Slipping Past 50 (Really Slipping Past 60 Now)

Coins From My Collection

2011-03-11T15:50:00.000-08:00

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McVean, MacVean Ancestry in Upstate NY

2011-03-09T13:49:00.000-08:00

Johnstown Public Library

Johnstown, NewYork

Last summer I made notes on my ancestors at the Johnstown library in Johnstown New York.

Here are the notes:

The cardfile of Fulton County family names is located on the 2^nd floor of the Public Library. It contains typewritten notes of baptisms, church memberships, obituaries, etc. that people have copied from newspapers, church records, cemetery records. Usually the source is given, but sometimes it is assumed. The records are on individual 3x5 cards sorted by surname. Sound-alike’s are stored together. Spellings of McVean, MacVean, McVane, McVain etc are all in the same bin.

While in Johnstown last summer I took the better part of a couple of days going through the cardfile. Following are my notes from that visit. I will type them exactly as I wrote them down.

McVane, Grace to Robinson March 1840 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVane, James m. Jane Robertson Oct 1839 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

James, Jr home for visit 1904 (Johnstown Republican)

McVane, James A (McVean for sure – my great grandfather)

Died Tues evening Feb 23, 1906 (Johnstown Republican)

Left Behind:

Sons:

Alva

Clarence

Percy

James (of Mt. Hermon, MA)

Brothers: Sister:

John Mrs Volney Hough

Charles

Edward

Duncan

McVane Janet m. Jacob Cromwell Oct 31, 1839 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVane, Margaret m. John Campbell Apr 30, 1840 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Anne

Daughter of John & Janet

Born Dec 21, 1821 Bapt 1822

(Name of mother was first written as Margaret) (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Archibald

Son of Peter & Mary

Born Dec 21, 1802 Bapt Feb 20, 1803 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Duncan witness to Marriage of John McEwen to Janet McVean Mar 8, 1810

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Duncan (no mention of wife)

Children:

John b. Sep 8, 1800 bapt Oct 26, 1800

Janet b. Sep 5, 1814 bapt Sep 29, 1814

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Anna w of John

Children:

Peter b. Oct 17, 1799

John b. Jan 20, 1800 (?)

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, James Alexander (my great-grandfather)

Bapt Feb 22, 1840

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Duncan

Children:

John Sep 8, 1800

Janet Sep 5, 1814 (appears to be same as record above but no baptism dates)

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

Peter McVean

Child

Catharine Aug 28, 1808

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

Deaths – Sons of John and Ann Stewart McVean

McVean, Alexander 2 yrs

Peter

John

All died in fire (no source attributed – but confirmed by records of the Colonial Cemetery)

McVean, Alexander

Son of James and Jane

b. Jan 2, 1793

bapt Mar 10, 1793

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Alexander husband of Isabel

Child

Janet Mary b May 11, 1830

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Alexander

Son of John and Anne

b. Jan 14, 1803

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Alexander

Son of Peter and Catharine

b. Mar 5, 1801

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Angus died 1827 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Ann admitted to membership Sep 1802 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Ann (Stewart)

Wife of John

Child

Jean b. Dec 25, 1804

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Anna admitted to membership Sep 27, 1800

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Anne d. 1809 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Catharine admitted to membership May 12, 1798 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Catharine

m. Duncan McNaughton Feb 22, 1807 (1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Catharine wife of John D.

Children:

Charles Frazer b. Nov 17, 1844

Edward b. July 28, 1846

Duncan b. July 10, 1848

Millard Filmore b. July 10, 1851

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Charles E.

Son of James I. McVean of Mayfield

d. 22 Sep 1885 in New Orleans

(Fulton County Republican – Thursday 10 Oct 1885)

Peter and Catharine McVean

Children:

Alexander Mar 5, 1801

Catharine Aug 15, 1802

Charles May 1, 1806

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

Duncan and Grace Fraser McVean (My GGGGrandfather and GGGGrandmother)

Child

Catharine 5 July 1807 (my GGGrandmother)

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

James and Jane McVean

Child

Catharine Ann Feb 12, 1848

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

John and Mary McVean

Child

Catharine Feb 20, 1792

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

Peter McVean Sr

Child

Catharine Aug 28, 1808

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Charles

Son of Duncan and Grace b. Oct 24, 1802

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Charles Edward

Son of James and Jane b. July 3, 1850

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Charles

Son of Peter and Catharine

b. May 1, 1806

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Christian (Female)

Admitted to membership Sep 30, 1792

Married Archibald Ferguson Feb 18, 1802

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Christian

Wife of John

Children

James b. Mar 3, 1813

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Christian

Admitted to membership Sep 27, 1800

Died 1813 (in childbirth maybe?)

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

Marriage

McVean, Christy to John McVean Jul 26, 1810

Children

Christy b. Jul 26, 1808

Peter b. Jul 24, 1811

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Died May 19, 1814 age 77

(Colonial Cemetery Record)

McVean, Daniel Jr.

Admitted to membership Feb 2, 1792

m. Jennet Cameron, Broadalbin May 8, 1821

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel P

Admitted to membership Sep 29, 1798

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Witness to marriage of Margaret McVean to John Blue Mar 10, 1808

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Admitted to membership Apr 1796

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Elder of Church, admitted to membership Feb 5, 1792 (My GGGgrandfather)

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Son of James and Jean

b. May 11, 1810

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Son of John

Bapt Feb 9, 1800

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Son of Daniel and Jennet

b. Apr 30, 1795

bapt. June 21, 1795

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Duncan husband of Grace (Fraser) (My GGGgrandfather and mother)

Children

Charles b. Oct 24, 1802

Duncan b. Mar 8, 1805

Catharine b. Jul 5, 1807 (My GGgrandmother)

Grace b. Jan 2, 1810

Edward b. June 25, 1813

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Husband of Elizabeth

Child

John bapt. Mar 11, 1811

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Husband of Jannet (my GGGgrandfather and mother)

Child

Daniel b. Apr 30, 1795

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

m. Katharine Carmichael Mar 1, 1821

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

m. Margaret McColl Jan 19, 1798

Children

Mary b. Oct 5, 1802

Hugh b. Jan 13, 1805

James b. May 3, 1807

John b. Feb 20, 1809

Removed from membership 1814 (moved west?)

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Daniel

Husband of Mary

Child

John b. Mar 17, 1801

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Edward Obituary

McVean, Edward age 62 of Johnstown, a one time prominent farmer residing in the vicinity of Hale’s Hill but now retired, died at the Courte Hotel in New York Tues – the gas was turned on and the supposition is that he blew out the light. He was registered at the hotel as Edward McVean of Johnstown, NY. Born in Hale’s Mills – he lived a retired life with his brother John McVean of Hale’s Mills – surviving is another brother Charles J. McVean of Johnstown, a sister Mrs.Catherine Huff (Hough); nieces and nephews.

(The Johstown Daily Republican Wed 29 Sep 1909)

McVean, Edward Obituary (not the same as above)

McVean, Edward, age 82 died a week ago last Thursday at his home 3 miles west of Johnstown (where cousin Nancy lives now) – he was the last surviving child of the late Duncan McVean who emigrated from Scotland after the Revolutionary War, married Grace Fraser and settled west of Johnstown where he resided until his death. Of the 11 children born to then, Edward was the youngest and never married.

(The Johnstown Daily Republican Thurs 16 Jan 1896)

McVean, Edward 83 died yesterday at his home several miles west of the city (Jan 3, 1896). He was the lst surviving child of the late Duncan McVean who emigrated after the Revolutionary War and settled west of the city where he lived until his death. He (Edward) was a bachelor. He was the brogher of Charles J. McVean who was elected US Senator, but died at the beginning of his term. His brother James was a graduate of Princeton College, N.J. Heart Failure was the cause of death.

(Johstown Daily Republican) (James went on to teach Theology at Georgetown University – my note – not from the file)

McVean, Edward

Son of John D and Catharine

b. July 28, 1846 (my gg uncle)

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Grace Ann

Admitted by Profession Jan 6, 1856

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Grace D.

Daughter of Duncan and Grace

b. Jan 2, 1810 (my GGG aunt)

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

Obituary

McVean, Grace A (Mrs) 60, widow of the late James McVean (my great Grandmother and Grandfather), died Mon a.m. at her home north of this village – death due to cancer – born in the town of Stratford – she was a member of the Northhampton Presbyterian Church – surviving are 4 sons, Clarence, Alvah, and Percy of Broadalbin and James D of Herman, Massachusetts; a sister Mrs D. D. McVean of York, Livingston County, a brother, Edward Robertson of Galway. She was buried in the local cemetery.

(Broadalbin News section of The Johnstown Daily Republican 19 Mar 1908)

McVean, Grace Ann

m. Daniel J. McLaughlin of Mohawk

(Fulton County Republican Oct 9, 1873)

McVean, Duncan

Son of Duncan and Grace (Old Farm west of Johnstown)

b. March 8, 1805

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Duncan (my GG Uncle)

Son of John D and Catharine

b. Jul 10, 1848

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Edward (obit above)

Son of Duncan and Grace (Old Farm west of Johnstown)

b. June 25, 1813

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Edward (mistaken – has to be James A.)

m. Grace A. Robertson Jan 3, 1877

(Fulton County Republican Jan 11, 1877 pg 3)

McVean, Elizabeth

Wife of Daniel

Child

John bapt Mar 11, 1811

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Ellen Isabella

Daughter of James and Jane

b. Nov 23, 1852

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Hugh Mair

Son of James and Jane

Bapt Dec 11, 1858

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Isabel

Admitted to membership Sep 30, 1792

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Isabel

Wife of Alexander

Child

Janet Mary b. May 11, 1830

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Isabella

c. May 1848

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, James

Son of Daniel

b. Oct 23, 1800

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, James

Son of Daniel and Margaret

b. May 3, 1807

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, James Alexander (my Great Grandfather)

Son of John and Catharine

Bapt Feb 22, 1840

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, James I of Mayfield

M. Martha, youngest daughter of Col L.P. Shaw in Providence, Saratoga County on

6 Aug 1868

(Gloversville Intelligencer Aug 12, 1868 pg 3)

McVean, James

Husband of Jane (daughter of John Robinson)

Children

John H. b. Sep 9, 1840

Sarah Christian b. March 19, 1842

Margaret Jane b. Feb 12, 1844

Catharine Ann b. Feb 12, 1848

Charles Edward b. July 3, 1850

Ellen Isabella b. Nov 23, 1852

Hugh Mair bapt Dec 11, 1858

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Alexander

d. Aug 23, 1822 age 29

(Colonial Cemetery Records)

James McVean

Witness to marriage of

Peter McVean to

Mary McVean on Jun 17, 1819

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, James

Husband of Jean

Children

John b. Jan 12, 1802

Hugh b. Mar 26, 1806

Daniel b. May 11, 1810

Removed from membership 1812 (Moved west?)

McVean, Jane (nee McKay)

Wife of James

Child

Alexander b. Jan 2, 1793 d. Aug 23, 1822

(Colonial Cemetery Records)

McVean, James I

e. Nov 10, 1885

(Johnstown Cemetery Association)

McVean, James A

m. Grace A. Robertson (my great grandparents)

Jan 3, 1877

(Fulton County Republican Jan 11, 1877 pg 3)

McVean, James

Son of John and Christian

b. March 3, 1813

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Janet

Age 80 yrs

d. Sept 11, 1830 town of Amsterdam

(Montgomery County Republican 1830-31 pg 11)

Wife of Daniel McVean

(Colonial Cemetery Records)

McVean, Janet

m. John McEwen March 8, 1810

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, James

m. Jane McKay Mar 5, 1792

Child

Alexander b. Jan 2, 1793

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

McVean, Jannet

Wife of Daniel (my GGG grandparents)

Child

Daniel b. Apr 30, 1795

Died (Jannet) Sep 11, 1830 age 80 years

(Colonial Cemetery Records)

McVean, Mrs John D (my gg grandmother)

d. Jan 1855

(1^st Presbyterian Church)

All of this information was taken from cards in the cardfile in the Johnstown Public Library. Much of the information from the 1^st Presbyterian Church is gleaned from partial records held by the church. The church records were lost to a fire and this information was salvaged and copied by hand to the cardfile. This had to be a monumental task as the information is still being updated by volunteers. Information in the McVean, MacVean file includes recent obituaries of many of my Aunts and Uncles and even my father Charles J. MacVean who died in 2008. All (or many) surnames from the county are in the cardfile, but not many have as many entries as the McVean section.

I am indebted to those volunteers that maintain this massive amount of information. Without their effort much of this information would just be lost forever.

John MacVean

Canton, IL

The Time Has Come to Post

2008-08-06T19:07:00.000-07:00

I am sitting in a hotel room in Monee, IL., about 170 miles from home. My wife sent me an e-mail telling me to read my daughter's blog and my niece's blog. (http://www.khathryn.blogspot.com/ and http://www.expapmama.blogspot.com) They both write about the passing of my father, their grandfather.

Dad died on June 23rd. He was 96 years 1 month and 17 days old. I say old as it refers to chronological age only. It has only been the last 2 years that Dad seemed old. My mom is the youngest 91 year old I know. She is still sharp as a tack. Mom spends her time reading mystery novels. I am guessing she has read thousands over the years.

The folks have always been active. There was always someplace to go and something new to see. It kept them young. They were still driving the thousand miles out to visit us well into their eighties. Dad would drive and mom would navigate. Then when they left our house they would go on to Arkansas to visit my aunt Roselyn (Mom's brother's wife.) On the way home they would stop in Nunda, NY to visit with my aunt Martha and her family. During their visits I would usually take my kids and my dad to a ballgame. He was a big Yankees fan. Out here he had to settle for the Sox or the Cardinals (Wrigley field was too much hassle to get to - even though I'm a Cubs fan.).

We took the kids to Florida twice to visit them when they stayed in Cape Canaveral. They were still in their early 80's then and would wear the kids out walking on the beach or the jetty. We went back to Gloversville, NY to visit at least once a year the whole time the kids were growing up. Talk about culture shock. The kids would meet the never ending supply of aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends. I have a hard time getting all my cousin's names correct (I have 31).
I can't imagine what the kids thought of all this.

The sad part is that the only time I get to see my cousins now is at the passing of one of my aunts or uncles or cousins. While my wife and I were there when dad was failing we attended the funeral of my cousin Mark. A few days later we were burying my father. Mark died way to young after finally straightening out a tragic early life. My father's death was sad, but he had led a full and prosperous life.

He taught in a one room schoolhouse with a teaching certificate, started the first training center for retarded and handicapped adults in the area, inspected electronic parts at GE, sold boats, motors, carpets, appliances, returned to college in his early 50's evenings and summers until he finally got his degree at the age of 56. He taught high school level retarded kids during the last years of his career. It seems that everyone knew him and loved him.

If my math is correct Mom and Dad were married for 67 years. For the last 34 or so years they have been retired. Never apart unless one was in the hospital, and there was very little of that. They always had something to look forward to and it kept them young. They flew to Spain in their eighties for my niece Kate's wedding, they flew to Illinois in their late eighties for my son Jeff's wedding. When they finally quit driving I would go get them and bring them back to Illinois for a few weeks, then my son would drive them home. With this large a family their was always another event coming, a wedding, or a reunion or a birthday - and they were there for all of them.

Dad's hearing and vision had rapidly deteriorated the last couple of years. Since he couldn't see well or hear well he would get confused, but he always seemed to have plenty of lucid moments, right up 'til the end. He worried when mom was away at the store, or gone for her treatments. He would pace the halls until she returned. Now he can rest.

Mom is doing well. I call her about everyday, my brother Jim lives nearby and visits often, as do a few aunts and uncles. They stop by and take her to lunch or dinner or just to visit. But it can't seem the same after 67 years of marriage to be alone. But in this family you are never really alone.

Dad we will miss you, but we will never forget you.

Blessing from God

2007-01-14T09:11:00.000-08:00

My Aunt Grace died yesterday. Busy as ever, right up to the end.

I was in Broadalbin and Johnstown last week to visit my Mom and Dad. Usually I saw Aunt Grace, but not this trip. And now I'll never see her again. My wife and I flew up to see for ourselves that my Mom was ok. She has a circulation problem that is now going to be fixed we hope. We popped in for a quick day and a half visit which didn't allow us the time to see everybody.

Mom had to visit the doctor and get some tests a few days after our visit. Aunt Grace came over to check on Dad at lunch time that day not knowing how long Mom would be gone. Mom got home at lunch time and they all spent the afternoon talking.

Dad is the oldest of the kids at 94. Aunt Grace fell in the middle of the 13 children. Hazel, Harold, Clement, Percy and Robert have already passed. Charles, Marion, Clarence, Thelma, Arthur, Donald and Ruth are all still alive and mostly well. Aunt Martha (Percy) and Aunt Betty (Robert) are with us as well.

Mike and Helen
Peg and Charlie (Margaret and Charlie)
Tink (Percy) and Martha
Bob and Betty
Bob and Marion
Norm and Thel
Grace and John
Clarence and Thelma
Don and Eileen
Ross (Harold) and Ruth
Scotch (Arthur) and Arlene
Buck and Hazel
Bob and Ruthie

Aunt Grace's memorial service is Wedsnesday. I am sure she is in heaven, ballroom dancing with Uncle John.

Surrounded by family

2006-08-02T17:41:00.000-07:00

July 4th will never seem the same again. My father-in-law passed away on Independence Day. He died of lung cancer. We believe he knew about it long before he told us. But he was like that. The last thing he wanted was for his children to worry about him. It was his job to support them - it didn't matter if they were two or sixty. He was the father that you went to when you had a problem. It caused him great pain to have to ask for help of any kind and in the last few months of his life he had to ask to often.

He was a decorated WWII veteran. He served in the Pacific campaign. He never talked about it. Once in a while he would mention an old army friend, but never about what he had to do during the war. I always had the impression that he was bothered by things he had done in the name of God and country. He had lots of bad memories and didn't care to rehash them.

What he was proud of and would talk about anytime were his kids and grandkids. Five kids to be exact, 2 boys, 3 girls. Now 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. All were his pride and joy. Except for his time in the army I don't think Ed got more than 100 miles away from home. Home was where the family was. He never made a lot of money, but the kids all had clothes and food and love. His wife Katy passed away 3 years ago on her oldest daughter's birthday. Ed spared my wife the same kind of joy/sorrow and died the day before her birthday.

Ed had been hanging on for days. His body had basically shut down. He hadn't eaten in days. He hadn't responded to anyone for almost 2 days. The kids had all been there to say their last goodbyes. Then as if he realized everyone was there he awoke. He looked at my wife and said "Can I have a cup of coffee?" For the next two hours it was like talking to the old healthy dad, not the one on the brink of death. It was a kind of last hurrah. He partied with his kids and grandkids, joking and laughing and talking. He ate pudding and ice cream. Then finally at about midnight he went to sleep. It was the last time he talked to anyone when they were sure he knew what was going on. From that point on it was a slow 5 day ride to the end. During that stretch in the hospital and finally the nursing home he got to see all of his kids and all of the grandkids except one. We all believe that is what he wanted. He wanted to see them all one more time.

He was surrounded by family when he died - surrounded by family in death as in life. Ed we will miss you!

Test of the email post.

2006-01-15T20:19:00.000-08:00

This is just a test of the email posting option. If you can read this it worked.

Muddled messages

2005-12-24T08:08:00.000-08:00

Wclomee to the bolg of siipnplg psat 50. I tguohht you mihgt lkie to tkae a look at a mdleudd but amlnzgaiy claer maesgse form the aouhtr of the page. Is is not a wneodr taht you can raed tihs msaesge wtih not too mcuh toubrle. Knid of naet isn't it. Click on the title above to make messages of your own. Have fun.

Are you a geek?

2005-11-15T20:13:00.000-08:00

Avoiding Wilma and other adventures

2005-11-04T21:08:00.000-08:00

PJ and I were in Mexico from Oct 8 to Oct 19. While there we were watching Hurricane Wilma work her way towards us. We were lucky. We got out on the 19th. Others weren't so lucky. Our resort appears to have faired pretty well. The villas, each having 36 rooms are built to withstand hurricane winds. The resort also has housing for their help on the oppostite side of the road from the hotel, away from the Carribean. They use some large rooms over there to safely house guests that couldn't leave during the actual strike of the storm. The people that stayed had to spend 2 days in the temporary quarters. But the morning after the storm finally made its way off the Yucatan, the people were back in normal rooms, with full power, air conditioning, hot meals, running water.

Reports from those guests that stayed were impressive. The resort's staff had the place spruced up again in two days. There was some damage to the thatched roofs of one of the lobbys and a lot of severe damage to the jungle that the resort is built in. The resort is working on that too. They actually have a nursery on the grounds where they grow most of the native plants and trees so they can replace them in case of severe storm damage. After Hurricane Emily in July, they ordered 2000 palm trees to replace damaged trees and to add more to a new section of the beach being opened up for use.

All in all, the resort has it's act together. They take care of their guests and their facilities, including the jungle.

Now their only problem is the airport and the airlines. The resort is ready for a full load of guests that can't get there.

Check out pictures at WWW.GROUPS.MSN/PALLADIUMADDICT

If you are looking for a great place to go on the Mayan Riviera, you couldn't do any better.

Troubling times

2005-09-04T17:52:00.000-07:00

In view of the events of the last week don't our problems seem a little trivial? Thouands, maybe even millions of people have lost their homes, businesses, even families. A couple of years ago my wife and I spent a wonderful week in Gulfport, MS. It was the middle of April and the weather was beautiful, mid eighties and sunny all week.

Now the hotel we stayed in, which was right across from the beach is gone, along with about everything else that was near the beach. While there we rode to Dauphin Island and took the ferry over to Gulf Shores Alabama. All of these places were hit with the storm surge and mostly wiped out.

I can't fathom the pictures I've been seeing on the news. It's all gone. Let's hope that the government, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and lots and lots of church groups can help these people recover.

2005-07-31T18:22:00.000-07:00

Palladium Grand Resort Pool Panorama

Palladium Grand pool panorama

2005-07-31T18:18:00.000-07:00

Above this you should see a large version of a panorama photo of the pool at the Palladium Grand Resort.

2005-07-30T19:14:00.000-07:00

More jungle damage

2005-07-30T19:13:00.002-07:00

Believe it or not - this is the pool now - after the cleanup

2005-07-30T19:13:00.001-07:00

Cleaning the pool

2005-07-30T19:13:00.000-07:00

Repairing the theater roof

2005-07-30T19:12:00.001-07:00

More jungle damage

2005-07-30T19:12:00.000-07:00

Boardwalk and damaged jungle

2005-07-30T19:11:00.002-07:00

Jungle damage

2005-07-30T19:11:00.001-07:00

Repairing the thatch

2005-07-30T19:11:00.000-07:00

Main pool - yuk!

2005-07-30T19:10:00.002-07:00

More storm damage

2005-07-30T19:10:00.001-07:00

Where is the roof?

2005-07-30T19:10:00.000-07:00

More damage in the theater

2005-07-30T19:09:00.000-07:00

Aerial view before storm showing the jungle

2005-07-30T19:08:00.002-07:00

In the lobby

2005-07-30T19:08:00.001-07:00

Wind from Emily

2005-07-30T19:08:00.000-07:00

Theater roof destroyed

We are going back!

2005-07-30T18:37:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Emily made a direct hit on the resort my wife and I have visited for the last 3 years. She did a fair amount of damage - blew off most of the thatch from the palapas (the shade poles at the beach and pool), blew the roof off the lobbies and the theater. The storm surge also filled the main pool with filthy water, blew out some windows, and worst of all damaged the jungle that made this place special.

Hotel management has been posting repair updates to a chat group I belong to called PalladiumAddict at MSN.com. Group members have been posting pictures of the damage, lots of palm trees destroyed also. Management has ordered 2000 palm trees and already has most of the mess cleaned up. They are working on the palapas and I am sure by the time we go in October they will all be repaired or replaced.

I don't know if it was salt water spray or what, but the jungle that was all around the resort looks like it is mostly dead or dying. There are boardwalks through the jungle from the buildings that house the guest rooms to the restaurant and bar and pool areas. The first few days at the resort most people get lost alot on the jungle paths, but by the end of their stay they are experts on how to get wherever they want. The jungle removes all the noise you would expect in a place with a lot of people around. You can be in a crowd if you want, or you can be almost totally alone. It is really a unique environment.

I hope to put a link to an interactive map of the resort here. And mostly I hope the jungle can recover its former beauty in 2 months. I know it will recover, I just hope the tropical environment helps it happen in a hurry.

I will post a few pictures of the damage and repairs here also. Thanks to everyone that posted these pictures in the PalladiumAddict group at MSN. The link to the interactive map works - just click on the title for this post to go there. I found this link through the PalladiumAddict group also.

By the way, if you are interested the Palladium Grand Resort is a few miles south of Playa Del Carmen (Playacar) on the Eucatan peninsula, Mexico. Applevacations will get you there from the US. You'll be surprised at the resonable prices, from here in Illinois about $850 per week per person including airfare, the hotel, all food and drink and transfers.

Going Back to the Palladium Grand

2005-07-29T21:29:00.000-07:00

Read this about PETA

2005-07-23T12:16:00.000-07:00

"Ethical" Defined
After more than 100 dead dogs were dumped in a trash dumpster over
four weeks, police in Ahoskie, N.C., kept an eye on the trash receptacle
behind a supermarket. Sure enough, a van drove up and officers watched
the occupants throw in heavy plastic bags. They detained the two people
in the van and found 18 dead dogs in plastic bags in the dumpster,
including puppies; 13 more dead dogs were still in the van. Police say
the van is registered to the headquarters of People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals, and the two occupants, Andrew B. Cook, 24, and
Adria Joy Hinkle, 27, identified themselves as PETA employees. An autopsy
performed on one of the dogs found it was healthy before it was killed.
Police say PETA has been picking up the animals -- alive -- from North
Carolina animal shelters, promising to find them good homes. Cook and
Hinkle have been charged with 62 felony counts of animal cruelty. In
response to the arrests PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said it's against
the group's policy for employees to dump animals in the trash, but "that
for some animals in North Carolina, there is no kinder option than
euthanasia." (Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald) ...Oops, my mistake: that's
"Playing God" Defined.

In his author's notes section, Cassingham had more to say about this
story:

The more I learn about PETA, the less I think of
them. The story of them killing animals isn't even unusual. According to
PETA's own filings, in 2004 PETA killed 86.3 percent of the
animals entrusted to its care -- a number that's rising, not falling.
Meanwhile, the SPCA in PETA's home town (Norfolk, Va.) was able to find
loving homes for 73 percent of the animals put in its care. A shortage of
funds? Nope: last year PETA took in $29 million in tax-exempt donations.
It simply has other priorities for the funds, like funding terrorism
(yes, really). But don't take my word for it: I got my figures from
http://www.PETAkillsAnimals.com
-- and they have copies of PETA's state and federal filings to back it
up. The bottom line: if you donate money to PETA because you think they
care for and about animals, you need to think some more. PETA literally
yells and screams about how others "kill animals" but this is how
they operate? Pathetic.

And you know what I wonder? PETA's official count of animals
they kill is 86.3 percent. But if they're going around picking up
animals, killing them while they drive around and not even giving them a
chance to be adopted, and then destroying the evidence by dumping
the bodies in the trash, are those deaths being reported? My
guess: no. While 86.3 percent is awful, the actual number is probably
much, much higher. How dare they lecture anyone
about the "ethical" treatment of animals!

(This is True is a weekly column featuring
weird-but-true news
stories from around the world, and has been published since 1994. Click
the link for info about free subscriptions.)

MIT Survey

2005-07-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

2005-06-20T18:53:00.000-07:00

Eagle archway at WWII memorial

2005-06-20T18:50:00.000-07:00

Medallion under the eagle arch at WWII Memorial

2005-06-20T18:46:00.000-07:00

An official part of the WWII Memorial, Washington, DC

2005-06-20T18:43:00.000-07:00

Live life fully!

2005-06-20T18:41:00.000-07:00

Mama and baby on neighbors roof.

2005-06-20T18:38:00.001-07:00

Alex, route 68 Maryland

2005-06-20T18:38:00.000-07:00

Route 68 Maryland

You know you're from Upstate NY when:

2005-06-06T19:37:00.000-07:00

You Know You're From Upstate New York When...

You refer to downtown Albany as "The City."

"Vacation" means going to Lake Ontario or Niagra for the weekend.

There is a mini-mall every 1/4 mile, if not, you are in Vermont.

There are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot at the Hannaford at any given time.

You know to avoid tractor trailers (or cars for that matter!) on the Northway with Canadian plates.

You don't consider what Domino's or Pizza Hut sell as pizza.

You know that "First Night" isn't a Sean Connery movie.

There is no such thing as waiting for the left turn arrow at an intersection.

Your career ambition is to work for NY State.

Even with the slightest threat of snow, you know that Ichobob Crane schools are closed.

You think everyone from down-state has an accent.

Down-State starts just south of the Thruway.

You're in line to get the first custard cone when summer comes.

You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Upstate NY.

Get Your Own "You Know You're From" Meme Here

More cool things for your blog at
Blogthings

Quick IQ Test

2005-06-06T19:03:00.000-07:00

Your IQ Is 130

Your Logical Intelligence is Exceptional
Your Verbal Intelligence is Genius
Your Mathematical Intelligence is Genius
Your General Knowledge is Exceptional

A Quick and Dirty IQ Test

American English

2005-06-06T18:38:00.000-07:00

My Linguistic Profile:

65% General American English

20% Yankee

5% Dixie

5% Midwestern

5% Upper Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

Above are my results. Click on the link and check yourself.

Deja Vu all over again

2005-05-26T21:01:00.000-07:00

About 7 years ago I set off on an adventure. A 1000 mile trip by car with my 3 year old grandson Alexander. I wanted to visit my folks in NY and my wife couldn't get the time off. Not wanting to be alone for 2 days I was trying to get either my son or daughter to make the trip with me. Couldn't do it. But Alex said he wanted to go on an adventure. So Alex and I made the trip. It was great, we had a ball. 51 year old grandpa and 3 year old grandson. We stopped at Niagara on the way and rode the Maid of the Mist. Alex still remembers and talks about it.

Well, Alex lives in Virginia now. His dad works in Washington, D.C. I am going to visit my folks again in a couple weeks. They live in Vail Mills, NY, just a mile or so from Broadalbin, NY - now I'm sure I've got you zeroed in. Well, after a few days there I am going to drop down the Washington and pick up Alex. School will be out, Grandma wants to see him and I kind of like the kid myself so I guess we'll have another adventure.

I don't know what we'll do, maybe just drive for two days. But you never know - we may have to stop and look at the world's largest ball of string or something as exciting. Whatdoyasay Alex, ready for another adventure?

Saturday Morning Flowers

2005-05-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday morning. Tough day so far, got up, cooked bacon and eggs and then got out the camera to take a few pics of PJ's flowers. They are posted below along with a couple pictures of my new Scion Xb. 35 mpg is a good thing.

My niece Amy graduated from High School last night. We were in the stands at the football field watching along with a few thousand other graduates relatives. It is always a good thing to see young people reach a milestone. They all look so young, but I'll bet most of them turn out ok.

We have to go over to my son's house later to help put on the solar cover for his pool. Earlier this week we had temps in the eighties, but then one really cool day kind of ruined it. It is nice again today so maybe in a week or so we'll be able to swim.

Well I just wanted to post Paula's flower pics so I guess that's all for now.

2005-05-21T08:22:00.000-07:00

About 7 feet tall

2005-05-21T08:21:00.001-07:00

Clematis again

2005-05-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

Another

2005-05-21T08:20:00.001-07:00

PJ's clematis again

2005-05-21T08:20:00.000-07:00

PJ's

2005-05-21T08:19:00.001-07:00

Another Shot

2005-05-21T08:19:00.000-07:00

PJ's Clematis

2005-05-21T08:18:00.000-07:00

PJ's solar fountain

2005-05-21T08:17:00.001-07:00

Another Shot

2005-05-21T08:17:00.000-07:00

Here's the new car

2005-05-17T19:52:00.000-07:00

these are the wheelcovers I have

2005-05-17T19:50:00.000-07:00

This is the color

2005-05-17T19:49:00.000-07:00

Toaster?

2005-05-17T19:45:00.000-07:00

This is the color

2005-05-17T19:44:00.000-07:00

left front

Toaster

2005-05-17T19:38:00.000-07:00

I bought a new vehicle, a Scion Xb and have been trying to post some pictures without any luck. If I get Hello working again there will soon be some pictures here.

2005-04-18T15:43:00.002-07:00

Even more beauty

2005-04-18T15:43:00.001-07:00

Perfect

2005-04-18T15:43:00.000-07:00

Even Closer

2005-04-18T15:42:00.000-07:00

Rita's Tree closer

2005-04-18T15:40:00.000-07:00

Rita's Tree

The tree next door

2005-04-17T15:08:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note - had to post the pictures of my next door neighbor's tree. It is just gorgeous.

2005-03-23T19:30:00.000-08:00

Do you think the parrots are bored?

A Trip To The Queen Bee

2005-03-23T18:25:00.000-08:00

The Queen Bee. Just a little small town cafe, with the best coney dog I ever ate. Walk in the door, plunk down your dollar (that's right $1) and watch as 8 steamed buns get stacked up along the preparers left arm. Then 8 dogs would be pulled out of the steamer and poked into the buns. Next came the finely chopped onions, mustard and finally the meat sauce. The preparer would then layer them in a small paper bag, 2 dogs in, a piece of precut waxed paper, then 2 more dogs and another layer of waxed paper until the bag was full. A one block walk home past the fire station with it's 6 cent Coke machine and supper was served. And what a supper it was. The dog's were made from pork and beef, the coney sauce had probably bubbled in the pot all day and was the best I have ever had.

But there were others in town that were great also. Tegeo's Restaurant sold coney's also. Their sauce was spicier. The New York Lunch completed the trifecta. Again it was a great dog and their sauce was good as well. Over the years, the Queen Bee closed, as did Tegeo's, but the New York Lunch still sells lots of dogs everyday. My only problem is that it's a thousand miles away. I'm stuck in the midwest where everybody thinks a "Chicago Dog" is the best thing on earth. They just never had a good old Queen Bee hot dog.

There are a couple of pretenders in Peoria. Louie's Drive in tries and so does Velvet Freeze - and people think they are great, but these people have just been deprived of the real thing. Over the years I've tried a lot of different recipes to create a sauce as good, but I never have succeeded. The only part of the recipe that I have gotten right is that you boil the hamburger to get that really finely ground consistency. Also all you need is chili powder and the secret ingredient nutmeg. Don't think about putting any tomato sauce in it. The trick is getting the proportions correct. I've come close, but not close enough. Feel free to play with the mix, boil the hamburger, stirring all the time to break up the clumps until it is really fine. Pour off most of the water, stir in enough chili powder to turn it BLACK, then a little nutmeg to make your tongue wonder "What the heck was that?" I guarantee it will be good - just not quite as good as the Queen Bee's.

Of Trees and Roots

2005-03-12T16:35:00.000-08:00

I am well into the fourth day of a five day trip. I am writing this from a hotel room in Ohio. It has been a terrible and wonderful week. My cousin and friend Robert "Bucky" Hughes died on Tuesday. He was only 58. I guess you could say he died young. He had a heart attack after helping some elderly neighbors clear show from their sidewalk so they could safely go to the store. He complained of feeling poorly after shovelling the snow and said he was going to go rest. These same neighbors found him slouched down on his kitchen floor the next morning.

This was Bucky's 2nd heart attack. So I guess you could say it wasn't a total surprise. But that doesn't make it any easier to get a grip on. He had been retired for about 3 years. Never married, he had spent the last years taking care of his mother, my Aunt Marion. Buck's dad had died of a heart attack when he was 63, some 28 years ago. Aunt Marion (my father's sister) has been getting more and more confused for the last few years. She is 88 and Bucky had been visiting her everyday since his retirement to make sure she took her medicines and ate. Most days he would take her for rides to visit her brothers and sisters.

Brothers and sisters, not unlike many old families I suppose, but I am in awe everytime I see this family assembled. Aunt Marion had 11 natural brothers and sisters, and when a cousin's Mom died the family adopted her. My dad Charlie is the oldest now at 92, Marion is next at 88, Thel comes next with 87 years under her belt. Uncle Clarence is 83, Aunt Grace(the name is perfect for her) is 78, Uncle Scotch is 74, Don is 73 and Aunt Ruthie is the baby of the bunch at age 70. Four have passed, Uncle Bob just this past November. Add in the wives and husbands, 6 are still alive also, and my Brother Jim and I had 22 Aunts and Uncles, 29 first cousins and a Grandfather who lived to age 86.

Grandpa had a farm where we all met, almost every Sunday for the first 12 or 13 years of my life. Grandpa never had a tractor, he always had work horses. I still relish the memory of Grandpa holding the horses' bridles while 6 or 8 of us grandkids sat on their backs. Not many families can field both teams for a softball game and still have players on the bench ready to go in. But on Sundays we could. And when we went visiting on other days, it was always to Uncle Bob's, or Don's, or Ross's., Aunt Grace and Uncle John's, or Clarence and Thelma's, or Aunt Marion's. Later it was Bob and Ruthie's.

I stayed with my Mom and Dad for the funeral. Mom had me go through the family pictures to take what I wanted back to Illinois. What I saw in those pictures were the lives of my Aunts and Uncles from the time they were kids until now some 90 years later. They were always together, swimming, playing games, dating, marrying, raising kids. Always together, then and now.

When I walked into the church for the pre-service visitation I was not at all surprised to find them all there. The Aunts, the Uncles, the cousins. Aunt Marion was sitting in front with her brothers and sisters rotating in and out of the chairs on either side. Aunt Grace holding her hand and helping her recollect friends and family. Uncle Don guiding people to her and making sure everyone was welcomed into the fold. It was a time of sorrow and joy. People telling family stories and laughing. People crying with Marion.

While at Mom and Dad's that moring I took phone calls from my Uncle Bob, making sure I had made it from Illinois and that my folks had a ride to the church. Then a few minutes later Aunt Ruthie called to make sure Mom had remembered her new false tooth. Always checking on and watching over each other, for 90 years this has gone on. I have missed this closeness of family since moving to Illinois 33 odd years ago. I still get a taste of it on trips home, but it is not the same as living it for all those years.

My cousins and I always talk of getting together, but we never seem to get it done unless one of the old timers hosts a family reunion. The times are faster and much different now than when the old generation were raising us cousins, faster, but I don't think better.

My brother searches for Family history, stories, tales, historical movements of the Family. I work on the Family Tree, our predecessors in this world. My hope is that we can somehow continue to keep close to our roots and let our children enjoy this wonderful family.

A little stretch of heaven.

2005-02-07T20:36:00.000-08:00

Somewhere near this post should be a picture of the beach at the Palladium Grand Resort about 60 miles south of Cancun on the Riviera Maya. Those are my toes that you see sticking up. We have vacationed there three years in a row now. We are currently starting to plan our next trip, probably to the same hotel later this year.

If you haven't been to the Riviera Maya region you should go. You can get some great deals on trip packages from WWW.applevacations.com. Funjet also has good deals at the hotels in this area. We have always used the all inclusive option which includes the flight down, the hotel, all transfers and all food and drinks at the resort. Since the resort is not located right in Cancun, it is a great place to relax and just enjoy yourself. If you want to hit the nightspots that can be arranged. We have been content to enjoy the hotel facilities and doing a few day tours to some of the wonderful Mayan ruins, like Chichen Itza and Talum. There are free daily snorkeling tours from the hotel or you can purchase more exotic snorkeling, fishing or scuba diving expeditions. The operators will pick you up and drop you off at the hotel. We went horseback riding along the beach on a 1/2 day tour one day. That was a lot of fun. You could even swim on horseback if you wanted.

The beach at the hotel is about 3/4 of a mile long. There are palapas (sun shades) to lay under and also the beach is well populated with palm trees for shade also. You can always have full sun if you want it. And the food was excellent. 7 different restaurants to choose from. If you go hungry it's your own fault. 11 bars, a huge lake size pool plus two smaller pools located closer to the rooms, a snack bar on the beach and if you bring the kids there are all day activities for them.

The place is very large and you will never feel crowded. You can be busy with a bunch of people or you can be as alone and private as you want. We saw and met folks from Nova Scotia, New Foundland, all over Canada, Spain, Germany, Poland, Russia, and England and France while we were there. The buffets offer fare for all of these varied tastes.

Paula wants to retire and get jobs there. She wants to be the lady that tends the flowers all day. I could be the flamino wrangler, someone has to do it.

Well its a great place and we're looking forward to going back.

2005-02-07T20:35:00.000-08:00

Sunburning my toes on the Riviera Maya.

Added Links

2005-02-06T11:54:00.000-08:00

I think I have figured out how to add links to the blog, with a little help from my daughter.

Picture This!

2005-02-05T21:18:00.000-08:00

I just love easy technology. Give this old man time and I'll figure anything out. Guess what? Posting pictures is easy. It took a whole 2 minutes to post the picture of me at Chichen Itza and my wife's blooming amarylis. So now I have an excuse to take lots of interesting pictures.

Not much to report from the heartland. It's February, it was 60 degrees today and sunny - what's wrong with this picture? I bet we pay for it before the month is out. I'll try to come up with an interesting post in the next couple of days. For now - enjoy the picture of the flower and don't be scared by the old guy in Mexico.

2005-02-05T21:03:00.000-08:00

Blooming wonder.

2005-02-05T21:00:00.000-08:00

Me and a close personal stone friend in Mexico.

Amazing

2005-01-27T17:44:00.000-08:00

I didn't tell anyone that I started this Blog on the 7th of January. I thought I might play around with it for awhile before I told anybody I know about it. Hah! My daughter found it and passed the word to my niece who passed the word to her dad (my brother) - so I guess the secret is out. A couple of blogger friends of my daughter left some nice welcoming remarks. Isn't the age of technology amazing?

My daughter is in Virginia, my niece is in Spain and my brother is in upstate New York. So much for keeping secrets. This one travelled 5000 miles in a very short time.

Not much to report from the heartland. The weather here has been just dull and grey. The big snowstorm went north of us and south of us. The sun just seems to have disappeared. Work has been going as good as work can go. I have a promotion waiting as soon as they can find a replacement for my current job. I am a foreman in a steel mill, soon to be a general foreman - which means I change from rotating shifts and having 11 people working for me, to having 4 foremen and about 60 people working for me. It will be straight dayshift which will be a change. I have worked at the plant for 32 years, all but 1 of those years was rotating shifts. Right now I work all three shifts each week, so the straight dayshift job will be a big change.

I got my wife an embroidery sewing machine for Christmas and as I sit writing this, she is upstairs embroidering a couple of cute bunnies and a heart on a sweatshirt for the granddaughter of one of her co-workers. She has been very busy since Christmas learning how to use it and has completed quite a few projects already.

That's all for now, but I'll be back.

Getting started

2005-01-07T13:32:00.000-08:00

My daughter has a blog. My niece has a blog. Now I have a blog. I don't really know what I'll do with it, but I have it. I slipped past 50 a few years ago now, but I used that as a screen name for Instant Messenger and kind of liked the ring of it. It turned into more of a downhill slide than a little slip. I'm pretty well up to date on technology. I have been fascinated with computers since the early eighties. Started out with a Vic20, then a 286, 386, 486, pentium, then switched to AMD processors. Now I have an AMD AthlonXP 3000 processor in my main home computer, an Mobile AthlonXP 3000 plus on my laptop. The only holdout for Intel is my old Celeron 700 laptop that my wife uses with her embroidery sewing machine. They are all networked together and all that seems to work pretty well.

I used to build all my own machines, but now it is cheaper to buy than build. I've never really been into gaming on the computer. But I can spend hours tweaking an Access database to get it to do what I want. The only problem is finding enough time to do anything. That may turn into a problem with this blog, easy to start, but it requires time to update. That's it for now from the heartland in central Illinois.