I am not really sure what I will write about, but I can tell you right now it won't have a theme like blogs are supposed to have. Don't judge me. My grammer won't be perfect. My spelling will be questionable. My punctuation will be non-existent at times. AND this will always be the first page...unike every other blog.

I have never been very good at journaling or keeping sketchbooks - like artists are supposed to do. I like the idea of a blog...so here I am. If you keep reading and you are disappointed, it's your own fault. You were warned.

I have been looking at other people's blogs and I have to say I really like the links to other sites they find interesting, so I suppose I will be doing some of that.

I heard on GMA this morning about a project of story telling that a journalist is doing..he also wrote a book. I am looking it up now, so I can pass it along to you (whoever you are)...found it...storycorps.net

This is so cool, I want to do it.

I have always wanted to be the family historian. I have done a few things that have helped to preserve some very old documents and photographs, but the stories don't exist anywhere except in the minds of my aging parents. Most of their siblings are gone. I am the youngest of 5 and my Dad is the youngest of 7. All but one of his siblings is alive. All of my Mom's siblings are gone. This means I have missed alot of opportunities to keep their rich family histories alive.

I think blogs are boring without pictures. Here is a BEAUTIFUL portrait of my mother Virginia (Ginny) that I hand-tinted in the 1980's, and recently digitally restored. It was taken when she modeled briefly in the early 1940's....before she married my Dad, Joseph (Joe...or Barry, as my Mom calls him).

OK, I'm back. It is after the holidays and I need to be doing end of the year paperwork and filing. Why is it so hard to rebound into day to day reality during this week between Christmas and New Year's?

I just made a reservation for the StoryCorps mobil booth in Orlando, Florida. I am so excited! It will take a bit of convincing to get my Mom & Dad there, but I know they will love it. Patty-my sister, and I, will be driving them over and she will do the interview with me. I already called and checked on if we can get 4 people in the recording booth...it will be tight (cozy), but it should be ok.

My Dad has been undergoing treatment for esophogial cancer, and has been struggling to stay well. The treatment has worked and the tumor in his esophogus is gone, but the chemo and radiation has done a real number on his overall health. He is 85 and is strong, but this has weakended him and it is tough on him. He is in the hospital right now with double pneumonia. Hopefully he will be fully recovered by the time our interview appointment comes around.

I just finished reading Listening is an Act of Love. It is the book written about the StoryCorps project. I bought a copy for my parents and my in-laws. I just love the concept, and highly recommend the book.

I hope to be able to add a bit of our recording, my parent's StoryCorps interview, to my blog. In the meantime, I will record pieces of visual information here.

This is a very early picture of my Dad.