I created this blog about 8 months ago and this is my first post. Nice.

Let me start off by saying that the “Sweet Release” (http://lifeneedsamanual.blogspot.com/) blogger is my mentor, if you don’t follow her yet… you should. I am not going to pretend that my blogs will be nearly as funny or as awe inspiring as hers but maybe just maybe, still worth a read.

A few warnings about my writing:

1. Despite spell check, my grammar and spelling skills are a complete failure. Which is really unfortunate since a large portion of my job involves writing for the masses and Word was designed to avoid such mistakes.
2. I write as I would speak, more evidence that my writing style fails. But if you and I were in the same room, I would be quite eloquent…
3. I am a chicken shit: I think that it may take me some time to get the balls to speak candidly and honestly about my personal relationships.
4. I will steal ideas from other bloggers in terms of style, content and format – but I will never plagiarize, I will always cite my source(s).
5. I use ellipsis way too often…

I am about to embark on what is, by some (myself included), considered to be most impactful step of my life, marriage. About two and half years ago I met, “The Gamer” (a nom de plume to protect our privacy, I stole this concept from my mentor and many other bloggers) and from the beginning of our relationship I have considered myself very lucky – he treats me with respect, adoration and love. Don’t get me wrong… we fight. We are human.

Our relationship grew fast… he was the first to say “I Love You” a mere two months into the relationship and I followed suit 30 seconds later with “I Love You, too” – I think that it is safe to say, we both fell hard.

The Gamer is like no other man I have met or dated. He is genuine, obsessed with video games, loves to sing, enjoys theater, loves to play sports, is extremely competitive and he is sensitive – a true cornucopia of traits, another reason I consider myself lucky; it is like a I got a mix the all of the good traits I found (and didn’t find) in my past relationships wrapped up into one package.

Karaoke, sushi, movie dates, Ocean City trips, Nationals games, softball games, Arlington, Shatner and so many other great memories developed our relationship. I am not listing the bad moments (please see #3 above), not yet at least. Although, I must admit… our engagement was the result of the lowest point in our relationship – even after a game changing fight (me being the bad guy), The Gamer surprised me with a proposal. And when I asked “Why now?” – He responded, “Because even as angry as I was with you, I could never imagine my life without you.” Not to shabby.

So for the past nine months I, with the help of family and my bridesmaids, have been planning our wedding. With the exception of the standard rules of etiquette, we are making this wedding our own… as all couples should. I hope to make it a reflection of us and our dream (ok, let’s be honest my dream) wedding. And with only 68 days left until the big day, I look forward to sharing the fun, drama, and even sometimes stupidity involved in planning a wedding. And from there, the afterglow of marriage.