The only team to win an away game wins the series. Excellent series, props to the Wings, who I think were still the better team and just played like crap tonight.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HOSSA. Also.
Who should be MVP? Fleurry? Malkin it is.
*** Update ***
Steelers, Penguins, Obama, and Lily in one year. I’m making an appointment for a physical on Monday. I’m also playing the powerball tomorrow.
Michael Gass
Congrats Pens and John. My wife (also a Pens and Steelers fan… from Pittsburgh) is also screaming.
sluggahjells
I wrote this on my Twitter page:
Can the state of Michigan, and especially the city of Detroit, catch a break?
Roza
woooooooooot
mgordon
We still televise hockey?
Ol'Froth
Got home from the Pirates game just in time to see the final 3 minutes! Wooo!
sluggahjells
Hossa really feels dumb right now, by the way
robertdsc
Congratuations Sidney and the team.
West of the Cascades
Congrats!!! As a long-time, long-suffering Buffalo Sabres fan, I salute you + your Pens. Spectacular finish, too – 2 shots in last 6 secs.
Bondo
Congrats John. I was pulling for the Pens mostly because they weren’t the Red Wings.
But now can I just say, time for Pittsburgh to join Boston in taking a break from sports championships.
geg6
Spectacular series all around. Wings were great. But not as great tonight as my beloved Pens. Oh, and Hossa is a giant tool. LOL! Damn my city is having one hell of a year.
demkat620
“Trade me right fucking, now!’
“now hang up”
I don’t know hockey but I do know Slapshot.
Zuzu's Petals
I hope you didn’t frighten the doggie!
ploeg
You used up all your luck now. Sorry.
Michael Gass
Ok… I know us guys hope that we marry a woman who like watching sports, BUT… do we have to get one who CRIES when her team wins it all?????
chris
John, was it you who picked the Pens in seven, or was it Dr. Bérubé? A helluva pick, whoever made it.
mcd
Please publish those P-ball numbers before the drawing!
Marc
Congrats, John.
I’ve always wondered — is it any less exciting to win a championship on an away game? The team is going nuts, but 90% of the crowd is crushed by the Wings loss, and half of them are filing out already.
I know, a championship is a championship, but these situations always feel like they’ve gotten robbed of something. I guess that’s what the hometown parade is for….
John Cole
@chris: Berube. I didn’t make a pick. If I had (and this would get me shot in Pittsburgh), I would have gone with the Wings in six. I don’t follow the Pens as obsessively as I follow the Steelers- I only caught about thirty games before the playoffs, but I honetsly thought the Wings were better.
John Cole
@Marc: They are all away games in the Super Bowl, and every one is sweet.
JenJen
It was a most thrilling series. Nice to have the Stanley Cup on network TV again, with so many people watching, but damn these teams really delivered a thriller.
Congrats Pens! I was rooting for the Wings of course, but it is a sweet consolation prize to know our host is having such a fantastic year!
p.a.
…and the Pirates, just to keep you humble. Anyone remember the Pittsburgh Condors? That’s all I remember, the name. Did Artis Gilmore play for them?
Krista
Dayum, that was a hell of a game. If it’s going to go to Game 7, it’s always nice for it to have some of those great nail-biting moments. There were a few moments when I was flinging my legs about and peeking through my fingers. Needless to say, it’s probably good that I don’t get too emotionally involved in one team or another — I wouldn’t be able to take the strain.
Nazgul35
Don’t forget the Phillies…state of Champions?
Stuart
Congrats to the Pens, and I also thought Detroit was too deep. I know there are a lot of happy fans just north of here in Thunder Bay because Staal is from there. A great Cup finals.
demkat620
And the Phils are champs of baseball, We’re in PA too you know.
wingsfan
The Pens played better Hockey tonight; they won it and earned it. Congrats!
asiangrrlMN
@Krista: That sounds pretty emotionally-involved to me!
John, congrats on a great year. I agree with Bondo, though. It’s time to let other teams win (like my beloved Vikings. Stop laughing!)
Marc
@John Cole:
Nah, that’s different — the Super Bowl is a neutral site, and your fans and the other team’s fans are there in (roughly) equal numbers, and the rest of the crowd is there for a good game and likely to cheer for the winner.
Detroit was a sea of red, and most of the crowd rooting for the other guys.
Death By Mosquito Truck
@Marc:
I was at the 97-98 AFC Championship game in Three Rivers when we lost to the Broncos and it was pretty fucking awful so I have a lot of sympathy for those Wings fans. Me and a coupla buddies had pulled a drunken all-nighter two nights before the AFC championship and just jumped in the car the next morning with five thousand dollars in cash to go see the game in Pittsburgh. One dude didn’t even have a change of clothes because we didn’t wanna drive 30 minutes outta the way on an eight hour trip.
We stayed at a buddy’s folks’ house in Beaver, drank all day Saturday and then on Sunday got up early, went downtown and parked, then on our walk in to the stadium, priced tickets with scalpers. We wound up paying $750 for two and one.
I missed the entire third quarter while waiting in line to piss. It never crossed our minds that the Steelers would lose. We just assumed because we went through all that time, trouble and money to see ’em, they’d win. I fucking hate the Broncos.
kdrtoona
ahhh it feels good… don’t it…
wooooooooo! what a season, what a series, what a game…
Luck of the Lily…
and all of the Pens best players are under 25, just insane….
John Cole
I was at that game. I stayed for the awarding of hte trophy I was so depressed I could not leave. I spent the last ten minutes of the game in an increasingly disgruntled blast furnace yelling so loud I lost my voice for two days.
sluggahjells
John, the perfect photo for you:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/jerell4jesus/penguins-wincopy.jpg
geg6
Krista, you have no idea how many heart palpitations a die-hard fan like me has during a game like that. It’s been a hell of a gratifying year for yinzers. But I swear, the older I get, the more these things wear me out. But in a good way. I’m incredibly grateful that I live in a city where we get to enjoy championship play so often. And the fact that baseball was never really my favorite makes the incompetent ownership, management, and play of the Pirates easy to ignore.
burnspbesq
@MMM:
Congrats!
Death By Mosquito Truck
@John Cole:
Yeah, we stayed for the ceremony too, because we were stunned and because, ya know, it was Don Fucking Shula presiding. That was pretty cool.
different church-lady
Next up: World Series Champion Pittsburgh Pirates!
Heh… I crack myself up…
kommrade reproductive vigor
Tunch & Lily will make you spend all your winnings on gourmet pet food.
burnspbesq
The two saves by Fleury at the end will be talked about for as long as hockey is played in Pittsburgh. The first one was big. The second one was really extraordinary.
Congrats to the Pens and their fans.
Punchy
I won some money! Yeah Pen(i)s! Stick that into your arrogant pipes, Franzen and Hossa, and smoke it.
Bet the Cup tastes like Ylingling (sp?) tonite.
AhabTRuler
@Punchy: Yuengling (w00t! Wilkes-Barre). Ling Ling was a panda.
Punchy
Wow….I just won a ton more on these late baseball games. Gunna go buy the engagement ring tomorrow, so I guess I can look at it as huge discount on the damn rock.
By the way…..platinum or white gold?
J. Michael Neal
I disagree with this. Eighteen Red Wings played better than the Penguins. Unfortunately, Pittsburgh’s best player tonight was Brad Stuart. He was unbelievably brutal. It wasn’t just the horrible misplays that led to both Pittsburgh goals. He was awful all night long, and hung Nik Kronwall out to dry more times than I could count.
It’s atypical, because Stuart is usually very solid on the second D pairing, but he was awful. Congratulations to the Penguins. They did play well, and going down the whole lineup without anyone egregiously fucking up is an accomplishment.
Still, the way the Penguins came out for the third period, I thought the Wings were going to win in regulation. Any idea that they played a tremendous game went out the window over the next ten minutes. They were tentative and scared. Dumping the puck back out to center ice was the only idea they could come up with.
burnspbesq
@Punchy:
Dude … wrong question.
Get the right stone, and no one will notice the setting.
My personal view is that if your budget allows you to get a big, mediocre stone or a smaller, higher quality stone, go small. Less is more. My wife’s stone is less than a half carat, but it’s a flawless emerald-cut E, in a really simple setting. Blows people away.
But since you asked … platinum.
A Ghost To Most
It kills me to say this, but:
Congratulations … to John and the ,,,,,,,,,,,P…P…Penguins
geg6
Death By Mosquito Truck: Beaver? You’ve been to Beaver? I live just across the Beaver River in New Brighton. Beaver is a very pretty little town, isn’t it? Did you know that the film “Gung Ho” was fimed there and they built the gazebo in the center of town for the movie? Oh, and I was in Baltimore when the Pirates won the Series. That was very sweet even though we were at home. Damn, that was one hell of a party. The one we were having when we decided to drive down to go to the game on the spur of the moment, that is. It was the ’70s and that’s all I’ll say about that.
john@mm
Congrats to the Pens. They deserved the win.
I hate to say it, but it didn’t look like the Wings wanted to win bad enough for the first 30 minutes of the last 2 games.
geg6
Ooops. Meant to say winning the Series was sweet even though we weren’t at home. Duh.
YellowJournalism
My husband was outside and said that you could hear cheering all around our condo complex. That’s how he knew the Pens won. Oilers fans hate Detroit. I can guarantee you that there are people around here right now celebrating as if it was their hometown team that won!
Andy K
@J. Michael Neal:
I think you nailed it. I love Stuart, but he just wasn’t there tonight.
Pens definitely went into a defensive posture in the third, but Fleury, Scuderi and Gill seemed up to it. When Kronwall hit the crossbar, I hung it up. Those guys weren’t giving the Wings another chance like that.
asiangrrlMN
@Punchy: Platinum. Then again, I hate gold, so I’m not the best one to ask about that. Congrats!
Punchy
@burnspbesq: thanks for the advice! I seriously know nothing about this stuff. Scared to death these hustlers will pick up on my ignorance and sell me a plastic fake look-alike on spray-painted pop-tab. So small and perfect > big and imperfect, eh?
/writes “ok to be small” on hand
John Cole
Alright, just got done with a late evening bedtime walk and am off to bed, but I will say this. I feel bad for the Red Wings fans who view the Red Wings the way I view the Steelers. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Pens and watch them, but the intensity is nowhere near the same as my affair with the Steelers.
So for all the Wings fans who are hurting tonight, I feel for you, and I’m being honest. I’ve been there. Three more fucking yards. Fucking Chargers. Larry fucking Brown.
Also, Sid Bream.
John Cole
@Andy K: Who shot that pipe blast? Z? He’ll see that the rest of his life.
Andy K
Congrats, Cole, and to the Pens and all of their fans out there. Time for me to forget about it.
Andy K
@John Cole:
Kronwall.
Andy K
@Andy K:
Oh, wait, right at the end? Zetterberg, I think. Maybe Lidstrom.
John Cole
BTW- Where is Laura W.? I have not seen her all day. Is she out of town?
asiangrrlMN
@Punchy: I’m gonna get hate from my fellow females, but I think small, exquisitely-formed, and platinum is the way to go. That’s just me.
Krista
It depends on the woman — you’d know her better than we do, I hope. I would have been perfectly happy with either/or. But there is a certain something to platinum, especially if you get a nice, simple classic setting. Emerald or princess cut are very popular — the latter has a bit more sparkle.
Andy K
@Andy K:
Or are you talking about Game 6? That was Z. I’m so confused now.
BDeevDad
Playoff Basketball – an exciting last 5 minutes
Playoff Hockey – an exciting game
Congrats Pens fans. Great game, thought they almost blew it.
Indylib
@Death By Mosquito Truck: We just assumed because we went through all that time, trouble and money to see ‘em, they’d win. I fucking hate the Broncos.
@John Cole: I was at that game. I stayed for the awarding of hte trophy I was so depressed I could not leave.
I wish I could sympathize with you guys, but I was standing in the food court of Navy Fleet Activities, Yokosuka, at about 8:00 AM jumping up and down in joy that my Donkeys were headed back to the Superbowl, with an actual frikkin’ chance to win it. I am still slightly put out by the fact that my damned team won their 2 Superbowls while I was out of the country where the rejoicing was done basically by just myself and my daughter (the carrier fleet was out out to sea both times, so the base was pretty empty), but I’ve managed to live with my disappointment.
Congrats to the Pens btw
Krista
It’s definitely a no-fail option. Something like this is really pretty. Some women don’t like the round cut because they think it makes their fingers look short.
Punchy
@Krista: Kris! Yeah, all she told me was “not gold, no matter what”. So I figured white gold was silver-colored, and may work. Plus told that platinum is wicked-expensive. Gunna prolly hafta drag the sister along as a wingman, as they have similar tastes.
Not sure how to drop the question. heard that women are pretty emotional about it (even though it is most certainly NOT going to be a surprise to her), so I’m thinking maybe not a public place. Threatened/half-joked about doing at the local MLB stadium, like the other insensitive clowns. Now she refuses to attend baseball games. Any ideas, throw ’em at me, por favor.
cgp
I’d be exhausted if I were on either of these teams. Going back to back on the Stanley cup is a long endeavor.
bad dad
Enjoy it for the year, we’ll be back for it next June. Perhaps next year Pittsburgh has the better team and the Wings sneak off with it.
It could become a nice healthy rivalry. Pittsburgh was pretty classy in game 5 by not going thug after it was out of control. Congratulations again. Great series.
SiubhanDuinne
@ Punchy / 41
Please please PLEASE, Punchy, get whatever setting you want, but please buy a bloodless diamond. Ask for a stone from Canada. There’s no difference in quality or value, but nobody suffers during the mining process. Congratulations to you both!
Oh . . . and of course, congrats to the Pens and all Pen fans.
Bondo
@asiangrrlMN:
Amen, as a dislocated Minnesotan, the Vikings would be my #1 sports championship request (though I’ll take the Twins in a pinch, at least I’ve gotten to see them win it in my lifetime). Stupid 1998.
BettyPageisaBlonde
Congrats!
If only my Magic could pull such a thing off… but I fear it is not to be.
Andy K
In other sporting news, the Detroit Tigers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 at PNC Park. Tigers’ rookie pitcher Rick Porcello went 2 for 3 at the plate with 2 RBI, and pitched 7 innings of 6 hit ball, upping his record to 7-4.
Take that, Honus Wagner!
asiangrrlMN
@Punchy: Gold sucks! White gold is cheaper than platinum and looks similar. I would punch you in the nose if you did it at a stadium.
Again, I’m fucking weird, but I would prefer a roll over in bed and a, “Wanna get hitched?”
Full disclosure: I don’t have any desire to get married, so take what I say with a grain of salt. The picture from Krista is nice–a classic. Definitely take your sister.
asiangrrlMN
@Bondo: I was at the seventh game of the first WS championship. The sad thing is, I wasn’t a rabid fan at the time. However, it was still thrilling.
Sigh. I don’t hold out hope for the Vikes, though.
Rommie
0-16 Lions, the Pistons trading Billups and tanking the season, and now the Red Wings pull a Toonces with the championship in sight. Anyone else want to kick Detroit in the jimmy? It seems to be on sale.
On the other hand, I was *thisclose* to having my left rear wheel fail on the highway Thursday, and rolling down the interstate the hard way. That takes the sting out of the sports team Epic Fail – I had a damn fine week, all said and done!
Moonbatting Average
Congrats to the Pens (BOOOO Red Wings!!). However, like some other commenters, I must express my relief that Pittsburgh doesn’t have an NBA team (or for that matter, an MLB team). Getting a little Pennsylvania-fatigue over here.
Andy K
@asiangrrlMN:
Oh, sure, dredge up painful memories when I’m trying to deal with tonight’s loss.
In ’87, the Tigs owned the Twins in the regular season. The Tigs had an amazing race with the Jays for the Eastern Division title, sewing it up on the last day of the season. Then the Twins crushed the Tigs in the playoffs.
Indylib
@Punchy:
No gold or just no yellow gold? I hate yellow gold, but am perfectly happy with white gold.
Does she expect or want a diamond? I wanted and got sapphires, of course I had to tattoo my dislike for diamonds on the inside of my now husbands eyelids before he could remember it.
Check out independently owned jewelry stores, you can find a wider variety of settings and usually their overhead is lower, so you can get a quality stone for less.
techno
Congratulations to the Pens. Been a fan since the days of Badger “its a great day for a hockey game” Bob Johnson. Love the fact that they got this bright young coach in the late season who was so damn good.
Even so, I really wanted the Wings to win it. Their game is so beautiful and classy that every time they win playing that way, it is good for the game. And as a Swedish-American, I thoroughly enjoy a team that brought the Stanley Cup to Sweden last summer–twice using it as a baptismal font.
The season was about 15 games too long for the defending champs. Datsyuk and Lidstrom were barely skating these last few games. So youth WAS served.
Comrade Luke
Don’t forget the Phillies.
I know, I know: the ‘burgh hates everything Philadelphia. For the rest of the world it’s all Pennsylvania though :)
If you guys can somehow manage to get rid of Specter you will have accomplished a generation’s worth of work.
asiangrrlMN
@Andy K: Have you SEEN the rest of our teams? Come on! You have to let us hang on to our two Twins’ wins.
Morbo
@BDeevDad: The last 5 minutes of basketball games are agonizing. They need to reform the idiotic amount of timeouts teams get so that the last 5 minutes of a basketball game don’t last 45 minutes. But I imagine there would be lost ad revenue if they actually implemented that.
‘Grats, Pens. Weird series, games 1 and 2 were practically the same, 3 and 4 were practically the same, 5 was alone in its blowoutness, 6 and 7 were practically the same. Malkin’s a bad call for MVP though; Fleury vs. Osgood was the difference in the series IMHO.
Punchy
@Indylib: no yellow gold. Which I agree with….the silver color is more in vogue. She def wants the diamond, although she’s so low maintaince as to (probably) not really care about size and cost, etc. Still, I need something nice, if for no other reason than to shut up the nosey (and skeptical) sis-in-law.
MikeJ
Or just start with the game tied and five minutes left.
Andy K
@asiangrrlMN:
Hey, I’ve always given it up for the Twins. I’ve got fond memories of Rod Carew stealing home at Tiger Stadium in the late ’70’s…I mean, it sucked, and I had the worst box seat in the history of baseball (left-center field, upper deck, divided from the bleachers by a chain link fence), but at least I got to see someone steal home. Unlike the other AL Central foes, though, I don’t mind losing to the Twinkies. I bear no ill will towards your hockey or basketball teams, either.
Now, as a Packers fan, I abso-fuggin’-lutely hate the Vikes. Have as long as I can remember.
asiangrrlMN
@Punchy: Then definitely go with something like Krista posted. It’s classic; it’s beautiful; it will shut up the sis-in-law.
asiangrrlMN
@Andy K: Yeah, I like your Tigers, too. I like the Packers, too. However, I will still root for the Vikes to kick the Packers’ asses.
Andy K
@asiangrrlMN:
I suspect that when the Pack visits the Twin Cities, Packers fans are as welcome as Vikes fans are in Green Bay. And Vikes fans seem to be welcome in Green Bay, afaik. My sister always gets the Vikes games- I get the Bears games- and she informs me that there aren’t any fights at the tailgates.
But I hate the team so much that I’ll be really, really pissed if they’re ever moved, as is rumored every few years.
Indylib
@Punchy:
I’d suggest a smaller high quality stone over a larger lower quality one. What is her style, contemporary, traditional, romantic? You can always have a setting designed if she’s into something specific like Celtic. Don’t forget antique stores if you think she’d like the old fashioned look that will stand out.
Zuzu's Petals
@Punchy:
If you don’t go with platinum, be sure that the prongs at least are platinum.
You may also be surprised at what you can afford if you buy your diamond online. You can also buy the setting or have a jeweler set it in a ring you both have chosen.
Blue Nile is a reputable online source, and I believe all their diamonds are certified as complying with the Kimberly Process; they also carry Canadian diamonds.
asiangrrlMN
@Andy K: I am resigned to losing the Vikings in 2011. That’s when their lease with the Metrodome is up, and I’ll be damned if we fork over public money for another stadium.
Pooh
Real good series top to bottom, but it felt like the Red Wings best scorers just didn’t score enough – like Zetterberg was so concentrated on negating Crosby that he didn’t generate enough offense of his own…
Andy K
@Pooh:
Usually the Wings can count on someone else to pick iot up though: Holmstrom, Franzen, Hudler, Cleary, Draper, Maltby, Rafalski. Hossa, of course, who got points in this series, but no goals. No one was really stellar offensively for the Wings.
Andy K
@asiangrrlMN:
And you know they’ll end up in the same place that your original NBA team went, too. What is it about purple and gold fleeing for L.A.?
D-Chance.
I don’t want to say Cole is out in the sticks of West Virginia; but, upon seeing the Pens win, he went out celebrating in the street.
burnspbesq
@Andy K:
I know I am a heretic on this point, but they can just stay where they are as far as I’m concerned. We’ve done perfectly well out here without an NFL team for the last 15 years. We have USC, we have rapidly improving UCLA, and we have the best high school football in America (yup, I said that – Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania may have more tradition, but we have more good athletes and more good coaches than anywhere, INCLUDING FLORIDA).
Andy K
@burnspbesq:
Nothing heretical about it. Now matter how much the NFL would like a franchise in L.A., it just hasn’t worked there. But, eventually, someone will think they’ve found the secret for success in the market, and they, too, will realize, about halfway through their lease, that it won’t work.
And as good as your athletes are, it still seems like you don’t turn out a lot of great wide receivers or tight ends. Maybe not placekickers, either. Otherwise you turn out top quality at every position I can think of.
Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse
I’m the daughter of a jeweller, but I think most precious stones and metals, especially yellow gold and diamonds, are boring as hell. I remember walking through an exhibit of jewelry several years ago and feeling like the kid in the Emperor’s New Clothes: there’s nothing really here.
Maybe it’s years of seeing costume jewelry, but the typical engagement ring of yellow gold and a white diamond, looks cheap, fake, showy and obvious to me. OTOH, I love green amber and most semi-precious stones, silver and copper. I saw a blue topaz ring recently and have been craving it. I know that it’s a fake blue from irradiation, as most topaz is a yellowish colour, but the smoky quality of the blue slays me.
Blue Neponset
Congratulations Pens fans!!
As a hockey fan, a little part of me died inside when Sidney Crosby raised the Cup but I hope that my impotent tears of rage will make your victory a little bit sweeter. Enjoy!!
John Cole
I don’t even wear a watch.
That is what I think of jewelry. I understand not everyone thinks that way.
Betsy
@Punchy:
What matters here is not what “women” are like, but what SHE is like. If there are any places that have special meaning to you as a couple, or things she loves to do, that is a good way to go; if she’s the kind who prefers low-key and intimate, just ask her when the moment feels right rather than making a big production out of it.
R-Jud
@ Punchy:
Like someone else suggested, don’t forget the antique stores. My 104-year-old ring looks very similar to this one (although the stone on mine is .3 carats). Even though the stone is very small, everyone goes nuts over it.
It is possible to get engaged in public without putting her on the spot. We got engaged on the observation deck of the Hancock Building and nobody in the throng of tourists around us seemed to notice. It was lovely; it was our secret. Good luck with yours, anyway.
Nicole
Punchy- I second the earlier comment about looking at antique and vintage rings. The work on the ring itself is often very intricate and she can sure no one will have a ring just like hers. (Not to mention it’s environmentally sounder, as no new resources are needed to make it.) Here’s one of my favorite sites- I’m particular to the Art Deco stuff, but everyone has their favorite era:
Antique Jewelry for Sale
For those who do like jewelry it’s fun to browse just to look and to read the rather purple prose describing everything.
Keep in mind, engagement rings are a poor investment, with resale value considerably lower than what you’ll pay, so I would spend less time thinking about what the ring/stone might be worth and more on how it looks. After all, she’s not going to resell it. :)
Good luck and let us know how it goes!
And yay for PA’s sports teams. If the next Triple Crown winner comes from Presque Isle Downs I’ll know FSM really does have a thing for the Keystone State.
All right off to work. Bleah.
geg6
I must stand up for two things here. First, there cannot possibly be better high school football in LA than there is here in Western Pa. I don’t believe a town that doesn’t value their NFL teams could possibly create the kind of atmosphere that surrounds our Friday nights here. I challenge anyone who says that to come here and experience it and then we’ll talk. Second, I wouldn’t own white gold or platinum for ANY jewelry. Fugly, fugly, fugly. But then, I don’t like diamonds and I’m old and I never wanted to be engaged, let alone married, so I guess my opinion isn’t helpful. Sapphires are where it’s at.
Michael D.
Well, TECHNICALLY, Obama was last year.
On the upside, you still have “one” left. Play the Powerball. And remember your friends and commenters.
Krista
Whatever you do, make it meaningful. Look back at your relationship — where was your first date? Do you remember where you were when you first told her you loved her? Any other special landmarks/memories/songs/other things that are specifically “you”? Incorporate those in. Alternatively, use what she really likes — is there any particular movie that she finds really romantic? See if there are any elements that you can pull in from that. It doesn’t have to be a big, public thing, nor does it have to be expensive or showy. But, it’s a lot more meaningful if you really customize it to HER, instead of doing something generic.
My husband proposed to me on our land. We hadn’t yet started building the house, but we’d been planning and working and were really excited about building our “forever” home on the river. I’m not one for showy public stuff, and so he proposed under the maple tree in what is now our front yard, because he wanted all of our best memories to be here. It’s so nice to be able to look out our front window and see the very spot where we had that moment.
And if all else fails, and you both love to travel (and you can afford it) , bring her to Paris and propose at sunset on the Pont Alexandre. That’s some seriously romantic shit right there.
Punchy
Thank you ALL for the great advice! My only comment ATM is…..isnt “antique” jewelry a pseudonym for “used”? aren’t women taught to despise used engagement rings? Or am I misunderstanding this?
AhabTRuler
Punchy, listen to these women. They speak wise truth.
burnspbesq
@Andy K:
Steve Smith, Woodland Hills Taft
DeSean Jackson, Long Beach Poly
Tony Gonzalez, Huntington Beach
I’m sure there are others I am forgetting.
You may be right about quantity at those positions, but we do have some quality.
Death By Mosquito Truck
Punchy, I proposed in a very private setting, during sexual coitus. It might not be for everyone but it worked well for us. An added benefit, I don’t ever have to sit through her retelling of “our story” at reunions and other get-togethers.
gex
@asiangrrlMN: Where are you on the Favre issue?
I, myself, cannot believe that anyone would consider putting this team in the hands of a 40 year old quarterback coming off of shoulder surgery, who, prior to shoulder problems, was best know for season ending interceptions.
But then again, I can’t believe anyone would consider putting this team in the hands of Tarvaris or Sage either. Childress is like W. He will lead you to the place where there are literally no good options.
Krista
It all depends on the style — I’m a particular fan of Art Deco jewelry, so a nice ring from that era would thrill me. Or, if it’s a very classic, timeless piece that isn’t evocative of any decade, then it would likely be safe. There is something to be said for antique pieces, as they tend to be a bit more unique than the generic stuff you find in the stores.
And if it’s a piece with a really romantic, lovely story attached to it, then that’s definitely a bonus. You don’t want to give a ring from a broken engagement — some women consider that to be really bad luck.
Another nice way to go is to get thee to an independent smith who works with platinum. You can find some beautiful, unique pieces there that are still very classic, but just have a touch of artisan detail about them. One that I think is lovely comes from a gallery in Halifax.
If you want, email me and let me know where you live and what your soon-to-be-fiancee is like, and I’d be happy to do a bit of legwork for you and make some recommendations.
Glenn Fayard
Late, but this isn’t too tough a loss for a Red Wings fan – I mean, we won last year, for Christ’s sake. As a Saints/Cubs/Rockets fan, the Red Wings are about the only things that keep me sane. The only way this series would have hurt would be is if it were the season after Konstantinov’s accident. I mean, the modern Wings (from Bowman on) have been consistently great.
I fully expect the Red Wings and Penguins to trade Stanley Cups for the next few seasons, at least maybe until Lidstrom retires.
Ecks
Punchy
1) There’s a difference between “antique” and “eBay.” It may only be a few decades, but us humans a funny squiggly creatures and don’t make much sense. The trick is to see this as a feature and roll with it :)
2) We got engaged on new years eve taking a walk by a creek. Didn’t have it all planned out in any great detail, but we got to a year in review talk, then transitioned to, hey, would like to spend next year with you too, and next year. The funny part is that when I asked the question I think it came out as “do you want to get married,” which I think she took to mean “some time, in general.” She said yes, but was extra surprised when I got the ring out :)
3) Not sure why everyone is hating on the yellow gold. I don’t have strong feelings on it, but a jeweler once told me that women under 30 tend to want white gold, and women over 30 tend to want yellow gold. Didn’t help me much at the time, as we were 30 :)
AhabTRuler
Por exemplar:
This is an antique stone (don’t look at me that way, I ain’t got no money, I just inherited it), but the setting is relatively modern (c. 1970). Now, since my parents went through the big “D,” (and I don’t mean Ken Harvey) the SO felt the need to “cleanse” the ring before wearing it, but other than that, antique stones and/or settings can be very nice.
Nicole
Punchy- it depends on the woman, I guess, though there is a difference between a re-gifted engagement ring and one that you purchased specially for her that happens to be old enough to been worn by a women who might have been a flapper. :) I like vintage rings because I’m a sucker for craftsmanship and like work on the setting itself. Other women prefer a very simple setting with no flourish.
For me, too, it comes down to a vintage ring never going out of style. Diamond rings go through trends, just like anything else one wears and as I have no interest in “trading up” years down the line, I’d just as soon have something that will always look unique, as it went through the out-of-style-but-not-yet-retro phase decades before I was born. But again, women are different- think about what you think she’d like and I’m sure you’ll make the perfect choice. Especially because it’s from you to her, which is the most important thing. :)
(My wedding band is also vintage and still carries the engraving of the previous owner- RAW to RSW, August 5, 1926. I love that about it.)
As for the proposal- everyone is offering really good ideas. All I have to add is, decide whether you want it to be a surprise or are okay if she figures it out. If you want it to be a real surprise, don’t do anything too far away from something you might normally do. We are mammals, after all, and like most mammals, are suspicious of changes in the routine.
Zuzu's Petals
@Punchy:
You might also consider helping her pick out the ring she really likes after the proposal. There’s no rule that says you have to propose with a ring, and you’d be relieved of having to guess her taste. (Plus, not every woman likes to be surprised that way.)
When my son proposed, he gave his fiancee a lovely bracelet that belonged to his great-grandmother. They picked out a ring she liked when they got home from their trip.
It was the romantic setting and the sentiment that made the moment.
ksecus
Fear the Penguin.
Im near Pittsburgh and this area has been crazy over our Pens. We won the super bowl too. Good year for us…
Graeme
Congrats to Cole and all the Pens fans here.
I would have said so sooner, but I was away camping all weekend. As much as I like watching hockey, I’m always sick of watching TV @ the end of the playoffs.
Wings got outplayed, and, in my opinion, outcoached. I think Babcock was trying to be too cute, and the Wings just weren’t playing their game.
That said, Malkin is an absolute stud. He was awesome on every inch of both teams’ ice. A well-deserved Conn Smythe.