A Girl Can Only Dream - SNGF

It's Saturday night, well really afternoon here on the West Coast. We all know what that means - Saturday Night Genealogy Fun over at Randy Seaver's place GeneaMusings

To play the game this week, Randy asks us:

If you won grand prize in the Ancestry.com Ultimate Family History Journey Sweepstakes of $20,000 for genealogy travel to places of your choice, where would you go?

This is kind of along the lines of "when my ship comes in." I usually don't even think about things like that. Why set myself up for a huge disappointment? That damn ship has lost its way and it is never coming in. But since this is genealogically related, I will go ahead and pretend this one time.

If I were to win the $20,000, I would rent an RV and travel to each place that my ancestors lived here in the United States. Where would I go you ask?

Heading East from California, I would stop first in Boise, Ada County, Idaho. I would like to finish my Problem with Pauline story and I need to research onsite to accomplish this.

Next stop would be Kansas. The counties of: Ellis, Lincoln, Ottawa, Saline, Marshall, Osage, Anderson, Elk, Wilson, Neosho, Allen and Bourbon.

Across the state line in Missouri, I would visit: Cass, Jackson and Pettis counties.





North to Iowa and the counties of Poweshiek and Des Moines.





East to Illinois and the counties of Moultrie, Edgar, and Cass.





Continue East to Vigo County, Indiana.





South to Kentucky and the counties of Bourbon and Pulaski

The last leg of the journey would be Southeast to North Carolina. There I would make stops in the counties of Surry, Wilkes, Yadkin, Lincoln, Cleveland and Gaston.

I would dump the RV in North Carolina and fly home. Just like the pigs, the day they start flying is the day I'd win this prize!

The Final Results Winter 2010 Geneablogger Games

Boy oh Boy - I started out strong in the Winter 2010 Geneablogger Games in the first week. I must have pulled a muscle or something this second week. It seemed like everything I was working on had a deadline this week. I wrapped up a client project and wrote the report.

I am the registrar for my DAR chapter here in Stockton. This week I have had more prospective members than I have had all year! Also completed 1 new member application and 10 supplemental ancestor applications.

I am also the editor for San Joaquin Genealogical Society newsletter and it needs to be published by Monday.

So drum roll please . . . here are the final numbers for my participation in the games.

1) Go Back and Cite Your Sources!

I composed 20 citations which has earned me a SILVER medal

2) Back Up Your Data!

Task A - Prepare a comprehensive backup plan for your digital research files and a security plan for your hard copies and photos

Task B - Secure your hard copies and photos in waterproof containers

Task C - Backup all your data using a flash drive, an external drive, CD's, DVD's or an online resource

I now have a GOLD medal for this category

3) Organize Your Research!

Task A - Organize at least 20 hard files or ancestral items into file folders, boxes, envelopes, etc.

Task B - Organize at least 20 digital files into folders, label, add metadata, add descriptions, etc.

Task C - Organize at least 20 photos into photo albums, scrapbooks, collages, etc.

Task D - Organize at least 20 digital photos into folders, label, add metadata, add descriptions, etc.

Task E - Create at least 20 data entries in your database

PLATINUM medal for this category

4) Expand Your Knowledge!

Task C - Create a memorial page for an ancestor using either Footnote’s Create A Page feature or their Facebook application I Remember.

Task D - Visit tutorial and learning pages of popular websites such as Ancestry.com or FamilySearch’s excellent articles repository.

Task E - Create a surname visualization using Wordle, Word It Out or a similar application. Post the graphic to your blog.

A GOLD medal for this category.

5) Write, Write, Write!

Task A - Write a summary of what your blog is about and post it on your blog – you may not have done this since you started the blog and it is a great way to have new readers learn more about your site. If your blog uses the Blogger platform, consider using the new Pages feature as described in Blogger Announces New Pages Feature.

Task B - Participate in a genealogy or family history related blog carnival. See the AnceStories post February 2010 Calendar of Events for a list of these carnivals and their submission URLs and deadlines.

Task C - Prepare several posts in draft mode and pre-publish them.

I now own a GOLD medal for this category

6) Reach Out & Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness!

Task A: Comment on a new (to you) genealogy blog. See the New Genealogy Blogs tag at GeneaBloggers for the newest blogs.

Task B: Post one or more gravestone photos at Find A Grave

Task D: Assist another researcher with a research request or lookup. See AnceStories “Random Acts of Kindness Week” posts for ideas for this item and Item E

Task E: Participate in an indexing project.

Task F: Join a genealogical, historical, heritage or lineage society.

Task G: Use the Follow feature on a Blogger-based genealogy blog and follow one or more blogs.

I aced this category and have earned a PLATINUM medal

All in all not too bad - 2 PLATINUM, 3 GOLD and 1 SILVER.

I Am One Of Family Tree Magazine's 40 Best Blogs!

Can you believe it? My blog has been named one of the 40 Best Blogs by Family Tree Magazine!

Diane Haddad of the Genealogy Insider made the announcement just a few hours ago. You

This has made my day, my week, hot damn it's made my year!

This print version of Family Tree Magazine should be on the shelves any day now, but you can read the online version of the most excellent article written by Maureen Taylor about all 40 of the winners. Maureen Taylor of course is the Photo Dectective.

Under the category of Personal & Family Blog, Maureen had this to say:

"The Educated Genealogist - You’ll feel like one of Sheri Fenley’s family when you read her tongue-in-cheek stories about her relatives and research. She manages to combine hilarious Halloween costumes and genealogy in the post."

Congratulations to all of my fellow bloggers who were also chosen as one of the 40 Best Blogs.

Thank you Family Tree Magazine. But a bigger thank you to my fellow geneabloggers and readers who voted for my blog. Your encouragement, the comments you leave, your support is priceless!

This is me dancing the genealogy Happy Dance!

The Women In My History

The 21st edition of Smile For The Camera is "Give Their Face A Place." These are a few of the women in my own personal family history. Six generations of daughters and mothers. This particular line of women is special to me. The chain ends with me as I have three sons and no daughters.

I have always wished I had an ancestor that looked like me, but it isn't in this line. They are however, most beautiful to me.

Me

My Mother

and

her Mother

Maryellen Harris Skillman

and

her Mother

Hazel Berry Harris

and

her Mother

Laura Cordelia Robinson Berry

and

her Mother

Margaret Dilks Robinson

2010 Winter Geneabloggers Games Update

I decided not to report daily with my progress. I decided to wait until I had finished a few tasks then report in with the results. While I did manage to accomplish quite a bit, I still have a way to go to meet my goals of platinum medals.

Category 1 - Go Back And Cite Your Sources!
I completed an additional 10 which puts me at a Silver Medal.

Category 2 - Back Up Your Data!
I completed Task B - Secure your hard copies and photos in waterproof containers

Category 3 - Organize Your Research!
I finished Task B - Organize at least 20 digital files into folders, label, add metadata, add descriptions, add tags, etc.

Category 4 - Expand Your Knowledge!
Task C - Create a memorial page for an ancestor using either Footnote’s Create A Page feature or their Facebook application I Remember

I created a page for my 2nd Great Grandfather - George Wesley Harris at footnote.com
You can see the page by clicking here.

George Wesley Harris

Category 6 - Reach Out & Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness!

Task A - Comment on a new (to you) genealogy blog

Task B - Post one or more gravestone photos at Find A Grave

Task G - Use the Follow feature on a Blogger-based genealogy blog and follow one or more blogs

Simply Shocking - An Outrage!

A dear friend and fellow Graveyard Rabbit - Ruth Coker Burks has made a gruesome discovery. The water in Lake Hamilton in Arkansas had been lowered this winter and while strolling on the shores this past weekend came across what she is certain to be her great grandmother's tomb - open and exposed to the elements.

Sometime during the Great Depression a land developer got rid of the tombstones to conceal the fact that a cemetery occupied the land and sold it to people who then built fancy homes on the shores of the lake.



Ruth says that beginning March 4th, they will raise the water in the lake again. I have contacted Ruth and advised her to call all the newspapers and T.V. stations in her area in hopes that some one can assist her in perhaps moving her great grandmother's tomb. If there is anyone out there who can help Ruth or has any suggestions please contact her.

Playing With Pictures

Here it is Friday night and I am looking for a diversion of any kind. It has been a long week. So I am reading through blogs posts in my google reader and come across a suggestion from Ian of Ian Hadden's Family History. Try using a nifty little program called Shape Collage for your family photos.

Well I did and here are a couple of the results:

It is a small file that downloads in seconds. It is so easy to use - just load your photos and click on the shape of the collage and voila! Instant fun. You can even make shapes of your own design. And the best part? It is totally FREE!





Thanks to Ian Hadden for sharing this cool tool!

An Educated Rabbit

Did you know that I am a charter member of the Graveyard Rabbit Association? I also write a column for the Graveyard Rabbit Online Journal.

Hop on over to this month's column and I will tell you all about where to find books about cemeteries, funeral customs and tombstone oddities that are free to read and download!

Hello, My Name Is Sheri Fenley And I Am A Genea-Geek

The Winter 2010 Geneablogger Games are in full swing. I think a new record has been set for the number of participants. At last count there were 51!

Today I am competing in Category 5 - Write, Write, Write!

Task A - Write a summary of what your blog is about and post it on your blog.

I started writing this blog on 6 August 2008. Looking back through my posts, I don't see where I ever wrote a description or summary of what my blog is all about. To tell you the truth, I am not sure what it is all about!

A little of this and that, basically what ever I feel like writing at the time. Hey, it's my blog and I am allowed to do whatever I want.

I am passionate about genealogical education, although after reviewing my posts not many of them pertain to that. I will make a better effort to write more about this subject.

I guess I am still trying to find my niche in the genealogical world. I am happiest when I am deep into a research project. I am thrilled when I am able to do research on site at courthouses, archives and libraries. I can spend literally days reading old deed books and probate journals without stopping to eat and barely sleeping.

I started blogging so that I could become part of a wonderful community of fellow genealogists. I didn't feel quite so alone in my geekiness once I jumped in.

Off To A Great Start

I started competition yesterday and am off to a great start in the 2010 Winter Geneablogger Games. I competed in all 6 categories. Here are the results:

Category 1. Go Back and Cite Your Sources

I completed 10 which puts me at Bronze Medal Status. 40 more to go to reach my goal of 50.

CATEGORY 2. Back Up Your Data

This was easy peasy. I use Mozy which backs my hard drive up into the clouds.

CATEGORY 3. Organize Your Research

I completed Task C - organize at least 20 photos into photo albums, scrapbooks, collages, protective holder, etc. I put mine into an archival safe box made especially for photographs.

CATEGORY 4. Expand Your Knowledge

I had alot of fun completing Task E - create a surname visualization using Wordle, Word It Out or a similar application. Post the graphic to your blog. I used Wordle.

CATEGORY 5. Write, Write, Write

Task C - prepare several posts in draft mode and pre-publish them. Done.

CATEGORY 6. Reach Out & Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness

Task F - Join a genealogical, historical, heritage or lineage society.

I had let my National Genealogical Society membership lapse last year, but yesterday joined again. I am going to the NGS Conference in Salt Lake City in April and you get a discount on registration if you are a member.

Whew! That was a workout. I am taking today off to rest up for competition in the games tomorrow.

SNGF - A New Valentine Memory

Over at Seaver's Place, romance is in the air as Saturday Night Genealogy Fun celebrates Valentine's Day. Our mission, should we choose to accept it:

1) Recall a memory of a Valentine's Day in your life. Is it the first love of your life? A special day with your lover, spouse or significant other? Do you have a picture of a Valentine's Day event, or a special Valentine that you received, to share?

2) Describe your Valentine's Day memory, activity and/or image in a blog post of your own, a comment to this blog post, or a comment on Facebook.

3) Have fun remembering a special day.

My husband and I are fairly recent newlyweds. This past January marked our 2nd Wedding Anniversary. Sounds romantic.

HOWEVER, we have been living together for the past 17 years. Doesn't sound quite so romantic now does it?

Well I got to tell you, in all these 19 years, not once has my husband ever bought me a present for Valentine's Day. About 5 years ago he bought me a card. It had a picture of a dog peeing on a tree and the caption was "Hap-pee Valentine's Day." I kid you not.

Well this year, my "reason for living" surprised the hell out of me and presented me with my first ever Valentine's Day gift. Imagine my surprise when I opened this:

Nothing says love quite like a Hoover.

2010 Winter Geneabloggers Games

In the summer of 2008, I participated in the first geneablogger games. In fact, my very first blog post was my entry into the games. I can't believe that two years have gone by so quickly.

The purpose of the geneablogger games, you ask? Well Thomas MacEntee over at Geneabloggers says, "The Summer 2008 GeneaBloggers Games were such a success at attracting new bloggers and getting established bloggers to energize their sites." Also this " is an opportunity to communicate to those new to genealogy that it is an activity filled with fun and intellectually stimulating challenges."

For all the rules and regulations please visit the Official Game Page .


Each blogger is asked to create a Heritage Flag. I made mine at WeAreMulticolored .





The top part of the flag represents my Russian heritage, the middle is my Irish heritage and the bottom represents my French heritage.


The Categories of Competition

1. Go Back and Cite Your Sources
2. Back Up Your Data
3. Organize Your Research
4. Expand Your Knowledge
5. Write, Write, Write!
6. Reach Out and Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness

Within each category are 5 or more tasks. You must complete at least one of these tasks to earn a Bronze Medal. Completing all of the tasks will earn you a Platinum Medal.

It is my intention to go for the Platinum. I have been working out, especially in the citation area and am ready for the first event which starts Monday, February 15th!

February Edition of Shades Is Here!

The February 2010 Edition of Shades has been published and just waiting for you! In this month's issue, read all about Penelope Dreadful's adventures, George Geder's "Healing Brush" and the conclusion of Denise Olson's "Releasing Your Inner Ken Burns."

Shades celebrates Black History Month, Rebecca Fenning explains the role of an archivist and much, much more!

Oh, and of course there is my column "The Year Was" which this month takes you back in time to the year 1847.

Who Do I Think I Am?

I watched the first episode of Faces of America last night. Henry Louis Gates does a great job working with the guests. The show was interesting, entertaining and at times very emotional as I watched each guest learn about their ancestors. I look forward to episode #2 next week.


The show does not really go into how to locate records or the methodology and analyzation of all the information and documents found. Rather it tries to instill in each of us that just as our ancestors were living and making history, so are we. Right now each of us is a witness to historic events.

It took all my ancestors (1000's of them) being in a certain place at a certain time - over and over again throughout the centuries for me to be here at this time. I do not believe in coincidences, I believe that I am here for a reason. I am sure that reason is to make sure that my family's history stays alive. I feel a responsibility to seek out and tell their stories and more importantly to pass on those stories on to others. Knowing where and from who I came from has given me a sense of direction, guiding me towards where my life needs to go.

Everyone's family has a story to tell. Will you be the one to discover it?

What Were They Thinking?

There has been alot of discussion lately among Genea-bloggers on how to attract readers to your blog. Thomas MacEntee over at Geneabloggers reported recently that there are now over 900 genealogy related blogs listed at the site. 900! How does one choose which blogs are of interest to them?

Well the people at Google have this nifty little program called "Analytics." Oh it has all kinds of bells and whistles that you can use to customize your reports to tell you all kinds of things about your blog. One of the features I like best is the keyword(s) report.

This report will tell you what words are entered into a search engine that lands a person on your blog. Here are a few examples that totally floored me:

German Russian Heritage - ok, well that fits the bill since my father's line are Germans from Russia and I have written a few articles about them.

Vat of Crabbiness - I borrowed this phrase from Terry Snyder over at Desktop Genealogist Unplugged. Terry if you are out there start writing again!

Barbara Eden Look-alike - OK, I may have worn the costume but not once did I mention her name so Google gets points from me for facial recognition searches.

National Donut Day - That's right, when you think of donuts you think of me.

Insane Asylums - I am going to have to go back and read all my posts. I don't think I have written about this subject. Unless they are just making a friendly suggestion, then ok they might be on the right track.

Polka Disco - Heel, Toe and Away We Go - I kid you not. This exact phrase was entered into a search engine and they were pointed to my blog. Donna Pointkouski this is all your fault!

And the number one phrase????

Nuns With Guns - Jaysus, Mary and Joseph, I am going to Hell in a Handbasket for sure.


What are the words people put into search engines that lands them on your blog???

A Great Genealogical Education Opportunity

Louise St. Denis who is the Managing Director for The National Institute for Genealogical Studies contacted me and asked me to let you know about this great opportunity to further your genealogical education. This is a wonderful option for those who want online classes!

NEWS RELEASE: GenClass instructors merge 24 courses with the 150 existing courses at National Institute for Genealogical Studies!

GREAT NEWS! Lots of new topics & new courses available through the National Institute... As of February, you will see a new 'type' of course offered at the Institute --- INTENSIVE SHORT TERM courses.

* Intensive --- packed with lots of very helpful information, research techniques & tips
* Short Term --- most will be four (4) weeks in length;* Instructors --- experts in their field of genealogical research
* Live Meetings (optional) --- four (4) optional 'real-time' online meetings with your Instructor and fellow coursemates;* Direct Communication --- consult directly with your instructor via e-mail
* Feedback --- discuss specific topics through various online or offline threads
* Assignments (optional) --- although there may be some personal assignments to enhance a technique, submitting them is completely optional
* Exam (none) --- no final exam to be completed
* Inexpensive --- under $50
* One-on-One Advice --- Book an appointment with your instructor to discuss in-depth individual research problems (additional fee).(The above may vary by course; check the course description for details.)

Below is a list of the new courses, the instructor and their first anticipated start month. Check online for a full description of the course, actual dates courses are offered throughout the year and to complete your registration. (Go to http://www.genealogicalstudies.com/, click on menu item COURSES, click on COURSES again, click on INTENSIVE SHORT TERM view, click on name of course).

START DATE: February 15
Research: African-American Ancestors; Michael Hait

START DATE: March 1
Investigation: Adoption Records; Linda Rakita
Investigation: Lost Friends and Family; Linda Rakita
Research: English Ancestors-The Basics; Sheena Tait

START DATE: April 5
Brick Wall Research; Lisa Alzo
Research: Australian and New Zealand Ancestors; Kerry Farmer
Research: Female Ancestors; Lisa Alzo
Research: Native American Ancestors; Barbara Benge

START DATE: May 3
Research: Jewish Genealogy on the Internet; Micha Reisel
Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Your Family Story

START DATE: June 7
Research: Canadian Genealogy on the Internet-Part 1; Pat Ryan

START DATE: July 5
Research: Canadian Genealogy on the Internet-Part 2; Pat Ryan
Research: Salt Lake City, The Largest Genealogical Library-Part 1; Pat Ryan

START DATE: August 2
Research: Canadian Genealogy on the Internet-Part 3; Pat Ryan
Research: Jewish Ancestors-Basic Introduction; Schelly Talalay Dardashti
Research: Salt Lake City, The Largest Genealogical Library-Part 2; Pat Ryan

START DATE: Not Set Yet
Electronic Resources-Family Tree Maker 2009-The Basics; Cindy Rowzee
Electronic Resources-Family Tree Maker 2009-Advanced; Cindy Rowzee
Jump Start your Genealogy; Lisa Alzo
Organizing Your Family History; Cindy Rowzee
Research: European Ancestors-Part 1; Lisa Alzo
Research: European Ancestors-Part 2; Lisa Alzo
Research: United States-Great Lakes States; Lisa Alzo
Research: United States-Northeastern US; Cindy Rowzee

GenClass was formed in 2007 by a group of instructors who formerly taught courses for MyFamily.com. They quickly earned the reputation of offering affordable intensive courses with lots of valuable information covering a variety of general and specialized topics. Students enjoyed the Instructor involvement throughout the process. Ten instructors, with a total of 24 courses, have recently moved their courses to the Institute's training platform.

The National Institute for Genealogical Studies, in affiliation with the Continuing Education unit of the University of St. Michael's College in the University of Toronto, offer Certificate Programs in Genealogical Studies in the records of Canada, England, Ireland, Germany, United States and a Librarianship Program. The Institute celebrated its 10th anniversary of Genealogical Education during 2009.

90th COG - The 3rd Annual iGene Awards

Heeeere she is - Miss Amer . . .Ooops, sorry, wrong award show.

I don't know how I could have mixed up the 3rd annual Academy of Genealogy and Family History iGene Awards. The only awards show where everyone's a winner because you are the judge and jury of your own blog! That's right for three years running, the COG allows you the blogger to showcase your best work from the previous year.

So without further ado, here are the five categories and the winners:

Best Picture - Best old family photo that appeared on your blog in 2009. Tell us which you liked best and why.

THERE THEY WERE JUST WALKING DOWN THE STREET
This photo of my mother and her parents tell of a carefree, happy lifestyle that the family enjoyed right before World War II broke out. It was a time when everyone who lived in small towns went downtown on a Saturday to stroll the sidewalks, do their shopping, visit with friends.



Best Screen Play - Which family story that you shared in 2009 would make the best movie? Who would you cast as your family members?

Without a doubt the winner is:

THE PROBLEM WITH PAULINE - PART NINE. [ Well actually the movie would be parts one through nine. It's just that part nine was the only one written in 2009 and rules are rules you know!]

Part nine of "The Problem With Pauline" is the last before it went on hiatus. If you have not heard of Pauline and her problem you can catch up to speed by reading the previous posts (Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven and Part Eight)

Mae West will play Pauline Sheern who in 1875 marries Dr. George B. Sanford in Neosho County, Kansas, disappears for 25 years and finally resurfaces as Helen Hunt, a "proprietress" of a "Rooming House" (yeah, that's what they called it in 1900 Boise, Idaho - a proprietress - Ha!) The 150 thoroughbred chickens and her old horse will portray themselves.

W. C. Fields will play Pauline's husband Dr. George B. Sanford the dentist. From all the newspaper articles that tell us of George's misadventures in Kansas City, one can only assume that he like to tip the bottle.



Best Documentary - Which was the best informational article you wrote about a place, thing, or event involving your family's history in 2009?

THE TITANIC, A GUGGENHEIM TRAGEDY was about my sister-in-law's family. I just love the last words spoken by Benjamin Guggenheim:

"We've dressed in our best, and are prepared to go down like gentlemen. Tell my wife I did my best in doing my duty."

This he has the cajones to say with a straight face as his mistress is being lowered into one of the lifeboats!



Best Biography - Which was the best biographical article you wrote in 2009?

Again those darn judges could not make up their minds and so two shall share the golden statue:

THE GRANDMOTHER I NEVER KNEW

THE LAST ORIGINAL BESSON


Best Comedy - Which was the best funny story, poem, joke, photo, or video that you shared on your blog in 2009?

NUNS WITH GUNS

or

STILETTO SISTERS

Take your pick, either one - they just about wiped out my "Get Out Of Hell Free Card" account.


I would like to thank the Academy for the opportunity brag and be a show off. But most of all to Jasia - the Hostess with the Mostess"

In Which She Learns Something Exciting

OMG! I cannot believe that I did not know about this!

Here I was, just perusing through my google reader, when I come upon a post by Taneya over at the NCGenWeb blog. In it she tells us that there is a genealogy T.V. show already on the air.

How many of you know about THE GENERATION PROJECT? Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah has their own cable station and bring the show to the world every Monday night at 8:00 PM.

And, as if just watching the show isn't enough, you can fill out an application to be on the show! The application is really detailed so I advise reading it first or making a copy, take your time filling it out then come back to the website and enter the information.

Don't have BYU cable in your area? No problem. All you have to do is go to their site and watch it there. Keep in mind that the video changes every week as a new show is aired.

Thank you Taneya for the post and thank you BYU for a great production. I give it a 9 1/2!

SNGF - The Super Bowl of Genealogy

I really had fun with this week's Saturday Night Genealogy Fun over at Randy Seaver's place. This week he wants us to play in the "Super Bowl of Genealogy" and here are the rules:

Tell us about your dream game of the Super Bowl of Genealogy! * Where would it be played? * What teams would play? * Who would be the head coaches? * Who would be the stars of the game? * Who would win? * Who are the cheerleaders?* If you were playing in the game, what would be your dream play?

Well thank the Genea-Gods above I have been saved from trying to figure out the different player positions. I have 5 younger brothers, 3 sons and 1 husband and I do not really give a hoot about sports. I am not an athletic, sportsy kind of girl.

"But wait Sheri", I hear all of you saying. "I thought you told us that you were a cheerleader in high school" to which I must EDUCATE you all once again. One did not have to know anything about sports to become a cheerleader. It just was not a pre-requisite back in the day. The only requirements were that you could lift your body off the ground at least 2 or 3 inches while jumping, enough coordination to clap in time with the rest of the girls and that you hated P.E. class. If you were a cheerleader in my day, you need not ever step foot in that repulsive gymnasium or girl's locker room.

Our old friend, Terry Thornton of Hill Country HOGS Webpress, has come out of hiatus not only to play in the Genealogy Super Bowl, but he wrote a great scenario and cast all the players and cheerleaders. You can read it HERE.

Terry does a great job of casting all the players for the East Coast Team - "The Hill Hogs" and the West Coast team - "The Genea-Cats." The cheerleaders for the West Coast team - "The Genea-Cats" are:

Me

Chery Kinnick of Nordic Blue

Donna Pointkouski of What's Past Is Prologue

Wendy Littrell of All My Branches Genealogy

Well I may not know anything about football, but I am a brain-ee-ack when it comes to pom poms and if there is anything my mother taught me it is this - ALWAYS dress for the occasion. With that in mind, I give you the Genea-Cats Cheerleaders!

Terry only named 4 of us but my high school picture (yes that is really me wearing the "C") of the cheerleading squad fit perfectly with a little altering of the letters (originally Grizzlies). So rather than having nameless faces, I made the extra girls into cats. I do hope Chery, Donna and Wendy don't mind the liberty I took. I hope they appreciate that I have put them into the body of a 16 year old cheerleader for the day.

Rah Rah, Siss Boom Bah.

Can You Feel It?

Here it is, the beginning of February and I can feel the excitement in the air. Genealogy has come to prime time television. Finally I have a great visual aid to help me explain to my family and friends why genealogical and historical research is such a passion for me. For years they have given me the "eye-roll", the heavy sighing and the most dreaded "glazing over of the eyes while smiling and nodding" any time the subject came up.

Harvard scholar, Henry Louis Gates did a series of genealogy programs for PBS awhile back called "African American Lives" which were so well received that he is back with a new series called "American Faces." Using the latest tools of genealogy and genetics, he will explore the family histories of 12 famous Americans that include Stephen Colbert, Meryl Streep, Yo-Yo Ma, Queen Noor and Kristi Yamaguchi. The series premiers on Wednesday, February 10th at 8:00 PM EST. You can watch a 3 minute video clip by clicking here.

Only 30 more days until the premier of the show every genealogist has been eagerly awaiting. "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?" will finally make its debut on Friday, March 5th at 8:00 PM on NBC. Matthew Broderick, Lisa Kudrow, Spike Lee, Sarah Jessica Parker, Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields and Emmitt Smith are the celebrities that will take the journey into the past to discover their family history and how many of them tie into events from American history. NBC has 3 short video clips you can watch here. If the show is even a smidge as good as these video clips. . . well just watch them yourself and you'll see what I mean.

I really feel that this show will make family history and historical research irresistible. The impact from the show on the genealogical community is going to be huge. I can feel it in my bones!

Geneabloggers to the Rescue!

I want to thank everyone who responded to my plea for a research project to perhaps use in my portfolio for certification. Over 40 submissions were emailed to me. Can you believe that - over 40! Needless to say it is going to take me some time to go through each one, but I promise to get back to each of you.

The support and friendship that the genealogical community give to each other is like no other. I can't thank you all enough for your help and generosity.

OK enough of this, next thing you know I'll be wanting a puppy and I'll start feeling all warm and fuzzy that is just sooo not me :)