Cloud 9 Makes My Cheeks Hurt

I've been smiling so much the past 6 days that I must have the strongest face muscles ever. I've been thinking of a good way to start this entry for awhile now, but since I couldn't come up with a good intro, I'll just dive right into it. I got engaged on Thursday!

Most people who read this will already know that, but just for the record...Here's how it went: Perfect day only made more perfect by a sweet proposal in the hammock, followed by me saying "oh my gosh" five million times and needing to be pinched for fear it was a dream.

10 minutes later:

Me: "What if you change your mind?"

Pete: "That's silly."

Me: "What if you get mad at me and then change your mind?"

Pete: "No."

Me: "What if you want to kiss other girls?"

Pete: "You'll let me won't you?" Sly grin, followed by, "That's ridiculous."

Me: "... I thought you wanted to wait til you were 29!"

Pete: "You fell for that?"

Me: "... Yes."

For those I haven't told, we're going to wait about 2 years so I can finish grad school. I'm hoping that will make the planning more fun than stressful, too, because that's how it should be. Everyone else seems just as excited as I am.

Mom: "I'm going to have a son in law!"

Emily: "Can I be flower girl?"

Sarah: "You're engaged?! I'm so happy for you! Tell Pete I approve."
Sara: "WHAT?! Oh my gosh, I feel old." (But she's excited).

Alex: "Yaaaaaay!"

Mamaw: "I knew it!" (She always has "feelings" about things).

Papaw: "You know Mamaw can see into the future."

There are several more, many of which are along the lines of Mamaw's response. Of course, none top my mile-wide smile...I'm sure I'll have much more to say about all this over the next couple of years. :)

Until then, I have a bunch more to write about from this past week. I went to visit Pete in Minnesota for 9 days and every day was action-packed. Saturday was Steve's wedding (one of his best friends), Sunday was a Twins game, then Fargo, and Monday was Winnipeg, Canada.

I'd never been to Canada before, so Pete made sure I got a stamp in my passport. For future reference, Canadian grocery stores are way too expensive, but you do get products with French on one side. That night, we found a campsite that came with a pet chipmunk that we named Jean Pierre. The first night got really cold and uncomfortable because we were sleeping on the ground in the tent with no sleeping bags, but the next night was much better.

On Tuesday, we went down to the beach area at the campsite and I got to swing! Then we went through the Manitoba history museum and walked around town for awhile. That evening, we got lost trying to find a park that had free music, but we finally found it and got an earful of American 50s tunes.

Wednesday, we were back in town. We passed an auto place that advertised "free mustard," but unfortunately, I didn't get a picture. I did, however, get several of Chinatown. We stopped in one Chinese restaurant and I didn't like it very much. The food was alright, but the atmosphere was a little annoying. The waitresses kept coming around the table with carts, asking if we wanted anything on it. I personally prefer to order and be left alone, but it's still good to have a new experience.

On the way back into the U.S., ("Welcome to the United States" said the sign), we encountered some rude Customs guys. Getting into Canada was a lot easier than getting out. I was driving at the time to give Pete a break and turned the car off when we came to a stop. Well, I'd just started eating a Kit-Kat and realized that it would melt in the heat with the car off. While the Customs guys were looking in the trunk, I took another bite, then one of them came back around to the window and asked what we were doing in Canada.

I tried to chew faster, and answered with my hand over my mouth. "We were camping."

Mean Customs man: "You're going to eat while I'm talking to you?"

Number one, we've already told you what we were doing there. Number two, you saw I had candy in my mouth. I guarantee you he wouldn't have said it the way he did if I were a grown man.

Then they asked whose car we were in. Pete said it was his mom's. "Does she know you have it?" Pete said later that he should've told him his mom didn't know, but she wouldn't mind. Some welcome.

I suppose it wasn't the best idea to be eating while they were inspecting, but I bet they would've done the same if they had a melting Kit-Kat. Lighten up, lads.

Then they were critical of how we know each other since I have a NC driver's license and he has a Minnesota one. I told Pete they must've had a slow day.

Thursday (engagement day!) it was back to the cabin. That evening, I attempted to swim in the lake with Pete. I must say that my graceful dive (i.e. awkward plunge) into the water would have put those Olympic divers to shame. I acquired two humongous bruises in the process, then couldn't catch my breath to even laugh.

For a minute, I thought Pete might retract the engagement. To put it out of my mind, I thanked God for two things: that I took the ring off beforehand and that I was wearing a life jacket. Lesson learned: don't step onto the back of the boat when it's slippery.

Next was another attempt to steer the boat while Pete water-skied. (Ok, we seriously need to find something I'm good at. I only have boring talents like editing papers and cleaning). It was clear that I need more practice, but at least he didn't drown.

Finally, it was time for s'mores over a bonfire. You can't go wrong when chocolate is involved.

The next day, Friday, we cleaned up the cabin and headed back to his house for a dinner out with his family. That was a lot of fun and everyone had something to celebrate.

Then Saturday, I went to my first state fair with some of Pete's friends...he was there, too :). Go figure that it would be five states away from my own. I also tried cheese curds for the first time, and although I can't deny their tastiness, I still think they need a different name. "Curd" is so foul.

Later on, it was off to a Vikings game, but sadly, they lost in the last five seconds.

On the last day, Sunday, Pete took me to Minnehaha Falls. I want to live there for a week. Then came the sad part...the flight home. :( That's never as much fun as the flight there.

The plane ride was interesting, though. I had one more chapter to read in my textbook for class (on contemporary cults), so I decided to read it on the way home. That posed a small problem, though, because it was on satanism and I didn't really want to open to that chapter in such a confined space, so I kind of held my book at an angle until I was past the bold "Satanism" on the first page.

There was also a really annoying guy sitting diagonal from me. He said things like, "Chaz, baby," when he answered his phone and I think he'd had one too many drinks.

By the way, it occurred to me that the women's restroom is full of advice. Before my flight, I made a pit stop and had to wait in line. As each woman came out of a stall, she said something to the ones in line.

"That one doesn't have toilet paper." "You have to make sure that one flushes all the way." "There's water all over the floor in there."

I'm not up to speed on restroom etiquette, but I didn't give anyone advice in return. For some reason, I like to keep to myself in the public restroom.