Dance Fever!

We're thinking about having an introductory dance lesson at the beginning of our reception. But we can't decide between latin (either Salsa or Mambo)and Swing (either Lindy Hop or East Coast). What do you wanna learn?

	Latin is soooooo 2003. I wanna learn some swing.
	Do you want your wedding to look like a friggin' Gap ad circa 1998? Latin, please.
	Cocktail + Evening Wear + Hors d'oeuvres = Mambo
	*Ahem* Cocktail + Evening Wear + Hors d'oeuvres+ Dirty moves = Lindy Hop
	How 'bout something we can actually use when dancing to contemporary Top 40 fare? Let's learn some salsa
	Isn't Lindy Hop kind of, um, slow? How 'bout some East Coast swing, maybe some jitterbug too!
	Dancing? Whatever, hippies - I'll be at the bar.
	Um, isn't this just an excuse for the two of you to show off?
Free polls from Pollhost.com

The Name Game

Adam Axbey?
Michelle Bolduc?

I think Adam Axbey sounds pretty cool. And Michelle wouldn't have to change her professional name. Also, I think it sends a nice message to the world that we're not automatically subscribing to assigned gender roles. But. On an emotional level I'm pretty attached to Bolduc. Not only do I have a deep love for my family but I've had to fight for this name. I've put up with a lot of teasing, correcting people on the "proper" pronounciation and as such it's not as easy as I thought it would be to let go of it. I'll also have to explain to my parents that it has nothing to do with how I feel about our family - and it might just kill my Granny (though she could go any day now). Still, that's the way I'm leaning. Adam Axbey...

BTW, while either of us might chose to hyphenate our middle name (Daniel-Bolduc or Ann-Axbey) last name hyphenates or different last names are gross and not being considered.

Vegas, baby!

So after the proposing goes down, I sez to my new fiance,

"New fiance" and she sez,
"Don't call me that"
"Well, what should I call you then?"
"Your Beyonce."
"For true?"
"Yes. And no more back sass from you."
"Ok. New Beyonce..."
"Yes?"
"Let's get up late tomorrow and I will wake you up with breakfast in bed and we will take a cab to work"

After some mild protesting about how that was too much money I convinced Shanghai that I could afford a cab to work on the day after our engagement. Throughout the week I had been asking questions to give me hints such as "Hey baby, where do you keep your passport - I want someplace safe to put mine." and "Hey baby, if I was going to do something special this week, you'd cancel that course you've signed up for, right"? So the next morning I was prepared. I stepped outside to call the cab because I "wasn't getting any reception" on my cell phone (NB: if you live in Parkdale this is almost always true anyhow). The cab arrives and before Shanghai gets outside I let him know we're going to the airport, but that once we get in the cab I'm gonna tell him we're going somewhere else when we get in the cab, and to ignore that somewhere else. We get in the cab and everything is normal until we get to the gardiner and the cabbie heads west. Shanghai whispers (so as not to offend the cab driver),

"We're going the wrong way"
"Um, I have a confession to make - we're not going to work today"
"What do you mean 'we're not going to work today'?"
"We're not going to work today."
"Adam. What. Have. You. Done?"
"Don't worry, it's all taken care of"
"Um, I have stuff to do at work, I can't just not show up!"
"You have the day off."

and so on and so forth for about 10 minutes. There were a couple of moments where I thought I had made a huuuuuuge mistake and I was going to have to get the cab driver to turn around. Fortunately, Shanghai's curiousty got the better of her.

"Oh my god, are we going to the airport?"
"Well, we're not taking a cab to Hamilton."
"Where are we going... which terminal is domestic and which is international?"
"I'm sure I can't remember"
"Adam, we can't leave the country - I don't have my passport."
"Yes you do."

So I had her guessing up until we checked in for the flight.

"What is your destination, sir?"
"Las Vegas."
(Miché, freaking out) "Holy shit, we're going to Vegas?!!!"
"Yeah, but we're not getting married while we're there."
(Miché totally deadpan)"Oh." (freaking out again) "I can't believe we're going to Las Vegas!!!"

Over to you, Shanghai.

The Ring

Also, we told Shanghai's mom and partner last night. She got teary eyed and he wanted to know if Muh was expecting. He was joking. I think.

Shanghai and I also had a little 'discussion' about what we needed in terms of new furniture and where it was going to go. Better on the train than in IKEA, which I'm beginning to suspect is actually Swedish for suddenly single.

And finally, the off the top of our head list for venues. Some of there are prolly out of our price range, and lots are so unconventional they might prove to be impractical and/or impossible. But consider the amount of times you yourself have considered me impractical and/or impossible. Where C=ceremony, D=dinner and R=reception:

Gladstone CDR
Drake CDR
Sunnyside Pavillion CD
Palais Royale CDR
Canadian Corps Hall
Steam Whistle Brewery CDR
Church on Berkley CDR
High Park CD
that big art gallery at Queen and Dovercourt CR
Lakeview D
Mitzi's Sister DR
Rhino DR
Lulu Lounge CDR
Trinty Bellwoods C
Opera company Garder C
a Library C
the Tranzax CDR
Dovercourt House CDR
Trinity St. Paul C
Rvival R
Exibition CDR
Textile Museum C
Toronto Historical Office CDR?
Harbourfront CDR
balmy beach club DR
enoch turner school house CDR?
argonaut rowing club DR?

She said "of course"

I went down on bended knee at the Sunnyside Pavillion last Wednesday May 25th. It sounds romantic, but I probably would've walked past Etobicoke looking for the 'perfect spot' if the sun hadn't set. Of course, if the sun hadn't set I'm sure there would be more globally catastrophic consequences than proposing in Missisausage... but that still would've been pretty bad. So, Shanghai and I are officially "off the market", or as TW said, arm on my shoulder "You realize you are dead to me now". He then welcomed Shanghai to the family. Which is a bit premature, 'cause we still have to get this whole "Wedding" thing off the ground. But first the ring. I got a Canadian diamond which is not only beautiful but also put the Sweet Kid in his place when he lipped off about how "the kids in Sierra Leone say 'thank you'". One of us will have to post a picture of the ring itself, but until then here are some macros of the diamond.