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.

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.