The Last Hurrah!

Well, today was the last official day of the conference.  I attended 2 classes this morning before I gave my 2nd presentation.  Today I did the Swiss powerpoint.  The attendance was definitely much less than the German one, which was a pretty full classroom.  I would say there were only about 20 people in attendance today.  Just before I got there was a lady from Ireland that gave an Irish presentation in the same room that I was presenting in the next hour.  I decided to go so that I wouldn't  have to worry about being late to my own lecture.  And I learned something new about Irish research.  Not that I am Irish, but my grandkids have Irish on their other grandmother's side.  So maybe it will come in handy some day.  I thought I would take a couple more pictures of the conference center before I left it for the very last time.  So here it is:

So as I was walking between the conference center and the hotel through the skywalk, I saw some WEATHER occurring. 

I am not sure if you can tell from the picture, but it is raining.  There was also some thunder going on.  It was actually quite a little downpour.  Now the sun is peeking through the clouds.  I hope we will have nice flying weather tomorrow.  I have already paid my room and so in the morning, I can just go!  I am excited.  Time to go back home.

Here are some shots from the sports shop area of the conference center.

So, now that's about all the news for today, but I will try to write before I go to bed.  Tonight is our last "Hurrah" for me anyways.  There will be a genealogist's dinner in the hotel ballroom. That starts tonight at abt 6:30.    After that, I guess it's time to pack whats left and then go home.  There is still a brunch in the morning, but I will have left before it starts.  I will write about the dinner if I have time, otherwise, that is everything!  It's been a really fun week.  Sometimes a little hectic, but none-the-less, lots of fun.  Met lots of people, did my assignments and hey, it's all good!

Billy Reb

Today the evening activity was canceled :( .  Too bad, it was a southern BBQ and a trip to the iron furnace which was described to have been alot of fun.  But it was canceled earlier in the week because of the chance of Isaac weather causing it to be problematic there.  Oddly it hasn't even rained.  So we haven't had any difficulties due to the weather, in case anyone wondered about it.  But I did learn something interesting from another conventioner that told me the reason this hotel is full of  "dogs".  I have heard one yapping everyday.  The reason, they are all New Orleans people coming as evacuees with their pet dogs.  As I write this, a news article is telling about all the cats and dogs that they are trying to rescue in Louisiana. 

Today I had duties at the FamilySearch booth.  It was fun because at the time I was there, I think I was the only "research" consultant and so I was able to help a lot of people.  Including a lady looking for an Alabama family with the name Grayson.  Boy we found a lot of southern Graysons, including hers.  It was interesting because my youngest grandson is "Grayson".    I also spent some time going through the  other booths to see what was there.  I even bought a couple of items.  So here I am with a real Billy Reb!

And here a shot of the FamilySearch booth.  There wasn't a lot of photos today because we aren't allowed to take pics of the speakers only FGS can do that.

So I had fun, met "networked" with lots of people, including some wanting German information while I was at the booth.  It was good timing, I guess, because I was the only German person around.

Well, tomorrow is my first presentation on Basic German.  Having seen some other presenters, I think I will do just fine!  Why do I always worry?  Hope it goes well!  It will be at 5:00 pm.  I have found that my work computer has some real bad keyboard problems.  I hope it won't mess me up tomorrow.  I never had it with the docking station keyboard I have been using.  Very weird.  Miss ya'll back at home.  Hey, I am picking up on the local lingo!

In The Heart of Dixie!

Well, tonight we got to a really classic movie theatre with the Wurlitzer organ if you are old enough to remember that!  They even have a Theatre Organ Society.  Barbara, at work, her husband would love this old classic organ.    As we gathered by busloads at the theatre, we got to listen to oldtime music played on the organ.  After this, on the screen, was a documentary about the history of this old  theatre and it was quite interesting.  This is called the Alabama theatre built in 1927.

Then we also have a light dinner of fruits, vegies and sandwiches with drinks.  After we were all gathered together we were treated to entertainment by Billy Horton who played banjo, guiter, fife and mandolin and violin, as well.  He played and told stories of civil war days and how that was their only retreat after the day's fighting.  On two days Apr 6-7, 150 years ago, 23,000 soldiers from both sides were killed on Shiloh Hill.  He really had a good way to humanize these soldiers and that their whole real reason for them fighting was "Home" and their families.  It was quite a nice evening and the ambiance of the old theatre was the perfect venue to take one back in time.

He told us that Alabama was the heart of Dixie.  Love it!

Goin' out on the town...

The foyer of the theatre...

Feeding the crew...

The old theatre with romantic balcony...

Box seats...

Billy Horton...


The ladies room where we kill the yanks!
(a new inside joke, ya had to be there!)

The ladies room entry...

Walk of the stars Talulah Bankhead...

A side view of the marquis, which isn't sideways on my camera, hmmmmm..
So g'nite my friends!

My Ancestor Was An Alien

Today I attended Librarian's Day.  It was fun and I met some nice ladies from Ohio.  We had a nice lunch as a group of lasagna, vegies, rolls and salad and cheese cake for dessert.

Curt Witcher was one of the speakers and he commented that sometimes we think that our ancestor was an alien, not the "naturalized" type, but because we can find no documentation on them, that they really did come from another planet out there...somewhere.  It was a fun talk.  I think he is quite entertaining.  I also sat by a Tennessee lady that had gone to BYU at one time.  Small world.  Tonight in about 1 hour or so we will be bussed to a theatre for food and entertainment.  Below is a picture of my lunch group.  The lady on the right, comes yearly to the Family History Library to do Scandinavian research.  I had to ask her because I knew that I had seen her on the floor a few times.

So time to get ready for the theatre!

FGS Conference--Travel Day

Well, a group of us came to Birmingham through Memphis, TN.  I wanted to go in the Elvis shop there, but our layover was only about 30 minutes and had no time...Oh, well. Such is life, I guess.  There were about 8 or so of us on this flight.  I have heard that there are 32 of us in all that are here from FamilySearch.  The flight from Memphis to Birmingham was only about 36 minutes.  Quite short.  It was also a tiny little plane so I was a little on edge because we thought we would have a bumpy ride because of the hurricane.  We were lucky, not so.  All the FamilySearch people seemed to always be in the back of the plane on both legs of the journey.  I managed to arrive with a big headache, as did 2 other ladies and so we went to dinner together at a restaurant in the hotel.  Elaine and Fran and I ate together and visited and had a nice time.  The hotel is pretty big.

This is inside the atrium area of the hotel.  This is not too far from where we ate dinner tonight.

This is the view from my room.
No there is no hurricane here today.  Maybe later?

My room. 

The view from the conference center skywalk.  And that is all today.  Still have that darn headache!