It's official :-)
As indicated in soundwavempl's journal, Josh popped the question in lovely Niagara Falls, ON and I have accepted :-). It was quite a surprise to me, as the engagement ring has not arrived. So the details...
Josh apparently has been planning this for a couple of months, but did not tell a soul (not very good at keeping a secret). He planned dinner to the Skylon Tower that overlooks Niagara Falls (quite a sacrifice since he is scared of heights). It was a very nice dinner with wine and excellent food. Around 10 pm, Josh gave me his college ring, saying at one point it represented the most important goal to him, to graduate college. Now he was giving it to me (until we get the engagement ring), as a symbol of that I am the most important thing in his life and his desire to marry me :-). After I said yes, fireworks started over his shoulder over the falls. I wore the ring on my finger for awhile, but I became concerned that it might fall off. Josh and I found another ring at a local shop in Saratoga Springs, NY, blue solitaire ring. Josh gave me his chain, and I now wear his ring around my neck.
The rest of our trip...
Detroit
We were picked up by Josh's father in Detroit and immediately put to work on the bat mitzvah. Josh and I stayed with his uncle and aunt. The first night we headed into Detroit to see some local music and food. Josh ended up gashing open his leg on a piece of metal sticking out of the car seat. We went to the downtown Detroit hospital and 3 hours later after 5 stitches, a tetanus shot, and listening to a woman screaming for morphine, we left for home. Saturday night was the bat mitzvah, Sunday we watched the Detroit Symphony orchestra and fireworks. Long story short, I got to meet a majority of the Silberman family and received approval from all.
Niagara Falls
Josh and I drove Monday morning to Niagara Falls, enjoying the scenary along the way. On our way there, we stopped at a restaurant amusingly called Moose Winooskis (kinda a bennagins type place). Our accommodations in Niagara were wonderful, a local bed and breakfast that was walking distance to the falls. After the nice dinner at Skylon Tower, we went to the casino (no luck though). The next morning, we left Niagara Falls and toured some of the wineries for the local specialty ice wine. Afterwards, we drove to Balston Spa, NY near Saratoga Springs (about 4 1/2 hours).
Balston Spa, NY
So for those of you keeping score, NY represents the bf mother's side of the family. We stayed with his grandfather, Papa Jack. More of a relaxing time in NY, highlights of the trip included:
Eating at Augies, a local Italian restaurant that had plenty of cool sports paraphernalia (mostly baseball)
Going to dinner at his aunts place and being toasted for the first time as an engaged couple (obviously the family approved, even said they would adopt me if Josh screwed it up)
Going to a jazz concert at the college that included some very talented players including a drummer that used to play with the Johnny Carson band
New York, NY
Josh and I took a train from Saratoga Springs to NY city. It was nice to watch the world go by via train. Josh and I went to the MOMA (museum of modern art) mainly to see Van Gogh's Starry Night (my engagement and wedding ring design are based on this painting). Josh and I went to see the wedding singer on Broadway, probably the best Broadway show I have ever seen. Stephen Lynch played an excellent Robbie Hart and the play was definitely better than the movie. Josh and I have decided that our wedding song will probably be from the play "Grow Old with You". We left early the next morning back to Texas.
After the trip...
Josh went to talk with my dad and it went surprisingly well. My father would like us to go to pre-marriage counseling which sounds like a good idea. One thing that my dad said to Josh really stuck with me, "If you take care of my daughter and I will take care of you. If you don't care of my daughter, I will take care of you." In other words, treat my daughter right like you say you will or else. He also apparently complimented me on my religious dedication.
Gotta go for now!
Josh apparently has been planning this for a couple of months, but did not tell a soul (not very good at keeping a secret). He planned dinner to the Skylon Tower that overlooks Niagara Falls (quite a sacrifice since he is scared of heights). It was a very nice dinner with wine and excellent food. Around 10 pm, Josh gave me his college ring, saying at one point it represented the most important goal to him, to graduate college. Now he was giving it to me (until we get the engagement ring), as a symbol of that I am the most important thing in his life and his desire to marry me :-). After I said yes, fireworks started over his shoulder over the falls. I wore the ring on my finger for awhile, but I became concerned that it might fall off. Josh and I found another ring at a local shop in Saratoga Springs, NY, blue solitaire ring. Josh gave me his chain, and I now wear his ring around my neck.
The rest of our trip...
Detroit
We were picked up by Josh's father in Detroit and immediately put to work on the bat mitzvah. Josh and I stayed with his uncle and aunt. The first night we headed into Detroit to see some local music and food. Josh ended up gashing open his leg on a piece of metal sticking out of the car seat. We went to the downtown Detroit hospital and 3 hours later after 5 stitches, a tetanus shot, and listening to a woman screaming for morphine, we left for home. Saturday night was the bat mitzvah, Sunday we watched the Detroit Symphony orchestra and fireworks. Long story short, I got to meet a majority of the Silberman family and received approval from all.
Niagara Falls
Josh and I drove Monday morning to Niagara Falls, enjoying the scenary along the way. On our way there, we stopped at a restaurant amusingly called Moose Winooskis (kinda a bennagins type place). Our accommodations in Niagara were wonderful, a local bed and breakfast that was walking distance to the falls. After the nice dinner at Skylon Tower, we went to the casino (no luck though). The next morning, we left Niagara Falls and toured some of the wineries for the local specialty ice wine. Afterwards, we drove to Balston Spa, NY near Saratoga Springs (about 4 1/2 hours).
Balston Spa, NY
So for those of you keeping score, NY represents the bf mother's side of the family. We stayed with his grandfather, Papa Jack. More of a relaxing time in NY, highlights of the trip included:
Eating at Augies, a local Italian restaurant that had plenty of cool sports paraphernalia (mostly baseball)
Going to dinner at his aunts place and being toasted for the first time as an engaged couple (obviously the family approved, even said they would adopt me if Josh screwed it up)
Going to a jazz concert at the college that included some very talented players including a drummer that used to play with the Johnny Carson band
New York, NY
Josh and I took a train from Saratoga Springs to NY city. It was nice to watch the world go by via train. Josh and I went to the MOMA (museum of modern art) mainly to see Van Gogh's Starry Night (my engagement and wedding ring design are based on this painting). Josh and I went to see the wedding singer on Broadway, probably the best Broadway show I have ever seen. Stephen Lynch played an excellent Robbie Hart and the play was definitely better than the movie. Josh and I have decided that our wedding song will probably be from the play "Grow Old with You". We left early the next morning back to Texas.
After the trip...
Josh went to talk with my dad and it went surprisingly well. My father would like us to go to pre-marriage counseling which sounds like a good idea. One thing that my dad said to Josh really stuck with me, "If you take care of my daughter and I will take care of you. If you don't care of my daughter, I will take care of you." In other words, treat my daughter right like you say you will or else. He also apparently complimented me on my religious dedication.
Gotta go for now!