hefcar

Not everyone has staked out a place in cyberworld. A lot of folks still figure the risks of bringing it into their homes outweigh the possible benefits. Included in this number is my godchild Beth and her family. So I can't holler happy birthday to Beth's hubbie, Joe, but I wish him only the best. (Read in a hollering voice:) Happy, Birthday, Joe !

Speaking of cats, Annie thinks this will amuse you, but if you're a fan of cats, Chinese food, or Harry Chapin, maybe this is one hyperlink you'd do well to overlook. You've been warned.

A great thing about email is that you can holler at someone without having any idea where in the world they are. Last I heard, Jeanette was in England studying up a storm. Not having a clue to her present whereabouts, I hollered Happy Birthday to her today, and lo and behold:

Dan,
I'm in chicago - andersonville. i'm catsitting for some friends on spring break. thanks for the birthday wishes.
Jeanette

I've been playing a lot with hyperlinks on this web page. Hyperlinks are those words or phrases that are underlined and when you click 'em, they take you to another web page. Like Will Rogers, who never met a man he didn't like, some people never met a hyperlink they wouldn't click. Others won't stop to say hello to one - because they don't notice them, aren't interested, or don't have the patience to wait for slowly opening web pages - those of us with highspeed internet easily forget how it can take forever to 'surf' from one page to another. If you've been ignoring all the hyperlinks on this page, that's okay, but that may leave you wondering what some people are talking about. The links are generally meant to be playful and/or informative and many lead to photos.
Received from Lonesomehollow:

Hey Dan! Saw ... [Jeanne's] first blog, ...but didn't click on the hyperlinks until I read ... [her] second blog. I don't understand it all, but probably because my life continues to be hectic...long hours at work coupled with long drives to and from work.
Pete and I are leaving for a short vacation tomorrow (much needed for both of us). Just going to northern wisconsin to "snuggle in", and catch up with each other, read, hike, relax!
Love, Nora

My dad, Patrick Carr, was born on this day in 1908. He came to this country from Ireland at age 18. He became a citizen, learned to comb his hair, lost all his savings in the stock market crash, moved to Chicago, and found himself in the company of this large Irish American family, the Heffernans. He so fell in love with this country that I don't think he ever would have revisited his birthplace if his Irish American wife (Click photo) hadn't nudged him into it.

(Click Photo)

Ben's up early and leaning on the email button:

Hi Dan-
Well, since you mentioned work [see previous posting], here's something I did about ten years ago- - sadly, in the process of relocating some facilities recently, the decision was made to remove the pond and much of the garden.
I started my 19 years with the City at the Airport, moved to the Parks department, then Water Treatment, and finally seem to have settled in Wastewater. Um, that is to say, Wastewater Treatment.
I think Annie recently mentioned my promotion, I got a little raise and a big title- Maintenance Supply Specialist. Which basically means I shop for a living.
Melbourne is on the Indian River Lagoon, where, on the very rare occasion, I do some fishing and camping.
In addition to my recent efforts at blogging, I also try to take a few pictures- here, and here. These are some of my favorites, from our cruise last summer.
Ben

I want to thank a few people like Dave and Carol who are giving me reality checks - letting me know I could be making myself clearer. I was asked by a young person today: how are these people posting to the blog - I can't see any way to do it. I'm sorry, I should have made it clear. I do all the posting. I've been posting what people have emailed me. To make it easy for people to email me, there's that email link at the top of the links list on the right side of the page. Click it and you're ready to dash off a few lines or paragraphs. It's that quick and simple - give it a try.
However, you won't be the first to try it. Municipal man Ben clocked in at 2:33 pm today, a valiant effort, but he was beaten by ten minutes - by federal employee Annie. Oh, well, it's all in the family.

Need feedback from y'all to keep this blog from becoming a barren wasteland. Look to the righthand Links sidebar. Top link is Email me ! Click it and see how easy it is to drop me a line. Nobody has used it yet, be The FIRST !

Received broadcast time/date from cousin Tom in Listowel:

Hi Dan,
The show will be broadcast on Sunday night 28th March from 8 to 10 pm [that's 2 to 4 pm CST in USA]. The music and song was fantastic. The stories cover mostly my mothers side of the family - Buckleys & Lynchs.
Regards,
Tom.

When I wrote Héléna that I sometimes listen to RTE and Radio Kerry, she couldn't believe I spend my time with such 20th century stuff. Other cousins are amazed that I can tune in Radio Kerry here in the US, as they quickly lose the station when driving up to Dublin. Click either link in the right hand sidebar sometime and check it out while you're surfing.

If you're looking for something on the internet, Google rules and Yahoo is trying to catch up. But there are others looking for your business.

(Click Photo)

Carol writes from Minnesota:

Dear Dan,
I am befuddled by the blog.
We are looking forward to quite a snowstorm tomorrow. It won't stay long.
Spring is on it's way.
It is always nice to hear from you.
Carol

From Jeanne:

Hey Dan!
Cool, thanks - I saw my post on the blog! Heck, if I knew you were gonna hyperlink me, I woulda made sure there was a better picture of me on the MCC Fitness Center website! :o)

Brenna writes:

thanks!
i'm actually spending more time driving than i am riding, unfortunately, but i still ride every saturday!
i hope i can find time to visit all my relatives up north, but junior year is really hard.
well, i guess i should be celebrating, so i'll talk to you later!
~Brenna

Wish upon a star?

Whew! That was a close one!

(Click Photo)
Missing aunt Mary.

Brenna, I mistakenly wrote in my March dates email that you've been driving for a year. But now I realize it's TWO years since you wrote me:

hey its brenna. 2day is my 15th b-day. u know what i did? i got my permit!!!
i can drive (legally) now!!! be afraid! muahahahaa

Are you spending as much time on horseback as you do cruising the road these days? And how many years is it since you shook these booties?

Happy 17th, young lady.

Remembering Dennis who was mortally wounded in Vietnam and died at this time in 1970. Rest in peace, cousin.

Keri writes:

Thanks for posting my 'blog'. I wasn't sure what all that was and hadn't checked it out until I got this email. It seems interesting...and it's neat how you can click on all of the different links.
I'm close to my goal for my fundraising, but I need to send out a reminder email to everyone soon.
Thanks for thinking of me!Keri =)

From Marge:

I've checked the new website so consider me a "blogger." I love how easy it is. Dan, bless your ever lovin' heart for helping us technology challenged folks out once again. Jeanne, loved hearing about your classes and your plans for Aug 15. I'll get in touch with you about it. Marge/Mary

Speaking of fundraising, Keri is still working toward her goal.

So, you've read all the blog entries and still have time on your hands? Make yourself useful and productive, won't you?

From Cy:

Hi, Dan! Just wanted to let you know that I visited your "blog" (what a name!) today. It's very interesting. Good luck with it. I'll be back.

Received from Jeanne:

Hi Dan! :o)

I just visited the blog, and was relieved to find that you were telling the truth - it was very simple to access and navigate! Thanks!

Family life and work have been keeping me extremely busy. I'm teaching a couple credit classes at the college (McHenry County College in Crystal Lake) in addition to my regular hours in the fitness center. It's new to me - so the prep time has me a little frayed around the edges! I'm also dabbling in public speaking, and begin a body image series tonight - also held at MCC. I love it, and am very passionate about helping young boys and girls (and older boys and girls!) develop healthy body-esteem. The good news is that all the research and prep time doesn't really feel like work. The bad news is that I haven't had much time for anything besides work!

I have been toying with making a posting on the Heffernan email group, but perhaps the blog would be more appropriate. Every year, the MCC Fitness Center hosts a 5K walk/run. This will be my 3rd year as Director of this event. Proceeds go towards purchasing exercise equipment for special populations that utilize our facility, namely NISRA - Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association. Often, these folks cannot utilize traditional fitness equipment due to use of a wheelchair, llimited mobility, balance and coordination issues, etc.

This year's race has special meaning to me. I am tying in a fundraiser for Courtney Barrie. Courtney was the beautiful little flower girl in our wedding, who is now a beautiful 13 year old athlete who has been sidelined due to an illness that hasn't yet been diagnosed. Courtney experiences very severe drops in blood pressure, chest pains, and seizures. She has undergone nearly 2 years of medical testing with no answers, several hospital stays, trips to the Cleveland Clinic, and unbelievable medical bills. She is unable to participate in sports (she is a truly amazing basketball player - was MVP on a traveling team before she got ill), and only attends 2 classes per day at her school. All her other schoolwork is done at home.

Race day is scheduled for Sunday August 15th at Lippold Park in Crystal Lake. Participants will be able to pledge for Courtney, and I'm hoping to create a link to MCC's webpage for folks to make direct donations to her foundation. In addition to the 5K, I am planning a "diaper dash" for toddlers, face painting, a magician, massages, silent auction, picnic lunch, and a band or DJ. It will be a fun day for families, and I would love to see some familiar faces!

Also, if anyone has connections - I am always looking for sponsors (either to financially sponsor the event, or to donate raffle or silent auction prizes), volunteers, and entertainers who are willing to volunteer their time. If you think this is appropriate to post, please do so. I will make more information available as I have it, or folks can email me at jpenton@mchenry.edu.

Thanks Dan!

Jeanne (/Nora/Mary)

Recently Radio Kerry broadcast a show of music and good times from Kearney's Bar in Moyvane. Kearney's is owned by my darlin' cousin-in-law Mairead Kearney Walsh, Héléna's mom. Not to be out-done, my 'second cousin' (our fathers were 'first cousins') Tom Walsh, proprietor of Tankers Bar in Listowel, writes me today:

Delighted to hear from you. A note to inform you that Radio Kerry presenter Sean Hurley will record his programme "The Ramblin House" from Tankers Bar on Wed night next (03.03.04) to be broadcast at the end of the month. Plenty of music, stories, recitations, history, etc so tune in.

Thanks, Tom. I'll be sure to let everyone know the exact broadcast date and time when I hear it so they can click that Radio Kerry link on the right sidebar and tune in.

Dave writes me:

I'm still not sure I understand the difference between this and the other hef sites.

Let's count the ways:
1) It's more accessible. Go to http://hefcar.blogspot.com/ and you're there. No signing up, no secret handshakes, no password. Bookmark it and then it's only a click away for you.
2) It's public, but it's private. Anyone can go there, but no one's likely to stumble upon it. Visitors are people who heard about it from word-of-mouth (meaning my shameless self-promotion). ('Blogger' highlights random blogs for the public, but I've chosen the option of not being included in that feature.)
3) It doesn't invade your mailbox. You're FREE to ignore it.
4) You can't post to it. But I'm very open to posting what people email me. If people DON'T email me with contributions, everyone, including me, will quickly lose interest.
Questions?
1) Q: Can't we set up a blog where EVERYONE could post? A: Yes, we could. Anyone interested in doing that gets three cheers from me.
2) Q: So, if you have a blog, it's like you're the BOSS and you get to decide EVERYthing? Is THAT fair? A: Yes to both questions. That's why I recommend everyone start their own blog. Then we can shamelessly promote our own AND EACH OTHERS' blogs. If you don't want to go it alone, you can share a blog with a friend or two or three.
3) Q: Why should I visit this blog? A: I'm hoping people will be more relaxed and chatty for this blog than they have been for the email group. Meanwhile, I'm tinkering with 'hyperlinks' on the blog - which I hope will amuse and edify you.

Héléna, did they warn you not to gamble with your students?

We have lots of people in the family who are teachers or working toward becoming teachers, including our Dublin correspondent, Héléna. I'm afraid this is my latest photo of her. Maybe she'll send me something more recent? She writes:

Wow Dan, I love that picture [of her late aunts], its so real and natural...
I am so busy at the moment, I have 3 assignments due in between this week
and next. Also I have all my prep to do for my observation day tomorrow and
my 3 weeks of teaching practice is only a week away, so i am literally up
the walls. I have 4th class boys in Terenure Boys National School (Dublin)
for my teaching practice. They are about 9-10 yrs old, so hopefully it will
be ok. At least, I'll be doing some practical teaching, which is always
beneficial. The only thing is that its going to be sooooo much work, between
schemes for every subject area, lesson plans, resources and materials...the
only consolation is that I will be finished in the school @ 2:30 each day,
so it's definately better than being in college til 6 every evening....
I was actually reading an article in a magazine the last day about Chicago and it sounds and looks amazing, it seems to have a good combination of everything - I especially liked the beaches.

Webshots tells me the hefcar album had 433 views during the past week, bringing the total views to 1,269. Ben heard me whining and directed me to a free tracking service that gives me some numbers (no names) for this blog. I 'installed' the tracker before going to bed and woke up to find there had been eight 'visitors' to the blog in the meanwhile. Wow, that's reassuring. Hopefully, we'll have people from California to Florida to Ireland and England surfing here, so that's a lot of time zones, never know when folks will 'stop by'. More the merrier.

Hey, it's lace for Berni and Jerry today - nothing unlucky about the number 13 for them. Wishing you guys all the best. Any romantic plans for today?

Ben has added this blog to his blogroll (thanks) and tells me we're ahead of the curve with this blogging. Hey, y'all, come on in, the water's fine.

Lord of the Rings won eleven Oscars and Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ took in 117 million dollars in its first five days.

Update: As of Tuesday, that 117 figure, an estimate, has been adjusted to 125 million dollars.

Just received an email from Annie in Florida that I should go to bed. Thanks for the advice, Annie. Spring-like weather in Chicago this weekend, would be a shame to sleep through it.

Dan,
Have you been up all night working on the computer? I've been up about an hour. I have this new internal alarm clock witch wakes me up even tho I don't have to go to work this morning. At least the house is quiet. I usually use this time to do homework.
My hardest class is Algebra. So far I have a GPA of 4.0; but I have a feeling this Algebra class will be my first non-A. But that's okay! I keep reminding myself it only takes a C to get my degree.
This teacher is a new teacher this year. He is a retired NASA engineer; he is very hard. The first test somehow I amazingly got an 86%, which was the highest grade in the class.
Do you remember that commercial where they fry and egg and say this is your brain on drugs? That's about how I feel after a morning of Algebra.
After this semester is over (full time work and full time school) working a 40 hour a week job will be a piece of cake.
You can post this if you want.

Annie: when I got out of the service, I worked full time while attending DePaul full time and I wondered what people with only full time jobs did with all their spare time. Thanks for being the first to share on the new blog!

Just as an early preview of the high moral tone this blog will attempt to maintain, let me pass on this sober warning to men about how drinking beer can impair judgement. (Received from our Dublin correspondent, Héléna)