Winging It

Including Family Stories in Your Genealogy

April 4, 2015
/ genealogy
/ By tom

What should we do with those family stories that have been passed down through generations but, we realize, are more fiction than fact? Should they be discarded in the interest of only recording accurate and factual information? I don’t think so. I really believe those stories should be preserved and passed on to future generations. […]

RV Inspector Training

April 3, 2015
/ Other
/ By tom

I first heard about the National Recreational Vehicle Inspectors Association on one of the Living the RV Dream podcasts. I looked into the association and the possibility of becoming an RV inspector. Everything I saw sounded good to me. RV inspection could be a supplemental source of income after I retire or, if I decide […]

Two Keys to Great Genealogy

April 1, 2015
/ genealogy
/ By tom

The easiest way to keep your family tree research on track is to follow these two key fundamentals of genealogy research. Key1: Always work from the known to the unknownKey 2: Always document your sourcesKeep these two principles in mind and your genealogy will be more accurate and better organized.Pick a single subject as the focus […]

Types of Genealogical Evidence

March 29, 2015
/ genealogy
/ By tom

Genealogists label source records and information as primary or secondary, direct or indirect, original or derivative. Recognizing the different types of evidence is an important part of evaluating the reliability of the data contained in the sources you choose to cite. Direct vs. Indirect Evidence Direct evidence is information that explicitly provides the information without […]

Book Review: Last Man Out: Glenn McDole, USMC, Survivor of the Palawan Massacre in World War II

March 27, 2015
/ books family Other
/ By tom

This is a review of the Kindle version of Last Man Out: Glenn McDole, USMC, Survivor of the Palawan Massacre in World War II. By Bob Wilbanks. Disclaimer: I have a personal connection to the main characters of this book so I might be biased in my review. That said though, this is a great […]

Cluster Genealogy Can Help Grow Your Family Tree

March 26, 2015
/ genealogy
/ By tom

Here is a quick tip to help you get past those brick walls we all encounter. When you reach the point in your research where you are unable to trace an individual’s ancestry any further, try researching that persons siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins. It’s obvious that your 8th great-grandfathers parents are also the parents […]

Spring in Chicago

March 23, 2015
/ Other
/ By tom

Yep – the calendar says it is spring. Only 3 to 6 inches of show forecast in today’s Winter Weather Advisory!

Genealogical Proof Standard

March 23, 2015
/ genealogy
/ By tom

Proof of our findings is fundamental to great genealogy. Conclusions about an ancestor must have sufficient credibility to be accepted as proven. To help genealogists recognize and apply good research standards, The Board for Certification of Genealogists has encouraged the use of the Genealogical Proof Standard. While the standard might have been developed for professional […]

Is Commuting Making Me Ill?

March 18, 2015
/ commuting work
/ By tom
/ 2 COMMENTS

Up until a year ago, I drove 15 minutes to my job in the suburbs, usually worked 8 or 9 hours then drove 15 to 20 minutes back home – depending on traffic. Most days I went in early and was able to be back home by 2 PM. In 27 years, I didn’t miss […]

Crash!

March 16, 2015
/ Other
/ By tom

I have used my current web host for many years and never had any problem with down time. So, when I decided to switch this blog to WordPress, I hosted it with the the same host. I was both surprised and disappointed when the server my sites are hosted on went down and stayed down […]