channing

I haven’t been updating in a long time, for that I apologize. School and work have been keeping me busy these days. I have two exams this week and with the semester coming to an end I have to get crackin’ here. But I wanted to post some info that many of you probably already know. I proposed to Nicole on November 11, 2006 after 4 years and some days of dating/courting. I flew down Duke University and asked in the infamous Duke Gardens, at the supposed bridge where the first “Bachelor” took place. I have 4 lovely ladies to thank in no specific order: Tam, Ellie, Lianne and Ann. They took the time out of there busy schedule to help plan this day for Nicole and I.
Here’s the story if you want to read:

Tam picked me up around 2:30 in the afternoon Saturday at RDU. I was fortunate to find great florists around Nicole’s schools. This one is Angle Roses Florist (apparently the owner is Japanese). So I picked up 4 dozen, 1 dozen for each year we dated (they were white with pink tips). She drove me to Duke Gardens to meet Nicole on the bridge.
Now Nicole had no idea that I was coming down so she was supposed to meet with Lianne to practice for her physical diagnosis exam on Friday. But Nicole, being Nicole was late. Everything was supposed to do down around 3:30 (at least that’s what I was told). So I’m waiting in the gardens when Ellie and Ann show up. Nicole was on her way to school when Ellie calls to say that Ann lost her promise ring and they need to come over to the gardens to help look for the ring. So Nicole meets Lianne and says they need to go over and help look for the ring. Ellie meets them some where and is coming down with them.
In the mean time I’m talking to Ann and Tam about engagement and such. Ann is asking people not to cross this bridge that I’m on because of the proposal. Tam is hiding so Nicole doesn’t see her. I’m alone on this small bridge holding roses looking in the opposite direction of Nicole’s approach. As she is coming down I see her out of the corner of my eye (actually I saw Ellie since I knew what she was wearing). So I look away again. Then as Nicole comes up on my left I turn and we make eye contact … then for about 2 seconds she keeps walking. Now I’m thinking “What the heck??!? She must be mad at me for some reason.” This was the slowest 2 seconds of my life thus far. Then she looks again at me and screams, “Oh, what are you doing here!?!” So I give her the roses and I say, “Hey you have some pretty amazing friends … I flew down here to ask you a question.” I reached into my pocket to get the ring and I said, “Yo I think it’s about time we get married.” And she replied, “Actually, I’m holding out for a bigger ring.”
hehe just kidding. I asked and she said yes of course.

We went out to dinner at Fairview, a restaurant in Duke’s country club. Then we met some of her friends at a Wine Bar, good times with ladies from Duke’s PA program, and Dan It was a really great and memorable weekend for the both of us, thanks for all who came out. I posted some pictures in the gallery section.