Shouting from the Rooftops

[ellenscult]

ravenlas finally asked me out on Saturday. Yes, I know we're practically living together, but now it's official. *happy dances*

Comments

woot!!!!

[fire-kitten.livejournal.com]

excellent news

[makyo.livejournal.com]

Oh, jolly good. Although I kind of assumed you'd been going out for months anyway, I must say.

it's official
You've just reminded me of one of my minor pet hates, actually. The phrase ``... and that's official!'' is a phrase that journalists (especially those working for local newspapers) should be banned from using. Ideally some sort of fine for a first offence and then a short prison sentence for repeat offenders.

There's something incredibly depressing about newspaper headlines of the form ``[assertion]: and that's official!'' - it just seems synonymous with ``I'm a lazy, talentless hack with laughably unrealistic hopes of winning a Pulitzer price one day''. The same goes for usage of the word `boffin' to describe cutting-edge scientific research - although special exemption applies to a newpaper article on display by the Difference Engine no.2 in the Science Museum: ``Boffins build Babbage's box!''

(I'm not for a moment, by the way, implying that you're a lazy talentless hack - it's completely acceptable to use the word `official' in normal conversation.)

[ellenscult]

I kind of assumed you'd been going out for months anyway, I must say.

Well, we have been going out for months. Just not in the 'will you go out with me?' 'alright then' kind of way. More like the Smack the Pony sketch, with women hanging off guys' legs. *grin*

"Boffins build Babbage's box!"

*chortle* I like that one! And I'd never think you'd call me a lazy talentless hack. Although I can't think of another phrase to use beyond 'it's official' - maybe I need to go have a cuppa and some lunch, then dig out my thesaurus...

[makyo.livejournal.com]

I can't think of another phrase to use beyond 'it's official'
That's ok - after all, you're announcing that something has become official, and furthermore you're eminently qualified to make such an announcement. Indeed, you're one of only two people who are.

I think that what most irks me about newspaper headlines using the phrase, is that upon reading the associated article, it becomes rapidly apparent that the grounds for considering the matter under consideration `official' are that someone unqualified to make such a pronouncement has nevertheless done so. This generally leaves me with the impression that the article has been written primarily (or, indeed, solely) to fill up an otherwise blank space on a page. Also, as mentioned above, it's (within the context of a newspaper headline) a tired and hackneyed cliché.

[medains.livejournal.com]

Officialdom in relationships is a wierd factor - it generally just means that you start introducing your other half as 'and this is my girl/boyfriend, Fred' - most of your friends will already have noticed the snuggling, kissing, and general 'spending most of available time within 20ft of each other'.

Or, 'making it official' is a phrase that means 'we are happy enough with our relationship that we are confident to tell people' - sometimes used by people who had been having a relationship behind closed doors previously.

Of course, none of that reduces my happiness for you and your new situation. Congratulations! :)

[makyo.livejournal.com]

...and general 'spending most of available time within 20ft of each other'.
Abi and I had (both officially and unofficially) been going out for three days before she went to Peru for three weeks. She assures me it wasn't anything I said. Then I worked in Dublin for eight months, and she moved to Peterborough for a while, then I had a succession of three- or six-month contract jobs in Bracknell, Dublin, and Kent, during which period she moved to Gloucester. She now works and lives in Derby (and bought a house there last year) while I've bought a house in Coventry. We have vague plans to live in the same county at some point, but there's no sense in rushing things - it's only been five years, after all.

Or, 'making it official' is a phrase that means 'we are happy enough with our relationship that we are confident to tell people' - sometimes used by people who had been having a relationship behind closed doors previously.
Indeed. Someone I used to vaguely know once remarked ``I've noticed that occasionally people start going out together. After a while, they'll announce that they're `going out' - at which point they stop actually going out together, and start staying in together a lot more.''

Congratulations!
Ooh yes, jolly good show. I hope it all works out splendidly for you both.

[ellenscult]

there's no sense in rushing things - it's only been five years, after all

Absolutely. Hardly time to get to know each other, really! *grin* I'm happy that you two are very happy in the way you live your lives - it's nice to see.

I've been staying in an awful lot for the past few months, mostly because I've been so tired. But that seems to be lifting, so I hope we'll be out and about more now. Though there's something to be said for staying in together... Mmmm....

Thank you, both of you, for the congratulations. I hope it all works out splendidly too. If it doesn't, it means I've screwed up spectacularly, along the lines of the York Uni architects. ;)

[makyo.livejournal.com]

Have the university architects screwed up again? What have they done this time?

[ellenscult]

No, I meant like all the times they've screwed up in the past. But given the new buildings sprouting like mushrooms around campus, I suspect we'll hear new tales of horror soon. ;)

[ellenscult]

I've been introducingtalking about Jerry to anyone who will listen as 'my partner' for the past few months. And if anyone hasn't notice the snuggling, etc, etc, they haven't been to visit, called on the phone, read lj, emailed me, or otherwise been in touch. *grin*

[kissmeforlonger.livejournal.com]

You seem really well suited :-)

[ellenscult]

Thank you! He's met all my family, bar 1, and my dad keeps saying 'He's a male version of you.' Which I'm not too sure what it means, but... ;)

[makyo.livejournal.com]

I've only met him once, but he seemed a jolly decent sort of chap.

He's met all my family, bar 1
I told my sister about Abi after about eight months, but only because she happened to be visiting when Abi was round. I tend to adopt a `need-to-know' approach to that sort of thing.

I didn't tell my mum for about two years - and even then I made it clear that I was only telling her as a courtesy, not because I considered it to be any of her business. You have to be careful with mums, you see, or they start talking about weddings and grandchildren at the slightest opportunity - and an irately-slammed-down phone sometimes offends :)

[ellenscult]

I think men are usually a lot more reticent to inform family about their relationships; it's nothing to do with their families. Whereas women want to share their happiness and want their families' support, and maybe even approval. That's just the way it goes. ;)

[wiseoldbob.livejournal.com]

And here's me thinking you were together already. Otherwise I'd have asked you myself!

[ellenscult]

We were together. Just because we were together. Not because ravenlas asked me out. So now we're together because he asked me out and I love him very much. Oh, and he loves me very much too. So it's probably wise that you didn't ask me; we must get together for a meal soon, though!

[wiseoldbob.livejournal.com]

Oh yes indeedie, I'm all peckish!

Yay!

[gaxx.livejournal.com]

It's great when friends get together :)

Well, usually anyways :) And definitely in this case :) Congratz guys :)

I'll notionally add myself to the "thought you'd been for ages" list :)

Re: Yay!

[ellenscult]

Thank you! *grin* And yes, we have been together for ages, but now it's... (desperately searches for a word to replace 'official') *shrugs* 'formalised'? ;)

*hugs*

No joy yet on the Studio Ghibli dvds, but I'm still looking.