Nate needed to stop by the Verizon Wireless store in the Cherry Creek Mall to have his Motorola Q looked at.

As we walked in, no one said a word. Finally a man said, "you gentleman need to sign in."

The picture clearly shows how busy the store is.

Talk about service! I felt like I was at the DMV. Sign in, huh?

Labels: Business, Nate

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 1:07 AM | Permalink | Comments

Las Vegas and Mazatlan were amazing, and this certainly will go down as the greatest week of my life... for several reasons.

Anyone guess the first?

Yeah, yeah... so I finally gave in and got married... but then again, I did ask her. Her father's happy to be off the hook.

I married the one woman who will put up with me, but will let me know when I need to shape up. Neither of us are perfect, but when I'm with her, it doesn't seem to matter. She's the one whom I want to be with, have children with, and fulfill dreams with. She's creative, ambitious, intelligent, and determined. Why she picked me, no one knows, but now that she's locked in, I know I got the better end of the deal.

To me, the ceremony couldn't have been more perfect. The setting was an outdoor garden sitting alongside the river on a perfect summer afternoon in Las Vegas. Surrounded by our closest family and friends, Rebecca and I exchanged vows on a day I'll certainly never forget.

The minister was a Mexican cowboy from Texas with a fantastic sense of humor, but I believe he was an ex-con. While his robe concealed 95% of his body, he appeared to be covered with prison tats, creating a laugh for me that I can't wait to pass on to our children and grandchildren. Luckily, Rebecca didn't noticed until I mentioned it after the wedding, or an unfortunate mishap might have occurred. He was great, none-the-less.

Rebecca and I were so pleased at the turnout of guests. With few exceptions, everyone we wanted to attend made the trip. It was wonderful seeing our families, but even more fun to see them interact so positively, especially with the such varying backgrounds. It was great to have everyone make the trip from Texas, South Dakota, and Florida, but even better to see how much fun our friends were having together. People whom have never met seemed like they've known each another for years.

Odis and Nate got along great and Kim brought her energy. But it undeniably is not a party until Odis brings the crowd to life. While he's a brother to me, life isn't the same without him around. Everyone loves him, everyone wants to see him, and everyone unquestionably wants to be his friend. I'm blessed to have him in my life; now, more of you know why.

Kim and Barb have been great to Rebecca for years, and getting to meet the people that are the subject of so many childhood stories is spectacular. While we've met before, we didn't have the opportunity to spend time together. Rebecca and Kim compliment each other so well, and her mother Barb is proof that good people do still exist (outside of Texas).

The only unfortunate element was that of time. For a while, we were so concerned with getting Rebecca's hair taken care of, or whether the pizza was ordered, we didn't have as many opportunities as we would have liked to spend more time with everyone.

Rebecca (our friend, not my wife) and Kurt, for example, came to the wedding, but combined with the reception, we weren't able to see them again. At least we had that time.

Maybe we're growing up, maybe we're starting to mature, but our friends have chosen good people to spend their life with. I'm happy that Rebecca found Kurt. In front of 30+ people he's never met, he seemed very comfortable and acted like a gentleman. Rebecca is one of my favorite people in the world, and it brings me great joy to see her happy.

Jonathan couldn't have found a better woman in Marie. I am proud that Jonathan found the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with, and even though he had to get one from Buffalo, they truly are perfect.

After a year of marriage, Matt and Diana seem to be doing as well as expected. From all accounts, they've begun a very prosperous life together, and will have lots to celebrate for years to come.

And could Bryan have found a more perfect catch than Ginny? She's sweet, beautiful, and a blast to be around. Having them both in Las Vegas to celebrate was a genuine bonus for the weekend.

Somehow, we all found women way out of our leagues. Just don't tell the ladies... they might get smart.

Having Paul and Kerri make the trip was especially exciting for Rebecca, and getting to see Grace and Dawn after such a wonderful experience in Orlando was great for me. I wish we could have seen more of each other.

I'm excited to have two new sisters-in-law, and look forward to getting to know them, as well as Tres and Tyler. Tres is in the picture long-term, and hopefully Tyler will get locked in soon. They're a fun group of people to be around, and I'm so happy it will continue.

For Tres' parents to attend was wonderful. Jeanne and Dennis have been so kind to us since we met a couple years ago, and have offered a beautiful friendship, and soon, a wonderful new family. During our engagement weekend one year ago, they gave us use of their condo in San Antonio, and Jeanne has made it very clear that any assistance needed will be handled with exceptional care. It was great to see them again.

We had aunts, uncles, and grandparents make the trip, and it was wonderful to see them all. We were especially happy to see an uncle whom I have in Florida and haven't seen in almost three years, and Rebecca's Aunt Donna from Minot, North Dakota. We understand it was costly, but to see everyone truly made the day more special. It's difficult for the both of us, since we're so far away from our family, so the time we spend together is very precious. I cannot convey how much we miss everyone and cannot wait for the next opportunity to be together.

Getting to see my brother, and seeing his life going in the direction that he's been hoping, absolutely brought enough joy to my weekend, that everything else -- with the exception of marrying my new bride -- was a bonus. He's worked hard, gone through tough times, but never given up. I have been so proud of him in recent months, and have no doubts that he'll be as successful as his potential will take him. I was so happy that he was with us to share this special day, and cannot wait to stand alongside him when his day comes, as well.

At the reception, Nate's speech was everything I expected from the person I chose as my best man. It was thoughtful, sincere, and painted the perfect picture of what it's like to be around Rebecca and I everyday. I cannot express how appreciative I am of his humor, advice, hard work, and friendship. He truly is my best man and my best friend.

For our honeymoon, Nate's parents gave us use of their timeshare which allowed us to take the trip to Mazatlan. The generosity found in Steve and Bev is plentiful, and while I hope we can someday pass along their kindness, their example is a lesson for us all. I hope they know how much they mean to us, as well as how special they made us feel. They're genuine, exceptional, and we're profoundly blessed to have them in our life.

And finally, to our parents. We cannot express enough appreciation for what they've taught us. While my parents near their 28th anniversary, and Rebecca's parents celebrate their 25th, the best we can promise is to take their lessons and make them proud, because over the course of our lifetimes, they've given us so much to be proud of. They have set a precedent that give us a solid foundation, and their love for each other shows us how to make our marriage prosper. With their guidance and support, we cannot fail.

Seeing Rebecca's father walk her down the isle, singing to Rebecca with my fraternity brothers, cutting the cake, riding the roller coaster at New York, New York in our wedding attire, and spending a week in Mexico are memories that we cherish forever. We want to thank each and every one of you for making it such a special time.

Keep us in your prayers -- that's the best gift you can give.

Labels: Family, Friends, Life, Nate, Odis Welch, Rebecca, Wedding Plans

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 11:27 PM | Permalink | Comments

I love my HDTV.

We own a 32' Samsung LCD TV (the official television of the NFL), and I don't understand how I ever lived without it.

Games are so clear, and Izzie Stevens is absolutely stunning in high def.

Although, I was left wondering.

My heterosexual lifemate Nate isn't a sports fan. Why have an HDTV if you can't watch football on Sunday, or baseball during the week?

When he gets to Denver and I invite him over, what are we going to watch? While I have an inappropriate crush on Betty White, Golden Girls reruns aren't as exciting as seeing Lance Berkman drive in the winning run.

I suppose my mission is to make him a sports fan. I've been trying, and I've seen progress, but we might have more work to do.

Labels: Blogging, Nate

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 2:20 AM | Permalink | Comments

It was good to see Nate this weekend. Many of my friends have asked about his health after the accident, and I can now tell you, first hand, that he's doing great and recovering well. He still has a long road ahead, but it's become a lot less bumpy.

Physical therapy every day appears to be hard. Being 1,200 miles away, knowing there's little I can do, is hard, as well. Hopefully Rebecca and I were able to offer him a change of pace from the continuous administration of pain medicine, stretching, and television re-runs.

Each of us learn lessons in our daily lives, and Nate's accident has been one of the most important I've learned in quite a while.

Not only because I ride a bike myself, and his accident could have easily happened to me, in addition to the fact that life is more fragile than we can imagine, but I've learned that no matter how busy we become with schoolwork, careers, and extracurricular activities, there's nothing more important than family and friends. With Nate, he's become both -- my best friend, as well as a brother.

No one needs to understand more than me, that we need balance in our lives between work and play. I truly believe that each of us needs to work hard, and intend to keep working in order to provide a comfortable life for my family; but we need an escape, as well. Enjoying a movie with my fiance, a conversation with Nate, or a beer over a baseball game keeps me sane. I should dedicate more time to Rebecca, and keep up with what goes on in Nate's life. I can do both with a beer. Fairly soon, after Nate's rehab, I'll be able to do all three at the same time.

I can't wait for that.

While in Colorado, we drove north of Denver to Fort Collins for a tour of the New Belgium Brewery -- the makers of Fat Tire. While on the tour, the guide mentioned one of the components of their business was to "find your folly." By folly, he meant a way of enjoying life, and he stressed to each and every one of us that we should enjoy what we do in every degree of our lives.

Everything happens for a reason, and my folly sits a Mile High above the ground at the edge of the Rocky Mountains with my future wife and best friend nearby.

I'm blessed -- truly blessed.

Labels: Denver, Nate

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 12:56 AM | Permalink | Comments

Sometimes I just want to wrap my friends and protect them from everything that hurts.  It's very disheartening to know you can't always help.  No matter what you say, or what you do, nothing seems to make it better.

That's my downfall.  I feel as though I should always have an answer -- or a solution.

Three friends are recently going through tough times, and there's nothing I can do about it.  When Nate was in his motorcycle accident, people that care about him are left with such a hollow feeling watching him on his hospital bed, knowing nothing we do will make him better.

There's an Allstate Insurance commercial that explains how the tires, brakes, bumper, etc. were all made to make the car safer... except for the driver.  That driver was Nate.

He was wearing a helmet, gloves, protective jacket, and the bike is designed to withstand certain accidents.  What the manufacturer couldn't predict was his irresponsible driving.  I'm so mad at him for the dumb mistake, but who's to say I won't make that very same one?

Someone I care about very much is going through a difficult break-up, while she hopes to discover herself.  At 23, she's never been single, and the idea of being alone scares everyone.  Your first instinct is always to run back and make it all beter, but too many relationships have made that mistake.  If there were problems you couldn't handle the first time, they'll likely be there the next time.

Be strong, because it's not supposed to be easy.

My third friend (and a new friend, I might add), has it tough going through cancer treatment.  To make it worse, she's going through it alone.  Imagine what it's like to deal with something so serious -- but try it with no one to emotionally support you.  Somehow our problems become a little less problematic.

Sometimes I feel selfish when I appreciate everything that I have.  A woman whom I love very much, who also loves me, graduation coming around the corner, friends who've always been there, family who shows unconditional love, a job that allows me to drop everything and spend 8 days in Denver during an emergency, and a God who I truly believe watches over me.

Why am I so lucky but others aren't?I suppose the main difference is perspective.  I have the same problems everyone else does, only I know I'll get through it.  Not because I want to get through them, but because I have to get through them.  And if I'm any judge of character, all three of my friends will do the same; and in the end, they'll be stronger for it.

Only I wish I could snap my fingers and make it all disappear.

Labels: Friends, Nate

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 7:24 PM | Permalink | Comments

It’s been a long eight days.

Let’s get everyone up to speed. On Monday, October 2nd, Nate, my roommate from Orlando, was in a serious Motorcycle accident near his dorm in Denver. Since he’s from Seattle, his parents flew into Colorado Tuesday morning.

Because his mother didn’t have my number, I found out about the accident Tuesday evening from a bulletin his mother posted on MySpace. Wednesday morning I hopped on a flight to Denver, which is where I’ve since been. I’m currently sitting in Denver International Airport (DIA) waiting for my 8:50 AM flight to Bush Intercontinental.

DIA uses AT&T and charges for wi-fi access, so this probably will not be posted until my arrival in Texas. Ahh, capitalism.

While Nate’s injuries are serious, he has completed two surgeries, with more to come, but has shown significant improvement every day. He has several broken bones (most of them shattered), but no permanent damage, or head trauma. Thankfully, he was wearing a helmet, riding gloves, and a protective jacket.

We later found out from the Kawasaki dealership where he purchased his bike, that the helmet he bought (and paid $600 for, on sale) is the best helmet on the market, and likely saved his life.

For details on Nate’s status, check out the blog we set up at fixnathan.blogspot.com.

I met some great people while in Denver, and renewed relationships with others. Nate’s parents are fabulous, and in the face of disaster handled themselves very well. What they’re going through certainly isn’t easy, but they handled it with class. They’ve made me feel comfortable and part of the family each and every time I’ve been in their company. In the past, they gained my respect, but this week, they earned my admiration.

Nate has great friends, and I’m personally thankful for all of them. They made me feel at home and were willing to help every step of the way. Being nearly 2,000 miles away from home is difficult when you’re not familiar with the city, although today I feel quite comfortable with Denver as I’m making my way back to the Lone Star State. Thank you to Krystal, Jason, Nick (Wee-Man), Katy, and especially Caitlin. You’ve all been great, and Caitlin was often my chauffeur and errand buddy. Thank you all.

If it wasn’t for Tres & Sara, I doubt I would have been able to make the trip, or it would have been much more difficult otherwise. Sara unselfishly gave me her car with no restrictions, and the two of them gave me a place to stay with lots of love and understanding. I certainly won’t forget it, and I love them both dearly.

I can’t wait to get home and see Rebecca. I’ve been away for too long, and I miss her much. Tonight, I simply want to sit at home, hold her, and be thankful that what has happened to Nate wasn’t much more serious than it could have been.

Be thankful. Nate almost lost his life. That could have been any one of us.

Labels: Denver, Nate, Rebecca, Travel

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 12:18 AM | Permalink | Comments

At a cruising altitude, somewhere over southern Colorado, the week that was is fresh on my mind.

Rebecca and I are planning a move to Denver in early January. We have a trip scheduled for mid-November to finalize housing, schooling, and squeeze in a mini-vacation, so I got a head start.

Because of Nate’s accident, I’ve now spent significant time in the Mile High City, and even found time to squeeze in a Broncos Monday Night Football game. Invesco Field is gorgeous, and even though temperatures were ridiculously cold (for a Texas boy) and rainy, I had the time of my life. Matt, my brother in Phi Mu Alpha, came down from Boulder where he’s getting in Masters in Music to join Krystal, Caitlin, and me for beer and football. The Broncos beat the Ravens 13-3.

Tres & Sara’s apartment, where I stayed, is located in Westminster off I-25, 15 minutes north of downtown Denver. I made the drive every night, and made a point to take a different route each trip.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I love this city. Downtown is constantly busy everywhere (unlike Houston, which has hot spots) and the city is clean.

The drive is amazing. Each direction you turn, the Rocky Mountains are in visual distance, and the view from the hills is so peaceful and captivating. Looking over the landscape puts life into perspective. While Texas will always be in my blood, I don’t think I’ll have a difficult time making Denver my home.

City living is going to be an adjustment. Aside from the fact that I’m going to be away from my family and friends, adapting to the cost of living increase, the different food choices (no more late-night Whataburger or Jack In The Box tacos), and limited access to the Houston Astros, the transition shouldn’t be too difficult. Rebecca’s family (and now my family) will be there, I’ll eat more Panara Bread, and I’ll become a Rockies fan. That should solve most of my problems, but again, finding a job will be my main worry.

Driving through downtown, I had a hard time believing that finding a stable, enjoyable, and decent paying would be difficult. There have to be plenty of opportunities available. Hopefully I’ll be able to capitalize on one of them.

Now I get back to my life. My professors have been great, so it’s time to play catch-up. If I don’t, we might not be moving to Denver.

Labels: Denver, Family, Football, Nate, Texas, Travel

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments