Hello All,
After wrapping up some year end disaster response work, I made my way to the east coast to spend some time with the family for Christmas. I am happy to report that all McGilvery family members survived the holidays!
From there, I made my way south to escape the arctic chill that has been hitting both New England and the upper midwest, where my disaster response team has been headquartered as we continue to bring flood relief to Detroit, Michigan.
After tossing around some ideas, I decided to explore both the east and west coasts of Florida. Aside from rowing there a few times back in college, I really had not seen much of the state. So I caught a flight, rented a car, and hit the Florida coasts for a few weeks.
My time was highlighted by the wonderful opportunity to catch up with some amazing old friends. I took in Sanibel Island with Joe and Katie!! They are two daredevils in their own right and are some of the kindest folks I know. Additionally, I spent a few days with Mr. Richard Bernard. Amazingly ladies, this guy is single! Inquire and I will give you this eligible bachelor's number. We spent some time hitting the waves, and swapping war stories about the numerous times we each have failed to convince an assortment of young ladies to have dinner with us.
I could never forget the day at the beach with the lovely Nicolette, and catching up over dinner with someone I hold very dear to me heart, Andrea Shanley. Bless her, as she had no choice but to be my next door neighbor in Boston for 10+/- years!
Another stop I made was to the Crooks Family Farm. John Ross and I go way back to our days as undergrads in Mobile, Alabama in 2001! Somehow we both survived that first year of college. It was probably a good idea that we each ended up transferring to different schools. We never would have survived four years of shenanigans together.
Anyways, John Ross, his angelic bride Brianne, and their four daughters (each of whom stole a chamber of my heart.. seriously, I no longer have a heart. They took it.) had the blessing/curse of my company for a few days on their farm. I could go on and on about my time here, but I'll simply say this. The Crooks family is so beautiful on the inside and out. If the stars align some day and somehow I am blessed with the opportunity to be a parent (most people reading this just fainted at that thought....), I'd look to Brianne and John Ross as an examples on how to raise a family.
Anyways, Florida was a nice way to escape the depths of winter for a few weeks and take a breather from disaster response. I am now back in action for one final push here in Detroit. We are approaching 300 homes that we have brought free flood relief to as a result of last August's flood. 5+ months and counting here in Detroit! I am very proud of our team here at NECHAMA and am excited to get back to work!
Happy new year to all and I hope all is well.
Mark/Chops
The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days
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| MY PARENTS' BEACH ON CAPE COD. WATER WAS A LITTLE COLD ON CHRISTMAS! |
PLENTY OF STAIRS TO GET UP AND DOWN THE BEACHSIDE CLIFF
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| MY GOLF CLUBS TURNED INTO A CHRISTMAS WREATH! THAT'S NICE WREATH MOM, BUT I STILL WANTED THOSE CLUBS! |
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| OLD MAN PULLING WEEDS IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER |
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| SANIBEL ISLAND, FLORIDA SUNSET |
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| AMELIA AND BRIANNE TAKING ON A PINATA THAT UNCLE MARK BROUGHT FILLED WITH CANDY! |
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| THE CHILDREN RAVAGING THROUGH PINATA CANDY |
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| AMELIA STOLE MY HEART! |
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| CROOKS FAMILY FARM TURKEYS |
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| CROOKS FAMILY AND UNCLE MARK! |
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| CABO IS KEEPING AN EYE ON THE JEEP! |
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| HEADING TO CATCH SOME WAVES WITH RICHARD AND CABO |
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| TEACHING CABO TO SURF AT DELRAY BEACH |
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| DOG SURFING! |
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| FOUND NICOLETTE IN FLORIDA!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| UNWINDING WITH CABO AFTER A DAY OF PADDLEBOARDING |
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| DINNER DATE WITH ANDREA! |
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| CABO KEEPING AN EYE ON THE BOARDS! |
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| KEY WEST, FLORIDA. ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A SUNSET AND A GIRLFRIEND |
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| FLORIDA KEYS SUNSET |
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| MOM AND DAD, SEE, SWIMMING WITH SHARKS IS SAFE |
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| FOUND A TURTLE! BIG FELLA! |
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| FELL IN LOVE WITH THE DOLPHIN AND THE TRAINER. |
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| TWINS |
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SANIBEL ISLAND, FLORIDA WITH JOE AND KATIE!!
CAPERNICUS IS A SMART DOG! LAZY BUT SMART
1 OF APPROXIMATELY 100 FLORIDA PANTHERS LEFT IN THE WORLD! BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL SADLY FACING EXTINCTION |
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| LOOKING RIGHT INTO PYTHON EYES..... THESE WERE HARD TO FIND IN THE EVERGLADES! I LOOKED! |
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| SPRING HILL COLLEGE REUNION WITH DR. JOE KULA |
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BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK, HOMESTEAD FLORIDA. 25 PELICANS FLYING TO THE END OF CIVILIZATION
GRACIE FEEDING CHICKENS AND TURKEYS AS PART OF MORNING CHORES. I ASKED GRACIE TO DANCE WITH ME. SHE SAID NO.
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| CROOKS FAMILY FARMHOUSE |
ALMOST 3YEARS OLD AND MS. AMELIA IS CATCHING CHICKENS! SHE HAD ME WRAPPED AROUND HER FINGER TOO!
THE BRIDGE FROM THE FARMHOUSE TO FIRE PIT ISLAND AND ROPE SWING
FARMS HAVE BARNS. GO FIGURE!
ANIMALS ON THE FARM
UTTER CHAOS TAKING PLACE AND I LOVE IT!
MAE MAE, MS. AMELIA, AND GRACIE LISTENING TO ME BEG TO HAVE THEM CALL ME PRINCE CHARMING. THEY WERE NOT HAVING IT!
LEFT 85* FLORIDA FOR -20* DETROIT. BACK TO WORK!
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