the short sharp shock

I'm not really here, but I am always here for a Gilbert & Sullivan reference.

We all make those calculations, and I admit that I am on Instagram, so I'm a bit of a hypocrite

My only defense is, since I never used FB on my phone, and I never used Insta on the web (and it is under a pseudo name and email), at the time I canceled my FB account it was obvious they still hadn't figured out they were the same person. I mean, I'm sure they could, but I'm so rarely on Insta and do so little on my phone beyond calling/texting, I'm not sure I care.

I'm eligible through my grandfather. I need to track down requisite birth certificates for him, and for my father to prove lineage.

Thank god my sister did all the groundwork on our dual citizenship before me since, at the time, we had to prove my mother had never renounced her citizenship (so fun proving someone didn't do something!) and also get all this stuff on our grandfather, who died before any of us were even born, and which no one had handy. My sister had to track down the necessary paperwork at his birthplace (a small town in the Alps, in the 1880s).

Moving back to France is something I think of often, but, really, they have their own issues with the far right. Of course, it's nice to at least have the option.

Timelies all!

Gary's back. Things progressed quickly enough in his meetings that he was able to head home after breakfast, rather than later in the day.

Once again I will state that I am not eligible for dual citizenship(too many generations away from the ancestors who came here) and even if I were, none of the countries my ancestors came from are places I'd want to live.

Argentina is my option since that's where I was born.

I have actively begun my move to Portugal. Just typing it out loud is exhilarating and daunting.

Ireland was my first choice, but given everything going on there, it feels like an extension of DC, what with all the historical internal strife and the pressures imposed by the choices of neighboring states/countries.

This morning, I spent two hours chatting with a close friend who moved to Portugal in January and I'm more excited than ever.

The language is a bit challenging, but I just keep reminding myself that I could read before kindergarten, I've studied Spanish, Japanese and ASL, and the Portuguese seem pretty forgiving of anyone who gives an earnest try. Besides, it's a beautiful, quirky language. What is not to like?

My long-term goal is to open a specialized retreat center, but until that happens, my business won't change much. I, honestly, can't wait.

Hmm. If my father is not in my birth certificate, I doubt I have any options. Also my option is Italy, and I don’t really care for their justice system.

Argentina, JenP? That sounds exciting! It that interesting to you?

I love hearing about people's relational connections. When I started this process, I dove headfirst into Ancestry desperately, trying to find an Irish connection for ease of bureaucracy.

I found it...in the late 1600s.

Turns out, my people have been in America a loooooong ass time, and not even remotely in the blue-blood kind of way. Carpenters and military, of no real renown, as far back as the mind can reach.

Sign. But still, no different than having to everything for myself in this life, eh?

Turns out, my people have been in America a loooooong ass time, and not even remotely in the blue-blood kind of way.

Same. Mostly farmers. Both my father and mother's sides pre-date the revolutionary war.

When I started Ancestry, I thought my grandfathers family were recent German immigrants. They are English and Scottish and have been here since the 1600s. They were just poor and lived in the Germantown/Dutchtown section of the city, so my mom assumed! My grandmothers history was exactly what I thought, except it gets a little hard to trace because there is a Cornelia Bourbeau and a Cordelia Bourbeau in the same town. Cornelia was nicknamed Nellie. Cordelias daughter and mother were Helen, nicknamed Nellie. I am a relative of Cordelia.

Yup, my ancestors were poor Cajun farmers a long way back. I don't think France would take me. Or Canada.