Well, I am officially engaged.

My birthday was yesterday, so my partner took me out to dinner last night at a very nice restaurant (I had ostrich fillet flambeed w/brandy; he had hassenpfeffer.) That was lovely. Then, at the end of the meal, he pulls out a little bag and had designed a ring for me around a 5 ct. star ruby. Basically, 3 bands of white gold: 1 to symbolize us being engaged, one for my birthday, one for me being pregnant w/our first child together.

Our plan is to marry next year sometime, perhaps in the Black Forest of Germany if the paperwork isn't too prohibitive... We've been transitioning in to living together gradually... I have a teenager who is less than enthused about our family changes, then we have 3 littler ones between us... Ours to share is due in September...

It's funny, my family is all pretty much gone, and my best friend is off taking a test on Oahu today, then off for a month's vacation, so I have 2nd tier friends to tell, and then internet friends... I haven't been as active on these message boards as I was on my last internet "home" but that one has pretty much collapsed, and I just feel the need to share w/somebody somewhere... Hope that's ok w/you all...