I just got home from an amazing two-week vacation in Cancun with my girlfriend, my two younger brothers, and my brothers' two friends. We ate amazing food (Senor Frog's entertainment, La Madonna's excellent Italian food, hundred dollar steaks at Harry's, etc.), swam with dolphins and manatees, ziplined, rafted, drove an amphibious vehicle, toured ancient ruins, drank all day and partied all night, and got an excellent couple's massage that ended with champagne and chocolate/ white chocolate covered strawberries.
Oh, and I proposed.
Andrea had told me way in advance that when I did propose to her, she wanted it to be a relatively simple and private thing. Nothing super flashy and public, like those crazy YouTube videos of million dollar proposals with fireworks and dancing everythings. + Show Spoiler +
Although to be fair, this is pretty awesome.
And while I like to go all-out on things (especially for her), I figured that the money I wouldn't be spending on an over-the-top proposal could be put into the actual ring (in retrospect, this was a smart decision).
I had a few proposal ideas, but I stuck with something simple and private. After dinner, she and I went outside to walk along the beach. The sun had just set, so there was a brilliant twilight glow along the horizon, as the warm sand massaged our feet. We chatted about sea turtles, the vacation, and our future together. I gave her a somewhat-subtle monologue, took the box out of my pocket, and bent down on one knee. I opened it towards her, said her name, and asked her to marry me.
It was the first time in our entire relationship that I was really able to surprise her, to catch her off guard. Fortunately, her answer didn't surprise me, and now I can call her my fiancee + Show Spoiler +
Apparently, the woman is the "fiancee" and the man is the "fiance". I'm sure I'll make that mistake more than once during our engagement.
Andrea and I have been dating for over eight years. We met at a tennis clinic in high school, where we both took lessons; we both played for our our respective high school tennis teams.
We were high school sweethearts; we went to each other's proms. I remember sleeping over her friend's house with her, the night after her junior prom in 2006. We were on the couch, laying down and watching a bunch of movies on television (Hitch, The Skulls, some vampire movie). And I remember she fell asleep in my arms, and it was wonderful. It just felt right. When she woke up the next morning, she looked up at me and smiled. And I said to her, "I don't know if we're officially boyfriend and girlfriend yet, but I'd like to be."
Fast forward through graduating from our respective high schools. Fast forward through graduating from our respective universities in different states. Now she and I are nearing completion of our respective doctoral programs (my math education PhD at Rutgers, her VDM veterinary degree at UPenn). I'm 26 and she's 24 (25 in two months), and we are so, so, so ready to move on to spending the rest of our lives together. By the time we get married (after we both graduate), we'll have been dating for a full decade, with nearly 100% of that time being in a long distance relationship (not ideal, but you do what you have to do).
We've been planning things for years. Where we'll live, how many kids, what our house will look like... everything. And we're on the same page with all the big marriage-level decisions. We just couldn't tie the knot any earlier because we need to finish our education and then actually start making money to support ourselves.
So now, the best part: Pictures. Pictures of a goofy couple from eight years ago at our proms, pictures of that same goofy couple over the years, and pictures of a not-so-goofy ring for her
Both of her parents love the ring, all her friends love the ring, and she loves the ring. I can breathe easy. Pro-tip: Make sure it's shiny
The icing on the cake: And, of course, under the framework of "She supports what I do and love, and I support what she does and loves", it should be noted that she occasionally plays SC1 and SC2 with me when we have the time, went to IPL3 with me, has brought me to a Philly barcraft, has baked me StarCraft birthday cakes... and she knows all my favorite players and casters, and actually sat through Day[9] Daily #100 with me.
On August 12 2014 04:29 iSometric wrote: He went to Jared's.
Congrats.
Haha yup Thanks ^^
On August 12 2014 04:33 Darkhorse wrote: YOOOOOO DPB
Congratulations man! If you are ever in Philly we should go to a Barcraft :D
Thanks I'm in Philly every month or so visiting my fiancee around the UPenn area, so when she goes in to work her vet rotations we could totally hit up a Barcraft or get drinks! Dark squared?
Congrats! Sounds like a fairy tail story so here's to a fairy tale ending where you guys live happily ever after! :D I think waiting till you guys are out of your programs was the smart idea and seeing that everything lines up for you two, that helps a lot. I hope to see wedding pictures soon enough! :D
I am sorry, you dont look good with that haircut. First pic and the one (with turquoise shirt) look much better than your "standard" ( all other pics you posted here) haircut.
Thanks guys BigFan, I'll definitely put up wedding pics when the time comes ^^ Dingodile, I like to keep my hair short because I'm too lazy to comb it and it messes up easily when I wear a hat or play sports and sweat a lot lol.
Your blogs/contributions to this site are some of my favorites, especially for non-pro/staff. So I guess I'm able to feel especially sincere when I say CONGRATULATIONS! I actually mean it, not in just the internet-y way, if that makes sense.
You really went to Jared's, holy fuck man. Do they have any diamonds left over? WOW I don't even know you, and I'd say yes to you if you popped that baby open.
On August 12 2014 12:27 Kommatiazo wrote: DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDDDEEE WAY TO GO!!!
Your blogs/contributions to this site are some of my favorites, especially for non-pro/staff. So I guess I'm able to feel especially sincere when I say CONGRATULATIONS! I actually mean it, not in just the internet-y way, if that makes sense.
You really went to Jared's, holy fuck man. Do they have any diamonds left over? WOW I don't even know you, and I'd say yes to you if you popped that baby open.
Hahahaha thanks, I appreciate the love! I checked out a lot of different diamond/ jewelry stores and did research for a few months on the cuts and carats and other qualities before deciding on that ring and getting it custom crafted Throughout the rest of our vacation in Cancun, I'd catch Andrea checking the ring out on her finger over and over again, admiring it each day, which was the best feeling ever.
On August 12 2014 12:41 Kiett wrote: Congratulations! This is such a happy and lovely blog, puts a smile right on my face. Hope you two have a wonderful life together :')
Aww thank you! Also, Bisu is going to be my BeSt man, which means you'll hopefully be coming as well!
Thank you! Now I just need to convince Andrea that my hair isn't too short heh. She likes my hair when it's a bit longer. She'll probably read this blog tomorrow or the next day (she doesn't usually go on TL but she reads my blogs from time to time) and we'll chat about it more lol.
Sick dude, congrats! She's beautiful and the ring looks awesome (not that I know anything about jewelry ), can't wait to see the futuring followup blog from the wedding.
man we have a lot in common long time girlfriend, often long distance, studying math (will start next month after i finish engineering), romantics at heart
On August 12 2014 12:38 DarkPlasmaBall wrote: You guys would be matching the groom then I got mine and I absolutely love it
This. This is why you're the best. Why we (TL) are the best.
It's because of our passion and sense of community Here's some of my passion:
I suppose they'd make decent goodie bag gifts for the wedding, eh? Every person gets an e-sports item? I better collect more then...
Too many esports items in one picture. I think you should start giving them away to build up TL hype for your wedding I will take that SKT one near the bottom, thanks in advance! lol.
That is wonderful . I wonder, this might seem silly but I have no idea about it. She gets a shiny ring with a gem, but what do you get? Do you also buy a second ring for yourself or is it unnecessary? Or is there an engagement ring and then a real wedding ring?? Basic knowledge I know
On August 12 2014 23:15 Grobyc wrote: Sick dude, congrats! She's beautiful and the ring looks awesome (not that I know anything about jewelry ), can't wait to see the futuring followup blog from the wedding.
Thanks! Expect that second blog in like 2 years haha
On August 12 2014 23:30 Kleinmuuhg wrote: man we have a lot in common long time girlfriend, often long distance, studying math (will start next month after i finish engineering), romantics at heart
i just hope i end up like you, congrats!
Thanks! Best of luck with your math and engineering!
On August 12 2014 23:43 dravernor wrote: omg congrats DPB! Lovely ring too! Nice blog too, sounds like you had a nice time
On August 12 2014 14:10 DarkPlasmaBall wrote: Thanks babylon
On August 12 2014 13:20 Kommatiazo wrote:
On August 12 2014 12:38 DarkPlasmaBall wrote: You guys would be matching the groom then I got mine and I absolutely love it
This. This is why you're the best. Why we (TL) are the best.
It's because of our passion and sense of community Here's some of my passion:
I suppose they'd make decent goodie bag gifts for the wedding, eh? Every person gets an e-sports item? I better collect more then...
Too many esports items in one picture. I think you should start giving them away to build up TL hype for your wedding I will take that SKT one near the bottom, thanks in advance! lol.
Heh, you wish I should just label each wedding reception table a different pro team, and have some sort of crazy free for all brawl on the dance floor. And then the losers can go sit at the Bronze League table.
On August 13 2014 02:23 Ctone23 wrote: Welcome to the suck!
Just kidding , congrats!
lol thank you. I'm looking forward to it!
On August 13 2014 02:22 radscorpion9 wrote: That is wonderful . I wonder, this might seem silly but I have no idea about it. She gets a shiny ring with a gem, but what do you get?
Hopefully 50 years of not having a bitchy wife A pretty good investment, if you ask me!
Do you also buy a second ring for yourself or is it unnecessary? Or is there an engagement ring and then a real wedding ring?? Basic knowledge I know
Men typically don't get engagement rings (at least, in American culture). However, when a couple gets married, they each get a wedding band (not-super-flashy ring). So men will have a wedding ring, and women often wear both their engagement ring and their wedding band.
On August 12 2014 12:41 Kiett wrote: Congratulations! This is such a happy and lovely blog, puts a smile right on my face. Hope you two have a wonderful life together :')
On August 12 2014 12:41 Kiett wrote: Congratulations! This is such a happy and lovely blog, puts a smile right on my face. Hope you two have a wonderful life together :')
EPT
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), can't wait to see the futuring followup blog from the wedding.
