Linsanity, Tebowmania, and Pupxiety?!?

[Katie, Andy, and Ernie!]

Well, I said I wasn't going to start this until next week when I had more free time, but I'm so excited and anxious that I can't distract myself from the matters at mind. What you'll read following is my story!

Years ago, 7 to be precise, I was captivated by the radiant beauty of stunning young lady named Katie. Katie was a professional student then, and I a graduate student, when we met in the neuroanatomy lab. Careers and life led us in different directions in the time after and even though we've been separated here and there since then, we never really lost sight of each other!

Recently, the fluttering nature of our relationship stabilized and I moved halfway across the country, leaving a paying job behind, to try and begin a life with her. After a brief trial period and nearly a year of living together, I'm ready, without hesitation really (something I always thought I'd have more of), to ask her to start the rest of our lives together.

Now, something you should understand is that Katie has always been a dog person. Her parents have 3 dogs, including a particularly quirky labradoodle named Gracie. Her sister has a rescue we believe to be a goldendoodle, and a moderately-hefty cocker spaniel name Mitch. The youngest sister, Kelly, and husband John, have a chessy and a goldendoodle named Todd. And, brother TJ and his wife, Laura, have a cockapoo named Vinny. Can you imagine what holidays are like at her parents' home? Here's a hint: all dogs are invited! Todd, sister Kelly's GD, it turns out, is where all this trouble began. Today, like a horrible James Bond movie, I'm secretly aligning events of incredible potential explosiveness. See, Todd came to the family from TR Doodles in Bennett, CO, and is the most wonderful and intelligent dog you can imagine, if a bit spoiled! We fell in love with his teddy bear face the first time we saw him and there's been no discussion of the kind of dog WE would get since! Sadly, not long after he came to be part of our lives, Kelly and John, our best friends in Denver, moved and took him with them. On the bright side, it provided more impetus for us to make a greater commitment to getting one of our own!

Anyway, I sit here today, one week from D-day (that's Doodle day to you and me), spilling my story to the internet about my love for a girl and a breed of dog (but really I love nearly all dogs and only one girl!). Next Thursday, March 29th, Ernie, our F1 apricot/red baby goldendoodle, comes home to us at 8 weeks of age. I mean it when I say that Katie has no idea. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to keep my mouth shut about it and so her youngest sister knows, as do her parents. :( I've got a crate, toys, potty pads, sprays, a collar, leashes, etc., etc., etc., all in our storage unit miles away. I've got a ring neatly hidden away and a snuggle puppy under the bed. Food and other supplies are traveling to my doorstep as I type this. I've arranged for her to have Friday and Monday off from work under the guise of a season-end skiing trip. And, when she walks through the door on Thursday after work,  there's going to be a yelping, excited bundle of joy awaiting her with a jewelery box affixed to his collar (if I can figure a way to pull that off without him pulling it off!) and a nervous, shaking, once-young man ready to ask her the most meaningful question in his life!

It'll be a scene no one wants to see, with me sweating and shaking, probably convulsing, and her crying and trying to talk through her tears and all that comes with them. All the while I'll be fumbling to get out the words I've spent so many nighttime hours debating. With any luck at all, 8-week-old Ernie will come out of it without permanent emotional scarring!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Good luck! How exciting!! I can't wait to hear the rest of the story...

[Camilla and Darwin]

Good luck, keep us updated!!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Wow, this is going to be worse than waiting the next installment on the Bachelor!  What a sweet proposal.  Katie is a lucky girl and it sounds as if you are marrying into a wonderful family full of doodles!

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

PS. We are in Denver as well, so perhaps one day we can have a doodle date. :-)

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Make sure Katie does not see this. Or does she not know if this website? How sweet of you. Congratulations! Can't wait for an update. Good luck!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

So sweet! You are incredible! So happy you can keep the dog a secret-awaiting another blog and lots of pictures.

Congrats!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Andy, I told my husband tonight all about your proposal and asked him why he never did anything so romantic. Well, you have opened up a can of worms...LOL...and now, he wants to join DK and get on here to write a rebuttal for all mankind :) He said to tell you once you set the bar so high, it will be hard to top it each year. Of course, this is coming from a man who thinks wooing is something an owl says...LOL!! Actually, we have been married almost 34 years and we both wish Katie and you many, many years of happiness.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Wow, that is so nice. Sounds like a match made in heavan! What a great way to propose! I can't wait to hear how it all turns out, and to see pics of little Ernie too. I love the name by the way. I hope it all goes smoothly! Good Luck!

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

This is very exciting!  Make sure you take pictures to capture the surprise!  I can't wait to see!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Make sure you have a camera strapped to you to...we need to see this!   How very exciting.  True Romance right here on DK, terrific.  Good luck to you Andy and great that you found a 'safe' place to share your secret.