Hello!
My name is Bryan. Nice to corresponding with you again! (like the way I'm reacquainting with the xanga world?!)

I must say that on an almost every other day basis, I check my email and read these xanga entries that allow me to figure out how a great number of my friends are doing... I must admit, it is a good way to know how you are all doing without you having to really hear from me. well, thanks to my ATE candy and her ever-growing belly, here I am giving you a 7 min. update of how I'm doing!  Who knows, I may or may not do it again in a while

Happy New Year by the way for some of you guys I haven't seen/talk to/hear from for some reason. Can I even say that?! it still certainly feels NEW to me. There are so many great things going on in 2005 and as I look back at 2004, things are certainly looking up!

I have three main points that I want to cover (disclaimer: Method stolen from Fr. Pat!):

Number One: I am finally graduating this semester! WOO HOO! I know what you guys are saying... "FINALLY, YOU'RE GRADUATING!" I understand, I am old. Good thing my hanging out with with Phil and Candy makes me feel young again! haha! Kidding! I love you guys! But seriously, I'm actually very happy with my situation. Here's a snapshot of my 2005:
First week of May, TORTURE(Final Exams)
Second week of May, GIDDY(Graduation!)
Summer time, TORTURE PART 2(CPA EXAM!)
September, RICH!(haha... not even! student loans! CC bills! Let the real world begin!)

Number Two: I have been having the most awesome time hanging out with some really cool people. I'm all about trying to do different things and trying to go to different places lately and I think I finally found some really cool friends to do that with.  Last year, Boston.  Last month, Indianapolis. Next time, NYC (who said that?!), after that, did someone say Vegas?!, after that, did I hear a cruise?! Haha! I guess it's just me talking! Also, I've had great working out buddies, including my cousin/roommate BABA! I think this 2005, I can say that these guys have been my les amigos del numero unos... haha! have no idea where that came from... i just know amigo and numero uno... the other little words are out there for fun=)  O yah, I must mention that our wednesday night cheap family style dinners have been great... also our thursday poker nights are awesome as well.

So here we all are pictured with my third point to cover:

My great friends (so far... don't forget u can be voted out of my list by unanimous vote of the president, me... though no one really said you wanted to be on the list in the first place =P) of 2005:

From L to R:
Front row: Karl, Karen, Jo, Jerome(hey dummy! stop staring at Ben!), me.
Second Row: Eric, Kirk, Ben, Andres, Luol
Back Row: Adrian, Jared, Eddy, Tyson, Antonio, (cut off on the right are Othella and Frank)

NUMBER THREE: My BULLS is my third reason that 2005 is looking up =) anyone who knows me know that I'm all about these guys. I would shave my head any day! Haha! Anyways, they got a long way to go, so you bandwagon fans just better sit tight, but my bulls are a comin!!! Eddy and Tyson, I'm graduating and you guys are at the end of your contract! Do well so the Bulls will give you that $$$ next year! Captain Kirk, you the man! Ben, don't worry about your defense man... its not your fault your a little short at 6foot and change! haha! Luol, you're cool dude! Do well this second half of the season! So yeah, when I'm not taking care of finishing my point number one, or not hanging out with the guys in point number two, you'll find me either watching/reading articles/playing NBA 2K5 with my BULLS... among other things!  Fun times!  Through Thick and Thin BABY!!!

PS... Finally updated my profile pic... happy?! Now, if I can only figure out how to delete that annoying song... i'm working on it.

Hi all... I'll give you an update of myself next time, but for now, all I can say is... on a day like this: TGFCE (haha... get it... like TGIF) but it stands for Thank God For Catholic Exchange!!!  Hope you can find encouragement in it as I did:

Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have
received it, and it will be yours.

--------------------
For whosoever sincerely believes evidently lifts up his heart to God,
and is joined to Him, and his burning heart feels sure that he has
received what he asked for, which he who has experienced will understand;
and those persons appear to me to experience this, who attend to the
measure and the manner of their prayers. For this reason the Lord says, "Ye
shall receive whatsoever ye ask in faith;" for he who believes that he
is altogether in the hands of God, and interceding with tears, feels
that he as it were has hold of the feet of the Lord in prayer, he shall
receive what he has rightly asked for. Again, would you in another way
receive what you ask for? Forgive your brother, if he has in any way
sinned against you; this is also what is added: "And when ye stand
praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is
in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. – Theophylact

I hope everyone's taking care!  Email me... I'm bored.

Hello everybody... you're probably wondering... who's this guy?!!  and where has he been?!!  that's right... i'm still alive and kickin!!!!

I've been hiding out at this accounting firm in elgin called: Gleeson, Sklar, Sawyer, & Cumpata  (i know what you're thinking, what kinda long name is that?!)  but in any case, i'm learning so much stuff about accounting its not even funny... i really do think  more so than a lot of the accounting classes i've taken.

There's a sad story to why i'm sitting here today with no work and writing my entry on my xanga... one of the partners of the firm was involved in a really really bad car accident on the expressway a couple of weeks ago, to make the long story short, he really struggled to survive but his body was too weak.  He passed away a couple of days ago.  So the firm closed the office today inorder to pay respect to him as a partner, and to be a source of comfort for his family.  Unfortunately, I never had a chance to work with him so I didn't go to the funeral service, but I did offer a mass for him today.  Please pray for his soul.  His name is Irv Brill. 

Next thought:  I went to the YFCUIC dance practice last night... it's pretty dope.  Awesome people at UIC are really gonna start makin noise on campus... God will definitely be heard.  It's really cool to know that I had nothing to do with it, and that the Holy Spirit is really present in that ministry.  Good stuff.

For those who didn't know:  Me and Erin are back and together again.  She's weird.  But it's good times.  I guess all will be looking up as long as we keep doing that with our knees to the ground and always praying for each other.  Lots of things to work on.  Hopefully we'll always work on them together.

Stupid new year resolution:  i got a haircut today at betty and nicks... i think its crooked.  but in any case, i saw myself in the mirror... i gained more weighed dude... its disgusting.  i think its all these free lunches and dinners at the firms.  people really do go to food for comfort... i know i can testify to that... that's it.

i really have missed everyone... i'm so glad to see all those guys last night!  holla at me dawg!

Today is one of those ... could've ... should've ... would've ...but didn't ...days.  42 months. 

Wow.  ßThat’s all I have to say about my birthday.  The End.  Now back to studying.

Just kidding... well, I just want to take a lil time this morning to share with everyone God’s INSANE love and blessing I felt in my heart, specially yesterday.  After all, we really should look at our birthday not just as a ‘celebration for myself’, but a celebration of God’s amazing love for us… that He created us, gave us life, and surrounded us with loving friends and family!

Well, I started off my day in my room, working on my final project (it is finals week after all).  Spoke to some close friends who wished me a happy birthday.  I ended up sleeping at like 3:30.

My plan for my birthday:  get up… receive Jesus (amazing!)… Have lunch with family (so loving)… and then off to another whole day of studying.

So why was it that as I was sleeping the next morning waiting for my alarm to wake me up, all of a sudden, this feeling of ‘survival mode’ came about me… and was spooked to see ALL THESE PEOPLE standing around my bed… then yelling SURPRISED?!!!?!!  Haha… it was weird… not something I’ve ever woken up to before… and I’m sure my storytelling skills doesn’t begin to tell the actual feeling I had… but it was dope.  ßloss for words… so just dope.

Anyways, as I thought it couldn’t have gotten any better, we all decided that since it was Sunday, and that all woke up soo early to drive out to the cornfields, that it would be awesome to go to mass together.  I tell you, it’s one of the most AMAZING BLESSINGS I have ever felt… to be together with everyone in mass.  Wow, being in communion with Christ himself, and being in communion with my family in friends … in the celebration of thanksgiving (Eucharist)… it was the best!  How else can anyone think of a better way to spend their birthday?!

Then of course, we came back to the house, ate, chilled, ate, played cards, ate, watched the Bears, ate, talked, ate, watch Bruce Almighty, ate, ate, and ate.  Again, it was dope.

As I was counting my blessings last night and thanking God for everything, I realized that I should thank EVERYONE.  You all have been true reflections of God’s love in my life.  As generic as this message sounds, and as much as I want to name all of you, just know that as you’re reading this…  

You are a blessing in my life, and I thank God the wonderful gift of your friendship.  Thank you for your love.