Mysterious Mike

We have just returned from Gloucester. We got very very wet but had a great time visiting with Tim, Emmy, Cathy and Chris. When I was younger, I didn't really understand phrases such as "It does my heart good" or "a sight for sore eyes". As I've grown and as I've had experiences such as visiting Gloucester and leaving there feeling very much at ease again, I understand such sayings a bit better. It actually does my heart good to return to Gloucester once in a while. When I start feeling grouchy, ill at ease and not really comfortable in my own skin I know it's time to go breathe in some sea air. When I see everyone again, it is indeed a sight for sore eyes.

We were able to go to dinner with Tim and Emmy last night and Tim regaled us with a number of stories--one tidbit we learned is that Grampie apparently was a boxer back in the day. He boxed as "Mysterious Mike". I don't have any idea where that non de plume came from but I'm betting the Mike had something to do with the Irish. When he told ms this, I had a hard time picturing that in my mind's eye. Then I started looking around for a picture for this blog entry. Looking at Grampie here, I think I can kind of picture Mysterious Mike.

More new stories to come and this will give me a new research road to travel down.

And it's a grand journey indeed.

Someday

I came across a book Amy wrote many years ago called "Someday". It's so much fun discovering these things again after such a long time. I thought you all might enjoy too.

Honor a veteran today.

Ryan and his buddies after their last football game. Remind you of anything? I think it's very cool that history is repeating itself a little bit with Ryan, Weenie and football. Ryan will probably never put on a football uniform again but he'll always have his accomplishments to learn from. He met a personal goal of throwing for over 1000 yards passing in his career (1112). despite some setbacks. I think this is huge. He sets goals for himself and works to meet them despite circumstances working against the effort. This will serve him well in college. Nicely done boyo!

This is 1925--no numbers, no pads that I can detect and yet eerily similar!

This blog will turn 3 years old this Friday!! You'd think I'd get tired of writing or run out of ideas, but not so far. It helps a bunch that you all join in and add stuff. Happy Birthday, Blog!

HI EVERYONE,

PATTY ANNE AND PAULA, NOT TO KNOCK THE FALLS IN ITHACA, WE HAVE BEEN TO THEM AND THEY ARE VERY NICE. THESE ARE THE MULTNOMAH FALLS JUST OUTSIDE PORTLAND ORE. AS YOU CAN SEE THE TOP OF THE FALLS ARE NOT EVEN IN THE PIC, BUT NOT MUSH HIGHER. IF YOU LOOK CLOSE YOU CAN SEE LORI AND APRIL ON THE BRIDGE, THE ZOOM WE HAVE IS PRETTY GOOD. WE HAD A GREAT TIME OUT THERE AND WILL TRY TO POST SOME PICS OF MT ST HELENS. I WOULD RECCOMEND ANYONE ANYWHERE NEAR THERE TAKE THE TIME TO GO SEE THAT, WELL WORTH IT AND ONLY A COUPLE HOUR DRIVE FROM PORTLAND.

HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GOOD WEEKEND.

TAKE CARE. CHRIS AND LORI

Happy Birthday to me and a Gift for you

It was just about a perfect weekend, even with all the rain that dampened our Homecoming events somewhat. Amy was home, Ryan's team won their game, Paula came over for a visit and I got a wonderful letter from Kathy. Actually it was a package from Kathy that had a wonderfully chatty letter within. She seems to be doing pretty well even if the job situation is demoralizing (her term). It was great to hear from her and it was the best birthday present I could get.

But I have a little present for you all. There's a new Irish name in our ancestry!! McDonough --it's Gloucester Irish and I'd like to say it was more of that good luck I've been having recently but this discovery came after years and years of searching for this woman.

You might remember John Bentley, the captain that went down on the Schooner Paul Revere. On that ship, Martin Costello was apparently the cook. Martin was John's father in law. When the Schoner Paul Revere was lost, John's wife Kate lost both her husband and her father. Julie Costello was Kate's mother and until last week, I couldn't find any record of her death. For a time after her husband was lost at sea, she lived in Gloucester with family but around 1900 she kind of disappeared.

I believe I have found her living in Boston with her niece. There are more Julia Costellos than you can probably imagine in the Boston Cape Ann area around 1900, but I am certain I found her. I feel a little like I've recovered somethin long lost. Her maiden name was McDonough. She was born in Ireland, may have sailed from Galway during the famine years. She died in Boston in 1901 age 72 (though that's a loose estimate), having outlived seven children, including our great great grandmother her daughter Kate Costello Bentley.

I am very happy to welcome McDonoughs to our ancestry. Also, happy birthday to Nanny Flynn today (born 99 years ago today).

TESTING 1 2 3

OK, TRYING TO POST FOR THE FIRST TIME HERE. THIS IS US ON THE "TAIL OF THE DRAGON" ON THE NC/TENN BORDER BACK IN MAY. 11 MILES, 318 CURVES. WE ALL MADE IT! HAPPY BIRTHDAY PATTY ANNE!

Provenance and bragging

Wasn't it much nicer this weekend than you were expecting based on the forecast? We weren't looking forward to riding out to Livingston Manor yesterday for Ryan's game but it the day really wasn't so bad. We came into town right on top of their Homecoming parade, reminding me of Paula's appearance in one of our parades recently. Anyhow, they won and Ryan scored three touchdowns (maybe 4 yards total among all three but nevertheless....). I'm pretty sure that's a personal best for him.

Continuing the Provenance series, this is a bracelet I believe was probably Nanny Ryan's. You'll note that it has cousin Colleen as well as five of us so must be this was created between 1962 and 1966. I know that anyone would recognize this as having significance but it was of special significance to me because it gave me Colleen's birth date sooner than I got it otherwise. The birthdates are on the back side. Colleen's is June 9 1962. I am supposing Mom had it from Nanny Ryan's things but I don't remember ever seeing it too much. I have things of Mom's that hardly ever come out either but still need to stay with me.