Times, they are a changin’

As some of you know, I’ve been blessed to work for one of the leading internet companies since 1999. They changed their logo on the site yesterday, and it prompted me to think back – way back – to back when I started working with the company. It makes me feel a bit old, but also proud to watch how times have changed – and so has our homepage. I thought I’d share a few screenshots from over the years….

1997 – Back in the Day:

A loaf of bread cost $1.22
The first book in the Harry Potter Series is published.
Mike Tyson’s bit Evander Holyfield’s ear.
Tiger Woods wins his first Masters at 21.
Princess Diana Killed in Car Crash
and our company homepage looked like this:

1999 – the end of the millenium:
A loaf of bread cost $1.55
Everyone was starting to gear up to Y2K (which didn’t happen)
The Sixth Sense came out in movie theaters (I see dead people).
Lance Armstrong won his first Tour De France
I started with the company officially in December. (I’d worked there on trial basis for 3 months before this.)
This is the homepage I remember from when I first started, my first Christmas:

2001 – Infamous:

A loaf of bread cost $1.82
The first Ipod and X-box were released
Enron scandal shook the energy world
World Trade Center / Pentagon hit by airplanes and my company responded by launching Auctions for America in less than 24 hours, raising money for the victims charity.
I spent 3 days on the phones, with the Red Cross.
I bought my first house in Magna, Utah on December 17.
The color change from “blue” to “yellow” was starting to happen; we were experiementing with Live Auctions. eBay stores was about to launch. Screenshot below is pre-Auctions for America / Pre stores, but post Live Auctions.

2003 – Identity Crisis:

Price of a loaf of bread: $1.79
Elizabeth Smart was found safely, to the surprise & relief of many
Aron Ralston hacks his arm off (127 hours) after getting caught it by a boulder in a remote Utah Canyon
Madonna Kissed Brittney at the VMAs.
Angelina Jolie kissed her brother at the Oscars.
The company homepage chose yellow / blue to try to challenge another online company (guess?)

2008 Recession & Recovery:

Price of a loaf of bread: $2.20
I’ve been in Germany for 2 years.
Summer Olympics are held in Bejing. Michael Phelps wins 8 Golds.
Obama makes a speech in Berlin at the Victory monument, and I attend. He’s elected later that year.
Meg Whitman leaves eBay.
The company homepage is “green” but cleaner than before, and beginning to think about “turnaround”.

2010 – Anything but Zen:

Price of a loaf of bread: $2.35
Vancouver hosts the Winter Olympics.
I move to Ireland.
Indonesia & region is hit by Tsunami killing thousands
The homepage is much cleaner, and red for Christmas again.

2012 – Time for a Makeover:

Price of a loaf of bread: $2.49
Queen Elizabeth has her Diamond Jubilee (50 years) on the throne
London hosts 2012 Olympics, Michael Phelps becomes winningest Olympian of all time.
Obama v/s Romney for the 2012 Presidential elections

Company revamps logo and homepage look.

New Bridge House

A couple of months ago, I went with my friend J and A to the New Bridge House and Farm in Demense, Ireland. J volunteers with the Alone group every couple of weeks. Alone is a volunteer run organization that matches volunteers with the elderly and home bound. They work together to also put on volunteer / elderly outings and socialization programs. I was asked to tag along and to pictures of the group for their newsletter, which I was only too happy to do.

The New Bridge house and farm about 30 minutes north of the city center. The building itself is a Georgian era home with multiple out buildings including a carriage house, stables, old pig / chicken homes, victorian walled garden, and plenty of park land and animals. Some of the history of the location is as follows:

On June 19th, 1736, Charles Cobbe (Cobb), then Bishop of Kildare, paid £5,526.5.6 for the townlands surrounding Donabate, Lainstown, Haggardstown and Newbridge, containing 490 acres. In 1747, the house itself was started on part of these lands, in a traditional Georgian style. For inspiration, the Bishop used another fine Georgian house which he had visited in the city center. In 1751, Charles son, Thomas, married Lady Elizabeth Beresford, daughter of the Earl of Tyrone. She brought money into the family, and redecorated and updated the house including adding the famed Red Drawing room. The house has been occupied fairly consistently since the completion under Lady Elizabeth, and remains occupied part of the year by the Cobbe family today. The surrounding parkland, house, and property now belong to the Fingal county council who manage and run it as a public and visitor’s attraction.

The day that I was there was bright sun most of the day, but also intermittent showers. We toured the house (no pictures allowed) and went out into the petting “zoo” portion of the animal farm and the out buildings. One of the highlights was watching the peacock strut around in the courtyard. We also got to see a very old guilded carriage that used to be used to take the mayor to the swearing in ceremony in Dublin.

One of the amusing parts of the tour was actually seeing the sign on the blacksmith’s shop – and getting a chuckle.

If you’d like to see more on the house (including pictures of the beautiful inside) you’re welcome to check out their website at:

http://www.newbridgehouseandfarm.com

Athenry Dominican Priory Ruins

Dominican Priories in Ireland were normally built outside the town walls, but here in Athenry, the first Priory was built Inside the town walls, on the opposite side of the river from the original castle fortress. (You can see more about that here.)

The same founder of the Athenroy castle, Meiler De Bermingham also is credited with purchasing the land to present to the Dominicans. He bought it in 1241, and then gave them the money, knights, horses, wine and cloths for the building itself. When he died in 1252, Meiler was buried here.

Over time, the native Irish and the Normans extended the complex, creating a seperate dining hall, dormitory, infirmary, and the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The chapel was enlarged in 1324, and in in 1425, the tower was added.

The building was destroyed in 1652, by Cromwellian soldiers (who also destroyed the nearby castle).

Today, it’s a fairly quiet little ruin – where the tourists may visit – but the local cats choose to hang out and bathe in the sun.

Phoenix Rose's Blog

The Chronicles of a Girl, Her Dog, and a Lifelong Journey…

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Times, they are a changin’

New Bridge House

Athenry Dominican Priory Ruins