Expo Time is Almost Here!

I can't believe that in about 24 hours I'll be at the California Family History Expo in Pleasanton.  Saying I'm excited would be an understatement!  What I'm not excited about, however, are the classes I'll be missing because they conflict with other interesting sessions.  Picking out the classes I want to go to really has been the hardest part of getting ready. 

When I first announced that I would be going to the Expo, I asked for some advice and was told by several that the most important thing was to be flexible about everything.  I've taken that to heart and haven't really settled on any classes that I definitely want to go to, preferring instead to keep my options open (which is why I have two or three classes listed for each session time slot).  Below is my tentative class schedule in no particular class ranking:

Friday, 10am:
Land and Property Records with Arlene Eakle, Part 1  OR
My Ancestors Were From Germany and I Don't Speak German! with Tamra Stansfield  OR
County Websites: An Overlooked Resource with Jean W. Hibben
Friday, 11:30am:
US Vital Records Overview with Beth Taylor  OR
Hansel and Gretal: Finding the Trail Home to Our German Ancestors with Tamra Stansfield OR
Researching Your Criminal Ancestors with Ron Arons
Friday, 1:30pm:
Using State and Territorial Censuses and Substitutes of the Western States with Leland K. Meitzler  OR
German Records Other Than Parish and Vital with Tamra Stansfield  OR
Scanning and Photo Retouching with Tom Underhill
Friday, 3pm:
Little-Known and Under-Used Land and Property Records, Part 2 (see Pt. 1 above) with Arlene Eakle OR
California Dreamin' with Gena Philibert Ortega
Friday, 4:30pm:
Shaking the Myth: Proving/Disproving Family Legends with Jean W. Hibben  OR
Finding Your Irish Ancestors - Are There Really Any Records? with Marci Despain

Saturday, 8am:
Clue to Clue: Tracking A Family Across Miles with Jean W. Hibben  OR
Sharing Genealogy Electronically with Geoffrey D. Rasmussen  OR
Immigration and Emigration Records Online with Ancestry.com
Saturday, 9:30am:
How to Trace the Common Man Through Congressional Records with Arlene Eakle  OR
Using Tax Records to Establish Genealogical Relationships with Leland K. Meitzler  OR
Finding Your Scottish Ancestors - What Do You Need to Do?  with Marci Despain
Saturday, 11am:
Putting the Flesh on the Bones with Ron Arons  OR
Census Techniques and Strategies for Finding Elusive Ancestors with Beth Taylor  OR
Finding Your English/Welsh Ancestors with Marci Despain
Saturday, 1pm:
Exploring City Directories with Beau Sharbrough  OR
An Introduction to Ellis Island and Castle Garden with Debbie Hagner  OR
Evaluation and Analysis of Genealogical Evidence with Arlene Eakle  OR
Saturday, 2:30pm:
Think Like An Archivist with Nancy E. Loe  OR
Church Records with Kathy Burrow

I'll be making the hour and half drive early Friday to get there in time for registration at 7am and from then on I doubt I'll be taking much of a break.  That evening I will also be attending the Genealogy Gems Podcast event and am very much looking forward to it.  When not in class, I'll be wandering around the Exhibit Hall or hanging out in the Beacon of Bloggers area.  If you see me, please stop and say hello as I always love meeting fellow "genealogy addicts."

Full Disclosure:  As a Blogger of Honor I received a free registration to the event but no other remuneration.  I was in no way paid or prompted by any party to write this post.