Hello and welcome!

After purchasing the new Adobe software, Creative Suite CS3, I thought it was about time for my two year old homepage to have a face lift. With this new software it is much easier to put together a "user friendly" site (and no, I am not a salesman for Adobe). I will be continually updating the layout, styling and effects and what ever else might come to mind. I hope you can stay a while and browse through the different topics and pages. I am sure you will find some useful information.

The family tree pages cover what I have been able to find out about the Dempsey, Calvert and McElheny family lineages. If this is your first visit to my site, maybe you can help me fill some of the gaps that I have or at least point me in the right direction. On the other hand, maybe I can help you out.

The Histiocytosis pages are a chronicle of my struggle with this, for adults, rare disease. I was first diagnosed with it in January 2000 and have been fighting it ever since. Now new to my list of rare ailments is Osteonecrosis or Dead Jaw disease. You can find out more about this disease on the Osteonecrosis page.

Be sure to check out my unique slide show. There are lots of pictures of the family and grand children. I will be adding more and more pictures in the near future.

Please be sure to sign my Guest book and if you want to leave me a personal message you can do so under my Contact me page.

I hope you enjoy your time here and make it a regular site to visit when surfing the Web.

Regards, Ed

My parents told me about Mr. Commen Sense early in my life and told me I would do well to call on him when making decisions. It seems he was always around in my early years but less and less as time passed by. Today I read his obituary. Please join me in a moment of silence in remembrance, for Common Sense had served us all so well for so many generations.

Obituary Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair and maybe it was my fault.

Commen Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Aspirin, sun lotion or a sticky plaster to a student, but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar can sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know my Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm a Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

Author unknown (from an email I received)