-
Birth
I was born Christopher Michael Wicker, Jr., in St. Joseph Mercy Hospital of Ypsilanti, MI. Yes, I'm only 20: when I was born, the Berlin Wall was falling and Bush 41 was president. The picture is of the hospital because I'm too embarassed to post up baby pictures. 20 but honest. -
Period: to
Brighton Lake Road
Lived on Brighton Lake Road in Brighton, MI -
Period: to
Meadow Farm Dr.
We moved to Meadow Farm Dr., basically on the other side of Brighton, MI -
Move!
We moved from a 900 sqft cottage on a lake to this quad level at 8866 Meadow Farm Dr. Brighton, MI 48116 (pic from '92) At the time, it was a brand new neighborhood being populated by a whole bunch of new families just like ours. Given that, I grew up surrounded by a gang of kids all around my age - yes, it got Lord-of-the-Flies-ish sometimes, but it was always good, plain fun :) Note that, with them, I learned that I was never making it big in professional sports.... -
Josh is Born
My younger brother Josh was born in the same hospital -
Parents Divorced
In 94-95 my father had an affair and had moved out. In April of '95, they were divorced. Until my mom remarried, Josh and I witnessed (unknowingly) the really remarkable nature of America. She never accepted welfare/any 'help', went without a man for years, yet she kept us in that house, got food on the table, and was there after the school bus dropped us off...all without a college degree. I have a remarkable mother who demonstrates daily how wrong and stupid liberals are. -
4th of July Parade
This picture represents all of my childhood: It's taken in front of my grandpa's old hardware store in Brighton where my mother kept books. I first started doing work there when I was 6 (shh, dont tell the ACLU) and I still work for the family business, but now it's my mom's home-based small cleaning service (shh, dont tell Heath Township). The lady sitting behind us is the very special family friend (who I still call 'Gramma Mc'). She babysat us for $1/day and has since sent $1 every holiday. -
My Pa and Nana
I cant tell a story of any significant part of my life without mentioning George and Ruth Kudla, my maternal grandparents. My Pa and Nana, theyre second parents. Everything that (and, because of his longwindedness, probably more than) a father would have taught me as a kid, I learned from Pa. Also, how many people can say they grew up being comfortable talking about anything (death to sex to politics: anything) with their grandma? I can :) This picture is from their 50th Wedding Anniversary -
Favorite Picture of Pa
I just had to add it - he's a pillar of a man. I'll never forget: he took me to a Rotary meeting (he had been president of the county division for a time) when I was 6 or 7. This was my first dose of politics and it probably, maybe, kind of impacted me a little bit or pushed me in a certain direction...maybe. This pic was taken at his 70th birthday party -
Mom, Married.
Slightly before 9/11, my mom married Verne Wagoner, a plastics tech service guy who was living in Roseville, MI (one of the bad parts of the Detroit area). 3 became 4. The story with my dad is more evidence of how wrong liberals are...we'll get there on the blip after next: moving to Hamilton. -
Nerd.
I've always secretly been a nerd and I've always covered it pretty well: cant you tell from this picture? -
Move to Hamilton!
We moved to 4214 131st St in Hamilton, MI when my dad was promoted and transferred to the Holland headquarters of the Uniform Color Company (plastics). My parents diligent hard work had paid off in yet another upgrade in our home. From the 900 sqft house my mom bought when she was 22, to a new suburb, to divorce and less than $13,000 a year, to Hamilton and being able to invest so substantially that they took a 'big hit' when the stock market crashed in 07: it's all based on hard work. -
Period: to
131st St
Living on 131st street -
Finding my Niche
I found my niche in Hamilton. I remade myself into something I liked and cut ties with all my friends back in Brighton. In doing that, I learned that I dont have to be anything for anybody, that I can choose what I want to be and pursue that unabashedly. I burst out of the norm in many things...one being a young convert from a secularist to a Believer; another is running for office at the age of 20 - such involvement is generally unheard of. Regrettably, my niche began looking like this pic -
New Dogs
This isnt really relevant to a political discussion, but I've only ever not lived with a dog for 28 days of my life. It was the time between Meeka's (a beautiful golden mutt) death and getting two Boston Terriers, Buster and Missy. Missy's pictured to the left and you can find Buster's picture below. They're great dogs and you may meet them soon... Picture of Buster -
Political Thought!
The first serious political thinking I did was on Iran and nuclear proliferation for an English class. I had been reading history for as long as I can remember and I figured I should start looking into the future. -
First Steady Job
I got my first really steady job at the Holland Bob Evans. I held it until Michigan's economy forced them to downsize me and a few other out in May of '08. I've had several jobs, 4 of which were terminated because of bad numbers in the company books. I've experienced the economy created by Left-wing policies first hand. I wont mention all of my jobs here because they'll just clutter up the timeline. -
Spanish Exchange: Part 1
The Spaniards came over here in October of 06. We hosted Alberto. He augmented my budding social life with the perspectives from a different, more socialist reality. More about this in the Part 2 blip -
Period: to
Debate Team
I casually particpated in the Hamilton debate team where I became very proficient at defeating, with logic, the ideas and people I disagreed with. At the same time, however, I became very proficient at losing structured debates. I come from reality, therefore, I was horrible at debating in a Leftist league. To be honest, I kept up with it only because Katelyn did it :) -
Spanish Exchange: Part 2
To be honest, I was not very mature back then...I hope this picture doesnt kill my chances of getting your vote :) However, I see a lot in retrospect from the trip. Primarily, it was the first time I really got to know Katelyn (pictured). Secondarily, there was a lot I saw in the society that was plain different from ours. Seeing Spanish society vastly expanded my appreciation for America and the respect of liberty we have here that they dont enjoy. -
First 'Date' with Katelyn
Sometime in April or May (detrimental honesty, again) she and I met at Denny's for breakfast. Yes, Denny's. I'm about as romantically aware now as I was then, but I try real hard. -
Period: to
'Official' with Katelyn
I've gotta mention it - we've been steady since October 15th of 2007 and will hopefully be going strong until I'm no longer a citizen (friendly words for 'dead') -
HS Graduation
I graduated from High School - a feat my 5th grade teacher said wouldnt happen. I've never been a good student. Pictured here after Baccalaureate -
Graduation Party Proof!
Yes, I had Reagan on my graduation cake. The man is and has been a hero of mine for a long time now. It's because of this my brother served me his face... -
GVSU
I started at GVSU in late August of 2008... It hasnt been the best experience of my life and I've learned more from debating/opposing campus liberals than I have in the classroom. Though, I do enjoy being around many of the people and I've grown much as a person under the persecution of liberal professors (see my transcript). The picture to the left is one of the results I've found of GVSU's 'urban planning' ...the sidewalk ends! -
Michigan's Economic Depression
I took this picture while photographing the extent of the economic depression in Holland. It's only gotten worse since then. I find this picture interesting because the Secretary of State, a government organization, thrives (they've recently remodeled!) while the entire square is closed down. It's sad what bad government can do. -
Campaign Season!
Here's a list of the 2008 Republican races I worked on: 8 state representative (Genetski's + Republican State House Campaign Committee - all but 1 won), 2 state senate, Hoekstra's, Hoogendyke's, and two presidential. Near the end, I was campaigning over 90 hours a week on top of full time schooling: I thoroughly enjoy it :) -
The Solutions Revolution
I began my campaign for County Commissioner in a little coffee shop in Hamilton surrounded by close friends and loyal supporters.
