"You've got to know when to fold 'em."

"How to Help Your Mom: Lesson One"

by Jack Everett G.

First, meticulously lay out an item from the clean pile.

Second, tightly roll the item from the bottom.

Carefully carry the "folded" item.

Finally, line them up in perfect order along the loveseat.

I have found that Daddys usually prefer that you roll one sock at a time, and sort them with the dish towels.

Then, repeat steps. And repeat steps. And repeat steps.

On a final note, if you find nice laundry piles where Mom has folded clothing in a crisp square-like fashion and sorted it nicely by type, feel free to unfold it all, put it all back into one big pile to "re-fold" each item as I have done here. This saves her a lot of time and is a big help.

"Stay tuned for "How to Help Your Mom: Lesson Two" where I show you how to squirt a bottle of blue foaming hand soap to clean the bathroom rugs. You won't want to miss this sure-fire way to help Mom."

E-mail reply from Danny, thoughts of 9/11

Danny e-mailed me shortly after reading my thoughts on our experience handling World Trade Center claims after September 11th. He did not know I was going to post his e-mail to the blog, but I wanted to record his emotion and perspective as we continue to pay our respects this week.

"Melissa,

To this day I watch specials on 9/11 and I remember those long days with pride and a heavy heart. Do you realize how many people affected by 9/11 we spoke to? How many other people in this world can say that? My wife to this day cannot understand how/why I am so connected with this tragedy. In that sense you and I will forever be linked. Only you, Ed, Christine, Betty, Melissa M. and Richard can possibly know what it was like. Every call was from someone who lost a family member or who lost 50 of their co-workers. We were therapists more than claims adjusters.

I still remember when you insisted on looking up the photo of our member's son. As soon as you saw the picture you burst into tears. Every time a call ended, someone was in tears. Call after call, day after day. It truly was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

The next 2 years I could not work on 9/11. Too many emotions. But if I had to do it again, knowing what I know now................ I wouldn't hesitate. Count me in. That experience changed me forever; and for the better too. I recall calling a member one Sunday evening. He was an elderly gentleman who was claiming some personal effects of his son. After I processed his payment, he asked me why I was working on a Sunday evening. I told him that USAA was working from 7 to 7 every day so we could assist all of our members who had been affected by this tragedy. This man who lost his son then expressed how sorry he was that I had to endure such a grueling schedule to help him!!!! I was floored. I told him, "Sir, you have experienced a far worse tragedy. What I am doing is nothing. It's the least I can do for you". He was so grateful. I will never forget him.

I try to take positives from it as well. Plan for the future but live life every day. Tell your family you love them every day. Stop and enjoy the simple things. Be cautious but not afraid of terrorism. It's hard to balance. My wife finds it odd because her nickname for me is "the rock". I handle crisis well. But I am always somber on and around 9/11. I watched the movie WTC and United 93 and if a special comes on TV I record it and watch it. It's my way of honoring the survivors and those left behind. I feel it's important to know the story, to remember what happened, to never forget and to learn from it.

I talked to these people. You remember. These weren't claims calls. These people told us about their lives. They shared their grief. We were part of their family after that. It seems like I was there standing with them. They were attacked and so was I. Every year it comes flooding back. It never gets easier. But I would not change anything. I was honored to be part of it. It was a small contribution but I think we helped many people move on.

In the middle of all that I received a blessing. On 9/18/01 I found out I was going to be a Dad. How ironic it was to learn of this at a time when I was dealing with so much sorrow. As each year passes I always pause and reflect on the events of that day. The chaos, the fear. The destruction and death. I walked into the USAA break room just as the second tower fell. The room was packed and you could have heard a pin drop. Watching that was was the worst thing I have ever seen and is forever burned into my memory. I will never forget."

Thanks Danny for allowing me to share.

Welcome, Little One...

Baby Evan Scott Robin was born today. Emily delivered her 7 pound little guy this afternoon and is doing really well. I can't wait to see pictures, but had to blog on his actual birthday! I'll never forget Emily visiting me in the hospital when Jack Everett was born. I wish I could be there to see her son today, but that's okay.

God crafted this little boy, held him in His hands for nine months, and calmly guided him into the world today. It was so touching to hear her describe the delivery (In Emily's exact words, it was "easy peezy!") and reminded me of how amazing a woman's body really is.

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Scott and Emily will be amazing parents to Baby Evan. They already are. From the time she found out she was pregnant, she and Scott have been so thankful for the little life who would soon turn them into a family.

About 5 months along, when I asked how she was feeling, I'll never forget when Emily said, "You know, it's hard to complain about the discomforts of pregnancy. It's like winning the lottery, and then complaining about the burden of having all that money."

Congratulations, Em' and Scott... and Happy Birthday, Evan.

Not just another Tuesday...

We have promised we will never forget.

It is so hard to believe that it was six years ago today that we started receiving the most unbelievable calls in our USAA Claims Department. We had not heard the news as it had just happened. I remember seeing droves of people in the hallways crowded around the televisions, and I knew it must be something big. However, our manager instructed us, the New York City Claims Unit, to stay by our phones and take every call. The phones, which usually rang all day, had become eerily silent. We were told that a bomb had hit the World Trade Center in New York, and that we would most likely be getting calls soon. We imagined, as we had not seen any images, and were told not to get on the Internet or leave our desks to look, that we'd be getting calls about damaged cars, clothes, etc. from smoke and/or sprinkler systems. We had no idea.

The initial calls were from people at payphones on the street, who had called the 1-800 line at USAA. They were frantic and crying, and were surrounded by chaos, dust, and screaming. They were asking us to contact their family members to let them know they were safe. What does it say about a company when in a person's darkest hour, he or she thinks first of calling USAA for help? I have always been proud to have worked there, but never more proud than during the few months following 9/11.

It was a few days later that I was chosen, along with my good friend and coworker Danny, to be on the World Trade Center Catastrophe Team. Being chosen for CAT Duty was a huge honor. There were seven of us. The work schedule was 7am to 7pm, 7 days per week until the job was done. I didn't realize at the time that it would be (by far) the hardest work assignment I would ever accept.

It was all run like a special task force. We quickly invented a coding system to indicate USAA members' whose family members were "missing," and those who were killed that day. We learned the streets of the city and huddled over highlighted maps and grids, reviewing New York City websites as more and more neighborhoods were being deemed "uninhabitable" every hour. We memorized street names, complexes, and area terminology to better service those who were calling. We followed every press release and internet report regarding everything from death toll to air quality reports.

In addition to hundreds who were working in the World Trade Center that day, USAA also insured the pilots and co-pilots of all three planes. We covered many passengers on those flights as well. USAA insured almost the entire Secret Service, whose building was completely leveled in the collapse, and dozens of employees at the Pentagon. We replaced their suits, shoes, bikes, office furniture, and vehicles parked beneath the buildings. We took calls from wives, outlining claims lists to include their husbands' briefcases, watches, clothing they had on that morning, etc. Parents claimed some of their children's belongings from luggage on the flights. It was heartwrenching to listen to them call out lists of material things that were lost. In most cases, we just took their word for these claims and values. Most were very thankful, but also very apologetic. They didn't want to be doing this. The fact is, they just wanted their loved ones back, but knew they desperately needed the financial relief too.

These people needed hotel rooms and there were none. They needed clean water and there was none. They needed hope and many times there was none. We offered money, information, tears and a listening ear. Our phones rang off the hook, and sometimes we felt helpless. Some had tiny newborns and children with asthma trying to find clean air or room in hospitals that were overflowing. One by one we helped families settle into hotels or temporary housing, and receipts began to pour in for mattresses, toothpaste, socks, diapers, food, etc. Most had no job as they had lost their offices and some had lost lost entire teams of coworkers as well. They had no idea how long it would be before they'd have income again. We soon started sending reimbursement checks for suits and dresses as they began to attend funerals, sometimes several a day.

As a company, we offered the maximum amount of coverage we possibly could and paid the claims quickly. Other insurance companies did not. Again, I was proud. I felt so good about the work USAA was doing to help these families. As many Americans felt so helpless, I felt lucky that I was in a role where I could actually do something. I just could not imagine what these people were going through. Their stories were heartbreaking. I remember one of the young widows called to tell me that the FBI had found her husband's college class ring in the rubble. She asked that I remove this ring from her claims list, but that I keep her husband on the "missing" roster because she and her family were still holding out hope. I teared up and told her like I told the others, "Of course. Please keep us posted."

My most memorable letter was from New Yorker Maggie Quinn - a true survivor. She had been fighting cancer for over a year and had not been to work in over six months. On Monday, September 10th, 2001, she had been given a clean bill of health from her oncologist and released to return to duty at the U.S. Secret Service. She went back to work for the first time that next morning on September 11th. After the attacks, her escape was dramatic. It was so inspiring to read the letter she wrote about how God had spared her life - two days in a row. A year later, on September 11th, 2002, she wrote me another letter about how she is living out God's purpose in her life.

During that time, many of us had nightmares. Some simply could not sleep. I, like others on the team I later found out, was becoming totally obsessed with 9/11 coverage. I could not get enough. I watched hours and hours of news coverage every evening after work and scanned the Internet into late hours of the night. On our lunch breaks, our manager Ed had to MAKE us stop scrolling down memorial websites as we recognized some of the families with whom we had spoken, and for whom we had cried and prayed. We'd cry on the phone and cry more when we hung up. We'd cry when we got home. Jeff would try to get me to stop. " Why are you putting yourself through this? It's not healthy. You have to get a break from this." It felt like if I stopped watching it, that I was not honoring that it had happened and that people were still missing. I sometimes felt like Americans were already forgetting. I could not understand that. It was weird. I was angry, and grieving, and could not separate myself from it. We talked about it on the team, so USAA brought in professionals and we shared in grief counseling together. We knew we'd all eventually find a "new normal" and would return to healthy everyday living again. At our own pace, each of us did.

I remember that right after the CAT assignment, my focus on my own problems had virtually disappeared. My stresses seemed so incredibly trivial. The United States felt so small, and New York City seemed so close. My heart swelled with patriotism. Like millions of Americans, I promised myself I would not forget that feeling. I was among those vowing to live each day as if it were my last.

I got an e-mail this morning. It was from Danny, who still handles USAA Claims from New York. It read, "Today is still difficult for me. I always think of you on this day. Working on that CAT team is still one of the hardest things I have ever done. I hope you are doing well." I had been thinking of him too.

We all have a story about where we were on September 11th, 2001. I figured writing it down would be the best way to keep from forgetting mine. Someday, we will tell Jack Everett about what happened that day in our country. I have promised myself that I will remember these wives, children, and parents whose lives changed so dramatically one September morning.

To them, it started off as just another Tuesday. Today, it's much more than that to them, and it's more than that to me.

The Harcourt Recruiting Reptile: A Tall Tale

To set the stage a bit: Two weeks ago, it was just a regular day at the office. I was typing away at my desk, doing what I do best... recognizing and recruiting talent and changing people's lives. Okay, so I was making little "MBG" name labels with my LabelMaker. Anyway, this huge brown Iguana, out of nowhere, shoots out from under my chair and runs between my black high heels. I instantly let out a scream... I mean, I calmly delivered an audible alert to the department of a potential hazard, per HR protocol.

I ran into the Longhorn Conference Room, where the HR team had assembled for a Strategic Integration Planning Session. Okay, they were counting raffle tickets and pecan pralines for the upcoming company barbecue. Anyway, I scanned the room to determine whose skill set would best match the urgent task at hand. Dave, who had just survived a 5000-mile RV trip with his wife, 4 kids, St. Bernard, cat, turtle, and guinea pig, was definitely the right choice.

I am all frantic, and my boss Robbi is almost chuckling as I outstretch my arms to show how long the Iguana was. She laughed, that is, until I explained that it had slithered from under my chair straight into HER office. She let out a secondary audible alert causing Phillip to drop his raffle tickets and lose count... again. I assured her that in a moment of clarity after the sighting, I had moved her Louis Vuitton carry-on bag (which she refers to as a purse) to the top of her desk. The relief shone immediately in her face as she opened another praline.

At this time, I decided it was best that I stay in the conference room to continue showing them how huge the creature is, trying to think of what it is called, knowing the Crocodile is its closest relative. All of a sudden, we hear Dave call from Robbi's office, "Crikey, I got it!" Realizing the coast was clear, Patrick got down from the top of the conference table.

Now, this is where the story gets slightly fuzzy.

Whatever Dave did when he grabbed the reptile with his bare hand... (Oh yes, he did.)... Anyway, whatever he did when he picked it up must have caused it to instantly shrink to less than half the size it was when I first saw it. It must be a defense mechanism used by larger species of Iguanas, causing them to shrink when they know they are caught. This allows them to appear smaller and less filling to prey. I mean, when Dave rounded the corner, pinched between his thumb and pointer was this little, brown... lizard. (With a smirk on its face.)

After a feeble attempt at maintaining composure, my team members busted out laughing at me. Martie even went as far as to say, "Awwwww, look Melissa, he's cuuuuute... " I was a tad embarrassed and I don't embarrass easily. But, with the evidence in Dave's hand, it seemed apparent that I had completely spazzed. That day, the Tall Tale of the Recruiting Reptile was born. Each time I re-told the story, the initial Iguana had grown larger and larger in my mind's eye. Funny, each time an HR team member re-told the story, the emerging lizard was smaller and smaller in his or her mind's eye...

So, Tuesday, upon arrival at Harcourt, Jack Everett, who had since heard the Tall Tale of the Recruiting Reptile many times, quickly asked, "Momma, where's the Black Anaconda that was under your chair?" ... Kids, they have such vivid imaginations...

On our way out, we pass the garden and who appears?? None other than the actual Iguana from that infamous day. No lie. I could tell by the sly look of recognition he gave me when he slithered by: It was him. With first-time-Mom speed, I grabbed my ever-handy digital camera just in time to snap this photo evidence before he disappeared into the dense foliage.


This photo eliminates any doubt surrounding the Iguana's size. As is common with Lochness and BigFoot sighting photos, it is often difficult to show scale. Luckily, in this photo, the Palm Tree leaves in the foreground can be used for perspective.

MBG

Trip to Houston for 3 birthdays!

We arrived in Houston at Uncle Bob and Aunt Sandy's on Saturday morning.

Just in case Jack had forgotten that he has now turned three about six times, he was included in another birthday celebration this weekend. He shared in a "Good Things Come in THREE's Party" with his Daddy and cousin, Coby.

Los tres Amigos

Coby's 23! Jack's 3! Jeff's 35!

Aunt Tiff and Uncle Trey got him "Elefun," an elephant with a fan inside that blows little butterflies out of the long trunk.

The kiddos try to catch the butterflies in their little nets.

"Guess who's awesome? ME!"

Deanna shows Jack her Beanie Baby collection. Guess which one is my favorite?

I love this picture of my Dad (PawPaw) and Jack by the pool.

Sunday afternoon we visit Dad's golf course, Meadowbrook Farms.

Jack calls his shot.

Mommy lines up a chip shot with the Junior Iron. What a swing!

Jack the Trick Golfer lines up a skill shot.

He loved riding in the cart with PawPaw.

PawPaw and Jack (holding his golf bag) in front of the clubhouse.

Evander "Trey" Holyfield in the boxing ring on the Wii. It's a new gaming system where the white "remotes" actually control the tennis racquet, golf club, bowling ball, boxing gloves, etc. It gets you off the couch and up in the living room so everyone can laugh at you.

Later that night, Trey and I (in pajamas) lost gracefully to Jeff and Tiff at doubles' tennis. I was a total spaz. You can tell that I kept forgetting that you don't actually have to stand in the "ready position" the whole time. They would all laugh as you could see my player swinging and diving even when the ball was nowhere near her. Jeff actually complained the next night of Tennis elbow, and I have to admit, my thighs were a little sore! Wii are really getting old.

To see all the pics from this fun trip, click here: http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=s5k5l03.amhtj1yf&Uy=ntgf6p&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&UV=551523466703_640096785207

San Antonio Children's Museum

Jack and some of his little friends went to the San Antonio Children's Museum last Tuesday, where they got to explore two entire floors of fun and learning. They explored the museum and had fun looking in huge mirrors, milking cows, getting inside a huge bubble, dressing up, finding fossils in the sand, watching fish in the aquarium, working kid-sized bulldozers, and pretend cooking and eating - they had a blast. There was a little dentist office and Brandi's son Carson (2) decided to use the disgusting huge play toothbrush in his own mouth instead of on the oversized mouth model. Yuck! Alli and Jack had a blast together, while TJ and Carson just enjoyed getting to run free and explore.

I had to steal Julie's funny caption to this picture: "Jack and Alli in their cow-milking costumes. The lesson of the day is that dairy farmers actually dress like cows while milking cows - who knew?"

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"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the cutest of them all? Alli Jean!"

Jack sitting in the coals while Alli operates the bulldozer.

The main lowlight of the day was Jack and his inability to find his way to the potty. When we got there, we raced to the bathroom and he hopped up onto the toilet seat a second too late, peeing all over his shorts and sandals. Poor guy. He assured me, "This was just an ackident." So, I changed him into jean shorts #2. Same shirt. Try to keep up.

Jack peeks out of an old log cabin.

Jack pretending to sleep in the cabin... (Mommy hoping he does not pee in the cabin.)

Then, not an hour later, the kids are gathered around a sandbox using paintbrushes to brush away sand to reveal fossils. Jack is enthralled and all of a sudden I hear splashing. "Momma, I went peepee right here." He is standing in a puddle in the middle of the museum. After calling for museum staff and making him give his now-standard apology, "I sorry I peepee in yo store," we changed into shirt #2, shorts #3.

Jack and Alli keep playing, while the museum worker and I perform "Cleanup in the Fossil exhibit."

Snacks for Carson (2), Alli (2), TJ (1), and Jack (3)

So, we decide to take them to Chili's because we are gluttons for punishment. He falls asleep on the drive from the museum to the restaurant, and is totally cranky when I get him out of the car. However, we Mommies are determined to have an afternoon out. I am sure the hostess was thrilled when I said, "3 adults, 4 high chairs." Just as I say this, I hear that oh-so-familiar-infamous splashing sound. I look down and Jack has created a nice puddle in the waiting area at Chili's.

I could not believe it. After, "I sorry I pee pee in yo store." yadda yadda, I took him outside to the "Emergency Kit" where there is one last extra outfit. In the parking lot (100 degrees), I then change him into shirt #3 and shorts #4, no underwear, and he goes commando back into Chili's for Momma to have some dad gum queso with the girls. He thought it was so funny to be at a "restawont" with no undies on.

When we left, (the kids were actually really well-behaved during the meal, all things considered), Julie dug around in the floorboard of her car and found me a Pullup of Alli's that must have fallen out of her bag - thank goodness!

So, Jack fell asleep in the car on the way home in his pink Dora the Explorer Pullup, and drifted off with thoughts of Teddy Bear clouds and sweet dreams of a fun-filled day at the museum.

Playgroup takes on Sea World!

Last Tuesday morning, we loaded up and took our playgroup on the road to Sea World. The gang's all here!

Left to right: Jack Everett (3) , Lawton (3), Grant (1), Alli Jean (2), and T.J. (1). Lawton's big brother, Johnathon (12), came along too and was a huge help! They were all SO good the entire day. We are so thankful that they are all so well-behaved... it could've been crazy with five kids 3 and under!

Even the little guys had so much fun!
(Grant, mom Laura, and T.J.)

Jack especially loved feeding the dolphins.

Jack, Alli Jean, and Lawton. None of them are so sure about posing with the penguin.

When I was taking this picture, the penguin came up behind me, making Jack really smile.

Grant looks in on the Sea Lions!
After lunch, we hit the water park.

Julie tries to wrangle T.J. for one pose! He and Jack share the same birthday - he turned one on August the 2nd!

Alli Jean having fun cooling off!

Here's Jack in his lifejacket.

Lawton Marie jumping in the air - ponytail straight up!

What a fun play date!

Sea World with the Cottrells

When Kim moved to Austin this summer, she bought season passes to Sea World San Antonio for her and all four kiddos. I knew she was the type of Mom who would load the kiddos into the Honda Odyssey on a whim, swing by and pick us up, and use those passes all summer long. That's just what we did! Here are a few pics...

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Jack in the stroller; Kristen, Alli, Logan, and Hunter.

Shamu smiles for a close-up!

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Hard to believe I babysat Kristen and Alli when they were two and three years old.

Hangin' with the boys... Jack, Logan, and Hunter

Alli, Hunter, Logan, Jack, and Kristen

Pooped after a long day...

To see all 81 photos from Sea World this summer... click here: http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=s5k5l03.9ct9qgo7&Uy=-qgc6ca&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0