BJR Newsletter
30 July 2005
Drop it / Park it / Pop it like it's BJR

While the heat of summer slowly boils the blood of our hero, Spring seems to have kept its forward momentum, as BJR's life has blossomed like a Soleil Moon Frye ( http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004941/) sitcom.  Change is constant with a new bed, the acquisition of mad tennis skills, a new house for Dan, and a new location for Taco Deli (where BJR and his Austin crew have had lunch every Saturday for the last three years).  Let's see what else our hero has been up to.

Is That The Big Bend?

While anyone can go camping where there are ample sources of water, Mak, Neel, Dan, and BJR ventured into the barren desert wilderness of Big Bend National Park on the border between Texas and Mexico.  The orange shovel became a symbol of freedom, water became currency, and ramen and tuna passed for gourmet on a nightly basis.  While no primitive drum beating occurred in the wilderness, there was a great deal of male bonding, especially in the tent shared by Dan and Mak.

BJR's got a ticket to ride and he expects double frequent flyer miles

BJR's first trip to Montana since the 5th grade paired BJR and SER (his brother) along with six other victims in class 4 rapids in Idaho.  Both brothers survived the watery roller coaster but could not keep up with the beer chugging college students on the bus ride home (we napped).  BJR's mom celebrated her birthday and "In-dependents" Day by having one of her former "dependents" (BJR) "in" town (wow that was a lot of work for one joke).  Mom was treated to birthday balloons, but was disappointed that her celebration lacked an inflatable castle, and the only clown show appeared on the tennis court as Lisa demonstrated BJR's complete lack of racket skills.

Omaha for CWS

June brought about BJR's fifth trip to Omaha for the College World Series of Baseball (CWS) where Arnie and Anne Weitz once again hosted a crowd of college baseball, brisket, and Omaha fanatics.  Most of the games (both on and off the field) were low scoring - in fact, there were no arrests, no fights, no vehicular damage, and everyone kept their shirt on this time.  Despite having watched Stanford lose in the Baylor regional in Waco, BJR dusted off his pride and watched some of the best baseball where only the fans are juiced.  If you've never been to the CWS, then you've never met "The arm guy."

The Boys in the Bay Area

BJR finally agreed to vouch for Sameer and LJ and bless their wedding in Sonoma, ending a near-decade holdout.  As a groomsman, BJR's duties included missing the bachelor party, missing the rehearsal, missing half of the rehearsal dinner, and missing the groomsman lunch, though he did manage to show at the wedding.  Not surprisingly, BJR looked sharp, but of course in both Indian attire and formal clothes that someone else had picked out.  BJR is a little disappointed that the newlyweds have not invited BJR to live with them for good luck.

On the same trip, BJR also met his two super cool new nephews, Henry and Sam, who will someday be relieved to learn that only one of them actually shares any family connection with their "Uncle."  Lisa got the 75 mph tour of San Francisco ("those are the rabbit hutches"), Stanford ("that's Hoover Tower") and Oakland ("that's Oakland").

Organ Freeman

BJR's six month, post-transplant checkup involved the usual extraction of body fluids and monotonous wait in several waiting rooms.  The report came back, much like the fluids, with flying colors.  Now, the doctors have asked to start a life long program of every-six-month checkups, where they feign interest in BJR's blood chemistry while their goals largely focus on increasing his overall medical bills.

Bryan

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