Seaver's Saturday Night Fun

It time for Saturday Night Fun at Seaver's Place - Genea-Musings

To play along this week, follow these instructions:

1) Go to your My Pictures folder (or the equivalent) and pick out the 6th item in that folder. Then pick out the 6th item in that folder, and so forth, until you get to an actual picture.

2) Post that picture to your blog with an explanation of what the picture depicts, including place and date.

Damn, I was saving this picture for just the right article, something along the lines of "It Ain't Over Til The Fat Lady Sings" kind of theme. I may walk on a very thin line, right on the edge at times, however - I ALWAYS play by the rules. This was the 6th item in the 6th folder.

It's still early, only 9:00 PM California time. I think I will head on out to the grocery store and check out the frozen food section - Cha - Cha - Cha!

There's Gold In Them Thar Hills

When most people think of Gold Rushes, the 1848 discovery of gold in California is what comes to mind first. However, there was gold and silver discovered many other places in the West. If family legend says that Great Granddad Joe went off to the Gold Rush, it is possible that one of the following could be where you'll find him.

1852 Fort Colville Washington GOLD
1858 Fraser River British Columbia GOLD
1858 Cherry Creek Colorado GOLD
1859 Comstock Lode Nevada SILVER
1859 Central City Colorado GOLD
1860 Walla Walla Washington GOLD
1862 Bannack Montana GOLD
1864 Virginia City Montana GOLD
1867 South Pass Wyoming GOLD
1870 Leadsville Colorado SILVER
1874 Black Hills South Dakota GOLD
1877 Tombstone Arizona SILVER
1880 Juneau Alaska GOLD
1882 Coeur d'Alene Idaho GOLD
1890 Creede Colorado SILVER
1890 Cripple Creek Colorado GOLD
1896 Klondike Yukon Territory GOLD

What Happens To My Research When I'm Gone - Part 2

In the last article, I shared one way to make sure that your research doesn't die when you do. In the genealogical codicil there is a place for you to indicate which repository you would like your research to go.

If you don't have a place for your research to live on, have I got great news for you!

A woman named Arlene Eakle is here to save the day. Arlene is dedicated to saving things that might otherwise be lost--so much is gone already. The life-work of a genealogist, who has taken raw data and compiled it into families, must be preserved. Why does Arlene do this? She tells it like this:

"Several years ago, after speaking at the Southern California Genealogical Jamboree, my associate Afton Reintjes and I stopped at a Safeway Store along Van Nuys Boulevard to get some food for lunch. Instead of re-entering traffic on such a busy street, we drove around the back of the store to use a side street. In the middle of the alley in front of the dumpster, there was a large plastic bag. I stopped to move it out of the way rather than drive over it. The bag was full of someone’s genealogy manuscripts and family records - a handwritten diary, family letters, original photographs, family history notes. I felt a cold shiver! Over many years of seminar travel, I stayed as a guest in genealogists’ homes. Often, my bed was located in the “genealogy room.” Surrounded by genealogy books and personal family history manuscripts, I was almost in heaven. And to my question, “What will happen to these precious materials when you are no longer here?” the answer usually was “I don’t know. My children are not interested in any of it.” Or, “My children are interested but they have no room to house my stuff.”
Each time, I felt the same shiver.
I could not ignore my inner promptings to do something about it. The arrival of the Sherwood Collection from England - 6 1/2 tons of professional genealogy files - in a cross-country moving van, demanded action. So we bought a large building on Main Street, in Tremonton Utah, that had housed a furniture store and sportswear knitting factory."




The Genealogy Library Center, Inc. is a non-profit library established by Arlene H. Eakle and her husband Alma D. Eakle, Jr. in Tremonton, Utah to preserve genealogy materials that might other wise be thrown away and lost forever. At this time the library is supported entirely by her research activities. Materials donated may qualify for a tax benefit. Current tax number: 01-0812471. 501(c)3 approval is pending.

Renovation of a portion of the building which will house the library has been completed. And they have moved into this part that is furnished with file cabinets, book shelves, work counters, and research tables. They have a new copy machine/printer and a new computer. Volunteers come on Monday and Friday afternoons to process and preserve the collections.

If you have a genealogy research collection that needs a permanent home, please consider donating your collection to the Genealogy Library Center, Inc. They can give you a tax benefit for the donation of your precious genealogy research and other holdings and you will have the secure feeling that all your devoted work will be protected and preserved. Your work will benefit future generations.

Visit http://www.genealogylibrarycenter.com for a current list of collections already donated.

When ever possible, Arlene personally goes to pick up these genealogy sources in her 3/4 ton pick up truck. Going east of the Mississippi is usually prohibitive because of the distance and the expense. So it is recommended that materials be boxed securely and shipped:

I. via UPS to Arlene Eakle, 875 N 300 E. (Rear), Tremonton UT 84337

II. Or by USPS to Genealogy Library Center, Inc., PO Box 40, Garland UT 84312

It is always a good idea to notify her by calling 435-579-1743 or email arlene@arleneeakle.com that your shipment is on its way so she can watch for it.

What Happens To My Research When I Am Gone?

Well, this is all up to you. Yes, you can have it your way but you have to have a way to let them know.

Everyone should have a will prepared. Even if you do not have assets for your heirs to fight over. It is the best gift you can leave a dear one who is left to handle your affairs.

Take me for instance....I do not have any property or huge amounts of cash to leave my sons, but I have written my will. In it I have left them instructions on how to dispose of my things, you know, my "stuff". Like my collection of Barbie dolls, I have over 350 of them. The earliest being one of the first Barbies that Mummy Dahling purchased when I was born. Barbie was born the same month and year that I was. I also have a huge collection of buttons (75 jars) and beads (93 jars). I have left them instructions for the funeral service and burial preferences. I have written each of my 3 boys a letter to be opened only after I am gone. I tell each of them how special they are to me and how much I love them. These are in the folder along with the will.

But MOST importantly I drafted this codicil to my will regarding my genealogical research.

GENEALOGICAL CODICIL TO MY LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

To my spouse, children, guardian, administrator and/or executor:

Upon my demise it is requested that you DO NOT dispose of any or all of my genealogical records, both those prepared personally by me and those records prepared by others which may be in my possession, including but not limited to books, files, notebooks or computer programs. Please attempt to identify one or more persons who would be willing to take custody of the said materials and the responsibility of maintaining and continuing the family histories.

If you know some one already who are likely candidates to accept these materials add the following: "I suggest the following person(s)" and then list their names, addresses and phone numbers.

In the event you do not find any one to accept these materials, please contact the various genealogical organizations that I have been a member of and determine if they will accept some parts or all of my genealogical materials.

Here is where you should list all the organizations you belong to with addresses and phone numbers

Please remember that my genealogical endeavors consumed a great deal of time, travel and money. Therefore it is my desire that the products of these endeavors be allowed to continue in a manner that will make them available to others in the future.

Then sign and date this paper and it wouldn't hurt to have a witness sign and date it as well.

It's kind of creepy to make plans for this kind of thing but this really isn't about you, it is for your loved ones left behind that have to deal with it. Make it easier on them and get your will and genealogical codicil written soon!

Whatever Shall I Wear Today?

The 10th Edition of Smile for the Camera is Costume.

No, not as in Halloween. Costume as in dress in general; especially the distinctive style of dress of a people, class, or period. Show that picture that you found with your family collection or purchased that shows the costumes of the rich to the not so rich, from the civil war to the psychedelic sixties.

Deadline for submission is midnight (PT)10 February 2009

Carnival will be posted - 15 February 2009

HOW TO SUBMIT:
There are two options:
1. Send an email to the host, footnoteMaven.
Include the title and permalink URL of the post you are submitting, your name, and the name of your blog. Put 'Smile For The Camera' clearly in the title of your email!
2. Use the handy submission form provided by Blog Carnival

See you at the Carnival!

One-Two, Cha Cha Cha

The 65th Edition of Carnival of Genealogy is coming soon!

"The Happy Dance. The Joy of Genealogy."

Almost everyone has experienced it.

Tell us about the first time, or the last time, or the best time!

What event, what document, what special find has caused you to stand up and cheer, to go crazy with joy?

If you haven't ever done the Happy Dance, tell us what you think it would take for you to do so.

The Deadline For Submissions Is February 1, 2009

Submit your blog article to the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy using the carnival submission form

The Sunday Funnies

I am now a firm believer in the old adage of "Things coming back to haunt you!"

Can you guess which one of these cheerleaders is me?

HINT: We are lined up in the exact same order in both photos.

I am wearing black & white saddle shoes.

I am not a "G", "R", "I", "Z", "E" or "S"

Ok you can have your laughs but being a cheerleader meant that you did not have to take a P.E. class!

Seriously though - These are historic photographs. California High School in San Ramon, California was brand new, opening it's doors for the first time for the 1974-75 school year. It did not even have a senior class, 11th grade was the highest level that first year. Our cheerleader squad was the first Cal High ever had! Our class set precedences for everything from extra-curricular activities to setting traditions. I hope to visit some day to see if the students life is any different than when I was there.

Daniel Derondo Delaney and My Key To Ireland

Small-leaved Shamrock is the host of the upcoming 11th Edition Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture The theme for this edition is "My Key to Ireland" and asks if you have found your ancestral county or village in Ireland, just how did you find your way there? What resources led you to learn the original county or townland or your ancestors?


This is my first time participating in this carnival. A significant portion of my ancestry is Irish but I have yet to conduct research in Ireland. Until recently I didn't have a clue as where to begin. Last year however I had a breakthrough and it seems to tie in with the theme for this carnival.

My 3rd great grandparents are Daniel Derondo Delaney and Ellen Collins. From a biography in a county history book about one of their sons, I knew that the oldest child of Daniel and Ellen had been born in Lockport, Niagara County, New York in September 1851 so I needed to look at passenger lists previous to this date. The National Archives has online searchable databases of ship passenger lists. One of them is "Passengers Who Arrived at the Port of New York During the Irish Famine" documenting the period 1/12/1846 - 12/31/1851. You can find the page to search from here .

I got nowhere searching for Daniel Delaney, so I used several different combinations and finally got lucky. I asked for a search of all Ellens and did it month by month. Damiel DELERNEY (age 20) and Ellen Delerney (age 20) arrived 8 January 1851 aboard the ship "Elizabeth Bentley". Unfortunately all this did for me was confirm that they were from Ireland.

I have never been able to find a sibling or any other family member from Ireland for either Daniel or Ellen living in the U.S. This technique usually leads to locating the ancestral home but didn't work in this instance for me.

My file for Daniel Derondo Delaney is actually 5 mega-folders full of information about him, his wife and children. I finally just sat down and literally went through the entire thing page by page and found what I needed.

Daniel had enlisted in the Union army during the Civil War. I had his complete pension file (over 150 pages). It has been over 10 years since I had first looked at this overwhelming amount of information. I'm not sure why I have not looked at this file since then but I could kick myself for not having done it sooner.

Daniel had only been a soldier for a few weeks. He had been assigned to the 7th Regiment of the Missouri Calvary who were based near Sedalia at the time. Daniel was sent with a detail to pick up supplies from town. A team of mules were spooked by cannon fire and trampled poor Daniel. He was hospitalized for 6 months with a broken clavicle and his right leg had been broken in 3 places - it was the thigh bone. His was discharged from the hospital and relieved of any further duty. Daniel applied for a pension in 1885. It was denied because they said that he had deserted. Infuriated, Daniel hired an attorney to appeal that decision.

Eighteen (18) years later, in 1903, Daniel was awarded his pension. He only enjoyed his victory for a short time - he passed away in 1904.

In that large pension file was a form that Daniel himself completed in his own hand. It was one that every pensioner was required to complete in 1898. The form asked for the birth dates and places of himself, spouse and all living children. It even asked for the place and date of marriage for himself and all spouses. Here is what Daniel wrote about himself and Ellen:

Daniel Derondo Delaney was born in COUNTY KERRY, IRELAND on 20 November 1825
Ellen Collins was born in COUNTY CORK, IRELAND ON 1 November 1830

They were married in BUTTEVANT, COUNTY CORK, IRELAND by a Catholic priest on 3 December 1849

I located the only Catholic church in Buttevant - St. Mary's and wrote to them asking for confirmation of this marriage. I received an email a week later from Father Michael Harrington who not only confirmed the date, but told me that the notation in the register said that Ellen was from St. Mary's parish but Daniel was not. He went on to tell me there were but 2 possibilities of which Collins family Ellen came from and gave me that information.

I still have not been able to find family for Daniel but now have a starting point for Ellen.

The Brichetto Tomb

I just finished an article for my other blog, The Educated Graveyard Rabbit, about this grand but lonely tomb erected by the Brichetto family in San Joaquin County, California. It's a great little story so if you have the time, hop on over and take a look.

My Education Continues - Plans for 2009

If there is one thing I've learned, it's that your genealogical education never really ends. You can complete classes, receive a certificate or earn a degree, but everyday you can learn something new.

Back in February 2008, two online genealogical study groups were formed. One was the NGSQ Article Study Group and the other was the Pro Gen Group. I've been with both since the beginning and will continue in 2009. They both were the brainchildren of Lee Anders. Angela McGhie is now the coordinator for both groups. She recently sent out this notice regarding both groups:

For those interested in the NGSQ Article Study Group or the Pro Gen Study Group I wanted to post an overview and contact information. My name is Angela McGhie and I coordinate both groups. Please direct questions and participation requests to me at mcghiefamilyhistory@gmail.com
The NGSQ Article Study Groups accept new members on an ongoing basis. These groups meet once a month online to discuss an article from the "NGS Quarterly." This study is based on the model set forth by Dr. William M. Litchman where each participant reads the selected article from the NGSQ several times making notes about the research techniques, evidence and logic used in solving the genealogy problem. Members meet online to discuss the methodology used in the article and take turns moderating the discussions.

The Pro Gen Study Groups cover the research procedures and business practices outlined in "Professional Genealogy" edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills. There are two study groups currently running and I keep a list of others interested in participating. When there are enough people ready to participate we will form a third group. Each month members study one or two chapters of "Professional Genealogy" and complete a practical assignment relating to the chapter. Members then review assignments and give feedback to others in their group and meet in an online discussion of the topic.


Between these two groups I have gained experience and knowledge that I know I couldn't get anywhere else.

Locally, I will continue as editor for the San Joaquin Genealogical Society newsletter and as registrar for El Toyon chapter NSDAR. Are you a member of your local genealogy society?


If you can attend one of the three big institutes this year, be prepared for an in depth learning experience like you've never had before. The Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy January 12-16 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama will be June 14-19. I will be attending again this year. The National Institute on Genealogical Research in Washington, DC is scheduled for July 12-17.

The educational opportunities are endless with the yearly national conferences. The NGS Conference this year is May 13-16 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The FGS Conference will be September 2-5 in Little Rock, Arkansas. BYU's 41st Family History Conference July 28-31 in Provo, Utah.

Smaller, regional conferences, institutes and seminars are not to be overlooked:

St. George Family History Expo February 27-28 in St. George, Utah.
The Southern California Genealogy Jamboree is in its 40th year and will be held in Burbank, California on June 26-28.
10th New England Regional Genealogical Conference will be held April 22-26 in Manchester, New Hampshire.
2009 Midwinter Genealogy Institute "Behind the Genealogy Reference Desk" will be at the Denver Public Library on January 23 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
California Genealogical Society presents Scots-Irish Research Seminar March 7, 2009, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Oakland Airport Holiday Inn, Oakland, California.

There are many more happening all over. Make it a goal this year to attend one or more and keep your genealogical education up to date.

Weekly Genealogy Blogging Prompt #1

Amy Coffin over at WeTree has come up with a brilliant way to encourage posting to our blogs at least every week. She has come up with a series of blogging prompts, one a week for the next 52 weeks. There will be a new prompt each Sunday.

Week #1: Upload your favorite picture and talk about it on your blog. Answer the who/what/when/where/why of the subject matter and explain why it is your favorite.

"Two Peas In A Pod"

Mummy Dahling & Me

circa ages ago

This is one of my most favorite photos. It depicts a brief moment in time when Mummy Dahling and I got along famously. Please note however that I am about 12 or 13 years old in this photo and have since have lost that huge behind. It's probably in the same place I lost my left sketcher tennis shoe and my faux emerald necklace some years back.

Pilfering from Pearl

Our own Pearl Mesta of the Blogosphere, Thomas MacEntee has mentioned some genea-blogs that are new to him over at Bootcamp for Genea-Bloggers. I think this is a wonderful idea to encourage people to keep on blogging. So wonderful I am pilfering this idea and using it myself.

While some of these blogs may not be just starting out, they are New-To-Me:

The Spittoon

family lines

Genealogical Haphazardry

Miles' Genealogy Tips

Conversation with Ancestors Past

In My Life

Genealogy Computer Tips & Tutorials


Take a few minutes and give yourself a treat reading these blogs - it will be time well spent.

99 + Genealogy Meme

Becky over at Kinexxions enlisted the help of a few genea-bloggers and put together this list of things a genealogist might or might not have done yet.

Things you have already done or found: bold face type
Things you would like to do or find: italicize and red
Things you haven’t done or found and don’t care to: plain type

Belong to a genealogical society.
Researched records onsite at a court house.
Transcribed records.
Uploaded tombstone pictures to Find-A-Grave.
Documented ancestors for four generations (self, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents) .
Joined Facebook.
Helped to clean up a run-down cemetery.
Joined the Genea-Bloggers Group on Facebook.
Attended a genealogy conference.
Lectured at a genealogy conference.
Spoke on a genealogy topic at a local genealogy society.
Been the editor of a genealogy society newsletter.
Contributed to a genealogy society publication.
Served on the board or as an officer of a genealogy society.
Got lost on the way to a cemetery.
Talked to dead ancestors.
Researched outside the state in which I live.
Knocked on the door of an ancestral home and visited with the current occupants.
Cold called a distant relative.
Posted messages on a surname message board.
Uploaded a gedcom file to the internet.
Googled my name. (aka The Ego Search)
Performed a random act of genealogical kindness.
Researched a non-related family, just for the fun of it.
Have been paid to do genealogical research.
Earn a living (majority of income) from genealogical research.
Wrote a letter (or email) to a previously unknown relative.
Contributed to one of the genealogy carnivals.
Responded to messages on a message board or forum.
Was injured while on a genealogy excursion.
Participated in a genealogy meme.
Created family history gift items (calendars, cookbooks, etc.).
Performed a record lookup for someone else.
Went on a genealogy seminar cruise.
Am convinced that a relative must have arrived here from outer space.
Found a disturbing family secret.
Told others about a disturbing family secret.
Combined genealogy with crafts (family picture quilt, scrapbooking).
Think genealogy is a passion not a hobby.
Assisted finding next of kin for a deceased person (Unclaimed Persons).
Taught someone else how to find their roots.
Lost valuable genealogy data due to a computer crash or hard drive failure.
Been overwhelmed by available genealogy technology.
Know a cousin of the 4th degree or higher.
Disproved a family myth through research.
Got a family member to let you copy photos.
Used a digital camera to “copy” photos or records.
Translated a record from a foreign language.
Found an immigrant ancestor’s passenger arrival record.
Looked at census records on microfilm, not on the computer.
Used microfiche.
Visited the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
Visited more than one LDS Family History Center.
Visited a church or place of worship of one of your ancestors.
Taught a class in genealogy.
Traced ancestors back to the 18th Century.
Traced ancestors back to the 17th Century.
Traced ancestors back to the 16th Century.
Can name all of your great-great-grandparents.
Found an ancestor’s Social Security application.
Know how to determine a soundex code without the help of a computer.
Used Steve Morse’s One-Step searches.
Own a copy of Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills.
Helped someone find an ancestor using records you had never used for your own esearch.
Visited the main National Archives building in Washington, DC.
Visited the Library of Congress.
Have an ancestor who came over on the Mayflower.
Have an ancestor who fought in the Civil War.
Taken a photograph of an ancestor’s tombstone.
Became a member of the Association of Graveyard Rabbits.
Can read a church record in Latin.
Have an ancestor who changed their name.
Joined a Rootsweb mailing list.Created a family website.
Have more than one "genealogy" blog.
Was overwhelmed by the amount of family information received from someone.
Have broken through at least one brick wall.
Visited the DAR Library in Washington D.C.
Borrowed a microfilm from the Family History Library through a local Family History Center.
Have done indexing for Family Search Indexing or another genealogy project.
Visited the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Had an amazing serendipitous find of the "Psychic Roots" variety.
Have an ancestor who was a Patriot in the American Revolutionary War.
Have an ancestor who was a Loyalist in the American Revolutionary War.
Have both Patriot & Loyalist ancestors.
Have used Border Crossing records to locate an ancestor.
Use maps in my genealogy research.
Have a convict ancestor who was transported from the UK.
Found a bigamist amongst the ancestors.
Visited the National Archives in Kew.
Visited St. Catherine's House in London to find family records.
Found a cousin in Australia (or other foreign country).
Consistently cite my sources.
Visited a foreign country (i.e. one I don't live in) in search of ancestors.
Can locate any document in my research files within a few minutes.
Have an ancestor who was married four times (or more).
Made a rubbing of an ancestors gravestone.
Organized a family reunion.
Published a family history book.
Learned of the death of a fairly close relative through research.
Have done the genealogy happy dance.
Sustained an injury doing the genealogy happy dance.
Offended a family member with my research.
Reunited someone with precious family photos or artifacts.

How Do Your Resolutions Rate?

The Hostess with the Mostess - Jasia at Creative Gene - has posted the 63rd Edition COG - New Year's Resolutions.

40 genea-bloggers made public resolutions to better their lives and research.

Take some time this week and see how yours compare.

99 Things On the Wall About Me, 99 Things On The Wall...

Julie over at Genblog has found another "meme about me" exercise. Just so she won't feel all alone, I will play along with her.


Things you’ve already done: BOLD
Things you want to do: RED
Things you haven’t done and don’t want to - leave in plain font

1. STARTED YOUR OWN BLOG
2. SLEPT UNDER THE STARS
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. BEEN TO DISNEYLAND
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. VISITED PARIS
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. HAD FOOD POISONING
17. WALKED TO THE TOP OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY
18. GROWN YOUR OWN VEGETABLES
19. SEEN THE MONA LISA IN FRANCE
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. HAD A PILLOW FIGHT
22. Hitch hiked
23. TAKEN A SICK DAY WHEN YOU ARE NOT ILL
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. GONE SKINNY DIPPING
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. WATCHED A SUNRISE OR SUNSET
31. Hit a home run
32. BEEN ON A CRUISE
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. VISITED THE BIRTHPLACE OF YOUR ANCESTORS
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO BE TRULY SATISFIED
38. SEEN THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA IN PERSON
39. Gone rock climbing
40. SEEN MICHELANGELO'S DAVID IN PERSON
41. Sung Karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. SEEN THE SISTINE CHAPEL IN PERSON
50. BEEN TO THE TOP OF THE EIFFEL IN PARIS
51. GONE SCUBA DIVING OR SNORKELING
52. KISSED IN THE RAIN
53. PLAYED IN THE MUD
54. GONE TO A DRIVE IN THEATER
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. STARTED A BUSINESS
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. VISITED RUSSIA
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. SOLD GIRL SCOUT COOKIES
62. Gone whale watching
63. GOTTEN FLOWERS FOR NO REASON
64. Donated blood
65. GONE SKYDIVING
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a cheque
68. FLOWN IN A HELICOPTER
69. SAVED A FAVORITE CHILDHOOD TOY
70. VISITED THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London
77. BROKEN A BONE
78. BEEN ON A SPEEDING MOTORCYCLE
79. SEEN THE GRAND CANYON IN PERSON
80. PUBLISHED A BOOK
81. VISITED THE VATICAN
82. BOUGHT A BRAND NEW CAR
83. WALKED IN JERUSALEM
84. HAD YOUR PICTURE IN THE PAPER
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. HAD CHICKENPOX
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. JOINED A BOOK CLUB
93. LOST A LOVED ONE
94. HAD A BABY
95. SEE THE ALAMO IN PERSON
96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake.
97. BEEN INVOLVED IN A LAWSUIT
98. Owned a cell phone
99. BEEN STUNG BY A BEE

The Year In Review (2008) - 6 Sentences Twice

The latest meme that genea-bloggers are having fun with is "The Year in Review". You are to take the first sentence of the first post of each month.

I didn't start my blog until August 2008 so I don't have 12 sentences. But you know me, I hate to miss out on the party. So I'll tell you what I'm gonna do....

I'll post the first 2 sentences from each month of last year and I'll still have the 12 sentences!

Here we go....

AUGUST 2008 - They say that there is a first time for everything. Most people experience those firsts one at a time.

SEPTEMBER 2008 - After looking at all the land Pauline/Helen had purchased I got to thinking, what about the place where she died? Well after looking at some plat maps for Ada county, I came to find out that Helen Hunt had homesteaded the land.

OCTOBER 2008 - Donna Pointkouski over at What's Past Is Prologue is celebrating Polish-American Heritage month by hosting a festival of Polish Heritage and has issued a challenge to complete one or more of the tasks on her list. Not Polish you say?

NOVEMBER 2008 - For those who don't know, I have joined a group called The Association of Graveyard Rabbits . This group, which is the brainchild of Terry Thornton, is made up of individuals who are interested in promoting the historical importance of cemeteries, grave markers, and the family history to be learned from a study of burial customs, burying grounds, and tombstones.

DECEMBER 2008 - Please excuse the blog mess while I try and spiff up the place for the Christmas Tour of Blogs that is coming up. Now where did I put those neon reindeer...?