My first post

Within the last year or so, I have become more interested in doing genealogy.  The more I get into it, the more I want to do.  I'm currently planning on taking the NGS home study course and plan to order the first CD next week.  I was planning on starting after the new year, but frankly am getting anxious.

I have found reading the various bogs very helpful and it has encouraged me to try my hand at it.  I'm not sure I'll add much to the conversation but it may help me organize my thoughts and encourage me to keep going. 

Some of the goals I have in mind that I hope this will help with include:
     Filling in some gaps in my family tree
     Learning about all the resources available and how to use them effectively
     Find interesting stories about my relatives rather than just dry facts that you get from the census etc.
     Finding an interesting enough ancestor (or person) to eventually write a book about
     Start attending functions, conventions and meetings
     Travel and visit various archives and libraries to gather more information
     Eventually become a certified genealogist

That should be enough to get started.