I Got A Kitty!

One of my Christmas presents from my sweetie was a kitten, or more precisely the promise of a kitten. My dear, sweet Circe died last June and I've really missed having a kitty in the house. So I was told I could pick out a new kitten (or cat) from a local animal rescue organization as soon after Christmas as I was ready to do so.

Since Christmas I've made several trips to local animal rescue organizations and the local Humane Society in search of just the right kitten. I was determined to pick my kitty by their personality not their looks or their age. The only stipulation I had was that I wanted a male. My last two cats were females, strays that adopted us rather than us choosing them. They were wonderful cats but never as affectionate or as playful as my friends' male cats. So this time around I was determined to find a male kitten that was both playful and affectionate (meaning they didn't try to jump down as soon as I picked them up). Today I found my kitten.

Meet Vladi. He's 16 weeks old and the cutest little bugger you'll ever meet. He has orange and white fairly long hair and golden eyes. And best of all, he's the best kitten for me! He's very playful and very affectionate... just the right combination of both. He's just adorable!

The rescue organization named him Jesse, which suits him now but I don't think it will suit him when he's full grown. So after much thought and deliberation I've decided to name him Vladi (short for Vladislav... the English spelling of a good Polish name ;-)

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Decisions Made, Projects Started

I'm moving forward with some of the projects I identified in my recent post, Preserving Memories, A Theme for 2007. I've made some decisions about which to start with and I'm beginning to put some goals/time lines together.

The first big project I'm tackling is redoing the family cookbook and I'm really excited about it. I put together a family and friends cookbook several years ago... I don't know the exact year but it was B.C. (before computers ;-) . I gave a copy (free) to everyone who contributed to the cookbook but I never sold it. It was self published, which is to say I typed up a master copy (on my typewriter ;-) of all the recipes, made duplicate copies on a copy machine, made front and back covers from card stock, and had them spiral bound with those wide plastic thingies. I was very pleased with the way it came out and so were all the contributors. Over the years, I've had many requests for more copies of the cookbook but I didn't want to be bothered trying to find the master copies (which are in the attic somewhere but it would probably take weeks of looking to find them) and spending the money to print them up again. Not too mention that many of the recipes are outdated now with people preferring more lean recipes.

Anyway, I figured it's probably a good time to redo the cookbook. This time around I'm planning to take out the recipes that were from friends and neighbors and making it a family cookbook, adding recipes from new family members while I'm at it. I'd also like to add small photos of each contributor on the same page with their recipe(s) and include a nutritional analysis of each recipe too. I'll include all the recipes from family members who have died since I did the original cookbook and give everyone else an opportunity to submit new recipes if they'd like.

Here's the best part... when I was looking through the old cookbook (with the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy in mind) I discovered several of my mom's recipes! I had them all along but didn't realize it. My indexing was really bad in the old cookbook and it was truly hard to find anything. But when I started going through the book page by page I discovered I had recipes I didn't know I had. It's a bit embarrassing but exciting too!

My plan this time around is to send out a letter requesting recipes by say March 1st. In the mean time I'll work on finding cookbook software (if you have any suggestions please let me know!) and typing up recipes from the old book that I intend to include again. I'd like to get this cookbook printed in hardcover (maybe by Lulu?) but I can't afford to buy copies for everyone. So I'm thinking I'll offer each contributor a free copy on CD and they can buy a printed copy if that suits them. My goal is to have the cookbook done by June 1st.

So that takes care of item#1 on my Preserving Memories list. The other two items that I'm working on are #6 (writing my memoirs) and #8 (digital scrapbooking). I've started a private blog where I plan to write an entry each week about myself. I'm delighted that Miriam has started a blog where she's intending to make weekly prompts of things for people write about themselves. I plan to use her questions/prompts for ideas. If there's a weekly prompt that doesn't apply to me, I'll make up something on my own. At the end of the year I should have 52 entries about myself. I'll print them up and stick the book on my bookshelf, maybe burn a CD too. If anyone in the future wants to learn about me they can read about me in my own words. I figure 52 entries should give anyone a pretty good overview of me ;-) I know I'd be absolutely thrilled to have 52 entries that any one of my ancestors wrote about themselves!

I'm also planning to make one digital scrapbooking page a week in 2007. I have no idea if this is a realistic goal or not but if I can do it I should have a good scrapbooking album by the end of the year!

So that's where I'm at for now. How are your resolutions for 2007 coming along?

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Update on Resolution #2, Becoming a Tea Drinker

Ahhhh. That's the sound of a happy girl. I just took a sip of the first Diet Coke I've had since January 1st. It tastes great!

I'm not giving up on my New Year's resolution to become a tea drinker yet. I'm still working on that but it's not going well. I've basically been in a fog all week without my caffeine. All I want to do is sleep. I am making myself drink tea but I'm not enjoying it. I've tried a couple different kinds of hot tea (peach and green tea with honey and lemon) but I'm not overly fond of the stuff. I make myself drink it much like one would make themselves take their medicine... because it's good for you, not because you like it. I'm telling myself it's an acquired taste and I'm trying to believe it. But it's a hard sell.

I'm having better success with iced tea (the instant one already sweetened) but I question the benefits of it. Can it really still have antioxidants after it's been processed? I wonder if it's defeating my purpose for drinking tea in the first place... for the health benefits.

I'm re-thinking my strategy. I thought I'd take to the tea drinking more readily if I stopped drinking Diet Coke entirely. But now I'm thinking maybe a better strategy would be to still allow myself one DC each morning and then drinking tea (or water) the rest of the day. I don't know if I have that kind of will power though. I guess we'll see. I can't go another week in a fog and being sluggish. I'm just not getting enough stuff done.

I got a tip about Snapple tea. I may give that a try too.

Ahhh. I'm sure enjoying that DC!

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The Jewish King Of Poland

I'm not an expert on Polish history but I've read a bit of it. I never came across this story before... from the JewishPress.com web site:

Saul Wahl’s story is one of the most intriguing of all the legendary stories concerning Polish Jewry. It is said that he occupied the throne of Poland for a single day, August 18, 1587. During his brief time serving as Polish royalty, he supposedly enacted numerous laws protecting the Jewish population of Poland.

Those who study genealogy say that he was the ancestor to many illustrious Jews, including many great rabbis of the Halberstam line from Sacz, Rokeach of Belz, the Ropshitzer dynasty and the Katzenellenbogen line, among others. The secular Jewish world – including Martin Buber and Helena Rubinstein – can also trace their family roots to this interesting personage. [More]

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Carnival of Genealogy, 15th Edition

Welcome to the January 3, 2007 edition of the Carnival of Genealogy. Happy New Year! The theme for this edition is New Year's Resolutions. We're starting the New Year off with a whole bunch of great plans for accomplishing our genealogy goals. Without further ado, let's see what kinds of resolutions the genea-bloggers have in store for 2007...

Starting us off, Craig Manson presents 2007 Genealogy Goals and Plans posted at GeneaBlogie. Craig has ambitious goals for 2007 including a research trip, encouraging young people to get involved with genealogy, and genealogical acts of kindness to name a few. Check out his article and read his goals for yourself. Good luck to you Craig!

Next up, Apple presents her To Do List posted at Apple's Tree. Apple doesn't believe in making resolutions anymore but she did make up a to-do list of things she'd like to accomplish. Boy, did she ever come up with some universal things to do. I nodded my head several times when reading over her list. You'll probably finds things you should do here too. Good luck to you Apple, here's hoping you get your 3 or 4 things done!

Then we have Randy Seaver presenting Genealogy Resolutions for 2007 posted at Genea-Musings. Randy comes up with 10 resolutions for himself each of which is rather ambitious. My favorite of his resolutions is the one regarding his wife. I've made this same resolution in years past (well, not with my wife but rather my husband). Good luck Randy, keep us posted!

Next we have Denise Olson presenting A Time to Reflect posted at Family Matters. Denise reflects back on the past year as well as looking forward with goals for the next year. She accomplished a lot last year. If you want to be inspired, check out her article. I hope next year is as successful for you as last year Denise!

Jasia presents New Year's Resolutions for 2007 posted at Creative Gene. You'll probably get a chuckle when you read my resolutions. I'm no tea drinker yet but I'm still working on it. I'm doing well with tagging my pictures so far, that's something :-)

Here we have David Bowles presenting New Year's Resolutions posted at Writing the Westward Sagas. Now here's a guy with very specific goals for the year 2007. If you're writing/publishing a family history, check out David's agenda for the year and admire his plan. I wish I were so organized and dedicated. Good luck David, we'll be looking for that next book!

Next, Dave presents OakvilleBlackWalnut: 2007: Realistic Expectations posted at OakvilleBlackWalnut. Dave doesn't have a long list of goals but has chosen instead to focus on just a few things. I know what you mean about tagging the photos, Dave. I'm with you on that one! Good luck!

Miriam Robbins Midkiff presents My New Year's Genealogy Resolutions for 2007 posted at AnceStories Blog, Miriam makes five resolutions she plans to work on in the coming year. Her last one is my personal favorite. She's started a new blog that will have weekly topics for writing our own personal histories at AnceStories2. I'm going to try to keep up with you Miriam. I think this is just the thing I need to start writing about myself. Good luck to you and me both! Anyone else interested?

Steve Danko presents a whole slew of ambitious goals in his article Some Genealogical Resolutions for the New Year posted at Steve's Genealogy Blog. Steve's got his work cut out for him. Just getting the Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies will be quite an accomplishment. Read his list of goals and prepare to be impressed. Good luck Steve!

Maureen identifies one goal for 2007 in Searching for Ancestors in the Aftermath of Culloden · Empty Nest posted at Empty Nest, saying, "My New Years resolution is to determine my ancestors role in one of the most famous Scottish battles in history, the Battle of Culloden Moor." I have no idea how much work is involved in such a research quest but I'm guessing it's a lot. Here's wishing you much luck with your research endeavor Maureen. Keep us posted on your progress!

Lee Anders makes us smile with Another Year Bites the Dust posted at A Matter of Life and Death. Lee has opted to add meat to the bones of her ancestors this year and will no doubt do that with the good humor and wit we have come to associate with her. Here's to you, Lee. May the year be fruitful and meaty for you!

And last but not least, we have Susan Kitchens' article Ringing in The New Year With Some Resolve posted at Family Oral History Using Digital Tools. Whew! This article will take your breathe away with it's scope and detail. Susan, you made my head spin trying to keep up with you! Here's hoping you can accomplish what you've set out to do. I must admit your goals regarding the Carnival of Genealogy put a big smile on my face. You will definitely get another turn at hosting the Carnival in 2007! Good luck with your goals for the New Year. Here's hoping you accomplish each and every one of them.

Count 'em up folks... twelve articles submitted for this edition of the Carnival of Genealogy! I'm thrilled! I want to thank each and every one of you who have chosen to participate. This Carnival is getting better and better with each edition. Yeah!

That concludes this edition. And now it's time for a Call for Submissions! The topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy will be food/family recipes. Just coming off the holiday season, those family recipes should still be fresh in everyone's minds. How are you recording your family's favorite recipes? What memories do you have of cooking with mom/dad in the kitchen? Do you ever walk in somewhere and get a whiff of something that reminds you of grandma's kitchen? Has your family published a cookbook? Do you know of cookbook software you can recommend? Food smells and tastes trigger so many memories, write about your family's favorite foods/recipes and submit your article for the next Carnival of Genealogy using our carnival submission form. The deadline for submissions will be January 15, 2007. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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I Never Thought of it as History

In most everyone's life there are moments/events that are recognizable has historical at the time they happen and then there are many other events that are newsworthy but do not necessarily feel like "history in the making" at the time. This realization came to me as I watched the funeral services for President Gerald R. Ford today.

As the funeral motorcades made their way around Washington DC and Grand Rapids, Michigan today the TV news reporters and anchors had a lot of time to fill talking about the late President Ford. The topic most frequently mentioned was the circumstances that brought Gerald Ford to the office of President of the United States, namely the resignation of President Nixon following the Watergate Scandal. Gerald R. Ford was sworn in as President of the United States in 1974. When that date was mentioned, it really resonated with me. It hit me that I had lived through a significant historical event without realizing its significance at the time.

On June 12, 1974 I graduated from high school, full of excitement and hopeful about the future in spite of the fact that the country's economy was in the deepest recession in 40 years. The U.S.'s military involvement in the Vietnam War had just ended, gas prices were sky high due to the Arab oil embargo, abortion had just been legalized due to Roe vs Wade, and bell bottom pants, platform shoes, mood rings, and smiley faces were all the rage. I was coming of age.

That summer, August 12, 1974 to be exact, Richard Nixon resigned as President of the United States and Gerald R. Ford was sworn in the next day. Less than a month later, I, raised as a good Catholic girl in a very conservative community, moved into East Quadrangle (dorm) at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor... a co-ed dorm, not co-ed by floor but room by room... with co-ed bathrooms! Talk about rocking my world! But the biggest rock to my world was yet to come. October 18, 1974, my father died. Sixteen days later, I would turn 18 years old. I was very young and impressionable.

1974 was a year filled with beginnings (beginning college, beginning life as an adult) and endings (the end of my high school years and childhood innocence, the end of my father's life) for me, including the ending of one Presidency and the beginning of another. But it wasn't until today that I realized I'd lived through a very important historical time. Until today, history for me amounted to stories my mom and aunts and uncles told about living through the Great Depression and World War II. It was something I heard about or read about. It happened to others, not to me. The significance of the political events of 1974 were lost to me in the course of the personal events that profoundly effected me that year. It never occurred to me that I was living history in the making. I never thought of it as history. It was just my life.

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