gawonder Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Hello all, I'm trying to plan a surprise visit to see my gf in Chicago next weekend. My flight arrives @ 930a. My plan is to catch a train and bus to her apt. ( I secretly made a key to her apt hence the surprise factor and no she would not be mad at me for making the key). I want to get her to leave the apartment so I can be there when she returns...or something along those lines I'm setting my arrival up as such: I have planted in her head that a friend is driving to chitown and I'm along for the ride. The day before I arrive, I plan to tell her my friend is not coming anymore and its too expensive to fly out that day so we'd have to reschedule. Now I already have to lug two weeks of luggage around in Chicago during winter hell, so I know that should be an extra few points but I need something more to make it a bit more "magical" I guess. Can anyone please help me with a good scenario...all suggestions are welcome. Link to post Share on other sites
aerogurl87 Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Not sure if you being inside her apartment when she gets home is a great idea as a surprise. If my boyfriend did that it would scare the crap out of me unless I knew someone was at my house before hand, like my family, and he got them to let him in or something. Just a thought. Link to post Share on other sites
folieadeux Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 ^^ Good point...I would definitely rethink the whole showing up at her apartment and waiting for her when she gets in. If anyone did that to me, they'd inadvertently be spending their visit in the emergency room. Link to post Share on other sites
Author gawonder Posted January 20, 2011 Author Share Posted January 20, 2011 Ha ha indeed. Like I said I'm still brainstorming. So being in the apartment seems like a no go. With what I have do I need to add anything else. I guess the reason I'm trying to make it perfect is because I'm pretty sure this is the mythical "1" that people have talked about. Never had the pleasure of encountering my other half previously.. I have to do something with this key. I wanted to get a flight on Vday morning and bring the whole flowers, bears in her apt while she was in class on Viday but I just can't wait that long to see her. If this was your bf asking you how to do this surprise what would you say? Link to post Share on other sites
aerogurl87 Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Ha ha indeed. Like I said I'm still brainstorming. So being in the apartment seems like a no go. With what I have do I need to add anything else. I guess the reason I'm trying to make it perfect is because I'm pretty sure this is the mythical "1" that people have talked about. Never had the pleasure of encountering my other half previously.. I have to do something with this key. I wanted to get a flight on Vday morning and bring the whole flowers, bears in her apt while she was in class on Viday but I just can't wait that long to see her. If this was your bf asking you how to do this surprise what would you say? If it were my boyfriend I'd love him to go into my apartment while I was out and leave a bouquet of my favourite flowers with a little love note on them. Then if he rang my doorbell and it was him at my door I'd be so freaking happy and that'd be an awesome surprise. Link to post Share on other sites
Author gawonder Posted January 20, 2011 Author Share Posted January 20, 2011 I definitely like that idea...anything else to go with it? Link to post Share on other sites
Omei Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 I'm setting my arrival up as such: I have planted in her head that a friend is driving to chitown and I'm along for the ride. The day before I arrive, I plan to tell her my friend is not coming anymore and its too expensive to fly out that day so we'd have to reschedule. I agree with the other on showing up in her Apt, pretty scary maybe wait for her outside her apt? less scary. And the fake reschedule might be pretty upsetting for her do you think? I don't know her but if it was me be id be totally crying/upset disappointed that everything has to be rescheduled she might not find that amusing? Anyway I like the ring the doorbell idea aerogurl87 has maybe have flowers in your hand too!!! :p Link to post Share on other sites
folieadeux Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Ha ha indeed. Like I said I'm still brainstorming. So being in the apartment seems like a no go. With what I have do I need to add anything else. I guess the reason I'm trying to make it perfect is because I'm pretty sure this is the mythical "1" that people have talked about. Never had the pleasure of encountering my other half previously.. I have to do something with this key. I wanted to get a flight on Vday morning and bring the whole flowers, bears in her apt while she was in class on Viday but I just can't wait that long to see her. If this was your bf asking you how to do this surprise what would you say? If I had any hint that my boyfriend was surprising me, you best believe I'd blow off anything I have going on to make sure I'm there to greet him. In all seriousness, the flowers sounds like a great idea. Honestly, whatever you do won't matter in the end; she'll just be so happy to see YOU. Link to post Share on other sites
lonely79 Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 I think that leaving flowers and a card/teddy bear, maybe light some candles? right before she gets home (that might not be advisable actually haha), and then once she gets home, give her like 10 minutes to take it all in and wonder "what the heck??" and then ring the doorbell. that would be AWESOME. i think the canceling plans is a little upsetting as well. have you already told her you're coming? btw, my LDR SO lives in chicago too Link to post Share on other sites
creighton0123 Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 I think that leaving flowers and a card/teddy bear, maybe light some candles? right before she gets home (that might not be advisable actually haha), and then once she gets home, give her like 10 minutes to take it all in and wonder "what the heck??" and then ring the doorbell. that would be AWESOME. i think the canceling plans is a little upsetting as well. have you already told her you're coming? btw, my LDR SO lives in chicago too Depending on whether or not she is paranoid or lives in a high-crime neighborhood, it could also result in police involvement before she connects the stuff to him. Nothing beats the talking on the phone while ringing the doorbell, having her answer while she's still on the phone with you. Link to post Share on other sites
Author gawonder Posted January 21, 2011 Author Share Posted January 21, 2011 I'm trying to catch her off guard as much as possible, she's no idiot so she can detect if I'm up to something She's definitely not dramatic so me canceling would be disappointing but not the end of the world. She's not the type to "scare" if I was in her apartment, maybe our relationship is different who knows. Lonely79 when are you going to visit? I live in GA and its around the 30s here, Chicago is definitely in the teens with harsh winds I'm dreading the exposure to the elements creighton0123 she's definitely a logical thinker, knowing her she'd probably call me and ask me where the hell am I? Thanks you all for the input, I"m still working on it Link to post Share on other sites
LittleTiger Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 I definitely wouldn't be inside the apartment when she gets home and I wouldn't tell any 'stories' about changes of plan either. I think you can make it a lot simpler than that. The flowers inside the apartment idea is ok, although personally I'd find it a little freaky unless there's a family member, close friend or neighbour who could have put them there for her. My personal 'fantasy' on this theme is for my SO to ring me out of the blue when I've just got home one day and I'm all alone and missing him. Probably at time when I'd be expecting to talk to him on skype. He would say how much he misses me and he's decided he can't wait until our next planned visit to see me. By then I'm getting excited and expecting him to say 'so I'll see you in two weeks' (or something) and instead the doorbell rings.......... *sigh* If only!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Els Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Err, I am all for surprise visits as long as it is an 'unexpected' one. 'Cancelling' a scheduled one only to 'arrive' by surprise is a bad, bad, bad, bad idea IMO. She is just going to be happy that you're coming, then sad, then happy again. What's the point? In fact, if she were me I would be pissed that I had to go through a couple days of being depressed just because of the 'surprise', IMO. She may not be the 'dramatic' type, but ANYONE would still be sad. Why make her go through that? Just go for this one. Next time, don't tell her you're coming from the beginning, so that you can surprise her without all that unpleasantness. Link to post Share on other sites
lonely79 Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Lonely79 when are you going to visit? I live in GA and its around the 30s here, Chicago is definitely in the teens with harsh winds I'm dreading the exposure to the elements well i live in northern ohio - sooo we get terribly cold/snowy weather here as well so its not as much of a shock to me! I went there for new year's and I think Ill be heading back the second weekend in Feb, OR the first weekend in March. I think its funny that we both have our SOs in chicago...my advice? just stay inside!! Link to post Share on other sites
Author gawonder Posted January 21, 2011 Author Share Posted January 21, 2011 Ok so there won't be any sig emphasis on telling her I'm coming then backing out, long story short it actually was imperative that I came up with something along those lines, she was two minutes from buying me a ticket up to Chicago, if that didn't pop up this would've went much smoother and maybe a better lie but hey...m Lonely- that's cool, how often do you see each other and what kind of winter date would you recommend Link to post Share on other sites
folieadeux Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Ok so there won't be any sig emphasis on telling her I'm coming then backing out, long story short it actually was imperative that I came up with something along those lines, she was two minutes from buying me a ticket up to Chicago, if that didn't pop up this would've went much smoother and maybe a better lie but hey...m Lonely- that's cool, how often do you see each other and what kind of winter date would you recommend Where in GA are you? My boyfriend is about 45 mins outside ATL. Link to post Share on other sites
lonely79 Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Lonely- that's cool, how often do you see each other and what kind of winter date would you recommend well we are only about 3 months into our LDR but since he's moved, we have seen each other about once a month. it could easily be 2x per month (as the drive is only 5 hours) but with schedules and all that we've been hitting on about every 4th weekend. (he'll be here next weekend!!) Winter dates...hmmm, well anything inside, obviously! chicago can be bitter and awful for walking around so take the el, def. I say find a cool show (concert) to see - local bands can be fun. but honestly, when i was there for new years, we stayed inside cuddled under a blanket mostly! although we did make it out to one show and out to eat a couple times Link to post Share on other sites
60Kxo Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 I hope you followed everyone's advice here about not scaring the hell out of her by being in her apartment. Here's an idea I was going to use, but unfortunately my work schedule changed and squashed it - for now. My GF's birthday was this past Tuesday. We haven't met in person yet. We've been seeing each other online since the second week of December. We are scheduled to meet for the first time Valentine's weekend here in Seattle (airline tickets already purchased). However, I wanted to surprise her by being in Plano for her birthday. One of her co-workers was going to ensure she went right home that night after she got off work at 7pm. She is a nurse and works 6 days on and has 8 days off. Tuesday was her last day of work. I figured this would be perfect timing, right? We'd have several days to enjoy each others company before I had to leave. So much for changing schedules... So, my plan was to fly from Seattle to Dallas and arrive around noon, then take a taxi up to Plano to her condo. She lives in a really cool hip area where there are lots of shops, restaurants, bars, hotels, etc. I was going to find a place to store my luggage and then scout out the area and find a romantic place at a restaurant or bar. That would be my starting point. I would write some obvious details about the building facade and any signs for that venue. Then I was going write a clue and put it in an envelope with her name on it. Next I was going to go somewhere else and study that venue, make a clue about that place and put it in another envelope with her name on it. I was then going to find an employee who would be at the second venue until at least 9 or 10pm, pay them $5 to give her the first envelope when she came by and promise not to tell her anything about me. I was going to do this three or four more times at different locations and then finally leave a note taped to her apartment door, or slide it under her door with a clue to the next venue. I think I know her well enough that this would have driven her crazy! Her friend was going to accompany her if she wasn't willing to do it alone, the whole time knowing I was going to be the surprise. I'm telling you, the anticipation and release would have been so worth it for me. I still plan to do something along these lines when we are finally together this summer. We are both relocating to another city (her hometown) for our jobs and we will finally be together. Until then we already have several 5 day weekends planned out to be together over the next 5 months. I hope all went well in Chicago for you. I grew up in Indianapolis and I do not miss the lake effect winters! Link to post Share on other sites
lonely79 Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 how'd it go, gawonder?? Link to post Share on other sites
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