SNGF - Who is your genealogy model?

Randy Seaver of Genea-Musings poses a challenge every Saturday night (hence the Saturday Night Genealogy Fun) for those of us who like to blog on such things.  His challenge was to look at another blogger's list of types of genealogists and determine who best fits our style and write on tit.  I looked over the list and thought that while I could lay claim to a few of the types, no one in particular really summed up who or how I approach my passion for genealogy.  I settled on two types:

Frank Buck (hunter and tamer) - I love the hunt for new information, the elusive middle name, never settling for just the direct family line, but looking at all of the siblings and neighbors, trying to find ways to connect all together.  And certainly I did not have my notes in any resemblance of order, until this last month when I read an article about how to organize my research.  And then by deciding to write down family information in a blog form, helps to keep my thoughts in one direction.  I, too, would go from family to town, from paternal to maternal sides like innings in a baseball game.  No hits, next side up. 

Then again, I wanted to be like Steve Jobs, (Techno junkie).  I love the information that is now available on the 'net and don't have to leave the comforts of my home.  Yet that is not who I was either.  So I felt that I would think about it for awhile and maybe come up with another model. 

Deciding to look at others blogs, I came across the model I think explains me best.  In the blog, Research Journal, Melody writes "The Oprah Winfrey model is a genealogist conglomerate. She devours data left and right. When she has bought up all the data for one side of her family, she works on the other. If those lead to dead ends, she’ll work on the neighbors tree and possibly the postal carriers. She is involved in various projects (organizing her digital files, researching for the Korean War MIA Project, working on her own project to document the Portuguese people of Kauai, writing for her blog, networking online with other genealogist, and setting up special pages on Squidoo). Her genealogy empire keeps expanding. Family data spreads through 25 binders. And, that doesn’t count the ones who aren’t related. She helps others where she can, whether it’s aiding them in researching or providing ideas for how to research. Genealogy will never be boring for her because she will always find a new outlet even if her own lines dry up." 

Yup, that's me.

Where I'm From

While perusing the genealogy blogs last night and undertaking the challenge put out by Tonia's Roots, I came across an entry on another site asking us to take the poem "Where I'm From" by George Ella Lyon, and make a poem about ourself using the template provided.  Here is my offering.

Where I'm From -- LouAnn Goossens -- August 2011

I am from music played on the piano to music sung on stage, from Kitchen-aids and Oil of Olay, to canned peaches and pickles, watercolor portraits and politics.

I am from the "big house on Wentworth", Christmas found in every room and sunshine streaming through the windows to warm the chilly winter days.

I am from Spirea and Tamarisk, the hyacinth and pussywillow.

I am from Easter morning breakfasts and big feet, from Glewwe's and Brossoit's and many generations staying in one spot, from close families and little Joe.

I am from storytellers and poets, from movers and shakers, from teachers and students.
    
From "God first, others second, me third" and Santa Claus.

I am from Catholics and Baptists and prayers before dinner, Sunday morning forums and Wednesday night rehearsals.

I'm from SSP and Argyle, Bridgepoint and Kaposia Days, cheesebuttons and applesauce to BBQ and booya.
    
From the produce department to the ladies dress shop, from the children's room at the library to the boardroom, from songs sung around the campfire to songs sung on Mama's lap.
    
I am from the scrapbooks in the closet, the boxes on the floor, costumes in the attic, decorations up at Christmas and the open arms of family.
    
I am from "A Place We Call Home."

Birthday bio: Suzanne

Wherever you wander,
wherever you roam,
Just keep in mind,
that there's no place like home!

Happy birthday Suzie! 

Reflections

We just got home from a long weekend, driving to Scottsbluff, Nebraska.  It was 8 people, 2 cars, 1500 miles and 25 hours round-trip.  While there, we visited both Chimney Rock and Scott's Bluff, the first a stepping off point for those pioneers who came across the prairies and went to California or to Utah and the other a monument to a trader, who could go no further and was left to die at the base.  Without any trees or buildings or in this heat, shade!  I have a whole new appreciation for all those who traveled by covered wagon or by foot.  They had no maps, no city on the horizon, no way to tell when their journey was going to end.  Just the desire for a better life. 

Oregan Trail - Wagon wheel ruts at Scottsbluff

  Reminds me of the refrain from "Oklahoma" - "The Farmer and Cowboy Must Be Friends"

Summertime in MN

Kelton Glewwe cleaning fish at Lake Marion

 When the temperature wanders into the 80's or 90's or settles into the 100 degree weather, Minnesotans "go UP to the Lake".  We went up to Lake Marion near Perham, MN for many years in the 60's and 70's. Mom's sister, Bette, and her husband, Bud Ross had property on the lake and invited us to come up for the weekends.  Beside a trailer for the Ross family, there was the green delivery truck turned camper for my grandparents and the station wagon turned camper for my folks.  We kids bunked where we could or slept out in tents. 

Our routine consisted of our dad getting home from work late on Fridays, packing the car, driving for 5 hours, unpacking, go to sleep, get up and play, pack and go home.  Turn around and do it again the next weekend!

We swam, played cribbage or 500 in the camper, fished with Grandpa, waterskiied, went to Cal's (If he didn't have it, he could get it.  If he couldn't get it, they didn't make it!) country store, cooked suppers over the campfire, did dishes outside, and sat around and told stories.  Sunday services were under the canopy of trees at the church in a nearby town, and the Twins ballgame was always on Grandpa B's radio.  Grandma B always had a stash of blond brownies and ginger cookies in a plastic pail on the dashboard of the camper and the drinks were cold and the temperature hot!

Those were the "crazy daze" of summer for us!

Joan Glewwe, Kelton Glewwe, Hazel Brossoit & LouAnn Glewwe