Family History.

.....I was KINDA productive today. I made a dump run and got rid of a van load of STUFF that had been accumulating in it from the garage and the 100-items-challenge. That challenge is getting TOUGH, I tell you. I tossed out TWO boxes of books today. Albeit, they consisted mainly of dead textbooks and out-of-date catalogs. But still, BOOKS. I found it tough getting rid of old storage containers that were still useful, but for which we had no use (like old filing cabinets). Got rid of an old camp-bed. It hadn't been used for YEARS, but still. I can see that this challenge is going to be quite the heart-breaker before we're done.

.....Did a strafing run of Mom's place as well. She has felt overwhelmed with STUFF at her apartment. Her living room had so many boxes that she could barely move about the room with her walker. TBT and I went through and pulled out about a dozen and a half boxes, and then cleaned up some of the rest of the living room. So now at least she has something of a cleared out area in which to work. Now maybe she can make a little headway in getting her apartment organized.

.....Got a little genealogy lesson in the process as well. Learned a little of my migration patterns for my mother's family. Her Dad was born in Los Angeles. But his dad, Walter LeGros, was born in Terre Haute, Indiana. And Walter's father, Henry LeGros, was born in Malmedy, France; while his mother, Francis Van Shellenbeck, was born in Colonge, Germany. The interesting thing though is that looking on Mom's Mother's side of the family, her great-grandmother was born in a town very near Colonge, Germany as well. I find it somewhat amusing that virtual European neighbors migrated to America and their descendants met and married. Although, I suppose it could be a little disquieting to consider the possible Appalachian way at which branches of my family may come apart and come back together again. :-)

.....Although the results of the day as far as the stuff count goes were negative (a good thing), it wasn't all good. In cleaning out Mom's stuff, I came away with a Dremel tool (with a NICE flexible tip); an old generation Star Trek communicator; and a collection on CD of 50-years worth of National Geographic. It was a strange feeling, that feeling of 'disappointment' I felt in the ADDING to the level of STUFF at the house. :-) Oh, well, it's a learning thing. :-)

.....Now to clean up some and see if I can talk someone into cutting up an old oxygen cylinder for me. :-)

.....Aaron / Arontius.