The Final Day at #NGS2013 - Saturday

I'm not gonna lie to you. I'm tired. But I've had lots of fun here this week at my first ever National Genealogical Society Conference. Hello?!? Genealogy and Vegas. Of course, I had fun! My bags are packed, and I'm gonna try to squeeze in 2 sessions this morning and a quick vlog before heading to the airport to catch my flight back home. It's always fun to visit somewhere else. But it's always better to go back home...especially when "home" is Texas. ;) And tomorrow is Mother's Day and there's no place I'd rather be to celebrate it than with my kiddos. So I'm hurrying back today to spend the day with them tomorrow.

8am - First up, is "Baker's Dozen Steps to Writing Research Reports," presented by Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL. Several years back, I watched her give a presentation about being a professional genealogist on the NGS website, and I thought to myself at the time, "I need to see her give a presentation in person." And now here's my chance. I do research reports all the time, but here's a chance to learn how a seasoned professional does them and learn her tips and tricks. We are always learning how to perfect what we do, or at least we should be, and I'm taking this chance to get better at what I do.

9:30am - Next, I had planed to go to, "Landlords and Tenants: Land and Estate Records for Irish Family History Research," being presented by Brian Donovan. Sure, I've identified my 2nd Great Grandmother's, Annie's, parents in Dublin, Ireland, where they married in 1831, but I can already tell, it's gonna take some fancy detective work and a wee bit of Irish luck to find anything else. So. Why not tenant and landlord records? BUT? The book signing for the NYC Research Guide is at this time. So, I'll be standing in line. And then I'll make a note to buy this CD.

11am - If I'm not pulled away by any new and shiny objects, the last session for me at the conference will be, "Child of No One: The Law and Your Illegitimate Ancestor," being presented by Sharon Tate Moody, CG. Many of our ancestors were illegitimate. In fact, the more I dig around in the earth that surrounds the roots of my family tree, the more illegitimate ancestors I find. It doesn't surprise me. Our ancestors were human, after all, faced with, well, life. Just like us. So I'd like to hear Ms. Moody and her ideas and suggestions on taking overheard family rumors and using them as clues to evidence. I have some of my own techniques to do this, but I'd like to see if there is anything I've been missing...something that can make me better at what I do. After all, that's really why I'm here in Vegas. =)

And then I'm grabbing my bags and headin' on home. 'Cause Dorothy was right. There's no place like home, y'all. Okay. So the "y'all" is mine. ;)

But she was definitely right about home. There is no place like it.

~Caroline

Don't forget: Keep up with the NGS 2013 conference happenings, tweets, pics, and such by visiting the NGS 2013 RebelMouse Page I created.