The adventures of Madri...

Madri? That almost looks like we got close to going to Madrid, but not quite so we took off the d. Actually no, that has just become our couple name. Regardless of what you call us, or what we call each other (I won't get into that), we have a lot of adventures and love every one. If you would like to live vicariously through someone, I would like to make a case for Madri... just saying!

Anyway, this post is a long time coming and really is 3 combined into 1. We've been to a few places in the last few weeks and want to share it with friends and family.

A few weeks ago I was headed up to Portland for work and my boss had said I should go up the weekend before to see the area, head to the beach and really just relax. Perfect time to take Adri on her first trip with me. Within 5 miles of leaving the airport she looked at me and said, "Mark, can we live here?" Whether that happens or not, the area is a place we will always hold near and dear to our heart. Our experience there is what solidified for me the fact that I truly do love this girl and am so excited to have her with me wherever I go. It's also where we found her engagement ring, too bad I convinced her I wasn't buying it and did anyway.
This is probably one of the few "normal" pictures you will ever see of us. They don't happen often--case in point, see picture below.


The above 3 pictures are in the Japanese Gardens in Portland, and it just made Adri more excited to go to Japan one day... I promised her we would. Below is Haystack Rock out at Cannon Beach. Beautiful area, and this is actually a part of the movie "Goonies." Do you know what part?

When we aren't traveling out of state we like to go on picture adventures. I am teaching Adri some about what to look for and how to get what you want out of a picture, but I think she is pretty content with just watching me and being my assistant of sorts.




Then the grand daddy trip, the day after we got engaged. We went to Moab to go on Jeep tours, hike to delicate arch and just be away from the city for a bit. We had a wonderful time and really got a good taste of being down there. I think we will go again to see and do more, anyone want to join?











Well, those are our recent adventures. There will be more to come too, so just keep your eyes peeled and your browsers pointed here. Love you all!

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It really, actually, perfectly happened... I got engaged!

So, I am not quite sure how I did it, or why she agreed to it... but somehow I convinced someone to marry me. Adrienne Jo Rasmussen said yes to me last night around about 8:00pm and has made me the luckiest, most blessed man I know.

Because I know you all wonder, here is a little bit of the story.

We went out to get sushi for dinner because she loves anything and everything Japanese! Had a great dinner and then headed out to the Salt Flats to take pictures of the sunset. We walked around, I played with my camera, and she just watched me and talked to me. I finally got my camera set up the way I wanted it to and then was just "testing" a few shots. She looked away at the mountains and I grabbed the rings (yes, I said rings) and put them in my pockets. I talked to her a little longer and was already down on a knee when I pulled out the fake ring and popped the question. She just looked at me for a moment and I said to her, "This is the ring you wanted, isn't it?" She looked at me again, then down at the ring and said, "Really?" She didn't even answer my question, so I said to her, "Oh wait, no, this isn't it," reached into my pocket pulled out the real ring and said, "This is the ring, will you marry me?" She said yes and kissed me, and here is the proof of it all. Enjoy the pictures!









P.S. I think this is the most normal picture we have, and my face is still squished, but it is one of my favs because it is the first time we said we loved each other!

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What do you do in your free time?

Sometimes, on the days when I seem to be so busy that the end of the day comes too quickly, I think to myself, "What would I do in my spare time?" Well, then I remember days when I have spare time and I remember the crazy things I do. I thought I would share...

First up, Soda Pop Derby! Some of my friends have done this with me, and others probably wish they had. Well, now you don't have to... here are the pictures to prove how fun it is! All you need is some cheep-o soda (I recommend Wal-Mart brand) a crappy baseball bat and a field. Shake the cans, softball style pitch and swing away. The results are as follows:





Oh, and because you can't see it really, you get really wet and sticky depending on how many cans you destroy, so wear trash clothes. Trust me, it's worth every moment!

Next up, I explore... A LOT! I love the old and abandoned things that are deteriorating. They just make for some fun pictures and interesting adventures. Here are some old cars on a hillside that were used to stop erosion (oh how resourceful).


I really do enjoy my free time so much, as there is so much in this world to enjoy!

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Recent adventures...!

I love my life, it is just so fun. So, I wanted to put up some photos from the recent happenings of it and the things I am getting into. Of course there are more, but I don't have photos of everything... YET!

Now, due to the sacred nature of these ski spots and runs, my life has been threatened and I am not allowed to disclose these locations to the general public without consequence, so don't ask.
I am learning even more about my camera and starting to figure out how to get some pretty cool night shots. If you look closely you can see the Big Dipper.





I had to put this one up. The faces are classic and typical Gasser, and it is as though she has no idea what is coming!

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Recent addition to the family... FISHEYE LENS!!!

I just bought a new lens--one I have been wanting for a long time. It took me some time to decide to actually do it, but after a good hearty discussion with someone at a shop and then being allowed to play and test it before I bought--I made the decision. I have been playing with it all weekend, and am absolutely loving every moment of it. So, here are some shots that I took with my new lens... a fisheye!

It gives such an awesome effect. And that partnered with some of the new things I have been learning turned into some pretty cool shots. Enjoy!

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