Beyond Fiction

Well, it’s Friday night and my plans for going to the beach at sunset were ruined by the rain. Bummer!

Instead of wasting my time whining about that I figured I would just write a few lines here. I’m enjoying some music and a pretty good drink right now. It’s my own creation but it is pretty nice. 7 shots of liquor in it so it makes you feel OK.

I thought I would write about some of my impressions of North Carolina, now that we have been here for 2 weeks. Of course, the very first “First Impression” was strong enough that I moved here so I guess this would have to be my second “First Impression”. Huh? I’m confused!

There have been quite a few culture shocks for me. Nothing as far as people and such because I feel quite at home with the people here. They are all so friendly! No, the culture shock is in the general, day-to-day stuff that you just take for granted. In Texas, we were comfortable with the grocery stores, banks, utilities and so forth that we had grown used to. The one thing you can always count on no matter where you go is that there will be a Wal-Mart around somewhere. Well, I’ve never been much of a fan of Wal-Mart. In Paris, Texas I could go to Brookshires or Kroger for most of my shopping. Well, when we first got here all we saw was Food Lion and Wal-Mart. That is it! Being familiar with Food Lion from their short-lived stay in Texas I was disappointed because I thought I was going to be beholden to Wal-Mart only. Food Lion is just too high on their stuff!

Well, I’m an explorer. I like to know more about my surroundings. So, I set off to see what I could find. In the 2 weeks we have been here I have now discovered that there is a Harris Teeter, Lowe’s Foods, Piggly Wiggly and a little IGA food store all within 15 miles of where we live. I grew up close to a Piggly Wiggly and I like to go check out their meat deals. Harris Teeter is pretty awesome. They have just about everything you could imagine and their meats are some of the best looking meats I’ve seen. They are also running a “Super Double Coupons” promotion this week where they double coupons up to $1.98!  I’m still seeing how Lowe’s Foods will grow on me. It’s not as high as Food Lion but it isn’t quite low either.

One other thing I have discovered is that there is a difference in the sales tax here. It seems like North Carolina has a tax for just about everything but I was surprised to see that their sales tax for non-food items was only 6.75% compared to 8.75% in Texas. Hey, that’s 2 cents on every dollar I am saving. Of course, on food items there is no sales tax in Texas but here there is a 2% sales tax on food items. Still, it seems like there are less taxes in the long run on food and non-food items.

I have also discovered a very nice little produce place where I can buy great, fresh veggies for a very nice price!

Of course, living close to the ocean has its advantages also. I can buy jumbo shrimp for $1.99 a pound as long as I buy at least 10 pounds. Fresh seafood is also a little cheaper if you find the right place. I think we will be eating alright!

So, my first culture shock is that I have to get used to different food stores and ways of buying my groceries and such. Of course, as always, I make the adjustments and continue to go forward.

Isn’t it so strange that we are surprised by such things. I mean, 1300 miles difference means there are going to be some big changes but my first impression was that of groceries? I guess it is because that is such a big part of our lives.

I’ll write more later and cover the other essentials, such as utilities, driving, and other things.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Ken

Well, it’s been quite a while since I have posted anything here so I figured I would go ahead and post something!

June has been a very busy month for me! I started the month off by turning in all my stuff at my old job. I spent the next week or so packing up stuff and on the 10th I loaded up the truck and moved to Havelock! We moved into our apartment on the 12th and spent the next week or so unpacking and setting things up. I’ve spent the last week looking for work and today it seems as if I have something lined up finally.

Not much of an excuse for not posting but there it is!

I will say that I have scanned a few things in the last couple of days and I am in the process of sorting through my paperwork so I may find something cool to post about soon.

Of course, I could post about how different North Carolina is from Texas but that will come eventually.

Just so you know, I am still alive and kicking and finally getting settled in here in North Carolina.

Have a great week everyone!

Ken

Wow! It seems that we have run the gamut over the last few days and have gone from low to high, back to low and finally back to high! I guess we’ve been getting cold feet as the big day draws closer!

Seriously, my plans to fly down and get things started are over. We almost backed out completely because we just felt that things weren’t going to be exactly what we thought. After a sleepless night, tossing and turning and getting up and contemplating about it, we have decided to look at things realistically.

Until now, we looked at our move as going down and getting close to our grandson and helping out the kiddos by being there. Now we have a new outlook! You see, when we had almost backed out and were contemplating just relocating in Texas, we found that we were very miserable. That sleepless night led us to sit down and realize that, in fact, we are not moving down there to be with my son at all. That is one of the fringe benefits. We are moving down there because we fell in love with North Carolina and want to live there! That is the simple fact!

What a difference that makes in your outlook. We have since began looking for an apartment in the area and have put in some job apps online and are virtually packed already! We are ready to make the move as quickly as Tuesday. We are just waiting for some results from a field trip my son and daughter are taking this week!

So, the move is still on. I am still busy making the last minute plans and my wife and daughter are as excited as ever. The only negative to this newfound enthusiasm is that we will be in North Carolina within the next week or so. That means we will not be here for the family reunion on July 4th. Kinda strange as we are the ones who planned everything and put it together.

That is something I will address with my family later.

You know, I’ve been so busy that I haven’t taken time to see which geneabloggers are going to be in my backyard now. Are there any of my blogging buddies who live in or near North Carolina?

Have a great one!

Ken

Well, we make our plans and dream of so many things but in order for them to happen we usually have to take some action. I’ve started the wheels in motion!

Actually, I guess you could say that I started the wheels in motion when I sent my oldest daughter to North Carolina last weekend. Perhaps you could say they were in motion when I turned in my notice at work. Either way, they are definitely in motion now. Yesterday I went to my job and turned everything in and signed my exit papers. Now, the newest chapter in my life is definitely getting started. Whether it be N.C. or somewhere else, a new adventure awaits me.

There are some who will look at my actions and think me crazy. It wouldn’t be the first time. It’s hard to be a dreamer. Most folks nowadays don’t know how to dream. Most folks are content to just stay with the norm and do the ol’ 9 to 5 and be happy. I’ve never quite been that way. In my younger days I never worried about it. As I grow a little older, being a dreamer is not as easy. I do have common sense enough to realize that my actions affect more than just me. However, that is what is neat about it. My family loves to dream along with me!

So, this weekend I will fly out to North Carolina and see what awaits me. Perhaps this dream will come to fruition. Perhaps it won’t! Either way, we (my family and I) will begin a new chapter in our lives. This may be the last time I take such a challenge upon myself. I do realize that there comes a time that we have to face reality and settle down. I guess I am just in no hurry for that right now!

I’ll try to keep you updated as I progress in the next few weeks. That’s the purpose of a blog, right?

Just so you know, this is still a genealogy blog. Even more so now than before. Heck, I’m writing down what’s happening in my life which is family history in progress!

I wish you all a great week!

Ken

I recall seeing a banner once at a church I attended that read “We can make our plans but the final outcome is in God’s hands!”. It’s stuck with me for many years and is appropriate for today also.

I’ve posted recently about our plans to move to North Carolina. We had our plans to move on July 6th of this year but the plans have changed. Strangely, they practically changed over night or at least over the last weekend!

The simple fact is that my daughter flew to North Carolina this weekend to help take care of my grandson. Those plans changed once she got there but they led to my wife and I sitting down and discussing our plans. We even decided at one point that we weren’t even going to make the move. Call it cold feet or call it being logical but we were finally discussing our fears about the move. Up to this point that was a topic that was taboo!

The many proposals I threw out on Sunday evening were met with reluctance by my wife. I finally threw out a proposal that I knew she would go for but I was reluctant to mention. I proposed that I would fly down to North Carolina and spend the month of June exploring the job market. If I find a job, then I would go to work and get a place and come back to move my wife and daughter as planned. If I don’t find a job then I will fly my oldest daughter and I back to Texas and we will go with our plan B!

Plan B has yet to be determined!

In the logical realm of things, this is the best way to do this. It will cost less for me to fly to N.C. and if it doesn’t work out then at least we did try! We will still have our moving funds available when we get back. If it works out, we can move straight to our own place and not be an inconvenience to my son and his family.

My experience in life is that two families in one home for too long can really make life difficult and lead to some bad things happening! I love my family too much to put them in a position that will hurt them in the long run.

So, this weekend I will fly to N.C. and start checking out the prospects. It’s an uncertain future but at least it is a little less stressful.

My life is almost like a soap opera right now! Maybe I should sell the idea and make tons of money and not have to worry about all this!

Have a great week everyone.

Ken

Well, actually, I believe Memorial Day is over now but I had to wait until I came off of my buzz a little!

Tonight, after we ate a great meal with my brother and sis-in-law, we watched a movie that I thought would be good for Memorial Day. The name of the movie was “Taking Chance”. If you haven’t had a chance to see it you really owe it to yourself to do so. Just be sure to have a box of tissues handy!

The movie is about a Lt. Colonel who is feeling guilty about not going to do his part in Iraq. He is searching the casualties list and finds a marine who was from his home town. He requests to be the escort for him. That’s all I will say for now because I don’t want to spoil it for you.

The main point I am trying to make is that the movie got me to thinking. I’ve been so excited about becoming a grandparent and all but this movie zapped me to reality and it was very sobering. You see, my son is always telling me about how he feels he isn’t doing his part because he hasn’t gone to Iraq or Afghanistan yet. He says it is his duty to go and has requested over and over to be sent but hasn’t yet been given orders. Watching that movie tonight I thought to myself of how I would feel if he does get that wish! I know it is his desire but I can only imagine how it would feel knowing he is over there!

With the utmost of respect I would like to thank all of those who have served and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. It’s just a sobering thought when you think of your young son being there. Sometimes we tend to forget but today I am remembering!

It’s a different world we live in today! I just hope I can stay prepared for what lies ahead!

Ken

As you may have noticed, my posts are down to about 1 a week right now. There is a good reason for that. I’ve been trying to get ready for my move to North Carolina. In 46 days I will back up the truck and load everything! I can’t wait.

I’ve moved before but this is an entirely different move. When we first got married it seemed we would move 3 or 4 times a year. We were just restless I guess. In the last several years we have been able to settle down a little more. Moves in the past were never more than a few miles away. The biggest move to date was from Dallas to Paris and that was only 100 miles. Heck, I commuted back and forth to Dallas until I found a job here. Now, we are moving 1300 miles away! A brand new state, a new environment, and a new start.

I’m nervous but also excited. No, I don’t have a job yet and with this economy I am well aware of the chance I am taking. I have saved up enough money to last us for a while. I’ll have plenty of time to find a decent job and we aren’t really that high-maintenance so it doesn’t have to pay an outrageous amount.

I’ll just be glad to be back close to my son. It will also give us a chance to get to know our daughter-in-law better and to spoil my grandson!

I never really know what tomorrow will bring but I’m excited about the opportunities that are ahead of me. I’ll miss Texas as it’s the only place I’ve ever lived besides when I was in the military.

So, now you can understand why my blogging has slowed down somewhat. It will definitely pick up again soon. I have lots of information I have gathered in the last few months and I want to share it all but it’s hard to do when it is all packed up already.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Ken

You know, I’m sure that some of us find ourselves questioning whether blogging is worth it or not. After all, you have to sometimes really work at keeping things going. Of course, for some it is no problem because they have the time to invest in it but for some it is just a hobby. You find yourself wondering just what good can come from it.

Alright, I’ll confess! I often times find myself wondering whether this blog is worth it or not. You write so much and get very little, if any, feedback. Your family doesn’t even realize that you have a blog even though you have done all you can to advertise it to them. There are many times that I think  I am just wasting my time. I’m throwing words out there and they just disappear into the void!

In the past week or so I have had a little more inspiration to continue. Strangely, it is from folks I have never met! It is also due to a post that I published right at 2 years ago. Check out this simple post of mine from May 17, 2007. It is the obituary for George Byron Winkle.

Did I expect any response from this? No! I was just putting it out there to share with my family the research I was doing at the time. I had long since forgotten about this post. However, in the past week or so I have had at least 5 comments on it and each one has shared a different story about the Winkle family.

This is what I always wished and hoped for my blog and website. If my family would just take the time to leave a comment and share a story then the post becomes a wealth of information!

In the near future I will begin to post more obituaries and other information because I now see how doing so can connect you with your relatives!

Don’t give up on your blogging! It may take a while but every little post eventually pays off in some way!

Have a great week!

Ken

I was watching a movie today and at the end of it there was a quote that kind of sums up what I’ve been thinking about lately. The quote? “In the old days family meant people in a house together but that was in a language so far back that all its words are gone. A language we can only imagine.” It comes from the movie “Rich In Love”.

You see, I find myself thinking about my family quite often. Even though we have all grown so far apart and, in some cases, even disowned each other, I still wish so often that things could be as they once were. I know that is something I “can only imagine” but I still partake of my little fantasy!

As we grow older some folks say you grow wiser but I have to say that I disagree so much with that. Yes, you do learn a lot from your past mistakes but if we are so much wiser how do we let ourselves get to a place where we are no longer a family? If we are wiser, why can’t we learn to forgive or ask for forgiveness. Of course, when we do ask and receive forgiveness how come it is taken back at a later time? There are still so many answers I can’t find to so many questions!

I think the simplest answer is the one that my wife and I have come up with lately. While discussing our upcoming family reunion we were wondering why reunions aren’t the same as they used to be. Our only answer was that every one is involved in their own families now. Our children grow up and then they have children and then their children have children. Pretty soon it is a full-time job just keeping up with your own children and grandchildren. You don’t really have time to keep up with your nieces and nephews and aunts and uncles and brothers and sisters. That doesn’t mean you don’t love them and that they don’t love you. It just means that they have their own “circle” of family and they are quite busy in their own little group.

So, with that in mind, I would like to take the time to apologize to all my loved ones who I am not able to stay directly in touch with anymore. It’s not that I don’t love you and never think of you, I am just so busy with my own little family. I want you all to know that I sincerely do love all my family, even those with whom I have had a falling out. Life is too short to not say the words you should.

Here’s hoping that we can all finally realize that we are all such a fortunate group to be related to each other. Don’t underestimate your uncle or aunt or niece or nephew. They may play a bigger role in your life than you could ever imagine!

Have a great day everyone!

Ken

Lately I have been pondering what we call “The Information Age”. Supposedly we are in the age of information right at our fingertips and we should be able to stay in touch so easily with all of the wonderful technologies available. But is that really what is happening?

I’ve been working on ways to not only communicate more with my family but also ways to actually get them involved in my research more. What better way than the Internet? Alas, I have discovered that this is not meant to be.

Yes, there are so many wonderful tools out there that can and are being used by many families as communication tools. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Message Boards and so much more. Why, we should be able to know, almost in real time, when events occur. Strangely, that is not the case.

I have discovered in my time of researching (9 short years) that the best form of communication with my family is old fashioned. A telephone call or a letter are usually more easily accepted than an email or a tweet! A newsletter is more accepted than a blog!

Why is this? Well, the simple fact is that there are many reasons for this. Far too many to list them all here but I will try to list a few:

1. Not everyone is connected! Contrary to popular opinion, there are many people who have not yet jumped in to the age of the Internet. For some it is just a matter of no interest and for some it is a matter of liking the old ways better.

2. A lot of people would rather hear your voice than see your avatar! Many people like that human aspect of communication, rather than the cold, empty conversations via instant messaging.

3. Fact is that people are just busy with their own lives! Yes, they would love to be able to know more about their family history but they are so busy with their own family. They have school, sports, family time, church, volunteer activities and so much more that they just don’t have time to sit down and fill out that Family Group Sheet.

So, just what is the point of this blog? Well, the simple fact is that we sometimes have to realize that not everyone will share our zeal for our research. Instead of getting upset with them we need to respect their situations and just do our best to make the information available for them. Someday they will find time and when that happens you want to make sure that they know how to reach you.

Just because we are in the information age doesn’t mean we don’t go on with life as normal. That’s why this blog is not always active. I have a wife, children, a full-time job and now a daughter-in-law and grandson! Yes, life can be very hectic at times and I want to make sure that if I don’t do anything I at least take the time to enjoy my family. I know it will be worth it all in the end. The website and the blog are just extensions of research which is a hobby for me! It’s not my entire life.

My family is my life and that is the way it should be.

Don’t let the lack of participation from your family discourage you. They may eventually come around but if not just take the time to enjoy what you do have. Research when you have time and record what you find but don’t let it take over your life.

Take time to enjoy your family!

Have a great week everyone.

Ken