I'll be DANG!

I remember that family! How cool.

Mike, do you remember WAY back in the day when McDonalds had those plastic happy-meal boxes shaped like cars and boats? I remember we used to collect those and play with them on Jeremy's driveway...remember that?? I think we used to call him "Jrrrmy"

Have her send me his e-mail address. I'll send him a message.

Old friends & neighbors

It's funny how many people contact me through the jvalumni.com website. The latest is Jennifer Williams. If y'all remember, she used to live down the street from us in Rolling Fork. She had a big sister (Elizabeth) who was a year behind me in high school and a little brother (Jeremy) who was about Mark's age. She says she lives in Colorado and is married with a 2 year-old girl. She and her husband are both special ed teachers.

She tells me that Elizabeth has been married for like 15 years now, lives in California and is expecting her third child. Jeremy is 27, married and living in Dallas.

She told me to tell you all hello. I posted pictures of us that I had taken on Mom's boat this past Mother's Day on my page of the website (the ones where the buttons on my shirt are straining because of my THREE trips to the buffet table). She said we all look great and that Mom doesn't look any different than she did 20 years ago. I told Mom and she appreciated the compliment.

A Ray of Light for Rachel

Hey guys!

I just wanted to give you some positive news about Rachel. She went to Houston last weekend for her routine status report. The doctors see no more reason to continue chemo at this time. The cancer has been supressed enough to stop treatment for an unspecified amount of time.

This is REALLY good news because the chemo was breaking her down pretty severely. As her body gets rid of, and recovers from, the chemo she can now get on with her life. The plan is for her to take a vacation to New York, then go back to school. She has 2 semesters left before she graduates with a degree in MIS.

They are being careful not to say things like "remission" or "cured" yet, but nevertheless this is great news for the whole family. Check out her website at www.thestatus.com Her user name is Fulmer and her password is apollo13.

(btw, James I did see Batman Begins the other night... WHOA was it cool! A word of caution to the other coopbros: Do NOT go see this movie while on any hallucinogenic drugs!)

Fathers' Day

I hope you all had a good one and that you all enjoyed jumping out of the airplane. I had a good time with Courtney this weekend too, and, though I missed you all, I think I did the right thing by staying back.

Rob, I didn't get your voicemails until last night when I turned my phone on. It was a nice thought, but I don't think it would have worked because Erica was home Sunday and you coming by would have been awkward for all concerned. FYI, we have officially decided to pull the plug. When we sell the house (it's under contract and scheduled to close July 15) she will move into a rent house next to Courtney's school and we will go see a lawyer to make out arrangements official.

I took Courtney to go see Star Wars III and thought it was okay but not nearly as cool as Batman. Seriously--Mark, especially you--y'all need to see this movie.

Batman Begins

Saw it last night an holy shit is it ever cool. I have neither the time nor inclination to one of my pretentious reviews. Just see it. You will not be sorry.

www.destinationrockies.com

Just found out about this in the travel section in the paper. A two bedroom/two bath condo at Village Inn Plaza in Vail Co. starts at $266 for 3 nights, including taxes; the same unit typically goes for $263 a night. We got to arive Sundays-Tuesdays through Sept 5. Theres more on this site. What do yall think?

I love it

Robbie, I love your idea. Check it out further and let us know what you come up with. I think this should be a trip for just us. It would be a good way to remember dad, too. Just us, blood only; no step-family.

My 2 cents

Y'know, I agree with Mikey and think that we do all need to convene for a long weekend or perhaps a short vacation. Here's my idea. About 20 years ago, Dad took James and I on a vacation to Colorado for a week of hiking and other outdoor activities. I would love for all of us to do something like that again.

I have done some preliminary investigation and found that we could all go for 4 or 5 days to either Colorado or Utah and rent a cabin. We could go hiking, rock climbing, rafting, alpine sliding, fly fishing, golfing during the day and get piss drunk at night.

Since most of those places make most of thier money during ski season, the summer rates are very reasonable (about $100 to $150/night). The four of us have never done anything like this. I think it would be a blast! Let me know if y'all agre and I'll start getting more detailed info.

Jax trip

Mark, Ive spoken to Rob a lil bit and James today but I would like to take a long weekend trip up to Florida sometime this summer. I think it would be pretty cool for us all to hang out like that. Ya'lls thoughts?

We'll keep it civil.

However, since we know that this is not a secure site, perhaps we should start a new blog.
If, that is, we want this to be an open forum.

Thanks

Thanks guys. It means a hell of a lot to me to know that I’m not really alone right now.

Mark & Mike, I got both of your voicemails this morning. Please remember that I am one hour ahead of you so that when you call me at 9:00 pm, it’s 10:00 over here. That’s snoring time for me. I will call you both today.

Look, some of you may know that I sort of inherited Dad’s proclivity for depression. We all remember how, whenever Dad would go through one of his funks he would sink into the muck. He wouldn’t work out or do anything but sit around and watch his TV, eating ice cream and drinking whiskey. Dad used to love to talk the tough guy talk but when he could also be the biggest self-pitying crybaby in the world. The worst I saw of this was right around the time that he fired most of the Centex staff and closed the San Antonio office. I am not going to let that happen to me, even though I can feel its pull, if you know what I mean.

There’s not really anything I can do to make myself feel good right now, but I am doing what I can to make myself feel less bad. I’m still working out six days a week (Mikey, I’m still doing the 2 sets of 50 thing). I am also trying to eat right and, perhaps most importantly, get at least 7 hours of sleep every night. To do that without resorting to sleeping medicine, I swim laps at my apartment pool every evening after dinner then take a nice hot shower before bed. It seems to work too as the last few weeks I’ve been able to sleep pretty well. Also, though I’ve never really been much of a drinker, I am not going to let myself fall into the habit of hitting bars all the time. I’m not saying any of this to pat myself on the back either, but to just reassure you guys that I’m okay and that I will get through this process. All of us are familiar with grief and know that there are no shortcuts through it.

I am also doing a lot of deep and intense prayer, every night and I think this is where I’m getting the self-discipline to keep myself on the tracks. At first, I was praying for God to heal my marriage but events over the past few weeks have led me to believe that this is probably not His will. Now I pray for strength and wisdom.

One last thing, guys. Please don’t use this weblog as a forum to slander Erica. She is still my wife and I am doing all I can to keep my heart pried open for her, though I am fast losing hope that she’ll come around. She is also still, and will always be, the mother of my child. I know that you all support me but please don’t express it in a manner that is ugly to her.

I love you all.

Ditto

... Man, trying to find some words right now isn't easy. I hate this for you, Bro. I wish we could come along side of you and share some of the burden on your heart right now. None of us truly know what you need to hear, but we want to say it anyway. Please know that you can talk to me any time about any of this (I think I speak for all of us). It is the desire of my heart that if you are broken from this that you are whole again.

well said.

I couldn't agree more Rob. I dont know how comforting that is but God does have a plan. For what its worth I'm here for you too and behind you 100%. I love you brother.

We got your back, Bro!

James,

This is so fucking bizarre that I don't know what to say. You are a great man with the biggest heart I've ever known. I do believe that God does have a plan. Yes, I said God Mark! Anyway, my own experiences have taught me that during my darkest days there has always been a greater victory on the other side. You will come out of this stronger and better! In the mean time, you have my ear to listen to you and my prayers. I love you dude.

Robbie

Just so y'all know

It's looking very likely that Erica and I are going to be getting a divorce. That's why I haven't posted much lately. No, I don't want to blog about it and, frankly, I don't even want to talk about it, either. I just want you all to know.