Saturday, January 7, 2017

#52 Stories in 2017 - Week 2


Identifying something that I taught myself how to do without help from anyone else is a hard question to answer.   I consider myself a life-long learner and learn a lot of things on my own but it has never been completely independent.   I read, I find answers -- when I want to know something I will seek out experts that can help me achieve or learn what it is I am seeking.

I have learned most of my genealogy researching skills independently - but clearly I had to have help from somewhere - be it books, videos, blogs, articles and websites.   In the world today you can learn how to do anything if you are willing to look, listen and learn.  

Sunday, January 1, 2017

#52Stories in 2017 - Week One



As the New Year starts you have a fresh clean slate to begin again; to think about what you'd like to accomplish and achieve during the 365 days that you have before you.   So as I ponder what exactly do I want to accomplish in 2017 here is a list of things that come to mind.


  1.  Write an actual draft of my book about Annagusta West Drake - my 3rd great grandmother
  2.  Complete this blog challenge -- if I can do half of them I'll consider that a success.
  3.  Do an ancestor blog at least once a month -- once a week is impractical
  4.  Start a blog about Jeff's side of the family.
  5.  Clean out the attic -- it is time to purge and create a family living space.  Really want to get the bathroom up there refinished
  6.  Run my fastest 5K to date.
  7.  Run in at least 6 races - distance doesn't matter.
  8.  Eat healthier and drink more water :)
  9.  Learn to take better sports pictures.
  10.  Read at least one book for me each month.  -- currently into genealogy mysteries - just finished the Last Queen of England by Steve Robinson.


Friday, November 16, 2012

Five Minute Friday: Stay

Go.

Well today's five minute writing topic is STAY.  There are so many things that come to mind when I hear that term.  Stay home, stay strong, stay focused, stay put, stay little.

That is what I am thinking about the most.  I want my boys to stay little and sweet like they are.  I know that can't stay little forever but I love how they are as little boys.  They just play and love.  I have been sick this week so I have done a lot of staying and doing nothing but I have been blessed at how much they just love me.  They give hugs and tell me they hope I feel better.  The youngest has such a great sense of empathy for those in his family. The oldest is just a 10 year old boy that is still young and not in a hurry to grow up. I am blessed which makes just staying and doing nothing but getting rest that much more enjoyable!

Stop.


Inspired by Five Minute Friday  

Friday, November 9, 2012

Five Minute Friday: Quiet


So, I am going to tackle this five minute Friday writing task --Quiet - well that is a joke! 
Who ever has time to be quiet, in fact I'm not sure I even know what quiet is and in some cases I don't know how to handle quiet. 

It certainly isn't quiet in my house right now.  I'm sitting here at the kitchen table starting my day before work.  I can hear Phineas and Ferb as if I'm in the room watching it -- how invasive,  it floods my mind with annoying sounds.  In the background I can hear Sports Center as my husband works from home in his chair.  The keyboard clicks as I type and I can hear the white noise of A's fan on the monitor.  So even when I'm attempting to find 5 minutes of quiet -- life isn't quiet!  It is sensory overload.

I did find some sense of quiet yesterday when I was waiting for my massage -- it is about the only time I allow myself to be quiet -- but then so many thoughts come flooding in my mind and I have to swish them away.  I'll start thinking about work, things I need to do at home, ideas for Christmas -- life seeps in even when you want quiet.  I'm not good at quiet -- I feel like there always needs to be something.  Quiet is hard work and not normal.

Inspired by Five Mintue Fridays.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Sharing Memories 2012 (Week 2): My First Airplane Ride

It wasn't until I was a sophomore in college that I took my first airplane ride.  I went to visit my grandparents in Florida with one of my college roommates during spring break.   We flew to Ft. Myers from Rochester. I don't really remember much about the flight, I guess it was uneventful.  I do remember I was nervous and in fact I still kind of get nervous when I fly.  It has become a much less anxious experience, but I don't love it!  I like landing much better than taking off.  I like to sit in the middle of the plane near the wings.  I like window seats better than aisle seats.  I would rather check my luggage then have to cart it around with me.

When I fly I always order a ginger-ale, it is my drink of choice.  I have to make sure that I have lots of magazines.  I prefer to look at magazines instead of reading a book.  I have to have gum and if given the choice I like flights that have TV.  The longest flight I have ever taken was to Hawaii, it is also the only flight where I have gotten to sit in first class.  The best part of flying first class to Hawaii was the reclining seats and the ice cream sundaes.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Sharing Memories 2012 (Week 1): My First Childhood Memory

This week's Sharing Memories - A Genealogy Journey topic is to write about your first childhood memory.  I'm not sure I can actually pinpoint when or what it is.

On thing that I remember pretty clearly is the Christmas that I got my kitchen and hutch. Based on pictures, I think I was between 2-3 years old.  I remember coming down the stairs Christmas morning seeing them.  I think I also got my little table that same year.  The hutch was actually built by my dad and I still have it up in my attic.  I had metal plates that went in my hutch.  I loved my kitchen set and would LOVE to see a picture of it  It was a 1970's yellow and it was metal with a stove and a sink.
Here is a picture of me Christmas morning with my new hutch and dishes.