John William Eveland

Reflections

2010-03-11T23:36:00.001-05:00

For the past 5 years, March has become a month of reflection for me. This Sunday marks the 5th anniversary of my Mom’s passing. Tonight, I got off work at 9:05 and headed for my car. I started my car, turned on my front and rear defrosters, and called Dot at her office. With a 13 hour time difference, she was a little over two hours into her work day. As we were talking about different projects we’re working on, my windows cleared off and I started to drive towards the IU campus.

The campus has always been a comfort to me because it is a huge spiritual connection with my Mom due to the number of years she spent there as a child growing up as well as my years on the campus as a student. I took a roundabout way to campus choosing to drop in from the north down Fee Lane from the 46 bypass going past the athletic complexes and down to 10th Street at the School of Business.

At that point, my reflections turned from the melancholy thoughts of Mom’s passing to much happier and exciting memories. Suddenly, Dot was the first person on my mind and my memories were of driving over from Terre Haute four years ago on several trips to see her. By this time four years ago, we already knew that I would be moving over here come mid-April. I made the left turn off of Fee Lane towards the main library and remembered how I would drive over after work in perfect timing to pick Dot up from her job at the Commons Café for the short trip home to Tulip Tree or head for a late dinner before returning home.

Naturally, I still miss my Mom and wish she were here to share moments such as my marriage, karaoke nights, job news, etc. However, I have Dot now to share those moments with me and I couldn’t be happier about that.

I have always called Dot, Angel since the day I met her. Tonight, that title couldn’t have been more accurate since that change in my mood was nothing short of a touch of Heaven. This wonderful lady is the light of my life and I am so fortunate to have her as a part of it forever.

I Absolutely Love And Adore My Wife

2009-06-22T23:38:00.001-04:00

On June 6, Dot made me the happiest man in the world. We solemnized our marriage in a small, intimate ceremony with family and close friends. There will be another ceremony here in the states at a future time.

Since our wedding day, Dot and I have continued to learn more and more about each other. I didn't really think that there was anything else to learn, but, we have found even more things in common than we originally realized. This woman is so amazing and so fantastic. I know for a fact that my decision to marry her was totally correct for me. I cannot see myself being happy with anyone else on a 24/7 basis. Dot completes me. We can tell each other anything without upsetting the other person. We don't have to hold back truths or feelings. We both know that anything that is said is out of a love for each other and respect for our marriage that knows no barriers.

I deeply look forward to the day that Dot can move here to the states and we can actually begin sharing our full lives together. Until then, we have definite plans to travel back and forth as often as vacation times will allow. We also find a way to talk at least twice a day despite a twelve hour difference between our time zones. I'm usually just getting home from work while she's starting her work day and vice versa so it is a challenge. It is one we meet head on though. It is rough. I miss not coming home to her on a daily basis. I miss getting in the car together to drive somewhere whether on business or pleasure. I miss her smile and infectuous optimism. With all this, everytime we see each other is like there's been no break. We pick up exactly where we left off. Long distance relationships and marriages can definitely work. Dot and I are proving that everyday. It does take a little more communication and faith in each other. Thankfully, those are two areas where Dot and I are very strong.

It's Finally Happening!!

2009-02-01T18:06:00.001-05:00

Dot and I are in the process of planning our wedding!! I have been waiting patiently for three years for this moment. Now, my flight is actually booked to travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to marry this wonderful lady. I will fly out on May 30 and we will be married on June 6. Today, I spent part of my day off helping with the details and editing one of our favorite pictures so that we could use it as part of the wedding. We're also getting some ideas for our American ceremony even though that's at least another year away. Dot and I both like so many different things that it was hard to pick and choose among them.

And, I'm not getting any of the traditional pre-marital jitters. Dot and I have been together for three years and spent the better part of that time living together and totally sharing our lives with each other. We've seen each other at our best and worst. I don't see any of that changing after June 6. We'll just be legally married and eligible for the benefits granted by that connection. Our love, passion, romance, etc will all still be there. A simple piece of paper isn't going to change that.

To the beautiful woman about to become my wife I can only say thank you and I love you. Thank you for having me in your life. Thank you for blessing me with your presence. Thank you for being there for me when no one else is around. Most importantly, thank you for loving me as much as I love you.

2008 A Year Of Change

2009-01-06T21:42:00.001-05:00

Well, it's a cold, icy day here in Indiana and I have the day off of work. It feels like the perfect time to sit down and write a blog entry.

This was the year that I've been trying to postpone in my mind since late 2005. I knew that the time would come when Dot would have to go back home to Malaysia and the process of waiting for her to return to the states would start. She went home in January and came back for a very brief visit in October. Other than that, we've sustained ourselves through phone calls, text messages, IM'ing and the occassional webcam call. Words alone cannot express the love I have for this lady nor how much I miss her. The absence is only making our relationship stronger though. I know that once we're finally able to be together that it will be forever.

Another change occurred in my professional life. After gaining a full-time job in Bloomington, I decided it was time to transfer with my seasonal job as well. I'd spent five years with H and R Block in Terre Haute and knew that I wanted to continue working with them. After visiting with the district manager here in Bloomington, that became a really easy transition. I have just started my second year in my new office and I'm looking forward to continuing forward with the company.

Last year also brought many new friends into my life as I've begun to circulate with karaoke in the local area as well as picking up new friends at work. Some have become very close friends and basically family. I am grateful for all of them because I don't think I'd endure the absence of Dot without them. Naturally, this is one of the things that I love about Bloomington. Having lived here for college before, I know how great the area is for meeting and maintaining friendships. It's something unique to Bloomington. Even other college towns don't match the friendliness that's abundant here.

There are more changes to come in 2009. Many of them will be for the better. I'll tell you more about those later though. For now, I'm going to relax and hope that the weather is better tomorrow when I have to go back into work all day.

An Open Thank You Letter To Dot, My Angel

2008-10-30T11:41:00.000-04:00

October 30, 2005 is a day that will remain very special in my heart. It's almost as special as the lady who waltzed her way into my heart that day. Three years ago today, I met Dot for the first time. My life has never been happier and I am so grateful to her for coming into my life and staying in my life. Living on opposite sides of the world is a tough situation for both of us right now, but, we talk and message each other as much as possible.

Thank you for your love, Angel. It is so special to me. I love and miss you so much.

Ramadan

2008-09-01T17:01:00.000-04:00

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan has arrived. This is a time when those of us who've embraced the faith take special time to be prayerful and reflective about all of the blessings we've been given. These blessings include friends, family, good health, and food.

I want to talk a little more about the blessing of good health. This weekend is an important one to many people who don't have this blessing. Please remember the patients and families who deal with muscular dystrophy. This is actually a group of 40 neuro-muscular diseases under the umbrella of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Through the fourth, you can help make a difference by shopping on their auction site. Click here to do that.

Thanks for your help and I'll talk to everyone later.

SHE'S COMING HOME!!!!!!!!

2008-08-17T14:54:00.001-04:00

Well, the news came officially Friday night. Dot's going to be winging her way back to me during the first week of October. I'm so excited!!! It's been almost nine months since I held this wonderful lady in my arms. I've put in for my vacation and I'm going to give her 100% of myself while she's here.

In other news, I'm also getting busier at work. In this case, it's a good thing. I've applied for a promotion into the store management training program and I'm starting to be evaluated for the position. As a result, some of the business angles of running the store are being shifted to me. It doesn't mean that I have to do everything. I'm just responsible for making sure it gets done.

So, as per usual, it may be a long time between posts. But, I'll keep everyone here updated as much as possible. Talk to you all later.

Adventures With A Wok

2008-07-13T18:23:00.002-04:00

Well, it finally happened this evening. I was so hungry for anything seeming remotely Malaysian in flavor that some items came out that I didn't think I'd even use until Dot visits me in September. I dug under all of the skillets and pans and got out our wok. I also retrieved the bottles of sesame oil and "kicap mee" (thick soy sauce) from where they'd been resting atop the refrigerator since January. I was not attempting any normal stir fry by the way. I was setting out to fix anything close to fried bihun. It just so happened that Dot and I had one package of bihun noodles left when she went back home to Malaysia.

I started heating up the wok and got some strips of chicken breast ready. I also started boiling a pan of water to cook the bihun. I got the chicken in the wok and cooked it until it was basically done then I added in a package of stir-fry vegetables with a dash more sesame oil to keep the bottom of the wok damp. The water was boiling so I put in the bihun. I had the strainer ready and drained off the water when it finished cooking. Everything seemed to be progressing quite well and I was feeling quite pleased with my accomplishment.

This is where the misadventures started happening. I put the bihun in the wok with the chicken and vegetables and started to stir. After getting the noodles fairly well blended, I added some of the "kicap mee". At this point, I knew something was definitely amiss because the concoction I had was much darker than anything Dot ever fixed. It was also getting much thicker and noodles started leaving the skillet as I tried to stir in the sauce evenly.

Well, I was finally content that everything was as mixed as it would become and I shut off the heat. At this point, I wasn't sure what I'd think of the outcome. Surprisingly, it tasted pretty good. Not surprisingly, it was nothing at all like the treat of a dish that I was used to when Dot would fix it. I had enough fixed for two servings. I had one for dinner tonight and I'm taking the other one to work with me tomorrow. Hopefully, that will keep me until Dot's visit. I'm not sure I want to try this again without more instruction. LOL.

I'm Going To Be Really Busy

2008-06-07T20:26:00.001-04:00

Next week, my manager is going on vacation. For me, this means more responsibility and seven very hectic days in a row. To start the week, I'm going to be working from 8:30am to 12pm and 5pm to 9:15pm Monday through Friday. Then, on Saturday and Sunday, I'm going to be working the full day. That means 8:30am to 9:15pm on Saturday and 10:30am to 6:15pm on Sunday. At least, I'll have Monday and Tuesday off to make up for it.

I'm excited about having the added responsibility of running the store, but, it's also a drag on my personal life. Lately, I've been really enjoying the opportunity to go to karaoke at least two nights a week. For one week, that is going to come to a screeching halt. Hopefully, I don't get too exhausted as karaoke has been that part of my day to really refresh me.

In other news, I've been feeling a bit helpless lately. Almost everyone I care about has been in the hospital, ER, or clinic for one reason or another. I'm either too far away, too busy, or both to be of any real moral support by their side. No one has said anything to make me feel this way. It just stems from caring about friends and family. I hope everyone who's been laid up is recovering quickly.

Finally, I'll be offline for most of this next week due to my work schedule. Thus, if you drop me a comment, message, or offline IM, I'm not ignoring you. I'll keep up with everyone as I can this next week.

GRRR!!! I MISSED IT!!!!!!!

2008-04-18T12:11:00.000-04:00

What a way to wake up!! This morning, my cell phone went off and Robin was telling me about an earthquake and asking if I'd felt it. I hadn't, but, I didn't think too much about it. Having lived in California for ten years, I was used to feeling an earthquake in one place and it not being felt 20 to 30 miles away. I also wouldn't expect our fault line, the New Madrid, to issue a minor shake. It's a different type of fault than the ones out west. When it goes, it is supposed to really snap.

Needless to say, I get to my computer and see status messages from friends in Bloomington talking about the earthquake. Turns out we had a 5.4!! It was felt all the way across the midwest except by yours truly. Don't get me wrong. I don't want a devastating earthquake. I do miss the occasional rock and roll though. That's exactly what this was. I don't know if I missed it because I was tired and in bed or if it's beause I'm on the second floor of an apartment building. That makes two quakes since I've been in Indiana that I've missed now. The first one was quite a few years ago in Richmond, IN. We had gone out to eat at a local drive in (the real kind with car hops) and there was one in our neighborhood. Now, I've missed this one that is all over the headlines. I just had a popup news alert about it while writing this. Hopefully, I won't miss the next one.

In other news, tax season is over again. I'm glad to have some extra free time, but, I always miss doing returns. I'm addicted to that job. LOL!! I'll take more classes this summer and be back doing them in 2009. This year was my most successful year to date as far as number of clients and income is concerned. My office exceeded both our return goal and our new client goal so our district manager treated us to a pizza lunch at the office on the 14th. This Wednesday, most of us will be getting together at a local restaurant (The Trojan Horse) to celebrate and say goodbye to a new preparer who is moving.

Well, I'll post this for now. I have plans to go see my Dad today since I couldn't get over there yesterday for my birthday. Catch you all later.

Time To Catch Everyone Up

2008-03-31T00:07:00.000-04:00

It's been over two months since I wrote a blog entry and I decided that I should catch everyone up on what's been happening. I'm still busy going between my full-time job at RadioShack and my part-time seasonal position with H and R Block. We've got two weeks left before we'll be saying goodbye to another tax season.

Wow, what a tax season too. I went into this season not too sure what to expect. After making a bonus my first two years, I was moved to a new upstart office on the north side of Terre Haute. I was there for three years. Working together with the other preparers, we got the news out that we were in the neighborhood. By the third year, I making a bonus again. This year, I made the switch to the Bloomington area and an office 3 doors away from my store. I've already done two more returns than I did all of last year when I was working full-time at taxes. I can't wait to see what the last two weeks brings.

Dot and I continue to stay in touch as much as humanly possible. Now that she's started working, it has been a little trickier. She's working when I'm not for the most part and I'm working when she's not. One very important thing hasn't changed for us and that's the love and commitment we share for each other. That is something that distance just will not sever.

Socially, I've been able to get started with getting back to making it to karaoke at least once a week. This has proven to be an invaluable break from the routine of work whether it be on the job or at home. Now, I head into each new week refreshed and ready to face the new challenges ahead. I've found this cool spot in Elletsville, just outside of Bloomington, called The Beer Wagon. A company called Extreme Entertainment Productions puts on an awesome show there every Wednesday night as well as either Friday or Saturday depending on when a band is scheduled. I'll never forget nor stop attending Imperial in Terre Haute as time permits, but, I've been very grateful to find a closer spot.

That's about it for now. Talk to you all later.

Ten Days Apart

2008-01-20T02:31:00.000-05:00

Dot has been home in Malaysia for ten days now. I'm surviving, but, I miss her dearly. I miss the way she greets me with a warm hug and kiss when I come home from work. I miss her wonderful cooking. I miss taking her out to a movie we've both been wanting to see. I miss just relaxing with her in our apartment. Fortunately, I don't have alot of time to dwell on these feelings.

I'm working two jobs right now. I still have my full time job at RadioShack and I also have my seasonal job at H and R Block. I switched to a Bloomington office this year that is just three doors down from my store. The week ending February 1 will be an 80 hour week for me between the two positions since that is the start of the peak filing season and I'm not eligible for my vacation just yet from RadioShack.

When I come home at night, the fact that Dot's not here hits me. I can't wait to power up my computer and see her online so that we can start chatting. Ofcourse, that won't happen as much when she starts working. Fortunately, we also have the ability to call each other. International phone calls are not as expensive as I thought they might be. When I get a chance to switch my phone network, we'll also be able to text each other.

I love Dot so much and I can already feel that love growing deeper and more entrenched in my heart with this absence. I've always believed that absence makes the heart grow fonder and that is being proven so strongly right now. I'm feeling our arms around each other as I write these words. I'll try to keep everyone posted on how things are going.

Ten Days Apart

2008-01-19T22:09:00.000-05:00

I'm working two jobs right now. I still have my full time job at RadioShack and I also have my seasonal job at H and R Block. I switched to a Bloomington office this year that is just three doors down from my store. The week ending February 1 will be an 80 hour week for me between the two positions since that is the start of the peak filing season and I'm not eligible for my vacation just yet from RadioShack.

When I come home at night, the fact that Dot's not here hits me. I can't wait to power up my computer and see her online so that we can start chatting. Ofcourse, that won't happen as much when she starts working. Fortunately, we also have the ability to call each other. International phone calls are not as expensive as I thought they might be. When I get a chance to switch my phone network, we'll also be able to text each other.

I love Dot so much and I can already feel that love growing deeper and more entrenched in my heart with this absence. I've always believed that absence makes the heart grow fonder and that is being proven so strongly right now. I'm feeling our arms around each other as I write these words. I'll try to keep everyone posted on how things are going.

t

2008-01-19T22:08:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year 2008!!

2008-01-01T15:09:00.001-05:00

Well, 2008 is here and I couldn't have asked for a better way to welcome it. Dot and I went out on New Year's Eve and watched Alvin and the Chipmunks. We'd been wanting to see it ever since we saw the preview a few weeks ago when we saw Enchanted. After the movie, we had made plans to welcome the New Year on the IU campus in a very special place.

There is a place on campus, not too far from where we first met, called the wellhouse. According to campus tradition, a girl is not an official coed until she has been kissed there at the stroke of midnight. That's where we shared our New Year's kiss. I love you, Angel!!

A Day To Relax

2007-10-28T15:11:00.000-04:00

Well, I finally have a day to actually relax. The past few days off have been filled with other household tasks that have made it like another day of work. Today, I can actually take things at my own pace despite the fact that I have to do two loads of laundry. It feels so good to relax especially after a successful day. Yesterday, my store actually caught up from some slower days and went ahead of our projected sales for the month. It's been hard because no one knows we're there. We have no sign on the strip mall marquee and there's a restaurant between our store and the street.

This isn't totally new territory though. The past three years I've worked at a new H and R Block office that also faced the fact that people didn't know we were there. We went out into the surrounding neighborhoods and visited the local businesses and beat the corporate goal for our office in 2007. I know we can achieve the same results at my RadioShack store.

Today, is about relaxation though. I plan to enjoy my time off to the fullest. I've got karaoke songs that I've been dying to practice and there's a cookout later this afternoon. My laundry is almost done so I'll be able to fully relax very soon. In the meantime, I can catch all of my readers up for the month. I'm still taking HRB online courses also. I plan to advance two more certification levels before next tax season. That will really help the income especially since I've officially transferred to the Bloomington district. Well, I'll write more later. It's time for me to start publishing this to all of my blog sites.

Woohoo!!

2007-09-08T08:55:00.001-04:00

Thursday, I took a shirt out of my closet I hadn't worn in a while. It's a size 2X button up dress shirt. It fit!! There was no pulling against the buttons when I sat down!! I had been wearing 4X shirts to get that same effect as recently as last tax season. I'm so excited!!

There are several reasons for my excitement. The first is that I know I'll be healthier as this trend progresses and I'm down to a more normal weight. Secondly, the clothing industry charges us more for the same clothes. It'll be so nice to buy clothes at the regular, less expensive price. Thirdly, is the feeling of being normal. I haven't felt that way since the 3rd grade when I was one of the smallest kids in the class both in weight and height.

Hope everyone else is doing well!! I'm off to another day. I'll write more later.

A Big Day In My Life

2007-09-05T23:18:00.000-04:00

Today is a day I've been awaiting for more than a year and a half. I was officially welcomed into the brotherhood of Islam. All my life I've heard different things that have made me feel that Islam was a religion that spoke to me. Primarily, this is the peaceful nature of the religion. While I'm not one to hide in a corner when provoked, I'm not one to do the provoking. Then, I met Muslims personally and came to learn about the people who follow the religion.

These people are not the terrorists behind Al-Qaeda who claim to be following the orders of Allah. The Muslims I know love peace as much as I do. Most of them also love America and value capitalism. This was all the proof that I needed to know that I was ready. I've already been following the dietary guidelines for the past year. There's only one thing I haven't done which I'll do for the first time this year.

This year, I'll be fasting during the holy month of Ramadhan. This is something that I'm really looking forward to as the true test of my faith. I pray Allah gives me the strength to go without food and water during the daylight hours. That's all for now. I'll write more later.

Things Aren't So Hectic Now

2007-08-15T12:37:00.000-04:00

My Radio Shack job became a full-time position on Thursday. I'm so excited!! Thus, I no longer had a need for my other part-time telemarketing job so I was able to turn in my resignation. While I still might put in a little more than 40 hours/week, I won't be putting in weeks of 50+ hours now. This gives me a little more time to spend with Dot and a little extra relaxation time.

This past weekend, Dot and I went over to Paris, IL just outside of Terre Haute for my Dad's wedding. That was my first experience with wearing a tuxedo. The wedding was nice. At the end of the ceremony, we all released a butterfly outside the church. They were tucked inside these little paper envelopes. I've never seen such a flock of butterflies before. They were a little confused. One of them landed on the bride's shoulder for a few seconds.

At the reception, they did a mixture of dance music and karaoke. Dot and I sang a song together as well as one solo each. The happy couple is honeymooning in Branson, MO. Talk to everyone later!!

So Much Is Happening I Can't Decide On A Title

2007-05-29T18:27:00.000-04:00

This has been a fairly busy time for me the past few weeks. Since getting home from Connecticut with Dot, we've gone through commencement exercises, moving everything out of my Dad's house which is now sold, and having other Malaysian students visiting who started their US education experience in Bloomington before heading off to other colleges. Two guests arrived last week. One of them goes home tomorrow, but, two more are coming tonight.

Needless to say, free time has been slim to none. I did make it alone to karaoke Saturday night over in Elletsville. It was great to get back out again. Tonight, we're going to one of our favorite steak houses for a dinner with a group of Malaysian students and one of the Indiana University staff members who was really instrumental in helping them through the first year.

Next week, Dot and I are going to take our second trip to Gatlinburg. The smokey mountain area is really beautiful. Last year, we stayed in a cabin up on a hillside. This year, we're going to be in a motel closer to the main downtown area and all the attractions. That will be nice because it's a very hard place to drive through and find easy parking. We'll be leaving Wednesday morning and coming home on Sunday.

Then, I'm going to be busy seeking ways to raise money. I'll be making my contacts with the local employment offices, but, I'm also going to start offering guitar lessons. I'm hoping that I get a decent number of students to sign up since it'll be summer time soon. I love the guitar and it'll be great to share my knowledge of the instrument with others. That's about it for now. I'll be back with more news later on in June.

Meeting Her Parents And Other News

2007-05-06T15:35:00.000-04:00

As some of you who are also friends with Robin may know, my girlfriend was diagnosed with uterine cancer in April. She is totally cured of it now. I am so grateful to Yale University and Dr. Rutherford of the Yale OB/Gyn Oncology department for saving this beautiful lady. For those of you not in Robin's circle, here's a small recap.

On Good Friday, Dot left to go see a friend in Connecticut. She was checked into the hospital that evening after fainting. They let her out the next day and she was planning on coming home the day after Easter. That Monday, she started feeling dizzy again and she was taken back to the hospital. She postponed her trip home and they started searching for the cause. On Friday, she called me and gave me the news about the uterine cancer. They scheduled her for surgery on April 17. On April 15, I started driving to CT to be with her. We started driving home on Thursday, April 26. On Friday the 27th, this wonderful lady agreed to be my wife while we were driving through Pennsylvania. So, she is my fiance now. We got home Friday evening and went out to dinner with our friends here at Indiana U. Over the weekend, we started getting the apartment ready for company.

On Tuesday, her parents arrived in Indianapolis from Malaysia in order to attend her commencement ceremony. I was so glad to finally meet them. I hadn't talked to her Dad, but, her Mom and I had talked on the phone and communicated through IM's and webcams. Things have been going great with them. They are here until the 13th of May. I am so glad they will be here for her birthday (tomorrow) this year. It's going to make it so much more special.

That's all the news for now. I have other news to share from my professional side also, but, it will have to wait for another entry. Today is all about my wonderful fiance and her family who has embraced me so warmly. I'll talk to everyone more later.

The Feet Seem Healed For Now

2007-04-04T06:10:00.001-04:00

This has probably been one of the quickest recoveries I've ever had when my ankles flare up. I have to thank my wonderful girlfriend, Dot, for this because she really allowed (read "made") me rest. I went into work the day after they acted up, but, she convinced me to call in the next day. She brought me everything I might need and allowed me to walk only when I really had to.

My co-workers (Robin, Jeff, and Roe) were also helpful. They would do things like pulling my printouts off the printer or getting me something from the dollar store when they were going. This also helped in my recovery.

Friday was my first day of really normal movement on the ankle. I stayed in Terre Haute after work and went to karaoke with Adam and Robin at Imperial. For me, I had a personal highlight with getting to sing "New York, New York" and "Summer Nights" for Mom. It was kind of a belated birthday gift to her. Mom really loved Sinatra. She also enjoyed Grease when it was released because there hadn't been a musical in so many years before that and "Summer Nights" was one of her favorite songs from the film. In fact, I've opened with "Sandy" if I'm doing karaoke somewhere new where I don't know any girls because it invariably gets one to approach me and ask me to sing "Summer Nights" with her.

When I got home from karaoke, Dot was limping. She had sprained her ankle so it was my turn to take care of her. She heals so quickly though that she's already moving more normally. I'm still in shock at how quickly she bounced back. That should catch everyone up. I'll be in touch with more later.

Slowly Getting Back To Normal

2007-03-27T17:09:00.000-04:00

This week I've started to slowly get back to normal after overdoing a walk with my girlfriend last Wednesday. On Sunday, I actually left the immediate area of the bedroom for a little while to sit in our living room while we had lunch and watched a little of the NASCAR race. Sunday night, though, I couldn't sleep at all. I was literally up all night crying in pain as my left toe went through these very painful spasms while it tried to put itself back to normal. So Monday, I basically rested in bed all day with the exception of taking a shower so I'd be ready to return to work on Tuesday morning.

Monday also would have been my Mom's 68th birthday. Robin had given me this wonderful idea of buying a balloon in a color Mom would have liked and releasing it from an attractive or meaningful area of the IU campus. I didn't make it out to do that this year so I might keep that in mind as something special for Mother's Day.

Today (Tuesday), I went back to work. My feet are stiff, but, they're not really sore. I'm hoping this is the big indication that all of the soreness is over and that I just need to gradually loosen them back up again. Thankfully, I start at 2 the next two days and work until closing at 7 so I can get up in the morning and take it easy while getting ready. Hopefully, I'll be back in top form by Friday when I work from 9 to 4. I might stay in town at that point and go to karaoke at Imperial Friday night.

Saturday, I'm off work. Dot and I are going to go see the Singing Hoosiers at the IU Auditorium. I introduced her to this group of non-Music Majors last year. She likes them as much as I do. The Singing Hoosiers is one of the things I had missed most about not being in Bloomington. I saw the travelling group once in Richmond, IN at IU East, but, nothing compares to the full ensemble on the auditorium stage.

That will wrap up March. April is right around the corner along with the deadline for filing your tax returns and paying any balance you may owe. This year, you get two extra days because the 15th falls on a Sunday and the 16th is a legal holiday in Washington DC. So, the deadline is the 17th just like last year which also happens to be my birthday. Looks like it'll be a fun night for closing our office again!!

Living With Injuries

2007-03-24T13:11:00.000-04:00

When I was just a freshman in college at eighteen years of age, something happened that would change my life and abilities forever. I sprained my right ankle. As anyone who has sprained something knows, sprains don't ever really heal. They may stop hurting for a pretty good stretch of time, but, they never let you forget them either. Mine came back to me this week. Dot and I both love the scenery of the IU campus and she suggested on Wednesday afternoon that she and I get out in the nice weather and take a walk through the campus. I was immediately game for that idea. The only other plan I had after work was to pick my car up from the shop. That's a whole other story I won't go into here, but, it's still not working right. Anyway, I changed from my professional office attire into a pair of gym shorts, T-shirt, and my walking shoes. We went and got the car, parked both vehicles, and took off on our journey.

We were out for over two hours. Neither one of us expected to be out that long and we both paid a physical price for it; but, with my previous injury, it really came back to bite me. First on Thursday morning, my left foot was very sore and tender to walk on. But, everything else was fine so I took a little longer to get around while still making it in to work. That was all my sprain needed to decide it was time to remind me that I was injured. It flared up Thursday night to the point that on Friday morning I called my boss and said that I wasn't up to trying to make the drive in to work. The only thing I can figure is that I overused the right side to compensate for the problems my left side was giving me.

So now it's Saturday and I'm not sure if I can make it to karaoke yet or not. My left foot seems to be fine, but, my right ankle is still hurting. Unless it's in perfect shape by tonight, I'll be staying home. I'll write more later, but, I just felt like ranting my frustrations about how my body doesn't work right anymore.

It's Never Easy

2007-03-15T23:21:00.000-04:00

The passing of someone you know is never an easy thing to deal with. This week was going to be a little harder for me to begin with because it was two years ago yesterday (March 14) that my mom passed away from a rare blood disorder. However, that was just going to be the tip of the iceberg.

Sunday morning, I opened the office as usual except that my co-worker wasn't there. Since we just changed to daylight savings time, I didn't think too much about it. I called her and she informed me that she wasn't feeling well and meant to call our office leader. I told her to take care of herself and I'd take care of things at the office. That would be the last time I (or anyone at our office) would talk to her and hear her voice. As I was closing the office, I got a call from a local hospital telling me she'd had a heart attack and was being airlifted to Indianapolis. On Wednesday, she passed away. My office leader called me after I'd gotten back home to give me the news.

Today, I went back to the office and everything felt so strange. A box containing her personal effects was on one of the back tables and there was a memorial to her posted on our bulletin board with her picture. I'll always remember her desire to learn the business. This was her second year with us and she always strove to improve herself and her knowledge. I'm sure things will get easier with time. We were sharing a few laughs today along with getting some tax returns done. There was, however, a very strange quietness to the office also. Everyone was just a little more somber.

Just To Catch Everyone Up

2007-02-13T17:23:00.001-05:00

When things get busy during tax season, they get busy in a hurry and stay that way. This is the first opportunity I've had to catch up on emails, social sites, etc. I figured it was the perfect opportunity to write a new blog entry also.

I was supposed to be at work today also from three to seven, but, they decided to close the office early. My district manager told me not to worry about heading in to the office due to the weather. Here in Indiana, we've got a real bad wintry mix. Right now, it's raining ice. The ice is sticking to the ground making things really slick. Snow is supposed to fall on top of that. I'm glad I requested tomorrow off to spend with my girlfriend. Happy Valentine's Day, Angel!!

I was able to get out on Saturday night and do a little karaoke with Robin and Adam. Dot was out of town so she wasn't there. Before karaoke, Robin and I had dinner at Texas Roadhouse. Her uncle was sitting in the booth behind me and was telling us stories about he, her Dad, and their sisters growing up. They were really funny. He had Robin and I laughing pretty hard during them. That was an unexpected surprise to see him there. It wasn't planned at all.

Well, I'm gonna get back to getting caught up on everything else that's been happening. I'll write more later.

And, before things get really busy, let's have some fun!!

2007-01-06T17:32:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I had to work the closing shift at the office from 3pm until 8pm. Dotty decided to come over to Terre Haute with me so that she could spend some time with Robin. About a half hour before the office was going to close, Dotty called me. Robin's Mom and brother were coming over to meet Robin at Texas Roadhouse. She was calling to see if we wanted to go also. I couldn't say no to that question. I love the steak at Texas Roadhouse. I had the 12 oz New York Strip. It was very tasty.

After dinner, Dot and I already had our plans to go sing karaoke at Imperial Lanes. We invited Robin along to join us which she did. It was really cool getting to hear Robin and Dot sing together again. Their voices blend beautifully. As much as I would have liked to have sung with both of them, I didn't want to disrupt the rotation. I just sang my own songs and enjoyed the evening as a whole.

I don't know when we'll get a chance to go out like that again. Ofcourse, Dotty and I have a blast going out just on our own also. I'm sure she and I'll be going out a few evenings during the tax season when I have some time off.

Happy New Year!!

2007-01-01T03:40:00.001-05:00

I've been reading some reflective blogs lately. I decided I'd wait and post one of the first new blogs of 2007. I'm here to look forward. My friends and I have already started making some plans for this year. My girlfriend has to go home to Malaysia in the middle of the year and I plan to make the most of the next six months I have with her.

Part of those plans include our best friend, Robin. We've got a trip to the Smokey Mountains planned as well as a trip to New York. That trip will be bitter sweet as that's the trip to send Dotty home. But, she has promised me she will return as soon as she can. She's still here and I'm already anxiously awaiting that return because that means not having to say goodbye again.

Professionally, I'm starting my fifth year as a tax preparer at H & R Block. I love my job and being able to help my clients year after year. We've got some new things this year that should help to make this one of my most prosperous years in the profession to date. I'm also planning to become more active with the company during the off season giving speeches and teaching courses.

As for other activities, I plan to continue singing karaoke. I can't describe the joy that activity has brought into my life. It especially means alot when I get to serenade Dotty or sing one of my Mom's favorite songs. Somehow, I know Mom can hear me when I tap into Sinatra. I'm hoping to write more blogs too. I've found that it really is an easy and effective way to keep everyone up to date at the same time.

That's all for now. I hope you'll keep reading and I'll keep posting. Enjoy 2007 and I hope each reader can in his/her own way make it just a little better than 2006. Each person that has a personal improvement will add to a global improvement. Thanks for reading and we'll see everyone again soon.

Hope Everyone Had A Great Christmas

2006-12-26T23:51:00.000-05:00

Well, I learned to appreciate Christmas for a whole new reason this year. Dotty and I spent time shopping for friends and family members. But, neither one of us could think of anything to tell the other one for ourselves. So, we agreed that we'd wait until we saw something that we really wanted for Christmas. After all, we each felt like we already had the most important gift in each other. It really was true. We enjoyed a quiet Christmas at home watching movies. Dotty cooked a delicious feast of ham(turkey based) and baked chicken. She also made brussels sprouts au gratin and baked beans. Angel, this was one of the best Christmases I've ever had. Thank you!!

Prior to Christmas day, we had two other celebrations. Friday night, we drove over to Robin's house for a gift exchange and pizza party. On Saturday, we drove over to the apartment of my Dad's fiance, Ruth for a meal and gift exchange. So, we also had the opportunity to spend time with our friends and family. On Christmas morning, Dot's mom IM'd us from Malaysia so that she could take part in our festivities. I'm really looking forward to meeting her. We've had so many nice chats online that I already feel like I know her. It'll be nice though, to actually see her in person.

Today, Dotty went out and took part in the after-Christmas sales. She brought home a slow cooker that I'd been wanting for a while. I told her that could be my Christmas present. I wanted to go shopping with her, but, I wasn't feeling well. Tomorrow, I go to work again so everything is going to start getting more hectic. I'll try to keep everyone updated through my blogs as much as possible.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

It's Been A Great Year!!

2006-12-10T10:52:00.000-05:00

If you look over at my main profile picture, you'll see me standing with a very beautiful lady at my side. For those of you that don't know her already, her name is Dot. She is the love of my life. Today, we've been together for one year. I'm hoping for many more years together.

Dot has brought so much happiness into my life starting in a year that I thought my happy life was over. I'd lost my Mom just seven months before I'd met Dot and I was on the verge of becomming a very miserable person just going through the motions of life. This wonderful lady has changed all that and I'm happy to say that I'm alive and happy again.

I could probably write all day about her, but, I do have other things to get done. So, I'll close by saying the simplest thing I can say. Dot, I love you with all my heart.

The Greatest Lesson I Ever Learned From Mom

2006-12-02T21:47:00.000-05:00

The holidays are a time to be with family. Since I lost my Mom in March of 2005, I decided that the best way to spend time with her was to remember her lessons. The one I'm writing about is one that I've tried to live up to everyday. I thought I'd share it with all my readers.

When I was growing up, I learned many valuable lessons from my Mom. I feel like the most important one was the fact that respect from other people must be earned by someone. In other words, respect is never automatically due someone just because of age, familial relationship, position in business/society, etc. This doesn't mean that you don't show politeness. Being polite to other people is one of the most important ways someone earns respect. What are some other ways?

When you're talking to someone, don't insult that person's friends or family. I don't care who you are. People have a right not to hear bad stuff about the people they love.

If you don't agree with someone's viewpoint, you can be honest. But, you can also show people that you value their opinion by listening attentively and not taking an argumentative tone. This one seems to be most violated when people start talking about politics.

You can also earn respect from others on the road. Obey the posted speed limit signs and remember that those are the safe speeds for perfect driving conditions. If it's dark and/or wet, you should be driving slower. For some reason, cars seem to be more impatient as it gets colder. Unfortunately, this is when it's also icy.

Ok. I'm done with examples. Like I said, I work hard on a daily basis to earn the respect of other people. For my readers, I'd just tell you to remember that you don't have to respect anyone who doesn't treat you the way you should be treated. It doesn't matter who they are. Your respect is a valuable asset and should be used wisely. Your politeness is free and can be used much more liberally.

Back To Paychecks!! :D

2006-11-28T09:01:00.000-05:00

Things have gotten really busy recently. We decided to open one of the offices early this year in order to offer advance loans to our clients. So, I've been working since mid-November for a tax preparation company. I never thought that would happen. It's been great though. It's nice to make someone's holidays just a little brighter. My commute can be a trick sometimes. I'm driving one hour to and from work so I can continue to spend as much time with Dot as possible before she has to go back to Malaysia for two years.

Gotta go for now. I'll try to update things as much as I can between now and mid-April. Talk to everyone later.

Back To Karaoke

2006-11-11T12:14:00.001-05:00

Well, after some busy weeks of studying and preparing for Raya, Dot and I were able to get back to doing some karaoke this week. Our first attempt on Monday night was a failure. We drove over to Terre Haute from Bloomington to go to Jigg's and they weren't doing karaoke because of Monday Night Football. So, we drove back home kind of frustrated. Though, the trip wasn't a total loss. We went to a grocery store that isn't available in Bloomington and got some things we might not have found someplace else.

Thursday night, we went to see Flicka at 6:40 and to karaoke at Bear's here in Bloomington. The main difference between karaoke in Bloomington versus Terre Haute is the college crowd. The group in Bloomington really gets into it. I haven't been there that often, but, I've developed quite a fan base already. I may go back more.

Last night, we drove back over to Terre Haute and sang at Imperial Lanes. This is the first place I ever sang karaoke and remains my favorite venue. The accoustics are fantastic. The wireless mics allow us to go anywhere in the room so it's really easy to find a spot where you can hear yourself. Yesterday also marked the eleventh month since Dot and I officially became a couple. I made sure I sang "Can't Help Falling In Love" by Elvis Presley to make the night extra special.

Please Don't Raise My Taxes!

2006-11-09T15:45:00.000-05:00

Well, the American electorate has done something that they've been smart enough not to do since President Clinton was first elected to office in 1992. Both houses of Congress have been handed to the Democrats. There are stances each side takes that I like, but, my wallet comes first. Don't get me wrong. I'm not wealthy and trying to protect some huge stash. I'm in the lowest tax bracket. These past 14 years though have been better for me because they've been better for the people who earn more than I do. Why? It's a simple economic principal. If the wealthier individuals/corporations have more disposable income, so do I. First, they can afford to hire me. Second, they can afford to give me bigger raises.

Most people don't want to hurt small businesses either. They just want the wealthy individuals to pay more. Well, most small businesses are filed with a personal return using a Schedule C and income is taxed at the personal rate. There is not a separate tax structure for an independent business when it's not incorporated.

So, I ask this new Congress to please not screw up the progress of the last 14 years. I ask the American people to correct this travesty in 2008.

Guys Are Parents Too!!!

2006-10-23T23:59:00.000-04:00

My best friend wrote a blog today that really got me thinking. There was one thing she brought up that's a sore point with me too. That's all the guys out there who aren't willing to step up to the plate and be parents. Those are the guys who give someone like me a bad name before I've even got a chance to let a girl get to know me. I'm nice to a girl. Oh my God, that means I've got some kind of hidden agenda. I'm sick of it. I want to be allowed to be nice to all my female friends without having them worry that I'm up to something.

I also want to have children and be made to feel like I'm not being a man if I decide to raise my children the way my Mom decided to raise me. When she was raising me, it was the height of the feminist movement so she was put down by all the other women around her for her choice. She was supposed to be working or watching all of the other neighborhood children for free to help her "sisters" who wanted careers. I know that would happen to me from the guys if I decided to make the same choice. Guys are supposed to work and women want to work and where does that leave our children? Babysitters, day care, or other family members have to do the raising for us.

That's not good enough for my child. I want my child to be raised by a full-time parent. I don't care which parent. It could be me, my wife, or a combination of the two if we happened to work different shifts. The point is that quality time is not good enough for children in and of itself. They also need quantity of time. As a student and teacher, I saw kids who were raised by outsiders not care about their studies or their behavior. They had issues with anger and didn't know how to relate to those around them. On the other hand, children of involved parents wanted to succeed and were very friendly to be around. Ok. I'm done ranting for now.

To my fellow guys out there, shape up your acts!!! To the women, you have my utmost respect.

Busy, Busy, Busy

2006-10-18T12:37:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again. As a tax preparer, this is the time of year that I have to refresh myself on tax laws and learn the new ones. It's also the time that I study parts of the tax code that I hadn't looked at before so that my ability to do more complex returns improves. This will be my fifth year as an income tax preparer and I'm really looking forward to it. I love my job!!! Perhaps the most interesting and rewarding part of it is seeing the look on someone's face who came in scared thinking they were going to owe money and I find that one deduction they weren't aware of and get them a refund. Those smiles are always so nice to see.

Then, there's also my office leader. During the off season, she is my best friend and we hang out together. She even came on vacation with my girlfriend and I this past summer. What's really nice is the way that our friendship doesn't interfere with our roles at work. At the office, I don't expect any favors from her. I can easily divide her role as my manager and my best friend. They are two separate roles and I know when she needs to step out of the friend role for a while. Actually, it was the way she led the office that told me I wanted her as a friend. She's warm, tender, compassionate, and she really cares about people. She's not profit driven like some managers can be.

I also want to recognize my beautiful girlfriend. This will be the second tax season since we've been together. She also has to take on a real understanding role. During parts of the season, the hours can get late. Near the end of January through mid-February, there are all the clients who race in to get their refund as soon as possible. They have their W-2's and they don't have to worry about any other paperwork. During this time of year, we stay open as late as 10pm. Later yet if we have clients. Then, there's mid-April. This is when all the procrastinators come in and need to file before the deadline. More later hours. The last day of the season can be one of the latest. Through all of this, Dot has been very understanding and doesn't complain if I can't make it to see her at the time I planned on.

That's probably enough rambling for now. I just wanted to update everyone.

Sometimes Fun Doesn't Have To Be Either Mature Or Immature

2006-10-04T12:29:00.000-04:00

Recently, I've been hearing different people talk about things being "immature". I can understand this in a professional setting, but, in personal relationships it makes no sense to me. Things that are fun between friends and/or lovers shouldn't be classified in this manner. Here are a few examples of what I'm talking about.

This morning, my financial advisor heard my voice mail greeting. His first response was "How old are you?" The other day my Dad heard it and said it was kind of long. People, it's my personal phone. It's not a business phone.

My next example involves my best friend. She has playfully squirted part of her drink at me through her straw just like my girlfriend does. Her, then boyfriend, accused them both of being "immature". This wasn't even aimed at him. It was aimed at me and I was having a blast. Neither of these ladies were doing this to truly torment me. We were all just having fun together. I was getting them back with looks or shaking a finger in their faces.

Other things have happened lately also. These are either things I've witnessed, been told, or heard about. To everyone who's caught up in the maturity/immaturity world and doesn't know how to just have fun with friends and loved ones, I just have one thing to say. GROW UP!!!!!!!!

October Is Here

2006-10-01T19:07:00.000-04:00

Well, it's October. This month has always been special to me because I love the holidays coming up starting with Halloween and all the way through New Year's Day. This year, the month is even more special to me. My wonderful Dotty will have been in my life for one year this October 30th. During that year, some things have not changed at all and some things have definitely changed.

What hasn't changed? I continue to have a crush on this girl. Everyday, I learn or discover something new about her that makes me look at her and say "Wow!". I get that familiar tingly feeling of new interest all over again. I have to remind myself sometimes that she's already my girlfriend. LOL

The best change is that I've fallen completely in love with the person she is. Her thoughts, ideas, interests, etc. are so important to me. I'm even beginning to share some of these as the time goes by. I've found a new love for Law and Order watching it through her eyes. I've found a new importance for a new religion through knowing her. I haven't abandoned my own likes in this process. I've just added to them.

I also know that she returns this because she has become interested in new things through knowing me. This past weekend she sang karaoke by herself for the first time. She did so well at it also. It was so special to hear her serenade me for a change. I think I finally know what it was she must have felt the first time I sang to her.

I love you, Angel. Thank you for adding so much to my life and for giving yet one more reason to love October. Well, it's October.

A Place Err... Page Of Her Own

2006-09-29T18:22:00.000-04:00

Those of you who read my blog regularly surely know about my wonderful girlfriend, Dotty. Well, due to the scrolling nature of blogs and the way new posts make the old ones fade from view, I decided to do something very special. I have had a web page of my own for a little over a year now hosted on Yahoo geocities. Today, I added a page about Dotty. I've included a link to that page in this blog entry. Please go and take a look. Now, she has a permanent spot on my website to go with the permanent place she has in my heart. I love you, Angel.

Click here to visit Dotty's Page.

What Is Perfection?

2006-09-26T13:29:00.000-04:00

When someone thinks of the word perfection, it usually brings to mind something without a flaw. Since human beings are flawed by design or definition, this has led to the belief that no one is perfect. I intend to challenge this notion with this blog entry.

Consider the animal shows that judge various breeds against each other by comparing the animal presented to a breed standard. An animal who meets every standard is considered to be a "perfect" specimen. Since humans are members of the animal kingdom, why can't we attach this same standard to ourselves? Since one of our breed standards is to be flawed, we must be capable of making mistakes in order to be a perfect specimen. Thus, readers may wonder how to find out if someone they know (perhaps themselves) could be deemed perfect. I'll present that now.

First, ask yourself if you're willing to help someone who needs help whether you know the person or not. This is an act of selflessness. By several guidelines, people should be selfless. Thus, selflessness could be considered another breed standard for the human species. It can be easily observed that not everyone possesses this trait so it is a valid measuring stick.

Another general rule for humans is that when we do make mistakes we should learn from them. Again, this is a valid measurement device because not everyone does this. So, we have another breed standard for our species. This leads into and is part of the last breed standard I'll present. Humans should try to better themselves. This could be demonstrated in various ways ranging from academic preparation for a better job or career to taking on physical exercise to improve your overall health. You don't have to do everything at the same time or in the same time frame either. As long as you are doing one thing to better yourself, you are meeting the standard.

So three breed standards:

1. Do you help people including those you don't know?

2. Do you learn from the mistakes you do make?

3. Do you participate in activities for self-improvement?

If you answered yes to all three questions, pat yourself on the back and consider yourself a perfect specimen of the human species.

Completeness

2006-09-25T10:05:00.000-04:00

I have felt, before, like my life was complete. I never really knew what complete felt like though until I met my wonderful Dotty. When I am with her, I don't need anyone else around. She makes me laugh, fills me with happiness, listens to me, and all of the other things that people should do for each other.

There are other friends, naturally, that are very special to me. And, there are several of these people that I don't get to see as much as I'd like. These include Curt, Mark, Rob, Nikki, Hildey, and Abby to name just a few. The point is that when Dot's around I don't miss any of these people. It doesn't stop the feelings of friendship I have for anyone. She just gives me this feeling of contentment and fulfillment. I don't know how or why. No one has ever done this for me before.

So, to all my other friends I just want to say that I'm sorry I don't have more time for you. I'm not purposely ignoring you nor am I forgetting you. I'm just happy with a wonderful girlfriend.

A Night Apart

2006-09-25T01:58:00.000-04:00

Friday night, I had to spend a night apart from my wonderful girlfriend due to business reasons. I work 57 miles away from where we live and there was a training class being held Saturday that started at 9:00 am. Originally, Dot and I were supposed to go together. I had the hotel room reserved for us and we were planning on going to karaoke. I love serenading her and dancing with her.

Unfortunately, she took ill. She didn't feel like making the trip and she definitely didn't feel like having to drive herself back home so that she could go to work while I was in class. After discussing the situation, we decided that the best thing was for me to go on over as planned. First, the room was going to be charged to us anyway. Second, it seemed to make more sense than my trying to leave here early enough Saturday morning to insure making it to class on time.

I had the hardest time falling asleep that night though. Naturally, I missed the warmth of having my girlfriend next to me. I was also worried about her. Was she getting worse? Was she the same? Was she getting better? These were things I wouldn't know until I could get back home to her. We stayed in close contact while we weren't asleep via text messages and phone calls. She really made it just about as easy as it possibly could be. I love you, Dotty. You're my Angel and one of my very dearest and closest friends.

One Step Closer To A Lifetime Of Happiness

2006-09-16T22:42:00.000-04:00

Wednesday morning, my wonderful girlfriend of just a little more than nine months gave me the news I've been wanting to hear. She wants to marry me. We're not engaged yet, but, this was just her way of letting me know she was ready to commit to me totally and completely. I don't know when I've ever been happier. This wonderful lady has taken me into her life complete with all my quirks and moods. I love her so much and I haven't been able to picture my life without her since the day we became boyfriend and girlfriend. Now, I feel like I will never have to go through that.

Dotty, my love, you make me happier just to be near you even if it's not necessarily showing at the moment. Believe me, I'd be worse yet if you weren't around. I don't want to spend another day without you by my side. Written words don't come easy to me and I'm always afraid that I'll leave something out. So, this may seem like useless rambling to most readers, but, I don't care. I want the world to know how special my Dotty is to me. I want the galaxy to know how much I love this woman. I want the universe to know that I'm devoted to making the rest of her life the most pleasurable days she'll ever have.

Angel, the other night, I gave you my class ring and I am making a promise to you here and now that token meant forever in my heart. Someday, in the near future, you will be my fiance. I love you and I don't ever want to leave your side.

Vacation Is Finally Here!!

2006-08-11T16:13:00.000-04:00

Last night, I went over to Marshall, IL to pick up my best friend, Robin. She is joining Dot and I on our trip to Seattle, WA and the San Francisco Bay Area. We couldn't be happier. We have so much fun when she's around.

One of our first stops will be the Children's Hospital in Chicago, IL so that Robin can visit her little cousin, Dakota. He is still fighting off pneumonia so thoughts and prayers for him are still appreciated. I'll try to keep the blog updated as much as possible and let all my readers know where we've been each day.

See ya later, gators!!!

Some Of My Favorite Photos

2006-08-08T01:28:00.000-04:00

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Take One Girlfriend And Add A Best Friend

2006-08-07T13:48:00.000-04:00

I'm the happiest guy in the world right now. I've got a loving girlfriend who says that no guy has ever treated her better. I know that I couldn't ask for anymore from her. She's absolutely awesome!! I want to spend the rest of my life with her by my side. And, I want to make her happy forever. By the end of this week, we'll be taking off on an 11-day road trip with our best friend, Robin. I can't wait.

Robin's been my best friend for over a year now and every minute I spend with her makes me even happier to have found her. She and I have gotten so much closer this summer. When Dot's not around, Robin is the one other person who can truly make my troubles and sorrows disappear. Whether she takes them away with a chat or a simple hug, she manages it every time.

Our trip is going to be awesome, ladies!!! I love you both so much and I'm sorry for anything I've done in the past that may have upset either of you. I'm especially sorry because neither of you has ever caused me to feel any anger or upsetness.

Part Heartbreak, Part Happiness!!

2006-08-01T12:44:00.000-04:00

My regular blog readers should know well about my best friend, Robin. I mention her alot. This past weekend she came to stay with Dot and I. Dot and I had three of the best days of our lives with her here. Not only, do we both love Robin for the way she energizes everything and everyone she's around; she also brought Dot and I closer than we've ever been before.

For the past few weeks, we've gotten spoiled. Robin had broken up with my other friend, Adam, and she was single again. That gave her more time to spend with us. Last night, they got together again. I'm happy for both of them. I'm especially happy for Robin. She deserves all the happiness in the world. I will, however, miss having her around Dot and I with as much frequency. But, that's just me being selfish. As she told me this past weekend, I have to learn to share her.

Last night, Robin also made me remember (like I'd really forget - LOL) why she is so special to me. The three of us (Robin, Adam, and I) were at Jigg's, one of our regular karaoke spots, when someone collapsed to the floor requiring the EMT's to be called and a gurney to be brought in. Even while she was busy rekindling her relationship with Adam, she noticed I wasn't my normal self. She asked me if I was crying. I wasn't, but, I was concerned for the patron plus remembering the last time I saw a gurney come into a building. It was when my Mom was wheeled out of the house for the last time. She dropped everything she was doing and put her full attention on me. She quickly turned her chair to face me and engaged me in a little game to distract me. It worked as I was quickly able to move on to my next song in a much lighter mood.

That type of insight into my feelings is why she is my sister even though we're not linked by DNA. She keeps a very important part of my Mom alive for me. I don't think I even knew what it was exactly until just now. My Mom could also just know when I needed some extra support. I miss her, but, Robin fills a very empty void for me. She assured me last night that nothing would change for us and we'd continue to have time to ourselves in the future.

So, I'm heartbroken that I won't have as much time with Robin. I won't lie about that. But, I'm very happy for her and Adam. I'm also, most importantly, very happy to be with Dot. And, I'm happy to have the full meaning of JDAR back!! Will the circle be unbroken, guy and gals!! Hmm... Sounds like a song cue if I ever heard one.

Farewell To A Friend

2006-07-24T18:29:00.000-04:00

Today, I learned that the one constant companion I had in the home has found a new place to live. Next to losing my Mom, this is probably one of the saddest days of my life. And, that takes alot because I'm usually very cheerful. I don't even like to write sad blogs, but, this one couldn't be helped. Nick, I know I moved out of the house. That doesn't stop the fact that I love you and I hope you find your way back home to me some day.

I also need to ask all of my blog readers for another favor. My best friend's little cousin is in really bad shape in a hospital in Chicago. He needs all the thoughts and prayers available right now. At last word, he is on life support diagnosed with pneumonia.

Thanks everyone. Hopefully, I won't have to do this again.

Vacation Plans

2006-07-23T11:50:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, I got together with Dot and Robin to plan our vacation. The three of us are going on an 11 day road trip. Highlights will include Chicago, Mount Rushmore, Seattle, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and San Jose. We planned our days in Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area. We're going to do so much and see so many new things. For me personally, this will be my first time to be in a boat. I've been in tracked boats such as the ones used in Disney's Small World attraction, but, I've never been on an actual free sailing craft.
I'm so excited. I'll be picking Robin up on the 11th and bringing her to Bloomington. Dot will be working until about 5:30 and then we're taking early on the morning of the 12th to try and get to Chicago before noon. My blogs will be my travel journal so keep reading.

My Poor Car!!

2006-07-13T10:15:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, my car broke down on me as I was driving home from Terre Haute. I was only 10 miles from my apartment. So, as soon as my laundry's done this morning, I get to find some place that can fix an electrical problem. Most likely, I have loose battery cables or a bad alternator. Either way, it will be fixed because that car has to get my girlfriend, my best friend and I to California and back next month. That will be a much happier blog entry.

Happy Birthday, Robin!!

2006-06-30T17:06:00.000-04:00

Last night, Dot and I went over to Terre Haute to celebrate Robin's birthday. That's her in the picture with Mickey Mouse. We picked up Adam and drove over to Marshall. After giving Robin her gifts, we went to a Terre Haute theater and watched Lake House together. We concluded the evening at Denny's where all of us had a dish of Caramel Apple Crisp. The night was really fun!! I look forward to celebrating many more birthdays with Robin (mine and hers). She's my best friend forever. Love ya, Robin and Happy Birthday again and again!!

Yay and Yum!!!

2006-06-28T10:56:00.000-04:00

The other day, I was very pleased to see one of my favorite places from Terre Haute show up here in Bloomington. I am referring to Square Donuts. This morning, Dot needed me to take her to work early at 6:30am so I stole the opportunity to go get some of these baked delights before the selection got small. I'm happy to report that these little gems are as delicious in Bloomington as they are in Terre Haute. Sorry, Terre Haute. You still don't have our prize gem of Cold Stone Creamery. Oh well, I've got more to do today including a possible trip to the Haute. See ya'll later.

A Week Without My Girl

2006-06-04T16:12:00.000-04:00

This week, my girlfriend took off to spend a week and a half in CA with her brother. I have missed her so much everyday. I get her back Wednesday night. This Wednesday, however, my best friend, had me come and get her for a little vacation. Her brother graduated high school this week so she and I went to his baccalaureate service on Wednesday night. Then, she came home with me to Bloomington and stayed with me Wednesday and Thursday nights. Robin was like a breath of fresh air to a very long and tiring two days. I always have a blast when I'm with her. She and I tease each other like brother and sister.

I took her over to Nashville, IN on Thursday. We walked around the town visiting various shops and then ate at The Nashville House. We both tried apple butter for the first time. Our parents had been trying to get us to try it for some time and we'd been reluctant. It's pretty good actually. It reminded me of cinnamon applesauce. We also spent time in the mall here in Bloomington. By the time we got back to my apartment, we were both sore from all of the walking.

On Friday, I took her back home and we attended her brother's graduation ceremony. Marshall High is definitely smaller than my high school. It was still a very nice ceremony though. The band was really good and they had a really neat video production featuring the senior class.

Robin, thank you for making this week a little easier to take. Most importantly, Dot, thank you for being so understanding and trusting both Robin and I enough to be willing to have let us have this time together while you were away. I love you two ladies.

My New Life Gets Another New Chapter

2006-05-25T23:41:00.000-04:00

When I moved in with my girlfriend a little over a month ago, neither one of us really knew what to expect. We knew we loved each other and we had spent upto 3 or 4 days together in a row. But, this was going to be 24/7 in the same apartment with shared responsibilities.

The first month was like a new blissful stage. Except for her class schedule, we were inseperable. Now, we've started to take back a little bit of our private lives. The beautiful part is that our love for each other is even greater. We are still number one in each other's hearts no matter what we're doing.

We'll continue to go out together frequently and spend alot of quiet time together most definitely. We are also going to start making more room in our new lives for our old friends. This is true happiness. Someone to love and friends to hang out with. I love you Dot!!!

Importance of JDAR

2006-05-23T02:28:00.000-04:00

I am beginning to realize just how important "JDAR" is in my life. I really treasure every minute I spend with these three special people and every night I wish that it could be longer. I am around Dot practically 24/7 as she is my girlfriend. If I wasn't around her this much, I'd surely be lost. The other parts of the equation are the ones I never can seem to see enough. My best friend, Robin, has been there for me through the roughest time in my life with losing my Mom and she continues to be supportive in this issue. Most times, she'll say something to me without my ever having to ask because she just knows that something could be troubling me. Adam's wit is razor sharp and about the only match to my Mom's I've ever found. It is also fun to sing with him. His voice is excellent and having it along side mine is always a treat. Our ladies really like it when we sing "Will The Circle Be Unbroken". Here's hoping the JDAR circle is never broken. I love you guys.

Dot's Birthday

2006-05-08T02:31:00.000-04:00

May 7 was Dot's birthday. Being that this was Sunday, the day actually started in Terre Haute with Adam and Robin as we were singing karaoke at Imperial. When the chance came after midnight, we each (Robin, Adam and I) took a microphone and sang Happy Birthday to Dot. We had a cake there for her and gave her her birthday present.

During the day on Sunday, we spent part of our day with the Malaysian Student Association at their picnic. Dot earned a certificate for being the group's web master or, as she calls it, web mistress. When we left, we brought another family back to our apartment building as well. Shortly afterward, Dot and I took off again.

I took Dot up to Indianapolis to the Hard Rock Cafe for her birthday dinner. I'd never been there before and I was looking at my idols. Jimmy Page's guitar was just feet from me. God, did I ever want to just pick the thing up and launch into the lead solo from "Stairway To Heaven"!! I fought the urge so we wouldn't get thrown out. Dot was nice enough to take my picture with the guitar.

I love you, Dot!! I hope your birthday lived up to everything that you could have hoped or wanted.

The "JDAR" Chronicles Continue

2006-04-30T13:19:00.000-04:00

For those of you who are not into acronyms, JDAR stands for John, Dot, Adam, and Robin. Our friendships are continuing to get tighter and tighter. Last night, Dot and I picked up Adam on our way to the H and R Block banquet. This was a chance for the entire Terre Haute district to get together and celebrate the end of tax season as well as receive awards. We had a good meal, played bingo, and just relaxed. After that, the four of us went to Imperial for karaoke. The evening was fun, but, unfortunately had to end a little earlier than usual. We'll make up for that next week. Looks like the next outing may come as early as Monday night. Jigg's does karaoke that night. I'm just glad that moving to Bloomington hasn't resulted in being cut off from my favorite activities and, more importantly, my two best friends!!

Just When I Thought Things Couldn't Get Better

2006-04-27T00:02:00.000-04:00

Last night my two best friends from Terre Haute shared their first private date. Up until now, they had only seen each other when I was also around. Things went very well. I'm so excited for Robin and Adam. Tomorrow, they are going to come over here to Bloomington for karaoke. This will be their first trip to my new town. It'll be great to see them again, but, it'll also be nice to show them around. I'd brought them both to Bloomington before, but, this was before they knew each other. As an IU grad, Bloomington will always be "the" college town. For me, Bloomington also holds a special place in my heart because my Mom grew up here. In fact, she attended school on the IU campus at University School from her 7th grade year until she graduated.

I really appreciate the effort that Robin and Adam are putting into continuing their friendship with me while they are building their own relationship. It means so much to me. Dot has also become friends with them so she enjoys their company as well. I'm really looking forward to introducing another club to Adam's magical voice. I wonder if they'll still consider me to be a singing sensation after tomorrow night. Well, time will have to tell the story on that one. To be continued...

Best of Friends

2006-04-25T22:07:00.000-04:00

I found out last night just how truly incredible my girlfriend is. My best friend, Robin, had asked me if I could come over to Terre Haute again to join her and Adam at Jigg's for karaoke. My initial thought was that I couldn't because Dot, my girlfriend, would not be able to make it. She had a paper due the next day that she needed to finish. When she came home and I mentioned this to her, she told me that she would like me to stay with her. She also said she wanted me to go especially since Robin wanted me there. I made sure that she was comfortable with the idea and made the drive to TH. Adam, Robin and I had a blast singing karaoke and then going to Denny's for a late meal. When I got home, I was welcomed by those same loving arms I've grown accustomed to. She wasn't mad at all and she wasn't testing me. She said exactly what she meant. How many women will do that, guys? I've got a true treasure. Robin, thanks for the invite and we'll keep coming back. Dot, thank you for being the best girlfriend a guy could want. I'm soooo blessed to have both of you in my life.