Thursday, November 22, 2007
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! Thanks for all of your love, support, advice and guidance over my life - it is great to be here to celebrate with you and spend time together.
Oh, and thanks for the run this morning - please note, if there was ever any doubt, you wore the pink running shorts this morning... maybe that's what keeps your time so low! ;)
I love you,
JP
Nostradamus Prediction Comes to Pass
Nostradamus Prediction Comes to Pass
Michael O’Brien of New Canaan, CT, has just entered his 66th year on planet Earth and has thus fulfilled one of the major predictions of Nostradamus in 1507 (age four). In one of his many lyrical writings the famous prognosticator predicted that 500 hundred years later a prominent man with surname O’Brien would complete 65 years on Earth.
What is so startling about this prediction is that the life expectancy in 1507 was only 38 years for men. So, this prediction really foretold unheard of increases in life expectancy over the intervening 500 years. Furthermore, the surname O’Brien was non-existent when he made this prediction. Those who have studied Nostradamus came to think of this prediction as ‘The O’Brien Gambit’ and as recently as 1784 placed it in the least possible category (probability of occurrence less than 0.005%). By then there were roughly 1.5 million individuals using the surname of O’Brien but life expectancy had only increased to 39 years for men.
Here is the original prediction:
"The O’Brien Gambit"
With a great deal of strife
He will reach 65 years of life
It will take 500 years to occur
But his age will be only a blur
The man will master many a deed
And O’Brien will be the name of the breed.
Submitted by Dominic Cardace
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Memories of an Outlaw: Chapter 1 Meet the Parents
II. First dinner at Braeburn drive – The Squeeky Chair – Oh Joy! Light dinner conversation on topics including the Middle East, the Catholic Church and US economic policy (wish I had taken debate in high school) ...and "O'Brien pours!"
III. Michael’s first visit to my apartment in Stamford - I peered out the window wondering why Michael was pacing back and forth by the car downstairs and why it took 20 minutes for Joan to convince him to come in (it must have been something about the Sicilian Gentlemen’s club downstairs).
IV. Michael’s first Dinner at my apartment in Stamford – I prepared a four-course Vegan meal (Alyssa was militant back then) centered on the theme of “Wild Mushrooms”. Your glass was emptied (repeatedly) but your plate remained untouched – only later did I learn that mushrooms were your favorite.
Seriously though, many visits and many dinners later, it is always great to be in your company. I couldn’t have asked for a better Father in-Law.
Happy 65th!!!
Cheers,
Laird
Speaking of Feet (who's got the picture?)
Mike O’Brien vs. the Tahoe Deck
The deck was four stories up, overlooking the sunset that just finished on
When you’re in Tahoe
And you feel the beat,
You do a little dance,
Even better with bare feet.
If you start to hop around,
And think you’re dancing really good,
It’s not just bad grammer,
Your foot is full of wood!
Mike O’Brien 0, Deck 1
===
Mike O’Brien vs. the Emergency Foot Repair Team
Anne got the tweezers from her trusty Swiss Army Knife. JP went to look for a bullet for Michel to bite. Will ran to the fully stocked, with
The splinter came out (who has the picture?) but apparently there was a follow-up visit to the doctor because it got infected.
Mike O’Brien 0, Emergency Foot Repair Team 0, Deck 2
====
Addendum:
But there is more about feet. There was also a running episode where a piece of glass was stuck in his foot. The doc tried to see it with ultrasound, but couldn’t. In the end it came out.
And see Jen’s post for the wedding story...
====
The lesson, after 65 years, is watch your feet!
..
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Uncle Michael !!
Dear Uncle Michael,
We wish you the greatest birthday ever.
You are a really great guy and an inspiration to us all. We appreciate your kindness, good humor, generosity and guidance.
May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you each morning and night.
Love,
Tim, Thuy, Julian, Andrew and Benjamin Griesser
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Cruising - Happy Birthday wishes to a veteran sailor
Monday, November 19, 2007
PEPE
The most genuinely nice guy I've ever met
I hope you have a wonderful 65th birthday, and I look forward to (belatedly) celebrating it with you this week!
Love,
Sarah
The Wedding Dance
(the wedding dance won - he ended up with a broken foot)
I guess I should have thought twice about breaking your foot while dancing with you at Hans and Anne's wedding in 1995. JP and I weren't even engaged yet, let alone married...that probably wasn't the best way to make a good impression...so, I appreciate you letting me marry him a few years later.
I remember lots of runs with the pink running shorts - 3 mile runs, 5 mile runs, Saturday morning runs, Sunday morning runs, and some 5K races. It was fun to run together during our weekend visits to New Canaan...a good way to work off all the calories from our big wine and food dinners the night before!
Happy Birthday!
Jennifer
More Carrots Please...
Grandad/dad. Happy Birthday! I just want to say we appreciate your unending and unconditional support of our family - unconventional as we may be.
It's great to be able to spend so much time together every year doing fun things like this sailboat cruise on Lake Tahoe a couple years ago (courtesy Alyssa and Laid).
Lisa (Aidan's Mom [right]) lost her camera overboard that trip and Aidan goofed off and giggled with Grandad half the time. I fell asleep on the deck for a short nap. It was just one of those many great days we have had together.
Thanks for making so many great times like this possible Grandad/Dad.
We love you.
Chris, Lisa, Aidan.
I love Grandad
Well, I can definitely say Grandad is one of my favorite people. We always have a great time together coloring, playing games, doing fun things. And Grandad tells the best stories - I always want to sit next to him at family dinners to hear his fascinating stories of when he was a kid.
Grandad, you're the best. Thanks for being my Grandad.
Love,
Aidan.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Mike in the pink running shorts
I remember you playing guitar to us: Bobby Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, Peter, Paul & Mary, James Taylor. The songs of childhood showing your love for us
I remember you heading out for a jog in the morning, and sometimes dragging me with you (but I am grateful for that now...)
Formal Pink Running Shorts
Keep climbing, Michael!
Happy 65, brother! Thanks for being you and for giving me - via your brilliant kids - the opportunity to have my 1st blog entry. Whatta world!
You know I was at your garage sale... and did you really profit $12? Not positive, but I thought I saw you slip a twenty to get rid of the lawn mower to the guy who was interested in it... until it would not start... ;)
Thanks for all the shared holidays at your home! Bridget grew up with several Thanksgivings, Christmas' , and Easters with the CT O'Briens.
Enjoy your birthday and Happy T-Day!
Lots of Love,
PattyO
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Happy Birthday!!!
I'm so lucky I have a ticket to spend time with your wonderful family (thanks Sarah). I've really enjoyed the chance to get to know and develop a close relationship with you and Joan through shared family events and Emmaus. Happy Birthday!!!
Monday, November 12, 2007
T-7! One week until Dad/Michael turns 65
Dad, Michael, Mike -- He turns 65 in just one week.
There are so many stories to tell! I'm hoping we can share some more embarrassing or funny or honorific ones here on this Blog to share with him...
That will give him lots to read for all the many times he compulsively checks his email!!
What he loves most -- special times with friends and family!
Oh, and playing Steve Carell's character in that famous Math department version of The Office...
But seriously, here's to mfob!!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
What I Learned ...
What I learned ....
"You see son, back when I was your age, we didn't just grow facial hair because the holidays were coming and we thought family wouldn't notice. I mean, I applaud the effort, but maybe you are not built for a beard. Now my brother Jim on the other hand ... his family knows how to wear a beard."
So Michael and Will carried on for some time discussing the merits of beards and non-beards, realizing that for Michael it was a daily decision while Will could make a game-time call every few days. In the end, they agreed that Michael would love Will whether or not he was wearing a beard .. as long as he didn't have any tattoos.
Michael O'Brien vs. ...
(he lost this one... hired a lawn keeper)
Michael O'Brien vs. the bats (and their droppings)
(have you seen the netting on the back roof)
Michael O'Brien vs. the woodpecker
(still undecided... but have you seen the holes on the side of the house)
Michael O'Brien vs. the shed
(Ok, he wins this one... the shed is still standing)
Michael O'Brien vs. grandkids swing set
(scary, but no bones broken)
Michael O'Brien vs. the junk left by his kids
(held recent tag sale... netted $12!)
Wedding Day
Let's get going
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