Saturday, July 31, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 31 July 2010

I've gone seven months in 2010 without setting foot in the San Diego Family History Center. That is so embarrassing. I need to go order some films and read them on a regular basis. I need a list of things to do, I guess. I had one once, wonder where it is?

* Went off to the Swim club breakfast at 7 AM, got home by 8:30 and read email and blogs, then researched and wrote Surname Saturday - HORTON (England > MA > RI).

* Worked in the database while wondering what to choose for SNGF. Found some useful text information on Horton and associated families in a book on www.Archives.org - never seen it before!

* Finally researched and wrote Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - A "Brick Wall Ancestor" and found some useful, but confusing information about the Ruth families of Berks County PA.

* Worked in the database some more - got the Ds done, fixed some widow names and added some sources when I found them. Ran the Error report in FTM and have only 3,500 or so. Ran the Source report and it filled 450 pages. Need to finish the A-Cs then try to fix the errors, make the master sources better, and then take it into Legacy to resolve the place names. Then we'll see what happens next!

* Went in before 3 PM for a nap, then we packed up and left for the Padres game at 3:30 PM. Ate at the Tin Fish, in our seats at 5:20 PM, Pads lost 6-3 to the Fish and it wasn't that close. They haven 't won since trading for Tejada and Ludwick.

* Home at 9:20 PM, read everything, checked Twitter and Facebook, wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 6.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hour writing blog posts, and 4.0 hours working in the database, adding notes, making sources, correcting errors.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 30 July 2010

One more day left in July - this month has slipped by very quickly.

* Read email, blogs and posted Ancestry.com's Second Quarter Results before getting cleaned up.

* Worked in the database through lunch and into the afternoon. Got the Es and Fs done - widow's names fixed, given names unslashed, facts and sources added to some, especially English parish records, looked up some Seaver spouses on WorldConnect for birth and death info, etc.

* Downloaded and read new issue of Internet Genealogy. Researched and wrote The Ancestral Golden Arches of Genealogy? and posted it. Not sure if it made a lot of sense in the end. Oh well...

* Went in at 5 PM to take a nap, but Linda's friend came over and I came back to computer at 5:45 PM, until dinner at 6:45 PM. Worked on sorting out William Severs in the Revolutionary War. Horribly confused!

* Watched Padres game after dinner, they lost 4-2 to Marlins. Drat. Back to computer, read everything, checked Facebook, wrote this post. Done.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour doing online research, 0.5 hour reading Internet Genealogy mag, and 4.5 hours working in the database.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Days - 28-29 July 2010

Tami and the girls were here these two days, so not much genealogy got done, but we made some good family history and I got some really cool pictures today with my new camera.

On Wednesday, 28 July:

* Read email and blogs while the girls ate, and quickly posted (not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 113: A View Toward Downtown San Diego in the 1900s and wrote FamilySearch Standard Finder - Post 2 after they all took off for the mall.

* Got cleaned up, ate lunch at home, and went off to the library at 11:40 AM for the CVGS monthly program. Talked for awhile afterwards, and got home at 3 PM.

* Read everything, then napped awhile until the girls got up from their naps at 4 PM. They went swimming and I wrote What is this Seaver family line? - Post 1 and then met them for dinner at El Pollo Loco.

* Home by 7 PM, watched Padres game, girls had a bath and dressed, read to and to bed easily. Padres beat Dodgers 6-1.

* After the game, read everything, checked Facebook and Twitter, wrote post for the morning, and didn't write my daily post here.

On Thursday, 29 July:

* Able to read email and blogs before girls got up, and noted that Treasure Chest Thursday - A 30th Wedding Anniversary posted.

* Got cleaned up, and we went off to the SD Zoo at 9:30 PM. Took the Skyride over, then walked through the Elephant Odyssey, had lunch (great ice cream) and came home - got here by 1:30 PM.

* Read everything, but tired and took a nap, and then posted Why is the FamilySearch Labs Standard Finder Important? before going in to watch the Padres game.

* Left at 5 PM to meet the girls for dinner at Rubio's. Home by 6:30 PM and Tami and the girls headed home after two days here. Saw end of Padres game - we won 3-2 in bottom of the 9th (Pads now 60-40, up 3.5 games on Giants in NL West). Did chores after the game while Linda did email.

* Back online to read everything, wrote CVGS Program Summary - "Vital Records" by Susi Pentico and Who is Chelsea Clinton related to? Did some online research on the two Joshua Seavers, and then talked to Lori for 30 minutes and wrote this post. Done!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 27 July 2010

A little genealogy, a trip to the doctor, and the grandgirls are here - more than offsets the Padres loss to the Dodgers.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, then posted Tombstone Tuesday - Oral Love (1900-1951). Researched and wrote FamilySearch Standard Finder - Post 1 and then got cleaned up.

* Worked in my database cleaning up sources, duplicate persons, and went through many of my Seaver male names cross-checking with the SSDI. Had lunch...found several online books with Seaver information, so added them to the notes for those persons. Added some sources to them too.

* Left at 1:45 PM to take Linda to the orthopedic doc for her yearly knee checkup. Had to wait awhile - home by 4:15 PM.

* Researched and wrote Searching the Rootsweb Mailing List Archives. Went in at 5:30 PM to watch TV, read the paper, eat dinner, and wait for Tami and the girls to arrive.

* Back online at 6:30 PM to read everything, check Facebook and do more database work. Went in at 7 PM to watch the Padres game, and the girls came at about 7:30 PM.

* Got my grandgirls snuggles, hugs and kisses, and they had baths and went off to bed OK. Read one of my Newton notebooks while watching the Padres lose 2-0 to the Dodgers. Drat.

* Back online at 9:50 PM, read everything, answered some email, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on Facebook and Twitter, and 4.5 hours working in my database.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Days - 25-26 July 2010

Missed posting last night due to boredom and exhaustion.

Sunday, 25 July events:

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and got cleaned up so we could go to early church, then to water our friend's plants. Home by 10:45 PM.

* Got Best of the Genea-Blogs - 18-24 July 2010 finalized and then joined up with Scanfest for awhile. didn't scan anything, just chatted.

* Went in at 12:30 to eat lunch, watch the Padres game, read the paper and take a nap. Pads won 6-3, and I was out the door at 1:20 PM to go to the library for the CVGS meeting.

* Got set up, and started at 2:15 the presentation on Using Old and New FamilySearch.org. Went until 4:30 PM, and hurried home so we could leave at 5 PM for the play in Point Loma.

* Picked up Walter and got to the park at 5:40 PM, ate Subway sandwiches in the cool breeze, then saw the "Hankering Hillbillies" play at Westminster church. Pretty good. Daniel was in it, Christian did lights, I enjoyed it. Home by 9:45 PM. See - I do get out occasionally!

* Read everything, checked Facebook and was exhausted so went to bed.

Monday, 26 July activities:

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and posted Amanuensis Monday - the Will of Zachariah Hildreth (1728-1784). Got cleaned up, then wrote CVGS Program on 28 July - Susi Pentico on "Vital Records" and posted it on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe too.

* Left at 10:15 to have blood taken, then to the bank and to the library. Talked to Dearl for awhile, but came home for lunch. Read everything, and worked on my source citations - used WorldCat to give me title, author, publication info and edited about 40 master sources in my database. Got through the G's in the MA Town VR books.

* Wrote Whew! Back to the future? and then worked on my duplicate persons, maiden names, date fixes and source citations for awhile. Got the G's done. Only A to F to go now!

* Went in at 5 PM to watch TV, eat dinner, then watered back hillside, pulled nasty weeds, and watered front plants. Back online at 6:30 PM to read everything.

* Worked on some emails - and did some research for one client report. Found an online book with good biographical material for three generations of a Seaver line so added that to the database.

* Checked in on Facebook, wrote this post and I'm done for the night.

Genealogy today was 10.0 hours - 1.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 4.0 hours working in the database, 0.5 hour for CVGS, and 1.5 hours doing online research.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 24 July 2010

Not really much of a genealogy day. Kind of sad...and now I'm ready to do the FamilySearch program on Sunday.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and noted that Surname Saturday - KIRBY (England > MA) posted. Wrote Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - your dream research trip and set it for after noontime.

* Got cleaned up and we left at 9:20 AM for church to attend Georgia's memorial service at 10 AM. The service lasted until 12:15, then the luncheon in the Family Life Center. We got home at about 2 PM.

* Read everything, and did a final edit on the FamilySearch presentation. Practiced the first half of it, but almost dozed off. Went in to take a nap!

* Nap stretched into the Padres game. Watered the back weeds, had dinner, and Padres had a rain delay. Gave me chance to practice the second half of the talk. Put final versions on flash drive, set up laptop and copied files over while Padres finished off the Pirates, 9-2.

* Back online at 8 PM, worked on the Best of post for Sunday, since there is Scanfest and then my talk at 2 PM. Checked Facebook, wrote this post, and I'm done!

Genealogy today was 5.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, and 2.5 hours on presentation.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 23 July 2010

8 more days left in July. Unbelievable. Where have the days gone. Seems like we were at Jamboree last week and it's 6 weeks later.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and wrote Genealogy Message Board Searcher after thrashing about for awhile.

* Got cleaned up, but didn't go for a walk with George - he was too busy. Started the handout for Sunday's FamilySearch talk, and got it almost finished. Had lunch at home.

* Wrote "Granite Mountain Records Vault" Videos Online after seeing Jim's post. Worked more on the presentation - added some content and then had to add more to the handout. Wrote FamilySearch's England Jurisdictions 1851 after working with it for awhile. Could be better. Wonder what other maps they will eventually have?

* Went in at 4 p.m. to watch TV, take a nap, have dinner, fill the bird feeder, cut the front lawn and water the front plants.

* Back online at 6:30 PM, worked more on presentation and handout. Got handout done and off to Gary. Wrote the Surname Saturday post for tomorrow. Worked on C's problem for awhile - hampered by lack of access to English records. Drat! Wrote email to C about her next step.

* Read everything, answered some email, checked Facebook and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours researching and writing blogs, 4.5 hours working on presentation, and 1.0 hour doing online research.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Days - 21-22 July 2010

Back from the OC today. Three more days to finish the FamilySearch presentation and handout. Almost done! Then I can concentrate on my own research, the database and blogging for awhile.

On Wednesday, 21 July:

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and wrote (Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 112: Brother and Sister?

* Got cleaned up, packed the suitcase, copied final versions to the flash drive, packed the laptop case, and went off to lunch at McDonalds, then to the library for the CVGS meeting.

* CVGS Computer Group meeting started at 11:30 AM, and I left before 1 PM in order to get home. Packed the car, and took a short nap. Noted that War of 1812 Final Payment Vouchers on Footnote.com posted and shut down the computer.

* We left at 1:45 PM for Orange County up I-5. Used the carpool lane to miss Del Mar track traffic and OC traffic, and got to Ruth's house in Yorba Linda before 4 PM. Met Ruth and Rudy, and got settled, then went to dinner with them and other GSNOCC members. What a wonderful and friendly group!

* We got to the community center by 6:30 PM, I got set up quickly, although the cable from the laptop to the projector was short so I blocked the view of about 1/3 of the room. There were about 50 in attendance. The 60 minute talk went fast, and I enjoyed the questions and comments afterward, and the ice cream too!

* Back to Ruth's by 9:45 PM, and we went to bed quickly.

On Wednesday, 22 July:

* Up early to read the paper, talk to Rudy and eventually we got ready and went out to breakfast. Back to talk about genealogy (Randy and Ruth) and family (Linda and Rudy). We left at about 11 AM, and tooled down the 55 to the 1, and ended up in Laguna Beach for lunch. Walked around a bit, and headed home, getting here by 3:15 PM.

* Linda got on computer and I took a nap. Finally online at 4:30 PM, noted that Treasure Chest Thursday - 1870 Map of Leominster MA posted this morning, and "Using Old and New FamilySearch.org" Program at CVGS on Sunday, 25 July had posted at noontime.

* Read email (160 total) and blogs (200 total), then had dinner. Back online at 6:30 PM, worked on FamilySearch presentation some more - added more charts and comments. Need to finish it!

* Read some more blogs (the ones that don't show up in Bloglines), and then read about and wrote FDA regulation and our genetic information. We all need to sign the petition.

* Checked in on Twitter and Facebook, and wrote this post. Done! Tired!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 20 July 2010

Off to Yorba Linda on the morrow - home on Thursday. Had a full genealogy day, save for the Padres game.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and posted Tombstone Tuesday - Happy. did some research on the stones with no success. Wrote Have you checked out Genlighten's services recently? and set it for late morning.

* Got cleaned up, and came back to work on the FamilySearch presentation. Right through lunch, and into the afternoon. Got it almost done.

* Went in at 3:30 p.m. to read the paper, watch TV, take a nap, watch the Padres game, and eat dinner. Put Elusive Ancestor stuff on the laptop, checked some websites while watching the Padres game. Pads lost, 4-1, to Atlanta.

* Back online at 7 p.m., read everything, researched and wrote Over 2,000 School Yearbooks on WorldVitalRecords.com. Wrote several posts for Wednesday and Thursday too. Practiced the Elusive ancestors presentation again. Found a glitch! Drat - hate when that happens. Wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 10.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 3.5 hours researching and writing blog posts, 1.0 hour on Elusive Ancestor presentation, 5.0 hours on FamilySearch presentation.

The Geneaholic will be dark on Wednesday since I'm giving my Elusive Ancestor presentation and enjoying the ice cream social at GSNOCC in Yorba Linda. Blogging will return on Thursday.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 19 July 2010

A pretty full genealogy day - and got some tasks done. Need to work on the Sunday presentation, though!

* Read email, blogs and Twitter and posted Amanuensis Monday - Josiah Sawtell 1804 NH Deed and wrote Randy's Speaking in the OC on Wednesday, 21 July and set it for late morning.

* Got cleaned up, answered some email, and had lunch before going off to the library at 11 a.m.

* Saw John, Gary and Mary Lou at the library - did my query in the Chula Vista newspapers, checked the circulating genealogy collection, and was home after 1 p.m.

* Read everything, started back on the FamilySearch presentation - got a lot done. Need to add more, and highlight features. Probably have 60% of it done now, but don't have any handout material yet.

* Linda called at 5:30 p.m., and we ate at Rubio's. Was home by 7 p.m., but Linda on computer until almost 8 p.m.

* Read everything, sorted sent email into folders, looked at some LDS videos, wrote England Beginning Research Series on FamilySearch.org, wrote 50% Off Footnote.com subscription for CVGS Members , New or Updated Record Databases - July 2010 and another blog post. Did a little online research on Ancestry, then wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 11.0 hours - 1.5 hours doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 3.0 hours writing blog posts, 1.5 hours at CV library, 3.5 hours working on presentation, 1.0 hour doing online research.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 18 July 2010

Three more days until Yorba Linda, 7 more days to CVGS presentation. Then peace and quiet for two months! [or more research, or blogging, or who knows! Grandchildren too]

* Read email and blogs, didn't start on Best of post before getting cleaned up and off to church at 9:30 AM.

* Home by 11:45 AM, got Best of the Genea-Blogs - 11-17 July 2010 started, then had lunch visitor, and finished the post by 1:30 PM.

* Went in to read the paper, and watch the Padres game. Took a nap too, Pads won 6-3 over D-backs (won 4 straight, now 54-37).

* Back on computer at 4:15 PM, read everything, worked on Elusive Ancestor presentation and handout some more. Moving stuff around.

* Went in for dinner at 6 PM, back online at 6:45 PM. Worked more on presentation and handout, and sent handout off to Program chair. Wrote CGSSD Meeting Summary - Steve Morse Presentations. Answered a bunch of emails, then wrote this post. Will check Twitter and Facebook and done for the night.

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours - 1.5 hours doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 3.0 hours on presentations.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 17 July 2010

The highlight was Steve Morse, of course. The Padres won too. The nap was great.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and noted that Surname Saturday - PHILLIPS (England > MA) posted. Tweeted a bit then got cleaned up and ready to go to UCSD for CGSSD meeting.

* Left at 8:20 AM, got to UCSD at 8:50 AM, settled into conference room right in middle of the seats - perfect view of the slides and speaker. Steve Morse gave a two-hour presentation about his One-Step Web Site (www.stevemorse.org) and then an hour more after a refreshment break. Excellent stuff.

* Almost hurt myself leaving the center - turned into a large window and hit my head and bounced off (knocked my glasses off too). Staggered but didn't fall, and no ill effects. Could have been much worse. Missed the door by three feet. Have no clue why I did that, but scared me, and scared most who saw and heard it happen. Had never been in this building before - must have been distracted by a pretty girl.

* Went to lunch with Pam, Gene, Phyllis and Jackie at TGIFridays to celebrate my survival of the window crash. Was home by 2:30 PM. Read everything, noted that Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - I Write Like... had posted. Went in and too a nap.

* Woke up at 3:40 PM, woke Linda up and we left at 3:50 PM for the Padres game. Stopped at El Pollo Loco for takeout, got the 4:30 trolley, at Petco Park at 5 PM, ate dinner before the game started at 5:35 PM. Padres won 8-5 over Arizona. Home by 9:20 PM.

* Read everything, wrote this post, will check Facebook too.

Genealogy today was 5.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour writing blogs, and 3.5 hours at CGSSD meeting.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 16 July 2010

My day: Frustration. A walk in the warm. Work progressing. Yay, Padres!

* Read email, blogs and Twitter before writing Follow Friday - Heritage Happens.

* Tried to see images on Ancestry.com and still didn't work. Wrote on message board, checked the Help button, and deleted my Internet Temp files and cookies, then rebooted, and it worked. Two hours wasted for something out of the blue. Have no clue if it was me or them. Wrote A Hiccup on Ancestry.com in retaliation.

* Ate lunch, left at 11:45 AM to pick up George for our walk at the bayfront. It was warm there - over 80F, with a light breeze, and we worked up a good glow from radiation and convection.

* Home by 12:45 PM, read everything, researched and wrote Exploring Newberry's Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

* Finally got a good start on the FamilySearch.org presentation - maybe 35% done now. Mainly screen shots with commentary. Took me up to dinner time.

* We ate outside in the sun tonight, then back on computer to write a post for Friday and to do some research for a friend - an orphan train mystery.

* Went in at 7:15 PM to read the paper and watch the Padres game, and read the new James Patterson novel. Can't put it down. Pads beat Zonies 13-1 (now 52-37 on the year, up by 3 games in NL West).

* Back online to write another Saturday post, then this post. So - six blog posts today, but only 4 count!

Genealogy today was 10.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 3.5 hours researching and writing blogs, 3.0 hours working on presentation, 1.0 hour doing online research, and 2.0 hours trying to fix the Ancestry image problem..

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 15 July 2010

This month is half over now...I still have two talks to go - next Wednesday (all set for that) and 7/25 (just started it tonight). Yikes. Then I have no presentations until October OASIS Classes. Warm today - 90 F here, then tropical clouds and some rain nearby - no thunder/lightning yet, but close today. May be hotter on Friday.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and wrote New "Digging for Answers" Column in Graveyard Rabbit Online Journal and then Treasure Chest Thursday - Hannah Richman Passenger List.

* Got cleaned up, wrote July 2010 Newsletter Available Online and CVGS Research Group Review - 14 July 2010 on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog. Went off to the retired engineer's lunch at 10:45 AM - had 20 there, met a couple interested in genealogy.

* Home by 1 PM, read everything, printed off the NGSQ article to read for the chat tonight, wrote New Features on Ancestry.com New Search. Answered some email.

* Went in at 4 PM to take a nap and read the paper, barely got to sleep and Linda wanted to go out to dinner, so we did Lolita's. Home at 5:30, read the article, got into the chat at 6 and over at 7.

* Edited the Elusive Ancestor presentation and handout a bit. Then started planning the FamilySearch presentation. Took a walk on the block in the cool air, checked Facebook, wrote this post, and I'm done.

Genealogy today was 8.5 hours - 1.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 2.0 hours on presentations and 1.5 on NGSQ chat.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 14 July 2010

The San Diego sun is finally out - it was up to about 85 F today, but fairly low humidity. We don't have A/C, but use fans.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and wrote (Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 111: Unknown Ontario Family. Searched a bit for Kemp, Sovereen and Putman families that might fit, but no luck.

* Got cleaned up, and wrote Steve Morse Speaking at CGSSD Meeting on Saturday, 17 July. Answered some emails and made some phone calls, then got my stuff together and went to lunch at McDonalds.

* Got to library at 11:45 AM, got in the conference room, and I led the CVGS Research Group meeting - 15 folks today. Interesting problems. Had a short seminar planning meeting afterwards. Home by 2:30 pm.

* Read everything, wrote A Reader Survey - Favorite Genealogy Websites and retired to the recliner because I couldn't keep my eyes open.

* Back online at 4:30, checked Ancestry.com and FamilySearch Pilot for new databases, did a little searching on FS - search is decent, but records without images are difficult to use.

* Went in at 5:15 to watch TV, read the paper, and eat dinner. We ate on the patio for the first time this summer. I filled the bird feeder, and scrubbed the birdpoop off the table and chairs.

* Back online at 6:30 p.m., worked on my presentation for next week and the handout. Think I finally have it in decent shape. It will be a fast 60 minutes, I fear.

* Linda needed the computer at 8:30, so I walked the mile track in the cool of the evening, then did the dishes and watched TV - no sports on!

* Back online at 9:30 p.m., read everything, answered some emails, checked Twitter and Facebook, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 2.5 hours on CVGS activities, 2.0 hours on presentation, 0.5 on Twitter/Facebook and 0.5 hours doing online research.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Days - 12-13 July 2010

We were back this morning from our one day trip to Corona. Fun and interesting, our thanks to Jean for the opportunity and hospitality.

On Monday, 12 July:

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and posted Amanuensis Monday - Sarah Putman's RevWar Pension Affidavit and wrote Copyright Fundamentals for Genealogists.

* Got cleaned up, checked Facebook, wrote two posts for later on Monday and Tuesday morning, had lunch, and closed down computer.

* We left for Corona at 1 PM, stopped in Elsinore for the Outlet stores (Book Warehouse had really poor selection of biography and history books!), and got to Temescal Valley Rd in time to stop at Trader Joe's then find the Miguel's restaurant.

* Met Jean and Gena for dinner, then off to Corona Public Library by 6 PM to get set up for talk there. My talk started at 7 PM on Using Ancestry.com Effectively - 90 minutes of screen shots and demonstrations and summaries. Had over 50 in attendance - hope they got something out of it.

* Followed Jean to her home afterwards, and spent the night there. Good conversation before everybody started yawning! The NGS Quarterly - June 2010 Issue Table of Contents posted while we were driving up.

Tuesday, 13 July:

* Up early at Jean's, left at 8 AM, stopped for breakfast in Elsinore, were home by 10:45 AM. I watched TV and took a nap, then ate lunch.

* Finally online at 12:15 PM, read email and blogs, and noted that Tombstone Tuesday - Deadman and NGS Magazine - April-June 2010 Issue posted while we were on the road.

* Answered some email, then wrote my GYR Journal column and sent it to Gale. Found SDU-T article from 2004 and posted link in "Personal Plots" at La Vista Memorial Park.

* Watched the Dot-Con video, and posted it in The Dot-Con Video - Genealogy Scam Revealed?.

* Went in at 5:15 PM to watch the All-Star game, eat dinner, read the paper, water the back dirt, wash the dishes and finish my book.

* Back online at 9 PM, read everything, checked Facebook, then worked on improving my Elusive Ancestor presentation. Wrote this post!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 11 July 2010

Off to Corona in the afternoon tomorrow for my presentation on "Using Ancestry.com Effectively" at 7 p.m. We're staying the night, too.

* Read email and blogs, printed off the Newsletter and the mailing list, and started on the Best of post before church. Got cleaned up and left for church at 9:35 a.m.

* Home from church at 11:45 a.m., had a quick lunch, gathered newsletter stuff and left at 12:15 for UPS Store. Virginia helped, we were done by 12:45 p.m.

* Watched Padres game and read the paper - Pads won 9-7 so in first place in NL West by 2 games at All-Star break (51-37).

* Back online at 3:30 p.m., finished up and posted Best of the Genea-Blogs - July 4-10, 2010. Wrote SDGS newsletter article about Gena's presentation on Saturday. Worked on Ancestry.com presentation - captured latest screens and edited some slides. All set! Copied to flash drive and then to laptop.

* Went in at 5:30 p.m. for dinner, water the front plants, and watch TV news.

* Back online at 6:30 p.m., answered some emails, sent the CVGS Newsletter to the Members, and wrote two blog posts for the next few days. Checked Twitter and Facebook, read some new blogs and added them to Bloglines, took a walk, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 6.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hour writing blog posts, 1.0 hour on CVGS Newsletter, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 1.0 hour on SDGS article, and 1.0 hour on presentation.

The Geneaholic will be dark on Monday night due to the travel schedule.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 10 July 2010

Two days until Corona, 11 days to Yorba Linda. Yikes!

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and posted Surname Saturday - SMITH (NH > MA). One of my brick wall lines. Wrote Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Write A Genealogy Clerihew and set it for late morning. Never heard of a clerihew before!

* Got cleaned up, had lunch, and left at 11:15 for San Carlos and the SDGS meeting. Got there at 11:40 a.m., said hello to Gena, sat in the second row, and announcements started at 12 noon. Gena talked on Copyright before the break for ice cream, and then Plagiarism and Privacy after the break. Did a great job. I told her so...

* Was home by 3 p.m. Read everything, wrote San Diego Area Genealogical Society News, made PDF of Corona handout, and sent it to Jean, and then worked on the CVGS Newsletter.

* Went in at 5:30 p.m. to watch Padres game, have dinner, and came back to work on the CVGS Newsletter. Padres lost to Rockies, 4-2 - watched parts of it. Got it done by 8:30 p.m., when I went off to pick up Linda.

* Sat in the parking lot near the airport for her call - DXed a bit on AM band. Can't remember all of the call letters any more! Picked her up at 9:40 and we were home by 10. She wanted to check her email, so I used laptop to read stuff online. Then wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 3.0 hours at SDGS meeting, and 3.0 hours working on CVGS Newsletter.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 9 July 2010

Not a great genealogy day, although I had lots of time on the computer. But things got messed up...

* Read email, blogs and Twitter and posted Follow Friday - Greta's Genealogy Bog and wrote "Using Ancestry.com Effectively" Presentation at Corona CA on Monday, 12 July and set it for late morning.

* Got cleaned up, and made some changes to the Elusive Ancestors presentation. Had lunch, went for my two-mile walk with George on the bayfront, and got a haircut. Home by 1:30 p.m.

* Worked more on presentation - much better now, and edited the handout to reflect changes.

* Went in at 5 p.m. to eat dinner, watch TV, and then cut the front lawn. Linda will be pleased! Back in at 6:15 to watch Padres game and read the paper, finished the new NGSQ, then read my Michael Connelly book.

* Waited for CVGS newsletter material to come from contributors - some finally arrived and added some of it, but some items were really messed up. Emailed back and forth all night with no clear result. Wasted over an hour adding erroneous articles, then had to delete them. Arrgghhh. On top of that, the Padres lost to Rockies 10-8. Double Arrrgggghhhhhh.

* Read everything, wrote this post, and I'm done for the night. Newsletter can wait for awhile until someone tells me what is right. It should be done tonight but it isn't.

Genealogy today was 9.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 4.0 hours working on presentation, 3.0 hours working on CVGS newsletter.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 8 July 2010

A full genealogy day - made some progress on projects, feeling less pressure...four days until corona talk.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, researched and wrote Treasure Chest Thursday - James Richman Passenger List - had to download more images.

* got cleaned up, Linda home at 9 a.m., loaded car with her bags and walker, and took her to the airport to go to San Jose. Back home by 10:15 a.m.

* Researched and wrote Is the IGI on the FamilySearch Beta Site? I guess not...but wish it was! Useful comments. Checked out using FHLC to find film number and use that to access extracted records - works!

* One more edit of the Ancestry.com handout. Wrote "Medical Genealogy" Class at Bonita Library on Saturday, 10 July . Had lunch. Answered some email. Worked on the Elusive Ancestor presentation and then the handout for that.

* Went in at 5 p.m. to eat dinner, watch TV, and take out trash.

* Back online at 6 p.m. Wrote What I Do... Technosaurus? Read everything, did more email, started on CVGS newsletter. Got everything in that I have. Sent emails asking for the rest of it...

* Checked Facebook - checked out Erica's wedding pix. Wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 12.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blogs, 1.0 hour on Ancestry presentation, 4.0 hours on Elusive Ancestors presentation, 2.5 hours on CVGS Newsletter, 1.0 hour on Twitter and Facebook.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 7 July 2010

A fairly full genealogy day, with interruptions.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, wrote and posted (Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 110: Pentecost Children and 101 Best Genealogy Sites for 2010 - from Family Tree Magazine.

* Set up the laptop and copied 50% of my genealogy files to it from the new 16 gb flash drive. Need to copy other 50% from desktop to flash drive tonight!

* Gathered materials for CVGS Board meeting, went to lunch at McDonalds, to library at 11:45 a.m. Board meeting lasted until 3:20 p.m. Contentious. Lots of decisions though. None affect me...

* Read everything, quickly posted SDGS Meeting on Saturday, 10 July, Features Gena Ortega, then went in to watch Padres game. My nap was rudely interrupted by the 5.4 earthquake in Borrego Springs. Tweeted about it for a bit, then had dinner and did chores. Pads lost 7-6 (now 49-35, still in first place in NL West).

* Back online after 7 p.m., copied Linda's photos from camera to computer and made prints for her. Read everything. Answered some emails. Worked more on Corona presentation - got it done, I think.

* Checked Facebook, answered mail there, then wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 10.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on backup, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 3.5 hours at CVGS meeting, 1.0 hour on Twitter/Facebook, and 1.5 hour on presentation.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 6 July 2010

Six more days until Corona, and I'm pretty well set. 15 more days to Yorba Linda and I need to update my former presentation. 19 days to Chula Vista and I haven't started. Yikes! More deadlines - gotta stay out of the database and on task!

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and wrote Tombstone Tuesday - Paul G. Lind (1974-2005) and then researched and wrote Wills and Probate Databases on Ancestry.com.

* Got cleaned up, and Linda wanted to go off to Costco for lunch and shopping. We spent our rebate check! I got a new Nikon Coolpix S3000 camera and a 16 gb USB drive (mine got lost last week). We were home by 2 p.m.

* Worked in the database a bit - got hung up on Thomas Arnold (1599-1674) of RI - who were his parents? Nothing authoritative out in genealogy land ... many online trees with different parents. Disconnected him from the parents I had for him.

* Went in at 4 p.m. to watch the Padres game, read the paper, set up the new camera, doze off, eat dinner, water the front plants, trim the rose bushes, and water the back yard. Padres lost 6-5 in the 9th to Nationals. Drat.

* Back online at 7:30 p.m., wrote Recent Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe Posts and then worked on my Corona presentation and handout some more. Almost ready now. Wrote this blog post.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 2.0 hours working in my database, and 2.0 hours working on the presentation.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Days - 4-5 July 2010

Not much genealogy on the 4th, but a lot on the 5th.

On Sunday, read email and blogs before going to church. Noted that Eleven Score and Fourteen Years Ago... and My Revolutionary Ancestors posted as scheduled.

* Home from church at 11:45 a.m., wrote Best of the Genea-Blogs - 27 June - 3 July 2010 and went in to watch the Padres game, read the paper and take my nap.

* Back online before 4 p.m, noted the Parade article and wrote Ancestry.com Offering 15% Savings on NEW Subscriptions and tweeted it.

* Packed up at 4:40 p.m. and went off to church for the picnic and fireworks show at 8:45 p.m. Had fun, ate too many desserts. Home by 9:30 p.m.

* Read everything but didn't post anything.

Genealogy on Sunday was 3.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, and 2.0 hours writing blog posts.

On Monday, read email, blogs and Twitter, then transcribed and posted Amanuensis Monday - Peter Putman's Rev War Pension Affidavit.

* Decided to work in the family tree database starting around 10 a.m. Got the G's done, and added birth/death for many English baptism/burials. Checked out online resources for several families, and transcribed several articles form online published books. I think I have copies of the pages, but they are hiding in my bookcases.

* Realized at 3 p.m. that I needed to write a blog post, so wrote Will I Ever Finish My Family Tree? Silly question, really - the answer is NO. Back to the database for more fixing and finding.

* Went in at 5 p.m. to read the paper, watch TV and eat dinner. Filled the bird feeder, cleaned up some things, did the dishes, and looked up and Linda was doing her email. Drat - she went until 7:45 p.m. and I had to watch ESPN and MLB for an hour.

* Read everything, answered some emails, and worked on Ancestry.com presentation for next week - got syllabus matched to presentation, checked many links on both, etc. Wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 11.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 1.5 hours working on presentation, and 6.0 hours working in family tree database and researching families online.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Randy's Family History Days - 2-3 July 2010

Tami and the girls are still here, so that has bollixed genealogy a bit. That's OK, it's been fun being with them. We made more fmaily history...the girls may remember some of these things forever.

On Friday, I had to manage the girls until Tami came after naps. Feed, dress, entertain, clean up after, play with, hug and wrestle, it never ends at Grandpa's house!

* Managed to read ermail and lbogs in them orning, noticed that Follow Friday: Casefile Clues and Revolutionary War Rolls on Footnote.com posted as scheduled (written Thursday night).

* Got the girls down for naps by 12 noon, and was able to edit and proof my FORUM column and send it to the editor.

* Girls up by 3 p.m., so we went out on front lawn and they ran around and we had snacks on a blanket - a little picnic of sorts. Fun to talk with and be with them. Tami drove up after 4 and they were excited.

* Tami took the girls to a movie, and we left at 5 p.m. for the trolley, the Tin Fish for dinner, and the Padres game. Pads won 3-0, we were home by 9:45 p.m.

* Read everything, checked Facebook, but that was it.

On Saturday, I had an early breakfast, went shopping for a new watch, and returned to a quiet and mepty house.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter and wrote Surname Saturday - KEYES (England > MA) and then Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Your ancestral home.

* Worked on the 12 July presentation some - also worked in Ancestry's MyCanvas book and chart program checking product results.

* Linda, Tami, James and girls got home at 1:30 from Sea World, so they all napped and I continued working online. Don't remember what I did! Lolo up at 3 p.m., so we went out front and had a little picnic and a walk around the block.

* Tami and James went off on a night out, we took the girls to Mr. V's for dinner. Home at 7:15 p.m. to watch end of Padres game (we won, 1-0, now 48-33 at halfway point in season!).

* Wrote Genealogy Days in Chula Vista - July 2010 on Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog, plus one more for early next week. Wrote two Fourth of July posts for Sunday. Checked Facebook and Twitter. Wrote this post. Done!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 1 July 2010

Where did the first half of the year go? I haven't been to the FHC or Carlsbad library once. I have been to the FHL once, and attended two conferences, but my schedule has been so hectic that I haven't even started on some of my goals for the year.

* Up at 7 a.m. with the girls, got them fed, dressed, and their mom took them out at 9 to a park then shopping.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, posted Treasure Chest Thursday - Della (Smith) Carringer's Death Certificate and wrote Revolutionary War Rolls on Ancestry.com: Hard to Find the Record and set it for noontime.

* Got cleaned up, and worked on my column until Tami and the girls came home. They all went down for naps, I had lunch, and worked more on the column.

* Email said that the FGS FORUM magazine was available, so downloaded it, read it, and posted FGS FORUM Summer 2010 Issue - Table of Contents.

* Answered some email, Linda took the girls swimming, Tami went home to teach, I went in to take a nap but realized the only time I had for Friday posts were this afternoon, so wrote two posts then went in for the nap.

* Linda came home at 5:15, got girls changed and off to Pollo Loco for dinner, then shopping. Home at 7 p.m., in time for the Padres game on TV. Got girls bathed, jammied, fed, read to and in bed - no problems! Padres game went 10 innings, lost to Astros 6-3.

* Back online at 10:45, read everything, folded laundry, wrote this post. Done!

Genealogy today was 6.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 3.0 hours researching and writing blog posts, 2.0 hours working on column article.
I have the girls until Tami comes down on Friday, and then Linda and I go off to the Padres game on Friday night, so it may not be a good genealogy day.