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Archive for the ‘My Family’ Category

About 5 weeks ago a TV show  aired on NBC called “Who do you think you are?” They take Celebrities and help them with their family history, or genealogical search. This show has been a huge inspiration to me. My mom has always been into family history, but I’ve never been into genealogy until a short time ago.

Since I’ve started investigating my family I’ve learned so much. My father’s family came from from England, mainly from Liverpool, and before moving to Liverpool they came from Scotland. That family line, following the male line, extends all the way back to the 1750’s.

My mom’s line is tricky. My Great Grandfather is from Portugal. What I didn’t know is that he was from The Azores. Which lately in my life have been talked about all over the place. I hope one day to go there and see where he was born and grew up. With him not a lot is known about how he came to America from the Azores, but I’m on the case now so it wouldn’t be long now.

My Great Grandmother is almost full blood Italian. Her mother was the first of the Italian line born in America, but my GG-Mother’s grandparents were from a town in Italy called Lorsica, A town known for Pig Farming and Fine Silks. Not much is known about them other than where and when they were born, and when they reached the states. Other than that it’s still a mystery. No names of parents siblings or anything. While I was in Italy I was fortunate enough to learn how to read, write, and speak Italian so my search should be pretty easy from now on. I also found a long lost second cousin from an Italian immigrant website. We have talked a little bit and hopefully he’ll have some answers to help me fill in some blanks.

Well, that’s all for now. I hope with in the coming weeks to have found at least one or more ancestors. I’ll keep you posted. I am feeling a deep thirst to find these people and learn their story. I hope to also inspire you in your hunt for your families.

Ciao ciao ciao,

Ry The Robot

I swear, like most of you I bet, that this decade has just flown by. It seems just like yesterday that I was a complete moron in high school trying to find my way, and next thing you know here I am. I am just so thankful in my life for all the ups and downs that have helped me to become this very handsome and extremely happy person I am today. I just hope that the next decade will be as good to me as the 2000-2009. Here are some of the highlights through the years that helped me get here.

2000

This is the year that started it all for me. I was 17-18, this is the year that I graduated high school, got my Eagle Scout award, and the year that I entered into the adult work force. I was in a very entertaining relationship with the one that I thought that I was going to be with for a long time. Obviously it’s over and I’m not sad about it. As you know I found “the one” and I currently have a biological token of our love. In fact that relationship helped me to better understand all my future relationships. But more about that later. Kind of a whirl wind year if you ask me.

2001

This year is when I consider that my adult life finally began. I got my dream job of working at Apple computer and that laid down the tracks for my post mission life and career. I received my mission call to serve the great people of Italy, and I was rearing to go.

2002 – 2003

I spent both of these years in Italy, helping with a great missionary effort. Sure I missed my family and friends, but if you ask me to trade it in to spend time with them I would tell you to, “sit on it.” I met some awesome people that share my core beliefs and we are still close friends today. I learned from these two years the importance of being out on my own. Working hard to survive and accomplish my goals in life. This helped me so much when I returned home from my mission, in adapting back to home life, and it really prepared me for married life, and relying on my partner, as she would have to rely on me.

2004

The year that I met and fell in love with Jane. Just a few short months after returning from Italy, I fell in love. Jane was a great help to me, and I am still so very glad to have her in my life. She helped me to realize quite a few goals, including starting my post high school education, and following a career path that I enjoy, which helped me get back to work at Apple.

2005

The biggest year of the decade to me. It was the year that Jane and I got married. After a year, and some months, I finally had the courage to ask Jane to marry me. I never thought that we could pull of a wedding in just 4 months but it is totally do able. I finally moved out of my parents house, which I still consider the biggest step of growing up. This year Jane and I were able to help each other. I helped her to progress in her career, by leaving the job that I dub the “Titanic,” and move over to the “Concord.” Which in the later half of 2008 was the key to us moving to North Carolina.

2006

This is the biggest year of ups and downs for me. I was out of work for 6 months and I got down into a very bad depression spiral. I felt as though my skills were something that could help every company that I sent my resume to, but I guessed wrong. It was a stressful situation all around. I was finally asked to come back to Apple, into my old group and old position. That made the second half better, until the saddest part of the year. I got a call one morning that my Daddio had a heart attack. He is doing better now, but that was a life changing experience to me. I realized that I have his genes, and that I need to keep an eye on my health too. He is doing great now, after making a lot of changes in his life. I’ve been trying to make similar changes but it’s tough.

2007

Nothing really remarkable happened this year. I was in school full time, and was maintaining a 3.85 GPA. Life was going pretty awesome.

2008

Other than getting our podcast started, nothing big happened this year, until Thanksgiving time. That’s when Karen’s boss asked her if she would like to move out to North Carolina to work out here. Obviously we said yes. But that was another whirl wind time. We had to pack and move our whole house by December 20th. That was one heck of an undertaking. Huge thanks to Brad, and Matt. Without their help the move would have been an Epic Fail. We landed and started our life in North Carolina on December 30th.

2009

Life in North Carolina. It’s been a trip and a dream all in one. There are pluses and minuses to everything, it took some adjusting to get used to it all. Now that we’ve lived here for almost a year. I don’t think that I’ll ever be moving back to California. I know that that is the place that I was born and that my heart is, but there is no way that I would ever willingly move back. It’s like they let the loonies run the funny farm.

Of course the best thing happened to me this year. I became a father. I believe that nothing in life is greater than having a child and being able to watch them grow up, learn, and live life. I told that to Daddio and he said, “Nope the greatest thing in life is to watch your kids have kids.”

Well that’s all for my Best of the Decade. Hope you enjoyed reading it, and I look forward to your comments. Look for a new podcast episode coming in January 2010.

Ciao,

Ry The Robot.

Sorry, that it’s been forever since my last post, but I have one of the best excuses ever. I’ve become a dad over the last month.

That’s Jane, Baby and Me.

Baby turns one month tomorrow. She is growing up way too fast. I mean she already has her own Facebook page. It seems like only yesterday that Jane and I were in the urgent care facility, and she was complaining about Gal stones issues, and it turned out to be pregnancy. Fast Forward 9 months and you get Jane, who at this time really let herself go. No seriously I have pictures to prove it.

Then 24 hours after that picture was taken we have Jane and Me rushing to the hospital.

Then shortly after that we have this cute little bundle of happiness name Cambria in our lives.

She is by far the sweetest and most dear thing to me in my life since I met Jane. As for the name, I bet a lot of you reading this are like Cambria, pretty and unique, and to that I say I know we love it. For those wondering on pronunciation its Cambria like She CAME in through the bathroom window, not Cambria like Camilla or Camshaft.

How’s mom doing? Jane is happy, a bit sleep deprived but happy. I’m about that same as always, except since Cambria came into our lives I’ve noticed more and more gray hair.

Well until next time,

Ciao Ciao,

Ry the Robot