Some neat ways to waste time

As usual, I am way behind on mentioning some interesting blog posts. Today I am going to be very bad and give you a heads up on some posts that are guaranteed to have you lose track of time and exclaim, “Whoa, I haven’t got a darn thing done!” You can thank me later. 

Sometimes you already know about a fabulous website but for whatever reason you simply forget about its existence. Lee Drew of “FamHist Blog,” recently reminded me of this with Lee’s recent blog post of February 3 entitled, “Zoom, Write and Learn” (http://famhist.wordpress.com/2008/02/03/zoom-write-and-learn/).

In the post, Lee talks about both Google Earth and Microsoft’s Live Search Maps. I admit I had visited the Google Earth website a year or so ago, and then just forgot about it. I’ve spent the last week zooming in on my house, a company I work with in Baltimore, the Outer Banks, the St. Louis Arch, my friend KC’s house in California and just about any other place that came to mind.

The coolest place I visited was Budowo, Poland where my great-grandparents were both baptized. I now know that they were about an hour away from the Baltic Sea, and close to four hours away from Berlin. This might not be tops on your list of need to know things, but they have been the subject of an ongoing discussion between dad and I. 

Hey Dad, Budow was a lot farther than we thought from Berlin. 

Even better, on Google Earth (http://earth.google.com/) they had pictures loaded onto the website, and by clicking on a specific icon, I could see the countryside where my great grandparents grew up.

Google Earth and Live Search Maps (http://maps.live.com/) both get thumbs up from me. Thanks Lee for the nifty reminder. 

Okay if you managed not to waste time on that one, here’s one that will get you daydreaming. The premise was proposed by Robert Ragan, “What would you do if an Eccentric Rich Old Uncle offered You a Million Dollars to Do Your Family’s Genealogy Research?” (http://amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/cool-genealogy-stuff/a-million-dollars-to-do-your-family%E2%80%99s-genealogy-research.html). Well two bloggers answered that question themselves. Schelly Talalay Dardashti of “Tracing the Tribe” answered the question here: http://tracingthetribe.blogspot.com/2008/01/million-dollars-for-your-research.html.

I loved Schelly’s answer. “Well, I’ll assume I could use some of the million to pay household bills …while I’m traveling the world for research.” I laughed aloud when I read that because it was the first thing I thought of too. However, I was most intrigued by the answer of Becky Wiseman at “Kinexxions.” Becky had this all thought out, right down to hiring a driver for her newly decked out motor home. (One suggestion though, Becky, make it a masseur/driver position. That way if you get a knotted up neck from all that traveling, he/she can take care of that too. Just a suggestion.) 

I also noticed that many of the places Becky wants to visit are the same places I’d like to go. So Becky, if I promise to be good, would you consider swinging on by my house on your way to Virginia? How ‘bout it Becky? (Does anybody know- does Becky take cookies or brownies for bribes?) Okay, you’re all daydreaming about the million aren’t you? You can read all of Becky’s details here: http://kinexxions.blogspot.com/2008/02/million-dollars-just-for-genealogy.html. 

 “The GenLady” has posted her “Where Were You” Carnival on the census, which you can read at http://www.genlady.com/2008/02/11/where-were-youblog-carnival-1/. Her next topic for the Where Were You carnival is where were your ancestors during the Great Depression. Hmm – I’m already thinking. 

Finally, last weekend Terry Thornton put together a “Harvest from the Blog Garden” http://hillcountryofmonroecountry.blogspot.com/2008/02/harvest-from-blog-garden-february-9.html. He had a baker’s dozen, and I confess I whiled away one whole Saturday afternoon. Each post was different from the other, and all were satisfying. Okay, I know people always say that, but you have to go check these out. Not only did he link these posts, but he also included each of the blog banners. This was a mighty pretty post, Terry.

Feel free to have your family and friends drop me an irate note asking me what I was thinking when I gave you these fine time stealers. Enjoy! 

Until Next Time – Happy Ancestral Digging! Note this post first published online, February 14,2008, at Desktop Genealogist Blog at The News-Messenger Online http://www.thenews-messenger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=BLOGS02

© 14 February 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder 

A poetry challenge: Terry Thornton's Incredible Throw-Down

Okay, so maybe incredible poetry throw-down is overselling it a bit. But how many times does a 54-year-old grandma get to participate in a throw-down? My good friend, Terry Thornton, of “Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi” (http://hillcountryofmonroecountry.blogspot.com/2008/02/blogbloggerbloggingpoetpoems.html) has issued a challenge: 

 “RULES: Each Genea-Blogger or H.O.G.S Blogger may submit no more than three original poems about their blog. Any BLOG READER may submit ONE poem in the comments section of his/her favorite genea-blog. Each of the poems must be along the lines of a limerick (naughty is permissible but raunchy is not!) which follows the general rule for limerick writing. Six lines - the first three lines must end in rhyming words, the fourth and fifth line must rhyme and the sixth line must rhyme with the first three. Here is the general rhyming scheme to follow. AAABBA.” 

Leave it to Terry to make up his own type of poetry, calling these “BLOG SESTETS.” He later said that he would also allow a traditional type limerick. So, of course, I can't let a good challenge pass me by. Unfortunately, hello, I was a business major and poetic mastery was not a discipline that I explored. In other words, I'm really bad at this. I didn't realize how bad until I read Al my sestet and he actually grimaced. 

 “What, I shouldn't put this on my blog?” I asked noting the pained look on his face. 

 “No, its, ah, fine.”

Liar, he just didn't want me mentioning him in the blog, and he has learned to say as little as possible when I talk “blog speak.” So, since you the reader can also play, I am hoping that some of you will submit your poems by 9:30 p.m. Thursday in the comments section of my blog, and I will post any and all on Friday, and then give the link to the poet master, Mr. Thornton. 

Whaddaya say? Help a girl out and save the honor of Northwest Ohio's poetic skills. You are about to see why they need saving: First, my attempt at a limerick: 

A purveyor of words am I.

Into ancestors lives I pry. 

As their stories unfold,

My own truth is told 

'Tis Death that I seek to defy. 

Wait, it gets worse! My attempt at a “Terry Thornton sestet:”

A genealogy blogger am I.

Not a poet, I won't even try. 

Historical truths are my high. 

So readers respond to this lure.

Save our honor as poets for sure 

'Cause my skills would make a bard cry!

Okay, see what I mean. HELP! 

Until Next Time! 

Note this post first published online, February 12, 2008, at Desktop Genealogist Blog at The News-Messenger Online http://www.thenews-messenger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=BLOGS02

© 12 February 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder 

So Long, Farewell, Auf wiedersehen, Adieu

Eric, our intrepid editor, who for me has been THE FACE of the News-Messenger, has deserted his “bloglings” to head north to pursue personal and professional opportunities yadda yadda.

Like most of the other genea-bloggers on the Internet, I blog for the pure joy of it – although the joy is a little forced some days. And like the majority of my colleagues, I don’t get paid for the privilege of inflicting my sometimes skewed view of the world and genealogy on an unsuspecting public. But unlike the others, I had Eric, our editor, to share some of the little victories that this experiment of ours has spawned. 

“Hey, our blog was mentioned on so and so’s blog,” I would email him, or “I was quoted” exclamation marks abounding – pretty heady stuff for a newbie blogger. Though he would sometimes change my titles, Eric always knew which ones not to touch. And although he would occasionally correct a grammar or punctuation error, he never once changed or rearranged my words. 

In one of my posts, I mentioned in passing that the editor might be mumbling under his breath over some of my antics. When the confirming email arrived letting me know that the post had been received it also contained the message “Only a few words under my breath this morning.” Don’t you love an editor with a sense of humor?

So I hope, dear reader, you won’t mind if I use today’s post to say a public “Thank you” to my friend Eric. 

Thanks E for all your encouragement and help. I’m gonna miss you, and I know that even though I can be a big PAIN, you’ll miss me and my little emails too. (I’ll betcha there is a manila folder with my name on it and the words CONTROL FREAK scrawled across it.) The other bloggers and I have been left in the very capable hands of the assistant local desk editor who is probably wondering what terrible thing he did to deserve this fate. Don’t tell him, but I have Eric’s permission to torture him – okay, not exactly permission but close enough.

So best of luck Eric and - so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu! (Now aren’t you sorry I can’t embed sound files?) Until Next Time! 

Note this post first published online,February 11, 2008, at Desktop Genealogist Blog at The News-Messenger Online http://www.thenews-messenger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=BLOGS02

© 11 February 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder

Where were you?

The GenLady has asked the question — Where were you during each of the U.S. Censuses? 

U.S. CENSUS 1960 

I turned 7 years old on the official day of the census in 1960. I don't know what possessed the government to make April Fool's Day the official census day, but with me, it was just a matter of being late, as usual. You might say I “fooled around” until 18 minutes after midnight before deciding to make my first appearance into the world. My birthday and the official census have been linked ever since. My family lived in Fremont, Ohio, which is where you will find me each and every census. It was just my sister and I along with our parents. 

I was a first-grader at Hayes School. The first grade happened to be the year, and I might point out, the only year, that I threw up in front of the entire class. I had warned my teacher that I couldn't drink that whole bottle of milk, and I guess I proved my point. All of you did want to hear my throwing up story, right? Oh, and first grade was the year of my first mutual kiss, behind the bushes on the corner of June and Whittlesey streets. I'm not counting the kiss I was given by a certain someone in kindergarten, as we lay on our nap rugs, because 

1. I was HORRIFIED and 

2. Some little goodie two shoes tried to tell the teacher about it and I was DOUBLE HORRIFIED that I might actually get into trouble for something that wasn't my fault, unless of course, my being irresistible was considered a fault. 

You will be relieved to know that my promiscuity peaked along with my popularity in first grade. 

U.S. CENSUS 1970 

I turned 17, and of course, I knew everything. And I mean everything. I loved my parents but they were “square.” My siblings, two more had been added, were annoying. In that junior year of high school, my plan involved going to college to become an elementary school teacher and/or maybe saving the world. Important stuff to be sure, but my main goal in life that year was to have sleek, long straight hair ala Cher. 

I tried letting my hair dry naturally (as opposed to sitting under a bonnet dryer), rolling my hair into one huge jumbo roller on the top of my head, and ironing my hair — with an iron and an ironing board. If you think laying your head on an ironing board and ironing your hair yourself is easy, I suggest you try it. Thank goodness, it didn't work, or back surgery would have probably figured big in any future plans.

The summer of that year, I had my first non-babysitting job. I worked as a carhop at the A&W Root Beer stand. I got off to a rocky start when I spilled Black Cow down the side of one hapless customer's car. After that, things went well and I made good tips, on top of the whopping $.75 an hour that the job paid. I managed to save over $200 that summer, which my dad made sure, was deposited into the Credit Union — fiscal irresponsibility being akin to a deadly sin in my family. 

U.S. CENSUS 1980 

The 1980 census found me turning 27, married, with three children aged, 7, 3 and 1. A stay-at-home mother, those years are one long blur. I enjoyed being a mom, but the days went by too fast, and there were never enough hours in a day. I looked longingly at women who went to work and had an identity outside of mom. I didn't realize that they still had to take care of sick kids, buy groceries, run errands, wash clothes, pay bills and try to figure out how to stretch a dollar, IN ADDITION, to holding down a job and keeping another whole group of people happy. The grass is always greener, right?

U.S. CENSUS 1990 

In the 1990 census, we received the long form to fill out. I was really ticked at the time, because it was a pain to fill it all out. Al and I had been married less than a year, and all six of our children were living with us at the time. Between the two of us, we had six children, 5 boys and 1 girl, aged 10 to 17. We never had a table big enough to seat all of us at the same time, and in fact, the very first meal we had together was predictably noisy and chaotic. 

I had just doled out the last of the spaghetti, when the youngest one ran in the back door announcing, “I'm here!” Al and I looked at each other horrified. In all the confusion, neither one of us had realized that one of our little chickadees was missing. Oh yeah, we were going to be GREAT at this blended family thing! We still shake our head at those years with the whole crew. We always say

1. You have to truly love and like your partner to survive the stresses of a blended family. And, 

2. WHAT WERE WE THINKING? 

U.S. CENSUS 2000 

By this census, I was 47 years old and living in the country, half way between Fremont and Clyde, just my favorite fellow and me. I drove 45 minutes one way to work every day, and I would amuse myself by calculating how many weeks of my life I was spending on the road in a year. Ah, good times! 

I was working at a bank and my friend, a loan officer who shall remain nameless and shameless, pulled me into a corner the day of my birthday and said in a James Bond fashion, “Do you have your purse with you today?” My crazy nameless loan officer friend had me go get the purse. Then looking both ways and over her shoulders to make sure the coast was clear, she grabbed something out of her purse and shoved it into mine. I looked down, and saw what I would later learn was a Mike's Hard Lemonade. She had brought it for me as a birthday present. Mike and I have been good buddies ever since. Ah, Carole, I mean Nameless, I miss you! That's what I was doing during each census. How about you?

Until Next Time — Happy Ancestral Digging! 

Note this post first published online, February 6, 2008, at Desktop Genealogist Blog at The News-Messenger Online http://www.thenews-messenger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=BLOGS02

© 6 February 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder 

Carnival of Genealogy has arrived

The Carnival of Genealogy is in town! There are 32 entries for this edition of Carnival. I haven’t had a chance to read all of them yet (there were 32, after all), but you will find a variety of responses to the question: If you could have dinner with four of your ancestors who would they be and why? Some are guaranteed to make you laugh, some will make your mouth water, and some will make you think. Jasia, as usual, has played the gracious hostess, and gave a brief synopsis of each of the entries.

You can find the links to each at Jasia's Creative Gene: http://creativegene.blogspot.com/2008/02/carnival-of-genealogy-41st-edition.html So which four of YOUR ancestors would you have to dinner and why? Until Next Time – Happy Ancestral Digging! 

 Note this post first published online, February 5, 2008, at Desktop Genealogist Blog at The News-Messenger Online http://www.thenews-messenger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=BLOGS02

© 5 February 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged,  Teresa L. Snyder 

Genealogy TV

Are you the kind of person who likes going to lectures on genealogy? Have you ever wished for family history programs to be available on TV? Well, since late 2006, Roots Television has been available for viewing on the Internet. The best part? Most of the videos are absolutely free! Posting about Roots Television has been on my “to do” list for quite a while, but like everything else lately, my intentions are good, but my follow through, not so much. Four, count them, four posts within the last week have tie-ins with this subject. 

First, Randy Seavers of Genea-Musings (http://randysmusings.blogspot.com/) posted “Genealogy video workshop survey” which talks about his participation in a Family Tree Magazine survey on the subject of Genealogy video workshops. Though the Roots Television videos themselves are not interactive, they are instructional and the survey itself raises some interesting questions and possibilities. Randy's previous post, “Tracing Immigrant Origins” (http://randysmusings.blogspot.com/2008/02/tracing-immigrant-origins.html) gives links to some wonderful FREE lessons on Genealogy.com. I know that some of you have expressed an interest in researching your immigrant ancestors, so you will want to check out Randy's post.

By coincidence, one of the Roots Television videos that I liked is from the Ancestors Series and is titled, “Immigration Records.” Another video that I am spotlighting below is a two-part video also of the Ancestors Series, “African American Research.” In part two, Tony Burroughs is interviewed about the subject. According to Wally Huskonen of Ohio Genealogy Blog (http://ohiogenealogyblog.blogspot.com/2008/01/african-american-research-seminar-at.html), Mr. Burroughs will be conducting a seminar on February 9 at the Sandusky Library Program Room. The program will run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information about the seminar and registration, see the Sandusky Library's own blog, and post at http://sanduskyhistory.blogspot.com/2008/01/program-announcement-african-american.html. Small world isn't it?

Below are links to just 10 of Roots Television's videos. These are just a sample of what is available and were chosen to given you a taste of the diversity of topics. 

1. “Allen County Public Library: Genealogy Center” http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_libraries.php?bctid=1155088315 If you are planning a trip to the Allen County Public Library, this is a must see. Two parts - 9 min 18 sec, 7 min 31 sec

2. “Ancestor Series: Immigration Records” http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_ancestors-series.php?bctid=1364182927 One part - 24 min 27 sec 

3. “Ancestor Series: Probate Records” http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_ancestors-series.php?bctid=1363158562 I like this particular video because it also stresses the importance of land records along with the probate records One part - 24 min 24 sec 

4. “Ancestor Series: African American Research” http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_ancestors-series.php?bctid=494613998 This is the video that includes an interview with Tony Burroughs who will be speaking this coming weekend at the Sandusky Library. Two parts - 11 min 8 sec, 13 min 08 

5. “Ancestor Series: Military Records” http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_ancestors-series.php?bctid=296735389 Four parts - 4 min 8 sec, 7 min 17 sec, 7 min 22 sec, 5 min 41 sec 

6. “DNA and Your Roots by Gina Paige” http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_conferences.php?bctid=1109182279 While this video pertains to African American DNA, Gina uses diagrams to explain Y-DNA testing and Mitochondrial DNA testing in such a way that even I finally was able to say, “Oh, I get it!” and really mean it. Plus, Gina's perky personality is fun to watch. One part - 38 min, 17 sec 

7. “Using the Grid for Easier Photo Restoration: A tutorial for Adobe Photo Shop and Adobe Shop Element” http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_preserving-the-past.php?bctid=1293602305 One part - 3 min, 16 sec 

8. “The Socks to America” http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_rootsliving.php?bctid=1178173384 Who says genealogists don't have a sense of humor! One part - 3 min, 8 sec 

9. “Research Process” http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_howto.php?bctid=232321301 Twenty-six parts! 

10. “Roots Book Series: Finding Your Hispanic Roots with George Ryskamp” http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_hispanic.php?bctid=281859724 After watching this video, I wish I had Hispanic roots! George Ryskamp gives some excellent tips on researching your Hispanic heritage. Four parts - 8 min 7 sec, 7 min 32 sec, 9 min 17 sec, 2 min 35 sec Until Next Time — Happy Ancestral Digging!

Note this post first published online, February 4, 2008, at Desktop Genealogist Blog at The News-Messenger Online http://www.thenews-messenger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=BLOGS02

© 4 February 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder 

Web sites to check out

Aaarrrggh!!!!! How in the world did it get to be February already? I'm feeling a little cheesy (do people still say that?) because it's been a while since I posted any links to other interesting blogs and posts that I have seen on the Internet. For the record, if I ever let you down again, make sure you head on over to Randy Seaver's Genea-Musings (you do read Randy every day, right?) and check out his best of the week's post that he usually runs Mondays or Tuesdays. 

This week's entry (http://randysmusings.blogspot.com/2008/01/best-of-genea-blogs-january-20-26-2008.html) mentions Kimberly Powell's post at About.Genealogy.com entitled “10 Top Web Sites for African-American Genealogy” (http://genealogy.about.com/od/african_american/tp/best_sites.htm) which I had tapped as a must read also. Funny, I had actually just visited three of the Web sites she mentions in her post. Great minds?

As promised, Denise Olsen of “Family Matters” talks more about what a Skype account can do for the family genealogist — and anyone else who might be interested in talking with up to 10 people at once. Check this out at her post at http://moultriecreek.us/family/2008/01/26/research-toolbox-skype-account/. I want some time to play around with this one.

OK, this is an older post, going back to December 31, but I like it so much, I am printing it out and hanging it on my bulletin board as a reminder. On Juliana's “24/7 Family History Circle,” she posted “Avoiding Assumptions” by Michael John Neill at http://blogs.ancestry.com/circle/?p=2152. I won't tell you how many of these assumptions I would have to plead guilty to in the past, but I'm betting some of you will be shaking your heads in agreement when you read what Mr. Neill has to say. Good stuff! 

My friend, Terry Thornton, of “Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi” had a good week last week. It seems he broke an existing record for the number of readers and number of pages read in one day, which he blogged about of course, http://hillcountryofmonroecountry.blogspot.com/2008/01/thanks-from-hill-country.html. You probably realize that I love a good Civil War story, and Terry linked us to two of them on his Martin Luther King Day post, “Hill Country Unionism: Civil War Revisited” http://hillcountryofmonroecountry.blogspot.com/2008/01/hill-country-unionism-civil-war.html. OK, I don't usually do this, but there's a really good piece that Thomas MacEntee wrote for the 41st Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy. I know. I know. I should wait until the Carnival is posted. But this entry is funny, it's touching and I loved it! 

If you don't want to wait until the Carnival either, you can read it here at “Destination: Austin Family,” http://destinationaustinfamily.blogspot.com/2008/01/dinner-of-remembrance.html. Thomas really writes some great pieces. He's on my must read list for sure.

Finally, I wanted to mention two local blogs that you should stop in and give a read. If, like most genealogists you also have a love of history, you will be interested in knowing that Sandusky Library Archives Research Center and Follett House Museum has a blog (http://sanduskyhistory.blogspot.com/) devoted to Sandusky and Erie County History. Showcasing the material of their local history collections, the blog is rich in historical content. I have to admit I'm a little jealous of those working in a place with such an abundance of interesting treasures — it must be like having Christmas every day! (Thanks Dorene for the nice note and the link!) 

The last blog that I want to mention is Derek Davey's “Genealogy — Northwest Ohio.” Derek brings a lot of meat to the topic of Northwestern Ohio research. He has posted information helpful to researchers in various counties of Northwest, Ohio. He did a series of recent posts, for example, on resources in Williams County. He also, check this out, takes brick wall problems from readers, researches them and then posts his results, usually on his Saturday postings. If you have a brick wall you'd like some advice on, Mr. Davey is your man. You can read his blog at http://nwogenalogy.blogspot.com/. He also has blogs for northeast Ohio and southeast Michigan. 

As usual, there is more than enough good reading to go around. Until Next Time — Happy Ancestral Digging! 

Note this post first published online, February 1, 2008, at Desktop Genealogist Blog at The News-Messenger Online http://www.thenews-messenger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=BLOGS02

© 1 February 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder