How I proposed

Ok, so when I tell people about proposing to Kaylin (this is Gary btw) they usually want the whole story, which is a pretty long and detailed thing. So instead of trying to explain each time and forgetting things, I decided I would just describe on here.

We had talked about engagement for a long time. I technically drunkenly proposed to Kaylin 6 months in. After I sobered up I made sure to explain that it didn't count. Over the next couple years we had talked about it and Kaylin dealed with my "wanting to do it right" with much frustration. I had wanted to do it since day one, but I wanted to make sure it was right and that I did it very memorably.

So around September of 2009, I finally decided it was time to get at it. I began to toss around ideas of ways to pop the question. I was in-between finagling a way to get on stage at a Styx concert to ask her, to renting out a local restaurant and having a couple of my guitar buddies with acoustics coming in playing "Dance The Night Away" while I dropped to one knee. Obviously I had some big ambitions.

As early as Kaylin's 21'st birthday I was talking to people bouncing off ideas. A main source of my ideas came from the anchors on the weekend shift. At the time I worked the studio camera for the weekend newscasts, and I was discussing with our anchor, weather forcaster, and the other studio camera operator on ways I could ask. I came to the realization that the best way would be to suprise Kaylin with a trip to Tennesse. This was something we both did in 2009, but the fun was ended short as I learned I had been laid off. So I wanted to "right" the wrongs of the year before by staying at the same cabin and have the same amount of time off. The main problem was that I knew as soon as I surprised her with the trip, the jig would be up. Enter Kevin Orpurt......

One night during the weekday newscast I was discussing with Patrece my plan to ask Kaylin. I was once again just trying to figure out how to pass it off as nothing big. Kevin then interjected "Why don't you do a 'Hey Kevin?'" Brilliance. I had not thought about it before, but it was perfect. It was big like I wanted. And the cheese factor was pretty cool too.

So after a few months of trying hard not to give up my secret, the night came on March 4th. We had actually pre-recorded my proposal. It was needed so that we could have the timing right for the newscast. A bunch of my friends from the early shows and who had the day off came in to watch, as well as all the other reporters were more excited about my proposal than their own stories for that day. That is when I did this......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKXM8ayBTP4&feature=related

After we went to commercial, I received my answer from Kaylin. Though she didn't want to tell me because I was a "jerk."

After the show I went to her house to do the proposal again in person. I didn't want to wuss out. Once the ring was on the finger and she believed that was it was when I then pulled out the paperwork to surprise her with the trip to Tennessee. Fully surprised and upset that I gave her a days notice, my plan had worked out. She loved the ring, loved the trip, and most of all, loved me.

Its a bit long, but honestly that was the amended version. I could go on and on about this, because the whole planning was such a task between getting people to not talk, to get the ring, and to get Kaylin to watch the news. The fact that it went off without Kaylin knowing how or when I was going to ask was pretty damn surprising.

Caving to the Trend

When Gary and I first got engaged, I was adamantly against making a blog to document our goings-on. For one, our wedding date is still pretty far off (and by that, I mean we haven't set anything into stone yet, but we are shooting for a fall wedding in the next couple of years.). What's the sense in starting a blog this far in advance? It was Gary who pointed out that we don't really have to write about the wedding itself; we can write about our oh-so-exciting lives.

I figure, why not?

At this point in our relationship, finishing school and moving in together are higher on the priority list than the wedding. I have a year and a half left of undergrad at ISU. I'm not quite sold on grad school yet, but I've been thinking pretty seriously about it. We'll see. I have no idea how long Gary has left for school. He refuses to tell me his graduation date (which makes it awfully hard to decide on a wedding date, dear. :D). Either way, we've both decided that being done with undergrad before the wedding is a must.

For those of you wondering, we have discussed a few things pertaining to the wedding itself. We know what colors we want, and I'm pretty sure we have the ceremony music nailed down. Next month, we are making our way out to a possible venue in order to ask about pricing and how far in advance we need to book. That's about as far as we are at this point.

But there are other exciting things happening. Gary has decided to pursue his interest in meteorology, and the folks at WTHI have been very helpful to him. I'm proud of him, and I hope something great comes of it--rake in the big bucks, honey. How else am I supposed to become a stay at home, famous author? ;) As for me, I am working my way through an English major that everyone tells me is useless. Useless or not, I'm excited for a few opportunities that have been thrown my way lately. I can't discuss them as of right now, but look for an update in the near future.

Hopefully, our oh-so-exciting lives don't bore you all too much. :D Because we'd love for you to keep reading.

-K