Well Well Well. How to start? The past several months has had me pondering a question which all men eventually must ask themselves. "No smartass comments Joey!" At the end of august 2003, I met a lively, sweet, and inteligent young lady who goes by the name of Maggie. That of course is her english name. Her Chinese name is "ÂÀÌÎ" Lu Tao. We enjoy many of the same pastimes, for example, music, dancing, and well, just each others company. So for the past little while I have been contemplating the seriousness of our relationship. Y'know the goods and the bads and things like that. Where I see myself. How I see myself. Thinking about where I want to live in the future and knowing my feelings for this girl.

Of course I promised at the beginning of my blogging that I would be honest and dagnabit, honest is what I'll be. This past vacation for me was a time not only to see and experience new things, but to take some time by myself to really think about my life. When I had decided to ask Maggie the big one I had just finished a five day stay in Dali. I decided to buy a ring in Shanghai, which in my previous blog I hadn't mentioned. I found one that I liked and ended up taking the ring in and out of my pocket several time to just have a look at it. I guess that could've been some nervousness showing itself on the outside but whateve's.

Upon arrival in Urumuqi I had mentioned previously, that Maggie's parents and I had many things to talk about and this particular one was my idea! I asked them about it and oh boy did I get some answers. The general gist of it was that they wanted to be sure of my feelings for there daughter and vice verca. After three days of observing our(Maggie and I) behavior towards one another they felt quite happy with the two of us and this time her Mom brought up the topic.

Time passes....

Maggie and I are not sure when we will get married but she is now wearing my ring and we are making plans together. I hope when you hear this news you are as happy as I am and I hope you can possibly foresee a trip to china within the next couple years.

Peace&Love in Heart&Mind
Patrick