My Portfolio

  On the road…. again!Afghanistan to ZambiaChronicles of a Footloose ForesterBy Dick Pellek   Caving in California   When he was a young, restless Recreation Patrolman on the El Dorado National Forest in California, the Footloose Forester had a friend his age that was as restless as he was.  He and...

This special day began typically for March in Ohio, gray with blowing rain against the bedroom window.  How I wished the sun could pop out from behind the clouds.     Today is the occasion for honoring a good friend and mentor for many of the musicians in our city.  Our...

 On the road…again!Afghanistan to ZambiaChronicles of a Footloose ForesterBy Dick Pellek   Analysis of a Post-It Note   On some occasions, the desire to write things down turns into exercises in analysis.  Some critics would point to his frequent efforts as one example of why Pellek, the Footloose Forester, is weird...

The following may be little more than a rant,,,,but I wonder where we will be in the coming years? The growing popularity of things like Twitter and Texting which necessarily limit messages to extremely short blasts could have a detrimental effect on the growth of knowledge and understanding. The great lessons in...

Mom and Dad had seven children. I am the only girl and the second to the oldest. In birth order: Jim, me, Bill, Rick, Dan, Sam and Glen. Dan and Sam are twins. There is less than an 11 years difference in age between Jim and Glen. Glen has been calling...

On the road…again!Afghanistan to ZambiaChronicles of a Footloose ForesterBy Dick Pellek   Personal Observations On Plant Propagation One recurring lament about his travels into other countries was often about the lack of variety of local fruits and vegetables that should have been suited to the climates and soils of that region. ...

OUR INSPIRATION!!!  Mom, Ty and I at Cape Canaveral, FL.   Like a lot of young boys my Brother Tyler and I (Ages 15 and 12) were into rocketry.  We usually were left alone for days on end to construct the model rockets and then accompanied by an adult when we...

An old friend sent me an email today, where he lamented about his mother’s recent unexpected death. He, like I, is a personal historian – a professional who interviews living people about their life stories and preserves them for the future as a family legacy. His sorrow was compounded by the...

  So many people are overwhelmed with an ever-increasing store of photos, slides and home movies that will likely never see the light of day. That’s where Appo can help. If you need help regaining control of your photos and memories, there is an Appo member in your area ready to...

    One of our local community agencies started a program for students called Los Sabios.  In English, that means the wise ones or the ones who know.  The objective of the program was to provide a "wise" mentor for a student.  Most of the students who were chosen for the program...

The volunteering story I'd like to talk about today includes many other people. When I say this, I mean sometimes it takes the help of many to reach your ultimate goal of helping others. In my case it involves gathering, making, dressing, decorating, teaching and loving the people and cause for...

  DEB AND I PLANNED TO MOVE FROM BOSTON TO UPSTATE NY IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007 TO LIVE ON HER PARENTS'  PROPERTY - TO BE CLOSE TO THEM AND PROVIDE SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE  AS NEEDED AT THIS TIME IN THEIR LIVES. IT WAS A DECISION WE MADE TOGETHER.   MEANWHILE BACK IN...

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As I recall I have done a fair amount of volunteering such as circulationg petitions, collecting for various health aspects, and time donated to conventions.  However what I am doing now is giving me the most reward.  The Episcopal church I attended for over 20 years is now a mission with...

When I stop to think about it, I think I have always volunteered. I imagine it started out as some form of behavioural conditioning, nature vs nurture. I was raised by parents who walked the talk. Though they were extremely busy raising their large brood, they always found time and some way to help others. As my...

Girl Scouts and Volunteerism   The Girl Scouts of America turns 100 years old this year. In their history they have come to represent the fabric of our society. Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low assembled 18 girls from Savannah, Georgia, on March 12, 1912, for a local Girl Scout meeting. She believed...

I am continually in awe of my four grandparents.  One, the daughter of an immigrant, fluent in two languages and baker of the world's best pies.  Another, a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army and veteran of World War II and Korea.  A flapper and feminist who could play a mean...

The one and only time I have intentionally killed anything more than a bug or mosquito...which they all need to perish if you ask me, was the time my best friend Donnie and I shot at a bird’s nest in the front yard of his house.  We were about 11 or...

Mine was "Forest..er" green! Ha   Here are a few of those lousy ramps!   Now, after you read a number of my stories you will begin to get the idea that I might be a complete idiot when it comes to automotive projects.  My Brother and Cousin Greg can almost...

An '88 Jetta.  Ours was dark navy blue!  Oh, and a cruched front grill, bumper and light   Back in ’88 My family lived in North Conway, N.H.  It was January or February on that Saturday.  My Dad had ordered a new car a few weeks before and today they called...