Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Ottawa this weekend!
Quick note to any of my Ottawa peeps - I'm hittin Otown this weekend with LT Friday night -> Sunday aft. Don't have any big plans, so would love to hang out!
Labels: Ottawa
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Engaged: Pt 2
We spent an hour or two at one of the sand dune beaches in the park - quite different from what I'm used to, and kinda neat, although fairly busy with screaming kids -- not quite the vibe I'd had in mind for popping the big question.
At this point, I was starting to feel a bit nervous...I'd been carrying the ring in a nice ring box in my backpack for most of the day just in case the moment arose, but I knew I needed to make a move....the ring was shifted sneakily down into my pocket, and available at a moment's notice. (Oi - the ring box was a whole other story...as most of you know, I'd been very lucky to be able to secure a special family ring from LT's nana, but needed a box...you can't get down on a knee, and not present the ring in a little box! This small touch was a big pain in the keister - I was shot down in 4 jewellery stores where their policy, frustratingly but understandably, is to not sell the box without a ring. Finally I ended up at Sears, where the conversation was basically "I'd like to buy your cheapest ring that comes in this nice box." "Which ring is it that you'd like sir?" "Well, I just want the box, not the ring, so whatever I need to buy in order to get that box." "Would you like a ring for a man or a woman sir?"...after hearing my whole sob story, she eventually just slipped me a box and sent me on my way)
I'd had my eyes keenly peeled on our drive in through the park and had spotted a nice secluded beach just off from the side of the road, so headed back there like a man on a mission. Laura had no idea what was about to hit her!
I pulled the car over and told Laura that we were going to go for a walk...and once we were on the beach, I started in on the "speech" I'd roughly penned in my head...the key points being "We've been going out for a long time", "I'm still not tired of you", "I like to cook. You do the dishes, this is a symbiotic relationship" and "Will you marry me". When we started to crascendo, I got her to close her eyes, spun her around, and got down on one knee...and she said yes!
At this point, I was starting to feel a bit nervous...I'd been carrying the ring in a nice ring box in my backpack for most of the day just in case the moment arose, but I knew I needed to make a move....the ring was shifted sneakily down into my pocket, and available at a moment's notice. (Oi - the ring box was a whole other story...as most of you know, I'd been very lucky to be able to secure a special family ring from LT's nana, but needed a box...you can't get down on a knee, and not present the ring in a little box! This small touch was a big pain in the keister - I was shot down in 4 jewellery stores where their policy, frustratingly but understandably, is to not sell the box without a ring. Finally I ended up at Sears, where the conversation was basically "I'd like to buy your cheapest ring that comes in this nice box." "Which ring is it that you'd like sir?" "Well, I just want the box, not the ring, so whatever I need to buy in order to get that box." "Would you like a ring for a man or a woman sir?"...after hearing my whole sob story, she eventually just slipped me a box and sent me on my way)
I'd had my eyes keenly peeled on our drive in through the park and had spotted a nice secluded beach just off from the side of the road, so headed back there like a man on a mission. Laura had no idea what was about to hit her!
I pulled the car over and told Laura that we were going to go for a walk...and once we were on the beach, I started in on the "speech" I'd roughly penned in my head...the key points being "We've been going out for a long time", "I'm still not tired of you", "I like to cook. You do the dishes, this is a symbiotic relationship" and "Will you marry me". When we started to crascendo, I got her to close her eyes, spun her around, and got down on one knee...and she said yes!
Labels: Engaged, The County
Monday, July 14, 2008
Engaged: Part 1
Well, this is old news by now, but I've been so swamped with work and playing catch up that I haven't had a chance to formally post the news...
Friday June 27th, we took the day off work (another whole story - I didn't realize that Canada Day was the TUESDAY and that Monday wasn't going to be a holiday until after I'd made all the reservations) and headed down to Prince Edward County, near Belleville / Trenton.
Laura knew I had a weekend of romancing planned, but what she DIDN'T know is that I'd been sneaking around for 2-3 weeks prior, out in Markham talking to her parents ("out shopping for bike parts"), ring shopping ("buying new shorts") and eventually even out in Oshawa visiting her grandparents ("out for dinner with a guy from work"). Being sneaky is tough, especially with someone who knows you really well and who LIVES with you.
Anyways, we got down to The County and had a quick lunch at this pizza / salad / sandwich place, hit up two winery tastings, then went down to Sandbanks for some fun in the sun. For anyone who hasn't been to Sandbanks, if you follow the signs to the provincial park, it takes you to the park gates where they charge you an outrageous $18 / day to park slash go to the beach. This is particularly steep if you're just planning on stopping in for an hour. Anyways, there if you DON'T follow the signs, there's another road that just goes straight into the park through the "back door" - no gate, no steep admission. Some beaches however require a park admission pass, while others have metered parking where you can pay for an hour. I'd never recommend doing anything against the rules....this is just "an option".
Ok - All for now! Part II will include all the best details!
Friday June 27th, we took the day off work (another whole story - I didn't realize that Canada Day was the TUESDAY and that Monday wasn't going to be a holiday until after I'd made all the reservations) and headed down to Prince Edward County, near Belleville / Trenton.
Laura knew I had a weekend of romancing planned, but what she DIDN'T know is that I'd been sneaking around for 2-3 weeks prior, out in Markham talking to her parents ("out shopping for bike parts"), ring shopping ("buying new shorts") and eventually even out in Oshawa visiting her grandparents ("out for dinner with a guy from work"). Being sneaky is tough, especially with someone who knows you really well and who LIVES with you.
Anyways, we got down to The County and had a quick lunch at this pizza / salad / sandwich place, hit up two winery tastings, then went down to Sandbanks for some fun in the sun. For anyone who hasn't been to Sandbanks, if you follow the signs to the provincial park, it takes you to the park gates where they charge you an outrageous $18 / day to park slash go to the beach. This is particularly steep if you're just planning on stopping in for an hour. Anyways, there if you DON'T follow the signs, there's another road that just goes straight into the park through the "back door" - no gate, no steep admission. Some beaches however require a park admission pass, while others have metered parking where you can pay for an hour. I'd never recommend doing anything against the rules....this is just "an option".
Ok - All for now! Part II will include all the best details!
Labels: Engaged, The County
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Free Movies in Toronto!
For any of you Torontonians, there are free outdoors movies on both Tuesday AND Friday for the months of July and August! We should try to hit one up!
Tuesdays are at Harbourfront down on the waterfront
Tuesday, July 8 at 9 PM: Juno
Tuesday, July 15 at 9 PM: Rushmore
Tuesday, July 22 at 9 PM: Dick
Tuesday, July 29 at 9 PM: The Virgin Suicides
Tuesday, August 5 at 9 PM: Run Lola Run
Tuesday, August 12 at 9 PM: Audience Choice! You pick between Monsoon Wedding, Touch of Pink, The Wild One or The Motorcycle Diaries -- you've got until August 5 at 5 PM to make your vote.
And Friday's are out at Downsview park
July 4: The Spiderwick Chronicles
July 11: Alvin and the Chipmunks
July 18: Daddy Day Camp
July 25: Transformers
August 1: The Bee Movie
August 15: Shrek the Third
August 22: Surf’s Up
August 29: Horton Hears a Who
The movies start at dusk. Bring your own blanket or chair. There is no movie playing on August 8.
Tuesdays are at Harbourfront down on the waterfront
Tuesday, July 8 at 9 PM: Juno
Tuesday, July 15 at 9 PM: Rushmore
Tuesday, July 22 at 9 PM: Dick
Tuesday, July 29 at 9 PM: The Virgin Suicides
Tuesday, August 5 at 9 PM: Run Lola Run
Tuesday, August 12 at 9 PM: Audience Choice! You pick between Monsoon Wedding, Touch of Pink, The Wild One or The Motorcycle Diaries -- you've got until August 5 at 5 PM to make your vote.
And Friday's are out at Downsview park
July 4: The Spiderwick Chronicles
July 11: Alvin and the Chipmunks
July 18: Daddy Day Camp
July 25: Transformers
August 1: The Bee Movie
August 15: Shrek the Third
August 22: Surf’s Up
August 29: Horton Hears a Who
The movies start at dusk. Bring your own blanket or chair. There is no movie playing on August 8.
