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What Gives Us The Right To Euthanize An Animal?

Who are we to put good, healthy animals down when they could be adopted out to a loving family? This topic really bothers me so I decided to vent a little through this hub. I love animals, cats and dogs alike. I love dogs more than I do cats, but that’s just my own personal opinion and another story altogether. Before I get started, I just want to tell you to get your pets spayed or neutered, especially if you don’t ever plan on breeding them. It is very saddening to see images of dogs about to be euthanized within a matter of hours or even days and knowing it is out of my control to help them. If I could, I would adopt them all!

The Humane Society puts down thousands of dogs every year and why? Because they no longer have the space for them. It saddens me to no end, to know that a dog’s days are numbered. They didn’t ask to be born into a heartless world, to be abused by their owners and abandoned or just given away like an old article of clothing that the owner no longer wants. If you want a pet for a few months, forget it! Your pet, once you buy them, either from a pet store, a professional breeder or the Humane Society is yours for their entire life span. It’s almost like a child in a sense. Would you give away your child or the best friend you could ever hope to have in this entire world? I would hope not. Loyalty is hard to come by, and your pet is your best friend. He doesn’t judge you, laugh at you when you do something stupid, and he doesn’t ask for much in return besides your love. That’s all he wants. Play a little ball, take a run in the doggie park, play frisbee or whatever. All he ever wants is the attention and love of his owner and that would be you.

So what gives us the right to euthanize an animal and play God with his or her life? Animals have rights too. If you have ever seen the ASPCA commercials on television, you will see animals that have lived in deplorable conditions. They are dirty, have matted hair, suffering from heart worms, eye infections and are poorly treated. This commercial makes me cry every time. It is so heart breaking to see animals that have survived this abuse and have been malnourished but still wag their tail when they see you. A human being’s selfish act makes a dog or cat suffer needlessly. Who are we to put a pet down? Honestly, who are we to say what animal gets to live or die on any chosen day? I don’t blame the Humane Society for putting animals down; I actually blame the irresponsible owners for not taking basic responsibility for their own pets. If the pet was spayed or neutered then we wouldn’t have the problem of overpopulation.

Puppy Mills

Puppy mills and breeders who breed animals every time they come into heat aren’t any better than those who abuse their pets. Puppy mills aren’t clean and the animals are lucky to have fresh food and water on a daily basis. For example, one town over from where I live, there was a puppy mill that was all over the news. The breeders were taken to court, and denied the opportunity of getting these animals back into their possession. The breeders had over 200 dogs living together in kennels stacked on top of one another and in cages with filthy newspaper, dirty water and not so fresh food; it actually looked somewhat moldy. Really? Why don’t you go to a restaurant and get served putrid water and moldy food and see if you like it.

In conclusion, please adopt from your local shelter. Give your pet love daily and never take life for granted!

 

Stop Animal Abuse

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Hawaii on a Budget ~ A Bucket List

 E Komo Mai! (Welcome)

 

Red and Yellow Spotted Flower~ Photo taken at Dole Plantation, Hawaii
Copyright Kelly Vial (2007)

So you have decided to take your yearly vacation and live it up in Hawaii! What a great choice you have made! There are so many things to do and a variety of places to see. Whether you are just wanting some beach time, want to have a destination wedding, want to learn how to surf, relax or just be by yourself, there are many different venues that may attract you. Maybe you are on a strict budget, like a lot of others. What will you be able to do in Hawaii that won’t cost you an arm and a leg?

Getting Married?

Your most frugal option if you are planning to get married here in Hawaii, is to get married on the beach. I was married here on the beautiful beaches of Oahu in 2007, and yes, I was on a strict budget myself! After paying the outrageous prices for airline tickets, I had to save money elsewhere. My husband’s family were born and raised here, so I had to purchase invitations, and really do some web searching for a reception hall that would hold several hundred people, find a good caterer, pick out a wedding cake, and purchase a wedding gown! Preparing for a destination wedding was not easy, and I won’t tell you that it is. You want the picture perfect wedding and Oahu has some of the most beautiful, picturesque beaches in the world to help you achieve this. I was married at 8 a.m. in the morning, and the photos came out beautifully. I wanted to find a somewhat private beach to get married at, so I chose one that was centrally located to family and friends, so they wouldn’t have to travel so far to get there. I researched photographers and found one that was also licensed to perform the ceremony! I was extremely lucky in that respect. But if you are looking for something very private, I would have to recommend “Captain Howie” as he is called. The web link is posted below if you are interested in his services. You can create an ala carte package of your own or choose the pre made packages that they have listed on the site. You can view some of the couple’s wedding photos here too. It really is a great value versus obtaining a professional studio to do what you need. Just an idea!

http://www.hawaiiweddings.com/

Budget Friendly Ideas for Fun in the Sun

First off, do your research on things to do in Hawaii that are both fun and something you couldn’t do anywhere else. For instance, if you like hiking like I do, try hiking Diamond Head on Oahu, but make sure you bring plenty of water to drink as there aren’t any places to stop by for a drink. Take your time hiking and don’t overdo it, as it can be very hot once you get going. I hope you are in shape for this, because before you reach the top, you have a series of steps to climb! The hike is only a little over 1 and a half miles round trip.The first set of steps, if I am remembering correctly, are 74 steps that lead you to a 3 story spiral staircase and then to reach the top, you have to climb another daunting stairway of 99 steps! Diamond Head is an extinct volcanic crater that provides you with great exercise and a 360 degree view of the islands. Allow yourself at least 2 hours for a leisurely hike. As always check with your doctor before doing anything strenuous; the air gets thinner when you are approaching the top, so it may feel like you can’t catch your breath. Hiking Diamond Head is very cheap, only $5 per carload, or $1 if you just walk in to the park itself, and once you reach the top, there is a man selling t-shirts that say, “I Hiked Diamond Head”. Great souvenir! Tip** Go early in the morning as it’s cooler and the park opens at 6:00 a.m. You will be glad you did, the view from the top is phenomenal! You’ll overlook all of Waikiki and can see as far as the Wainae Mountain range in the West. Happy Hiking!!

• Check out the Byodo-In Temple in Kaneohe. It is a very beautiful replica Buddhist temple of the original one located in Japan. There is a little tourist shop there that has a few items that may interest you. Feed the ducks and the Koi fish, but watch out as there is some stiff competition with the other birds also wanting to eat, as you toss the pellets! The pellets can be purchased in the shop.
• Aloha Tower Marketplace- plenty of shops to look around, places to eat such as Don Ho’s restaurant, but truthfully, you can get the same items at Aloha Stadium’s swap meet on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at a much cheaper price! But it is nice to relax and just listen to some of the entertainer’s and watch the ships pass by in the harbor.
• Aloha Stadium Swap Meet- You really must visit here at least once! The deals are great and with some vendors, you may even be able to talk them down in price just a little! Drink coconut water out of a coconut, snack on some of the foods offered, but there is one place I just cannot pass by- the lady that sells Li Hing Mui sprinkled pineapple! It is a local favorite and personally, one of my own! This is the place to come if you want to send souvenir’s back home to family. Kukui nut leis, shell jewelry, Hawaiian jewelry- especially the Hawaiian bracelets are super expensive as the price for a 10 mm bangle type bracelet goes for almost $2000! But it’s an heirloom of sorts and all the locals wear them, or should I say MOST of them.
• Take ukulele or hula lessons at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center- good fun!
• Fly a kite or take a plate lunch to Kapiolani Park in Waikiki; the beach is right across the street! Beaches are my favorite place to be.
• Watch a polo match at Waimanalo Polo Grounds, pick a team and have fun!
• Enjoy the many different festivals and events throughout the year including AT&T’s Hawaii Dragon Boat Festival, celebrate the Chinese New Year and see the lion dances and over 100 other events
• Learn about the history of Waikiki by taking the Waikiki Historic Trail walking tour.
• Honolulu Zoo
• Walk through Chinatown for a fascinating look at noodle factories, markets and gift shops
• If you are visiting Waikiki, near the Duke Kahanamoku statue, at sunset, you can witness the culture of Hawaii by viewing the torch lighting and hula dancers, or just listen to the drums playing.
• Take a scenic drive to Pali Highway and go to the Nuuanu Pali lookout for a beautiful view. Wear a light jacket as it gets really windy at the top- keep hold of your camera because the wind can blow it right out of your hands and keep an even closer eye on your children- granted there is railing, but people have been known to be blown off the side of the mountain. Be very cautious!
• Visit Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona, I visited the USS Missouri and spent the entire day there, learning and taking pictures! A great educational experience.
• Go snorkeling at Hanauma Bay and check out the beautiful array of colorful fish.
• Visit the beaches of Lanikai and Kailua for a more serene experience, plan a cookout at the beach and just enjoy the day with your children and family.

These are just some of the things you can do, there are plenty more things to see and explore!

Family Reunion Hawaiian Style

White and Purple Flowers, taken on September 8, 2012, Hawaii
Photo Credit: Kelly Vial 2012

Yesterday I had the opportunity to be a part of my husbands family reunion here in Hawaii. It was a beautiful, but hot day with little breeze. As we entered, my husband signed us in and grabbed our name tags that stated what line we were descended from. There are about 11 different family lines that stemmed from one common ancestor. I took our trays of food to the outdoor kitchen where there were many hugs and kisses going around, and new introductions being made. I don’t think I’ve hugged and kissed that many people in one day EVER! You could definitely feel the close bond of a loving Ohana (family). We made our rounds saying aloha to the family sitting down at tables or sitting on benches underneath the palm trees. 

After speaking and saying hello to all the Ohana, I decided to take some photos of the boards on display of the Meyer genealogy tree! Huge! It was stretched out over 3 or 4 different display boards. Another 2 or 3 boards also displayed old family photos of generations past. One looked like a collage, and the others were more formal looking with  8×10 photos with the ancestors name below them. Very nice!

There was a straw hut I guess you could say, that had members of the Ohana giving out goodie bags to the keiki (children). The children’s games were all set up- putt putt golf, a pinata swinging from the tree above, and many others. Some of the older kids were tossing a football, the younger ones were chasing each other around trees, blowing bubbles, blowing their little plastic horns which sounded like a high pitched whistle. The band under the tents sounded wonderful, playing local style music and just seeing everyone so happy, dancing around, doing hula and just having some good ol’ fun was just one of the highlights of the day. 

Before enjoying the food that our Lord had blessed us with, we had Pule Ho’okuu (opening prayer).  There was an abundance of food brought to eight banquet tables, laden with all the food you could possibly envision. Anything from fried chicken and hot dogs to Pork Adobo and spinach salad with tofu (which was my favorite), potato mac salad, beef curry, pies and chantilly cake, doughnuts, mini muffins,  and brownies; you name it and it was there. 

After the potluck lunch, there was a presentation given on the history of George Kahelelani Meyer, our common ancestor. Group introductions of the descendants by lineage were then asked to go on stage in front of everyone. Everyone snapping pictures of each generation and one person to speak and say how they were descended from this one man. After all eleven different family lines had their turn on the stage, we all gathered around in the biggest circle I ever seen, holding hands with one another while everyone sang “Hawaii Aloha” which was written by Reverend Lorenzo Lyons. This concluded all ceremonies of the day, but this didn’t stop me from playing with the keiki’s, chasing one little girl around trees, blowing bubbles with a 3 year old cutey and passing a football to one of the other boys. Mind you, I don’t have a football arm! But it was all in good fun and I had the best anniversary day with my husband and his extended family, that I truly enjoyed being a part of! 

Before we left for the day, my husbands grandmother, Evelyn was acknowledged by the entire Ohana as being the oldest living descendant of George Kahelelani Meyer. She had a beautiful framed picture box type of photo frame, where on display at the top, were two crossed bats that was an emblem of sorts and had a group photo of her grandfather as a member of the local baseball team. What an honor for her! Love you grams <3! 

Hawaii Aloha Song Lyrics by Reverend Lorenzo Lyons

It’s Treasure Chest Thursday Again!

The Marriage Bond of David Curnutt (Cornett) and Febe Sutherland

Wordless Wednesday~ Galax Gazette 1943

The Galax Gazette August 1943
This is the newspaper where I found my GG Grandmother, Celia Ann Poole, obituary. What a piece of history, would you check out all the headlines and stories that were printed at the time of her death? So interesting!

Sunday’s Obituary ~ Celia Ann Poole (Mrs. G.W. Cornett)

My 2nd Great Grandmother- Celia Ann Poole
From the Galax Gazette August 1943 (1 of 2)

 

My 2nd Great Grandmother- Celia Ann Poole
From the Galax Gazette August 1943 (2 of 2)

 

Full Obituary which includes others plus my 2nd Great Grandmother- Celia Ann Poole who was also named Mrs. G.W. Cornett in the obituary 🙂
From the Galax Gazette August 1943

 

Forbidden Romance Book Trailer

youtube-logo (Photo credit: www_ukberri_net)

I have been researching and creating this week. I just wanted to share with you, the book trailer I created for the newly released novel, titled “Forbidden Romance” which was written by Clinton W. Getzinger. This book is cleanly written and one of my favorites thus far. I hope you enjoy the book trailer!

Here is the link: http://youtu.be/AzuY6-tHCLk

Would you like to know more about this author? You can find him at the following links below!
http://www.goodreads.com/cwgetzin

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Clinton-W-Getzinger-Author/274572422644884

 

You can order the paperback version, Kindle, or Nook here:

http://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-Romance-Clinton-W-Getzinger/dp/1478248084/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346122752&sr=8-1&keywords=clinton+w+getzinger

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forbidden-romance-clinton-getzinger/1112384118?ean=9781478248088

Mobile Monday ~ What’s In Your Genealogy Toolbox?

funfair mechanic (Photo credit: casper.tromp)

Remember those Saturday’s when your uncle or other male counterpart was constantly”fixing” something? Maybe he was replacing a blade on his handy, dandy, “don’t fail me now” lawnmower that is rolling on it’s last wheel. He could have been changing the oil in his truck, fixing a leaky radiator hose or any other thing he thought needed fixing! He always had a toolbox handy that had his basic necessities inside, didn’t he? Now, I’m not knocking today’s generation of women who can fix things. I make that attempt myself, although I usually do it the easy way by consulting “Google” for my easy fix!

I love the DIY (Do It Yourself) web sites and love to do the crafty things like refinishing old furniture because I see that it can still be used. I recycle! Don’t throw away what you think may be junk, may turn out to be a nice furniture piece for your parlor! One day as I was scouring the DIY pins on Pinterest, I found a unique coffee table made out of old wooden wine bottle crates! But sanded down and stained, they actually gave the room a modern but rustic ambiance to the room itself. It’s definitely on my list of “To-Do’s”! You can view the step by step here: http://diy-vintage-chic.blogspot.com/2012/05/vintage-wine-crate-coffee-table.html I heart this website! Such great ideas, especially if you like that “Vintage Chic” look 🙂 You can also follow my Pinterest page on the left sidebar at the top there is a button! Just click it and see what kind of stuff I have pinned! Pretty cool if I say so myself!

Okay. I think I have rambled endlessly about DIY stuff and that’s not what you thought you’d see coming to a genealogy blog now is it? HA! I fooled you! But seriously, back to the topic of the genealogy toolbox!

Toolbox (Photo credit: 60 in 3)

I have in my own toolbox, several apps I use and thought I would share with you the two that I use for today’s post. More to come next Monday!!

KINDLE~ OMG! I absolutely love this app! I use it on my iPhone4, yeah I don’t have the 4S with Siri who talks to me, but hey, who needs her when I have all these other apps that I love? I don’t need you Siri-sorry! But since I am a lover of reading and books, but also the more frugal “cheap” type of girl, I look for free or low cost books first. I have several genealogy books stored in my “cloud shelf” that I can read anytime I like. The Kindle app is free just in case you didn’t know. In my Kindle app, I have genealogy books that I downloaded for free, many creative writing books, some marketing, books about faeries and the fey, thrillers, and romance! My latest great read I want to share with you- the book is titled, “Forbidden Romance” and is cleanly written by Clinton Getzinger. You can check out the book and my review here: http://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-Romance-Clinton-W-Getzinger/dp/1478248084/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346088256&sr=8-1&keywords=forbidden+romance+clinton+getzinger

Evernote~ Add new notes when you get great ideas or if you want to remind yourself to make that ancestral chart for your great grand aunt that you forgot to do yesterday~ OOPS! I use this app frequently. I have created notes on genealogy blog topics I would like to read about, genealogy correspondence logs, you name it and it goes in there. What is so cool about this app to me, is the fact that you can sync the app on your iPhone to your home computer! Ahhh! How great is that? That’s not all! You can add photos to your notes to give you that creative spark that you had at that particular time, on that day. You could have been walking your dog in the park and an idea just popped in your mind that you don’t want to take the chance that you may forget later. This is why I use this and guess what? IT’S FREE!

What genealogy apps do you use? Please comment below! I would love to find a new app that I haven’t seen or heard of!

Thanks for visiting and “Happy Monday” to you!!

Sentimental Sunday ~ Dad’s First Car?

My Dad, Standing in Front of an Old Car-
His red vest stands out doesn’t it? Does anyone know what kind of car this might be?

Rise and Shine! It’s Gift Card Giveaway Time!

 

You can find Clinton here on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/12164425-clinton-getzinger

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Clinton-W-Getzinger-Author/274572422644884?ref=ts

Read “Forbidden Romance”. Review the novel! Win the $25 Amazon.com Gift Card! EASY PEASY!!

Treasure Chest Thursday ~ Books and Documents

Memorandum (Ashe County, NC Public Library)

Copy taken from a book titled, “The Cornett’s, Our Great Family” Introduction Page

Cornett Information From Ashe Co.,North Carolina Public Library (page 6)

Cornett Information from Ashe County, North Carolina Public Library (page 11)

Cornett Information from Ashe Co., Pub Lib, NC (pg. 12)

These documents were copied by the Ashe County, North Carolina Public Library.  I received these pages in an email from a fellow researcher who I am currently working with, among others and out of respect for her privacy, her name is not mentioned here.  Interspersed on these pages is information regarding James Cornett(Cornutt) and Sarah Basham, who were the parents of both David and James Cornett Jr.

David’s Will is among those documents mentioned and includes information about Margaret Mary (Molly) Vaughan.  The person who compiled all of this information was Leta Kay Glenn Cornett. Whether it was a document or book, I’m not entirely sure. The document/book is entitled, “THE CORNETT’S, OUR GREAT FAMILY“. I can imagine that this “book” is no longer in print as I haven’t been able to locate a copy as yet. I would love to read it in its’ entirety as I only have selected pages and they are random at best!

There is also a copy of a document from the DAR stating that James Cornett(Cornutt) was married to Molly Vaughan.  The MEMORANDUM, dated January 1967, beginning with John Cornett of Henrico County, Virginia. Information regarding David, listing his military record and that he and James both received grants in Montgomery Co., from Governor Henry Lee and James P. Preston, and also including a listing of his children.

So what have you been researching this week?

Related articles

• Genealogy Treasure Chest ~ Partition Findings (kellyvial.wordpress.com)
• Treasure Chest Thursday ~ James H. Curnutt Petition (kellyvial.wordpress.com)

Mystery Monday ~ Who, What, When, Where?

English: Erythrina crista-galli (flowers). Location: Oahu, Ala Moana Beach Park and Magic Island (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hope everyone had a wonderful, blessed weekend! I spent my Saturday, cooking and creating in my kitchen and my Sunday was spent at Ala Moana Beach Park near Magic Island. I went to a baby shower for a dear friend and it was a smashing success! Plenty of games, good food, playing and watching the keiki’s have fun in the sun. There’s nothing better than getting together with your family and friends and welcoming another new life into this crazy world. The sun  was hot yesterday and it was really refreshing to enjoy the cool,  salty water with everyone. It was an unconventional baby shower where men were included in this awesome celebration. It was all great fun 🙂

Speaking of family, who were they really? My quest is to learn more about who my Cornett family really is. It’s more than the genealogy aspect, it’s about the history of my family and getting to know them on a more personal level even though they are long gone. Sometimes I think I should have been born in this era, back in the 1800’s. What life must have been like for them. The trials and tribulations they must have endured in order to survive. Once you start your own family history research, you find that you need to dig just a little deeper because you just haven’t found that clue yet. It may be in the next shovel of dirt you are digging with. You bend over and scoop up a handful of rich soil, while it slowly sifts through your fingers. Looking, searching, and hoping that the next clue will one day be right there in your hands.

What kind of people do you come from? Were they from another country other than the U.S.? Why did they choose Grayson County, Virginia or even Kentucky in which they decided to settle? What were their thoughts regarding the land they would be living on? Was it fertile land, great for farming and cattle? What did they hunt for food? Deer? Did they come across Native Americans? What did they eat back then? So many questions and I will probably never know all of it, but the thrill of the hunt keeps me going!

When my family settled in Grayson, Virginia and also in Kentucky, why did these particular areas appeal to them so much over other areas? I can only imagine that this land in which they decided to live and start a family on, was rough and rugged. Can you imagine having to clear land and trees in order to build your home? Today we have heavy machinery to do this for us, so you can guess how much hard work, tears and sweat they must have poured into their lives, their land and their homesteads. I guess the good thing about that, is the ability to use the lumber in which they had to clear,  using the wood as a log home or cabin.

Where did the Cornett family originate from? From some web sites I have read, it mentions that the Cornett surname was Norse or of French origin. Does anyone really know? The Cornett family married into one family with the last name of Sutherland, where some of the Sutherland’s back in the mid 1700’s originated from Scotland. But what about the Cornett’s? Where do the really come from?

There are so many things to discover in your family tree. The who, what, when, and where of your history will only add depth to your knowledge of your ancestors that came before you.

What will you discover?

Happy Ancestor Hunting!! 🙂

Sorting Saturday ~ The Sloppy Genealogist

USS Missouri (Ship Desk)
Photo Credit: Kelly Vial via kellyvial.wordpress.com
Copyright © 2011, Kelly Vial

As a genealogist and family history researcher, you would think I’d be a little more organized! I am overwhelmed with emails of new information and document attachments! Now, what is the best way for me to sort through these? I think I need another filing cabinet! A filing cabinet just for my genealogy research! When I started my research I didn’t really need but just a little space in the back of my filing cabinet. Since I really didn’t have much as far as documents, except for the packets of information that I received from a family member oh so many years ago! Now it looks like my research is going to have to take up residence in another location 🙂

My handy, dandy printer just decided that it needs new ink cartridges! So what’s a girl to do with her digital documents when she can’t print them out right away? No CD’s either! What has my office world come to? Looks like I’m running out of everything, doesn’t it? I guess I need to make a trip to Costco and Office Max!

So I guess since I’m out of ink and I have no CD/DVD’s to make a genealogy back up disc, that I will have to resort to Evernote and then export all my documents into my Family Tree Maker 2012 software. There is so much that needs to be done! Did I mention how much I hate clutter? I can’t stand it when my computer files are all out of whack and not in their proper folders! Yes I did do that! It’s all my fault, just being lazy I guess!

MY TO-DO LIST

Re-stock my office supplies (make a list)

Organize my hierarchy mess of file folders on my laptop

Scan more photos (Oh so tedious; I think I have over 2000!)

Organize my file folders in my real world office (which happens to be my bedroom currently, in this tiny apartment)

Organize my file folders in my email account (Ugh..that should be tons of fun!)

Create a filing system that works wonders! (Is there a program out there for that?)

When I said organization is key in another blog post, I really meant it! It would have saved me so much time if I had accomplished everything like I was telling you how to be more organized! Ha! You remember that saying your mom may have told you at least once in your life? “Do as I say and not as I do!” That’s the way I at this moment! Here I am  writing about organization tips and not even doing it myself! All I can say is I’ll try to do better and not be such a sloppy genealogist 🙂

Funeral Card Friday ~ Death Claims Police Chief

Buster Dodson Funeral Card (Front)
September 29, 1909- May 20, 1976

 

 

Buster Dodson
Funeral Card (Inside)

 

Back side of Funeral Card (Family Expression of Gratitude)

This is a newspaper clipping my mother saved since 1976.

Buster Dodson was my mother’s uncle, so this makes him my great uncle. He died 9 days before my 4th birthday. He was the Police Chief for Welch, West Virginia. He was also the brother of my maternal grandfather, Claude Dodson, now deceased. As you can tell the newspaper spelled his name wrong in the title but under his actual photograph, it is spelled correctly. Throughout the article when they list the names of living relatives, they say the name is spelled as “Dotson”, which it isn’t. The last name is spelled “Dodson”. Just one letter off, but this is very important when researching your ancestral roots!

Tuesday’s Tip ~ Social Networking for the Family Historian

Title: Deep in Memories
Creative image #: 143176334
License type: Royalty-free
Photographer: Maria Pavlova
Collection: Vetta
Credit: Maria Pavlova

For several years, my interest in genealogy has escalated from being just a hobby to pass the time, into a full fledged passion to learn everything I could about my ancestors lives. Before becoming a city girl and moving to metro Atlanta, I was a barefoot country girl and where I lived if you wanted to have access to the internet, you had two choices, you could have dial up or dial up! There wasn’t any such thing as high speed internet, I’m sure there really was but not where I lived 🙂  So annoying, the wait time! If I were to wait for dial up to connect to the internet for everything that I do today, I would be lost! Who wants to wait for 30 minutes to check their email only to lose their connection and have to wait yet again and again?

Today, I am back in the city, I have my T3 internet bandwidth going full speed ahead! Normally T3 is mainly used by businesses for their high speed capabilities and they offer very fast, data transfer rates. I guess this girl got lucky didn’t she? Having T3 in my apartment, how could I not be ecstatic? Life in the fast lane as they say! So much to do and only so many hours in a day to do it in. 🙂

Everyone seems to be on social networks these days, your everyday person, non-profit organizations, businesses and so on. I for one, am on not just one social networking site, but several! You can find me on LinkedIn for business networking, Twitter for my genealogy interests and followers, Facebook to stay connected with my own family and friends and I love the fact that even though I am so far away from my family we are able to stay connected to one another by sharing our photos, videos and what we are currently doing with one another, so it almost feels like we just seen each other last week. Sort of!

Being so interested in my family history, I decided to create a Facebook page called “Fans Of Genealogy” which is  dedicated to my research findings and connecting with family members and others who are interested in this topic, in a totally different way than just having a Facebook profile for just myself. It’s a place where we can all share our family memories, stories that were passed down from one generation to the next and to share photos of our past ancestors. I am sure everyone has a story they would like to share, and for me, this is the best part of learning about my heritage. What social networking sites do you utilize for your family history research?

Have you created a fan page or group on your ancestors? It’s a great way to not only stay connected but to also document your research and what you found out about your family for your children and grandchildren. One day they might be interested in what you are doing in terms of genealogy and family history. They may one day want to know where they come from, what their ancestors looked like, or even read some of the stories that were passed down oh so many years ago!

It’s time to get crackin! Time to become the genealogy sleuth and discover my past! I’m going from life in the fast lane to life in the past lane!!

Happy Hunting 🙂

 

“Forbidden Romance” Autographed Book Giveaway

Enter for a chance to win 1 of 3 autographed copies of Forbidden Romance.

About the Author

Clinton Getzinger spent part of his childhood in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. A keen interest in researching his mountain heritage led him to set many of his historical fiction short stories in southwest Virginia. He currently works as an educator for the Norfolk Public School system in Norfolk, Virginia and is a freelance writer. Forbidden Romance is his first novel.

Book Description

Mollie Williams, the youngest daughter of a widowed rural Appalachian Mountain woman, has a secret, forbidden and abusive love relationship that she cannot reveal to anyone no matter how high the cost. Not even to her own mother! Her oldest sister is the only one who suspects what is going on but refuses to betray her or confront her. In order to escape her troubled life in 1870s Virginia, Mollie travels to Kansas to begin a new life and cannot tell anyone why she must leave home. What kind of new struggle awaits her in the west? How will she survive without her lost love?

Contest Deadline

Enter now through September 29, 2012 to get your free, autographed copy of “Forbidden Romance” by Clinton W. Getzinger. Contest entries may be submitted through September 29, 2012 and officially ends at 11:59 EST on this day.

The winners will be chosen on October 5, 2012!

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Living In Hawaii..

Image via CrunchBase

A Haole Girl’s Life

Living in Hawaii has been such a blessing and I have met so many wonderful people along the way. The spirit of Aloha is definitely instilled in the Hawaiian locals, probably even from birth. Everyone is so nice and you are treated as if you are family or even long time friends. Being from the mainland, it was a sort of culture shock for me and took some adjusting to. My husband and I moved from the Atlanta area, where we were always used to the hustle, the shopping crowds, the congested highways driving into downtown, and yes, even some rude people that have major road rage issues. So what happened to southern hospitality? I’m not sure. It has to be there somewhere, but I am thinking that the true southerners are more humble than most.

Within my first few months of living in Hawaii, I had my husband, Nakeu, who was born here in Hawaii, drive me around and play the part of “Puka Shell Tour Guide”. He drove to so many different places so I could play tourist and take pictures of some of the beaches and other sites such as the Byodo- In Temple and the Bishop Museum, which houses ancient artifacts of Hawaii’s kings and queens, and several different exhibits which helped me learn a lot about their culture and history. The museum had a dinosaur exhibit which is great fun for kids, the Hawaiian Hall, which boasts three floors that takes visitors on a journey through different realms. The first floor is the realm of Kai Akea, which represents the Hawaiian gods, legends and beliefs. The second floor Wao Kanaka, represents the realm where people live and work and also focuses on the importance of land and nature in daily life. The third floor, was called Wao Lani, and it is the realm inhabited by the gods; this is where I learned about the ali’i, or gods, and other key moments in Hawaiian history. The museum also has a sports hall of fame that displays pictures and memorabilia of Hawaii’s accomplishments in sports history.

The beaches offer you all the serenity you could ever ask for; all you have to do is just sit there on the shoreline and watch as the ocean’s waves come in, one after another. It is so peaceful. The salty spray of the water, the balmy breezes on a warm day, watching the surfers ride the swell, is so appealing at any time of the year. Since Hawaii doesn’t have your traditional changes of the season like they do in the mainland, it makes for the perfect vacation getaway. They do have a rainy season, but it really isn’t any different than any other morning or afternoon shower. Not really! It comes and goes and then the rest of your day is absolutely beautiful. I won’t try to paint a picture of Hawaii being the absolute best place for all people, but it is perfect for me and my family, even though it can be quite expensive!

If you are a foodie like myself, then you definitely need to visit! The local cuisine cannot be beat! Cinnamon’s in Kailua has the best Guava Chiffon pancakes I have ever eaten! That says something because I really don’t like guava too much nor do I particularly care for pancakes most of the time, but I will eat them on occasion. But whatever your taste buds desire, you shouldn’t have a hard time finding it here. Another local favorite spot is L & L Barbeque, they serve a variety of plate lunch specials that will make your mouth water.

Before I end this article, I have to tell you not to forget Island Snow, also located in Kailua, it is part surf shop and shave ice counters that have every conceivable flavor! It’s not a slushy or anything even close- I had one called Mele Melona and it tasted like honeydew heaven. To my surprise there was also a scoop of vanilla ice cream at the bottom! My taste buds just screamed, “Mahalo!”

 

Happy Aloha Friday!

Image via CrunchBase

What’s good in the genealogy neighborhood? Lots of things I am sure but that’s not what is on my mind right this second. Weird yeah? I thought so too! Considering I usually eat, drink, sleep and dream of genealogy most of the time! This post isn’t all about genealogy, but about the friends, family, and colleagues you meet along the way.

Since switching from Blogger to WordPress, I am truly getting more feedback on the articles I write. I don’t know why that is, it just IS. Maybe I am doing something different and just don’t realize it yet. Who knows? But I am loving the fact that I can correspond and talk to my readers, who by the way, leave good insight to my blog posts. Thank you all for this! 

Have you read any good books lately? I haven’t read as much as I used to; I now read more blog articles, tweets, Facebook posts on the “Fans of Genealogy” page and trying to connect with my followers there also. So many social networks and did you know there are many Facebook pages and groups you can join, dedicated to the topic of Genealogy? I think I belong to about 4 different ones plus a writers workshop, and this is just on Facebook! Have a Twitter account? Ha! Me too! It’s not so much a personal Twitter as it’s more related to genealogy and other writers. If you happen to find me on Twitter, just a warning: Don’t SPAM me, because I will block and report ya! Thanks, Management…

I have been reading this really good book that I ordered through Amazon.com and OMG I was hooked within the first two pages! Great writing style and the topic can’t be beat as it could really relate to anyone. It’s a book in the historical fiction genre set back in the 1870’s in Virginia, called “Forbidden Romance” by Clinton W. Getzinger 🙂 Don’t recognize this author’s name? You probably won’t! This is his first novel and he just so happens to be my cousin! Woot!! Woot!! Kudos to him for making his dream of becoming a published author, a reality! 

Clinton W. Getzinger’s book is available on your Kindle or in paperback form. It’s a great read and I highly suggest reading it! Pure awesomeness if I say so myself! I can’t wait to see what kinds of stories he comes up with for his next “novel” idea. No pun intended there 😉 It is also located and listed in GoodReads right here on this website! Take a look and read it; you won’t be disappointed!

Here is the link to the book: http://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-Romance-Clinton-W-Getzinger/dp/1478248084/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344620184&sr=8-1&keywords=clinton+w+getzinger

Thrifty Thursday ~ Genealogy For Free?

I Love Trees!
Photo Credit: Kelly Vial via kellyvial.wordpress.com
Taken: June 2012- Punchbowl Cemetery, Honolulu, HI

Is the recession hurting your wallet? Do you only have just enough money to pay your bills, have a roof over your head and put food on the table? Believe me, you are not alone! I have struggled so much myself, being an unemployed housewife, dependent upon my husband to care for me, keep this hungry girl fed and keep all of our bills paid and current. Is it hard? Definitely! The cost of living is through the roof and just the idea of going out to eat makes the wallet cringe in horror.

So how can an unemployed, family historian seek out their ancestors when their budget is already stretched to the max? Being a genealogist is hard work, they deserve to be paid for the work they do just like anyone else. But there are some free resources out there that you can access for little or no money at all.

Here are three web sites I have found that I truly have used and like:

• FamilySearch.org ~ Look for your ancestors here to start with. You can search by full name or just the surname. Enter all the information you have such as a birth date, death, or marriage. If you know the spouse’s name – even better! It gives you more information to work with later! It doesn’t stop there though, you can search other family trees, view documents, and if you don’t know much about genealogy at first, why not take a FREE class? You can access the “Learn” tab at the top of the web page to learn all you possibly can about this very intriguing subject. But once you get started, you may find that you just want to keep digging to the roots!
• http://usgenweb.org/ ~ This website is great because not only is it free but is volunteer driven. The volunteers dedicate this site to free online research, which benefits everyone! Whether you consider genealogy just a hobby or you hope to make a connection with family, this site is a great starting point. Every county and state will have different web sites you can go to based on your own research or where you think your family of ancestors may have lived during a certain time period.
• http://www.accessgenealogy.com/ ~ I like this web site because on the home page it tells me what new data has been added to the site. But you can always search by state, for me it would be the state of Virginia or maybe even Kentucky as that is where the majority of my research has been found. So I click on the state I need, where does it take me? It takes me to a corresponding page with related links, all free of course! I’m talking about lots of records! Cemetery records, slave records, census records, military records and rosters, maps, Civil War records, WW1 and WW2 records, you name it there is probably a link for it.

Happy Hunting!

Coach Color Tag Gift Card Giveaway

Coach Image
Photo Credit: “Imsoadancer101” via Photobucket.com

The big question today: Who will be the next winner of a Coach gift card? I’ve been on several different blog sites through the leader boards and people are winning! The gift card increments that can be won are $500, $250, and $100! Who couldn’t use a new handbag or even a wallet? New perfume? Maybe you have a gift to buy your loved one! Why not gift them with a gift card? This is it! It’s time to win what you can’t afford to buy yourself!!

All you have to do is access the image link below. Hover over the color box and if you are a winner it will say Congratulations and you can enter your information from there. If not, you will just see a smaller circle in the center that says “Chic Is Where You Find It” with the color and it’s number. You can keep playing all day if you like, there is no limit! Just keep refreshing the page, either at the top of your web address bar or the easiest way is to press the F5 button on your PC!

The contest lasts until August 31st! So start playing today!

Eligibility: Open to the 50 U.S. States including District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec). Residents 18 years or older.

Entry Dates: August 1, 2012- August 31, 2012 (ends at 11:59 pm EST)

Coach Game Prizes Include:

6 Grand Prizes: A $500 Coach Gift Card

14 First Prizes: A $250 Coach Gift Card

90 Second Prizes: A $100 Coach Gift Card

Good Luck and I hope you win BIG!

http://colortag.coach.com/embed/905/