My Blue Tie

I have worn my blue tie with various shirt and suit combinations over the last two years as a Police Detective. I have never given much thought to my blue tie it matches some shirts and suits. I have spent my entire adult life preparing for the worst possible scenarios, while serving in the Marines, in Law enforcement. I say that because it is important to understand I am not in denial about the danger posed to us in our most mundane tasks as Police officers. The feelings of shock and disbelief surrounding the tragic and senseless shooting of Deputy Hopper are shared by the entire Law Enforcement community.

I was going about my New Years day like everyone else, but that is not true at all. There are those of our community who at a time when having the pager go off for a call out was the last thing were thinking of or expecting on a Saturday morning. When the call did go out Deputies, Officers, and Troopers dropped everything and drove from all points to the call for assistance. I know that every effort was made to render aid to a downed Sister, and I want to thank everyone that responded. If it were possible I would grab each of the responders in a big hug and just tell them, I know they tried and I love them for that.

I was getting ready for work on Tuesday and noticed for the first time there was black in my blue tie. I never until that day noticed the similarity in the fine detail of my blue tie and the thin blue line emblem it clearly displayed. This blue tie that I have worn countless times was different there was a small amount of black where I had not noticed it before. I know there is dark in the world and it was on display at Enon beach, but it was overshadowed by the blue and the outpouring of love and courage displayed by the blue. So although my blue tie has a small amount of black in it, my tie will always be BLUE.

Trying something new for dinner.

I have made a change in my eating habits. I can hear the two people who are actually reading this saying, "oh a diet." I would counter your skepticism with a dare, to you, to avoid a fast food window at lunch for three months. I decided around january of 2010 (largely for economic reasons) to stop eating crap handed to me through a window at work. I started in small steps like buying salads from the local grocer at lunch. I never have been a big fan of food, I view it as the necessity it is.

The more I started thinking of what I was eating the more interested I became in making a real change. I started simply by keeping protein bars in my office, a few apples, oranges, and a bag of almonds. I expanded to use the refrigerator at work, I keep blocks of cheese, cottage cheese, deli lunch meat, available and I eat when I'm hungry.

I am sure by now some of you are thinking "oh this is Adkins" or "oh this is the (insert name) diet". The truth is I have talked to some of the guys I workout with and they have given suggestions on what foods are better for certain things and I have tried to incorporate them into what I eat. I have also started to take a little closer look at the people around me and their eating habits. I have some great people around who are eager to help me learn things.

There are nights that my Wife works in the evenings, and the kids and I are left to our own devices. They are little and can't cook for me, so I cook for them. In the interest of making something that is pretty simple and quick, we eat chicken off the grill and a bag of steamed veggies from the microwave. The kids enjoy it and call it Daddy dinner. I have expanded the Daddy dinner from beef & chicken, to include fish.

I sent a message to a friend who was all to happy to give me instructions on how to grill salmon. So with the instrucions in my mind and a few minutes online checking different methods, I went to the grocery with a list in hand.

I prepared the salmon which was easier than I expected, and went to the grill. I made the preparations needed at the grill and started the process. I was a little nervous mostly because it was somehting I had never done.

I am very proud to say it turned out wonderfully. I enjoyed it, and so did my Daughter, my Son had chicken strips and fries from the oven. I hope this leads to expanding the foods we eat here at home and our overall well being.

To those of you thinking I may have lost my mind, I brewed a Belgian IPA last week that is bubbling in the fermentor as I type this. No I have not given up all things bad for me, just carbs, starches, soda. Enjoy your next meal and consider trying something new for dinner.

This is the post I have been waiting to write, if you have read the few entries I have made on this blog you will remeber the Joy I felt when Brainna ran her first two mile race with me. I know as parents We project onto our kids the things we want for them and sometimes it's the things We as kids probably wanted for ourselves.

I have posted a few pictures from Andrew's first wrestling season, it is also mine. I never wrestled in school, and had very limited exposure to contact sports. Mom thought I'd kill my siblings, maybe she was right, or maybe I'd have just been more confident sooner in life. I was very claustrophobic, even into my early adult life. I have since trained in many forms, of many things just to overcome the panic I felt as a small very skinny kid being held down. I remember the absolute terror that would put me in complete brain lock and make any thing intuitive to get free vanish from my mind. I always thought it would be nice for Andrew to either not have that fear or overcome it at an early age.

I have since Andrew was little hoped that he would Wrestle. My Nephew Wrestled for a few seasons in the "kid's club." and this was really Abby's first exposure to Wrestling, She was always so impressed with the way all the Dad's, would rally to encourage the little boys. The looks on the faces of the boys who were heart broken over the losses, and exuberant over the wins were so powerful. The reception and support the Boys received from all the parents was the same win or lose.

This season has had more than a few moments I thought that I would just pull the plug on the season and chalk it up to Andrew only being five years old and not mentally ready for the rigors of practice or the anguish of the meets. There have been practices he has cried the entire 90 minutes. Two weekends ago at the meet in Liberty Indiana, yes I drove an hour an fifteen minutes to a meet, Andrew lost all three matches by being pinned. Andrew cried at the beginning of each match was just never really there.

This past Sunday Andrew and I travelled to Wapakoneta to a meet. We left early and went to the Frisch's in Tipp-City, because the boy loves bacon. We had the breakfast bar and He ate probably a pound of bacon, a whole bunch of hashbrowns. We sat in the restaraunt and played all the games on the menu, we talked and just hung out for about an hour. We arrived at the gym early and I kicked my shoes off and went onto the mat with him. We went over the things we had done in practice the previouse week to make sure they were fresh in his head, and then we went to sit in the stands and wait for warm-ups. We had been sitting up there a few minutes when he looked at me and said "I'm going to win all three matches." I said that's great if you try really hard and do your best I'm sure you'll do great. I was happy, up until this point, mostly his self confidence had been low. We sat and talked to some of the other kids and parents for a few minutes. Andrew looked at me and said "Daddy I'm gonna pin all three boys." I am a realist by nature and Andrew had not pinned a boy yet this season. Although, we had worked on finishing moves all week, I reminded him to just do his best and it will work out. I of course did not tell him three pins seemed a bit of a lofty goal, I just encouraged and supported. I was a mess due to the times he has come off the mat crying and so upset over the losses. I was scared for him, afraid he had set his goal to high and would only end up crushed if he did not pin the first boy. Never underestimate your children, he pinned the first boy in 21 seconds.....I was coaching him to improve his position on the other boy's neck when the ref blew the whistle, I thought maybe the other boy was crying or had some issue, when the other Dad Coach with me said he pinned him. I was amazed, I missed the forest for the trees of his right arm, but he did it. The rest of the day went well, We ate slushies, and a gatorade, and other stuff just because he wanted it. At the end of the day Andrew had pinned all three of the boys he Wrestled, and he taught me a valuable lesson. That lesson is simple if you support and encourage your Children to dream big dreams and put in the work to accomplish those dreams they will accomplish incredible things.

I am a very proud Dad.

Greenville Wrestling Meet

These are pictures from the Wrestling Meet in Greenville, He won two and lost one, it was good day.

He is still having trouble learning how to finish with a pin, but he has shown great improvement.

Sorta feel bad because he was mauling this kid.......Yeah right, it was a good match, both kids did well and there was not much crying before, during, or after.

This has been what most of my winter has consisted of. I will be short on future pictures, the photographer will be working some extra shifts to help cover the cost of a cruise we have planned.

2009 in pictures

I have assembled a few of the pictures from throughout the year of 2009, to get a sense of what we did. I started a new position at work which is why, in the first picture you see a very different Dave. Somehow I learned a new job and looking back I'm not sure how with all the stuff we did.

This is a great picture of what it looks like when a serious people stop taking themselves seriously. What a great day.

She is not impressed with our beer brewing activities, but we are rather proud of them.

The backyard brewing society, moved our operations to Boston's Pub for a demo of our brewing techniques.


I went to the top of Mt. Sopris (just under 13,000 ft) in July during a backpacking trip in Colorado.

The wildflowers were in bloom during the backpack trip and were very impressive.

I tackled the project of gutting and remodeling our master bathroom. I had a bunch of help from my Father-in-law (thanks Dave).

The view from the entryway hallway through the hall closet into the bath and bedroom, this was early in the demo. The bathroom was taken all the way to the studs.

First day of 3rd grade.

Soccer Season was busy with them both playing.

This was his first wrestling meet ever, he was excited. (so was I)

The Family had a great time at the Gulf shores of Alabama.

Just a photo I set up and took, I liked it.

After 2 hours on the jetski at fullthrottle this is the hairstyle you get.

Her 9th Birthday we spent in Houma LA, with our friends. (So big so fast, wish I could slow it down)

First day of school, his first day of Kindergarten.

We went to the Lake fishing with his Great GrandFather, just the three of us it was great.

This is just a sample of the photos, from the year in review. I may try and do a monthly posting of photos in the coming year, just to keep track of all the fun I am having watching them grow. I hope your 2010 is full of happy times that make great memories.

Man Night Ale

This is my first attempt at home brewing. I only assisted my friend Drew who has all the know how. I brought the fermentor bucket home after several weeks in Mike's basement and transfered it to the bottling bucket and added the dry hops. I left it in the bottling bucket for several more weeks. I bottled it on 8-19-09, it was my first experience bottling beer.

I placed a bottle in the refrigerator last night and let it chill for about 30 hours. I opened it tonight and with a clean glass and a big pour to get it mixed the following picture is the result. Thanks again to the guys I brew with especially Drew as this is his work and I just helped. I am happy to say I will be brewing next week my very first brew and it will be an all grain brew. I will update that when it happens. I have had this blogspot for a couple years and very few things to post about. I hope that the beer brewing and time spent with friends will increase the amount of posts. Enjoy a good beer, and time with good friends every chance you get.

Very Proud

I have since Brianna was little thought we would run 5K's. I am sure all parents think of things they want to impart to their children. I can tell you that I have ran almost all my life in some form or another. I am so very proud of Brianna with no training for the run she completed the 2 mile course.

As most people do she started out fast and faded around the 3/4 mile mark. Brianna was huffing, puffing, wheezing, and even crying. Brianna kept plodding along and a little girl (5 years old) and her Daddy caught up with us. Brianna ran behind the other pair still not sure if she was going to just flat quit or keep pushing. I told her that Mommy and Grandma Noey were going to be at the finish and they would not want her to finish crying. Brianna stopped struggling settled into the slower pace and did great. Brianna started getting anxious to speed up and I kept her back. We rounded the corner and exited the woods with only 100 meters to go I let her go. Brianna ran really well to the finish and as she has told everyone "BEAT DADDY". I hope to run many more races with my new running buddy. The inner strength she summoned to keep pushing when her every thought was of quitting, is priceless. I could not be more proud.