My dad used to do this thing with hot dogs where he'd cook up a big batch of tomatoes and onions, add a bunch of spices and throw it on a hot dog. Less of a sauce, more like sauteed veggies on a dog. Really good.

Personally, I hope when the time comes, that I get a ring. I mean, I wouldn't say, "No! I'm not going to marry you!" if he didn't get me a ring, but part of me is still that little girl that wants the whole fairy tale.

Oh, I got the surprise ring, bended knee engagement--which I loved and was very nice. The diamond is very small but DH picked it out on his own and got a wrap for a wedding ring which is very cute.

For all that, I'm not overly emotionally attached to jewelry (Although Miracleman and Aimee may disagree, having had to look for the damned things for over an hour).

I don't wear my rings around the house because they solitaire pokes out and I scratched the babies so many times with the setting.

So, teachers - how was the first day back? Mine was nice - my class seem like a nice little bunch, and I'm trying Very Hard not to compare them to my last lot.

Mine's not until next week. Though this week, the grad students I've been teaching over the summer have their exams, and I'm a bit worried about that, since the subject I was teaching is the one that all of them are saying they won't pass. (I was teaching Algebra, which is a bit more difficult than some of the others, I think -- it seems like more people have to retake the Algebra exam than most of the others, most years, but I'm still kind of worried about it.)

The adventures of Paul and Barney sound absolutely adorable.

I ought to get dressed and go get lunch and then do some work. I don't feel like it.

I have had a steady stream of students telling me that they're not validated. Joy. they all have to be done manually, and someone else has to do it. Feh.

Also, I think I might like a ruby engagement ring better than a diamond one. I think rubies are prettier than diamonds, and rubies look really great with my skin tone.

It was DeBeers who started the whole "diamonds are THE engagement ring stone" thing, and it backfired, because now that's the only thing people use diamonds for. That's why they started that ridiculous "right hand ring" business.

My engagement ring is a sapphire.

My engagement ring is a sapphire.

FIGHT THE POWER!

For all that, I'm not overly emotionally attached to jewelry (Although Miracleman and Aimee may disagree, having had to look for the damned things for over an hour).

'Twas the food that let us find it!

I'm pretty sure a friend of mine chose ruby for hers (her parents are jewelers, and they made it for her - they also made the wedding bands). I think there might be tiny diamonds in addition, but the ruby was the main gem.