I hope this is the correct forum for this -- I wasn't sure exactly where this would go aside from Off Topic.

Anyway, I'm in a bit of a downswing on my genealogy research, gearing up for the next attack. I've been at it a long time, sometimes having very little luck. Other times, WHAM! Someone literally drops a bunch of info into my lap that is a huge help. You have to LOVE, for example, asking family members about info and being told "oh, contact ___, he/she might have information." (of course, in my family, I haven't heard of most of my relatives.... we're a distant bunch). Funny how it lucks out when someone can give you LOTS of information, already documented. Yowza! Nice "gift"!

Also, when you posted on genealogy boards years ago and never hear a word from anyone about your lines. So frustrating! Sometimes it feels like there is info for everyone out there except your branch, you know? It can feel sooooo lonely. Then out of the blue one day, you get an email from someone who had information you didn't know about that gives you a little more information and even more family names you'd never even heard of!! I actually discovered my McNeill ancestors this way. I'm hoping to hear more about them and see what their story is and where they're from (before North Carolina and Kentucky, that is).

Throughout the day, I'll randomly type search phrases in a search engine to see if I can pull up some genealogy information. After a while of doing that -- and I can't for the life of me remember which set of words I used to get it -- I finally had a hit! There was a Griffith (my last name) webpage I'd never seen before. Skimming it, I started seeing a name or two and a LOT of very interesting coincidences. I contacted the woman and we exchanged information. MATCH! Her direct line is my great-great grandfather's brother! I was able to help fix some of the holes in her information, and she helped give me some details (and more ancestors) that I didn't even have. And amazingly, a photo of my great-great-great grandfather. I'm still trying to get my head around that one. My family doesn't really have old photos like that. Amazing!

So now, I'm waiting to see if the McNeill line has had any progress (I sure can't crack that one right now -- hopefully this other guy has luck because I'm dying to know), and then I'm going to contact a genealogist that was recommended to me to see if I can find out more about some other names I've been researching (Grant and Moore -- one of my Moores, anyway... both of my parents have Moore in their families).

And to keep it to the "Tartans" topic of this forum... why yes, I would like to consider tartans in those names in the future Starting with Griffith, of course!

Now, if I can just figure out the big mystery in my husband's family... one of his ancestors (can't remember offhand if it's a great grandmother or what she was) claimed her family was from Scotland.

It's like an addiction, trying to figure it all out. A frustrating one that doesn't always have success, but you can't seem to keep away from the puzzle for too long!