The holidays are almost over...

Well, it's New Year's night, a few quarters of football left and then it's back to the regular same ol' same 'ol tomorrow. Except for me....taking the week off to get some projects done and then fly to Chicago. I'll think about everybody at their jobs...as I will be on Monday the 8th.

The Predators started 2007 off with a loss to the Colorado Avalanche. It wasn't pretty. Next game is Friday night in Chicago...got my ticket on the dining room table, ready to go!

Got a email from a cousin...I guess, actually, a step-cousin, if there is any such thing. He is my step-grandfather's great-great-nephew. It's the Grigalavicius side, and that's the major family I am going to do some research on this weekend. How timely! Doing the genealogy of all my ancestors, not just specific families has been great. I have found so many new cousins, and met some of the ones I already knew I had, but never crossed paths with before. As you may know, I have roots in England, Ireland, Bavaria, Slovenia and Lithuania. Now, I must have cousins in all of them, but also have found people in Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Argentina and Spain. My stamp collection is also growing!!

Studying tonight for this final on Wednesday. Let's see...the social ranks are Kings, queens, princes, royal dukes, dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts, barons, baronets, knights, squires, gentlemen, merchants, professionals, artisans/skilled craftsmen, apprentices,yeomen, husbandmen, tenants, laborers, cottagers, paupers, vagrants and servants...in that order. And in early modern English handwriting there was book hand and secretary hand, which was replaced by gothic and italic. The parish registers contained baptism, marriage and burial records. Parish chest records were bastardy bonds, apprenticeships, rate books, vestry minutes, churchwardens accounts. Calendar changed from Julian to Gregorian in England in 1752. Year used to begin on March 25, then changed to January 1. Tudor Dynasty began with Henry VII, then Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, Elizabeth I...then Stuarts James I, Charles I, Charles II, James II...then to William and Mary... SEE WHAT I MEAN???!!!

OK, I'm going to go and eat an apple and then back to studying. Oh, in the midst of the holiday season, and since my initial determination to lose some weight, followed by my doctor's initiatives in October, I have lost about 23 lbs since mid-September. I need to keep it going. I'll be able to fit in those size 40's again soon!!

Have a great night and go BOISE STATE!