As You Wish?

So here is another update: Dad is improving each day so hopefully that trend will continue. In other news, I am stressed beyond stressed with school and such. And I am in a wedding this weekend that I can't even think about at the moment b/c I have so much else to do before then. Which is sad, b/c I would like to be excited and counting the days until the wedding but instead I must focus on research papers, presentations and exams. Yay for graduate summer classes!!! (Not really). I'm ready for a break. I NEED a break.
In other news, it has come to my attention that of the close friends whose weddings I have been in, both of them got engaged in Williamsburg. Ironic, eh? Since my Bf got my father's permission before his surgery and since we have been ring shopping and since it seems that every girl I went to elementary school with and some from high school and now grad school have tied or soon will tie the knot...and I'm in one this weekend...I have had marriage/engagement/wedding on the brain. But what I have had on the brain is nit-picky concerns. Such as, will it be confusing if I am hired in a school and then a year or two later change my name? Will kids adjust to that or will I forever be called 2 names? And speaking of names, to hyphenate or just do double name? Stupid as it sounds, I always wanted to move UP the alphabet to not be at the end anymore, so hyphenating does not sound good. From a feminist perspective, it does. From a what the names would sound like hyphenated (grim) it does not. But then there is the issue of middle name and maiden name, both of which I want to keep. Can I drop my first name? From the wedding fesitivies I have been privy to lately, I have learned what I do NOT want, which is I do not want a bunch of present parties, nor do I want a whole lot of people at my wedding. But none of this is an immediate issue, as my ring is obviously still at the jewelers waiting to be picked out or designed. I found one I really liked (but not that high quality b/c of $) but the Bf wanted something different and will probably design something. On the one hand, designing is great b/c it means I won't have a cookie cutter ring (and as you know, I am anything BUT cookie cutter) but on the other hand I do not like round channel setting b/c of the gaps and love the 5 on one side five on the other princess setting I found to symbolize 10 years of dating with the engagement diamond in the middle. Gaps collect dirt and soap scum and while I know I will be diligent about keeping it clean one can not always be running to the cleaner. In addition, there is the matter of the proposal. In this day and age, what with wedding webpages and whatnot, it seems that everyone has this incredibly romantic story about their proposal (flower petals leading to where the ring is, scavenger hunt type notes, life-size board games, impromptu television watching that lead to a surprise question, etc). I would love a unique proposal that would be a great story for future generations and testament to the TEN YEARS of dating and that was special to us, but at the same time I don't see it coming that way. There are so many places I would LIKE it to be: in front of the house he was in when we started dating or my childhood home, places special to us, at the end of a game of miniature golf at the place he used to work, etc etc. I want the great proposal story...but more than that I just want the great guy that I have loved for so long to officially want me back that way and show it. I want the "As You Wish"(Princess Bride) happy ending (just not the ROUS's). I've got the true love and as it was said "This is true love. You think this comes along everyday?" We'll see how and when it occurs (the If is not so much a factor anymore).