Motivation (Or Lack Thereof) Monday

Well, it's been awhile since I updated my blog.  A lot longer than I had anticipated.  It's amazing how "the real world" can impede on your genealogy fun! Vacations of a co-worker (but she brought back chocolate covered macadamia nuts!) and the boss man and a "bug" that I just could NOT fully shake.  I also had to replace my desktop computer. Boy that was interesting as the last time I did this was in 2005. Didn't have a lot to transfer back then.  Couldn't say the same this time! So most everything transferred...I think :) Had to get another monitor.  I was able to get a duplicate of my current monitor so I now have dual monitors at home and at work!  See....

Still a mess BUT getting better!! I found a box of computer related booklets from my few computers.  Including a manual on Microsoft MS-DOS!! And my tyrant of a home office manager was carefully monitoring my progress from his purview ...........

Cody the Home Office Manager has informed me I have a busy March coming up with genealogy society meetings, research and more cemetery pictures.  Guess I better get busy then!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today my mother, Sharyn Ann (Senecal) Coughlin, would have been 67 years old.  She was born at Champlain Valley Hospital, Plattsburgh, Clinton County, New York to Ernest John Senecal and Eulalia Mary (Duprey) Senecal of AuSable Forks, Clinton County, New York and was their only child.

Plattsburgh Press Republican, January 5, 1945 Page 4

I found a cute baby picture of my mother in my GOLDMINE :

And I can't resist another photo of me, Mom and my sister Pam when she was a baby:

Unfortunately my mother died of a brain aneurysm on January 3, 1992 in North Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina.  She is buried at Dorchester Memory Gardens, Summerville, Dorchester County, South Carolina. My father wanted to make sure she was facing St Theresa the Little Flower Catholic Church, which is across the street.  (Please remember there are very few Catholic churches in South Carolina!)

I have so many wonderful memories of my mother.  There was so much more I wanted to learn from her but never got the chance.  I hope one day my nephew will know that he has  both his maternal and paternal grandmothers smiling down at him from heaven!!

Phone Love

I had to get a new phone so after much thought and research, I decided on an Android phone. So I got a Samsung Stratsophere. So far so good!! My last phone was a Windows based "smart phone" that really had no good apps. Now I'm making up for lost time!! The Kindle app came on the phone. I've added Find-A-Grave (beta) (Android Market Link), Legacy Family Tree's Families (Android Market Link) as well as a few others.

So far I've downloaded a few of Nancy Hendrickson's books (Ancestor News) and Amy Coffin's new book (The We Tree Genealogy Blog) on the phone and have read them on my commute. Looking forward to reading more genealogy books on my phone in the coming year!

I've already had to use the Families app to check a few dates quickly. It was so nice to whip out the phone and watch my co-workers and friends laugh at me. Laugh away people but I have the satisfication of getting the dates RIGHT!!!

Legacy Family Tree will be having a webinar on April 12, 2012 by Malcolm Green entitled: "Genealogy on the Go - the Families app for your Android, iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad". To register, go to Webinar Registration. If you haven't attended a webinar, I HIGHLY encourage you to do so soon!!

And now, Jill Ball of Geniaus fame has started another blog called Android Genealogy: Android News for Genealogists. I look forward to seeing what this Aussie has in store for us!!

Well, that's about as "techie" as I get!! One day I'll catch up with all my retired friends and tech toys until then, off to work I go!!

2012 - Goals, Hopes & Reality

Well, 2012 is here....whether we are ready for it or not!! 


I really didn't have too many goals for 2011.  I had hoped to blog at least twice a month.  Didn't happen.  Life, work and "things" kept getting in the way.  While I wish I could control these items, I know I can't but can come up with several alternatives to Plans A and B.


Lesson Learned:  PLAN PLAN PLAN


I was able to go to the NGS Conference in my hometown of Charleston, SC in May. That was great!! I wasn't really able to take advantage of all the social aspects of a conference BUT I was able to see my best friends and attend my nephew's 1st birthday party.


Lesson Learned:  Enjoy the family that is here today.  And "family" doesn't always mean blood!!


Now for 2012 or as I like to call it, the Year of KISS. Not the rock group but that wonderful acronym "Keep It Short & Simple/Sweet" !!

• BLOG:  Try to blog at least 2-3 times a month. 
• BLOG:  Fine tune it the way I want.  
• ORGANIZATION:  I have been in the "gathering" mood for years now.  Time to take stock of what I have and I still need to get. THIS WILL BE MY MAJOR FOCUS THIS YEAR!!
• SCANNING:  I really want to step up on this goal in this KISS year.  
• SOCIETIES:  I belong to 2 local societies and 1 mail away society as well as NGS.  I plan to attend as many of the remaining meetings as possible.  Even though the local meetings are local focused topics for the most part, I am enjoying the fellowship of fellow genealogy addicts lovers and picking up a tip or two on my research areas.
• CEMETERY PHOTOS: I have taken quite a few local photos over the past year.  I need to continue posting to Find-A-Grave as well as few other sites I have just discovered.  None of my family is from this area so hopefully someone will be able to benefit from the postings.

And that's all I will commit to (in writing) for this year (unless I win the lottery then I'll start taking trips and DNA tests and....now to start playing!).  

Happy Genealogy New Year Ya'll!!!

Belated Happy Birthday Grandpa Red!!

My maternal grandfather, Ernest John "Red" Senecal, was born on 23 December 1905 in AuSable Forks, Clinton County, New York to John Senecal and Georgiana (Yelle) Senecal.  He died 17 February 1967 in Plattsburgh, Clinton County, New York, a month before I was born.

Here is a picture of a portrait painted when he was 2-3 years old.  The original frame did not survive one of my many moves so the quest is on to find an appropriate new one.

Grandpa Red loved sports and played baseball and basketball in high school.  He also played in the town team baseball leagues in the 1920's.  He played second and third bases and was usually a lead off hitter.  I am going through the Northern New York Historical Newspapers (See Website Wednesday) to find more game summaries.

NOTE: A good reference book for North Country baseball is "The Only Game In Town: A Century of North Country Town-Team Baseball 1860-1960" by Robert M. Garrow (Bloated Toe Publishing, www.bloatedtoe.com, 2009) .

Here's a picture from my GOLDMINE.  I know Grandpa Red is on the last row, second from the left, with the hat by a manager. I wish I knew more about the picture but hopefully one day I will!!

Well, one of my favorite sayings is "Better Late Than Never".  So Grandpa Red, Happy Belated Birthday!! And as I like to say, "GO TEAM"!!

Motivation Monday

Well I am FINALLY getting around to listing my monthly genealogy goals after reading Stephanie's Corn and Cotton: My Family's Story and Terri's Finding Our Ancestors today. I am motivated!! (Or maybe terrified if I actually publicly WRITE my to-do's I might actually have to do them!!)

I also follow a few other bloggers who put it out for the rest of to see and get inspired.  There is Tonia's Tonia's Roots, Tina's Gen Wish List and Dee's Ancestrally Challenged.

Thank you all for inspiring me.  Now to the LIST.  Since this month is busier than normal with holiday functions, I am starting with baby steps!!

1. Blog at least 3 times this month  
2. Sort the pictures in my GOLDMINE
3. Start scanning pictures
4. Entry data into my Legacy program
5. Start plotting out next year's goals :)

Well there it is. December 2011 goals.  Now to actually to start them!!!

Happy Veterans Day To All

The GOLDMINE has struck again!! Not only I have found pictures of my maternal grandfather, Ernest John Senecal, during his World War II Army service BUT found a couple of books about his division. AND his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge form signed and recorded in Clinton County, New York.

"Red" served in the Army, 94th Infantry, 301st Field Artillery Battalion, Company C.  He left as a Tech Corporal.  His MOS was Cook.  Mom always he was a better cook than Grandma!!

In my "Goldmine" there were several division history books with pictures, names and addresses of all the men.  I am really looking forward to researching this division.

And here is the card issued by the Office of Clinton County Clerk showing an Honorable Discharge has been recorded.

I grew up in a military family in a military town so I was always aware of service members and what they meant to our country and to families.  It is going to be another journey to investigate this chapter of my grandfather's life that I knew existed but just didn't know much about it.  Can't wait!!!