Thursday's Doings....

Hello all!

I couldn't post this last night because the whole site was down for maintenance.

Thursday is Central Europe Day! Four out of my five sessions for the day deals with Central European records. Important fact---Central European = Austro-Hungarian Empire. When the empire was split after WWI, it became present-day Austria, Hungary, Czech Rep, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and parts of Poland, Italy and Romania. My Kotzman and Majdic families were from Slovenia, so I had a lot of ideas for further searching for more relatives.

The day started with Beginning Central European Records, then Catholic Church records in Cent Eur, Cent Eur Military records and finally a Roundtable Forum discussion. The instruction was Richard Camauer from Fairfax, VA who also has Slovenian ancestors. I met him afterward and he is interested in helping me do some research!!

The last session was Seven Techniques to Jump-Start your Research. Gotta think like a Dr., detective, farmer, investigator, etc.

Had left over Girodano's pizza for lunch. Even good cold!

The other big event is the White Sox/Tigers game. I left the hotel at 5:30, took the train (Blue Line) downtown and transferred to the Red Line to get to US Cellular Field. Got there at 6:30. Beat the traffic, parking, gas...what a great way to travel around town. Got to see some areas I haven't seen in a long time as the train was above ground until close to the Loop.

Sox jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run Homer by Paul Konerko. I was on the phone to Mom so she got to hear the fireworks and crowd too. Good planning! I remember so many of those boom-boom's in years growing up when I was by my grandmother's. She lived about a mile from Old Comiskey Park. They used to have fireworks shows every Friday and Saturday nights with home games and it was a perfect view from her back porch window.

Alas, the Sox fell during the game and wound up losing 6-2. It was hot dog night, so I got a big Kosher for $2.50. Filled me up nice after the pizza at lunch.

Since I was riding the train, I left in the eighth inning to beat the crowd and got back to the hotel at 10:30. Stopped at the bar downstairs for a beer and then headed to bed.

It was a full day!

Friday is German Day. Beginning German Research, German Migration, German Ahnentafels (Ancestor Tables), Roundtable Forum and then the day ending with Problem Solving in Passenger Lists.

So read the next blog for the high points for today.

Yesterday during one of the Central European sessions I met a guy whose ancestors were also Slovenian. His family was from near Ljubljana, the capital. Mine are from the area around Celje and Konjice. He asked where mine settled and I said Southeast Kansas. His eyes got wide. I said around Pittsburg and he smiled. His great-grandfather also settled there. The surname is Strukel, and that name does sound familiar. Now the guy, Michael, lives in Granger Indiana.

Well, need to go and get myself together before the 2:30 session.

Catch you later!

Mark