Happy Personal News Dept: I'm Engaged!

I'm engaged!

But Chris, to whom, we ask. And can you please announce this as a comic involving Philippe and not you.

Two years ago Saturday I had my first date with Lauren, and on the second anniversary of that occasion, I proposed. It did not happen in a Frank Sinatra restaurant, on bended knee, as a tuxedo'd waiter brought a Tiffany & Co ring in an oyster shell. But it did involve one knee, bended, and I believe one of the cats was looking. 

If you follow Achewood/me on Instagram you may have seen Lauren peeking in here and there. I'm squeamish about dragging people from my personal life into my own tortured practice of social media, but I am also given to understand that it's often appreciated by both sides, so you likely have seen her face during the documented trips we've taken to Sedona, Mexico, Boulder, Costa Rica, Kauai, Wisconsin (3x, with a 4th on the way), Seattle, My Folks' House, Las Vegas, Utah, etc, etc, etc. That's a lot of mileage for two years, but that's the zesty velocity which naturally arose once we joined forces. (As you may have inferred, she hails from America's Dairyland, and such is her influence that we never leave the house without a brick of "drivin' cheese." These people literally eat cheese like an apple.) Right from the get-go, I knew I had met someone with a deeply-shared appreciation for the absurd, for the glories of life, and for heavy regional pastries. We've been through enough highs and enough wringers to know for well and good that we're on this path together. And, you can thank the stability and happiness she has brought to my life for the relaunch of Achewood — that much I know for certain.

So, come 2024, we'll seal the deal with devils on horseback, cost-effective wine, and a three-tiered Bavarian pretzel with a cheddar fountain.

If it doesn't drag things down too much here in the Author's Tier, I'll be sharing more of our new life together as we continue to plumb the universe for highlights. "Personal stuff" was one of the enticements at this level, after all, even if it wasn't the one that shot your finger across the trackpad. 

If you would like to send gifts, we are registered at the Portland Bureau of Parking Violations, under Onstad.