I am so blessed...

I have such great friends... I am surrounded by caring, loving, inspirational, funny, and just all around wonderful people. All throughout my life I have had a great support group. I always seem to fine quality people. It starts with my three closest buddies who are Brait (I have know since I was 4 so about 25 years), Mikey J (since 6^th grade... lets see about 16 years), and J.J.(12 years). We all have gone in and out of each others lives throughout the years, but our always there for each other. Even my mother said in a recent visit you have always had loyal friends. Through those three  people alone I have met some incredible people and have become part of their families as well. I also knew my buddy Ian Rice who pasted away  in May of 2009 for about the same time as J.J. Let me breifly introduce these guys, but honestly I could write a book on each one. 

          First off is Brait. Seems appropriate since I have know him the longest...(above and all pimped out)was my first best friend and he is truly like the older brother I never had.  His laugh is almost as contagious as mine and sounds like no other laugh you have ever hear. We could go without talking for any amount of time and pick up right were we left off. This is him in a fancy suit taken for something to do with his new company I am sure. I guess I will find out hopefully next tuesday.He has helped me move so many times, but for him its his chance to play tetris with my furniture in a u-haul truck. Its actually amusing. lol  Got much love for you brah...lol.

         Next, Mikey J...oh shit son.. (above taken while we was chilling at his parents house last time I went to visit his parents when he was not living with them) or as most call him “Jack” because his last name is Jackman. He always has been my back bone. He really stood up for me when I didn't know how. He also has always pushed me to do great things. He is a hell of a comedian. Life of the party... the ladies man. Hell of a nickname/phrase creator and joke teller. His family took me in when I truly need it. love ya man.

          Oh yes...J.J.  (above him and I at Braits wedding)well he is like my twin brother. Our lives are so similar its kinda scary. Well the early part of our lives that is. He is now married and has a wonderful family. So that is were we are different now days...lol.He is the gentleman. Caring, loving, and the great family man. I am blessed to still be a part of your life man. I know we are good support for each other. At their house I am known as Uncle D. I have posted a lot of pics of his kids and you will see more in the future.  Here is a few more good ones. 

          They are awesome kids. There is Austin (on the left) chilling on the couch with me. I caught this rare moment with him playing with his gum. He is growing up so fast. I believe he was watching Uncle D and Daddy play some video games. He has started playing video games a bit with daddy as well. Can't wait till he is holding it down with us. On the right we have Hannah who is reading me a story for a change. It was a Dr. Seus book and I was reading it to her, but when we got about half way into the book she would stop me and try to read the rest. Too cute she is. She loves books, I finally found someone that reads at the same level as me...lol. She is so much fun to be around.

Ian (above with his rico sueve senior pic) has been in and out of my life too, but always part of the circle. I really started to get to know him in the last few years he was alive. He is the nicest guy I have ever known. Here is something I wrote about him few days after he past that I just found in my phone the other day. It was something I was actually hoping to read at his funeral, but it didn't workout that way. 

A few days after Ian had left us I was reminded of text I got back around the time of Ian's death. I was sending texts out to let people know what had happened. 

I got a response back from my brother that went like this "I don't really know Ian all that well, but he is really one of the nicest guys I know." I really think that, as short as it is, is one of the best ways to describe Ian. He was the nicest most caring person I think I have ever met. I remember he came over for my birthday party sleep over. He told me he brought over  his own sheets. I was very confused and asked him why. He quickly replied. I brought them because I sweat sometimes when I sleep and I didn't want to sweat on to your couch. A small thing I know, but just a small examples of how he tried to be nice to everyone. I was privileged to have his help with moving into my apartment that I am in now about a month before he past. To which I told him many thanks and that he was a great friend. I was glad to have seen more of him in the months before he died. See there wasn't a bad bone in his body. I remember the last time we played madden and he was whooping my Heine bad. He was so apologetic. A great video game player he was. Just always fun to have around. Since his death I've thought many thoughts of Ian and so many make me smile and laugh. His mom said he was such a happy kid. I think he was a happy person in general. I'm sad because I can't have anymore years with Ian a.k.a. Rice cakes.   Wish I could have started our friendship sooner, but I feel very lucky that I had as much time as I have had with Ian. He is now the glue between the rest of us close buddies, family and everyone he touch on his time on earth. When I really get sad and miss Ian I think of what he would say. He would probably say "it's cool man don't worry about me. Live your life, enjoy a movie, play some games, and work on your madden skills." Then he would do that Ian chuckle and that huge Ian smile. Ian gave and gave. He gave me so much. Great memories, his family,inspiration for my health, and my life in general. Why does it take someones death for us to really focus on how wonderful we are. Look, Ian chose all of us for good reason. I feel lucky he chose me and so should everyone else that got to know him. Ian has reminded me to live and love. I hope when you look back at how Ian touched your life he brings up that same inspiration. It's always harder for the ones left behind. To David, Shelia, and Bri Rice I am no replacement for your the wonderful son and brother you lost, but I feel very happy to be a part of the rice's family. I love all of you as well. I will miss the physical Ian that I loved so much, but now every time I miss him I look into my heart and there he is smiling right back at me. Till we meet again my dear friend.... I love you man.

Well after that passage  I will say this...”None of us will be here forever.. and we will either have to say goodbye to others or others will have to say goodbye to us. Live life to the fullest and leave nothing on the table.” SO NEVER forget to remind those you love  that you do and NEVER hold back something you should say. For there is not always another day.  

My birthday last year which was the best one I ever had. I had all my closest buddies over for a gamer sleep over at my house. I didn't realize  at the time of how much my birthday party turned out to be a going away party. Ian past away the next month and my brother moved to Colorado just before that. One Buddy  named Chad had become a new daddy two months before and that started taking a lot of his time. As it should kids are a lot of work. J.J. who I talked about before is married with two kids. Hard to get together with him.  Brait is married and trying to get his business going. Mikey J left few months later to Washington to live with his parents. So like a lot of things in my life last year I lost many things. Which I think that I have mentioned before.  

Hold on... I am not going to end the entry like that! Just this is how my mind works. I  process lots of things as they come to me. I actually have 3 pages open with three different ideas I am trying to get out of my head before I lose them...lol. This is actually part 2 of a blog entry I wrote few weeks ago. Where I was missing my core friends. I was bit upset at plans falling through. I didn't mean to make anyone feel bad. I am a communicator. If I can't get it out some how than I will explode. You don't want that it's messy. Yes it was a big deal. I love entertaining and hosting people at my place. Plus you left me with a fair amount of sweets that I had to eat... could not let them go to waste. lol

So what I wanted to talk about in this entry is although I don't see many of my core friends there is still so many great people that have stepped in to fill those rolls and add to my huge circle of friends. Between Paula and myself we know so many people. Especially from my old circle of coworkers/friends at Coffee People. I should anyways since I worked there over 7 and ½ years...lol. I have also added my huge family I have gained by working at the Market.

So speaking of those current people in the circle of friends for me.  Few Saturdays ago,  I got invited over to Jessica and Kristin's House to have corn beef and cabbage for St. Patricks day that we all missed. Which was fucking awesome! (seen below sooooo yummy!)

My sis did good job with dessert as well. She got me something gluten free god bless my sis. Jess and Kristin are wonderful and such a great couple. (Seen  below starting from the left Kim, Jess, and then Kristin on the end)

 We spent a lot of time together last year during the summer going rafting and my sisters backyard BBQ's. They both were a part of the big rafting trip we went on last summer too! (sorry I don't have that pic on computer yet)We are also planning one again this summer...=). It was my first time being at their home and I loved it. The feeling at there home  is very warm and homey. Its full of color and character. As you will see in some of the pictures. 

They also have a Salt rock lamp which is something I was thinking about getting before I found the lamps I have now. It was nice to see one in person though its very cool.(its in the picture to the right hiding behind the table) I love light and color. If you ever come to my home those are very important things to me. My mom couldn't actually sleep here because it wasn't dark enough...lol. I think she is just like my sister. Where they need absolute darkness to sleep. Bah! No way!

Oh and one of their two cats named Henry was chilling too. The other was to scared and ran to the back bedroom, but this is Henry(shown to the left). He's awesome and reminds me of my ex's cat Kingston. Who we still call our son. That wonderful son *sniff sniff* that she took from me! lol I will most likey post some pictures of Kingston sometime as well. Henry was very friendly and funny to watch. I didn't get any pics of Kristin's wonderful dog Angel, but she is so sweet and adorable too. Anyways, we had a wonderful meal and dessert. Then just hung about. Played some Rock band. (I am bad with names, but starting on left a friend of Jess and Kristen's rocking the drums and my sister was belting it out on the mic. Even if you can see the mic she was. Great job both of you! Then Kristin on the guitar below. You rock Kristin! She is also preparing for the new karate kid coming out. Just teasing! love ya K! Get it K? lol )

 It's funny I use to be so shy when going into crowds. It would take me awhile to read the crowd and see what I could get away with as far as jokes and what part of myself I felt like sharing. Now days I am more confident. I am still bit quiet at first because I do still read people, but I feel like I am way more out going. Like I turned on a switch in my head somewhere. Usually I use to hide behind my sister or my close buddies and just follow their lead.  Not anymore motherf@#$ers!   

So what is my whole point of this entry. Even  If though things don't go as planned. Remember its life and there is other times to look forward to. Also don't forget to let those around you know how much they mean to you. We are all really blessed when we actually look and listen to the world around us. =)  Community is a wonderful thing. That's a little of that vitamin D for ya. *wink wink*

Your question is a two parter: “What friend have you know the longest and what is something special you can say about them.?” Leave your comments below and I will get Hannah to read them to me. lol =)

They say they only love you when you our dead or gone... Well lets change that!

As always the message comes to you with love and pure D-Lite. =)
P.S. There is plenty of my good friends I haven't mentioned yet, but I got to start somewhere! =)