My New Story -Sneak Peak- Dusktown
February 15, 2010 | Items of Interest, Kid Brag, Self-Kudos, Uncategorized | Comments [1]
Hello everybody. I know it’s been forever since I’ve posted anything, but I’ve got news. I’ve been writing a story called Dusktown. I’m already on the eighth chapter. I’m posting the first chapter here, so that you all can see. Not the rest, though… proceed at your own risk.
Also, it’s pretty long… Like, eight and a half pages on word… Enjoy! Please comment.
Dusktown
Part I
New Kid
“I really do hate Wednesdays.”
The snow fell harshly outside; it buried the roofs of the buildings further off and ran across the frozen parking lot in flurries. It felt almost as if the entire world had been swallowed up by the darkness. A single black street lamp bathed itself and a trashcan in a thick yellow pool of light near the front of the building. Everything beyond was dense black.
Rat sat on a bench alongside the wall of the cafeteria. His foot was up against the edge of the table; he was wearing shiny black shoes usually worn by men much older than him. They shone faintly in the cheap luminescence of the lights.
A girl silently walked over to Rat’s table and sat down. Brushing her long blonde hair behind her ear, her eyes did a quick sweep over the room. After a somewhat tense, expectant silence, the girl returned her pale violet eyes back to her dinner. Rat didn’t try to hide his disappointed sigh. Suddenly, the girl said without looking up, “Rat, please keep your feet off the table.”
Smirking on the inside, Rat wordlessly obeyed and removed his foot. He then turned his own yellow eyes to the other children before him.
Directly across from Rat and the girl were four others, all speaking in suspiciously hushed voices. Two of the girls had on make-up, one with glitter over her eyes, and the third had short curly blonde hair, sugary brown eyes, and lightly freckled cheeks. They were all speaking to a girl who was standing behind them. She would listen for a few seconds, nod, and then look around the room, singling other people out. The girl shot a quick glance in the duo’s direction, but Rat couldn’t see her expression because her hair was in the way.
Beyond the four girls, nearly hidden behind the bodies of the other children, three larger males sat hunched together in a corner to the right. One of them was speaking animatedly. He would keep sending accusing glares at someone far across the room. Rat followed his gaze. He ended up seeing a small boy sitting alone at the other end of the cafeteria. The boy was staring down at his soup, looking both paranoid and forlorn at the same time.
“Weasel…”
The girl nodded without looking up. She chewed on a piece of bread before going on. “Snake thinks that Pebble told Ms. Holli about him smoking with the teenagers last month,” she said calmly. Rat furrowed his thin eyebrows. “Pebble? Pebble couldn’t tell on anybody, let alone Snake. He’d probably pee his pants at the thought of it.” Rat had mumbled the last part, knowing Weasel would not appreciate it. She sent him a look; she had heard him.
“Pebble was there, remember? He was standing with Ms. Holli when she saw. Snake thinks he told her.”
“Snake’s an idiot.”
“Pigeon’s coming.”
The girl who had been standing with the others was now heading straight for them. Her feathery light brown hair fell around her shoulders as she sat at their table across from them. “Hi Weasel. Rat.”
Rat nodded in greeting, and Weasel said, “Hello, Pigeon. Do you have any messages for us?”
“Yes, in fact, I do. And I’m in a rush, so let’s get through this quickly, please.” She glared pointedly at Rat.
“Who, me?” Rat protested. “I never give you any problems.” His voice was dripping with mischievous sarcasm. Pigeon rolled her eyes and shook her head before saying, “Whatever. Anyway, the first one is for Rat; it’s from Pop-Rocks.” Rat frowned and glared at Pigeon. “You love killing me on the inside, don’t you?” Pigeon looked smug, but didn’t respond.
Rat liked Pigeon well enough. She wasn’t like most other girls in the Orphanage; she didn’t drive him crazy from endless gossip, and she didn’t cry whenever she was upset. The two of them were on good terms.
Pigeon had come to the Orphanage two years before Rat, but he was older then her by two years. She was a thin girl, but had a strong personality that Rat (on occasion) respected. He had quickly found after his arrival at the Orphanage that almost everyone had a type of “occupation”. Pigeon’s was delivering messages – obviously.
After Weasel arrived at the Orphanage, two months after Rat, she had asked the other girl why she liked passing on messages for others. “Oh, that’s easy,” Pigeon had said. The three of them had been outside in the large back field, sitting close together in the grass. “First off all, if everyone trusts me with all the important stuff, I become untouchable. They’re all too afraid I’ll spill some big secret of theirs; and it’s real handy, too. You can’t trust anybody around here if you know what’s good for you. And I always know what’s going on, like if there’s going to be a fight or if something fun is happening. Besides, it’s a great way to keep tabs on all the news. ”
Pigeon was simply perfect for the job, too. She ate fast and little, so she could spend most of her mealtimes receiving and sending messages. She also had a very good memory. Most of the time you only needed to tell Pigeon the message once and she would be able to recite it perfectly. But one had to be careful; Pigeon rarely chose sides.
There was only one thing that Rat disliked about the younger girl. She enjoyed imitating the voices of the person who had sent the message. Whenever Pigeon gave you a message from someone you particularly despised, you would have to hear their voices as well. In this case, the message being from Pop-Rocks, the distain was doubled.
Pigeon took a deep breath, and then released a high pitched giggle. “Hi Rat! It’s Pop-Rocks. I just wanted to remind you that my birthday’s next month. So if you want to give me any kind of present, you’re welcome whenever you like. I really hope we can talk later. Kisses!”
Rat groaned and hid his face in his arms. His mop of white hair contrasted with the black material of his jacket. Weasel looked as if she was trying her best not to laugh. Pigeon wasn’t as courteous. “I think,” Pigeon said to the boy, sounding smug, “that she was trying to seduce you or something. Gross; I really hate doing messages for Pop-Rocks. It always leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”
Rat looked up and glared at her, but Pigeon continued, “The other one is for Rat, too. It’s from Rikki.”
Both Rat and Weasel looked surprised. “Rikki?” Weasel asked. “But he never gives us messages…” She trailed off. “Do I…? Should I leave?” Pigeon looked at her apologetically. “Yes. Sorry. I’ll talk to you in a minute though, ‘kay?” Weasel understood and nodded to them both before leaving the table. Rat watched her go, and Pigeon started the message. Her voice became deeper and smooth.
“Rat. It took you longer then I thought for you to find Snake out. I expected more from you. Actually, no. I’m sure Weasel was the one who eventually found out, not you. What’s wrong? Is your little know-it-all getting lazy? Tired of having to do all of the work? I’m not surprised.
“Rat, I just want to give you a heads up. Things are about to get exciting, and I want you on your toes. I do enjoy these games we play.”
His expression looked passive, as if what Pigeon had said meant nothing to him, but inside Rat’s mind was reeling. Rikki and Rat had always been on okay terms with each other. If they stayed out of each other’s way, nobody got hurt. But, of course, there were always exceptions….
Rikki is a sixteen-year-old boy. Some might call him handsome, and others might call him little less then ugly. It depends on how you look at him. With his swampy green eyes, Rikki could intimidate anyone easily. His black hair was long and always pulled back in a low pony-tail; this did not hinder his frightening stature.
Because Rikki’s sixteen, it’s quite odd for him to still be at Dusktown Orphanage. Usually how it works is that once a child has turned sixteen, they are sent to another town to be in a foster family. But Rikki was still here. Everyone wondered why, but knows better then to ask. It wasn’t as if Rikki was any trouble to them, anyways. If you didn’t make Rikki angry and stayed on his good side, he didn’t bother with you. Coincidentally, Rat was not really on Rikki’s good side.
“Well, do I?”
Rat was broken from his thoughts when he tuned into Pigeon asking him something. Being the gentlemen he was, Rat said, “What? Sorry, I wasn’t listening. Did you say something?” Pigeon grunted lowly in impatience. “I asked you if I had to bribe you.”
“Bribe me for what?”
“You’re such an idiot! I know you’re going to tell Weasel what I said even after I made her leave. Rikki specifically wants Weasel not to know. I don’t know why, but then again, I don’t care. Whatever goes on between you and him doesn’t matter to me in the slightest; except if it messes with my allowance. But that’s another matter entirely. So, do I?” Pigeon glared hard at him. She just wanted this conversation to be over.
Rat had to admit, he was a bit impressed. Telling Weasel was the first thing he had been going to do. Rikki was, and had been, a serious problem for them both. Unlike Snake, who made his deeds known so that anyone could figure him out, Rikki was smart. He was fast and he was sneaky. Rikki knew just how to mess with Rat’s more instinctual head. Was Rikki really up to something? Did he just want Rat to get all paranoid? Maybe this was all a trap – make Rat feel like he knows everything, and then strike when he least expects it.
Rat sighed. He hated strategy games; they were more Weasel’s turf. But if Rat couldn’t tell her, he would have to figure this out on his own. How troublesome.
“Yeah, fine, sure. I won’t tell her.”
Pigeon kept staring. “Promise?”
“Whatever, I promise; are you happy now? Now go on, fly away before you ruin the rest of my day.”
Pigeon, with a triumphant smile, did just that. She then proceeded to run to Weasel, grab the girl’s wrist, and then drag her to the other side of the room. Rat rubbed his eyes, suddenly feeling tired.
This was just great – more secrets.
*~*~*~*
When Weasel finally returned, Rat asked her what they had been talking about. Weasel simply gave him her don’t-worry-about-it look and continued eating. Rat sulked about this for the rest of dinnertime.
Now the two of them were heading towards the staircase that led to the second floor. On the next floor were everyone’s rooms. It being almost nine, Rat and Weasel had decided to go upstairs to talk about Snake before curfew, which was eleven ‘o’clock. “Pebble could be in big trouble if Snake gets a hold of him,” Weasel muttered, mostly to herself. But Rat had heard, and he couldn’t help but think, Snake isn’t our worst problem.
Weasel hadn’t asked once about what Pigeon had told him, and quite frankly it frustrated him. He hadn’t expected any less from her, though. Weasel was observant; in Rat’s mind she probably already knew Rikki was up to something. But she still could have asked. Rat probably would have told her if she had just asked, promise to Pigeon or no. And he knew Weasel knew that too. Yet she continued on as if nothing of any significance had been said between him and Pigeon. Rat hesitated. Did she really trust him that much?
Perhaps he was giving her too much credit.
As the two of them began ascending up the stairs, they heard their names being called. Ms. Holli was running towards the both of them while trying to pull on a thick coat. Ms. Holli was one of the nicer staff that worked at Dusktown Orphanage, and had a kind of bond with all of the orphans there. Even Rat, who had no interest for making friends, liked her more then most of the other kids did. He even smiled as she approached.
“Oh, Weasel, Rat, I’m so happy you’re not up yet,” she told them. The sound of wailing snow grew slightly from outside, and the already icy windows turned whiter with frost. “There’s a new child coming here to the orphanage.”
“Is there?” Weasel asked, a faint touch of excitement coming off her words. Rat’s smile left. Ms. Holli smiled and nodded. “Yes. Actually, Neal was supposed to have dropped him off an hour ago, but they got lost on the way back. They’re coming up in about five minutes… and they need help bringing his things inside. I was hoping the two of you would help me?”
“Are you bloody serious?” Rat was shocked. “Have you looked outside? It’s probably thirty degrees below out there! There’s probably three feet of snow. We’ll freeze before we even get to the car.”
Ms. Holli said, “Oh, please Rat? Everyone else is already upstairs. Ruby already left for home. I know you hate getting cold, but I really do need your help.” During this, Weasel said nothing, but Rat could feel her watching him and waiting for his answer. He was silent for a moment. Then, “Alright, fine. But I’m holding this grudge on the stupid new kid. It’s not like we need any more trouble here anyway.”
Weasel and Rat both put on their thick winter coats that hung with all the others at the front of the building. Once ready, Ms, Holli opened the door with a bit of difficulty. Rat was immediately assaulted with biting wind and snow. Beyond the overhead light, everything was still and dark, so he could barely see five feet in front of him.
The three of them waited outside in the cold snow. They looked towards the far of road, which was visible from where they were standing through a brake in the trees. Rat could see yellow and red lights flying past each other, all of them having a place to go somewhere deep in the unknown darkness. He suddenly wondered what it was like at his old neighborhood, or how his house looked, or if it was still there. He wondered about that one girl – what was her name? Eliza? – had ever learned to play the flute like she had said when they were small. Rat thought about all the things he had left behind when he had run away from home. Did they sell it? Maybe they donated it or gave it all away. Perhaps they had used it as evidence after his disappearance. Rat then recalled not having many things to start with.
Two yellow lights caught Rat’s attention, and he realized that it was a truck. It climbed up the frozen assault and rolled before Weasel, Ms. Holli and himself. Keeping the motor running, a man opened the door and quickly hopped out of the driver’s seat. From the headlights and the lights inside the car, his face was easily seen.
Neal was another kind of staff that worked for the Orphanage; Rat guessed that he was somewhere in his early twenties. His job was usually to pick up nearby children who were unfortunate enough to have to come here. Neal was also the one that took the older kids to foster parents nearby. Sometimes he worked in the kitchens or helped the Chief with paperwork and such. Rat even remembered Neal helping Ms. Holli with the younger children one day. Something had seemed different that day, but he hadn’t known what.
Neal was wearing a pathetically thin jacket and jeans, so he ran up to the three of them and said, “I’m going to bring him inside. There’s one suitcase in the passenger seat and another in the back. In the trunk there’s a box full of the rest of his things; Rat can get the box.”
Quickly everyone hurried to do their job. They followed Neal to the truck and Rat headed straight for the trunk. He pulled himself into the back by resting his foot on the tire and throwing the other one over the edge. Rat covered his eyes so the snow could not blind him as he looked for the box. It was a sealed cardboard box that sat at the very corner of the trunk. Stepping in the rest of the way he picked it up. It wasn’t too heavy. Rat hadn’t really expected it to be.
“Hey!” he yelled, hoping to get Neal’s attention. When he wasn’t heard, Rat turned and yelled again. “Neal!” This time he got the man’s attention. As Neal looked back, Rat quickly studied the boy who was standing beside him.
He was short, about Pebble’s height, and had on no jacket and sweat pants. He was shivering fiercely. Most people who didn’t have a jacket on and who had been forced to stay outside in this kind of weather would have been drilling holes into Rat’s head with malice. Instead the boy’s head kept facing towards the building. Because of the dark, Rat couldn’t see much detail, like the boy’s eyes or hair or skin color.
“Is this stuff breakable?”
Neal turned to the boy and said a few words. The boy shook his head, still looking forward. Neal looked back and said, “No, its not! But why–”
Rat tossed the box onto the ground. It landed with a satisfying ‘bang!’
Eventually they all made it inside and Neal closed the door behind the girls. Rat greeted the warm air happily, refusing to take off his coat until he could feel his nose again. Weasel turned to Ms. Holli and asked, “Where is he going to stay?”
As Ms. Holli removed her coat and handed it to the boy, she told Weasel, “Rat has the extra bed in his room, and the second closet.”
Rat’s insides boiled. His room? His room! There was no way he was going to let some strange kid he didn’t even know in his room with his things, doing who knows what with them. Rat was not one for roommates. His last one was a boy they called Snacks. Snacks didn’t know the definition of ‘personal space’ and had eventually been literally thrown out when Rat had entered one of his rages after Snacks messed with his… well… old companion. He now resided with a tall boy named Shark.
But before Rat could argue about the unfairness of the situation, somebody said, “There you are!”
Rat turned to see Pigeon and the blond haired girl coming down the stairs. Weasel stepped over to them. “Hello Pigeon. Hello Strawberry. Is something wrong?” Pigeon crossed her arms. “Yes something’s wrong. We’ve been looking for you for fifteen minutes! Where have you – you know what? I don’t want to know. Just come on!” Before Weasel could oppose, she was once again dragged by the wrist and up the stairs. Shooting everyone an apologetic look, she called back, “Sorry. I’ll drop this off at Rat’s room. Goodnight!”
Ms. Holli and Neal both said goodnight back even after Weasel could no longer be seen. Rat watched, unhappy.
*~*~*~*
“Alright, shrimp, this is how it works. This is my side of the room. Don’t go on my bed. Stay out of my closet. It’s probably a good idea not to talk to me or ask me any stupid questions. Right?” Rat looked behind him and glared at the boy. He jumped, and then nodded forlornly. “Good,” said Rat. His room was small, but big enough for two or three people to share. His bed sat on the left side of the room, and another one without sheets was pushed up against the far wall, which was a pale green color. A few of Rat’s possessions – clothes, mostly – were scattered haphazardly around the room. He had already moved to pick some of them up and put them on ‘his side’ of the room. “Also, I don’t help with any homework. Figure it out on your own. Come over here and help me move this bed, shrimp.”
Now that they were inside, Rat took in the kids appearance more, memorizing it. He had short curly red hair and pale blue eyes. His skin was rosy from the cold outside. He was a small, thin boy that resembled Pebble in most ways of body and personality. But the boy, deciding if he was going to live here he should probably start standing up for himself, stated, “I have a name, you know–”
“And I don’t want to hear it,” snarled Rat. Sure, I’m being a little harsh, Rat thought to himself. But he’ll thank me for it later. He’s not going to get anywhere with all that shyness. Look where that got Pebble. “Now get over here and help me move your bed.”
He looked cross, but the boy decided he should probably not argue. At least not with Rat. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t still open himself somewhat. He moved towards Rat and grabbed one side of the iron bedpost. “Is your name really Rat?” he asked quietly, but loud enough so that Rat could hear him.
Rat shot him a look. “What? No, don’t be stupid. Rat’s my Surname.”
“So it’s your last name? What about those girls? Weasel, Pigeon, Strawberry? Those aren’t their last names, are they?”
“No,” Rat said angrily, putting the bed down so he could concentrate. “Listen, you little midget. Most of the kids that end up here don’t have last names anymore. Usually they forget them, or maybe they just don’t know their last names. Whenever someone new comes to the Orphanage, they’re nameless.”
“What about your actual name?”
Rat rolled his eyes. “As if those mean anything anymore; nobody knows anyone’s first name around here. Ms. Holli doesn’t even use them, even though she would like to.”
“Then what is a Surname?”
“It’s a name that someone who already lives at the Orphanage gives you – usually its your roommate or maybe its just someone you become friends with quickly. Anyway, they’re called Surnames because they represent the last names we don’t have. No one uses first names. I’d bet most of us don’t even remember them anymore. I barely remember mine.” Alright, this may have been stretching the truth just a bit. But Rat would have loved to forget his real name. It was just a burden to him.
The boy nodded and asked, “Who gave you your Surname?”
Rat shook his head. “Duh know. Everyone just started calling me Rat one day, and I went along with it. Now shut up and help me move this stupid thing.”
They both lifted at the same time, but Rat found that the bed seemed lighter. He glanced at the boy as they moved it; he didn’t seem to be having any trouble with the weight at all.
As they settled it parallel to the right wall, Rat said to the boy, “Strong for a shrimp, aren’t you?” The boy just shrugged. He looked tired. Rat paused for a second. “Ant,” he finally said, and then he walked to his side of the room. The boy looked up. “What?”
“Your Surname is Ant. I’ve decided. And don’t look at me like it’s a stupid name. It’s better then being called Skito, isn’t it?”
“Who’s that?”
Rat pulled off his shirt and jacket and then pulled on a clean long sleeved nightshirt. It was too cold to sleep without one. Looking down at his black pants and deciding he was too tired to bother, he walked over and turned the lights off.
“No one you need to worry your pretty little head about. There’s some covers in your closet behind the bed. Get some sleep.”
As Rat lied down, he listened to Ant’s shuffling steps and the opening of the closet doors. Soon enough Ant was lying in the bed, pulling the covers closer to himself. Then it was quiet.
“Rat?” Ant’s voice was very soft.
“What?”
“What about that girl who was with us? What was her name?”
Rat turned around and looked in the younger boy’s direction. Even though it was dark, Rat’s vision was better then most peoples. He could see Ant’s outline. The boy was lying on his stomach, looking in his direction. “Her name’s Weasel,” Rat told him. Ant thought about that for a bit. “Who named her? Was it that girl with the brown hair?”
“No. I did.” Rat turned back over and closed his eyes.
“Why did you name her Weasel?” Ant asked. His voice was starting to fade from exhaustion.
No doubt he’s had a long day, becoming an orphan and all, Rat though cruelly. Then he thought about Ant’s question.
“I… I don’t know why I call her that. I guess it just fits her.”
“Cool…” Rat could almost hear Ant’s eyes sliding shut as the boy decided to drift off to a restless sleep.
Rat frowned and pulled the covers over his still cold nose. Then he said, just loud enough for Ant to hear, “Keep out of my stuff. Stay off my side of the room. Don’t ask stupid questions.”
Please tell me if you like it.
Update on The Viera’s
September 25, 2009 | Check-in, Items of Interest | Comments [1]
Ok So I haven’t written much on this site but I guess the only way to change that is to write. So How about an update…
Well as most of you know we have moved to Jacksonville, FL having spent over half a year in a house that the landlord decided not to pay the mortgage on so … we found another house to rent from a more secure landlord (great guy by the way HIs Name is Gus and Will be refered to as such for the remainder of this post). Anyway … so In 6 more days I will Have reached a milistone in my life. I will have been at the same job for a year. I know to a normal person that just seems funny but having had 26 jobs in my life time having just one for a year is a great feat for me. So I work for a comapny called Skybooks we write small aircraft maintanence software. I am one of Four devlopers who are mostly friends now. So enough about me … Carmen Today went for a side job and things went good Ill let her tell you the details. Jordan is in Drama class in school and I spoke with her Drama teacher This morningn and she had very good things to say about our JoJo. Teyla is in Pre-school and loves it ! She is so smart(sometimes to smart ofr her own good) and she is so beautiful. She has caught fish in our back yard and loves the pool and is overall pretty happy I thnk.
Although none of our lives are perfect and things can always be better than they are at times life in general is made for living not for wasting so we are trying to live they best we can and raise our girls the best we know how. Ok well signing off looking forward to hearing from everyone.
Jason
Dia de los Padres
June 20, 2009 | Items of Interest | Comments [1]
It’s another Father’s day. It is estimated that children think of and spend approximately 27% more time and money on their mothers than their fathers. I don’t know if that’s the case with us but just to be sure:
HERE’S A 30% BIGGER FATHER’S DAY GREETING, DAD!!!!
Quote by Vaughn J. Featherstone
May 20, 2009 | Items of Interest | Comments [1]
I was getting ready to work in the Initiatories in the Temple yesterday, and I noticed a quote on the very end of the front desk (could almost miss it), and it gave me so much comfort:
“I promise you that all who faithfully attend to Temple work will be blessed beyond measure. Your families will draw closer to the Lord. Unseen angels will watch over your loved ones when satantic forces tempt them. The veil will be thin, and great spiritual experiences will distill upon this people.”
I was so happy when the Temple opened again yesterday. ( It was closed for two weeks, and we were gone for almost three weeks), so I was really missing being there! And then, I went off and forgot the paperwork for my Aunt Ann McLure’s templework! She has to wait until next Tuesday, and then I don’t know how soon I can catch somebody doing baptisms, so I can get her included. Then it’s easy. I can do the rest of the ordinances myself, and with much pleasure. Just getting the baptism done is the most difficult.
If Dad and I can just hold out health-wise and continue to work in the temple, I feel comforted that our children and grandchildren are somehow going to be blessed because of it. Maybe not even while we’re still on earth….but someday in the eternal world.
Buddy…your name will remain in the Temple indefinitely.
3 Week Contract
May 14, 2009 | Items of Interest | Comments [2]
Imagine, having someone offer you work for three weeks and then coming up to you 3 1/2 years later and saying, “Good job, we’ll let you go now. Thank you for the 40 weeks:)”
Sounds like a good run to me… I hope the next job gives me a 4 week contract:)
Out of the banking business for now.
Send your wonderful prayers and good thoughts this way. I am sending them out for all of you as well.
Man’s Search….
February 20, 2009 | Items of Interest, Recipes | Comments [3]
mans-search-for-meaning-viktor-e-frankl.pdf
I know you probably all get weary of me slinging philosophy and pictoral diagrams around like so many Krystal Hamburgers:) It’s more about sharing a recipe than proselyting for me. This Family Site of ours is also a good site to archive personal things you want to remember and access from anywhere in the world. This is the book that helped me learn to understand humanity and see beyond inhumanity so I could work on spiritual things.
Most browsers support PDF files but if yours doesn’t, you will need Adobe Reader to view this. Most computers have it. It is a free download.
I found Aunt Edith
January 29, 2009 | Items of Interest | No Comments
A few months ago I just happened to check James Monroe Chapman and Nancy Ann Elizabeth Frances Jacobs and their children to make absolutely certain that I had finished all of the ordinance work for everybody….the two of them sealed together, and their children sealed with them. Much to my SHOCK I couldn’t find my Aunt Edith’s records anywhere. In NEWFAMILY.com I found that she had been sealed to her parents and to her husband, Clem (who she never divorced, even though they were separated for forty years), but there was no record of her baptism, confirmation, initiatory, or endowment ordinances. I panicked, and I searched and searched. Finally, in desperation, I called the Help Service provided by Newfamily.com in Salt Lake City. I was immediately referred to someone (in California), who was qualified to help me with my problem. The problem was, essentially, that I had a pink card with the ordinances blacked out, except for her sealing to her parents, and I had no possible way of getting her work done, unless I could get another pink card.
The service worker and I stayed on the phone for over an hour trying different ways to solve the problem. All ofa sudden, he said,”Say, is it possible you sent her name in under somebody else’s name, other than your own?”
“Yes. Maybe my husband.” I called Luis in. He went into NEWFAMILY.COM. Found Aunt Edith’s records in his name. I immediately reprinted a pink card….and I’m all set to do her ordinance work!! A huge boulder was suddenly rolled off my shoulder. (that rhymes) And dear Aunt Ed can join her father, mother, and brothers and sisters in the Spirit Paradise very, very soon.
The Spirit of Elijah is in this room when I sit down to do genealogy work. Odd things occur. For instance, a couple of weeks ago when I just suddenly, out of the blue, thought about my cousin, Izetti’s husband, Bob Knothe, and I wondered if he had died. WHERE did that thought come from? I’ve never had ANY thoughts about Bob Knothe. So…I looked in the Social Security Death Index, and found a Robert Knothe that was born in 1925 in Pennsylvania, and died on February 12, 2008, in Pennsylvania. That had to be my Bob. I needed confirmation, so I asked Tom Holland in my Christmas card to them if Bob had died. Finally, I called him a few nights ago. He had called our cousin, Mary Nell Pittman Carter, in Philadelphia, and she confirmed that it was Bob that died. So, I can do his work next month, and seal him to Izetti. They were such good, good people, and they loved each other very much. Tom also found out that Mary Nell’s husband, Jim, had died. We didn’t know about that, either, but we don’t know much about our Philadelphia cousins.
A very strange book
January 25, 2009 | Items of Interest | Comments [3]
It’s only 157 pages long, and it sort of jumped off the shelf at me. The fir page is entitled “An Important Message”
It starts out with “You are holding a unique book. I should know, since i’m the one who found the original manuscript. It was stacked neatly, and handwritten on shimmery white paper.”
He started reading it, and was so fascinated that he was stunned to see two hours had passed.He finished reading it, and hurried home to show it to his wife, Flora. “I’ll make my meeting, but could you read this manuscript this afternoon? When I got hom, Flora simply said, We have to get this published. They found a publisher who liked the story a lot, but couldn’t agree to print it as a true story. Rather, he preferred to print it as a novel, based on true experiences. Or something like that. It was agreed.
It is the story of a young girl named Tina Marlar, who got hit by a car and was killed. She explains her story from that point of how she entered the Spirit World, and the things that happened to her there, where she had to make some choices. She made good choices that was going to effect many of her family members still on earth. She was going to be allowed to go to earth and try to influence them about the church.
A few interesting points: The spirit paradise is enormous, and in the center is a golden city that shimmers with diamonds, and it is where Jesus Christ lives when he is in the spirit world. Also, it is the home of the prophets. Their homes are enormous mansions.
While those of the more common folks in the spirit paradise have mansions that they have earned, and they are very busy with many essential assignments to keep the Saviors Spirit World in perfect order. Nothing must be amiss.
Jordan went home
January 19, 2009 | Items of Interest | Comments [3]
Carmen and Jason came on Friday, packed up Jordan, and they finished all of the packing on Saturday(but Jason took time off very early to go out with his brother for some early morning salt water fishing), and they left. We’re already missing Jordan.
Maria came late Sunday Afternoon, spent the night, and spent all day today (holiday,you know. Somebody special’s birthday) and she painted the room that Jordan exited. A pretty color of yellow. It looks very nice. There’s a queen bed in there, so someone can come and visit now.
Jani may be here for a while. Casey is awaiting his orders, and he just may be sent to Afghanistan. Jani would like to go back to Oklahoma…..but…..we’ll see.
Thank you, Maria, for painting the room. It really is very pretty.
Sister Scott
January 12, 2009 | Items of Interest | Comments [3]
Luis and I received news this evening that a very sweet sister that we were acquainted with for the past three years, while we have been serving as workers in the Orlando Temple, has passed away.
It was truly devastating news. It was only three months ago that she was diagnosed with Leukemia. I wasn’t aware at any time that she even felt ill. She was always so kind, and so concerned about ME!
Sister Scott was married to the brother of the Apostle, Elder Richard G. Scott. She died last Tuesday, and we have just now heard about it, because we didn’t go to the temple last Tuesday, as I was still in the hospital.
I thought that, with treatment, she could live for several more years.
I think my grandfather, Daddy Mac (McLure) died soon after he was diagnosed with that disease.
The Germans have landed
November 16, 2008 | Items of Interest | No Comments
I was in NewFamily, and I traced my 2GGrandfather, Thomas Richard Chapman, (who was the first person buried in the old Chapman Cemetery. Remember? The one down south where we went for a family reunion one time. Anyway, my 3GGrandfather is William W. Chapman, and he married my 3GGrandmother, Elizabeth Hester.
From there, I traced the Hesters back to the 11th GGrandfather, Andrew Hester (born in 1538 in Germany).
I’m wondering if the German name would be Heister???
The French Connection
November 14, 2008 | Items of Interest | No Comments
I followed our line beginning with my Ggrandfather, Thadeus Cherry (your GG Grandfather) all the way back to my 16th GGrandfather (JEAN DE LA CHERIOS) born in 1352 in Picardy, France, and died in 1412.
It was interesting the way Cherry went to Cherrie (Thomas Cherrie, born in 1538 ….and on to Cherie….(Thomas Cherie, born in 1498) and then to CHERIOS.
To think I was worried about breaking the Cherry line (because I had only gotten to George W. Cherry, father of Thadeus. And POP….other people broke the line and went to town with it!! Of course, all of the ordinance work has been done, except for one John Cherry, and I’m going to pick him up and do his work.
November 9, 2008 | Items of Interest | No Comments
After a week of wildly packing boxes, with Carmen really being pushed to the limit, the truck finally showed up today,and it’s a long 24ftr and that thing is packed so full that they ended up having to leave some things.
Jordan is still with us, and she plans to stay until Christmas unless she changes her mind,but she might not change it.
Jani was thinking Casey would be finished his training program next month, but not until February it seems
Thats fine with us. We’re nuts about that little baby. Tia came on Wednesday, and she’s hardly put that little guy down. And he’s the best little baby in the world. You just don’t make that little fellow upset about anything. When he gets hungry, he just makes grunting noises, and starts sucking his fingers.
Jani is a very good little mother. She takes excellent care of him. Tia says he’s a sweet baby because of the good atmosphere in our home. Luis continues to grow spiritually everyday. His manner is so calm and loving, and especially to me. Tia said she felt that this is a sweet home, full of love,and the baby basks in it.
Will to Meaning
October 27, 2008 | Items of Interest | Comments [7]
I am working on a Play/Musical to showcase my songwriting based on explanations of Viktor Frankl’s ‘Will to Meaning’ principles as opposed to the Freudian/Adlerian ‘Will to Pleasure’ and ‘Will to Power’. I have this basic illustration that shows how the ‘Pursuit’ of Happiness is impossible because happiness is a by product which ‘ENSUES” once a living soul incorporates meaning to his/her life. I thought I would post it here for archiving…
ENGLAND AND WALES OF COURSE
October 22, 2008 | Items of Interest | No Comments
I already knew that!! I started out with Benjamin Franklin Mclure, Jr., most certainly a Scottish fellow, but he married Ruth Cassity, of the English sort. They fanned around in Louisiana, and on to here and there.
But I noticed that Ruth Cassity had an English heritage going back to a John Pipkin born in 1645 in Stanfordshire, England.
Benjamin was a great-great uncle of our’s.
Was this Pipkin fellow kin to us? I’m not sure. I have to look again.
Our Christmas Plans Might Include Julie and Ben
October 21, 2008 | Items of Interest | Comments [5]
Nancy’s father, who lives in Largo, FL, is traveling up to Tulsa to visit her sister for Christmas, so we’re going up for Christmas as well.
So while we’re there, assuming Julie, Ben and the little guys are hanging around Joplin for the holidays, we plan to go up and visit for a day or two. No fret if we do, guys; we’ll stay in a hotel (as we are doing in Tulsa as well).
I hope we can get together. It’d be fun.
Love to all.
The Irish showed Up
October 11, 2008 | Items of Interest | Comments [4]
Well…I do love this NEWFAMILY program. I found where another of our lines …. the Crooms….go back to Limerick, Ireland. Back nine generations from me….ten from you. To Joel Croom, and his wife, Susannah. Joel was born about 1657 and Susanna about 1665. The both died in New Kent, Virginia. So, they were the immigrants. Their son, Daniel, was born in Ireland about 1683, and he married Susanna Holmes, who was born in Goochland, Virginia, so he must have been a little child when he came over with his parents.
All of their temple work has been done. I counted…starting with the nine of you….76 children (all ordinances finished, except for six.
This One’s For Jordan!
October 3, 2008 | Items of Interest | Comments [2]
And all the “Jordanish” others out there who like this kind of stuff!
I Didn’t Do It!!!
October 3, 2008 | Items of Interest | Comments [2]
Family Suspects Bill Polhemus of Murder.
“Where were you on April 15, 2004?”
“Probably frantically doing my taxes!”
Poor children in Africa need your money (And so do our teachers…) Buy a magazine!
September 25, 2008 | Items of Interest, Shameless Begging, Uncategorized | Comments [2]
~Hey pepz! i just wanted to let you know that we r having another one of those fund raisers at school, except this time, we really need it. I heard from a friend that because of budget cuts, they have to fire the chorus, band, or some other cool teacher. Its horrible! One of my friends is in band, she plays the clarinet. I try to steal her suitcase, the one she holds it in, and i run and say i’m a buisness women and its mine! Lol. Well anyways, i’m going to try and raise some money this time so we can keep the teachers (And because the give out prizes like itunes gift cards, mini blenders, time out of class, ext.) They’re even rewarding an iTouch or iPhone if you sell 125 magazine subscriptions! How cool is that!?! I want to get that iPhone… but I also want to help. With all the budget cuts for our school, things aren’t going so well, and being a new school and first year isn’t helping much.
Sooo…
If your interested in some magazines, then leave a comment. We have lots of different kinds, for kids, for moms and dads, and even for the little pepz! I’m sure they would love Nickelodeon magazine. I’m getting the packet for it tomorrow, so if you want something, you need to tell me as soon as possible. Like now. Seriously, you need to tell me now. If you keep reading, I will deny your claim. OK, that’s it! Now you cant get a magazine! I try to tell you to stop, but you just wont listen. Aw now look, your still reading. I bet you just think I have something important to say (like how I REALLY want that iPhone) but ya know, whatever…
BTW, I’m watching you Maria. You will never pinch those chubby pink cheeks of Tristen’s. Neva!!