Our Mitochondrial DNA

Bob and Chris Rath gave me a Christmas gift of being a participant in the National Geographic Genographic project. (www.nationalgeographic.com/genographic) I swabbed my checks in early January and just now got around to checking the results. Since I am a female and have no Y chromosome only my maternal lineage (mitochondrial DNA) could be checked. Males can have both maternal and paternal lineage checked. So this is essentially Anne's maternal lineage and therefore the maternal lineage of the seven. So for all grandkids it makes up at least half of your paternal lineage. And the results: haplogroup J. Out of East Africa (where all humankind originated) our maternal ancestors eventually made it to northeastern Europe, where many haplogroup J are found today. Note--no surprises here! If you want to get a lot more science you can log to the above referenced site using my participant number: FW976TBV56. Happy trails to you..............

Late to the game...

Just now...w/ some encouragement from Meatball...jumping into the family blogosphere. Good to read notes and news. Congrats to Andy...for acceptance into Buffalo. Thomas for great swimming. Amanda for french connection back to Lansing schools. Mary for turning 50 so tastefully. Liz for scintillating golf stories. Maureen for a great Facebook page. I'll stop. Recent family highlight from our small fam...was winter weekend in NYC. I had to attend a Wells meeting. Family tagged along for some fun. They ended up in a small studio audience for Good Morning America (see pic w/ Diane Sawyer)....and were on camera a few times. Haven't rec'd DVD of show, but should soon. Also saw a great B'way show..."In the Heights" (thanks, Liz, for recommending). Feb school break ends tonight. Kids back to school tomorrow. Maddie and Sarah will be in school musical, guys & dolls, in early March. Mitch b'ball season coming to a close. Out here.

Quick Reference Guides for Computer Lovers

Liz, that golf story had me on the edge of my seat.

Now, onto one of my favorite topics: computers. For anyone out there who is teaching themselves a new computer program, check out the free quick reference guides at http://www.customguide.com/quick_references.htm.

I spent a couple days in Orlando with Mom and Dad last week. Dad and I had an exciting round (9 holes) of golf. He had one fabulous shot over water (wider than the pond) but we couldn't find it near the green. I knew that there had not been a splash so the only place could be resting in the reeds along the shore. Sure enough there it was, sitting like an egg. It took the two of us to retrieve it without getting wet. Therefore, he did not take a penalty stroke! I had to lean way out and grab with my left hand as using a club would only pull the ball into the water. I rested my left foot on an adjacent batch of reeds, had my right foot on on shore and my right hand holding the end of Dad's putter as he braced himself to give me support.

Our New Secretary of State

Thank you to all residents of New York State for giving us your wonderful Senator, Hillary Rodham Clinton!