Wednesday, December 24, 2003

Weekly Update

Here is the weekly update on the battle for Hockey bragging rights.

Overall Leader:
katsmom3 29 - Not sure what happened... many of the individuals that were leading the contest have had their scores adjusted. Sadly for Steve, his score was not adjusted.

Friends/Family leaderboard:
teverett96 (TE) 18 (Only got 3 points since the last update, but still holding first place)
finfanatic (SA) 17 (Sheryl, still pestering me for first place)
sharkfanatic (SH) 11 (Stacy, no comment)
puckinnet (SE) 10 (Steve E., I believe if I would have done the update a few days ago, Steve would have been in third place... but he has slide back into last).

Tuesday, December 16, 2003

Christmas Cheer

Santa and his reindeer - link was forwarded to me via Sheryl. (click on the reindeer as well as on Santa)

Friday, December 12, 2003

Couple of links

I recently moved the one legged bird downstairs into the computer room. I have a webcam that I don't really used so I decided to make the bird a web star. By the way, the bird's name is simply Bird. I tend not to be overly creative in naming of pets.

BirdCam - The BirdCam should automatically update every 15 sec.

Sam's Aunt and Uncle have an elaborate Christmas light display on their property. So elaborate, that it has its own web site.

Brown's Christmas Lights

Tuesday, December 09, 2003

Jan's Email

Jan, Samantha's Mom, sent me this email. She was planning to enter it as a comment but I believe it deserves its own entry:

Dear Tim,

I've tried to call you a couple of times but I guess you were busy or didn't get the message to call me back. It sounds like you have been very busy.

First I want to thank you for the beautiful DVD. I have only been able to watch it once threw tears of sadness and regret, with some laughter thrown in here and there in remembrance. I will cherish it always. I got sam's autopsy report on the same day as the DVD, so my emotions were running wild. The reality hit me hard once again.

As you know, as adults I tried to get Sam to let go of the bad memories and get to know the women we were now. She just couldn't let the past go and I just couldn't let it back into my thoughts and dreams. I have run too far and hard from those horrible years and except for Sam's questions or "remember when"s I have succeeded in getting very far away in body, mind and spirit. I could not go back and change it and I could never tell her why, so the gap of misunderstanding just grew wider until we were estranged for the last couple of years. I never dreamed I would never see her again or get a chance to build a bridge across that gap.

I am relieved that she knows the answers now but wish they could have come in an easier way. I look forward to her telling me why, when I see her again.

I am so proud of what you are doing with "In Vision" in her name. She would be so proud of you too.

As the law's of protection change and people like you and your company care and try to understand the cycle of abuse, there is more hope for those Little Sam's and their mothers.

If they can find a way out of the fear and hopelessness and see that people care enough to help them up out of the hole, they have a much better chance at life and love.

There were many Christmas times that an organization like this, along with family and friends made our Christmas when I couldn't. We always managed to have something under the tree from Santa. This was always the most exciting time of the year for Little Sam and the saddest for her mother.

Please don't forget when the season of giving is over that those women and children are still out there struggling to be free of the hurt and indignations of their everyday lives. There are many ways out and sometimes we choose the wrong ones time and again in our own struggle to survive. Sometimes it takes a strangers outstretched hand to say, "come this way. I don't have all the answers but I can show you there is a better way - a way out."

It took me many years to break that cycle of abuse that even Sam didn't see because I never seemed to make the right choices. I Pray that with your outstretched hand and support it will give many Little Sam's and their mom's a better choice.

It would make all the pain worth while and give some meaning to our quest to understand life, to know that your love and caring could help just one "Sam and Jan" not have to ask why about the past or be afraid of the future.

Thank You again Tim for ALL that you did for Sam and for this wonderful gift in her name. Life is good when you learn what real love means. When you know better, you can do better. until next time...........
With Love and Respect,
Jan


Saturday, December 06, 2003

Thanksgiving in MI

Below is a collection of pictures (with comments from Ruth E.) from Thankgiving in Michigan this year. My parents and sister visited my Uncle Harold and his family.



Another picture. The woman with Julie is Kirk's girlfriend Sharon. I told her it was nice to keep that name in the family so it was easy to remember.



Dad & Kay. Karol Jo and I are checking out her plants in the background



Karol's daughter Katie, Kay's daughter Carrie (the same age as Dale) and Kirk



Here is a picture taken at Karol Jo's home. Let Ben see that I have curls again.



Donna, myself and Karol. This was taken after we stuffed ourselves with all the good food. Bob (Karol's husband) smoked two turkeys and deep fried one. It was all very good.

Friday, December 05, 2003

Weekly Update on San Sharks In the Pool

Here is the weekly update on the battle for Hockey bragging rights.

Overall Leader:
FriesenFan (MS) 26 (once again, don't know this person, but they are in the lead overall, FriesenFan seems to be holding on to the lead, was leader during last update with 22 points)

Friends/Family leaderboard:
teverett96 (TE) 15 (Tim E. in the lead by myself again, lost two points in catching up to the leader, probably won't get the overall lead)
finfanatic (SA) 13 (Sheryl, still pestering me for first place)
sharkfanatic (SH) 8 (Stacy, no comment)
puckinnet (SE) 8 (Steve E., making a small move, maybe next week he won't be on the bottom of the list)

Wednesday, December 03, 2003

shhhhh, be very quiet

Hello is anybody here!?!?! :)

I have been pretty busy over the last few days... going tonight to teach a basic computer skills class at an InnVision Inn (shelter). Work is a bit busy with a couple of big releases happening this week.

This weekend, I will be going on a shopping spree with kids from InnVision. Should be a lot of fun, each kid is giving $100 to spend.

The following weekend, I will be helping with a field trip to the Tech Museum with the InnVision kids.

Hyperion's Charitable Giving Committe is going to be donating money to InnVision in Sam's name.

The Sunnyvale Engineering team raises money every holiday season and this year the money raised will be provided to InnVision in Sam's name as well.

Even though you might hear my complain / whine / bitch about work, I do work with a great group of people.

Here is the email that was sent out:

Greetings everyone,

As some of you are aware, November and December are the months that Hyperion encourages charitable giving in the form of food, toys, clothing, and money to a variety of worthy organizations.

This year, the Engineering Sunnyvale Core Team and Robert Gersten are encouraging you to give to a very special cause in the name of Samantha Everett, the wife of Tim Everett, who passed away in August of this year. Tim is QA Director of Corporate Quality and has been with the company for almost 11 years.

The "Samantha Everett -- For Today" Endowment was established to honor Samantha's cherished values of helping children and their mothers overcome obstacles in order to improve their lives. The Endowment funds a special program at InnVision - The Way Home in the South Bay.


Below is a description of the program and Tim's personal comments about how important it is to him and to Sam's memory. Donation information is below as well.

Information describing InnVision and their services:
InnVision, celebrating its 30th anniversary, is the South Bay's largest provider of services and housing to at-risk and homeless families and individuals. More than 15,000 people have passed through the InnVision doors this year, 2000 more than the previous year.

We offer comprehensive supportive services, case management, and access to affordable housing. Each of the InnVision programs and shelters provides an uplifting environment that enables and empowers each client to become self-sufficient and to find the way home.

InnVision provides programs to women and families that give our clients a real chance to develop good life, parenting, and employment skills. Working closely with their case manager, women and families have access to abuse counseling, childcare, job training, education, and other services required to ensure they do not repeat the cycles of homelessness.
http://www.innvision.org

Why InnVision?
Sam had a very special place in her heart for children. We struggled in our 9 years together to start a family. Sam always seemed her happiest when she was around kids.

I am working with InnVision in a couple of ways:

To create an endowment in her name that will be used to help the moms and children. The endowment will be provided to InnVision under the name "Samantha Everett - For Today". The endowment will go towards helping to cover the expense involved in running programs and shelters for the kids and their mothers.

Sam and her Mom (Jan) lived in very challenging circumstances when Sam was little. The beauty and greatness of Sam was amazing as an adult even with her difficult childhood. Essentially, I hope to be able to help a "little Sam"... to help a child as much as possible, coming from such tough circumstances, to be able to shine even brighter as an adult. At times, Samantha seemed to just glow with brilliance. Maybe with my help in her name, she and I can help a child shine as bright every single day.

More importantly, I plan to donate my time personally with the organization. Providing money is great, but even better for me will be actively working. I have been spending at least two hours a week, visiting with the kids, hanging out with them, and simply enjoying myself. I had a great time on a recent field trip to the San Jose Art Museum with the kids. Hopefully they will remember the visit as fondly as I do.

Donations to the "Samantha Everett - For Today" will be accepted on Tim's behalf by Nora Minassian. You can write a check to InnVision or provide cash. InnVision is a charitable organization, so you can also request matching funds by Hyperion. Forms for this will be available with Nora as well. Nora sits in a window office on the 2nd floor near the top of the side stairs.

The Core Team encourages donations to any and all charities that are near and dear to your hearts. The Second Harvest Food Bank is a wonderful cause, and we encourage you to give to whatever organization you are most comfortable with. This year is a great opportunity, however, to support something very special in honor of Tim and Samantha.

You can request a matching gift from Hyperion of up to $250/year. If you would like to take advantage of this, you should donate to InnVision by Check only, and make a photocopy of your check before giving it to Nora. If you have already donated to InnVision and you have a receipt, you can also request matching funds. Go to the following link to fill out the form on Globalsource requesting the match. Nora will give you the 501c3 form necessary to show that InnVision is a charitable organization.

Lastly, Tim is more than willing to answer any questions you have about the organization and the benefits it offers to its clients.