Gretchen's first byline

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In September 2010, Gretchen was babysitting for the editor of the neighborhood newsletter.  So she wrote...

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Alfred Hoyle WWII Service Record

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Last summer (‘18) I had the National Archives send me my Grandfather’s service record (55 pages, lots of insurance forms).  There’s a link to that set of documents below. From Alfred Hoyle’s pay record , I’m starting to piece together what I think Grandpa did during WWII.  Looks like basic training at Parris Island SC, Mechanic’s training at Camp Lejune NC and then deployed to 2nd Marines 2nd Separate Engineer Battalion in the Pacific.  Likely saw / experienced some / all of the Battle of Okinawa .  The 2nd Marines did their occupation time in Nagasaki (atomic bomb #2), which matches what I've heard about Grandpa's service I have very few stories from his time in the Marines (one I do have, I’ve added as a likely event with the historical context below).  I don’t think he spoke much of his time. I will bug John this summer (and now).  If you've got stories you know / remember, I'd like to capture them. Marine PFCs made $54 / month dur...
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One has to be particularly careful when selecting nicknames. I look back over my childhood and I recall the nicknames of my siblings: Julianne (aka Juln Ms. Coleman aka Princess Queen Ishcabible (sp?)) Tom (aka TC aka Kinnies aka Snaggletooth) Rob (aka Big Robs aka Robert the Brave) Susan (aka Bug) If one looks at these nicknames with a careful eye, at least one pops out as perhaps a nickname the recipient of which might not want to go into the cold cruel world with. Interestingly enough, I believe it is also the nickname that stuck the best. With that observation, I am (understandably) a little concerned about the nickname that Tracey and I have bequeathed upon our first born. It fits the criteria (as I see them) of a nickname: It's cute It's a diminutive It's easy to remember What more could one want? Well, Tracey grew up with Wunk and Teek (TK), my daughter has started life with "Booga". If you recall one of my earlier notes, one of Dad's favorite songs...
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Teaching day 1

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My kids are off at University and all my high school booster responsibilities are done.  I've downsized and I have some extra free time.  For years I've said that I would like to teach and a little opportunity to do just that came up.  I grabbed it. I've found a company run by a tech guy in his spare time that offers various after school STEM programs.  He's got loads of things he offers to schools / PTAs.  This group selected  an after school enrichment class in software coding.  The curriculum is self paced and drag & drop.  The essentially make programs out of virtual Lego blocks.  Today was the first day of class.  We're got kids from 1st grade to 6th grade.  There's 13 of them.   Some observations.  Second graders are different than 5th graders.  The little kids' fine motor skills are not as developed as the big kids.  Mouse pad movements was often done with their ...
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