09/30/03 -- Happy Birthday Austin Moffitt, Cinda (Goodman) Voiles, Richie Ramirez, JeanAnn (Hughes) McConnell, Dom Moceanu, and Deb Van Den Berg!

Thanks everyone for all of the birthday visits, phone calls, e-mails, and IMs.  I appreciate them all.  My birthday was okay, but it wasn't great.  I was tired, and I felt sick throughout the day.  It was good to hear from all the people that got in touch.  That was the best part.  Thanks again to everyone who made me feel better.  -- Michael

09/29/03 -- Happy Birthday Mo Bhardwaj, Michael Carrizales (me) and Happy Anniversary Lu and Ursula Hernandez!!!

I hope everyone is well.  Thanks to all those who have contacted me.  I am a little tired and fatigued right now, so I am going to cut this short.  Talk to y'all again soon.  -- Michael

09/28/03 -- Happy Birthday Amy (Herndon) Holt!

It's about time I update the site.  I have been preoccupied these last few weeks.  I apologize.  I hope I haven't lost any readers.  Most of y'all know that I have been a little under the weather recently.  If anyone wants to contact me, feel free.  I'd love to talk on an individual basis, rather than a public forum such as this one.  However, I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for a few people (in no particular order)...

Debbie & Cindy -- Y'all are my sisters, and I love y'all both.  I always know I can count on y'all.  Y'all have never let me down, and I'm grateful.  Thank y'all so much!

Jonathan -- You are my brother.  Watching you grow up has been a privilege for me.  Know that I am here for you, as you have always been there for me.

Jason & Juan -- Y'all are also my other brothers.  I have known y'all the longest, since we were barely kids.  Through the good times and the bad, I am proud to know that we are still as close as ever.

Laura -- I can't express how much you mean to me.  You are the epitome of someone special.  You proved that much on Friday night, and I love you for it.  I have always known how wonderful you are, and yet you still never cease to amaze me.

Hunter & Gabe -- Thanks guys.  Y'alls friendship and honesty are something I appreciate everyday.

David & Monica -- Y'all are like family to me.  Thanks for making me feel like the same.  That never goes unforgotten.

Alison -- As always, your friendship is endless.  You always know what to say, in any situation.  I am lucky to have you as a friend.

Markus & Kim -- Y'all are my example.  Thank you for being great people and friends past, present, and future. 

Larry -- You have always been a great friend.  You have gone beyond the call of duty this past month.  Thanks for being a great ear.

Julie -- Thank you for all of your attention and thoughts.  I still haven't forgotten how you were there for me two and a half years ago.  You are the reason I have kept my faith.

Heather -- I am so happy to have become so close with you, in such a short amount of time.  Last Thursday night was hi-freakin'-larious.  To think of how, where, and under what circumstances in which we met this summer, and compare it to how we are now...I am truly grateful!  Thank you for everything!

Gabby -- Even though you are far away, I have never felt more close to you.  Thanks for being such a wonderful person.

Liza -- I'm glad we are back in touch.  I hope it stays that way in the future.  Thanks for the wishes.

Melvin, Austin, Andres, Justin, Rudy, Gabe M., Rob, Lu, Will -- Everytime I see or talk to one of y'all, it's like no time has passed.  That's a great feeling to have.  Thanks guys.

Priscilla (G) I., Priscilla S., Cinda -- Our individual conversations have been great.  Thanks for making me feel good about myself.

Jennifer -- Thanks for the e-mails.  It's nice to know that you are out there being a friend.  I'm proud to have reacquainted with you this past year.

Mr. Young -- You are my mentor, and my friend.  Thank you for providing me with the clarity and maturity that I always need.

Jason W. -- You were my inspiration two and a half years ago.  You taught me how to be happy with life, and everything it throws at you.  You taught me how to cope with difficult situations.  I somehow forgot that, but thinking of you has made me remember what you taught me.  You continue to be my inspiration.  I think about you everyday.  I know you are somewhere up above reading this.  I pray that I see you again in heaven someday.

Angie -- You are becoming a good friend.  Thanks for making me laugh.

Carrie -- I am very happy that you are becoming a big part of my life.  I hope we continue to grow...

I am sure that I might have left out a person or two.  I apologize if I have done so.  I'm sure I will add to this list later.  I love you all!  -- Michael

09/27/03 -- Texas Longhorns vs. Tulane Green Wave @ 6:00 PM on TBS!!!

09/24/03 -- Happy Birthday Hunter & Darren Thompson, Lisa Huerta, and Paul & Morgan Hamm!!!

09/20/03 -- Texas Longhorns vs. Rice Owls at Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX  @ 8:15 PM on ESPN2!!!

09/19/03 -- Happy Birthday David and Monica Berlanga!!!

09/13/03 -- Texas Longhorns vs. Arkansas Razorbacks @ 11:00 AM on ABC!!!

09/11/03 -- I'm sorry, but I just hate this day.  Sometimes it is so hard to keep the faith.  Two years ago today I was in New York experiencing a tragic moment in our country's history.  The memories of that day will never leave.  Fast forward to the present...this week has been such crap.  It has been very tough.  But it's a day like today when we are supposed to be happy for what we have, right?  We are supposed to count our blessings?  Even though things might be going bad, or they aren't the way you want them, we should at least be happy we have our health, right?  Well, how are you supposed to feel when you don't even have that?  How are we supposed to have faith when things keep getting worse?  -- Mike

09/09/03 -- Happy Birthday Lana (Buchanan) Polzin!

Thanks to everyone out there who have been such great friends.  I know that all this will ultimately be a good thing, and that things will be alot more clear in the end.  It will all make sense in time.  The one good thing is that I have really been able to reconnect with my family through everything.  That is something for which I am very grateful.  Life does go on and hopefully, the things that matter the most will always be there.  Hopefully, through all of this, I will truly realize if, in fact, things are meant to be.  -- Mike

09/04/03 -- Hi everyone, thanks to all those that have got in touch over the last day or so.  I am just going through a hard time right now.  The support being given by all of you is greatly appreciated.  I will be strong, and I will have faith.  I am prepared for the worst, and I hope for the best.  I am just trying to be true to myself, and I know that God will take care of me.  -- Mike

09/03/03 -- I don't really know what to say.  This has been a very trying week.  It's tough sometimes to realize things that you don't want to realize.  How do you deal with accepting the truth when it is tough to hear?  Tough times shape who we are, right?  Well, let me ask you a question...how does betrayal make us stronger?  How does distrust make us stronger?  How does dealing with fakeness shape who we are?  Is this really what life is about?  Are we supposed to enjoy the good times while they last, because inevitability the bottom will always fall out from below us?  That doesn't seem fair, does it?  -- Mike