…and this is a 
Man, I get some strange email. This one is just weird…maybe one of you can help this person out.
This was sent to me by Jodi Haynes.
Jason is an IT manager for a local tech support call centre. I now work at a vineyard, but the call centre was where we met. I was a noob techie and he approached me with one of the cheesiest lines in the book. It was the old 'Do I know you from somewhere?', and it worked.
We started dating and have been nearly inseparable since, though it wasn't always smooth sailing. You see I was not nearly as rational and level headed then as I am now. At almost every turn Jason challenged my most fundamental beliefs. I was never religious, but I believed in a lot of nonsense that I never thought was nonsense because no one every tried to tell me that it was. I guess I would have been described as one of those 'spiritual' people. Astrology, afterlife, psychics, ghosts, chakras, I was into it all.
The change seemed slow to me as I was quite stubborn to let go of these things, and almost always argued against Jason's rational views until we both would just give up. It was then that I would stew over the ideas for a few days or months and eventually reach the conclusion that he was right (I can't believe I just said that :P). And so thanks to him I have slowly come to accept and embrace my inner humanist.
Last year we bought a house together, and I fully intend to spend the rest of my life with him. But because we are both so anti-religious, I'm not sure it has occurred to him that marriage is something I'm even interested in. Frankly I'm tired of trying to give him hints (sorry dear), and waiting, so I've decided to just ask him instead. And thanks to Stephanie, and all of you, I can do it in a way that I know he'll think is really cool :)
Well, Jason, what do you say? Jodi is asking you to marry her. It's OK for an atheist to say yes, if you'd like.
Brain & Behavior
Comments
Posted by: hissatsu | June 27, 2009 6:06 AM
And here I was ready to read the rantings of another nutter. But this is pretty sweet. I imagine Jason will be surprised.
Posted by: King of Ferrets | June 27, 2009 6:13 AM
What, no nuttery? Heretical heresy! =P
Posted by: Podblack | June 27, 2009 6:14 AM
How very sweet. Hope Jason does find it. :)
Posted by: Jodi | June 27, 2009 6:16 AM
Thanks so much PZ, and everyone else involved, it was amazing to me that you all agreed to help!
Now... just to wake Jason up and casually point him in the direction of the starting blogchase post.... I'd cross my fingers but ... well you know :P
Posted by: Juniper Shoemaker | June 27, 2009 6:22 AM
Jodi, the "thread" gets broken between Skepchick's and Dan J's.
Posted by: PZ Myers
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June 27, 2009 6:24 AM
This post is at the end of the trail...if anyone wants to follow it from the beginning, start here.
Posted by: Kevin Hunter
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June 27, 2009 6:28 AM
Well, I expected a ranting lunatic. And only mildly disappointed, because now I can see PZ's inner hopeless romantic. Someone tell him to cover it up, please.
Posted by: Random Mutant
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June 27, 2009 6:31 AM
"because we are both so anti-religious, I'm not sure it has occurred to him that marriage is something I'm even interested in"
Non sequitur. Please explain? I always thought that marriage was a public statement of love and dedication. Find yourself a secular celebrant and jump in with both boots!
And best wishes for your future together, if he finds this thread!
Posted by: Kel | June 27, 2009 6:34 AM
Meh, marriage is a social construct.
Posted by: Deconverted | June 27, 2009 6:38 AM
The trail appears to be broken after skepchick.
Posted by: Random Mutant
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June 27, 2009 6:40 AM
Re #10, scroll down and the sidebar has a linkie to Greg Laden's BLog.
It's so cute...
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, Quel Dommage
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June 27, 2009 6:51 AM
Nothing says that a woman can't propose to a man.
Posted by: Naked Bunny with a Whip
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June 27, 2009 7:07 AM
Why doesn't she just ask him? Or at least ask him outright if he's thought about it.
I'm not sure what being anti-religious has to do with marriage. There are plenty of legal considerations, too.
Posted by: SEF
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June 27, 2009 7:08 AM
Eg one of the Humanist people licensed to perform marriages. I know a UK one (also a Unitarian) but I'm guessing these two Js are in the US.
Posted by: Ivence
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June 27, 2009 7:09 AM
This is probably one of the coolest proposals I've ever seen, well done scienceblogs!
Posted by: SEF
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June 27, 2009 7:21 AM
Yo, PZ, there's a bit of a problem with the Scienceblogs to TypeKey interface. The link in the not-logged-in comment message:
doesn't currently contain the &need_email=1 bit - which normally prompts TypeKey to specifically ask the user for permission and then send that over. So no amount of logging in to TK, via here or direct at TK, was letting me post. I just kept getting the submission error that registration was required.
Even changing my global TK settings to share email (and logging out and in a few more times) didn't help. Only taking the link from here and adding in that extra need_email field manually before using it as a URL worked for me.
Posted by: SEF
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June 27, 2009 7:26 AM
Testing again, now that I've turned off the global email reveal in TK.
Posted by: Dan J
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June 27, 2009 7:29 AM
Grrrr... Why would WordPress ever tell me "missed schedule" on a post that was scheduled?!?!?! But my link to FreeDOS is bad... 404...
Posted by: Dan J
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June 27, 2009 7:32 AM
Okay, link to FreeDOS blog repaired... miscommunication about what the URL should be. I hate it when a plan doesn't come together.
Posted by: Chris Davis
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June 27, 2009 7:37 AM
Seems to me marriage is primarily a legal matter. The stuff related to love and kinship may be done in other ways, but money and kids (if you must) can benefit from some legal structures.
In addition, society grants other rights to married people - like being able to attend the spouse in hospitals, joint banking, citizenship, insurance etc. - that are less easy to obtain for cohabiters.
So: if you do it, do it for legality. And be aware of the strain it can put on the relationship that got you into the mess in the first place.
Posted by: Jason Thibeault
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June 27, 2009 7:52 AM
I said yes. Naturally. Coolest damn thing ever, from the coolest damn girl ever.
A few months ago she said that "so, ya' wanna get married?" was just too cheesy and lame. So I've been hung up on trying to figure out a good way to do it. And while I was so distracted, it was apparently all too easy for her to set up this whole thing, live-chatting and e-mailing back and forth with all my interwebs heroes, with me completely unawares. What's shocking, to me, about all of this is how many people freaking knew, both locally and all over the damn world.
Thanks for all of your help, everyone.
Also, yeah. Typekey is sucking, so while I was trying to get myself logged in, I had time to actually read some comments on this thread.
Around here, marriage is mostly seen as a religious thing more than a "celebration of love" or whatnot. And yes, there are a lot of implications for the legal side, and that's one of the big reasons that I was even considering it rather than just "living in sin" for the rest of our lives.
Posted by: Richard Harris
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June 27, 2009 7:54 AM
Wonderful! Best wishes to them both.
Posted by: Kel, The Privileged View From Nowhere
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June 27, 2009 7:54 AM
Congrats there Jason!
Posted by: MadScientist
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June 27, 2009 7:56 AM
Do people forget that in many countries marriage is a *civil* contract/ceremony and not a religious ceremony? In the USA (and a few other places I've been over the years) even the churches have to get appropriate non-cult-oriented civil documentation to submit to the state in addition to whatever certificates the specific cult may issue.
Anyway, this is a welcome break from reading Chris Mooney's blog in which John Kwok and Jon seem to be playing Albert/Alberta (for all you aging Batman fans) and spouting all the most inane crap about atheists.
Posted by: GilbertNSullivan
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June 27, 2009 8:05 AM
Hurrah! That makes my day.
Best of luck for the both of you.
I suggest a Molly for Jodi: this post = *full* of happy monkey.
Posted by: jowens
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June 27, 2009 8:05 AM
You know, Jason, just because you'll be married, doesn't mean you can't live in all the sin you want anyway. Congrats!
Posted by: genesgalore | June 27, 2009 8:06 AM
aww!!! xo
Posted by: moo | June 27, 2009 8:08 AM
Congrats Jason/Jodi! Wanting to get married isn't *that* crazy.
Posted by: Kate | June 27, 2009 8:09 AM
Congratulations, Jodi and Jason. :)
Posted by: Thomas Winwood | June 27, 2009 8:10 AM
Jodi, if you want to, and you really think it's the right thing to do, go ahead. There's always bypassing the religious component and just going to the registry office directly.
Best of luck to the pair of you. Live long and prosper.
Posted by: Carlie
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June 27, 2009 8:10 AM
SEF, I was having the same problem: here it refused to let me log in, but then when I went to typepad I was already logged in from here and it was all "Oh hi Carlie, how YOU doin'?", then when I came back here I got the cold shoulder again.. now everything's ok, so I assume some glitch got fixed.
Congratulations, you crazy kids! Awesome proposal and story.
Posted by: Tom Woolf | June 27, 2009 8:14 AM
Nice curveball for a Saturday morning, PZ! I was expecting to read another one of those "you anti-christian pro-science lunatic how dare you not believe in my mythology!" rants, and instead find a marriage proposal.
He'd better say yes (although "sure, why not" might suffice).
Posted by: Mike Haubrich, FCD
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June 27, 2009 8:15 AM
Better than the scoreboard at a baseball game.
Posted by: DoctorOHM | June 27, 2009 8:16 AM
Congratulations to the both of you! And what a cool way to propose to someone, i can just hope to find a girl that imaginative and resorcefull!
Posted by: Liudvikas | June 27, 2009 8:17 AM
Fun way to propose. :)
Best of luck for both of you.
Posted by: DJ | June 27, 2009 8:20 AM
Congratulations!
Posted by: Sili
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June 27, 2009 8:27 AM
I don't know who's luckier, J or J.
All the best, you two!
Congrats, Jodi, I'm glad to hear of your awakening.
Posted by: Kausik Datta | June 27, 2009 8:29 AM
Awwwww! Congratulations galore, Jodi and Jason! All the very best to both of you.
So, it turns out that behind all that fierce, strident rationality (and that beard), the patron saint of New Atheism(TM), St. Paul of Zachary, is a fuzzy-warm, hopelessly romantic softy! Shocking! Who woulda thunk? ;)
Posted by: Hank Fox | June 27, 2009 8:31 AM
Congratulations to you both! May you have many happy years together.
Extra points to Jodi for being open-minded and sensible enough to come around on the rational battle. Extra points to Jason for being persistent.
And you're inviting us ALL to the wedding, riiiiight?
Posted by: Ed | June 27, 2009 8:34 AM
Awwwww...congrats! Just like Mr. Morton. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7S_B9GcRI0
Posted by: MikeMa | June 27, 2009 8:35 AM
Wat to go J&J. Do something out of character to celebrate. Get some crystals or throw salt. Walk under ladders, make a wish... Cool way to communicate!
Posted by: Colin J | June 27, 2009 8:37 AM
Hey that was awesome. Congrats to both of you! Very cool idea! All the best.
Posted by: Traffic Demon | June 27, 2009 8:41 AM
Congratulations to both of you!
Posted by: Ed | June 27, 2009 8:49 AM
Awwwww...congrats! Just like Mr. Morton. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7S_B9GcRI0
Posted by: Robert Madewell | June 27, 2009 8:52 AM
Maybe, you should start a collumn in your local paper.
Dear PZ
Posted by: Hannah | June 27, 2009 8:58 AM
*followed the whole trail*
That was FANTASTIC to read - I wish Jodie and Jason all happiness! ^^
Posted by: Mooselet | June 27, 2009 9:02 AM
Awwww, that was so sweet. Congrats you crazy kids - I wish you all the best. And who knew PZ was so squishy on the inside.
Posted by: xebecs | June 27, 2009 9:04 AM
No gumbies. That's the giveaway.
Posted by: Matthew | June 27, 2009 9:06 AM
Meh, marriage is a social construct.
Damn atheists!
I'm a traditional conservative and I believe in traditional marriage, the way it was intended to be. So, when I got married it was because I wanted to own a woman as I have all the other items of property that I want. After getting the 65inch LCD TV and a dozen slaves, the wife was naturally the next thing on my list.
Praise Thor, etc.
Posted by: Darren | June 27, 2009 9:07 AM
Oh damn. The shaudenfraudist in me was hoping he would say no.
Nevermind. Congrats to both of you.
Posted by: PZ Myers
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June 27, 2009 9:07 AM
Yeah, I'm going to put out a shingle and declare myself the atheist rabbi of Morris, Minnesota.
Posted by: Atheist Chaplain
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June 27, 2009 9:08 AM
Congratulations J&J :-)
I wonder how long before this gets out to the wider mediasphere, you may just end up as a world wide phenomenon. Just keep in the back of your mind that this can also be a double edged sword if you do agree to get all public and out there, on the one hand you may be able to make a quick dollar or three from the story rights, but as you said you live in a community where marriage is seen as a religious thing, such a public outing can be a detriment to a quiet and peaceful life, especially in the aftermath of GWB's fundi America.
Good luck and my most sincere congratulations to you both, may you live a long and happy life together.
Posted by: Atheist Chaplain
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June 27, 2009 9:15 AM
Hey PZ I'm thinking about getting my marriage celebrant shingle as well, and I've been a Chaplain for years now :-)
Posted by: Sili
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June 27, 2009 9:16 AM
Srsly!
Posted by: DrCogSci | June 27, 2009 9:17 AM
Excellent proposal, and perhaps the sweetest thing ever to grace the intertubes.
This is not doing our "evil-atheist" street-cred any good...
Congratulations to J&J (and the conspirators at Sciblogs)
Posted by: Marisa | June 27, 2009 9:18 AM
How romantic! Congratulations to you two!
Posted by: flea | June 27, 2009 9:23 AM
Hurray! Happy Monkey to both of you!
Posted by: Dave Godfrey | June 27, 2009 9:32 AM
You know there's only one way for Jason to decide-
Internet Poll!
Posted by: Noadi | June 27, 2009 9:35 AM
Awwwww... this is the sweetest coolest proposal. Congratulations Jason and Jodi! I wish you both a long and happy marriage.
Posted by: ignatov | June 27, 2009 9:36 AM
Mazel tov!
Posted by: KWombles | June 27, 2009 9:38 AM
Awesome, got me teared up as I went on the blog trip, wondering what was up for Jason! Congrats to both Jodi and Jason. :-)
Posted by: Hypatia's Daughter | June 27, 2009 9:43 AM
Hubby & I got married in a courthouse over 32 years ago after living together for over 3 years. Very common for the world war generation, too. No religion needed.
And it is finally starting to pay off. Nestlings are all gone but one, and we have common interests - nice to share your life with someone who sees the world the way you do.
Jason & Jodi, I hope you have many happy years with each other and you find that you are "the mirrors to each other's soul"
Posted by: Jason Thibeault
|
June 27, 2009 9:43 AM
Shoulda known you Pharyngulites wanted a poll to crash.
Okay, here. :)
http://www.lousycanuck.ca/?p=1406
Posted by: MikeTheInfidel | June 27, 2009 9:50 AM
Mawwage. Mawwage is what bwings us togethew, today. Mawwage, that bwessed awwangement, that dweam within a dweam. And wuve..... twue wuve, wiww fowwow you fowevah-- So tweasuwe youw wove...
Posted by: Mezzobuff | June 27, 2009 9:54 AM
Congrats! A proposal worth a hearty yes, for sure! Hooray!
Posted by: Peter White | June 27, 2009 9:55 AM
Consider my vote to be your wedding gift from me and my wife. I hope you have a long and happy relationship. You have a lot of supporters watching you.
My wife and I were married in her native country of the Philippines. To get married there you need to have a list of sponsors. Sponsors are like your substitute family and are there to help the couple in their relationship. I feel like we are all your sponsors and have a stake in your marriage being successful.
Posted by: Stwriley | June 27, 2009 10:06 AM
First, after that last post, I must add:
"Skip to the end!"
But really Jodi, one piece of advice from a long-married guy: never admit he was right again! It's not that he's not allowed to be right, mind you, but if you let him know that there's no telling what crazy ideas he'll get.
/snark
Seriously, this was a wonderful proposal, very well done! All the best for you both from another pair of wedded atheists.
Posted by: Porco Dio | June 27, 2009 10:19 AM
a big phat hearty congratulations to both of you...
may all gods that have come before us praise thee that have forsaken them.
and may you make lots of little godless nimbitts to proceed the two of you.
Posted by: Roland Branconnier | June 27, 2009 10:23 AM
This is a Brave New World: Dear PZ = Dear Abbey.
What a novel idea, besides evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal. PZ can now add advice to his list of accolades.
Posted by: Medusa | June 27, 2009 10:41 AM
Congratulations Jodi and Jason!
This was just too sweet! Started my day off with a smile.
Best to both of you!
Posted by: ema | June 27, 2009 10:41 AM
Congratulations!
Posted by: Marc Abian | June 27, 2009 10:46 AM
That's stupid. Why does no one want to marry me?
Posted by: Fred | June 27, 2009 10:49 AM
Way to go, Jodi & Jason. Show them fundies how a marriage is done! All the best to you.
Posted by: Steve P. | June 27, 2009 11:11 AM
tl;dr
...kidding. Great proposal, congratulations!
Posted by: Nicolas Keller | June 27, 2009 11:13 AM
awww :P
congrats!
Posted by: Aquaria | June 27, 2009 11:13 AM
Awwwww ::::Sniff:::: So cute. ::::Sniff:::: I hope they're really happy together. ::::Sniff:::
Marcus:
If you want to get married, quit putting marriage down, as I've seen you do here a few times. As a woman, I can tell you, right off, that smart women don't want to be married to a man who holds the institution in low esteem. Doesn't bode well for the future, y'know?
Just my .02.
Posted by: shamar
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June 27, 2009 11:26 AM
Congrats to both of you, Jason and Jodi. And to Jodi...cool idea with the blog trail. I wish you both the best :-)
Posted by: Marc Abian | June 27, 2009 11:32 AM
Are you talking to me Aquaria?
I don't think I've ever put down marraige here. I guess the tone didn't come across successfully, but I wasn't serious about what I just said either.
Posted by: Pygmy Loris | June 27, 2009 11:32 AM
Now that's a sweet proposal. Congrats Jodi and Jason! :)
Posted by: Jess T
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June 27, 2009 12:06 PM
That is a completely awesome and creative way to pop the question. Congrats to both of you!
Posted by: Ben Zvan | June 27, 2009 12:06 PM
Congratulations guys. This is really cool. Hey PZ, how long did it take to coordinate all this? I'm really impressed!
Posted by: spondee | June 27, 2009 12:11 PM
Crongratulations!!
Posted by: Cliff Hendroval | June 27, 2009 12:16 PM
All the best, kids.
Posted by: spondee | June 27, 2009 12:22 PM
Damn fat fingers.
Posted by: Jadehawk, OM
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June 27, 2009 12:29 PM
Aquaria, I think you're confusing Marc Abian with Marcus Ranum, our resident nihilist.
Posted by: Andrés Diplotti | June 27, 2009 12:32 PM
Awww... What a way to start the Saturday! Congratulations, J and J!
Posted by: Jodi
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June 27, 2009 12:44 PM
Thanks everyone! I'm still hyped up on endorphins from this morning (or maybe it's from the bacon at brunch.. hmm)
We'll be taking our time with the planning of the wedding, and may not set a date for a while but for those expressing interest in how things go I'm sure Jason will post updates to his blog now and then. And when the big day finally arrives, I'll be sure to send PZ an email... maybe we'll include a cephalopod in the ceremony.
Posted by: Mag | June 27, 2009 12:49 PM
Honestly, being a European I've never understood why Amercans are so focused on marriage... it's just a paper, a legal step whereby you acknowledge to the state who you are sleeping with (and, of course, big business for those providing related services). Of coures you may be forced to get married for some reason (one of you needs a residence permit, or you get some perks, eg. tax deductions, or society forces you to get married, etc.), but free people in a free country...?
Commitment and love do (hopefully) not depend on a piece of paper, a celebration or some ceremony, and though it's nice to have a party with family and friends, well, though I love them, I wouldn't want to have them any more in my bedroom than any civil servant or priest...
Posted by: Tom M | June 27, 2009 12:53 PM
May the road rise to meet you....etc.
I realize that's kind of religious, if you're of the Irish religion, northwestern branch.
What a treat to discover this and to know two people discovering each other!
Posted by: Jadehawk, OM
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June 27, 2009 1:00 PM
what do you mean "who knew"? I thought all cephalopods were squishy, what with being invertebrates....
Posted by: Sven DiMilo | June 27, 2009 1:01 PM
That I'd like to see.
Both of my weddings have been peak-fun secular parties in spectacularly beautiful locations with all of my favorite people, good beer, wine, and food, and great music.
Good luck, you guys.
Posted by: Lancelot Gobbo | June 27, 2009 1:24 PM
Congratulations to Jodi and Jason! My wife used the tradition of a leap year proposal to ensnare me in the 1970's. We are still happily and mutually ensnared. I had my revenge however, in 1982 when she was working as a junior doc in Southend General Hospital in the UK. She was also secretary of the doctors' mess, and had arranged a marquee for a strawberry and champagne party. I had indicated I was working in my hospital that weekend in north London, but in fact I was not. A quick visit to a theatrical costumiers brought me into possession of a gorilla suit, and I sped along to Southend and put the damn thing on in the parking lot. I nearly died of heat exhaustion as it was mid-summer. I knew the hospital from some time spent there as a med student, so I loped through the corridors grunting and dragging my knuckles (and nobody at all attempted to stop me!) Eventually I got out onto the lawn in front of the hospital where the marquee was and entered with a little chest beating display. Having spotted my own personal Fay Wray I picked her up and abducted her from the marquee. I am glad to say her parents were present and witnessed the madness. I told her it was me and proceeded to pretend to ravage her on the grass, then made my escape and drove back to London. I blame it all on being exposed to the movie Morgan - A Case For Treatment at an impressionable age!
Chris
Posted by: Lancelot Gobbo | June 27, 2009 1:26 PM
Congratulations to Jodi and Jason! My wife used the tradition of a leap year proposal to ensnare me in the 1970's. We are still happily and mutually ensnared. I had my revenge however, in 1982 when she was working as a junior doc in Southend General Hospital in the UK. She was also secretary of the doctors' mess, and had arranged a marquee for a strawberry and champagne party. I had indicated I was working in my hospital that weekend in north London, but in fact I was not. A quick visit to a theatrical costumiers brought me into possession of a gorilla suit, and I sped along to Southend and put the damn thing on in the parking lot. I nearly died of heat exhaustion as it was mid-summer. I knew the hospital from some time spent there as a med student, so I loped through the corridors grunting and dragging my knuckles (and nobody at all attempted to stop me!) Eventually I got out onto the lawn in front of the hospital where the marquee was and entered with a little chest beating display. Having spotted my own personal Fay Wray I picked her up and abducted her from the marquee. I am glad to say her parents were present and witnessed the madness. I told her it was me and proceeded to pretend to ravage her on the grass, then made my escape and drove back to London. I blame it all on being exposed to the movie Morgan - A Case For Treatment at an impressionable age! We married in a registry office in Chichester as a result of my atheism, and haven't regretted a moment.
Chris
Posted by: ThirtyFiveUp | June 27, 2009 1:28 PM
Jodi and Jason, old saying but still true, "He chased her until she caught
him."
I am so glad I found my trophy husband forty seven years ago. He is awesome.
Posted by: Lancelot Gobbo | June 27, 2009 1:31 PM
Aargh! Romance is no protection against the demons of double posting! My apologies.
C.
Posted by: Rey Fox | June 27, 2009 1:33 PM
Feh. Marriage is a just another oppressive religious institute and us athiests should know that there is no little-g god binding any of us together nor should the state tell us who and how many people we can fuck and our pairings are as fleeting as life itself after which we rot in the cold, cold ground...
Congrats, you crazy kids. Though I find proposing on someone else's blog to be a bit weird, you seem to be happy, so more power to ya.
"Yeah, I'm going to put out a shingle and declare myself the atheist rabbi of Morris, Minnesota."
Do you know of any atheist matchmakers?
Posted by: donna | June 27, 2009 1:51 PM
Now all they need is for you all to officiate the wedding online...
Oops, probably shouldn't have suggested that, huh?
Posted by: Bryn | June 27, 2009 1:52 PM
How is marriage an "oppresive religious institute"? Since there is no requirement that religion be involved in it in any way, it's a civil/legal/societal contract between two people. It's terrific to thump chest and yell, "I don't need no stinking piece of paper!" until you want to visit your loved-one in an emergency room or ICU following an accident or if your beloved dies intestate or you want to try and adopt children, or they become incapacitated and medical/legal/financial decisions have to be made.
Not to mention the fact that you're just crazy-in-love with someone and want to annouce it to the world at large. Congrats and best wishes to both of you, Jason and Jodi!
Posted by: Rey Fox | June 27, 2009 1:56 PM
Whoops, my "end athiester-than-thou mode" got cut off my last post. Kinda killing the joke. Heh. Carry on, everybody...
Posted by: Sili
|
June 27, 2009 2:04 PM
To those naysayers surprised at PeeZed's romantic side:
Have you bloody forgotten that he's married to his second grade sweetheart who kept the bullies from beating him up on the way home from school?!
Sheeeesssssh. Some people. One'd think you believed the whole Trophy Wife(tm) spiel.
Posted by: ctenotrish | June 27, 2009 2:24 PM
Awwwwwww, how great! I am all teary-happy for them! Best wishes, Ctenotrish.
Posted by: Ouchimoo | June 27, 2009 2:58 PM
Cute! :D Congrats you two!!
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | June 27, 2009 3:15 PM
Just remember, wedding rings are the worlds tiniest handcuffs.
happily married almost 7 years
Posted by: Susan | June 27, 2009 3:34 PM
I should say! Congratulations to you both, and long life and happiness. This was a very cool way to propose, Jodi, much cooler than mine. After living together for 25 years, buying one house, building another together and having two kids, I said, "I think it might be time now."
Posted by: DLC | June 27, 2009 3:55 PM
congrats. may your time together be more good than otherwise.
Posted by: Alex Deam
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June 27, 2009 4:34 PM
Wow, congratulations!
PZ, I think you should demand an invite!
Posted by: GeoffR
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June 27, 2009 4:40 PM
Sweet!!!
Congratulations, that's a great story.
Posted by: Ted Powell | June 27, 2009 4:47 PM
Here's an example of a secular marriage ceremony, from the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency:
http://www.vs.gov.bc.ca/marriage/pdf/ceremony.pdf
If by any chance you live in BC, another page on their site lets you search for marriage commissioners in your area.
Congratulations!
Posted by: Arnold T Pants | June 27, 2009 5:05 PM
Congratulations!
Posted by: Steve_C | June 27, 2009 5:59 PM
A toast to living in sin! Congrats Jodi on pulling it off. Well done.
Posted by: chuckgoecke
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June 27, 2009 6:11 PM
Congrats to the couple. I have a close friend who just popped the question on her man after 8 years, but I'm not sure how she did it. I'll have to ask. Jodi, very cool! Maybe you just started a new sport, blogchasing, which could be generalized into some sort of scavenger hunt.
Posted by: cicely (Inadvertent Phytocidal Maniac)
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June 27, 2009 6:19 PM
Congratulations to J&J!
"Marriage is a social construct".
So is "sin".
(My son's getting secularly married next month. We're all very excited.)
Posted by: Eliza | June 27, 2009 6:37 PM
Re: #100...I had no idea. PZ is a sap! I always thought he was "strident", etc. :p
Congratulations J&J, cutest proposal ever. (Way better than my boyfriend's naked "Do you want to marry me?" I thought he was joking!)
Have a fabulous big day, and an equally fabulous life together.
Posted by: Rystefn | June 27, 2009 7:16 PM
I said it at the beginning, and I'm saying it at the and (I'd have said it everywhere through, but I think I'm banned at one or two of the stops): I wish you both a long and happy life together. Love makes the hard times less hard and the good times better. I'm glad to see you two adding a bit more of it to the world.
Posted by: Jodi
|
June 27, 2009 9:23 PM
End of the night.
I just sat down and read through all these comments again and I'd just like to say that I'm still stunned by all the love shown here. You guys all rock, seriously!
Pharyngulites=win!
Posted by: Evil Eye | June 27, 2009 11:05 PM
Heh... and who'da thunk that atheists could love?
Go figger.
Posted by: Evil Eye | June 27, 2009 11:21 PM
Heh... and who'da thunk that atheists could love?
Go figger.
Posted by: Stephanie Z | June 27, 2009 11:30 PM
Sili, I've met the Trophy Wife. The title is completely apt, even if PZ did get his trophy a bit early.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | June 27, 2009 11:39 PM
Not this atheist. I conquer.
please don't tell Mrs. BigDumbChimp
Posted by: Roger | June 28, 2009 1:28 AM
Just wanted to join in congratulating you both! All the best for your future together.
Posted by: Stephen P | June 28, 2009 2:35 AM
This post appears to be missing a category. How about "happiness"?
Posted by: Jello_Raptor | June 28, 2009 1:46 PM
Aww, Congrats.
Good luck and
have fun. =D
Posted by: Sili
|
June 28, 2009 2:28 PM
Point taken, Stephanie Z.
But she not just a trophy. It's just one of the perks.
Posted by: Hu | June 29, 2009 10:02 AM
Happy Monkey!
Posted by: Madmaxine | June 29, 2009 10:24 AM
Awwww! What a great way to propose!
Congratulations to both of you!
Posted by: Qwerty | June 29, 2009 2:46 PM
A reminder: Is isn't religioug to register at Target, Macy's or whereever you like the merchandise. Ditto on the Happy Monkey!
Posted by: Qwerty | June 29, 2009 2:59 PM
That should read "It isn't religious to register."
Again, Happy Monkey.
Posted by: WTF | June 29, 2009 4:09 PM
Uh...Am I the only one who read between the lines and found a girl who completely changed herself to be with a judgemntal, cynical prick? I would never marry someone who wanted to change me-she shouldn't either.
Posted by: Jadehawk, OM
|
June 29, 2009 4:14 PM
oh yeah. self improvement and realizing you got shit wrong is of the debbil. *rolleyes*
Posted by: Watchman | June 29, 2009 5:10 PM
Yes, because you're the only who who's...
Posted by: Watchman | June 29, 2009 5:22 PM
And on a lighter note...
Posted by: Jamie | June 30, 2009 7:55 PM
@WTF: yeah, you should never change anyone! If my boyfriend wants to do crack or has some homicidal tendencies, I shouldn't try to change that and accept him as he is!
/sarcasm
But on a serious note. (@Jodi and Jason) Congratulations on your engagement! What will the ceremony be like? I found very little information online on what secular weddings are like. If you could share some of your plans, it would be greatly appreciated =)
Posted by: Jodi
|
July 5, 2009 9:23 AM
I'm really late with this but I've been busy this past week so I didn't even see these last comments until now. I just felt the need to reply to this once, then I'll let the thread go back to sleep.
@WTF #128
I know you wont believe me but you've got it all wrong. I had a boyfriend once whom I tried to change myself for. I was pretty successful at it too. Despite the fact that I'm fairly antisocial and very anti-religious I found myself going to huge parties with him and even attended church with his family once or twice just to make him happy. This is not like that. I thought I mentioned (but maybe I forgot) that all the 'changes' and improvements that happened in my life thanks to Jason were always decisions of my own. There was never once where he forced anything on me, or told me he would love me less if I didn't change. I never felt pressured. We argued sure, though perhaps heated debates would be the proper term. Then I would go away, do some research, and really think things through and after a while come to my own conclusions. Repeat, my own conclusions.
So sorry, but you're just wrong.
@Jamie We haven't really started planning yet but we're thinking of putting up a wedding blog when we do, so plans can be shared easily with people. Thanks for your interest :)