How much do you want to bet she says no?

[Greybeard]

I just got my invitation to fence in the World Cup tournament in Montreal April 30-May 2. I have already had to skip Malchow Germany and Warsaw Poland.

I just sent a note to my wife asking her if she wants to go for her 50th birthday. (May 4. I can use miles to get us there and the only cost would registration for the tournament. Double occupancy would be 760 Euros and all meals are included. (of course there is that bit where I'd be fencing)

I bet she doesn't say no, more of a he!! no.

[DavidX]

i thought telkanuru was going to ask a girl out and greybeard was gonna try and make a quick buck

[Greybeard]

Nah, I have a much subtler way of begging for dollars.

[Empty Wallet]

Greybeard, I am disappointed in you. How long have you been married and you can't get this right?

Oh Deary Darling, as a special treat for your 50th, I am shouting us a trip to Montreal. Oh such a lovely place. So romantic. Good places to eat. It is ideal.

Now, I know you have done so much to support me lately, so I am making some special sacrifices so you can have your special "just for you time". You can go shopping, sightseeing (you now how much of a drag I am on these things, and I want you to enjoy yourself to the fullest.

Don't worry about me being left on my own. I can hook up with some of the local fencers -- they have some little wheelchair demo that I can help with.

Enjoy, dear, enjoy.

[JackOfHearts]

i thought telkanuru was going to ask a girl out and greybeard was gonna try and make a quick buck

If you thought that, I have a bridge I'd like to sell you.

GB, don't keep us in suspense, man! Let us know what she says (Hopefully a "Yes!". An Alright would suffice. )

[thereom4]

Greybeard, I am disappointed in you. How long have you been married and you can't get this right?

Oh Deary Darling, as a special treat for your 50th, I am shouting us a trip to Montreal. Oh such a lovely place. So romantic. Good places to eat. It is ideal.

Now, I know you have done so much to support me lately, so I am making some special sacrifices so you can have your special "just for you time". You can go shopping, sightseeing (you now how much of a drag I am on these things, and I want you to enjoy yourself to the fullest.

Don't worry about me being left on my own. I can hook up with some of the local fencers -- they have some little wheelchair demo that I can help with.

Enjoy, dear, enjoy.

I agree with you in that GB has to "sell" this trip. But this is not the pitch to go in with. First, have a plan. Come up with an itinerary. Plan the time there for the BOTH of you. Nobody wants to be a tag along. I'm sure if Mrs. GB wanted to go shopping and sightseeing by herself she could. Some couples take separate vacations. I don't necessarily agree with that but to each his own. But I think since you want to go together for your anniversary you should have activities planned. What does she like to do? What things interest her? What things do you both enjoy? If she likes sculpture and there so happens to be a sculpture garden in the city or a nearby city you're staying in, plan the day around that. I think if you make it about the both of you, hopefully she says yes. But have a plan. Happy (prelated-not a word) Anniversary!

[Fencergrl]

I agree you have to sell it, but not necessarily just put some cheap camouflage on what's really just a fencing trip (which she'll see through no matter what you do).

This means doing some research. Find some things that the two of you would enjoy together or at least things she would enjoy and you will simply be at the very least good company.

A birthday gift is not a trip to a fencing tournament for her. So think of fun things that she would actually consider to be a nice gift. She knows the only reason you want to go to the above cities is because you want to fence. So figure out why she would want to visit... what's in it for her?

You're a lawyer. You learned to negotiate. The #1 rule in negotiating is finding out what will make someone say "yes". So GB... what is it about that city that would make your wife want to visit it?

[Greybeard]

Well they speak French, which only I do of the two of us. She has already said no, she wants to be around family. So I said, 'OK I'll go" Ha ha very funny not a lot. I'm still working on it and we don't even know if I can fence, depending on my health. She knows I need international points too. So time for some Jewish guilt.

[Greybeard]

Well I just bought her a diamond and emerald ring. Since emerald is her birthstone. Of course I defaulted to the Jewish man's choice-jewelry. She has plenty of nice stuff. I have often told her, "who do you think puts the Jew" in jewelry?"

[thereom4]

Well I just bought her a diamond and emerald ring. Since emerald is her birthstone. Of course I defaulted to the Jewish man's choice-jewelry. She has plenty of nice stuff. I have often told her, "who do you think puts the Jew" in jewelry?"

Oh so you're buttering her up. Nice. One piece of jewerly every month until your anniversary should change her no into a yes. lol! Emerald's a nice choice. That's my birthstone as well. Pearls should be next.

[Inquartata]

Maybe you should have told her that you bought it in a shop in Montreal, and you will have to go and pick it up personally.

[Greybeard]

I bought one of my Breitling watches there on a business trip too.

[fatfencer]

Well I just bought her a diamond and emerald ring. Since emerald is her birthstone. Of course I defaulted to the Jewish man's choice-jewelry. She has plenty of nice stuff. I have often told her, "who do you think puts the Jew" in jewelry?"

You are officially my favorite jew. I laughed my ass off when I read this.

FF

[PretAllez]

I just got my invitation to fence in the World Cup tournament in Montreal April 30-May 2. I have already had to skip Malchow Germany and Warsaw Poland.

I just sent a note to my wife asking her if she wants to go for her 50th birthday. (May 4. I can use miles to get us there and the only cost would registration for the tournament. Double occupancy would be 760 Euros and all meals are included. (of course there is that bit where I'd be fencing)

I bet she doesn't say no, more of a he!! no.

I'm a little confused here: double occupancy quoted in Euros? For Montreal? (yes it's French, but not THAT French).

If you want to turn it into a really romantic getaway, you might want to consider a stay in Quebec City (post or pre-competition). It's only a 2-hour drive/bus/train ride away and is easily one of the most romantic spots in North America: tons of history and Old World charm and none of the attitude.
See: http://www.quebecregion.com/_media/q...s/indexen.html

Does she like flowers? You could combine your competition with a trip to Ottawa (again, 2-hours away) to see the Tulip Festival (although officially it doesn't start until May 7). Although not as romantic a city as Quebec City, Ottawa is just as laid back and visitor-friendly.
see: http://www.ottawafestivals.ca/festiv...ulip-festival/

Feel free to pm me if you need more info

Edit: Not knowing French is no reason not to visit Quebec City, Montreal or Ottawa: Ottawa is primarily anglophone, Montreal is very anglo-friendly (at least the West end is) and in Quebec City, if you just try to say a few words in French, they will immediately spot you as a tourist and bend over backwards to help you... in English, or find someone who can help you)

[Fencergrl]

I'm a little confused here: double occupancy quoted in Euros? For Montreal? (yes it's French, but not THAT French).

That confused me as well.

Seriously consider Quebec City... That is on my list of places in Canada I want to visit. Everyone has always raved about it.

[Greybeard]

I wondered about it being in Euros too until I was told it was FIE so quoted in Euros. My French gets better as I use it. Although these days with my brain problems I am lucky to remember to put on trousers in the morning. I do remember when I worked in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland we used to hold meetings in "frenglish." I swear when they spoke English they sounded like John Cleese as the French taunter. Occassionallly they would get confus-ed. Then of course when I worked in France, then Switzerland, then Canada I had to learn French, Swiss, and Canadian French. Which confus-ed me.