Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 26 August 2009

It was a very busy day - because of our impending departure on the morrow for places much more humid than San Diego.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, then posted Wordly Wednesday: Family Photographs - Post 69: The First Boy Friend? before getting cleaned up.

* Saw the JMK Gifts latest graphic, thought it was funny and good, so posted JMK Genealogy Gifts: Dating Tips for Genealogists. In Jimmy's honor, I wore my Genealogy is Like Sex T-shirt today. Posted The ProGen Study Group for publishing in the afternoon.

* Got hung up on Ancestry.com's newest preview page - for pedigree charts in the Family Trees. My IE7 shut down several times while I was trying to work with it. Commented on Twitter and the A.com blog, and got email from Kenny asking for more info.

* Linda and I left at 10:30 a.m. for the CVGS Picnic at the Elks Club picnic area. Had a great time.

* Back home after 2 p.m., and worked on the A.com problem for awhile. Wrote the CVGS Picnic - RAOGK Angels blog, and two futures on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog.

* Went in at 4:30 p.m. to watch the Padres game, then the Little League game, and we went out to dinner at 5:30 to Rubio's.

* Back home at 6:45, packed my suitcase, gathered my electronics, made maps from Yahoo maps, gathered my papers up, stuffed the laptop case, and put out the trash.

* Back online, read everything, answered some email, worked on the CVGS newsletter for awhile, and then sent the draft to my gmail account so that I can work on it while on vacation.

* Wrote some futures posts for Genea-Musings, then this post, and I'm almost done! I wonder what I've totally forgotten to pack or do? Maybe I'll dream about it!

Genealogy today was 10.5 hours - 1.5 hours reading email and blogs, 3.0 hours writing blog posts, 3.5 hours at the CVGS picnic, 1.0 hour working the A.com bug, 1.0 hour on the CVGS newsletter, and 0.5 hour on Twitter and Facebook.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 25 August 2009

Two more days and we're off to the Midwest. I've been pecking away at the tasks remaining to make sure I take what I need. Stayed home today to work genealogy and watch baseball.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and had fun researching and writing Family Tree Builder 4.0 - Post 11: Working with Photos. Worked in FTB4 on Reports too.

* Got cleaned up, and posted FGS and APG PMC Conference Online Registration Deadline is 8/26.

* Decided to reconcile the checking accounts ... took over an hour. Ate lunch at home.

* Worked a bit on the Seaver query. Then researched and wrote Ancestry's "Coming Soon" Page - Post 2 and posted it.

* Went in at 4 p.m. to watch the Padres game and read the paper, then watched the Little League game. Parkview lost 6-3 tonight, but are still in playoffs. Padres won 2-1 in 12 innings over Braves. Watered the back yard and front plants.

* Back online at 8:30 p.m., read everything, worked a bit more on Seaver query. Gathered papers for FGS and made an itinerary. Wrote this post. Will check in on Facebook, then go read my book.

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours - 1.5 hours reading email and blogs, 2.0 hours researching and writing blog posts, 2.0 hours working on Seaver research, 1.0 hour in FTB4 software, and 0.5 hour gathering papers for FGS.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 24 August 2009

Hmmm, Monday. Not a typical one - did some interesting things today.

* Read my email, blogs and Twitter before writing Capturing the Research Process - Post 1 after reading about the topic on the TGF mailing list. Went in and got cleaned up.

* Back online, researched and wrote about Ancestry.com's "Coming Soon" Page.

* Had lunch, gathered my CVGS bag, and went off to the library for table talk. Five of us, and it devolved into politics from genealogy. It's funny that people don't think the way I do...

* Was home by 1:30, and Linda was on computer, so I went in and took a short nap while watching the Little League game. Was back online by 2:30, and I worked awhile answering my piled up emails - burned off about 10 of them - some short, some longer. The longest was a Seaver query that came in a week ago - I haven't totally solved that one yet - involves a child out of wedlock and a Seaver man that marries after 1880 and dies before 1900 in California. Need an obituary, I think!

* At 5:30 p.m., we went off to dinner with our elderly neighbors. He was 87 today, so we treated them to dinner at Marie Callenders! Big deal, eh? They love it! But the food was so good and the company so fine that I didn't get home until 7:45 p.m.

* Joined the ProGen Group D chat already in progress (since 7:30,), but it doesn't look like I missed much. We went until almost 9 p.m.

* Read email, blogs, and wrote No Family Reunions in my family for the 79th COG. Then wrote CVGS Annual Picnic on 26 August on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog, and then this post. I'm done!

Genealogy today was 8.5 hours - 1.0 hour reading blogs and email, 0.5 hour on Twitter and Facebook, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 1.5 hours on CVGS things, 1.0 hour answering email, 1.5 hours doing research, and 1.0 hour on ProGen chat.

I need to work on getting ready for the vacation trip - getting some blog posts in the pipeline, and gathering stuff to take.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 23 August 2009

A typical Genealogy Sunday - some blogging, some reading, not much else!

* Read my email, blogs and Twitter before church, and dashed off A Different Genealogy Society Model too.

* Back from church at 11:30 a.m., put Best of the Genea-Blogs together.

* Went in to watch Padres game, then Little League baseball games. Read the paper, had a nap. Read the Emily Croom book. Friend came over to watch LL game, stayed for dinner. Cut the front lawn in the evening cool.

* Online again at 7:30 pm. - read everything, answered some email, made reservations for Branson and San Jose, then worked on CVGS newsletter for awhile. Need to have it almost done when I get to Little Rock! Wrote this post, will check in on Twitter and Facebook, and off to bed.

Genealogy today was 5.0 hours - 1.0 hour reading email and blogs, 2.0 hours researching and writing blog posts, and 2.0 hours on the CVGS newsletter.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 22 August 2009

Kind of a Jekyll and Hyde day - all genealogy and under pressure until 4 p.m., then relaxed and watched TV.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, then researched and posted Family Tree Builder 4.0 - Post 10: Adding Photos. Adding the photos was easy - trying to see them revealed a fatal flaw (at least to me!) - made my computer hang. Several times. Not good. Hope they fix it.

* Wrote and researched Saturday Night Genealogy Fun post. Scheduled it for early afternoon here. Tweeted about it ahead of time.

* Had a little time, so practiced my talk for awhile. Don't know how I can get through 120 slides in 60 minutes...but I do talk fast!

* Left just before 11 a.m. for Encinitas. Got there at 11:35, met the folks, set up the laptop, set off my "Genealogy is Fun(ny)" slide show while folks were waiting to be served. Had salad, bread and spaghetti with a meatball for lunch. Good food! Introduced at 1:30 p.m., got through the talk by 2:40 p.m. Found one error and can see how adding several more charts can help the flow. This was a big revision of an earlier presentation. Left for home at 3 p.m.

* Home by 3:40, read email and blogs, noted SNGF on Twitter, and went in to take a nap. Little League came was at 5 p.m., we ate dinner watching our boys win 14-0, then Chargers game (beat Cardinals 17-6) and Padres game (lost to Cards 7-0). Then back on the computer to read and write this post.

Genealogy today was 6.0 hours - 1.0 hours reading email and blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter and Facebook, 1.5 hours researching and writing blog posts, and 3.0 hours at the POINTERS meeting in Encinitas.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 21 August 2009

Did some blogging today plus preparation for my talk on Saturday in Encinitas.

* After reading email, blogs and Twitter, researched and posted Finding daughters married names in census records - made this one of my success stories in the presentation too! Updated it several times. Figured this out while counting sheep last night!

* Got cleaned up, went to Costco for lunch, then walked on the bayfront with George. Was home by 1 p.m.

* Worked in FTB 4.0 some more - still couldn't get Photo to work - must be a bug. I rebooted before doing it. Captured more Chart screen shots and posted Family Tree Builder 4.0 - Post 9: All Charts.

* Read everything. Edited the handout one last time, then printed 35 copies of it. Saved presentation as an ODP, a PPT and a PDF, and transferred to flash drive. Set up laptop and transferred recent data files, including presentation, to the laptop. Left it on to do a McAfee scan. Watched Janet's video on GenGuys. Edited SCGS video/audio post again.

* Real sleepy at 4 p.m., so went in to read paper, watch TV and take a nap. Had dinner in front of TV.

* Back online at 6 p.m. - did more research on my Euphemia problem. found them in 1860 census, but not 1870 and 1880. Was going to blog, but nothing I read made me do it.

* Watched Padres game - beat Cards 4-0 in a good game. Back online at 9:30, read everything, updated FTB4.0 summary, wrote this post, ready for bed!

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours - 1.0 hour reading email and blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter and Facebook, 2.0 hours researching and writing blog posts, 2.0 hours on presentation, 1.0 hour doing online research, and 0.5 hour on genealogy videos.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 20 August 2009

Did genealogy stuff all day until the afternoon nap and then Padres game.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter then posted English Jurisdictions 1851 on FamilySearch Labs.

* Got cleaned up and left at 9:45 a.m. for the FHC and the CV library. Put my library book on top of the car for a minute before I left and forgot about it! Read my microfilm at the FHC - found some Lanphear wills in Jefferson County NY Will Index, but none early enough to be Devier Lanphear's parents. Another rock turned over... left at 10:40 a.m., noticed I didn't have my book, so went home and there it was in the street by my driveway. Picked it up, took it to the library and came back home - it was 3 days overdue.

* Had lunch while reading on the computer, worked in Family Tree Builder 4.0 for awhile - couldn't make the Photo attachment work for some reason. Moved on to charts. Wrote Family Tree Builder 4.0 - Post 8: Ancestor Charts with 15 screen shots (my record!).

* Revised and tidied up my presentation handout and printed out a review copy. Need to check it with the presentation now!

* Was tired at 2:30, so went in to read the paper and watch TV, and eventually took a nap. Back online after 4 p.m. to read and check Facebook, Twitter and Ancestry.com.

* We left at 5 p.m. for the Padres game on the trolley. Ate at the Tin Fish again. Padres lost 5-1 to Cards. Home by 10:45 p.m. Read email and blogs, then wrote this, and I'm done.

Genealogy today was 6.0 hours - 1.5 hours reading email, blogs and Twitter, 1.5 hours researching and writing blog posts, 1.0 hour at the FHC, 1.0 hour on presentation handout, 1.0 hour on FTB photos and charts.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 19 August 2009

It was a typical genealogy Wednesday - blogging, CVGS meeting, blogging, Padres game...

* After reading email, blogs and Twitter, posted Wordly Wednesday: Family Photographs - Post 68: Three mtDNA Generations and then researched and wrote Family Tree Builder 4.0 - Post 7: Advanced Mapping Features.

* Got cleaned up, and went off to McDonald's for lunch and the library for the CVGS Computer Group meeting.

* Computer Group was good, was home by 2:15 p.m.

* worked on my presentation handout - got it done. Posted "Census Records" talk on Saturday, 22 August in Encinitas before working in RM4 and FTM2009 to see if they do timeline maps. They don't appear to. Checked out the English Parishes in 1851 on the FSLabs site - pretty neat.

* Went in at 5 p.m. to watch TV, read the paper, and eat dinner out on the cool patio. Checked email and blogs before posting 19 August Computer Group Summary and then Family Tree Maker 2010 Release and Tutorial.

* Padre game was on, watered front plants and back yard, finished NGS Magazine and read my book - Cubs beat Pads 7-1 and it wasn't that close. Afterwards, wrote this post and I'm done!

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 1.5 hours reading email and blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter and Facebook, 2.0 hours researching and writing 6 blog posts, 2.0 hours on CVGS activities, 1.0 hour working on presentation, 1.0 hour working in software, and 1.0 hour doing online research.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 18 August 2009

Another decent genealogy day - stayed home until evening. Didn't make ANY progress on my research, though!

* Read my email, blogs and Twitter before writing WorldVitalRecords Renewals 50% off until 21 August. Renewed WVR and bought FTM 2010 also...today was last day for the latter at the discount price.

* Got cleaned up, then worked in FTB 4.0 for awhile. Checked out the Maps features more, then wrote Family Tree Builder 4.0 - Post 6: Mapping Features. Worked in MyHeritage too. Took almost an hour for the map feature to work all of my localities for some reason. Ate lunch.

* Reviewed and practiced my Census talk for Saturday. Almost did it in 60 minutes!

* Listened to the RootsTV videos and GenGuys podcast and updated my SCGS audio/video list.

* Did some research trying to help a correspondent. Failed again. Went to the neighbors to help with their recycling project - filled up my trash can too! Got invited to dinner (Linda is going out with her GNO group).

* Wrote Some SS-5 Application Requests have Parents' Names blacked out, then went in to watch TV, take a nap, have a snack, and read the paper.

* Left at 6 p.m. for the South Bay Grill, met the neighbor family, had a nice dinner. Talked genealogy and family history with the daughter. Gave her Schelly's blog, MyHeritage and JewishGen as places to look. Home by 8 p.m.

* Watched the Padres game until 10 p.m. - Padres won 6-3 over Cubs. Then read everything and wrote this post. Will check Facebook and stats before bedtime.

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours - 1.5 hours reading email, blogs and Twitter, 1.5 hour on presentation, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour working with maps in FTB, 1.0 doing research.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 17 August 2009

Stayed home and worked on genealogy all day - mostly blogging, then we went to the Padres game tonight.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, then wrote Searching the 1930 US Census on Footnote.com after pondering how critical I wanted to be. Tried to play it down the middle - I love the data, but the search sucks IMHO.

* Had a Seaver query, so worked on that for awhile - found some data but not the critical Seaver male. Need to work on it some more. Didn't go to the library. Ate lunch at home.

* Wrote Family Tree Builder 4.0 - Summary of Posts to keep a running log of what may be a list of 15 to 20 posts. Then researched and wrote Family Tree Builder 4.0 - Post 5: Adding Unrelated Persons.

* Sleepy, so went in at 2:15 to take a nap, read the paper and watch news. Did the first... back online at 3 p.m. refreshed. Read everything, than captured screens from Ancestry.com and posted Whither MemberConnect on Ancestry.com?

* Got ready to go to Padres game. We left at 5 p.m., ate at Pollo Loco, were in our seats by 6:20 p.m. 0-0 game with Cubs until 8th inning, and 1-0 Cubs in the bottom of the 9th when My Padres scored 4 - Kyle Blanks a 3-run walkoff homer.

* Read everything hurriedly, then wrote this post. Bedtime!!!

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 1.5 hours reading email and blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter and Facebook, 2.5 hours writing blogs, 1.5 hours doing Seaver research, 1.0 hour in Ancestry MemberConnect, and 1.0 working in FTB4.0.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 16 August 2009

Sundays are sort of my genealogical day of rest due to the press of real life events.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter before going off to church at 9:30 a.m. Barbara Renick at CGSSD: "Online: How You Get There Does Make a Difference" posted before I got online.

* Back by 11:30 a.m., had lunch, read everything, and wrote Best of the Genea-blogs for the week.

* At 1:15, went in to watch Padres game, read the paper and take a nap.

* Linda and I left at 4 p.m. for a 40th wedding anniversary party. The couple used to live in 2115 30th Street when first married, a tenant of my grandparents. Had a great time sharing. Talked genealogy to a few folks - interesting stories!

* Home by 7:30 p.m., read everything, then worked on presentation for next Saturday. Pretty much finished. Now I need to figure out how to present 120 slides in 60 minutes. There are lots of screen shots showing a progression of census searches.

* Searched in Ancestry and Footnote some more for my Thompson mystery in 1930 - still no luck. Wrote this post. Will check Facebook too.

Genealogy today was 4.0 hours - 1.0 hour reading email, blogs and Twitter, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 1.5 hours on presentation.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 15 August 2009

It was almost a typical genealogy Saturday in Randy's world... a society meeting, some blogging, dinner out, and more.

* Up early, got email and lbogs read before leaving for the CGSSD meeting at UCSD. Family Tree Builder 4.0 - Post 4: Family Information posted while I was out (wrote it last night)!

* Got to UCSD at 8:50, up the hill to the auditorium, sat in on Legacy software meeting with my laptop - had to load GEDCOM. Watched several Legacy training videos - unexciting, very detailed. New info for me, though - not sure how much will stick.

* Barbara Renick gave program at 10:15 until 11:45. Interesting, useful. Will write it up for Sunday. Invited to lunch with SDGS folks - went to Guadalajara and had an ice lunch and great fellowship.

* Home by 2 p.m., read everything, worked on Saturday Night Genealogy Fun and got it posted by 2:45 p.m. Tweeted it. Went in to watch baseball, read paper and take a nap. Success!

* Watched Padres game until time to meet Linda and friends at The Galley. Had a nice Fish & Chips dinner. Home by 6:30 p.m. Watched end of Padres game (lost 7-4 - third game in a row). Linda used computer...

* Back online at 8:15 p.m., read everything, wrote up Renick presentation to post on Sunday morning. Worked for awhile on presentation - adding charts and polishing them up. Then wrote this post. Will check Facebook later.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 1.0 hours reading email, and blogs, 0.5 hour on Facebook and Twitter, 4.0 hours at CGSSD meeting and lunch, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, and 1.0 hour working on presentation.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 14 August 2009

This was a pretty typical Friday for me - out at noon, watch the Padres game, and do genealogy things the rest of the day.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, then posted WorldVitalRecords extends FREE access to 18 August. Wrote Family Tree Builder 4.0 - Post 3: Person Information and scheduled it for the early afternoon.

* Went off to the church office, then to Costco to look at toys and books and have lunch, to the barber for a haircut, and home before Linda came home from Victorville. When she got home, helped her with stuff, got wash going, checked on Lolo (diagnosed shingles on her leg...getting better), and let Linda use computer, so took a nap and watched TV.

* Back online at 3:45, read everything and wrote Found Another Devier Lanfear! Worked awhile looking in WorldConnect and FamilySearch for some of the families, and found pretty much what I already knew. Added some Lanfear data to RM4 file.

* At 5 p.m., went in to watch news and then Padres game, ate dinner, read the paper, finished the wash, did the dishes and watched as Pads lost to Cards 9-2. It wasn't that close!

* Back online at 8:15, after reading everything, posted Interesting and Useful Articles on Ancestry.com and then wrote another FTB4 post scheduled for Saturday AM. Then checked Facebook, wrote this post, and I'm done.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 1.5 hours reading email and blogs, 1.0 hour on Twitter and Facebook, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour doing Lanfear research, 1.0 hours reading ancestry articles, 1.0 hour in FTB4, and 0.0 hours working on presentation (hmmm, gotta fix that!).

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 13 August 2009

This was another all-day genealogy day - so busy that I forgot about my ProGen chat tonight. The others didn't do it so I didn't miss anything.

* Read my email, Twitter and blogs, then downloaded the latest version of Family Tree Builder 4.0, collected screen shots, and posted Family Tree Builder 4.0 - Post 1: A First Look on Genea-Musings.

* Posted August 12 CVGS Research Group Summary on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe and Genea-Musings. Transferred all genealogy data to the laptop during the morning (multi-tasking here!).

* After lunch, wrote Family Tree Builder 4.0 - Post 2: Getting Started about navigation. More posts to follow!

* Time is getting short for my presentation on Saturday, 8/22, so I spent the afternoon creating charts for the talk.

* At 5 p.m., I went in and read the paper, watched TV and had dinner (Linda comes home on Friday - yeah!), then weeded and watered the plants in front.

* Was back online at 7 p.m., and worked in my database converting my sources in place fields into sources in source fields. Probably did several hundred of them - I have many more to do. In the process, I forgot about the ProGen chat and had to send apologies - turns out they cancelled it!

* Back to the presentation -- added more charts, then practiced what I had, making corrections and context when necessary. Then I wrote this post and I'm done!

Genealogy today was 12.0 hours - 2.0 hours reading email and blogs and Twitter, 1.0 hour working with FTB4, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 5.5 hours working on presentation, 2.0 hours working in database.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 12 August 2009

Had a busy genealogy day today but didn't make any progress on the presentation. Oh well - tomorrow!

* After reading email and blogs and Twitter, posted CGSSD Meeting on Saturday - Barbara Renick and then Wordly Wednesday: Family Photographs - Post 67: Gassing Up? before getting cleaned up.

* Went into the FGS site and started reviewing syllabus articles. I like it that they have them in individual files. Printed out several. Need to coordinate with the session schedule to see who/what I want to see/hear.

* Gathered up the last month's show-and-tell stuff and went off to McDonalds for lunch and then to the library for the CVGS Research Group.

* Had 12 at Research Group. We talked about Nancy's problem, then answered some questions, and went around the table. Some wonderful research and family stories.

* Was home by 2:30, and wrote up Research Group summary for CV Genealogy Cafe blog.

* Downloaded Family Tree Builder 4.0 and worked with it for awhile. Computer acted funny - a virus or worm from FTB? Dunno. Shut it down, shut down IE7 and reloaded - works OK.

* At 4:30 p.m., went in to watch news, take a nap, watch Padres game, eat dinner, put out trash, read New England Ancestors magazine, wash dishes. Put recent photos on flash drive to transfer to laptop. Ran scan on laptop. Padres won 6-5 over Brewers - 11 out of 15!

* Back online at 8:15 p.m., read everything, checked Facebook, checked FTB 4.0 again and got a McAfee warning. Uh oh. Wrote email to MyHeritage about it. Wrote "New England Ancestors" came today and tweeted it.

* Wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 1.5 hours reading email and blogs, 0.5 hour on Facebook and Twitter, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 2.5 hours on CVGS meeting, 1.0 hour on FGS syllabus, 1.5 hours on Family Tree Builder.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 11 August 2009

Stayed home all day to work on my Census presentation - it's coming along. Linda went off this afternoon to Victorville to help Tami with the girls - Lauren's leg has severe pain - not broken according to x-rays, perhaps growing pains?

* Read my email, Twitter and blogs - was surprised by lack of comments about the GenSeek on Facebook thing - thought that it would be a bigger deal. Nobody else has blogged about it except for Tamura's article. Another scoop!

* Wrote Getting into the FREE WorldVitalRecords.com databases in order to help folks use it. They sure made it hard to access! Emailed the CVGS list to inform them. did some research in WVR and found some Stephen Feather records in the 1790s in Hampshire county VA.

* Had lunch, read everything, started in on Census presentation. Adapted quite a few slides from an earlier presentation. I'm about 65% done now.

* Went in at 5 p.m. to watch the Padres game, eat dinner and read the paper, then my book.

* Game over at 8:30 p.m. - Padres won big over the Brewers - read everything, looked for census search tips online, wrote several posts for the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe, went for a walk looking for the Perseids but didn't see any - cloudy tonight. Wrote this post. Will check Facebook one more time before turning in.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 1.5 hours reading email and blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour researching on WVR and Footnote, 4.5 hours working on the presentation, and 0.5 hour on Facebook.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 10 August 2009

Ah, back in the genealogy saddle again with an all-day blogging/reading/creating genea-extravaganza.

* On computer by 7:45, read my email, Twitter and blogs. Lots of posts about tweeting a conference session on the APG list so I wrote Tweeting a Conference Presentation - also sent my comments to the APG list. I was on a roll, so I researched and wrote Making an Ahnentafel List in Family Tree Maker and scheduled it for the early afternoon.

* Got cleaned up, sent the CVGS newsletter to the email list, and went off to the library for CVGS Table Talk. Dearl, John, Gary and Virginia were there. Was back home by 1:30.

* Started preparing my Census Records presentation for the POINTERS group in two weeks. Set up my OpenOffice format and started creating pages.

* At 5 p.m., went in to watch TV and eat dinner, then helped Linda a bit. Back on the computer at 6 p.m., I looked for bling pictures in my ancestral photos and finally posted Not much Bling in the Carringer-Auble families for the Smile for the Camera Carnival. Then checked in on Facebook and Genealogy Wise.

* Linda needed the computer, so I washed dishes, went for a walk, watched DooWop on PBS and read my book for awhile.

* Back online at 9 p.m., checked to see if the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog was back, and it was! Cool. I wrote We're back online ... and a post for tomorrow. Then this post, and I'm going to check my stats and read more Twitter and Facebook before going back to watch TV news and read my book.

* Was all set to shut down, then read my email and had to write about the WVR free three days for Tuesday and then read Tamura's site and wrote GenSeek for Facebook Application is Available.

Genealogy today was 11.5 hours - 2.0 hours reading everything, 3.5 hours researching and writing blog posts, 1.5 hours at CVGS Table Talk, 3.5 hours on presentation, 1.0 hour on Facebook.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 9 August 2009

I tried to get back in the swing of genealogy things, but real life interrupted me...

For the missing days, please go read www.GeneaMusings.com for the Grandpa Camp posts from 3 August to 7 August.

On Saturday, I got Lucas ready to go home, we played some catch in the yard, and we left for the airport at 8:30 a.m. After going to the ticket counter, through security, waiting to board the airplane, and then waiting for the plane to be in the air (a requirement for unaccompanied minors' guardians), I finally left the airport at 11:30.

Then it was off to the SDGS meeting, ice cream social, and business meeting. I was home by 2 p.m. While I was gone, the Saturday Night Genealogy Fun post was published.

When I got home, I read my email and blogs, worked more on the CVGS newsletter, and then wrote Which Family Tree Maker version to use?

We left at 5 p.m. for dinner at Rubio's and the Padres game (won again, 3-1). We were home by 11 pm.. and I read email and blogs but not much else.

On Sunday, 9 August, I was online early reading email, then put finishing touches on the CVGS Newsletter, printed a black and white copy for copying, made it a PDF and then went off to church. Got home at 11:30 a.m., and made some minor corrections, printed off the mailing labels, grabbed a snack, and at 12:15 p.m. headed for the UPS Store. Virginia and Susi helped copy, stamp, label, fold and tape the 25 copies we send out via postal service. Then we treated ourselves to Chinese food for lunch.

Home by 1:45 p.m., I wrote the Best of the Genea-Blogs post, tweeted about it, read blogs and Twitter. Printed off a 23-page report for my friend Ed, and three marriage certificates I found at the FHLC in January. We left at 3 p.m. to visit Ed and Maria, then over to Panera Bread in Coronado for dinner, drove around the beach for awhile, then to Lamb's Players Theater for the "Leaving Iowa" play at 6 p.m. We both dozed through the first half, so we left at intermission. It was a good play...but we were exhausted.

We were home by 7:30 p.m. - tested the new GPS system all the way home. It knows the way to our house. We'll play with it more and take it with us on our vacation in the Midwest. I read the paper and watched ESPN until 8:30, when Linda got off the computer. I read email and blogs, then checked Facebook, answered several emails, and then wrote this post. Early to be tonight - I need my beauty rest!

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 1-2 August 2009

I missed journaling last night because we went to the Padres game and got home late. Here are the highlights for the past two days:

1) Saturday, 1 August

* Got cleaned up and went off to my Men's breakfast at 8 a.m. Was home by 9:30, and the GE repair guy was here fixing the stove burners. Done!

* Read my email, blogs and Twitter, and researched and wrote Family Tree Maker 2010 <=> Ancestry Member Tree Synchronization. That was a major effort to get it right!

* Decided to write the Saturday Night Genealogy Fun post early... then had lunch. Tweeted about it too. Had a good turnout.

* Worked in my database working on sources in the McKnew line.

* At 3:30, went in to take a short nap, read the paper, watched TV. Linda worked on computer.

* We left at 5 p.m. for the Padres game. Ate at The Tin Fish downtown. Pads won 4-2. We were home by 10:45 p.m.

* Set up computer to delete old backup files on the External hard drive.

Genealogy today was 5.0 hours - 1.5 hours reading stuff, 1.5 hours researching and writing blog posts, 2.0 hours on database sources.

2) Sunday, 2 August 2009

* Up early, read email, Twitter and blogs before church. Set computer to backup files on external drive while we were gone. Back by 11:30 a.m.

* Researched and wrote Best of the Genea-Blogs.

* Had lunch, watched Padres game, backed up more files in the process.

* During inning breaks, came in to write a post on CV Genealogy Cafe blog and it was gone! Hmmm. Wrote Where, oh where, has my little blog gone? Hopefully, it will be restored.

* Started on CVGS Newsletter for August. Took material from CVGenCafe posts in email (I save everything!!) and filled up four pages, then went to work on the two computer related pages.

* Dinner time, then cut the front lawn and watered it, back online by 7:30 p.m.

* Wrote another post on the SF house for Monday morning, then worked more on the CVGS Newsletter. Then this post and I'm done.

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours - 1.5 hours reading email, blogs and Twitter, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on CVGenCafe problem, and 3.0 hours on CVGS newsletter.

Genealogy work all this coming week will be lighter than usual. It's the week for Grandpa Camp. Lucas is coming on the airplane on Monday afternoon for a week of fun and games and learning with Grandpa. I hope Grandpa survives!