January 3, 2011: Our Second Anniversary

Posted by Amy Evelyn Oden , Monday, January 3, 2011 3:22 PM

Okay, so we didn't really do this on January 3, as we had some illnesses and complications and bad weather and other things to contend with, but finally, at the end of January, we snuck off - taking advantage of our SoCal Resident status, which gets you deals on two-day passes - to Disneyland & California Adventure because we hadn't yet been together.  And neither of us had ever been to California Adventure.  We went on a Thursday/Friday, which is a great time to go in January; on Thursday, both parks were so empty that we did both of them almost in their entirety by closing time!  Friday, we went on all the rides again - and never had to wait longer than about 20 minutes.

We got an inexpensive room at the recently remodeled thus immaculate Motel 6 Anaheim which is within walking distance, which is great for when the shuttle buses don't show up when they say they will, which was the only unpleasantness of the entire adventure.  Well, that and my inevitable stomach crisis after Friday night's exquisite anniversary meal at the Blue Bayou - which, oh my goodness, was entirely worth a stomach crisis.  But everything else was all loveliness and joy.

We had such a fun time & have so many great memories!

delicious bread bowls for lunch at California Adventure




...outside the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room...




amazing jambalaya with all sort of meats to make Patrick happy

mmmmm...crab cakes...so good...

Is this so precious?  They brought us chocolate mousse (which they didn't even know is my favorite dessert) with two candles for our anniversary!!

The view from our table

Two years of bliss :-)

Patrick brought home a hat & I brought home a pirate!

January 3, 2010: Our First Anniversary

Posted by Amy Evelyn Oden , Sunday, January 3, 2010 5:14 PM

For our first anniversary, we spent a warm, sunny day (yay, California!) at the gorgeous Getty museum in Los Angeles.  We stayed for the evening and dined at the restaurant there, where they spoiled us with caviar & champagne and cheered us on in chocolate syrup.










July 6, 2008: Our Engagement

Posted by Amy Evelyn Oden , Sunday, July 6, 2008 4:10 PM

On Sunday, July 6, 2008, when we were still just girlfriend & boyfriend, Patrick took me to the Huntington Gardens in San Marino, CA.  As we pulled into the parking lot, I had no idea what to expect because I'd never been there before.  I got my first glimpse of the beauty of the place - which is extensive - as we strolled a few of the gardens before a lunch reservation.

Patrick, who seemed a bit nervous, had made a reservation (these can be tricky to get on a Sunday!) in the Tea Room for a splendid lunch of tea & scones and a buffet of wonderful things to eat.


We were pleased to have been seated in the back corner, where it was rather private.


Well, it was, until they seated a large group of about eight at the round table next to us.  Unfortunately, this was not this group's first seating.  They had first been placed up in front by the windows.  I don't know why this was such a problem, but this was a very haughty, entitled group of people with a very haughty, entitled ringleader who was making no secret of his displeasure.  I think he said something about a bad smell.

After a huge to-do, they were re-seated next to us.  If we hadn't been so determined to have a lovely day, they might have ruined it entirely, as we were now subject to overhearing the post-kerfuffle debriefing - the gall of the wait staff seating them there and what they might have done had they not been moved.  At one point, we heard the arrogant ringleader proclaim, "First, you give them a chance to make it right, and then you help them make it right."  Such an ass!!  It was all we could do to not burst out laughing.  (And we have quoted this line to each other many times since, always followed by raucous laughter.)

We left there more quickly than intended to escape further nonsense, and spent the afternoon touring the glorious gardens and the museums.




By mid-afternoon we were a bit tired and sweaty (it was a hot July day) and we found a bench in the rose garden...


...which is now our bench, because that's the bench upon which Patrick & I went from being girlfriend & boyfriend to being fiance & fiancee!



As we sat, Patrick talked about the great weekend we were having, the great day we'd had - and then casually (read: nervously) segued into those words that every girl dreams of hearing, "I don't want to spend just today with you; I want to spend every day with you."  And then, reaching into his pocket and producing the princess-cut ruby with antique band ring that I had picked out the last time he was in Oregon, followed it with, "Will you marry me?"

I said, "Of course."


For Patrick's romantic take on the day, click here.