A Halloween Reading Recommendation

For you socks who are too mature for trick or treating or other shenanigans this evening, I would like to recommend some good leisure reading.

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett is an awesome book.

You may recognize the author's name from his prolific number of spy thriller novels, some of which have been made into movies like "Eye of the Needle."

But, with TPOTE, Follett broke out of that mold to try a new genre: historical fiction.

This is the tale of a medieval village in England that is transformed through the construction of a cathedral. It includes some of the most interesting characters in modern fiction. And, most importantly, it illustrates the struggle between church and state (God's law versus man's law).

Who knew?!

Anyway, it's a lot more edifying, uplifting, and thought provoking than the tripe horror movies all the cable channels will be serving up tonight.

So, check it out! (Literally! Go, check it out of the library!)

Might we hear some wedding bells in the near future?

Sounds like it.

Congratulations to Dan and Debbie, who announced their engagement today.

No date has been set, yet. So, just be patient, ye socks! I'm sure the details will be forthcoming.

Turning my Jackson research on its ear!

For many years, I have based my research on the Jackson side of the family on an old hand-written family tree my grandmother had included in my Aunt Roberta's baby book back in 1943.

Now, it appears that her information may have been faulty!

That's the bad news.

The good news is a recently-discovered death certificate in Trenton, New Jersey, has opened up new avenues of research for me.

And, you know how much we genealogical socks love new avenues of research.

If you'd care for the gorey details of my findings to date, drop me an email!

RIP Buddy Croft

I am sorry to report the passing of Claud W. "Buddy" Croft, who for many years has been an advisor to the Delta Mu of Beta Theta Pi at Texas Tech University.

He died today after suffering a massive heart attack in San Antonio.

Buddy graduated from Southern Methodist University back in 1960, and lived in Lubbock with his wife Margie.

He will be buried in Dallas on Wednesday, with a memorial service back in Lubbock on Saturday. Detailed information should be forthcoming soon.

I will always remember Brother Buddy for his friendship and fidelity he showed to the traditions of our fraternity, and offer sincere condolences to his wife and family.

--- kai ---

Time for the annual cocktail party

Looks like that poor little dawg got chomped by a Gator!

Hopefuly, a lot of that will be going on up in Jacksonville this afternoon.

ORANGE AND BLUE, Y'ALL!

I refuse to allow this to ruin my weekend

On my final work-related errand of the day, I discovered I had a flat tire. The right rear one to be precise.

Not an altogether traumatic situation in and of itself. But, it gets better.

I discovered the flat as I was barreling down Curry Ford Road, and it was only through the kindness of a fellow driver that I was alerted to the fact.

So, I pulled over at the first service station, which shall remain nameless, and went to get some air to solve the problem.

Now, this will reveal my age. The last time I had to put air in my tire, it cost me 50-cents. Well, dear socks, the price has now jumped to 75-cents - - - at least at this as-yet-unnamed "service" station.

Now, this will reveal how po' I am. I had only two quarters to rub together. So, there I was scrounging between seat cushions, the glove box, the floor board, etc. Eventually, I came up with the other 25-cents.

But, when I went to feed the machine my hard-won coinage, I discovered it only took quarters. So, I had to traipse into the "convenience store," stand in an inordinately long line, and ask the unjustifiably annoyed little girl behind the counter to exchange a quarter for my recently-scrounged pennies, nickles, and dimes.

Anyway, this post has gotten way longer than I intended, certainly way more coverage than the incident warrants.

Just thought I'd share in case any of you in the dryer are experiencing similar annoyances, and so I could encourage you not to let it ruin your weekend!

HAPPY FRIDAY!!

O'Reilly owes Dick Morris a steak dinner!

Earlier this year, Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly pooh-poohed Dick Morris when he was singing the praises of my favorite presidential candidate, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee.

O'Reilly even went so far as to say if Huckabee ever broke 10% in a national Rasmussen poll, that he'd take Morris out for a steak dinner.

Well, guess what happened today?!

I'm asking all you socks in the dryer to hold O'Reilly to his pledge by sending him an email at:

oreilly@foxnews.com

Tell him he owes Dick Morris a steak dinner, and he (and the rest of the media) need to start paying some serious attention to the Huckabee campaign!

With Walker Texas Ranger on board, Huckabee is unbeatable!

That's right, Chuck Norris (the martial arts master and actor perhaps known best for his role in “Walker, Texas Ranger”) has endorsed former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee for President on his blog.

Norris stated, after considerable contemplation, he believes the “only one who has all of the characteristics to lead America forward into the future is ex-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.”

“Part of our backward culture is reflected in the fact that we measure and value people by what they do, instead of first who they are. As a result, we nominate charisma, cast votes for articulation and repeatedly elect too many paper-thin corrupt politicians. Of course, I want a president who gets things done, but I first want one who has lived a life of integrity, commitment, truthfulness and respect. Mike is that man."

He continued, “It’s not a coincidence that four out of the last five presidents we’ve had were governors because they proved their abilities, perseverance and heart for running our country by serving in those state capacities."

“His proven ability to cast a compelling vision, as he did while governor, that transcends party, ideology and class might enable America to unite and begin to heal, an especially important goal at this point in our history,” he writes.

Norris concluded by urging “people to get off the bench and onto the playing field. If we are going to see a man like Mike Huckabee elected, it’s time to rally behind him, support him financially, pray for him daily and spread the word of his character, platform and experience.”

In addition to his works in the martial arts and acting, Norris is also a best-selling author and a spokesman for the United Way and the Veterans Administration.

There's gold in them thar hills!

How cool is this old picture?!

That Parson Swinney was the father of the William Swinney for whom I am named.

He had a pretty interesting life, graduating from Yale, managing a vast tobacco empire, founding colleges, and . . . from the looks of this picture . . . some prospecting out west.

He purchased an interest in the Gilpin Mine near Steamboat Springs, Colorado, back in 1886. But, I've never really followed-up on that little tidbit with any actual research. Perhaps, this picture will provide the inspiration . . . if not the time!

A triple shocker to get Monday morning started!

1. The BoSox came back to beat Cleveland last night?! I guess I got too wrapped-up in the GOP debate . . .

2. I forgot to check my mail on Saturday, so swung by to pick it up on my way to work. We don't have boxes in front of our houses in our neighborhood. Instead, we have these big grey metal things near the entrance, next to a retention pond. Anyway, as I was struggling to find the keyhole to my box in the darkness of pre-dawn, I almost stabbed one of those disgusting Cuban tree frogs. You know the kind I'm talking about. Big as my hand! Wouldn't have scared me so much in the daylight. But imagine touching something slimy when you're expecting to touch something cold and metalic!!!

3. Some jerk rear-ended me at Apopka Boulevard and Piedmont Wekiva Road. Not as bad as it sounds. Really just a tap of the fenders. But, I was still jumpy from the frog incident.

What more shocks might be awaiting me this Monday . . . wait!!! I don't want to know!!!

The Shining Star of Shingle Creek

In case you missed tonight's GOP debate here in Orlando, here's a re-cap.

Once again, Governor Mike Huckabee outdid everyone else in the crowded field, looking like the only adult on the stage.

As usual, the debate moderators started things off by focusing on Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani, almost encouraging them to begin their tired old personal attacks on one another. But, when they finally turned their focus to Governor Huckabee, he got thunderous applause and cheers for this line:

"I'm not interested in fighting these guys. I want to fight FOR the American people!"

He further elevated the tone of the debate by quoting the Declaration of Independence. He reminded the audience of the inalienable rights enumerated in that venerable document are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness . . . but, LIFE comes FIRST.

The one statement Huckabee made last night that is most likely to stick in folks' minds was his response to a question on health care. He argued that we do NOT have a health care "system," but rather a health care "crisis." He cited the fact that we spend 80% of our 2 Trillion health care dollars each year on chronic disease when we should be focusing more on prevention. And, he warned that more and more Boomers are enrolling in Medicaid/Medicare, adding to our costs.

He quipped, "When all the old hippies find out they get free drugs, wait to see what that costs us!"

Always quick with a good line, Huckabee became somber at one moment to remind Republicans there is one subject that just isn't funny. And, that is the possibility of Hillary Clinton becoming president. If that happens, he pointed out, our taxes would go up, our health care would be taken over by the federal government, and our military morale would plummet when we need them to continue to confront Islamofascism.

If, like me, you agree the prospect of another Clinton presidency is not funny, I encourage you to visit Mike Huckabee's website and support his campaign to make sure that bad joke doesn't become a reality:

http://www.mikehuckabee.com/

Dare we suggest a Heisman for Tebow?!

I think so.



In this afternoon's trouncing of the Not-so-wild cats of Kentucky, he was 18 for 26, throwing for 254 yards and 4 touchdowns . . . PLUS he rushed for 73 more yards and 1 more touchdown.



This guy is amazing. And, I'm glad to see he and the rest of the Gators have bounced back from the Auburn and LSU games.



His numbers have got to be putting him on the short list for the Heisman, even if he is just a sophomore!



GOOOOOOOO GATORS!

Brownback bows-out . . . finally!

Good news out of Kansas today.

U.S. Senator Sam Brownback has finally pulled out of the race for the GOP presidential nomination.

I say "finally," because he really should have pulled out after his poor showing in the Iowa Straw Poll.

But, better late than never, I suppose.

His withdrawal leaves a clear choice for values voters in this primary: Mike Huckabee!

Got any roots in Memphis, Tennessee?

If you do, you will be interested in knowing that the Shelby County Registrar of Deeds has indexed some of the oldest records in the area, dating back to 1820.

Look under the "Archives" section of this website:

http://register.shelby.tn.us/

I found my great-aunt Ellen Macy's marriage record there!

Myth vs. Reality

It really irritates me when history is purposely distorted, or downright fictionalized.

Case in point, "Chief Seattle's Letter."

I am not going to waste my socks' time regurgitating the drivel I'm sure you've probably already seen. I'm sure you know the diatribe I'm talking about. It's the one that glorifies AmerIndian traditions at the expense of Judeo-Christian values and culture, ending with the trite phrase, "We are all brothers."

Whatever. I mean, if you're "in" to drinking that Kool-Aid, go ahead. But, at least have the decency not to bastardize history in the process.

The FACT of the matter is that Seattle was never so eloquent. The so-called "letter" was actually lifted from a screenplay written by a New York City drama teacher named Ted Perry in the early 1970s. He, incidentally, is mortified that his work of FICTION has been passed-off as truth by others, and has spent a lot of time trying to set the record straight.

But, it's an uphill battle, mostly because those who pervert our history in the name of ecology and secular humanism have seen fit to reprint it ad nauseum on t-shirts, postcards, websites, etc. It has even been quoted (unwittingly, I hope) in the works of the late Joseph Campbell and the former President George H.W. Bush.

So, my plea to ye socks in the dryer is, when you hear something you know is a bunch of malarkey, stand up for the truth! And, if confronted by this particular example of buffoonery, tell the purveyors that Chief Seattle was a confirmed Roman Catholic, converted by French missionaries, and saw to it that his entire tribe attended regular Mass and joined together in prayer every morning and every evening. The chief accepted Jesus Christ as his savior, acknowledged His virgin birth, and knew God as the Blessed Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He didn't worship twigs and branches or pray to rocks.

Would that some others would follow his TRUE example.

Dad's birthday

Today would have been my dad's 59th birthday.

This picture was taken on his 1st.

Wish I could find someone to bake me a cake that big . . . but, then, I'd probably be expected to share . . .

Beware the Ides of . . . October?!

I knew the Ides of March was traditionally a bad day, especially for Roman despots.

But, mid-October can also be a gloomy day, especially if you had to file an extension on your federal income tax return.

That's right, socks. If you begged-off on 4/15, you better get your delayed return postmarked today or Uncle Sam will get you!

It's almost appropriate this day falls in the same month as Halloween, no?!

Real laws in the State of Florida

We Floridians catch a lot of flack from folks in the other 49 states for being a little flaky, especially since the 2000 presidential election confusion.

But, perhaps, it is deserved. I mean, where else but Florida are the following laws actually on the books?!?

1. No adult male shall wear a strapless dress in public. (In private, I assume, we can still be as freaky as we want to be . . . and dresses with straps are okay anywhere, right?!?)

2. If you tie your elephant to a parking meter, you will be expected to pay the same fees as if you had parked an automobile in the spot. (Really, how often does this happen?!)

3. It is illegal to load livestock onto a schoolbus. (I guess all those kids in FFA will have to come up with an alternative method of transporting their class projects . . .)

4. Fishing while driving across a bridge is strictly prohibited. (But, here's the loophole: There is no penalty for fishing while riding as a passenger in a moving vehicle!!!!)

I love this state!

Just another day at the flea market

Yep, that's all that was on the agenda today. No college football worth staying home to watch since the Gators had a bye week and the Noles already got beaten on Thursday.

Well, the Tech v A&M game WOULD have been worth watching, but they're broadcasting it on ESPN-U . . . like that's a real channel. So, I'll have better luck finding an article about it in the paper tomorrow . . .

Anyway, Valda and Howard are struggling to fill their new 4,200 square foot mansion with the proper decor, so a trip up to Renniger's Flea Market in Mount Dora was arranged.

The weather co-operated fully. But, we still only found ONE of the items on our list.

I did manage to pick up quite a few things that were NOT on the list, including a pound of the sugar-coated blackberry/raspberry mix at my favorite candy vendor's booth.

For you socks who do not frequent flea markets, you have got to go at least once a year. It is definitely a unique subculture. And, it's ALMOST as entertaining as a college football game.

A Birthday and a Bon Voyage

Big doin's at the office today.

First off, it's the boss's birthday.

And, secondly, it's Cathy's last day. She's leaving for St. Thomas and St. Martin this weekend, and will then start a new job.


So, I'm hopefully optimistic that there may be some cake around here later today . . . or, at least some pizza, right?!

I just hope Linda and Becky don't embarrass us all with their usual party time shenanigans, dancing on the desks, swinging from the light fixtures, etc. . . but, if they do, I'm sure Yami will take pictures. So, tune in tomorrow for a complete report!

Candidates' candor

David Broder wrote an excellent article about this week's GOP debate in Michigan, which appears in today's issue of the Washington Post. You can check out the online version here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/10/AR2007101002123.html?sub=new

He wraps-up his commentary with a salute to my favorite candidate Mike Huckabee, crediting him for his rare candor.

Finally someone in the media is "getting it!!!"

In the mean time, across the aisle, old Hillary is at it again with her own version of candor. She jubilantly told reporters in Boston today about her plans to increase federal government spending by leaps and bounds if she gets her hands on the Oval Office next year.

To date, the illustrious junior senator from the great state of New York has pledged a whopping seven-hundred and twenty-four BILLION dollars ($724,000,000,000.00) in increased spending if she is elected to her lovely husband's old job. That works out to over eighty billion dollars ($80,000,000,000.00) for every month she's been on the campaign trail. And, we've got another twelve months to go, so if she keep up her present pace, that would equate to an additional nine-hundred and sixty BILLION. Add that figure to what she's already pledged, and she will have promised one TRILLION six hundred eighty four billion dollars ($1,684,000,000,000.00) in INCREASES alone!!

I appreciate her candor, too. She's making a very public display of her plans to expand the reaches of our federal government. And, we all know who will foot the bill for it, don't we?

To keep track of Hillary's ambitious (sinister?!) plans, check out the Spend-o-meter at this site:

http://www.gop.com/flexpage.aspx?area=spendometer

If Mike Huckabee's candor doesn't make you want to run out and vote for him in a Republican primary, then Hillary's plans for your wallet/purse should scare you into doing so!

12 Action Steps to Stop Abusing Our Planet

Remember, the first great activist for conservation was a Republican president by the name of Theodore Roosevelt. Mike Huckabee is carrying on the tradition, but with the modern eye on achieving energy independence. Here are his suggestions from his recent book "From Hope to Higher Ground":

1. Never litter!

2. Report littering to your state's litter hotline. If your state doesn't have a hotline, advocate for one.

3. Conserve gas by combining trips to do errands . . . better, yet, walk or ride a boke.

4. Carpool to work or school.

5. Walk or bike whenever you can.

6. Turn off lights and appliances when not in use.

7. Have an energy audit of your home.

8. Spend time outdoors hiking, bird-watching, hunting, or fishing.

9. Keep your car maintained and serviced for better fuel efficiency.

10. Take your family camping.

11. Recycle paper, glass, plastic, and aluminum.

12. Learn more about renewable fuel sources and consider energy-efficient appliances and construction processes.

GOP debate in Michigan

I know it was hard to catch the big tete-a-tete up in Michigan today, because the boneheads who planned it evidently thought 4pm on a Tuesday was a convenient time for most Americans to be sitting in front of their tv's.

Fortunately, they are replaying it later tonight on MSNBC. But, for you socks whose schedules or lack of cable will prevent you from catching it the second time around, here's my very astute and much-sought-after analysis:

As usual, Mike Huckabee looked like the adult sitting at the kids' table during a family Christmas dinner. The rest of the crowded field . . .

Mitt Romney - he's the GOP version of John Kerry--suave, Massachusetts politician with more money than he knows how to spend. We can't let this guy buy the presidency any more than we could allow Kerry in '04.

Rudy Giuliani - come on. He was without a doubt a good mayor of New York City. But the rest of the country is not the Big Apple. And, arguing with Romney against the line-item veto is the best he's got to offer . . . fuh-gedda-bout-it!

Fred Thompson - too little, too late. He may be an actor, but the Gipper he is definitely not. Go back to the small screen and I'll promise to campaign for you to win an Emmy or something.

John McCain - old, tired, uninspiring. His time has already come and gone.

Ron Paul - it's okay to be a conservative, even a libertarian who dresses up like one. But, you don't have to be mad about EVERYTHING. Too shrill. Tone it down.

Sam Brownback, Duncan Hunter, and Tom Tancredo . . . uh, whatever. You are, collectively, the Republican version of Dennis Kucinich.

It's a crowded field, yes. But, I love seeing Huckabee standing shoulder to shoulder with these guys. It makes the choice even more clear, whether the media wants to continue to ignore it. Mike Huckabee needs to be our next president.

12 Action Steps to Stop the Culture of Chronic Disease

One of Mike Huckabee's most important messages in his White House campaign is about the need for a paradigm shift when it comes to healthcare in this country. Rather than focusing on TREATING ailments, he advocates making every effort at PREVENTING them in the first place. Here are some ways to do this on a personal level:

1. Don't smoke. Period. (Ok, no problem so far.)

2. Excercise a minimum of 3 times a week, at least 30 minutes per session. (Ooops, problem.)

3. Set specific, challenging, but realistic fitness goals for the month and year. (Now, there's a new concept.)

4. Eliminate processed sugar from your diet as much as possible, if not totally. (But, pure cane sugar is still okay?!)

5. Don't eat anything with partially-hydrogenated vegetable oil ("trans fat"). (So, I can go back to good old-fashioned butter!)

6. Eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. (Do they have to be FRESH?)

7. Insist on only whole-grain bread, pasta, and cereal. (Bread will be easy, but pasta?!)

8. Eliminate fried foods from your diet. (Oh, boy.)

9. Look for ways to become an empowered health consumer. (This is kind of a nebulous suggesttion.)

10. Regularly read articles and books on health and fitness. (I can do that.)

11. Do little things like taking the stairs instead of elevators, parking at the far end of the parking lot, or walking to do errands. (Easier said than don, but ok.)

12. Sleep more! (I LOVE THIS ONE!)

12 Action Steps to Stop Cheating our Children

Ok, I'm not even going to acknowledge what transpired in Baton Rouge last night. Rather, I am going to continue telling you socks how great Mike Huckabee is. Polls out today, show that he has finally broken into the "top tier" . . . at least in Iowa. He's edged past both John McCain and Rudy Giuliani in that state, and is definitely on a "vertical" trajectory!

Anyway, here are today's action steps for your socks with kids:

1. If you are a parent, attend PTA and parent-teacher conferences.

2. Never miss a musical performance or shool play your child is involved in.

3. Volunteer to help out in at least one school activity a year.

4. Attend a school board meeting, but be careful! You might be tempted to run for a seat on the board!!

5. Know how your child's school test scores compare to other schools in your community, state, and nation.

6. Know how much your district spends per pupil in education.

7. Know how much teachers, coaches, principals, and superintendents are paid.

8. Ask the local school district for a breakdown of the school budget: administration, athletics, academics, and the arts.

9. Find out how serious your school is about the arts.

10. Ask for test scores of a class over a five year period--stagnant, declining, or improving?

11. Visit a private/parochial school and ask how their expenditures compare to public school spending.

12. Talk to your state legislator and express your interst in their voting record on education.

12 Action Steps to Stop Thinking Horizontally

I'm still reading Mike Huckabee's latest book, "From Hope to Higher Ground," and just finished the chapter on vertical versus horizontal thinking. This ties-in to the Vertical Day that I participated in last month. It boils down to thinking and acting on things that are either uplifting or will at least force you to leave your comfort zone to try something new rather than maintaining the status quo. This is a good perspective not only for politics but for life in general. Here are 12 ways the governor suggests for thinking and acting "vertically":

1. Open doors for others. (Check.)

2. Tip waiters and waitresses generously. (Check, I think.)

3. Attend worship services every week. (Oops. Does TV count? Probably not.)

4. Compliment a co-worker. (Check. Just ask Becky. She'll vouch for me. She better.)

5. Always say, "Thank you." (Check, when truly grateful anyway.)

6. Know the name of the person who cleans your office building. (HA! There's a story!)

7. Never ask for anything without saying, "Please." (Check.)

8. Don't use profanity. (Half a check. I try. Does it count if no one hears it?!)

9. Just for the fun of it, allow someone behind you in the checkout line to go first. (Double check, usually to the detriment of my schedule.)

10. If you see a parent and a child together at a ball gam, shopping, or at a park, say, "It just does a heart good to see a parent spend time with his/her child." (Ummm, okay.)

11. Always pull over to the side of the road when a funeral procession approaches, and visit a cemetery once a year to read the headstones. (Check, and double check. You know genealogy addicts never pass up on visiting a cemetery!)

12. Purchase some inexpensive umbrellas, and give them to total strangers on a rainy day. (Hmmm . . . I don't even have an umbrella for myself!)

12 Action Steps to Stop Being Cynical

I am really enjoying Mike Huckabee's new book, "From Hope to Higher Ground." Here are his 12 actions steps to stop being cynical, especially on a Friday:

1. Don't believe bad reports without documentation.

2. Read the Bible more, blogs less. [I would suggest reading BOTH more!]

3. Read more from the "Features" page and fewer from the "Letters to the Editor."

4. Listen to more music and less talk radio.

5. Watch classic films made before 1968.

6. Read biographies.

7. Read magazines about your favorite hobbies.

8. Have regular conversations with people very unlike you.

9. Do volunteer work with the impoverished, disabled, or ill.

10. Write a letter of praise to total strangers you read about who do wonderful things.

11. Practice random acts of kindness.

12. Watch TVLand and Nick@Nite more, network TV less.

Killer aps, Dr. Cai!

Dr. Yang Cai, director of the Ambient Intelligence Lab at Carnegie Mellon University, has not only developed some really cool 3D scan technology but also come up with some great ideas for applying it to real-world use.

One day, it will be used to scan human tongues to check for signs of illness. One day, it will be used to scan ocean surfaces to look for possible tsunami threats. But, today, it is already being used in a field that is of great interest to yours truly: genealogy.

How many times have you been wandering thru an old cemetery hunting your ancestors' final resting place only to run across a tombstone that has been rendered completely illegible after the ravages of time?

Not often? Well, then you're not a dedicated root-digger.

Anyway, thanks to Dr. Cai's 3D technology, old stones can now be scanned and their inscriptions deciphered. He's already applied it with great success to some real world stones found in the 200 year old St. Luke's Episcopal Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Check out the complete story at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7024672.stm

Big Brother 9 Auditions this week!

This news bulletin just received from BB Addict Linda that may be of interest to you Central Florida socks.

Apparently, they will be holding auditions for the next season of Big Brother this Friday and Saturday at the Southern Women's Show in Orlando, 10am-2pm each day.

The good news is, you don't have to be either Southern or a woman to apply.

And, who knows, you could just be the next Janelle.

I can only live in hope . . .

His Way Teaching Ministries

I received my monthly newsletter from Uncle BG and Aunt Diane in the "snail mail"yesterday, and was disappointed to read that they will be discontinuing it after this issue.

Evidently, BG's Parkinson's Disease has progressed to the point that publication of the newsletter is just too much of a strain, and that's undertstandable.

But, fear not, ye socks! He and Diane have gone digital, and are in the process of posting some of the Bible lessons dating back to the newsletter's inception in 1978 on a new web site:

http://www.hiswayteachingministry.com/

Check it out!

Emigrant Savings Bank

I come from a family of savers. And, I don't mean that we're a bunch of pack rats . . . although, a case could be made . . .

Anyway, I digress. By "savers," I meant that we have a history of setting aside money for a rainy day.

And, now, thanks to the generosity of a fellow named Mike Stapleton, I have documented proof.

He found an old ledger from the Emigrant Savings Bank that shows my ancestor James Gleeson (a native of County Tipperary in Ireland) opened an account way back on 13 May 1869!

The great thing about the record, at least from a genealogical standpoint, is that old James gave a bunch of important information to the bank when he opened the account, including: his date of birth as 1835, his address at 968 Myrtle Avenue, his arrival in the U.S. as 1867, the name of the ship that brought him as "England," and his wife's maiden name (Catherine Cullen).

Thanks, Mike!