Facebook?

I joined Facebook a couple months ago (actually, my wife signed me up) and I'm now "friends" with several of the contributors to this blog. Some of you aren't using Facebook yet, so I'm inviting you to join. There are some great notes/stories there (Sowers has posted some great stuff!) and I'd hate for some of you friends to miss out.

All is well for the Butlers here in East Tennessee. Monica, your CO pictures are awesome. We spent two years in grad school at Colorado State in Fort Collins and I frequently went to the RMNP. I miss the snow and mountains! Sure, there are hills near me now that are called mountains, but the highest peak here is only around 6600 feet. In CO, we spent one summer working at an Upward Bound camp. It was in a valley, and was over 9,000 feet!

-Mike

Few More 2008 Pictures

Merry Christmas and Year in Review

Greetings from the Midwest!
So, it has been quite the year for Scott and I and I also can’t believe that I am actually doing one of those Christmas "year in review" updates, but given all the wonderful events of the year, it deserves to be recorded.

Here is the rundown in prose and in pictures.

In March, we had a great little getaway in Hilton Head Island, SC. We rode bikes on the beach, explored the island and had some tasty, fresh seafood meals. Also in March, we had a nice time with Scott’s parents when they came to visit us in Atlanta for an extended
weekend and a visit Calloway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia.

In April, we had Jessica, Scott’s sister, visit us in Atlanta for a long weekend. It was wonderful to have her with us and we all had a great time exploring fun restaurants and the Atlanta Dogwood Festival as well as playing with the dog in the backyard.

Then we were off to the Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado for Memorial Day weekend. We had a great time exploring and hiking in the park. Of course, true to form, Scott and I had snow and hail fall on us (just as it has on all the other hiking trails that we’ve ever been on regardless of time of year!!) It was beautiful there and we were lucky to be able to cross Trail Ridge Road (It is the highest continuous motorway in the United States, with more than eight miles lying above 11,000' and a maximum elevation of 12,183'). There were snow drifts that were still well over 30 feet high during the last week of May!

Then in June, my mom had surgery in Atlanta from which she has thankfully made a very speedy recovery and was discharged from the hospital at the end of the week. She then recouped under the care of my dad, my brother, Scott and me for the following week before returning to Indiana. Since then she has been doing very well and getting back to normal (or even better than normal). We are all very thankful for how well she has done.

Then in July, we just relaxed in Atlanta, joined a kickball league and had a blast!

In August, it was off to Banff, Jasper and Yoho National Parks in the Canadian Rockies. In Yoho National Park, we hiked the Lake O’Haha circuit. Lake O’Hara is the most incredibly beautiful place that either of us has ever seen and we are looking forward to our next visit. (If you are interested in seeing more incredible pictures, just like the attached, just ask and we will be happy to show you all 900+ that we took!)

During September we were off to Florida to attend Crystal’s and Pete’s wedding, which was absolutely lovely with the backdrop being a beautiful, sunny Florida beach.

October was a great month!! I had some positive interviews with some pharmaceutical companies and was focused on making my next step in my career change. Although this was an important transition and happy news, it was overshadowed by even more exciting happy news. On October 26, 2008, Scott proposed (and, of course, I said yes). We are both so happy and lucky. We are very much looking forward to spending the rest of our lives together.

November was also a very eventful month. I received job offers from each of the companies that I had interviewed with and now had the “difficult” decision of which great job to take. I was very lucky that the job that was my favorite was also in the best location. I accepted the position of Associate Medical Director of Clinical Affairs at Baxter Healthcare in Deerfield, Illinois (just outside of Chicago), with a start date of December 1st. In the middle of November, we were very happy to be able to attend Lis’ and Courtney’s wedding in NYC, which was absolutely beautiful and perfect. Then one week later, we packed up enough for living in our corporate housing and drove up to Illinois. For Thanksgiving, we continued our trek north and went to Berlin, Wisconsin to spend the holiday with Scott’s parents and his brother, Brett.

In December, I started my new job and love it. While getting adjusted to my job, we have also been looking for a new house and looking forward to getting settled here in our new home. In the meantime, we can still be reached through our temporary address at:
301 North Riverwalk Drive, #214
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
Or via our cell or email:
Monica 678/641-7076
mmarlowe99@yahoo.com

Merry Christmas!! Happy New Year!! Happy Holidays!!
I hope that you had a great 2008 and will have an even better 2009!

Happy Holidays... til the big red guy shows up.

(Click for larger image!!)

Hi, Becca!

John, Myles and I ended up heading down to Morocco on Dec. 10, but we didn't have much time. Bad weather had us diverted to Rockford, IL, into the wee hours the night before and we were all tired and running late to see my grandparents - who are 88 and 91.

It was a fun trip, but far too short. Sorry we missed you. Hopefully we'll be heading back for the summer and maybe we can stop by then.

Thanks for the invite. It's nice to know you're still out there. Have a wonderful holiday!

Melissa

Holiday plans

I know Melissa, Robin and I are out here...is anyone else still out here??

Anyone coming home for Thanksgiving?
Anyone else coming home in December for Christmas?

I know Melissa said she's coming into Chicago in December and possibly down to Morocco for a visit with the family - what are the dates, Melissa?

I live kind of far from the Chesterton area (about 45 minutes) but I have a large kid-friendly house and would be more than happy to host some kind of get together over the holidays. Our typical "party crew" consists of about 7 families near me, all of whom have kids, so when we have gatherings it usually consists of 35 or so people and I have more than enough space for that. Our basement has air hockey and foosball and a pool table and the kids usually have the run of the place while the adults congregate in the kitchen/dining room coctailing and munching and chatting...

Anyone? Anyone for holiday cocktails??? I would love to meet that Myles in person!

Blues jam every Sunday

Hi guys -
Like the blues? My band hosts a jam every Sunday. We air it live on the internet. Starts about 5:30 CST and this Sunday, the 9th, I will be co-hosting with two lovely ladies for the first hour. You can watch the feed here:

http://live.yahoo.com/thespotstudio

Enjoy!

When I'm not hosting, I usually make an appearance somewhere along the way. Good times!

History!

Obama did it! I can't even express how proud I am! I am still crying! Melissa, thanks for the e-mails about him! To everyone that voted for him, thank you! Wow! You have known my stance on this man for a long time, I didn't think that this would happen this soon, but it did! What a country that we live in! Bob compliments all of my friends he meet at our last little reunion as being "a bunch of free thinkers who never let sex, race, sexuality, etc., stand in our way of loving each other and respecting each other!". He says he has never seen a group so willing to except people, but this is the way it has always been with our group, hasn't it? I love you all! Heres to the summer of 2009, when me and Bob are not only looking forward to seeing you all at the official 20th year reunion, but are also making plans to have another "mini-reunion" here!

P.S. I am doing ok! The breast cancer is staying away! I am still having trouble with neuropathy and joint pain.

P.S.P.S. Lis and Courtney cograts on your upcoming nuptials(Nov.15), sorry we are going to miss it, but we sure had one hell of a time with you in Sept.! Hopefully I can post pics soon!

Pictures of my boys

Melissa - as you wish!
Here is a picture of Owen (6th grader, age 11) as Barack Obama in the mock presidential debate at his school on Friday. We aired the debate on a live internet feed and we figure we had a few hundred viewers from schools around Indiana, not to mention his entire school was present in the gym with all of the teachers, administrators and of course, the parents!

This is my rockstar teenager, Alex, at a fantastic gig his band That's Right had this summer.


Lots to be proud of with my boys this year! (And every year, despite my best efforts, they are really great kids!

Happy Halloween

Hi, all -
Hope you're well. This was Myles' first Halloween - what fun. He just turned 10 months and he's into everything! Take a look...
xoxo Melissa

Hi all...

Just thought I'd post a little something and see how everyone is doing out there - Melissa - seriously - could that boy get any cuter? Updated pics???

My boys are growing like weeds - Alex is 15 and a sophomore at Andrean. He's doing really well there, actually taking theatre arts as a class, participating in concert band (no marching band at Andrean...booo) and doing really well as a drummer with his band That's Right (www.myspace.com/thatsright17). We sent him to rock and roll band camp this summer with Power Chord Academy, and he had a blast there, too. His band for the week was called Sideshow and they wrote and recorded a single as well as a music video for the track. Really cool stuff. The single was so good it was one of 18 singles selected for the "Overall Best of 2008" compilation CD for all of the PCA sessions nationwide. We're obviously extremely proud!!

Owen is 11 and my athlete - we're finishing Pop Warner football now and then we'll wait it out for baseball season. I gotta say - I LOVE him playing football!! I didn't think I would when he started...all of those mommy fears about injuries...but it's truly fun to watch. He's actually talking about picking up a musical instrument as well - I'm pushing him towards bass, so we can have our own little in-house rhythm section. :) He's doing well in school and has his mother's personality, heaven help him.

As for me, still a computer geek, worrying about the bailout and how it will affect my job since I work for a bankruptcy/foreclosure firm here in Mville. Enjoying the hell out of my recent work with a blues band, meeting so many fantastic musicians.

Is anyone still out there? The holidays are rapidly approaching - anyone looking at plans to come home for Thanksgiving? Christmas?

Julie (Anton) Braveman has started her own photography biz: www.juliebraveman.com. If you're looking for family photos, you won't find anyone better.

Happy Birthday!

Hey Lis,
Hope you had a happy birthday on May 30!
Melissa

Checking in

Hi, all -

Hope everyone is well. Any plans to be in Cheesetown over the summer? John, Myles and I will likely be back in the area for a family reunion the first week in August, but it's not confirmed yet. Will anyone be around
Robin, how are you?? Lisa, are you out there? How's the back? Derrick, what's new with the kids? Becca, how about you, and you, Di?
Here are a few pics of of our sweetie pie Myles. He's about 16 weeks. xoxo Melissa

CHS Speech and Debate Reunion

Hello All

If we weren't freaky & geeky enough, there is a speech & debate reunion coming up the weekend of July 19 2008. The program is celebrating 40 years and the gathering is for anyone who participated.

My sister and husband, former debaters, are coming in form Richmond VA to attend. They graduated a few years ahead of of us, but there may have been a little overlap in our freshman & sophomore years. I know there are several of you out there who were involved , so please consider coming if you can.

Has anyone heard from Michael Gotch, Mark Lucas or Michelle Petty. I'd love to let them know about this event too. Details at http://thechslegacy.myevent.com/.

Hope eveyone is well (and still cheking posts from time to time).
Amy D.

Hello, Baby!

Hi, hope everyone is well!
John and I spent Christmas Eve in the hospital, welcoming our new baby boy, Myles.
He's amazing (although his every-two-hour feeding schedule leaves something to be desired! Grin.) We're adjusting to life with our bundle of joy. He's four weeks old today. xxooxo Melissa

Holiday Visit?

Late notice, but I'll be in the Valpo area for the next few days. If anyone wants to get together for an evening, call my cell phone at 865-202-3869. I'll be here until 12/30 (Sunday).

-Mike

Holiday Season's Greetings 2007

Went to see Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator" last night in this beautiful, old movie theatre here in San Francisco and was BLOWN AWAY. This man was a freakin' genius, and I'm only sorry that it has taken me so long to realize this fact.

I have reprinted here the film's closing speech. The Pinko, Commie, Left-wing, Liberal, Pot-smoking Californian that I have become finds it BEYOND brilliant - and, unfortunately, still so relevant. These, indeed, are my Holiday 2007 Greetings to all.



Cited from the American Rhetoric: Movie Speech "The Great Dictator" (1940) Adenoid Hynkel (dictator of Tomania)/A Jewish barber: Closing Address.


Here follows what Charles Spencer Chaplin said in his final speech:

"I'm sorry, but I don't want to be an Emperor - that's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone, if possible -- Jew, gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one another; human beings are like that. We want to live by each other's happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there's room for everyone and the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone.

The way of life can be free and beautiful.

But we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men's souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.

The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women, and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people.

To those who can hear me I say, 'Do not despair.' The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass and dictators die; and the power they took from the people will return to the people and so long as men die, liberty will never perish.

Soldiers: Don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you, enslave you, who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel; who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men, with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate; only the unloved hate, the unloved and the unnatural.

Soldiers: Don't fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! In the seventeenth chapter of Saint Luke it is written, 'the kingdom of God is within man' -- not one man, nor a group of men, but in all men, in you, you the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.

Then, in the name of democracy, let us use that power! Let us all unite!! Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give youth a future and old age security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie! They do not fulfill their promise; they never will. Dictators free themselves, but they enslave the people!! Now, let us fight to fulfill that promise!! Let us fight to free the world, to do away with national barriers, to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness.

Soldiers: In the name of democracy, let us all unite!!!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcvjoWOwnn4

Really, what more needs to be said?


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