The engagement hangover

I have never done a hard drug in order to know what it feels like to come down from a major drug binge, but I imagine it feels somewhat like the morning after I got engaged.

First, bed time was delayed because of the middle of the night phone calls and Google chat sessions. Then my nerves got so jumbled with the excitement of the news, and getting to tell everyone who wasn’t awake at that time, that falling asleep was nearly impossible. I eventually drifted off, however it was short lived as I awoke at the crack of dawn (literally, I snapped a picture of the sunrise off the Chicago skyline), and lay there awake with butterflies of excitement waiting to tell my brother and sisters. Kyle and I had also decided to hold off on going FBO until I got to talk to my siblings. So, I contemplated how I would break the news to the Facebook world later on in the morning. Add to all this the anticipation of having to pack, fly home to Arizona to be greeted by my parents at the airport, and getting to show everyone back home in person the gorgeous ring I just received.

Through all of this elated emotion I felt like I was run over by a Mac truck. I had a massive headache (could probably be caused by the champagne the night before, or tequila…) and a stomach ache that was probably my stomach craving a Chicago style dog before leaving, or needing water desperately.

Then the exhaustion set in. After sharing the exciting news with my plane neighbors, I took as much of a nap as I could on a plane, and then landed, had a margarita with mom and dad, tried to maintain the happiness without the tears creeping in (of joy of course), had Mexican food with mom, picked up Kyle from the airport (because we were not even on the same flight), went to our favorite bar to meet his family for more drinks, and then I hit the wall. I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I wanted to lay my head of the giant bucket of peanuts in the middle of the bar table and snooze.

If the rest of the engagement is going to be this tiring, I am making an appointment at the court house very soon.

A picture of the sunrise- see I told you!

1st hour of engagement survival guide

Here are 11 tips from me and Kyle to help you survive the first hour of your engagement:

1.  Try to get engaged before 1 a.m. so you don’t have to wake up so many people, but if you must get engaged late in the night, make sure that the time difference between where you are at the time and your home is going to help solve this problem.

2. Have your phone nearby so you can immediately pick it up to call someone to tell them the news. It is also helpful because you forget about the number of people you need to tell until you consult your contacts. Don't let that number deter you from getting engaged due to the sheer number of contacts you have... a mass text will work.

3. A mass text is also a great form of communication so that everyone who is "important" is also "the first to know". You won't leave anyone off, unless they don't have a cell phone with text. And if they don't, why in the world are you friends with them? :)

4. Buy the bar a round of tequila shots after the deed is done, and then take at least 3 of them yourself.

5. Suggest that the bar change the music to romantic, wedding-themed music. But don’t dance to the music, save that for the wedding. You’re too drunk to make it look good, and everyone is looking at you, trust me.

6. Oh, by the way, get engaged at a bar or some other public institution where alcohol is served so that there are many witnesses in case the man freaks out and changes his mind, and it is preferable if someone around you has a camera to document the occasion, the pictures are priceless!

7. When you DO talk to family and friends, tell them as many details about the event as possible, because you will remember nothing (mostly due to the cheap champagne and tequila) and you will appreciate them filling you in later.

8. You’re not going to sleep that night if it is at night, or probably even if it was in the wee hours of the morning, unless you are the man, then you’re work is done here.

9.  Remember to look at something other than the beautiful ring on your finger. Perhaps the man who put it there. He is feeling neglected now.

10. DO NOT go FBO (Facebook Official) until all your relatives and close friends know. Who wants to find out about that on the internet? Besides, you’ll get TWICE as many wall posts that day as on your birthday, or the entire year combined, so give yourself time to mentally prepare.

11. Oh yea, you just got engaged. Love each other a little! Enjoy this moment. Don’t forget this feeling as you will need it to help you get through the wedding planning that is ahead.

A short engagement play

Continued from previous post…

My good friend from college, and bridesmaid, Kaycee, game me the alias“Nancy Drew” due to my many ditzy moments throughout our college years. I am not a stupid person, but I easily get distracted in my thoughts, so sometimes I don’t catch on to things quickly. The 5 minute-delayed “Aha!” moments earned me the nickname I so love. My engagement was a Nancy Drew moment for me.

We got dressed up  for a night out at Second City for some improv comedy. As we were running a little behind schedule (no surprise) we didn’t have time to eat until after the show. While at dinner at 9:00 p.m., Kyle and my coworker Jill were a little more than usually giddy. Here is how the next hour went:

My internal thoughts: “Hey, Jill and Kyle sure are drunk. It is getting to be a little ridiculous. They can’t even choose what to eat without laughing.”

Kyle: “Hey Jill, wouldn’t you like to order the Shepherd’s Pie” [pointing at the item on menu with my engagement ring on his finger teasingly].

My internal thoughts: “Why does Kyle keep opening the menu up over and over?”

Jill and Kyle: “We HAVE to go try Dugan’s Irish pub tonight because it is our last night in the city.”

Me: “Oh, but I am so very tired and do not need any more to eat or drink.”

Fast forward an hour to the little Irish pub outside our hotel.

Kyle: “I’ll go order drinks, you girls pick a table.”

Jill: “Let’s sit at this table that opens up onto the street.”

My internal thoughts: “So we can stare at Walgreens instead of the crowd? I am only doing this because it is tradition, you know, Kyle!” Side note: Kyle and I find Irish pubs in all cities to talk with the locals and enjoy our favorite beverages.

I go to the bathroom, Kyle is still at bar. I come back and a random man is sitting at our table and there are still no drinks.

Me: “It is time to go, this bar is way too slow at serving the 12 people that are here.”

Kyle: “I know, seriously, they are slow, but I ordered drinks I promise!”

My internal thoughts: “Maybe Kyle is so gone that he thought he ordered drinks, or the bartender took the order but won’t serve my crazy boyfriend and coworker!”

[At this moment the man sitting at our table is brusquely removed by the bartender and taken down the street a ways]. 

My internal thoughts: “I wonder how many times this drunk man has harassed the patrons to the point of being removed from one’s table.”

[The other bartender brings over three glasses of champagne and the bottle. It is Cooks.]

Me: “What the hell is this!? This isn’t cider or Guinness!!”

Kyle: “They were out of Guinness.”

My internal thoughts: “What kind of freaking Irish bar is this and why in the world is my boyfriend ordering a bottle of champagne when he knows I didn’t even want another drink. Oh well, I’ll toast to our last night in Chicago!”

Jill: [Looking at me strangely] “Cheers to Chicago and Ken (our principal)!”

Kyle: [Strangely NOT looking at me] “Giggle.”

The rest of the bar: [Staring at me as I take sips of the champagne and toast my friends].

My internal thoughts: “What the hell is going on here?! Why is everyone giggling and looking at me?! This whole town is f-d up right now, aren’t they!?”

Music changes in the background from hard core rap and hip hop to, what the heck is this, Barry Manilow?! I notice Jill has my camera and is taking photos. Not odd to me, because I am always taking photos, so I smile for the camera as I toast!

Kyle: “Ooh! Read what is written on the glass!”

My internal thoughts: [Reading the etched glass]” How sweet, a free gift from the alcohol distributor.”

Me: “Totts. It isn’t even the same brand as the other cheap champagne we are drinking.”

INSERT “AHA” MOMENT HERE

Me: “What is that?!” [seeing ring on bottom of glass, wondering how I missed it up until this point, laughing slightly with embarrassment].

Kyle: “I don’t know, but if you want it you have to finish your glass first.”

Me: “How am I supposed to chug Cooks?!”

Kyle: “You better if you want me to propose.”

I try to use my finger to get it out at this point, but as we know champagne glasses are tall. I am laughing, crying, champagne is coming out of my nose, and I am trying to ignore the patrons’ stares. Then, the chugging begins.

Kyle: “We’ve been a lot of places and we’ve been in a lot of places. Irish pubs are one of the places we always feel comfortable in wherever we happen to be. I wanted to propose someplace that had special meaning to the both of us.”

Me: “And you chose DUGAN’S?!”

Kyle: “Will you be the one?” [Sliding ring on my finger]

I said no. :)

End note: The actual speech Kyle gave was much more involved. If you’d like to see it, he has a copy of it on his Droid. Yes, he had it written out and pre-approved. And it was 100% Kyle style.