's a picture about 30 minutes into our engagement.

Leanne and Mark [me]

Memorial Day Weekend Recap

It's Tuesday, June 1st and I'm back at work. I cannot believe that it's almost summer; it feels like it was only yesterday when NYC was dumped with snow. Anyways, I just want to recap my Memorial Day weekend. For as long as I was looking forward to it, the weekend ended just as fast. I'm writing this more as a diary than an update to the public. If you happen to read this, please enjoy and leave a comment:

• Friday: half-day at work. I worked from home because my commute to and from work is just as long as the work-day. Noon = work ends, weekend begins. Sloan picks me up in his new Audi S4. This car is amazing. We drive for a few errands: bank, propane tank fill-up, beer distributor, Long Beach beach pass...check.
• Wood and Gillis tending at The Inn: 7-11PM. My cousin Tiana arrives with her fiance, Andrew. I finally hang out with my cousin and get to meet her husband to be. We chat, we chill, we knock back a few drinks and shots. Good people! After, head to Jeremy/Kate's to chill.

• Saturday: not "Summer Weather" just yet. We decide for an early afternoon BBQ at Dan's place. Dan picks me and Joe up in his "new" Jeep. We hit the grocery store and liquor store. Joe and I prepare the feast: chicken wings, steak satay, sausage, shrimp & plantain skewers, hotdogs, hamburgers, pickles, red sangria, white sangria, Twisted Teas, beer. What a nice day with friends and family [my sister]!
• Pregame at my place. Stroll down the block to The Cabana. Brian's bartending, Mike Ceeza is DJing - what a great combo! We drink, we dance, we hear "SHOUT!" Late night, finish at the Beach House. Lilli dominates the door, bouncer is silenced. I'm amazed that some man is fighting with a police officer outside. His life is over. We stop at Swing Belly's for a late-night snack; pulled pork sandwiches are perfect. I love our softball sponsor. We stop at Jeremy's house for Jared's bag. Lilli starts talking to a weirdo at 3AM; he's wearing boxers with 1 white and 1 black socks...enough said.

• Sunday: annual "Pump the MegaMix boat ride" with Jamie [aka James]. Noon pick-up turns into a 3:30PM pick-up. We wait at the LB boat launch location behind the sewage processing plant. We [Luke, Joe, Leanne, Shanna, Ariel, Marie] polish off a 12-pack while waiting. Jamie arrives, we get gas. James Pap slips into the water while docking, boat almost crushed him into the dock. He survives, we fill our tanks and take a shot. 
• We're off to Bracco's in Freeport [Nautical Mile]. We order beers and food: raw clams (Cherry Stone & Little Necks), steamers, shrimp, fried calamari, oysters, which were all amazing! We drink, we dance, we enjoy our new company. We dock, we chill, they depart, we drink, we head to James' parent's place, we chat, we leave, we dream...

• Monday: it's Memorial Day and it's beautiful out. Jared and Gold come to my apartment. We [including Lilli] hit the beach. It's windy, Gold gets hit with an umbrella and a volley ball. We leave. We head to CTown to prepare an impromtu BBQ: skirt steak, kilbasa, pork chops, portabello mushrooms, salad, and white wine spritzers. We chill, we eat, and catch some rays. Lilli and I take a nap, snack on some food, watch The Hangover and game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals. We're tired and go to bed.

That was my Memorial Day weekend in a nutshell.