There’s a new trend in Japan, a society which is big on rituals. Couples can have a divorce ceremony at a “divorce mansion.”  The ceremony includes the smashing of the wedding rings with a special gavel.  The cost is 55,000 yen (approximately $600).  I think each of those smashed rings need a Wedding Ring Coffin!

Read all about it at:
http://bit.ly/bMquPS

A young woman I know has been involved with her boyfriend for the past three years.  She lives in NY and he lives overseas. She just completed her first year of graduate school and they are now ready to take the relationship to the next level.  He’s coming to the States and will be here on a student visa, attending another graduate school.  They planned to live together in student housing at the woman’s school.  However, since they aren’t married, the school requires certain documentation be filled out in order for them to live together.  They must sign and notarize an “Affidavit of Love,” a document which states that they are in love, are in a committed relationship, and they intend to be monogamous.  REALLY!  I am not making this up.

At first, the idea struck me as a little crazy and kind of comical.  An affidavit of love?  But then I thought, maybe it isn’t such a crazy idea.  Maybe all couples should use a document like this when they decide to be in a monogamous, committed relationship.  Would signing an affidavit of love make the decision feel more official, more binding?  Would couples take the relationship more seriously?  Or would it just be another promise which can be easily broken, like marriage vows?

A woman I know is going through a tough time with her husband.  She thinks he may be cheating on her.  Using a little humor to deal with the situation, she changed her ringtone for his calls to Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats.”  It got me thinking—what ringtone would you use for your ex?

UPDATE:  This poll is now closed.  Tipper has beaten out Al Gore and has won a Wedding Ring Coffin. 

An inconvenient marriage is coming to an end. After 40 years of surviving numerous senatorial and presidential races and non-stop campaigning about global warming, the marriage of Al and Tipper Gore has chilled.

The lovey dovey couple have separated and it appears to be mutual.

Who Gets The Coffin? Al Gore (29.0%, 20 Votes) Tipper Gore (69.0%, 47 Votes) Total Voters: 68  Loading ...

The couple married four decades ago and have four grown children.  Al was a U.S. Senator as well as Vice President under Bill Clinton.  He came very close to defeating George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election but a few hanging chads got in the way.  Those chads weighed heavily on the election and in turn Al weighed heavy.  Tipper has been his loving partner through it all but found time to place her mark on the music industry.  Her efforts resulted in the requirement to place warning labels for explicit lyrics on albums and CDs.

So…who gets the coffin?  Cast your vote and we’ll send a Wedding Ring Coffin to the winning spouse.

If you have an appropriate message to be engraved on the plaque, let us know in the comments.