It has a good beat, and you can dance to it - What music defined you?

Tim Abbott from Walking the Berkshires wrote a post a few weeks back entitled, "The Soundtracks of My Salad Days.” Tim talked about the 10 most influential albums during his teenage years that defined the person he became. His last sentence read, “How about you?” Though I’m a little late to the party, I’d like to nominate my own list, though a mere 10 albums won’t quite do it. 

Back in those days, we listened to (horrors!) AM radio, and the one station that everybody was tuned in to was CKLW out of Detroit. I can still remember sun bathing in my backyard, with some Sun In spritzed into my hair, little black goggles on my eyes, baking to the tune of The Archies’s, “Sugar, Sugar.” “Sugar, Oh, Honey, Honey. You are my candy girl, and you got me wanting you.”

No, that wasn’t one of my defining songs, but as they use to say on American Bandstand, “It has a good beat and you can dance to it.” I hesitate to cop to the following list, for fear it might be used to prove instability in a court of law someday. But what the heck, my children should know which artists and their albums are to blame for the mother’s odd behavior. 

Peter, Paul and Mary - "In the Wind" 1963 (Technically this was released before my teenage years, but the song, "Blowin in The Wind" had a big impact on my views of war and I listened to the album, and that song throughout my teenage years.) 

Beatles - “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” 1967 

Iron Butterfly - “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” 1968 

The Association – “Greatest Hits” 1969 (My then boyfriend, very romantically, requested the song "Cherish" be played on the radio as a surprise present for me.) 

Blood Sweat and Tears – “Blood Sweat and Tears” 1969 

Three Dog Night – “Suitable for Framing” 1969 

The Carpenters – “Close to You” 1970 (Okay, I know I lose all credibility with this pick, but the album and falling in love for the first time, happened in the same year.) 

James Taylor – “Sweet Baby James” 1970 (Note, Grandson has been indoctrinated with some of these songs.) 

Beatles – “Let It Be” (1970) (My all time favorite.) 

John Lennon – “Imagine” 1970 

Cat Stevens – “Tea for the Tillerman” 1970 (This pick is my college roommate’s fault. She played it so often it became tattooed on my brain.)

Santana – “Abraxas” 1970 

Simon and Garfunkel – “Bridge Over Troubled Water” 1970 

Chicago – “Chicago II” 1970 

James Taylor – “Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon” 1971

Carole King – “Tapestry” 1971 (This one is tattooed on my roommate’s brain because I played IT constantly.) 

Rod Stewart – “Every Picture Tells a Story” 1971 (Wake up Maggie, I think I got something to say you. It’s late September and I really should be back at school.) 

Steely Dan – “Can’t Buy A Thrill” 1972 

Helen Reddy – “I Am Woman” 1972 

Jim Croce - “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim” 1972 

For the record, when I was a teenager and they would advertise songs written in the 1950’s and 1940’s on special, one of a kind albums, I thought it was the lamest thing I had ever heard. I couldn’t imagine the point of advertising OLD songs and expecting people to actually BUY THEM. Man, life certainly likes throwing all that youthful arrogance right back in your face. 

So, how about you.? What youthful music listening habits shaped you into the person you are today? 

Until Next Time – Happy Ancestral Digging.

© 24 August 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder 

News to Know

54th EDITION OF THE CARNIVAL OF GENEALOGY

The 54th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is posted over at Donna Pointkouski’s What’s Past is Prologue. This edition’s topic was “Family Language” with twenty-nine geneabloggers contributing. So get comfy, and settle in for some interesting reading. Thanks go to Donna, for doing a nice job of hosting this latest edition. The topic for the next edition, is “Show and Tell.” The deadline for submission is September

 FREE WINDOWS BASED PROGRAMS

A big thumbs up to Dick Eastman who just posted “6800 Free Programs for Windows” on his blog. I’m taking his advice and bookmarking the link that he has included in his post. Thanks, Dick, for the useful information!.

FACT OR FICTION

Ever done a little research on the Internet and found out some truly interesting things about an ancestor, only to find that there are no facts to support these events? Then you can probably relate to Tim Agazio’s post “The Hunt for Daniel Cone (1626-1706) – Separating Facts From What you Want to be Facts.” Oh, boy, can I relate

PODCASTS TO GO

Ever in the mood to listen to some very talented genealogists tackle a variety of genealogical topics, but don’t know where to turn. Not a problem! Check out Randy Seaver’s post, “Are you listening,” over at Genea-Musings. Randy gives you the low down and the links to six different podcasts for you to enjoy.

10th EDITION OF THE CARNIVAL OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN GENEALOGY 

The 10th edition of the CCEG has posted at Jessica’s Genejournal. Only five contributors for this edition, but each is a gem in their own right. You won’t be disappointed if you take a peek at this interesting edition of the CCEG. Nice job Jessica! 

Until Next Time – Happy Ancestral Digging.

© 24 August 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder 

Baseball at the Grove

                                  Old Fashioned Baseball at Spiegel Grove, Fremont, Ohio

 

© 20  August 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder 

His Eyes were Gray

His eyes were gray. A man of small stature, he stood five feet six inches tall. The recruiter noted his dark hair, his dark complexion. He was 42 years old when he showed up at the recruiting station in Chillicothe, Ohio on that March day in 1865. 

In an area of the state where most men were miners, he listed his occupation as farmer. He had come that day with other men from Vinton County, many of them kinfolk. He was given a uniform, a canteen, a knapsack and a haversack. All told, the value of these items was $30.13. 

His papers listed his place of birth as Louisa County, Virginia, a fact often assumed and now confirmed. A large X where his signature should have been, signified that he could neither read nor write. According to his papers, he had signed on for a year. Lee’s surrender the following month ensured that he would not see the full term of his enlistment. 

On October 24, while stationed in Washington DC, he mustered out of Company D, 194th Ohio Infantry and out of the Union Army. He resumed his life as a farmer in Wilkesville Township of Vinton County, Ohio. His name was Nimrod Nicholas Thacker. He was my 4th great grandfather and his eyes were gray.

Note: Yesterday’s mail brought the compiled military file of Nimrod N. Thacker that I had ordered from NARA This was request number five from my “7 Days, 7 Requests” series. Request number three also came back and unfortunately, they could not find a record of a marriage between Thomas Jacobus and Catherine? in Essex County, New Jersey for the time, I had specified. You win some. You lose some.

© 19  August 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder 

A Gift from an Internet Cousin

I work out of my home office. The arrangement has it perks, one of which is having my own honest to goodness window. Having worked for fifteen years in a building that had no windows, this is a very big deal. My view overlooks my front yard. From there I can see some of my trees, my flowerbed, and most importantly, I can see my mailbox. 

Last week, the mailbox and the glorious mailman who delivers my mail, were the focus of my attention. My Internet cousin, Dee, whom I have written about previously, had told me she was sending me “some” photographs. I could hardly contain myself. Dee thought they would get here sometime midweek. I figured Friday. They arrived on Saturday. 

When they finally arrived, I barely managed to make it indoors before I ripped open the package. Inside the envelope were fifty-two pictures. Pictures that Dee had taken to her local Walgreens, copied, and then had taken the time to label EACH ONE. I can’t imagine how long a process this was, but oh my, what a wonderful treasure Dee has sent me.

Among the pictures is one of my ggg grandfather Daniel Lynch’s brother, William Lynch. There is a picture of William’s son John, a mighty handsome man judging by his photograph which was taken sometime before his death in 1885. Though John lived his entire life in Illinois, he managed to marry a Seneca County, Ohio lass, Rebecca Feasel. 

Rebecca is also related to me through my Feasel line. (My relationship calculator tells me that Rebecca and I are first cousins four times removed which happens to be my relationship to her husband, John, though through a different line.)

Frank Armstrong, who was a double cousin of my great grandmother, Laura Jane Feasel Lynch was also among the pictures that Dee sent. A very stern picture of my great great grandmother, Catherine Good Lynch lay on top of the picture pile. 

My favorite picture in the group is one of my two great grand aunts, Ormena Lynch Pendergraft and Laura Jane Lynch Wetsel taken in 1934. I’ve researched those two ladies for a very long time. I can’t tell you how rewarding it was to see their faces finally, and to see them standing together side by side – amazing!

I am very humble at Dee’s generosity. I don’t think I can ever repay her for this gift. I wanted to say publicly what I have already said privately – thank you, thank you, thank you. 

Until Next Time – Happy Ancestral Digging!

© 18  August 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder 

Who Knew

Me - sitting in our living room with my fingers laced, covering my eyes, tiny spaces between each finger open just wide enough so I can see parts of the screen as I am watching the movie “Untraceable.”

My husband shaking his head, “Why did you get this movie, if you knew you wouldn’t be able to watch it?”

“I like Diane Lane,” I say behind the curtain of fingers. 

“Yeah, me too. I hear she told Josh Brolin she’d kick him to the curb, if he didn’t stop drinking.”

Fingers now dropped, I am staring at my spouse, as three rapid-fire thoughts fly through my brain. 

This is the kind of conversation I miss having with female co-workers. And - Who are you and what have you done with my husband. And – Really, she said that to Josh Brolin? 

All of which must have played across my face because then, the perfect man looked at me, shrugged and said simply, “AOL.” Well, okay then. After 19 years of marriage, my husband can still surprise me.

© 16  August 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder 

Genea-bloggers Galore!

Wow! When Jasia’s Carnival of Genealogy came to town last week, there were a whopping 39 entries. A Carousel Edition, many of the entries were from newbies to the Carnival.

If that weren’t enough, when the footnoteMaven published this month’s Smile for the Camera Carnival, she had 40 participants who wrestled with the problem of picking their favorite photo. 

Again, there were first time Carnival participants. Kudos to both ladies for giving a forum to genea-bloggers and family historians across the Internet! Thanks for all your hard work!

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