Add One Second to New Year's Countdown

From the Los Angeles Times
IN BRIEF / AND FINALLY …
Add One Second to New Year's Countdown
From Times Wire ReportsDecember 25, 20052006 has been postponed. But not for long. A leap second will be inserted in the world's clocks just before midnight — Greenwich mean time — on New Year's Eve, the U.S. Naval Observatory says. That means 7 p.m. EST, Dec. 31, will occur one second later than it would have otherwise. Leap seconds are needed occasionally because modern atomic clocks measure time with great accuracy, while the rotation of the Earth can be inconsistent. The rotation of the Earth has been slowing down, so leap seconds keep the clocks and the Earth from getting out of sync with each another.

Welcome Wes!

We are all pleased and excited about Annette and Wes' wedding. We are pleased to welcome Wes to our family.

Christmas Letter 2005

Here it is … Christmas 2005 and what a year it has been …

• Diane spent 30 days in Australia visiting with her mother who had just celebrated her 101st birthday! She continues to direct the Montessori School at the New Covenant Presbyterian Church in Mandeville.


• Bob has had a few more cardiac procedures and at the moment is well and happy and a lot thinner.


• The biggest event for the family was the marriage of Annette and Wes Sutherland on August 13, 2005. Two weeks after the wedding and honeymoon they moved to Hong Kong with Annette’s job. They will be there for two years. And we got the cat!


• The next biggest event was the graduation of Richard and his employment with the University of Southern Mississippi as a research Associate in Polymer Science.


• Angela continues to enjoy her work at Samford University.


• And then there was Katrina! Diane and I stayed in our house and rode the storm out. We both agree that that is not one of our most intelligent decisions. Thankfully neither our person nor our house suffered any damage. We did not lose even one shingle off our roof. We did lose some food in our freezer and refrigerator. Many of our neighbors were not so blessed. We have a lot fewer trees and a lot of trees without any tops. The old town of Mandeville along the lake shore was flooded for about three or four blocks by both Katrina and Rita. You can believe that we will not ride out another storm! We did evacuate to Angela’s house in Birmingham because the heat was unbearable.


• This brings you up to date on the major events in the Ferguson household.

This comes with our sincere wish that you know only the very best of God’s blessings for the coming year and as we celebrate the coming of Jesus.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season’s Greeting and a very Happy and prosperous New Year.

Bob and Diane Ferguson

Wes and Annette's new Blog

Wes and I have started a blog to put up pictures of our trips. It is not done yet, but you can check it out at wesandannette.blogspot.com and let me know what you think. Wes writes most of it because he has more time - I am in a management and editorial role. Quoting Annette's email

My personal opinion is that this is a great Blog and I am delighted to be included on your mailing list! Keep up the flow of information.