Genealogy on the Road...

...this is one of my big dreams! How I long to travel across the United States so I can explore our families history.

I will admit that I had never been to a cemetery until I was almost 26 years old. There really is no way to describe what you may find there. You need to open your mind to realize that it is more than a place to go and honor your loved ones that have died. It is a place to learn about many details that can lead you to other areas in your search of family history.

I have flown back to Kansas to meet a distant relative of my husband's...and spent a week with a total stranger while we gallivanted across Kansas and into Missouri in search of family information. I have met family members that I never knew existed; had a relaxing meal with them while sharing information and then stayed in contact with them throughout the years.

I have flown to Tennessee; shared a hotel room with a second cousin and his wife - which I had not met previously. We went traipsing through a muddy field in order to find a group of family headstones that were partly covered by fallen trees.

You can usually look around old headstones and find other family members...some you may not have known even existed! Don't assume you know everyone in the family - it has happened to me! You may be able to confirm information that you did not know was correct - or correct information you did have but was not correct!

Some places to search online while looking for family information or connections are Rootsweb.com (You will find all sorts of links from this page). There is also a grave site listing along with a listing for Ellis Island immigrants and also. You can find all sorts if information if you do a normal google search! under a family name.

Along the way - I may have found information about our ancestors and their past - but I also found family that will be there in the future!

Past Families

Sometimes we tend to forget where we come from. I don't mean from what town...but from our ancestors. Have you ever sat down and just wondered what your ancestors may have gone through to get us to where we are today?
What type of battles and hardships did they go through. How did they get to the United States of America? How did they die...and at what age... How did they travel when they did move... Where did they get their materials to build shelters for their families...

I know some of these answers for both my husband's ancestors and also for my ancestors. It can be fascinating to learn some of these things...but we don't think it is important when we are younger. Many times when it does finally peak your interest...it may be too late to learn about it. The people who knew..may have past on or can no longer remember clearly the details that would give you a look into the past.

I feel it is important to spend time with your parents...your aunts , uncles and especially any grandparents. Talk to them about their grandparents and their aunts and uncles. Listen closely to the stories they tell you - or better yet...tape them and take notes. They may find they feel that they know something that really matters. This may seem like it doesn't really matter - but let me point out to you ....your family member will feel like someone cares about their family, you will enjoy the visit, you will have learned a little about your family that you more than likely never knew..but most importantly - you will have spent time with someone you love who probably doesn't get visitors very often!

Take the time this weekend to call a family member and tell them you love them. You will feel good and they will feel great!

My Prancealots Min-Pins

"My Two Bobsey Twins" or "Monkey See-Monkey Do"
Some of you know that we own two Miniature Pinschers...but many of you don't know the story behind our Min Pins, so I thought I would share...
...a little over two years ago, we had to put our Cocoa* down. Ron had said "no more dogs". Everyone knows how much it hurts when you lose a family pet...well, I was not going to argue...but then - I am not the one who works from home. I was mildly shocked when I came home a week later and my dear husband can not only tell me what type of dog we should get - but the color! I know when I need to move fast - so I am online, looking for local breeders with minature pinschers...but I am surprised that I can't find anyone. I have never bought a pet of any kind online ...but I know I need to move fast ...so onto the internet to look for breeders.

I learn that minpins are NOT related to Doberman Pinschers; The Minpin breed has been around longer than Dobies; they are originally from Germany and were used as "hunters" of vermin & rodents. These dogs are known as "the King of Toys" because of their attitude!
What did happen that night was I came across a breeder in Tennessee that had an adorable picture posted that we both fell in love with. That cute little red pup was "calling our names".Well - I am one who always "has to make sure" so I continued looking at lots of other websites. Somehow, I kept ending up at some other page at the Prancealots website. I went to work immediately that night by sending her an email telling her why I wanted that pup. It was late -especially in Tennessee - so I went to bed with hopeful anticipation. First thing in the morning - I am looking at my emails whle making coffee. Nothing yet... hmmmm... I turn up the sound so I can HEAR when I get an email...and off to the bedroom with our coffee. I almost jump off the bed when the blasted computer lets out a " new email" alert! Seconds later, I can remember hollering to Ron.."I found our puppy!!! Come Look!! Come Look!"

I had a family function to attend to that day...but I can remember Ron calling me to let me know we got the "puppy contract" via email -and all I could think of ..."ok ..I know it is family that I haven't seen in years...but can't I go home?" I did calm down and had a great visit with the family - brought some of them home and immediately went on the computer. I emailed & called Robyn to let her know I will have the contract in the mail the following day.

This breeder is fabulous. She kept me up to date on "Rusty"...including sending me pictures throughout his first 2 months growing up with her! We quickly became friends.It was proven to me over and over that this is the right breeder & puppy!

Some people don't realize that animals cannot be shipped if temperatures will be over a certain degree so the only way to bring this rascal home is to pick him up and carry him back in the "airplane cabin". This is the perfect excuse for Ron & I to use first class airline points...so we make reservations and fly back to Tennessee. We spend two nights back there- the first night we leave Rusty with his other "mommy" ...but the second night - he is at the hotel with us. All I can say is "cute cute cute"!

Well... our love for this pup brought us to own another one... from the same breeder of course! These dogs may have a couple of downfalls... besides being too cute...They will bark if not properly trained - and they may be a little protective / jealous of their 'loved ones'... but I will never get rid of them ...so I guess they are stuck with me!

*Cocoa had been with us since 1992. We found him as a pup when we thought Brandy (who was almost 15 years old) was going to die the night before. Brandy knew we would need help training this little runt-so he hung on for 3 more months so he could train Cocoa!

Rainbows of Life

Life…it is full of surprises…some- times they may be good and other times it might be the type of luck that you may think “why me?” or “if I didn’t have bad luck – I wouldn't have any luck at all”.

I take the attitude that it may seem like bad luck at the time…but I know it is only a
puddle of mud that the rain has created before you get to the other end of the rainbow. You need to run & splash into that puddle …have fun with it just like you are a kid! Okay …so your parents might be mad at you for getting dirty – but you left that mud puddle with a smile!
Think of your problems as just a puddle that may get you a little dirty …but remember – it can be washed away with a little rain on your way to the end of the rainbow.
With all of that said – I think I may still be splashing on the edge of that puddle …but I can see that rain cloud ahead of me…and that means there are rainbows ahead!

New Friends...Big Plans!

I have found a new circle of friends in the past 10 months. It has generated from the IRV2 board. My blog name comes from the Manufacturer of our motor home, Monaco . You will find a forum named Monaco Owner's Forum in the forum section of the IRV2 board. You will also find some wonderful people amongst this section. These people come from all walks of life and from all parts of the continent. but they have at least a couple things in common ... one is the love of RV travel and the other is that we all own a product by this manufacturer.

A picture looking at many different brands of Monaco at "Camp Monaco-Diamond Springs" in Harrisburg, Oregon

You will find that Ronboc (who is the moderator of this forum) can take a pratical joke - as well as give it back (I will never forget when DigNBubbs (who has his own blog) & I went off-topic. Ronboc said something - so we deleted our posts so it looked like Ronboc was goofy!)...which brings me to DigNBubbs. He felt so bad for Ronboc - that he told on me -(Ok...I did come up wth the idea - but he agreed!) We also have RonNBama -who has his own fanclub without even knowing it!(People ask if I have met you in person... ah-hello...What's wrong with me...am I chopped liver?!!) Bsavage travels all over with her fiance going to AHRMA Vintage Trials . There is Teofff who has recently joined the group ..who at this very moment is wondering "Why me, Lord". Robin_M who lives in the NE and the first owner besides us who at least acknowledged he had a full wall slide. BCSteve came up from Southern Ca.to trade in his old RV for the new one at DeMartini RV and met a few people that had just left the Spring Escapade in the Stockton area on his way home. . Gonefishin is one of the few who is close to retiring. Roland, Diplomat Don, Loranimal, Flyer, Letsgoagain, Gordon, Crudeman, McDDY, MCPO Ret, Nutensteve and so many other members are always contributing to the Monaco forum. They are always willing to come in and answer someone's problem, share how they modified something or to laugh with each other.

I have chatted with many, talked with some, had dinner with a few and spent the weekend with a couple...but I have enjoyed or learned from it - no matter what! Because of these reasons...some of us think that it is time to plan an "IRV2 Monaco Owners Forum" rally. I think it would be great if we could all meet sometime in the future. Can you imagine actually seeing the modifications everyone has done...in person! (we can all see if Robin_M 's storage area is as neat as they look...) The food, the laughter, the journey of just getting there would be a great experience. I am sure there are a few of us who can manage to meet somewhere. Who would like to meet...who can help plan...and the big one ....where should we meet? I will definitely help ... but I can't help without anyone showing some interest in going. Please post here if you might be interested...or you can email me privately.