Onward to 2007!

Christmas has passed and many of us are either back at work or enjoying some time off between the holidays. Hopefully everyone had a very merry day! It turned out to be a really nice day yesterday even though it was my first Christmas without any family around me. I spent the holiday in Miami with Stuart and his family. I even made Christmas breakfast for everyone before we opened gifts. I got so many wonderful presents this year. I am calling it a Victoria's Secret Christmas because so many of my gifts came from there (nothing racy! pj's, perfume, bath sets, etc.) I even won a gift card from there at our work gift exchange last week! My favorite gift was from Stu though and it came in a little blue box! I loved it so much I want to share it with all of you.....it even has a bit of bling!

Yesterday afternoon we went to Stu's cousin's house and I had my first Jamaican Christmas. There was lots of family and food (curried goat & a whole pig), many pomegranite martini's, and chocolate fondue for dessert.....YUM! After we stuffed ourselves, we faced the long drive back to Fort Myers in the rain. Thankfully it didn't rain the whole drive home but enough to slow us down a bit. We made pretty good time and opened our last round of gifts (thanks mom & Abbie!) after we unpacked the car. After a phone call home to mom, we called it a night and fell asleep with visions of sugar plums (and curried goat!). The house is now a disaster with presents everywhere so my mission tonight is to get it back in order.

I'm back at work today, happy that it is a short week! To those of you who have the week off, enjoy! I'm very jealous! Have a safe and wonderful New Year & don't forget to cheer for my Trojans next Monday!

Cheers & happy '07!

6 more days!

The countdown begins! Christmas is in 6 days....have you finished your shopping? I'm digging the online shopping this year. So easy and way better than fighting crowds at the busy malls. We did have to buy gifts for Stuart's family but we got lucky and didn't hit too much mall traffic. My dining room has turned into Santa's workshop with all the presents, wrapping paper, ribbons, and other assorted items. I'm going into present-wrapping anxiety! I meant to wrap gifts last night but got caught up in watching the 5th season of 24. It was my Hannukah gift! We are celebrating both this year, thanks to the menorah that mom bought me last year. It's actually been kind of neat, especially since this is Stu's first Hannukah. He even recited the blessing over the candles last night. I think he especially likes the presents for 8 days in a row! I'm even going to make potato latkes one night this week. I'm really getting into Hannukah this year!

I've turned into the cookie monster this year. I've never been a big sweets fan but for some reason I cannot resist the cookies this year. For the past week we've been bombarded at work with cookies and then Catherine sent me some of her home made cookies which I devoured on the spot. One of my co-workers has the same weakness, even hiding cookies in his deks so other people won't eat them!

My cards went out in the mail so be on the lookout as you should be getting yours any day now. I love all the photo cards people are sending out, it's so fun to see everyone and how fast their little ones are growing! I still can't believe it's the end of 2006, what a crazy year! Here's to many more great memories in 2007!

Cheers,
Sasha

Tis' the Season!

Wow! It's December already......Monday was my 1 year anniversary here in Fort Myers. It went by so fast; I can hardly believe it's been a year since I moved here. Who's done with their Christmas shopping? Mylene I'm sure! I actually did a lot of my shopping online the day after Thanksgiving (while @ work!) and found some good "cyber sales"!

Since I'm staying here for the holidays, I bought everything online and just had it shipped to everyone. Much easier than last year! Now I just need to do my Christmas cards. I even put out my holiday decorations. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! We had our annual company holiday party this past Saturday. It was a fun evening, kicked off by a pre-party at my place. decided at the last minute to have a pre-party and almost went mad trying to clean, buy food/beverages AND get my hair and nails done for the party. It all ended up going smoothly though and everyone had a great time. So great we were all late to the party! The only bad part of the evening was USC losing to UCLA! There goes my trip to Arizona in January.

It actually works out for the better since I'm trying to save my vacation days for Abbie's wedding in Hawaii & Stuart's brother's wedding in Jamaica next year. Busy first half of the year travelling!

Hope all is well with everyone and that you're having a great December so far!

Cheers!

Welcome to Fall!

Fall is here, bringing with it football, slightly cooler weather (mid-80's!), and stores promoting the upcoming holidays. Our office has become a haunted house with everyone decorating their cubicles and planning their costumes for Halloween. I can't believe it's already October and I will have been in Florida for a year soon! I made it through my first summer here without melting. It definately was a hot one but the humidity wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. That's not to say I'm not glad it's over with though!

We're having our annual admin day outing this Friday, heading to Tampa for a day at Busch Gardens. Since I'm not a big roller coaster fan, I can't say I'm too excited about it but it definately beats a day in the office!!

Since it's been such a long time since my last post, let me fill you in on what's been happening. Trips included a visit back to Seattle (thanks Ebeth for letting me stay with you!), a quick hop to St. Louis for training and I got to spend some time with Lee, Matt, and Rob, Indiana for the US Grand Prix, a weekend in Gainesville to see Julie, many trips to Miami for the weekend, and a week in California to visit the fam and help celebrate Mom and Abbie's birthday. Thanks to my visitors so far this year, Taz, Mel, and Ebeth! It was great seeing you! As the weather is cooling down, it's ideal time for guests, so make those travel plans!

Work has been going really well. This group is definately transitional though! We've seen many department heads go and have an all-new team. My boss just got promoted (congrats James!) so I will be reporting to someone new. I'm excited about the change and look forward to another successful year here at ERAC (can you believe I've been here 10 years!). Hopefully in another year or two I will be able to start throwing for another group spot, something a bit bigger. My department is fully staffed and plugging away. We've made some great accomplishments during my time here and I'm looking forward to getting my team members promoted soon! Congratulations go out to Miss Jenna White! Jenna worked for me in Seattle and was recently promoted to Loss Control Supervisor in Group 17. I'm so excited for her and look forward to hearing about her adventures in her new group.

Of course most of you know that Steve and I broke up (actually he just sort of vanished into thin air!) but it turned out to be for the best because I met someone new and we've been dating for about 5 months now. Those of you who have met him know that he's a great guy, very funny, and definately supportive! He moved here from Miami so we're both missing big city life. Fort Myers is nice, but definately small town! I took Stuart with me to California, his first trip to the west coast. He enjoyed it so much we're going back next month. It is homecoming after all and he's got to experience a USC game! (I went to Formula One at Indy, so it's his turn!). How bout them Trojans! While some of the games have been close, it's good to see the team still winning after losing so many great players.

So that about sums up the last few months. Some exciting events on the horizon include mom visiting next week, our trip to California, the holidays, and next year a trip to Hawaii for my sister's wedding! Yes, her and Jeff are tying the knot finally! I'm looking forward to a long vacation there, especially since I'll get to visit my college roomie, Tracie, who recently made the move there.

Hope everyone is doing well! I miss you all and hope to continue to keep in touch with everyone. Come visit if you can and I'll keep you posted on travel plans so I can catch up with you if I'm in your state!

Cheers!
Sasha

Happy Heart's Day!

Valentine's day is fast approaching! Did you buy your sweetie a gift? Remember, I am available for consult in the gift category!

Things are settling down nicely after the holiday rush. I've still got one room left to furnish but other than that the house is all done. Let me tell you, these tile floors are driving me crazy! They get dirty so easy and I've almost broken my neck a few times walking around in my socks! Don't worry Melissa and Tannaz, I'll have the second bedroom furnished by the time your visit rolls around....you will all have a cozy place to sleep!

Work is busy as usual but I've hired two more people and my staff is great. They're very hard working, those busy little bees! It's very different managing 4 men that it was 3 women. I miss my girls!! Who's going to decorate my office for my birthday this month! That's right, I turn 32 in about a week! I can't believe I'm going to be 32! Steve is taking me to Nassau to celebrate this milestone, I can't wait for our vacation (white sandy beach, here I come!). The hotel we're staying at looks amazing, the Atlantis in Paradise Island. Check out their website, it's insane! Things with Steve are going great as you can tell! We really hit it off and enjoy spending time together, we're both just so darn happy!

So other than trying to get caught up at work and spending time with Steve, there's not too much else going on here. I'm enjoying the wonderful weather here in Florida. I'm dreading the arrival of the humidity though! I've joined a gym and have been working out with a trainer 3 times a week. She's really fun and makes me look forward to my workouts....she's a tyrant though! I'm trying to get in shape for year-round swimsuit season here! Especially in the summer where every spare moment will be spent out in the water on the boat trying to keep cool.

I hope everyone out there is doing well! Drop me a line and let me know what's new in your world! Miss you and love to you all!

Cheers!
Sasha

2006 In full swing!

Happy new year! Hopefully most of you received my new year's cards, if not send me your address!

The end of 2005 was a flurry of activity with wrapping up loose ends at work and travelling to Phoenix, Sedona, and California. I spent New Year's in Sedona with an extra shuffle back to Phoenix airport to receive the luggage I accidentally took off the baggage carousel thinking it was mine (sorry Cecilia Hernandez!). Sedona is a beautiful place, I wish I had more time to spend there and do some more shopping (as well as the pink Jeep tour!). New Year's day was spent driving to California with a stop for lunch in Jerome, an old mining town turned ghost town that is now fairly populated. If you ever find yourself there (it's quite a drive, way up in the mountains, hair pin turns, white knuckled driving!) make sure to stop by the Haunted Hamburger for their wonderful chili and kick a## burgers!

I was a witness to history in making at the Rose Parade this year. Did you know the last time it rained at a Rose Parade was the last time a Supreme Court Justice was Grand Marshall, crazy! The weather conditions at the parade were so awful it was funny. I couldn't stop laughing at the fact that I was sitting outside in the pouring rain. Wearing a slicker and sitting in a garbage bag to keep dry. Which worked until I stood up to leave (we mistook the break in the parade for it actually being over!) at which point I became drenched from head to toe! Hmmm, I wonder where this nasty cold came from. The three of us that were at the parade (me, mom, and uncle Michael---yes Julie, the one who makes the chicken salad!) all came down with the same cold.

The highlight of the trip was definately the Rose Bowl. Even though the outcome wasn't what we had hoped for, it was a blast! An all day outing, we got there at 7:30am and didn't get home until past midnight. I must have walked over 10 miles tail-gate hopping but it was so fun to see Catherine, Debra and Sean, and Scott Mcleod! As well as my dear friend Kevin Kubota! My sister and I were so tired by the time the game started I didn't think we'd have enough energy to cheer on our Trojans! But we did, although I'm not sure how much good that did! The atmosphere at the game was unlike anything I'd ever seen before; I'm really glad I had the opportunity to be there (thanks James for letting me take the time off work!). Even though we lost it's still a great memory!

I wrapped up my first trip of 2006 with a night of bull riding (in honor of those Texas fans) at a bar in Pasadena. It was my first time doing it and I had an absolute blast! It was tons of fun and I'm searching for one here in Fort Myers to take everyone out for a night of bull-riding.

I was lucky enough to fly back to Florida on Friday so I had the whole weekend to relax before heading back to work. Now it's buckle down time with trying to get caught up at the office. I've made quite a dent in the work that had piled up and am getting around to making things my own (revamping training, setting up my desk, etc). The pictures I ordered for my office finally came in (bye bye dreary golf pictures!) so it looks wonderful now. I'm in the process of setting up interviews to hire a few more people for my department and am looking to be fully staffed by February!

The house is coming along nicely, with one room left to furnish, the office/guestroom. I'm really enjoying the new living room furniture I bought and really love my new place. The location is GREAT! Central to some great shopping, bars, and restaurants, and only 10 minutes away from work! It's the shortest commute I've ever had. I'm also about 15 minutes away from the beach and a hop, skip, and a jump away from Naples. Get your visits in everyone before the humidity kicks in!

I've met some really great people and love the folks I work with. I'm hosting an ultimate girls night at my place this Saturday for some of the girls in my office. I've even been on a few dates! One of them looks quite promising.....stay tuned for more details!

I hope everyone had a fabulous New Years and is enjoying 2006 so far! I am so blessed to have such wonderful and supportive friends and family and am thankful for all of the opportunities I have been afforded this past year. Here's to 2006 being the best yet!

Cheers!