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Mike and Molly's Engagement Party Pics 3

Mike and Molly's Engagement Party Pics 2

OK. Apparenty you can only post 5 at a time directly from Blogger. There's 15 total.

Mike and Molly's Engagement Party Pics

Too Right, Mikey! It was a blast! I'm looking forward to the next thing. Here are some pics of the other night.

Engagement party!

What a great time Molly and I had with everyone last night! Thanks to all of you guys for coming. When all the brothers show up, the party goes DOWN! Who knew James would be the hit of the party, Molly's Mom confessed that she couldn't keep her hands off him. Ha. Anyway, what a blast had by all.

You asked... so get comfy :)

Well Hey everyone! Yes it's been too long since the posts have really pumped! The passage of time from the end of last year through the beginning of this year has been just amazingly fast! I guess that's probably true for us all. Not much to do about it, though, except to stop and relax once in a while.

So the first deal for SkyShades of Austin did not go through. It was the closest we've gotten, and it was disappointing to lose the restaurant, but 'on you will go though the weather be foul, on you will go though the hackencracks howl. And Will you succeed? Yes. You will indeed (98 and three quarters percent guaranteed.)' Read any Dr. Suess lately? Now you have. Interest continues to pick up in the area for thses shades. They're just not something that fits most budgets. But I guess I'm feeling ok with all of that- I'm still happy to be the only ones in the area who can provide that signature 'look'. Once the wave catches on, I think we will be busy. For now you may uncross your fingers.

We went to Mexico for Enrique's sister's wedding in January, for about a week. It was great fun. They have a huge family, and I'm finally really getting to know everyone. It's nice to know their names, and be able to remember how they're related. I met Enrique's paternal grandfather for the first time, which was nice. And the wedding was one giant glorious event. The party was the best! They had rented a big 'salon' and it had a room where the kids could play, a dance floor, tables for dinner (not dancing), loud music, lots of events, even had a Mariaichi for a while. Drank tequila with the family, sang karoke for the first time, and just really enjoyed myself. I'm familiar enough with the area of town now, and the people, that I can relax and be myself. I can even sleep there now. I really enjoy feeling like I have a home in Mexico.

And since we've been back it's just been tons of work to get all caught up from being gone, and from the change of year. TONS. But I'm finally getting there now, just as the month has changes and it'll all start over. That's accounting for ya. I'm so accustomed to living in the near future that I hardly notice the current time- except for the weekends.

Enrique got a drum set last weekend- and I'm sure all our neighbors enjoy hearing him beat away at them every night. And we've found time to go out once or twice recently- getting to know Austin better and better. We do enjoy it so much! The girls have grown up a bit more and we're able to be a little more free, what a difference! Not that we go leaving them a whole lot, but we do get out once in a while. And I'm planning my cut- flower garden, chomping at the bit to go and buy perennials. Soon the vegetables will be ready to plant too!

I joined Gold's, Enrique and I both did. He's been up at 4:20 everyday to hit the gym before work. I mostly go after work- three to four days per week. We're both loving that. It's another thing we've been able to give ourselves lately, and it really makes a huge difference in how we're both feeling. I haven't lost any weight, but maybe moved it around a little.

So that's pretty much the update- thanks for asking! James do you know when you have plans to return to SA or Houston? Robbie our next planned weekend will be here soon, and I know we'll connect then. Mark- it's been nice to visit with you lately. And MIKEY :) you and that pretty girl of yours must come and allow us to share some of our favorite Austin scenes with you, let's plan on this spring? I'd love to hear how you all are, and what changes have occurred with the change of year!

Love to you all! Girl-Coop out.

Message for Mistress Jen (if she reads this blog anymore, that is)

What's the status with that Skyshades proposal you wrote about on 12/14? I still wonder about that and, well, I have had my fingers crossed for y'all since I read that and, uh, my hands are kinda starting to hurt.

Post somethin' girl, and fill us in.

Okay, I guess it’s time I weighed in

What’s up, dudes? Not too much over here in the Big East. Rob came down a few weeks ago for his firm’s fiscal year sales kickoff so I had a good time partying with him. At least, I did when I wasn’t making a jackass out of myself by hitting on his lesbian colleague, that is. Obviously I need to get my gaydar re-calibrated. Oh well. After that, I got sicker than shit and have felt like crap for the past 2 weeks, so much so that I finally broke down and went and saw the doctor yesterday. Unfortunately, there’s nothing that much wrong with me. I say “unfortunately” because I was really hoping to get rich by writing a sappy autobiographical “dying young” screenplay and sell it to someone like the Lifetime network. I had already decided that William Hurt would play me (after he puts on 100-lbs or so). Unfortunately, I rather doubt that Lifetime will buy a screenplay about bronchitis. Shit. Oh well, back to the drawing board.

I haven’t been in the gym in 2 weeks because of being sick and feel kind of out-of-sorts because of that.

I got my W2 in and saw that I made more money last year than I ever have before. Financially it was a very good year, which is ironic because in every other way ‘05 was the just about the worst fucking year of my life. Anyway, since I would prefer not to have Uncle Sam and the IRS take up residence in my nether regions, I am back in the real estate market. Right now, I am still trying to make up my mind on whether to buy a condo or a house, though I am leaning toward the house. Either way, I badly need the deduction so I am going to try to buy something within the next few months. A condo would be most convenient and a lot of the ones I have looked at are really nice, but they’re in somewhat marginal areas and they’re expensive as hell (like $250,000 for a 3-bedroom). That’s a hell of a lot of sugar for something with no garage. Also, they’re building new condos all over town so I worry about the market getting saturated. My ideal would be to buy the worst little house in the best area I can afford then invest a lot of sweat equity. I will let y’all know how it goes.

Mike and Rob, great seeing y’all this past weekend. Mark, congrats again I look forward to seeing you too sometime. First Coop is out.