Tuesday 8/31

Hello all!

Just a quick note tonight. It's late and I am tired.

Had a blast Sunday at Blue Moon, the Sounds game and 3 Crows. We closed out the home season with some fun, even though the Sounds strayed still from their winning ways. Thanks Ed, Mary and Mike for a great time! So glad to see Dan and his girlfriend too!

I've been a political junkie last night and tonight. Like I said before, I am not a big George W. fan. But I am a conservative, moderate on social issues--ultra on fiscal. The speakers these last two evening sessions have given me hope for the future of the Republican Party. McCain and Guiliani did an outstanding job last night. It's true what McCain said--we are American first, American last and American always. And tonight, Arnold did a fantastic job energizing the delegates and watchers. I was dreading what the guy would say, but he hit the right notes. He was sincere, funny, determined and truthful. Especially about the girlie-men economists who are so pessimistic about our economy!

The First Lady was graceful as always. She had a wonderful outlook on her husband. The twins were comical and pulled no punches.

So, on to Wednesday night with the Keynote Address given by, egads!, a Democrat! Senator Zell Miller of Georgia will be the one to energize the delegates and party to go out and volunteer, support and vote for a Bush re-election. Former NY Mayor Ed Koch also spoke on Monday--another Democrat voting for Bush...another speaker tonight, a NY policeman paralyzed by a shooting, also a Democrat, will vote for the President. Maybe a small turn in the perception of Republicans is beginning.

OK, my third yawn, so I am signing out for tonight.

Take care and have a great day!

Mark

Sunday morning

Well, the grass was wet this morning, so no mowing. Maybe after Mass and before Blue Moon??

A calm morning...read some news on the web www.chicagotribune.com, www.tennessean.com and www.morningsun.net from Chicago, Nashville and Pittsburg KS. Worked part of a Presidential jigsaw puzzle on the dining room table. It is Republican Convention week ya know! Put a lot of dishes cleaning in the dishwasher, then did some map checking for a trip the end of September to Cleveland. Got some maps and books at AAA yesterday. All while listening to the oldies with Dick Clark on 96.3 FM www.oldies963.com.

Well now to jump in the shower and get ready for Mass.

Have a great relaxing Sunday!

Mark

Nieko 8/28/04

Nieko is Lithuanian for 'nothing'. And that is what the fighting Lithuanians got in Olympic basketball. The USA finally found a team to beat and got the bronze medal. Lithuania will have to re-group and try again in Beijing in 2008.

The bronze medal in basketball gave the USA it's goal of 100 medals for the 2004 games. The women's team won the basketball gold! I bet more people will watch the WNBA than the NBA now. I would imagine there will be a lot of 'back to basics' training for NBA players and the up and coming collegiates.

On a political note, why hasn't anyone questioned the composition of the men's basketball team? If it would have been all-white, I'm sure Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and Julian Bond would have been filling the airwaves with rants and condemnations. I guess the issue really only does swing one-way.

Went to the Sounds game tonight. Another loss, with New Orleans coming out 7-2 with a grand slam in the top of the 9th to seal the game. The fireworks were great, as they usually are after the game. Tomorrow is the last home game of 2004 season. Will finally meet up with Ed and Mary--have some pre-game festivities at Blue Moon. What a great place! What great friends! An afternoon and evening I am looking forward to!

Hope everyone is doing well and having a great weekend so far. Weather is perfect tonight--the humidity has vanished. Hopefully it'll stay dry overnight and I can get out and cut the grass tomorrow morning before 11 am Mass, well at least the front!

That's about it from Germantown...I took it easy at the game, so I guess I'll go and get an adult beverage and sit on the porch and enjoy the night.

Thanks for being such great relatives and friends. I'll remember all of you at Mass tomorrow!

Mark

Friday 8/27/04 Evening

Just got back from Vaidas' place where we watched Lithuania go down to Italy in the Olympic semifinals basketball. It was a valiant effort. But just not enough at the right time. So now Lithuania matches up against the USA one more time...this time for a bronze medal. Last Saturday Lithuania was triumphant against USA. Tomorrow will be a grudge match.

Sorry about missing a post yesterday...I was giddy with delight!! My genealogy thirst was overly satisfied with the arrival of 10 reels of parish and census records for North Sunderland, Eglingham and Warkworth England. That is home territory for my Bells and Jobsons. After looking at only 2.5 reels, I have nine pages of info. My hand got tired of writing!! Found the Bells in the Warkworth parish --Thomas and Susan Bell and children Robert, Mary, Thomas, Joseph and William. Didn't find a baptism on my greatgreatgrandfather George however, the child between Thomas and Joseph. Also found Michael and Jane Jobson and Thomas, Jane and John with Jane being my greatgreatgrandmother, in North Sunderland parish. Plus all families in the 1841 census. Now on to Eglingham and more for George...

I am thinking of going to the Sounds game tonight. Starts at 7 pm, a half an hour from now. Noah bobblehead giveaway night, so lots of kids...again, me and kids--ehhh!!! Maybe I'll go about the fourth inning. Give them time to settle in and I kind find a seat in the clear! Plus it's 90 degrees right now--not the best to be sitting in a stadium. But my good friends Mary and Ed might be there tonight...they are great!!

Well, I think I am going to find something to eat. Had some Smirnoff Ice at Vaidas' and I need some food other than corn chips to soak it up. Shrimp sounds good!!

Thanks all for your comments. Glad you are reading me and finding it amusing!!! Yeah--my life is one big joke!

Mark

Wednesday August 25

The feast day of St. Louis, King of France! Patron of the city of St. Louis Missouri, one of my homes away from home!

Short blog tonight. I am tired and it is late.

Family History Library called today--my English parish records and census are in--maybe I'll find more Bells and Jobsons!! That'll start tomorrow night--I get to see my dear friend Joan at the library. We have a great humorous time together--especially finding strange names in parish records!

Had a good evening--finished some church accounting, and some genealogy, wrote letters to some cousins and chatted with a recently new-found friend on-line whom I feel like I've known for years. I am smiling!!

Looking forward to Chinese tomorrow for lunch. Every Thursday a group from work goes to China Cafe on 4th Avenue North in Nashville for lunch. The usual crowd is Suzanne, Tom, Jerry, Joe and me. Sometimes Amy, Nancy and Steve tag along. Good friend Lee will be back next week after his tour of duty at training in south Georgia! Yikes south Georgia in the middle of summer! Heard he graduated today from the training! Congrats Lee!!! Way to go!!

Signing off smiling and looking forward to a great day tomorrow!

Mark

Tuesday 8/24

Hello Readers!

Finally!! It's 10:35 pm and Comcast has finally decided to get Germantown back on-line after this afternoons' storm. Since I have cable modem, both cable TV and internet was out. It gave me a chance to work on some church accounting and some genealogy classwork. Then I also watched some videos--and of course an adult beverage. Found a Bullwinkle and Rocky video I haven't seen for awhile! Man, that was such a great cartoon...little did I realize at the time that it was an adult cartoon. Matter of fact, Boris in this video played Morris the Laughing Latvian! How would a six-year old know a Latvian??

My knee is a lot better. Just some swelling around the back of it--yeah--weird! But on the road to recovery--along with some ice and Advil.

Got to chat today with Doug, my friend in Atlanta. He always makes me smile. He comes up with some of the strangest takes on events, but he always makes me think about things...he actually congratulated me on Lithuania's basketball victory Saturday! I really treasure his friendship and always look forward to talking with him. Thanks man! Looking forward to Team Week and a beer or two!

Heard some damning comments on the US beef industry and mad cow disease last night on the radio. Seems there are no more cows with mad cow because the government is not allowing any more tests for mad cow. Downer cows being used for hamburger if the cancer that ravages their bodies isn't bad--ugh! Whether this is true remains a questions, but it sounds like something that does actually happen. I am defintiely cutting back on the beef. Hey, more fish isn't bad unless I fear mercury poisoning! Lord knows I could use a veggie diet-- According to my body mass index, I need to get down to 204 to be the maximum normal level of 25. That's quite a drop as I am 2## lbs right now. (You actually thought I would say??) Let's just say I've got a ways to go!!

Made some reservations for a trip the end of next month. Lithuanians in Cleveland sounds like an excellent weekend. Also will try to meet a new found Kotzman cousin.

Well, guess I'll go and get some sleep. Tomorrow is garbage day and need to get up a bit earlier and take the trek to the alley with some bags.

Thanks for reading...take care and check back soon!

OH**Lithuania has got a gold and silver medal so far--Virgilius Alekna got gold in Mens Discus and Austra Skujyte got silver in the Womens Heptathlon. Now when basketball wins, wow!

To Dave...White Castle awaits buddy!

August 24, the feast of St. Bartholomew, has been good! On to the 25th, the feast day of the patron of one of my favorite cities--St. Louis!

Mark

Ouch!

Greetings!

Stayed home today as I twisted my knee last night at the baseball game and felt pretty blah. It was Dell Family Day, so the park was filled with little monsters! Not a good combination me and tykes! Sounds lost again--in the last at-bats by Oklahoma.

I'm tired of the election already and the Republican Convention hasn't even hit yet! Many of you know I am a political junkie, so this is really out of character. I am tired of Vietnam, I am tired of swift boats, I am tired of where Kerry was and wasn't on Christmas Day. I want to know what are his plans. I want to know why he voted the way he voted on certain issues while in the Senate, and why he missed so many votes on elderly issues. Where was he during many of the Senate Intelligence Committee briefings when national security was being reviewed and discussed? Vietnam was 40 years ago, a time when the war-idea was turned upside down. ANYWAY, why is Vietnam service such a big deal for the Kerry campaign when Kerry said it should be "off the table" for the Clinton campaigns in 1992 and 1996??? At least Bush served in the National Guard instead of deserting....

OK my friends, I'm going to go and prop up the knee. Made veal paprikash for supper. I outdid myself--but a little too much flour, plus I think I used self-rising instead of all-purpose...puffy veal paprikash!! I can never remember what is in the canister! Such a cook!!

August 23rd is a healing day--I need it!! Hope some of your ouchies are healed too!

Mark

A quiet Sunday afternoon

It's 1:52 pm and 79 degrees. A nice breeze blowing...nice day for a ballgame. The Nashville Sounds are back home for their final homestand. You have until next Sunday to catch a game in the 2004 season. Tonight the game is at 6 pm and I will be in attendance. I usually sit in the right field side bleachers, right were the main entrance gate is. Sounds not having a great season this year. Hopefully they will get their new stadium down by the riverfront off Broadway. It's a perfect place and has more potential than the other schemes. Mayor Purcell, do something constructive for downtown and for the baseball fans in Middle Tennessee. Don't lose this opportunity to add another shining jewel to the downtown crown!

Last night was a wonderful night for Steff Mahan at 3rd and Lindsley. She put on a great show and everyone was up and singing at the end. Steff's new CD "42.50" is great--the songs convey Steff's great insight into the human soul. It was great also to see so many Germantown neighbors there supporting Steff!! Her website with additional playdates is www.steffmahan.com. Congrats Steff! Much success!

I went to Steff's show with one of my neighbors, Andy. Afterward we went to The Gold Rush, out on Elliston Place. WOW! New ownership has definitely brought the place some pizzazz and class. Still have the great bean rolls, but the atmosphere is completely different. Some place I definitely look forward to going to again!

OK, some people wanted to know something about me. So here goes some background information.

I am Mark Henry Anthony Bell, born October 12 1961 in Chicago Illinois. Lived in Midlothian Illinois until age 2, moved to the Lawn Manor neighborhood on Chicago's South Side. Moved back to Midlothian in 1966. Attended eight years of grade school at St. Christopher's with the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Family from Dubuque Iowa, and the Franciscan Fathers from St. Louis. Left wonderful Chicagoland in September 1977 while attending Bremen High School in Midlothian and moved to Springfield Tennessee where I graduated from Springfield High School in June 1979. Went to the University of Tennessee at Martin from September 1979 until graduation in June 1983. Was employed by the Tennessee Department of Revenue in October 1983; now, 21 years later, still there as a Tax Auditor IV in the Audit Support Unit of the Audit Division. Moved to Nashville in 1984 from Mom and Dad's in Springfield.

Now I live in the Germantown neighborhood in Nashville, right next to Farmer's Market and the Bicentennial Mall. It's Nashville's first suburb dating from the 1840's. I attend the Church of the Assumption, Nashville's second oldest Catholic church. We just celebrated our 145th anniversary on August 14th.

I have many hobbies and interests. At the top of the list are genealogy and stamp collecting. I also have my old baseball cards, Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars and, believe it or not, holy cards--all kinds of cards of the saints and religious themes. I also love music and have my keyboard and guitar within arm's reach, but rarely play anymore. I am a baseball and hockey fanatic! Chicago White Sox baseball, Chicago Blackhawks hockey and Chicago Bears football rate A+ in my book! Alas, I have been suffering without too many championships the many seasons, but it is the enjoyment that really counts...well, at least for the fans!

My nationality background is simple. I am 100% American!! My ancestors came from Lithuania, Northumberland County England, Co. Limerick Ireland, Oberfranken Bavaria Germany and Styria Slovenia, known then as Steiermark Austria-Hungary. My family names in my direct line I am researching are Bell, Jobson, James, Booth, O'Malley, Short, Clancy, Kotzman, Majdic, Slapar, Druskovic, Schramm, Schwammlein, Kohles, Prediger, Kriauciunas (changed to Taylor), Vorbutas, Vasiliauskas (changed to Waleski), Dailide, Vozgirdas (changed to Wozgard), Nasvytas, Butkevicius and Valaitis. US states were family settled are Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Pennsylvania and Iowa.

My politics try to be more common sense. I am anti-John Kerry, but not necessarily pro-George Bush. I have been a staunch Republican for years, but the party has seemed to drift more to the right on some issues than I can accept. Still, I will vote for Bush's continued leadership for another four years. John Kerry's positions will definitely make the US backtrack in military, economic, foreign policy and world standing. A more sensitive war???? What does he think war should be...a group-hug? It's war--blood, fighting, killing. So as it boils down, I am a fiscal ultra-conservative, a social moderate and a strong believer that we should take care of US interests first. I am an advocate of a flat tax at both the federal and state levels. I am in favor of eliminating all exemptions for individuals, corporations, partnerships, etc.--if you have money coming in, you need to pay some tax to the government. If we remove all these exemptions, the rate would be low enough to not hurt. And then, of course...CUT GOVERNMENT SPENDING!

I have memberships in various organizations. Of course a genealogy organization is a must for the researcher. I belong to the Northumberland and Durham Family History Society (www.ndfhs.org.uk) out of of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in Northeast England. Also belong as a lifetime member of the Knights of Lithuania (www.knightsoflithuania.com). In conjunction with the K of L, I am a board member of the St. Casimir Guild (www.knightsoflithuania.com/StCasimirGuildInc.html), which supports by fundraising for the Lithuanian Pontifical College in Rome. I am a member of Church of the Assumption Parish Council and also the Chairman of their Financial Board (http://www.dioceseofnashville.com/parishes-alphalist.htm#1). I am also treasurer for the Keith Searcy Memorial Thanksgiving Dinner project which feeds over 1000 Thanksgiving dinners to the poor and elderly in Nashville. I am on the Germantown Oktoberfest Steering Committee and function as secretary. I also belong to the Historic Germantown Neighborhood Association (www.historicgermantown.org/). With my stamp collecting hobby, I belong to the Lithuanian Philatelic Society out of Chicago (www.filatelija.lt/lps/).

Most evenings can find me in the yard pulling weeds, in the garden chasing out birds or on the porch enjoying a cool breeze and an adult beverage. I love to work in the yard and get my hands in the earth. Something healing the soul about that feeling of the warm earth.

I am also working on a double genealogy certification from Brigham Young University in Utah. The classes are by correspondence. Currently I am working on Midwestern US research techniques. Most Thursday evenings I'll be found at the Nashville Public Library or the Latter-Day Saints Family History Library in Madison Tennessee. Learning a lot about all the available resources in the public domain.

WOW--see, the people who asked for background didn't know what they were in for! Almost an hour worth of typing!! I hope Blogger lets a post this long go on!

I'll close for now. Keep in touch and let me know how I am doing. You can add comments to the blogs by clicking on the comments link at the bottom of the blog. Say what you want, but be civil.

Have a great rest of Sunday and a great week ahead!

A quote that may describe my writings...The reason why so few good books are written is that so few people who can write know anything. Walter Bagehot (1826-1877)

Mark

Lietuva per amzius!

Life is good! Lithuania wins!

LITHUANIA 94 USA 90

What a game! What a day so far! Considering I woke Vaidas up at 11:10 to watch the game at noon--I'm sure he enjoyed it!

Sarunas Jasikevicius pulled through and redeemed himself from the game ending missed shot at the 2000 Sydney games when the USA beat Lithuania by two points.

The game was hard fought--Lithuania won the first quarter hands down! After that, Team USA woke up and pounded the boards. But in the end, with Jasikevicius' multiple three pointers, Lithuania pulled ahead to stay. WOW!

I imagine some of the patrons at Two Doors Down here in Nashville were wondering about the guys at the bar rooting when Team USA missed a shot! If you want to go to a good bar, Two Doors Down is a good one. Food was good, beer was cold and atmosphere is great. They were very obliging in turning up the TV volume too.

So, one more game in the prelims and then on to the medal round. Check here for further updates for Lithuanian Olympic Basketball!

Going to do some laundry and then get ready for a night with Steff Mahan. One of my Germantown neighbors is having her 2nd CD release party at 3rd and Lindsley tonight at 7 pm. Come on out!! It's $10 cover which includes a copy of the new CD. Steff is a wonderful person! She will also perform at Oktoberfest in a few weeks (a few weeks!!! EEK!)

My next blog will be about me, as I've gotten some e-mail asking who I am. For most, this will be old hat, for some--new information!!

So far August 21 is turning out to be a wonderful day...

mhb

A Friday night...

OK, I created this blog this afternoon on break. Not enough time then to write more. Now is the time.

Today has been one of those days that are a link between something bad and something good. I've had an awful past two months. I will have an awful next two weeks. But this weekend shows promise for fun and frivolity.

I have been wrestling with a major decision the past two months. Last night I acted on my final plan. Now I have a two week wait until I find out whether or not my plan has worked. All the anxiety has vanished as I wait...

Tomorrow at noon, the undefeated 4-0 Lithuanian Olympic basketball team plays the 3-1 USA. So far, the USA team has really pissed me off with ther attitudes. With half of me being Lithuanian--GO LITHUANIA!!! I will watch with my buddy Vaidas somewhere around Nashville. He being a native Lithuanian will no doubt be 200% Go Lithuania!

I sit here typing this finishing a glass of Beringer White Merlot. Not a bad wine.

People, I have so much to say, but don't want to bore you. What with the election campaign, Najaf, TennCare, Pope John Paul II, taxes, etc...I shall never run out of words. In future blogs I will definitely express my opinions. Let's just say for now--anti-Kerry, take 'em down, make it cost effective, he's doing fine--he's old!, too high--flat tax.

Now I just wanted to hide in some comfortable corner somewhere and sleep cozily until tomorrow. Probably won't get that luxury, but I'll make do.

To all my friends, love you all! This is a new venture for me into communication! Wish me luck! Come back often and see what I have gloriously opined about!

All in all, August 20 2004 has been a good day. One day closer to 43! And I relish that I have lived so long to see it.

So Long and Thanks for All the Fish..... (well it is Friday and I am Catholic!)

Mark

Inaugural comments

Welcome to Mark's Musings!!!

Just set this up...

Decided I could get some thoughts out there in cyberspace along with everyone else.

More later!