12/31/03 -- New Year's Eve and Happy Birthday Juan Araiza!

12/30/03 -- The 2003 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl:  #5 Texas Longhorns vs. #15 Washington State Cougars at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, CA @ 7:00 PM CST on ESPN! and Happy Birthday Lu Hernandez!

12/25/03 -- Merry Christmas Y'all !!!!

Christmas Day 2003 is finally upon us.  I hope everyone is having a great day.  These past few days have been very busy, as I am sure they have been for most everyone out there.  I apologize for the lack of communication with some of y'all.  As always, please don't take it personal.  Sometimes real life can be a blessing.  And yet, it can, at times, also be a kick in the ass.  I guess it depends on your perspective.  It's usually days like today, though, that help to keep a positive outlook on things.  I know for me, today is going to be a day of being thankful for what and who I have in my life.

Christmas usually starts my time of reflection of the soon-to-be-completed year.  Reflection is generally a continuous practice.  Yet, it is this last week of each year where reflection really kicks into high gear for me.  As I begin to look back on this past year, I begin to realize that I learned quite a bit.  I learned alot about myself, about certain individuals around me, and about people in general.  I also learned how to handle and deal with certain situations, most of which I have never had to deal with before, though some were repetitive.  I have really tried to understand what is truly important in life.  I do my best to hold on to that always, especially in the hard situations because those are the times when knowing what is important will play a major role.  I guess my goal is always to be a better person each day.  Around this time of year, I tend to check my progress.  With what I have endured and learned during this part calendar year, I hope I am stronger for it.  I hope that, should I endure any similar situations that I did from this year again in the coming year, I will try to "keep on keepin' on".

I really don't have much more I want to write today.  I will try to write in more detail during the next few posts.  For today though, please remember what is really important to y'all.  Give thanks for those things.  Tell your people that they are important to you.  Make sure no passing day goes by where they might question how you feel.  For today, at the very least, let's all be thankful for what we have, and for what has been sacrificed on our behalf.  Merry Christmas everyone!  -- Michael

12/23/03 -- Happy Birthday Melvin Bedford!

12/22/03 -- Happy Birthday Eric Yandle!

12/20/03 -- Priscilla Sendejo's Wedding Day!

12/19/03 -- Happy Birthday Kami Cooper!

12/16/03 -- Happy Birthday Kim (Besson) Lee and Alison Friedrich!

12/15/03 -- Hi everyone.  I hope y'alls Monday is starting off on the right foot.  This past week was pretty busy, pretty hectic, and VERY trying.  Sometimes those types of weeks happen I guess.  I am hoping this one will be better.  One day at a time is what they say, right?  " 'They' say alot of things."  Can anyone tell me what movie that line is from?  haha!

So I didn't really know what to write about right now, and since this entry is specifically meant for Kelly Sanders, I guess I'll talk about her!  J   Haha, Kelly and I talked for a good while yesterday.  (Now, if only she would hurry up and give me her information for the Classmates section! lol!)  It's always nice to talk to an old friend.  I wanted to have something for her to read this morning when she does her morning check of the website.  Well Kell, this entry is pretty much fluff.  But, at least it's something, right?  Haha, At least there are words here, and you are not reading a post from a few days ago?

Seriously though, I appreciate the fact that Kelly likes to come visit the site to check in and see what's going on with me or with others.  Jimmy said the same thing last week.  I appreciate that very much.  It makes it all seem worth it, knowing that this site might be part of people's daily routine.  I hope I can keep it up and have it be what y'all want.  So far, I am pleased with it's progress.  I hope it continues to grow.  I wish I had more to write today, but I really don't have anything else I want to share.  With that being said, I'll check out now, and talk to y'all tomorrow!  Bye!  -- Mike

12/11/03 -- I am always open to suggestions on what to add, or what to write on the site.  In fact, if anyone would like to contribute an entry or two of your own, just send them my way.  Sometimes, I don't know what to write, or perhaps I just don't feel like being very descriptive on that day about certain things.  In any event, if anyone would like to contribute anything, just let me know.

Getting back to the suggestions, one person commented on the "pressure" of putting the right information in the Classmates section.  I guess I can understand that, since I have heard that same concern from more than one person.  My advice is to just be honest with what is going on in your life.  You can write as little or as much as you like.  It really is up to you.  Heck, some people have even written comical information about themselves.  With that said, I hope some of that "pressure" is now slightly alleviated.

Another suggestion was to focus more on the actual classmates in the section, in terms of the posted pictures.  I actually agree.  This person said that what he/she likes best about the section was that they can check out what people are up to, as well as see how the currently look.  Well, since I keep the pictures to a certain size because of space concerns...I think that is a good idea.  Therefore, I decided to focus more on headshots for the pictures, that way the person can be more prominently displayed.  Also, any pictures I will receive of a group, I will post the headshot of that classmate.  For married individuals, I'll post a shot of the classmate and his/her spouse if they like.  Does all that make sense?  I think it will make the section that much better...very yearbook-like.   Talk to y'all later.  -- Michael

12/07/03 -- You have no idea how much hate I have for OU!!!!!   It's not enough that they have to beat us for the last few years.  They are beating everyone up this season.  All they got to do it win one more game that they are favored like by 14 pts. against a team that we beat!  They do, and we are in a BCS bowl!  But nooooooh, they have to get there asses beat and thus screw Texas out of the BCS Bowl picture!!!  OU will just find a way to screw Texas!!!

Jimmy Guerra and his fiancé Bethany have created a website for their upcoming nuptials.  They are currently working hard on planning their upcoming summer wedding!  They got engaged over this past summer.  They have their story and tons of other good stuff on their site.  Y'all check out the site and send Jimmy some Texas love!  Being in Tennessee, he's gotta miss Texas quite a bit, right Jimbo?  -- Michael

12/02/03 -- How is everyone doing out there?  Look at me...three days in a row writing a post!  I am trying folks!  I am trying to keep this thing up-to-date.  It's kinda hard though with everything going on, you know...real life and all.  These last few days/weeks have been pretty busy for me.  The holidays are only making it more busy.  No worries though.  It's a good time of year, right?  Someone mentioned to me the other day that I have become slightly vague with some of my resent posts.  I guess some of y'all out there might understand reasons for that better that others...but I will try to do my best to be a little more wordy in my posts...

Last night I didn't get to bed until way late...again!  It never seems to fail.  Either I am working on something, or talking to someone, or just plain not tired.  I feel like I haven't slept in like three freakin' months!  Sometimes I feel like a zombie..."like I walk around in a haze...I can't think straight...I can't concentrate...and I needa shave".  (Anyone know what song those lyrics are from?)  I am trying though...believe me!  I value sleep and rest so much.  It's like when you never get it, you want it so bad!  Then, when you are forced to rest for some reason or another, all you want to do is get back out there and do something!  Anyone know what I am talking about on that one?  Jase, I bet you know what I am talking about.

Thanks to all those who are keeping in touch with visits, phone calls, and e-mails.  I appreciate them all.  If for some reason I have not responded to you though, don't take it personal.  Either I am busy, or perhaps I am just taking some alone time, or maybe I just plain forgot.  I know normally I am very good at keeping in touch with everyone and stuff.  I also know that in the last few months or so I haven't been as good in that department.  Well, the only thing I can say is that the last few months have been anything but normal.  So like I said before, please don't take it personal if there is a little incommunicato between us.  And please don't stop communicating with me!  I SO love hearing from everyone.  I love it, and need it!  I will try to be better and keeping up my end of the bargain in that regard.

Anyway, that's basically it for me right now.  I am tired as usual to start the day; but the sun is out, the birds are chirping, and Christmas is around the corner.  Maybe today will be a great day!  Here's to hoping so...  -- Michael

12/01/03 -- I don't have much to write today.  It's a really busy day.  Keep in touch and let me know how things are going with y'all!  -- Michael