| | Hey Xangers,
How many are left? this is like the last few supporters of Mike Huckabee out there...
So on Feb. 8th, I had two amazing things happen. First, I got a new job offer!!!! No longer working for the educational world, I will finally make the brave and bold step into the private world...via a government contractor in Ballston! Its worlds better pay, much better incentives, and best of all I am no longer someone's admin assistant! Glorious!
So that was good, but then the better news happened that night. I got engaged! I was really nervous the whole day, since I had Plan A fall through 'round about Tuesday evening at 8 PM. Weeks of planning were derailed...but I refused to lose. Jen deserved a special,memorable night and I was not going to let her down. That, and I cried like a baby. Well, almost.
So Plan B went into full effect...I google searched "romantic dinners" in DC and after some digging, I found a horse and carriage option. Perfect! Then I called one of jen's classmates for suggestions about romantic dinners around the Capitol building. Hmmm, nothing jumped at me. Several options were ok, but I decided to check them out in person. I did this on Wednesday, Feb. 6th....2 days before the P-day! Nothing like playing it close to the deadline.
Both places didn't seem quite right, sort of like that last bottle of milk on the grocery shelf, the one with the crusty white stuff on the cap. You think maybe it could work, or maybe you will wind up in the bathroom at 4 AM with the cramps. Same thing with these restaurants.
Undetterred, I asked my ace in the hole Bill at work. A wise, tricky fellow, he often advises me on life, love, and being sneaky. He suggested 701 Penn Ave, and bingo, it sounded perfect. Unfortunately, I couldn't get down there in person with less than 2 days before the proposal, so I relied on Citysearch and DC Foodie.com for the goods. They actually know their stuff.
Finally, things looked like they were coming together. I said a quick prayer on Thursday to God, that he would let it all sort itself out and that Jen would like it. Sometimes God pats me on the head, and this was a head patter Friday. Oh, and on Thursday I booked the horse and carriage ride...minutes before my second interview at the contractor! The interview went well, I think we bonded over the fact he got a degree from Jen's school and I was coming from a school job. Thursday seemed to have all the stars aligned and God was smiling on my frantic soul.
So Friday dinner...I tell Jen we are going to dinner, but she doesn't know where. We are 10 minutes late, so I am frantically calling the horse driver to tell him to hold "our seats" in keeping with the fib about dinner. We arrive outside the Willard Hotel. Instead of going in, I take her to the horse and carriage waiting outside the hotel and tell her "This is an early Valentines gift, as well as a way to celebrate my new job." Jen doesn't suspect a thing!
We go on a 30 minute drive around the monuments and all is swell with the world. Many people on the street wave and smile at us, and even one cabby pulls over and says how beautiful the whole thing is...then reminds us to call his cab for a ride home. As we come up to the Botanical Gardens, there is a nice view of the Capitol Building and a reflecting pool. We get out to take a picture, supposedly, in front of the pool. In fact, I asked the driver to take a picture of us while I proposed to Jen...I wanted to be able to walk back to the spot it all happened 20 years from now, so I didn't want to do it in a carriage. Luckily, Jen cooperated and got out for the picture...
As she turned to smile, I told her how much I loved her and that I wanted to take care of her the rest of my life...I dropped to one knee and asked her the question. Looking back it was fluid and smooth, but at the time I must have been rambling. Still, she was just so shocked that all she could say was "no way, no way, no way!" We hugged, kissed, and she cried a little...then I asked her to say "yes" to make it official. She did!
Dinner was fine, a very classy place 701 Pennsylvania Ave is. Jazz bar, red theme decor, and good food. We had seafood dishes that were exceptionally good and complemented our romantic evening. One more surprise lay ahead though, as I had given Jen's extra key to her condo to our pal Jason. He let in all her closest DC friends and also let in Kara, Jen's best friend from Cali who flew up just that night for the big event. When we arrived home, all her friends were hiding waiting for her and gave her another great surprise. And so the evening went on, mingling and sharing this same story I am sharing with y'all. Pics coming later...
Whew. Time for some breaks...my hand is hurting from the typing. |
| | Posted 2/21/2008 10:16 PM - 216 Views - 20 eProps - 11 comments
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