One Thing Leads to Another. . . . TT #8

Thirteen Things about Cheryl

About two years ago in a life far away:

1. Had a job change and no longer had to work 60 hours per week.

2. Got bored and asked DH to buy me my own computer. He told me I could have “our” computer any time, but I always felt like I was intruding by asking. He was a heavy user. Voila! My own PC.

3. After about 2 weeks of generic surfing, got bored with the Internet. Decided to Google my mostly unknown great grandfather (I had a probable but unconfirmed name.) Nothing. Googled his wife. BINGO! Thus was born my obsession with genealogy. The bug bit me hard.

4. Bought a year’s subscription to ancestry.com. With the access to old records, in just a few short months and uncountable hours online, I had amassed an unbelievable amount of information about my previously unknown family members.

5. Bought Family Tree Maker genealogy software to catalog my research.

6. Needed a place to connect with others who were researching the same family – thus the birth of McClure Connections.

7. In addition to maintaining my website for me, my computer-genius son introduced me to blogging. I love to write, usually have a lot to say, so I went for it. Word Quilts was born.

8. Learned enough about FTP to (sort of) use it, but it was like being on an alien planet. It made no sense to me. I wanted to do more with my website and my blog but didn’t have the knowledge. Then, when my computer-genius son webmaster was no longer available, I was without assistance. The only option I had was to learn to do it myself. (I also had a great desire to learn.)

9. Took an online class in Web Design. Boy, did I LOVE that class! I created my first “from scratch” web page – a story about my parents. (The link is in my sidebar, which I actually customized myself!)

10. Took Advanced Web Design in the next session. Great stuff! I transformed a poem I had written into a web page. (The link is in my sidebar.) Also set up from scratch a new basic website for my online class.

11. Am currently finishing an online class on CSS. This isn’t nearly as fun to me (yet) as HTML. But, it is a lot more complicated, and I have had spring fever. When I truly get my head in it, maybe I will love it as well.

12. With my newfound skills, I have established a second blog, a photo gallery, a family journal, and a family history forum for relatives. AND, I understand FTP! I even bought a fancy new piece of FTP software. And, this very night, I did the “Mr. Linky” thing. Go, me! (Pardon me while I figure out how it works. )

13. As a result of all the above, I have a new hobby (genealogy research), greatly expanded computer skills, and perhaps even a career change in the future.

You just never know where boredom might lead you.

Learn something new!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants