Here's to you

I don't buy the notion that things are predetermined and have never considered myself as having particularly good luck. With that being said, I have no idea how things worked out for me to come to Texas. All I can say is that it was by chance that I got recruited here. Not a week before I was offered a spot on the team, I was told that they were finished recruiting my class.

It seems like the longer I'm here, the more amazed I am that it happened. With the exception of Jac, I don't think you guys realize the kind of town I came from. Not to say that there aren't people there who are going places, but it just seems to me that it is kind of hard to get out. After being at Texas for a year, I am beginning to realize how much I have here. I mean, UT and Nike are paying me to play for one of the best schools in the nation, and there are people who I have never even met making sure that I have the best of what's to offer.

But more than any of that, I love you guys. Technically, I have met all of my best friends because of softball. I have met lifelong friends and people who have changed my life. And no matter how much I have been given, it wouldn't mean anything if it wasn't for y'all.

HOOK 'EM HORNS

I don't know, I think Bevo can take him...

We asked for it

Who said that Bush isn't helping hurricane victims? That fish can feed thousands right?

Thanks Matt

How I Study Sign Language

We were just wondering

So Dez and I were talking politics tonight, and the question arose as to whether or not Bill should have gotten the axe for his affair with Monica. Now don't get me wrong, I like Hillary, but Bill landed a chick some 20 years younger and had sex all over his office. Who can blame him? That's what everyone wants right? And I'm sure that afterward the White House had never been so white.

Touché, Bill. Touché.

Catch Phrase

My clue: He's on a spaceship, he's got that little thing on his head (use both my hands to recreate his helmet), and he goes spew spew (my hands form space pistols).

Another random ass question

If you could fill a swimming pool with something other than water, what would it be? Email, IM, text, tell me your answer.

Rachael: C-notes
Matt: Spaghetti noodles
Jac: Dos and lime tablets
Tina: Her favorite candies-Reese's Pieces, Whoppers and Raisinettes
Joe: gravity defying fans
Shannon: fine men
Chez: Tropical Punch Kool-Aid or grape drink
Lexy: jello, of the lime persuasion
Mel: Tito's (the vodka, not her and Devan)
G Love: vanilla pudding, but he meant to say peach cobbler with ice cream.
Cat: Chocolate Teddy Grahams and milk, not chocolate

Mel Jay

Just a little update to let you know that I, Mel Jay, have signed on as Managing Editor and Contributing Writer for this kick ass blog. If Rachael wouldn't make so many typos I wouldn't have to do this, but hey, someone's gotta help out! (Just kidding LeCook) Anyway, you can now look forward to twice the sarcasm and general bullshitting. Be on the lookout..."we're gonna be big."

Today

Describe you life in one word.

Send me your word.
rachael_cook@hotmail.com

G Love: "SEXXXY"
Why yes you are!
Joe: "What?"
He thinks he's Lil John.
Cullen: "success"
You have yet to disappoint me.
Shannon: "drifting"
She's everywhere.
Chez: "drunktastic"
And I am your prodigy.
Me: "quaddamn"
"Hhm Rach, how long did it take you to think of that one?"
Tina: "AMAZING!"
How cliche.
Matt: "fanFUCKINtastic"
That was my word first.
Kelly: "hiccup"
How annoying, no really.
Mel: "journey"
Don't you ever stop believing Mel.
Cat: "hard-earned"
Does the hyphen make it count as one word?
Jac: "inimitable"
McDaniels, did you use your thesaurus?
Lexy: "hardcore"
Hardcore days and softcore nights.

"BOOMER SOONER!
I hate the University of Texas and everything that is associated with it.
TUCK FEXAS!!"

I got this from the profile of a guy I went to high school with. Is that really necessary?

What's next?

The NCAA ban on 18 schools' American Indian mascots was lifted from Florida State University after the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma signed an endorsement of their mascot, Osceola.

The University of North Dakota at Grand Forks will appeal the ban. The school's spokesperson Peter Johnson says, "The biggest frustration is with the whole process. It's lumping everybody all together in one big lump."

Professor at University of Minnesota Patricia Albers petitioned 30 years ago against Indian-named mascots. She hopes it will eventually go pro, banning teams like the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Indians. "There is no place for these kinds of mascots, no matter what ethnic group is involved," she said.

11.2

fly.learn.meet.love.travel.experience.hear.see.give.believe

I don't want to die. I've got too much to do.

I'm looking for a tennis partner
...and also a kayak, used.

holy heads up fellas!

At Tina's request, a select few from last night...

Powerful stuff

You all know that I love to take pictures, and I am working on a link to a page with some of my pictures on it. For now, you should take a minute to look at these pics from some real photographers. This is a link from MSN's home page. Every week they post current pictures from around the world. You might need more than a minute actually; I started looking at this week's pics and was so amazed that I looked a few weeks back into the archives. I was late for work.

MSNBC

That's something else that's on the 'do before I die' list. Travel the world and take my own pictures like these.

Blue

Navy
Blue Angels

Sorry, I couldn't decide on one picture. Since I was a little kid, all I've ever wanted to do is fly. Just about everything else about me has changed over the last 15 years, but that is one thing that has not. There is nothing I would rather do.

My plan is to get a degree at Texas, finish my eligibility, and join the Navy as an officer, where I'll go through Officer Candidate School (OCS), Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. All officers entering aviation programs also complete a six-week air indoctrination course at Naval Aviation Schools Command, also in Pensacola. Prospective pilots then attend Primary flight training. Upon completion of Primary flight training, pilots request an aircraft training pipeline and enter the Intermediate phase of flight training, which builds upon the prerequisites of basic flight and navigation training. Advanced naval flight training is tailored for mission specifics and upon completion, pilots are awarded their wings of gold and report to their respective Fleet Replacement Squadrons for training in their specific aircraft.

From there, I want to eventually become a Blue Angel pilot, the basic requirement is to be an active-duty Navy tactical jet pilot with a minimum of 1350 flight hours. Demonstration pilots serve two-year terms, and their average age is 32.

This is awesome

Not gonna lie, I stole this from Darci, but every time I watch it I roll. Check it out.

Yesh!

Make sure your volume is up.

I love my family

Some quotes from the weekend

Bryan, talking about a co-worker who wants to try out for the Dallas Mavericks' dance team:

"Have you seen her ass? It looks like 75 pounds of chewed up bubble gum."

Lynda, on Jessica Simpson:

"She would screw a snake if someone would hold its head."

A whole other world

When I got home on Friday night I went to see 1100 Springs, named so after the number of fresh water springs running through the fabulous state of oklafuckinghoma. But the lead singer is from Dallas and the band is entertaining. They played for over 2 hours. I went with my brothers, Evan's girlfriend of 5 years, Deanna, and Bryan's friend Foster. Haven't seen Bryan or Dee since Christmas so it was nice to spend some time with them.

I want you to take a little closer look at the picture. The drummer, who unfortunately didn't make it in the picture, is from the Toadies and looks like Dr. Evil, the steel guitar player has a Loretta Lynn tat on his forearm among many others, the fiddle player looks (and acted) like this one fat kid I went to elementary school with, the lead singer recently cut about 8 inches of hair off and was wearing a shirt with Elvis on it. One of their songs claims they play pretty good music and are not just "Long Haired, Tattooed, Hippie Freaks". I'll give them that. And for those of you out there who claim I made up the town where I came from, here's proof I didn't, even if it is from a whole other world.

On a serious note...

Tonight on The Daily Show Jon had on John Hockenberry who wrote an article for Wired Magazine talking about the war blogs American soldiers are publishing on the internet. Here is a link to the article and the links of a few of the blogs. Definitely worth your time to check out.

Article
365 And A Wakeup
Armor Geddon
Mudville Gazette

GGGRRRRR...

Best looking guy named Harley I've ever met.

Scroll down for Vol. 2...and 3...

Genius

Best beer pong table ever, now we just need Harley to fetch the balls so we don't have to get up all the time.

Damn, something smells good

Some funny business at DA HOUSE.

Just kidding...that's not real...

Hey Jac, wha happon???

Gorgeous in Green

Green shirt? Check. Holey pants? Check. It just wouldn't be the same without a theme. This was the latest. I'm pretty sure we all have green eyes too. Damn, we miss you guys who weren't there. You know who you are.

DA HOUSE

A little preview of DA HOUSE. Will keep you updated with the progress. You guys should really check this out, going to be some badass parties happening here. Don't forget to drop some change (or bills) in the Heineken bucket when you walk in the door or you might not make it much farther, especially if you don't already have some beer in your hand.

Draft House Cinema

Right outside the apartment the other night the Alamo Draft House's Traveling Road Show was playing "Finding Neverland" for a private company party. Walked up and made friends with the crew so I got to hang around and watch some of the movie. Going to try and catch them when they are around again so if anyone is up for it, do join.

Sixty percent of the time...

that's how much of this summer I remember. But since it was so built up and I didn't want to miss anything, I managed to not get too wasted Saturday night at Mel Jay's party. And I got several really amazing pics to fill in any holes. So for any of you out there who have foggy spots of what went down, no need to despair. I am planning a series of what I like to refer to as my photographic journal. For all you VIPs out there who already have these, the website will feature them accompanied by witty written commentary from yours truly. That being said, I will not keep you waiting any longer for Vol. 1. Check back often, this is but the beginning...

Vol. 1

Just arrived on scene. Can't get any hotter. Da Crew, you look glorious. Let the party begin.

Vol. 2

I know I said you couldn't get any hotter than the sexy bitches in the last picture, but these guys come pretty close. I'll let you decide.

Vol. 3

Such a ladies' man