Chad Miller & Family in Tennessee
Mike with Kids
The 3 Amigos! Mike with Sophia & Michael
Monday, March 21, 2011
MISTA GRABA!!
Happy Birthday to my friend-a-years. Hard to beleive that you are 40 man - crazy! So wish we could be there for this event buddy but just couldn't pull it off. So many memories come to mind when I think of you. Most of them involve drinking and belly laughing. As our favorite blue eyed Mexican buddy Ernest Ramos would say, I'm just happy to have been in the foxhole with you Graber! I will go ahead and say that our meetings at Mother Michelin were some of the best times of my young life and kept me at MX for a while. Whether it was wearing out Kevin Anthony until his feelings got hurt or doing our very best and drunken impressions of our dear friend Mr. Terry Arthur at 2 AM, we always seemed to have a blast. Thanks for being a dear friend through the ups and downs of corporate America and always being there on the other end of the telephone or the bar seat next to me to share my troubles, a good laugh, or just to BS. My favorite thing about Graber is his ability to just walk into any part of the country and blend in no problem. From the Yankee upbringing in Buffalo, to a redneck in Alabama, a little while as a Cajun in NOLA, to freezing cold Minesoooota, to where I believe you will call home...BASTAN!(I think I may have had something to do with that:)) Appreciate you tagging along with the family unit several times for mountain vacations. We miss you guys and we hope that you get down South soon. I will leave you with this sir...Mista Graba, you need to be more like Chad Milla. He knows how to sell the X-Lisse...See Ya!
Chad Miller & Family in Tennessee
Chad Miller & Family in Tennessee
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Happy Birthday Michael
Just wanted to wish you a very Happy 40th Birthday. I don't actually feel old enough to have a forty year old son but nevertheless you are FORTY. I however still remain the tender age of 29, which is a trick only Mothers know.
There have been notable moments during these forty years such as you polishing the upholstered arms of my brand new furniture with vaseline; helping Gramma put the bassinet together for your new baby sister and it promptly falls to the floor when we put her in it; the black magic marker down the center of our gold kitchen counter top, at least you had it centered. I believe Sophia has already tried that trick - hmmm, I didn't laugh too hard!
I knew about the Juda's window but I didn't know about the Everall's window for a long time. These are only some of the antics throughout the years. I am sure there are many more I don't know about and that is really ok.
I can say that I am very proud of the man you have become. You have always been a loving son and now are a loving husband and Father. You are so good at it!!!!!! Jana, Sophia and Michael are so fortunate to have you in their lives and you are so fortunate to have such a beautiful family.
Have a great birthday and many more.
Love MOM
There have been notable moments during these forty years such as you polishing the upholstered arms of my brand new furniture with vaseline; helping Gramma put the bassinet together for your new baby sister and it promptly falls to the floor when we put her in it; the black magic marker down the center of our gold kitchen counter top, at least you had it centered. I believe Sophia has already tried that trick - hmmm, I didn't laugh too hard!
I knew about the Juda's window but I didn't know about the Everall's window for a long time. These are only some of the antics throughout the years. I am sure there are many more I don't know about and that is really ok.
I can say that I am very proud of the man you have become. You have always been a loving son and now are a loving husband and Father. You are so good at it!!!!!! Jana, Sophia and Michael are so fortunate to have you in their lives and you are so fortunate to have such a beautiful family.
Have a great birthday and many more.
Love MOM
Friday, March 11, 2011
Happy 4-0 to a great person and friend!
Mr. Mike...
The very subject of this post was alarming. I suppose if you are 40, I am right behind you. There are too many stories to choose from so I had to pick those with the highest impact. Here we go...
Bourbon Street was never quite the same after our adventures. I recall one particular Mardi Gras (Jana to supply to photos) of a dedicated Catholic sporting a dime store priests costume - next to a set of classic Catholic school girls (again, the pictures tell the story)...
I will always remember those days during and post Katrina....especially 'camping' at your pad (which actually had power and air conditioning) with much nostalgia.
If I am not mistaken, I recall being a significant role in your early romance with Jana and a big supporter of a fantastic union. Those were early days of drinks in the Library Lounge while Jana worked hard at whatever wedding she had then.
Of course, I would be remiss (sorry Chris) for remembering how you took control of a certain friends grooms party in NYC - man, I needed a straight dude to navigate this.
Anything else I have not included is due to space consideration and also as to not look bad on this blog.
Happy Birthday my friend!
Scotty
The very subject of this post was alarming. I suppose if you are 40, I am right behind you. There are too many stories to choose from so I had to pick those with the highest impact. Here we go...
Bourbon Street was never quite the same after our adventures. I recall one particular Mardi Gras (Jana to supply to photos) of a dedicated Catholic sporting a dime store priests costume - next to a set of classic Catholic school girls (again, the pictures tell the story)...
I will always remember those days during and post Katrina....especially 'camping' at your pad (which actually had power and air conditioning) with much nostalgia.
If I am not mistaken, I recall being a significant role in your early romance with Jana and a big supporter of a fantastic union. Those were early days of drinks in the Library Lounge while Jana worked hard at whatever wedding she had then.
Of course, I would be remiss (sorry Chris) for remembering how you took control of a certain friends grooms party in NYC - man, I needed a straight dude to navigate this.
Anything else I have not included is due to space consideration and also as to not look bad on this blog.
Happy Birthday my friend!
Scotty
Happy Birthday to My Big Brother
Dear Mike:
On the occasion of your forthieth birthday:
I was sitting right there next to you when that 2-year-old picture was taken, as I was for the vast majority of them taken through the years. I never minded ceding the spotlight to you, and there are few places in the world where I feel more naturally-suited than around you.
I'm glad that we adhered to bachelor party camera rules during our teens and twenties. And I am relieved that cell phone cameras did not exist. I am further glad that GPS was not yet common, because if certain people in our lives knew where we were, when we were there, and what really happened, I would not want even to speculate on the outcome. I am grateful that watch cases could be spun backwards so that the hour hand would be on the 10 instead of the 11 when we got home late.
I am glad that my primary fistfight-partner was larger than life so that I learned early how to take an ass-kicking, and not to fear someone because he was big.
I am happy that I learned the Guy Rules early, and that "telling Mom" was reserved for missing persons, gushing wounds and broken legs.
Through every jam in which we found ourselves, I knew that because you were with me, we would either find our way out of it or suffer the consequences together. I carry that with me today, knowing that there is a solution or a tolerable compromise to every problem. Though greatly relieved, I was not surprised when you called me from Baton Rouge in August 2005 after figuring your way out of New Orleans.
I derive great pleasure from telling my daughters about our more innocent escapades. Like many in the general public, they react at first with horror, and then see the humor. Sarah Kate loves when I tell the story about Thanksgiving. Kiki declared, "And you WILL have ties on at Thanksgiving dinner." She loves our literal interpretation of "ties," and gets it that the wearing of shirts with those ties would be implied, not literal. She also loves our literal interpretation of "having shirts on" at dinner in general.
I still look at the clock when I'm playing hockey. I do this because of the way, at Age 7, you explained that NHL players focus on the clock and not on the game so that they come off their shifts at the right time. You said it like you genuinely believed it. You probably did. So like everything else you explained to me, I took it as Gospel.
I learned from you that it is acceptable to stand up to people, no matter who those people are, when those people are wrong. That it is OK to disregard rules that are dictatorial, arbitrary, and don't make sense. And that common sense wins the day over book smarts every time.
Thanksgiving still isn't Thanksgiving without Ted Juda, though I still don't know what happened to his window. The timing of the "Six Feet Under" question on the MTV video game is still funny. Mom still doesn't know that the Camaro was actually parked somehwere else when she went INTO the Seneca Mall in 1984.
Thank God for all of this. None of it would have happened without you.
Matt
On the occasion of your forthieth birthday:
I was sitting right there next to you when that 2-year-old picture was taken, as I was for the vast majority of them taken through the years. I never minded ceding the spotlight to you, and there are few places in the world where I feel more naturally-suited than around you.
I'm glad that we adhered to bachelor party camera rules during our teens and twenties. And I am relieved that cell phone cameras did not exist. I am further glad that GPS was not yet common, because if certain people in our lives knew where we were, when we were there, and what really happened, I would not want even to speculate on the outcome. I am grateful that watch cases could be spun backwards so that the hour hand would be on the 10 instead of the 11 when we got home late.
I am glad that my primary fistfight-partner was larger than life so that I learned early how to take an ass-kicking, and not to fear someone because he was big.
I am happy that I learned the Guy Rules early, and that "telling Mom" was reserved for missing persons, gushing wounds and broken legs.
Through every jam in which we found ourselves, I knew that because you were with me, we would either find our way out of it or suffer the consequences together. I carry that with me today, knowing that there is a solution or a tolerable compromise to every problem. Though greatly relieved, I was not surprised when you called me from Baton Rouge in August 2005 after figuring your way out of New Orleans.
I derive great pleasure from telling my daughters about our more innocent escapades. Like many in the general public, they react at first with horror, and then see the humor. Sarah Kate loves when I tell the story about Thanksgiving. Kiki declared, "And you WILL have ties on at Thanksgiving dinner." She loves our literal interpretation of "ties," and gets it that the wearing of shirts with those ties would be implied, not literal. She also loves our literal interpretation of "having shirts on" at dinner in general.
I still look at the clock when I'm playing hockey. I do this because of the way, at Age 7, you explained that NHL players focus on the clock and not on the game so that they come off their shifts at the right time. You said it like you genuinely believed it. You probably did. So like everything else you explained to me, I took it as Gospel.
I learned from you that it is acceptable to stand up to people, no matter who those people are, when those people are wrong. That it is OK to disregard rules that are dictatorial, arbitrary, and don't make sense. And that common sense wins the day over book smarts every time.
Thanksgiving still isn't Thanksgiving without Ted Juda, though I still don't know what happened to his window. The timing of the "Six Feet Under" question on the MTV video game is still funny. Mom still doesn't know that the Camaro was actually parked somehwere else when she went INTO the Seneca Mall in 1984.
Thank God for all of this. None of it would have happened without you.
Matt
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Happy Birthday MICHAEL GRABER! I would like to share some stories and confimed that adult content is OK.
I will never forget my first Michelin Christmas party when the night took us to Cuzzy's bar. After hours of drinking and shots the conversation turns to our rep in Fargo knowing Phil Hanson, Bills great D-End. The story goes Kevin, Fargo rep, said he could get Mike fishing with Phil on a trip, to which Mike says, " If you can arrange that I would suck Phil Hanson's Dick!" Quickly Jana tells him it's time to go and he says goodbye to a chorus of "what? you would suck his DICK!" That story is still told at C2 region meetings.
Then for a Michelin Christmas party the year he joined "Rainbird" he was able to book a "Work" trip back to MN and attend the party. It was classic to end the meeting early, 2PM, since Mike was in the bar at the hotel ready to start the PARTY. Only a great manager understands that Mike's return was worthy of 2PM beers! We drank until the Wild hockey game then continued to party until, well we don't remember?? Again we stilll smile telling that on also!
Final story, Mike is in town for the Bills game. I meet him along with our rep Ryan from Sioux Falls. Funny side note is Ryan is holding his eye and we ask why? His brother in law got drunk the night before and drank a glass of water that he had a contact in so to see straight he had to cover an eye! We enjoyed the game and ofcourse the VIKINGS won. That was the last night for him in MN and I can't lie that a tear was in my eye leaving that night!
Mike was my Michelin big brother and more improtantly a GREAT friend. I could come to him with questions about work and life. He is one of the most loyal and postive people I have met. He loved Jana and being a Dad. I must say after meeting Jana I'm still curious about how he pulled that off??? I miss ya Buddy and would love you to visit SC. Imagine the Corbett stories?? HAPPY B-DAY and may all your ups and downs come between the sheets!
Andy Werner - actually "Michelin Training Developement Manager" tell Rainbird to suck on that Promo!
I will never forget my first Michelin Christmas party when the night took us to Cuzzy's bar. After hours of drinking and shots the conversation turns to our rep in Fargo knowing Phil Hanson, Bills great D-End. The story goes Kevin, Fargo rep, said he could get Mike fishing with Phil on a trip, to which Mike says, " If you can arrange that I would suck Phil Hanson's Dick!" Quickly Jana tells him it's time to go and he says goodbye to a chorus of "what? you would suck his DICK!" That story is still told at C2 region meetings.
Then for a Michelin Christmas party the year he joined "Rainbird" he was able to book a "Work" trip back to MN and attend the party. It was classic to end the meeting early, 2PM, since Mike was in the bar at the hotel ready to start the PARTY. Only a great manager understands that Mike's return was worthy of 2PM beers! We drank until the Wild hockey game then continued to party until, well we don't remember?? Again we stilll smile telling that on also!
Final story, Mike is in town for the Bills game. I meet him along with our rep Ryan from Sioux Falls. Funny side note is Ryan is holding his eye and we ask why? His brother in law got drunk the night before and drank a glass of water that he had a contact in so to see straight he had to cover an eye! We enjoyed the game and ofcourse the VIKINGS won. That was the last night for him in MN and I can't lie that a tear was in my eye leaving that night!
Mike was my Michelin big brother and more improtantly a GREAT friend. I could come to him with questions about work and life. He is one of the most loyal and postive people I have met. He loved Jana and being a Dad. I must say after meeting Jana I'm still curious about how he pulled that off??? I miss ya Buddy and would love you to visit SC. Imagine the Corbett stories?? HAPPY B-DAY and may all your ups and downs come between the sheets!
Andy Werner - actually "Michelin Training Developement Manager" tell Rainbird to suck on that Promo!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Let me know how 40 feels, old man!
Mr. Graber…
Hope your 40th is a great one!
I wish I had a really funny photo from our days at Michelin or even at the Bird. But I don’t… so you have to just imagine a picture of us drunk at some bar, in some hotel, talking very loudly about the unrealistic expectations of our employer and bragging about the number of days we each stayed home in front of the TV eating bon bons and playing Soldier of Fortune. On second thought, forget that image and just be very glad I don’t have a photo.
Happy Birthday my friend! Sorry I couldn’t be there, but live it up and drink one for me!
Erik Bailey
P.S. Nice F1 jumpsuit picture (thank you for posting Jana). You look so comfortable in it.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The Tooltime Post
Happy Birthday Mike!
I have no idea if Jana has been able to keep the secret, but I can promise you that no one at 4 Stagg Drive squealed. I'm struck by the fact that our entire relationship is modeled after the TV show Home Improvement - your Tim Allen to my "Wilson". It seems to me that they were pretty good neighhbors and so are we.
Happy 40th, Scott & Holly
I have no idea if Jana has been able to keep the secret, but I can promise you that no one at 4 Stagg Drive squealed. I'm struck by the fact that our entire relationship is modeled after the TV show Home Improvement - your Tim Allen to my "Wilson". It seems to me that they were pretty good neighhbors and so are we.
Happy 40th, Scott & Holly
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