It's only 6 months left until the big day.  So many things have happened in the last couple of weeks.  We recently purchased our future home in California and ready to start a new life together!  We're in the process of sending out invitations to special guests, and so much more exciting details to think about!

We began only as acquaintances through mutual friends beginning UB freshmen undergrad in 2007 at Katy’s roommate’s birthday party.  This carried on for 4 years as we continued our career into professional schools.  Our meetings were rare and always brief in the hallways between classes or get-togethers.  

 However, that changed on October of 2011 over a highly competitive game of… racquetball.  We were playing with Katy’s roommate - who coincidentally invited both of us - when Katy hit a hard-driven ball straight to the back of Long’s head and changed our whole lives altogether. 

 That same night happened to be Halloween celebration night downtown Buffalo where a group of 11 of our friends all rendezvous at Long’s house before heading downtown.  Katy extended an invitation for a drink as an apology for the little accident that started everything.  Long appreciated the offer and instead reciprocated the favor without hesitation because little did Katy know, Long have always had a soft spot for Katy during the 4 years of knowing each other. But this was just the perfect timing in both our personal lives to start such a magical beginning.

 However, Katy was playing hard to get for about a month, but after Long bribed her for a nice dinner after studying long hours for a Gross Anatomy exam she fell for it.  One thing led to the next and the rest is history, with a little fairy-dust added.  Even until today Long thinks Katy put a love spell on him after hitting him hard on the head with the ball and knocked him crazy in love.

He always foresees the future well.  The first date he went with me he told his mom that he was going to bring home a wife.  Little did I know almost 4 years later this was coming true.  Therefore, when he decided to spend the rest of his life with me I took his words for it. 

Long is dedicated and committed to anything he does as I have seen in our personal relationships and in his work ethics.   He is very motivated and ambitious to achieve what he believes holds great value, but never neglects the possibilities.  That’s what happened when he took the job opportunity in California even though he was pretty stable in Buffalo already.  He takes calculated risks and I have learned to take calculated risks by believing and trusting in him. 

With his dedicated and charismatic nature I see him being a leader in society and a loving husband at home.  He always looks tough, but I know deep down inside he has a very soft spot, especially the way he takes meticulous care of our dog Shiloh and how he treats me when people are not around. 

He isn’t just a great companion, but a mentor as well.  He taught me that you have to accept everything about the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, both the good and the bad, and not try to change who they are.  But more importantly, you should love and respect yourself first.  He also taught me about finances and technology and taught me how to play volleyball and drive a manual car, and has shown me so many more delicacies in life.  Long always told me that it is always better to be one inch deep, but a mile wide.  I always thought he was more like 10 inches deep and 10 miles wide - in knowledge at least.  Anyway, he is literally my walking encyclopedia. 

Long has a great sense of humor and is full of adventures.  No matter if we’re active and doing something exciting or just being a couch potato, everyday is like a first date with him.  I really can’t wait to spend the next million first dates with you!

Today, Katy and I embarked on designing our wedding site together, 3000 miles apart.  We are using a combination of screen sharing technology, smartphones, and webcams to make the excrutiating distance become a manageable gap.