TT has been very good for me, helping me expand my writing skills. It isn’t easy to pick a topic and write about 13 things–especially if they are related items. TT is an excellent tool to challenge my pea brain.

I’ll still be around, but you will hear from me less often for the next 3 to 4 weeks. I need to spend more time designing a site for my imaginary tea room. (Oh, if only I had the means to open this business! It is fabulous.)

See you later.

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!

1. Moses - What was it like when the sea parted? Why did you hit that rock with your staff? What was it like to be so physically close to God on that mountain? If given another chance, would you think twice about throwing down those holy tablets?
2. Corrie ten Boom – The topic is forgiveness.
3. Abraham Lincoln – I have no idea what I would ask him. But I would thank him for his role in history.
4. Elvis Presley – What WERE you thinking??? Your Gospel music was so beautiful. Did you know Christ as your personal Savior?
5. Marilyn Monroe – Did you really kill yourself? And tell me everything you know about JFK….
6. Elijah (who didn’t actually die)- Tell me all about that chariot ride. It must have been a doozie!
7. Mary, Mother of Jesus – How did you raise a child that was perfect? I know He made you mad sometimes, like when He was lost. Though He was perfect, were you ever tempted in your flesh to punish the Son of God when you didn’t understand Him?
8. Princess Diana – What would you change if you could live your life over? You had so much love to give, and not enough time to give it.
9. Francis Eaton, Mayflower passenger – Are you my ancestor? What lured you into the New World? Are you glad you came to America?
10. John Hancock, signer, Declaration of Independence – Oh, how I would love to talk to you. My initial question would be about being the first to sign that document and how that action impacted your life. Then, I would talk to you about family. You are in my family tree. Of course since both your children died, you had no heirs to carry on your line, so I am not a direct descendant.
11. Eve – Why did you allow that snake to talk you into eating that fruit? Did you ever forgive yourself for the impact of your action on your family? Or did you cry yourself to sleep at night in sorrow, remembering what you had lost, including close communion with God?
12. Mel Blanc – How did you manage to create so many different voices for your cartoon characters? Which one was your favorite? Bugs Bunny? Elmer Fudd? Could you sing for me one more time–”Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit……”?
13. Me (after I am gone) – Are you happy with the way things turned out? What would you have done differently? Did you enjoy the journey? Did you pray enough? Did you grow as much as you could have? Did you do your very best with the life God gave you?

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. Crimson Wife
2. Kristin
3. Jeannine