Saying Goodbye

Tomorrow morning, Mitch and I will say goodbye to our good, sweet kitty.



We got him from Mitch's mom when he was just a little kitten with the biggest ears.



While he wasn't the friendliest cat to everyone else, he loved us. When we'd get home from work, he'd make sure to "pose" for some attention.



He helped us pack for lots of trips, mostly by jumping into whatever bag or suitcase was open.



If there was a piece of paper, a box or even a climbing rope bag on the floor, he'd go lay on it. I had to kick him off tons of assignments while I was in grad school, because if he wasn't on my lap, trying to keep me from typing, he was next to me on the couch wrinkling all my stuff.



(He gave me lots of affection during some of the most frustrating moments of earning my MBA, but he wouldn't hold still for a photo before we left for commencement.)



Boxes were his favorite, though. All the times we moved with him, I'm surprised he never got packed in one!



I think he shared Mitch's love of The Goonies...or at least he liked keeping him company on the trainer.

Sweetest Chip - we're sorry you were sick for so long. We tried so hard to help you get better, but now it's time to let you go. I'll miss your "squeaky motor" and your "chomping." Mitch will have to teach Macie to play "Who's Faster" but she'll never win like you did (sometimes). Love you.

The Alma Experience

This is our brand new Alma College advertisement, The Alma Experience. Its creation was all done in-house by our talented Marketing Communications staff and a couple of visionary students. I'm proud to have been included in the process: a whole team of us worked hard to brainstorm concepts, refine messaging and support the actual creation process. I even had a role: you won't see me, but I belayed for James during the climbing wall scene. And he's wearing Mitch's climbing harness. :)

Please enjoy and share with your friends!

I Want Your Money

I'll be getting out to see this when it comes to town, that's for sure!

Grandpa's Blessing

One of this morning's catch-up projects was to figure out how to arrange our "wall of shame." All our family photos, including those from our wedding, have been stuck in a drawer since we moved. Now that we're beginning to actually hang stuff on the wall - though I'm glad we've waited so we could get used to the space - I figured this was a good time to decide on frames and all that.

Anyway, Grandpa Eccles prayed a beautiful blessing at our wedding and gave us a copy, which hung among our photos. I wanted to reprint it so it looked more like a print than a plain document, so I typed it up this afternoon. As I went through it and thought about what he hopes our life together will be, I see places we're succeeding and places we occasionally stumble. I thought I'd post it here, too, because it's truly one of the most heartfelt things ever written for us.

Grandpa’s Blessing
November 24, 2004

Almighty and gracious God. Bless this marriage of Mitch and Laurie as they begin their journey together down the road of life. We do not know what lies ahead for them, for the road turns and bends. Help them make the best of whatever comes their way.

Help them to hug each other often, laugh a lot, listen to each other and argue less. Help them to continue to love each other as much as they did when they first met. Help them to realize that nothing nor anyone is perfect and to look for the good in all things and people, including themselves.

Help them to respect each others’ likes, dislikes, opinions, beliefs, hopes, dreams and fears, even though they may not understand them. Help them to learn from each other and to grow mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Help them to create for their children a peaceful, stable home of love as a foundation upon which they can build their lives. Help them to keep lit the torch of love that they now share in their hearts, so that by their loving example, they may pass on the light of love to their children and to their children’s children.

As we gather to share this wedding feast, we are thankful for all those who gather around these tables. Remind us that Jesus often revealed Himself in the breaking of bread and be mindful that He, too, is an unseen guest in our midst.

Bless this food we are about to enjoy, and the hands that prepared it for us, for the building up of our bodies for His service. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Blessings and Burdens

Highs and lows. That's the story of the past few weeks in a nutshell. I am incredibly blessed with so much, and God opened up an opportunity for Mitch that resulted in an unexpected promotion! We are obviously delighted, even though it's meant a few late nights as he trains and transitions. We were also blessed with a new, much better vet for Chip. Though we still don't know what's wrong with him and have pretty much exhausted all reasonable diagnostic options, we're giving steroid injections a try. For the moment, anyway, he seems comfortable (and has a great appetite); only time will tell if he beats this thing, but we'll just delight in each day with him.

On the low side, both Papa and Gramma Carol have serious health problems. Papa was scheduled for open heart surgery until another condition necessitated indefinite postponement, and now he's not sure the risks are worth it. Gramma will lose her vision in one eye unless she has surgery to fix a hole in her retina, but I'm not sure when she'll agree to have it done because the recuperation is a little rough. And just when Chipper started improving (or when we stared to come to terms with things, anyway) Macie got sick and we've had to work hard to get her to keep food down.

I'm in this funk and I think only some time with dear friends can pull me out. Thankfully, I get to see Amanda, who might just be my saving grace, this weekend. Then I get to see Nichole for a whole weekend of racing fun. For them and others, I'm certainly thankful.

How Not to Run Your Veterinary Practice

If you want to be a crappy veterinarian, I'd recommend following these simple guidelines:

1. When you see an ill pet, make the owner feel terrible for letting her cat get sick. Never mind that cats hide illness like champs. Then charge $500 for services rendered.

2. Don't give clear instructions for follow up. Dispense medication to distraught owner and send her on her way.

3. Don't, under any circumstances, call to check up on said "critically ill" animal.

4. If owner returns for medication refills, don't mention anything about a follow-up.

5. When owner has completed the course of prescribed medication, finds her pet regressing again, and calls you for advice, reduce her to tears with repeated recriminations: "You were supposed to bring him back for a follow-up visit!"

6. Start the cat back on medication. Then tell your tech to be wishy-washy about how long such treatment needs to continue.

7. When pressed about a progress check, estimate at least $200 in services.

8. If owner calls to ask questions, refuse to call her back. Even when she tries repeatedly.

9. When owner finally gets fed up with your lack of communication and service, she will call to cancel her appointment and switch to another vet. Do not act concerned. Do not ask after the health of the cat. That animal was a pain in the butt anyway. There are plenty of other suckers out there who will pay your excessive bill.

See ya later, Isabella Cat Clinic. I'm sure I'll be much happier taking Chip to Macie's vet, St. Johns Animal Clinic, where I'll actually get a vet who cares.

Vote in the Michigan Primary!

Tomorrow is a big day, everyone! I'm spending some time today deciding which Republican candidate gets my vote as our candidate for governor, and I thought I'd share links to what I consider to be the meat of their positions.

Mike Bouchard - Blueprint for Prosperity
Mike Cox - Putting Michigan Back to Work
Tom George - Fix Michigan
Pete Hoekstra - He doesn't have a comprehensive page/document on his positions, so just go to his Web site and see the "Pete on the issues" list.
Rick Snyder - 10 Point Plan

I hope these can help us make an informed decision tomorrow!