Thing #6 - Flickr Toys

My creation
Originally uploaded by jordondonna

This is a picture of my all time favorite animal taken at the zoo close to my home in Roseville, Minnesota. It was my girls favorite place to go for a day of fun when they were little. I really miss this place.

Thing #5 - A Blue-eyed Beauty

Katie
Originally uploaded by junkmatt

Many of you have heard me talk about our siberian husky, Jasmine. This is not a picture of her, but this dog looks almost exactly like her. My daughter, Crystal, got Jasmine from a breeder when she was 5 weeks old. She will be 4 years old in April 2008. She gets along really well with our 5 cats. She steps in as referee when the two males starting hissing at each other by getting between them and breaking up the fight. Her favorite food is pasta with butter. She truly is a blue-eyed beauty and a joy to our family.

Thing #4 - Ancestry Library Edition at Linebaugh

I have used the Ancestry Library Edition database frequently to assist patrons with their genealogy research in the HR Room so I decided to experiment researching my own family history for a change. I searched the Social Security Death Index for my most recently deceased relatives and was able to get exact death dates for each one. I then discovered Ancestry had Kentucky birth records and was able to get birth dates of a lot of my family members on both sides since all of my family is out of Kentucky. My next step is to search the census records and see how far back I can go. I recommend this online resource to anyone just beginning their genealogy research because it enables you to acquire information on your current relatives and work your way back. Be warned!!! Once you start, you become addicted.

I'm Back and Trying to Catch Up

Sorry so much time has gone by since my last posting. On October 22nd I was told my Dad had a brain tumor and surgery was scheduled for October 26th. I flew up to northern Indiana the next day and stayed until November 11th. Dad got through the surgery really well, but the tumor was cancerous and deep making it impossible to remove all of it without paralyzing my Dad. We were told that this is a very aggressive cancer that likes to grow back, with very little success in treatment. Despite what we have been told, we remain very positive and very hopeful for Dad's recovery. He is now undergoing radiation Monday-Friday for six weeks and taking a chemotherapy pill. My dad's lifestyle has been changed overnight. He has gone from being very independent and physically fit enough to help take care of two other elderly people, to no longer being able to stand or walk on his own with not much use of his left side because of the tumor. Dad is at home now with the best caretaker he could possibly have, my Mom. A physical therapist, occupational therapist, and nurse will be working with Dad weekly to help him recover as much as possible. Keeping my dad in your prayers would mean so much to me.

I would like to end today's posting with a bit of history on the origin of the "carpet bag." Pre-Civil War America saw many people prospering and reading groups were growing in popularity. Magazines were growing in readership and people were carrying carpetbags, the all-purpose 19th century equivalent of a backpack. Also, the nation's first humor magazine was "The Carpet Bag" and went to print in the mid-1800's and was the first to discover and publish Mark Twain. However, the carpetbag became a victim of the times. After the Civil War the term Carpetbagger became associated with any unwelcome stranger traveling with no more property than he could carry in a carpetbag to exploit or dominate the war-torn victims of the South. This little tidbit of history reminds us that a carpetbag is more than a satchel with a bad reputation. We are reminded that its namesake is part of American literary history.

Why "Carpet Bag"

I was trying to find something unique to me. When I was putting my bag in the car, it hit me that was it, perfect for my blog name. My carpet bag was a birthday gift from my oldest daughter to have something stylish to carry my crocheting in instead of the plastic bag I was using, which she said was really sad. It's a beautiful bag and makes me feel like Mary Poppins. I now have a picture of my carpet bag on my blog. I feel like I can carry around my life in that bag. So what could be more perfect for a blog. You just never know what I will pull out of my bag!! I'll try not to carry too much baggage around with me.

Thing #3 - I Did It!

Oh my gosh, this was more involved than what I thought but fun to do. Being creative does not come easy to me, nor does journaling. So this will be a challenge. as well as a great learning experience for me. Among the 7-1/2 habits I believe Habit 1 and Habit 5 will be the easiet ones for me to accomplish because I like to do things in an organized fashion--setting a goal and creating a toolbox to achieve that goal. Habit 6 will be the most difficult one for me to master. I know enough computer skills to do my job and have not ventured out beyond that. I am not a "technology" person. At home I have to ask my girls for help with the remotes to the TV and DVD player (they will set it up, skake their head, and say "how many times have I showed you how to do this?") If I have it in writing step-by-step, I can usually get it done. So, I'm up for this challenge, but I think I will get a supply of paper and a three-ring notebook.