Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 30 September 2009

I feel like I accomplished very little this month - probably because I was gone so much and didn't do much genealogy investigating for the blogs, and certainly didn't work on my upcoming presentations.

* Nice having Tami here - got onto the computer by 8 a.m. and read email and blogs and Twitter. Posted Wordly Wednesday - Family Photographs: Post 73 - Auble Cousins and then Trying to use GenSeek Application.

* Answered some emails and worked on a research problem for a friend. Tami and Linda took girls off for shopping, and I had lunch at home before heading to the library.

* CVGS meeting started at noon, had an excellent program by Dr. Seth Mallios from San Diego State Anthropology Dept. Will summarize it tomorrow. Home by 2:30.

* Downloaded Internet Genealogy magazine, and wrote October-November 2009 Issue of Internet Genealogy but it didn't post until much later because I got called away.

* Called the OASIS gal and she explained her problem, so I have another set of Beginning Computer Genealogy classes to do in November in addition to the October set.

* Went to dinner at 4 p.m. in Mission Valley - Tami had a dissertation appointment and we took the girls to Fashion Valley after dinner. Audrey is such a chick magnet - all of the ladies laugh and smile as she toddles along. We were home by 7 and they went home.

* Watched the Padres game, and read my chapter for ProGen chat on Thursday night. Pads won 5-0 over Dodgers.

* Online at 9:30 to read email and blogs, then Facebook and Twitter, and then this post before turning in.

Genealogy today was 7.5 hours - 1.0 hour reading email and blogs, 1.5 hour writing blog posts, 2.5 hours at CVGS meeting, 0.5 hour reading magazine, 1.0 hour doing online research, 0.5 hour doing ProGen reading, 0.5 hour on Facebook and Twitter.

Now the work gets serious. Need to polish my ProGen Proof Argument, finish my barely started FORUM column, and get going on the OASIS class material and my Ancestry presentation in two weeks. The latter two require some tailoring but not complete revisions, so it's doable. Then the Footnote presentation in two plus weeks needs to be put together, and the Genealogy Vacations presentation in four weeks needs to be created. Oops, forgot the CVGS newsletter editing in a week!

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 29 September 2009

September is almost over and I feel really pressured right now because I am so not ready for October. When I made the to-do list the other day, and wrote down everything I need to do to get through October, I almost croaked right there. 3 out of 30 tasks are completed, and one is started. Our granddaughters have been here since Saturday and have put a huge crimp in my genealogy work... but they are so much fun! They go home tomorrow.

* Up early and took care of the girls until Linda got home at 10 a.m. Got email and blogs read, and wrote Roots Television's Top 10 Videos and Ancestry Magazine articles online.

* Went off to Rubio's for lunch, then the bayfront park for a picnic and the play equipment. Home at 2 p.m. and the girls went down for a nap, then I did too when Lolo couldn't get to sleep. Got an hour on my column article due on Wednesday...need another four hours or so!

* Tami came after 5 p.m., and went to dinner at Oggi's, then to Chick-fil-A for ice cream and the play equipment. Home after 8, and watched Padres game (Pads won 3-1 over Dodgers).

* Back online at 9:45 - read email, blogs, wrote two emails, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 4 hours - 1.0 hour reading email and blogs, 1.0 hour on column, 1.0 hour writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, and 0.5 hour answering email.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 27-28 September 2009

Our granddaughters are here for several days and are pretty much a full time job for both of us. Genealogy work and blogging has been extremely light, to say the least!

* On Sunday, the Best of the Genea-Blogs post went online in the early afternoon. Missed Scanfest (forgot completely about it), watched the Chargers game, and didn't come back to computer until about 9 p.m. when the girls were down for the night. Posted the CVGS Program notice about Lost and Forgotten Cemeteries of San Diego on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe, the South San Diego County Graveyard Rabbit and Genea-Musings.

* On Monday, read email and blogs, and posted Unique Baby Names in Canadian History and Tutorials for WeRelate.org. Went off to the library for CVGS Table Talk at noon, back by 2:15, read everything but then the girls got up from their naps. Finally back on at 9 p.m. to read everything, check in on Facebook, and start thinking about my FORUM column (next on my to-do list - due Wednesday!).

Genealogy on Sunday was 3.0 hours, on Monday 5.0 hours.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 26 September 2009

Not much of a genealogy day today - real life took quite a bit of time to deal with.

* Up early at 6 because of breakfast meeting of Linda's swim club. At Carrows by 7 a.m., had breakfast then went to one of the members homes to plant a tree in memory of her recently deceased daughter. Home by 9:15 a.m.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and posted San Francisco and Los Angeles City Directories on Footnote.com - Post 3. Tweeted about it too. Had fun researching and then wrote up the Saturday Night Genealogy Fun post and set it for early afternoon.

* Ran the car down to the Catholic church for a carwash. After returning, worked for awhile on my ProGen chat questions homework for September, and emailed them to my group members.

* Went in at 12:45 p.m. to watch football and have lunch. Didn't take a nap, but talked to my cousin in NH about her trip through San Diego in December.

* At 2 p.m., left for church for a memorial service. At 5 p.m., we left to pick up Lauren and Audrey at Michelle's house, then to dinner at Rubios in Otay Ranch. Home by 6:30 and watched the Padres game while playing with the girls.

* Gave baths to girls, Audrey ate a bit more and went to bed. Lolo is still awake at 10:20 p.m. for some reason. She'll be really fun tomorrow!

* On computer at 8:45 p.m., wrote up the Best of the Genea-Blog for tomorrow - I won't have much time between taking the girls to church and the Chargers game, let alone Scanfest. Wrote this post and I'm done.

Genealogy today was 4.5 hours - 1.0 hour reading email and blogs, 2.5 hours writing blog posts and 1.0 hour working on ProGen homework.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 25 September 2009

Footnote.com was the star of Genea-Musings today - three posts!

* Started the day with reading email and blogs and Twitter, then watched some of the Footnote video finally, and wrote View the new Footnote.com Webinar.

* Found the City Directories in Footnote.com, and worked in them for awhile. Captured screens and wrote San Francisco and Los Angeles City Directories on Footnote.com - Post 1.

* Went for lunch at Costco (Polish dog and churro), looked at the toys, then picked George up for our Friday walk on the bayfront. Then to Home Depot for stuff. Home by 1:30 p.m.

* Checked email and blogs, answered some emails, then worked on the footnotes in my ProGen Proof Argument homework...worked fine, even added some. Almost done - need to proofread it one more time.

* Sleepy at 4, so went in and watched TV and napped a bit, then we went to dinner at Rubio's, home by 6:15 p.m.

* Wrote San Francisco and Los Angeles City Directories on Footnote.com - Post 2 and then went in to watch the Padres game at Arizona.

* Padres beat Zonies 4-0, and back on computer at 9 p.m. Checked email and blogs and Facebook, and worked in Footnote some more finding stuff. Better write it down, I guess. Wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email and blogs reading, 2.0 hours in footnote.com, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 2.0 hours working on ProGen homework, 0.5 hour on Facebook and Twitter.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 24 September 2009

My, the week has flow by as I've been immersed in all of my genealogy tasks. Almost got one task done today, but footnotes got messed up.

* Read email and blogs and Twitter, then posted Best Online Databases for Cemeteries linking to my Graveyard Rabbit Online Journal column.

* Installed Family Tree Maker 2010 and did a test drive while capturing screens. Some changes from 2009 but really not much different.

* Tamura emailed and I couldn't resist writing An Endorsement for Genea-Musings? A good laugh... Had lunch at home.

* Worked on ProGen Proof Argument homework - got it mostly done, with End Notes. Tried to insert Footnotes at end of MSWord pages and really messed things up. Figured out how to do it right, now have to do the footnotes correctly in the document.

* Received draft of FORUM Fall 2009 magazine for review. Proofed it for Sandra.

* At 5 p.m., went in to watch TV and read the paper. Had dinner watching Padres game. Watered front plants. Checked email and blogs and Twitter.

* At 7 p.m., did some more FTM 2010 work and wrote Family Tree Maker 2010 - Post 1: Installing Program and Creating a Tree. Got ready for ProGen chat at 8 p.m., but only two others showed so postponed it. Had a nice 30 minute chat with S and E, though!

* Watched end of Padres game (we won 5-4 over Rocks), then checked mail, blogs, Twitter and Facebook, and wrote this blog post. Done!

Genealogy today was 11.0 hours - 1.0 hour reading email and blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 2.0 hours on FTM installation and databases, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 2.0 hours on FORUM proofreading, 3.0 hours on ProGen Proof Argument homework, 0.5 hour on ProGen chat.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 23 September 2009

I'm making progress on my to-do list - got one item done and the next started. It's a long list, though! I'll be OK as long as I don't get sick or have an unexpected emergency.

* Read email and blogs and Twitter, then wrote my Wordly Wednesday post. Almost out of my Carringer photo album pictures...glad Scanfest is coming! Got phone call about a letter sent to my caller - she wanted to know if it was for real or a scam. Sent email to SCGS to see what it was.

* Wrote Genoom blog has 45 "great"genealogy web sites and scheduled it for later. Wrote Footnote Pages Revisited - some questions and scheduled it for the afternoon. Started my Graveyard Rabbit column, but had to leave for lunch and the library.

* At library by 11:30, had meeting with CVGS folks and seminar speaker and seminar hostess. Things were pretty much decided and ironed out. Stopped at bank before home at 2 p.m.

* Finished my GYR column and sent it to Julie. Started my Proof Argument report for ProGen group, and got it about 50% finished by 5 p.m. Went in for TV, dinner, put out the trash and read the paper while watching Padres game.

* Bored by book and Padres game (we won 6-3 over Rockies), came back in and read everything, then watched Lisa's video of Mr AI and wrote Blogger "Ancestry Insider" Interview to spread the word. Checked for more videos on Lisa's YouTube site and RootsTV, and added to the 7 July post about SCGS videos. Listened to part of the GenealogyGuys podcast from Little Rock. Pretty boring... Called my phone caller and gave her info from SCGS person.

* Back to watch Padres game, but took some of the FGS handouts with me to read. Back online at 9:15 p.m. and wrote this post. Made my to-do list through December - it's longer than I thought! Tired and ready for bed.

Genealogy today was 11.5 hours - 1.0 hour reading email and blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter and Facebook, 1.5 hours researching and writing blog posts, 1.5 hours writing the GYR column, 2.5 hours at CVGS meeting, 2.0 hours working on ProGen report, 1.0 hour on video and podcasts, 0.5 hour reading FGS handouts, 0.5 hour working on phone call, and 0.5 hour on to-do list.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 22 September 2009

I'm finally back from my two "vacations" - one a genealogy/friends driving vacation, and the other a grandsons/driving "vacation" (spent 2.5 hours driving almost every day...) and ready to roll with genealogy research and my extensive to-do list (and getting longer every day it seems). I've resisted actually making the to-do list but I'm already starting to dream about the task four weeks from now... at least I didn't wake up screaming.

* Up early after worrying about my Footnote.com presentation, and on the computer by 7:30 a.m. Read email, blogs and Twitter (ah, the routine is back! And constant Internet access is java for my brain). Wrote Proven Genealogy Research Strategies and then bought the book through Amazon.com.

* Julie emailed that the Graveyard Rabbit column is due on Wednesday...help! Hmmm. What to write about? Cemeteries, of course. Ah - some ideas. Spent time checking out websites and articles about my topics. Will try to craft something tomorrow. Maybe I'll dream about something better tonight. Or have nightmares about it.

* Reorganized my book and periodical shelf (mainly so the window could open...) and found more cemetery things. Reviewed available syllabi too. Sent emails to Thomas for speaker list and upcoming presentations. Had lunch at home.

* Need to think about my ProGen homework too - a Proof Argument and a Marketing Plan, plus read three chapters in the book. Got the stuff together, just need to do it soon. Ah, I need to look for land records and tax records in Dodge county WI in order to nail down my proof argument. FHLC had none, and review of Rootsweb message board said court and county records before 1877 lost in fire. Ooops - that kills that idea. Ah - what about church and newspaper records! Found Dodge/Jefferson Counties Gen Society site and looked through their stuff, and ended up writing One more small bit of information. Then wrote an email query to the D/JCGS asking for help.

* Answered several emails, including a request to reprint my first blog post of the day - I love it when I get requests like that! Had one a week ago too. Makes me feel like I'm doing good work here on Genea-Musings even with the fun and games. Terribly sleepy at 3:45, so went in and watched TV, read the paper, had a nap, then we ate out in the back yard. Padres game came on at 6 p.m., and I watered back yard and front plants, and trimmed rose bushes during inning breaks. Padres lost 11-10 to the Rockies. Read three ProGen chapters for the homework during the game, so not all a lost evening. Really feel like I'm never going to be really professional level at this - the book is awesome but humbling.

* Back online at 9:30, read everything again, then wrote this post and kinda wonder why I wasted some of the day. Oh well...the to-do list is still in my head.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 1.0 hours reading email and blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter and Facebook, 1.0 hour writing emails, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 2.0 hours doing cemetery research, 2.0 hours on ProGen homework and reading.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 14 September 2009

At last - a full genealogy day that was almost spoiled by a Chargers loss...but they won 24-20. It still feels like a loss - didn't play well.

* I was up and on the computer by 7:15 a.m. because I had so much to do today. After reading email, blogs and Twitter, I wrote several posts for the next week. Then it was posts for the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog, and finally wrote Madness Monday - Who are Mary Kent's Parents? Had lunch and went off to the library at 12 noon.

* Talked to the CVGS folks at the library for awhile, went to the bank, and was home by 1:15 p.m. Linda came home soon after and had bought a new battery for the Lincoln, so that problem is solved (I hope). Back online, I answered some emails and worked in my database for an hour fixing sources. At 3:30 p.m., Linda wanted the computer for email so I went in to watch TV and read the paper.

* Back online around 4 p.m., I researched and wrote Using Google Earth to find land location in the Public Land Survey System States. No sooner posted it and Michael Neill found an error which I corrected quickly. Time for dinner...

* Linda went to the Padres game, and I ate dinner watching news and then watered the back yard. Back to the computer for awhile - got the CDROM of FGS syllabus and copied files over, and printed out quite a few.

* At 7 p.m., went in to watch the Chargers game, and flipped back to Padres game occasionally. Tami came, without the girls tonight, to stay and do some of her PhD work tomorrow. After the game, I packed and loaded up my laptop case. Ready to go to Santa Cruz!

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email and blogs, 0.5 hour on Facebook and Twitter, 1.0 hour working on database sources, 1.0 hour at CVGS, 1.0 hour on conference syllabus, and 4.5 hours researching and writing blog posts.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 13 September 2009

We got home from our vacation to the Midwest (Kansas City - Topeka - Springfield - Little Rock - Memphis - Branson - Kansas City) on Saturday afternoon. The Lincoln had a semi-dead battery - started the 5th time... after getting back from Lolita's to get dinner food. I spent all evening and night reading email and postal mail and newspapers trying to get caught up. fortunately, the Padres game was on and I watched that (we won 3-2 in 10 innings over Rocks). Got some email answered too. Then off to bed and slept well.

On Sunday, read my email and blogs before church, and was home by 12 noon from church. Car started twice, but failed once. Wrote Best of the Genea-Blogs - not yet! before going in to watch NFL games and Padres game, and take a nap. Answered some email after Padres game (won 7-3 over Rocks) and read blogs again. After dinner watching NFL game, went out and cut lawn. Back in to answer more email and think about doing real genealogy work... got photos onto computer, rotated the ones that needed it.

Researched and wrote Epluribus and had fun doing it! Tweeted it, and Facebooked it, and put best photos on Facebook. I think I'm done!

Genealogy today was 5.0 hours - 1.0 hour reading email and blogs, 1.0 hour answering email, 1.0 hour writing blog posts, 1.0 hour working on photos, 1.0 hour on Facebook.