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.

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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.