I''m getting nervous... begin the countdown...

[sumbride]

My long-held belief was that he would propose on our trip to CA this summer. Well, we leave a week from today! I''m so nervous! We''ll be gone for 8 days, so anywhere in there could be "the moment", but I have no idea which he''ll choose, or if I''m completely off base here. I''m having a hard time keeping my mouth shut about it too... I haven''t said anything to anybody off PS except a very close friend, but I almost let it slip yesterday to my boss. I had to literally smack myself to keep my mouth shut! My dad wanted us to invite my cousin on our Napa limo ride and I said "NO!" but then had to come up with a benign reason why I didn''t want to invite him. I finally came up with, "It''s a Friday and he''ll have to work," knowing that he would be more than willing to take the day off since I haven''t seen him in 8 years! I felt like such a bad person!

Also, he may just be trying to throw me, or it could be nothing, or it could be my letdown, but last night at dinner, M asked me "so when is your dad visiting again?" I said "I don''t know." Then a minute later, "Why?" He said "No reason" but gave me a little smirk and I was left wondering if he was waiting to see him again to ask him, or if he just wanted to know when we''d be treated to a nice dinner or have help on home projects! He''s told me sort of generally that he was planning to ask him, but he hasn''t brought that up in a long time. I want to tell him "He carries his Blackberry everwhere! CALL HIM!" but again, maybe it was the dinner thing?

I''m just a big ball of nerves! Help me get through this week, girls! I need you!

 

[biokatie]

I am so excited for you. I am in the same boat. He is buying the ring yesterday/today and it will take about 2 weeks so it is going to be a rough few weeks for me. I hope I don''t have to hold out toooo tooo long!

 

[sumbride]

AIEGHHH!!! Congrats! He bought the ring! WOO HOO! I hope it won''t take much longer after those two weeks for you to have it on your finger! Since my guy is proposing without the ring, I''ll have a month or so of "where''s your ring?", but hey, it''s not like I haven''t heard that before, eh?!?!

 

[caligal]

Hang in there girl!! How exciting and fabulous though to consider this might be it... EEEKKK!!

Kay- so you are up in wine country for this Cali visit? How fun! Do anything you can to get your mind somewhere else so you don''t drive yourself completely nuts! Cleaning? Working out? Those are my distractions! Oh hugs hon... you are almost there!

 

[Cailet]

woo hoo! home stretch time!

We are going up to Canada to see my dad next week (probably the only time this year to see him face to face for "asking for his blessing") -- add to that the seemingly "innocent" question about my ring size and I think I may be getting close too!

Maybe all of us "engaged by 2007" gals will get off the LIW list quick!! Here''s hoping you get us all started next week!!!!

 

[robbie3982]

I''m so excited for you! I would try to suggest ways to take your mind off of it, but unfortunately, I have no suggestions. My mind is on the same subject about 24/7

. When you''re on your trip try not to analyze every move he makes and try to enjoy it as an awesome vacation. That way if it doesn''t happen there you still had an awesome vacation.

I''m going a bit crazy right now too. The jeweler called my ff and told him that the ring is ready! FF then called me and told me that I should go check it out. I didn''t think he was going to let me see it before the proposal, so I was really excited. I went, and it''s absolutely perfect! I love it

. I was nervous since we picked a setting out of a book that we''d never seen in person, but I love the way it sits in the prongs and the band is very thin just like I wanted

.

We have the ring on layaway so ff will need to pay in full before we can take it home. "I" have enough money to pay for it right now, but he won''t let me. "I" is in quotes because while we still have separate bank accounts, our money is hardly separate any more. We''re living together and no one is keeping track of who spent how much on anything. Everything''s going to end up in one account sooner or later, but he really wants to pay for it "himself." Sigh.

Our anniversary is on Monday, but unless he''s trying to throw me off, I don''t think there''s any way that he''ll have it paid for by then. He hasn''t left any bank statements lying around, however, so I can''t really be sure.

I''ll keep my fingers crossed for you, Sum! I can''t wait for you to get to pick out your ring!!!

 

[Selkie]

Hey, Sum , I hope this is it! And good job not telling your family or boss. Had I expected that J would propose when he did, I think I would have had a hard time not spilling, at least to a few people. Like everyone else has said, just try to relax and enjoy the trip, for your own sanity!

And I meant to comment on your "panic" thread, but I thought it was really sweet that he tried to surprise you with the iPod dock.

Keeping everything crossed for you,
Selkie

 

[Selkie]

So, the potential time frame is July 28th-??

 

[sumbride]

Date: 7/21/2006 2:45:10 PM
Author: Selkie
So, the potential time frame is July 28th-??

Our trip is from 7/28-8/5, but he gave me a 6 month window on May 19th (can''t believe I remember the exact date!) so it''s between 7/28 and I guess 11/19 now! So even if it isn''t during this trip, it will be by the end of November. I''m just really hoping it''s this trip. I''m planning to go to Texas and visit my family some time in September/October and it would be so nice to already be engaged by then. My mom whispers the word "wedding" now even though I''ve told her she''s allowed to talk about it.

I''m thinking about taking my laptop on the trip because so many places in CA have free wifi... I''ll need my PS fix!

 

[sumbride]

Hey Robbie - so glad you like the ring!!!! I hope it will be on your finger really soon!!! I think these engagements happen in waves and it''s time for another one around here!

Thanks for the well wishes, everyone! I really appreciate it! I can just envision all these people around the country, well, the world, with their fingers crossed hoping for me and it really makes me smile. The energy is just so intense! I love PS!

 

[sk8rjen]

Woo-hoo!!!! Sounds like you guys'll have fun no matter what! Wish I had some brilliant nugget of waiting advice, but I have none. So GOOD LUCK, enjoy ALL your moments and make sure you pack the camera

(I know there won't be ring pics just yet, but how about happy couple pics??)

jen

 

[robbie3982]

Date: 7/21/2006 4:40:21 PM
Author: sumbride
Hey Robbie - so glad you like the ring!!!! I hope it will be on your finger really soon!!! I think these engagements happen in waves and it''s time for another one around here!

Thanks for the well wishes, everyone! I really appreciate it! I can just envision all these people around the country, well, the world, with their fingers crossed hoping for me and it really makes me smile. The energy is just so intense! I love PS!

LOL! I love that you want to take your laptop so that you can still get on PS. FF and I were away last weekend, but we stopped in a best buy that had a computer w/ an internet demo. So what did I do? Check the boards of course! I had to see if anyone had gotten engaged

.

Hello, my name is Robin and I''m a Price-Scope-aholic.

 

[sumbride]

definitely happy couple pics!!! He''s not much into having his photo taken, but that''s a good reason to do it, right?! Definitely!

 

[aquarius_ser]

I''m sending you some sparklies!!!

The only advice I have on waiting (I feel like a professional waiter at this point)... Try to calm yourself down a bit, give yourself a BREAK, and enjoy your trip... Proposal or not! Atleast you found the man you want to spend the rest of your life with!

I''ve been ruining every weekend for the past 6 weeks because I get all excited on Friday thinking it''s going to happen and by Sunday night, I''m spitting nails!

 

[Fancy605]

Awe! Yay! How potentially exciting. So I don''t think calming down is an option at this point, but there are lots of good ways to distract yourself. Here are my current favorite methods:

-Reading something fabulous (I can recomend lots, and I bet Orange can too)
-Online shopping (okay, so maybe that is NOT such a good idea for when you''re nervous)
-Becoming addicted to Reality TV (I did that on accident! Having summers off is BAD for my taste in television) Big Brother comes on 3 times a week, so it''s a real good time killer/mindless activity. So You think you can Dance comes on Twice, and you can catch ReRuns of Project Runway AND The current episode on Bravo. if you''re lucky, VH1 does a showing of America''s Top Model, AND there are tons of wedding shows.)
-Cleaning out your closet (what an undertaking)
-organizing all of your potential outfits for your trip. You can have a friend over and have a fashion show because you KNOW you want to look hot every single moment of the trip (okay, so that idea might be a bit extreem, but whatev.)
-Working out
-volunteering at a soup kitchen (I have a friend who forces us to any time anyone is feeling unreasonably sorry for themselves. I bet it would work for calming down too! And you''d be helping someone)
-Posting on pricescope (obviously)
-Writing out your potential guest list
-Theknot.com has tons of distracting articles to read, and so does the nest

 

[sumbride]

Thanks for all the tips and support ladies!!! I managed to have a pretty good day not thinking about it because we kept busy. We went to the mall and both got pedicures (no polish for him!) and then both got our hair done. His took 20 minutes, mine took an hour and a half. Ah, it''s fun to be a girl sometimes! Then we went to a friend''s house for a crab feast and for the first time in 2 years we actually DIDN''T hear "so when are you two getting hitched?" from all the slightly older couples there. It was so refreshing. Our friend announced that she''s pregnant with her 2nd baby, so all the attention was on her, as it should be! It was a lovely party. And now we''re home and I''m checking PS, of course, but tomorrow I think I''m going to rewire a lamp. That should keep me somewhat busy, right!?! Just a few more days! This is going to be a really long week!

 

[IrishAngel7982]

I hope it comes soon, Sum! Then you can go pick out your ring! Yay!!!

 

[SeattleSparkle]

sumbride!! I''m soooo glad I read this thread!! How exciting!! It sounds like it could be sooo soon! And maybe we''ll both be in the ''next wave'' here... I just hope that you have a fantabulous vaca and savor every moment, even if it doesn''t happen now. Even if it''s November, that will be here before you know it (haha, coming from the girl with ants-in-her-pants!!)

Ooooh, I hope I can hop on to see if there is an update soon!!!!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Do you know what ring you''re gonna pick yet? I mean, do you have ideas? Oooh, I am excited for you!

 

[sumbride]

Date: 7/24/2006 12:39:10 AM
Author: fisherofmengirly
Do you know what ring you''re gonna pick yet? I mean, do you have ideas? Oooh, I am excited for you!

I have some ideas but I haven''t tried anything on yet so I don''t know what I''ll actually end up with. I want something a little different just because I tend to be a little different myself. I don''t want a style that I''m going to see coming and going. I''m a bit eclectic with my jewelry and tend to prefer handmade pieces in organic styles, so I''m having a hard time with the idea of ordering something out of a catalog... we may end up going custom, but I have no idea yet and he hasn''t really wanted to go look in the stores yet because he thinks that should happen after the proposal since I''m involved. I do think I want an oval diamond, I''m just sort of entranced by ovals. I''m also kind of hoping to incorporate a sapphire or two into the setting as well as blue is our favorite color. I imagine as soon as we''re official, I''m going to be very gung ho on this project! Luckily we live in the DC/Baltimore area so there are tons of great jewelers around, including Quest and James Allen as well as NY being just a train ride away!

 

[Selkie]

Date: 7/24/2006 10:07:52 AM
Author: sumbride

I have some ideas but I haven''t tried anything on yet so I don''t know what I''ll actually end up with. I want something a little different just because I tend to be a little different myself. I don''t want a style that I''m going to see coming and going. I''m a bit eclectic with my jewelry and tend to prefer handmade pieces in organic styles, so I''m having a hard time with the idea of ordering something out of a catalog... we may end up going custom, but I have no idea yet and he hasn''t really wanted to go look in the stores yet because he thinks that should happen after the proposal since I''m involved. I do think I want an oval diamond, I''m just sort of entranced by ovals. I''m also kind of hoping to incorporate a sapphire or two into the setting as well as blue is our favorite color. I imagine as soon as we''re official, I''m going to be very gung ho on this project! Luckily we live in the DC/Baltimore area so there are tons of great jewelers around, including Quest and James Allen as well as NY being just a train ride away!

For some reason, what you were saying about your taste in jewelry made me think of Greenlake Jewelers. Someone here recommended them to me when I was looking, and I LOVE their stuff. They''re in WA state, though, so not local, unfortunately. Are you familiar with them? www.greenlakejewelry.com.

 

[sumbride]

Oh WOW, Selkie, you were dead on!!! Some of the pieces in the "organic" section match a sketch I made a couple months ago PERFECTLY!!! I''m amazed! Ok, obviously I just wasn''t looking around enough!

This one looks a LOT like what I was sketching in June.

I wonder if they could do this with an oval?

This one reminds me a lot of the infinity pendant he gave me a few years ago that I lost in May. It''s just too sweet.

Ok, I have a new site to devour! Thank you so much!!! And what a great read of my tastes!

 

[sumbride]

M just left for the airport! He has to get there early because he''s in the wedding we''re attending on Saturday. I''m flying out Friday afternoon so I have a couple of days before I see him again and even though it''s only been an hour since I saw him (I''m working from home today), I''m very antsy and missing him anyway. He said he couldn''t wait to see me again, which is a rather sappy and unusual thing for him to say when I''m standing right in front of him (with a conference call on mute!). I hope it foretells something!!!

Once I wrap up my workday, I''m going to get busy packing for the trip! I can''t believe it''s almost here!!!

 

[akw94]

Sum, what an exciting time for you! Don''t forget to have a fabulous trip no matter what but.....hopefully he will ask. That would be perfect! The second ring you posted is sooo pretty, very unique. See, you have found a new distraction, ring shopping! Obviously I''m not the one to ask for distractions since I can''t seem to find any but since your mind is on this topic, you could do a little wedding magazine browsing. That''s always fun!

Good luck and have a great trip.

 

[sumbride]

I bought the new MS weddings and a copy of Baltimore Bride for my flights! It''s a LONG trip to CA from here, so I needed sufficient reading material!!

 

[akw94]

I do love those magazines. I was on a buying spree awhile back but haven''t bought any lately. The other day I took all the ones I had and tore out pages I liked to add them to a binder I started. Just a little pre-planning. It was fun!

 

[aquarius_ser]

Are you going to hide the magazines when you get there? or are you going to let him see them???

I think my BF would die if he saw me buying Bride magazine!

 

[sumbride]

Oh, my stash of bridal **** is common knowledge.

I hid them at first, but one day I just decided "WHATEVER" and started flipping through one on the couch while he was watching tv. He made no comments and refused to even look toward it, which meant, of course, he knew exactly what it was. I tested him... showed him a hideous dress and said "eewwww.... look at this!" and he actually said "that''s awful!" He doesn''t seem to mind them so much now, but I must admit I was a little nervous the first time, and I only did it after he started talking about having "a plan". I figure if he can have a "plan", I can have "****".

The big mistake I made though... I had a couple issues sitting on the couch when I left the house one day and unbeknownst to me, he invited his mom over! He said she saw them and wanted to know if we had anything to tell her and he said "not yet" but then he teased me about it... If I''d known she was coming over I would have hid them!

 

[sumbride]

So I''m in CA with him, and the wedding we flew out to attend is over, so the potential for stealing of thunder is also over! I think we''re in the home stretch, girls! I''m about 99% sure I was right about it being this week, so I''m happy but kind of anxious. Today is a rather lazy day as we recover from hangovers and M has to help his cousin move into his new condo with his wife, so I don''t think it will happen today, but tomorrow we''re heading up to SF without the family! We have 5 days in Northern CA, so it could be anytime!!! WOO HOO!!!

I was really annoyed at the wedding though because it was his cousin''s wedding and M was a groomsman, so I was "on my own", but his aunt didn''t reserve a seat for me with the family. I mean, I know I''m not officially family YET, but I''m really close, and her great-neice''s new boyfriend was in the 2nd row!!! M''s mom noticed before the ceremony that I didn''t have a seat, so she took it upon herself to find me one and make sure one of the ushers knew to put me with the family section, but I was in the back row of the groom''s section (sort of set apart from general seating) and between a neighbor and an "old friend". It was ridiculous! I just didn''t get it, but she''s a petty person so I let it go. I know my place in this family, and I''m glad that M''s mom looked out for me. Everyone else included me, but his aunt is just, well, petty. And I think she was annoyed that my dress was the same color as hers, but a completely different style. She saw me and said "popular color this year..." (it was swimming pool blue) and I said "yes, it is". I knew not to wear white, and I didn''t match the bridal party, but apparently I was supposed to call her and find out what SHE was wearing??? Ugh. She''ll probably wear white to my wedding!

 

[anchor31]

I''m crossing my fingers for you, sumbride!! Sending you tons of sparkly vibes!!