FINAL DECISION: UT Southwestern DPT Class of 2012

After much thought, prayer, and many conversations with friends and family, I've decided to cement my decision and attend the University of Texas at Southwestern for physical therapy school. It was a difficult decision that took an interesting turn about one month ago. Throughout the entire experience, I was so thankful that I had so many wonderful great schools to choose from and considered it a blessing to be in the situation of having to make a tough decision.

Moving forward, I'm very excited about spending the next three years of my life here in Dallas-Fort Worth where I've developed several friendships, got involved in a great church, and truly feel comfortable. I'm also excited about starting school in two months. I've already starting making preparations to move, order my books, get my shots, and take care of all of the things on my to do list before school starts. And by the way....school starts on my birthday - May 25th - what a great way to celebrate!!

Lights, Camera, Mud

Since moving to Fort Worth almost two years ago, I've participated in the DFW Mud Run twice. It's 6 miles of hurdling obstacles, rolling around in the mud, and getting to play adult GI Joe with some of my closest friends. They captured this race on video the last time I ran it and my friends teased me because somehow I "always" knew where the camera was located. Can you blame me? I never pass up some good camera time.

My friend found the video online a couple weeks ago and passed it along to me. Here it is. See if you see anybody you know.

http://dfwreporting.com/2009/05/08/six-mile-mud-run-in-fort-worth-texas/

I'm a Manny

Several people have asked me what I'm doing over the next few months to fill my time before heading off to PT school. I'm a manny. Yes, you read that correctly. I'm not a nanny, but instead, a man-ny for a 5 month old baby boy. He is their first child and I have the distinct honor and privilege of providing for him Monday thru Friday.

Now, I know what you have to be thinking. Burke, have you gone completely nuts? But before you ask that question, let me tell how I got to this point and what the experience has been like thus far.

Last year, as my friends were preparing for the arrival of their first baby, we were discussing what they were going to do for child care. I just so happens that I had a 5 month (and now it could be 8 months) window between finishing up my pre-requisites and PT school. Since I had that time to rest, I thought I'd throw the offer out on the table not really understanding what I was committing to.

Long story short, we decided it would work, so in January I took over the reigns full time. I jumped in feet first and have not looked back. I do it all -- change his diaper, rock him to sleep, heat the bottle and feed him, and mix in some great play time to work on his gross motor movements. My friends told me this is their wedding gift to my future wife. They said they are only going to buy her a card with "You're Welcome" written on the inside of the card. It hit me this week that I'm probably the only single guy in the Metroplex who has never been married that has a carseat base in the back of his car. Who said there is not a first for everything?

So, what have a learned over the past month and half? Here are some of my thoughts (in bullet point format for all you type A, organized people reading my blog):

• It's a FULL TIME JOB! If you think I sit around playing tiddly winks and watching Oprah, All My Children or the Young and the Restless, you are mistaken. Hats off to all moms because I've realized that caring for a kid is a full time job. I can't imagine having more than 1.
• Running errands has a completely different meaning. What normally takes me 30 minutes to an hour, now takes 2-3 hours to do. There is so much to think about and take care of just to get in the car and go somewhere. Just getting him dressed and ready to leave takes 30 minutes.
• There is nothing glorious about changing a diaper. I have a very funny story in relation to this point. I plan to share it in the near future on this blog.

Keep checking back -- I plan to continue chronicling my "Manny Adventure" on this blog.

White Out in Texas?!?!

There is not a better day to return to blogging that on a cold day in north Texas. Today, the Metroplex woke up to "real" snowfall. It was/is/will continue to be incredibly beautiful. However, snow and ice seems to bring out the best in all Texas drivers. I laugh because I put myself in that same category. When it snows or gets below freezing, we go ballistic. We all lose our sanity. On the road, we drive like a bunch of nervous middle school kids at their first Valentine's Twirp Dance.

But despite our allergic reaction to cold weather, we also relish in the fact that it is snowing in Texas (which doesn't happen very often). We call our family and friends, take pictures of our snow capped cars and homes, and update our Facebook status. In our own quirky way, we are celebrating a state holiday because the schools are bound to shut down and working from home is a definite possibility, if not certainty.

So, this morning I did what most north Texans did -- took pictures. I've posted a couple for your enjoyment.