Well now, this is it. My last post as a single guy. The next time you hear from me, I'll be Mister Neely! Damn... Mister Neely! Can you feel the change already??? I know I can!

After years of dating (but not getting married), Lindsay and I are on our way to the lush tropical island paradise exquisitely named Bora Bora -- to tie the knot! Bora, Bora. Say it with me, people -- you know you wanna: Bora, Bora. See, isn't that fun? So, anyway, next Wednesday, on a picturesque beach on Bora Bora, on the day of our 9 year anniversary, Lindsay and I will be getting married. It's not a traditional wedding, and it's pretty much exactly what we've wanted for years. Years!

You know, when most people get married, they talk about how everything changes. Lindsay and I have been together for almost 9 years. And the only thing changing here is Lindsay's last name -- which'll be the same as mine. Lindsay Neely. That, I think I can remember. In fact, I think it's insanely cute and it makes me kind of giggle.

So I've been thinking about the whole marriage thing. Big picture thinking, you know. The future! Whap, bang, pow! And you know what? I am excited. So excited, in fact, that I've been having trouble getting to sleep this week. I mean, I can't wait. I've met my soul mate and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with her. Yay me! I win!

I can't wait to grow old together.

I mean, I'm seriously very excited for the time when we're both retired, old, funny, happy and doing whatever the hell our old asses want, and probably doing it while driving an RV across country, again -- just because. But then again, knowing us, it'll be an Airstream trailer instead of an RV. I wouldn't be shocked.

But don't get me wrong, people, this isn't all "blah blah spend the rest of my life lovecakes" here. Hello, it's also about spending 12 days on a lush island paradise in the South Pacific. I mean, duh. Of course it is. It's also about not having to do any actual work for the next 18 days. Can you imagine that? 2-and-a-half weeks off. Sounds nice -- I'll take it. I mean, seriously, when will I ever get this much time off again? When I retire? When I start scamming paychecks via workers comp? Er, I didn't just say that. People, let's face it -- for me, this is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation.

2 days from now, Lins and I will be in Bora Bora. Just 2 short... busy... hectic... days... filled with *deep breath* a house refinance closing (I figured we weren't busy enough, what with the wedding planning and the wedding party planning and the wedding party hotel planning and the packing for a 2 week vacationing and all that), large amounts of errands, large amounts of packing and also healthy doses of travelling halfway across the globe. I can barely fathom it all at this point. The enormity of it all. It's just surreal. But the bottom line -- we'll be in a tropical paradise with crystal clear blue water for 12 whole days. Sweet.

And then, on the day we get married on the beach, I'll be able to start wearing my brand spanking new wedding band (wear for real, I mean -- no more of this "prancing around the house with it on" fake stuff, anymore).

Oh, speaking of getting married, Lindsay and I hope to have a video of our ceremony to play at the wedding party. You know, the wedding party on (mark your calendars) Saturday, October 11th. We're keeping our fingers crossed.

So back to the vacation. Soon, I'll be swimming with the fishes (not like that), feeding sharks (non-lethal sharks, of course), swimming with dolphins (dolphins!), maybe going whale watching, maybe surfing, definitely snorkeling around the most beautiful lagoon on the entire planet, lounging on the beach playing board games, reading books, hooking myself up to an IV on a constant drip that's loaded up with Pina Colada. Garcon! I need a refill! Oh and champagne. I'll make sure there's lots of champagne, people. Rawrr.

I've also been thinking -- I'll be able to see what inspired Paul Gaugin to stay there and paint a great deal -- many of my favorite Guagin's are from his time on these islands. Maybe something there will inspire me and I'll be able to capture a little something new of my own. And of course I'll share it with you, if I do. You already knew that though, didn't you?

This week, the week ramping up to the trip, I've been checking the extended weather forecast for Tahiti on weather.com. The forecast for the first handful of days we'll be in Bora Bora (very nearby Tahiti) was crappy -- thunderstorms, high winds, that sort of crap. Crap. And on our wedding-ceremony-thing day, too. Happy Vacation! Happy Honeymoon! Enjoy the thunderstorms accompanied by gale force winds, newlyweds! So, anyway, earlier today, I went and checked the extended forecast again -- and no more thunderstorms! Gone! Pretty much all the days say Partly Cloudy, 87 degrees. Ahh yeah! Score!

Please remember to check the weather forecast for Tahiti often while I'm away. Think of me and how great the weather is where I'm at. Then know that I'm laughing. I mean, I'm in Bora Bora, dude.

So I'm signing off. See you in a few weeks. Doubtful I'll even check my email, unless we run across a cyber cafe, but we're not planning on that.

Don't worry about me -- I'll be okay. Know that I'm having a great time with the woman that I get to spend the rest of my life with. Also know that on Tuesday night, I'm gonna be mad-pissed off because I'll be missing a fantabular 2 hour Paradise Hotel (not to mention the finale!). I'll be steaming. Then I'll look over and Lins'll be steaming mad that she's missing it, too. Then I'll realize what a lucky guy I am. I mean, not just because of the Paradise Hotel thing, but because I found the love of my life and I'm gonna spend the rest of it with her. And I'm happy. Just plain happy.

Well, all, I love you. I'll miss you. I'll be back with a golden bronze sheen and a shit ton of photos. Belie' dat!
*e