Charly’s Annual Christmas Letter THE WEB SITE!

Those of you only interested in an “overview” of my past year can simply browse this page
– it’s an “Outline” – without having to slog-through any silly details.
(Obviously, you can change your mind at any point! LOL)

Those of you who want to SEE PIX, or learn more about any bit o’ NEWZ mentioned in the “Outline,” can work your way through this “letter” by visiting other pages along the way. (Any TEXT that is underlined, and magenta-colored, is a “LINK” to another “page.”)

Almost every Christmas Letter I’ve evah written has contained nothing but “Happy-Peppy-Chuck-Chit!” Primarily because, both myself and my Fandamily have been inordinately-blessed with Good Fortune throughout the years. Hence, while writing my Christmas Letter in previous years, I’ve suffered “Good-Fortune-Guilt!”

WELL, NOT THIS YEAR!!!

Tons o’ Really Crappy Things (RCTs ) have happened to our Fandamily in 2000.
However, I find myself entirely unable to be “sad,” unable to WHINE about all the RCTs, because so many WONDERFUL things have also happened. Additionally, the RCTs we’ve “suffered” are
“PIDDLEY-A$$-CHIT” compared to what OTHERS have endured!!!

So, although I do NOT have “Good-Fortune-Guilt” this year, I’m still terrifically Happy-Peppy! And terrifically thankful that our RCTs weren’t way worse.

DECEMBER, 1999

After writing and sending last year’s letter, my Dad (Ray) ended up requiring an Emergency-Pacemaker-Implantation a few days before Christmas. We’re enormously thankful that the problem was corrected before he suffered any kind of disabling-event. Although the procedure screwed-up Mom & Dad’s ability to ring-in the Millennium New Year in Texas with the rest of us (Dad couldn’t travel), everyone is thrilled that Ray’s Got Rhythm again! (Not to mention, an appropriate flippin’ RATE!)

JANUARY, 2000

Everyone but Mom & Dad (and Kim’s husband, KC) descended upon Steve & Jodi’s home to spend the Millennium New Year in Houston, Texas. WOW. What a fun celebration! [I just finally found the PIX taken during that trip. So, this one of Jodi & Steve is the only one scanned & posted – YET!] I traveled to Wichita, Kansas, to give my first “Expert Witness Deposition” for a restraint asphyxia case. Kim’s (my sister’s) “business partner” started exhibiting signs of being a huge B!&@#!! Lying, cheating, stealing clients – stuff like that. She got even worse throughout the year.

FEBRUARY, 2000

Not a dang thing of “interest” happened in February! So, I’ll mention my TEACHING history for 2000 here: I taught a bunch! Mostly in Nebraska-communities. On the “National” level, I taught in New Mexico, Missouri (two different places/ two different times), Lake Okaboji (Iowa), and Montana. BTW: Been to MY Web Site Lately?

MARCH, 2000

My precious “Suni” was killed by a car on March 22nd. Suni’s Pix Page Hence, all of us became INDOOR-ONLY DWELLERS!!! Anticipating disgruntlement (I can’t believe the spell-checker accepted that word!) about being stuck inside, I built The Amazing “Indoor Gym” & Enclosed Outdoor “Kat Habitat.” (I may be a FREAK, but, I’m a talented FREAK! LOL)

APRIL, 2000

Mom & Dad & I attended Travis’ performance as “The Big Bopper” in Des Moines, Iowa. [For those of you who know him, Check out Travis’ Tour Schedule and Pix.] When “The Buddy Holly Story” is finally made into a major motion picture, Travis is being seriously-considered for the Big Bopper’s role! Kim turned the big Four-Oh. (No sad face here! LOL)

MAY, 2000

• The Miller Family Web Site was “born” this month! I think it’s a great way to share photos and information with the whole Fandamily, and all our friends.

“Luper” (Guadalupe) – my oldest (being 13) – suffered either a seizure or some sort of CVA. Thankfully, this event has not been repeated! I’ve since developed the theory that she must have whacked her head on the indoor gym (causing the event). She’s been perfectly healthy since! (Hence, no sad-face here!) My new Baby Boy came to live with us on May 21st! Check out Jean Pierre Rampal’s Pages to learn how he got his name, and what he looks like. OH, yeah. Sometime this past year, I built Drew’s Web Site! With all his campaigning and business NEWZ, it’s a lot to manage! LOL

OH, OH! Kim and I and friends attended a local Renaissance Faire at the “James Arthur Vineyard” on the 20th. Although it’s the smallest Ren-Faire I’ve ever attended, it was the MOST FUN I’ve ever had at one! James Arthur Vineyard’s Ren-Faire Pix [Calling all Wenches to attend in 2001!!! Email me if you want to be included!!! I’m working on getting The Wenches a Discount (or Free-Bee) on JAV WINE if we agree to be there for the whole gig!)]

JUNE, 2000

My niece, Jennii, graduated from Lincoln East High School. Jennii’s class of 2000 Graduation Photos Several Nebraska Wenches attended The Council Bluffs, Iowa, Renaissance Faire. Steve’s wallet was stolen (pick-pocketed) while he was waiting for a flight in the St. Louis airport. (About $500 in cash, ID, credit cards … you get the picture!) Sylvie, my Medical Miracle (she survived Hepatic Lipidosis – usually a Death Sentence for Katz – when we lived in Denver), was diagnosed with DIABETES. We took her off of the monthly DepoMedrol shots she was getting for her ASTHMA (something she developed in Nebraska, and the treatment that CAUSED her diabetes), and started her on Insulin injections once a day.

JULY, 2000

I enjoyed (yeah, RIGHT) my first Trial-Appearance as an “Expert Witness” for a restraint asphyxia case. The 29th marked Axel as having been missing for an Entire YEAR. So, I guess I’m forced to consider him DEAD now. Axel’s Page. Sylvie’s Insulin injections were increased to twice-a-day. Serious problems with Kim’s “partner” increased … So, we began plans for developing an entirely new business (& location) for her. Unfortunately, she’s “tied” to a lease with the B!&@# until the end of August, 2001, unless we can free her from same before then.

AUGUST, 2000

Drew’s (the oldest of my two baby brothers), University of Nebraska Regent reelection campaign was significantly undermined by some rich dude’s “lark” decision to run against him for the UNPAID position. Hence, we were forced to participate in several parades and spend an incredible amount of time and effort fussing with sign-building and leafleting to support his attempt to defeat his opponent’s money and “name-recognition.” (I am SOOOOO tempted to put a sad-face here! I’ll get over it.) OH, Wow! The Kat Habitat Ga-RREW and EXPANDED to include an Outdoor Gym and a “Kocktail Korner” on the deck! (Waaa-aaay Too much fun!)

SEPTEMBER, 2000

Mom & Dad celebrated their 45th Wedding Anniversary on September 9th, 2000! Dottie, Itchy, Steve & I met them in Southbend, Indiana to PAR-TAY!! (They also attended the Notre Dame vs. Nebraska game.) Sylvie had a horrendous Hypoglycemic Event (nearly died!) at 3am on the 12th. Then, had another one on the 14th. Subsequent to THAT, we finally figured out that her DIABETES had been TRANSIENT!!! (Hence, no sad face for these events!) Once she’d been off of the Depo-shots for a couple of months, her pancreas kicked back in! Kim found a fabulous location for her new business. Unfortunately, her B!&@# Ex-Partner is continuing to Sca-Rew with her: sabotages all her efforts to get someone else to assume her responsibilities at the old location! So, Kim’s been having to pay rent at TWO places since the end of September!!! Thankfully, her new business is growing in leaps and bounds. With the help of Jodi’s brother (an attorney), we hope to have Kim free soon (and possibly recoup some of the $$ the B!&@# has cost her).

OCTOBER, 2000

I turned 44 on the 4th. (Whoppie!) At left is a pic of Steve, Dad & Kim putting up a “small” sign. Steve flew to NE for a couple days to help us put up the very big (some were HUGE) signs all over Southeastern NE, for Drew’s desperate campaign efforts. It was a terrific amount of work, but Steve made it a truly FUN trip! We had to skip the KC Ren-Fest this year (none of us had any MONEY, nor the time to go). BUT, I flew to Houston to visit Steve’s Fandamily & Attend the Tex-Ren-Fest Again! OH! SOOoooo much FUN! I’m going again Next Year – & EVERY Year! (You should JOIN ME!!!) SIDE TRIP!!! Pix o’ my Nieces & Nephews! Check out these Kidz! (This is the only Side Trip with a link BACK to this page!)

At Right is Kim and her New partner, JACKI, whom I first met at the JAV Ren-Fest! (Where this pic was taken.) Jacki’s a Reiki Therapist and a Fantabulous Person. Go to KIM’s Brand New Web Site to learn more about Jacki & Kim’s Biz, to learn more about this Dynamic Duo, and to learn whathehell “Reiki” is!!!

NOVEMBER, 2000

On November 3rd, I flew to Oklahoma for my second “Expert Witness” deposition for a restraint asphyxia litigation. (BTW: These depositions occur AFTER I’ve spent 50 to 60 hours reviewing tons of material and writing an “Expert Witness Report” for each case! Thankfully, the money’s pretty dang gude!) On November 7th, Drew DEFEATED the Scum-Bag-Money-Dude, and was REELECTED as a University of Nebraska Regent!!! A huge (and hard-won) VICTORY! Ten days later, on November 17th (Pat’s birthday), Drew and Annbeth’s HOME BURNED TO THE GROUND – completely destroyed!!! Blessedly, all humans escaped injury. Anna’s parents, Mary & Wes, happened to be visiting – sleeping in the room closest to the fire’s onset. One of their three dogs, Ollie, was lost in the fire. Drew & the Annas’ FIRE INFO & More PIX The response to their loss was … well, “AMAZING” comes close, but doesn’t adequately describe it. Friends and Strangers rallied within only a couple hours, offering them every assistance imaginable. The entire experience was truly incredible. Steve flew in from TX on the day of the fire. Thus, all four sibling-units were united in dealing with the immediate aftermath. Next day, Steve drove Mary & Wes back to their Big Springs, Texas, home. (Wes’ glasses were lost. So, even if he’d been emotionally able to drive, he couldn’t SEE to drive!) A few days later, Steve and his entire Fandamily drove back to NE, so that we could ALL be together on Thanksgiving.

Drew, the Annas, and Shout (their dog). An Omaha World Herald Pic o’ Drew’s House Burning Down!

DECEMBER, 2000

Jodi’s TX-mas 1999 Jose Quervo Tree! (Jodi is one of the MOST CREATIVE individuals on the PLANET!)

Early in December, Steve’s Ford Explorer was STOLEN while parked outside his office!!! With it, his lap-top computer (and all the unbackedup files therein) was stolen, his cell phone … his wallet, cash, ID and charge cards (AGAIN!) … his leather jacket … many CDs .. his CAMCORDER … and several other items. (JEEZE) Later in December, after several WEEKS of ignoring his lower back pain, Steve FINALLY DRAGGED HIS MISERABLE A$$ — er … Steve got an MRI. Oh, surpriZe. He had somehow subluxed and extruded a couple of intervertebral disks (between his lowest Lumbar disks and his Sacrum), also managing to crack-off a BONE SPLINTER, which was grinding around and about in his lower spine!!! Steve’s neurosurgery was accomplished on December 18th, and he was discharged from the hospital the next day. Although still in an awful lot of pain at this writing (December 21st), and forced to be pretty-much IMMOBILE for a week or more, Steve’s slowly – but SURELY – recovering! Our entire Fandamily – Mom & Dad & even KC – will trek to Steve & Jodi’s Houston home right after Christmas Day, to celebrate Y2001 with them (and to enjoy their hot tub)!!!

JANUARY, 2001
My Resolutions For The New Year!

• I will accomplish the rewrites needed for the next edition of my Paramedic Self-Test book in January & February, come hellorhighH2O!!!
  [I’ve been putting them off (working on Fandamily stuff) since SEPTEMBER.]

• The first couple weeks of Jan, however, I have to develop a Restraint program to “audition” for a Toronto educator’s conference! Yes! I may be going “International” (finally), in 2001.
  Be afraid. Be very afraid.

• I will NOT work on any more projects for Fandamily members, nor work on any more Restraint Asphyxia articles, until I get my rewrites done!

  (Obviously, this Entire Section is primarily for the BRADY Bunch! LOL.)

That’s IT, Folkz!!!

Hence, Our Fandamily remains inordinately BLESSED by Fortune (in spite of all its twists and turns), and Enormously THANKFUL for being alive and reasonably healthy!!!

UNTIL 2001’s LETTER (be still your beating heart!) BSK, CHAS!!!

If you have suggestions for my X-MAS LETTER Web Site
(or The Miller Family Web Site)
OR You Just WANT to EMAIL Me
– WebMistress Chas!
c-d-miller@neb.rr.com
That’s: c-d-miller@neb.rr.com –
and those are now hyphens/dashes
(instead of the “old” underline marks)
between the “c” and “d” and “miller”