Irene was an American woman born of German immigrant parents and married to an American man named Russell, whose parents were Irish immigrants. These two people were my maternal grandparents.

Irene was born under the sign of Taurus in 1897. Strangely, my mother remembers quite a different Irene than I do. Mom's memories are of a loving yet stern mother who kept her family in line with some not-too- pleasant methodologies, including pulling her daughters hair and slapping their faces. In my entire life, I never witnessed this side of my grandmother. Infact, I can honestly say my observations of Irene were of the most quiet but actively Christian person I've ever known. She read her Bible every evening, but never hit anyone over the head with it. She lived by the words held within it, but wouldn't think of using those words against anyone. She gave without reservation and without expectation. She was kind to everyone, and frequently shed tears for any person or situation which was beautiful, lonely, hurt, sad, unjust...well, Grandma shed a lot of tears; she was a very feeling person.

I remember sitting on her lap being held in her arms as she spoke of her younger sister Lillian who had been killed in the first automobile accident in Olean, NY in 1910. Her embrace loosened only long enough to remove her glasses and wipe away her tears. She smiled between her tears as she told me how much like Lillian I was and what a blessing it was to have me in her life. I've thought of Lillian throughout my life and wondered about the affects on the family she left behind.
A couple of weeks ago, my brother and his wife traveled to Olean and searched the archives. Several people in town offered their help and without too much effort, the grave of my great aunt Lillian was located. In that small event, a domino effect as come about and it seems an entire family including first, second and third cousins are finding healing within this happening. We are beginning to realize that Lil's death set off a cascade of events that literally changed the course of history for our family and shattered relations. Nearly 100 years later we are regathering and being reintroduced to the very roots that brought us to this country. Amazing is the word that keeps appearing in the barrage of emails being exchanged between all of us and I am finding out that my beliefs and attitudes did not just happen to me...they've been part of my ancestry as far back as we can go! Imagine finding out that you are actually part of something real after thinking you are an anomaly for your entire life! It's very interesting.

House Speaker Pelosi's office is taking calls voting
for Impeachment of Bush/Cheney at 202-225-0100.

Folks, each of you who have been wanting impeachment,
need to commit right now to ask at least 10 others to
call and ask each person to commit to asking 10 others
to call and so on. It needs to happen fast and NOW.
Let's inundate the Speaker's office with demands for
impeachment of Bush AND Cheney.

Please make a call, and thanks so very much.

I received this from my son in South Korea today. Why am I hearing about presidential candidates in the USA from people overseas?? I must not be paying close enough attention or something, but I never even heard of this man until today. After watching the video on this link, I want to hear more. Please check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKwKSWBLpjE

Well folks, something has occurred in my life that I had nearly given up on. One of my life-long dreams seems to be coming true.
As you know, I'm disabled and living on a bee's budget. The thought of home ownership was a fond wish that I was fairly certain would never come true.
Thanks to bad leadership and mismanagement at a state wide level, having no credit at all has become my ticket to wish fulfillment.
Years ago, when the conspiracy to eliminate family farms started, the powers that be apparently didn't realize they were also destroying their tax base. New York is populated with abandoned farms and nothing could hurt my gut more than seeing empty homes. Because of this short-sighted plan, New York now is in the position of having to repopulate rural areas. I'm quite certain this is true in other states as well. I saw the ruin in rural Alabama back in the early 70's!
Anyway...US Dept. of Agriculture is now offering loans through their Rural Development program and I....me, the lady with no money and no credit, have been approved for a loan to buy a home. Can you believe it??? I have been dancing on air. A yard of my own to grow vegies and flowers and trees in...rooms I can paint and decorate to my hearts desire...my own place of comfort and sanctuary...my God, I never thought it could happen.
Receiving this news is truly one of the happiest days of my life and I can't wait to get started. Barbara and I and our mother will be able to share expenses and help each other survive day to day life. This is especially timely due to the fact that mom is 80 now and needs someone to be there everyday. I am so blessed that here, in the last quarter of the game; I will have the means to do what I always promised I would do...take care of her. There are tears in my eyes - tears of joy and gratitude to whatever cosmic influences have made this possible.
Honestly, it was one of the most amusing things I've ever heard, to hear a woman happily proclaim on the other end of the telephone, that I was approved for a loan because I had no credit!
I guess America really is the land of opportunity after all...you could knock me over with a feather. So, please, all of you that know me and whom I love; feel free to let out a big Yee Haw for a very happy camper in rural New York.

Seeing I can't afford to go and see Steely Dan perform, I ordered the album "Morph the Cat", which Donald Fagen won a grammy for. For those of you who loved Steely Dan, you will love this CD. Same creamy-dreamy sound with a pinch of funk and a dash of jazz. Donald Fagen hasn't got the throaty rasp of many in this lingering generation and the sound is as smooth as lubricating jelly...( )
Pye didn't really say that, did she??