Introduction

Let me open this introduction by clarifying a few points and setting your expectations at an appropriately low level. If you have made it this far into my blog, it is quite possible that you do not know who I am (except for you—Hi, Mom!). You could be reading these words from anywhere on the planet. Alas, the internet is a vast space. Speaking of space, you could be on the International Space Station (assuming astronauts have enough internet to stream cat videos as they fritter their time traveling 17,900 mph in silent orbit 400 km above the Earth). It isn’t even remotely far-reaching to assume there are a number of you reading this post from on a toilet somewhere (except for the astronauts that have tuned in… I imagine using a space toilet would require full concentration, and likely the precise use of both hands…)

I have not been on social media for the better part of a decade (though you can now follow my budding Instagram account @threesacrowdblog). I am not a viral TikTok dancer or thought influencer. I am not a prodigy of any kind or a politician, nor am I a business leader on any “Top 40 Under 40” list. There are river-horse ungulates with more of a following than I will likely ever possess (game recognize game, Fiona. I see those 20k Insta followers…). I am not a New York Times Bestselling author [yet], I am not an athletic or academic standout nor have I ever competed for any sort of national or state title. I failed to qualify for the Middle School Spelling Bee by misspelling the word ‘wierd’—silly me for following the ‘I before E except after C’ *big air quotes* “RULE” (but let’s be honest, I was pretty OK with this particular shortcoming). I also feel it’s worth mentioning that I have not won any “Sexiest Man Alive” competitions (though I haven’t given up on achieving this noteworthy accolade… there’s still time.)

Needless to say, I have no laurels to rest on. I am “just Dave.” I drive a minivan. I wear Crocs. I can make a mean grilled cheese sandwich. If you have ever watched Bluey, you will get a pretty good idea about what our family looks (and sounds) like (minus the Australian accents…)

So why am I writing a blog? What could there possibly be in my undistinguished, generic life and career to record and retell? I guess the simple answer is—I know what it feels like when life throws you a curve-ball (or two). In fact—I thought I was playing baseball (continuing the curve-ball analogy), and in actuality, a shark jumped out and chomped off both my legs. And I was actually standing in quick sand. (minus the legs… so would that be stumping instead of standing?) Oh and everything is on fire. I think all of that sums it up a bit better than your run-of-the-mill curve ball idiom… Life is messy and unpredictable—and while no one gets through life unscathed, some seem to get scathed a little more than others.

I used to think I needed to be well into my 60’s before I could attempt a memoir (or any sort of written account about my life and experiences)—but at the ripe ol’ age of 31, I have been through some shi—stuff (more on that to come). That being said, this blog is not about me. I am merely a character in this story.

I suppose this could be considered a “Dad blog”—seeing as I am, in fact, a #GirlDad of 3. But I hope this will be a bit more than that. I would say that I am a creative amateur (meaning, I like to create things and have never been good enough to make any money off of anything I have made). I will blog about my family, my life, and will reflect on the world around me as I go, and maybe someone out there in the vast expanse of the inter-web will glean something of value from my unique set of experiences and setbacks, which have contributed to a fresh perspective—or at the very least, share a laugh with my unscholarly tales and musings.

For more on what to expect from this blog, click over to the About section.

I will close this post by saying, I am glad you are here, and I hope you will subscribe.