Thursday, March 29, 2007

 

That's Different


Yesterday, when I got home from work, I found that my delightfully quirky children were watching Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith in French with English subtitles. I have no idea why they were doing this.

Two things occurred to me: It was pretty funny listening to Darth Vader speak French, and I wondered if this would count as homeschooling foreign language credit.

NAH! Even I couldn't go that far.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

 

A Thousand and One Uses for a Photocopier


Well, I suppose it had to happen sooner or later.

A few years back, when Ford was doing well and profit sharing checks were really something to write home about, I bought Rita a really extravagant Christmas present. The Holy Grail of school supplies for the homeschooling mom - a photocopier. She was delighted. You have to understand that schooling six kids at home means a ton of copying. Assignment sheets, record sheets, activity sheets, etc. Homeschooling mothers either have their own machine, have a best friend who has a machine, or rent an extra room at a nearby Kinkos.

Yesterday, one of our more..... shall we say, inventive..... children decided to use the photocopier in a way that it had never been used before. In the past, there have been experiments. I've sometimes come home and found pictures of hands, feet, teeth, arms, toys, computer disks. Just about anything.

Yesterday, there were pictures of something else. I don't know if Rita discovered the boy genius (You had to know it wasn't Olivia) sitting on the copier actually making the copies or if she found the incriminating pages afterward. But yes, one of our boys got the ambitious and daring idea of seeing what it would look like if he took some photos of his bare bottom.

I laughed when Rita told me. She confessed that her reaction wasn't quite as jovial. We both agreed that it might not be a bad idea to post the copies on our front door to see what the lad's friends in the neighborhood thought of him putting his best face forward.

I just hope the copier was appropriately cleaned and sanitized.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

 

I Must Have One


Below is a link to what may be the most unusual contest that I've ever seen. Please do yourself a favor and check it out. I would be afraid of the consequences if I owned one of these. It drives Rita a little crazy when I do some light reading in the bathroom. (Hey, it's a lifelong habit. But now, with six kids, the restroom is sometimes the only place that I can spend a few minutes in peace and privacy.) If I owned this sucker, no one would ever see me.

Be sure to mouse over all the components to see exactly how complete this ensemble is. I absolutely love the megaphone on the floor. Even if I don't get the whole thing, I'm strongly considering just getting the megaphone.

http://rotorooter.com/john/

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

 

The Finish Line


Finally, the news that we've been waiting for. This afternoon, Mom had her LAST radiation treatment. She is DONE!!!!!

She'll have plenty of follow up visits with the doctors. She may receive more Hercepton. And the clock on started counting down on the 5 years she has to go before she is officially considered a "Survivor of Breast Cancer." But this is the end of one hard season.

I wish to publicly acknowledge and thank our Father God for His steadfast love, support, and blessing during this difficult time. He definitely sustained all of us throughout. I also want to thank all of the loving friends and family who prayed for Mom, sent cards, called, and found other ways to make a difference. We love you and appreciate you more than you know.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

 

The Penultimate Treatment


Today is Mom's penultimate treatment for her breast cancer. (For anyone who doesn't know what a cool word like "penultimate" means, its definition is, "next to the last." There's no reason for me to use such an overbearing, complicated term except that it makes me feel smart.) There's a possibility that her oncologist may try the Hercepton again to see if the Congestive Heart Failure recurs, but this is truly the end of the radiation treatments.

Wow. It's been one wild, difficult ride. It is coming up on a year ago that Dad was hospitalized. Since then, we've had almost nothing but non-stop challenges in a lot of areas of life. I'm praying that this is the end of a very difficult season.

I saw Mom yesterday. Olivia and I went over to my parents house to check on some problems that Dad was having on his computer. (It turned out to be no problem, but we did manage to get his new printer installed and put some decent virus protection on the machine.) She's looking good. Looks like her hair is well into recovery, and while she's lost some weight during this ordeal, I think she looks amazingly good for a woman who is finishing up with chemo and radiation.

I can't wait until tomorrow is over!!!!!!!

Thursday, March 08, 2007

 

One of the Seventy


If you're familiar with my Blog, you know well that one of my major trials over the past few months has been the drastic reduction in salaried headcount that has been going on for the past several months at my employer, Ford Motor Company. This all started back in September, and it continued on until the end of February. At that point, everyone who opted to voluntarily leave the company had accepted their buyout and the rest of us waited to see if the number of people leaving had reached the stated goal of a 30% reduction. If it didn't firings (or "involuntary separations") would be necessary.

This week, our management held a flurry of mandatory cascade meetings to make some important announcements involving the company's Way Forward Plan. Mine was this afternoon at 4:15. The gist of the meeting was summed up in a brief, scripted statement read by the manager conducting the meeting -

As part of the Way Forward actions taken, it is the belief of management that IT has achieved its target of a 30% reduction in salaried headcount. At this time, it is anticipated that NO involuntary separations would be necessary at this time.

Translation: None of us sitting in that room were part of the 30%. Each of us was one of the 70.

The room broke into spontaneous applause.

It doesn't seem real. After all these weeks of living such a stressful situation, the release isn't there yet. I should be happy, and I think I will be happy. But my heart hasn't caught up to my mind yet, I guess.

I want to thank everyone who took the time to encourage me and pray for me during these past few months. Your support means more to me than I can express in these few words on a blog. It's wonderful to have such loving friends and family.

I also want to thank my Lord, who stood by me, giving me peace and strength throughout. Thank you, God, for taking such good care of me.

 

Winding Down on the Whole Cancer Thing


Last night, I brought my dog over to visit Mom. Yes, she wanted to have a visit with her furry, four footed grandchild. She was a little concerned that dear old Walker wouldn't remember her since she hasn't been to the house in so long. Well, the visit went great, other than the fact that the dog was a bit over-excited to be at Mom's house. But she and Dad both liked having him there.

While we were visiting, Mom told me that there are only 5 radiation treatments left, and then she is all done!!! Wow, it's been a long road, but we are definitely in the home stretch. She does have a concern because the radiation is burning her, and she is experiencing some cracking and blistering at the site of the treatments. She's afraid that they will suspend the final few treatments until she can heal.

Yikes.

Let's hope that doesn't happen. Hopefully, in a week, Mom's life is going to take a definite turn for the better!!!!

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

 

My Daughter, The Dog


Last Friday, Rita and I grudgingly allowed Olivia to audition for Ever After Productions' version of The Phantom Tollbooth. This is one of two "studio shows" that are presented each year. They are performed in one of the studios in the Village Theater instead of the main auditorium. The audiences are smaller and the setting is more intimate. We were hesitant because Liv has already been cast in EAP's big Spring musical, Disney's Beauty and the Beast. We did not like the idea of grappling with the difficult task of rehearsing two shows at once.

However, she really, really wanted to do it. She's been disappointed with the results of her last two auditions. After being given one of the lead parts in Peter Pan, she's been relegated to the chorus for both Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. She did a great job in Aladdin, and I'm sure she'll do equally fine as a talking spoon or plate in the upcoming Beauty and the Beast. (We don't know yet which enchanted object she'll end up being.) But there's no denying that she's felt a huge letdown at not continuing to score lead roles.

Yesterday, the cast list for Phantom Tollbooth was announced via e-mail. Our girl is back on top. The lead character, Milo, will be played by one of the young men who auditioned. And his faithful companion during his fantasy journey through the Tollbooth will be Tock the Dog, as played by Olivia Butler. It was a real thrill to see her name at the very top of the cast list. It's a huge part, and last evening when I pulled up the e-mail to share the good news with her, she could barely contain her glee. She tried to hold back her enormous grin, and her face actually turned red with delight. When we last spoke of the show last evening, she was already heavily into planning her costume.

I've already made several jokes about the fact that she's a total dog. After laughing along with me for a while, she finally just rolled her eyes and said, "Dad, that is really getting old."

Monday, March 05, 2007

 

The Second Birthday Boy


Saturday evening, we concluded our birthday celebrations for March. It was a fairly reserved day. We started in the morning with the planned visit to Golden Corral. As expected, Dad did a superb job of overeating. I started with a mountainous omlette and hash browns. This was followed up by a plate of french toast and waffles. Ugh. Very delicious and very filling.

Since we had already been to Zap Zone on Friday for Chris' birthday, we didn't have any fun activities planned for during the day. (Indeed, as I've already written, Saturday was a bit of a solemn day.) That evening we had the usual cake, ice cream, and presents.

Here's the birthday boy in all his glory -


Sunday, March 04, 2007

 

All Right, Let's Settle This Once and For All


The kids are watching this new documentary by James Cameron in which he and his team claim to have found the tomb, bones, and family of Jesus in Jerusalem. They are having a wonderful time pointing out all the flaws in the arguments and evidence being presented. It's such a ridiculous claim that I think they're having trouble keeping up with errors.

But let's just put this whole issue to rest, shall we?

Jesus is my Lord and King. He's also my friend. In fact, I talk to Him on a daily basis. Often, more than once. And if He ever married Mary Magdalene, had a bunch of kids, committed any sinful acts, died and left His bones behind, or for that matter, won the lotto.....

....HE'S NEVER MENTIONED IT TO ME!

He also never talked about it in His Word, the Bible.

So, case closed, as far as I'm concerned! He and I are close enough that I'm sure these issues would have come up.

Saturday, March 03, 2007

 

Remembering Our Lost Little One


This afternoon has been something of a grim time for us. Rita and I left the kids to go up to church to attend a memorial service for a young man. He was a tortured soul with many problems who passed on far before his time. We're happy that his suffering is over, and he is in the presence of his Lord. However, it was a sad occasion as he was remembered by loving friends and a father who is right now living the worst nightmare that anyone possibly can - burying a child.

After leaving the church, we stopped by a local flower shop and bought a single white rose. The girl who waited on us was very concerned about our purchase. She fretted that it wasn't a fresh rose. That it had started to die. She was also very concerned about the cold affecting it, and she tried to wrap it appropriately to protect it from the weather. We were very nonchalant about the whole thing.

After all, we were heading to the cemetery to leave the rose on our son's grave.

Seven years ago today, our son, Jonathan, passed away on the day of his birth. He lived nine hours, and in the end, his little lungs just couldn't take in enough oxygen to keep his little body going. The doctors tried to keep him going, pushing the vent up to the highest level and forcing the needed air in. However, the pressure of the vent kept his heart from working correctly. It was a Catch-22, and Jonathan lost his battle for life.

We arrived at the cemetery in a snow storm. Since we had just come from the church, we were wearing dress shoes. Completely insufficient for trudging around in ankle deep drifts. But, this didn't bother us much. We made it to the grave site. The first thing I noticed that in the last seven years, the marker was starting to get a bit dingy. Rita unwrapped the rose and arranged it so that the stem was buried in the ground and the flower was laying on the marker. After standing over Jonathan for a few moments, I walked around to some of the surrounding graves that had been recently tended. Some of them were children who had died in the late 50's and early 60's.

The death of a child is a deep wound that never really heals.

We only stayed a few minutes. It was enough. We sometimes question ourselves - Are we making too much of this? Other parents bury children whom they've known, loved, raised. Jonathan was in our lives for nine hours. We didn't really get to know him. When we think of him, we don't have memories. We had dreams. And those dreams are what we grieve.

Making too much of it? No way. God provides the love that parents have their children. It doesn't matter how young or how old the child is. When that love gets interrupted by an untimely death, it results in lifelong pain.

After the memorial service, I was talking about Jonathan with a friend. I told him that since his death, my favorite prayer is, "Jesus, please kiss and hug Jonathan for me right now. Please tell him that I love him and miss him." My friend smiled and told me that I could at least be happy that Jonathan has excellent child care until I'm with him again.

Amen!

Friday, March 02, 2007

 

Terminated


The funniest line I read all week about James Cameron's attempt to blaspheme my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Funny how these things always get publicized around Easter time):

The church should send a robot back into the past to kill James Cameron's mother before he was born.

No, not a very loving sentiment. But it's only a joke, and it did make me laugh out loud.

(For any who don't get the joke, Cameron was the genius behind the Terminator movies. His lies about Jesus Christ are reported here.)

 

Birthday Bonanza


Today is a welcome day off of work for me. On the schedule are birthdays for two of my sons - Nathanael and Christopher. Than's was yesterday, and Christopher will be celebrating tomorrow.

We kicked off this three day celebration yesterday with cake and ice cream for Than as well as the traditional gift openings. Normally, I always take a child's birthday off as a vacation day. The normal birthday begins with breakfast out with Dad a local diner and a special day with a family activity of the birthday child's choice. This time out, it's a little different. Christopher and Nathanael put their heads together and decided that they wanted Mom and me to spring for an afternoon of laser tag. Since this is a bit of a pricey choice, they agreed to combine their birthday celebrations into one event. I agreed to treat the whole family to an afternoon of gaming at Zap Zone. We decided that today would be the day for that event, so I decided to work on Than's actual birthday and take today off instead.

This morning, my fine 9-year-old and I ate oatmeal and toast at the corner restaurant down the street from us, Mema's Munchies. (Look, I'm trying to eat sensibly because I'm an old guy whose trying to stay healthy and keep the weight off. I have no idea what his excuse is for ordering like that.) Right now, we're loafing around the house, generally relaxing, playing computer games, watching TV, and enjoying some really nice downtime. This afternoon, at about 2:00 PM, the Butler clan is going to head up to Canton's Zap Zone, strap on laser vests, and try to kill each other with guns.

The family that slays together, stays together.

Tomorrow is Christopher's turn for the royal treatment. He has asked to have his B-Day breakfast at Golden Corral, on of our local all-you-eat joints. (So much for my eating sensibly. The menu will be made to order omelettes, french toast, pancakes, waffles. Ugh. And that's all on my plate. Hey, you have to really shovel it in at one of these places. I have an MBA, and I can tell you that the more you eat, the lower your fixed cost per forkful.) Later that evening, I may have digested enough to fit in cake and ice cream. And of course, Chris will tear into his gifts.

Not by coincidence, tomorrow will also be something of a somber day. I think I'll wait until then to write about it.

Below is a picture of last night's birthday boy!!!!


Thursday, March 01, 2007

 

The Day After


Welcome to the new Ford Motor Company.

I wasn't prepared for how different it was going to be.

At about 5:45 AM, I walked into the Ford Fitness Center in Dearborn. There were about half as many people as there normally are. I couldn't believe it. To check myself, I asked the lady behind the desk, Lori, if the place seemed empty to her. Oh yeah. She told me that numbers were down drastically since yesterday.

"Welcome to the Way Forward," I said as I walked towards the locker room.

Although my office didn't seem quite as abandoned, it did feel a lot more lonely than it did yesterday, when I said good-bye to several colleagues, some of whom I've been friends with for years. The first thing I noticed when I approached my cubicle was the two huge stack of file folders that were on my desk. They were left there after I had departed for the day by a departing co-worker whose job I'm going to be doing from now on. (How I'm going to do this, I have no idea.)

Attendance is sparse today, and empty offices are everywhere. Right now, I'm visiting another building for a meeting. The same lack of people is evident here, and the atmosphere of loneliness is enhanced by the fact that not all the lights in the building are on. Obviously, fewer people allow you to dial down the lighting in order to save money. The guy that I'm meeting with commented that it's like a Friday, with people taking time off and the work activity really slowing down.

Earlier this morning, I noted on the front page of the Detroit Free Press that our CEO has scored an additional $1 million in stock options. I don't begrudge him his amazing salary and bonuses. If we want a good leader, we need to pay him. But man - what a day to make this announcement to the media!

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