One major step accomplished. I got my wedding ring. Well I ordered it and its on its way fedex. I have literally been searching since last July for the perfect ring. I posted about it before (e:paul,57174)

My goals were yellow gold (to match (e:terry)'s ring (e:paul,56634)), quality diamonds and a gem in some sort of masculine design. I also wanted natural stones, no blood gems - at least not first generation ones. Its a hard to find combo, esp the masc part.

Its funny how we are picking different roles. (e:terry) wants a bouquet. I wanted a gem ring. Without any traditional gender roles it leave us free to be whatever.

For the engagement ring I got him a plain gold band because he doesn't really like gems. I don't just like gems, I freakin love them.

So onto the ring I picked. I searched through so many vintage rings because it skirted the blood diamond issue and because I think its cool to recycle. Plus the newer rings all seem to look so crisp like they were computer engineered and I like the more organic look of older rings. I was dead set on yellow gold because (e:terrys) ring was yellow gold and because I just love the look of it in the sun. I was also concerned I would be allergic to anything white as sometimes I react to some metals.

There were some cool rings made out of dinosaur bones and meteorites that I saw, but like wood and certain other metals they are not resizeable. I wanted something that could be resized over time so I don't end up being one of those people who's sausage fingers had to get cut off because their ring was too small.

I kept holding out because I wanted to wait until after the gem show at the Erie County Fair grounds last weekend. It was a chance for me to see all the different stones I liked. I also had this idea about buying the perfect gem at the gem show and having the ring made. At one point I even wanted to make it myself but the idea of the whole process sounded kind of overwhelming the closer we get to the wedding.

After listening to some people talk at the show and some research I decided that one major factor for me was gem strength. I didn't want a gem that I could easily crush or scratch. Diamonds are a 10 on the Mohs scale but next in line were sapphires at 9.

Also after looking at all the gems I recognized that I also didn't really want a faceted stone as the main feature but something smooth that plays with light naturally. This lead me to Cabachon style gems. Cabachon fashioned gems are when the gem is polished and shaped smooth instead of cut into facets.

I also didn't want a hollow gold ring because I had one that I had bent. It was 24k gold so maybe it was just too soft but it made me worry.

So after a bunch of searching I found a vintage 18k gold ring, with VS1-2 diamonds and a star sapphire. I had to have it. The color of the sapphire is amazing.

The only problem was the price was a bit out of my range at $4999 (e:terry) gave me a budget lower but I was a determined bargainer and was able to get a more reasonable price.

Plus, who does want a ring where you can say, oh yes, it is beautiful, just like my husbands eyes.





In case anyone else is looking for an amazing, one of a kind, vintage ring check out eragem

I was bored and (e:terry) and (e:heidi) didn't make it to lunch till 4 so I tagged along. I thought I was too full to eat but I managed to down a whole lamb shank and backlava. We had a groupon so the meal was a good deal.

At the end of the meal I made a rice sculpture of a bird. Its like 4 years of art school paid off.

(e:robert) and I made fried dandelion pattys for lunch. I couldn't remember how my mom made them so I made up my own recipe and it worked pretty good.

1. boil some chopped dandelion leaves in water. I drained out the bitter water and discarded but my grandparents used to keep it in the fridge and drink like iced tea.

2. cracked some eggs and blended em up with a fork.

3. took some chickpea flour and mixed with salt, pepper and some paprika.

4. dipped a handful of the dandelions in egg and then in flour. gently moved around but not enough to get doughy.

5. fried in peanut oil in flat frying pan.

6. after flipping and golden brownness, sprinkled with some shredded parmesaen.

7. optionally - (e:robert) added some siracha hot sauce on top.

As best man, I asked (e:mike) to make the paper invitations (offline folk) for my gay wedding and he really gayed it up with glitter hearts.

Went back to court to today. One more year of growing apart. I think everyone involved was in total agreement that it was best but it still made me sad in a way.