TUMULTUOUS
By Your MFCB Supporter, Jack Strap
I titled this "TUMULTUOUS" because I like that "you gotta buy a vowel from Vanna" word and all its synonyms as per that dude Roget: boisterous, clamorous, disorderly, disturbed, excited, hectic, noisy, passionate, rambunctious, riotous, rowdydowdy (that was a new word for me), unruly, uproarious, vociferous, and wild that could all be used to describe our Miller Year (MY for short).
But before I get into our MY, I'm going to go back to a parody poem I wrote exactly (10) years ago after Hills Hoops Inc. games at the Wyomissing Hills courts noting that HHI will be celebrating (20) years of weekend basketball & comeraderie (another good Word with Friends) in 2012:
Twas The Day Before Christmas
And I Saw Hoopsters On The Hill
There Were 13 Players Total
Including Hillville's Coach Bill
The Teams They Were Picked
By B4R=Q & M2 With Care
They Both Wanted To Win
But Do So, Fair and Square
The Players Were All Bundled
From Their Hats To Their Keds
As Visions Of Game-Winning Dueces
Shucked and Jived In Their Heads
And Swoop With His Goggles
And FUn Frank With His Tassel
They Were Battling In The Paint
But It Was Clean With No Hassle
When Out On The Hills Court
Scott The Shot Was Moving Fast
It Is A Bit Slippery When Wet
So He Fell Hard On His Asst
A Time Out Was Called
To See If Scott Was All Right
He's Tough, So He Kept On Playing
But I Bet It Hurt That Night
The Sun Shined Down On The Court
And Sometimes In Their Eyes
But Nobody Whined Or Complained
They Were Hooping With The Guys
Then To My Wandering Eyes Appeared
A Christmas Red Car Which Pulled In Like A Whip
With A Giant Driver So Dapper & Dandy
I Knew In A Moment, It Must Be Saint Lip
He Quickly Jumped Out
Then Called Them By Name
Now Junior, Now Magnum, Now Boni & Mighty
On Bank'in Bowers, On Scholesy & Wooooo Nelly
There's more to that HHI poem, but in this TUMULTUOUS year this leads me to Glenn's (and many-many others) biggest loss of the year which was when the aforementioned Saint Lip lost his 2-year warrior battle with cancer. Glenn knew John "Lipper" Liptock since the late seventies when they met at Penn State Berks and they were good friends for over 30 years. Lipper lives on in all of our great memories of him which could fill a book, but will just share a couple with you here. One near the end was when his Doctor wanted to check him into the Hospital and he told him he couldn't make it because he had our fantasy football draft. In his very weakened state, he not only made it to the draft, but surprised us by showing up at our pre-draft dinner at The Railroad House (which was also where we surprised him on his 50th Birthday). He was determined to live life to the very end and he did so showing the "Strength of Ten Lippers" (see more on that below).
The other memory I want to share is an excerpt from what I wrote in May 2008 about our American Cancer Society's Relay for Life event which our Team Poletti continues to participate in and this year we've dedicated our fund-raising efforts to our dear friend Lip:
After Midnight we let it all hang out at the Tug-Of-War as a united Team Poletti took on (7) other teams. On the way to the Tug, out of nowhere the Winner of the Silly Hat Contest started trash-talking us that we were "going down" to Reading Hospital who we had defeated for our 2nd Tugging Title the year before. Then we saw their Team and realized they were serious having "recruited" a very bulky & well equipped (most wearing gloves) team that outweighed us at every position including their only women exceeding the combined weight of Lauren & Christine.
After an easy Round 1 win we faced Reading Hospital and they "beat us up" pretty bad forcing us into the Stink'in Loser bracket where we won tug-after-tug before finding ourselves staring at undefeated Reading Hospital & having to defeat them twice for the Tug Title. Then from the peanut gallery, Silly Hat Girl again trash-talked us but Lauren coolly retorted. When the whistle blew we were determined but so were they, the Tug seemed to go on forever but somehow we gutted out a victory led by Young Dominic in the front & Craiger "Magnum Who?" Miller as The Anchor. Our "reward" was to have to do it all again, but in a new paragraph.
By then, Olde School Team Poletti was fatigued & visibly hurting from fingers to backs to shins but our way is to try to win baby--so we did. This was truly a Tug-Of-War that at one point I really started to think was going to last painfully for hours. But then scarily I saw Lipper fall in front of me with Poletti screaming from behind me for him to "Get Up!!!". And "Get Up" Lipper did & it seemed like he did so with the strength of (10) Lippers because when he then pulled we didn't stop until Reading Hospital was across the line & we had the Relay Four (4) Life Tug Title.
We'll never forget that nor that in MY 2011, Penn State events that covered both sides of the TUMULTUOUS spectrum. The TUMULTUOUS synonyms exciting, noisy, and passionate come to mind relating to Da Miller Family's Day Off which you can read that full story below in this very Blog. TUMULTUOUS synonyms disturbed, riotous, and uproarious seem fitting regarding the Sandusky Scandal which has been horrible to hear about. I've been amazed how one deviant and the media (ESPN most prominently) could take down a legendary coach who has done/meant so much for/to PSU and seemingly the entire reputation of the University before due process has even taken place.
Also TUMULTUOUS was our move to York after 19 years in Sinking Spring which was a big change for everyone in the family (people & pets alike). The process of buying a house as well as selling a house (we were able to"enjoy" that with our long-time friend & short-term Realtor Chuck--ask him about the FedEx Story) which still isn't a totally done deal has been roller coasterish. Speaking (typing) of roller coasters, shortly after our July 2 move to York, "we loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly" (i.e. flew to California) "swimming pools and moviestars" (i.e. vacationing in San Francisco and Anaheim). Although cable cars are an inefficient means of transportation, they are fun to ride as were the rides in Disneyland. We also Escaped from Alcatrez to stay at the Grand Californian.
This move brought Glenn much closer to his job which is a blessing after 4 years of long commuting, but created TUMULTUOUS-ness in that regard for the other family units. After working 10 years at Wilson's West Wyomissing Elementary including being a contributor to their great 100% PSSA score, Karen amazingly quickly found a Kindergarten Instructional Assistant position in Central York (i.e. the Wilson of this area) where she really likes the people & is physically/mentally challenged by the kiddies.
Britty is now working 30 hours/week at Central Manor Elementary (very close to her Millersville apartment--yes, she left the nest but thankfully visits it often) where she truly enjoys her work as a Personal Care Assistant. While pursuing her Masters in Psychology, she also continued to work weekends at Viva restaurant until recently taking a leave of absense. Andrew luvs teaching kids to drum as he did before his graduation from Wilson and now has managed to find an entirely new clientele in the York/Lancaster areas while commuting to Millersville in this his freshman year. He has also found area bands/orchestras to continue playing percussion. Also in the category of music, we all saw Weird Al in concert in Lancaster.
Karen & Glenn are very proud to report that Brittany & Andrew just got their Millersville grades including a combined 6 A's & 1 B. Home a lot more than busy Britty & Andrew are Chandler "Big Furry", "Baby" Lola, and Ellie "Little Skinny". An extended family highlight was Brother Jay's IL Crew & a bunch of Millers spending a fun day at Hershey Park, as well as a Phoenixville Family Reunion at Aunt Nancy's house.
And now to the Pictures:
I titled this "TUMULTUOUS" because I like that "you gotta buy a vowel from Vanna" word and all its synonyms as per that dude Roget: boisterous, clamorous, disorderly, disturbed, excited, hectic, noisy, passionate, rambunctious, riotous, rowdydowdy (that was a new word for me), unruly, uproarious, vociferous, and wild that could all be used to describe our Miller Year (MY for short).
But before I get into our MY, I'm going to go back to a parody poem I wrote exactly (10) years ago after Hills Hoops Inc. games at the Wyomissing Hills courts noting that HHI will be celebrating (20) years of weekend basketball & comeraderie (another good Word with Friends) in 2012:
Twas The Day Before Christmas
And I Saw Hoopsters On The Hill
There Were 13 Players Total
Including Hillville's Coach Bill
The Teams They Were Picked
By B4R=Q & M2 With Care
They Both Wanted To Win
But Do So, Fair and Square
The Players Were All Bundled
From Their Hats To Their Keds
As Visions Of Game-Winning Dueces
Shucked and Jived In Their Heads
And Swoop With His Goggles
And FUn Frank With His Tassel
They Were Battling In The Paint
But It Was Clean With No Hassle
When Out On The Hills Court
Scott The Shot Was Moving Fast
It Is A Bit Slippery When Wet
So He Fell Hard On His Asst
A Time Out Was Called
To See If Scott Was All Right
He's Tough, So He Kept On Playing
But I Bet It Hurt That Night
The Sun Shined Down On The Court
And Sometimes In Their Eyes
But Nobody Whined Or Complained
They Were Hooping With The Guys
Then To My Wandering Eyes Appeared
A Christmas Red Car Which Pulled In Like A Whip
With A Giant Driver So Dapper & Dandy
I Knew In A Moment, It Must Be Saint Lip
He Quickly Jumped Out
Then Called Them By Name
Now Junior, Now Magnum, Now Boni & Mighty
On Bank'in Bowers, On Scholesy & Wooooo Nelly
There's more to that HHI poem, but in this TUMULTUOUS year this leads me to Glenn's (and many-many others) biggest loss of the year which was when the aforementioned Saint Lip lost his 2-year warrior battle with cancer. Glenn knew John "Lipper" Liptock since the late seventies when they met at Penn State Berks and they were good friends for over 30 years. Lipper lives on in all of our great memories of him which could fill a book, but will just share a couple with you here. One near the end was when his Doctor wanted to check him into the Hospital and he told him he couldn't make it because he had our fantasy football draft. In his very weakened state, he not only made it to the draft, but surprised us by showing up at our pre-draft dinner at The Railroad House (which was also where we surprised him on his 50th Birthday). He was determined to live life to the very end and he did so showing the "Strength of Ten Lippers" (see more on that below).
The other memory I want to share is an excerpt from what I wrote in May 2008 about our American Cancer Society's Relay for Life event which our Team Poletti continues to participate in and this year we've dedicated our fund-raising efforts to our dear friend Lip:
After Midnight we let it all hang out at the Tug-Of-War as a united Team Poletti took on (7) other teams. On the way to the Tug, out of nowhere the Winner of the Silly Hat Contest started trash-talking us that we were "going down" to Reading Hospital who we had defeated for our 2nd Tugging Title the year before. Then we saw their Team and realized they were serious having "recruited" a very bulky & well equipped (most wearing gloves) team that outweighed us at every position including their only women exceeding the combined weight of Lauren & Christine.
After an easy Round 1 win we faced Reading Hospital and they "beat us up" pretty bad forcing us into the Stink'in Loser bracket where we won tug-after-tug before finding ourselves staring at undefeated Reading Hospital & having to defeat them twice for the Tug Title. Then from the peanut gallery, Silly Hat Girl again trash-talked us but Lauren coolly retorted. When the whistle blew we were determined but so were they, the Tug seemed to go on forever but somehow we gutted out a victory led by Young Dominic in the front & Craiger "Magnum Who?" Miller as The Anchor. Our "reward" was to have to do it all again, but in a new paragraph.
By then, Olde School Team Poletti was fatigued & visibly hurting from fingers to backs to shins but our way is to try to win baby--so we did. This was truly a Tug-Of-War that at one point I really started to think was going to last painfully for hours. But then scarily I saw Lipper fall in front of me with Poletti screaming from behind me for him to "Get Up!!!". And "Get Up" Lipper did & it seemed like he did so with the strength of (10) Lippers because when he then pulled we didn't stop until Reading Hospital was across the line & we had the Relay Four (4) Life Tug Title.
We'll never forget that nor that in MY 2011, Penn State events that covered both sides of the TUMULTUOUS spectrum. The TUMULTUOUS synonyms exciting, noisy, and passionate come to mind relating to Da Miller Family's Day Off which you can read that full story below in this very Blog. TUMULTUOUS synonyms disturbed, riotous, and uproarious seem fitting regarding the Sandusky Scandal which has been horrible to hear about. I've been amazed how one deviant and the media (ESPN most prominently) could take down a legendary coach who has done/meant so much for/to PSU and seemingly the entire reputation of the University before due process has even taken place.
Also TUMULTUOUS was our move to York after 19 years in Sinking Spring which was a big change for everyone in the family (people & pets alike). The process of buying a house as well as selling a house (we were able to"enjoy" that with our long-time friend & short-term Realtor Chuck--ask him about the FedEx Story) which still isn't a totally done deal has been roller coasterish. Speaking (typing) of roller coasters, shortly after our July 2 move to York, "we loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly" (i.e. flew to California) "swimming pools and moviestars" (i.e. vacationing in San Francisco and Anaheim). Although cable cars are an inefficient means of transportation, they are fun to ride as were the rides in Disneyland. We also Escaped from Alcatrez to stay at the Grand Californian.
This move brought Glenn much closer to his job which is a blessing after 4 years of long commuting, but created TUMULTUOUS-ness in that regard for the other family units. After working 10 years at Wilson's West Wyomissing Elementary including being a contributor to their great 100% PSSA score, Karen amazingly quickly found a Kindergarten Instructional Assistant position in Central York (i.e. the Wilson of this area) where she really likes the people & is physically/mentally challenged by the kiddies.
Britty is now working 30 hours/week at Central Manor Elementary (very close to her Millersville apartment--yes, she left the nest but thankfully visits it often) where she truly enjoys her work as a Personal Care Assistant. While pursuing her Masters in Psychology, she also continued to work weekends at Viva restaurant until recently taking a leave of absense. Andrew luvs teaching kids to drum as he did before his graduation from Wilson and now has managed to find an entirely new clientele in the York/Lancaster areas while commuting to Millersville in this his freshman year. He has also found area bands/orchestras to continue playing percussion. Also in the category of music, we all saw Weird Al in concert in Lancaster.
Karen & Glenn are very proud to report that Brittany & Andrew just got their Millersville grades including a combined 6 A's & 1 B. Home a lot more than busy Britty & Andrew are Chandler "Big Furry", "Baby" Lola, and Ellie "Little Skinny". An extended family highlight was Brother Jay's IL Crew & a bunch of Millers spending a fun day at Hershey Park, as well as a Phoenixville Family Reunion at Aunt Nancy's house.
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| Lipper & his Wife-to-be back in the PSU Days |
And now to the Pictures: |
| Hope for a Cure |
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| John Liptock, CPA |
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Relay for Life: Silly Hat Contest
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| New Home in West York |
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| York PA House |
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| Muir Woods |
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| Alcatraz |
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| Penn St. 13 Iowa 3 |
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| San Francisco |
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| Miller's Christmas Card |
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| Disneyland |
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