we did. we're the best. all you other's can go home now.

Cara and I are now married and this blog, therefore, as a computer would say, DOES NOT COMPUTE.

So we have created a joint blog about our married life together.

Please refer to it for my future crazy ramblings and her "oh so sweet" approach to making me a meatloaf. Or a pie. Whatever it is a wife should be doing.

Oh Snap!

http://lovebandaids.blogspot.com/

day one of wedding weekend completed

we did it. well, the first day at least. it all happened so fast that i can't even imagine how fast tomorrow will come and soon go.

today was filled with a lot of stress, driving, running errands, some good wedding ceremony practice, an amazing taco dinner with great people and a strong storm, a little light help getting the reception room together and maybe i had time in there somewhere to have 20 minutes in the whirlpool bathtub in my private suite.

and now i'm sitting in my fiance's private suite, waiting to her to freshen up so we can practice our dance for tomorrow night.

and while i sit here, waiting, her dress is directly across the room from me, hanging very elegantly in a thick white bag.

i can't wait to see her in it.

now, time for a few dances and then bed!

tomorrow... i get to be married to the most amazing person i've ever met.

Coming to you live...

Hey there. I know I haven't treated you the best recently, blog peeps. I didn't post these past few weeks as much as I probably should have. Let me try to change that this weekend.

"But KJ," you say, "won't you be too busy with all the wedding stuff to blog this weekend."

Well this is where my wonderful fiance comes into play. This morning we exchanged wedding gifts and I am happy to say that I am writing to you from my brand new Mac Book Pro.

I am so blessed to have such a wonderful person so close to me in this life and I can't wait to be married to her.

I'll be able to bring my new computer with me on the go and blog at various times this weekend.

As for now, I have a list of things I need to finish up before heading to the hotel this afternoon.

Mr. Almost Married's Fancy Suit has Arrived!

I just received an e-mail saying that my fancy suit has arrived and is ready for pick-up!

I am really excited to get there and try it all on!

Tee hee!

Giggle!

i are the champions

I ask you...

Who Didn't Believe I Could Do It?

Well I did it. I achieved my 2nd goal AND THEN SOME.

239 pounds is where I stand today with 5 days left before the wedding. And I can honestly say that I did not expect to reach such a milestone at this point when I started this weight-loss venture.

It's been an incredible experience so far. Eating better and running outside like crazy. Speaking of running, I hit a personal record this past Saturday with a 6 mile non-stop run.

So I'll end this post the only way I know how:

Take it away, Freddy

Fact: I have the most beautiful fiancée in the history of the universe.

2 pounds in 2 days: Rock the Vote

After a I reached my 20 pound goal ahead of schedule, I went ahead and pronounced that I could lose an additional 10 pounds by the Monday prior to the wedding.

So here I stand. I weighed myself this morning and came in at 242.

Two days before my last goal and two pounds to go.

I added a poll on the right side of my blog page, just above the Wedding Weight Watch section. Hop on over like a bunny and make your pick.

Do I have what it takes to drop 2 pounds in 2 days or will I simply give up, black out and wake up at a chinese restaurant with a bucket of crab rangoon?

ROCK THE VOTE!

12 Days: heavy is the head that eats the crayons

So, ok. We have 12 days left till the wedding and we have a HEFTY HEFTY HEFTY list of items left to tackle.

Time to hit it hard!

17 Days

I'm gonna continue the hair metal trend as far as that decade and it's skillful lyrics will allow me.

In honor of 17 days left to go, here is another great hair metal classic, "Seventeen"

Winger - Seventeen (YouTube)

I saw sparks fly, from the corner of my eye
And when I turned, it was love at first sight
I said please excuse me, I didn't catch your name
Oh it'd be a shame not to see you again
And just when I thought she was comin' to my door
She whispered sweet and brought me to the floor, she said
I'm only seventeen, but I'll show you love like you've never seen
She's only seventeen, daddy says she's too young, but she's old enough for me
Come to my place, we can talk it over, oh everything going down in your head
She said take it easy, I need some time, time to work it out, to make you mine
And just when I thought she was comin' to my door
She whispered sweet and brought me to the floor, she said
I'm only seventeen, you ain't seen love, ain't seen nothing like me
She's only seventeen, seventeen
(Solo)
Such a bad girl, loves to work me overtime
Feels good (ha), dancin' close to the borderline
She's a magic mountain, she's a leather glove
Oh she's my soul, it must be love
She's only seventeen, still she gives me love, like I've never seen
She's only seventeen, daddy says she's too young, but she's old enough for me
She's everything I need, daddy says she's too young
But she's old enough, old enough for me

18 Days (a day late)

So I missed posting this yesterday, but it is too good to pass up. In honor of yesterday having been 18 days till the wedding, here is the hair metal classic "18 and Life:

Skid Row - 18 and Life (YouTube)

Ricky was a young boy, He had a heart of stone.
Lived 9 to 5 and worked his fingers to the bone.
Just barely got out of school, came from the edge of town.
Fought like a switchblade so no one could take him down.
He had no money, oooh no good at home.
He walked the streets a soldier and he fought the world alone
And now it's

18 and life You got it
18 and life you know
Your crime is time and it's
18 and life to go
(repeat above)

Tequila in his heartbeat, His veins burned gasoline.
It kept his motor running but it never kept him clean.
They say he loved adventure, "Ricky's the wild one."
He married trouble and had a courtship with a gun.
Bang Bang Shoot 'em up, The party never ends.
You can't think of dying when the bottle's your best friend
And now it's

chorus

"Accidents will happen" they all heard Ricky say
He fired his six-shot to the wind that blew a child away.

RSVP Slackers: Saturday Edition

Well kids, we had a few more moth's that were slow to the flame this past weekend.

Jordan and Cierra: My good friend since elementary school and his wife. So what is the excuse? Too busy having been married for a year to check a little box and put a pre-paid postage thing in the mail?

I so forth then with do state that you both have to drunkenly stumble over to IHOP after the reception and demand the best seat in the house. Proceed to order nothing but a plate of fresh fruit and then stare at it.

Steve, Sandee, Wade: My uncle, aunt and cousin from Indianapolis. What's up guys? It's not like one of your daughter's is getting married two weeks after my wedding? I'm sure you are totally free to lollygag around, picking daises and not responding to RSVP's on time.

Therefore you all will have to shout a cheer from the following selection each time after Cara and I kiss at the reception: "Go Bears!" "Go Illini!" "Go Cubs!"

THE GROOM HAS SPOKEN!!!

19 Days

RSVP Slackers: Day One

Gather around kids, Uncle KJ has his first batch of people who missed the RSVP deadline.

Here are the RSVP's we got in yesterday (1 day late):

Rita and Paul: Cara's cousin Rita and her fiancée. What up, guys? Too busy planning your own wedding to send stuff in on time? Think that just because you guys are cool and are gonna have an awesome winter wedding that you can sit in the back of the class?

You both will now be leading everyone in the Macarena at our reception.

Renee Arnett: Cara's cousin and Rita's sister. Renee, no words can describe the hurt you have caused me by being a day late. Well, except for the words I just typed. Yeah I think those sum it all.

You will now be forced to slap the butt of whoever is closest to you anytime Cara and I kiss at the reception.

Bill, Nancy and Will Arnett: Cara's Uncle, Aunt and cousin (also are Rita and Renee's parents). Well well well. We rounded out the set, didn't we. The Bill and Nancy Arnett clan stuck together as a family and made it a complete set for being a day late.

I therefore state that you three will have to cross arms with each other anytime you want to take a drink during the reception.

Carmella and Devin: Cara's college friend and her boyfriend. Really, Carmella? Really? YOU were late with your RSVP?

You and Devin have to dance to every song at the reception. Even the anniversary dance and the sad, but sure to happen, last call dance.

We got a few other RSVP's in the mail, but I won't be including them as they are not coming. I shall never speak their names again! Unless they send us a wedding gift, then I shall speak their names again.

24 days

Répondez s'il vous plaît....today

Today is the deadline for our guests to let us know if they are totally awesome or plan on having major surgery that results in a direct conflict of celebrating our special day with us. Which, just so you know, is only an excuse as far as you can throw it. And last time I checked, you can't throw words. Simmer on that for a while.

Now I'm no mathematician and not since that one time in 2003 did I ever claim to be, but I think we are at around 72% for the total number of people we expected would come.

It's been pretty exciting to get home every day and check the mailbox for little pink envelopes of delight.

Yesterday I received a declined card from my friend Smokey who lives in Las Vegas. I knew he probably wasn't coming because of the distance, but it sure was nice to see his RSVP card come back and the line of congrats he gave us.

I think that has been part of the fun of this whole RSVP process. Being able to open the envelopes, touch the cards and see who is coming or not. I love seeing everyone's handwriting. It is such a personal thing that is associated with each particular individual and something that I feel is lost in this digital age.

So now what? 72% isn't 100%. Doesn't wedding tradition show that there will be a good number of RSVP's coming in the mail after our deadline?

My promise to you, the reader:

For every RSVP that comes in after today's deadline, I will reserve a special daily post to poke fun at those people. I will spare no one and probably lose position in a few will's and Christmas card lists for it.

One Month Until I Have a Wife!!!

Isn't she pretty?

We are now at one-month to go.

I know I have been totally lacking in posting blogs and updates. I apologize for this. Between work and getting things together for the wedding, I just haven't had time.

With apologies to Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, here is a short list of post's I hope to be making in the final month:

• Cara's ring story
• Geneva Sights and Sounds (continue the series that currently only has one post)
• Bachelor Party
• Cara's Bachelorette Party (a.k.a. my night alone playing video games and eating take-out chinese)
• Our wedding vow's, betrothal and the reading
• Wedding Weight-Loss 2nd Goal Achieved (hopefully)
• And many many more! (or at least a few)

Minimoon Booked!

It is now official. Cara and I have a trip booked for after our wedding.

Here is the catch, everything about the trip is going to be a surprise for Cara. She won't know until we get in the car to go.

So the catch on the catch.... none of you get to know either! Mwhahahahaha!

here is a special note/clue: it is just a minimoon and we are just going somewhere for a few days. nothing too big and fancy until the honeymoon next early spring.

21: Dealer Wins

Victory! Mission Accomplished! Well Done! Congrats! Boo-yah!

Today we mark an important day in the illustrious history that is my life. Today we celebrate that I achieved my goal weight a meaty two months ahead of schedule.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the people who helped make this happen:

- The Team China coaching staff from the Bejing Olympics. Much like making a 14 year old look 16, you guys pulled together and helped me slim down with nothing but a box of cap'n crunch cereal and water torture. Thank you.

- Guy Fieri, Paula Dean and other assorted delusional hefties from the Food Network. You guys kept showing me what would happen to me if I continued to eat the fat-infused, grease trap food that "ya'll" keep shoveling down your throats. And even after you all are long gone from some form of heart disease related demise within the next few years I will tell your tale and speak your praise over how you helped me achieve this.

- Ian Somerhalder from "LOST" and "The Vampire Diaries." Ian, you might have been the most important person of all. Your ability to be suave as both a plane crash survivor (until you crashed in that other plane that had already landed on the island... how ironic and stupid was it!) and as a vampire on the CW network has shown me that I too can achieve great things. You sir are what all modern men should be compared to. For that, and for increasing the chances of getting to kiss my fiancé after she watches you on TV, I thank you.

With still about a month and a half to go before the wedding the question now is where can I go from here? How about we shoot for a bigger goal now? 240 by August 9th, 2010. That is 9 more pounds. But I think I need a catch-phrase for this new goal. Something like in an infomercial that I can say to you all and if you were a studio audience you would shout back. So let's try it out.

I'm KJ and I'm going to lose 9 more pounds by August 9th, 2010, because...

I can do it and so are you!

Mr. Fancy Pants Orders a Fancy Pants Suit

Yesterday day I picked out my tuxedo for the wedding. It will look like this, minus the vest. Oh yeah, that's right, I'm going sans vest for this.

Attention!!!

Everyone, please listen! I have the most urgent news. Set down your children and stop sharpening your collection of Lord of the Ring knifes...

I just saw that the bedding portion of our registry is now discounted at almost half-off at Macy's!!!

Stop whatever you are doing and investigate this!!! I cannot solicit gifts, but I can come damn close.

Clicking on this link may be the best decision you ever make in your life!