Christmas Time

Dressing up for Santa Photo. Didn't go so well. Oh well, Stella still looks cute!

Travelling back in Time

Amazing color photos, taken in Russia..100 years ago. Not colorized...It's like travelling through a time portal to view captured moments from long ago. Don't forget to check out The Emir of Bukhara.

Here is where I found it.

Original Exposition "The Empire That Was Russia."

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/empire/

Sick No More

Poor little Stella caught a BAD cold and has been down for the count for the past week. Well, today was the first day in awhile where she seemed like her crazy lil' self. Welcome Back Girl!

Butler's Orchard, Germantown, Maryland

Ahhh, the perfect Fall Day!

October!

Had a nice visit with brother Tim and his girlfriend, Stephanie. Will post pics soon. Lots of busy stuff preventing me from posting. Will get back on the horse. Until then, here is a pic of Stella at Target, preparing for Winter.

We love our little girl!..

Stella's First Birthday

Though it is not official until October 2, we celebrated Stella's first year today...and Aimee's Mom made it all the way from Houston..great!

Fortunate Friend

Last week, I had a dream that included an old friend who I knew when I lived in NYC, prior to meeting Aimee. We had known each other in DC (before I moved to NYC, we worked at same company). We both grew up in adjoining towns in Connecticut (me until I was 14 years old), both moved to the same neighborhood in NYC, and there were other startling similarities between us, as people.

At that point in my life (NYC), I was on the skids. We're talking homeless (not cardboard homeless, but without residence), making basically no money, and living in one of the most expensive cities in the world. This friend helped me, by allowing me to sleep on his couch for eleven days, until I found a place (Aimee loves to describe the place I found). Had I not been the recipient of his help, I am not sure what I would have done. I would have done something though.

So anyway, I sent him a message, saying hello, telling him about the dream. In my correspondence, I had mentioned that I still felt indebted to him, for his friendship during a difficult time. He responded with the following:

"While I am flattered that you feel indebted to me it is not necessary. For where we were in our lives, I am fairly confident you'd have done the same for me if the roles were reversed. I think that, for where we both were in our lives, we were perfect together. Good friends, good drinking buddies, similar interests etc.. It was just a matter of good timing at {name of company we both worked for) and fate that you ended up in New York too. So again, it is the noblest form of flattery, but not necessary. I know that if I was ever in a pinch, who I could call.... and that's all I really need to know."

I listen to CSPAN every morning, while walking my dogs. I often switch the station because I am repelled by human nature. Experiences like the one I allude to above, allow me to switch the channel back, hopeful that I may hear something good.... as I cannot be deterred from believing there are good people in the world.

Uploaded Photos (more)

Here, we have a letter from my Mom in 1991 to my Grandmother, Mary. Included is a pic of my brother Tim after he got his hair 'did.'

There is also a letter from Mary to the local Cardinal for the Archdiocese of Boston. Evidently, she was saddened that two priests had abruptly left her Parish.

Click Here for pics:)

And..THANKS mom for adding comments to the images. They are a great wealth of information!

More Family Photos

Okay, so I have been a little off, as I was 'attacked' by a bunch of insects on Sunday. I currently have bites on 50% of my body. Blech!

Anyway, I uploaded a new set of photos. Keep in mind that once I am done, I will organize them better. Also, don't forget to click on the + sign for an image detail page to see the largest version possible.

Here is the new set.

Lastly, help me fill in the information for the images if you know it!

I am getting better

Okay, night number two of scanning. Keep in mind that I have yet to organize. Ultimately, I will group by post card, pics by decade, letters, cards, etc.

Here's the latest.


Don't forget: Tip: If you are looking at one specific image and want to 'enlarge' it, click the "All Sizes" plus icon above it. You will then see a much better presentation of the image.

Mementos from my grandmother: My first set of images

Quick post. I have started to scan the contents of my Grandmother's (Mary Clifford) box of memories. See this post, for more information. Due to lack of time, I haven't spent enough time (as I would have liked) to enter thorough information for the captions. If you see an image for which you can add information, please contact me.

This is just the first of many. There is so much stuff to scan! Letters, notes, announcements, greeting cards.. a lot!

Tip: If you are looking at one specific image and want to 'enlarge' it, click the "All Sizes" plus icon above it. You will then see a much better presentation of the image. Click here to see first set. I will organize it in a much better way, later.

-

Facebook 15 Books

My friend Vincent posted something on Facebook titled "15 Books."

"Rules: Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes. "

So, I went ahead and did it. Figured I'd post here too.

Nathanial's Nutgmeg - Giles Milton
Finding Flow - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
The Stand - Stephen King
Patricia Cornwall - Portrait of a Killer (about Jack The Ripper)
The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill - William Manchester
The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand
Explaining Hitler: The Search for the Origins of His Evil - Ron Rosenbaum
How the Irish Saved Civilization - Thomas Cahill
Into the Wild - John Krackauer
The Perfect Storm - Sebastian Junger
a primate's memoir by robert sapolsky (AWESOME)
Killing Pablo - Mark Bowden
Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley - Peter Guralnick
The Westies: Inside New York's Irish Mob - TJ English
A Dog Year - John Katz
The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

Box of Memories

My grandparents, Mary and Ambrose Clifford, on the left.

This weekend, family from Boston came for a visit. First off, sorry we couldn't spend more time together! It was great to see all of you: Mary Alice, Margie, Susan and Cutie Patoot, Jillian.

Margie brought with her, what I call a box of memories. It is a box full of pictures, cards, announcements, and keepsakes from the life of my grandmother, Mary Clifford (who died at the age of 99..talk about a long life!). I volunteered to scan these documents in order to preserve them for all to see, and send them back to their rightful place: with Margie. Late this evening, Aimee and I took a quick look. After only a few minutes, I realized the magnitude of what I saw. These are not just photos or history. These items are what she kept close....what were dear to her: a graduation announcement,poems, letters, and random notes from a trip, to name a few. Here, the 'every day' becomes precious.

The only thing I could say to Aimee was the following: "This box is the most valuable thing in this house right now." Well, in addition to our own keepsakes. It is tough even to compare though, as the value of material things seems so weak in comparison. Not only did this box shed light one woman's wonderful life, I could only think about how special these items would be to many, many people. So I will scan them. I will document them. I will handle them with extreme care. Then I will return them.

I wish she could have seen our Stella. I could just imagine my grandmother picking Stella up and saying something like "ooooohh..such a good girl!"....the tone of voice of what I heard, when I was little. I still catch myself thinking about that tone of voice when I pick Stella up into my arms..the sound I make reminds me of Mary. I was also reminded today (forgot) that her middle name was "Estelle" that she actually changed herself, but choice, because that's how she wanted it to be.

Maybe there is a connection somewhere. I do know this: when Aimee and I were still dating, we went up to Boston for a visit. Mary (my grandmother) had diminished greatly, physically and mentally and did not have much more time. Aimee did not see her as the robust, larger than life woman that most knew. She must have known something though, because in her haze, as we were getting into the car, she grabbed my arm and said: "Matthew! Are you going to get her a ring?" Since Aimee was right there, I pretended not to notice. No problem for Mary though, because she said it again, louder: "Are you going to get her a ring????" She then offered one of her own, If I recall correctly. If I could rewind back to that moment, I would not have been embarrassed. I would have responded...."Of course!" Before she died, she did know, that we would marry.

So, more to come on the box of memories.

Nine Lives

Of the Nine Lives, I think I have expended about five. Today was number five. To even explain the scenario would seem so unrealistic that I am at a loss. I can only apply the experience as a lesson to teach me to worry less. The things that bothered me this morning no longer do. Tony Soprano was right..each day is a gift. Don't waste them.

My Sunday With Stella

Weekends are Daddy and Stella days. So Sunday, I took out the camera and recorded some of our time while Momma was out at some Yoga retreat. Stella doesn't seem to mind the camera too much. I know I said "What are you doing" about fifty times. So what. We had fun. Can't wait until Saturday!

Baby Sitting Instructions

On Saturday, we went out without baby, for dinner. My Mom graciously baby-sat. I wanted to make sure she knew how to use our TV and adjust the Air Conditioning. After seeing her reaction and looking at the instructions again, maybe I got a little carried away.

It's been three years..

It has been three years since our sister Julie died. I don't think we're far enough away from it for me to write about the experience and what this tragedy did to our family. I was thinking of posting the Eulogy that I wrote for our family that I read at the funeral....but I don't really want to, not right now. Aimee and I have mentioned, numerous times, that she would have made a great baby sitter. I don't mean to bring the subject to 'us'...just saying that we still talk about her often. She would though.

There are many photos of her at my parents house. In them, she has the most dazzling smile I think I have ever seen. There is one photo though, that is more candid. It is of her, my mother, and their dogs, sitting on steps. It appears the photo was taken when they weren't prepared...when she wasn't ready to unleash the smile. To me, it's the most personal. They look relaxed, upbeat, and amused by the 'let's get the dogs in the photo' pose. When I see it, I feel frustrated and touched at the same time. Next time, I hope to just appreciate it.

The New Great Thinker

The last post I submitted was about my friend Mike recording an image of a meteorite in the night sky and making the Baltimore News. He's been busy!

Baltimore Sun

ABC Baltimore

York PA Newspaper, with his photo

My Friend, the local news, and the Xfiles

My friend Mike was interviewed on local TV last night for an alleged meteor siting, which he caught on film. The funny thing is that my other friend Vincent was also present during the TV interview. How does a Parisian land in Northern MD on a Monday night?

I like the part how Mike contacted NORAD, NASA and other Military. X files here we come.

Click here to watch.

First Father's Day!

My Aunt Mary Jane and Uncle Marty came this weekend for a visit. They represent the first official (and unofficial) visit from our Boston relatives. It was great to see them and we all had a great day.

Our Little Family, minus Darla and Ginny.

Again, with tounge.

Grandpa Arty.

Mary Jane, Marty and what a smile little lady!

Stella and Creepy Uncle Pat.

Stella, Pat, Dad, Mom, John, Marty, Rose Mary, Aimee, Matt, Mary Jane, and Drea. Kathleen was too shy.

Lil' Ham!

I like eating food with my Daddy. He's weird.

Stella and Daddy.

Stella makes farty noises

A true sign of a gifted and talented child is its ability to make fart noises on leather couches at eight months of age. Witness the magic starting at second 18! We are soooo proud...

The Hermit of Chile

I recently remembered a 'legend' about a hermit who lived under a bridge from when I was in Chile. I googled it, and asked about it from my Chilean friends. There is not much that exists on the Internet about this story and what does makes it seem like a tale from folklore. If you google "The Hermit of Llay Llay" you will see the word 'mito' in Spanish which means myth.

The story goes like this: Around the year 1969, a Chilean doctor was called to a town called Llay Llay. He decided to take his family with him. Imagine the drive with winding roads in high mountain altitudes that put the Rockies to shame (Andes Mountains), crossing tall bridges at breathtaking heights. Better yet, here is a translated version of this myth:

-In Montenegro lived near a doctor with his family. He was well known for his kindness and charity towards others. One day, for work, had to travel to the village of Llay-Llay. As their stay would be long, decided to bring his family, no one suspect that something fatal would happen that night. While traveling on the road, the unexpected happened, a car crossed and it is, the driver was in a state of drunkenness.

In this brutal accident killed his wife and two children, while he desperately tried to help, but unfortunately could not do anything.

Disconsolate wondered how a thousand times and was unable to save his family. Time passed and one night the doctor came out to walk, after a while came up the road. Unwittingly spent the night under a bridge, and passed the years when he lived there, while every day that passed all the truckers out there left him food.

One day they found him dead, the death of this beloved character shocked the people of Montenegro and Llay-Llay, as well as truck drivers every day shared their food with him and today he is remembered fondly.-


Basically, his family was killed on a mountain road and he was so grief-striken that he never left the place where it occurred. He chose to live under a bridge in the mountains, alone forever, and was known as "El Ermitano" or, The Hermit.

This story supposedly happened in the 60's. I heard about it as I passed by the bridge where he lived and that he would only respond to truck drivers. The camioneros (truck drivers) knew about him and would bring him food as they passed. We are talking 'the middle of nowhere' at least when I was there in 1993. It was said he never spoke to any of them. He would only take the food that they gave him.

The interesting thing is that this story is not a legend or a myth. I mention this because I saw him. I witnessed him approach a truck, wearing an overcoat and ragged clothes. His hair had grown out so long that he looked like a wild Mountain-Man Rastafarian with brilliant gray dreadlocks. He was real and he died in 1997. He had frozen to death. I don't know if the story behind The Hermit is real. But I do know that he was a real person who did live under a bridge in the mountains alone, and accepted charity from truck drivers for over 30 years. Lastly, I don't need to hear about tragic stories of accidents to make me feel a certain way...like a movie that pulls at your heartstrings. Stories are sometimes luxuriously frivolous. Life your life and pay attention to your own story...then make it happen.

Email from Aimee to Grannies (our moms)

I was copied on this email message and think it is good for posterity:



Subject: Sleep training (for Stella AND Matt & Aimee)


Moms,

Tonight we embarked on a harrowing but ultimately (HOPEFULLY ) satisfying teaching program to get Stella to sleep on her own. A couple of nights before I left for TX, at my wits' end, I purchased a program/training manual from a sleep trainer.

As you all know, we've had a great deal of trouble getting Stella to sleep and have been waking up with her at least a couple of times a night. According to the trainer, we have been doing all the wrong things (duh, do wrong things, get unwanted results). First, we have been using sleep 'crutches'-feeding to sleep, rocking to sleep, sleeping in our arms. So tonight we began the program not knowing what to expect (possible crying for up to 2 hours in some cases).

We chose the 'Leave the Room' method, putting her down awake but ready for sleep after a bedtime routine. After 25 minutes of screaming, crying, flailing and face scratching, we suddenly heard nothing. After I went into her room and checked for pulse and regular breathing, we realized she was asleep! Now, we realize the night (and process for that matter) are far from over. I am fully expecting to wake up in the middle of the night again to crying but will wait at least 10 minutes before I go in to check on her. I am still reading to figure out what to do then!

So. . .I will read on and keep you posted on the process as I know you are very interested and will be participating in bedtime rituals with Stella at some point in the future. Hopefully, it will be a peaceful one for you due to our initial hard work!!

Here is the link to the trainer that I am using:
http://www.sleepsense.net/

Think of us and send happy sleepytime vibes our way!!

Aimee
--

I am on the cusp of Internet phenomena

1.) See yesterday's post

2.) See this link.

I better get my Nerd Card, pronto

Why does this make me laugh

Click here. It is a sales listing on amazon.com for a Wolf Tee Shirt. 

On destination page, find the link for "customer reviews" nex to the Stars under title:

Three Wolf Moon T-Shirt, Available in Various Sizes

Other products by The Mountain

4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (292 customer reviews) | More about this product

Start reading the reviews.

Law and Order SVU

This TV show has been around ten years and my parents are fans. For ten years, my Dad has referred to it as Law and Order SUV.

Pronounced Lar and Owada S-U-V.

Ten years.

Funny.

Sleepy Baby

The Sleepy Girl.

Bathroom

This is what happens when you go to the bathroom at my work.

The dog who liked to stand on things

Darla is not content walking on the grass in the back yard. I mean, I pick up their poop, so I don't know what the big deal is. Whenever she goes outside, she jumps on anything that elevates her about the grass. She will sit and relax on a chair or in the case below, a wagon.

What a strange dog.

Dont Judge a Book

By its cover.

Woo Hoo!

Texas Trip

Aimee, Stella and I just got back from a too quick trip to Texas. Aimee's parents are wonderful hosts who know how to deliver superb Texas food!..and deliver again..and again...Texas food..hmmm..just may be the current title holder.

It was great to see Stella with her grandparents Go Go and Big D too. I hope at least Aimee and Stella get the chance to go back and visit soon! They just cannot be too long away from me:)

You ask about the grandparents names? Yes, I think we are in an age where grandparents now name themselves. My mother Nancy first opted for Grancy, but has since changed to "Nan." Now, you tell me what human under the age of two can say "Nan." Grancy/Nancy/Nan, you may need to change again. There is plenty of time...Stella is just learning how to eat with a spoon.

Stella and her Grandparents!

Matt and Aimee at Opening Day for the Houston Astros

Stella and Pappy the Dog

Priceless: Stella, her mother, her grandmother and her GREAT grandmother. Four generations! Oh, my Nana would have loved to have met you, little Stella.

New Job

I remember when I left my last job, I wrote a post about it. I compared it to a Seinfeld episode where the best time to leave an audience is when it is most entertained (Showmanship). The post described how I was feeling at the time. Ahhh, feelings.

Well, I am leaving my current job for another one, but I don't have similar feelings. I do not feel reflective or nostalgic. During the last job move, I thought about it in terms of a life change and how it pertained to me. This time is different. It is much easier, with little contemplation. Pure and simple, it is the best decision for my family. Decisions, in general, are much easier now.

A man with ample free time has the luxury of clouding himself with self reflection. I don't have much free time now, and it suits me fine. Ten years ago, I would have peed myself in fright thinking that in the future, I would have a wife, a child, two dogs, a big mortgage, a big car payment etc. etc., on my shoulders...during the worst economic downturn in the last four generations. Now, I consider it liberating.

The only other time I have felt so liberated was when I was over 30 years old, completely alone while living in one of the most expensive cities in the world, making less than a Manager at McDonalds, with no idea about anything. I remember feeling (there's that word again) that I was not where I wanted to be. I then understood I didn't know where I should be. Finally, I figured the best option was just to be. That worked. And this is not a general recollection. I remember the exact moment and where I was standing.

I close with the video below. I choose it because I don't see myself as changed. I am still the Karate Kick guy at 2:30 or the guy in the green tee shirt. Those personalities are just hibernating for now.

There you have it...a new job and another direction. So, Aimee, Stella, Darla and Ginny..Here we go!

Watch more Daylight videos on AOL Video

Across the Universe: interesting article

Treasures reveal themselves everywhere. You just need to keep your eyes open and be open to finding them.

Yesterday, while beginning my forever Metro Ride (King St. to Shady Grove, check it on Metro Map if you think I am exaggerating), I found a Smithsonian Magazine that someone discarded. The April 2009 issue contained the most interesting article I have read in years: Forensic Astronomer Solves Fine Arts Puzzles.

Astrophysicist Don Olson breaks down the barriers between science and art by analyzing literature and paintings from the past

"Olson solves puzzles in literature, history and art using the tools of astronomy: charts, almanacs, painstaking calculations and computer programs that map ancient skies. He is perhaps the leading practitioner of what he calls "forensic astronomy."

For example, he was able to pinpoint the exact date and location where Ceazar's Roman Legions landed the coast of Britain (uh, invaded actually), by referencing a combination of a description of the event in a soldier's journal and researching the alignment of the sun and moon during that same period.

I always thought that the famous painting "The Scream" was an abstract work of art with it's bright and organgey sky. This professor concluded, by researching Munch's writings, the painter recalled a night where he took a walk near a fjord and viewed a sunest as "a flaming sword of blood slashed open the vault of heaven—the atmosphere turned to blood—with glaring tongues of fire...and truly I heard a great scream."

The professor then did the following:

"In Oslo, Olson located the road featured in a sketch for the painting. Details in it—a cliff, a road with a railing and an island in a fjord—indicated to Olson that Munch must have been facing southwest when he drew it. Olson concluded that the painting's blood-red sky was no metaphor but the extraordinary aftereffects of the 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatoa in Indonesia, which sent so much gas and ash into the atmosphere that skies were darkened or colored worldwide for many months."

Interesting! The Magazine included photos of actual paintings and historical events, so the print version allowed me to review the paintings while reading along. Though the online version does not, you can Google the titles of works to get an idea of what he is talking about.

To me, this practice is a form of time travel, in a way. Man, I wish I knew physics better...or physics at all.

Read it!

Slaine in Action

Wow. It is almost two years since I first mentioned my second cousin George going Hollywood.

In that post I mentioned that he was going to be in a movie, though for me, I was impressed by the fact that a family member was/is a part of House Of Pain! Well, not exactly the exact the same group, though two of the three original members are with Slaine's group, La Coka Nostra.

Last Saturday night, my brother, Rose Mary and I (Aimee had to look after Stella) actually went to a show in Baltimore. It was great! I mean, err, La Coka Nostra was great. The other two groups that also performed weren't exactly my cup of Tea..but the kids seemed to enjoy them. I will leave it at that.


Anyway, I snapped some pics.

Slaine draped in Flag. Everlast to his right.

Slaine on the mike!

I also learned some lingo the kids like to throw around these days. The next time I get into a sticky street situation, because you know that happens in North Potomac Maryland all the time, I'll be armed with the latest 'mad fresh' jargon. So Put your ones up to Slaine! Good stuff. Mad good good stuff.

Oops She did it again

About six months ago, I think, Aimee sent me a random email with an odd image. She did it again, though this time we graduate to website.



http://the-light.com/mens/samson/7/samson.html

All the text of her email said was "I can't really say anything about this."

I don't think there is a need to actually say anything here. I do know it wasn't a request, because I could never grow my hair like that, nor would I. If I were to try to grow my hair, it would end up looking like Prince's do'circa 1987 or a Peruvian Soccer Player. My wife is random...and so am I.....

Stella's First Food

Stella is growing up quite fast. Yesterday she had her first 'food.' Fun!

I don't know what it is, but it looks special!

I could get into this.

Wow, this works for me!

Why is it Snowing in March

Today is March 2, 2009 and we got a moderately large amount of snow this morning. Spring will be that much sweeter....

Aimee and Lil' Stella

This is March?

I am all smiles today!





(why why why)