DDC XXXIV: The Original Home Of The DISDads!!!

Good mixer Bourbon. Lovely in a

:laughing:
You were part of our conversations today Doc. The curly haired Ninja was complaining that she got an aeroplane "again" in her Kinder egg, and I told her there was a man in Atlanta that would be very happy if he got that. She said "He can have it". So there you go mate.

There was a comment here, but after reading the news about CJ, I've deleted it since I'm not longer in the mood to joke.
 
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I reached out to Andriana on messenger. I then went to Cj's Facebook page and saw The Post dated 8/1/18, it was from his nephew saying goodbye to Uncle Cj. Guys it is with a very heavy heart to tell you this, it looks like Cj died. I haven't heard back from Andriana yet, really don't know if I will, but if I do, I will let you know. It has gotten very dusty in here, he was a very good friend to Jodi and me.
Dude, you can't be serious. I don't want to be crazy, because we're all going to die, but NO!!!

On a personal note (besides the sorrow of hearing this), I'm additionally sad because I was looking forward to finally meeting him at DDCC7.
 
Heartbroken is all I got right now. Just retired and Adriana was preparing for her new journey in Hawaii and he was so proud. Never was able to meet him but was looking forward to the day we would. Pleas pass on to the PiratePrincess my deepest condolences and prayers.
Mine as well.
I never got to meet him or PP and for that, I'm doubly sad.

Randall, if you would please, ask her if there's anything we can do (besides pray)?
Still shocked, stunned, sad.
 
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Well, life has been busy... I haven't had much time to check in here the last several months. I'm not even sure when the last time was that I logged in. But hearing about CJ, I just had to come back.

CJ will always be one of the first guys I had the opportunity to interact with regularly here. Just a wonderful man. I always enjoyed our chats online. He was always asking about the farm and seemed genuinely interested in learning about it, and conversely, I always loved hearing about his diving trips. We're all dads who are proud of their children, but the Pirate Princess was his world! I don't know if anyone could be more proud and supportive of their child than he was. CJ was one of the few dads I've had the opportunity to meet and I'll never forget sitting next to him in Belle Vue Lounge enjoying some drinks (after he spilled the first one, that is) and talking about football. This one hurts...
 
OK Boys. I'm calling it. Week over. Everyone out. Tragically, and far too soon, for one of our own, it's the last call.

Those of us still standing at the bar, looking ruefully into our glasses are the ones that have the regrets. Mine is that I never told him what a great Dad I thought he was. I didn't know him well enough to know his circumstances, but to raise a daughter to realise her dreams and to mould her into the confident young woman she has become, as he would so often rightly brag about, is nothing short of exemplary, and a model we can all only try and live up to. Some guy somewhere someday will breathe a little easier, knowing he won't have to have a sit down with CJ about his daughter. He will however, know that he missed the opportunity to gain an incredible Father in law and a doting grandfather. Can you imagine the posts if that would have happened?

As Jeff rightly said, he was a huge part of our tiny corner of the internet. Every post he made had words of encouragement or support. I've only been on here for a while, but I never saw him have a cross word with anyone. Apart from correcting the foolish among us about the proper order of Monty Python films.

The Lady K reminded me this morning that a few months ago, if all of our Florida plans had panned out, I was due to meet him this week for a Marlins game. While I feel like I missed out on meeting him, I still regard him as a friend, and am grieving for him as such. That takes a lot of personality, to imbibe in someone 5000 miles away a huge sense of respect and affection via just your words in a faceless forum.

So as we say goodbye to our Brother, I suggest for this week we all virtually meet again at the Tambu lounge, the bar that I will always associate with CJ, and the one I will now always feel a small twang of sadness as I pass it, even at the happiest place on Earth, and raise a toast to CJ.

Last one standing has to take the middle stool at the bar home. Because let me tell ya, it's going to be impossible to fill.

All the very best chaps. To CJ.
 
Well, life has been busy... I haven't had much time to check in here the last several months. I'm not even sure when the last time was that I logged in. But hearing about CJ, I just had to come back.

CJ will always be one of the first guys I had the opportunity to interact with regularly here. Just a wonderful man. I always enjoyed our chats online. He was always asking about the farm and seemed genuinely interested in learning about it, and conversely, I always loved hearing about his diving trips. We're all dads who are proud of their children, but the Pirate Princess was his world! I don't know if anyone could be more proud and supportive of their child than he was. CJ was one of the few dads I've had the opportunity to meet and I'll never forget sitting next to him in Belle Vue Lounge enjoying some drinks (after he spilled the first one, that is) and talking about football. This one hurts...
Good to see you back here Andy, even if the reason for the visit is not at all good.
 
Yeah, this was more Cj's home than FB. He tolerated it, but I dont think he was really a social media kind of guy. He just did it to keep up with the rest of us.
I didnt have a lot of interactions with Cj, but when I did it was personal and heartfelt. He always asked about the kid and wanted to know if everything was alright.I think Cj and I were connected in the fact that we were both single dads with daughters and doing our best to make a good example. He truly was a class act. Cj was a great guy and a great friend to all. Even if he didnt agree with you, he was still sensible and courteous. He will be greatly missed on the DIS and equally missed at the World. Sadly it just got a little Smaller. I think a bunch of us are going to wear Red today in honor of Cj.

Randall, thanks for taking the lead on keeping in touch with Andriana. Dont want to over burden her with so many people. I am sure everything is stressful. I really hop there is a way we can help. If not we can always do a fund raiser and just send her the money. Plane flights can be expensive.

Thanks for all the comments and memories guys, keep them coming.
 
OK Boys. I'm calling it. Week over. Everyone out. Tragically, and far too soon, for one of our own, it's the last call.

Those of us still standing at the bar, looking ruefully into our glasses are the ones that have the regrets. Mine is that I never told him what a great Dad I thought he was. I didn't know him well enough to know his circumstances, but to raise a daughter to realise her dreams and to mould her into the confident young woman she has become, as he would so often rightly brag about, is nothing short of exemplary, and a model we can all only try and live up to. Some guy somewhere someday will breathe a little easier, knowing he won't have to have a sit down with CJ about his daughter. He will however, know that he missed the opportunity to gain an incredible Father in law and a doting grandfather. Can you imagine the posts if that would have happened?

As Jeff rightly said, he was a huge part of our tiny corner of the internet. Every post he made had words of encouragement or support. I've only been on here for a while, but I never saw him have a cross word with anyone. Apart from correcting the foolish among us about the proper order of Monty Python films.

The Lady K reminded me this morning that a few months ago, if all of our Florida plans had panned out, I was due to meet him this week for a Marlins game. While I feel like I missed out on meeting him, I still regard him as a friend, and am grieving for him as such. That takes a lot of personality, to imbibe in someone 5000 miles away a huge sense of respect and affection via just your words in a faceless forum.

So as we say goodbye to our Brother, I suggest for this week we all virtually meet again at the Tambu lounge, the bar that I will always associate with CJ, and the one I will now always feel a small twang of sadness as I pass it, even at the happiest place on Earth, and raise a toast to CJ.

Last one standing has to take the middle stool at the bar home. Because let me tell ya, it's going to be impossible to fill.

All the very best chaps. To CJ.

Hear, hear! Thank you for saying words that I couldn't possibly form to encapsulate the essence of CJ. My thoughts and prayers for Andrianna, one of our adopted daughters here on the DIS, as she goes on with life without another daddy hug. :hug:
 
Well, life has been busy... I haven't had much time to check in here the last several months. I'm not even sure when the last time was that I logged in. But hearing about CJ, I just had to come back.

CJ will always be one of the first guys I had the opportunity to interact with regularly here. Just a wonderful man. I always enjoyed our chats online. He was always asking about the farm and seemed genuinely interested in learning about it, and conversely, I always loved hearing about his diving trips. We're all dads who are proud of their children, but the Pirate Princess was his world! I don't know if anyone could be more proud and supportive of their child than he was. CJ was one of the few dads I've had the opportunity to meet and I'll never forget sitting next to him in Belle Vue Lounge enjoying some drinks (after he spilled the first one, that is) and talking about football. This one hurts...

Andy, it's good to hear from you again. I'm sorry this is what brought you back. But this is well said.

OK Boys. I'm calling it. Week over. Everyone out. Tragically, and far too soon, for one of our own, it's the last call.

Those of us still standing at the bar, looking ruefully into our glasses are the ones that have the regrets. Mine is that I never told him what a great Dad I thought he was. I didn't know him well enough to know his circumstances, but to raise a daughter to realise her dreams and to mould her into the confident young woman she has become, as he would so often rightly brag about, is nothing short of exemplary, and a model we can all only try and live up to. Some guy somewhere someday will breathe a little easier, knowing he won't have to have a sit down with CJ about his daughter. He will however, know that he missed the opportunity to gain an incredible Father in law and a doting grandfather. Can you imagine the posts if that would have happened?

As Jeff rightly said, he was a huge part of our tiny corner of the internet. Every post he made had words of encouragement or support. I've only been on here for a while, but I never saw him have a cross word with anyone. Apart from correcting the foolish among us about the proper order of Monty Python films.

The Lady K reminded me this morning that a few months ago, if all of our Florida plans had panned out, I was due to meet him this week for a Marlins game. While I feel like I missed out on meeting him, I still regard him as a friend, and am grieving for him as such. That takes a lot of personality, to imbibe in someone 5000 miles away a huge sense of respect and affection via just your words in a faceless forum.

So as we say goodbye to our Brother, I suggest for this week we all virtually meet again at the Tambu lounge, the bar that I will always associate with CJ, and the one I will now always feel a small twang of sadness as I pass it, even at the happiest place on Earth, and raise a toast to CJ.

Last one standing has to take the middle stool at the bar home. Because let me tell ya, it's going to be impossible to fill.

All the very best chaps. To CJ.

Very well said, Dan. I think you captured the soul of the man.
 
Well, I'm not nearly the talented writer Dan is, but I'm going to try to write my thoughts through tear filled eyes...

I knew CJ through his trip reports. All of them had the theme of "nuts". Yes, he was nuts. Nuts about his daughter. Nuts about supporting her. Nuts about his lost wife. Nuts about having a good time, but still guiding and shaping his daughter into a fine young woman. Nuts about having a good time chatting/debating/bantering with us. Nuts about life!

I remember asking him one time if he was going to finish his last TR, because I enjoyed them so much. He said he was having problems with his computer and possibly had lost some pictures and it took a lot of time. I told him I'm an IT guy and if he wanted, I would do everything I could to recover stuff from his hard drive because I wanted to help him. Not due to my selfish desire to have him finish his TR, but rather because he was the type of guy I just wanted to help if I could...he was just that type of guy you felt was a friend even though you hardly knew each other. I've read a story about living your dash (if you haven't, just search the web, it's out there). CJ, although I never had the privilege of meeting him, lived his dash. I've also heard it said, you should ask yourself what is your legacy going to be. CJ's legacy is a fine young woman living her dream and a bunch of guys who may have never met him, but were influenced by the caliber of the man.

CJ - I rarely drink, but next time I'm at the world, I will have one in your honor. You will be sorely missed, brother.
 
Still sad this morning, as we all are. Not sure when that cloud will lift... but I suspect soon. We all have the tendency to support and lift each other's spirits. I'm not going to even try to write down the things we are all thinking and feeling as others have so eloquently done so already. That in itself shows how CJ touched all of our lives.


Last one standing has to take the middle stool at the bar home. Because let me tell ya, it's going to be impossible to fill.

damn... that got me.
 
Well
OK Boys. I'm calling it. Week over. Everyone out. Tragically, and far too soon, for one of our own, it's the last call.

Those of us still standing at the bar, looking ruefully into our glasses are the ones that have the regrets. Mine is that I never told him what a great Dad I thought he was. I didn't know him well enough to know his circumstances, but to raise a daughter to realise her dreams and to mould her into the confident young woman she has become, as he would so often rightly brag about, is nothing short of exemplary, and a model we can all only try and live up to. Some guy somewhere someday will breathe a little easier, knowing he won't have to have a sit down with CJ about his daughter. He will however, know that he missed the opportunity to gain an incredible Father in law and a doting grandfather. Can you imagine the posts if that would have happened?

As Jeff rightly said, he was a huge part of our tiny corner of the internet. Every post he made had words of encouragement or support. I've only been on here for a while, but I never saw him have a cross word with anyone. Apart from correcting the foolish among us about the proper order of Monty Python films.

The Lady K reminded me this morning that a few months ago, if all of our Florida plans had panned out, I was due to meet him this week for a Marlins game. While I feel like I missed out on meeting him, I still regard him as a friend, and am grieving for him as such. That takes a lot of personality, to imbibe in someone 5000 miles away a huge sense of respect and affection via just your words in a faceless forum.

So as we say goodbye to our Brother, I suggest for this week we all virtually meet again at the Tambu lounge, the bar that I will always associate with CJ, and the one I will now always feel a small twang of sadness as I pass it, even at the happiest place on Earth, and raise a toast to CJ.

Last one standing has to take the middle stool at the bar home. Because let me tell ya, it's going to be impossible to fill.

All the very best chaps. To CJ.

Very well said.

This past year I lost a very close friend of mine. Father of two boys - seven and five and wife to a beautiful young lady. Even though I knew it was coming, it hit me hard, like punch in the gut. To see first hand how life must go on with their dad, my heart aches for those two boys. And, I've seen the sadness in my wife's eyes as she carries on without her mother who died over ten years ago missing the birth of her grandson and my wife learning to be a mother without her mother's help. And now, my thoughts turn to the PP who must go without her father. Among so many other life's milestones, one day, she will likely walk down the aisle of marriage without her father. She will not have him to call as she explores new opportunities in Hawaii and living out her dream that he worked so hard to make possible for her. While he was only a virtual friend, I can tell, as so many here attest to, the most proud of proud fathers. So, as we all continue to share stories, memories, well wishes, offer prayers, well wishes, and encouragement, I pray for his PP that she will have the strength and hope to move forward and that her Dis Uncles, those that she got to know over the years, will be there should she ever need us.
 
Well said Doc.


Still choking up this morning every time I read another post.

He was one of the best! I loved hearing him describe the Pirate Princess's adventures and all the pictures of her adventures and his diving that he would post. He was always asking about Declan and telling me I married above my station ;) . I will always remember that on the one time we actually met in person how he actively engaged both Declan and his buddy during dinner and at the Heat Game. There are a lot of people that would just ignore a couple of teenaged boys.
 

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