Looking good, looking real good.

I found this dressy picture of Brian and I taken by my Mom in '99. We had just finished a delicious dinner at The Waterfront, and trust me when I tell you, we ate like kings. We enjoyed the Collinsworth steaks, some raw bar, and many cocktails. I don't think my Dad was ready for the costly check because he made a face that said "I hope you enjoyed it because you aren't going to eat like this again for a very long time."

Tiny Bubbles

I just posted this story on musketeerhoops but thought I would put it here since its been a while since I've posted. I went and saw Brian a few Friday's ago on a really nice day and found it very theraputic to talk to him and just spend time there. Anyway...

On the day that Xavier unveiled the fountain near the Physics building, Brian and I put 32oz of Tutti Frutti Bubble Bath in it within minutes of it opening. It was shut down within hours due to bubbles overflowing and had to be cleaned out.

Two funny things about this event. First, they were supposed to turn on the fountain at 8:00 or 8:30 but had heard that someone was going to sabatoge it by putting bubbles in it and delayed the start until 10:00. This was perfect because my first class wasn't until 10:30. Second, the Newswire was there to take pictures and was snapping photos of students hanging out by the fountain. The picture that was in the paper is of Brian and I sitting on the fountain edge and I believe that I have my hand behind my back, actively squeezing more out of the bottle. They couldn't have played more into our hands and then documented it for us if they tried.

Adam,

Brian took this picture for you on our trip. I don't kow if he ever sent it to you or not, but it cracks me up! We all had some amazing times together.

Not A Day Goes By...

Not a day goes by that I don't think of my best friend, Brian. I miss him like crazy and everything reminds me of him. At the gym? Most every song on my iPod Brian and I have rocked out to. At the movies? Quoting genius lines from Animal House and Caddyshack do nothing for my girlfriend. Vacation? Nothing touches our trip to Iceland.

I know Brian's favorite picture was of the other Iceland pose I shot, but this one is pretty bad ass.

Still Miss You

Matt and McCormick family, rest assured there are many of us who have moved on but still take Brian with us. I know Brian looks down on me and my family and protects our daughter. I know that as much as I miss him, he most likely misses all of us worse than words can explain.

Take care brother, we love you.

Six months

Today is six months since we found Brian. It seems like it was only yesterday. Naturally, almost everyone has moved on and is thinking about the market, the election, and the rest of their busy lives.

Brian, we think about you everyday. The pain of your sudden death is still with us - only dulled slightly. It seems like you are still in Hong Kong and will be back soon. We think about your hilarious observations, funny comment, and superb stories and smile. Frankly, reliving great memories of you are the only things that gets me through the day for I miss you terribly.

I love the fishing photo of you. It is how I picture you now. At peace, thinking about us and wearing Xavier apparel. Also, even though you are in Heaven, I can't help but notice you do not have a fish on!

Lovee!

Undiplomatic Brian

When Brian was a junior at Xavier, he secured an internship with a toy company in Hong Kong. As his father, I was in the toy business and was often in Hong Kong as well. Brian took to Hong Kong like a duck in water and was enjoying himself (I know that is hard for anyone to believe).

I arranged for his brother Matt to pay a surprise visit to Brian there. Brian was stunned by the surprise, but quickly recovered and undertook to show his big brother "the town."

Lots of stories there, but one of the best took place on a hot summer day in Hong Kong when it was really pouring down rain. Matt and Brian were walking down Mody Road towards the hotel in the rain. Each had an umbrella and they were going against the traffic of about 10,000 Chinese, each with his own umbrella, that were heading the other way. They were dodging back and forth as these little guys were pushing forward and they were trying to evade the horde of oncoming umbrellas that were literally in their faces.

Brian was 6' tall and his brother is 6' 4". Everyone knows that Matt was more polite than Brian, and Brian showed that by illustrating to Matt just how to handle this "umbrella problem." Brian had had enough of dodging them, and proceeded to show Matt that pounding his own umbrella on an oncoming one of some smaller Chinese fellow, drenching the other guy in the process, invariably caused the other guy to swerve out of his way. Soon, both Matt and Brian were making much better progress down Mody road, bopping umbrellas about every five feet of the way and creating a wide path for them to continue towards the hotel. None of the bopped Chinese said a word to them, they just saw these two tall Irishmen heading the opposite way like halfbacks going through the opposing line.

It was very effective, but not diplomatic, but you know how Brian was. You will have to ask Matt about some of the other stories like the beer cans.

Boy, we miss you!

The General