Mural in Venice

 

Photo by Patrick Jones. Mural at Paloma Venice. 6 Sep 2023.

Update - I posted the wrong photo earlier, which I previously shared back on 3 October. I've now switched out the photo for the other side of the mural, I didn't post earlier.

Big Swing

 

Photo by Patrick Jones. S at TopGolf. 28 Dec 2023.

Restaurant de la Renaissance

 

William Woodward. New Orleans, 1904.

The scene painted above is a view of Chartres Street, looking toward Jackson Square. The photo below is probably taken from the opposite corner.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Chartres Street sign. 27 Oct 2023.

Vieux Carré New Orleans, 1928

 

J. Woodley Gosling. New Orleans, 1928.

Commercial Hotel, 1904

 

New Orleans Times-Democrat. 28 Nov 1904.

The clipping above shows my great-grandfather Harry O'Brien, returning to New Orleans in 1904 following a Thanksgiving visit with family back in Illinois. He was staying at the Commercial Hotel. This was before he rented a room at 708 Carondelet in 1906. According to the clippings below, the hotel had a cafe and restaurant, and rented rooms from $1 per day.

New Orleans Times-Democrat. 3 Feb 1904.

Wuxia Restaurant

 

Photo by K. Jones. Thailand, 1969.

This is from a set of photos taken by my Dad while he was stationed in Thailand in 1969. I'm a little surprised I haven't posted this yet. As we're planning on meeting good friends for a post-Christmas Chinese feast, this old shot taken by my Dad outside of Chinese restaurants in Bangkok came to mind.

2023, Year of Adventure

 

Photo by A. Jones. Me on Lake Murray, SC. 14 July 2023.

This post has become an annual tradition on the blog, revisiting favorite photos, travels and family history highlights from the year. I have done a recap post of some form every year since I started the blog in 2012. This is of course a selection from among the eventful activities in 2023. As with other social media, my Instagram or Facebook posts, not everything makes the blog. Overall, 2023 has been pretty great. I had some adventures in various locations, with family, friends and colleagues, visited some new-to-me places, returned to some favorites, and collected priceless experiences that I'll treasure forever.

January began with a visit to headquarters in Los Angeles. I was able to catch a super-cool Beastie Boys exhibition from Beyond the Streets, featuring Beastie Boys memorabilia, albums and art. The photo below captures the actual boom box from the famous album shot featuring the Boys.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Beastie Boys exhibition in LA. 4 Jan 2023.

We had a memorable tamalé making experience at home in mid-January. I made a second visit to LA later in the month, followed by another visit a few days later for an All Hands meeting at the famous Beverly Hilton to begin February.

In March, I had a meeting in Cancún, Mexico, followed by a birthday trip to El Cuyo in northern Yucatan, about a three-hours drive. El Cuyo is known as a kitesurfing spot, and while we didn't kitesurf, we enjoyed the sights, the relaxing beach and the food during the stay.

Photo by Patrick Jones. El Cuyo, Yucatan. 16 Mar 2023.

Photo by Patrick Jones. El Cuyo, Yucatan. 16 Mar 2023.

In April, our son kicked off a Spring to early Summer season of U14 soccer, often as goalie or backline defender. We had a lot of fun watching him & the team play, even if they only won 1 game. In May, I hiked the first half of the West Highland Way (about 40 miles) prior to a stop at the Brussels office and lecture at Leiden University at the Hague. This was my first visit to Scotland, and included my first ride on the Eurostar train from London to Brussels. There's a lot behind the scenes that I haven't posted about from these trips, but they were incredible and shared with fantastic people.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Scotland, 5 May 2023.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Brussels, 8 May 2023.

Following the time in The Hague, I visited the amazing Straat Museum in Amsterdam. I took so many photos, some were shared on Instagram back in May. I highly encourage a visit, or a return visit, if in Amsterdam. It's really incredible.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Straat Museum. 12 May 2023.

We closed out the month to celebrate a birthday and take in a lovely Virginia winery in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

In June, I had a mid-year meeting in DC, we celebrated a bat mitzvah with good friends, and took in a college visit to Upstate New York. S brought in an epic fishing haul during a day charter on Cayuga Lake. We just moved our last filets from that catch to the garage fridge to thaw for dinner during the last week of 2023. S shot up over the summer and is now taller than Allison & I too.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Watkins Glen, NY. 26 June 2023.

In July, we spotted a new mural in Alexandria, and visited family in Columbia, South Carolina (see photo at top of the post). Later in the month, I had my first visit to Ghana, for an Internet conference. Sadly I saw nothing of the country other than the hotel next to the Accra airport and a restaurant in the city.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Art in Ghana. 24 July 2023.

August included long summer days, a new tattoo, a neighborhood music festival, and many walks with the dog.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Maya. 18 Aug 2023.

September featured two stops in LA on either side of a long trip to Kyoto, Japan for a conference. This was my first time back in Kyoto since March 2019. Both memorable trips, but I can do without getting stung by an Asian hornet for a very long time.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Nara Park deer. 9 Sep 2023.

From a family history perspective, in September I received copies of the Alien Case files for siblings of my 2nd-great-grandmother Teresa Diaz, covering the files for Maria Jesus Diaz de Mirazo and Gregorio Diaz. I also finally closed out the mystery of Agnes Atherton O'Brien, confirming her story and journey from the convent orphanage in La Salle, Illinois to her multi-decade career on the stage. 

October brought us updated AncestryDNA results. In November, I resolved the parentage on Allison's 2nd-great-grandmother.

Back to travels, in October I hiked on the Rota Vicentina along the Portuguese coast south of Lisbon. It was incredible, maybe one of the best hikes I've ever done. Again, I have not shared many photos from this hike. After the trail I was able to visit a colleague in Cascais and take in another street art exhibition in Lisbon, called Urban Evolution. It was also super cool and featured many artists I've been able to see in other locations, such as Shepard Fairey, Vhils, Add/Fuel, among others.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Lisboa, 17 Oct 2023.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Tiles in Lisbon. 18 Oct 2023.

After Portugal, I had a meeting in Hamburg, Germany. This was my first time back since I lived there when I was 11 years old. Unfortunately I saw very little of the city. Something to explore again at a future time.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Hamburg, 22 Oct 2023.

Following Hamburg, I made an incredibly tight connection through London for flights with the family the next day from DCA to New Orleans. Allison had a conference and we were able to celebrate a birthday in the city with a dinner to Commander's Palace prior to the madness of Halloween weekend in the city.

In November, Allison & I took a date night up to NYC followed by a game at Madison Square Garden to see my Indiana Hoosiers against the defending NCAA champions for UCONN. The game didn't end the way we wanted, but we had incredible seats and ate wonderful food while in the city.

Photo by A. Jones. Pizza Rat, NYC. 18 Nov 2023.

On Thanksgiving, I ran the entire five mile Turkey Trot in our neighborhood, which was not planned but I felt good and completed the whole race. This was my longest run since running a virtual San Francisco 10 mile in 2020.

In early December, I returned to LA for an end of the year series of meetings. Earlier in the week, I caught up with fellow alumni to see Wabash play a basketball game at Catholic University in DC.

We've been sending out Christmas cards, and we're sending holiday greetings to friends, family and colleagues near, far and wide for best wishes in the new year.

2024 looks to be just as active as 2023, and I have some milestones to celebrate in the New Year. Seasons greetings everyone.

Christmas Card 2023

 

2023 Jones Family Christmas Card

View down Regent Street at night

 

London Transport Museum, 1955.

Moret in Winter

 

Alfred Sisley, 1891.

Travel by Train

 

NZ Railways, 1948.

Gare St-Lazare

 

Claude Monet. Gare St-Lazare, 1877.

College Basketball

 

Photo by Patrick Jones. Wabash v Eastern. 20 Dec 2023.

This afternoon I was able to take a break and catch Wabash play Eastern University in their second game of a two-game stand at Catholic University in DC. Eastern deployed a full court press from the start, but Wabash kept it close at the half, 29 to 30. The second half featured a flurry of three-point shots, as Wabash put on an epic finish, hitting a tying three with .5 seconds left on the clock to send it to overtime, 69-69.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Going to OT.

Sadly, Eastern pulled away in overtime for a six point win, 82-76, but the Wabash fans gave the players a standing ovation for the entertaining, hard-fought game. Although they didn't win, it was great catching up with some familiar faces, and seeing a fun afternoon of college basketball.

Land of Ice and Fire

 

Photo by Patrick Jones. View from Reykjavik. 10 Apr 2019.

Iceland Recollections

 

Photo by Patrick Jones. Reykjavik, 10 Apr 2019.

Grindavik

 

Photo by Patrick Jones. Blue Lagoon, IS. 2 July 2016.

Last night, a volcanic eruption north of Grindavik, Iceland began. I've visited Iceland many times over the years, often transiting through Keflavik airport to and from Europe, and I completed the 2016 Reykjavik Marathon. Over the past months, I have been following the news of earthquakes and the potential eruption closely, hoping the damage for Icelanders will not be terrible. 

The current eruption is very close to the Svartsengi geothermal plant, and its famous output, the Blue Lagoon. I've visited the Blue Lagoon twice, both times in 2016. Keeping Icelanders in my thoughts.

Banks of the Viosne at Osny in Grey Weather

 

Camille Pissarro, 1883.

Winter Sun

 

Claude Monet, Winter Sun at Lavacorte. 1879-1880.

Gray Day, Jersey Coast

 

VMFA. John Sloan, 1911.

Fine Winter's Sky

 

VMFA. Kawase Hasui, 1921.

December Central Park

 

NYPL Digital Collections. Mortimer Borne, 1934.

Five Years Ago

 

Photo by Patrick Jones. Athens, Greece. 9 Dec 2018. 

Art near the office

 

Photo by Patrick Jones. Los Angeles, 7 Dec 2023.

Two Pelicans

 

Photo by Patrick Jones. Bordalo II, Lisbon. 18 Oct 2023.

Two Pelicans by Portuguese street artist Bordalo II. This is located next to the base of the Santa Justa Lift in Libson.

Hollywood 100

 

Photo by Patrick Jones. Hollywood Sign, 18 May 2019.

A happy 100 years to the Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles.

Illuminated Glass

 

Photo by Patrick Jones. Beverly Hills, 6 Feb 2023.

Rockefeller Center

 

Photo by A. Jones. NYC, 18 Nov 2023.

A Pacific Ocean Sunset

 

SMPL Collection. Santa Monica.

The calendar has quickly shifted to December, and we're entering the season of Christmas lights and cold weather on the East Coast. My thoughts naturally turn to California, as I do have a few excursions West this winter.

There are some family stories and discoveries to post on the blog this month, and I'll have another year in photos recap by the end of the month.

Returning to the Brown Family

 

1850 US Census, Warrick County, Indiana.

Earlier in the month, I posted an obituary for Daniel W. Brown, presumed father of Cora Belle Metcalf Halter. I'll now follow the family back another generation. Daniel was a son of Frances Asbury Brown and Minerva Ellison. The image above shows the family in the 1850 US Census in Boonville, Warrick County, Indiana, where Frances (listed as F. A. Brown) was managing a hotel known as Brown House. He later became a lawyer (or was already an attorney while owning the inn) and Justice of the Peace for Warrick County.

Frances and Minerva were married on 23 June 1830 in Warrick County, Indiana. They had the following children:

- Samuel H. Brown, 1832-1916

- James H. Brown, 1834-1875

- Daniel W. Brown, 1837-1925

- Lorinda M. Brown, 1842-1867

- Octavia Isabel Brown, 1848-1922

The 1860 US Census entry interestingly separates the family from those boarding at the hotel.

1860 US Census, Warrick County, Indiana.

By at least 1865, Frances was no longer managing the hotel, and was working full time as Justice of the Peace.

Minerva passed away sometime before 1876, and Frances remarried to Semira Cuttler on 19 August 1876.

Boonville Enquirer, 26 Aug 1876.

Frances died on 21 December 1885, while still serving as Justice of the Peace for the county.

Turkey Trot 2023

 

Photo by Patrick Jones. Alexandria, 23 Nov 2023.

Yesterday I ran in the Alexandria Turkey Trot, an annual tradition in our neighborhood, completing the 5 mile run in the morning before the feast and visiting with family. About 6600 runners participated, making it one of the largest ever. I think this was also my first time running the Turkey Trot since COVID, as I sat out last year and 2021.

I unlike previous runs, I did not run for time, and just ran to finish.