silly panda

Well, THAT was a long break...

2012-12-25T04:56:00.000-05:00

So, I haven't posted in a long time. Emily and I were together a little over four years when she told me she needed space to be herself. So, that was a whole bunch of bullshit, and part of me believes that she was cheating on me in the end, what with the lack of emotional and physical contact, which, at the time, I was blind to.

Anyway - after a little bit of time and a LOT of healing and crying, I moved on. I met a wonderful woman named Marina, who is a rabbinical student at HUC. We've become pretty enamored with each other.

I also have a new job working for MedCorp EMS in Northern Kentucky. I really like my job and my partner. CSFD finally went ALS too, so I get to play paramedic at the fire department too!

That's the short version of the past two years or so since I posted. I guess I got a little gun-shy about sharing for a while there. I don't know how much I will continue to post here. I might just start a new blog altogether so that I don't have all these bad memories here. I dunno. Anyway.... I'm alive and well, and happier than I ever have been before. I miss all of you who read this, and I'll talk to you again soon.

HAPPY THREE YEARS!!!

2011-06-11T00:05:00.006-04:00

Happy THREE YEARS anniversary to the most amazing, wonderful, caring, loving woman I have ever known! The time that I have known you feels like it has just FLOWN by and I can't imagine spending my life with anyone else. I love you, Emmy!!

paramedic!

2011-06-10T21:29:00.000-04:00

No longer a paramedic STUDENT - I am now a PARAMEDIC!! I finished my practical exams today. Graduation is monday. I'm not sure if I'm more happy to be a medic now, or happy to be done with class and start to get my life back in order! This is just a quick update to let everyone know - everything panned out, my fears were unfounded, and I did fine in all of my exams.

The most important part of everything - my relationship with Emily withstood the test of paramedic class. I think at this point we can weather anything life throws at us. Hopefully, though, life is giving it's pitching arm a rest for a while.

So very, very happy, and very very tired. Glad that it's done - and looking forward to my future career as a Paramedic!

can't sleep

2011-05-10T01:59:00.000-04:00

I can't sleep, so the obvious thing to do is change the design of my blog, which of course eventually leads to blogging. I re-read the post from yesterday. The one about how nervous I am, how unsure I will be able to finish all of this and make something of myself. It struck me that I failed to mention the one person who has believed in me through this entire journey. Through like three different jobs, and two careers.

EMILY!

If it weren't for Emily, I don't know what I would do. I actually don't know how she does it, to be honest. She is currently wrapping up her first year of grad school, while working a part-time job that consumes more of her time and energy than any average full-time job should, while being the most amazing, supportive, friendly person I've ever met, working out multiple times a week, doing yoga, training for and running a half-marathon, and still managing to make time to see me a few times a week when I can work it into my crazy schedule. Honestly. I don't understand it. When I look at how I have to plan out my week, and the things I do are in huge 24 or 12 hour chunks I get overwhelmed. Emily sometimes has to plan her days out to the hour to make sure everything gets done - and it DOES always get done. She's like superwoman! I tell people all the time that I have the most amazing girlfriend in the world. That I'm the lucky one. That I couldn't do this without her. That she means the world (and more) to me. But I think that THEY think I'm just being emotional. Or sappy. Or boasting. Well I am, all of those, but it's also the truth. There is NO WAY I would have ever even started medic class without Emily's support. I doubt I would have ever even joined the fire department without her encouragement. I would never have made it through fire recruit school. EMT school. Job changes. Training. Unemployment. Employment. Learning. Growing. I've learned how to share my life with her, too. REALLY share it. Not just superficially. The good and the bad. Although lately, there's been so much more good than bad as our lives keep getting better and more in sync. I've learned to be open and honest. I've learned to be healthy (erm, healthiER....still some room for improvement.) I've learned that steel toe boots, blue jeans, and a black polo shirt do not constitue appropriate "date night" attire. How I managed to win her love dressed like that on our first date is a mystery to me, even today.

So I don't say it often enough, but I try. I love you, Em. We make a great team.

paramedic class update

2011-05-08T22:33:00.007-04:00

Not sure why I felt like posting a quick update tonight. I am nearing the end of paramedic class. In fact, I have just a little more than a month left to go. I feel nervous, happy, and anxious all at the same time. I am worried about getting all of my ALS contacts in. I am worried about knowing everything for the big quizzes we have each week, the final exam, and the registry written exam. Every time I have a good encounter with a patient, and help to create a positive outcome, it bolsters my confidence and makes me believe that this is what I was meant to do. Every time I have a rough day, or forget to do something, or make a mistake, it makes me panic that I'm wasting my time and I'll never be able to make this work.

Don't get me wrong - I'm confident. Not to the point of being cocky, but I know what I know, and I also know what I don't know yet and still need to study and expand on. I love the time that I spend at various fire departments in the area, getting my ride time. I hope that some day soon I will be able to actually work with these folks full time as a paramedic.

Right now I just feel very tired. Sometimes I wake up and I don't even know what day it is, or where I am. It takes me a moment to get my bearings and remember which bunk room I'm in. (Or, on the odd occasion that I'm at home, that I'm actually in my own place!)

It'll be all over soon, and like Jeff says.... on June 13, I'll either be a new paramedic, or the smartest EMT at my fire department. Here's hoping it's the former!

ugh. blogging.

2011-02-14T15:04:00.005-05:00

Sorry for not updating in forever. I guess every once in a while I need to review what I've got out here on the interwebs. I really don't post here all that often, so you should probably catch up with me on twitter or facebook.

The short version of what's going on: I'm doing St. Baldrick's again this year. Go here to check out my page. I'm in Paramedic class - actually about halfway through it, and LOVING it! I also have started a new job recently with EMT, Inc. I'm LOVING that too - good hours, good pay, great people! Quite the positive change from my previous place of employment.

Emmy and I are more in love than ever, and rockin out with our new lives together in the same city now, even if scheduling around classes, work, and clinical/field hours is hard sometimes.

That's the short version. Sorry to be brief, I've just kinda gotten used to 140-character updates instead of long blog posts. I'll try to get back to blogging more often when things slow down a little.

work work work

2010-07-14T22:11:00.004-04:00

Worked a 24-hour shift at rural/metro and then spent almost all of today sleeping. Yesterday day shift wasn't so bad, only had maybe 8 runs in a 13 hour shift, but the night shift I got spanked, hardcore. I think the ALS crews got to sleep for a good part of the night, too. Pegg and I were on a BLS-only truck and we got sent to lexington, grant county, and all over northern kentucky and cincinnati. Glad to have the rest today, for sure.

Days (and nights) like that make me wish for a higher-paying, more stable job. Mostly because working long hours like that takes away from time I can spend with Emily. Phone calls and bbming with each other just doesn't cut it. I need hugs and face-to-face conversation. Some day, I guess, right?

In other news, I posted another 4-pound weight loss this past monday. Clothes are still fitting better every week too. Weight watchers is easier than I thought it would be. I don't feel starved, and I almost never am annoyed by how many points things are. I still miss sitting down at goldstar and eating 3 coneys and a 3-way spaghetti. That will never happen again now that I've really learned how bad it is for me (I always kinda knew, but now I REALLY know).

My back is mostly better. It's still a little sore in the morning when I wake up every now and then, but it's gone by the time I get out of the shower and start moving around.

For the most part, everything is pretty good. Could always be worse, and could always be better, but I'm really happy with life right now. It's been a good few weeks lately, and there's a lot of fun stuff coming up.

back to work

2010-07-08T22:37:00.002-04:00

Went back to work today. My back held up pretty well - certainly better than it was the first day I was off. A little sore, but nothing awful. Gary was actually a big help in doing a large part of the cot-lifting today, despite starting the day off with carrying a very large woman down a flight of outdoor, uneven steps without handrails, in a stairchair that was made, I think, in soviet Russia prior to the start of the Cold War. (I'm just guessing, though...)

Anywho... today was ridiculously hot. I mean..... HOT outside. Like, bordering on 100 degrees out. I was sweating all day long. The high point of my day was when Tracy noticed that I've been losing weight. Made me feel pretty good about myself, akshully!

Mostly, I'm blogging right now because I can't sleep. I need to sleep. I have another 14 hour shift tomorrow, and then a 13 hour shift on saturday. Lonnnnng days. Need sleep.

K. Goodnight, all...

back hurts again

2010-07-06T16:33:00.002-04:00

So, I hurt my back yesterday at work. I thought I could work through it. I went to a quick appointment at a chiropractor on my break, and he told me I was foolish for going back to work right away but he would do his best and make an appointment for me on wednesday.

Well, I woke up this morning and was in even more pain than before. Called off work. Went to see the doc again. This time he really worked me over. I'm tired and sore, but not in as much pain. Going back to see him again tomorrow. Hopefully everything will be fine by the time I go back to work on thursday.

Happy ID4!

2010-07-04T18:22:00.009-04:00

Happy 4th of July, everyone! I'm spending the day at Emily's house, cooking, grilling out, and then later setting off massive amounts of fireworks with scott, which is my favorite part of this celebration of our country's inception. (The photo to the left, incidentally, is of fireworks over UC's campus, one of my favorite pictures of all time).

I know I haven't been posting a lot lately, but I'm trying to remember my faithful blog-readers when I can. A lot has changed lately. I'm working at Rural/Metro Ambulance now. It's a decent job, with OK pay. Not great, but OK. The schedule isn't awful, and there's a lot of opportunity for overtime, which helps with the pay-grade situation. For the most part, I like the job, and it allows me time to do other stuff besides work (which is always a plus).

At the moment, I am no longer on a squad shift at CSFD. There were some administrative/interpersonal issues that I'm not going to go into in public. Ask me irl if you want more information or hit me up in a pm. It's just as well, anyway, since I am planning on starting Paramedic classes at UC in August. Should be an exciting, and challenging, year of very hard work, but I think it will be worth it in the long run in terms of advancing my career in EMS. Plus it goes to further allowing me to help people, which is really my life-goal in basically everything I do.

Emmy and I celebrated our two-year anniversary, of course, which was AMAZING. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful girlfriend. I will post pictures of all of our anniversary escapades soon! (If you're fbook friends with me, you've already seen them anyway - I just wanted to mention it here for those who missed out.)

Anyway, it's time to start getting stuff ready for dinner so I'm not gonna sit here and blog. Go have fun and blow something up to celebrate our freedom!!

Happy 2 Year Anniversary!!

2010-06-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

Happy 2 Years Anniversary, Poohbear!

I'm the luckiest man in the whole entire world.
And Elmo (and his Penguin buddies) agree!!

gps bullshit

2010-05-28T19:23:00.002-04:00

So, I bought the 2010-2011 map update for my tomtom, because it got me lost a couple times with wrong exit numbers at work. Tomtom failed to mention, anywhere in any of the documentation, that applying a system patch and map update will DELETE ALL OF YOUR PREFERENCES AND SAVED LOCATIONS.

MOTHERFUCKERS!!!!

That is all.

birthday + em's graduation!

2010-05-16T01:58:00.008-04:00

GRADUATION!

This past week/end I was in Nashville with Emmy and her family to celebrate her graduation from Vanderbilt University. Em graduated with high honors in Cognitive Studies, high honors in Child Development, and her B.S. from Peabody College was also with latin cum laude honors. In other words, I'm dating a GENIUS!! I could not have been a more proud and happy boyfriend, standing around with my baby next to me in her cap and gown, smiling and proud and happy!

While we were in Nashville, we had some AMAZING food. We ate at Cantina Laredo, which was advertised as "gourmet mexican food." We jokingly wondered if this mean a higher-paid kitchen staff, or something more serious. I was DELIGHTED to find that their menu offered soooo many different kinds of food. All fresh. All authentic. The server prepared fresh guacamole right at our table, and it was amazing (and readers of my blog may already know that normally, I stay away from guacamole because of previous, painful incidents involving avacados). Scott and I both are still raving about the dinners we had. I simply cannot recommend Cantina Laredo highly enough - if you have the chance, go there and try it for yourself.

The next day was senior day at Vanderbilt. Emily was honored twice - once at her department's special lunch gathering, and once at the Peabody College ceremony. She was honored both by her program heads and the dean of her school. It was a very nice ceremony, and I think Emily was surprised by all of the accolades, but it didn't come as a shock to me - I've known all along how deserving of those awards she is.

While in Nasvhille, of course, I also turned 26. We celebrated my birthday together at the Germantown Cafe. This one was my pick, a while back when Emily and I were looking at menus for various places around Nashville. The rib-eye special that I had was delicious. I think everybody else liked their food, though some of us ended up comparing the experience to the previous night's dinner, wishing we had gone in the opposite order. Finishing the night with Gigi's Cupcakes for my birthday couldn't have been more perfect, though!

The next day was GRADUATION! The day started verrrrry early with me and Charlie getting up and heading off to the lawn where it was being held to reserve seats for the gang. We found perfect seats in the second row. The day started out cool enough, and quickly warmed up. I got a little sunburned, but nothing huge. The main focus of the day, of course, was EMILY walking across the stage. I screamed so loud when they called her name I went a little hoarse and everyone in the crowd around me probably thought I was nuts, but I don't care - I was SO proud of my baby! Emily's sisters at Delta Gamma put out a really nice spread of snacks and desserts at the DG house following commencement. It was nice to see all of the familiar faces that I've grown to know and appreciate while Em's been in school all this time. It was kind of sad for me. (and of course for Emmy too) to say goodbye to all of those girls, knowing that it might be a long while before we see any of them again. That night was Emmy's pick for dinner, and we ate at Mad Platter, also in Germantown. This one was an odd-ball for me. I enjoyed my food, but my jew-friendly options were slim, as most everything had bacon, prosciuto, seafood, or pork in it. I think everybody else really enjoyed their meals, though. We followed it up with dessert at Sweet CeCe's - which was a blast (I ate too much, though).

The next day, we all had breakfast at Noshville, one of my hands-down favorite places to eat in Nashville. Charlie, Ellen, and Nana headed off to Cincinnati while Scott, Emily, and I packed up the last few things at the DG house and then headed back home ourselves.

I just wanted to say how proud of my Emmy I am, and how excited I am to start this next chapter of our lives together as a SHORT-distance couple! I love you, Emmy, and I am so excited for everything that is ahead of us!

happy 22 months!

2010-04-11T21:25:00.004-04:00

So, it's been a few months since I posted. Life has been topsy turvy for me for a while, but there has been one, amazing, incredible, perfect constant through it all.... my Emmy! Today we are celebrating our 22-month anniversary, and I couldn't be happier! Emmy, I love you so much, and I can't wait till you graduate from Vanderbilt and get to have you in the same city all the time!

when we last saw our dynamic duo...

2009-12-26T02:41:00.005-05:00

...so, it's been a long long time since I updated. A bunch has changed. Since I posted, I was laid off from the com center. I finished EMT class. I celebrated thanksgiving with my family in pittsburgh, hanukkah with Emmy's family and my own, an 18 month anniversary with Emmy, and just yesterday, celebrated Emmy's 22nd birthday! There's been so many happy and wonderful things going on, I haven't been as focused on being jobless again as I had expected I would be. It still is disconcerting. I am working really hard to find new work, but for the time-being, I am freelancing in lighting, working for AVI, 3dx, and VLS when they need me. Mostly, though, I just wanna talk about Emmy. I wanna shout from the rooftop how much I love her, and how wonderful she is in my life. How I think about her all the time. How I can see our future together. I'm just so luck to have the love of my life, the cheese to my macaroni.

As far as what's ahead.....assuming the work situation stays this way, (and the way the economy is, I see no reason why it will change for me anytime soon, unfortunately) I will be moving with Emmy to wherever her grad school is, and start a new job there, I hope. Once all the paperwork is in with the NREMT, I will be able to sign up to take the national registry test, and then once I have my EMT cert, I hope to put it to good use at the fire department and by working on a transport unit and make some money on a night shift or something, maybe weekend hours too. In about a week I'm going to Columbus for the Longaberger Basket Co show, which will make me some serious bank - about $3500 when all is said and done, which is good, but it will be some long hours and lots of hard work.

Right now, I'm just floating on clouds, having spent the whole day yesterday with Emmy and her family for her birthday. We had matzah brie in the morning, then presents, then we went and saw It's Complicated, and then we went to Twin Dragon chinese buffet and had YUMMY dinner. Then it was back to the house, and we played Charades (which was hilarious) and Sorry (which I had never played before) and then Emmy and I cuddled on the couch. I could not have asked for a more perfect day! I'm just so in love with Emmy, and so lucky to have her (and her family) in my life.

NIOSH report released on Colerain Twp fire

2009-08-09T16:11:00.003-04:00

Remembering and Honoring Cpt Broxterman and FF Schira
For those of you not on the CloseCall/NearMiss lists, or if you haven't found the time to read it, I just wanted to pass along the link to the NIOSH report resulting from the investigation into the fire in Colerain Township that led to the deaths of Cpt Broxterman and FF Schira. It was passed around work today at the com center, mostly because a lot of the people I work with on 1st shift were at work that day, but also because it sheds some light on what happened, and what we can do to prevent it from happening again.

You can read the HTML version here:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200809.html
Or download a PDF of the report here:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/pdfs/face200809.pdf

Be safe, be well.

Dave

homer simpson, firefighter

2009-07-10T20:30:00.003-04:00

So, I dunno how I never saw this episode on its original air date, but I just watched a rerun of the Simpsons episode where Homer becomes a volunteer firefighter for a very brief, and crime-riddled, period of time. (Episode guide here.) In it, Homer and his gang get so used to people showering them with praise and prizes for doing their duty as VFD members that when the luck dries up, they start stealing things from the very houses and business they are fighting to save from burning up. Hilarious... but it also made me stop and think for a minute.

Other than meeting Emily and all of the time I get to spend with her, there's nothing more rewarding in my life than helping other people. I love the work that I do with Crescent Springs, as a firefighter, and as an EMT-trainee. I'm also thoroughly enjoying my training at the com center, because that's just another way I can help somebody in their time of need. It's kinda funny, really... I get almost a high when I feel like I have accomplished something. More than anything else I have ever done with my life, working in emergency services brings me so much immediate satisfaction, and so much happiness. I didn't really have a point in writing this post, other than to just express how happy I am that I have found an activity that allows me to help people. It's like the bumper sticker says... "Our finest hour begins with your worst."* I just really get a kick out of doing right by other people. And feeling needed. I guess that's it.... end of rant.

*or, more comically...... "Nobody ever called the fire department because they did something smart." LOL.

one year, new job, lions tigers and bears, oh my!

2009-07-09T17:17:00.006-04:00

Well... I think this is the longest I've gone without posting - a whole month! Emmy and I celebrated our first year together at her apartment in nashville. We made our own sushi together and it was AWESOME! (We also found out that Emily is the only one who is allowed to roll sushi, since I messed it up...lol) I got Emmy a factory-integrated ipod adapter for her car, and she got us tickets to JEFF DUNHAM live in Louisville!! I can't wait to go see it with her!

In other big awesome news, I started my new job at the Hamilton County Communications Center at the end of June. I'm actually really enjoying my training there! I've started answering so-called "non-emergency" phone calls, even though a lot of them turn out to be medical and domestic calls that could have just as easily been 911 calls. It's been hard adjusting to waking up at 4:15 every morning, since I have to be at work at 5:45 for the morning briefing. Also, lunch at 10:30 or 11am is weird, but I'm slowly adjusting to all of it. I really like all of the people I work with, and I'm glad to keep learning new things every day.

OH! I almost forgot to write about 4th of July, which was....AWESOME! Fireworks and dinner and everything with Emmy's family - I felt so at home, and so welcome, it was probably one of the best nights of my entire life. Ellen (Emmy's Mom) makes the BEST hummus and salsa and vurkey burgers and everything...it was SOOOO yummy! Even better was that I got to spend like the whole weekend with Emmy - we cooked together, and watched tv together, and cuddled, and laughed, and went to the jcc and worked out and swam.... I don't think it could have been a more perfectly Emmy-full weekend! Did I mention FIREWORKS which were freakin AWESOME???!? Scott (Emmy's Dad) is just as much a pyro nut as I am!

Also, last night, I wrote my very first ever love letter to Emmy, and I mailed it today! I'm really excited for her to read it... I've never written one before... or received one. I just hope she likes it :) I feel all giddy and happy and excited. We're almost to our Year-and-a-month anniversary!! I love Emmy so so so so soooo much!

I know there are things I've forgotten to write about... Emmy will need to remind me or comment and tell me...hehe.

can't sleep

2009-06-09T02:55:00.005-04:00

So, I can't sleep. I'm not even sure what I want to write about, I just kinda felt compelled to blog about all the stuff that's been going on. I graduated from Fire Academy back in May, and that was pretty sweet. I've been making fire runs whenever possible. Since I left OLLS, I've had a lot more freetime. I've pulled a few jobs with Vincent Lighting, and a couple of calls with the IATSE local. It's helped to pay the bills, but Mom and Dad have helped me out too. I hate money more than anything in the whole world. I wish I didn't have to work at all. However, in the world of work, there is some good news this month. I got the word that I have been officially hired at the Hamilton County Communication Center. I begin my 6-9 months of training on June 22nd. It's a way better gig than olls ever was. I'm starting at $17.33/hr, and there's tons of room for promotion and advancement. I'm both excited and very nervous.

I've been seeing Emily as much as possible, too. I don't like being away from her. We were both hoping to have the whole summer together, but I think we are making it work. What blows my mind is that our 1-year anniversary is coming up. I can't believe how fast our first year together has gone by. On one hand, I feel like I've known Emmy forever and ever, and on the other hand, this year has gone by in the blink of an eye. Emily makes everything good for me. When we are together, even just talking on the phone for five minutes a couple times a day, everything is right in the world. There's only one more school term to make it through before we are back together in the same city for good. I took Emmy to the Indy 500 on our annual trip with Tommy and Milena and crew. It was really nice to have a fun day like that with Emmy next to me the whole time.

I guess I just wanted to blog a little bit tonight because I feel all twitchy. I've never been out of work for this long, and even though I have a confirmed starting date, it just makes me uncomfortable to be sitting around on my butt so much. I wish that VLS or IATSE had at least a little bit more work for me in the meantime. I'm going to go to Nashville and visit my Emmy again this week, so we can celebrate our 1-year anniversary together, and then next week I'm going to Pittsburgh to see my folks for a little bit before I start at the Com Center. I just wish there was more to *do* other than fun stuff, cleaning up, and working out a few times a week. It makes me nervous just sitting around like this.

I guess that's it... I know this wasn't my most eloquently written post, but I just wanted to clear my head a little bit.

Happy 11 Months Poohbear!

2009-05-11T00:01:00.000-04:00

Happy 11 Month Anniversary, Poohbear!

I can't believe we're already so close to our year anniversary! I feel like time has just flown by for these short 11 months, but at the same time, I feel like I have known you forever, and that's how I know we were meant to be together! I love you so much, and it means so much to me that you are supporting me in all this career-changing, fire-training, everything stuff.

I love you, and I am looking forward to our year anniversary, and many many more months and years after that!

oh hey... remember me?

2009-05-05T06:03:00.004-04:00

Oh... hi Blog! It's been a while, huh? I guess I kinda got caught up in the real world (and, to be honest, in microblogging on twitter) instead of posting here. Lots has happened...

The biggest news, I suppose, is that I finally reached my limit of bullshit and screaming and being berated and getting kicked in the metaphorical balls all the time, and I quit my job at On Location. I have a few freelance gigs lined up, but I am hoping that the position with Hamilton County Dispatch (which yes, I realize I have not mentioned here at all because I didn't want Jim and Amy to read about) pans out. Basically it pays a fair amount more money (not a ton more, but enough to make life better, and it has no Jim and no Amy, which of course makes life MUCH better.)

I got to visit Emmy in Nashville for a short visit, and now she is home for almost the whole month of May! We have of course availed ourselves of lots of cuddling time, and I got to have a couple of dinners over at her family's place so far. It's so good to have my baby back in town with me, it just makes my world complete again. Even better, our familys will finally get to meet next week. We are gonna have a fun dinner at Bucca diBeppo so everybody can meet and say hi and see who these people we've all been talking about for so long are!

In fire-related news, I have ONE class left in Fire Academy - this thursday we take the written IFSAC FF1 exam, and then the 4 practical stations for the academy course. Then on monday the 11th, is GRADUATION! Hopefully the next night, Tuesday the 12th, I will be voted in as a member at Crescent Springs, following the completion of recruit class. I'm really looking forward to that. I've learned so much (but I know it's NOTHING compared to what I have yet to learn) but more importantly, I've gotten to know the folks over there, and I've really started to feel welcome. I've been making runs (when I can) and learning where everything is on the trucks, and I am slowly becoming accustomed to all of our SOPs so I know what to do and what to look for when we arrive on-scene.

Lots of good things in my life right now, the best of which is that Emmy is HOME and can be in my arms again! Hopefully lots more good things to come soon...

happy 10 months, poohbear!

2009-04-11T00:56:00.002-04:00

Happy 10 Month anniversary, Poohbear!

You are the most gorgeous, perfect girlfriend I could ever ask for!
Every day that we spend together, I learn more about you, about me, and about us. It means so much to me that you don't hide anything from me, and you really do genuinely care about me. I know I'm not the most level-headed, or easy-going guy all the time, but you take me as I am, faults and all. Not only do you love me as much as I love you, but your family has welcomed me with open arms. I have never felt happier, or more in love, than I do right now. And every single day I fall more in love with you.

Happy 10 Months, Poohbear... I look forward to many, many more!

I'm shaving my head for cancer!

2009-03-12T16:35:00.000-04:00

I've joined the Crescent Springs Fire Department team for St. Baldrick's to shave my head for cancer! If you'd like to help me fundraise for this event, click the link below! Besides being for a good cause, I am also doing this in honor of my Gramma, Myrna Rosenstein, who is a breast cancer survivor.

http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/shavee_info.php?ParticipantKey=2009-345665#

Thanks for all your support - be sure to be on the lookout for funny bald pictures after the event!

Much Love,
Dave

9 months!

2009-03-11T00:01:00.001-04:00

Happy 9 months anniversary, poohbear!

I know that sometimes it's rough being in a relationship with me. I'm not the most level-headed guy all the time. I love you more and more every single day, and I want to spend the rest of our lives together, and be happy together. I love you!

once upon a mattress

2009-03-06T00:55:00.004-05:00

So Emmy came in for a very VERY short visit to see her brother Charlie in Once Upon a Mattress at Cincinnati Country Day School. The show was about average as high school musical performances go, but Charlie was FANTASTIC. Believe me, I'm not just saying this because I love Emmy and her family, I'm saying that Charlie carried the show as Prince Dauntless. He was just amazing! Ok, enough bragging.

Well, not really, because I also wanted to brag about Emmy FINALLY getting her bio and picture up on the website at the Autism center she works at. It's quite the bio, and she seems very at home among all the other practicing professionals at the center. I am so proud of how quickly my baby is advancing in her field, and I can't wait to continue on this journey together!

The visit with Emily was over waaaay too soon, and now she is off on a spring break cruise with some of her friends down in Mexico and that general area. (I forget exactly where, but I remember a couple of the shore excursions.) Phone and txt and internet costs A LOT (they charge by the MINUTE for internet!) so we haven't gotten to talk a lot, but from when we have, it sounds like Emmy is having a blast. I can't wait to see pictures and hear all about it!

Oh, and possibly the most special thing that happened all weekend.... when we went to see the musical, (we being Emily, Scott, Ellen, and me) I was taking pictures of Charlie and the family together, and Ellen made everyone stop so that we could find somebody to take pictures of "the whole group" and she invited me over into the picture. I can't really put into words how many different kinds of warm fuzzies that gave me. I feel so welcomed, and so loved, and so happy to be a part of Emily's life, and be welcomed into her family like that. It really means a lot to me, and every time Ellen or Scott or Charlie or Nana do something like that, it just makes me more and more positive that Emily is who I want to spend the rest of my life with. I love you, Poohbear!!