"I have a date...with the cutest girl in town!"

I cannot help but think of the title of this blog, and instantly think of TheVandals' song, "I have a date." In fact, it is that song which was in my head last night driving home from Melissa's. But more on her and that situation in a bit.

I know, I haven't been on my blog game lately. Mainly due to the fact I cannot connect to any "unsecured" server within the range of my house. I even walk around the neighborhood looking like a Chester with my laptop open seeking the almighty signal. Things are getting tougher these days. I remember the good ole days...

The last two weeks have been full of adventure to say the least! I hate to use the term "busy," thanks to my Spiritual Father, Joe Grana (Oh how I love that man and how he means so much to me). "Business" says to someone, "You're not as important as..." or, "I don't want to make time for you!" So I try and avoid that term altogether, though it does slip through the cracks sometime. I don't like that word as well as "cannot", or "can't." It's not that we "can't" most of the time, it's the fact that we don't want to or are unwilling to attempt.

So I have been busy.....whoops, I mean "preoccupied with other attentions," as us flight attendants would put it.

Lindsay and Jason Yost have come and are now gone. They stayed out here for 10 long days, in which it seemed as an eternity. It was a good eternity, that glimpse of what Heaven will soon be like, when that time approaches. It was wonderful to host them and I miss them already. Here's some of the fun we had.

Friday - Jason & Lindsay flew in. Gave them a tour of the City, including Garden of the Gods, Manitou, Downtown Colorado Springs. I got called for work. They were on their own thereafter. Met back up at Shuga's for drinks with Melissa, who got to meet them.
Saturday - Got called out again. Went to Bristol Brewery thereafter, Jason and I got worked by 10 year olds in shuffleboard.
Sunday - Church at New Life, Drove to Uncle Mel & Aunt Linda's House in Cedaredge.
Monday - Toured Cedaredge and the Mesa, went to Lands End. Fed Deer and Chipmunks.
Tuesday - Canoe Trip on the Gunnison, Watched Idiocracy.
Wednesday - Drove the Scenic route through Glenwood Springs towards Denver. Stopped in Idaho Springs at Tommyknocker Brewery for Rootbeer, and amazing Artichoke Tomato Bisque. Went to Coors, but was closed. Met up with the Koz! Spent the night in Broomfield.
Thursday - Fort Collins. New Belgium, O'dells, beer Drinking. Mountain Pies at Beau Jo's, Dinner at the Wazee Supper Club for Stromboli.
Friday - "Communist Hippy" Boulder. Celestial Seasonings Tea tour, Redstone Meadery Tour and Sampling, Lunch at Juanita's, where the enchilada sauce was the same as LaBarca. Back to the Springs for theMill. The sermon was on "Man up!" on dating. I was convicted a bit!
Saturday - I was on call. Jason and Lindsay went to Denver to chill with the Koz. I moved my stuff to the New House. That night I went out with Melissa, and we shared pics of each other.
Sunday - I got called to fly to Chicago and Denver. Lindsay and Jason picked me up with Dinner.
Monday - Waffle House for breakfast. It's a Grind. Airport.

And now about the Secret Woman of my Life I am interested in, whom of which I spoke of a few blogs ago.

Last Friday's Sermon by Aaron Stern was amazing. He has been speaking to men and women about proper relationships with one another. It was really good. This last Friday was directed to the men. He basically told us to "Man Up." Be a leader, be bold, take a risk, look for these qualities in a woman, and ask her out already. It was really good. Lindsay and Jason understood why I love Church so much.

I wrestled with that sermon, in a good way. I wanted to take it slow, as Melissa and I discussed, but on the other side was Aaron saying, "just ask her out already." I felt comfortable enough that I have seen Melissa's heart, passions, and intentions in Life. Once again, she has a huge heart for the Lord, she is servant minded and is a leader, she has an amazing personality, great communicator, funny, witty, funky, stylish, beautiful, and sarcastic. She's in the Word constantly and is not afraid to ask how one is doing in that area. Did I mention her beauty? She's got it going on! And on top of that, I am pretty sure she likes me too.

So do I man up or not? I had to seek my group of wise counselors. I called Joe Kirkendall, who has become a good buddy of mine. I consider him a pretty wise guy (as opposed to wiseguy). I talked with him and he brought up some good points, in which he encouraged me that I had really thought about the whole situation, and did not take it for granted. Green light from Joe. I dig him. I know he would tell it like it is. I respect him, and enjoy his teachings. He's a Cool Guy.

I also spoke with my accountability partner and best friend, Dan Stephens. I hadn't talked with him for about a month and so we caught up. And as always, Dan, along with Sarah asked tough questions. I love them, as well as Jayden and greatly thank God for their friendship and love. Thumbs up from Dan, and I assume Sarah.

I talked with Mom about it, as she's one of my best friends, and person who birthed me. She has a right to know about her son's pursuits of the female gender. She gave me the go-ahead.

Jason and Lindsay had a chance to hang with her, and they unanimously approved. Said she was Rad, Beautiful and Sweet!

I felt at peace with it. But I knew I had to do one more thing, Talk to her parents. Here's an portion of what I wrote to her Bestest Best Friend, Liz, concerning dating Melissa:
"It's a beautiful time. But if you call it dating, or someone is calling it dating, then that is what it is. I will call it dating at the point in which I ask Melissa's parents to date their daughter. Then upon their permission and Melissa's permission, I will officially call it "dating." I guess I have come to believe that when you marry someone, you really marry the family. And with dating, you too date the family and should get to know them as well. That way, if it were to come to marriage, they would already have a relationship with me. I want to honor Melissa as well as honor her family by being a man of integrity. I am big on family, so it is important to me to ask her family, assuming it gets to that point. As for now, it's heading that way. But I am taking my time, because I know I have the tendency to rush into things, as does Melissa. And due to the industry I am in, obviously Melissa would have to be cool with me being gone a few days a week. I am passionate about my job and love to fly."

I dropped off a note with Melissa's parents Saturday wanting to meet with them Monday in the evening, the day Jason and Lindsay left. I got the go-ahead from Pops to meet with them. Show time! No turning back now.

So Monday after Jason and Lindsay left, I called Melissa, rather texted her and met up with her at her house. We agreed on hiking and so I drove us up to Helen Hunt Falls, where we hiked 26 steps to the top of the falls and talked life. We then drove down to the Mt. Cutler Trail, and hiked our easy 2-mile hike to overlook Seven Falls. We probably talked to one another for another hour fifteen once at the top, covering everything that came to our minds.

Heading back home, we talked on the porch for another hour plus. As the day progressed, the discussion got deeper. Relationships, boundaries, the works. I let her know I was speaking to her parents this evening about asking them if I was able to date their daughter. She was pretty cool about that with a big Kool-Aid smile on her face. I love that smile!

I didn't have enough time to run home to change, and Melissa said I should just stay while she changed for her big interview with Ulta. We prayed together for the Talk, as well as her interview. She left just as her parents came home. I guess it was time to Go Big or Go Home! No Turning Back, No Turning Back!!!

I wasn't as nervous as when I originally talked to Melissa herself. Didn't have any planned speech or slick words to say. I figured I would rely on my A.D.H.D and wit, as well as my good looks. Melissa's parents, Dan and Crystal are hilarious, very sarcastic and cool (no I didn't HAVE to say that!). We talked for about 2 hours, and I got to share my life story and testimony with them. It was a good talk. I wanted them to see my heart for God, life, my passions, and for their daughter, whom I have gotten to know the last few months. After all the talking, joking and ultimately after getting hungry, they gave me the okay to date their daughter. Once again, I just wanted to honor them, respect them, and get to know them better.

So that night, I met up with Melissa to celebrate her NEW JOB she just got, as well as Janelle's new hair, and my approval to date her. We went over to Ted's Montana Grill and ate Meat and onion rings. I think we got some royal treatment!!! I could have asked Melissa out then, but really wanted to wait for the right moment, which I said would be Friday evening over dinner. Now that's manning up!

Tuesday I got a text from Melissa. She got fired from her current job. She wasn't too thrilled about that, so I prayed with her. I went over to the Chapel Hills Mall to get out the house, Read the Word, and check out the mall and all it's fashion.

I finished up Corithians Uno. It's funny how messed up we see that church is, but Paul gives much encouragement also. It does remind me of problems we as the Church face today.

Realized I despise Spencer's Gifts. It's just too Babylon for me! That was for you Juan. Went in to Hot Topic also, Colors are in!!! Almost childlike colors. It's cool, but once again, I don't wear much of the color black, which is the base of every shirt there.

But I have found my new love, which is a store called Steve & Barry's. <----- Click on the Link, please and find a store near you! Erick Estrada got me on them, due to their shoes they sell, Starbury's. The store itself is huge, and is like an Old Navy, but even better prices. They believe looking good should not be for the elite, aka, the rich. So shoes are like $15, and clothes are like $6 -$20. I bought a sweet shirt for $6. They sell everything from sports apparel to business casual. It's totally my store I will support. I respect their values and will buy their pretty exclusively. The closest stores in L.A. are Buena Park Downtown on the Mall, The Block at Orange, Westfield West Covina and Ontario Malls. Go there!!! Tuesday evening I did the Incline. Lori, Rachel and Linda, this "adventure" and "hike" is for you. Not for the faint of heart. When you hear "the incline," people get uneasy or say that you are crazy. I met up with Adam and Matt to do it. It was Matt and my first time. Here's the low-down on it. The Incline itself is a former railway turned "extreme" hiking spot. Here's a look of the trail as taken by an old school photo. Note that the rails have been taken out, thus the cars are too nonexistant. So you see the path to hike. Here's the specs on it. The trail is 1 mile long, 5280 feet in length. It has an elevation gain of 2000 feet. It is mostly a 40% grade, but there is a section that is at a 60% grade. Out of our friends group, Oliver holds the record for making it up at 23 minutes. My first run, I mean slow walk... 48 minutes. Matt, who just moved from Costa Mesa very recently and who was not acclimated, did it in probably one hour. It is brutal, and I was burning up, dripping in sweat and panting heavily. But it felt so nice to make it to the top. it is a big accomplishment. Will I do it again, yeah. Not looking forward to it though!

Once up top, one can either go down the steepness, or take the Barr Trail down. I opted for the Barr Trail, in which I decided to run down, since dusk was approaching on us at a rapid pace. And silly me didn't exactly bring a light! So I ran down it, which wasn't that bad but for the time I tripped over a rock in the dark and plummeted to the gravel tearing open my hands, wrist, elbow and buttocks. I didn't roll anything though. Slowly brought myself up and made my way down in the moonlit sky. 15 minutes later, Andy and Matt came down.

I made my way over to Nelsons, for Tuesday night Beer Fellowship. Popped open some fresh New Belgium Abbey Ale and relaxed in the pain I was in. Melissa took care of my emotional well-being by giving me a scalp massage and a back rub, to which I returned the favor. I crashed at Nelson's on the couch watching The Friday After Next with Ice Cube.

Wednesday I got an early release from work and just cleaned house, did laundry, ironed organized. I then met up with Melissa at her house and we had an intimate walk over to the Dog Tooth Coffee House. We had some drinks, chilled and talked as usual, utilizing our "love language" of quality time. Walked back in time to change for the Colorado State Fair. You see, Melissa won a contest at a Bridal Show for a bachelorette party to the fair to see Chris Daughtry from American Idol. We rode out in a PT Cruiser Limo, Melissa, Shawna, Janelle and myself (the boy friend with sparkles in his eyes, I mean glasses), equipped with Arbor Mist and mood lighting. Got to the fair, introduced the ladies to deep-fried oreos, snickers, and twinkies, the trio of death. As always, everyone had their favorite and on our sugar high, we took random pics with animals (hawkHAWK!!!!) and then headed into the Concert.

I wish we would have missed the opening act. Waste of useful air, but not comedy. Melissa and I held hands!!!! woo hoo! It was very natural and nice too. Daughtry played and was surprisingly good. He's sure got talent, and the ladies, I mean girls love him!! He sang covers of "Hey Man Nice Shot" and "Home Sweet Home" as well as one of Soundgarden's big hit's of the 90's. Good taste in music. And put on a good show.

Knowing it was Melissa's bachelorette party, we restrained our hand holding til inside the limo, as not to cause any questions and concerns by one Limo Driver Larry. I would hate for him to know that Melissa was cheating on her fiance with her "token male friend" who came along in the limo. Bad PR! But we chilled all the ride home, holding hands. After getting dropped off, it was really hard saying goodbye to Melissa, but both of our feet hurt from looking so good in our boots! Sometimes it hurts looking so good!!!! And Melissa looked hot!

I could of asked her out yet again there on the street, but I refrained. I am not scared to man up and ask her. I guess I am waiting for Friday to ask her, when I take her out to the Blue Star, next to Bristol Brewery before heading to theMill. It will be then that we will have the official title, "dating, boyfriend/girlfriend, a couple." And it's not as if she doesn't know, cause we are very communicative to one another. So saying this before the day it happens is no surprise to her.

This is a good time in my life. It's important to consistently remain in the Lord and in His Word, in active communication with the Creator of the Universe. I encourage you to do the same. I thank everyone from family and friends for your years of wisdom. (YES, you Uncle Loren!)

As always, these blogs are long. I do not apologize. I speak of what the Lord is doing and of Life.

Alright mom, here she is... of course, there will be more pictures coming soon, as she is a very special part of my life. Ain't she purdy!! Lindsay had surgery this morning at 10am on her heel. More and more, she's turning into RoboCop. All went well from my understanding. Call her, encourage her, and laugh with her as she is all drugged up.

I move officially tomorrow
119 Avocet Loop
Colorado Springs, CO 80921
note that.

Will post more vacation pics on my 4 Day trip to Des Moines and Denver!

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