Alright, I admit it: I have had LUST in my heart for the last year and a half....:

NO!!! Not that kind of lust! ...had you going for a minute there though didn't I!!!

Actually I have been drooling over a map on-line for a year and a half. YOU WHAT? You have been lusting over a Civil War Map? Maaannnn, you're sick. You've gone around the bend.

Well, yeah but...

~
O.K., O.K., I finally bought it and I am not ashamed! I am, a Civil War Addict. ahhhh, now that feels better. I can't tell you what a relief it is to get that out in the open. FEEEWWWW!

~

What I bought was a map of the Washington D.C. Defenses of U.S. Army circa 1861. Illustrating the locations of Civil War fortifications including forts, batteries and other strategic emplacements.

You see, now I can hold a letter from James Gilmour to his brother Robert in my hand and say: "On this day, at this location this letter was written and this is what was happening at the time."

Click on Image to Enlarge.

General Irwin Mc Dowell's 1st division, 2nd Brigade

consisted of the 2nd New York, 1st & 2nd Ohio and the 2nd Artillery.

They were lead by Brig.Gen. Schenk at the Battle of 1st Bull on July 21, 1861

Here is a transcript of a letter written while James Gilmour was stationed here 11 days before The First Battle of Bull Run, also known as the First Battle of Manassas:

Balls Crosroad

Virginia

July 10th

Dear Brother

I now write to

let you know that have been

waiting for your letter in

answer to my last but it has

not arived yet, it seemed that

your last letter was on the way

coming when mine was going

& as you stated in your last

that you were going to the

thought that you did not get

it as it was adressed to the store

instead of 4th* street but I will

a dress this one for the store

as I supose you to be back by

this time, this is a mistake as I see

yours was dated june 30th But I

will make it all right;

I was glad to hear that you

were in good health & also

that you were contracted on in the

~

store as work is hard to be got

in the city The prinsopal

reason for me writing now is that

we have recieved orders to

march to Richmond & as we

will have to fight our way

through I thought I would

let you know that how I was

getting along we now form part

Brigade Commanded By

Gen. Skank** it consists

of the first and second Ohio

Regts. 3 Conn. & our own

the 2nd of New York we wer[e] recieved

on munday & expects to march

to night or at day Break tomarrow

Morning. They next Brigade

after us consists of the 79th

Hilander the 13 of Rochester N.Y.

71 N.Y. & a Regt. from Wis.

I was delighted to see the

movement of the Brigade

& we got the Prais[e] of the

Bystanders for being the

cleanist Regt. of the 4

~

bu[t] it is a hard thing to Keep

clean clothes where we have 3

feet of Dust on one half of the

week & 4 feet of mud the other.

we have very hot weather

here at Presant, but what

goes worse with us is the gales

& Tempests that comes on all

at once we had a storm the other

night. it swept away our tent

wet our clothes & dunked ourselves prity

well but we are getting used to it

now. ***Frank is in good health

& wishes to be remembered to you

in the Kindest manner we are

all ready for fight. & the plan

we have adopted for getting dressed

quick in case of an alarm is

that we still sleep on with our

clothes & our cartridge Box under

our head & as a general thing

our Brave Partner in our Bosem

I mean our Muskets~

You may rest content about

me. I Trust God is with

~

us. & if he is with no who

can be aganst us

Please write as soon as

this comes to hand & let me

know how you are getting

along & how you spent the 4th

as for mine I spent it

at doing gard Duty as that is

the Run of duty we see most of

at Present

I must conclude hoping

that these few lines will find you

injoying good health

Do not think it strange if you

do not have an answer to your

letter as we do not know when

we may be located

but please write soon

I remain your

affectionate Brother to Death

James Gilmour

Please give my love to

all in the kindist manner

write soon.

*4th Street in Manhattan, New York City; was where they lived.

** This was really Gen. Schenk; but, this is James' actual spelling. Obviously, he was I am sure, unaware of the connotation that it holds today. I leave it as he wrote it for authenticity's sake, and also because it amuses me to think that from everything I have read of the enlisted men's opinion of him after Bull Run: I believe that if they had known what Skank connotes today, they may well have spelled it this way on purpose.

*** Frank Perry was James' tent mate and friend throughout the his war experience. Frank was the only soldier mentioned in James' letter's from his Original Company to have survived the War after being wounded at the Battle of Antietam.

~

Next summer Devin and I plan to hike the C&O "Patomack" Canal "Toe Path". We intend to take a Canal Boat from Georgetown west to about Great Falls, then hike along the Tow Path to Whites Ferry where we will cross to visit "Balls Bluff". Then we will take in Poolsville where James was Camped for some time. Next a Bus ride to Harpers Ferry to visit the Museum. (James was stationed here also. Truth is he was stationed all along the Potomac at various times.) Then I would like to travel south to find the location of the "Battle of Fair Oaks" where he was killed in Battle and later buried.

obeedúid~
05/feb/09

I CAN SMELL THE SCENT OF A WOMEN AGAIN!!!

...the only trouble is, my nose keeps going UP like an infield fly every time one walks by....!

(I quit smoking on 07/Jan because I expect to be doing some serious Hiking this summer.....)

Oh Man! DID I MISS THIS!

...What was I thinking....

:$)

obeedúid~
02/feb/09

I don't subscribe to "Tow Truck Theology"....

In other words: I don't believe that if I pray for a Tow truck one will miraculously appear and save me from dieing in a ditch during a blizzard just because I prayed.

~

So the obvious question, (in light of this weeks Bible Study theme at Church: Prayer: Intimacy with God.) is "Do I believe in Angels?" Well no actually, I don't. I do however believe in the presence of Good. Do I believe in Good vs Evil? Not really, not in the traditional Comic Book Variety anyway. I think that we are all a little of both and some of us are more one than the other. Hopefully we are all moving in the Good direction a higher percentage of the time. If you do Good you attract Good... if you go to the "Dark-Side" Well....

~

"It's a matter of seeing" ....[sic] you can change the exposure, you can change the filter, but you can't change the picture, only the interpretation..." (Living the questions.com LLC)

~

"If only I pray allot God will give me what I want...." NOOOOO! but I may be prepared for whatever happens and also have the means to avoid despair.

;)


obeedúid~
26/jan/09

Keeping the Army of Guardian Angels busy ...AGAIN!

So there I was sitting a pizza joint chowing down in downtown Schenectady, across the street from "Proctor's Theater". Sarah and Jimmy, and the "Basement Gang" were waiting on Devin before we went to the "One Man Star Wars" show. Every year around this time we go to a show and we bought our the tickets back in October.

I used to tell the kids in Youth Group stories that had to do with life experiences meant as cautionary tales... Of course Sarah is always telling me that its not a cautionary tale if it begins with "It was so Coool!"

...any way there I was telling one of Sarah's favorites about how me and my "Gang" bounced off of a tree that we (they actually) had missed a few days earlier and Bang! ...whata ya know guess what? ..we hit the very same tree!

...and the phone rings!

I was just getting to the part where I tend to say something about how I have survived repeated near death experiences for some reason that I equate to God's future plans for me in this world.


It was Devin of course, and he had taken out several hundred feet of guardrail on the way to the Theater along route 20 in Duanesburg, after the I-88 exit. It seems he went to Cobelskill to help a friend ....sound familiar? ...sound like something his Dad would do? "...ahhh, yeah, can you drive down here and give me a hand even though you just got off of a 36, haven't eaten, should get some rest and take care of yourself ..."

~

He had a week like I am prone too. His GPS fried, He lost his Cell Phone during the wreck, had some Bad Calls I can't talk about and ended up in a ditch on the way back from Coby.

~

So you can imagine what I said to him I'm sure. It went kinda like this: "I know you won't believe this, and I'm sure you think I'm whacked when I tell you, but You are a "Force for Good" In this world son, and you as I before you, will not be "taken out of here" until the Lord is convinced that your job is done. In a world full of darkness you have a reason for being. Call it destiny or whatever, but I am convinced that you walk through things with the Light of Being as your guide..."

~

Its scary how we become our parents. This is not the first time. As a mater of fact, his Boy Scout, Civic minded, "almost taken out while doing a Good Deed Experiences" are quickly mounting towards my total. I'm sure it won't be the last time either. When I finally go to the "Great Beyond" I'm pretty sure that the Angels who have followed me around all my life will simply be reassigned. To my Kids.


obeedúid~
25/Jan/09

What? Huh? Wait a minute here....

obeedúid~ gets "the Boot" from Finn Mac Cool....
Giants Causeway October 15th, 2008.

Yeah, I've decided to lay off the episodes of the movies and concentrate on it in its entirety as a finished DVD. Then I'll break it down for the internet later. This photo is a preview of sorts that relates somehow in my warped little leprechaun mind to todays rambling musings....

~

I'm thinkin' I might have a handle on just what has been putting me under the weather for the past few days other than let down from Ireland....

"And you may ask yourself

How do I work this?

And you may ask yourself

Where is that large automobile?

And you may tell yourself

This is not my beautiful house!

And you may tell yourself

This is not my beautiful wife!"

"Once in a Lifetime" by The Talking Heads

from "Remain In Light"

(written by David Byrne, Brian Eno)

How did I get here? I've always been all about family, fidelity, all that stuff... Somehow here I am "Happy," but sans spouse.

Its not like I haven't tried... but lets face it, it seems like all of the women who are somewhat stable, and not carrying baggage, are still in that stable relationship with spouse right? Maybe I'm wrong here but it sure seems like all the things I always thought I would have passed me bye, by venture of my age bracket and the fact that I spent too many years trying to fix dysfunctional family situations with women who were a product of that type of environment.

Well, thats good to know anyway. But still... WTF!

I AM HAPPY! ...I'm just missing that one thing, How do I work this...

Or in the words of another Talking Heads Song off the same album:

Im still waiting...Im still waiting...Im still waiting...
Im still waiting...Im still waiting...

Cross-eyed and Painless~

obeedúid~
23/jan/09

Perspective.

I was not at myself by, so I came home sick. I slept until Devo came home from a 36. Even though I was still peely-wally I got up to watch some of the parade.

Amidst the Hoopla and the Ta-ta-ta-ra, among the tears and the smiles, flags waved and bands played, while a small crawler moved from right to left at the bottom of my T.V. screen:

"President Bush has left Washington..."

Amen.

Dublin Advertisting Weirdness....

O.k., So this was just weird... thats all there is to it... Watch it. You'll see what I mean. ...Yep!

Obviously I am not the first Youtoober to find this sign odd... however, I do believe I may be the first to think it warranted the "Wilhelm" ...if it was good enough for Lucas and Spielberg its good enough for me...

obeedúid~
11/jan/09

Resolutions I can live with....

I have been in a funk. Call it after Christmas whatever. Maybe I was getting charged up from the DC energy I had wreathed around the Christmas Hats I was wearing from Thanksgiving through Christmas, and now that the forcefield has been removed I'm running out of energy. Who knows....

The past couple of weeks has been very busy as far as the Poetry Scene goes; ...with at least 3 more events up and coming. I may have to miss one on principle alone. Say... "Oh, I can't make it to this one because I have to clean my Bathroom this evening..." ...or something like that.

I don't really know what it is but I seem to need a break. That is partially why I have not blogged as I had intended. I know I said I would post a blog devoted to my "House-Husband- Christmas- "koekies". Sorry Ladies, maybe next year.

I have been reading a book that Jimmy gave me that he had to read for a History Course entitled " The Island at the Center of the World" by Russel Shorto. ("The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the forgotten Colony that shaped America.") (...Thats where the term "koekies" comes from...) ...Dr. Sullivan calls the book a populist diversion. It has been a diversion for me in that it is informative, light, ...and something I can do that takes my mind off of all the things I said I would do but haven't for lack of...well, "Cleaning My Bathroom".

"Cleaning My Bathroom" is something I do when a relationship is about to end, or I am about to start something BIG and NEW. You see, I clean Bathrooms (and other things) for a living at this point, and who wants to do that when you get home after a full day of doing it 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Don't get me wrong, my Bathroom is not so bad that I am growing Black Mold, but it isn't as Spic&Span as you might expect from a professional at the moment either. What I'm talking about here is a Deep Down Clean with a Toothbrush kind of thing. PURGE is the word that often comes to mind.

So, I feel like I should resolve some thing or other. Its that time of the year after all. It might be time to leave "The Island at the Center of the World" so to speak. Here is my attempt. An attempt at a Populist Tradition:

New Years resolutions I can live with....

1. I am taking a week off in January to finish up my Videos. Life has just been to busy to complete this project in the timely fashion I had intended.
2. I will shave off my mustache in the spring and let it grow back again in the fall. O.K. so thats what I do every year but thats what makes it something I can live with! After all I always have....
3. I will not take in another stray this year... fortunately, I DON'T HAVE THE ROOM ANYMORE! This one is too true, hits close to the heart and needs to be dealt with seriously for once.
   
4. I will try not to define myself by the Women I am with. I hereby resolve to find someone with no more baggage than I have. HONEST! I promise Kids....
5. Perhaps come April Fools Day I will shave off Half of My Mustache that might be fun! I will certainly be an April Fool!
6. I will focus on turning the outlines for the next five chapters of "O' Wasterly Gale" into actual drafts as soon as the Videos are done. Even at the expense of my poetry if need be. (This one may be the first to be broken as poetry seems to work on its own timetable...)
7. I will only drink Black & Tans made with "Sierra Nevada Pale Ale". (I think I can live with this one... as long as I'm in a Pub where they actually serve "Sierra Nevada Pale Ale" in which case I may just have to settle for the next best thing... or the second best thing... or...)
8. I will set up my Bedroom into the "Sanctum Sanctimonious" I have always dreamed of... "No Kittens to knock things over and push things under the black whole neath the Bed allowed!"
   
9. I won't fall asleep on the couch watching PBS every night of the week. (...maybe only once or twice a week from now on...)
10. I'll Love everyone I can and tell them so. Even if I don't I'll try. Even if they are a Kitten named Guinness who knocks things over all day long... (O.K. Sarah?)
    

Yeah, maybe this isn't fair. After all I'm setting myself up for success and maybe thats not the point of "New Years Resolutions" is it? ...You do it your way, I'll do it mine, I can bet you that I will feel a lot better about myself in the morning when I wake up on the couch!!!

:)


(:Markle:)
"Smilin' on the inside
And on the outside!"

obeedúid~
01/Jan/09

Christmas Greetings 2008!

Me, Sarah /Jimmy and Devin.

Merry Christmas
from Our Clan to yours!

I received a Christmas gift today from the Reid Family: Proprietors of Greenmount Lodge!

A transcription of the Poem "Greenmount Smiling Annie" that hangs in their Common Room. The poem is as I understand it anonymously attributed. I share it with you here with all due respect. An authentic slice of life based (as I was told) on real events from the 18th Century in which the Squires son James fell hopelessly in love with a Servant Girl.

Greenmount Smiling Ann

On a summer day, when flowers were gay,

Beneath the sun’s bright beam,

Near to a grove, where lovers rove,

Beside yon silver stream;

There gently strayed a lovely maid,

Her beauty rich to scan:

A maiden fair beyond compare,

Sweet Greenmount Smiling Ann.

Her hair, so fine, waved in the wind

In ringlets bright as gold;

Her figure neat and smile so sweet,

Were charming to behold.

Her lovely eyes might well entice

The heart of any man,

Who gazed upon that matchless one

Called Greenmount Smiling Ann.

The wee birds sang, the woodlands rang,

As she strolled slowly on;

The trees o’erhead, their green leaves spread,

To shield her from the sun,

All nature there was rich and rare,

And beauty o’er it ran;

But the fairest in that lovely bower,

Was Greenmount Smiling Ann.

When the grove she neared a lad appeared:

The old squire’s son;

A charming lad, his smile so sad,

As he greets this lovely one.

For the squire had sworn he would disown

His son from wealth and lan,

If he would decide to make his bride

The Greenmount Smiling Ann.

“O Jamie dear! When you are near,

You’re all the world to me;

But your father’s vow will not allow

That I your bride may be.

Your birch is high, low rank have I,

Yet love e’ermore I can;

I’ll not consent to yur punishment”,

Signed Greenmount Smiling Ann.

“Ah dearest Ann! Look no so wan,

Consent to be my bride;

I love but you, and I’ll be true

Till death doth us divide.

Your love to me more sweet will be

Than rank, or wealth, or lan”.

He gently presses her to his breast –

His Greenmount Smiling Ann.

“I’ll toil for you, I’ll never rue,

For I my love adore;

The world is wide, and whate’er betide,

I’ll cling to you evermore.

We’ll sail away to Amerikay,

And scorn this cruel ban”.

She gave consent, and off he went,

With Greenmount Smiling Ann.

~Anon~

Merry! Merry! Merry!

obeedúid~

25/Dec/08

...what I expected to find ...

I don't know what I expected to find at Ardboe. What I did find was not what I expected. I guess I was thinking it would be like many of the other ancient places we had seen up to this point, but I was taken aback by the presence of so many recently dead from "The Troubles."


As we were wondering about the sight, which was rather hard to find in the first place, a man walked up to us and started a conversation with Steve. I believe his name was Paul Ryan. He was from Brooklyn. He explained that was here to bury his father and visit the graves of his brother's.

His brother, Peter Ryan was Catholic and a member of the IRA. Acording to the Index of deaths during the conflict he was shot during an ambush by undercover British Army (BA) members, while driving through Coagh, County Tyrone on 03 June 1991 at the age of 35.

Another Grave that he pointed out was that of a hunger striker named Michael Devine who was 27 years old and a member of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA). Michael joined the hunger strike on 22 June 1981 and died on 20 August 1981 after 60 days without food.

~

We were shocked when we worked our way around to the back side of the Church Walls, and peered inside at the graves filling the entire foundation. I can't describe it even now. The picture in the Video doesn't convey the reality of being there either. You just have to take my word for it.



It has taken me some time to process my feelings about this location. I couldn't even approach it chronologically when I was creating the first video's so I skipped over it and decided to come back to it later. It's later now and I'm still profoundly affected.

As you read through the Cain website you find that Surnames do not always indicate affiliation with one side or the other. Of the Gilmore/Gilmour's for instance 3 are Catholic and 2 are Protestant. It's always about Religion. Not the teachings of Christ, but the teachings of Christ as two sides interpret it.

~

Signs of the conflict were visible most everywhere we went; but we went there anyway. I walk as a "Child of Light" as Pastor Brian has said of me and we were in some neighborhoods that people we stayed with and visited would have cautioned us from going in the strongest of language. I never inquired of Alan about his own experiences, I'm sure that as the head of the ER in Derry he must have had some harrowing moments. I didn't think it was polite to inquire for some reason. I guess I was still processing. The conflict and the peace process has pretty much subsided for now. I pray that it is at an end for good.

I LOVE Ireland! North and South. Protestant and Catholic (...of which I am descended from both.) I refuse to take sides and so stand in the middle. A "Child of Light", loving everyone, in spite of themselves. As the Man Jesus would have done.

~

I couldn't do the spacey new age music in this Video. It just didn't seem right. That may have given some people a more "Thin Place" feel, but it just would have avoided the issue's. I have used as a Soundtrack a song by my favorite Ulster-Scot Musicians: "The Low Country Boys". The Song is their version of Doc Watson's Classic: "Beautiful Golden Somewhere." I saw Doc and Merle preform the same song many years ago at "Lenox on the Lawn" in the late 70's during my "Hippie Day's". When I heard The Low Country Boys do it, it seemed to be connected for me. It summed things up in a way I couldn't.

Again, I hope that they will forgive me for not waiting for permission, (..that poor starving Artist thingie again...) And I hope you will patronize their Web-site as linked in the paragraph above. I give them credit here and in the Video; with much thanks and Peace in Christ...

...Maybe you could even buy a CD or two while you're at it. I received mine when I visited the Ulster-Scot Agency Building in Belfast... but that's another story, for another day....

obeedúid~
18/Dec/08

I wrote this a few days ago, got involved in searching down Genealogical leads.... I only got the chance to post it now as I just finished the Video.

Sunday 21/Dec/08 2:03 a.m.

...Being Happy all the time CAN REALLY PISS SOME PEOPLE OFF!...

I've always been happy for the most part. Optimism is what has carried me through much of the hard times in my life. I seem to be able to fall on my face and pick myself up with a smile and say: "...I meant to do that!..."

~

I've said it before, I'm the person who people hide from first the thing in the morning before they have their first cup of coffee because: "I'm so chipper!"

Apparently since I came back from Ireland I have been unbearably happy! More than once in the past few weeks someone has frowned at me and said:

"...don't you ever turn off?" "How do you do it?" "You're driving me crazy!"

~

As anyone who works in Retail knows, in America, in most stores, Christmas Carols begin at 12 midnight Thanksgiving night. After all the Turkey is absorbed, when you are still drugged up on the mythological "Tryptophan"... BANG! They hit you with five versions of "Santa Baby" and the latest Plop-Star's version of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Wino!"

The next thing you know, it's "Off we go!" 8 Hour's a day! ...on a 28 day Magical Misery Marathon Tour of Christmas Cheer!

By the time we make it to Christmas Eve with a screeching HALT! ...THE DREADED HUMMING BUG has bummed you and everyone who works in the Store out!

(...Well, almost everyone that is...)

You see, some of us come prepared to the FUNHOUSE! Some of us even belong to the FUNHOUSE on purpose! We enjoy belonging so much that we bought season tickets for life intentionally!

Here is my Membership Card, believe it or not, I ware it on my head:

I call this one: "Frosted the Snowman!"

AND... I have more than one too!

This one is "Rudolph-O'dúid~"

Most times he's simply referred to as "Rude-ee!"

"Whats up hot-stuff! ...Can I guide your sleigh tonight?"
"...Wanna see if you can make my nose light up?"

...Now you know why he's referred to as "Rude-ee!"

~

(...2 degrees in Art and what do I do? ...I make Silly Hats! ...Go figure!)

~

There is this old curmudgeon who comes into the store every day. When I see him I greet him with: "How are you doin' today! ...are you having a good day?" Invariably he responds with: "Lousy! ..I'm having a rotten day." or something derogatory like that.

Today I made my normal chipper greeting, something like: "How's life treatin' you pal?" ... but today was different. Today he looked me right in the eye and said: "Why do you always ask me that Mark?" To which I responded: "Well Pal, I know that you're a bit of a pessimist, and I have always been an optimist, so I just naturally believe that one of these days you are going say: "I'm Happy! Life is Good!" ...and it will make my day!"

...and again he looks me right in the eye's and deadpan as you please he says:

"...now why would I want to do that, it would ruin my day..."

I was dumbfounded. On the one hand it was one of the funniest things he had ever said! On the other it was one of the saddest....

Then he winks, and cracks a smile!

~

"...I may never turn off!" "...I don't know how I do it!" "...and I just love driving you all crazy!"

"...Some days being happy all the time makes me even happier still!!!!"

~

...and you know, you might not admit it, but thats what you love about me!

...now isn't it?!

obeedúid~
12/Dec/08

Orienteering the Glebe Home....

Killaloo Townland circa 1840, showing Alexander Gilmour's tenancy
along what was then the Oughgath Road,
before the A-6 bisected the center of the Townland.

O.K., so I' don't sound like Walter Cronkite, and I need to stop choking up on the Mic... The next one shouldn't take quite as long and I hope it will be more fun to make as well. This one was fun yet frustrating in a challenging sort of way.

But, I finally managed to do it! I still have some problems with recording issues and managing the soundtrack to perfect, but I think I did a passable job with my skill level. We upgraded our Ram and I tweaked all the settings in the program as much as I can tweak; saved after EVERY change (whether minor or major) and here you have it...

Writing dialog, dubbing narration, doing animation and editing without a million dollar studio... Who would have thought it possible even 20 years ago! It's romantic to dream of living in the past but I love living in this future! Even if I don't yet own a Jet-pak or live in the sky like George Jetson...

;)

obeedúid~
07/Nov/08

Some but not all of the Blessings I am Thankful for!

Hey this is my 100th Posting! To celebrate this milestone and Thanksgiving Day I thought I would attempt to list 100 people and things in no particular order that I am thankful for!

~

My Family! Mom and Dad, Kevin & Linda and Sean. Jim & Kathy, Jackie & Mike and Phillip, Megan (and her daughter Katlin) and Ethan, My children: Devin and Sarah, and my Lil' brother Richard!

Jim, Jackie, Mom, Me & Richard

Our Dad: "My Ol' Man."

James Gilmour O'Brien in Ireland.

Our deceased Brother: My Confirmation Sponsor and Devin's Godfather.

Kevin James O'Brien.

My best friend: Steve & his finance Lynn and their children!

Steve at The Beaghmore Stone Circles.

The Every Other Thursday Night Poets!

Dennis Sullivan, Beverly Osborne, Tom Corrado, Edie Abrams, Art Willis, Alan Casline (all seated); Paul Amidon, Mike Burke, Tim Verhaegen, (Me), Barbara Vink, Philomena Moriarty

My friend Alan McKinney of Killaloo and his Wife Anna! They welcomed us as if we were old friends. Thank You Again!

Beekeeper Extraordinaire: Alan McKinney.

My Monday Night Bible Study Group!


My Church Family! Everyone in our congregation including past and present Pastors!

FUMCV

My 3rd Cousin Barb! Who sent me this:

This is the first time it has left my pocket since I put it there
the day she sent it to me. Its back in my wallet already.

Everyone I met in Ireland! Ian Bartlett of St Columb's Cathedral, Henry at Greenmount Lodge, Gillian Gilmore at the Ulster Scot Agency, Ann Carson at Carnglass Farmhouse in Ballybogy, Andy at Cornerville on Howth. The random guy on the street who gave us directions in Dublin... and everyone else who did likewise every other time we looked lost! I know I'm leaving out people here so please forgive me....

"obeedúid~" Reclining on the Causeway.

All the Women I have Loved! Ann (The unrequited love of my youth), Christine (The never requited love of my youth!), Gail (I still remember you eating baby food on break with great abandon, it was cute and so were you.) Anna; (My ex wife; though we no longer speak we shared more than 15 years together and brought two wonderful kids into the world despite ourselves, had a mostly good life while it lasted, and I still remind my kids there were some good times that need to be remembered too.) Cheri (The unrequited love of my middle age. With whom I learned that patience and self-sacrifice in the service of others (Mostly other peoples kids) can have a lasting effect for good in their lives.) Shelley (I miss your smile, and your three girls too! Thanks for understanding we had different paths) Jennifer (You taught me that a nieve, trusting open loving heart can be taken advantage of repeatedly... I learned a valuable lesson, Alcohol IS A DEMON that can destroy lives, especially those who are trying to help.) Dawn (I know you let me go for my own good and I will always remember you and your boys through the fondness of rose colored glasses...)

All of my Kids from VUMYF! ...over the years (You know who you are!) (...and you always will!)

Boy Scout Troop 73: and the Scouter's and Scout Leaders who have been and still are my Mentors. Tom Roe I miss you so!

My Faithful Doggie!

Duet. "don't drink from the Toilet you Dumbhead!" O'Brien

The Kids I took in who took me into their hearts! Matt (The first of Devin's buddy's who needed a place to stay and a bed to crash on.) Cameron/"Tweeter" (The second of Devin's buddy's who made my old couch his home. I was proud to be your friend and I am happy to know that you eventually reconciled with your Father.) Amanda (My other daughter, who never forgets me on Dad's Day!) Robert (I know that someday you will bottom out and begin the journey back up again, and I pray that you will be forgiven by yourself.) Michael (What can I say, I hope you and Herbie are happy, I hope your Mom will someday be happy and I was proud to be your Dad for a while!)

My Trip to Killaloo!

Me in the Gilmour's/Glenn's Field at Killaloo.
Killaloo Ord. S. 22 :Alexander Gilmore
Location 5-B :House and small garden :₤10

This Fortune Cookie I got last night!

... no duh...!

The 99 other people I work with at "Hannaford of Voorheesville"... I love my job and working with you all everyday, Thanks! ...it makes working easy when my work place is enjoyable!

My Readers: From 56 Country's and Every State in the U.S.!

My 101st blog! Which will take place in Killaloo! ...well we were there when we filmed the video anyway... !

I could keep going but I know I'm way over 100 and... me tired... need go sleepy bye now....

oh... I started thinking about this on Tuesday, thats why the date is set that way at the top of the blog.... Its Friday A.M. now so ignore that please....

;)

obeedúid~
Thanksgiving Day 2008

...Dream Mapping....

Many things happened this week, not the least of which was as I was coloring the maps with colored pencils and crosschecking my Griffith's Data with them. Some pieces came together in my mind that only time and perspective seems to provide.

~

The Griffith Data Sheets (not the Maps) were labeled as: "Printed Tuesday, January 26, 1858."

The Plotted map is very confusing. So as I was poring over it I realized that James Glenn was actually located right where I originally speculated he might be in the first draft of the novel two years ago. (Imagine that!) ...guess I'll have to go back and readjust things a little...

Brackfield Ord. S 22 :James "Glynn"
Location 8-e :House and small garden :₤10

~

Matthew Glenn was located just up the street from the Glebe House within yards of where the "Scribe Tree" would have been located between the two Townlands. (Imagine that!) As one letter indicates that "Uncle James lived at the "Scribe Tree" (1865 letter) and yet another indicates that "Matthew is home and looking for a place to live..." (1861 letter) If in fact James Glenn lived at the "Scribe Tree" in 1865 as indicated, an emigration and changing of locations took place that may also be researched.

Killaloo Ord. S. 22 :Matthew "Glynn"
Location 1-g :House and small garden :₤10

~

The Gilmour Tenancy was along the now defunct Ougtagh/Oughtagh Road (all that is left is a Hedgerow between Fields) running North and South. (Spelled variously depending on which sign on which side of the road you're looking at....) I also realized that there was an Access Road between Tenancy's and a little section of ground that may have given the Gilmour's access to Glenshane Road via this easement. There is a structure indicated there and it may well have been their house.

Killaloo Ord. S. 22 :Alexander Gilmore
Location 5-B :House and small garden :₤10

I believe now that they would have done their Coopering at or near that Glebe perhaps in an outbuilding that exists on Alan McKinney's property. On site as it were. The Group of buildings in the lower left corner of the map was the main hub of Killaloo and from what Alan told me contained a Post office and perhaps a Store. Today it is where the Orange Hall is located. Glenshane Road runs through this hub and as you will see in the next Map: between the Church and the Glebe House on its way to Claudy.

~

George McGonigle's Father James was in the lot across the street from the Glebe and his property bordered the Church of Ireland: Church of the Trinity where James Gilmour was Baptized. This is where the Glenn's; and their descendants were buried as well.

Killaloo Ord. S. 22 :James M'Gonigle
Location 7 :land :₤1. 10 shillings

This Map also shows the Apple Orchard across the street from the Church at what is now the end of Alan and Anna's driveway where a Private residence is currently located.

~

Now here is where the time and perspective thing comes in. As you will see there was yet another spelling for Ougtagh/Oughtagh Road.... We realized this when we were inspecting the graves with Alan but it wasn't until I was sound asleep dreaming and walking around the maps in my head the other night that I realized the significance of its placement on the Tombstones.

The Sign on East side of road.
At the intersection "Wasterly" of the Gilmour Tenancy...

The Sign on West side of road.
Directly across the same intersection
Looking West in the direction of Londonderry.....

The spelling on the tombstones is: "Aughtagh" ...is this phonetic in origin or Welch? (I shall have to research it further at a later date.)

Tombstone in Cumber Parish:
Holy Trinity Church: Killaloo.

Since the Gilmour's all emigrated, someone had to have acquired their land, either by sale or gift. Logically that would have likely have been next of kin who remained behind: the Glenn's. By proximity of the Gilmour's land to the Ougtagh/Oughtagh/Aughtagh Road, it is my firm belief that when I unearth later Griffith Data that this will be the case.

~



So here is Part 5: Arrival in Killaloo. Two minutes and 30 to 40 seconds seems to be the limit of my memory/programs and equipment at this time. That being the case I have had to cut down things and plan for further breaks in the series. There is a title that I overlaid on this one that was slower in the original Movie Project file, but I was forced to run it at a slightly faster pace when I created the Video.

Feel free to "pause at will..." ... ;)

obeedúid~
23/Nov/08