THANK YOU LINDSAY

Hello All,

Since I wrapped up our tornado response deployment in central Illinois, I have been traveling around Siberia.  And by Siberia, I mean the upper midwest, where temperatures have resembled what we can expect during the next ice age.

In much more exciting news, a few weeks ago a beautiful woman named Lindsay came from Chicago to volunteer on my tornado response team.  After a calendar year of Dan and me endlessly forced to stare at each other on job sites all around the country, I think we both thought Lindsay was a mirage when she showed up one morning to work with us.

I think I must have blacked out shortly after she arrived.  (pretty women and condiments are two things that have been known to make me faint)  At the end of our day in the field, I miraculously had an invitation to go up to Chicago to visit Lindsay and check out the city!  I don’t think she had any idea what she was getting herself into.  After all, I’m the guy who has no idea why I keep finding two forks next to my dinner plate, and the last time I had on a matching outfit was when my mother dressed me for my baptism in 1983. 

My time in Chicago over this past month has been wonderful.  Lindsay has taken me to do more activities than the guys from Step Brothers could ever dream of.  Theatres, and concerts, and dinners, and art etc.  You spoiled me big time!  Thank you for opening my eyes to things other than college football and the kids menu at Applebees.

All kidding aside, it's not every day that I'm lucky enough to meet someone that serves as an example for how I want to live.  You combine such hard work with hard play, and are incredibly loyal to your family and friends.  It's inspiring stuff.  Thanks for giving this earth wondering nucklehead the time of day.  You are good peoples.

Mark/Chops

PS. I just finished my 1,500+ mile journey from Minneapolis to Boston for the holidays.  I capped off the road trip by hanging out with some great friends and watching Clemson Crew's very own Adam Langlois perform as a stand up comic.  He is incredibly talented and is quickly taking Boston by storm with his jokes and devilish good looks.  I'm proud of you sir.  Keep it up! 

Check him out (maybe NSFW)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUQZC8_f-L4

PPS.. Thanks LK for taking the time.  You are a good friend.

Merry Christmas!

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days

LUNCH WITH MS LINDSAY. REST ASSURED THAT SALAD ISN'T MINE.

IF I ONLY HAD $1 FOR EVERY TIME I GOT THIS LOOK FROM SOMEONE

NOT SURE I AM DOING ANYTHING OTHER THAN MAKING LAURA UNCOMFORTABLE.  THERE IS A BABY IN THERE! 

BRAVING ARCTIC TEMPERATURES DURING OUR LAST WEEK OF TORNADO RESPONSE IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS

MET UP WITH DR. KATIE PERKINS DURING A PITSTOP AT MILE 1,050 OF MY ROADTRIP TO BOSTON!

CLEMSON CREW TEAM REUNION AT PLYMOUTH ROCK!  GREAT GROUP OF GUYS.  WE LOOK LIKE WEREWOLVES.  

GREAT PEOPLE. GREAT WORK.

Hello All,

For the last few weeks I have been busy with our tornado response team that is fully engaged in Washington, Illinois.  It is estimated that last months storms left behind close to 2,500 damaged homes, with a great deal of them, perhaps 1,000, completely destroyed. 

On Thanksgiving, I had a father and his 10 year old son drive up to the homesite I was working at in the middle of all the carnage.  The two of them were complete strangers to me.  There wasn't another soul in site.  They rolled down the window and asked me if I was hungry.  The next thing I knew, they brought Thanksgiving dinner right to my work site.  Including all the fixings!  It was surreal, unreal, and heartwarming.  It was a Thanksgiving I will never ever forget. 

Finally, just yesterday my good pal Frank came down from Chicago.  He brought along with him two of his incredible coworkers, Lindsay and Trent, to join forces with our response team here in Washington.  This turned into one of those days/memories that I will hang my hat on for years to come.  Great people. Great work.  Great time.  All in an effort to help a community recover.  Thanks for everything Frank, Lindsay, Trent, and Sam Adams!  You all were rockstars!

 If we can get lucky and hold off that midwest winter and its snow a bit longer, we will continue our efforts here in Washington.  Wish us luck!

Mark/Chops

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days

WASHINGTON, ILLINOIS SHORTLY AFTER THE F4 TORNADO HIT

DAY ONE OF DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS

THANKSGIVING MORNING ABOUT TO SEARCH THROUGH DEBRIS FOR MEMORIES

CAUGHT UP WITH MY PAL MIKE FOR A FEW HOURS ON THANKSGIVING.  CONGRATS TO YOU AND ASHLEY ON THE ENGAGEMENT AND THANKS FOR HAVING ME OVER!

BOSTON COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL REUNION WITH FRANK.  REPRESENTING THE VERY TOP AND BOTTOM OF OUR CLASS RANKINGS.  I'LL LET YOU GUESS WHICH END I WAS ON

TEAMING UP WITH FRANK TO GUT A HOUSE

TRENT, FRANK, AND LINDSAY FROM SAM ADAMS CAME OUT AND DOMINATED WITH SOME OF OUR REGULARS, JOSH AND IRV!

ONE OF OUR INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS WORKING IN THE BITTER COLD.  FOUND OUR HOMEOWNER'S BAR OF SILVER UNDER THE RUBBLE!

WASHINGTON SWEATSHIRT IMPALED PERFECTLY TO A TREE IN WASHINGTON, ILLINOIS

RUNNING A HUGE CREW OF INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS

FRANK THE TANK WORKING HARD!

TAKING A BREATHER FROM DEMOLITION WITH TRENT!

MS. SAM ADAMS AKA LINDSAY, THE ONE WOMAN WRECKING CREW!