We are watching the original HBO series on John Adams. We made a rash purchase of the DVD set and are "requiring" all of the family to watch it. Leslie and I are pumped about it due to a natural and shared interest in things historical particularly United States presidential history and because both of us read the book about Adams by David McCullough.

Jeb and Erin have to some things explained to them since the language is a little different than what is commonly used in our household. Stupendously different.

Caleb watches silently. Possibly just bearing it until the conclusion of the required viewing. However, perhaps he will remember the learned history when he is older and a professor of history at some university. Although, he might equally be put off by early American history due totally to our persisting in such a practice.

Before the reading of the book, I viewed John Adams and an "intermission" in the presidency between George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, a sort of Jimmy Carter between Jerry Ford and Ronald Reagan. Through McCullough's writing and some reading hence, it is clearer now of his part in our country's beginning.

An interesting note in history is that he and Jefferson both died the same day, July 4th, each thinking that the cause of liberty was in good hands since the other still lived not knowing that the other had, in fact, died that very day.

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Chess has no appeal.

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