Drumroll sound....

We have a date!

JUNE 21, 2008.

Tim's Very Own Engagement Gift

Tracey made Tim his very own congratulatory cake- chocolate with buttercream frosting. We had some gigantic pieces at her party- I made sure to take the piece with the ring.

I might be a little bit insane

I'm planning to participate in the Running of the Brides at Filene's Basement on August 3rd. I have the beginnings of a solid team ready to throw some elbows and knock the other brides-to-be to the floor. Tracey (aka "T-Mama") & I are hatching a strategy. I think this means I need to undertake some serious dress research.

All you married ladies out there- anything you wish you had known when you chose your dress? Would you do anything differently?

Lacey wonders what's new in kitty bridal fashion?

So last night Tim and I did what every newly engaged couple does: watched "Land of the Dead." We've been on a zombie movie kick recently. Among "28 Days Later," "28 Weeks Later," "Dawn of the Dead" and last night's movie, I'd put "Land of the Dead" at the bottom of the list. The movie wasn't really holding my attention, and so I checked out one of the bridal magazines. As you can see, I had some help.

How about this?

So Tim sneaks around, does the research and plans a well-executed proposal. But guess who gets the presents?

Thanks for the congratulatory bouquet Tracey!

The Celebration Continues!

I thought all the excitement of the weekend was over, but Emily and Tim G. were nice enough to stop by for a mini engagement celebration when we returned from the Northern Neck. Not only did they bring cake and champagne, but they also brought my first official bridal magazines.

What a great weekend!

The Proposal

So now we’re affianced.

The scene - A beautiful & mild summer day on Nomini Creek in the Northern Neck of Virginia.

The accomplice - Maizie, the smartest dog I’ve ever met.

Around 1:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, I was sitting on the back deck reading and Tim asked if I wanted to take a walk down to the dock. I had teased him the night before about how he needed to walk on the dock and hold hands with me this weekend, and so I thought he was just fulfilling his promise. We generally walk down to the look at the water on our visits to the Northern Neck anyway, and so this wasn’t an odd request. Maizie loves the “dock” as well as the “boat,” and so she was psyched to come along.

Apparently, prior to this walk, Tim was nervous and pacing around, but I was engrossed in “Entertainment Weekly” and absolutely oblivious.

We looked around the dock and out at the water. Then Tim was kneeling on the dock, on one knee, next to Maizie, while getting her to heel and sit. He then asked me to hold the keys he was carrying, which were on a little flotation device for safety around the water. I said “ok,” but didn’t really think much about it. If I had looked at the keys, I would have seen that the ring was on the key chain. Tim then said “Maizie, what’s that” in the direction of the keys in my hand. When I saw the ring, my initial response was “Oh my God!”- I managed to regain my composure and say “Yes” when he next asked “Melinda, will you marry me?”

What a great moment and a perfect location for a proposal. Ben and Rosemary have been forbidden ever to sell this house. In fact, we’re expecting a shrine to be erected in our honor at the end of the dock.

Unbeknownst to me, Tim had been sneaking around ring researching and shopping and covering his tracks for weeks. He knows I like to “figure things out,” and so he was extra careful with this process.

He did a great job surprising me and picking out a ring I love.

WHO'S ENGAGED?

I've written all about our Engagement Day dinner at Melinda Eats.

P.S. Only mama will get this reference, but I've named my ring "Tina Sparkles."

P.P.S. Tim's new pet name for me is Gollum.