Technology Schmechnology

This month's topic for the Carnival of Genealogy is:

Technology. What technology do you most rely on for your genealogy and family history research? Select one piece of hardware (besides your computer), one piece of software (besides your internet browser), and one web site/blog (besides your own) that are indispensable to you.

This is interesting timing for me. I'd mentioned in a post on The Oracle of OMcHodoy that my computer had recently been sent out for repair. The initial problem was that the photos in the "My Pictures" folder were duplicating themselves when I tried to delete extra copies or move photos to new folders. It would then put the copies into the same folder I was trying to clean out. No one I'd talked to could understand this; in fact even tech people would look at me as if I was possessed.

I finally called in some tech support people I'd used once before. He found that somehow Windows (XP) was looping the files and that it would need to be re-installed. I was leary, as I'd once had mega problems with a tech support group that lead to a court case (I won; that contract was the "Worst Buy" I'd ever made). Anyway, I got my computer back last Wednesday. The computer guy had backed up my data so I didn't lose my photos or hopefully, my genealogy database (I wont' know about this until I install the new FTM I ordered, but the file is where it should be). The first problem I'd had was described in a post from 24 Feb 2008 on The Oracle of OMcHodoy, so I won't go into it here. But suffice it to say that last night I again attempted to re-categorize pictures in one folder to find that the pictures self-duplicated and placed the copies into the folder I was trying to clean up. I swear, my computer is possessed, not me.

Anyway, I managed to delete the copies (I had to do it one by one instead of in groups) and move a few photos to a new folder, but it's quite distressing to know I spent a couple hundred dollars to fix a problem that wasn't fixed (the email to the computer guy should be read today).

So you can imagine, I'm in one of those "technology schmechnology" moods where it is not my friend. But to be honest, I wouldn't have gotten into Genealogy had it not been for technology. I wouldn't have gotten into Genealogy had it not been for technology that allowed me to store photographs. I would not have been able to share the family photos had it not been for technology, either. Because I think the best part of Genealogy is sharing "finds", I'm going to pick the CD Burner as my best technological friend. This device not only allows me to store photos in case of disaster, it allows me to send photos and data to family members who share my interest. If nothing else, the computer guy did replace my old burner, which stopped working quite a while ago. I realize now how much I missed it.

As for Software, I'd have to pick Family Tree Maker as my best friend. I have an old version and am waiting for the 2008 version now. It sure makes tracking data easy!

There's a lot of talk going around by a lot of people who think Ancestry.com is cheating people by charging for information that people can get for free at the National Archives. I say this is baloney. First of all, it would cost me a heck of a lot more to travel to the NA to get the information or to hire someone to go for me. Second of all, someone had to pay for people to scan images, index the data, and host and maintain the site. There is a wealth of information at Ancestry.com and it 's much more user friendly than other sites I'd used. So I vote for Ancestry.com as my most indispensable Genealogy website.

Though I must say, I'm glad I didn't have to pick my favorite genea-blog. That would just not be possible.

Jerry or Elvis?

First it was I Am. Now I Am It!

I've been tagged by Lori at Smoky Mountain Family History to answer some questions regarding non-fiction books.

What issues/topic interests you most--non-fiction, i.e, cooking, knitting, stitching, thereare infinite topics that has nothing to do with novels?

Well, to be quite honest, I don't read too terribly much. And when I do read, it's almost always fiction of the suspense/murder mystery type. I love both Kellermans, Fay and Jonathan, as well as Patricia Cornwell, James Patterson (when he writes solo), James Balducci, and sometimes Sue Grafton, though her alphabet mysteries got old by the time I got halfway through. Non-fiction? Let's see. I have several Genealogy books I haven't read yet (I'd probably be much better at it if I did). I have several cookbooks that I peruse every weekend when making my shopping list. I don't knit or craft since I have horrible fine motor skills. I used to digital scrapbook but haven't in a while. I enjoy historical coffee-table photograph books that include small snippets about the photographs within their pages. Not that I have any (the dog would eat them if I did), but I enjoy them when I see them at friends' or in the stores.

Would you like to review books concerning those?

I wouldn't mind reviewing some genealogy books, cookbooks, coffee-table books, etc. I foresee a problem with this, though, as I do with rented movies: If the story doesn't capture my interest within the first half hour, I stop watching. It would be the same with books that don't capture my interest in the first chapter or two.

Would you like to be paid or do it as interest or hobby? Tell reasons for what ever you choose.

If I got paid for it, I'd finish reading them!

Would you recommend those to your friends and how?

If I knew people who shared the authors' interest, I'd just tell them about it.

I'm not sure I can come up with 10 people to tag that haven't already been, but I'll try:

Randy of Genea-Musings

Thomas of Destination Austin Family

Lee of The I Seek Dead People Blog

Schelly of Tracing the Tribe: The Jewish Genealogy Blog

Dee, aka GenLady at Dee's Genealogical Journey

Cat at Diggin Up Dirt

Craig at GeneaBlogie.

Janice at Cow Hampshire

Okay, I'm cleaned out ;). 8 will have to do! Enjoy!

I Am

I found this little quiz over at Jessica's Genejournal. I've never read a Jane Austen book in my life, though I believe she is one of my niece's favorite authors. I'm not into movies like Sense & Sensibility and I don't read romance novels, either. Given all this, it wouldn't seem this little quiz would interest me at all. But I love stuff like this quiz, so I took it anyway. I know nothing about the character, novel/movie, or actress, but apparently I am....

Take the Quiz here!

According to the description that came along with it, "You are Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are practical, circumspect, and discreet. Though you are tremendously sensible and allow your head to rule, you have a deep, emotional side that few people often see.".

I'm not so sure about the discreet part (well, I'm very discreet at work, and as a social worker I'd better be!). But the rest of it is right on!

Might As Well Face It

64%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

I found this little quiz linked on Genealogy Reviews Online. I'm a sucker for quizzes that indicate my level of "pop culturedness".

I'm surprised I only scored at 64%. At least I was until I read some of the options. Who updates their blogs 5 times a day?

So Many Ancestors

So many ancestors, so little time!

This month’s “Carnival of Genealogy” topic is to pick four ancestors with whom to have dinner.

If you could have dinner with four of your ancestors who would they be and why?Would you have dinner in the present day or in one of their eras? Would you dine out or opt for a home cooked meal? What would you discuss at the dinner table? What would you most like to share with them about your life?

Hmmmm. I think I would have dinner in the eras of my ancestors to give me a taste of yesterday. Dessert, however, would be in current times so I could give them a taste of today. I would have a home-cooked meal; preferably one the ancestor cooks! Not because I don’t want to bother (sometimes I almost like to cook), but because even as a very finicky eater I think it would be fascinating to eat what they ate. Besides, I’m really not a fan of eating out. Some of what we discuss would be about questions I have about them and/or their family. Some would be about their lifestyles, their hobbies, their work.

One ancestor I would like to eat with is Margaret (DOYLE) CONROY (1867-1948). She is the one that has been elusive in the 1880 U.S. Census. She would have been 13 in 1880. She is not listed with her family, William and Mary DOYLE, and children John (my great-grandfather), Peter, James, Mary Ann, and William. I couldn’t find her among neighbors, either. I would ask her where she was in 1880 first thing. With my luck, the answer would be as simple as “at home. I guess someone forgot to list me”. During dessert, in modern times, I would also ask her if she ever found out how her young sons died around 1904. The story goes that one son, Albert, of Margaret (DOYLE) and Thomas CONROY died. They took him back to PA to bury him. When they returned to NYC they found their other son, William, dead. Was it Smallpox? I would hold this question until dessert during modern times because I figure that by now, 104 years after her children’s deaths and 60 years after being reunited with them, she’d be okay to talk about it. In the picture below, Margaret is at the left, in the darker dress. She's standing next to her sisters, Mary Ann, Alice and Johanna. Another ancestor I’d share a meal with is my great-grandfather on my mother’s paternal line, James O’ROURKE (1876-1944). As I’ve shared in several posts, my first question for him would be “Who the hell are your parents?”. Honestly I don’t know of any other specific questions I’d have for him. I guess I’d just converse about the times. Oh wait! I’d also ask where his forbearers lived in Ireland.
I think the next ancestor I’d choose would be Mary (GRIFFIN) McHUGH, my father’s paternal grandmother (1867 – 195?). I’d ask about her birthplace, her parents’ identities and location in Ireland, and through what port they entered. My dad had a story in his head that her family emigrated to Canada, and dad’s paternal grandfather, Dennnis McHUGH, followed them there to take Mary away to the U.S. to marry. Alas, Census records show that Mary likely immigrated to the U.S. at about age 8 and Dennis around age 15. Of course, another Census year states age 19 for Mary (immigration year 1886) and around age 29 for Dennis(1896 immigration year). This information is almost certainly incorrect, however, given that their first born son Patrick was born in PA in 1887.
Finally, the last ancestor I’d dine with is my father’s maternal grandmother Justina (NAHODIL sp?) HODICK (1875-1950). First thing I’d ask her is the correct spelling of her maiden name. It was always thought to be NAUCHADILE; however, during my research it is more likely a version of NAHODIL / NAHADIL. It may have been both; perhaps they changed it when they immigrated. I’d ask her where she was born. A family Bible somewhere stated Fuenfkirchen, Austria, which *may* now be Pecs, Hungary (or it may not). Every census record I’ve found her in states Czechoslavakia. Below is Justina with her husband, my gr-grandfather, Edward(1867-1951).
With a little luck, each of the above ancestors would be able to answer questions about their spouses’ ancestors, too. I’d like to confirm the 1885 ship Pennland as the one on which Justina’s husband, my dad’s maternal grandfather, sailed with his family when they immigrated to the U.S. It likely is, as the ship’s manifest to the U.S. via St.Kitt’s matches what my dad recalled about the family having stopped in that part of the world before arriving in the States. Also, this ship’s manifest identified Austria as the HODICK family’s country of origin.

I’d like to confirm my maternal great-grandmother’s maiden name’s spelling as McCUE as opposed to McHUGH. I’d also like to know her birth name. Her marriage record states Jennie; family knew her as Jane. Perhaps it was Genevieve? Perhaps Margaret DOYLE would have known.

I know that someday, when I finally get around to ordering vital recores, many of these questions will be answered. But it sure was fun imagining I could get the answers directly from their mouths!

I said this before, and I’ll say it again:

So many ancestors, so little time.

The Genealogy Parade

Bill West of West in New England challenges the genea-bloggers to describe what they would put on their float in a genealogy parade. I like this challenge!

The main feature of my float would be a Train Car. My mom’s family were railroaders in and around Pittston, Luzerne County, PA.
On the train would be a large group of coal miners. My dad’s family were coal miners in and around Nanticoke, Luzerne County, PA, not far at all from Pittston.

There would be women around the train wishing their men a safe day at work. The women would be wearing hats. Apparently Margaret Doyle Conroy, the very one I cannot find in 1880, worked as a milliner in NY or NJ. A milliner is a hat maker.In the background of the train would be a storefront, for the store my great-grandfather Edward Hodick used to own.

There would be children around the train, too, all eating Kaloches, to represent the favorite Christmas treat my dad’s mother Mary (Hodick) McHugh used to make. Apparently these are very labor intensive, so they also represent the hard-working people that make up my past and current family.

There’s my float. I hope you enjoy it in the Genealogy Parade!