#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.  

#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.

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  

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.

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.

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.