Welcome one and all to Part 2 of my adventures at the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree!
Part 1 is here, and an intro to me, and the Genealogy side of this blog, is here. ;-D
I left home at 315am, Friday morning, home made badge around my neck, Nature Valley Bars, and Cheese Sticks, safely stashed away, and bags in hand, and walked a mile to catch the 1st of 3 busses, 2 commuter trains, and 1 more bus (Thank God for $5 Day Passes!), on a journey that would drop me off near the Marriott Hotel at around 8am.
Since I was not renting a hotel room for the weekend the transit was to serve as mobil sleeping quarters for the duration. ;-D
Don't panic!
I have never owned a car, and can make my way around 5 counties with ease.
Since I was 12 I've been using the bus, a bike, and my own 2 feet to go everywhere. ;-D
I had a bag for carrying any, and all, freebies I found interesting.
The 2nd carried my food stash, bus schedules, Jamboree schedule, writing supplies, a couple of family tree reports, and copies of 27 year old letters to my Dad, from the Old Country.
I didn't think that my first genealogical moment of the day would come at 4am. ;-D
I told the bus driver where I was headed, at that ungodly hour, and why, and a young man sitting nearby perked up, and told me his Father had researched his family back to the 5th Century.
OK, everyone, repeat after me..."Oh, really?" ;-D
When I asked him how Dear Ol' Dad had managed that feat when widespread Printing, and record keeping, didn't truly take off until Guttenberg and his printing press, he mumbled something about Pops going to the LDS Library in Salt Lake, and to Europe.
I had to get off the bus so couldn't follow-up.
Arriving in Burbank I settle in at the Del Taco to read the paper, and wash some of my snacks down with a coke.
I had only planned to attend 11 sessions over the 3 days, but reconsidered as soon as I arrived.
On opening day registration was not until noon, but I didn't think I was wrong in arriving early.
Better to be safe than sorry, and who knew who I would run into as I made myself familiar with the lay of the land at the hotel, and convention center, across from Bob Hope Airport.
When I finally got to the hotel I took the opportunity to sit in on a wonderful 2 hour, Pre-convention, session on Advanced Beginner Genealogy, by Lynne Parmenter, of the Southern California Genealogical Society.
I took 8 pages of notes during her talk.
During the mid-point break I unexpectedly found myself on TV, as someone from Roots Television interviewed me about my interest in Genealogy, and the Jamboree, as part of their preparing to promote next years event.
Only afterward did I realize that I forgot to mention my blog name and URL! ;-D
After the session I went to registration, and got my copy of the Syllabus, and official name tag.
As I approached a table to sit down a minute, I overheard 2 women talking graveyards.
Yeah, yeah, I know...creepy!
To the unitiated, maybe, but to genealogists, and especially that special breed known as "Graveyard Rabbits", such chit chat is perfectly normal. ;-D
That's how I met Susan Kitchens, of the blog Family Oral History Using Digital Tools , and Schelly Talalay Dardashti, of Tracing the Tribe: The Jewish Genealogy Blog! ;-D
We sat together, and chatted, and Susan showed me how to spiff up my official name tag by writing BLOGGER, and my URL, on a piece of paper, and attatching it for all to see.
Finally we all went our seperate ways as the first official sessions were about to begin.
As I walked around for 3 days I noticed not just the number of people my age (49), and older, but those who were younger, as well as a number of African-Americans, and Hispanics, among the attendees.
After my 1at session I went to the exhibitors room, and my 1st look, and run through,took my breath away, and was quite overwhelming.
I had no intention of buying any books at all...honest. ;-D
I took my 1st looks at all that was on display, and there was a hell of a lot of stuff to see, and services to be impressed with, and buy, plus a ton of free flyers, and pamphlets, to snag as well.
But I was not going to buy any books.
Nope, Nada, Nothing!
I will eventually write about the sessions, and my exploration of the booths, over the 3 days, but for now I wish to share 2 other highlights of the day:
I approach the table of Genealogy Gems, and had the pleasure of witnessing Lisa Louise Cooke, producer, and host, of the Genealogy Gems Podcast, and website, and Randy Seaver, of the San Diego Blog Genea-Musings, in action, as she interviewed him for her Podcast ( A wonderful, informative, 12 min., as posted on YouTube on Monday!).
Randy was kind of hard to miss with his great t-shirt, and I knew that had to be the Gemstress, herself, wielding the taperecorder like a pro! ;-D
Once they were done I introduced myself, and it was "Hail fellow, well met!" all around, and I had the honor of having my picture taken with the pair of them.
A little while later, as I made my way past 2 women, one looked at me, and at my badge, smiled, and asked..."Are you Mad???"
I smiled, and said..."Yes, but don't tell Security, they might toss me off the premises!"
Suddenly I found myself warmly being hugged, and hugging back, the Footnote Maven, herself! ;-D
In e-mails, comments, and Tweets, she calls me "Mad", short for Mad Macedonian, and it suits me, and my peculiar Sense of Humor, not to metion the vagaries of this hobby of Genealogy, quite nicely.
We'll see if the nickname sticks. ;-D
I can see it now!
Introducing myself to a room full of Geneabloggers..."Hi! I'm Kiril, The Mad Macedonian!
But my friends call me Mad, for short, not for being addicted to this wonderful hobby of ours." ;-D
The next session I attended was one on Legacy Family Tree, by Geoffrey Rasmussen, and soon after the 1st day was over.
After the day was done, at 7pm, I went for a coke, and more of my munchies, at Del Taco, before heading home, and ended up chatting about genealogy with a Fedex man with the last name, I kid you not, of Root (I saw his name badge!).
His relatives seem to have traced their, um, Roots, back to the 12th century, and a Capt. Root seems to have played a role in, um, expediting the immigration of an ancestor of Alex Haley to America. ;-D
Okaaay...twice in 1 day I encounter people whose family seems to have accomplished what most folks find to be impossible.
What are the odds? ;-D
Finally I made the trip home, arriving around 1230am, Saturday morning.
While my assistant, and Co-Blogger, Nikita, sorted out my stash (Yes, I know there are 3 books there! I have nothing to say in my defense, at least tonite!), I tweeted the Jamboree, a while, then climbed into bed for an hour, before turning around and heading back to Burbank for more. ;-D
****UPDATE - 1045pm****
After reading this post see if you can spot what makes this comment, received at 9pm, so interesting. ;-D
Is there really an airport called Bob Hope?
Honestly, I read the whole blog.
Love it.
My Root family is not related to that Root family.
Yes, Vir, um, I mean Brenda, there is a Bob Hope International Airport! ;-D
****END UPDATE****
Fascinating day - thanks for sharing it, Kiril.
Posted by: Randy Seaver | July 02, 2009 at 10:46 AM
What an entertaining read!
(and not just because you mentioned me!)
That's amazing that you met two random people (who were not attending the conference) who had researched back to the 12th century.
What a popular century! LOL...
It was a pleasure meeting you Kiril.
Posted by: Lisa Louise Cooke | July 02, 2009 at 03:19 PM