Hello Again!! Long Time No See!

Hello Again! Long Time No See - -

Yes it has been quite a while since I last posted to this site, and there is a very good reason for that. There have been many changes in my life, and my focus has been elsewhere this past year or so.

To bring you up to speed, I started a new job in 2017 as the Hancock County Executive Director of Tourism. It is a full time position. So instead of me running around like a crazy woman working multiple part time jobs - I am now only in one place most of the time - and best of all - - I am actually getting paid for my work! Don't get me wrong - I truly loved working at the Riley Boyhood Home and at the Hancock County Historical Society. I do keep my finger still engaged in both of those organizations, but neither one was able to give me full time employment. I have one daughter who will be going to college next year, and another one not too far behind. On top of that, I really got tired of giving 110% to this project and that project - and never being able to fully focus on one thing - and not getting any monetary gain from it. You can't put food on the table with good wishes and volunteer work. Unforutnately, neither the Riley Home nor the HCHS were able to offer me a full time employment opportunity - which is really sad for both insittutions. They both could really benefit from a person in that position.

So where has that left my Little Orphan Annie research? Well sort of in limbo for awhile. I haven't totally forgotten it - if you have gone to the Orphan Annie Author's Facebook Page. I have been posting a few things there, but I just have not had the time to devote to my research and my blog. My new job involved setting up a new office, and completely reinventing tourism for Hancock County. I am still working towards that goal - but hopefully I will have a little more free time to do that here in the near future.

Has there been anything earth shattering that I have discovered since I took my leave of absence from the blog? Well - I have significantly fleshed out Mary Alice Smith's family tree, and have made some contact with some of her more distant relations. There are still a couple of nagging mysteries that I would like to solve, but I think I could possibly start writing soon - and get something in print form.

I hope you take this opportunity to get reaquainted with my research, and to see some of the amazing stuff that will be coming out as time goes forward. I hope you enjoy what I post here, and maybe you will learn a thing or two.

I can't say how frequently I will be able to post - but I do hope it will be on a more regular basis. You might also see some changes to the site with some new ideas and layout as I play around with some of the new features.

So good to be back - and Hello Again!