Ringless No More!

Well, Hive, it's happened. Last summer, Mr. Snaps and I decided to get married AND we decided I would wear a diamond engagement ring. We could purchase a ring; we could pay for a wedding, but... we'd have to do it all at the same time. We have been dating over four years - we are both thirty, and we just didn't want to delay getting married by an additional year. We were ready to tie the knot, and we didn't think material things like a ring should delay our wedding. The timing was right to get hitched, SO we started planning a wedding before the proposal. Unconventional? Yes. Right for us? Definitely. I am a big fan of everyone doing what's right for them, and only them.

Mr. Dragon picked up my engagement ring from a local jeweler WAY BACK IN DECEMBER. That's right - that lil' stinker made me wait for six weeks!

Totally worth the wait.

My friend Snappy-T and I have a standing appointment on Saturdays to run together. We are both training for the Shamrock Shuffle, an 8k here in Chicago, so it makes sense for us to do our longer runs together on the weekends. Anywho, this time, after our run, Snappy-T told me that we were going out to lunch, and that it was a "great day to wear a dress." Snappy-T is not generally this bossy, and I suspected that Mr. Dragon had something to do with it, so I just smiled and nodded. :)

After the fastest shower and makeup job EVER, Snappy-T picked me up at my house and drove us to a lunch place in Lincoln Park that we both like called Zig Zag. (Seriously, Chicago Bees, it's so yum, and they give you a chocolate chip cookie as a parting gift!) We had a delicioso lunch, during which I wondered what exactly was going on here... As we were about to book it, Snappy-T handed me this...

WELL, alrighty then! Mr. Dragon was sending me on a scavenger hunt, and he filled my day up with some of my most favorite things... Mr. Dragon set a up a girly day before I was to meet him for dinner.

First on the list: Snappy-T and I went for manicures... If I MUST go get a manicure, then I suppose I can force myself! ;) The woman you see with Snappy-T (hidden behind the lamp arm - whoops!) directed the woman who was fixing my nails to "Make her left hand extra pretty!"

Then we cabbed to my favorite kitchen store, Williams and Sonoma. Mr. Dragon's card said that I HAD to go on a shopping spree in order to get to our next location... Yes, that is a dangerously sharp chef's knife in my hands. It chops like a dream!

We took a quick detour into Bloomingdale's dress section (because it is AWESOME.) Isn't this dress adorable?

The next card sent us on a trip to Rebar in the Trump Tower.

Now, Rebar is uber expensive, but the drinks are SO good. They call themselves the "liquid kitchen," and boy, you can tell. Those drinks are delectable. The bar is really pretty perfect - beautiful and yummy.

Rebar yielded the most hilarious moment of Snappy-T's and my day. The drinks are quite strong, and we hadn't eaten in several hours. A chocolate chip cookie can only get you so far, my friends. So we sat there in a moment of quiet: "You know, I think I'm kinda drunk." Whoops! So we ordered the prawn appetizer in order to dial down the tipsy. Twenty minutes later, this is what arrived at our table:

We couldn't. stand. it. So funny. If you're counting, that's two shrimp - TWO! SO, a paltry appetizer and a couple delectable drinks later, Snappy-T gave me my last card:

This card directed Snappy-T to drop me off at a restaurant that has special meaning to Mr. Dragon and I. Somehow, it's where many of our most important conversations have taken place. I was surprised to find that I was nervous! I didn't cry, even though almost every time we have dined at this particular restaurant, tears of joy, anger, or sadness were involved. I think it's a sign of how far Mr. Dragon and I have come.

So Mr. Dragon met me at the door, we sat down at "our" table, and he told me all the reasons he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.

I said yes, of course. :)

It was a really special day - nobody has ever gone to that much trouble to set up something so thoughtful for me. What is so funny is... I actually feel different now. I didn't expect to feel at all different after Mr. Dragon had dropped on bended knee, but I do. It feels all officially official, and I can't wait for June to get here!

I took a stab at Ann Ruthman style ring shots... I am a total photography newbie, so be gentle!!!

When we were both in Texas for Christmas, on one of our local excursions, Mr. Dragon found a vintage ring box - from Chicago - that he bought on the sly. It made the night even more special than it already was.

(sigh) I'm happy.