I must say, I've encountered one of the two worst technoligical nightmares a genealogy junkie could. It was always either a computer breakdown or computer virus. 

Yesterday morning one of those nightmares came true.  I didn't just get a virus, it was a trojan.  And worse yet, I didn't get it by downloading anything or opening any files.  I was using the BING search engine and simply clicked on the link which took forever to open.  After being frustrated with what I thought was simply AGAIN , microsoft "hung application" and doing my ctrl, alt, del and being asked to end the program, I did so.  My computer then had been commanded by some evil force and shut off.  It turned itself back on and all of a sudden the program that comes bundled with your microsoft program that is in your control panel that is called the security system had been hijacked by a trojan.  This program ran like it was the regular security scan but then tried to force me to input a credit card number into it's malicious "save your computer" screen which mirrored enough like Microsoft's security website asking you to update your virus program.  I did not do that thankfully.  I tried then to go into any program on my computer and was locked out of everything.  From my internet to text pad to trying to open documents or even look at photos I'd saved.  I was devastated.  I then promptly shut my violated machine off, packed it up and ran to my nearest Best Buy.

I then sulked into my local Best Buy, computer in hand and muttered to the head of the "Geek Squad" my dilemma, noting that my computer appears to had been violated and caught some kind of internet VD.  As soon as he turned on the computer and saw what this malicious trojan had done, his only reply to me was start over.  He indicated that this was a NEW virus and there is nothing to be done than to erase the hard drive and restart from scratch.  My only comfort is knowing that they can, for a substantial sum of money, recover data and photos saved on my computer, but not programs.  For an additional sum of money I could let them reinstall everything, but since I've got the discs from when I purchased the program, I decided I would do that.  Now I await my computers return and my data and my return to working on my genealogy.  I certainly hope that my gedcom is also recovered.  Otherwise, I've lost a years worth of work. 

I have learned from this lesson, first, backup, backup, backup regularly to discs or, removable drives.  I vow to do it every two weeks at the least going forward.  I also learned that even having a save point, doesn't make a difference when something like this happens.  Neither did a virus scan or virus program.  Sometimes, bad things just happens to computers and unfortunately it was to me this time. 

So please my genealogy friends, practice safe surfing and save yourself the heartache I've just been through.

I've been researching one line of my family, my gr-gr grandmothers sister for what seems like forever to no avail.  No birth records, only one census, no marriage records and family legend had it that they were a bit of nomads. 

Well, a week and a half ago, I received an email from my brick wall!  Yes, my brick wall is an outstanding 81 years old and the grandchild of my gr-gr grandmothers sister!  I can't believe how much she knows about the family and has shared with me.  I'm so excited!  I always now look forward to her emails, and we have began talking on the phone. 

I literally feel like I've phoned the past....and it's amazing to me that I feel as though I've known her almost my whole life.  What she is sharing with me is nearly one of the best gifts I've ever received.  I just cherish her!  So much so, that she invited me to visit next year, but I'm hoping have a new job in the next week, so I hope to plan that vacation alot sooner!  I'm so excited about sharing what I have with her too!

What a treat and a blessing! 

Can you imagine how much work genealogy probably won't be in 100 years for our future descendants.  As a matter of fact I often think about how they may know too much about us. 

Thank you technology.  From cell phone records, to employment records, school records, credit histories,  driving records, computer records , Ipods, bank accounts, charge cards, our purchasing/shopping records, etc.

Virtually everything we do, we "sign up" for or there is something to track it.  I can just imagine what our future genealogists are going to know about us.  Our every move is noted nowadays.  In 100 years, will genealogy still be as much fun as it is now?

My mother every year for the last 8 years or so, makes me and my sister a special gift.  One year it was a family cookbook with all the family recipes, another year it was random thoughts that reminisced and was stocked with photos of days and things gone by like A & P stamps, and life without air conditioners, etc.  and what it was like for her growing up.  Then a book of letters my grandfather had written home during WWII and the letters he wrote to my grandmother, which has since been published! 

And then what started my absolute obsession in genealogy, a book of what we thought we knew on the family which was skeletal until the last 3 years.  What started out as kind of a dry outline of what we knew with a few comments about some of the people in a one in binder has turned now into 2 massive binders and a 8 gallon tupperware full of files now.  It is a non-stop obsession.  Every time I turn on the computer, I'm gone for hours upon hours. 

It took 3 years for my husband to finally not despise my passion, but it also required me to do some digging and find out that William Wallace is one of his great uncles, and that Abraham Lincoln defended his gr-gr-gr grandfather in a historic lawsuit in Illinois before he was president, and getting a rare signed copy of a book by his gr-gr aunt who was a broadway playright.

In my discoveries, I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet 3 cousins in person from my lines and correspond with many others and expand the information in my trees and see pictures of relatives, I'd never seen photos of before.  I discovered that the one branch of my family had been here since the 1600's, I'm eligible for DAR, bought my lost cousins WWII military book from Nazi Germany which had genealogical info and his photo, found out I'm eligible for Italian dual citizenship, and much more. 

I can NEVER get enough.  I do have two last brick walls I'm looking to break through and that pertains to the Haas family and the Fenske family of Prussia, Germany.  Not that makes my work complete, but it will certainly fill in the gaps. 

I must also add I am a documentation junkie!!!!! 

I look forward to connecting with others and sharing ideas and such on research.  I live in Chicago so if I can also help someone researching this area or Illinois, I will.