Happy Halloween!! Oct 31

BOO!

Happy Halloween everyone! I know you are all too old to go trick or treating yourselves. But it'll be interesting to see some costumes. I think the scariest I've seen so far is John Kerry! Yikes!! What a face!

Just a short blog today. Making dinner--baked chicken breasts with feta cheese and green beans. Also washing dishes and washing clothes. Brought work home to do, so gotta get that done too.

My night to indulge was Friday--took a bottle of wine a little too far!! But it was good--an Australian Shiraz/Cabernet mix--brand name Yellow Tail. Had made some Italian that night--Pumpkin mezzaluna with a puttanesca sauce!! VERY VERY GOOD!!

Saw Mom and Dad for a bit yesterday. Took them their Christmas present! Mom saw some patio chairs she wanted and they were already put together. Dad said they wouldn't fit in the car, so I figured they'd fit in mine land-barge Intrepid. They did--so they got their present early. Very comfortable Martha Stewart Bar Harbour chairs.

Well, going to get some more stuff done. Will try to add something tonight, if I'm not too worn out!

Mark

The days are blowing by---October 28

Hello all!

Wow, it's been a fast week. WIth the new job and the World Series going on, I've been worn out and too tired to opine at the end of the day.

Man, St. Louis let me down. They rolled over without even a whimper. Congrats BoSox! I am just so relieved to be at a point to stop hearing about 'The Curse'. All that talk should now cease.

OK, who wants to wager on when we will find out who the president will be?? Seems like both sides are retaining attorneys and are ready to pounce to challenge any close vote. Oh to have a man with the charatcer of Richard M Nixon in 1960. How easy he could have challenged the election final tally after the shenanigans in Chicago. Even Ike told him to challenge, but Nixon said no, it wouldn't do the country any good. I can't imagine George W. or John Kerry saying that today, or Al Gore saying that in 2000. The political landscape has really changed in 40 years.

Things are heating up in Tennessee. Bush is leading Kerry by double digits and is having some pretty long coattails. A story in the Tennessean today said a poll recently conducted resulted in a majority of respondants saying they would like a Republican legislature at the state capitol. WOW! There hasn't been a Republican legislature in Tennessee in 140 years! All that is needed this year is a gain of 2 seats in the Senate and 5 in the House. I wonder if the party would know how to act if it won both houses?? What an upheaval to see Naifeh and Wilder out of the podiums! Especially after some of their tactics this election year. Guess we'll find out in 5 days....

Well, going to go and get some sleep. Had some late nights this week and need to get a good rest. It's warm here; still 69 degrees at 10:33 pm. Tomorrow supposed to be mid-70's. When will we see snow???

OK, signing off from 1224A. Have a great night!

Mark

Saturday morning--October 23 already??

Hello readers!

It's after 9 am here in Nashville on a Saturday morning. So that means German music fills the air here at 1224A. Deutscheland Echo radio program on WNWI from Chicago over the internet. http://www.birach.com/wnwi.html

Well, I think I am settling in to my new responsibilities at the office. The initial rush was a shock, and especially when there is no one to take over the duties I currently had. So I am really stuck with two jobs. I look forward to working more with Kim, Tom, Leah, Hanan and Greg. I think we'll be a good team!! Keep tuned in for stories---it may be interesting.

Hold on while I get a becher auf kaffee.

That's gute!

Was reacquainted with a long lost friend last night. So glad to be back in touch Scottie. And so glad you are doing well. Sorry to have kept you on-line so long...hope you made it to work ok this morning!!

Got a great e-mail from cousin Lindsay in England yesterday. I had told you earlier about finding the entries for the burial of my great-great-great-grandfather, Thomas Bell, and the baptism of William Bell his youngest son. I sent the certificate numbers to Lindsay since she is a great help in ordering them. She received them yesterday and found Thomas died October 10 1840 in Radcliffe Terrace, south af Amble in Northumberland, from a leg amputation. William was born March 31, 1841 to a husband-less Susan, and was a twin. Have no record of the other baby in the baptisms, so we must assume it died soon after birth. Lindsay is so right when she said "what a tough life poor Thomas and Susan must have endured". She is so right...that type of life couldn't be lived--mainly ENDURED.

Well, election day is creeping up. Everyone decided who to vote for yet? I went and early voted on Tuesday. I voted my conscience and pushed the Republican button. I looked at my check stub from last month and one from October 2000. My Fed Tax Withheld was sizably less on last months stub than the October 2000 one, eventhough my gross pay was close to 12% more. So I got more money as gross pay and paid less tax on the higher amount. To me that is good. I am better off than 4 years ago. I feel safe here. I fly, I drive, I go into crowds. Bush is doing a good job on homeland security. Regarding Iraq, I don't like our troops being there, but did anybody like our troops being in Europe of the Pacific in World War II? Hussein was a thug, a thug poses terror no matter who it is directed against. Regarding comments that Iraq never attacked America...I beg to differ! American forces patrolling the no-fly zones in American planes under the UN banner constantly came under attack in Iraq over the years since the Gulf War. That was part of the cease fire Hussein signed and then broke. This is not a new war but the completin of the UN and coalition sanction Gulf War in 1991. WE HAD TO SEE IT THROUGH. The problem I have is the spending has gone out of whack. I know it is war time...so that explains some of it. But Congress needs to realize there is a finite amount of money! I am not thrilled with Congressional leadership and would like to see a change in the Republican hierarchy there. So Vote vote vote. Like we said in Chicago--vote early and vote often!!

OK, so the Fall Classic is set to begin tonight--Boston vs. St. Louis. If you know me well enough, you know where my fancy lies. ST. LOUIS! I love the city and want them to really blast Boston. I say St. Louis in 6 games.

Looks like the NHL (National Hockey League) is going nowhere fast. A large number of players have go to Europe and are playing in the European leagues. Some are playing in the developmental AHL (American Hockey League). When are they going to get off their high horses and realize that they are losing their fan base....just like baseball did a few years back. Hockey wasn't that strong to begin with and this is only hurting.

Well, that's about it from here. Thank you all for reading and sending me great comments and support. Click on the WNWI link and try some German music! I want to go back to Chicago for a few days and am making a list of the restaurants!!

Mark

Thursday October 21, 2004

Hello all!

What a whirlwind of activity the past few days!

After months of waiting and waiting, I finally received a challenge! Got a promotion and am now a Tax Audit Supervisor. I am still in the Audit Support Section of the Audit Division. Areas which I will be responsible for include the Audit Templates, PC Repairs, PC Purchases, Case Assignments--Leads, Requests, Audit Selection, Data Warehouse, various Databases, Audit Research Program and all Production Reports. I have four people under me, 2 in Nashville 1 in Cookeville and 1 in Johnson City, and a fifth which is located in the Systems Division who is our programmer. And I think there are possibly two vacant positions. Anyone need a job???

I interviewed for this position on my birthday last week. Guess it was a good omen!

Watched a great ballgame last night with the BoSox finally overcoming the big, bad Yankees. I'm glad! Now the Boston people can start talking about something else instead of "the curse". A wild thought I had last night--if Houston beats St. Louis tonight, then it will be Houston vs. Boston in the World Series...Houston vs. Boston...Texas vs. Massachusetts...Bush (TX) vs. Kerry(MA). I wonder if anyone else has thought of this??

Well, I need to scrounge up something to eat. Have some leftover meatloaf in there I need to finish up.

Thanks all of you for reading my paltry words.

Until tomorrow...

Mark

Sunday morning coming down...the 17th

I am up early this morning and the thermometer says 41 degrees....brrr.... Have the heat on and have my sweats on. Waiting for the coffee to finish and listening to the Lithuanian Voice radio program out of Detroit www.birach.com/wnzk.html . It comes on at 7:30 am Central time Sunday mornings. It's a half hour and I do get to keep up with some of my Detroit friends.

Had a hockey fix yesterday! Milwaukee Admirals, Nashville Predator's minor league affiliate, played the Rochester Americans at the arena at 5 pm. Had a blast with my friends Carl and John. Sat in row MM, about 16 rows from the ice. Got to see my friends Brian, Mary and Nick too. They have the seats next to me during the regular season up in Section 329. It was a good game with both teams doing some scoring. Mil won 5-4 in overtime. There were about 10,000 there. We decided to maybe catch some games in Huntsville if the strike continues. Huntsville Alabama has two teams--the Southern Professional Hockey League's Huntsville Havoc and the University of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers. That's right an Alabama college hockey team!! So a roadtrip looks promising!

I'm going to work on finishing up Oktoberfest stuff today, do some cemetery visits, work on some genealogy and take a good walk. Maybe even ride my bike, if the air warms up a bit. And of course, Mass at Assumption at 11 am.

Well, time to get some java...then the German radio program from Chicago starts at 9 am. That brings back some good childhood memories. Dad had a German program on the radio on Sunday mornings every weekend for years when I was growing up in Midlothian. I remember it was on WOJO-FM from Volo, IL. It was sponsored by the German-American Friendship Club and Hansa Travel Bureau. The one band that had good songs was Die Golden Drei. We even went and saw them one Saturday at a Maifest on the northside at St. Demetrius Church on Winona Avenue. (Why do I remember this stuff?) Well between 9am until 11 am Saturday and Sunday mornings at 1224A, you'll hear German music and commentary from Armin Homann over WNWI out of Chicago http://www.birach.com/wnwi.html .

Well, gotta get started...maybe finish up a job or two early...

Mark

Friday...Friday...Friday October 15

Hello all!

Well, another sad day of remembrance. My Grandma Wozgard died October 15, 1980. She was a grand lady! She taught me so much--how to cook, how to stoke a fire, how to enjoy a polka, how to enjoy a beer! I'm so glad to get some of her recipes before she left us; even got some of them on cassette tape--her giving the instructions while I did the steps. Here's to you Grandma!

A prayer I found:

O Jesus, good Master,
I plead with You on behalf of the souls
toward whom I have a greater debt of gratitude, justice, charity and family bonds:
Spouse, children, parents, grandparents, spiritual and material benefactors,
brothers, sisters and relatives.

I recommend to You those who had greater responsibilities on earth:
priests, civil authorities and religious.

I plead with You also for forgotten souls.

Admit all of them soon into eternal happiness.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

It was a long week! Waiting for some answers to some situations I was involved in...hurry!! I'm getting a little anxious!

Last night I had a good night at the Family History Library. My great-great-great-grandfather was Thomas Bell. He married Susan James in 1827 in Howick, Northumberland, England. Children Robert, Mary, Thomas, George (my g-g-grandfather), Joseph and William were born between 1827 and 1841 across Northumberland from Brainshaugh to Radcliffe. Susan was married to a Joseph Turnbull in the 1851 census and with a 3 year old daughter Susan Turnbull. I found the family in 1841 in Radcliffe, but Thomas was not listed with them. I found out Thomas was listed in the Warkworth Parish Burial Register as being buried October 12, 1840. I immediately thought about William being born in 1841--but he was baptized in Warkworth in May 1841, so the time period fits. It also listed Thomas as being 38 when he died. So now I am looking for a Thomas Bell born around 1802. The pieces of the puzzle are finally falling into place.

In December, I'll be going to Salt Lake City to the main Family History Library. All the microfilm listed at www.familysearch.org catalog will be at my fingertips!!!! I can't wait!!

It's turning chilly here in Nashville. Had to turn the heat on this morning...it was 60 in here when I woke up. Well, it is the middle of October...

Thanks for all the great comments. A special hello to cousin Joan Ellen in California. It was great seeing you at the family reunion in Frontenac in June. So glad we were able to bering everyone together and let everyone relive some good childhood memories. That ham salad was good! And the potica is always great! I am still trying to get the family potica recipe to send to Dennis. Tell all your clan out there I said hello! You are having the next one, right????

Hello also to my friends Chris, Vaidas, Dave and Doug.

Tomorrow is hockey day...well, not NHL, but AHL. The minor league team for the Preds, the Milwaukee Admirals, will be playing Rochester at the GEC at 5 pm. It'll be good to get close to the ice again.

OK, time to go out on-line and search for some Bell's and Jobson's in England. Wish me success!!

Mark

Columbus Day October 12

Greetings!

Well, Columbus and I both discovered new world on this day, 469 years apart. Christopher Columbus or Cristobal Colon discovered the New World October 12, 1492. I came into a new world October 12, 1961.

Went out tonight for a few beers with some friends. Nothing fancy--just some slaps on the back and a chorus of Happy Birthday. Went to Beer Sellar and Mulligan's, the old haunts.

Can't believe I made it to 43! If I would have guessed that, I would have taken better care of myself and saved more money!

A little bit of melancholy slipped in after leaving Mulligan's. I walked down to the riverfront and watched the Cumberland float by. Thought about life and it's trials, love and it's quirks, time and it's passing. So many people I miss; so many opportunities I've squandered. Made some resolutions, as I do every year. Want to lose my age in lbs....want to pursue a relationship as I see it...want to make someone happy...and want to see Chicago again! I haven't been back for two years...I need a walk in the native ground.

Well, here's to 43 completed and the start of 44! Happy Columbus Day!

Mark

Ein Prosit! Oktober 9 2004

Well, Oktoberfest 2004 is a fond memory! We had a great day! The rain held off, just a few sprinkles during the day. The crowds were huge, the runners were numerous, the beer flowed, food was eaten, bands played and everyone had a wonderful time.

So now, I am ready to sit in a tub of warm water, with soothing music. Then make a cup of a new blueberry tea I found, and a slice of cinnamon cake I bought. Then slowly drift off into an Oktoberfest snooze.

The Admin group which handled the money today was small but fantastic! You all did a great job! Thanks to Jim, Phil, Shannah, Duff, Tim, Albennia, Tom and our security officers! You all made our job easier!

Now life can get back to the abnormal status I am used to! I hope to see some of you soon. We need to go out and do some partying!!

Signing off from party central--Germantown Nashville--

Mark

OKTOBERFEST!!! OCTOBER 9

Today is THE day!!! Oktoberfest in Historic Germantown neighborhood in Nashville.

Come on out!!

5K run begins at 8 am registration from 6:30 am at Bicentennial Mall; Opening Ceremonies at Assumption Church 7th Av N and Monroe St. at 9 am; Methodist and Catholic services at respective churches at 9:30 am; partying begins about 10 am in the neighborhood. German music until 4 pm at main stage, Steff Mahan at 6th & Monroe Stage, Nashville Jazz Workshop at 5th and Monroe stage; Radio Daze 20-piece orchestra begins at 5 pm at main stage until 8 pm.

Hope to see you here!!!

Well, it's 5:15 am andI need to be out the door to help...

Later my friends!

Mark

October 7...the party begins???

Hello my friends!

Well, it's Thursday night. Tomorrow site preparations for Oktoberfest begin. I took the day off so I can help outside. Right now I'm in the middle of doing some general housekeeping...just to make it look decent in case someone pops in for a bit.

Got some projects on the completed list today at work---YAY!!! Monday looks far away, but it'll creep up before I know it! A three day weekend always makes me feel good.

So, no WMD's in Iraq. Where did they go?? They were there. Even the UN inspectors found some a few years back. I still believe they are in Syria and Lebanon, maybe even Iran. It's funny that Iran's nuclear program started up about the time the WMD's were missing from Iraq. But like Gov. Pataki of NY said at the convention, September 11th proved that even a box cutter in the wrong hands is a weapon of mass destruction.

Tomorrow is an anniversary day all Chicago school children remember--October 8th--start of the Great Chicago Fire. That was 1871, wow 133 years ago! The week that contained the 8th was always Fire Prevention Week in Chicagoland schools. We had firemen come in and speak, had numerous fire drills, sometimes even a firetruck would pull up in the parking lot by the St. Christopher statue.

Price of gasoline went up again. I passed by a place here that was $1.95 for regular. Everybody blames Iraq for high prices...it's not Iraq...we never got oil from them! It's hurricane damage to the rigs in the gulf, the troubles in Nigeria and Sudan, still some problems in Venezuela. WE NEED TO DRILL IN ALASKA!!! WE HAVE THE RESOURCES RIGHT IN OUR MIDST. Most importantly, we need to fastrack alternative fuels as quick as possible. (See you all thought I was ultra-conservative and didn't care about the environment!)

Well, I think I am going to finish up. I have a horrible headache and need to relax. I ran out of high blood pressure medicine yesterday, so I didn't have one to take this morning and I can really tell the difference.

October 7th is also the feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. So, in honoring the great Mother of God on one of her feastdays...The Prayer After the Rosary

O God, whose only-begotten Son,
by His life, death and resurrection,
has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life;
grant, we beseech Thee, that,
meditating upon these mysteries of
the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
we may imitate what they contain and
obtain what they promise,
through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

May the Divine Assistance remain always with us. Amen.

And may the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God,
rest in peace. Amen.

A restful and peaceful night to all of you.

Gute Nacht!

Mark

Oct 6.. remembering my buddy!

Greetings my friends!

October 6 a day of rememberance for me. October 6 1982 was the day my buddy died. I still miss him. So many times since then I wanted to call him and talk. We were a pair in the kitchen... Michael George Wozgard I was my grandfather, my mother's father. I was in my senior year at UT-Martin when he died of abdominal cancer. Now, when I go to Chicago, I still go to Grandpa's--his house is still there on 62nd & Parkside, a block from Midway Airport. The house looks good. Then I go visit him and my step-grandmother, Sophie, at Lithuanian National Cemetery in Justice IL. I still miss him. Amzina atilsi, mano senelis. (Rest in peace, my grandfather.)

I have an Oktoberfest meeting tonight...again! Hopefully this will be the last one before Saturday. I am taking Friday off to help with set-up. Hope to see some of you here on Saturday, listening to the MusikMeisters, having a beer and enjoying what looks to be a wonderful day!

All this election stuff is making me crazy!! I made it through about 65 minutes of the debate last night, well, the replay at 10 pm on C-SPAN. I think Cheney did win that one. I am ready to vote and get it over with! I am still voting for Bush/Cheney. I cannot betray my values and vote for the Communist-backed Kerry/Edwards ticket. Yes, Communist-backed...the Communist Party of the United States is backing the Democrat ticket. Go to their website and see... www.cpusa.org . It's disgusting! Usually they run their own candidates, but I guess Kerry/Edwards have the same beliefs.

Well, almost time for the meeting. Catch all of you later. Oh, and for those of you who want some background on me, go to my blog archive and look for the one dated August 22nd. I was really wordy that Sunday!

Mark

Guardian Angels--October 2nd

Today is the feast of Guardian Angels. I thank God for mine! I'm surprised he/she hasn't left me high and dry yet!

Angel of God, My Guardian Dear
to whom God's love commits me here.
Ever this day be at my side
to light and guard and rule and guide. Amen

Today was a great day. I did get to Home Depot and buy the fix-it stuff. The faucet still drips--guess I'll have to go to Plan B. But at least I got the under the sink cabinet clean!!

A bad football day for me--Notre Dame, UT, Illinois, UT-Martin all lost. We'll see what tomorrow holds for the NFL...and Northwestern is still playing Ohio State...

Talked to Doug and he says his PC is moving pretty fast now. I guess we worked magic on it last night! Now if I get him to answer e-mail...

Also heard from Elena in Dayton. She's doing fine... I missed her in Cleveland last weekend. She had a prior trip planned.

Heard from Dave too. Hope we can get our schedules together so we can get together and do something! Guess I'm just a communication junkie this weekend.

OK--Saturday Night Live is on. Check with you all tomorrow.

Mark

Friday the 1st

I can't believe it has been 12 days since I last wrote. I am sorry, but I guess I was having just too damn much fun!!

Let's see...the 20th through the 24th, TEAM Week kept me hopping around town. It was fantastic to see the old gang again and to spend some time with them. Yep, got some stories to tell...but not here and now. Thanks to Joan, Tom, Rick, Peggy, Jerry, Blake and most importantly Doug, for letting me have a great time. It's great to sober up while you're helping someone else to sober up--gotta be the grown-up sometimes!

Friday night, the 24th, I flew to Cleveland OH for the Knights of Lithuania Mid-Central District Convention and Pilgrimage. I sure did surprise the room when they saw me there at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church (Dievo Motinos Nuolatines Pagalbos Baznycia) on Neff Rd. We had a great meeting and wonderful service in the church that afternoon. The dinner was great--ahhh kugelis (yep, I downed three huge pieces), chicken, beef tenderloins, wonderful desserts and libations to quench your thirst. The entertainment that Fr. Gediminas Kijauskas provided were two great videos--one on the life of Antanas Smetona, 1st President of the Republic of Lithuania in the 1920's and the second was the 2nd inauguration of Valdas Adamkus as President of current Lithuania, which happened in July 2004. President Adamkus is an honorary member of the Knights of Lithuania, and I got to meet him and actually give a presentation with him in the audience at the 2000 K of L convention in Los Angeles. Sunday Mass was great--don't get to hear a full Lithuanian Mass here in Nashville--imagine that! Coffee and desserts after Mass in the basement with wonderful fellowship and I was off to the airport.

After Mass, there was also a bookshop in the basement and I purchased some Lithuanian books and a cooking magazine. Saturday after the meeting, John Baltrus, from Pittsburgh PA, and I went to a store there in the neighborhood called Patria. A European foodstore. I was able to buy many Lithuanian items--mushroom soup, green pea soup, a jar of beet soup bouillon, newspapers, herring fillets, rye bread, beer, some tea (caraway, rosehip and peppermint) and I bought some Ritter Sports chocolate from Germany. Never had it before and John said they were great. I got the rum, raisin and hazelnut and it is FANTASTIC!!! If you can get it, buy it. Actual rum--and a lot of it!!

I was pegged a suspect at the airport...the x-ray operator didn't like the looks of something in my bag. They looked and looked, then swabbed it twice and ran the cloth through the machine..."clean". I didn't understand why they didn't just pull the bag out and inspect it. They finally did. And what did he zero in on--the jar of beet bouillon. I guess the x-ray detected powder??? He was pereturbed at first, as the label was in Lithuanian!! I told him the English was on the back. He was satisfied and let me repack and mosey down to the gate. Watched the pitiful Browns against the Giants...now the Titans don't look so bad!!

This week was 'get back to normal' week. After an Oktoberfest meeting Monday night, life resumed the normal pace. Vaidas and I went out for dinner Wednesday to Ru San's over on 12th in the Gulch. I'm not that crazy about sushi, but this was good. The menu is voluminous!! But it is descriptive so you can pick and choose. I had cooked sushi--smoked salmon, scallops, veggies. Prices are very reasonable. Sit at the sushi bar--you can watch them make it, plus you don't have to wait on a waiter to haul the order to you.

I started watching the Presidential debate last night, but turned it off after 37 minutes. I couldn't listen to the babble from both sides. Bush did make some excellent points, but not forceful enough and some of the slings Kerry through out went unanswered. Kerry's poise was fantastic--calm, relaxed... But I give both a C for this round one of three.

Tonight Doug called and I helped talk him through "de-pop up ad"-ing his home PC. After about 1 1/2 hours, he said it was running a lot quicker. He ran SpyBot. I told him to run it in Safe Mode. That way, the bad programs would not be loaded into active memory and would be easy to delete. It seems to have worked.

I also started a project of fixing a leaky kitchen faucet. Well, I got the piece out of the hot water tap--need to take it to Home Depot tomorrow and find a replacement. Plus I cleaned out the "sack" cabinet under the sink--yuck! Now I have room to store my cleaning supplies and get them out of the bathroom!! More room on the shelf for towels now.

And so, now I sit...with a cold Old Style Beer...and a mind cluttered with thoughts and ideas--most halfbaked!

REMEMBER OKTOBERFEST---ONE WEEK FROM TOMORROW!!! OCTOBER 9th IN GERMANTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD 7th AVENUE NORTH AND MONROE ST. OPENING FESTIVITIES START AT 9:00 A.M. IN FRONT OF ASSUMPTION CHURCH. CATHOLIC MASS and METHODIST SERVICE STARTS 9:30 A.M. NEIGHBORHOOD HOME TOURS, GERMAN FOOD, MUSIC, BEER, CRAFT BOOTHS, FREE CHILDREN'S AREA, APPALACHIAN CRAFTS, NASHVILLE JAZZ WORKSHOP STAGE, STEFF MAHAN STAGE....all for no admission price!! I hope to see you all sometime during the day. Call me..I'll have my cell phone 615-512-2615.

OK friends...time to put this blog on-line. Have a great weekend!

Mark