Hi, I''m new here

[sunkist]

Date: 5/22/2006 8:06:17 PM
Author: fisherofmengirly
Thanks for the link, Sunkist. I pretty much roam around this forum now, but I don''t go to other titles unless I get permission from him or one of *his girls.* He likes to be bossy.


Your diamond is quite the sparklie! Nice, nice! I hope it gets its permanent home soon!!


We''re planning on October, and I do find peace in knowing it''s coming, even though our engagement has been delayed a bit. Neither of us want anything huge or fancy, so it shouldn''t be that big of a deal to have a slightly shorter engagement. I''m like you though, I don''t want to do anything *real* as far as planning until I''m officially engaged to him. Otherwise, it feels a bit fake and cheesy. I''ve calmed down a bit from my initial frustration over the delay, partly because I know it''s coming, and partly because I know it means the world to him to do this *right.* And I just KNOW his car is going to cooperate and act right from now on. Yay!


What month are you two looking at?

Fisher, I forgot to answer your last question. We are looking at November for the wedding date.

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Hi everyone. I''m glad you''re happy with your diamond again, Blenhiem! Yay!!!

I''m so excited. I don''t know why. But I am. Like I think something great is going to happen, but I really don''t. Crazy odd. Anyway, I''ll just take the good mood for a run, I guess.

Did I tell you all that his car is better, like as in it shouldn''t have this re-occuring problem anymore? Happy day!!

Oh, I want Taylor to win on American Idol SO Badly!! I hope he does, oh I hope he does. He cracks me up and I think that he''s just a great *real* person.

Oh, and SkaterJen, can I ask what FWIW means? I''ve racked my brain trying to figure it out. No avail.

Oh, and another thing: I just got a message on myspace from an old friend in *grade school.* She said she couldn''t believe how good I look, and that she had to think HARD to figure out who I was. Yay! I love not being "hey fat girl" anymore. Okay, that sounds vain, but it was a great ego boost. Especially since I''ve been sad about gaining a pound or two back since my last wieght loss. It''s hard to maintain, and I''m still trying to get down to closer to 150 or so. Hey, 160 *if I could STAY there* would be awesome.

Anyway, enough rambling.

Any big plans for the three day weekend???

 

[anchor31]

Hey ladies! Did you have a good weekend?

We had a national holiday up here in Canada, so J and I got to spend almost four days together!

I sure had an interesting weekend...

Unfortunately, we were supposed to go shopping, but the jeweller we wanted to visit was closed on Sunday and Monday.

BUT, J will be going by himself on Friday and will take pics of settings so I can choose one. Odds are we''ll order our diamond from Toronto so we can get the best quality at an affordable price, and have it set in the setting I''ll have chosen locally. I''ve got my heart set on a wedding set I saw in their online catalog... We''ll see if things work out with our budget! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

 

[anchor31]

Here''s a pic of the set I mentioned, if you girls are curious... I''m hoping Diamond Exchange Toronto can help me find a beautiful ideal cut .50ct for $1500 CAN or less, and now that I''m contributing to the ring our budget is up to 2500$, which should leave us with enough for that set in WG... Anyway, I''ll know how much the setting costs on Friday! I can''t wait!

Sorry for the highjack, Fisher, I didn''t really want to start a new thread for this...

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Oh, that''s beautiful Anchor! I hope it works for you! I have my heart set on a particular ring, too. I''ve lately been trying to work through that, so I''ll be thrilled with the engagement, rather than saddened by the ring, if it''s not my ideal. But I really am just so smitten with him, I imagine anything would make me happy. Gosh, I hope so!

That said, I do also have my heart set on a band that has sparklies on it. That is unless they only come that way if they''re THICK. I want thin, tiny thin. Especially since the band I''ve fallen for isn''t as thin as I''d hoped.

Anyway, there''s no such thing as hyjacking here. I love the inputs. There''s no topic here anyway, other than random bouts of me being happy, thrilled, sad, frustrated, and EAGER as all get out to marry the man I adore and cherish. Anything else is MORE than welcome!!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

I loved Taylor tonight, but was SO glad when he ditched that hideous PURPLE jacket. My dear goodness.

 

[anchor31]

Thanks fisher! I imagine I''ll be thrilled even if it''s not exactly that too... I can''t wait for him to propose! And I love so many things, I''m bound to get one of them, right?

 

[ilovesparkles]

Hey fish have you ever posted your absolute favorite ring? Just curious because I love looking at others'' taste!

Speaking of minor thread hijacking may I? Well this past Sunday I had my graduation ceremony and after the final revision to my paper tomorrow night I will be officially finished with school for the year! I am so excited! This has been a really tough and strenuous year and I will finally be finished with classes until next fall which barely counts. I start my internship in less than a month and I am so so so excited! For any interested I posted a pic from graduation in the pictures thread even though its of me and my mum. Ok thanks!

 

[sunkist]

Date: 5/23/2006 10:14:04 PM
Author: anchor31
Here''s a pic of the set I mentioned, if you girls are curious... I''m hoping Diamond Exchange Toronto can help me find a beautiful ideal cut .50ct for $1500 CAN or less, and now that I''m contributing to the ring our budget is up to 2500$, which should leave us with enough for that set in WG... Anyway, I''ll know how much the setting costs on Friday! I can''t wait!

Sorry for the highjack, Fisher, I didn''t really want to start a new thread for this...

Anchor that set is beautiful!! That would be wonderful if you do get it

Can''t wait for updates!

 

[anchor31]

Thank you, sunkist! I can''t wait for Friday!! In other good news, I may get a full-time summer job tomorrow!! Finally!

Well, I have an interview, but I think I have good chances.

I don''t know if anyone here can answer me, but I''ve noticed the setting seems to have a basket head, and I''ve been wondering if those are more difficult to adapt for a given stone size... Ack, I should really stop worrying, I''m driving myself crazy!

We''ll work something out.

 

[sk8rjen]

Fisher -- dunno about the basket thing, but FWIW= For what it''s worth. I''d have never figured that one out either!

You might want to check out my new thread -- it''s safe. Suffice it to say, I''m leaving PS and LIW, although I will check in on you ladies from time to time...

jen

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Sk8rjen, I''m sorry to hear that you''ll be away for a while. I do hope your time away allows you to evaluate current things, talk with the boy, and figure out where to go from here. Thanks for helping me out with that abbreviation. I was clueless.

I pray things become clear for you soon. Boys are almost idiots sometimes. It doesn''t even necessarily mean anything *bad,* either. That''s the weird thing about them. I don''t even try to understand, most the time. But I do hope the best for you!

I can imagine the pain of being let down, and to feel like it was being *kept* from you, too. I''ve been down that road with regard to the whole engagement thing, but I think for me it was primarily due to being too involved, and pushy. NOT that I''m saying you did that, but just that I know the agony of thinking, "gosh, why can''t this man I love and adore and treasure just want what I want, NOW?" It''s hard, for some men, to deal with the feelings of being at that point in a relationship, and my boy started to shut down a minute, and it just crushed me. I saw it as if it meant that he wasn''t wanting it. That wasn''t it. He was just trying to make sure he was working through the process of being ready for marriage, because it is such a big step in life. And I appreciate that he took that time, too. But, I do hope things work out best for you. They will, no matter what the outcome is. Patience is sometimes the best thing for situations like this. *I''m one to talk!!*

Hugs and happy thoughts to you, girl!!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Guess what? The band we''d been looking at has gone up from 195 to 341. Since March. Argh! And, well, I don''t know if he has bought it yet or not. So, if he hasn''t, I''m thinking that''s a lot to pay for what it is, and now I''m wondering about getting a plain band with a tulipy head. I just feel really bad wanting a 1/2 carat as badly as I do, so I''m trying to find ways to cut cost. As much as possible. I''m a very cheap person by nature, and I don''t like putting this all off on Paul.

Should I tell him I''ve thought about it, and I like another ring now? Should I go with the ring I''ve liked all along, and decide that a smaller stone is okay? OR, should I just let go and let him deal with this stuff? Argh. I have been doing SO good not bugging him or other people about this stuff, and I felt really settled on things, but now I''m so frustrated that the price for a ring went up SO much, in such a short amount of time.

Thank goodness it''s late enough that I''ll be able to go to bed fairly soon without having to think about this stuff anymore. So much for being patient and letting things go. I feel all whirrled up in things again now.

 

[anchor31]

There''s always the option on getting the .50ct stone you want in a plain setting now, and changing the setting (or just the head if that works), when things are better financially... I don''t know if that could work for you. I''m keeping my fingers crossed for things to work out for you!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Well, we talked about it. And he didn''t ever really say if he had bought the ring part yet or not, but he did say that things will be taken care of. And he agreed that if push came to shove and he needed the money to make up the difference in the cost of the ring now as compared to a month ago, he''d accept money from me ONLY until his next pay day. That''s an improvement on his part!

He also told me about a tulipy solitaire from Abazias that he thought I''d like. So I looked it up; it''s pretty. I like the cathedral, though, and it''s lacking on that. But, I do like that it has a matching band that sort of *fits* into the engagement ring. So, we''ll see. It''s a difference of almost 150 dollars between the two rings, not including taxes if Abazias does that, and not including the sizing on the cathedral ring ($20).

I don''t know what the boy''s going to do. He doesn''t want me to settle, and I don''t want him to spend more than we think is necessary. Ideally, I''ve always thought I''d never wear anything over 1000 dollars. But then I fell in love with 1/2 carat diamonds. So much for that theory!

So, I just really feel materialistic right now. I called my best friend about it, and she said she had no idea we''d been planning on spending such an *outrageous amount.* Neither of us are big spenders, and we like it that way, but we want something we''ll both love, always. And then I think about these 5,000 dollar rings and stuff and MORE and I really don''t think 1200 is a lot. I mean, it is. But it''s not. And it''s not like we''re going in debt to do it.

But then again, maybe I should tone it down some. I want to be engaged. I do NOT want the size of my diamond to interfere with our plans and timeline for marriage.

Argh. I need to go to bed. I *was* doing so good letting go of all this and letting Paul lead things. And now I''m thinking, fretting, and second guessing everything. All over again.

 

[anchor31]

Honey, I feel your pain. Engagement rings are not the thing where I am, and before I started researching I always thought I''d end up with a 500$ ring, and I was okay with it. And then I went shopping with my boy and, like you, I fell in love with the 1/2 carat stone size, but I didn''t know if he could afford it. When he gave me his $2000 CAD budget, I was thrilled, touched, a little overwhelmed and worried at the same time.

2k is an amazing budget compared to most boys in their 20s getting engaged here, but it might not be enough for a 1/2 carat in a local B&M. If they can''t sell us a reasonably priced quality stone, though, I''m pretty sure J will agree to have it shipped from Toronto, since they have amazing stones that fit the bill. And then there''s the setting, which is another issue. I have a hard time making up my mind, and I don''t know how much the one I really like costs. I guess I''ll know tomorrow... I can''t wait!! I''m driving myself nuts...

Oh, and I haven''t told anyone I know about the 2k budget. Especially not my parents. They would be completely freaked out. But it feels right to us because I''ll wear this forever, so if this feels right for you and Paul, go for it and don''t worry about what other people think or say. So, hang on in there, I''m right here with you.

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Thanks, Anchor.

I think last night I was just kinda emotional. I had just gotten excited about things coming into place again, and then I was floored when I saw that the ring had increased so much. Thankfully, the vendor is really sympathetic to the recent HUGE increase in gold prices, and has agreed to do the sizing for free. It''s not a big fee, but it''s still kind of him to "eat" that cost. At the very least, it will help ease the *blow* of the increase in cost.

My mom''s ring is a 1/3 carat, and it''s a nearly perfect stone. She loves it. They got it in 1971, and at the time the stone and ring, a six prong solitaire, white gold, was three hundred dollars and some odd change. And she''s had it appraised since *she lost the stone twice, but found it, then had it insured* and it''s worth well over a thousand now. She said there''s no way back then that Dad would have forked that over! She also says that Paul can afford whatever I want, and that he''ll take pride in doing so. My best friend also sent me an email today saying she didn''t mean that we''d set a ridiculously high budget, but that she was surprised that someone as *frugal* as I am would allow Paul to do such a thing. Hee hee. I never said I wanted a 1/2 carat, but he saw the way my face changed when I tried one on, and he told me that night that''s what I''d have. The littler stones were okay, too, and the bigger ones just sort of overwhelmed my hand. Anyway, I had no idea it showed on my face what I was thinking. He''s a good expression reader, I guess.

I guess because I knew her ring cost so little, I thought we''d be able to find something decent for around 700 dollars or so. I was off a little bit, apparently. I''d actually forgotten about the appraisal she had until she reminded me about a month or two ago when I was so frustrated that something so little costs so much.

I never thought I''d want anything expensive *and I know our budget is nothing even NEAR huge to many of you here, but for us, it is, simply because we''re not flashy or big spenders, in any area* but I also never knew I cared much about what I got. Since we went looking, I''ve really been able to hone in on my tastes, and it''s simple, but a little different from the typical solitaire.

Another thing I feel bad about is that prior to our looking, we both thought we could get something really nice for under $700. We were sure of it. We went to a few jewelers, and they do have rings out there in that range. And they were pretty enough, but they sat in plain solitaires. Then, we learned about the *important* stuff on diamonds, and now I just couldn''t go back to a stone with a white line around the girdle. And, I don''t want a ring that only sparkles under THEIR lights. I want one that sparkles in the dark!

Okay, that won''t happen, but you get what I''m saying.

Paul says that what he''s planning to spend isn''t too much, and that if we were following the two month''s pay theory, he''d be looking like a serious cheap skate, and not to worry. That''s sweet of him. I told him I''d gladly pa ybig money for a ring he loves. He said I already got him the *sparklie* he''d been wanting, his Xbox. He''s preferring a plain band, as of now, anyway.

In other news, there''s only ONE more day of work before a three day weekend, and I''m *so* loving that! It''s also warmed up a good bit and I actually turned on my air conditioner for the first time in my house.

Which makes me think of Mandarine. Last I heard from her, the a/c had gone out again. I wonder where she is, and if her air''s all fixed now? Did she say something about going on vacation or anything? I don''t remember, but my memory is kinda sorry here lately. What are you up to, girl???

 

[fisherofmengirly]

So, the diamond we''d been talking about sold. I''m not sure if I''m excited because he said he was going to call, or if I''m sad because he didn''t make the call soon enough. We talked about it last night, and all he''d say was that he did call. That doesn''t tell me much, now does it?

We have our counseling session again today, and then I hope we come back here to clean before leaving for his brother''s house warming. I love my guy dearly, but this messiness is driving me nuts. He''s going to make a schedule of different things to do each day to keep it from overwhelming him. Aye, I hope that works.

 

[ilovesparkles]

Sorry to hear that fish but dont worry. Your stone is out there somewhere! Did you see my lemon pie thread? Its pretty silly! What are you two doing for the long weekend? I think I am going to clean my pit of a room!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Well, I think, I hope, I *think* he got it. He''s said too many things today out of the ordinary that he then tries to rescind for me not to be suspicious. We shall see.

Our day has been pretty busy today. We had counseling, we went shopping for some *deep cleaning* that is desperately needed at this house of his, and then went to his brother''s house warming. That was tons of fun. I just love his family! And I find it cute to watch the way Paul responds to his aunts and cousins when they ask what our future holds. I like to see the progression. Today, he was like, "I am going to marry her. It''s coming, people. Just calm down." A BIG improvement from the "I can see myself marrying her," or "we''ll see," or, "gosh, uncle Joe, don''t make me feel awkward." Today when Joe made a comment about looking for an announcement in the mail, Paul told him to keep checking the mailbox. Yay!

Then, we went to the two schools he''s debating over working at next year and looked around at homes near by. That was FUN!

Then we came home, cleaned some, and after church tomorrow, we''ll be doing the same. He has the motivation, but just seems to be *overwhelmed* at times when he needs to clean a whole area. Maybe some sort of list or something will help him break it down. That''s what we''re going to try, anyway.

I hope everyone had a good day, and I particularly hope that Anchor had a ton of fun looking at rings today! oooh! I''m going to read that thread before we do our Bible time and go to sleep.

 

[ilovesparkles]

Well I can comiserate about the cleaning. My place looks like a frat boys during the school year. Quite embarrassing really. I put all the clothes away and did laundry tonight. Tomorrow I tackle the paper and magazines. Sigh!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

I hear you on that, Ilovesparkles. He''s been focusing on his clothes being strewn all over the whole bedroom, bathroom, and closet. I''ve been focusing on the kitchen. Tomorrow will be more about organization and stuff than anything. I think once it''s all in place, and he has better idea of how to keep it that way, he will be able to maintain it.

I''m going nuts trying to figure out if he bought it or not. I''d called and asked about it yesterday, to make sure it was still available and that it was eye-clean. And once I knew it was, I called Paul. The next time I talk to him, he sounds *different* somehow. Then I check to look at it one more time before I fall asleep, and it''s gone, sold, bye bye. He told me not to be too sad about that. "It could be a good thing, Jen. Just could be." So I was totally thinking YES!! But then he was like, "You never know."

Grr. I never know. That''s right!!

*Your pie looks yummy, by the way. Tomorrow we''re making a giant cookie in honor of my 1/2 birthday. It was yesterday, but I wasn''t feeling well last night and today we were running all day long. And Sunday is a great day for a slice of cookie!!*

 

[ilovesparkles]

Well I hope your cleaning day has been going better than mine. It got cancelled because the temperature sky rocketed to 99 degrees today. And I only have one ionizing fan for my room. I am sweating typing and this is just miserable. I am torn whether or not to bring the AC up this early in the summer. It usually doesn''t come out until July. And we only got the screens put in the windows Fri. so it seems like its rushing a bit. And to make things worse my mom and I can''t find the window fans. UGH! This is just icky. On top of it I am really bored because there isn''t much to do. I suggested going to a movie but no one wants to. Pllzzzzzzz. OK I just had to get that out of my system! I hope you all are having a fabulous Memorial Weekend!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Hi, Fisher! (hi, everybody!)

Just wanted to check in to say hi! I haven't seen Paul in a long time unless he changed identities and I can't tell who he is. I want to check in here from time to time to see when he is EVER going to give you a ring!! If he had stayed on the other forums, we would have tried to hurry him along a little bit! I don't think guys have a CLUE how nerve wracking the waiting is for the girl!

Anyway, have a nice weekend, and I am hoping to see some ring pictures posted on SMTR VERY soon!!!

(Oh, and not to mention he would have saved money on the setting if he did it two months ago!!)

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Diamondseeker, Hey! Good to see you again. I am *really* hoping that he got the diamond we''d both liked and thought was a great deal. He''s been doing things to get me off the idea that he got it on Friday, but then I''ll catch him saying something else, that he doesn''t exactly realize he''s saying. So yeah, I''m REALLY excited and and I''m also trying not to get too much so, so if I''m let down, I won''t be crushed.

I''ll be sure to tell him what you said about if he''d done it two months ago, he would have saved money. Heehee. He feels bad about it, but I''ve emailed Wink a few times and he''s agreed to do the sizing for free because of the unexpected increase in price. We''re also thinking of going with a more standard band with a tuliphead on it, because it''s a bit cheaper. I also think he likes having that option, so ultimately, I''ll be surprised now that there are two contenders out there. Really, I''d love either. I just want to be engaged to the man who makes me so happy.

He did SO good today cleaning and organizing and he just makes me so happy to know that what matters to me he''s willing to put extra effort into. That''s a good man. The pastor told him at church tonight that he''s doing a good job of "winning my heart daily." As in, keeping our love growing. That he does, that he does!

As you can tell, we''ve had a blast of a weekend. And even better, I get to be here tomorrow, too! And, the house is clean. Yay! Life is good!

Any of you who have family members who served, thank them for me. My daddy is a veteran and I know how much he appreciates someone telling him they appreciate the duty he did for his country. Without them, we''d not be where we are. Even if we''re not in the best of conditions in all areas, it''s a *ton* better than just about any other area of the world!

 

[anchor31]

Hello ladies!! I had the most perfect weekend!

I''ll stop teasing you now and update my latest thread...

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Yeah, tell us all about it, Anchor. I''m waiting... my time on here is almost up. We''re about to put in a movie.

 

[anchor31]

I updated... I hope it''s not too late.

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Aww! You changed your picture to your ring. That''s cuteness!

 

[ilovesparkles]

Earth to Mandarine?!?!?!?! Are you doing ok I hope!


OK fish I hope you don''t mind me posting this here but I am hoping she has this thread subscribed to her email account. I will start a seperate thread too in case anyone knows anything. I am kinda worried.