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June 01 One Year SinceHello to all our friends and family! It’s been a year since our last blog entry and as much as we love remembering all that we went through to finally bring Tommy into our life, I think it’s time to finally write some updates on what’s been going on since May of 2008. Most of the summer last year was a blur. As any parents can attest, during the first six months, parents spend most of their time feeding a noisy northern end while cleaning the southern. And whether you intend to or not, parenthood forces you to give up much of the luxuries in life – luxuries like sleep and independence. Tommy was a pretty good baby when it came to sleeping at night though, after just a couple of months he was already sleeping all the way through the night.
There were a couple of times when we had some uncomfortable moments. When he was about 5 months or so he started vomiting up everything he ate. One night Olivia found some blood next to the pillow in his basinet and we got pretty scared that something serious was going on. After a couple of trips to the hospital, some X-rays and a lot of anxiety it was finally determined that he had acid reflux and he was prescribed liquid Zantac to help relieve it. Tommy to this day still struggles with this ailment. The reflux causes phlegm to build up in his throat which gives him coughing fits (especially in the mornings when he first wakes up). What’s worse is that his symptoms get exacerbated whenever he contracts anything such as the flu or the common cold. During times like this he refuses to eat which makes us very frustrated because he stops gaining weight. The doctors tell us he will most likely just grow out of it and in the meantime it’s just something we have to deal with.   Thanksgiving 2008 Christmas 2008
Tommy’s first Thanksgiving and Christmas came and was spent with Mom, Dad, his big sister Alanna, aunt Nancy and grandmother. Wherever he goes, Tommy is always the center of attention. He’s the apple of his granddad’s eye and already breaking the hearts of females around the world. In January we travelled to the Philippines so that Tommy’s maternal grandparents could take a gander at their brand new American grandson.
Upon arrival in Manila, it was our original intention to travel to Aklan so we could experience the famous Ati-Atihan Festival. From there, we were going to make the short hop by boat to the resort island of Boracay for a couple of days. But after all we went through just getting to the Philippines…I found myself grateful that we decided to forgo this plan for next time. Instead, we spent the first week in the Manila suburb of Fairview with Olivia’s sister Nalie and family. We finally travelled to Olivia’s home town of Lingayen on or about the second week.
Aside from his brief moments of illness, Tommy seemed to have really enjoyed meeting his Lolo and Lola (grandad and grandma) his Titos and Titas (uncles and aunts) and all his Filipino cousins and family. He especially loved his cousin Nicole who was born just two days after he was. These two were always seen together. In the house, in the yard or even during the family trip to Baguio, Tommy and Nicole were inseparable. With the fact that they are born only days apart…I’m sure this is a bond that will keep them close as they grow up despite their distance from one another.
One of the coolest things of being a parent is watching your child experience things for the very first time and almost immediately when we got back from the Philippines Tommy was welcomed with his first snow! It wasn’t long though before warmer days were upon us and Tommy got to to meet Mr. Peter Cottontail for Easter weekend at the local mall. He has grown so much in the past six months that he doesn’t resemble much of what he was during the first six months of his life. He has recently begun to take steps with the help of his grocery cart toy and never stops babbling from morning to night.
We had quite a big weekend celebrating his birthday. He had his first party at the day care center. He was surrounded by his classmates, teachers and friends Friday with cupcakes, pizza and punch. The following night Tommy went to his very first major league baseball game at Nationals Park in Washington DC. Tommy loved all the bright lights and colors during the game, but he didn’t appreciate the fireworks and crowd noise too much. But he looked so cute in his little Nats gear that he was filmed by the TV station between innings. So there was our son on television, a one-year-old TV star!
We were concerned at first that it would rain on us, but the clouds opened up and the sun came out just in time for the guests to arrive and everybody ended up having a good time, especially Thomas. When it was time to blow out the candles and everybody was singing around him…he was looking around and you could tell that he understood that this was all for him – that he was special on this day and he smiled from ear to ear. Watching our little guy grow up has been a joy and we are so thankful to God for how he has blessed us this year. We can’t wait for the next… July 01 Tommy's Now One Year Old!June 17 The Road To HereO.K. Time for a breather and take some time to write something! First off, thanks to all our friends and family who prayed and offered encouragement during the difficult times we endured during this past year - 2007 into 2008 was truly a roller coaster in every sense. And now... finally, with the help of much hope and prayer - Olivia and I have been blessed with the joy of parenthood. And in response to such a precious gift, we find ourselves overwhelmed with gratitude to our almighty Father in heaven to which all good things come.
We never knew that this was going to be such an tumultuous journey! For those that may not know the story - after a couple of years of trying unsuccessfully to have a child, Olivia and I consulted fertility specialists in an attempt to determine what the problem was. After some tests, it was determined that there was apparently some issues with the quality of eggs being produced by Olivia's ovaries. We were told that in light of the circumstances, the chances of us conceiving naturally were highly improbable.
 As a result, we endured several years of stressful doctor's appointments and spent over twenty thousand dollars worth of fertility medicine from some of the best clinics in the field. In all, we had five in vitro fertilization cycles (IVF), one intra uterine (IUI) - all of which produced embryos, but none survived after implantation. The devastating phone calls that would come from the doctor's office after each failed try paid a heavy price on both of us emotionally.After our final attempt, Olivia and I felt the Lord must be trying to tell us something and intended for us to take a different path. It was at this time that we decided to embark on an international adoption. Many people may not realize, but adopting children is a whole lot harder than having children of your own. Even though you are helping a child in need, it requires an excruciating amount of time and effort, money, and emotional fortitude. You must fill-out endless forms, send your money into a bottomless pit of fees and subject yourself to the approval of others who will judge if you are "fit enough" to be parents.
 Olivia and I had gone through the mountains of paperwork, went to all the required appointments with the Department of Homeland Security for immigration purposes and had several visits with a social worker. We were finally approved to adopt a child in mid-year 2006. Then, in September of 2007 we were informed that we had been approved by the Philippine Adoption Board for placement of a one year old little boy from Rizal province. The adoption agency told us his birth name was Mark and sent us a photo of a very handsome child at an orphanage in the Philippines. It was the answer to all our hopes and dreams and we thought we were finally going to be parents at long last.
Less than a month after the joyous news and as we attempted to get ready for Mark's arrival into our home, fate delivered yet another blow to our already fragile emotional state. In early October to our complete and utter surprise, Olivia discovered that she was with child by natural conception. We were of course eternally grateful and overjoyed of our good fortune, but at the same time flabbergasted at the timing. As we feared, once the Philippine Adoption Board was informed that Olivia had gotten pregnant, they promptly reversed the adoption approval. We only recovered a fraction of our fees and were basically left childless, told good luck and have a nice life.
Losing Mark was like losing yet another child for us - only this time we had a face to remember him by, which made the pain all the more unbearable. We attempted to fight the decision and made a fervent appeal bolstered by contacts we had in the Philippine government. But alas, it just wasn't meant to be. Last we heard Mark had been placed with another American couple (Filipino Husband / Caucasian Wife) somewhere in Ohio and we trust that the Lord will protect him and give him a life just as happy and fulfilling as we could have ever provided. Regardless of the outcome, we still feel a spiritual connection to him and wish him all the best in life.
 Throughout her 8½ months carrying Thomas, poor Olivia got just about everything you can get as a pregnant woman with a body full of hormones gone haywire. The first noticeable thing was a condition known as "PUPPPs" - which is an extremely itchy rash that develops usually during the third trimester of pregnancy. Around the same time as this, she started retaining water in her legs and feet which made moving and slipping into shoes a difficult daily routine.Next was her diagnosis of gestational diabetes - a diabetic condition brought about because of the pregnancy itself and unfortunately meant Olivia had to adhere to a strict diet in order to keep her blood sugar levels down. This while at the same time being extremely hungry all the time due to feeding two people instead of one. Thankfully, she was spared the painful regimen of insulin shots, but was instead ordered on the drug Glyburide to help keep her blood sugar in check. Gestational diabetes typically disappears shortly after giving birth. In addtion to these conditions, Olivia also had pregnancy induced high blood pressure which required her to take additional medication called Lebetalol to control that as well.
Finally, and most unusual for me was the appearance of a "granuloma gravidarum" (or "pregnancy tumor" as it's more commonly called) on the upper roof of her mouth located behind the two front teeth. Basically a benign tumor on the upper palette, this condition apparently occurs in 5% of pregnant women and Olivia yet again won the lottery. It was extremely annoying to her because it got larger as the pregnancy wore-on and started to bleed at times when she attempted to chew solid foods. She was only two days away from having it removed on a Friday when her water broke at 7:00AM in the morning Thursday, May 22nd 2008.
 For those not familiar with the Washington D.C. area, we have the second worst commuter traffic in the country (only Los Angeles is worse). Since we live south of the city, travelling north at 7:00AM is about the worst thing you can do if you are in any kind of hurry. The hospital we needed to get to was in Alexandria - which of course was north. However, when baby decides he's going to come into the world there's no convincing him otherwise, so Dad had to figure out a way to get Mom and impatient baby to the hospital before Dad had to deliver baby himself. Olivia seemed rather cool and collected about the whole thing, even though this was her first time delivering a baby and really had no idea what to expect from her body. I however had no intention of finding out, so while Olivia was patiently packing clothes into a suitcase as if she was going on a vacation to Atlantic City, I grabbed her by the arm and whisked her into the car for the fastest commute north through rush hour traffic the DC area had seen in fifty years. I don't remember much from the 20 minute ride that normally takes 40 minutes other than the fact that I blew through a red light, drove onto the emergency shoulder several times, illegally travelled in a high occupancy lane and sped past 4 state troopers. My memory returns to me after arriving in the parking lot of the hospital and with Olivia stepping through the front door of the maternity wing.
Finally... all the stress, pain and tears of the past came to an end for us on that day at 11:10AM - through a long road of love and emotional perseverance... a life made through us entered the world and became a human being on this Earth. Thomas Charles Hilton was the culmination of all that we had been through and he turned out absolutely perfect. So many things could have gone wrong through the years and then through the pregnancy itself...and yet here we are with an amazing little boy who will one day be a man - a man who will go on to be a reflection of us and what we have brought to the world.
 The Naming Of Our Son: Thomas Charles HiltonA few years back I got into a rewarding hobby called genealogy. Genealogy is the study of family ancestry and migration. It is a journey into your family tree by tracing back as far as you can go with the hope of determining who your ancestors were. It is a very educational experience because as you study and learn more about them, you are at the same time learning more about yourself.
 Just like us, our great grandparents and great great grandparents had hopes, dreams, triumphs and tragedies. They reacted to situations and made decisions similar to the way we do today because their genes still live in our DNA. But what makes you YOU is that your DNA is shared from two different families - one side from your mother and one side from your father, each passing on different traits from two separate gene pools.Some food for thought: unless your family is famous, the rest of the world has long forgotten your ancestors. They are just a few more headstones in a sea of thousands. And yet, these people lived a lifetime being whoever it was they were and the only reason we (their descendants) are here now is because of the decisions they made in life right or wrong. We are their sole remaining legacy and the only proof left in the world that they existed at all. Despite the fact that they are now gone from this world, they still and will always be our mothers, fathers, aunts and uncles.
Now before any of you think of trying your hand at this, let me warn you, genealogical research is a very addictive pastime. I liken the process to peeling back the skin of an onion: once you find one new ancestor, you usually end up uncovering a bunch more…and then after that a handful more and so on. I personally found that the further you go back in time, the more exciting it becomes. Through hard work and many hours of research, I was able to trace back both my parent’s families to the migrating years when they departed Europe and set off for the new world in America.
 The reason I started delving into genealogy was to answer an age-old question on my mother’s side of the family. You see, my mother’s maiden name is Calhoun… and it had always been a family legend that we were direct descendants of the great Senator John C. Calhoun of South Carolina (a politician in the mid 1800s who played a significant role in starting the American Civil War). But my mother’s family was from North Carolina and John C. Calhoun was from South Carolina – something didn’t seem right. So, I decided to try and determine if I could find out the truth of the matter and put all the rumors to rest once and for all. After much research and tracing back over five generations, I came to the revelation that our family was indeed of the same lineage that arrived in the American colonies during the early 18th century. However, by the time of John C. Calhoun’s lifetime, my direct ancestors had settled in the Tar River valley of North Carolina near what is now the town of Rocky Mount, while the great senator’s family had moved farther south into South Carolina two generations prior. In conclusion, the answer was that we were relatives of him but not direct descendants. In the early 1700s up until the time of the civil war my particular Calhoun ancestors held a large tract of land in what is now part of the Edgecombe and Nash counties of North Carolina. The original settler, Etheldred Calhoun like many large land owners of the period, owned slaves, grew tobacco and cotton for export and planted crops for personal consumption.
When civil war broke out in 1861, five Calhoun sons served in the Confederate Army and fought in some of its most famous battles. One son died during the siege at Fort Macon, two were at Gettysburg and one of those actually participated and survived as a member of Pickett’s charge. The subsequent defeat and demise of the Confederacy devastated both the infrastructure and economy of all the southern states and my ancestors were not spared the hardships of reconstruction. With the loss of slave labor, the plantation fields were no longer manageable and had to be sold off into individual lots.
But life doesn’t always go as planned, and my Great Grandfather was both shocked and dismayed when my Grandfather told him that he didn’t want to be a farmer. Life was too slow in rural Carolina and he wanted instead to see the world and do something exciting with his life.
After a heated debate, my grandfather packed up his belongings and moved to the capital city of Raleigh where he attended North Carolina State University to study engineering. Upon graduation, he first began working for the electrical companies in Tennessee and South Carolina. But not long afterwards, he found a career working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Because of the bitter row between my Granddad and his father, they didn’t speak to one another for many years. And it certainly didn’t help matters when my Granddad had no male heirs. This left the Calhoun farm and his line doomed to its last chapters in history. Fortunately however, other descendants of the original confederate sons exist in Rocky Mount today and there are still Calhoun cousins living on properties close to where my Great Grandfather's farm used to be.
Throughout his younger life and through his job with the Army Corps of Engineers, my Granddad was able to travel all over the world and took amazing photographs of all the places he went. Places like Okinawa, Japan and Rome, Italy. I was introduced to photography through my Grandad when he gave me my first SLR camera: A Canon 35mm just about the time I entered high school. My Grandfather Calhoun was a hard working, honest and deeply religious man. He took woodworking as a hobby and made the coolest things out of his basement workshop. He taught me love for nature and used to take me on walks as a kid around the neighborhood just for fun. My Grandfather truly loved spending time with me: his one and only grandson.
To my grandfather, I was the son that he never had and as an adult today, I can now realize how much he must have cherished me even though I was sometimes a less than ideal grandson. When I think of this from time to time during my daily life, I try to remind myself to strive every day and be more like the man that he was in his faith to God and love for life.
In honor of the true affection that I have for him, I decided long ago that I would include his name into any son that I might bear. Through this I hope that the spirit of my grandfather will live yet one more generation, and that my son Thomas might inherit both his ambition and noble character.
The Hilton side of the family is a different story. My paternal Grandfather; George Paul Hilton died when my father was only five years old so obviously I never got the opportunity to meet him. As a consequence my father ended-up being raised by his mother in the small Western Maryland town of Cumberland.
Most of the Hilton family at the time were still residing in Western Pennsylvania near a suburb of Pittsburgh called Washington, PA. Unfortunately due to my grandfather’s untimely demise, my father lost touch with his Hilton relatives there and instead became more intimate with his mother’s family in and around Cumberland, Maryland.
It wasn’t until I began researching my family tree a few years ago, that I discovered that a brother of my long passed Grandfather Hilton was still living and residing in California not far from Los Angeles. What started as a hobby of researching genealogy for fun, turned into a once in a lifetime experience of meeting my living Granduncle that I never knew I had. An event that I will cherish for the rest of my life...and the closest I will ever come to meeting my own grandpa on my father’s side.
First things first, let me clear the air: my family is not related to the hotel giant Conrad Hilton, and no we don’t have any relation to Paris Hilton for which I am most grateful. According to my family accounts, our Hilton family actually emigrated from Scotland sometime around 1830 or so. The first male Hilton to set foot in America from my line was named George and that’s pretty much all I know about him other than the fact that he settled near the township of Buffalo, PA. His wife (my GGG Grandmother) died when their son was an infant and he himself died when my Great Great Grandfather; Thomas Fergus Hilton was no older than ten years old.
At the time of his father’s death, Thomas Fergus was an orphan and destitute. He was raised by a neighboring family, was well cared-for, schooled and brought-up with sound Christian morals. He became deeply religious and was an active member of his church, but remained very poor and seemed destined for a simple life.
Life was rough at first and the land where his house stood was mostly infertile and unusable for growing crops. But one day, while surveying his property he found something much more interesting, it was a black watery liquid that could be seen bubbling up in small pools along the ground. Thomas found out that his infertile ground sat on top of a large deposit of light crude.
Machinery and the combustion engine had just started to take hold in America and now was the time for any property owner that had oil to exploit it and my Great Great Grandfather didn’t miss the opportunity. He called in the oil barons in the area who had already been drawing from other sites throughout PA. These businessmen and the conglomeration of oil resources within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania eventually became the worldwide oil company known today as Pennzoil.
After the discovery at “Hilton’s Hill”, neighboring landowners also started surveying and pumping oil of their own. This created a carnival-like atmosphere at Taylorstown the likes in which had never been seen. The area ended-up being so lucrative that the black liquid started flowing into the streets of the town proper. Oil was everywhere and was all over everything. A news article from the time period reported that the situation became so volatile that state authorities and citizens of the town began to worry of a conflagration or massive explosion due to the filthy conditions. It is the ultimate from rags to riches story: with a single blessing from God and a stroke of good luck, my Great Great Grandfather had gone from being a poor and simple farmer to becoming one of the richest, most powerful men in the county. After establishing a steady income from his multiple oil wells, Thomas moved out of rural Taylorstown and into a house he had built overlooking the more prestigious village of Claysville - a house that still stands today overlooking the town.
Even though he wasn’t the first to set foot in America, I personally view my GG Grandfather Thomas as the true patriarch of the Hilton family. He overcame the death of his parents, poverty and insurmountable odds, found himself blessed with wealth and used it not for trivial pursuits, but to better himself, his family, his church and his community.
My Great Great Grandfather Thomas was a pioneer of greatness because of his faith, perseverance and strength. My Great Grandfather George Thomas also was a man of considerable endurance as he went through the death of his first wife and then attempted to raise a family during a period of hard economic times. And finally John Thomas, who showed the most heroism of any standard by dying for his country in World War II. Because of little Tommy's mixed ancestry by having a Filipino mom, he is a vision of the future here in America. Hopefully just like the Thomas Hiltons of the past, Thomas Charles will be able to use the tools he finds in life to seize the opportunities given to him. Somehow I know that Tommy will find the greatness in his DNA that will bring pride to himself, his family and his descendants for generations to come. May 22 It's A BOY!Thomas Charles Hilton was born May 22, 2008 at 11:10AM
weighing 8 pounds, 11 ounces and measuring 19 ¾ inches long.
   November 03 Olivia's Parents Visit WashingtonHello friends and family! It’s been a busy couple of months around here. In the latter half of September into early October, Olivia’s parents were finally able to come to Virginia for a visit. After their arrival in the United States for the very first time, they stayed in California with Olivia’s brother in Los Angeles. They remained on the west coast for several months so they could spend time with their son, his wife and their new granddaughter. Finally, on the third week of September, Olivia’s mom and dad landed at Washington Dulles International Airport to begin a three week visit with their oldest daughter and American son-in-law.
The first place we took them (after a brief visit at the Philippine Embassy) was the Washington Catholic Basilica: National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Here they were able to view the oratory altar for Our Lady of Antipolo – a tribute to the catholic faith in the Philippines. It is always a favorite of mine to show any out-of-town Filipino guests we entertain.
  
The end of September is the beginning of the Fall season around here which normally means leaves start to change color for Autumn. Unfortunately, we had a record setting drought this year which caused the leaves not to change at their normal time and the colors were not as vivid as they usually are. Regardless of this fact, we still took Olivia’s parents up to West Virginia (about a 3 hour drive) and they were able to see the mountainous forests, waterfalls and wildlife of one of the most beautiful states in America.
  
On the last day of September we took them to my hometown of Alexandria, Virginia so that Olivia’s parents could see where I grew up. Later that day we arrived at my boyhood home and they got to meet my mom. The highlight of this event was the surprise of Olivia’s mom when she discovered that my mom was of petite stature just like her! In fact, they are just about the same size and my mom couldn’t stop hugging her because they were both so similar in size. This created a rare moment of laughter from Olivia’s Dad. We ended the day with a pleasant walk at the waterfront in Alexandria's historic district.
  
On October 3rd I picked up my daughter and we all met my Dad at a popular restaurant in Fairfax, Virginia. My Dad and Olivia’s parents were able to talk about familiar places and experiences from the past, as my father had visited the Philippines in the 1960s when he was in the military at Subic Bay and Clark Field. The next day we traveled to Fort Washington, Maryland and met up with Auntie Pat and her family….Auntie Pat is the only Filipino that we know personally in the Washington area that comes from Olivia’s hometown neighborhood of Libsong in Pangasinan. She was a elementary school classmate of Olivia’s aunt.
During the last week they were here we found a way to tour all the world famous monuments and government buildings. Being from the area doesn’t help when trying to find parking in that crazy city. Normally, I would advise people to use mass transportation (metro rail and buses), but since Olivia’s parents can’t do much walking we had no choice but to drive them from spot to spot. This involved some creative driving for me (especially at the White House) but somehow we accomplished our mission unscathed.
Lastly, I thought it would be neat for Olivia’s parents to be able to lay their eyes on the Atlantic Ocean. That way, they can truly say they have been all the way around the world. On October 11th, we drove the 4 hours east to Ocean City, Maryland and they dipped their toes on the sandy beach and walked the boardwalk of this popular vacation spot. Then it was northward another half an hour to the Delaware beaches of Rehoboth and Bethany so that they could add another state to their tally.
Thus ended Olivia's parents visit to the eastern United States. You can find more pictures of their visit in the photo album here and on our FLICKR site. September 19 It's a BOY!Olivia and I got the word this afternoon from the adoption agency. The child we have been waiting for all our lives has finally arrived. Mark Nebrida Hilton was born October 29, 2006 in Tanay, Rizal Province, Philippines. Mark is 11 months old, weighs 8.1 kilograms and measures 74 centimeters long - (18 pounds, two and a half feet tall). We are thankful to God for this precious gift.
We only need to update our application forms (medical exams, financial records, tax returns) in the coming weeks before final placement. Then finally, sometime in January we expect to return to the Philippines and pick up our son and begin our new family. Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support and we hope every one of you will be meeting our beautiful son in person very soon.
 August 28 July and August of 2007Hi everyone, lately I've been taking alot of photos at various civil war battlefields in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia (you can view them on my FLICKR page). Last weekend Olivia and I decided to take a road trip to Petersburg and Appomattox, Virginia. Both were significant locations in the war between the states which gave me plenty of opportunities to take pictures. As most of you know, Olivia works in the travel industry and we thought it would be a good idea to try a Bed & Breakfast since neither one of us had ever stayed in one before. We rented a room in Appomattox in an early 1900s victorian home that was located in the town. We found the house to be wonderful and it was an overall fun experience but we came to the conclusion that the product really doesn't justify the cost. A ordinary bed with TV in a climate controlled room is just about all we desire. Having a home-like environment with a freshly cooked breakfast isn't that big of a deal after you leave the B&B. Regardless of this, we found it worth it just for the experience. Stay in touch everybody! - R&O.
   Oh and I guess another thing I should mention is that we had our 7th wedding anniversary on the 15th of July. This year, I decided to splurge a little and rented a limo for Olivia (she had never been in one before). We dressed-up, cruised the streets of Washington, had dinner in a 5-star restaurant, enjoyed a little entertainment with a jazz pianist in Georgetown and made it a night to remember. It was quite an evening celebrating our seventh year together as husband and wife.
June 29 Las Vegas, NevadaA month ago Olivia and I spent a few days in Las Vegas. There was a bi-annual reunion of Olivia's fraternal organization; Libsong International Association (LIA). Its members are former residents of Olivia's home neighborhood of Libsong, who now live abroad and have scattered throughout the world. It's main purpose is to send financial support and to undertake community projects beneficial to the children and community in her hometown. This year, LIA met at the Gold Coast Casino in Las Vegas - and the guest of honor was none other than former President: Fidel Valdez Ramos, 12th President of the Philippines who originally grew up in Olivia's metropolitan area of Lingayen, Pangasinan where Libsong is located.
 After the LIA function was over, we of course used the opportunity to check out the city and the Las Vegas Strip. And I must say, until you have actually been here and walked up and down the Boulevard you can't really grasp the amazing scene. This city never stops and the casinos are open 24 hours a day. But to really appreciate Las Vegas, you have to experience it at night.
 Walking the strip is not as simple as it was in the past, it is now 4 miles long and includes 27 casinos. Even so, several Strip hotels have undertaken efforts to make the street more pedestrian-friendly. New casinos design their facades to attract walk-up customers and many of these entrances have become attractions themselves - the Fountains at Bellagio, the volcano at The Mirage, and the Treasure Island Sirens are the most well-known. People gather on the sidewalks in front of the casinos to watch these shows.
 To alleviate traffic issues at popular intersections, footbridges have been installed to help pedestrians more safely cross the roads. The Tropicana - Las Vegas Boulevard footbridges were the first to be installed, and based on the success of this project additional footbridges have been built on Las Vegas Boulevard at the Flamingo Road intersection; between The Mirage/Treasure Island and The Venetian; and the latest ones at the Las Vegas Boulevard-Spring Mountain and Sands Avenue intersection connecting the Wynn with the Fashion Show Mall.
 These photos I've displayed here are only a sampling of what I took while in Vegas. In order to maximize the quality of these pictures I spent some time late into the morning hours with a tripod walking up and down the Strip using a low ISO and long shutter speeds. As exhausted as I was, I knew I would be cursing myself to no end if I didn't maximize my opportunity to take some real photographs using a tripod. If you wish to see the rest of these photos you can view them over on our FLICKR site.
 June 10 June UpdateHey there friends and family! Thanks for stopping by our web site. I'm in the process of updating our stuff online and would like to invite all of you to check out our new Flickr home page!
  No, we're not closing up shop here, but since I got my new camera and have been taking much more photos than before... I'm going to start using Flickr as the main archive for our pictures. The quality and features are much better than the limited photo engine here at Windows Live Spaces. There is a Spaces gadget that is supposed to work in conjunction with Flickr, but it is currently not functioning properly. When they get the bugs worked out I'll link it to this web blog.
In the meantime, enjoy the new site and don't forget to stay in touch!
-Ron & Olivia May 13 Washington National CathedralThe other grand house of worship in Washington is the National Cathedral located in upper Northwest D.C not far from Georgetown University. Although this church claims to be a "non-denominational Protestant church", it is the seat of the Episcopal Bishop of the United States and has Episcopal / Anglican services on Sundays. It's official moniker is The Cathedral of St. Peter & St. Paul...but everyone around here commonly refers to it as the Washington National Cathedral.
 The day I arrived the sky was kind of dreary that morning, which accounts for the dull sky in the above photo. Even so, I think it turned out pretty good and gives you a pretty good idea of how majestic and grandiose the outer structure is. The building began construction in 1907 on Mount Saint Alban (an elevation that overlooks the city of Washington) and the foundation was laid by then President Theodore Roosevelt. It took eighty three years to complete, as the church was constructed using European-style medieval architecture and technology. It was finally completed in 1990 and the last finial was placed by President George H.W. Bush in September of that year. Here's a shot of it later in the afternoon (better sky) and from the rear - with the cars in the foreground, you can get a better idea it's imposing size and beauty...
 Walking through the front doors, nothing (including these pictures) can quite prepare you for what you will encounter in the main sanctuary. As the Catholic Basilica stresses mosaic art, the Cathedral is all about stained glass. There are two hundred and fifteen (215) stained glass windows in the Cathedral and each of them as gorgeous as the next.
 The pride and joy of the Cathedral is the West rose window which overlooks the main entrance. There are three rose (circular) windows in the cathedral, each above the three entrances into the main sanctuary. This particular window is named "Creation" and it has 10,500 peices of stained glass...and although it has the most peices of glass, it is not the largest rose window. But it is the most gorgeous...it even changes color at different times of the day as the angle of the sun hits it differently. The other two rose windows are named Church Triumphant and Last Judgement, Last Judgement being the largest with a diameter of 26 feet (7.925 meters).
 The Congress of the United States designated the Cathedral as the "national house of prayer", but it receives no public funding (it operates and maintains itself totally through donations and private grants). There has been three state funerals for American Presidents there: Dwight Eisenhower in 1969, Ronald Reagan in 2004 and Gerald Ford just this past January. President Woodrow Wilson is actually entombed (along with a handful of other great Americans) within the columbarium.
This church is just one of the most beautiful churches in the world, and if you are ever in the Washington area I would encourage anyone to visit this lesser known jewel of D.C.. There's just not enough room in this blog to show you everything, but I added the rest of my photos to the album to the left of this entry.
 May 03 National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Catholic BasilicaI have an affinity for taking photos of churches. There are two grand churches here in Washington D.C. and I've taken pictures of them before, but not with my new SLR. During the month of April, I packed my new Canon camera and tripod and headed downtown for a few days of photographic bliss. The first photos I have here are from the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. This beautiful structure is located on the campus of Catholic University of the USA and is the seat of the National Capital Diocese of Washington for the Catholic Church. Some more examples are in the photo album in the upper right of this blog.
      March 14 Got A New CameraHello everybody. As some of you may know, I was a photojournalism major in college and even before that, I really enjoyed taking pictures wherever I went. It used to be that a person really had to know what he was doing in order to take really breath-taking photographs. But today with the advance of digital technology and computerized cameras, just about anybody can take pictures with the quality that used to be reserved to the pros. I suppose this is a blessing in one way because more people are able to enjoy this very fun and rewarding hobby, but for someone like me who learned how to do it the old way - it's can be a little frustrating because people who know absolutely nothing about the art - can take really stunning photographs - by accident.
F-stops, focus rings, film speed, shutter speeds and darkroom techniques have all taken a back seat in today's photography. You can skip the dark room completely now in lieu of PhotoShop or similar software that will take a crappy, poorly exposed photograph taken by Grandma and turn it into an Ansel Adams studio picture that deserves framing and hanging on your wall. You can even develop them at home on one of the many photo-printers that are now offered on the cheap. I think the only skill you need these days is artistic expression, because now if you can see it in your mind - more than likely you can create it with a digital camera.
 OK, so I finally broke down and succumbed to the reality of life and rejoined the photography world a couple months ago with my first purchase of a SLR camera in over 15 years. I decided to stay with what I'm familiar with and purchased another Canon (every film camera I own is a Canon camera) - The Rebel 400D XTi, along with a new tripod, lens and flash. This camera is the first 10+ megapixel digital SLR (Single Lens Reflex) under $1000 packed with features. I'm very happy with it so far - although I'm just getting started.You should expect lots of new photographs on my web sites, both here and on my Nats blog as I get more accustomed to comfortable with my new toy. I took a late afternoon day trip to Fredericksburg yesterday and took some quick pictures of some buildings and landmarks. I added those to the photo library here in the upper right hand corner. Keep an eye out for new ones as I get out more during the warm season. Spring is right around the corner! Keep in touch! January 17 National Museum of the Marine Corps; Quantico, VAOlivia & I visited the National Museum of the Marine Corps at Quantico Marine Base on Martin Luther King day. Quantico Marine Base is the seat of the Marine Corps defense of the capital - Washington D.C. It is a main training site for Marines and headquarters for the Presidential helicopter Marine One (HMX-1). Known as the "Crossroads of the Marine Corps", it is only about 15 miles from our home.
 The National Museum of the Marine Corps was just built and completed in November 2006. Everybody who's been there has told me how amazing and lifelike the exhibits are. So I packed my new camera and we headed off to take a look-see. We were not disappointed. You could spend an entire day (maybe two) gawking at the exhibits and the real aircraft suspended inside the building. I would recommend anyone visiting Washington to take this detour and experience this museum - admission is free! My photos are in the photo library to the right. December 09 Richmond, VirginiaExcept during my college years, I have lived in Northern Virginia my entire life. And yet during all that time, I had only been in Virginia's capital of Richmond once and that was so I could obtain a birth certificate. If you are a civil war buff, Northern and Central Virginia is a one of the most richest areas for civil war tourism. Richmond is one of the must-see cities because it was the federal capital of what used to be the Confederate States of America. Olivia and I had nothing planned one weekend and decided to tour the city and see what there was to see.
One of the most famous landmarks in Richmond is Monument Avenue - which is a long residential street with a quiet atmosphere running from the city center with these large, grandiose statues of Confederate heroes. It had been nicknamed "America's Most Beautiful Boulevard" and is indeed something to see. Memorialized in the middle of traffic circles and grassy medians are Confederate generals J.E.B. Stuart, "Stonewall" Jackson, and Robert Edward Lee which can be seen in my photo here...
Another monument on the avenue is of President Jefferson Davis depicting him standing atop a pedestal under Vindicatrix, the robed female that represented the spirit of Southern liberty. Behind him is a semi-circular edifice that commemorizes each Southern State with columns and seperate bronze discs to represent each state that had representation in the Confederate congress. On each side are plaques that honor the Confederate Military - to the left: the army & to the right: the naval forces.
Another historical attraction in Richmond we visited was the Museum of the Confederacy which had alot of authentic artifacts from the Civil War. Exhibits included J.E.B. Stuart's actual feathered cavalry hat, uniforms of famous Southern generals like Pickett, Mosby and Jackson. General Lee's overcoat, boots, gloves, uniform belt and hat. Also in the museum were effects of enlisted men and the Confederate Navy.
Right next to the Museum of the Confederacy is what used to be the Confederate White House. We toured the small but ornate building and found it absolutely fascinating. Alot of the decorations, drapery, furniture and personal effects were all authentic to the first and only Confederate First Family: Jefferson Davis'.
In the heart of the city, along the James River are the ruins of the old Tredegar Iron Works - the munitions and steel foundry of Richmond. Most of all the Southern rifles, cannons, ammunition and rail were made from this facility and it was the lifeblood of the Confederate war machine. Two historical tourist attractions are located here - one in the munitions manufacturing building and the other in what used to be the foundry. The first one is a part of the U.S Park System and gives an accurate portrayal of the battlespace of Richmond during the defense of the city. The other is funded privately by donations and is put on by university professors and liberal academia. The entire exhibit at the foundry was based on the thesis that the civil war centered on the fight against slavery - which is politically correct garbage and I gave them a peice of my mind. The slavery issue was just a small part of a much larger conflict between two different cultures...most Southern people did not have slaves and were certainly not putting their lives on the line for rich plantation owners who depended on slaves to work their fields.
What many may not know is that Virginia is the birthplace of eight U.S. Presidents which is the foundation of the state nickname: "The Old Dominion". Two U.S. presidents and one Confederate are buried at Richmond in Hollywood Cemetery. James Monroe, John Tyler and Jefferson Davis are buried there. Monroe's grave is surrounded by black painted iron that is common among American presidents to prevent vandalism or molestation. Jeff Davis' is interred with his family and has a statue and Confederate flag flying over his family plot. Tyler has an obelisk and bust of his likeness atop a granite monument.
Civil war history aside, there were a couple of other places we toured - one of which was the Jefferson Hotel. Built after the war in 1895 it was quite simply breath-taking inside. In the center of the lobby atrium is a life-size statue of Thomas Jefferson. The entire interior is lavishly decorated and has stain glass ceilings and large marble pillars and sweeping staircases. Since we visited the hotel during the Christmas season - they had a life size gingerbread house inside that was made completely with candy and other sweets! A picture of this house can be found in the photo album.
Lastly was the Virginia War Memorial that honors all Virginians that had sacrificed their lives in the defense of the United States. All of the war dead from the Commonwealth from WWII to the present including the current Iraq conflict are memorialized in etched stone, glass and marble. The memorial is on the edge of downtown not far from the state capital building overlooking the James River.
Hey thanks again for stopping by our web site and feel free to check out the other pictures I took in Richmond over in the photo album in the upper right corner of this page! Stay in touch! - R & O September 17 Scottish Games: Alexandria, Virginia Scotland Coat of Arms
Hello Friends & Family! Olivia, Alanna & I spent yesterday in my hometown of Alexandria, Virginia at Fort Ward Park for the annual Scottish Games. Through my genealogy research, I discovered not long ago that I have Scotch-English ancestry. For those that may not know - Scotland is a nation located in the Northern third of the island of Great Britain. It is not unlike Olivia's country in respect to the fact that it consists of many islands - 790 to be exact. It hasn't been a sovereign state since 1707 when it was annexed into the United Kingdom of Great Britain. However, the culture and heritage of Scotland is very distinct from the English and these differences are celebrated by people of Scottish descent.
One of the predominate immigrant groups to the new world during colonial America were Scots and Irish. My mother's paternal ancestor actually fought with William Wallace at the battle of Falkirk. Their family was placed into indentured servitude and came across to America as servants to the English. My father's ancestor came to Western Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh from Scotland in the early 1800s in an attempt to start a new life in America.
 Like most historical towns of the colonial period, my birth home of Alexandria Virginia has a rich Scotch-Irish history. In respect to that history and all of the families with Scotch ancestry they have what's called the Virginia Scottish Games & Gathering of the Clans every year. Even though I lived in Alexandria almost my whole life, I had never attended the games before. Now with the knowledge of my genealogy and with a 10 year old daughter in tow...I decided it would be a great idea to occupy our day.
The Scottish Games consist of many attractions and events!
There is also what's called the clan gatherings. As in other ancient cultures, Scotland began as a conglomeration of various clans or tribes. Most surnames of Scottish persons are derivatives of their clan name. An example is my Grandfather's last name of "Calhoun". Through my research, I was able to determine that his ancestry was not Irish as we suspected, but Scottish - evolving from the Scottish clan of "Colquhoun". As you may be familiar...Scots are well known for their kilts, which my daughter affectionately calls a "man-skirt". These come from the traditional tribal dress of Scotland. The plaid color designs, called "tartans" are different to each individual clan. Along with the tartans are the family crest which is usually displayed with a hat or kilt pin.
COLQUHOUN TARTAN AND CREST At the games you can recognize fellow clan-members by their kilts and sash and know that you most certainly share a common ancestor. However, let me tell you that obtaining the modern kilt and dress is no small endeavor. Once you have finished buying the entire thing you will probably have spent around $1000. The kilt is usually around $600 all by itself. Even though it was a rainy day, we had a great time. Olivia and I ate a meat pie and Alanna munched on a Shepherd Pie. The pipebands and highland dancers were especially entertaining. Check out our pictures in the photo album located to the right of the blog. Hope to hear from all of you soon!
August 24 Minneapolis - St. Paul 2006 Hi everyone! Olivia had a bussiness conference this past week in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We had never been to the twin cities before so I tagged along so we could both use this opportunity to experience a new place in America. Below is an aerial shot of downtown Minneapolis- that big white thing on the left is the MetroDome where both the Vikings football team and the Twins baseball club play. And anybody who knows me...knows I never pass up a chance to watch a good baseball game.
 In fact, I ended up watching TWO games - one I paid for, the other her employer paid for. I tell ya...what more can a guy ask for? Check out our pictures in the photo album! ==>
July 03 Outer Banks, North Carolina - Summer 2006Hello friends & family! This year Olivia and I were able to get away to my favorite vacation spot and take both my mother and daughter along to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. My mom and dad used to take me to this beach every year as a kid...and it was a fun experience being able to watch my daughter have fun going to the same places I did when I was her age.
Pictures from our trip are in the right hand column --->
For as long as I can remember, my family and I have been staying in this little family-owned motel for our week long summer excursion. Located at mile post 11 in Nags Head, The Beacon Motor Lodge is one of a dying breed. Most of the family owned businesses are slowly being bought-out by developers and national franchises. This is not only a motel phenomena, but sadly the gift shops, restaurants, small icons and even the physical geography is being affected by the feverish construction and development. The changing of North Carolina's Outer Banks is only fully appreciated by those who have been going there over the years. My mother, was devastated by the changes and commented that "It felt like she was losing a family member".
CHANGES TO THE OUTER BANKS IN LAST 20 YEARS
Beach Trip 2006 Event Intinerary Monday: Roanoke Island Alongside the Outer Banks located between Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds is the island of Roanoke. The island is divided by the two towns of Wancheese and Manteo. These names derive from the the Indian chief brothers who killed one another in an attempt to gain power over the Algonquin tribe who resided there. The first English colony in the new world was not Jamestown or Plymouth as some may believe...but Roanoke island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The English colonists allied with chief Manteo but were left to fend for themselves as England was unable to replenish the colony due the impending invasion by the famous Spanish Armada of 1588. After the death of Chief Manteo...the colonists were devastated by a brutal winter, starvation, death and disease. When England was finally able to return the next spring, the colonists had disappeared with very little sign of what had happened to them. This is the story of the famous "Lost Colony", and it is depicted at an amphitheater every evening as America's longest running outdoor drama. Famous actor Andy Griffith started his acting career and portrayed Sir Walter Raleigh in this play that is a MUST for any family with small children visiting the area. Link: http://www.thelostcolony.org/ Also on the island are the Elizabethan Gardens, Fort Raleigh, Festival Park and the North Carolina Aquarium.
Tuesday: Southern Shores, Duck & Corolla This was the most disappointing and aggravating day of the vacation. To the North of Nags Head is the once desolate and quiet sands of Duck and Corolla. Ok the picture below is NOT route 12 on the beach road, but it might as well be. The traffic is atrocious! They completely destroyed the Northern beaches by building a multitude of resorts, time-shares, condos, beach mansions and strip malls. This from an area that used to have wild horses, undisturbed sand dunes and the beautiful unpainted Currituck Lighthouse. Now you even have to stand in line to see the lighthouse. It just makes you very sad.
Wednesday: Hatteras, Frisco & Ocracoke On the opposite and southern end of the Outer Banks is the world famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the little known Frisco Indian Museum and romantic cove of Ocracoke island. Cape Hatteras Light is the world's tallest brick lighthouse and sits at the eastern corner of the Outer Banks chain. It's easily recognized by it's spiral black and white paint scheme that looks much like a barber pole. It stands at 196 feet shining a warning to vessels up to 20 miles out to warn them of the dangerous diamond shoals that has claimed the life of so many ships. Cape Hatteras Sea Shore Link: http://www.nps.gov/caha/ The Frisco Native American Indian Museum - a privately-owned little building along route 12 has some fascinating and neat artifacts of American Indian culture and history. Admission is $5 per person and they pay extra attention to the native American tribes of the area in and around Eastern Carolina. Link: http://click.nativeamericans.com/www.nativeamericanmuseum.org/ Ocracoke is the place to go if you want a romantic get-away with your spouse or sweetheart. The only way to get on the island is by ferry. You must literally drive your car up onto a boat which brings you to the island and the last leg of route 12. The road ends at a quiet little cove of fishing boats, restaurants, inns and gift shops. At the top of a hill overlooking the water is a picturesque little white lighthouse that shines as a beacon over this romantic little spot. This is also the place where Edward Teach, most widely known as Blackbeard the Pirate, was caught and killed by the British Navy in 1718.
Thursday: Oregon Inlet & Bodie Lighthouse Sometimes it's not the famous things that touch you and bring out emotions, but the familiar. As a kid on vacation in the Outer Banks...I can remember time and time again driving past the Bodie Lighthouse and seeing the light shining over the beach road as you drove on the southern end of the beach or back across the bridge from Manteo. Although smaller and barely known nationallly, Bodie Lighthouse holds a charm for those who are used to coming here for their summer get-aways. The lighthouse is not open to the public, but you can get to the grounds and take pictures. The park service maintains a gift shop and tour guides as well. Oregon Inlet is the fishing center for deep sea fishing in the sounds and coastal Atlantic waterways. The best thing about this place is that you can bring your children to watch the fishing boats return after a day of deep sea adventure. As soon as the ships park into their slips they reveal their booty - large fish like Sailfish, Bluefish, Tuna, Wahoo, Shark and Dolphin (no, not the Bottlenosed variety). When I was a child...they used to catch Blue Marlin...the most challenging and beautiful of all deep water fish. But now they catch and release...so you are unable to see this magnificent fish unless you are on the boat at sea. Link: http://www.oregon-inlet.com/
Friday: Wright Brothers Memorial & Jockey's Ridge State Park The first powered airplane to ever fly was at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina which is a part of the Outer Banks. A couple of bicycle makers from Ohio decided to use their ingenuity and know-how to invent a flying contraption that would fly on it's own. Orville and Wilbur Wright were creating one of the most pivotal steps in the evolution of mankind. For their invention, they needed an environment that was flat and with constant wind. They chose Kitty Hawk and moved into a camp in the middle of nowhere. December 17, 1903 -witnessed by a total of five persons...three local helpers and themselves, the Wright Brothers plane - named "The Flyer", on it's fourth try travelled under it's own motor-driven twin propellers 852 feet in 59 seconds. Sixty-six years later Neil Armstong stepped onto the surface of the moon. Link: http://www.nps.gov/wrbr/
The tallest natural sand dunes in the Eastern United States is Jockey' Ridge in Nags Head. Unfortunately rapid development and erosion has been slowly lowering these magnificent dunes and they are not as spectacular as they were when I was a kid. The absence of vegetation and trees have caused increased wind and storm surge, which has been shown to contribute to it's shrinkage every year. Even so...the dunes are still used by hang gliders and outdoor enthusiasts and you can see them as you drive by on the bypass. The dunes are maintained and monitored by the state park system and there is a walking tour if you wish to see them first hand. Link: http://www.jockeysridgestatepark.com/
Saturday: Relaxing in Nags Head The last day we spent relaxing on the beach. Swimming, tanning and being lazy. Lastly I would like to mention that there is a whole 'nother aspect of the Outer Banks and that's the eats! There are several favorite restaurants I recommend for anyone visiting the area and will list them in the banners below. If you are ever in the Outer Banks - check out these joints! Hopefully...the Outer Banks will continue to be place of relaxation and enjoyment. It would be a shame to me if it becomes a loud, busy traffic-ridden beach much like Ocean City, Virginia Beach and Myrtle.
November 13 Banaue, Ifugao, PhilippinesThe rice terraces of Banaue are an engineering marvel in which have awed many who have had the privilege of seeing it. These "steps" built into the mountains are breathtaking and beautiful, but they serve a purpose. The indigenous people of the mountains who call themselves IFUGAO (ee foo gow) constructed these terraces with nothing but basic tools and bare hands. They are the only way in which these people can cultivate the land and produce the much needed rice to feed themselves. It was an ingenious way of solving a nearly impossible problem: "How do you grow rice in a mountainous area with no flood plain?" The naturally descending water from the mountain uses gravity to feed one terrace into the next and so forth. Fill these terraces with rich soil and you have a perfect place to plant rice!
It took us 8 hours to travel from Manila to Banaue. The last hour and a half through mountainous roads that made West Virginia roads look like a Sunday drive through suburbia. Although it was paved the whole way, there were several places along the road that there wasn't much to keep you from going over a cliff, and there were also locations in which you could see that mud and landslides had been cleared. We were four-wheeling in our SUV at one point to get over a landslide that hadn't been cleared yet. Now add this to the fact that Olivia kept telling our driver she had to pee. So he kept driving faster...I almost wanted to tell her to pee in her pants, because I'm getting ready to do so anyways with the way we're speeding around these curves.
I arrived in Banaue shaken but intact, Olivia got to pee and we checked in to our room at the Banaue Hotel. An establishment subsidized by the Philippine Tourism Authority. The rooms were clean albeit no TV or air conditioning, not such a big problem because in the mountains it doesn't get very hot and I can live without television on a trip like this. That night, they had a cultural show put on by some indigenous Ifugaos in which they dressed in their traditional clothing, danced native dances and sang Ifugao songs from long ago. At the end they asked the guests to join them in their dancing and yes...I obliged...to Olivia's amusement.
Pictures from Banaue (click pictures for larger images): |
My Grandfather; the man from which my son's middle name derives, was raised on a farm that was carved out of that original plantation. A farm that had been passed down through generations from one of the Confederate sons; Orren Dates Calhoun to his only son: Charles Orren Calhoun…who then hoped to pass it on to my grandfather: Charles Marion Calhoun and keep the land in family hands for another generation.
After leaving his adoptive parents and marrying his wife Sevena, he was able to purchase a simple house in nearby Taylorstown with some help from his father-in-law Benjamin Bartilson. Together, they began a life as a typical family in rural Pennsylvania. Tom had four children; George, Robert, Mary and Sarah (George being my Great Grandfather).
Other Hilton sons of greatness have also been named Thomas through three generations: my great grandfather George Thomas Hilton, who ended up fathering ten children and greatly increased our family lineage. His second son (my father’s uncle) John Thomas Hilton was also named after Thomas Fergus. He died an American hero fighting in Tunisia at the beginning of America's entry into World War II. John was a member of the United States 1st Armored Division and was lost at the Battle of Kasserine Pass against Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Corps on February 14, 1943.
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