Sunday, February 26, 2012

And the love goes on...

This Blog Post is Written By Lisa Soyka

2008 Pic (I'm a Veterinarian)


I came into work that next day, tired but glowing.  My friend ( and office manager) Karen could tell right away that something amazing had happened.  As you will see in some of my future blogs, Karen is a true friend. Whenever I had downtime at work, she would call me into the office and we would talk.  We would talk about boys, family, previous boyfriends, work, kids, future plans, etc... nothing was off limits.  Needless to say, she saw Dan's match page about 100 times.  


Funny thing, I'm surprised Dan continued to want to see me since you are able to view who and when someone viewed your Match page.  I must have viewed it 257 times already.  






The next day I think she must have moved around my schedule for a little girl time because I had no appointments for the first hour.  
Right when I walked into work I was summoned to the office.  She can read me like a book and knew last night was life changing. 




This was it, my first and last date on Match.  Dan and I talked every day after that until our next date. It was October 1st. We went to a Braves game.  The Washington Nations may have won that night but it didn't matter to us.  It was a perfect night out- clear and cool.  We ate hot dogs and drank over priced beer.  After the game we took a cab home and hung out at his condo for a few hours.  






When we got back to his place, he asked if I wanted a tooth brush. I thought this was a weird question but said OK. 


Later that evening I found out why... Now, I respect myself enough to not give into a man until I know this is the real deal but I'm not gonna lie- there was a lot of making out.
Around 2 am, I had to leave even though every bit of me wanted to stay.  Again, I went into work tired but glowing!

Our third date was that next week.  I couldn't believe that I was so into this guy but he was into me too.... and I wasn't turned off by it!  


It was going to be Dan's first time at my house.  I cleaned ALL day and bought a big, beautiful yellow Mum plant for the front porch.




{{{I later found out from a family friend who is a psychologist that I was probably subliminally trying to influence him and showing him that I am domesticated.}}} 


For dinner he took me to Shoya Izakaya in Atlanta, this amazing Japanese restaurant out in the middle of no where.




When we were driving there, we took a wrong turn and ended up on a dead end road.  For a quick second I though this may be a mistake but when he started laughing I felt at ease.  


We ate the best sushi I have ever had and Dan had this drink, Shochu something or other... whatever it was Dan talked about it for days and even went to multiple international grocery stores looking for it. 

We talked about our passions in life, one of his was running.  I have always wanted to run a marathon. I was already inspired by his devotion and motivation in life but this was an added bonus! We talked for a couple hours during dinner and decided to hang out later that week. 


That very next day he told me that if everything between us continued to be going well, he would like to bring me to Florida to his best friends wedding to meet his family and friends in November over Thanksgiving weekend.  


Oh my gosh, are you serious!!! I am invited to meet the family! I had so many emotions running through my mind, emotions of excitement and anxiousness. After only 1 month of hanging out and he is asking me to fly to Florida with him to meet the family.... whats a girl to do? 



Sunday, February 19, 2012

Dan & Lisa's First Date



This Blog Post is Written By:  Lisa Soyka






Lisa and Dan December 23, 2009


I suppose I should start from the beginning so here goes...


I promised myself a long time ago that I would never settle on anything if my heart wasn't in it 100%.  I am the only one in charge of my happiness so why would I cheat myself and settle for something that I didn't believe in.  After years of dating men younger, dating men older, dating men that are divorced, dating men that have children, it seemed what I believed in was starting to backfire.  I'm not getting any younger here, was I going to have to settle with a man that wasn't my soul mate?  So I took action and did what any sucessful, strong women would have done to find a man... I joined Match.com. 
This was something very weird for me, in the beginning I thought of myself as desperate and alone but after 2 weeks on the site, I got this short and to-the-point email from a guy.  If your not familiar with match.com, it is a dating website that sends you matches as a percentage everyday depending on your likes, your life style, ect.  


The email read " We are 92% compatible and that is something we shouldn't ignore.  - Dan"I'm not sure what it was about that cheezy, one liner but I emailed him back and we decided to meet.  This was my very first blind date and I was so nervous! 

We met at Meehan's Irish pub in Atlanta September 22, 2009. 

He was already there, sitting at the bar.  I sent him a text to let him know I just got here.   He responded by saying he was the cute guy sitting at the bar in a white shirt.  Hmmmm, this guy is pretty confident I thought to myself.  When I approached him, he turned around and stood up, introduced himself, gave me a hug and asked what I wanted to drink.  

Oh my God, this guy is HOT! He wore a white polo collar shirt tucked into a pair of nice jeans and a pair of boat shoes.  His smile was childish and playful but sexy at the same time.  He definitely works out, it was very obviously by the way his shirt fit him.  He is the most handsome man I have ever laid eyes on.  I ordered a Gin and Tonic, he was drinking Maker's.  We immediately started talking about anything and everything.  I couldn't believe how easy this guy was to talk to.  Dan was hilarious, his sense of humor and whit captivated me.

We left the bar area to go sit outside.  It was at one point that we were talking and drinking when all of a sudden, as I was in mid-sentence, he leaned over and kissed me.  


This is not our first date {9 mos later 6/1/10}...but you get the point :)  LOVE!
A few more drinks, kisses and a cockroach scare that ended with me screaming in front of everyone standing on top of a table   {{{Classic First Date right?}}}


I was in my car going home from the most amazing night I could have ever imagined.
 I just met my soul mate...

Next Bash in Progress

The Clams had a gathering last night {February 18, 2012} ..researching what the next Bash should be to raise awareness for ALS.  Here are the behind the scenes pictures from the "meeting"... Don't you wish this was how all board meetings were conducted? 

Hard at Work

Dixie, Victoria and Lisa

There is ALWAYS time for Laughs

Kaitlin and Juan

Lisa and Dan

Dan's Mom Lynn and Dixie

Much Needed Break


Saturday, February 18, 2012

ART BASH


THANK YOU 
From Our Friend Dan


Our Friend Dan and his Crew would like to say THANK YOU for your support!  We had an amazing turn out at the Art Bash, January 28, 2012 at Dunedin House of Beer in Dunedin, FL.  




Many Thanks to Kelly's and Dunedin Brewery in Dunedin, FL for hanging our donated art for Silent Auction the month of January leading up to the Art Bash.

Here are some of the highlights of the event.  



The Beautiful Art donated for Silent Auction!



This special Art Piece was created/donated by a 13 year old girl.  Here are the lucky Winners with Dan's Amazing & Beautiful Wife Lisa Soyka!


Here are The Clams - Dan's hard working crew. Autumn's memorial picture is behind them. There was a loving to tribute to Dan's Sister Autumn during the event.  Without Autumn we wouldn't be so inspired to live our lives in hopes of inspiring others.


How AWESOME is our community and friends around the world? Look at Raffle Row FULL of donations from so many businesses, family and friends!!  THANK YOU EVERYONE!!

We had so many donations they will be hard to list on this page, here a few we would like to thank.....

A SPECIAL ***THANK YOU*** to Dunedin House of Beer for hosting our very first Our Friend Dan fundraiser and for their generous donation of $1 for 
every beer sold that night... lots of beer drinkers that night!


Tampa Bay Times - Put Art Bash on Front Page!






Thank you to Old Town Manor Key West, SeaCoast Airlines, Fury Water Adventures Key West, La Trattoria, Lazy Gecko, Danger Charters, Key West, and City view trolley tours For their Donations - It was our BIG PRIZE PACKAGE! Congratulations to Tiffany Fuller on the BIG WIN!!!

How awesome is this photography package!! That is one lucky winner of this package!!! Thank you Carrier Photography and Salon Island Estates!


This cake was donated and specially made by Your Fondant Memories.  Candice did a wonderful job incorporating The Clams and Pearls with Our Friend Dan Logo.  And the TASTE was so Delicious!!! THANK YOU Your Fondant Memories 

Crab Soup was another delicious treat! 

 



THANK YOU TO OUR TALENTED MUSICIANS!!!

Dan and Autumn's Parents - Dave & Lynn


Dan enjoyed himself - he stayed busy greeting everyone and handing out the raffle prizes.

Words can't express the heartfelt appreciation for all the support, donations and hard work everyone has put in to making this a successful Art Bash.  We are fighting ALS one bash at a time! 

For more information on Dan Soyka and his fight against ALS. 
Follow his crew on Twitter at @OurFriendDan or Our Friend Dan Facebook Page