Robert Witham

Terri in Schuylerville NY with the Hudson River in the Background

It’s official. My bald beauty, she who has been granted exclusing access to my hairless harem by none other than yours truly, is quickly becoming something of a local celebrity.

The Post Star interviewed Terri and Arlene (Mom Rozell) about their experiences recently. The articles are in the Post Star today - front page of the Arts and Living section. The articles, sans an awesome photograph, are also available online at the Post Star website. I have had my public disagreements with the Post Star over editorial and journalistic quality but Meg Hagerty did a great job with this interview (thanks Meg!). Derek Pruitt was the photographer. Derek took a fantastic photo of Terri and her mother that in included in full color in the article. Interestingly enough, Derek is a native Montanan who was born and raised two hours from Billings. He only moved the NY a few years ago. Terri has been quite encouraged by how small the world is as she keeps meeting people who are from Montana or regularly visit Montana to see relatives. This is somewhat significant since the entire State of Montana has a population less than the Albany metro and only about half the population of Manhattan.

• Uniting the Fight
• Heredity is Strong Risk Factor for Disease

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Catalog

The official 2008 Bible Adventures catalog of Gospel Music CDs is here! This digital brochure details each of the Gospel music CDs currently available along with sample audio tracks so you can listen online.

Contents include:

• Country Gospel by Jay Witham
• The Best of Cal & Jay Witham by The Witham Family
• Songs of the Old Country Church by The Witham Family
• That’s How the Yodel was Born by Dusty Cal Witham

These CDs are also available for mail order from Bible Adventures.

This e-catalog was produced using the new YUDU website. Visit YUDU to learn how you can produce impressive digital editions like this catalog.

Rocco Baldelli, playing with the Tampa Bay Rays, completed a very significant game this week. Baldelli has been struggling with the recent diagnosis of a metabolic mitochondrial disorder. The Rays have been patient while Baldelli underwent therapy and began taking a cocktail of medications in an attempt to alleviate the muscle cramping and severe fatigue he was suddenly experiencing.

Mitochondrial Disease is very close to home for my family. I had two nephews die of metabolic mitochondrial disorders. (Both boys were born to my sister, Bethany Witham, and Brian Buell.) Dominick Warren Buell died before birth and was born on February 21, 2003 (he shares a birthday with Grandma). Kain Gregory Buell, born August 9, 2004, died several weeks later on September 2, 2004. Kain (affectionately known as “Little Bull” in honor of his father) was sent home from the hospital appearing to be in good health but quickly became ill. Kain spent too much of his short life in a neonatal intensive care unit at the children’s hospital.

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In honor of Patriot Day 2008 I decided to compile a small tribute to my oldest son, Jonathan. Jonathan is currently serving his country on active duty with the Montana Army National Guard.

I have put together a multimedia presentation that is hosted on Yudu. Yudu is an impressive new digital publication service. The entire presentation is available by following this link:

PFC Jonathan Witham Army Training Collage

Note: Those poor souls with dial-up Internet connections will need to be patient as the pages may take a few few minutes to load.

Comments

Bethany Witham - 11 September 2008

We are so proud of Jonathan! Great Job on the Tribute Rob! Love, Bethany, Rachel, and Bailey O’Vera

Rachel staffing the 50/50 table

Tonight was the benefit dinner and comedy show that my little sister, Bethany, planned for Terri. The evening was quite an event. Terri rested all day so she would be able to attend most of the event. The chicken barbecue dinner was followed by two comedians Bethany has worked with in the past.

To even begin thanking all of the people who generously gave of their time, money and resources to make tonight a success is an impossible task. If any of you are reading this little post, we extend our sincerest thanks. We know we will never be able to thank each of you individually.

Several times lately we have asked ourselves how you begin to thank people when “thank you” is nowhere near enough. We still have not decided on the answer to that question… In the meantime we continue to say “thank you” while hoping and praying that God showers blessings on those who have blessed us so much. We only hope that we will be able to participate in blessing others in the same way in the soon and coming future.

Thank You

My football hero finally progressed from Little Guy Football to the school league. Jake made it all the way to his second eighth grade football practice before being benched with an injury. Of course, in good 21st century fashion, he advised his dad of the injury by mobile phone text message. To be specific he told me that he “fractured the base of his fifth metatarsal” during football practice. I found that quite entertaining and suitable payback from the kid who last year posted a comment on my blog advising me that I use too many big words! Jake made me stop and think with that text message let me tell you…

My Football Hero

So Jake is out of football for the season before the season started. According to the way Jake told the story he was backpedaling across the field and fell. I told him that his story would never do and we needed to spice things up a bit. He had a great opportunity for some attention here and falling down on his own just didn’t cut it. Then Jake clued me in that there was a hole in the field. That was all the help I needed… My version of Jake’s injury goes like this.

One of the grounds maintenance guys had too much to drink the night before and took the mower out for a spin at midnight. As a result of the inebriated maintenance worker doing donuts in the middle of the football field at midnight there was a surface irregularity that was undetected during pre-practice inspection. Jacob, my football hero, had the misfortune of stepping into the afore-mentioned surface irregularity while making the play that single-handedly would have won the scrimmage for his teammates. The resulting strain of stepping in the inexcusably heretofore undetected surface irregularity caused a fracture at the base of Jacob’s fifth metatarsal.

Jacob, being the modest young hero that he is, declined to accurately relate his heroic play and the subsequent undeserved assault on his fifth metatarsal. Jacob preferred modesty and simply told people that he fell down. Fortunately for Jacob his Dad is a writer with a bit of imagination. Even though I can’t prove and of what I just said I think the story has a nice ring to it. So that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Comments

Bethany Witham - 08 September 2008

I hope Jacob likes your story as much as we did! Great write Up!!!

We have been amazed at the level of community support for Terri over the past month. Many different people have lent their support and efforts to help out during this time. My little sister, Bethany, is planning a benefit dinner on Terri’s behalf. Posters are up all over Washington County and press releases have run in the local newspapers. I thought the least I could do was to provide the information here as well. The press release information is included below.

I figure if Bethany ever wants to retire from the DA’s office she can start an event planning business for herself!

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PFC Witham in AIT

Jonathan is working with the Army National Guard recruiters though the end of September. He is working on their Special Event Team and traveling throughout the state. This week he they are at the Montana State Fair in Billings. During September they will be visiting high schools throughout Montana.

Jonathan made sure I understand that he is not a recruiter - he is just assisting the recruiters. I promised him that I would not overstate his involvement too much. Fathers simply must maintain the prerogative to brag at least a little bit…

On another news note, Jonathan will be starting college in September at Montana State University, Billings. He will be starting on a General Studies degree while he decides which major he wants to pursue.

Mr. "Eat, Sleep and Breathe" ESPN

Joshua should be boarding a plane at this moment (0930 EST) on his way to sunny, southern California (Cali as he says). He is traveling to Cali with his high school cheer team for a cheer camp. They will spend the next week in California with a stop at ESPNZone on his birthday. ESPNZone, in his opinion, is the best birthday present he could have this year. As he puts it, “I eat, sleep and breathe sports.”

I told him I am envious of his travels. He is trying to surpass my travels I think. I still have yet to make it to California or Nevada. Joshua went to both last summer, Alaska two weeks ago (another of my dream destinations), and now is flying to Cali for his second trip. When I was his age I never dreamed of traveling that much!

One of my early photographic efforts

My little sister, Bethany, was kind enough to make a chicken soup for us yesterday. We are all busy trying to figure out when she learned to cook - but she did quite a job on the soup yesterday. And that is no small credit for I am like the soup king!

Terri was able to drink a cup of broth but could not handle actual food (like chicken and carrots). At this point I am glad for whatever I can get into her. She is going to try some more for lunch today. She did eat four grapes and one third of a banana for breakfast. Big meal!

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