Yesterday was a very special day – it was Wendi’s birthday. So to celebrate this “Wendi-ful” occasion, I gave her a dozen long-stem red roses and we headed to Tuscany, one of San Diego’s greatest Italian restaurants and Wendi’s favorite – for dinner and drinks in commemoration of the day of her birth.

We arrived at the restaurant, which provides a dimly-lit and very romantic atmosphere accompanied with a “Cocktail-esque” bartender named Howie pouring drinks to a cheering crowd – and a female singing soothing tunes while her male counterpart played the keyboard. As we enjoyed the music, the ambiance and each other’s company – we each had a true authentic Italian meal – while clinking our wine glasses together in honor of her special day.

Besides celebrating her birthday, I took her out to dinner to thank her for all of her selfless support regarding my decision to move here. For the last two months, she has opened her home and her heart to me and let me stay with her while beginning my transition from my old home to my new one. In doing so, we have become very close. So close in fact – that I have become a better father to her son Seth than his biological one. From attending his soccer games, to watching Monday Night Raw together – to helping him with his homework – this nine-year-old boy has, for the first time in my life – actually changed my opinion regarding having a child of my own after 34 years of speculation and only two months of experience. Believe it or not, I can say with all certainty that I feel like a part of a “nuclear family” – and that feeling is something I truly enjoy.

Following dinner, we drove back to Wendi’s parent’s house to pick up “our son” and return “home.” The rest of the evening consisted of tucking Seth in, watching our regular series of Thursday night programming, which included Grey’s Anatomy and Six Degrees – and then talking before bed about the night we had – and my new future here that awaits us.

Today, we extended the celebration by going to lunch and seeing Dane Cook’s Employee of the Month. The movie was a funny, guy meets girl, bad guy/good guy tribute to life in retail America. I would definitely recommend seeing the movie to anyone that wants to see the bad guy get his – and the good guy get the girl.

As I begin plans to return to Brooklyn to retrieve my belongings, my son Beavis – and the roots I have planted there, I can’t wait to completely remove myself from my hometown and return here to begin the rest of my life. While this decision has been one I have made on my own – I have to thank Wendi, Seth and Karen for helping make this transition a smooth one. And when I am officially a San Diegan, I will move forward and seek new employment, new homes, new friends, new jobs – and new beginnings…

…and I can hardly wait.