Hullo from Ian

[ChileFarmer]

Then I can assume, along about now your kinda nervous. I remember I was. CF

[Ian M.]

Scared spitless! Afraid she'll say NO and I'll have to fall on my sword and afraid she'll say YES and then what will I do? She's way too good for me, so my brothers tell me. I have to agree with that. She's beautiful, sweet, and a class A lawyer with a good firm in Boston. If I goof up she's going to be able to sue me! Wish me luck.

Ian

[ChileFarmer]

OK, good luck. I could insert lots of advice here but wont. Leaving that for your Mum. You can do this. CF

[Ian M.]

Hey guys. Needless to say, I won't get a whole lot of sleep tonight. Way too keyed up and wound up. Fallon said "YES" and I went right over the moon. The bloody ring was too big and I said I'd take it to the jewelers and have it sized. She said that would be okay just as long as they could do it while it was on her hand. I think she liked it. Now I've got to go and get fitted for a tux and my brothers say also a ball and chain. I'm ignoring them.
I talked to my folks in Holland about an hour ago and they are happy for us both and especially me, as they love Fallon almost as much as I do. I think the deed will probably be accomplished sometime in November or around Christmastime which gives me time to finish school and get a good job "cheffing" and help bring home the bacon. We've decided that we want to cater our own reception - not because we're cheap but because we honestly think that between us, Mum and my aunt and (hopefully) some helpful hints and suggestions from you all, we can do the job better than having it done by strangers. But right now I can't think of very much other than the fact that I'm getting married in the foreseeable future and that's a scary proposition. But marrying her certainly isn't. God, I'm so lucky!

[ChileFarmer]

Well, I can see that congratulations are in order.
Congratulations to you both. I wish y"all a very happy life together. Love is wonderful, but always remain best friends. CF

[Ian M.]

Thanks CF for your well wishes and also for your wisdom. We agree entirely with what you siad. My fiance and I were good friends for a long time before we ever realized that we'd fallen in love and as much as loving each other we like and respect each other as well. This is so important and some people lose it somewhere along the way and over the years.

Long and hot day today. Half of my brother's crew on his lobster boat banged out with sickness from the heat and Sean called me to ask me if I could lend a hand so after I got home from school I was out on the boat for a good long while. Even with the ten to fifteen degree lower temperature out on the water it's still really hot work and all the lobsters were down on the bottom where it's cooler for them. Nobody wanted to come up to traps on the surface or close to it and become the star attraction at a clam bake or a good restaurant!
There's precious little money to be made these days lobstering. The waters around here are pretty well fished out and I honestly don't know how my brother and his family survive it. Well, yes I do. He is also part of the crew of a sword line out of Gloucester, MA, too. You couldn't pay me enough to get me to do that work but Sean loves it and wouldn't want to be anywhere else but out on the water every day. You really have to be dedicated to do that for a living! Tomorrow, after I get home from school I hope I'll have some good recipes for you.

Ian

[jpshaw]

Congrats on her exceptance and I wish you a very long and happy life together. Ms. Katie "do have a surprise" when she returns.

[Ian M.]

Thanks JP. In about ten minutes I'm out the door and on the way to my 9:30 class but did want to say thank you and also let you know that Mum isn't going to be very surprised. I've never been good at keeping secrets and surprises (that's how come nobody ever tells me any!) and called her in Holland and let her know the news the night it happened. She's really happy about it as she believes Fallon will settle me down. Right!