Hello folks.   I've been "off the board" the past two weeks for vacation and to attend a job-related conference.   But I wanted to inform you that I received word about 9:45 Friday evening that my Dad passed away. And while I mourn his passing, I feel truly blessed that he was a mentor, a friend--simply the best Dad anyone could want, and that he was a special part of my half-century existence to date. The values and discipline he taught me have been and are being carried to the next gen