My Portfolio

Acer rubrum To Zyzyphus jujuba Essays, Stories, Adventures, Dreams Chronicles of a Footloose Forester By Dick Pellek       On Screening Job Applicants        Filling vacant jobs sometimes employs screening procedures that go beyond just filling out employment forms and answering a few interview questions.  Sometimes the employers...

What a special time of year for Carrie Ellen Dart.  For several Christmases she has made something for each one of her grandchildren and then lets them pick which one they want.       Carrie was born on June 29, 1943 to George Preston and Marva Twitchell Davis.  She was the first...

It's December 4, 2016.  In 2 weeks, on the 19th, we are supposed to leave for CA to spend Christmas with Michele and Pat.  Unfortunately, we don't have anyone to watch the dogs yet.  Boarding them would cost about $500.  Bill suggested I fly out but I know Michele would like...

In the fall of 1971, dewy-eyed and puffed-up from gazing at the diploma on the wall which certified that I was a Ph.D, I was eager to take my place in front of a classroom somewhere in an ivy-covered temple of higher education.  But a few months before my adviser threw...

On the road…again! Afghanistan to Zambia Chronicles of a Footloose Forester B y Dick Pellek   The Scientific Method In Everyday Life   There may be a lot of truth in the idea that we all forget about 80% of what we learned in school.  Most of us, however; are satisfied...

There have been Carrikers in America since before the American Revolution.  The roots of the Carriker family tree are rooted in soil that is solidly German and they reach all the way back to the Black Forest region of Germany, which was once called “The Palatinate.”  The original American Carriker was...

When my Dad was overseas in WW2 my Mom and sister lived with her parents , Alf and Lucy Gray, at 185 Rosethorn Toronto. VE Day Lumberjack Dad's return

What a lovely lady “Dottie” Chamberlain is.  She was delivered by a midwife on April 11, 1923.  She was born in her parent’s home in Junction City, Kansas and was named Dorothy Taylor.  She is third to the oldest in her family with two brothers and one sister.             Growing up...

April 1, 1944 14,900 feet over the English Channel and climbing                Sunlight suddenly brightened the interior of the bomber. After what seemed like hours of climbing through the wet murky clouds of springtime England they had broken out into scattered sunshine. There were still wisps, patches, and sometimes full-blown clouds...

409 th Bomb Squadron 93 rd Bomb Group Hardwick Army Air Base Somewhere in England   April 1, 1944             Lieutenant Ed Robbins sat with his head cocked to one side listening intently to the thunder of the two big Pratt & Whitney radial engines out on the wing to his...

    SO BRIEFLY AN EAGLE     PREFACE               Since I was only ten years old when he gave his life for his country my memories of my brother Rudy during his early years are part reality, part myth, and part stories I was told about him by my...

On the road…again! Afghanistan to Zambia Chronicles of a Footloose Forester By Dick Pellek     Stand Your Grounds (Opinions Count, But Facts Matter)   It was an innocent remark.  Our house guest suggested that our morning coffee was too strong because we used too many scoops of coffee grounds.  We...

On the road…again! Afghanistan to Zambia Chronicles of a Footloose Forester By Dick Pellek   Can We Remember?  Do We Remember?  Should We Remember?   People who think often about the past engage in subconscious peeking into their personal histories.  They see flashes of happy times, stressful times, sad times, times...

I started at Comprenew, an electronic and data security non-profit in September 2013 doing sales. I was responsible for contacting people, companies, organizations, to solicit their old electronic devices for recycling. About 2 years into the position, my job began to change to more community outreach. One of the outreach programs...

Few things in life are more valuable to a family than an elder's life lessons and experiences. Most family members realize this and have every intention of one day taking time to have that special "legacy talk." Unfortunately, because of life's distractions and the convenience of social media, that day rarely...

stone of salvation desire for relationship fear - confusion of future direction- looking at determine future found truth was not in my business contacts and my relationships were superficial   my moment of pause was reaching end of rope and doing a google search for church - this was also one...

What a beautiful time of year to spotlight Leray and Linda Peacock Warren.  Leray was born in his grandparent’s home in Salem on February 11, 1932.  His parents were Wm. Owen and Ruth Stacy Cloward Warren.  He was delivered by Dr. A. L. Curtis.  Linda was born on March 31, 1943...

On the road…again! Afghanistan to Zambia Chronicles of a Footloose Forester By Dick Pellek   Nairobi Bombing in 1998   Many years have passed since Al Qaida pulled off the attempted bombing of the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.  They didn’t manage to bring down the embassy building but they did...

“There’s spalling on one of the camshaft lobes,” the mechanic said matter-of-factly.  He understood that he was dealing with a buyer-seller situation and what he was saying was a huge stumbling block in the path of closing the deal and that a poker face was in order.   The owner of the...

Cornflowers blooming, field corn tasseling, crisp evenings.  A time of year to be relished.  I was an Educator . . .   September . . . the beginning of another school year, a fresh start, a rebirth of hope.  A panoply of young people and children, some eager to learn, some...