The Story

[mbarrick]

Last Saturday was the anniversary of my first date with Ivana. The pretense for going out this weekend was to celebrate this event and get her out of the house for an evening. Because she didn't know what I had in store for her I had to pretend like it was no big deal when she rescheduled the date from Friday to Sunday. Come Sunday she suggested going to a movie, Harry Potter, rather than dinner. That was a tough one. I said, "Yeah, OK, that sounds like fun" when in fact I was thinking, "Oh, crap. Maybe I give it to her at Christmas or New Year's or something..." Thankfully her friend Christine, who was in on things, talked her back into dinner.

We went to the Gramercy Grill at 12th and Arbutus on Christine's reccomendation. It was a nice place, they advertise themselves as "A Little Taste of New York in Kits." Well, New York it ain't, but it was nice and the service was good. We had a nice relaxed dinner. After the main course I popped the question. The conversation had turned to having met a year ago. I managed to sneak the ring out of my jacket pocket without her seeing it and Ivana, unbeknowst of what was about to occur, mused "I can't believe I met you in a bar, and that bar no less!"

I took the opportunity and did the classic one-knee presentation. "Would you marry someone you met in a bar?" I asked. Let me tell you, guys, that particular manoever is not for the shy when done in a restaurant. The place went completely silent.

Ivana said, "Omigod! What are you doing?"

"Wadda ya think I'm doing?" I said with a big smile, feeling the eyes of the restaurant on my back and holding the ring just a little higher.

"Yes. Of course!" said Ivana.

And with that we were engaged. Of course I blew it on the ring size and it was a half-size too small.

After I sat down again Ivana called me "a complete freak" which from her, in the context, is the same as "that was very romantic." She then wanted to know who was in on it after which she borrowed my cell phone to call Christine and give her some good-natured flack for the conspiracy and tell her how it went. Also, since I was so blatantly obvious the restaurant brought over two sleeves of Champagne on the house. We ordered dessert over the course of which Ivana would occasionally stop, look at the ring and call me a freak or a goof with a big smile and sparkling eyes.

So there you go.

Comments

[bonez.livejournal.com]

:D that's sooo awesome. *more gratz*

[mbarrick.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Tentatively thinking about an island wedding, BTW. You'll have to come!

[bonez.livejournal.com]

Lol good good, i was gonna ask, but I didn't : D

[dream-king.livejournal.com]

Mike, I know you and I had had some "difficult" time, having heated arguments and has on occassion said not very nice things about eachother, to eachother and to others, but I have to tell you have very happy I am for you. May you and Ivana, live a very happy life together for eachother. May you complete eachother and create a family together in live. May you have happy little children all dressed in black and deathly pale who will listen to Bauhaus and Sisters and think that the "pop bands of the day" are crap. May they ask you to dye their Barney dolls black and you know, all that other good stuff.

I can't wish you enough my best wishes.

Congratulations to the both of you.

Ziv

Thanks

[mbarrick.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the thought, Ziv.

[scarification.livejournal.com]

Awww ;)
~Velvet

yae!!!

[nokturna.livejournal.com]

I just love happy endings.. or begninnings for that matter... congrats.. I knew she would say yes.. :)

Re: yae!!!

[mbarrick.livejournal.com]

Sometimes you just know, ya know? But, still, it was nerve-wracking!

[opium.livejournal.com]

That's so awesome, congratulations!

[mbarrick.livejournal.com]

Yay! Thanks. If she is game I'm thinking of Tofino for the ceremony.

[opium.livejournal.com]

Fuck! Yeah! Long beach! Go surfing for your ceremony :D

[evilyn13.livejournal.com]

aawwww!!! how brave of you to ask in the middle of the restaurant! i am so glad that everything has worked out between the two of you. and i love how she called you a big freak, that sounds like something i would say... you did a good job embarrassing her!
evilyn

[mbarrick.livejournal.com]

I felt like such a geek. But, hey... what good is it if you don't do it right?

[sleeplessknight.livejournal.com]

AWWWW!!!!!!! That was so touching! I felt all Oogly inside just reading that. ^_^

Had to read that twice

[mbarrick.livejournal.com]

I thought you wrote "oogy" at first. LOL.

Re: Had to read that twice

[sleeplessknight.livejournal.com]

Hehe, it was just a silly non-word I made up on the spot. ^_^

I just realized how that word probably spawned from in the back of my head. You've been reading too much 'Gloomcookie' haven't you? ^_^

Re: Had to read that twice

[mbarrick.livejournal.com]

I have every single issue and the graphic novel.

[bitogoth.livejournal.com]

damn you! i got all weepy-eyed at work and then had to show everyone pictures of the ring! now, you not only have *my* well-wishes, but those of every single person in my office! (and brooke too!) :}

so many congratulations dear... i can't wait to meet her!

*happy dance for michael and ivana*