Back in the Saddle Again

It's time to wake up and get active here.  Hubby and I have retired from our careers a month ago.  I am happy to say that we are still speaking to each other after staying home full time in the same house 24/7 for an entire month.

Being able to devote more time to learning about some of the new technology involved with genealogy research is such a bonus of retirement for me.  It's been great to reconnect with Pat Richley-Erickson and enjoy her Google+ Hangouts On Air, which include Mondays with Myrt, Beginning Genealogy Study Group, Wacky Wednesday and the study group called GenLaw using a manual, Genealogy and the Law by Kay Haviland Freilich and William B. Freilich. At first, it seemed to me that I would be over my head and drop off, but we have had three sessions now, and I am still with it.  Every HOA that I am able to attend is an opportunity to learn something new.  The genealogy juices are flowing!

 One of my goals in participating in this study group is to learn how to use my new knowledge (however limited) of the legal system to research my family tree.

       I hope to learn more about the divorce of my grandparents.

       I hope to learn more about the business dealings of my great grandfather, Patrick Murphy.

       I hope to learn which John Buckley is really my great grandfather, the husband of Eliza Cashman        and the father of Michael Joseph, John, Ellen (Nellie), Cornelius, Patrick and William (my                  grandfather).

       I hope to learn about land and property transactions that my ancestors participated.  Those things        can be chock full of meaty surprises for me.

DNA has held my attention for some time, but I am waiting to invest my money until I know a little more about which test would do the best job of answering my questions.  The longer I wait, it seems, the more choices I have to study about. It will be interesting to learn about my background.

However, my most pressing issue is the John Buckley dilemma. The time seems to be now for taking action on the thoughts that have been running around in my head for years.  If I don't ask for help, the answer will always be NO. So, pray, send good wishes and thoughts that my request will be granted. There is one brother and one nephew who are the only living people who fit the bill. The best case scenario will be that they both agree to help. I am prepared to make repeated requests, if needed. I want to be able to present them with resources to provide more details to motivate them.

This week, I am off to Salt Lake City to attend RootsTech2015 at the Salt Palace. It's just a couple of blocks away from the Family History Library!  There will be such great classes and gab sessions.  The vendors' hall will be packed with people offering books, software, doodads and gadgets designed to motivate us to part with our money and improve our quality of life. Crazy good!

Should I share my Task List on here and then share afterward the things I was and was not able to accomplish? I am pondering that one.

Well, I am off to prepare emails to my brother and nephew .....