I guess I don't get it. I don't understand how the government can be bailing out the auto industry when, here in Maine anyway, we are looking at an unprecedented $26 million cut in education in the middle of the school year. When the auto company CEOs are making $400,000 a year, and a fraction of that is being cut from a statewide school budget that is likely to deeply affect our children's education. When these same CEOs show up to testify to Congress, asking for billions (nor millions) of dollars in free money, and they show up having flown to Washington in their individual corporate jets. Isn't that like driving a limousine to a food cupboard?
Here in Maine, our governor has ordered $26,000,000 in cuts, not for next year, but in the middle of the year, well after school supplies have already been ordered, when schools are trying to figure out how they are going to pay the winter fuel bills. This is money that has already been promised to the schools that the schools have built their budgets around. What are the schools going to do? My school district is giving pink slips to all the education technicians, anticipating that some or all of them may lose their jobs somewhere around Christmas. (Happy Holidays and don't let the door hit you in the butt as you leave for good.) My wife's school is looking at having 30 to 35 kids per classroom for next year. In my school, we are already cut back to the point where we can only offer our students English/Language Arts classes every other day. Are we going to have to do that with Math, too? We have cut our reading instruction from last year to this year by two thirds, from 350 minutes a week to 110 minutes a week. And now we hear that there may be more cuts. Maybe the kids can get by with 30 minutes of reading instruction a week and English every third day. Maybe we can cut Math out completely. I've always heard its over-rated anyway.
But, we better make sure we bail out the auto industry. Some of those executives might not get their Christmas bonuses. Isn't this the same industry that was told to produce more fuel efficient vehicles a few years ago? And they refused? They said people wanted the big SUVs and Hummers. Now, which vehicles are sitting on the lots rusting before they have ever been driven?
But lets cut all those ed techs from the schools. What do they do all day, anyway? They only work with our toughest students: the kids who can't read, the kids who kick and bite and punch, the kids who didn't get any supper the night before because mom was passed out drunk and dad hasn't been seen since last January, the kids who swear at them all the time, the kids who aren't toilet trained. Who is going to work with them? The principals? The superintendents? Maybe the school board would volunteer to come in every day at lunchtime to catheterize that student that used to be catheterized by the ed tech? Lets get rid of some of our most important staff members, the ed techs, and see what sort of school we have left.
I'm not blaming the superintendent. His hands are tied. To have cuts in the middle of the year is an impossible situation. There is very little supply money left to cut. The teachers have signed a year-long contract, there are legal issues if they are let go in the middle of the year. That leaves the hourly employees. I understand his dilemma.
One solution: take one tenth of one percent of the money that may be going to bail out the auto industry and send it our way, toward Maine, toward education, and we might be able to keep our already cut to the bare bones schools going for a little while longer.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Hearing From a Former Student, Too Much Water and Seth Update
I have three topics for this blog entry, as the title of the blog suggests.
First, I got an email today from a former student of mine. When I taught sixth grade, for a couple of years I taught science, in addition to math. I had very little background in science, so I taught what I knew: space. I did a unit on the space program as well as a unit on astronomy. My kids really seemed to enjoy the units. One girl in particular really was especially motivated by the space unit. She emailed me this week. She is going to school at Florida Institute of Technology, with an interest to perhaps work at NASA, perhaps as an astronaut. She was telling me about the program she is in. She has recently been at Kennedy Space Center, where she was taken out to a launchpad, with a Space Shuttle sitting there all ready to launch (scheduled for November 14). I was very impressed. I love hearing from former students, but I particularly like to hear from this former student. This is a young lady who set her sights on working for NASA from the time she was young, perhaps even in sixth grade. She has worked very hard, in school, by attending space camps, and now in college, to meet her goal. I have every reason to believe she will meet that goal. I wish more students could be as goal-oriented and hard-working as this young lady. I am so proud of everything she has done and, whether she ends up working for NASA or not, I will continue to be very proud of her.
Item number two: I discovered a water main break. I was home sick from work Wednesday (I am already feeling 99% recovered) when I noticed that the ditch in front of the house was filled with water. Except when we get heavy rain, this almost never happens, and when it does it drains quickly. I saw that water was coming out of the culvert that crosses under the road fairly steadily. This bugged me and a few hours later I went outside and took a closer look. The ground was beyond saturated along the ditch and, when I checked the other end of the culvert, no water was entering from the other side. To make a long story short, I ended up calling the water department on a hunch and sure enough, the water main was leaking about fifteen feet further up the road. They ended up shutting off the water to the whole street, digging a huge hole and fixing the leak. When I mentioned to Cara (by cell phone as she was on her way home) what had happened, she was impressed. But not with my discovering the leak, but by the fact that I actually called the water district myself.
Update on Seth: Seth is in Vermont working at Sugarbush Ski Resort for the winter. He is making snow for the resort, working very hard, and living in a small apartment near Sugarbush. He sounds very happy and Cara and I are very proud of him. His girlfriend is in Europe and will be back right before Christmas, so the separation is tough on him, but in the long run, it should be strengthen the relationship. I know when Cara and I were first dating, I was in Belfast and she was in Fort Kent and, looking back, I think it helped to strengthen our relationship. Not that I would want to do that all over again.
First, I got an email today from a former student of mine. When I taught sixth grade, for a couple of years I taught science, in addition to math. I had very little background in science, so I taught what I knew: space. I did a unit on the space program as well as a unit on astronomy. My kids really seemed to enjoy the units. One girl in particular really was especially motivated by the space unit. She emailed me this week. She is going to school at Florida Institute of Technology, with an interest to perhaps work at NASA, perhaps as an astronaut. She was telling me about the program she is in. She has recently been at Kennedy Space Center, where she was taken out to a launchpad, with a Space Shuttle sitting there all ready to launch (scheduled for November 14). I was very impressed. I love hearing from former students, but I particularly like to hear from this former student. This is a young lady who set her sights on working for NASA from the time she was young, perhaps even in sixth grade. She has worked very hard, in school, by attending space camps, and now in college, to meet her goal. I have every reason to believe she will meet that goal. I wish more students could be as goal-oriented and hard-working as this young lady. I am so proud of everything she has done and, whether she ends up working for NASA or not, I will continue to be very proud of her.
Item number two: I discovered a water main break. I was home sick from work Wednesday (I am already feeling 99% recovered) when I noticed that the ditch in front of the house was filled with water. Except when we get heavy rain, this almost never happens, and when it does it drains quickly. I saw that water was coming out of the culvert that crosses under the road fairly steadily. This bugged me and a few hours later I went outside and took a closer look. The ground was beyond saturated along the ditch and, when I checked the other end of the culvert, no water was entering from the other side. To make a long story short, I ended up calling the water department on a hunch and sure enough, the water main was leaking about fifteen feet further up the road. They ended up shutting off the water to the whole street, digging a huge hole and fixing the leak. When I mentioned to Cara (by cell phone as she was on her way home) what had happened, she was impressed. But not with my discovering the leak, but by the fact that I actually called the water district myself.
Update on Seth: Seth is in Vermont working at Sugarbush Ski Resort for the winter. He is making snow for the resort, working very hard, and living in a small apartment near Sugarbush. He sounds very happy and Cara and I are very proud of him. His girlfriend is in Europe and will be back right before Christmas, so the separation is tough on him, but in the long run, it should be strengthen the relationship. I know when Cara and I were first dating, I was in Belfast and she was in Fort Kent and, looking back, I think it helped to strengthen our relationship. Not that I would want to do that all over again.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Forgive my Ignorance
Being a white man from Maine, I had no idea of the impact that Barack Obama's Presidential election victory would have on people, particularly on African-Americans. I had no idea how much it would mean to blacks to have a black man elected President. Now, seeing the reaction of so many people, both black and white, but particularly black, on the news, in magazines and newspapers and on the Internet, makes me wonder where I have been. It makes me see that I was missing something.
I though I understood the significance of having an African-American man elected President. May times over the years, I have had conversations with my students at school about how far overdue this country was in elected an African-American or a woman to the position of President. Yet, I guess I grossly underestimated how much of an impact this would have on the African-American community. Where was I?
To see Jessie Jackson openly weeping on television, to see Oprah Winfrey's reaction on her show the next day, to see Condeleezza Rice interviewed, and to hear many black people interviewed on television sent chills down my spine. But the clincher was seeing Oprah interview Will Smith talk about how much it meant to him, personally. Where was I?
I can partly blame it on where I live. I live in Maine, in an area that is 99% white. In school, I can count on one hand how many black students I have in class each year, many years I have had just one, or sometimes none. We have no African-Americans on our teaching staff. There are no black people in my neighborhood. But, this is no excuse.
How could I not see how important it is to see an African-American elected President? How could I not see how important this is to a people who were enslaved for generations less than 150 years ago? How could I not see how special this would be to a people who only gained their basic civil rights 40 years ago? How could I not see? Am I blind?
In hindsight, I understand just how important this is. Many people interviewed said they did not think they would see this in their lifetime. I think I am starting to understand. The only thing I can relate this to is when the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 after 86 years of coming oh so close. And yet, this comparison is not even close. It's probably insulting to African-Americans to even say it might compare. But I know how much the Red Sox winning meant to me. It brought me to tears. It was something I thought I would never see. Now, magnify that a thousand-fold and you might get close.
My ignorance is unforgivable. Hopefully my eyes have begun to open.
I though I understood the significance of having an African-American man elected President. May times over the years, I have had conversations with my students at school about how far overdue this country was in elected an African-American or a woman to the position of President. Yet, I guess I grossly underestimated how much of an impact this would have on the African-American community. Where was I?
To see Jessie Jackson openly weeping on television, to see Oprah Winfrey's reaction on her show the next day, to see Condeleezza Rice interviewed, and to hear many black people interviewed on television sent chills down my spine. But the clincher was seeing Oprah interview Will Smith talk about how much it meant to him, personally. Where was I?
I can partly blame it on where I live. I live in Maine, in an area that is 99% white. In school, I can count on one hand how many black students I have in class each year, many years I have had just one, or sometimes none. We have no African-Americans on our teaching staff. There are no black people in my neighborhood. But, this is no excuse.
How could I not see how important it is to see an African-American elected President? How could I not see how important this is to a people who were enslaved for generations less than 150 years ago? How could I not see how special this would be to a people who only gained their basic civil rights 40 years ago? How could I not see? Am I blind?
In hindsight, I understand just how important this is. Many people interviewed said they did not think they would see this in their lifetime. I think I am starting to understand. The only thing I can relate this to is when the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 after 86 years of coming oh so close. And yet, this comparison is not even close. It's probably insulting to African-Americans to even say it might compare. But I know how much the Red Sox winning meant to me. It brought me to tears. It was something I thought I would never see. Now, magnify that a thousand-fold and you might get close.
My ignorance is unforgivable. Hopefully my eyes have begun to open.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
School Consolidation
In MSAD 56 where I teach and in MSAD 34 where I live, we have just voted to consolidate our school districts. Despite much trepidation on the part of many people, the vote was really not that close and both school districts voted to combine, beginning in July 2009, less than a year away.
Not that the state gave us much choice. It is a law that schools must consolidate unless they are already a certain size. Then they left it up to the people to vote. However, if the people decided not to consolidate, the state was going to fine the school district a huge chunk of their funding. The loss of funds would devastate any school district that said no. I doubt MSAD 56 could have continued to function without the state funds. I suspect a third of the teaching staff would have been let go and the smallest of our three elementary schools would have been forced to close. Maybe even the smallest two. I suspect those of us who survived the cuts would have had more than thirty students per classroom.
Luckily, the people of both school districts made the only decision they could: to consolidate. For good or for bad, we will soon be one school district. I suspect the good will far outweigh the bad. Then again, I usually see the glass half full.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Voting
I voted today.
You know, it feels good to vote. It feels like you did a good deed when you vote. I'll admit, I don't vote every year, but when I do it makes me feel good.
It does make disgruntled when I hear people say, "it is your civic duty to vote." Hogwash, I say. It is everyone's right to vote, not a duty to vote. If someone does not feel they want to vote, then they have every right not to. Many people make a statement by not voting. "None of the above." I often wish that was one of the choices. Especially this year in the Presidential category. I don't like any of the candidates. I chose one and voted for him, but I am not happy with my choice. I picked the one I felt would do the best overall job, but let's face it, anyone with any common sense would never run for President. Who would want the job. Have you ever looked at a photograph of a President when he (I use he, because we have not had a she yet) first takes office and compare it to his photograph as he leaves office? He has aged double the number of years he was in office. Have you ever compared Abraham Lincoln's photos from his first and last years in office. He appears to have aged 25 years.
Anyway, voting makes me feel good, even when the choices don't.
You know, it feels good to vote. It feels like you did a good deed when you vote. I'll admit, I don't vote every year, but when I do it makes me feel good.
It does make disgruntled when I hear people say, "it is your civic duty to vote." Hogwash, I say. It is everyone's right to vote, not a duty to vote. If someone does not feel they want to vote, then they have every right not to. Many people make a statement by not voting. "None of the above." I often wish that was one of the choices. Especially this year in the Presidential category. I don't like any of the candidates. I chose one and voted for him, but I am not happy with my choice. I picked the one I felt would do the best overall job, but let's face it, anyone with any common sense would never run for President. Who would want the job. Have you ever looked at a photograph of a President when he (I use he, because we have not had a she yet) first takes office and compare it to his photograph as he leaves office? He has aged double the number of years he was in office. Have you ever compared Abraham Lincoln's photos from his first and last years in office. He appears to have aged 25 years.
Anyway, voting makes me feel good, even when the choices don't.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Fall Update
I realized the other day that it had been quite awhile since I had updated my blog. I thought I should do an update, I had intended to blog once or twice a week, but I just could not think what to say. Then I thought, if it had been so long, I guess it is time to update on everything that has happened since my last blog, this past summer.
School has started up again with a whole new crop of eighth graders. Things are a little different this year. I am on the first all-male teaching team in the history of Searsport District Middle School. We are sharing a principle with the high school. We have a new superintendent. And I have my nephew Jake in class this year. All those things combined make for a different and unique year. Now, I don't mean that in a bad way, nor necessarily a good way either. It is just different. Having Jake in class is definitely good, although odd at times. I don't know how Jake feels, but I do find it strange to have him in class, although I am totally enjoying the experience.
Seth, my stepson, has finished his job at the Jordan Pond House and has moved to Vermont to work at Superbush Ski Resort for the winter. He has definitely grown up and matured a lot in the last year and I am very proud of all he has done.
Cara is as beautiful as ever. I know I don't tell her this enough.
I have a new book out. It is called From George W. to George W.: The Presidents and their Cabinets. It is available exclusively on Amazon.com and has been out since late August. Sales so far have been practically non-existent, but I'm hoping it will catch on at some point. I have a couple projects in the works for other books and am hoping at least one of them will be ready before the end of 2008.
Now that Halloween has come and gone (we had no trick-or-treaters), I am looking forward to the Christmas season, which, as I have posted before, in my opinion starts now and goes through the first week of January. To me, Thanksgiving and New Years are a part of the overall Holiday Season.
Cara and I have battened down the hatches. In other words, we spent yesterday getting the house ready for the winter. This includes putting plastic over a few spots on the house that are drafty, taking care of lawn furniture, flower beds, the gas grill, the kayaks, and a number of other outdoor stuff. Winter is on its way, whether/weather we are ready or not.
I am going to try and update this blog more often, even if the entries are short. Bye for now.
School has started up again with a whole new crop of eighth graders. Things are a little different this year. I am on the first all-male teaching team in the history of Searsport District Middle School. We are sharing a principle with the high school. We have a new superintendent. And I have my nephew Jake in class this year. All those things combined make for a different and unique year. Now, I don't mean that in a bad way, nor necessarily a good way either. It is just different. Having Jake in class is definitely good, although odd at times. I don't know how Jake feels, but I do find it strange to have him in class, although I am totally enjoying the experience.
Seth, my stepson, has finished his job at the Jordan Pond House and has moved to Vermont to work at Superbush Ski Resort for the winter. He has definitely grown up and matured a lot in the last year and I am very proud of all he has done.
Cara is as beautiful as ever. I know I don't tell her this enough.
I have a new book out. It is called From George W. to George W.: The Presidents and their Cabinets. It is available exclusively on Amazon.com and has been out since late August. Sales so far have been practically non-existent, but I'm hoping it will catch on at some point. I have a couple projects in the works for other books and am hoping at least one of them will be ready before the end of 2008.
Now that Halloween has come and gone (we had no trick-or-treaters), I am looking forward to the Christmas season, which, as I have posted before, in my opinion starts now and goes through the first week of January. To me, Thanksgiving and New Years are a part of the overall Holiday Season.
Cara and I have battened down the hatches. In other words, we spent yesterday getting the house ready for the winter. This includes putting plastic over a few spots on the house that are drafty, taking care of lawn furniture, flower beds, the gas grill, the kayaks, and a number of other outdoor stuff. Winter is on its way, whether/weather we are ready or not.
I am going to try and update this blog more often, even if the entries are short. Bye for now.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Summer, Slow Down!
Summer vacation has just begun, but by looking at the calendar I see that it is one fourth over already as well. For those of us who teach, summer is a vital time to recharge our mental and physical batteries. Teaching kids, as enjoyable as it is, is both mentally and physically draining. We teachers need the summer to make sure we are ready for the ten-month long school year. And the summer seems to go way too fast.
Cara and I have already spent a week at Camp, the family camp on Center Pond where we love to go to relax, swim, kayak, read, and enjoy each other's company without the day-to-day chores of being at home. We are now readying ourselves for a 2-day yard sale, this Saturday and Sunday. Our dining room, living room and kitchen are loaded with tons of . . . stuff. Hopefully we can get rid of most of it, while at the same time make some money that we hope to put away for a possible trip to Florida next winter or spring. We still have not gotten anywhere on our new deck, which we thought would be done by now. Our carpenter/friend hopes to start next week. Cara's mom is coming for a visit next week and it will be nice having her here. Seth was home for a brief visit this week. We have the annual family reunion in just over a week. The following week I will be at a 3-day conference for school (so much for vacation). Cara and I hope to get back to Camp somewhere in there. The second week of August we will spend with my family at a camp we are renting on a small lake in the southern part of Maine. Cara hopes to get to her Mom's somewhere after that, before she starts back to school a week early this year (due to needing to get out early next spring in order to move her school to her new school before her old school is demolished). Whew! I can tell that this summer, as fast as it is going, may just fly by even faster. Let's hope not.
Cara and I have already spent a week at Camp, the family camp on Center Pond where we love to go to relax, swim, kayak, read, and enjoy each other's company without the day-to-day chores of being at home. We are now readying ourselves for a 2-day yard sale, this Saturday and Sunday. Our dining room, living room and kitchen are loaded with tons of . . . stuff. Hopefully we can get rid of most of it, while at the same time make some money that we hope to put away for a possible trip to Florida next winter or spring. We still have not gotten anywhere on our new deck, which we thought would be done by now. Our carpenter/friend hopes to start next week. Cara's mom is coming for a visit next week and it will be nice having her here. Seth was home for a brief visit this week. We have the annual family reunion in just over a week. The following week I will be at a 3-day conference for school (so much for vacation). Cara and I hope to get back to Camp somewhere in there. The second week of August we will spend with my family at a camp we are renting on a small lake in the southern part of Maine. Cara hopes to get to her Mom's somewhere after that, before she starts back to school a week early this year (due to needing to get out early next spring in order to move her school to her new school before her old school is demolished). Whew! I can tell that this summer, as fast as it is going, may just fly by even faster. Let's hope not.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Camp Kieve a Positive Experience
Last week the entire eighth grade at my school went to Camp Kieve for two days and one night. It was part of their Leadership School, an adventure-based education teaching kids to take healthy challenges. It involves kids climbing on a high ropes course, among many other activities. We actually stayed at Camp Kieve's sister camp across the lake, Camp Wavus. It is an absolutely beautiful campus, right on the lake, with the ropes course located out on a narrow peninsula, with water on all sides. One of the activities involves a giant swing, where students are hoisted thirty-five feet into the air and they swing out over the water.
As a long-time sixth grade teacher, I have always known that the Camp Kieve experience was a positive one, where students came back saying how much fun they had, etc. Until last year, I had no idea just how much personal growth each student returned with. They are able to challenge themselves at any level they choose. I have never seen a program where every student walks away having gotten so much out of the experience. Most were able to do things they never thought they would be able to do. Perhaps they climbed 15 feet off the ground. Maybe they climbed all the way up a tree and walked across a six inch wide pole, 40 feet off the ground. Maybe they paddled a canoe for the first time. Maybe they rode the giant swing. Maybe they just watched, but stayed overnight away from home for the first time. Whatever the challenge, no matter how much gumption it took to meet that challenge, no student was left unchanged. I strongly believe that this camp, this program, has changed the lives of many a young person. I have also been changed by the experience.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Turning 40
Sunday I hit the big 4-0. That's right, forty. I am no longer in my thirties, but now I am in my forties. Wow. That is hard for me to say. I am 40 years old. It seems like just yesterday that my parents turned 40. Its hard to believe that time has flown by so quickly. What happened to my thirties? Or my twenties for that matter? 40 years old. Does that mean I have to start acting like an adult? I sure hope not.
I will say that the days leading up to 40, the days anticipating it, were much worse than actually waking up to 40. I dreaded my birthday tremendously. Yet, the morning I turned 40, it didn't feel any different. If anything, there was a bit of weight off my shoulders. It was kind of like, "Whew, it's finally here, and I'm not dead, I'm not decrepit, I'm actually feeling pretty good about it."
To celebrate, Cara and I had my parents, my aunt and uncle, my grandfather, my sister and her two boys, and my brother, his wife and their daughter over to our house. We had a smorgasbord of food and, of course, cake and ice cream. (My sister and my nephews made the ice cream, homemade, and it was unbelievably good!) I had a great day! It was a lot of fun! And it had been years since we had hosted any of our family gatherings, so that made it just that much more special.
40 really doesn't feel any different. Inside I am still about 10. Well, I sometimes feel like I'm 10. Cara would suggest that maturity-wise that would even be stretching it. I would definitely not like to be 10 again, because that would mean I had the teen years ahead of me, and I absolutely do NOT want to repeat those years! I guess I like 40. There is good and bad about reaching this age. But so far, 40 seems pretty good to me.
I will say that the days leading up to 40, the days anticipating it, were much worse than actually waking up to 40. I dreaded my birthday tremendously. Yet, the morning I turned 40, it didn't feel any different. If anything, there was a bit of weight off my shoulders. It was kind of like, "Whew, it's finally here, and I'm not dead, I'm not decrepit, I'm actually feeling pretty good about it."
To celebrate, Cara and I had my parents, my aunt and uncle, my grandfather, my sister and her two boys, and my brother, his wife and their daughter over to our house. We had a smorgasbord of food and, of course, cake and ice cream. (My sister and my nephews made the ice cream, homemade, and it was unbelievably good!) I had a great day! It was a lot of fun! And it had been years since we had hosted any of our family gatherings, so that made it just that much more special.
40 really doesn't feel any different. Inside I am still about 10. Well, I sometimes feel like I'm 10. Cara would suggest that maturity-wise that would even be stretching it. I would definitely not like to be 10 again, because that would mean I had the teen years ahead of me, and I absolutely do NOT want to repeat those years! I guess I like 40. There is good and bad about reaching this age. But so far, 40 seems pretty good to me.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Ah, the Life of a Teacher
Just a quick story about what happened at school this morning:
A student of mine that I will not name, a young man who is autistic, came into my room this morning. He congratulated me for my homeroom winning the "pizza party." My homeroom had the best attendance in our grade during our recent round of standardized testing, which won us a pizza party coming up this Friday.
When he said this to me, I immediately remembered that this young man had done some of his testing with my homeroom (even though he is technically not part of any homeroom). I asked if he would like to join us for the pizza party. His response was, "Of course! I would love to join you." I smiled at his enthusiastic answer and made sure he knew when the party was, which he did.
Just after he left the room, I overheard him talking to the lady who works one-on-one with him, saying, "I didn't even have to ask him!"
Another thing happened as well. This happened in one of the other teacher's classes, on the team I teach on, named Josh. A student had finished what the other students were working on, today, and Josh asked if he would find something else to work on while the other students finished up. He told the teacher that he had something he could work on. He took a folded piece of paper out and carefully spread it out on his desk. Josh observed that it was covered in tally marks, four lines with the fifth one crossing the other four, over and over all covering the paper. Next the student pulled out something else, something he unwrapped. It was a Tootsie Pop. The young man took a lick, then added a mark to his paper. He took another lick and added another mark. Josh already knew the answer but decided to ask anyway. Sure enough, the young man said he was doing a scientific experiment to see how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.
A student of mine that I will not name, a young man who is autistic, came into my room this morning. He congratulated me for my homeroom winning the "pizza party." My homeroom had the best attendance in our grade during our recent round of standardized testing, which won us a pizza party coming up this Friday.
When he said this to me, I immediately remembered that this young man had done some of his testing with my homeroom (even though he is technically not part of any homeroom). I asked if he would like to join us for the pizza party. His response was, "Of course! I would love to join you." I smiled at his enthusiastic answer and made sure he knew when the party was, which he did.
Just after he left the room, I overheard him talking to the lady who works one-on-one with him, saying, "I didn't even have to ask him!"
Another thing happened as well. This happened in one of the other teacher's classes, on the team I teach on, named Josh. A student had finished what the other students were working on, today, and Josh asked if he would find something else to work on while the other students finished up. He told the teacher that he had something he could work on. He took a folded piece of paper out and carefully spread it out on his desk. Josh observed that it was covered in tally marks, four lines with the fifth one crossing the other four, over and over all covering the paper. Next the student pulled out something else, something he unwrapped. It was a Tootsie Pop. The young man took a lick, then added a mark to his paper. He took another lick and added another mark. Josh already knew the answer but decided to ask anyway. Sure enough, the young man said he was doing a scientific experiment to see how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Kitchen Remodel
Cara and I are always trying to improve our home. We've redone floors, painted walls, and Cara has an icredible way with decorating. Thus, our latest redo: the kitchen. It was not a complete redo. We redid the floor a year ago. But over our recent vacation, we painted the walls and put in a new stone-tile backsplash behind the stove, then decided to extend the tiles to do a border around the top of the sideboard. Here are some pictures:
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Condolences to the Ryan Family
As a Boston Red Sox fan, it is only natural to be a fan of all those Red Sox pre-game commentators that I see on an almost daily basis from April to October every summer. One of my favorites is Bob Ryan, who is also a sports columnist for the Boston Globe. Bob's son Keith died at the age of 37 yesterday, while working for the U.S. Homeland Security Department in Pakistan.
I want to extend my deepest condolences to the entire Ryan family over such a tragic loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I want to extend my deepest condolences to the entire Ryan family over such a tragic loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Snow, Snow, Snow
It seems like we have gotten a huge amount of snow lately. According to the local weather forecaster, Steve McKay, Maine has not had a December like this one, as far as snowfall totals go, for at least 10 years. We had more snow in December 2007 than each of the previous 5 Decembers combined.
Now, I love snow. To me there is nothing like sitting in a warm house and watching the snow fall out the window. But even I am starting to get tired of scooping the snow out of the driveway.
Now, I love snow. To me there is nothing like sitting in a warm house and watching the snow fall out the window. But even I am starting to get tired of scooping the snow out of the driveway.
Using my snow scoop is a fairly simple way to clear the driveway. But when you have to push the scoop up 
a 4-foot snowbank every time because you've run out of places to dump it, that tens to be rather exhausting. Especially when you get two nearly-one-foot snow storms in 3 days.
a 4-foot snowbank every time because you've run out of places to dump it, that tens to be rather exhausting. Especially when you get two nearly-one-foot snow storms in 3 days.
Luckily, the forecast is calling for a few days in the 40's this week. Hopefully, some of the snow will not survive. I need to shrink the snow banks so I have a place to put the snow from our next storm. And one thing I know about Maine, if it is only January, then there will defeintely be a next storm.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Family Tree Part 4: Descendants of William the Conqueror
As I have researched the family tree, I am always amazed at the branches that I discover. Amazingly, there are no less than 10 branches that all go back to William the Conqueror, all of them through my grandfather, Raymond Mills. They are all fascinating to explore and I hope to show several of them on this blog. Today I will highlight one of the more interesting of them.
1. William the Conqueror (King William I of England), b. Oct 14, 1024, Falaise, Normandy; d. Sep 9, 1087, France.
m. Matilda of Flanders, b. abt 1031, Flanders; d. Nov 2, 1083, Normandy.
Note: King of England was an illegitimate child of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, who died in 1035 while returning from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. At only eight years of age, William became the new Duke of Normandy. By 1064, he had conquered and won two neighboring provinces Brittany and Maine. In the meantime, the childless King of England Edward the Confessor, whose mother was a sister of William’s grandfather—promised William succession to the English throne. However, when Edward died in 1066, his brother-in-law and most powerful of the English lords, Harold Goodwin, claimed the throne of England for himself (despite an oath he made to William to support his claim). The Witan, a council of English lords that commonly took part in deciding succession, supported Harold. William, angered by the betrayal, decided to invade England and enforce his claim.
William assembled a fleet and an army on the French coast, but due to unrelenting north winds, their advance was delayed for several weeks. In the meantime, the Norwegian army invaded England from the North Sea. Harold, who had been preparing for William’s invasion from the south, rapidly moved his army north to defend England from Norway. After defeating the Norwegians, Harold unwisely marched his troops back down to meet William, without a rest. On October 14, 1066, the two armies met in the famous Battle of Hastings. King Harold and his two brothers were killed in the battle, and since no one of stature remained to raise a new army, William’s path to the throne was clear. He was crowned King William I of England on Christmas Day.
2. King Henry I of England, b. abt 1068, Selby, England; d. Dec 1, 1135, near Gisors, France.
m. Matilda of Scotland, (dau of King Malcolm III of Scotland and Saint Margaret) b. 1080; d. May 1, 1118, Westminster Palace.
Note: Henry was the youngest son of William the Conqueror and brother to William II. When William II was killed while hunting with Henry, he seized the royal treasure and assended to the throne. In 1101, his brother Robert, Duke of Normandy, invaded England. He was halted by Anslem, Bishop of Canterbury, and his army withdrew. In 1106, war broke out again between the brother. Henry defeated Robert, and kept him prisoner for the rest of his life, while taking possession of Normandy. He had no male heirs, just a daughter named Matilda. Upon Henry's death, his nephew, Stephen, took the throne.
3. Empress Matilda, b. February 1102; d. Sep 10, 1167.
m. Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou, aka Geoffrey "le Plantagenet" (son of Fulk V and Ermengarde Countess of Maine), b. Aug 24, 1113, Anjou (now part of France); d. Sep 7, 1151, Chateau-et-Loire, France.
Note: Empress Matilda (sometimes Maud or Maude; later Countess of Anjou and Lady of the English) was the daughter and dispossessed heir of Henry I of England. She was married to Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor, and then to Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou, by whom she became the mother of Henry II of England. Matilda was the first female ruler of the Kingdom of England. Her failure to secure that rule meant that her undisputed period of reign in 1141 was extremely brief. (Wikipedia)
4. King Henry II of England, b. Mar 5, 1133, Le Mans, Sarthe, France; d. July 6, 1189, Chinon, Indre-et-Loire, France.
m. Eleanor of Aquitaine (William X, Count Of Poiton, Duke Of Aquitaine and Aenor De Chatellerault), b. 1121, Chateau de Belin, Gironde, France; d. Mar 31, 1204, Mirabell Castle, Tarn-et-Garonne, France.
Note: Eleanor was the only woman ever to be married to 2 different kings (Louis VII of France and Henry II of England), and the mother of 2 different kings (Richard the Loin-Heart and King John). She was portayed by Katherine Hepburn in the movie The Lion In Winter.
Henry was the first Plantagenet King of England. He inherited Normandy, Anjou, and Maine. He gained the duchy of Aquitaine through his marriage to Eleanor. In 1152 he invaded England. The following year, he forced King Stephen to name him heir to the throne. He was crowned king following Stephen's death in 1154. He had Thomas à Becket murdered for not accepting his Constitutions of Clarendon, designed to limit clerical privileges. Henry's son succeeded him as Richard I, the Lion-Hearted. Henry was portrayed by Peter O'Toole in the movie The Lion In Winter.
5. King John of England (John Lackland), b. Dec 24, 1166, Kings Manor House, Oxford, England; d. Oct 19, 1216, Newark, Nottinghamshire, England.
m. Isabella De Taillefer (dau of Aymer De Taillefer and Alix De Courtenay), b. abt 1188, France; d. May 31, 1246, Fontevrault Abbe, Fontevrault, Maine-Et-Loire, France.
Note: In 1177, John was made lord of Ireland by his father. He made several bungling attempts to usurp the crown while his brother, King Richard The Lion-Heart was being held prisoner in Austria. He succeeded Richard in 1199, upon Richard's death. In 1200, he divorced his wife Isabel (Hadwisa) of Gloucester to marry Isabella of Angoulême. John had nearly all his English possessions in France seized by Philip II in 1204. In 1215, he signed the Magna Carta. King John is the villain of the legendary Robin Hood. John died in 1216 after a brief illness, and was succeeded by his 9 year old son, Henry III.
6. King Henry III of England, b. Oct 1, 1206, Winchester, England; d. Nov 16, 1272, Westminster, England.
m. Eleanor of Provence (dau of Raimond Berenger Provence V and Beatrice Countess of Savoy), b. abt 1233, France; d. June 24, 1291, Amesbury, Wiltshire, England.
Note: Henry succeeded his father John to the throne of England at the age of 9. He ruled under the regency of William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke. In 1227, he began his personal rule. Henry ruled England for 56 years. After his son, Edward, led royal troops to victory over Simon De Monfont's troops, Henry ruled in name only, as Edward held all the power. Edward became Edward I on his father's death.
7. King Edward I of England (Edward Longshanks), b. June 17, 1239, London, England; d. July 7, 1307, Burgh-by Sands.
m. Princess Marguerite of France (dau of King Philip III of France and Maria De Brabant), b. aft 1274; Feb 14, 1317, Marlborough Castle.
Note: Edward became King of England upon his father's death in 1272, even though he held power over his father for several years before that. In 1290, he expelled all the Jews from England. He spent 5 years fighting Welsh barons, who were subdued in 1283. In 1296, he began an attempt to take over Scotland. He was opposed by William Wallace, known as Braveheart. He defeated Wallace in 1298, but did not conquer Scotland. At the same time, he was also directing a war in France against Philip IV. He signed a peace treaty with Philip IV in 1303 and he married a sister of the the French King. He died on his way to crush a new revolt by the Scots. In the movie Braveheart, he is portrayed by Patrick McGoohan.
(Princess Marguerite was King Edward's second wife. His first wife, Eleanor of Castile, was the daughter of King Ferdinand III of Castile. Another branch of the family descends throught Edward and Eleanor's son, King Edward III.)
8. Thomas of Brotherton (1st Earl of Norfolk), b. June 1, 1300, Brotherton, England; d. Aug 4, 1338.
m. Alice Hayles (dau of Sir Roger Hayles and Alice Skogan).
Note: Thomas of Brotherton was the 1st Earl of Norfolk. His father died when he was 7 years old. Thomas' half-brother, Edward, now became king of England. The Earldom of Cornwall had been intended for Thomas, but Edward instead bestowed it upon his favorite, Piers Gaveston, in 1306. When he was 10 years old, his brother Edward II of England assigned him and another brother, Edmund, the estates of Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk who had died without heir in 1306.
In 1312 he was titled, "Earl of Norfolk" and on February 10, 1316 he was created Marshal of England. When his brother went to Scotland in the war, he was left Keeper of England. Thomas was known for having a hot and violent temper. He was one of the many victims of the unchecked greed of Hugh the younger Despenser, who stole some of the young earl's lands. He allied himself with Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March when they invaded England in 1326, and stood as one of the judges in the trials against both Despensers.
9. Margaret of Norfolk, b. 1320, d. Mar 24, 1399.
m. Baron John De Segrave, b. 1315, d. 1353.
Note; Margaret, Duchess of Norfolk (also Countess of Norfolk, Lady Manny and Lady de Segrave, later construct Plantagenet) was Countess of Norfolk from 1338 to 1399. She became heiress to the Earldom after the death of her childless brother, Edward, in 1334.
In 1338, Margaret inherited the Earldom of Norfolk when her father died, becoming the 2nd Countess of Norfolk. Along with this title came the office of Lord Marshal. To date, she is the only woman to have served in this position (or, as it was called in the future, Earl Marshal).
In 1350, Margaret and John de Segrave began seeking a divorce based on the premise that they were contracted in marriage before she was of age, and that she had never consented to marry him. Furthermore, she had begun a relationship with a knight of great renown, Sir Walter Manny, 1st Baron Manny, as she crossed the channel in October 1350 to meet with him in Calais, without the king's permission. The inquisition regarding this incident shows that Margaret illegally crossed the Channel and met with Manny's servant, who broke his lantern with his foot so she could pass unnoticed.
John de Segrave died in 1353, before their divorce could be finalized; the next year Margaret wed Walter Manny. Sir Walter died in 1371. Margaret never remarried, and as a widow was created Duchess of Norfolk for life in 1397. Margaret, Duchess of Norfolk, died in 1399 and was buried in the choir of the Grey Friars, London.
10. Elizabeth De Segrave, b. OCt 25, 1338, Abbey, Croxton, Leicestershire, England; d. 1375.
m. Lord/Baron John de Mowbray III (son of Lord John de Mowbray II and Lady Joan Plantagenet), b. June 25, 1340, Epworth, Isle of Axholme, Lincolnshire, England; d. Oct 19, 1368, Constantinople, Turkey.
Note: John de Mowbray was the 4th Baron Mowbray. As was the custom of lords at the time, de Mowbray served in the French wars. The 4th Baron took the cross and met his end near Constantinople, fighting against the Turks.
11. Sir Thomas de Mowbray I, Duke of Norfolk, b. Mar 22, 1366, Epworth, Isle of Axholme, Lincolnshire, England; d. Sep 22, 1399, Venice, Italy.
m. Lady Elizabeth FitzAlan (dau of Richard FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel and Elizabeth De Bohun), b. 1366, Derbyshire, England; d. July 8, 1425, Heveringham, Nottingham, England.
Note: Lady Elizabeth had four husbands and at least five children.
Note: Thomas de Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk was an English nobleman.
On 10 February 1382, he succeeded his brother John as 6th Baron Mowbray and 7th Baron Segrave, and soon afterwards was created Earl of Nottingham, a title that had also been created for his elder brother. Three years later he was appointed Earl Marshal of England, and in that capacity he fought against the Scots and then against the French.
Lord Nottingham was one of the Lords Appellant to King Richard II who deposed some of King Richard's court favorites in 1387. The King's uncle, Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester, was imprisoned at Calais, where Nottingham was Captain. When Gloucester was killed in 1397, it was probably at the King's orders and probably with Nottingham's involvement. A few weeks later he was created Duke of Norfolk. His aged grandmother, the Countess of Norfolk, was still alive; she was created Duchess of Norfolk for life. When she died the next year he also became 3rd Earl of Norfolk.
Later, in 1398, Norfolk quarrelled with Henry of Bolingbroke, 1st Duke of Hereford (later King Henry IV), apparently due to mutual suspicions stemming from their roles in the conspiracy against the Duke of Gloucester. The King banished them both. After Hereford returned and usurped the throne, Norfolk was stripped of the Dukedom of Norfolk, though he retained his other titles. He died of the plague in Venice, on 22 September 1399.
12. Margaret De Mowbray, b. 1387, Norfolk, Essex, England; d. July 8, 1425.
m. Sir Robert Howard, K.G. (son of John Howard and Alice Tendring), b. abt 1383; d. 1436.
13. Lord/Sir John Howard, d. Aug 22, 1485.
m. Catherine De Moleyns, d. Nov 3, 1465.
Note: John Howard was created 1st Duke of Norfolk (of the 3rd creation) on June 28, 1483. The title had become extinct, firstly upon the death of John de Mowbray, 4th Duke of Norfolk (1444–1476), who had been 4th Duke of Norfolk (of the 1st creation) from 1461 until 1476, and again upon the illegitimisation on June 25, 1483 of Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York, who had been created Duke of Norfolk after marrying Anne Mowbray, the daughter of the late Norfolk.
John Howard was known as "Jack (or "Jock," hence: "Jockey") of Norfolk". He had the support of Edward IV of England who made him Constable of Norwich Castle, Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk, Treasurer of the Royal Household. For his support of Richard III during the desposition of Edward V in 1483, he was created Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal of England, and Lord Admiral of all England, Ireland, and Aquitaine.
He was married first to Katherine Moleyns (1424-1465), the daughter of William de Moleyns and Margery Whalesborough; and then to Margaret Chedworth (1436-1494), the daughter of Sir John Chedworth and Margaret Bowett. [1] Margaret Bowett's parents were Nicholas Bowett of Rippingale, Lincolnshire, England and Elizabeth La Zouche of Harringworth, Northampton, England.
He died at the Battle of Bosworth Field. The night before, someone had left him a note warning him that King Richard III, his "master," was going to be double-crossed (which he was): “Jockey of Norfolk, be not too bold, For Dickon, thy master, is bought and sold.”
He was buried in Thetford Priory, but his body seems to have been moved at the Reformation, possibly to the tomb of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk at Framlingham Church. The monumental brass of his first wife Katherine Moleyns can, however, still be seen in Suffolk.
He was the great-grandfather of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, the second and fifth Queen consorts, respectively, of Henry VIII of England. His daughter, Margaret, by Katherine Moleyns, married Sir John Wyndham. His son, Thomas, became duke after him. (Wikipedia)
14. Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, b. 1443, Stoke Newland, Suffolk, England; d. May 21, 1524, Farlingham Castle, Farlingham, Norfolk, England.
m. Elizabeth Tilney (dau of Sir Frederick Tilney), b. 1455, Ashwellthorpe, Norfolk, England; d. April 4, 1497, Farlingham Castle, Farlingham, Norfolk, England.
Note: Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk (1443 – 21 May 1524) was an English soldier and statesman. Howard went to Ipswich School in his youth. As the Earl of Surrey, Howard fought for King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, following which he was imprisoned for several years before having his titles and estates restored. He continued in the service of the Tudor dynasty. Beginning in 1497, Howard and the English repelled Scottish assaults at Norham Castle, a stronghold of the Bishopric of Durham, among others. In 1502, a treaty was signed between Scotland and England ending hostilities for a time, and Howard was able to rest from his military career for a while. He was appointed Lieutenant General of the North.
In 1511, Lord Surrey was appointed Warden-General of the Northern Marches. In 1513, the Scots invaded England to meet their treaty obligations to France under the Auld Alliance. At the Battle of Flodden Field, the English, under Howard's command, crushed the Scots. With victory, Lord Surrey was restored as Duke of Norfolk in 1514, which title had been forfeit since 1485 because of his father's support of Richard.
Thomas was the grandfather of two of King Henry VIII's wives, Anne Bolyn and Catherine Howard. He was also the great-grandfather of Queen Elizabeth I.
15. Muriel Howard, b. 1486, Buckingham Castle, Norfolk, England; d. Dec 14, 1512, Lambeth, England.
m. Edward Knyvett.
16. Anne Bourchier Knyvett.
m. Richard Sayre (son of John Sayer), b. 1508, Colchester, England; d. 1540, Amsterdam, Holland.
17. John Bourchier Sayre, b. 1528; d. Holland.
m. Elizabeth Hawkins (dau of William Hawkins [a confidant of King Henry VIII] and Joan Trelawney), b. 1532; d. 1595.
18. John Bourchier Sayer, b. abt 1561, Plymouth, England; d. 1625, Amsterdam, Ntherlands.
m. Marie LaMoral VonEgmont (dau of Philip LaMoral VanEgmont), b. 1561.
19. Richard Sears, b. 1590; d. 1676, Yarmouth, MA.
m. Dorothy Thacher, d. 1680.
Note: Richard landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts Colony from England on May 8, 1630 with the last of the Leydon (Leidon) Colony, from which the Mayflower Pilgrims were a part.
20. Lt. Silas Sears b. 1638, Marbelhead, MA; Jan 13, 1697, Yarmouth, Maine.
m. Anna Bursell (dau of James Bursell), d. Mar 4, 1725.
21. Josiah Sears, b. abt 1675, Yarmouth, MA; d. 1727, Provincetown, MA.
m. Mercy Howes (dau of Captain Stephen Howes and Rebecca Howes), b. 1679; d. May 20, 1720, Bridgewater, MA.
22. Josiah Sears, b. Aug 25, 1708, Chatham, Massachusetts; d. Jan 1722, Eastham, Massachusetts.
m. Azubah Knowles (dau of Col. Samuel Knowles, Jr. and Bethia Brown), b. Feb 6, 1714; d. March 1762.
Note: Josiah Sears was a cordwainer.
23. Mercy Sears, b. Aug 23, 1737, Eastham, Massachusetts; d. Between 1800 & 1810.
m. Capt. Archelaus Harding, Sr. (son of John Harding and Elizabeth Young), b. May 31, 1740, Eastham, Massachusetts; d. Mar 16, 1829.
Note: In 1790, Archelaus and Mercy were living in Frankfort, Maine.
24. Archelaus Harding, Jr., b. Jan 17, 1774; d. Dec. 25, 1859.
m. Hannah Moore, b. 1785; d. Mar 10, 1840, Prospect, Maine.
25. Hannah Files Harding, b. Mar 23, 1821.
m. Edward Avery (son of Enoch Avery and Margaret Shephard), b. June 1, 1812, Jefferson, Maine; d. Aug 31, 1886, Prospect, Maine.
26. Byron Cousins Avery, b. Nov. 13, 1853, Prospect, Maine; d. June 8, 1915.
m. Almeda Harriman (dau of Albert S. Harriman and Rebecca Ginn), b. Oct 15, 1857; d. May 2, 1919.
Note: Byron lived in the "old Harriman homestead at the Ferry on the west bank of the Penobscot (River) ... close beside Fort Knox" "Kept a country store in Prospect Ferry, with his father-in-law"
Almeda had a twin sister, Alfreda.
27. Evelyn Roberts Avery, b. 1884, d. 1957.
m. Percy Atwood Mills (son of Albert Reed Mills and Sarah Frank Douglass), b. Jan 23, 1882, West Brooksville, Maine; d. Sep 25, 1951, Bangor, Maine.
Note: Percy ran a general store at the ferry landing in Prosect, Maine. After the ferry stopped running following the opening of the Waldo-Hancock Bridge, Percy moved the store up to the main road. Percy served as a selectman in the town of Prospect. Was a member of the Fort Knox Lodge and Riverview Rebekah Lodge of Bucksport.
28. Raymond Douglass Mills (my grandfather)
1. William the Conqueror (King William I of England), b. Oct 14, 1024, Falaise, Normandy; d. Sep 9, 1087, France.
m. Matilda of Flanders, b. abt 1031, Flanders; d. Nov 2, 1083, Normandy.
Note: King of England was an illegitimate child of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, who died in 1035 while returning from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. At only eight years of age, William became the new Duke of Normandy. By 1064, he had conquered and won two neighboring provinces Brittany and Maine. In the meantime, the childless King of England Edward the Confessor, whose mother was a sister of William’s grandfather—promised William succession to the English throne. However, when Edward died in 1066, his brother-in-law and most powerful of the English lords, Harold Goodwin, claimed the throne of England for himself (despite an oath he made to William to support his claim). The Witan, a council of English lords that commonly took part in deciding succession, supported Harold. William, angered by the betrayal, decided to invade England and enforce his claim.
William assembled a fleet and an army on the French coast, but due to unrelenting north winds, their advance was delayed for several weeks. In the meantime, the Norwegian army invaded England from the North Sea. Harold, who had been preparing for William’s invasion from the south, rapidly moved his army north to defend England from Norway. After defeating the Norwegians, Harold unwisely marched his troops back down to meet William, without a rest. On October 14, 1066, the two armies met in the famous Battle of Hastings. King Harold and his two brothers were killed in the battle, and since no one of stature remained to raise a new army, William’s path to the throne was clear. He was crowned King William I of England on Christmas Day.
2. King Henry I of England, b. abt 1068, Selby, England; d. Dec 1, 1135, near Gisors, France.
m. Matilda of Scotland, (dau of King Malcolm III of Scotland and Saint Margaret) b. 1080; d. May 1, 1118, Westminster Palace.
Note: Henry was the youngest son of William the Conqueror and brother to William II. When William II was killed while hunting with Henry, he seized the royal treasure and assended to the throne. In 1101, his brother Robert, Duke of Normandy, invaded England. He was halted by Anslem, Bishop of Canterbury, and his army withdrew. In 1106, war broke out again between the brother. Henry defeated Robert, and kept him prisoner for the rest of his life, while taking possession of Normandy. He had no male heirs, just a daughter named Matilda. Upon Henry's death, his nephew, Stephen, took the throne.
3. Empress Matilda, b. February 1102; d. Sep 10, 1167.
m. Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou, aka Geoffrey "le Plantagenet" (son of Fulk V and Ermengarde Countess of Maine), b. Aug 24, 1113, Anjou (now part of France); d. Sep 7, 1151, Chateau-et-Loire, France.
Note: Empress Matilda (sometimes Maud or Maude; later Countess of Anjou and Lady of the English) was the daughter and dispossessed heir of Henry I of England. She was married to Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor, and then to Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou, by whom she became the mother of Henry II of England. Matilda was the first female ruler of the Kingdom of England. Her failure to secure that rule meant that her undisputed period of reign in 1141 was extremely brief. (Wikipedia)
4. King Henry II of England, b. Mar 5, 1133, Le Mans, Sarthe, France; d. July 6, 1189, Chinon, Indre-et-Loire, France.
m. Eleanor of Aquitaine (William X, Count Of Poiton, Duke Of Aquitaine and Aenor De Chatellerault), b. 1121, Chateau de Belin, Gironde, France; d. Mar 31, 1204, Mirabell Castle, Tarn-et-Garonne, France.
Note: Eleanor was the only woman ever to be married to 2 different kings (Louis VII of France and Henry II of England), and the mother of 2 different kings (Richard the Loin-Heart and King John). She was portayed by Katherine Hepburn in the movie The Lion In Winter.
Henry was the first Plantagenet King of England. He inherited Normandy, Anjou, and Maine. He gained the duchy of Aquitaine through his marriage to Eleanor. In 1152 he invaded England. The following year, he forced King Stephen to name him heir to the throne. He was crowned king following Stephen's death in 1154. He had Thomas à Becket murdered for not accepting his Constitutions of Clarendon, designed to limit clerical privileges. Henry's son succeeded him as Richard I, the Lion-Hearted. Henry was portrayed by Peter O'Toole in the movie The Lion In Winter.
5. King John of England (John Lackland), b. Dec 24, 1166, Kings Manor House, Oxford, England; d. Oct 19, 1216, Newark, Nottinghamshire, England.
m. Isabella De Taillefer (dau of Aymer De Taillefer and Alix De Courtenay), b. abt 1188, France; d. May 31, 1246, Fontevrault Abbe, Fontevrault, Maine-Et-Loire, France.
Note: In 1177, John was made lord of Ireland by his father. He made several bungling attempts to usurp the crown while his brother, King Richard The Lion-Heart was being held prisoner in Austria. He succeeded Richard in 1199, upon Richard's death. In 1200, he divorced his wife Isabel (Hadwisa) of Gloucester to marry Isabella of Angoulême. John had nearly all his English possessions in France seized by Philip II in 1204. In 1215, he signed the Magna Carta. King John is the villain of the legendary Robin Hood. John died in 1216 after a brief illness, and was succeeded by his 9 year old son, Henry III.
6. King Henry III of England, b. Oct 1, 1206, Winchester, England; d. Nov 16, 1272, Westminster, England.
m. Eleanor of Provence (dau of Raimond Berenger Provence V and Beatrice Countess of Savoy), b. abt 1233, France; d. June 24, 1291, Amesbury, Wiltshire, England.
Note: Henry succeeded his father John to the throne of England at the age of 9. He ruled under the regency of William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke. In 1227, he began his personal rule. Henry ruled England for 56 years. After his son, Edward, led royal troops to victory over Simon De Monfont's troops, Henry ruled in name only, as Edward held all the power. Edward became Edward I on his father's death.
7. King Edward I of England (Edward Longshanks), b. June 17, 1239, London, England; d. July 7, 1307, Burgh-by Sands.
m. Princess Marguerite of France (dau of King Philip III of France and Maria De Brabant), b. aft 1274; Feb 14, 1317, Marlborough Castle.
Note: Edward became King of England upon his father's death in 1272, even though he held power over his father for several years before that. In 1290, he expelled all the Jews from England. He spent 5 years fighting Welsh barons, who were subdued in 1283. In 1296, he began an attempt to take over Scotland. He was opposed by William Wallace, known as Braveheart. He defeated Wallace in 1298, but did not conquer Scotland. At the same time, he was also directing a war in France against Philip IV. He signed a peace treaty with Philip IV in 1303 and he married a sister of the the French King. He died on his way to crush a new revolt by the Scots. In the movie Braveheart, he is portrayed by Patrick McGoohan.
(Princess Marguerite was King Edward's second wife. His first wife, Eleanor of Castile, was the daughter of King Ferdinand III of Castile. Another branch of the family descends throught Edward and Eleanor's son, King Edward III.)
8. Thomas of Brotherton (1st Earl of Norfolk), b. June 1, 1300, Brotherton, England; d. Aug 4, 1338.
m. Alice Hayles (dau of Sir Roger Hayles and Alice Skogan).
Note: Thomas of Brotherton was the 1st Earl of Norfolk. His father died when he was 7 years old. Thomas' half-brother, Edward, now became king of England. The Earldom of Cornwall had been intended for Thomas, but Edward instead bestowed it upon his favorite, Piers Gaveston, in 1306. When he was 10 years old, his brother Edward II of England assigned him and another brother, Edmund, the estates of Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk who had died without heir in 1306.
In 1312 he was titled, "Earl of Norfolk" and on February 10, 1316 he was created Marshal of England. When his brother went to Scotland in the war, he was left Keeper of England. Thomas was known for having a hot and violent temper. He was one of the many victims of the unchecked greed of Hugh the younger Despenser, who stole some of the young earl's lands. He allied himself with Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March when they invaded England in 1326, and stood as one of the judges in the trials against both Despensers.
9. Margaret of Norfolk, b. 1320, d. Mar 24, 1399.
m. Baron John De Segrave, b. 1315, d. 1353.
Note; Margaret, Duchess of Norfolk (also Countess of Norfolk, Lady Manny and Lady de Segrave, later construct Plantagenet) was Countess of Norfolk from 1338 to 1399. She became heiress to the Earldom after the death of her childless brother, Edward, in 1334.
In 1338, Margaret inherited the Earldom of Norfolk when her father died, becoming the 2nd Countess of Norfolk. Along with this title came the office of Lord Marshal. To date, she is the only woman to have served in this position (or, as it was called in the future, Earl Marshal).
In 1350, Margaret and John de Segrave began seeking a divorce based on the premise that they were contracted in marriage before she was of age, and that she had never consented to marry him. Furthermore, she had begun a relationship with a knight of great renown, Sir Walter Manny, 1st Baron Manny, as she crossed the channel in October 1350 to meet with him in Calais, without the king's permission. The inquisition regarding this incident shows that Margaret illegally crossed the Channel and met with Manny's servant, who broke his lantern with his foot so she could pass unnoticed.
John de Segrave died in 1353, before their divorce could be finalized; the next year Margaret wed Walter Manny. Sir Walter died in 1371. Margaret never remarried, and as a widow was created Duchess of Norfolk for life in 1397. Margaret, Duchess of Norfolk, died in 1399 and was buried in the choir of the Grey Friars, London.
10. Elizabeth De Segrave, b. OCt 25, 1338, Abbey, Croxton, Leicestershire, England; d. 1375.
m. Lord/Baron John de Mowbray III (son of Lord John de Mowbray II and Lady Joan Plantagenet), b. June 25, 1340, Epworth, Isle of Axholme, Lincolnshire, England; d. Oct 19, 1368, Constantinople, Turkey.
Note: John de Mowbray was the 4th Baron Mowbray. As was the custom of lords at the time, de Mowbray served in the French wars. The 4th Baron took the cross and met his end near Constantinople, fighting against the Turks.
11. Sir Thomas de Mowbray I, Duke of Norfolk, b. Mar 22, 1366, Epworth, Isle of Axholme, Lincolnshire, England; d. Sep 22, 1399, Venice, Italy.
m. Lady Elizabeth FitzAlan (dau of Richard FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel and Elizabeth De Bohun), b. 1366, Derbyshire, England; d. July 8, 1425, Heveringham, Nottingham, England.
Note: Lady Elizabeth had four husbands and at least five children.
Note: Thomas de Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk was an English nobleman.
On 10 February 1382, he succeeded his brother John as 6th Baron Mowbray and 7th Baron Segrave, and soon afterwards was created Earl of Nottingham, a title that had also been created for his elder brother. Three years later he was appointed Earl Marshal of England, and in that capacity he fought against the Scots and then against the French.
Lord Nottingham was one of the Lords Appellant to King Richard II who deposed some of King Richard's court favorites in 1387. The King's uncle, Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester, was imprisoned at Calais, where Nottingham was Captain. When Gloucester was killed in 1397, it was probably at the King's orders and probably with Nottingham's involvement. A few weeks later he was created Duke of Norfolk. His aged grandmother, the Countess of Norfolk, was still alive; she was created Duchess of Norfolk for life. When she died the next year he also became 3rd Earl of Norfolk.
Later, in 1398, Norfolk quarrelled with Henry of Bolingbroke, 1st Duke of Hereford (later King Henry IV), apparently due to mutual suspicions stemming from their roles in the conspiracy against the Duke of Gloucester. The King banished them both. After Hereford returned and usurped the throne, Norfolk was stripped of the Dukedom of Norfolk, though he retained his other titles. He died of the plague in Venice, on 22 September 1399.
12. Margaret De Mowbray, b. 1387, Norfolk, Essex, England; d. July 8, 1425.
m. Sir Robert Howard, K.G. (son of John Howard and Alice Tendring), b. abt 1383; d. 1436.
13. Lord/Sir John Howard, d. Aug 22, 1485.
m. Catherine De Moleyns, d. Nov 3, 1465.
Note: John Howard was created 1st Duke of Norfolk (of the 3rd creation) on June 28, 1483. The title had become extinct, firstly upon the death of John de Mowbray, 4th Duke of Norfolk (1444–1476), who had been 4th Duke of Norfolk (of the 1st creation) from 1461 until 1476, and again upon the illegitimisation on June 25, 1483 of Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York, who had been created Duke of Norfolk after marrying Anne Mowbray, the daughter of the late Norfolk.
John Howard was known as "Jack (or "Jock," hence: "Jockey") of Norfolk". He had the support of Edward IV of England who made him Constable of Norwich Castle, Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk, Treasurer of the Royal Household. For his support of Richard III during the desposition of Edward V in 1483, he was created Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal of England, and Lord Admiral of all England, Ireland, and Aquitaine.
He was married first to Katherine Moleyns (1424-1465), the daughter of William de Moleyns and Margery Whalesborough; and then to Margaret Chedworth (1436-1494), the daughter of Sir John Chedworth and Margaret Bowett. [1] Margaret Bowett's parents were Nicholas Bowett of Rippingale, Lincolnshire, England and Elizabeth La Zouche of Harringworth, Northampton, England.
He died at the Battle of Bosworth Field. The night before, someone had left him a note warning him that King Richard III, his "master," was going to be double-crossed (which he was): “Jockey of Norfolk, be not too bold, For Dickon, thy master, is bought and sold.”
He was buried in Thetford Priory, but his body seems to have been moved at the Reformation, possibly to the tomb of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk at Framlingham Church. The monumental brass of his first wife Katherine Moleyns can, however, still be seen in Suffolk.
He was the great-grandfather of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, the second and fifth Queen consorts, respectively, of Henry VIII of England. His daughter, Margaret, by Katherine Moleyns, married Sir John Wyndham. His son, Thomas, became duke after him. (Wikipedia)
14. Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, b. 1443, Stoke Newland, Suffolk, England; d. May 21, 1524, Farlingham Castle, Farlingham, Norfolk, England.
m. Elizabeth Tilney (dau of Sir Frederick Tilney), b. 1455, Ashwellthorpe, Norfolk, England; d. April 4, 1497, Farlingham Castle, Farlingham, Norfolk, England.
Note: Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk (1443 – 21 May 1524) was an English soldier and statesman. Howard went to Ipswich School in his youth. As the Earl of Surrey, Howard fought for King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, following which he was imprisoned for several years before having his titles and estates restored. He continued in the service of the Tudor dynasty. Beginning in 1497, Howard and the English repelled Scottish assaults at Norham Castle, a stronghold of the Bishopric of Durham, among others. In 1502, a treaty was signed between Scotland and England ending hostilities for a time, and Howard was able to rest from his military career for a while. He was appointed Lieutenant General of the North.
In 1511, Lord Surrey was appointed Warden-General of the Northern Marches. In 1513, the Scots invaded England to meet their treaty obligations to France under the Auld Alliance. At the Battle of Flodden Field, the English, under Howard's command, crushed the Scots. With victory, Lord Surrey was restored as Duke of Norfolk in 1514, which title had been forfeit since 1485 because of his father's support of Richard.
Thomas was the grandfather of two of King Henry VIII's wives, Anne Bolyn and Catherine Howard. He was also the great-grandfather of Queen Elizabeth I.
15. Muriel Howard, b. 1486, Buckingham Castle, Norfolk, England; d. Dec 14, 1512, Lambeth, England.
m. Edward Knyvett.
16. Anne Bourchier Knyvett.
m. Richard Sayre (son of John Sayer), b. 1508, Colchester, England; d. 1540, Amsterdam, Holland.
17. John Bourchier Sayre, b. 1528; d. Holland.
m. Elizabeth Hawkins (dau of William Hawkins [a confidant of King Henry VIII] and Joan Trelawney), b. 1532; d. 1595.
18. John Bourchier Sayer, b. abt 1561, Plymouth, England; d. 1625, Amsterdam, Ntherlands.
m. Marie LaMoral VonEgmont (dau of Philip LaMoral VanEgmont), b. 1561.
19. Richard Sears, b. 1590; d. 1676, Yarmouth, MA.
m. Dorothy Thacher, d. 1680.
Note: Richard landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts Colony from England on May 8, 1630 with the last of the Leydon (Leidon) Colony, from which the Mayflower Pilgrims were a part.
20. Lt. Silas Sears b. 1638, Marbelhead, MA; Jan 13, 1697, Yarmouth, Maine.
m. Anna Bursell (dau of James Bursell), d. Mar 4, 1725.
21. Josiah Sears, b. abt 1675, Yarmouth, MA; d. 1727, Provincetown, MA.
m. Mercy Howes (dau of Captain Stephen Howes and Rebecca Howes), b. 1679; d. May 20, 1720, Bridgewater, MA.
22. Josiah Sears, b. Aug 25, 1708, Chatham, Massachusetts; d. Jan 1722, Eastham, Massachusetts.
m. Azubah Knowles (dau of Col. Samuel Knowles, Jr. and Bethia Brown), b. Feb 6, 1714; d. March 1762.
Note: Josiah Sears was a cordwainer.
23. Mercy Sears, b. Aug 23, 1737, Eastham, Massachusetts; d. Between 1800 & 1810.
m. Capt. Archelaus Harding, Sr. (son of John Harding and Elizabeth Young), b. May 31, 1740, Eastham, Massachusetts; d. Mar 16, 1829.
Note: In 1790, Archelaus and Mercy were living in Frankfort, Maine.
24. Archelaus Harding, Jr., b. Jan 17, 1774; d. Dec. 25, 1859.
m. Hannah Moore, b. 1785; d. Mar 10, 1840, Prospect, Maine.
25. Hannah Files Harding, b. Mar 23, 1821.
m. Edward Avery (son of Enoch Avery and Margaret Shephard), b. June 1, 1812, Jefferson, Maine; d. Aug 31, 1886, Prospect, Maine.
26. Byron Cousins Avery, b. Nov. 13, 1853, Prospect, Maine; d. June 8, 1915.
m. Almeda Harriman (dau of Albert S. Harriman and Rebecca Ginn), b. Oct 15, 1857; d. May 2, 1919.
Note: Byron lived in the "old Harriman homestead at the Ferry on the west bank of the Penobscot (River) ... close beside Fort Knox" "Kept a country store in Prospect Ferry, with his father-in-law"
Almeda had a twin sister, Alfreda.
27. Evelyn Roberts Avery, b. 1884, d. 1957.
m. Percy Atwood Mills (son of Albert Reed Mills and Sarah Frank Douglass), b. Jan 23, 1882, West Brooksville, Maine; d. Sep 25, 1951, Bangor, Maine.
Note: Percy ran a general store at the ferry landing in Prosect, Maine. After the ferry stopped running following the opening of the Waldo-Hancock Bridge, Percy moved the store up to the main road. Percy served as a selectman in the town of Prospect. Was a member of the Fort Knox Lodge and Riverview Rebekah Lodge of Bucksport.
28. Raymond Douglass Mills (my grandfather)
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Top 100 TV Characters of All-Time
I recently caught the tale end of a show that was counting down the top 100 TV characters of all-time. It was extremely interesting and, as I watched, I thought that I could put together a list like that as well. After much less work than I expected, in reverse order, here is my list:
The Top 100 TV Characters of All-Time
100. Captain Kangaroo (Captain Kangaroo)
99. The Church Lady (Staurday Night Live)
98. Jimmy Hughes (Yes, Dear)
97. Stephen Hyde (That 70's Show)
96. Dick Louden (Newhart)
95. Odo (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
94. Colonel Klink (Hogan's Heroes)
93. Josh Lyman (The West Wing)
92. Hurley (Lost)
91. John Locke (Lost)
90. Mr. Bean (Mr. Bean)
89. Dick Solomon (Third Rock From the Sun)
88. Frank Burns (MASH)
87. Herb Tarlek (WKRP In Cincinnati)
86. Les Nessman (WKRP In Concinnati)
85. Mister Rogers (Mister Rogers' Neighborhood)
84. Sawyer (Lost)
83. Greg Warner (Yes, Dear)
82. Data (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
81. Hyacinth Bucket (Keeping Up Appearances)
80. Shirley Feeney (Laverne & Shirley)
79. Rerun (What's Happening!!)
78. Debra Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)
77. Richie Cunningham (Happy Days)
76. Michael Kelso (That 70's Show)
75. Latka (Taxi)
74. Louie Depalma (Taxi)
73. The Skipper (Gilligan's Island)
72. Frank Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)
71. Marie Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)
70. Sgt. Schultz (Hoagn's Heroes)
69. Jim Rockford (Rockford Files)
68. Dr. McCoy (Star Trek)
67. Robert Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)
66. Sophia Petrillo (The Golden Girls)
65. Radar O'Reilly (MASH)
64. Vinnie Barbarino (Welcome Back Kotter)
63. Alf (Alf)
62. Mork (Mork & Mindy)
61. Sam Malone (Cheers)
60. Ray Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)
59. Alice (The Brady Bunch)
58. Laverne DeFazio (Laverne & Shirley)
57. Harry Stone (Night Court)
56. The Doctor (Doctor Who)
55. Mrs. Slocombe (Are You Being Served?)
54. Mr. Humphries (Are You Being Served?)
53. Quincy (Quincy M.E.)
52. Jed Clampett (The Beverly Hillbillies)
51. Jessica Fletcher (Murder, She Wrote)
50. President Jed Bartlet (The West Wing)
49. Max Klinger (MASH)
48. Dr. Johnny Fever (WKRP In Cincinnati)
47. Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld)
46. Al Bundy (Married With Children)
45. Andy Taylor (The Andy Griffith Show)
44. Peter Griffin (Family Guy)
43. Stewie Griffin (Family Guy)
42. Elaine Benes (Seinfeld)
41. Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
40. Granny (The Beverly Hillbillies)
39. Thomas Magnum (Magnum, P.I.)
38. Murphy Brown (Murphy Brown)
37. Lou Grant (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Lou Grant)
36. Roseanne Conner (Roseanne)
35. Charles Ingalls (Little House on the Prairie)
34. Jack Tripper (Three's Company)
33. Barney Fife (The Andy Griffith Show)
32. Kramer (Sienfeld)
31. George Costanza (Seinfeld)
30. Laura Ingalls (Little House on the Prairie)
29. Big Bird (Sesame Street)
28. Alex Keaton (Family Ties)
27. Steve Urkel (Family Matters)
26. J.J. Evans (Good Times)
25. Maude Findlay (Maude)
24. Columbo (Columbo)
23. John-Boy Walton (The Waltons)
22. Arnold Jackson (Diff'rent Strokes)
21. Kermit the Frog (The Muppets, Sesame Street)
20. Jeannie (I Dream of Jeannie)
19. Bart Simpson (The Simpsons)
18. Samantha Stephens (Bewitched)
17. Spock (Star Trek)
16. Frasier Crane (Frasier, Cheers)
15. Mary Richards (The Mary Tyler Moore Show)
14. Cliff Huxtable (The Cosby Show)
13. Gilligan (Gilligan's Island)
12. Tim Taylor (Home Improvement)
11. Edith Bunker (All In The Family)
10. Fred Sanford (Sanford & Son)
9. J.R. Ewing (Dallas)
8. Ralph Kramden (The Honeymooners)
7. George Jefferson (The Jeffersons)
6. Captain James T. Kirk (Star Trek)
5. Lucy Ricardo (I Love Lucy)
4. The Fonz (Happy Days)
3. Homer Simpson (The Simpsons)
2. Hawkeye Pierce (MASH)
1. Archie Bunker (All In The Family, Archie Bunker's Place)
There you have it, as I see it. I welcome comments.
Here are some honorable mentions: Niles Crane, Boss Hogg, Hot Lips, B.J. Honeycutt, the characters from Friends, Ted Baxter, Gomer Pyle, Hogan('s Heroes), Mr. and Mrs. Roper, Peg Bundy, Xena, Thurston Howle III, Barney Miller, Webster and Grampa Walton.
The Top 100 TV Characters of All-Time
100. Captain Kangaroo (Captain Kangaroo)
99. The Church Lady (Staurday Night Live)
98. Jimmy Hughes (Yes, Dear)
97. Stephen Hyde (That 70's Show)
96. Dick Louden (Newhart)
95. Odo (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
94. Colonel Klink (Hogan's Heroes)
93. Josh Lyman (The West Wing)
92. Hurley (Lost)
91. John Locke (Lost)
90. Mr. Bean (Mr. Bean)
89. Dick Solomon (Third Rock From the Sun)
88. Frank Burns (MASH)
87. Herb Tarlek (WKRP In Cincinnati)
86. Les Nessman (WKRP In Concinnati)
85. Mister Rogers (Mister Rogers' Neighborhood)
84. Sawyer (Lost)
83. Greg Warner (Yes, Dear)
82. Data (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
81. Hyacinth Bucket (Keeping Up Appearances)
80. Shirley Feeney (Laverne & Shirley)
79. Rerun (What's Happening!!)
78. Debra Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)
77. Richie Cunningham (Happy Days)
76. Michael Kelso (That 70's Show)
75. Latka (Taxi)
74. Louie Depalma (Taxi)
73. The Skipper (Gilligan's Island)
72. Frank Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)
71. Marie Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)
70. Sgt. Schultz (Hoagn's Heroes)
69. Jim Rockford (Rockford Files)
68. Dr. McCoy (Star Trek)
67. Robert Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)
66. Sophia Petrillo (The Golden Girls)
65. Radar O'Reilly (MASH)
64. Vinnie Barbarino (Welcome Back Kotter)
63. Alf (Alf)
62. Mork (Mork & Mindy)
61. Sam Malone (Cheers)
60. Ray Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)
59. Alice (The Brady Bunch)
58. Laverne DeFazio (Laverne & Shirley)
57. Harry Stone (Night Court)
56. The Doctor (Doctor Who)
55. Mrs. Slocombe (Are You Being Served?)
54. Mr. Humphries (Are You Being Served?)
53. Quincy (Quincy M.E.)
52. Jed Clampett (The Beverly Hillbillies)
51. Jessica Fletcher (Murder, She Wrote)
50. President Jed Bartlet (The West Wing)
49. Max Klinger (MASH)
48. Dr. Johnny Fever (WKRP In Cincinnati)
47. Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld)
46. Al Bundy (Married With Children)
45. Andy Taylor (The Andy Griffith Show)
44. Peter Griffin (Family Guy)
43. Stewie Griffin (Family Guy)
42. Elaine Benes (Seinfeld)
41. Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
40. Granny (The Beverly Hillbillies)
39. Thomas Magnum (Magnum, P.I.)
38. Murphy Brown (Murphy Brown)
37. Lou Grant (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Lou Grant)
36. Roseanne Conner (Roseanne)
35. Charles Ingalls (Little House on the Prairie)
34. Jack Tripper (Three's Company)
33. Barney Fife (The Andy Griffith Show)
32. Kramer (Sienfeld)
31. George Costanza (Seinfeld)
30. Laura Ingalls (Little House on the Prairie)
29. Big Bird (Sesame Street)
28. Alex Keaton (Family Ties)
27. Steve Urkel (Family Matters)
26. J.J. Evans (Good Times)
25. Maude Findlay (Maude)
24. Columbo (Columbo)
23. John-Boy Walton (The Waltons)
22. Arnold Jackson (Diff'rent Strokes)
21. Kermit the Frog (The Muppets, Sesame Street)
20. Jeannie (I Dream of Jeannie)
19. Bart Simpson (The Simpsons)
18. Samantha Stephens (Bewitched)
17. Spock (Star Trek)
16. Frasier Crane (Frasier, Cheers)
15. Mary Richards (The Mary Tyler Moore Show)
14. Cliff Huxtable (The Cosby Show)
13. Gilligan (Gilligan's Island)
12. Tim Taylor (Home Improvement)
11. Edith Bunker (All In The Family)
10. Fred Sanford (Sanford & Son)
9. J.R. Ewing (Dallas)
8. Ralph Kramden (The Honeymooners)
7. George Jefferson (The Jeffersons)
6. Captain James T. Kirk (Star Trek)
5. Lucy Ricardo (I Love Lucy)
4. The Fonz (Happy Days)
3. Homer Simpson (The Simpsons)
2. Hawkeye Pierce (MASH)
1. Archie Bunker (All In The Family, Archie Bunker's Place)
There you have it, as I see it. I welcome comments.
Here are some honorable mentions: Niles Crane, Boss Hogg, Hot Lips, B.J. Honeycutt, the characters from Friends, Ted Baxter, Gomer Pyle, Hogan('s Heroes), Mr. and Mrs. Roper, Peg Bundy, Xena, Thurston Howle III, Barney Miller, Webster and Grampa Walton.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Family Tree Part 3: The Falconer Line
1. William Falconer
2. John Falconer, b. June 23, 1740, Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland
m. Barbara Sutherland (dau. of John Sutherland) b. Feb. 12, 1745
3. James Falconer, b. August 4, 1773, Thurso, Caithness, Scotland; d. Bet. 1841-1851
m. Mary Morrison (dau. of Iye Morrison) b. about 1769, Durness, Sutherland, Scotland
Note: James was a private in the Caithness Fencibles stationed at Fort George and appears to have been discharged by 1797. In 1841 lived at Kinseally (Ceannsalie) on the NW coast of Eddrachilles which was cleared of the tenants for a sheep farm in the mid 1840s.
4. Hector Falconer, b. 1802, Scouriemore, Sutherland, Scotland; d. Sept. 15, 1887, Prince Edward Island, Canada
m. Mary Catherine Ross, b. 1806, Scouriemore, Sutherland, Scotland
5. Alexander Ross Falconer, b. June 11, 1834, Handa, Eddrachilles, Sutherland, Scotland; d. February 4, 1907, Prince Edward Island, Canada
m. Bessie Campbell Gunn (dau. of William Gunn and Christy Campbell) b. May 6, 1854, Prince Edward Island; d. July 13, 1933, Prince Edward Island
Note: Alexander was a minister in South Granville, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
6. George Alexander Ross Falconer, b. October 12, 1878, Prince Edward Island, Canada; d. July 16, 1965, Maine.
m. Mary Ann Curtis b. Feb. 16, 1891; d. May 28, 1974
Note: George left his family in Prince Edward Island, Canada, at age 13 or 14, as they could no longer afford to care for him. He immigrated to Maine, where he settled in Shirley Mills. He ran a fox farm on Boarstone Mountain in Elliotsville, Maine, which had a world reknowned reputation as one of the best.
7. Mary Wilberta "Mae" Falconer, b. May 16, 1923; d. January 15, 2006, Belfast, Maine
m. Raymond Douglass Mills (son of Percy Mills and Evelyn Avery)
Note: Mae grew up in Shirley Mills, Maine, and spent much time on Boarstone Mountain, where her parents were caretakers and ran a fox farm. Just after marrying Ray Mills, Ray was shipped off the Europe with the army, where World War II was winding down. After his return, the couple moved to Dexter, Maine, and began a family. Mae worked for many years as a substitute teacher, and as a secretary for Mac Stewart, an optomistrist. Mae and Ray moved to Searsport in 2003 to be closer to family.
8. Mary Jeanne Mills
9a. Brian Ray Merrill
9b. Allen Ross Ewing Merrill
9c. Karen Lynn Merrill Keniston
2. John Falconer, b. June 23, 1740, Latheron Parish, Caithness, Scotland
m. Barbara Sutherland (dau. of John Sutherland) b. Feb. 12, 1745
3. James Falconer, b. August 4, 1773, Thurso, Caithness, Scotland; d. Bet. 1841-1851
m. Mary Morrison (dau. of Iye Morrison) b. about 1769, Durness, Sutherland, Scotland
Note: James was a private in the Caithness Fencibles stationed at Fort George and appears to have been discharged by 1797. In 1841 lived at Kinseally (Ceannsalie) on the NW coast of Eddrachilles which was cleared of the tenants for a sheep farm in the mid 1840s.
4. Hector Falconer, b. 1802, Scouriemore, Sutherland, Scotland; d. Sept. 15, 1887, Prince Edward Island, Canada
m. Mary Catherine Ross, b. 1806, Scouriemore, Sutherland, Scotland
5. Alexander Ross Falconer, b. June 11, 1834, Handa, Eddrachilles, Sutherland, Scotland; d. February 4, 1907, Prince Edward Island, Canada
m. Bessie Campbell Gunn (dau. of William Gunn and Christy Campbell) b. May 6, 1854, Prince Edward Island; d. July 13, 1933, Prince Edward Island
Note: Alexander was a minister in South Granville, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
6. George Alexander Ross Falconer, b. October 12, 1878, Prince Edward Island, Canada; d. July 16, 1965, Maine.
m. Mary Ann Curtis b. Feb. 16, 1891; d. May 28, 1974
Note: George left his family in Prince Edward Island, Canada, at age 13 or 14, as they could no longer afford to care for him. He immigrated to Maine, where he settled in Shirley Mills. He ran a fox farm on Boarstone Mountain in Elliotsville, Maine, which had a world reknowned reputation as one of the best.
7. Mary Wilberta "Mae" Falconer, b. May 16, 1923; d. January 15, 2006, Belfast, Maine
m. Raymond Douglass Mills (son of Percy Mills and Evelyn Avery)
Note: Mae grew up in Shirley Mills, Maine, and spent much time on Boarstone Mountain, where her parents were caretakers and ran a fox farm. Just after marrying Ray Mills, Ray was shipped off the Europe with the army, where World War II was winding down. After his return, the couple moved to Dexter, Maine, and began a family. Mae worked for many years as a substitute teacher, and as a secretary for Mac Stewart, an optomistrist. Mae and Ray moved to Searsport in 2003 to be closer to family.
8. Mary Jeanne Mills
9a. Brian Ray Merrill
9b. Allen Ross Ewing Merrill
9c. Karen Lynn Merrill Keniston
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Family Tree Part 2: The Mills Line
1. Mark Mills, b. England
m. Mary Eligood, d. 1700
2. ?Edward Mills?, b. 1686, Sussex County, Delaware; d. 1751, Sussex County, Delaware
m. Agnes Moore, dau. of Thomas Moore and Elizabeth Getting
b. 1690, Sussex County, Delaware; d. 1751, Sussex County, Delaware
3. Luke Mills, b. June 20, 1713, Jamestown, Virginia; d. July 1764, lost at sea
m. Hannah Lang, dau. of John Lang and Grace Brookings
b. Aug 15, 1715, Portsmouth, NH; d. 1748, Portsmouth, NH
4. Eligood Mills, b. August 25, 1744, Portsmouth, NH; d. Jan 6, 1832, Waterboro, Maine
m. Mary Dyer, dau. of Thomas Dyer and Elizabeth Melcher
b. Aug 13, 1753, Biddeford, Maine;
d. March 13, 1774, Portsmouth, NH, due to comlications from childbirth
Note: Eligood Mills was an officer aboard the privateer "Grand Turk", an early settler of Waterboro, York Co. ME, and a farmer. He was also a member of the Congregational Church of Limerick, Limerick, York Co. ME. He served aboard the Grand Turk during the Revolutionary War, when he was taken prisoner at Halifax, and held for 5 years (1777-1782).
5. Joseph Mills, b. October 18, 1771, Biddeford, Maine; d. April 1, 1836, Biddeford, Maine
m. Sarah L. Goodwin, dau. of Amaziah Goodwin and Sarah Butler
b. July 22, 1782, Limington, Maine; d. Nov. 18, 1828, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Note: Joseph was a farmer in Cape Elizabeth and Waterboro.
6. George Vaughan Mills, b. Nov 22, 1812, Cape Elizabeth, Maine; d. April 1, 1894
m. Dorothy Farnham, dau. of Gersham Farnham and Eleanor Varnum
b. Oct 9, 1816, Brooksville, Maine; d. March 1, 1855, Brooksville, Maine
Note: George Vaughn Mills' mother was a Quaker and he was brought up in that strict, reserved, almost silent faith. He loved a good joke and had a very hearty laugh. When his young wife died he was left with seven children, the oldest, Alice, sixteen years old. For two years he and Alice managed as well as they could to run the farm and acre for the children. Then he married the young womanwhom his first wife had told him she felt sure would be a good mother to the children. George, still a young man, became active in the affairs of the town - first as justice of the peace whereby he tried all cases which made necessary the holding of the court. Later, the people of his county selected him to represent them in the state legislature at Augusta. This he did with honor to his county and to himself. He loved peace and hated war more intensely than most people - due, probably, to his Quaker training. However, if there seemed sufficient reason for differing, he could do so in no uncertain terms. He stood for the finest and best in everything. His morning prayers were a regular institution in the home.
7. Albert Reed Mills, b. March 25, 1853; d. March 4, 1942
m. Sarah Frank Douglass, dau. of Joseph Douglass and Sarah L. Wasson
b. Feb 1, 1853; d. 1906
Note: Albert Reed Mills was the lighthouse keeper for the Goose Rock Lighthouse located in the Fox Island Thoroughfare between North Haven and Vinalhaven off the coast of Maine for 23 years. He got done 2 years before he would have been eligible for a pension, due to poor health. He claimed that the whole time he lived on Goose Rock, which had just room for the lighthouse, with no land at all, he raised his own vegetables. This is true if you consider the fact that all food and other supplies had to be raised out of a boat and up into the lighthouse. After his retirement, he moved in with his son Percy and daughter-in-law Evelyn in Prospect, Maine, where he worked in Percy's store at the Ferry Landing.
8. Percy Atwood Mills, b. Jan. 23, 1882, West Brooksville, Maine;
d. September 25, 1951, Bangor, Maine
m. Evelyn Roberts Avery, dau. of Byron Cousins Avery and Almeda Harriman
b. 1884; d. 1957
Note: Percy ran a general store at the ferry landing in Prosect, Maine. After the ferry stopped running following the opening of the Waldo-Hancock Bridge, Percy moved the store up to the main road. Percy served as a selectman in the town of Prospect. Was a member of the Fort Know Lodge and Riverview Rebekah Lodge of Bucksport.
9. Raymond Douglass Mills, b. May 4, 1916
m. Mary Wilberta "Mae" Falconer, dau. of George Falconer and Mary Ann Curtis
b. May 16, 1923; d. January 15, 2006, Belfast, Maine
10. Mary Jeanne Mills, b. May 16, 1947, Bangor, Maine
m. Lionel Leroy "Bud" Merrill, Jr., son of Lionel Leroy Merrill, Sr. and Arlene Mildred Howe
b. October 28, 1943, Dover-Foxcroft, Maine
11. Brian Merrill, b. April 20, 1968
m. Cara Kelly, dau. Leighton Kelly and Patricia Gilmartin
b. August 5, 1967
m. Mary Eligood, d. 1700
2. ?Edward Mills?, b. 1686, Sussex County, Delaware; d. 1751, Sussex County, Delaware
m. Agnes Moore, dau. of Thomas Moore and Elizabeth Getting
b. 1690, Sussex County, Delaware; d. 1751, Sussex County, Delaware
3. Luke Mills, b. June 20, 1713, Jamestown, Virginia; d. July 1764, lost at sea
m. Hannah Lang, dau. of John Lang and Grace Brookings
b. Aug 15, 1715, Portsmouth, NH; d. 1748, Portsmouth, NH
4. Eligood Mills, b. August 25, 1744, Portsmouth, NH; d. Jan 6, 1832, Waterboro, Maine
m. Mary Dyer, dau. of Thomas Dyer and Elizabeth Melcher
b. Aug 13, 1753, Biddeford, Maine;
d. March 13, 1774, Portsmouth, NH, due to comlications from childbirth
Note: Eligood Mills was an officer aboard the privateer "Grand Turk", an early settler of Waterboro, York Co. ME, and a farmer. He was also a member of the Congregational Church of Limerick, Limerick, York Co. ME. He served aboard the Grand Turk during the Revolutionary War, when he was taken prisoner at Halifax, and held for 5 years (1777-1782).
5. Joseph Mills, b. October 18, 1771, Biddeford, Maine; d. April 1, 1836, Biddeford, Maine
m. Sarah L. Goodwin, dau. of Amaziah Goodwin and Sarah Butler
b. July 22, 1782, Limington, Maine; d. Nov. 18, 1828, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Note: Joseph was a farmer in Cape Elizabeth and Waterboro.
6. George Vaughan Mills, b. Nov 22, 1812, Cape Elizabeth, Maine; d. April 1, 1894
m. Dorothy Farnham, dau. of Gersham Farnham and Eleanor Varnum
b. Oct 9, 1816, Brooksville, Maine; d. March 1, 1855, Brooksville, Maine
Note: George Vaughn Mills' mother was a Quaker and he was brought up in that strict, reserved, almost silent faith. He loved a good joke and had a very hearty laugh. When his young wife died he was left with seven children, the oldest, Alice, sixteen years old. For two years he and Alice managed as well as they could to run the farm and acre for the children. Then he married the young womanwhom his first wife had told him she felt sure would be a good mother to the children. George, still a young man, became active in the affairs of the town - first as justice of the peace whereby he tried all cases which made necessary the holding of the court. Later, the people of his county selected him to represent them in the state legislature at Augusta. This he did with honor to his county and to himself. He loved peace and hated war more intensely than most people - due, probably, to his Quaker training. However, if there seemed sufficient reason for differing, he could do so in no uncertain terms. He stood for the finest and best in everything. His morning prayers were a regular institution in the home.
7. Albert Reed Mills, b. March 25, 1853; d. March 4, 1942
m. Sarah Frank Douglass, dau. of Joseph Douglass and Sarah L. Wasson
b. Feb 1, 1853; d. 1906
Note: Albert Reed Mills was the lighthouse keeper for the Goose Rock Lighthouse located in the Fox Island Thoroughfare between North Haven and Vinalhaven off the coast of Maine for 23 years. He got done 2 years before he would have been eligible for a pension, due to poor health. He claimed that the whole time he lived on Goose Rock, which had just room for the lighthouse, with no land at all, he raised his own vegetables. This is true if you consider the fact that all food and other supplies had to be raised out of a boat and up into the lighthouse. After his retirement, he moved in with his son Percy and daughter-in-law Evelyn in Prospect, Maine, where he worked in Percy's store at the Ferry Landing.
8. Percy Atwood Mills, b. Jan. 23, 1882, West Brooksville, Maine;
d. September 25, 1951, Bangor, Maine
m. Evelyn Roberts Avery, dau. of Byron Cousins Avery and Almeda Harriman
b. 1884; d. 1957
Note: Percy ran a general store at the ferry landing in Prosect, Maine. After the ferry stopped running following the opening of the Waldo-Hancock Bridge, Percy moved the store up to the main road. Percy served as a selectman in the town of Prospect. Was a member of the Fort Know Lodge and Riverview Rebekah Lodge of Bucksport.
9. Raymond Douglass Mills, b. May 4, 1916
m. Mary Wilberta "Mae" Falconer, dau. of George Falconer and Mary Ann Curtis
b. May 16, 1923; d. January 15, 2006, Belfast, Maine
10. Mary Jeanne Mills, b. May 16, 1947, Bangor, Maine
m. Lionel Leroy "Bud" Merrill, Jr., son of Lionel Leroy Merrill, Sr. and Arlene Mildred Howe
b. October 28, 1943, Dover-Foxcroft, Maine
11. Brian Merrill, b. April 20, 1968
m. Cara Kelly, dau. Leighton Kelly and Patricia Gilmartin
b. August 5, 1967
Thursday, December 13, 2007
A Christmas Blessing, Muppet-Style
One of Cara's and my favorite Christmas movies is The Muppet Christmas Carol. Every year we plan which night we'll watch it and look forward to it for days. Cara calls it a real feel-good Christmas movie. In the movie, there is a scene where Tiny Tim sings a Christmas blessing to his family called "Bless Us All". The words are beautiful. Here they are:
Bless Us All
(Words by Paul Williams)
Life is full of sweet surprises, every day's a gift
The sun comes up and I can feel it lift my spirit
It fills me up with laughter, it fills me up with song
I look into the eyes of love and know that I belong
Bless us all, who gather here
The loving family I hold dear
No place on Earth, compares with home
And every path will bring me back from where I roam
Bless us all, that as we live
We always comfort and forgive
We have so much that we can share
With those in need we see around us everywhere
Let us always love each other
Lead us toward the light
Let us hear the voice of reason
Singing in the night
Let us run from anger
And catch us when we fall
Teach us in our dreams and please, yes, please
Bless us one and all
Bless us all with playful years
With noisy games and joyous tears
We reach for you, and we stand tall
And in our prayers and dreams we ask you bless us all
We reach for you, and we stand tall
And in our prayers and dreams we ask you bless us all
Bless Us All
(Words by Paul Williams)
Life is full of sweet surprises, every day's a gift
The sun comes up and I can feel it lift my spirit
It fills me up with laughter, it fills me up with song
I look into the eyes of love and know that I belong
Bless us all, who gather here
The loving family I hold dear
No place on Earth, compares with home
And every path will bring me back from where I roam
Bless us all, that as we live
We always comfort and forgive
We have so much that we can share
With those in need we see around us everywhere
Let us always love each other
Lead us toward the light
Let us hear the voice of reason
Singing in the night
Let us run from anger
And catch us when we fall
Teach us in our dreams and please, yes, please
Bless us one and all
Bless us all with playful years
With noisy games and joyous tears
We reach for you, and we stand tall
And in our prayers and dreams we ask you bless us all
We reach for you, and we stand tall
And in our prayers and dreams we ask you bless us all
Monday, December 03, 2007
Snow Day!
It is 9:30 in the morning on a Monday, as I sit at my computer listening to the sound of the snowplow making its second trip up my street since it began snowing early this morning. We have a snow day!
It is not just the kids that look forward to snow days, it is also, and perhaps even more so, the teachers and other school staff that look forward to them. An unexpected day off! What could be better than that?
This is how it generally works at my house:
My alarm goes off at the usual time, 5:00. Instead of hitting the snooze button three times, I usually only hit it once before I am up. I stumble to the kitchen and turn on the small TV we have sitting on the bar. I hear the familiar music of Storm Center, the alternative music played on WLBZ-TV on days when a snow storm is under way. The news anchors, Lee Nelson and Sharon Rose, and the weather man, Kevin Mannix, are wearing sweaters instead of their usual attire. But my eyes are not interested in what they are wearing. They immediately fall to the bottom of the screen where the school cancellations are flashing. I'm looking for SAD 56 (my school) or SAD 3 (Cara's). Meanwhile, my ear is listening for the phone to ring, anticipating the call from one school or the other with the simple message: no school. Usually I see Cara's school on TV first and usually I get the phone call before Cara does. Cara, not waiting for the call from her phone tree, usually calls the next person in line once she hears from me that her school has come up on the TV. (I know, you aren't supposed to do that, but Cara doesn't care.)
Once it has been established that neither of us have school (and only once in seven years has one of us had school and the other not), Cara, who has not yet left bed, goes back to sleep. Me, I am too awake by now to sleep, and get my current book and sit in the recliner and read, while waiting for the coffee to be ready. I usually get a couple hours of reading in before Cara (the smart one) wakes up. Then we spend as much of the day as possible doing nothing. At some point, I will need to scoop and shovel the driveway, but I try not to think of that.
Why do we so look forward to snow days? We do have to make them all up at the end of the year. Most likely, instant gratification. Do we regret it in June when we seem to be the only school still in session? A little. But to be honest, I'd rather go to school a couple extra days in June when I get home from school and have 6 hours of daylight, than to go in the middle of the winter and get home and have 2 hours of daylight. There is something cosy about lazing around the house with the snow falling outside your window knowing there is nothing you need to accomplish today except whatever you feel like.
It is not just the kids that look forward to snow days, it is also, and perhaps even more so, the teachers and other school staff that look forward to them. An unexpected day off! What could be better than that?
This is how it generally works at my house:
My alarm goes off at the usual time, 5:00. Instead of hitting the snooze button three times, I usually only hit it once before I am up. I stumble to the kitchen and turn on the small TV we have sitting on the bar. I hear the familiar music of Storm Center, the alternative music played on WLBZ-TV on days when a snow storm is under way. The news anchors, Lee Nelson and Sharon Rose, and the weather man, Kevin Mannix, are wearing sweaters instead of their usual attire. But my eyes are not interested in what they are wearing. They immediately fall to the bottom of the screen where the school cancellations are flashing. I'm looking for SAD 56 (my school) or SAD 3 (Cara's). Meanwhile, my ear is listening for the phone to ring, anticipating the call from one school or the other with the simple message: no school. Usually I see Cara's school on TV first and usually I get the phone call before Cara does. Cara, not waiting for the call from her phone tree, usually calls the next person in line once she hears from me that her school has come up on the TV. (I know, you aren't supposed to do that, but Cara doesn't care.)
Once it has been established that neither of us have school (and only once in seven years has one of us had school and the other not), Cara, who has not yet left bed, goes back to sleep. Me, I am too awake by now to sleep, and get my current book and sit in the recliner and read, while waiting for the coffee to be ready. I usually get a couple hours of reading in before Cara (the smart one) wakes up. Then we spend as much of the day as possible doing nothing. At some point, I will need to scoop and shovel the driveway, but I try not to think of that.
Why do we so look forward to snow days? We do have to make them all up at the end of the year. Most likely, instant gratification. Do we regret it in June when we seem to be the only school still in session? A little. But to be honest, I'd rather go to school a couple extra days in June when I get home from school and have 6 hours of daylight, than to go in the middle of the winter and get home and have 2 hours of daylight. There is something cosy about lazing around the house with the snow falling outside your window knowing there is nothing you need to accomplish today except whatever you feel like.
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