Hey Bateauxdriver!

“You have mail!”

“Hey LMG!
I got your email but, can you resend the info? I can't get to it :/”

“Sonofa...I can't get to it either anymore.

Let me check the old threads ~ I think he posted the info somewhere. Grrrrrr”

“Got it!”

“You are 100% an Honorary MadAtlantic Yackpacker!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the Cajun Chef and that gumbo (oh yummmmm). "Do you need a hand?"

So glad you made this trip and I hope we didn't scare you off. ;) You are welcome in these parts any time.”

“I second that Cajun, what little I ate, was amazing. Please come back!”

“Wow, the Skipper gets a hey thread too. The girls must be in a really good mood tonight...”

“Hooray for the Cajun! Gotta luv a man who can cook like that AND not run away screaming when the party goes south, way south.”

“I don't think Cajun was offended. At least he didn't appear offended”

“That's a pretty good review. I hope you are bringing some of that gumbo mix to Wyoming.

The Skipper - LOL!”

“Isn't Louisiana part of the deep south?”

“So bateux drove from LA to PA? Wow, that's quite a haul.”

“Naw, he flew into Philly. MsKatiebear fetched him from the airport and into the parking lot known as the Schuykill (spell much?).

We tried to keep him. He kept saying something about his wife wanting him back. We should call her.”

“Has anyone heard from the skipper? Has he gotten home alright?”

“Poor man is probably in deep sleep in his bed in {SNORE} N'AWLINS!!!”

“LOL!”

“Where the heck are you, Cajun? ;) Get home okay?”

“Silly yankees, he doesn't live in N'AWLINS.
He 's closer to Baton Rouge.”

“Laissez le bon temps roulez!”

“Hey I've been busy! Got to Philly and had a delayed flight. Seems the whole east coast was socked in with weather and delays. We sat on the ground in the plane for at least an hour. Flew into Atlanta and changed planes barely making my transfer and arrived back in N'awlins only to find that my luggage didn't make the trip. Stood in line for an hour at claims then drove home somewhere near 1 AM. Had two rough nights at work and slept all day. They called for me to work tonight as well but I'm not answering.

Anyway the trip was great. I really enjoyed meeting all of you. It was a great time and and my first trip to the Northeast. You people drink the best beer I've ever tasted. People here in the south drink Touron beer. You people removed all myths I ever had about YANKEES being unfriendly and snobbish. Outside of the traffic on the Skull-Kill (sic) I wouldn't change a thing. I will definitly look forward to spending time with you guys again. Glad you enjoyed the red beans and gumbo.

Bateauxdriver (Or as you guys say the Big Cajun)”

““Silly yankees, he doesn't live in N'AWLINS.
He 's closer to Baton Rouge.”

I don't live in either Stovie. I live on the bayou! N'walins is 50 miles southeast and Baton Rouge is 30 miles Northwest of me. I wouldn't want to live in either one. I come from a little island in the swamp called Maurepas. Currently we reside on the Amite River near Port Vincent. It is a great place to live.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=&city=port+Vincent&state=la&zipcode=”

“Yankees aren't so bad ~ a little crazy maybe but that's just because of the good beer. :) I'm so glad your home & that you had a good time up here. It was SO great to meet you and your Gumbo has been raved about on this site as well as the "other side". ;)

Did you get to Philly in time to have a cheesesteak at Jimmy's? More importantly, is your wife ever going to let you out of her sights again after you told her about the weekend? 8D

There's a partial trip report on the "12 Biforumites" Thread...I was doing it in pieces but am still struggling with the Saturday night Truth or Dare Debacle memories. Can't imagine why...”

“You mean the Schuykill, as in Philadelphia's favorite freeway?

Yeah, I know -- it's Dutch. Don't know why they spell it that way...”

“I kinda like the Skull-Kill spelling...”

“I'm just glad you had a good time. You've definitely earned ona-rare-ee YackPacker status! Next time we'll take you on an actual backpacking trip so you can learn to curse the bloody rocks just like the rest of us, then you'll be a fiull-fledged graduate.”

“If you come to Trail Days...are you gonna make some of that gumbo?

Please.

;)”

“BTW, need a hand? ;)”

“Bateauxdriver are you still coming to traildays? If you are, would you have any room to bring some oysters up with you? I am planning to bring some to traildays, but the season will be closed here so they will be Gulf oysters.

If you can't, its not a big deal. I doubt that the ones here are more than a day or two older thans yours and they are only $32 a bushel. Just checking.”

“stay tuned: http://www.judicialwatch.org/”

“Where are you? We were hoping to see you this weekend.”

“ygm”

“Thanks Sacco I got it and replied.”

“you gots mail

:)

re: logistical planning type stuff”

“Was thinking about you & your family last eve & wondered how ya'll were doing!!!!”

“Me too.”

“+1”

“Yep”

“I emailed him too...no response yet.....”

“Maybe, no news is good news?

Praying for your family.”

“Hey guys sorry I haven't checked in lately. It has been non-stop since the first week of March for us. I am still working and making weekly trips to Saint Judes in Memphis. My wife took leave from work and will be with Trevor in Memphis till at least the fall.

Trevor is doing pretty good right now. His Leukemia is currently in remission. Upon his last bone marrow aspiration his Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) was 0.02% cancer cells. Upon diagnosis he was at 24% MRD then after the first round of Chemo (Induction 1) at 18% MRD, then after the second round of Chemo (Induction II) 0.4%. We haven't had a bone marrow check done since the last round of Chemo which ended last Friday, which was his Consolidation 1 round. Now that he is in remission and has had 3 rounds of Chemo, he will also need to have a Bone Marrow Transplant. Matched donors have been found and he should be going in for the transplant some time at the end of the month. He is really strong and has not had to many side effects to the Chemo. I'm going to link his Caring Bridge site so that you can get updates on him.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/trevorvampran




Thanks,

Mark.
last edited: 5/08/08 8:29:16 PM”

“Good news, bateaux!”

“Wow, I had no idea any of this was going on. I'll check the link. Your family is in my prayers.”

“Great news! Caringbridge.org is a great site. The young daughter of a friend of mine has a site as well. It's a great way for friends and family to keep up with the progress.”

“Wooo Hoooo!!!.....good to hear from you!!!!!

and thanks for the update!!!
good wishes to you & yours!!!!!”

“Thanks for the update, we will keep you and your family in our prayers.”

“Just wanted to say hello & let ya know you & your family are in my thoughts and prayers....Your boys made the Sipsey trip sooo much fun that time...one of the BEST!!!....”

“Hey Divinity I saw your post on his caringbridge site. He is coming along well according to the doctors. If he can shake the fever he will get to go home to the apartment in Memphis again. We are hopeful for him to be home in Louisiana by September.

Mark”

“Glad he's progressing. I check in on that site from time to time. They're not little boys anymore. The prom pics threw me for a look. Wait, he's 10......uh, not anymore.”

“LOL...me too Dayhiker...he has grown into quite a good looking young man!!!
..we will continue to pray and send good wishes your way!!!”