Ten Keys to Understanding Isaiah

The Prophet has asked us to read the entire Book of Mormon before the end of this year (read this). I started a bit late so I'm a little behind the schedule, but I've read to 2 Nephi 9 and it's going well. I can honestly say that I'm enjoying it as well as learning from it. I encourage you all, dear readers, to do the same. I especially implore my beloved family members; I promise you can make time if you try. You too Stephen; you could have family scripture study with Vincent! Teach him to say "remember, remember" and "repent" as well as "hello" and "who's a pretty boy then".

The Isaiah chapters in 2 Nephi always present a challenge, but church leaders have told us that these are some of the most important passages of scripture for our times, and it is imperative that we study and understand these prophesies. While researching my recent sunday school lessons on the Second Coming, I found an article written by Bruce R. McConkie called "Ten Keys to Understanding Isaiah". I promise you will find this helpful.

Boston: part 2

I went up to Boston again this weekend. Last time I was a tourist, this time I was on a mission! I had two goals: find naturalisation records for Frank Paul and Michael J O'Brien and confirm to the identity of everyone buried in the O'Brien family plot at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Friday: I went to the National Archives (you know, the guys who have the Declaration of Independence) New England regional office to look for naturalisation records. The building was way out in Waltham, at the end of the bus line and then a couple miles walk. I can't be sure about the Michael O'Brien records I found: there were three possibles which I narrowed down to one most likely. I definitely found Frank Paul's petition for citizenship in which he renounces his loyalty to Luis I, King of Portugal. I found out his date of birth, but, even better, he signed the document himself. My great-great-great-grandfather wrote this:

I met Bob for dinner, he picked me up in his new hybrid car - it was very exciting for me - and we went to the North End, the Italian neighbourhood. We traded family stories, well he told stories and I related dates and facts that I've turned up. He was ever so excited to discover that his great-great grandfather was Portuguese! We had a really nice visit. He is a lot like Dad, chatty and friendly and he gets excited about things. And he invited me to stay with him when I go back in a couple weeks, so we can talk a lot more about the family.

Saturday: I spent the day at the Massachusetts Archives looking at birth, marriage and death records. I found the birth and death records for all ten of Michael O'Brien's children. I also confirmed the relationship to Michael of the three non-O'Brien's he was buried with:

- Maurice Flynn (age at burial: 58years) - husband of Michael's sister Mary. Like Michael and his sisters, Maurice was born in Ireland. A painter by trade, he married Mary O'Brien in 1864.
- Benjamin Flynn (1 month) - Maurice and Mary's son.
- Isabella Caldwell (3 years) - daughter of Michael's sister Annie and George W. Caldwell. Isabella had a twin sister Rose. I found her parents marriage in 1869 and Annie's death in 1893.

I spent hours at the archives, cranking the wheels of the manual microfilm readers. I had achy limbs and back yesterday! It was such a successful day. I have at least two more days worth of work to do there, looking for the rest of Mary and Annie O'Brien's children as well as the marriages/deaths/children of Frank Paul's many offspring. I can't wait to go back.

My best friend has left town and i'm really bummed

Lauren moved home today. I'm not terribly pleased about this. I came to New York because I wanted to be with people like me. Although I did meet some terrific people, my first eight months here were pretty quiet, and then I met Lauren. She has been the center of my life here in this city. We've done so many things together, although so much of our time has been spent just sitting around her apartment, watching movies, listening to music, talking over things. And that has been the most fun. I'm not very good at writing, or even talking, about my feelings so this will have to do for now. Perhaps I'll write more in the coming days.

We met this morning for something to eat and to say goodbye. I took some pictures of our little gang. Aren't we adorable?!

Boston: part 1

I shall be spending quite a bit of time in Boston this season. I have two family history research trips coming up in the next month, so it was nice to spend this past weekend there as a tourist. Lauren and I decided to throw caution to the window and try out the super cheap Chinatown bus service. It wasn't scary and our bus didn't blow up even once. Myung Lee kindly provided the accomodation. So, armed with a pop-up map of Boston we set out to explore. Friday night we had dinner and dessert off Harvard Square. Saturday we walked the Freedom Trail, taking in all the old burial grounds and churches of colonial Boston. Sunday we had lunch at Ye Olde Union Oyster House, purportedly the oldest restaurant in America, and then spent the afternoon in Cambridge. I think we were a bit disappointed with Harvard. I guess I thought everyone would have some aura of genius about them. But they looked like any other group of students playing Sunday afternoon frisbee on the college lawn and listening to, frankly, stupid music. I think perhaps when I do my human rights course next year I'll write my thesis on why playing stupid music in public violates another person's human rights. Then I'll submit it to the UN for international codification.

I took eleven photographs. Please view at your leisure.

Portuguese feast and Irish famine

I'm branching out in my family history research. It's time to do a little background reading for historical context. There are at least three families that were Irish famine immigrants so I've found a couple books about the famine and immigration. I'm also getting a book about the Portuguese in New Bedford to learn more about Frank Paul's family. I'm also going to the New York Public Library research divisions up on 42nd street to look at reference materials and some old maps of New Bedford to find the cemeteries and streets mentioned on vital records. I love this sort of thing, echoing libraries, dusty archives, pouring over documents looking for little nuggets of information. It's worth all the sneezing!

Back in the USSA

Arrived back in New York last night. Got to bed at 12.30 and, of course, was wide awake at 6am. I didn't used to suffer much from jet lag when I was coming back and forth for school/university, but the advancing years are taking their toll. Can't sleep comfortably on the plane anymore either. Moan, moan, moan.