Shoutout Sunday #7: The Marvellous Jaimee and Jason Deak

Top photo: The awesome Jason Deak. Middle photo: Jaimee and Jason on their wedding day on May 31st 2003. Bottom photo: The wonderful Jaimee Deak.

It takes a special situation for me to write about more than one person during a shoutout - the only other time I've done it so far is for my family - but with the lovely Jaimee and Jason Deak it's a no-brainer, as they're truly an amazing couple, a couple who both came into my life around about the same time, and a couple who I one day dream of being like! They both became my friend through Facebook back in January 2013, through our shared love of My Chemical Romance (to think, they split up just two months later!), as well as through a mutual friend, Randy Hyson Jr. I think it also initially helped that I'm English/British, as I found out pretty soon that they both absolutely love Britain, from Top Gear and Doctor Who, through to the fact that they both have ancestors from Britain: Jaimee's maiden name is Linthicum, which is of Welsh origin, and they both have connections to England, Scotland, and Wales.

It was actually on two separate occasions where I actually realised that they each really liked me, not just as a part of this magnificent online family who all loved the same type of music, but also as a close friend. On the 14th of August 2013, Jaimee tagged me in a beautiful status amongst her "best friends and family", with a link to the song "Here's To Us" by Halestorm. It was so nice to be included in this status, and it's something I never forget. I fell in love with the song, and even to this day it will still make me think of Jaimee and Jason. She then introduced me completely to Halestorm, giving me loads of songs to check out, and it showed me the type of music that they both adore. Yes, they love some modern rock, such as My Chemical Romance, Thirty Seconds To Mars, and Avenged Sevenfold, and they also listen to all-sorts of genres, but their hearts will always be in hard rock, classic rock, and metal - it's just one of the many things they have in common. As all the phenomenal friends I've met online through music show, when you share a connection to the same band(s), it's often really easy to get along. As well as Jason, Jaimee, and I sharing a love for the same type of music, we also all love our sports and video games, and I know Jason loves playing online on his beloved Xbox, and they both love playing games - like NHL, Rock Band, LEGO Marvel Superheroes, etc. - with their son, Kristian.

Top photo: Jaimee meeting Frank Iero, the rhythm guitarist from My Chemical Romance. Middle photo: One of the family's cats, Latte. Bottom photo: Jason with their rat, Moxie.

On the 3rd of September 2013, I found out what type of guy Jason really is. I got my very first tattoo (and still my only tattoo, although I will get more one day!) on that day, and I uploaded a picture to Facebook excitedly, having told barely anybody what the tattoo was going to be - only my best friend, Pete, and girlfriend (at the time!) knew before I got it done. It was something I had thought about for many years, weighing up so many ideas in my head, eventually 100% deciding on getting these lyrics on my right forearm: "As my memory rests, But never forgets what I lost", from Green Day's "Wake Me Up When September Ends". To me, this gave the tattoo two meanings: it was for a band I had loved for many years, and it would be a tribute to those who I've sadly lost from my life. The response was almost unanimously positive, with even my mum and dad liking it, but there was one person who was giving me some bad feedback and turning the whole status into one big confrontation, and what was an even bigger surprise is that it was one of my close friends from real life who was doing this (just to add: this situation is all under the rug now, I'm over it, and I've forgiven my friend)! Jason was one of the many people who stuck up for me, and it was then that I learnt that he was a good friend, and somebody who cared about me.

Jaimee and Jason are loyal, loving, passionate, sweet, and incredible human beings, and it is my privilege to not just know them, but to also be able to call them good friends. I know I'm far from the only one to think this, too, as the amount of support and love I've seen them both get on Facebook, when, say, one of them has been in hospital, is amazing. I've, of course, been there for them on those occasions, and always done my best to prove I'm a good friend, and I will forever be there for either of them if they need me. They have been there for me with relationship advice when I've needed it, they've helped me when said relationships have abruptly gone wrong and ended, and they've had my back on many occasions. I look at them as a perfect couple, the sort of relationship I dream of one day having, but Jason once said to me, "It hasn't been sunshine and rainbows all of the time, but it always comes down to her and I against the world", and maybe that's why they are such an awe-inspiring couple: because they're a team, and work together to overcome anything that may be thrown at them. They really are the sort of people you want on your side in life, and I really hope we one day meet, as it would be an unforgettable experience. I know we'll be friends forever - I love you guys! ^-^ <3

Top photo: Family time, playing some Rock Band. Bottom photo: Jaimee, Kristian, and Jason.

No "Shoutout Sunday" today - sorry (reason: surgery)!

Hello to all the lovely and amazing people reading this, I hope you're all well! :) It's unlike me to do a short(-ish) blog post - they're normally lengthy, detailed, full of pictures, and take numerous hours, if not days - but I'm doing it because I wanted to explain why there is unfortunately no "Shoutout Sunday" today. Firstly, allow me to assure you that this feature of my blog will continue for the foreseeable future, as I still have so many fantastic people to write about! But, basically, I'm having toe surgery tomorrow morning for the third time (third time lucky, eh?!), so I've been busy getting organised for that, as it is obviously very important! Normally I'd do anything to get a piece of writing done and published, including staying up most of the night if I had to, but that's just not an option right now. Walking on a busted big toe is no fun, and is sometimes incredibly painful, so here's hoping that it gets fixed for good this time - wish me luck! :) Thanks for understanding, take care, and I love you all! ^-^ <3

EDIT: After an unexpected turn of events, it turns out I'm now having my minor surgery tomorrow (Tuesday the 9th of June 2015)! Today's appointment was actually just a doctor's referral to get checked out by a podiatrist - which I genuinely didn't know; I had got prepared for surgery - prior to the actual date for surgery at a later time (surgery was always a definite, that I knew), but thanks to a cancellation, it's happening as soon as tomorrow. I'll let you know how it went! :)

EDIT Number 2: As you can see from the picture above, the surgery has now been done, and it went very well! The lengthy couple of injections of local anaesthetic were incredibly painful, to the point of going light-headed and not being able to see; basically, almost passing out! But you have to have that pain to prevent the pain that would otherwise occur in the next bit: when a knife and scissors get used on your toe! Thanks to the "magic" of the anaesthetic, I felt nothing, and so everything ran smoothly from then on. It's throbbing like crazy right now, and the healing and aftercare process is long - a dressing change and saltwater soaking every day until it perfectly heals - but it'll all be worth it to walk properly again forever! :)

Whilst I'm here, I want to say a massive thank you to anybody who is reading this, read anything else on my blog, shared/re-tweeted anything, and/or followed me - it's always hugely appreciated, and I thank you for taking this journey with me! :D <3 So much more to come on my blog in the near future, including a lot of music-related content - like, more album reviews, and my favourite songs list which I've been working on for a very long time - as I know most of you guys always enjoy music posts, so please stay tuned! :)