Kyle Lohse is famous too!

Hello,
I felt like a little pre-game rant...and no, not about the contoversial Matt Holiday slide in game 1 of the NLCS. I wanted to turn my attention to someone on the Cardinals that deserves more Chico-love then he's been getting. Chico, as a community, likes sports, and we grasp on to sports "heroes" from our town like a white knuckled pedi-cab-driver to his handlebars. But lets be equal opportunity here. Sure, Jeff Stover has a Super Bowl ring and owns a gym, thats cool. But he is not an NFL legend. Sure Aaron Rodgers is the reigning MVP and also won a Super Bowl, but does that mean we should all abondon our sports loyalties for cheeze-hats, and give him his own section in the local sports page? I don't think so.
Kyle Lohse was born in Chico, went to High School in Hamilton City, and has been one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball for the past couple years. He, like our other "heroes", has a World Championship to his name, and pitches tonight in one of the biggest games of his career. Why don't I see Cardinals hats around town when I visit, or Lohse jerseys on kids at Thursday Night Market? I don't know, I'm really asking.
So, although I hope Lohse gets knocked out of the game in the 3rd inning and loses the game against my Giants today, I think we should all give him some hometown respect as we're working out at Chico Sports Club or reading the Chico Enterprise Rodgers.

Fleeing Friends, Family, and Fiances!!

Its been a little while since I updated my current situation. At last blog, I had just proposed to my one and only, and we were preparing for her to pursue an amazing opportunity on the Norwegian Jade in the Med. While those 5 months apart did not look appealing, we knew that it was where Sam needed to be. However, those 5 months apart have quickly turned into 45 days as I will be cruising on her ship for 2 weeks at the end of June! We are both extremely excited about spending some time together in Italy and the Greek Isles. In the meantime, I did vista Sam at rehearsals in Tampa, went to Spring Training in Scottsdale, and built a pretty sweet peeps diorama for Easter. I got to see my parents new house in Chico, saw my beautiful niece, and I've been to five Giants games.

I cannot help but feel a bit like the people closest to me are making every attempt to escape my presence. Sam took a job in the Mediterranean, my best friend Josiah is in Georgia, kicking' ass in the Army, trying to decide what his next move will be, and my brother Tim moved to South Korea for a year to teach English. I'm trying not to take it personally. Go Skype.

As you know I am also educating myself on the finer points of the business of sport. I have finished the first two classes in my graduate program and I am a couple weeks into the third. The program has more then lived up to my expectations, and I greatly look forward to the next 18 months of it. I have already had the opportunity to attend fun events as an intern or student that I would have had to pay to attend before. Have class at AT&T park is not bad either. My cohort is full of great people that share my passion for learning and for sports.

As for wedding plans, we are trying reign in our excitement and not plan the entire wedding 14 months before, but we do have some of the major details figured out. For one, the date. You can mark down July 7, 2012. Many of the other things we are going to wait to do until Sam gets back from the Med.

Until next time, take care, stay classy, and keep us in your prayers.

D

My Favorite Story

It was a cool, prototypical San Francisco day, January 30, 2011. Sam and I left church on our way to Marin headlands for a hike and picnic. It was seemingly just another day, as Sam had just finished a ship contract and was visiting the city for a week. We get to the headlands and begin to walk, admiring the stunning postcard-like views of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco. Before long, we get to the top of the hill and see the Golden Gate Bridge perfectly framing the city we have come to love. I begin to feel a round-metallic-burning-sensation in my right pocket, so I quickly suggest we find a place to sit and eat. We walk until we happen upon a "random" chunk of grass overlooking the ocean, where we sit down to enjoy our sandwich and wine lunch. The burning in my pocket quickly returns, so I jump up and tell Sam to join me at the railing (Her first clue that something was up). After a threat to throw me over the railing and a comically-rude jab in the direction of our soon-to-be photographers, I cannot take it any longer. I pull Sam close and describe the unconditional love I have for her, how much she means to me, and some additional things that neither you need to hear or we remember. As I reach into my pocket and drop to my knee, the jig is up. I ask Sam the question that I've been waiting to ask. Remembering she has a line amidst a flood of emotion, Sam says with an obvious tone, "Of Course!" I will never forget the look on Sam's face as I attempt to slide my token of love on her finger while we stare into each other's eyes. At that moment, as we experience this truly unique and organic moment, our favorite song begins to play from the surrounding foliage. We spend some time soaking in the moment, as my dear friends act as paparazzi. As the following minutes and hours go by, we both begin to realize the wonderful and exciting journey we have just embarked on. Thus concludes the best day of my life...so far.

Two-thousand and ten in review

January: I rang in the new year on the NCL Jewel, thought I would be headed to Europe for my next ship assignment but was then informed I would be sent back to the Jewel. Put plans in motion to go see my brother in Europe.

February: I was sent back to the Jewel. Became reacquainted with a dancer named Sam while making fun of a "cone" doing "The Cro-Mag" (A little inside, I know). Later that month we started the relationship that changed my life.

March: Enjoyed fun times on the Jewel with Sam and old friends, including pranks, slumber parties, and YC shenanigans.

April: More fun times on the Jewel. I met Sam's Mom when she cruised for a week. Stayed on the ship as a passenger for a couple weeks to hang out with Sam and explore more of the Caribbean. Giants season started, they went 13-9 in April.

May: Came home from the Jewel, started getting ready for the Broventure around Europe. Also, began trying to figure out what my next ship assignment was going to be, and preparing my grad-application. Giants go 14-14.

June: Europe. Tim and I had the time of our lives, so many stories, so much fun, memories forever. found out I'd be headed to the Bahamas on the NCL Sky. Giants go 13-14.

July: The Sky was different, but I met a lot of amazing people and had some good times. Sam's ship was in Nassau with us once a week so we could hang out every Wednesday! Giants go 20-8!!

August: Sam and I both get off of our respective ships. I go to Chico, she goes to PA. We begin our post-ship relationship and plan our SE Asia trip. Giants go 13-15.

September: Sam comes to visit Chico, meet my family and friends...except sis ;-(. On my birthday Sam and I fly to SE Asia. Visit 3 countries, amazing memories, met up with good friends. Great trip!!! Giants go 18-8, and are within striking distance.

October: We finish up of SE Asia trip, get back to the states in time for the Giants final regular season game and see them clinch the NL West and the playoffs. I am home to see the Giants make a run for the ages through the playoffs and into the World Series. I also bought a car and got accepted to Graduate School at USF!

November: Giants win the World Series! Justin and I got to go to Game 1, and Tim and I went to the Championship parade. I went back to Starbucks and Alyssa and Jon were gracious enough to let me stay at their place while I looked for an apartment in SF. Spent Thanksgiving in Chico with my Family.

December: I found a place to live, me my roommates who are in the Sports Management program with me. Sam came to visit for a few days before taking a replacement contract on the Star. I spent Christmas in Chico with my Family, and had a great end to the year!

2010: Best year so far! I had the opportunity to do so much, meet so many amazing people, and learn a ton about myself. God was good in many ways through good health, good fortune, and maybe most of all, through placing Sam in my path. She was the highlight of a great year and I look forward to what 2011 has for me and for us.

Thank you for joining me on my journey and I hope you had as good a year as I did!

D

Settin' up shop

Things are moving I suppose. I am in San Francisco finally, I am working finally, and I am currently looking for a place to live before school starts in just over a month.

TG:

My family ends each Thanksgiving meal with a trip around the table, with everyone saying what they are thankful for. Growing up, I did not like doing this. Possibly because we used to do it before the meal, and partly because I was too young to appreciate all that I have. I enjoy it very much now, and I am extremely thankful for everyone in my life and the critical role they have played in me being who I am and where I am today. Possibly one of the best "givings of thanks" was my brothers: "First of all, I'm thankful for the Giants." I couldn't agree more, and that definitely was one more thing this year to be thankful for. Thanks Tim, and thank you Giants (Yes, this is Me and Justin at Game 1 of the World Series). This years Thanksgiving was especially fun because I missed last year on account of the ship, and I wasn't planning on being in Chico for this one but I surprised everyone by showing up.

APT:

As for SF, I "met" these two guys through email from my program at USF, and the three of us are going to live together to begin school, provided I find a place. I am working at SBux again, on Polk & Vallejo, downtown. The store is laid back, fun, people are nice, and it should be good. Come by for a cup-a joe if you're in the area. I am staying with Jon and Alyssa as I look for a place and they have been most hospitable!

SN:

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go visit Pennsylvania where Sam is from, meet the rest of the family, and hang out with Sam for a few days. It was great to meet the whole family, and the trip was so much fun! Sam is flying to Vegas tomorrow, then coming to visit SF for a few days. Excited doesn't even begin to describe my feelings on this event.

I am thankful for all of you, please continue to keep us is your prayers.

D

Backpack to Bay

Life is good.

I am truly blessed to be able to say that when my life is seemingly a mess. I recently stopped working for NCL, and I am moving to the bay soon with no job/apartment yet. This being said, the last month has been one of the most exciting, fulfilling, and challenging ones to date (as I expected).

My beautiful girlfriend Sam and I had the opportunity to backpack around SE Asia, which was amazing! We went to Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand; Got to go bungee jumping, hang out with elephants, and see some beautiful places. I put some of the pictures on facebook if you want to see them. Plus, we capped off the final day of our trip with the last Giants game of the regular season (Sam's first Giants game) and saw them clinch the NL West.

We both knew that after our trip we needed to start our "post-cruiseship-lives" so Sam went back to Philly to prepare to move to Vegas, while I waited to hear from Starbucks and USF about a job and graduate school admission. I have an interview at Starbucks next week and I found out last week that I got accepted to USF. I was overwhelmed with excitement and a flood of other details regarding the next 3 months that now must be dealt with!

So the next month, like the last month, is going to be exciting. I hope to get a job/car/apartment, move to San Francisco and start to get settled in before school starts in January. All the while dealing with the stress of carrying the Giants playoff hopes squarely on my shoulders (at least thats what it feels like, ha). I can't wait!

Take Care,

D

No more cruises...I found what I wasn't looking for!

After an amazing trip to Europe with my brother, an exhausting journey back home and to my next NCL contract, and 2 months on the Sky in the Bahamas, I got back to Chico on the 23rd of August. The time I spent on the Sky was amazing. I enjoyed meeting some awesome people, seeing the beautiful Bahamas, and spending time with someone truly amazing. Sam and I met in February and have been dating on various ships, and via Skype/phone for a few months now and I am so thankful she came into my life. She just came home to meet the family and friends this weekend and it was a resounding success. I loved having her around, even if it was just for a couple days. She is back in Las Vegas for the week, auditioning for agencies and jobs down there before we leave on our trip to SE Asia next weekend. Sam and I will be traveling through Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand for about 3 weeks, seeing the sights, visiting Foy, and hopefully taking in some adventures! Once we return in October, we have to make something of the messes that we each call our lives. Sam will be moving to Las Vegas for a time, while I will be moving back to the Bay Area where hopefully I will be starting graduate school in the spring.

So, after a year and a half of life on a ship, I came away with a boat-load of great memories and the woman of my dreams! Win. The next month or so promises to be a crazy one, so keep us both in your prayers. Take care and rock on.

D