Well, my friends, consider this a formal announcement: I am getting married. The engagement itself was something of a miracle; without going into the tediousness of details, I will say that it took weeks of planning and preparation, a little sly deception and the help of a freak blizzard to make everything work just right.
And, it did - everything worked perfectly (if I don't mind saying so myself). Thus, it was with extreme interest that I read an article posted recently on "MSN Lifestyle." I simply love this site, which is always offering helpful tidbits to enhancing one's personal life. Advice ranges from the truly helpful, "Top Ten Signs you may get a First Kiss" to the gloomy, "Top Ten Signs she's Gonna Dump your Butt After the First Date". Some titles leave me wondering how it is so many people can have so much free time on their hands, bordering closely to ludicrous topics like, "Top Ten Signs you Married an Axe Murderer" to "Top Fifty Indications she is About to Tell You That she Stopped Taking Birth Control Last October." Of course, there also are cooking tips, house decorating suggestions, and sections dedicated to gardening. But, the relationship articles are my favorite.
At any rate, folks, having just proposed to my girlfriend of five years, it was with piqued interest that I clicked on "Seven Signs He's About to Propose," on MSN Lifestyle. After all, I wanted to know whether or not my actions could have tipped her off (paraphrasing):
1). "He's growing out of his Bachelor Ways. Is your man using terms like 'we' or 'our'? Is he forgoing trips with his buddies to hang out with you?"
Well, true - I have been spending less time at the bars and more time with my fiancé, because here is the shocker: I would much rather spend quality time with my future wife than at potentially seedy establishments! As far as forgoing trips with my buddies, never fear, my friends. Motorcycle riding compatriot Stewbert and I already have our annual cross-continental bike trip planned for 2009. Keep your eyes fixed on these very pages - we are set to leave on June 3rd, and you are more than welcome to join us as we take our Yamaha supersports into Canada and east, all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. The only major difference is, that Ashley may fly out to Boston, to meet us for a few days. Still, I am innocent on sign No. 1.
2). "He's Redecorating. Has your boyfriend ditched his Star Wars memorabilia? Has he traded up for a new, more stylish couch?"
In my case, I am definitely guilty here, but can you blame me? Terracotta tones go so much better on my interior walls than plain white from the 1970s. So I repainted my dishwasher and oven hood - they were both avocado, for God's sake! And as far as Star Wars, well, that doesn't apply, but even though my Outlaw Miller Girls posters have been taken down, they are being safely stored in my attic for when I build my workshop.
3). "He's Curbing Big Purchases."
Ha! Not true - I fully expect to own, within the next two years, a brand new 23-foot Malibu Wakesetter with a 440 direct drive, open bow, board tower and ski pylon, with premium sound, because God forbid I cannot listen to the Red Hot Chili Peppers whilst I skate a mean wake.
4). "He's Not Complaining About Weddings."
OK, I am guilty here, because I have truly enjoyed helping plan our wedding, especially since we both have exceptionally cool taste for the ceremony. Hint: think wedding bells, with a slight twist of Guns and Roses - brilliant!
5). "He's Taken an Interest in Your Jewelry."
Folks, I am innocent on this one! I am proud to say I had the ring all picked out and half paid off, well before slyly prodding about jewelry tastes.
6). "He Wants to Meet the Parents. Or, if he has already met them, has taken an interest in including them on various functions."
Shoot - I am guilty; I have already met her parents, but this is just one of the many reasons I am justifying the purchase of my brand new Malibu Wakesetter.
7). Last but not least, and spoken with a lisp: "He's Acting Out of Character. If your boyfriend is super-insistent that you do something you typically never do (like walk through the park or watch the sunset) he may be setting you up for those four little words. Be sure to make it easy on him and say 'yes!'"
Well my friends, I will just take the opportunity to say that I am innocent on step No. 7. You see; one of the many aspects about our relationship that I love is that neither of us has to act out of character, for any reason, at any time. I could not imagine being more comfortable with another human being, than I am with Ashley.
Well, if this survey is correct, I had a 57 percent chance of completely surprising my girlfriend. She claims to have been wholly caught off guard with the proposal, but admits there were certain things that, in retrospect, did hint toward an engagement.
At any rate, after all the preparations and planning, when I finally did pop the question, it was a resounding and enthusiastic "Hell, Yes!" that made my night.
- Dan Wegmueller is a columnist for The Monroe Times. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.
And, it did - everything worked perfectly (if I don't mind saying so myself). Thus, it was with extreme interest that I read an article posted recently on "MSN Lifestyle." I simply love this site, which is always offering helpful tidbits to enhancing one's personal life. Advice ranges from the truly helpful, "Top Ten Signs you may get a First Kiss" to the gloomy, "Top Ten Signs she's Gonna Dump your Butt After the First Date". Some titles leave me wondering how it is so many people can have so much free time on their hands, bordering closely to ludicrous topics like, "Top Ten Signs you Married an Axe Murderer" to "Top Fifty Indications she is About to Tell You That she Stopped Taking Birth Control Last October." Of course, there also are cooking tips, house decorating suggestions, and sections dedicated to gardening. But, the relationship articles are my favorite.
At any rate, folks, having just proposed to my girlfriend of five years, it was with piqued interest that I clicked on "Seven Signs He's About to Propose," on MSN Lifestyle. After all, I wanted to know whether or not my actions could have tipped her off (paraphrasing):
1). "He's growing out of his Bachelor Ways. Is your man using terms like 'we' or 'our'? Is he forgoing trips with his buddies to hang out with you?"
Well, true - I have been spending less time at the bars and more time with my fiancé, because here is the shocker: I would much rather spend quality time with my future wife than at potentially seedy establishments! As far as forgoing trips with my buddies, never fear, my friends. Motorcycle riding compatriot Stewbert and I already have our annual cross-continental bike trip planned for 2009. Keep your eyes fixed on these very pages - we are set to leave on June 3rd, and you are more than welcome to join us as we take our Yamaha supersports into Canada and east, all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. The only major difference is, that Ashley may fly out to Boston, to meet us for a few days. Still, I am innocent on sign No. 1.
2). "He's Redecorating. Has your boyfriend ditched his Star Wars memorabilia? Has he traded up for a new, more stylish couch?"
In my case, I am definitely guilty here, but can you blame me? Terracotta tones go so much better on my interior walls than plain white from the 1970s. So I repainted my dishwasher and oven hood - they were both avocado, for God's sake! And as far as Star Wars, well, that doesn't apply, but even though my Outlaw Miller Girls posters have been taken down, they are being safely stored in my attic for when I build my workshop.
3). "He's Curbing Big Purchases."
Ha! Not true - I fully expect to own, within the next two years, a brand new 23-foot Malibu Wakesetter with a 440 direct drive, open bow, board tower and ski pylon, with premium sound, because God forbid I cannot listen to the Red Hot Chili Peppers whilst I skate a mean wake.
4). "He's Not Complaining About Weddings."
OK, I am guilty here, because I have truly enjoyed helping plan our wedding, especially since we both have exceptionally cool taste for the ceremony. Hint: think wedding bells, with a slight twist of Guns and Roses - brilliant!
5). "He's Taken an Interest in Your Jewelry."
Folks, I am innocent on this one! I am proud to say I had the ring all picked out and half paid off, well before slyly prodding about jewelry tastes.
6). "He Wants to Meet the Parents. Or, if he has already met them, has taken an interest in including them on various functions."
Shoot - I am guilty; I have already met her parents, but this is just one of the many reasons I am justifying the purchase of my brand new Malibu Wakesetter.
7). Last but not least, and spoken with a lisp: "He's Acting Out of Character. If your boyfriend is super-insistent that you do something you typically never do (like walk through the park or watch the sunset) he may be setting you up for those four little words. Be sure to make it easy on him and say 'yes!'"
Well my friends, I will just take the opportunity to say that I am innocent on step No. 7. You see; one of the many aspects about our relationship that I love is that neither of us has to act out of character, for any reason, at any time. I could not imagine being more comfortable with another human being, than I am with Ashley.
Well, if this survey is correct, I had a 57 percent chance of completely surprising my girlfriend. She claims to have been wholly caught off guard with the proposal, but admits there were certain things that, in retrospect, did hint toward an engagement.
At any rate, after all the preparations and planning, when I finally did pop the question, it was a resounding and enthusiastic "Hell, Yes!" that made my night.
- Dan Wegmueller is a columnist for The Monroe Times. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.
