Saturday, May 31, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/31/08

I closed out the month of May with an all-day session of doing useful and fun genealogy research and activities.

We had our monthly Dolphin club breakfast (these are Linda's swim buddies who don't swim any more - they just meet for breakfast each month now) at Carrow's at 7 a.m., but I was home by 8:30 a.m. and stayed home the rest of the day.

After reading email and blogs, I posted "Book Report: Death on the Family Tree" which has had quite a few comments already with suggestions for other books with a genealogy bent. I've been putting off extracting information from all of the Russell smith deeds in Oneida County NY for awhile, so I added data from the five deeds into his Notes in my FTM database. I then added everything else I know about him, and his father, to their Notes as well. This took me up to noon time, and after lunch I posted "The Elusive Russell Smith - Post 7" to summarize the deed results.

My newly found Richmond second cousin once removed (2C1R) emailed me again with material found by a researcher in England, confirming some of the data I have on the Wiltshire Richman and Rich lines, and suggesting parents for both John Richman (1788-1867) and John Rich (1793-1868). I found all of my notes from 1993-1995 about these families, consulted my databases, and sent my 2C1R more information, including all of the extractions I made from the parish registers for the surnames. These don't prove parentage for either man ... although I have my suspicions for both, and for Ann Marshman's parents too! It was good to take a fresh look at this data, but I still don't see any clear and convincing proof of parentage. I also found an updated database on WorldConnect for this Richman line, so I added some data to my database. Paula at SCGS asked if they could publish my "LearnWebSkills" article from Genea-Musings in the SCGS magazine, so I edited it a bit and sent it off to her.

I thought it was dinner time at 5, so I went in to watch TV and read the paper and wait for Linda to wake up from her nap. At 6:15, we finally ate, and I went out and watered the front flowers and pulled some weeds just to do something useful around the house today. I was back on the computer at 7 p.m. and decided to add some Seaver families to my FTM database from the 1930 census. I picked states and determined if I had the 1930 census data already in the database. If not, and if I already had the person in my database, I added the information for about 15 families in 2.5 hours. Then it was time for the weekly Wheel of Genealogy Fortune post and this post, and I'm done for the night.

Genealogy today was 11.0 hours - 0.5 hour reading email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 3.5 hours working on the Russell Smith deeds, 2.5 hours working on the Richman stuff, and 2.5 hours working on the Seaver database. Look at that - I did over 8 hours of pretty useful activities as opposed to reading and writing all day! I feel good about today! I even saved gas by not going anywhere!

Friday, May 30, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/30/08

I was on the computer by 8 a.m., and after reading my email and blogs, then getting ready to go out, I posted "NEHG Register Table of Contents - April 2008 Issue." I answered a query after checking the online San Diego Union archives. I must have done something interesting after that, but I'll be darned if I can remember what it was! I left at 10:30 and went to Costco to browse the TVs, DVDs and books, and have lunch (Polish dog and a churro), then picked up George for our weekly walk on the bayfront. I stopped by the library to pick up more books and was home by 1 p.m.

I posted "The LearnWebSkills Family History Tutorial" after investigating the newest one - the RevWar Patriot one (that's what I did this morning!). Then I worked on my study project of census entries vs. WorldConnect entries - finished two more census pages. Each page takes about 30 minutes. Linda came home and needed to do her email, so I went in at 3:30 to watch TV, read the paper and take a nap. We went out to Trophy's for dinner, and were home by 6:45. I checked my email and read blogs before the Padres game, but did nothing else. The game was over at 11:15 p.m. and I finished my Patricia sprinkle novel during the game, and read more in Saxons, Vikings and Celts by Brian Sykes.

Genealogy today was only 4.0 hours - 0.5 hour reading and writing emails, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.0 hour writing blog posts, 1.0 hour reviewing the LearnWebSkills site, and 1.0 hour researching the census/database project.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/29/08

This was another full genealogy day, unsullied by a break to watch the Padres game - they were on radio only today - we won 5-2.

I was on the computer before 8 a.m. reading email and blogs, and posted "At the Beach!" for the upcoming Carnival of Genealogy. I poked around for lost photographs for awhile thinking it may be a topic for Genea-musings. I don't remember what else I did in the morning. My work colleague called and we met for lunch at Fuddruckers in downtown Chula Vista - it's a burger and shake place. He offered me a contract job - I haven't said no yet...

I was home by 1 p.m. and posted "CVGS 'Scottish Research' Program with Jackie Webster" on both the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe and Genea-Musings. Then I beavered away at my project concerning how many people on the census are in WorldConnect databases. I did about 75 people before I stopped for a break. Then I read some blogs, and posted "Records from Central and South America on Ancestry" in response to the Gary Gibb blog post. I was tired, so I went in to watch the news, read the paper, take a nap and have dinner. We ate out on the patio. After dinner, I went out and cut the front lawn.

I was back on the computer by 7:15 p.m. and finished my ProGen study assignment for an educational plan. I emailed that to my study group colleagues for review and comments. I checked my Bloglines list to see if there are some blogs not posting regularly, and there are many. I culled those out that haven't posted since December. My daughter called and we talked for over 30 minutes before I could finish this post. I'm off to bed soon.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - reading and writing emails was 0.5 hour, reading blogs was 1.0 hour, writing blog posts was 2.0 hours, doing my census/WC project was 2.0 hours, doing my ProGen assignment was 1.5 hours, and looking at lost photos was 1.0 hour.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/28/08

CVGS things dominated today...

I was on the computer by 8 a.m. reading my email and blogs. I made the program agenda for today's meeting and the certificate for the speaker, then took my shower. I posted "Family Photographs - Post 7" and "What about unclaimed ancestors?" in reaction to Megan's post and video about unclaimed bodies. That took me up to the time to go to the UPS store and eventually the library.

I got to the UPS store at 10:30 and John was there making copies of the June flyers. I made my program agendas and folded them while he finished making flyers. We were done in 15 minutes, paid and left. I went by the post office, then McDonalds for lunch (nuggets, choc chip cookies, choc shake) and was at the library by 11:25. I went in the back way and found that our door was already opened, so I moved the piano to the side of the stage, set up the podium, turned on the AC, got my stuff arranged and went up to the conference room and snacked on the veggies brought by our members. The doors opened at 12 noon, and I greeted folks as they came in, including the U-T photographer. Where was the reporter?

The CVGS meeting started at 12:25, and the speaker started at 12:50. The photographer took some pictures of me and the speaker at the podium, and the reporter came in after the talk started. The speaker finished at 2 p.m., and we adjourned. I talked to the reporter for awhile, then we went up to the conference room and she interviewed several others for another hour. I was home by 3:30.

The reporter asked me how much time I spent each day or week doing genealogy, and I admitted to doing this daily life blog and that it was 40 to 60 hours of genealogy effort each week on average. She asked several others the same question!

I read my email and blogs, and posted "Where do visitors go on Ancestry.com?"
Then it was time for TV news, the paper, dinner on the patio and I was back on the computer at 6 p.m. I started my "education plan" for the ProGen Study Group. I got two pages done by 7 p.m. but deleted one page of it since I had said essentially the same thing in my resume last month! I went in to watch the Padres lose 6-4 to the Nats. Drat. Back on the computer at 10, I read email and blogs and wrote this post. Time for bed.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 0.5 hour reading and writing emails, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 4.5 hours doing CVGS activities, and 1.0 hour writing up my unfinished education plan.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/27/08

Another fun genealogy day with lots of different tasks.

I was on the computer by 8 a.m. and read my email and blogs, then posted "Rootsweb Review newsletter now monthly." I got ready to go off to the FHC and was there by 10:15 a.m. I immediately got my film out of the drawer and used the microfilm scanner/computer machine and found Oneida county Deed 35.150 with no problem. It was in negative format so I had to play with the controls a bit to make it come out positive. Then I looked for 36:20 on the same roll and it was not what I expected. I must have erred months ago when I made my index. Drat. I downloaded 35:150 to my flash drive, paid my dollar and went to the computers. I checked Footnote.com for Joseph Champlin's RevWar pension file and tried to view the images, but the damn image viewer didn't work on any of the computers, rendering Footnote useless today. Drat. Then I captured some 1841 and 1851 English census records for Richman and Rich in Wiltshire, and some FreeBMD images from the death index, but remembered I could do that at home. So I came home, here by 12:15 p.m.

I had some snacks for lunch, and did a little research on Ancestry traffic and posted "Traffic data for Ancestry domains." Some interesting stuff there, I thought. Maybe nobody else thinks it's interesting, but I do! Then I posted "Dear Genea-Man: Am I descended from John Tyler?" Heather asked this in a comment several weeks ago, and I did a little online searching to try to help her out. But I don't have her email address, so I decided to post it as an example of what can be done fairly quickly online. I also wrote two posts for the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog about the program on Wednesday and the Beginning Genealogy workshop in June.

I received an email this morning with about 15 questions from a San Diego U-T reporter - she's coming to our CVGS meeting on Wednesday. I spent about three hours responding to her questions and emailed it off to her tonight. I'll probably post some of it on the blog later. Let's see how the interview and photos come out.

We had dinner out on the patio tonight near the bird feeder, which has been very popular for about two weeks. Lots of little birds - sparrows, wrens and starlings, and some swallows too. After dinner, I finished up the email responses, and sent it out to my CVGS colleagues for comment and to the reporter. Then it was time for the Padres game. We won 4-2. I started reading the book "Death in the Family Tree" by Patricia Sprinkle. Pretty good so far - yep, a genealogy mystery book! The game was over at 9:45, so I read my email and blogs one last time and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 0.5 hour reading and writing emails, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 3.0 hours answering the reporter's questions, and 1.5 hours doing research at the FHC.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/26/08

Today was a real genealogy day - a bit of everything - email, blogging, reading, researching, database entry, etc. Where did the time go? I missed lunch, I think, but made up for it with snacks (apple, choc chip cookies, raisins, tomato).

I was on the computer after 8 a.m. reading my email and blogs. I posted my two Memorial Day posts "Memorial Day - Honoring our Heroes" and "My ancestors who served" (a repeat post). I was intrigued by the www.geneanet.com web site, so I signed up for free and explored it for an hour or more. I created an updated GEDCOM from my FTM database for uploading to a number of sites. I checked my Seaver database f0r entries on GeneaNet but I didn't see anything that I didn't already have. I went into Ancestry and found that I haven't added much Seaver BMD data as they have added databases, so I spent several hours printing the Ancestry database results and entering data into my Seaver database. This included Texas Births, Marriages and Deaths, Indiana marriages, Michigan deaths, Minnesota deaths, and Oregon deaths.

I stopped at 5 p.m. and went in to watch TV, read the paper and have dinner. I was back on the computer at 7 pm. and posted my first "Wheel of Genealogy Fortune" post and then "US Military Records at Ancestry eBook." I sent an email to my CVGS list about the program on Wednesday. Then I remembered the ProGen study group assignment and read the first chapter assignment. I downloaded and read the NGS Home Study Course outline. Finally, I checked the ProGen and TGF blogs before writing this post.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 0.5 hour reading email, 1.0 hour reading and commenting on blogs, 1.0 hour writing blog posts, 1.0 hour investigating GeneaNet, 4.0 hours enriching my Seaver database with BMD data, 0.5 hour doing CVGS things, and 1.0 hour on my ProGen assignment.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/24-25/08

This post will summarize the last two days.

On Saturday, I took care of Lolo until they went out to the new Children's Museum in downtown San Diego. While they were gone, I read email and blogs, posted on Genea-Musings several times and on Randy's Busy Life. I also explored my pastors blog and several genealogy web sites for future posts.

They came back at 1 p.m. and I took a nap while everybody else did. Lolo was up at 3 and I entertained her until Tami got up with the baby. We got ready to go to dinner and the Padres game, leaving at 5 p.m. We ate at Rubio's (Lolo loves fish tacos, refried beans, chips, salsa, etc). We took Lolo to the game on the trlley while Tami took the baby back to our house. The Pads lost 7-2, and we left for home after 7 innings. Lolo stayed awake the whole time but went right to bed. Me too.

This morning, Lolo and I had our waffles together and watched Disney Channel. Linda and I took her to church with us, and she went into the nursery. Tami came at 11 a.m. with Audrey and I had a grand time showing Audrey off to our friends. They went home after this. When we got home at 11:45, I read email and blogs and posted two quick posts on Genea-Musings. I also solved John Reid's latest Genea-Cyberquote on Anglo-Celtic connections.

I watched the end of the Indy 500 and then the Padres game, thinking I'd be back on the computer by 4 pm. Right - it was an 18 inning game that ended at 7 pm. - we did win, 12-9 on a walkoff home run. So I finally came into the computer, read and answered email, read and commented on blogs, and posted the "Best of the Genea-Bogs, May 18-24, 2008."

So genealogy today and yesterday totalled maybe 7 hours at most - 1.0 hour reading emails, 1.5 hours reading and commenting on blogs, 3.0 hours writing blog posts and maybe 1.5 hours doing miscellaneous research on blogs and databases.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/23/08

Friday was a busy day with Lolo and Audrey, and not much genealogy was done. Linda left early today and didn't get back until after 1. Tami slept in so I fed Lolo and took care of Audrey while we watched Disney Channel. When Tami got up, I managed to squeeze "If you offer it, they will come" between chores. I played with Lolo for awhile, and we left at 10:30 for Carl's Junior for lunch. Lolo played on the slide and equipment while Audrey slept in my arms. I left at 11:30 to pick up George for our walk, but we cut it short when a rain squall hit us after about 5 minutes.

I was home by 1 p.m., and everybody was down for naps, so I worked a bit on the computer reading email and blogs, and did a little searching for the Gandy project. When Lolo woke up, I got her a snack and we watched TV and played puzzles on the floor. When everybody else got up, I went in and took my nap! I posted "Lisa does Enumerate Me!" Then it was full-time Lolo and Audrey while Tami went shopping and Linda fixed dinner.

After dinner, we watched TV and the Padres game (we lost 3-2 to the Reds). I set up Lolo to play on the computer on Playhouse Disney - she plays games, paints on screen, and works for almost an hour online. Amazing for age 3!

Genealogy today was all of maybe 2.5 hours - 0.5 hour reading email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.0 hour writing blog posts, and 0.5 hour doing online research.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/22/08

I'm late writing this, but I know all of my readers will understand. We had Lolo ourselves on Thursday morning, but I managed to sneak in reading email and blogs in between making waffles and getting her dressed. I also posted "I Collect Dead Relatives. Why?" in a moment of incoherency and/or fantasy. Linda went to teach swimming and then to lunch, so Lolo and I fed the birds in the back, played with the big ball in the yard, and chased each other around for awhile. Then we went to Chick-Fil-A for lunch - there's nothing better than a chocolate milk shake with whipped cream and a cherry on top to bond a little girl with her grandpa. We were home by 1 p.m., and Tami was here with little Audrey.

I held and fed Audrey while Tami got Lolo down and we talked a bit. I took a nap in my chair when Tami took Audrey in and they napped too. Before everybody woke up, I managed to sneak in a post on "New Databases on FamilySearch Record Search." But they got up soon after, and then Tami's friend Michelle came with Lolo's friend Abby and they went off to the mall together to shop and have dinner. Linda and I packed up and went to the Padre game expecting wind and rain and cold, but it was fairly mild - 65 F, but we did move away from our "wind tunnel" seats. The Pads even won 8-2 over the Reds, so we came home happy. Tami and her girls were asleep so I didn't write this post after we got home.

Genealogy today was pretty weak - a total of 1.5 hours - 0.5 hour reading email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour writing blog posts. Friday will be similar!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/21/08

The front end of the day was all genealogy related, the back end was all Lolo related.

After reading email and blogs, I posted about Family Tree Builder. I played with it a bit more, and then worked for awhile in Family Builder on Facebook - I'm unimpressed so far. I saw a link to census forms on GeneralogyGenius.com so I explored the site for awhile. I worked on several email requests for information in my Seaver database, and sent several emails off with reports attached. Then it was lunch time and I got ready to go to the Library.

I stopped by the post office and picked up the mail, then attended the Computer Group led by Shirley at the Library. We pecked around the new Ancestry databases but I didn't make much progress. Before closing, Frances came and we talked in the Conference Room about her research - I gave her prints from the census records I had. I was home by 2:30, and posted "Family Photograph - Post 6" shortly thereafter. Then I posted about the census forms on GenealogyGenius.com. Linda needed the computer and I went in to read and watch TV.

We left at 4:30 to pick up Lolo at her friend's house, went to Chick-Fil-A for dinner and playtime, Wal-Mart for bird seed, Ralph's for waffles, and were home by 7 in time for the Padres game. They lost 11-3 to the Cards, with two key players getting hurt. It can't get much worse... It's 10:30 now, and Lolo has been up and down for 90 minutes, and is still not showing signs of going to sleep.

Genealogy today was 6.0 hours - 0.5 hour reading/writing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.0 hour writing blogs, 1.0 hour playing with FTB and FB, 0.5 hour checking out GenealogyGenius, and 2.5 hours at the CVGS meeting.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/20/08

I stayed home today - only went out to get the paper, watch the birds tonight, and to say goodbye to our dinner guest.

Although I was up early (6:15), I didn't get to the computer until 9 a.m. After reading email and blogs, I posted "The Ancestry Card Catalog" on Genea-Musings. I worked for about an hour in Ancestry trying to find MS records for my colleague, and failed miserably. There are marriages but no deaths or births online. In email, a fellow who lives in a Seaver-built house in Vermont wrote and asked for more info on the original Seaver builder. I went into my database and created a 56 page report for him - after editing a whole family line (5 generations at least) to make the notes and sources be more consistent. While doing this, it struck me again just how much work it will be to put all of my databases in consistent order with accurate source citations. I dread doing it...

Lunch time, and then I sent an email to the CVGS list about the upcoming events and some research tips. I downloaded the latest Family Tree Builder and tested it out - it's good for a free program. Linda came home and I took a nap while she did her email. At 3 I was back on, and posted "La Jolla DAR Workshop on May 24" on both Genea-Musings and the CV Genealogy Cafe. I also posted the "NGS NewsMagazine TOC" on Genea-Musings and "Military Collection Free on Ancestry until May 31" on the CV GenCafe. Finally, I posted "FTM with Ancestry Deals" to get this info down on paper. I spent almost an hour exploring the genealogy/history related items on eBay - lots of Massachusetts and San Diego items, interesting. Didn't think of buying anything, though!

At 5, I went in to watch the news. Our friend, Walt who just lost his wife, came at 5:30 for dinner, so we went out in the back yard afterward, watched the news, and then watched the Padre game. My Pads won 3-2... and my reward was washing many dishes. Then I read email and blogs and this post. I read a bit of "Saxons, Vikings and Celts" tonight but it is really technical in parts...

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 0.5 hour reading and writing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blogs, 2.0 hours working in my Seaver database, 1.0 hour working on FTB, 1.0 hour looking for MS records, and 1.0 hour scanning through eBay.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/19/08

This was a Jekyll and Hyde day. Genealogy dominated the first half, and was not present in the second half!

After reading email and blogs, I got busy and wrote "Military Collection FREE on Ancestry" and "The Most Important Announcement at NGS Conference." I worked on the Tyler investigation for awhile before lunch, then went off to the library after lunch to attend the Table Talk. When I got there, new member Ellie was there and the two ladies who I helped several weeks ago were there also. I got Frances and Linda started on the computers and then talked to Ellie for quite a while - she has a book about her mother's life in the works. John and Dearl were there too and the talked to Julie who dropped by.

I was home by 2:30, and spent an hour finding census records and printing them for Frances (she couldn't see the attachments clearly that I sent to her - they are not clear images!). I also looked for her family in the family trees but didn't have much luck. Linda called me i and said there was an explosion at the hotel across from Petco Park and I went in to watch it on TV, and fell asleep reading the paper. After one last email check, it was time to leave for the Padres game at 5 p.m. We went to Panera for dinner, rode the trolley in, and were at our seats by 6:45. The Padres lost 8-2 to the Cards and it wasn't that close. We were home by 10:30, and I did email and blogs and this post and I'm off to bed.

Genealogy today was 6.5 hours - 0.5 hour reading email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 2.0 hours at the library doing CVGS consulting, and 2.0 hours doing research for other folks.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/18/08

This was a pretty typical Sunday - some reading, some blogging, some research, and major time away from genealogy.

I read my email and blogs before getting ready for church - and posted "Funny Place Names" after I got home. Thanks to Bill, I was able to spend about an hour finding wild and crazy and sometimes risque or rude place names. I loved it! Then it was time for lunch and the Padres game - the nap was a bonus.

After the game, I was back on at about 3:30, and posted "Best of the Genea-Blogs" for the week. This took almost an hour to compose. I received a comment on a post about the Tyler family, and did a bit of online searching to see if I could help my correspondent. The trail is pretty weak before 1880. It was dinner time, so we ate out in the back yard for the first time this year (it was about 85 F out there) in the shade, and then I watched the news for awhile. I didn't come back to the computer until about 7:30, and then only to read em,ail, blogs and print out my ProGen assignment for May. I watched Desperate Housewives and read my Saxons, Vikings and Celts book by Bryan Sykes. After 10, I came in to write this post and will call it a night.

Genealogy today was only about 4.0 hours - 0.5 hour reading email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours researching and writing blog posts, and 1.0 hour doing the Tyler search.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/17/08

This Saturday was not a genealogy day at all - I had too many other things to do in my real life.

I was up early, but did read my email anf blogs before I left at 7:45 a.m. for my men's Bible study breakfast in National city. Then it was off to La Jolla to attend the CGSSD meeting - I got there by 9:30 a.m. and participated in the FTM class and then heard the speaker in the general meeting. That was over at 12 noon, and I was home by 12:45. Linda had just come home from Victorville, so I helped her bring stuff in and get organized.

I read email and blogs again, then posted about the CGSSD meeting here. We went down to church for the Ice Cream Social and choir "Heat Wave" show - it was pretty good, and the ice cream sundae was great. We were home by 4:15, and Linda wanted a nap, but took off for the neighbors to show the baby pictures all around the cul-de-sac. She got back at 6 - had no nap, but I did! We went to Rubio's for dinner and were home by 7 in time to watch the Padres lose to Seattle, 4-2.

After the game, I posted about the Carnival of Genealogy and helped Linda find her Sleep Comfort number again ... this may be a long process of sleepless nights in Chula Vista. We've had the bed for 5 years, and now she's not comfortable on it. I fear that Goldilocks has played with the bed number setter - I sure didn't!

Genealogy today was all of 4.5 hours - 0.5 hour reading emails, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.0 hour writing blogs, and 2.5 hours at the CGSSD meeting.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/16/08

Today was a typical Friday - genealogy in the morning, a walk at noon time, genealogy in the afternoon, news/dinner/Padres in the evening, and a quick genealogy nightcap afterwards.

After reading my email and blogs, I posted "Cousins finding me" and then took off on my excellent adventure to the new wing of the shopping center. It has a Borders Books and I was able to play with Ancestry online and get the lowdown on what they have to support genealogy enthusiasts. I had lunch in the mall at Panda Express, then wandered through borders again, stopped at the bank and the library to return and get a book, then picked George up for our weekly walk on the bayfront - it was warm today - 80 F on the water (and 94 F here later), so we walked slower than usual.

I was home by 1 p.m., and wrote about my Borders experience in "Ancestry Adventure at Borders Store." On my way to the bank, I thought "I should have taken some pictures with my cell phone..." - not only to show but also to refresh my memory of what they have. Oh well, next time! Then I decided to clear my email stack - I answered about 10 queries from correspondents, most of them about my Ancestry Personal Member Trees databases. Then I remembered that I hasdn't posted about the CVGS Research Group meeting on Genea-Musings, so I did that. I spent some time trying to find the Kemp families in southern Indiana that my cousin Cheryl pointed me to - one of the females may be the cousin in one of my pictures of my grandmother in about 1916. I found several generations but I'm not done yet, since I haven't found the cousin in the picture yet.

Then it was news time and dinner time, so I made my Dinty Moore stew and after that had my Rocky road ice cream - my life is so simple! After dinner, I ordered some genealogy things on the Internet to wear at the Jamboree - hee hee. I'll post pictures afterwards! Then it was time for the Padres game at 7 - we won 6-4 over Seattle. It wasn't over until about 10:15, so I came and read my email and blogs again, then wrapped myself into John Reid's little quotation puzzle, which I think I solved, and blogged about it at "A quotation challenge." Go try it before he posts the comments ...

I'm done - genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 1.5 hours reading and writing emails, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour making genealogy reports for my correspondents, 1.0 hour at Borders playing with Ancestry, 2.0 hours searching for Kemps on Ancestry and Rootsweb, and 0.5 hours shopping. It was a fun day!

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/15/08

I spent almost the whole day doing genealogy-related activities. I did have my Rohr/Goodrich Engineers lunch for two hours, watched the news for an hour while eating dinner, tried to chase the crows away from the bird feeder and bath, but other than that it was genealogy, unless it wasn't. The Padres played this morning, but it wasn't on TV (they lost again 4-0).

After reading my email and blogs this morning, I posted the Family Tree Magazine TOC for July 2008, then the ISFHWE winners. That looks like something I might join! Then I went off to lunch.

I was home by 1 p.m., and did my Transitional Genealogist Forum homework - abstracted the article and formulated questions to ask at the chat tonight. I also read the January 2008 issue of Ancestry magazine. I had a query from an Auble researcher who asked if they could use my online genealogy report for their records - so I checked and saw that I had more information to add to my database, so I worked on that for awhile. I checked out the new www.NewYorkAncestors.org web site too. At 5 p.m. I went in to read the paper, watch the news, have dinner, and scare the crows.

At 6, I came in and posted the "New York Ancestors web site" post, then got my stuff together for the chat. The chat began at 7 p.m., and I led the discussion through 90 minutes. I really like these because they stretch each of us, and we get to know several other researchers. It was over at 8:30, and I read my email and blogs again and wrote this post. ER is on tonight, so I'm going to wrap up early.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 0.5 hour reading emails, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blogs, 3.5 hours on TGF activities, 0.5 hour reading Ancestry mag, and about 1.5 hours doing Auble research.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/14/08

The genealogy day started out with a bang with all of the announcements from the NGS conference. After reading my email and blogs, I posted about the CGSSD meeting on Saturday, the Ancestry self-congratulatory blurb, and the major industry announcements. I polished up the Genealogy News of the Month, and printed some database items. Then I got ready to go to the library for the CVGS Research Group meeting.

After lunch at home, I went to the library for the meeting. We had 11 there - my report is "CVGS Research Group Discussions - May meeting." When I got home, I emailed the Genealogy News to the CVGS email list and posted it on the CV Genealogy Cafe blog here. I checked email and blogs but went in to watch the news and took a nap before the Padre game and dinner. I read the NGS NewsMagazine and my TGF study article while watching the game after finishing the paper and my book.

After the Padre game (another loss, 8-5 to the Cubs), I talked to Linda on the phone (the baby is cute and thriving) and came back to the computer and read email and blogs. I had forgotten that on Wednesdays I was posting family pictures, so I did that with "Family Photographs -Post 5: Massachusetts Seaver Family." Then I wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 7.5 hours - 0.5 hour reading and writing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 3.0 hours preparing for and attending the CVGS meeting, 0.5 hour studying the TGF article, and 0.5 hour reading the NGS NM.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/13/08

I feel quite a bit better today - no headaches, snuffles or coughs, but I'm still hoarse. Linda went to Victorville today so I'm batching it until Saturday.

I was on the computer by 9 am, and posted about the "New LDS Research Guides for England and Scotland," and "The 'Magic of Genealogy' Moment - a 'Genea-gasm'." I like that word, it describes the moment well, I think! I started writing my "Genealogy Research News for May" email to my CVGS members which I'll post on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog.

After lunch, I started in on the Washington Death records found on the FamilySearch Record Search site - I entered most of the Seaver entries into my database when I could find them. I was able to construct several "new" families in this process. At some point, my computer memory got messed up and FTM wasn't acting right, so I shut down and restarted, and everything worked well after that. Very strange! I watched several Roots TV videos, and posted "Flat Stanley went to WDYTYAL" It's funny. I received an email from one of the CVGS members asking where we could find Chicago City directories for around 1880. I Googled it, and Harold Henderson's blog mentioning the www.chicagoancestors.org web site came up - they have the 1880 directory! I looked for his family, but they weren't there. I made the site a Favorite...

Dinner time, Padre game time (they beat the Cubs 4-3), backyard watering time, and finally genealogy time. I read email and blogs again, then checked into the Fulton (NY) History newspaper site again and transcribed five articles into my Seaver database, gleaning several maiden names in the process! Then it was this post and I'm off to read while watching the TV news.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 1.5 hour dealing with email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 3.0 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour watching Roots TV, 1.0 hour in the Washington State deaths, and 2.0 hours in the Fulton newspapers.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/12/08

I woke up feeling punky today - tired, kind of out of it, and it didn't wear off until the late afternoon. I still have my cough, congestion, and hoarseness, although it's getting better. Therefore, this was not a genealogy intensive day for me. More a reading and relaxing day.

In the morning, after reading my email and blogs, I posted the summary of the Saturday SDGS meeting titled "My Jewish Journey To America" presented by Frank Gaylis. I went off to the library at noon, and visited a bit with my CVGS colleagues there. I read the latest Everton's Genealogical Helper and since I was feeling punky, I went home. I stopped for a Ding Dong at the 7-11 (and got gas at $3.91 a gallon) and was home by 2, and posted "The American Genealogist TOC" for the July 2007 issue. I really enjoy and appreciate this periodical, which is not tied to a genealogy society. I played around with my "colors" on this blog and the Randy's Busy Life blog, and went in at 5 p.m. to watch the ball game and have dinner.

After dinner and the Padres loss (12-3 to the Cubs - argggh), I was on the computer at 8 pm. I checked out my email and blogs again, and did a bit of searching in the Early Massachusetts VRs to 1850 (online at http://ma-vitalrecords.org/), and compared information here to my Seaver database. Then I posted about the SCGS Genealogy Jamboree and my small part in it. Finally, this post and I'm off to bed early because I'm still tired.

Genealogy today was whatever many hours - I don't have the energy to guess! It was really a useless day, I think!

I'm not going off to Victorville on Tuesday because I'm still sick. I can go to my CVGS meeting on Wednesday and the CGSSD meeting on Saturday. Cool. I still haven't seen the newborn Audrey, but I'm sure that I will soon (we're going up again in two more weeks).

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/11/08

It was Mother's Day and Pentecost. We forgot to wear red to church, but we did get the flowers for the new baby and to celebrate Michael's homecoming. The Padres won another game while I napped this afternoon - a win-win situation! I got Linda a nice card and we went to dinner at the Hob Nob Cafe in SD. She talked to the girls and we told them Happy Mom's Day.

Genealogy today was just reading and writing emails and blogs. I posted 3 items on Genea-Musings. I heard from my "new" second cousin again and sent her some family pictures and some thoughts on further research in England. I looked through the ProGen blog at the comments of the blog-only folks.

I also made the URLs for http://www.geneaholic.com/ and http://www.geneamusings.com/ work - so now if people search for those they'll find the blogs. I had reserved the URLs at GoDaddy, but didn't follow the directions on Blogger exactly - I saw my mistake and changed them both over tonight. So if someone uses either http://www.geneaholic.com/ or http://geneaholic.blogspot.com/, they will get this blog. I've thought about a web page, but that will require a host, which costs money. And a web page creator - I've tried a few but didn't like the product. And time to create pages with content. Oh well, I'm OK for now, I guess.

Genealogy today was about 4.0 hours - 1.0 hour reading and writing emails, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour messing with GoDaddy and Blogger.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/10/08

So I tried to turn this blog into www.geneaholic.com and failed. That's why some of you couldn't read it yesterday. I thought I did everything like I was told by Blogger ... who knows why it didn't work. For now, it's back to the blogspot URL.

Today was reading, blogging and the SDGS meeting - not much more! I posted "Saving computer images at the FHC" and "How did Mom get so smart?" early on. Then I finally sent my comment to Marty Weil on the Ephemera blog about the Hotel del Coronado picture. It was soon time to go to the SDGS meeting - I grabbed my Zingers and apple (lunch!) and left at about 11:20 am.

At the meeting, I talked to Marna, the SDGS President. She had some material for me and CVGS - I really appreciate her thoughtfulness! The speaker was Frank Gaylis, who has Jewish, Latvian, Lithuanian and South African ancestry. His talk covered Jewish history, his trips to Latvia and Lithuania in 2001, and his trip to South Africa in 2006. He found ancestral homes, some cousins and a former synagogue in Latvia and had wonderful stories to tell about the trip there. I really enjoyed this - the stories of people traveling to do research are really wonderful. At the break, Marna asked if I would participate in a panel discussion for the second hour, and I agreed. My voice is still hoarse and I'm not sure I acquitted myself well when given the opportunity. There were questions about software, German ancestors, military records, etc.

I was home by 3 pm. and I read through what Marna sent home with me. I went on Ancestry and found an interesting news article from 1877 about a 140 year old woman in Southern California. I did some research and posted "A Woman 140 Years Old?" Then I did a little more research on Wikipedia and added to the post. At 5 p.m., we went out to dinner to Trophy's (fish and chips) and then to Cold stone for ice cream. We were home by 7, in time to watch the Padres game (we actually won a game, 3-2). The game was over by 9:15, and I read email and blogs and wrote this post before heading off to bed.

We are not going to Victorville on Sunday, for which I am grateful. I'm not up to snuff yet, and won't go if I don't feel better. Tami needs us on Wednesday so we may go on Tuesday. If I go, I'll take the laptop and should be able to blog and read in my regular way. I need to get well first - I'm still blowing, coughing and sucking throat lozenges, plus taking the Tylenol cold and flu pills. At least I'm sleeping well!

Friday, May 9, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/09/08

This was a special date in the life of our family - I became a father 34 years ago, and have enjoyed the role ever since. I called my daughter this afternoon and sang Happy birthday in my off-key J-flat hoarseness and she laughed - they were at their son's soccer practice. Like father, like daughter!

I was on the computer by 8:30 and read my email and blogs quickly. I posted about "Los Angeles area resources" and the LA Regional FHC web site -great work there. Then it was off to the San Diego FHC for film reading - no good luck finding Russell Smith's parents yet after 4 months of ordering and reading films. I spent some time in the 1851 Canada census collecting ancestral family census images. On the way home, I stopped by the San Diego County Clerk's office and picked up a death certificate for a queryist - it took 10 minutes from the time I left my car to when I got back. Then to the store for a Mom's Day card and some snacks, and home by 1 pm.

After reading email and blogs, I posted about the New Ancestry Search and "Where is Ancestry World Tree?" in the new Ancestry. Linda wanted to use the computer, so I read the paper and watched the news, then came back at 4 pm. but didn't do much - I was sleepy so I took a short nap before we went out for dinner at Black Angus and then to Lamb's Players Theatre for the play "The Voysey Inheritance." We were home by 10:30 and all I've done is read email and write this post.

Genealogy today was only 6.0 hours - 0.5 hours reading email, 0.5 hours reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 2.0 hours at the FHC, 0.5 hours getting the death cert, and 1.0 hour messing around online doing things I don't recall.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/08/08

I'm still not up to snuff, the congestion and cough and hoarseness are still with me, but I'm taking my Tylenol every 4 to 6 hours. At least I'm sleeping 8-9 hours each night. However, I felt good enough to go for a walk with George at lunch time on the bayfront and to mow the lawn tonight after dinner.

I was on the computer by 9 a.m. reading my email and blogs. I went and visited WeRelate.org again and wrote up some comments here. After that, I wrote "Mom and Me" for fM's Carnival due on Saturday. It was lunch time, so I went down to McDonald's for my weekly nuggets/chocchip cookies/choc shake meal and went walking with George. I saw my former boss, who wants me to come back to work.

I was home by 1 p.m. and read stuff again. I posted several items on my Randy's Busy Life blog (mostly jokes) and two items on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog. After reading the APG list emails, I posted "The genealogy pub experience" post to add some levity to my oh-so-serious blog. Then I found the latest "Family History is Really Bunk" article on a news site and couldn't resist posting about it. It was time for news and dinner, followed by mowing the lawn and washing the dishes.

At 7 p.m., I was back on reading my email and blogs, and I sent an email out to Susi's group summarizing the meeting we had on Wednesday night in Lemon Grove. I thought they would appreciate the summary and the links to the sites we discussed. I played around more in WeRelate and then in MyHeritage trying to understand their systems better - they are pretty complicated! Finally, I went to Cyndi's List and reviewed the new web sites for March and April 2008 to see if there's anything I've missed. I found several new genealogy blogs that look interesting. And this post and I'm done for the night, since ER is starting up again.

I remembered tonight that the FHC called me last week to tell me my microfilms had come in, so I may go to Mission Valley tomorrow to read them. I need to start working on next week's blog posts because we are going to Victorville on Sunday to see granddaughter Audrey. We may stay the week if Tami needs us to, since her hubby went back to work today.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/07/08

This was a different genealogy day. I did a lot of genealogy related tasks, but didn't do any research of my own.

I was on the computer reading email and blogs by 8:30 am, and posted my Wednesday Family Photographs, then the SDGS Saturday program article. I got all of my CVGS Board material together in preparation for the meeting at noon. I read my news and politics sites, then had lunch and went to the Post Office before going to the library.

At the library, the meeting started at noon and I coughed my way through it - several gave me lozenges to stop the coughing, but I was real hoarse. We were done by 1:30 and I hightailed it home, read my email and blogs, did a little research and posted about the FamilySearch Record Search screens. Then it was time for the Padres game and dinner.

I had to leave by 5:30 pm to go to Lemon Grove to fill in for Susi in her genealogy group. There were six people, each with unsolvable problems (it seemed that way, anyway). I talked about FamilySearch Record Search, using the FHL Catalog and renting microfilms, and using cluster genealogy techniques to solve thorny research problems. I'm not sure how much sank in because of my throat problems. They were very nice and thanked me for my help.

I was home just before 8 pm, which was good because that was the start time for my ProGen Study Group chat. There were six of us and the comments were hot and heavy at times. It was enjoyable to "talk" to five new "friends" online even though we couldn't see or hear each other. The subject was interesting too. It ended at about 9:30, and I read my email and blogs before writing this post and calling it a night.

Genealogy today was about 8.5 hours - 1.0 hour reading email (the mail lists were heavy tonight), 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 2.0 hours on CVGS related activities, 2.0 hours on Susi's Lemon Grove group, and 1.5 hours on the ProGen chat.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/06/08

I woke up late today and feel somewhat better, but stayed home to conserve energy and work on tomorrow's challenges.

After reading my email and blogs, I posted twice on Genea-Musings about the databases on the FamilySearch Record Search here and here. I also made a slide show for a future presentation about this web site. I made the CVGS Board agenda for Wednesday and sent it to the board. That consumed my morning.

After lunch, I did my "homework" for the ProGen Study Group - there were 10 questions about professionalism and ethics to answer and I typed my answers in a word document. That took 3 hours ... Then it was Padres game time and dinner.

After the game (lost to Braves 5-3), I was back on at 7 pm. and found Babe Sturla's obituary online, and posted about it here. Then I checked my Windows Live Messenger chat status. I contacted my chat leader to make sure I could connect tomorrow - we had a nice 15 minute chat. I explored around on World Vital Records for awhile too.

Genealogy today was about 7.0 hours - 0.5 hour reading and writing emails, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on CVGS activities, 3.0 hours on ProGen Study activities, and 1.0 hour browsing in WVR databases.

Tomorrow will be a busy day - the CVGS board meeting is at noon, I have to cover Susi's group in Lemon Grove at 6 and the ProGen chat is at 8.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/05/08

I celebrated Cinco de Mayo by staying home and recovering from my sickness - kind of a Sicko de Mayo. I'm feeling better thanks to the Tylenol cold & Flu pills. I don't know how people put up with this in the old days - I had coughing jags today that made me see stars.

I was on the computer from about 8 am until 5 pm, with time out for lunch at noon and a nap between 2 and 3. Then I was back on from 6:30 to 10 pm. But I have little recollection of doing anything meaningful in those 11 hours. I read my email and blogs, I posted twice on Genea-Musings and the Genealogy Cafe, I added info to my databases based on some email info from correspondents, I found out who H.A. Knapp in Riverside CA was (and added some of his descendants to my database), I studied my two chapters in Professional Genealogy book for the chat on Wednesday night, but everything I did was pretty non-focused, which matches my mental acuity at this point.

I'll probably stay home on Tuesday again, but Wednesday will be busy with the CVGS board meeting, a meeting in Lemon Grove and the ProGen chat in the evening.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 05/04/08

I'm back home now after four nights in Santa Cruz with Lori, Michael and the boys. I had the boys alone on Thursday and Friday while Lori and Michael went to Petaluma to bury his grandfather. On Saturday, Lori had arranged a "Welcome Home Party" for Michael that went off without a hitch - lots of friends and colleagues came and everybody had a great time.

I flew back today. Of course, I'm sicker than a dog again - fever, headache, sneezing, snuffling, and lots of coughing. I'm taking my four-in-one Tylenol Cold and Flu pills but nothing helps right now.

I was able to read my email and blogs while I was away - and post the pre-planned musings plus several others. I even got most of the "Best of the Genea-Blogs" post done while I was there.

I did very little genealogy research today - only exploring the US Army Enlistment Records on Ancestry and I posted about it here tonight.

Needless to say, I witnessed and enjoyed a lot of family history while I was in Santa Cruz. The heartfelt thanks to Michael for a job well done, the joy of watching two little boys swarm their daddy with hugs and kisses every chance they got, playing base ball in the yard with the boys, playing soccer at the park, having bagels in the morning at the mall, all of those and more are really special. I didn't take a lot of pictures at the party, but I'll try to post some of the boys and Michael and Lori having fun with their friends and colleagues.

Tomorrow may be a big genealogy day - I anticipate staying home to rest and try to kick this cold bug rather than go to the library at noon like I planned.