Manuel Manuscripts 2008 Press Ready

Gene - Becca - Carter– Emmy

December 2008

Manuel Manuscripts GOING GREEN IN 2008 It seems like it was just yesterday that I was enjoying a moment with my father, sitting out on the patio and deep-frying a turkey for Thanksgiving. At the time of this writing it’s actually been two weeks. Time has moved on swiftly and despite my best efforts to conserve resources and lessen the family’s contribution to the local landfill, I was unable to come up with enough creative ways to recycle the leftovers. This year Becca and I are making the effort to be environmentally friendly and decided to publish the annual newsletter in an electronic format. For those of you who have perused the newsletter in the past, you’re familiar with the fact that I can get a bit “wordy” at times. I’m fairly certain my inability to formulate concise sentences has indirectly wiped out a grove of trees. Although we won’t be consuming resources such as ink and paper, we’re making a conscientious effort to stick with the old adage, “Less is more”. We’ve got plenty of news to report this year, including hurricanes, relocations and a few lost teeth. News even continues to roll in as I compose this newsletter, it actually snowed here in Houston the other day. There’s never a dull moment in this household, if the kids aren’t creating havoc, mother nature steps in to fill the void. On a related note, the comic strip “Close To Home” appeared in today’s Houston Chronicle with the strip shown to the right. I can assure you that it was a complete coincidence, despite being so very apropos. We hope you enjoy this year’s update!

The Manuel’s and “Howdy”, the Official Mascot of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE We Are Family............................ 2 Carter Russell—Courage............. 2 Mutton Bustin’ ........................... 3 Astros Fun .................................. 3 I Am Woman .............................. 4 The Hand That Rocks................. 5 When One Door Closes .............. 6

HOLIDAY WISHES! To everyone on the West Coast, we miss you. To everyone who helped us during the tough times this year, thank you. To everyone we shared a laugh with this year, ha! To everyone that we shared tears with, we hope you have found joy. “The light of the Christmas star to you, The warmth of home and hearth to you, The cheer and good will of friends to you, The hope of a childlike heart to you, The joy of a thousand angels to you, The love of the Son and God's peace to you.”

WE ARE FAMILY By Gene Manuel—Overall it turned out to be quite a year for the family. April was particularly busy with Becca’s parents, her sister and her niece moving back from Los Angeles. Logistically it was a bit of a challenge, we had to fly out to LA to help pack things up. Becca , her mom and the kids flew back to Houston while Russ, Vicky and I drove. I certainly gained new respect for truck drivers since I had to drive a 26’, 25,000lb fully laden rental truck towing a 1995 Ford Mustang. Fortunately I had satellite radio, a GPS and God as my co-pilot keeping me company. Bands of clouds from Hurricane Ike moving in just before sundown.

Hurricane Ike made an appearance in September, causing minor damage to my dad’s house and making a general mess of things in the neighborhood. We were very fortunate to have only lost power for a few hours, Becca’s parents stayed with us since the storage facility they were working at was in an evacuation zone. We ended up hosting additional family members from League City who lost power for a few days. Interestingly enough, Becca and I have now been through a number of natural disasters, including earthquakes, tornados, flooding, forest fires, and a hurricane. I received some great news in October from my dad, he and my step mom made plans to move back from Indonesia in November. This, of course meant that we had to find a new place to rent. Thanks to Becca’s friend Lisa we found a great home just a few blocks away from my dad and right next to a lake. Granted, the lake is one of those “sub-division lakes” that doesn’t allow swimming, fishing or boating, but we at least have a great view out the back of the house. Carter’s school bus conveniently stops right in front of the house, ensuring that he never misses the bus (except when he sleeps in!)

Keeping the kids occupied with a portable DVD player during the storm.

The kids handled the transition very well. My new home office has a nice (albeit a very distracting) view of the lake, the kids have a play area and master bedroom has nearly the same square footage as our old apartment in Burbank. We’re short on furniture, most of which we sold or gave away when we moved from California, but the minimalist furnishings seems to suit us well. It just means there are less things for the kids to break!

“Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends.” - Clarence in “It’s a Wonderful Life” CARTER RUSSELL—A PORTRAIT IN COURAGE By Gene Manuel— This year marked Carter’s transition from pre-school to Kindergarten. It’s interesting to see how well he’s adjusted to a full day of school (8am to 4pm) and how he’s adapted to the daily routines. The attention he garners from his personality is somewhat of a challenge for me, I seem to recall being much more reserved at his age. He’s not shy about announcing his presence in a room, and his curiosity knows no boundaries. We’ve been receiving mostly positive reports from his teachers, although there have been the occasional notes and comments about a certain group of friends he used to sit next to (they had to be separated!) Apparently shenanigans ensue when he’s with his buddies, they haven’t been clear on who’s instigating the trouble, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was our boy. We’re fortunate to have him attending a very well organized school district. The school allows parents to have lunch with their children as a reward or to celebrate a special event. I had the opportunity to have lunch with Carter this year and while I was impressed with the lunchroom facilities, I also discovered how popular our boy was. As escorted me to the visitors table, he had teachers and friends saying “Hi Carter”, “How’s it going Carter”, and “Who da’ man, Carter?”, I didn’t realize he was so well known.

“Look Mommy, no tooth!”

2

He certainly has a flair for drama, and maybe this is the reason why he’s so charismatic. Carter lost two teeth this year, coincidentally while doing the same thing. In February we (Continued on page 4)

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MUTTON BUSTIN World Championship Mutton Bustin' is similar to the undertaking it imitates—bull riding. Contestants age 6 years and younger and less than 60 lbs attempt to last 6 seconds on a sheep that's as unpredictable as a bull. The phenomenally successful competition has been consistently viewed as one of the hottest attractions at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Depending on the location, qualifying go-rounds are held multiple times daily. Each go-round winner is invited back to the Championship finale held during the last day of each fair. Contestants compete for prizes and the bragging rights of being a World Champion Mutton Buster.

“I want an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle!” -Ralphie Parker in “A Christmas Story” HOUSTON ASTROS Franchise Facts Established - 1962 Postseason/Titles NL Pennants 2005 Central Division Titles 2001 • 1999 • 1998 • 1997 West Division titles 1986 • 1980 Wild card berths 2005 • 2004 Nicknames Houston Astros (1965-present) Houston Colt .45s (1962-1964)

3

HOLIDAY SPECIALS [Mr. Parker reads a side of the box with the prize that he won] Mr. Parker: Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian. Mrs. Parker: Uh, I think that says FRAGILE, dear. Mr. Parker: Oh, yeah. (A Christmas Story)

Lucy Van Pelt: I know how you feel about all this Christmas business, getting depressed and all that. It happens to me every year. I never get what I really want. I always get a lot of stupid toys or a bicycle or clothes or something like that. Charlie Brown: What is it you want? Lucy Van Pelt: Real estate. (A Charlie Brown Christmas)

(Continued from page 2) were having dinner at an establishment known for its chicken wings (among other things). Well, that particular night he bit into a wing, stopped and looked at me and said “Daddy, my tooth fell out!”. Sure enough, there was a little tooth embedded in the chicken. Becca took him to the bathroom to check things out, and he made sure every waitress in the restaurant knew that he lost his first tooth. A month and a half later, we were at home having (you guessed it) chicken wings and wouldn’t you know it, he lost another tooth! His love for chicken wings hasn’t diminished, but he approaches them with caution thinking that he’s going to lose another tooth. The tooth saga wasn’t the only trauma he faced this year. After experiencing several bouts of strep throat (which he passed on to me), his doctor recommended having his tonsils removed. He went through a tonsillectomy at Texas Children’s Hospital and went through the whole procedure like a champ. I suspect he did so well knowing that he would be treated to popsicles after the surgery and that his mommy and Nana were going to be all over him during his recovery. Believe me when I say he milked it for all it was worth.

I AM WOMAN HEAR ME ROAR...

Frosty: Happy birthday! Hey, I said my first words. But... But snowmen can't talk. Ha ha ha, come on now, what's the joke? Could I really be alive? (Frosty the Snowman)

Narrator: He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more! (How the Grinch Stole Christmas)

King Moonraiser: Come closer. What do you desire? Rudolph: Well, we're a couple of misfits from Christmastown, and now we wish to live here. King Moonraiser: I'm afraid that would not be possible. This island is for toys alone. Yukon Cornelius: How do you like that? Even among misfits you're misfits.

4

By Becca Manuel—Emmy Elise has taken to age two with full force! She is quite the opinionated child and definitively lets you know whether or not she likes something. We are pretty sure she will be turning into a potato soon, since this seems to be her favorite food along with the occasional Wheat Thin. She has branched out on her own this year with music lessons and gymnastics. We have already had a few coaches approach us about starting Emmy now on the Olympic Road – but two seems to be a little young for that route. She is pure muscle and amazes her coaches and other parents weekly. Emmy loves the trampoline and the bars. But the best part of the day is the giant mountain of slides and tunnels that ends every class. Emmy is gaining more and more independence as the days of the year pass. She is slowly becoming less of mommy’s little monkey and more Miss Independent. She no longer cries incessantly when being dropped off at Sunday school or Moppets (daycare during MOPS) and now gives a brief hug and kiss before running off to class. Emmy has also enjoyed music class with (Continued on page 5)

Ms. Lacey at Kindermusic and loves singing and dancing the hour away. Emmy definitely is a child with no fear and has the curiosity like that of Curious George. She is constantly into something and if the house becomes quiet for even a second – we know that she is into something. Luckily there has only been one call to Poison Control and more scrub downs of markers, pens, makeup and crayons instead!

“FOR THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE IS THE HAND THAT RULES THE WORLD” (WILLIAM ROSS WALLACE) By Gene Manuel—Becca had a busy schedule this year, with a number of activities keeping her calendar full. One of her favorite things to do during the week is attending the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting at The Metropolitan Baptist Church. MOPS is a group for mother’s of small children to get together twice a month to work on crafts, listen to guest speakers and mostly have 3 hours of conversation with someone other than a small child. They also take part in get-togethers, craft nights and playgroups throughout the month, keeping both Becca and Emmy busy like bees. The family has been attending Worship and the .COM (Celebration of Marriage) group at The Met for over a year now, and Becca felt a calling to return to her roots and serve the church as a Sunday School Teacher and Vacation Bible School Teacher. She has been teaching 4-6 year olds, which takes a lot of patience and humor. This has benefited her by giving her ideas on how to mange the little ones in our own household. It’s a different experience week to week and she truly enjoys the challenge of it all.

October turned out to be quite a tumultuous month with my dad returning from overseas, the family moving to a new house and Becca having surgery to address issues she has been having with ovarian cysts. She had been in some really serious pain throughout the fall and with all my traveling, it was getting to be too much. Having such active kids at home also exacerbated her condition. Her doctor recommended outpatient surgery to remove the cysts and to perform some other related procedures to help ease her pain. The surgery was scheduled just a few weeks before we moved, it was fortunate in some regards that we did not have much in the way of furniture to relocate. The members of our .COM group stepped up to the plate and provided meals when I was out of town travelling. Her MOPS group followed up with meals for the family during her recovery. Their generosity and compassion were greatly appreciated. The surgery was a success and after a few weeks of recovery Becca is getting back to her old self. She is enjoying being able to return to a “Normal” life again, chasing after Emmy and getting up early every morning to hustle Carter off to school.

“Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to.” -Fred Gailey “Miracle on 34th Street”

5

“May the gracious God hold you both in the palm of His hands. And may the Spirit of Love find a dwelling place in your hearts.” Old Irish Blessing

WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES...

The Manuel Family 17403 South Summit Canyon Dr. Houston, TX 77095 (281)204-1282 [email protected] [email protected]

By Gene Manuel—A number of sweeping changes roared into my career in 2008, changes I had not anticipated but eventually led to greater opportunities. I was unceremoniously laid off from CA, Inc. in April after three years with the company. It was difficult to read the notice of “Staff Reductions” with my name on it, many of my former associates were also shocked to find out about the news since the had been no indication that cuts were on the horizon. It turned out to be an omen for them since a wave of reductions have occurred since I left. It also turned out to be a sign of impending state of the economy, in retrospect I could not have been let go at a better time.

we’re currently expanding our US presence. It’s remarkable going from a corporate entity with over 10,000 employees to a family-owned and operated software company, but it has certainly has been a rewarding experience. It’s undoubtedly made me more humble and appreciative of being a member of the working class again. Like my old job, there’s a bit of travel involved, but for the most part I work out of the Houston office, which just happens to be at home. Our headquarters in the US is in Herndon, Virginia—conveniently located near Dulles International. We had a company-wide meeting at the MacDonald Marine Hotel & Resort in North Berwick, Scotland in September, and had the opportunity to take a short sightseeing tour of Edinburgh, including the 16th Century Edinburgh Castle in the heart of the city. It’s interesting to note that the newest areas of the city date back 500 years, and yet the mix of old and new are quite seamless.

With my summer calendar free, I worked feverishly to get my resume on the radar and took the opportunity to learn how to swing a golf club. It really wasn’t something that I had been interested before, but it was fate that someone left an old set of clubs in a storage space. The mechanics of the game are still new to me, but I’m able I haven’t played much golf since I started workto at least hit the ball with some degree of accuing again, hopefully I won’t have that kind of racy. time on my hands until I retire. After the longer than expected job hunt, I reAnd with that, it’s a wrap for this year. Thanks for ceived and accepted an offer from Axios Systaking the time to catch up with our family, we wish tems (www.axiossystems.com). Axios is a U.K. everyone the best in all their endeavors in 2009. company based out of Edinburgh, Scotland with Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all! a focus on IT Service Management. They’re a small company (less than 500 employees) and