Sometimes when you want to break away from your regular family history research, you can find genealogy-related things to do just for amusement. For example, today I did a Google search for my surname to see what the other Berthiaumes out there are like. We are a diverse bunch, and I am sure that all of us share the common frustration that most people can not pronounce our name correctly, let alone spell it. Who are the Berthiaumes that I found with my Google search? I do not believe that I am related to any of the people that I … Continue reading →

It is almost Easter already. This year, I realized that the date upon which Easter falls tends to “hop around” on the calendar from year to year. For the first time in my thirty-three years of existence, Easter and my birthday are actually on the same day. I enjoy reading about the Easter traditions of other families, and I have very many positive memories of Easter celebrations that my family has had over the years. This year will be a very fun time, because I am taking my son to visit my mother as well as my extended family. Many … Continue reading →

I’m sure that I am not the only one that has memories of gardens from their childhood home and the homes of other relatives, such as grandparents. I distinctly remember my mother’s garden as well as my grandmother’s garden. My mother had beautiful irises growing along one side of the garden. There was a giant patch of rhubarb in the garden, and sometimes as a special treat, she would give my sister and me a stalk of it and a little sugar to dip it in. We also had some vegetables. The gardens at my grandmother’s house were mostly flower … Continue reading →

Genealogy research can come with some strange side effects. It makes time move much faster than you would expect it to, as you are absorbed into your research. It makes you interested in hanging out in graveyards. The most bizarre side effect of genealogy is that many genealogists start to develop emotional attachments towards ancestors who died long before the genealogist was ever born. Why do you care so much? The actor and comedian Ricky Gervais said what I think are very interesting comments about genealogy. He had been asked to be on the UK version of the “Who Do … Continue reading →

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will present Sean Elliott with a framed copy of his family tree. This will be presented to the former Spurs legend during the halftime of the game played tonight, April 9, 2011, between the Spurs and the Utah Jazz at the AT&T Center. Sean Elliott is a very accomplished basketball player. He attended the University of Arizona, and led them to a Final Four game. He is the first basketball player in the NBA to make a comeback after having a kidney transplant. While each of those things are pretty remarkable, Sean … Continue reading →

Chicago is a strange place sometimes. Locals are probably aware of the ongoing drama that involves the expansion of the O’Hare Airport. It’s been going on for years, and is one of those situations where you cannot possibly please everyone with the solution to the problem. The current plan, which is already in action, involves moving hundreds of graves so that the airport can expand over what is currently a church cemetery. This is making quite a few people upset. For whatever reason, there is something about the airport runways in Chicago that cause people in authority to behave in … Continue reading →

A couple could decide to get a divorce for a multitude of reasons, but ultimately, it comes down to the fact that at least one person no longer wants to be married to the other person. Obviously, a divorce is going to directly affect the two people who are seeking it, but it also has a direct affect on the children that the couple has together. This can lead to situations where one parent doesn’t see his child for many years. These stories can sometimes have happy endings, however. Just recently, a father and his son were reunited after three … Continue reading →

Twitter can be used as a way to tell the world what you thought of the restaurant you ate lunch at. In a few cases, Twitter has been used to reunite long lost relatives. A homeless man used a cell phone to send a tweet that ended up reconnecting him with his daughter. The United States is a rich country. Despite this fact, we still have a lot of people who are living at or below poverty level, and a growing number of people who are homeless. The town that I live in has more than one homeless shelter. There … Continue reading →

As Saint Patrick’s Day approaches, I start thinking about Irish food. Of course, Irish food is so delicious that I like to enjoy it throughout the year, but Saint Patrick’s Day is a great excuse to plan an all-out Irish menu for the entire day. While I have fond childhood memories of Saint Patrick’s Day corned beef and cabbage dinners complete with my mom’s home made Irish Soda Bread, I usually make something different each year. In fact, I have started somewhat of a tradition in my home of going to the grocery store the day after Saint Patrick’s Day … Continue reading →

I am one quarter Irish. The closer you get to St. Patrick’s Day, the more I am aware of my Irish heritage. The Irish side of my family has a tradition of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day by going to McDonald’s, and getting a nice, green, minty, Shamrock Shake. This is the kind of tradition that can be shared with the entire family, no matter how old or how young a relative happens to be. The much coveted Shamrock Shake was first produced by McDonald’s in 1970. I distinctly remember the day I had my very first one, despite the fact … Continue reading →