Back in the saddle

All set for a whitewater rafting expedition in Mexico

After a wonderful eight weeks travelling around Bermuda, The Bahamas, North and Central America with a transit of the Panama Canal thrown in I have come down to earth (there are a few reports of this on the jillballau blog). The bags are unpacked, the clothes have been washed and put away and I have settled back into my domestic routine.
Bahamas

Although it was mostly a holiday I had a few family history moments. Firstly there was the Rootstech Conference in Salt Lake City where we had a ball meeting up with many of my online pals. Being able to use the Familysearch facilities to record a series of interviews with people at the conference was a great learning experience. I am sad that I won't be at Rootstech next year because I had made a commitment to speak on the 4th Unlock the Past Genealogy Cruise.

In Chicago we were treated royally by genealogist Paul Milner and his wife Carol. I was in seventh heaven when Paul invited me to his basement - it is a real treasure trove that contains Paul's comprehensive genealogy library; I could have spent days there. In Boston Heather Rojo and her husband Vincent took us out and about. Being in the company of Heather, a Mayflower and Civil War descendant, as we toured around historic sites north of Boston made our excursion more meaningful. Heather wrote a delightful report, Familiar sights through foreign eyes, of our visit.

Our next stop was New York City where we got on the trail of Mr Geniaus' 3x Great Uncle, John Gowans. We were able to find his house in NYC and final resting place (together with several family members) in Green-wood Cemetery and the probate papers for Anna Regina Bouton, John's widow. These gave us names of more family members and further clues to follow up.

Being written up on the Familysearch blog was a lovely surprise that preceded a nasty one came in the form of a blog post by a blogger not chosen to be an Official Blogger at Rootstech. This blogger criticised myself and the other bloggers chosen by Rootstech to act as their Official Bloggers, this attack was unwarranted and hurt not just me but others maligned in the post. Dear Myrtle's response to this person sums up my feelings. I am bouyed by Maria from Australia's comment on Amy Coffins blog post "If someone treats you like s*!t, just remember that there is something wrong with them, not you. Normal people don't go around destroying other human beings". Thanks, Maria.

Karaoke Queen

After our New York excursion we indulged ourselves in holiday activities but these did include a Terry Bishop in which our scant knowledge of history was expanded in an entertaining and informative way.
series of lectures on board Seven Seas Navigator.

So what's on the agenda for Geniaus? I have a couple of talks to give this month and a few planned for the future. I need to indulge in a bit more CGD by enrolling for a few webinars and attending some talks; I have a book to write before the end of the year and a journal article due in tomorrow; I am working on two projects at my local historical society that should keep me busy for eons; and,  when I have time, I might even do some personal research and tidy my study.

I do realise that life must have balance so I will be having a short holiday in Europe at the end of next month where I will watch my granddaughter perform and create future family history in The New Prague Dance Festival.