July - Vacations and getting Engaged!

So it's been awhile since I've posted in here ... surprise surprise.

In July Travis and I got engaged and I literally couldn't be happier! July was a rollercoaster of vacations and plans. Thank God it had 5 weekends, 4 of the 5 were booked solid.

The first weekend was our trip to Havasu for the 4th. It was amazing, we got to stay with his cousin Pepi (Joe) and his wife Lisa and also got to visit with Rhys and Leslie which was awesome. I think we got to see him every day we were out there, I miss them. Got to go out on the boat all day which was an adventure! I got so sunburnt and Travis had little baby leeches stuck to his feet - gross! Since I got seriously sunburnt we cut our trip back a day and left the morning of the 4th which meant smooth traffic for us (there and back, we had headed out there Friday night and hit absolutely no traffic) since we left the morning of the 4th that also meant we happened to miss the start of a monsoon, what luck! lol. We made sure to have brunch at In and Out with Rhys before he started work and to stop by Petsmart to see Leslie before we left.

The next weekend Travis had planned a surprise trip for me much like when he surprised me with the trip to San Francisco to see the Kings of Leon. The entire week leading up to this day trip he had been giving me clues as to where we were going, on the last day he showed me a picture of a Dell lapton and Bill Mahr = Del Mar.

I was excited since I had never been to Del Mar and was just happy for the getaway - yet there was still a surprise within the surprise and I wasn't allowed to know yet. We get to the hotel, which was the Marriott by the race track and since the races weren't going to start until I believe the following weekend I was still oblivious as to what we were planning on doing. Since he was able to keep his surprise Travis was thrilled I hadn't guessed what we were about to do. He tells me dress as if we're going hiking and bring your sunglasses, hat and a camera. Uh ... ok? We start driving and this place is less than a mile from where we were staying and he tells me start looking for an Albertson's. We're meeting behind the Petco in that parking lot. Uh again ... ok? and what? Who are we meeting and why are we meeting them there? Well, we're going for a ride. A horse back ride? a canoe ride? a bike ride? - Nope, hot air balloon ride!

EeeeeeeeEeEEEEEE!OMG I couldn't believe that after 2.5 years he still remembered that I had always wanted to do one of these! So of course my natural girl instinct was - he's going to propose to me!! But he hadn't been acting nervous or strange and was calm cool and collected, well .... a girl can dream can't she? So the whole "experience" lasted about 3 hours, we were shoved in a basket with 9 other people that we did not know and were getting briefed on what could possibly happen to us and different landing scenarios which were as smooth as touching down and that being that to tipping over once we landed and being drug for 1,000 feet (fingers secretly crossed for that one, would have made for an amazing story). Even though there was hardly any moving room since we were sharing with 9 others and the random blasts of propane to heat the balloon so it would stay afloat it was as romantic as it could have been and as thrilling as a 4 mph ride could be. And here we are coming to the time for the balloon to start its decent and no proposal, I do have to say my dreams were not crushed because the pure thought of Travis taking the time to plan this knowing it was something I had always wanted to do was enough.

So here we about to land and the bottom of our basket skims the top of this tree, OMG, then all of a sudden we're falling a little faster to the ground - thud! tipping toward the ground (mind you, I'm in the "front" of the basket and my face is about to meet dirt) the ground crew that met us in this open field pulled the basket back down from behind evening it out we lifted again slightly to then hit again -thud! and this thud my knee hit a propane tank and my hand that was holding on for dear life slid a little and my knuckle got scraped (yes it is scared and I will have this faint scar forever) and again the crew evened us out and the "pilot" told me and someone else to get out so without even looking behind me I hurdled the side of this basket and ran off. While I'm running I notice it was Travis behind me (I was glad since we could at least stand off to the side safe together). While my heart is racing from the adreneline rush I just got and watching the rest of the people in the basket trying to land smoothly he starts talking to me, I turn to him to acknowledge his talking, look back at the field and then realize what he's saying.

Liane, you know that I love you and want to spend (insert me turning to face him again with a stunned look on my face) the rest of life with you. (insert Travis getting down on one knee and opening the ring box) Will you marry me? (insert me in stunned silence gawking and noticing the box lights up!) YES! Yes! That IS the ring I wanted! Oh my gosh. (Travis puts on the ring we kiss and hug) Then from the distance one of the other balloon riders yells, HEY! They just got engaged! I totally went all movie scene and forgot we were in a field full of people and was put back down on my feet realizing it wasn't just us two. My intuition was correct but I'm glad that I was still taken by surprise that it happened.

The balloon company offers some snacks and champagne after each ride so that was really wonderful that we were able to make a toast right away in between my hands still shaking not sure if it was from the excitement or the adreneline - could be both to tell you the truth, and our making phone calls to our parents. Turns out he had asked Rhys' permission that morning before we left Havasu while we were at In and Out - me being clueless of course. We also after we got back to our hotel room and finished up the phone calls went out to a restaurant called Jake's Del Mar. Absolutely fabulous. Wonderful views even at night, it is literally right on the sand down in Del Mar and has floor to ceiling glass panes so the entire restaurant has a view of the ocean and at night (which is when we went, our hot air balloon ride was a sunset ride) they turn on a bunch of flood lights so you can still enjoy the view. The place comes highly recommended from us.

Weekend three though you think can't top that weekend (which it didn't but was amazing in it's own way) was our trip up to Napa for Travis' birthday. We got to go to most of our favorite Napa vineyards and also the Jelly Belly Factory! Chateau Montelena was just as perfect as we were picturing and the wines were amazing, so delicious. Sterling was fun we had done a private tasting with that winery and it was worth it. Artesa was gorgeous and had a lot of unique art which I wasn't expecting. Raymont winery was eclectic to say the least a very Willy Wonka feel to the whole place. BV and Franciscan were also a great place to go. A nice long weekend just the two of us to celebrate our engagement and his 26th birthday, turns out he of course planned to propose before Napa so we could do just that - enjoy being engaged. He thinks of everything when it comes to that kind of stuff which is exactly why I have placed him in charge of planning our honeymoon!

Weekend four was our weekend off which was so needed! The last weekend of the month was to be his birthday party his parents were throwing him which we combined to be a slash engagement party for our friends, it was wonderful. That Sunday we had our engagement party at my mom's house for both of our families, a lot of people came and it was wonderful to see everyone!

The Unofficial Start to Summer ...

is this weekend!!!!!!!

Plans: River Trip with Tara and Dave, was going to be more people but they've since canceled. We may actually be canceling too if Travis doesn't start feeling better by tomorrow afternoon. *crossing my fingers*

Work: is actually going really well - I am loving my new job and I feel so much better than I did a month ago. I wanted to rip all my hair out but now I have things under control. We've been interviewing for a new person and those are weird. I've never had/got to sit in on an interview before and I tell you I think I am just as nervous as the candidate interviewing for the job!

Offical Summer Plans:
June - Megan's Birthday Party :D
July - 4th of July somewhere that isn't home
A surprise trip <3 I am not allowed to ask any questions about this - apparently its nothing big or special.
Travis' birthday weekend we'll be in Napa! I can not wait to experience that :D
August - Tara's Bridal Shower
Vegas Trip with Travis
Tara's Bachelorette Party!
September - Tara and Dave are getting married <3

Fish Bowl

I feel like I'm in a fish bowl at the moment, swimming around and the only place I'm going is in a circle.

My new position at work is giving me everything I wanted out of it -- more work. Which I can't complain about since that is exactly what I was seeking. I think life would be going much more smoothly at the moment if my coworker that has been here for almost 10 years hadn't decided that he wanted to make a huge direction change in his life and put in his notice with the company. I feel like the added stress of knowing I can't knock on our shared wall whenever I had a question about something will be gone on April 22nd is weighing heavily on the already stressful task of learning a new job. All I can do is take it one task at a time.

BlackBerry

So I'm officially apart of the 21st century. It only took a little tug and pull and some pouting on my part before I caved in. I must say I am liking the new phone though :) I love that I have my calendar right in my little hand and everything is accessible.

A view of Newport

So we've (my office) officially "moved up" in the world. Our address now reads, Newport Beach. I have my own business cards again, not like it really matters because who am I "networking" with to hand them out. Our new space is amazing, actually smaller than our old building but in a better layout and just better looking in general. Everyone is excited to have arrived. :D

Countdown until my birthday has unofficially begun seeing in how its still two months out but ... it's pretty darn close. The big 2-5; I can now rent a car ... sweet? Age is only a number now, when I was younger I used to hold that number to a high standard because there were things to look forward to. Now the only things to look forward to aren't limited by a number but just on how much or fast you want to obtain your goal. I thought I would feel weird about my birthday because 25 just sounds so old but I've come to the realization that it's not old, it can be as young as I want it to be. It's a new stage in life and it's time to command it.

I am spending my time and efforts of friendship and love more wisely too. I've learned that it's not worth all the stress in my life to keep a friendship that I feel is so one-sided. She's not a horrible person, and you can say that it's unfair for her that I've grown up; because now I am looking for something different out of my friendships than what she can offer me. With that being said it's not fair to me to look past what I want just because she hasn't followed suit. I can see how blindsided she was with my choice in ending the friendship but then again it definitely didn't come out of left field. I've talked with her countless times on things that were bothering me as you should in a friendship/relationship - communication is key; but it always seemed to fall flat or on deaf ears. I may not be perfect or the best friend someone could have because everyone has their selfish moments but I at least try and made every effort I could have to be a fair friend and always take her feelings into consideration when I knew mine were the last thing on her mind. I really hope she finds some kind of inner self confidence and strength to be the best woman, mother, wife she can be. She deserves someone far better than what she is so desperately trying to hold onto.

On a much more exciting and happier note Trav and I got a new TV :D. It's a 46 inch Mitsubishi LED, it did take some getting used to, the screen looks a little 3D at times because of how clear the picture comes out but it's been nice. Just in time for Football to start! ... coincidence? yes actually, that or Paul's TV new just what they were doing by advertising the great financing deal they did that Thursday before Labor Day.

Speaking of Labor Day, I did not get that Saturday off school :(, but I guess that's good might as well keep chugging along until this class is done. SL2 at 8am on Saturdays - oh joy! My teacher, professor, is 100% deaf and the class is about 95% signing and 5% writing on the board to make sure we fully understand what he's trying to say to us. I've pretty much jumped in head first and it's sink or swim time in remembering my sign from three years ago. So far so good, treading water with the rest of them. We have to go to two deaf events and spend at least two hours at each event and then write a page paper on what we learned observed etc while there. Should be interesting. :)!

Long Overdue ...

Life is good.

Starting school again. All the SL1 (Sign Language 1) classes are full for the times I'd be able to get down to Saddleback, so I'd have to petition the Saturday or 7:30pm class. I am going to try and go around that by skipping the SL1 class (since I've already taken it) and go straight into a 2nd 8 week course for SL2. Fingers crossed on that one. My transcripts have been ordered and are on their way, I'll bring those to meet with an advisor and see what we can do. Fall classes start August 23rd. Oye. I've been out of school for 3 years already ... time flies.

We've been out for more than 6 months now and time really does fly by. It's crazy how you can blink and a month goes by unnoticed. It's August already and I still remember New Years at Lizz and Victor's house like it was yesterday. The only thing that's good about this time flying by is the number of weddings left on my list has dwindled down to 2 from 6. I still have Brandi and Erin's. And next year Bill's, at least i'm pretty sure his is the only one on the books for next year lol.

Travis has turned 25, he loved his gifts and his parties. He's such an old man now ;). But I love him, really more than I have ever loved anyone. He's my lover and my best friend and I can trust him completely there is nothing more I can ask for.

Time to clean up, this is coming sort of early this year, typically I get in these moods right before my birthday; but seeing in how this is a big birthday it needs more preperation.

Errands

Today has been a Sunday that I've needed for a long time. Slept in woke up did some errands got home in time to watch a basketball game take a shower lounge around ... just relax.

Yesterday was a long day. Woke up got ready was on my way to a wedding that started at 4pm by 9:30am. The drive to bakersfield was long. It was hot. The wedding was outside in the sun. No shade, the good thing about that was that the ceremony lasted a whole five awkward minutes. They stood at least two feet apart, didn't hold hands etc. I don't even think the groom looked at her. The minister bumbled through the vows, and never told anyone to sit after the bride came down the aisle so about half way through the brides side said eff it and just started to sit down in groups then the grooms side caught on. After the ceremony she announced the couple, yet never proclaimed, "you may kiss the bride!". Just awkward.

The repection was about twenty feet to the left and some tables were shaded most weren't (including the head table) so Travis and I quickly went and claimed our spots. The reception was as fun as it could have been for that wedding. No one on the grooms side danced. All Travis' Aunts and cousins. During the toast no cider or champagne was passed around, Travis and I used the water that we had been drinking. We left around 7:30 and made it home just before 10:30.

Friday night we went to the Improv with Alyse and Andrew. That was a lot of fun. We saw Kevin Pollack. He's been in a few movies and if you saw his face you'd recognize him. They came over for a glass of wine before we had to leave to the Improv and that was nice. I like being an adult when I can do things like this. It is nice to just be in your own place. To be able to do whatever whenever you want - have people over to do anything. (Marble I can't wait :D)

Thursday I can't remember what we did. Wednesday the guys lost their game again, but you know they did great. They are playing in a more advanced league yet losing by less. I have hope maybe for next season they'll have a winning season.