Road to Wisconsin

 In two weeks time, my husband and I are going to be “hitting the road” again. Yes, another road trip in the making. Last year we spent 47 days together out on the highways and interstates of USA. I had a genealogy conference in Springfield, IL (my home state) in September. I thought of flying in, getting a hotel room, meals out, the usual stuff. But he as very willing to do most of the driving across country (I can't help it, I just seem to fall asleep when in the car). So I said, “OK, let's drive.”

After the conference we went up to the Chicago area, stayed with a former school friend and visited my family and friends. Then to Allen County Public Library in Indiana; our daughter's in-laws in Ohio; more friends in Tennessee. My cousin put me in touch with my “brick wall” cousins in Louisiana. That was so cool! Spent some time in the “Big Easy” then headed to Austin, Texas to see our daughter and son-in-law.

This time we're heading to my mother's home state of Wisconsin. She was from the small town of Dorchester in Clark County. The reason we're going is to attend a family reunion. Not my mother's family unfortunately, but her cousins' family reunion. I'm more of a collateral branch of the family tree.

Back when I started genealogy I wrote to several of my mother's 1^st cousins and asked about their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. The ladies who wrote back helped as much as they could, then gave my name and email address to a nephew who was also climbing the family tree. We've been collaborating ever since. His grandmother Bessie was my grandmother Jennie's sister. The sister's came from a family of six siblings; three girls and three boys. Their surname was Bartunek. Bessie married Harry Williams and my grandmother married Henry Ramminger. The family reunion I'm going to is for the Williams' Family. It'll be held at Dorchester Memorial Park on Saturday, July 28^th.

The Williams family held their first reunion at the same park two years ago. At the time we were having our kitchen remodeled and I couldn't attend. But I'm going this year! I've also been corresponding with another Williams' cousin who lives in Michigan.

Periodically, my mother would take us up to Wisconsin for a family wedding or 50^th anniversary party. Being quite young at the time, I can't remember all the “cousins” so this will kind of be a face-to-face meeting for the first time. I'm really looking forward to it.

Blog presentation; one down, one to go

Well...(big sigh), my Blog Talk presentation at my local library went very well.  I had help from other society members too.  Can always use the support.  Now I can have my "life" back.  I was so consumed with this presentation; eating while writing it, dreaming of it, going over and over in my head what I wanted to say.

Thank you to everyone who gave me the encouragement, held my hand during the process, and patted me on the back when I was through.  I also want to send a big loving THANK YOU to my husband.  He always "has my back." 

Now I still have to give the talk to my society next month, but I Can Do It!

Blog Talk Presenation

I've been preparing a presentation I'm going to give to our local public library.  My talk is Genealogy Blogs 101.  Next month I'll be giving this same talk to my genealogy society.

I've been gathering information for weeks now.  Been staying up late and even dreaming of it in my sleep.  I'm not a professional speaker. I'm also really nervous.  I'm as prepared as I'm ever going to be.  It'll be good to step out of my comfort zone for just a little while. 

The feeling is a little like when I tried Zip Lining a few months ago.  That very first step off the first platform into midair was frightening.  But I did it, and the next four platforms weren't as scary.

I can do the blog talk, I'll be OK.  Just like stepping into midair.  WHEEEEE!

Blog test from my phone

I'm slowly dipping my toe into blogging-on-the-go.  I'm taking this for a test drive before I spend too much time on it, so here goes.

1940 Indexing

Today I was able to get in some indexing time.  I did 40 records for Alameda County California.  40 records for De Kalb County Illinois, and 40 records for (I forget which county) Wisconsin.

I'm living in California and helping my local genealogy society; also my father was born in Los Angeles.  My home town is Chicago, Illinois so I always try and do some records for Illinois whenever I sit down for indexing.  My mother is from a little "village" in Wisconsin so I try and do some records for them too.  Earlier in April I was able to include Louisiana while indexing.  My paternal grandfather and paternal grandparents were from there.  Now the whole state is done so onto the others.

Indexing has been quite addicting and fun.  "Only a few more records, then I'll stop."  But then I'll download another batch and won't quit until they're all submitted.  Today I had a really blurry image for the Wisconsin batch.  Whew, glad I pushed through.