Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 04/29/08

This was not an all-day genealogy search-fest today. I had to take the car down for maintenance at 9:30 and didn't get home until 11:45 a.m.

I was up early with a headache, and was on the computer by 7:15 a.m. After reading email and blogs, I posted "Far from the 'West Country' " on Genea-Musings - I found the article last night, and thought it might be a keeper. Sheri reminded me about the ProGen Study Group assignment, so I wrote my mission statement and sent it off to the group. Then I got ready to go to the car dealer.

After I got back, I read email and blogs again, then posted "Free Family History PhoneBook" and "A Unique Grave Site." I worked on several recent queries and answered several emails that had been on my list too long. Around 2 p.m., an email came in from a second cousin that I'd never heard of sharing info about our Richmond family, so I wrote her back a long email. At 3:30, I was tired and went in to watch the news, then the Padres game with Philly (Pads lost 7-4), took a short nap and felt better, had dinner, watered the lawn, did the dishes, finished the wash, got my suitcase out, and finally came back to the computer at about 7:30 p.m.

I made the masters for the CVGS program tomorrow, made an award certificate for the speaker, and found the masters for the CVGS membership application. Another email query came in and I researched and answered it quickly. I wrote several more advance posts for the rest of the week for Genea-Musings before checking my political news sites and writing this post.

Genealogy today was all of 6.0 hours - 2.0 hours reading and writing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour working on CVGS things. I didn't do any research except for answering queries.

We have our CVGS program meeting tomorrow, and I leave in the evening for Santa Cruz. This blog will probably be dark until Sunday, but I'll try to post on Genea-Musings occasionally.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 04/28/08

This was pretty much an all-day genealogy race to see if I can avoid pain in my neck from sitting too much. An interesting day, too.

I was on the computer before 8 a.m. reading my email and blogs, and I posted "The Pace of Genealogy Research - Post 3." Then I finished my Cartnival post about "Leominster, Massachusetts" after finding the map and the web sites. I wrote two more advance posts for next weekend.

At 9:45, my wife called from Victorville asking if I had heard anything about the birth of Audrey. I told her "nope" (actually, I had forgotten all about this event... dumb) but I text messaged James and he responded saying everything was OK, then he sent a picture of Audrey, and then finally a message that Tami was fine. I ate lunch and took off for the library. On the way, he called from home to say that things had gone well. While I was at the library, he sent the picture of Audrey, which I posted later in "Audrey is here - a new leaf on our family tree!"

At the library, I checked out the estate papers work party, then talked to John and Dearl, and went to look in the San Diego newspaper index for an obituary. No luck. Terry came by and we talked at the table for awhile, then two ladies came and said they were looking for me. One of them was Frances, whom I had talked to on the phone on Saturday. I sat with them for awhile and explained what genealogy was, how to do it, gave them some forms, and we went to the library computer to see if we could find her father in the 1930 census and his parents too. We found them in 1910, 1920 and 1930 - they were amazed at how easy it was. Ahem... I told them it's not usually that easy. An easy and uncommon surname, good handwriting and a stable location really help!

I was home by 3:30 p.m. after that, and posted my Audrey note, then checked email and blogs. I found the census images for Frances and emailed them to her. At 5 I went in and had dinner (Dinty Moore stew tonight) and watched BOR, then watered the plants and left for the library again at 6.

The library had a presentation about the Chula Vista Historical Society programs coming up in May, plus a book signing for the Images in America: Chula Vista book just published with historical photographs. I posted about it on the Chula Vista Genealogical Cafe. I talked to a lady about doing oral histories, then came home by 7:30. I got started in finding more Knapp families in the census and was able to put several families together, including spouses and children - and before I knew it it was 10 p.m. Then this post.

Genealogy today was 11.5 hours - of which 0.5 hour was reading and writing email, 0.5 hour was reading blogs, 2.5 hours was blogging, 1.0 hour was texting and phoning about Audrey, 3.0 hours were at the library on CVGS business and consulting with Frances, 1.5 hours at the library for the CVHS presentation, and 2.5 hours was working on Knapp families on Ancestry and the NYTimes.

I wonder what can I blog about tomorrow?

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 04/27/08

Today was not a real genealogy day - I did nothing but read and blog today. We went to church in the morning, and then Linda left for Victorville to be with Tami and her family as they get ready for the birth of Audrey on Monday morning. I came home in the heat (it reached 100 F here today and is 77 F at 10 p.m.) and read my email and blogs, then posted two items to Genea-Musings - the CVGS program on Wednesday and the "Best of the Genea-Blogs" for last week. Then it was time for the Padres game.

I read the paper during the game, which we lost 2-1. After the game, I had to get Linda's web mail address book to look like her Outlook Express address book, and it took awhile - this way she can email from Victorville her church prayer chain. Then it was dinner time - leftover chicken and veggies plus a Dove bar (yum).

After dinner, I answered some email and wrote two blog posts for next week when I'm gone. At 9 p.m., I went in for Desperate Housewives and after that wrote this post. Off to bed soon, or maybe I'll go read my book.

Then I found a picture on a political forum, and posted "Family Fun Day" with some pithy comments. How will they be received? It's late!

Genealogy today was only about 5.0 hours - 0.5 hour reading and writing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, and 1.0 hour doing miscellaneous research online.

I need to write several more advance posts plus the Carnival post, which I worked on a bit tonight. Our CVGS program is Wednesday and I need to prepare for that too. I go to Santa Cruz on Wednesday evening with a return on Sunday.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 04/26/08

Once again I spent quite a bit of time doing genealogy related things, without much to show for it. I need to be more disciplined. I manage to figure this out after I've wasted hours doing semi-fun things rather than putting my grind to the nosestone.

We had our swim club breakfast (I don't swim, but Linda does, and this group has met for about 20 years now on the last Saturday of each month) today, but I was home by 8:30. I stayed home all day but did the watering and watched the Padres game (we finally won one, 8-7 in 13 innings).

After reading my email and blogs this morning, I posted two items on Genea-Musings - "What's a 'Utah' Name?" and "Terry Thornton's Blog-iversary" and then read my politics and news sites for awhile. I explored the new NEHGS web site - the search and images are as bad as before. I hope they fix them soon. I did a lookup in the NY probate abstracts for an emailer - no luck! I tried the Fulton History site again and it came up, but then failed when I tried to view a newspaper page. Frustrating. I had lunch.

The Padres game started at 1 p.m., so I watched that until almost 5 pm. Linda came home not feeling well, but she brought KFC for me so I was happy as a pig in slop. I opened a can of corn and had a Dove bar to top off dinner. I was back on the computer at 6 p.m. and after reading email and blogs, I decided to post "Channeling Edwin P. Seaver." Then I went searching in my database for elusive ancestors to write about. I picked Jeffrey Jones of elizabethtown NJ in the 17th century, and found a WorldConnect database that identified his wife (new for me) and his parents (John and Sarah Jones of England, Concord and Fairfield). However, other sources say that John Jones did not have a son Jeffrey but a Thomas Jones may have. A mystery! I found quite a bit of good narrative about JJ with decent sourcing - now I gotta find them myself. I wondered about obituaries for Manning Knapp, a distant cousin who died in 1892, and the NY Times had several articles about him - it's probably a blog post in waiting. Linda wanted the computer at 8 so I went in and watched the end of the White House Correspondents Dinner on CSPAN.

Genealogy today was only about 5.0 hours - 0.5 hour reading and writing email, 0.5 reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour digging in the NEHGS site and 1.0 hours working in WorldConnect and Google for Jeffrey Jones, then 0.5 hour for Manning Knapp.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 04/25/08

I finally was able to spend much of a day on genealogy. I'm not sure I advanced the ball much on all of my projects, though. I need to focus better on important tasks, but I seem to fall back on writing blog posts.

I was on the computer by 8 a.m., and read my email and blogs before posting "Survey from WVR about Social Networking" on Genea-Musings. Then I wrote about Dan Lynch's "Google Your Family Tree web site and book." I messed around in Blogger a bit trying to figure out how to use Open-ID but didn't change anything. I put the two death certs in the mail to fulfill the query, and answered a few emails. Then I did more checking on my Jack Kemp connection for later.

After lunch at home, I tried to get into the Fulton History site and it was down - what's up with that? I hope it's just temporary. I went to Ancestry and looked for books using "Seaver" as the only search term - more than 1,000 of them. I browsed through many of them, and captured about 5 stories from them and put them in my Seaver database. Linda came home and I took her up to the hospital to visit our friend. I finally wrote the "Yep, I'm related to Jack Kemp" post, then wrote two posts on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog about the Monday evening Chula Vista history program at the library and the CVGS "Organizing Your Files" meeting on next Wednesday.

I went in to watch the news and take my nap, and Linda finally called at 6 to come pick her up and go to dinner, so we went to Lolita's with Walt, the husband of the lady in the hospital. My daughter called to say that Mike's grandfather had just died too. We got home after 7 and watched the Padres game until 9:45 (we lost again, 5 straight now, maybe I should quit mentioning them here). I read email and blogs quickly and wrote this post before calling it a night.

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours - 0.5 hour reading and writing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 3.0 hours transcribing book articles into my database, and 1.0 hour of researching in Ancestry. I'm not spending the three hours in the evening on genealogy that I was spending in the winter because of the baseball games.

I wish I had films waiting at the FHC tomorrow - I'll probably stay home and write advanced blog posts. I'm going to go back to Santa Cruz next week to shepherd the grandsons one last time while Lori deals with the reception for the grandfather's funeral. In the mean time, Linda will go to Tami's on Sunday to help with Lolo when Tami's baby is born on Monday. No rest for any of us, I fear.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 04/24/08

Not much genealogy effort today due to circumstances beyond my control. I did post about the BIGRA tea on Saturday and posted my second musing on "The Pace of Genealogy Research," but that was the extent of any real genealogy effort.

I went to the doctor today for my regular checkup and found that I'd lost 4 more pounds and my blood pressure and cholesterol were pretty good (drugs work well!). Then I went to the County Clerk's office for two death certificates, McDonald's for lunch, I picked up George for our weekly walk at the bayfront (sunny, 67 F, a little wind), the bank, and then the pharmacy before I got home at 1:30. I read my email and blogs and sent the images for my friend that I helped yesterday. I read some political stuff, but not much else before I went in to read the paper and take a nap before we went to the Padres game at 5. We lost 1-0... words can't express my frustration!

Genealogy today was all of 2.5 hours - 0.5 hours reading and sending email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.0 hour blogging and 0.5 hour at the County Clerk getting certificates. Maybe I'll have more time tomorrow.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 04/23/08

I'm back in my rut of genealogy and Padres...it may be October before I get out of it.

After reading email and blogs this morning, I posted "Family Photographs - Post 2" and then "Social Security Death Index Data" on Genea-Musings. I did a little more searching for a query online without success finding an obituary in the SD U-T. After lunch, I went off to the library for a noon meeting about the CVGS cemetery project. After that, I talked to my colleague Ann about the Estate Papers project, then met the lady who called yesterday for over an hour. We searched Ancestry for her mother's passenger list record, then found 1920 and 1930 census records, and finally found the passenger list record. I wrote it up after I got home in "Frustration then a Happy Dance." Then it was time for a nap, watching TV and dinner.

After dinner, I checked email and blogs again, but went in at 7 to watch the Padres game (lost again, 3-2 in 13 innings). At 11, I came in to read email and blogs, and write this post, and now I'm off to sleepytime.

Genealogy today was 6.5 hours - 1.0 hour to read and write emails, 0.5 hour to read blogs, 1.5 hours to write blog posts and 2.0 hours on CVGS business and 1.5 hour doing research with my new friend.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 04/22/08

I didn't do a lot of genealogy research over the past three days, but we participated in a lot of family history. My son-in-law flew into Long Beach on Saturday from his tour in Iraq and my daughter and her boys were there to greet him. They had a suite in Anaheim and had a good time getting the boys reacquainted with their dad. On Sunday, they went to a Children's museum nearby. We drove up on Sunday and got a hotel room in the hotel next door (they share a pool). We went out to dinner on Sunday night and had fun at the pool. It was GREAT to see him in one piece and healthy...that's a big load off our minds.

On Monday, we were in Disneyland by 9 a.m. Linda got a wheelchair so I could get my exercise. We did the Rocket ships and Autopia first, then the Monorail and Disneyland train. Linda and I went to lunch, then we met them at Winnie the Pooh and we went to Tom Sawyer's Island for awhile. We found ice cream bars and headed for the Submarines which had an hour wait. They did that while Linda and I explored Innoventions. We headed back around 4 and went to dinner at Outback. They got back to their room at 7, and called me over to babysit. However, my son-in-law was sick so they didn't go out. I helped with dinner, bath and bedtime stories. I was back to my room by 9. We drove home today.

While away for two nights, I connected online for about an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening to read email, blogs and to post my pre-planned blog posts. This worked out well, although the hotel connection was slow at times.

After we got home at 12:15 this afternoon, I caught up on email and blogs, and posted "Fire in a Snow Storm" before I went in for lunch, to read the paper and take a nap. I was back on the computer at 3 p.m., and posted "The Pace of Genealogy Research - Post 1" before going in to watch the Padres game and have dinner.

After the game (we lost 11-7, rats) I did the dishes and read my email and blogs again, then looked for a 2006 obituary in the San Diego Union-Tribune archives without success. I decided to do this post, then check my stats, and go to bed early tonight. My feet hurt from walking and pushing, my knee hurts from crunching it on a pole, and my eyes are drooping.

I need to get ready for the new baby due next week at my other daughter's house. There's no rest for the weary grandparents, it seems. I wouldn't miss any of this for the world, you know! To heck with blogging and genealogy for now...hmmm, maybe I'm getting cured?

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 04/19/08

This was a disappointing genealogy day because I didn't feel well. I didn't sleep well for the second night in a row (my acid reflux reacted to the 7:30 ice cream dessert which was yummy but dangerous). I was up at 7 to get to my 8 a.m. men's group breakfast, but I was home by 9:30 in time to see Lolo off to go home with her mom. Needless to say, I didn't go to the CGSSD meeting in La Jolla (30 minute drive each way).

I was finally on the computer at 10 a.m., read my email and blogs, and posted "Celebrate Patriots Day" and "More Northern New York Historical Newspapers Online" on Genea-Musings. I poked around in the other northern NY newspaper database and didn't find much of interest to my Seaver and Smith families (Smith is tough because of the commonness of the name).

After lunch, I created several more blog posts for the next three days, then worked in my Seaver database a bit trying to find census records for several families that are in my database. I found several, but several weren't findable. I also put some data from correspondents into the database. By 4 pm., I was tired and sleepy and went in for a nap before the Padres game came on at 5.

We had dinner watching the game, which they eventually lost 10-3 after leading 3-2 in the 7th. Arrggghhh. I was back on the computer by 8:45 and decided I'd done enough blogging for the day. I will finish this and go to bed early again.

We leave after church tomorrow for two nights in Anaheim - we're going to Disneyland again - this time with Lori, Michael, Lucas and Logan. Michael came into Long Beach today for his homecoming to California. He goes "home" next weekend. I'm taking the laptop and should be able to post from the hotel but my time online will be limited by family things.

Genealogy today was only 6 hours - 0.5 hour reading and writing emails, 0.5 hours reading blogs, 3.0 hours writing blog posts, and 2.0 hours working in my genealogy databases.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 04/18/08

I had lots of good intentions to make this a good genealogy research day, but circumstances prevented it from being little more than a blogging day. Lolo and her mom came in last night, and I was up at 7 a.m. with Lolo feeling really sleepy (see my post for yesterday about the Padres game). It went downhill from there!

I finally was on the computer at 9:30 a.m. when Lolo and herm om wnet shopping with their friends, leaving me home alone. I managed to read my email and blogs and make my Geneaholic post and two Genea-Musings posts (about the Carnival of Genealogy and San Francisco) before going out for lunch at McDonalds at 11:20. I stopped by the CVGS PO box to get mail, then picked George up for our weekly walk along the bayfront.

I was home before 1 pm. feeling really tired and sleepy. I posted about the Ellen Goodman article, and then I must have done something interesting for the next hour and a half but I can't remember what! I know - I wrote several posts for the weekend since we're going off to Disneyland again on Sunday for two nights! I went in for a nap at 3 pm, read the paper and watched TV, and then we decided to go out to dinner at 5 p.m. We went to King's Fish House out at Otay Ranch, and had a nice dinner, followed by shopping (I went to Barnes & Nobel for 45 minutes) and an ice cream at Marble Slab. Then it was home at 8 pm. to watch the end of the Padres game, they lost 9-0 to the Snakes.

I was on the computer at 9 pm., read email and blogs, and posted about the SDGS bus trip to LA Public Library next week. Then it was this post and I'm off to bed. I don't know if I'll get to the CGSSD meeting on Saturday or not.

Genealogy Journal - 04/17/08

Today was a genealogy day and a long Padres day - a Padres day so long that I'm posting this on Friday!

I was on the computer reading email and blogs by 8 a.m. I posted "SDGS Trip to SCGS Jamboree in June" and then did the research and posted "Ancestry and Rootsweb Traffic Statistics" that showed how thorough Ancestry's incorporation of Rootsweb into their domain is. I visited the http://www.fultonhistory.com/ web site (provided by my colleague Shirley) which has some historical newspaper archives from central New York. I put "Seaver" in the search engine and got over 5,000 hits. Many of them were for Tom Seaver, the pitcher, but I found quite a few obituaries and stories from the 1890 to 1930 time period in the Watertown (NY) Daily Times. I transcribed a number of them directly into my Seaver database - and there are many more to do - I only looked at the first 100 matches. That was a fun three hours!

After lunch, I posted "Will we ever see a 'Genealogy Idol' Program on TV?" after thinking about it for awhile. I did a little research for two correspondents using census and other records. I read the blogs again and found that 17 April was "Poem in My Pocket" day so I posted "Poem in My Pocket day" with two of my favorite genealogy poems. I then checked out http://www.generationmaps.com/ again and uploaded my 16 mb master database file to see what really nice charts will cost. Linda came home, so I went in to read the paper and take a short nap.

We left at 5 p.m. for the Padres game against Colorado. We took the trolley into downtown San Diego, ate at the Tin Fish outdoor restaurant near the park, and were in Petco Park by 6:30. We always visit my brother's Little League coach (from the 1960's) who is an usher in section 300 - he was my dad's good friend for many years. This was a scoreless tie until the 14th inning, when both teams scored a run. We left at 11:15 after the 15th inning, the trolley was waiting for us, we were home by 12 midnight, watched it into the 18th inning until 12:30, then turned the TV off and the radio on, and the game was won by Colorado in the 22nd inning, ending at 1:20 a.m. I was still awake...so that's why I'm posting this on Friday! I need a nap!

Genealogy on Thursday was 7.0 hours - 1.0 hour reading and writing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 3.0 hours transcribing newspaper articles, and 0.5 hour working with the GenerationMaps upload.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 04/16/08

I worked on only two genealogy activities today - blogging and CVGS business. It was a full day!

I was on the computer by 8 a.m. and read my email and blogs via Bloglines. I wrote and posted "My Favorite Genealogy Libraries" on Genea-Musings. When I was at the library on Monday, we had an issue come up that we needed to deal with about the library venues. I had asked my Board members to provide their opinions, and I wrote some talking points and passed them via email to the Board. We were able to get on the Library Board agenda today at 4 p.m.

After leftover pizza for lunch, I went to the library at 12 noon. I attended the Computer Group meeting led by Shirley (we touched Rootsweb, USGenWeb, and several other sites) - we had 13 there. At 2 p.m., several Board members got together to review the talking points and prepare for the 4 p.m. meeting. We gathered just before 4, and after meeting the Board members and introducing ourselves, we were able to be heard by the Board. I presented our case, and we will be able to continue meeting at the library. I was home by 4:45.

Linda was on the computer when I got home, but I was able to read and post "Family Photographs - Post #1" before dinner. After dinner, I went out and watered the plants and then settled in to watch the Padres-Rockies game. I finished "The Gods of Newport" by John Jakes (a pretty interesting book about Newport RI and the wealthies of the 1890's). I also read another chapter of "Saxons, Vikings and Celts" by Bryan Sykes. My Padres lost 10-2, after giving up 7 runs in the 9th. Arrggghh. I came back to the computer, read my email, and posted "CGSSD Meeting on Saturday, 4/19." Then this post, and I'm off to bed early tonight!

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 1.0 hour reading and sending email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.0 hour writing and posting blogs, and 5.5 hours on CVGS business.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 04/15/08

Today was almost all genealogy and Padres... a good day!

I was on the computer by 7:30 a.m., and read my email and the overnight blog posts. I wrote my "Randy's Genea-Musings is Two Today" to celebrate two years of blogging almost every day. I explored the Generation Maps web site after Janet suggested I consider them for large pedigree charts. Then it was off to the Family History Center.

I got to the FHC in Mission Valley just after opening at 10 a.m., and put my two new microfilms on the machine and scanned/saved the Oneida County NY deed images for David Smith and Russell Smith on my flash drive. Then I worked on the computer for about an hour. I captured 1851 Ontario Census images of my Kemp family and Kemp marriage records for 1857-19?? in image form and also in a Powerpoint presentation (so I can have the reference information also). I also checked some Wiltshire Family History Society periodicals and the latest BIGRA newsletter before heading home.

I was home by 12:30 pm., and after checking email and blogs, I posted "FamilyTreeMaker 2008 Survey" for grins. I decided to collect the Genealogy News for April even though the CVGS Research Group meeting was last week and I missed it. I gathered the information in an email, then sent the email to my CVGS colleagues. Then it was Linda's turn on the computer and I watched the news and took a short nap before dinner.

After dinner, I posted "Genealogy News for April" on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog. and then quickly posted "Catching Up on the News" on Genea-Musings, linking to the Genealogy Cafe post. Then it was time for the Padres game - we won, 6-0 on a one-hitter by Randy Wolf. During the game, I read "Newport" by John Jakes - I love historical fiction! I also put together the new fan we bought recently. At 10 p.m. the game was over and I read email and blogs again before writing this post.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours, including 1.0 hour of reading and writing emails, 1.0 hour of reading blogs, 2.0 hours of writing blogs posts, 1.0 hour of researching GenerationMaps, 2.0 hours of research at the FHC, and 2.0 hours researching the Genealogy News.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 04/14/08

This was a very busy day, made busier by the honey-dos required by Linda - she had her Forest Home Women's group over for a meeting and lunch, and I had to mop the floors, set up tables and chairs, greet everybody, eat and be nice, and take it all back down afterwards.

I started out at 7:30 a.m. with email and Bloglines, and posted the "15 Generation Chart" on Genea-Musings to get the blog rolling. Then I did my honey-dos and didn't come back until after 10 a.m. I wrote the post "I Am a Unique Person" for the Carnival. After lunch, I went off to the library and sat in on the Estate Papers meeting for awhile. I went to speak to the Library manager about a problem and didn't get home until 2:30 pm.

When I got home, I posted several articles on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog. I also posted many things on my Randy's Busy Life blog - trying to keep up with my email! Then it was time for TV and dinner.

After dinner, I went out and cut the front lawn for an hour, then watched TV and read the paper and talked to my daughter. I was back in and on the computer by 7:45 p.m. I worked a bit on my genealogy resume for the ProGen Study Group, posted "CVGS Seminar Summary" on Genea-Musings, and then wrote some CVGS emails. I need to read my TransGen Study Group article for the chat on Thursday night. Busy busy!

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours - 1.0 hour reading and writing emails, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hour writing blogs, 1.0 hour working on ProGen activities, and 2.0 hours on CVGS activities.

Maybe I'll get to the FHC tomorrow! They called about my films just before I went up north. I need to get back to doing real research.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 04/13/08

We're back from Santa Cruz. I was able to read my email and Bloglines every day there, and post my pre-written Genea-Musings blog posts, but that was about it. I spent an hour or so each day, but rarely more, due to the press of running the lives of two darling little boys. As an example, today I posted "The Elusive Philip Jacob Rau/Row ..." this morning in about two minutes.

I got home at 3 p.m. today from the airport, and we had a computer problem. There was no Internet connection on the desktop or the laptop. I called Cox and the automated trouble lady walked me through the process - my IP address needed to be renewed - my son-in-law installed some RAM while I was away and the IP address must have been lost. I watched the end of the Padres game too!

After reading my email and Bloglines, I posted "Genea-Musings is Back Home - Whew!" after the game but before reading the papers and having dinner. After dinner, I was back on the computer by 7 p.m. and posted "Best of the Genea-Blogs - April 6-12, 2008" after doing an hour of research. I puttered around with the ProGen Study Group and Transitional Genealogists Study Group blogs trying to catch up on assignments and twitter.

Genealogy today was all of 5.0 hours - 1.0 hour reading email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours blogging and 0.5 hour doing PGSG/TGSG work.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 04/04/08

Genealogy work today was hit and miss. I was on the computer at 8:30 a.m., and read my email and blogs. I posted "Genealogy Link Site Traffic" on Genea-Musings. Then I worked on writing posts for the next week while we're gone to Santa Cruz. At 10:30, I gathered the papers and went off to the copy shop to copy the handouts for the seminar, then took my income taxes to the post office, and had lunch at Costco before picking up my friend George for our weekly walk on the bayfront. I stopped by the library on the way home.

I checked my email and blogs again, and posted the "45th Carnival of Genealogy is Posted - Cars!" Then I worked on more blog posts for next week. I did a bit of research for the seminar research problems too. Linda came home with dinner at 5:15 p.m., so I ate and came back to the computer at about 6:15. I posted "Ranked Matches in the Ancestry.com New Search" on Genea-Musings. I watered the plants, then settled down to watch the Padres game with my laptop. I read the blogs, read my political news sites and reviewed/edited my presentation for the last time while watching the game (Pads lost to Dodgers, 7-1). I transferred the revised file to my flash drive, and then came to the desktop and copied it onto that computer too. I got all of my "stuff" for the seminar tomorrow either in the car or in my laptop case. I'm ready!

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 1.0 hour reading and writing emails, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 3.0 hours writing blog posts, 2.0 hours researching problems, and 1.0 hour working on my presentation. Enough!

I have a big day tomorrow - I have a breakfast at 8 a.m., and the seminar is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. I'll rush home and we leave on the 6:45 p.m. flight to San Jose, where we'll pick up my daughter's car and drive to Santa Cruz. We'll be there for over a week - I come home on Sunday, 4/13. This blog will probably be dormant until 4/14, although I'll be posting on Genea-Musings on a daily basis.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 04/03/08

I worked on genealogy tasks almost all day long. I was on the computer before 8 a.m., reading my email and blogs. I posted "Watching FamilyLink and WorldVitalRecords Grow" on Genea-Musings. Then it was time to work on the program handout for the seminar on Saturday. I created the agenda handout easily, using biographical material provided by the panel members. Then I tacked the syllabus for my presentation. I tried to limit it to four pages of outline with some descriptive material, especially web site links. It worked out to 4 pages when I made the font a 10 size rather than 12! It's still readable! I then edited my PowerPoint presentation a bit to reflect minor changes I made in the syllabus. Then I copied all of the seminar material onto my flash drive and copied it onto the laptop. It was lunch time, and the Padres game came on at 12:35 p.m., so I watched that until 3 (well, I did get a catnap in the 4th inning) - the Pads won, 3-2. I read the paper and then read my political sites on the laptop during the game.

At 3 p.m., I came back to the computer and decided to do a bit of research for some of the research problems to be discussed at the seminar. This was an enjoyable two hours of searching for elusive ancestors - I wasn't too successful - that's because they are very elusive! Dinner time, TV, and I started to read my new book - Saxons, Vikings and Celts by Bryan Sykes.

Linda was off the computer by 7 p.m., so I read email and blogs again, and researched and posted "Have you tried the New Ancestry Search?" on Genea-Musings - they modified the look and feel of the web site significantly over the past month and are now letting people try it out. I wrote two blog posts for next week when we will be in Santa Cruz, and will write several more on Friday. Enough for tonight!

Genealogy today was 10.0 hours - 1.0 hour reading and writing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours researching and writing blogging posts, 4.0 hours on the seminar preparations, and 1.5 hours doing research on problems.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Genealogy Journal, 04/02/08

This was mostly a CVGS day in genealogy.

I read my email and blogs starting at 8 a.m. and posted the CVGS Seminar information on Genea-Musings. I also put a post on the San Diego Rootsweb message board to alert San Diego readers. I made a second presentation file with some introductory slides and all of the research problem tables for use at the seminar. I practiced my main presentation a bit but then hurried to copied all of the material (3 presentations) onto my flash drive for backup. At 10:30, I got all of my paper together and went off to the post office, the bank to sign the signature papers, and then four of us went to lunch at Panera. We got to the library at 12 noon and had a long and involved CVGS Board meeting. Afterwards, we tracked down a library person to ensure we could enter at 9:30 on Saturday morning to set up for the seminar.

I was home by 3 p.m., and read my email and blogs again. I did the research and posted "Subscription Family Tree Web Site Traffic." Then I wrote my CVGS newsletter articles and sent them to the editor. I also wrote an email to the CVGS email list reminding them of the seminar on Saturday and to reserve their space. Then it was TV news, read the paper, dinner, put out the trash, and read the latest NGSQ issue while watching the pre-game show. When the game came on at 7 p.m., I got the laptop, transferred the presentation files, and reviewed the Genealogy is Fun(ny) presentation, read my Bloglines, read my politics sites, and checked out Ancestry's new databases while watching my Padres lose 9-6 in the 9th inning.

Genealogy today was 8.5 hours - 1.0 reading and writing emails, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 1.0 hour blogging, 2.0 hours preparing presentations, and 3.5 hours doing CVGS business.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 04/01/08

This was a really full genealogy day because I had a lot to do to get ready for the seminar on Saturday.

I was on the computer by 8:30 a.m., reading my email and blogs using Bloglines. I wrote "The Cars of My Life" on Genea-Musings for the next Carnival of Genealogy - I even found some useful pictures of them.

I spent the next three hours working on the research problems to be presented on Saturday by nine CVGS members. They submitted information on a form or in handwriting, so I transferred the info on each form onto a MSWord table, edited them, and sent them back to the member for final review. Then I wrote an email to all of them describing what was going to happen on Saturday so they aren't surprised that they have to stand up and present their problem to our expert panel and the audience. After lunch, I realized I'd better write "The Imminent Demise of Genea-Musings" before this day was over. Then I put all of the research problems together in one document and made a PDF of it and sent that to our expert panel - this isn't "Stump the Experts," it's "Help the Researcher." I also posted the "Genealogy Days in Chula Vista for April 2008" and the April 5 Seminar notice again on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog.

I played with the new and exciting (!) Ancestry search presentation (I'm still not thrilled, but they've modified it quite a bit to my liking) for awhile, and checked new Ancestry databases. Then I looked at the Ancestry vs. Rootsweb stats for the last week and was surprised - so I posted "Ancestry's Plan Seems to be Working." I went in at 5:15 p.m. to watch TV, read the paper, take a short nap and have dinner, but Linda didn't get home until after 6:30 tonight.

While the Padres game was on (we won 2-1), I read my genealogy blogs and political forums on the laptop, and then reviewed my Powerpoint presentation for Saturday. Linda had lots of email work tonight, so I didn't get on the desktop until after 10 tonight. Email, blogs, this post and good night.

Genealogy today was 10.0 hours - 1.0 hour of reading and writing emails, 1.0 hour of reading blogs, 2.5 hours of blogging, 4.5 hours of CVGS seminar preparation, and 1.0 hour of working on Ancestry and Rootsweb.

Tomorrow is the Board meeting and I have to give the final presentation material to Gary to install on the laptop.

Genealogy Journal - 3/31/08

We returned on Monday from our weekend trip to Orange county and Disneyland with Lolo and her parents.

I had kept up with my email and Bloglines during the trip, but posted only the pre-written posts about Carringer Family Letters and Elusive Female Ancestors over the weekend.

I finally got on the computer at 1:00 p.m. and read my email and blogs, then I posted the latest "Best of the Genea-Blogs" for last week. That took awhile! I worked on the CVGS board meeting agenda and sent that off to the group. I answered some emails and then wrote up the trip and my Padres forecast on Randy's Busy Life. At 4 p.m. went in to read the collected weekend papers. At 5, we left for dinner at Panera and the Padres game (we won 4-0), and got home at 11 p.m. Tired, cold, we crawled into bed.

Genealogy today was all of 3.0 hours - 2.0 hours blogging and 1.0 hour reading and writing emails and reading blogs.