Friday, September 30, 2011

My non-genealogy days - 29 and 30 September 2011

We left on Thursday at 11 a.m. for a whirlwind trip to Victorville to see Tami, James, Lauren and Audrey, and to attend a Grandparents Day ceremony at Lauren's school.   We also went to Lauren's soccer practice on Thursday night.  We got home on Friday just after 7 p.m.

1)  Thursday, 29 September:

*  Had some excitement after breakfast, the YMCA called to say Linda had been stung by a bee in the pool and the paramedics were treating her, would I please come get her.  I did, and she drove home with me following her.  She took her benadryl and then slept a bit.

*  Read email and blogs, noted that Treasure Chest Thursday - A Wisconsin Name Change in 1866 posted, and wrote a post for Friday.  The Seaver Family History Mystery Tour Compendium posted later in the day.

*  We left at 11:30 a.m. for Victorville, stopped at the hamburger place in Temecula, and got to Tami's just in time to go pick up the girls at school.  They were happy to see us. 

*  Ate dinner at their home, went to Lauren's soccer practice, and home.  I read email and blogs on the laptop.

2)  Friday, 30 September:

*  Didn't sleep well... ate breakfast and played with Audrey, we watched Dolphin and Toy Story 3.  I read email and blogs on the laptop.  Noted that Follow Friday - Weekend Genealogy Fun and Canadian Genealogy Websites and Blogs posted.

*  Went in to take a nap at 10:45 a.m., up at 12 noon to go have lunch at El Pollo Loco, then went to Lauren's school for the Grandparents Day show.

*  Back to Tami's house at 3 p.m., packed up and took off.  Stopped in Temecula again for dinner, then home by 7:15 p.m.

*  Listened to Geneabloggers Radio show, and then read email and blogs, and added to the Best Of post.  Wrote the Surname Saturday post too.  Checked Facebook, wrote this post.

September statistics for Genea-Musings:

* 825 Feedburner readers
* 1,084 Google Reader subscriptions
* 20,050 web page visits (668 per day, Site-meter)
* 31,824 page views (1,061 per day, Site-meter)

End-of-September statistics for RootsMagic database:

* 41,307 persons (+27)
* 16,319 families (+23)
* 107,883 events (+99)
* 4,836 places (+9)
* 685 sources (+4)
* 22,916 citations (+284)

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

My genealogy day - 28 September 2011

It was a fairly busy day here in the Genea-Cave, and at the library too.

*  Read email and blogs, wrote (Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 172: Rolling Prairie, Wisconsin.  Got cleaned up.

*  Wrote Serendipity Happens? Dear Randy: Can you Help with my Lelands? and set it for later in the morning.   Answered some email.  Had lunch.

*  Left at 11:40 a.m. for the library, lugging the laptop.  The CVGS meeting started at 12:15 with a talk by Arnie Botts on how a private investigator conducts online background searches.  Talked to Sam quite a bit, and was home by 2:30.

*  Read everything, Wrote two meme posts for Thursday and Friday. Wrote Finding Material in the Wisconsin Historical Society Archives.  Played around in RootsMagic trying to get the Fact sentences straightened out.  Finally unchecked the boxes for many of them in reports and charts.

*  Went in at 5:30 p.m. to watch the Padres game, eat dinner, read the paper, put out the trash, water the back yard, wash the dishes, and read the new Chula Vista book.  Padres won 9-2 over Cubs to finish the season at 71-91, in last place in NL West.  Watched some of the NY/TB, Bos/Bal and Atl/Phi games too. 

*  Back online at 9 p.m. to read, check Facebook, add to the Best Of post, and write post for Friday.  Wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 9.5 hours.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

My genealogy days - 26 and 27 September 2011

What, I missed journaling on Wednesday?  Completely forgot after getting home from the Padres game.  Now I wonder if I can remember what I did on Monday.

1)  Monday, 26 September:

*  Read email and blogs, wrote Amanuensis Monday - the Will of Thomas Rice (1626-1681) of Sudbury MA and then Family Tree Maker 2012 TreeSync - Differences Between Online and Desktop Trees.

*  Ate lunch at 11, and went off to the library at 11:30 to consult with Ruth and Wanda on CVGS stuff, and do a research query.  Found it easily! 

*  Home by 1 p.m. to read, answer some emails, doze off at the computer, finally wrote FamilySearch Research Courses - 209? 273? 262?

*  We left before 5 p.m. for the trolley, ate at the Tin Fish, and were in Petco Park by 6:30 for the Padres game at 7.  We won 2-0 over the Cubs (now 70-90 on the year). 

*  Home by 10:30 p.m. to read, check Facebook, but didn't blog.

Genealogy on Monday was 8.0 hours.

2)  Tuesday, 27 September:

*  Read email and blogs, then wrote Tombstone Tuesday - Mary Smith (1805-1865) in Burnett WI.  Answered some emails, and did a little research for them.

*  Wrote Can I Ever Tame (even manage?) my Genea-Monster? and then had lunch.

*  Added the John Warren of Watertown info from the Eva Belle Kempton book to my database - had most of it already. 

*  Got into the FamilySearch databases and tried to complete the New Hampshire marriages in the database.  Got through the first 100 - I already had some, added several new marriages, and added sources for some also.  Still lots to do.

*  Wrote Family Tree Maker 2012 TreeSync - Questions Answered. 

*  Went in at 5:30 p.m. to watch TV news, we ate dinner, I watered the front plants.

*  Back online briefly at 6:30 p.m. to read, added to the Best Of post and checked Facebook.

*  Padres game started at 7, lost to Cubs 6-2 after leading 2-1 into the 8th.  Drat.

*  Wrote this post, checked Facebook and I'm done!

Genealogy today was 10.0 hours.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

My genealogy day - 25 September 2011

This wasn't a very big genealogy day...at least for me, not with NFL football on the air.

*  Read email and blogs, and got Best of the Genea-Blogs - Post-Vacation Edition ready to roll after noon.

*  We left for church at 9:30 a.m., and were home by 11:30 a.m.  I really miss Scanfest!  Wrote Genealogy Dream Job at ProGenealogists and went in to watch football.

*  Had lunch, watched end of Giants/Eagles game, and then watched Chargers/Chiefs game.  My Boltz won 20-17, and it was close all through the 4th quarter after the Chargers dominated the first half.  SD is 2-1, but they haven't impressed.  slow start, injuries, poor players, or poor coaching?   All of the above, I think.

*  Went out at 4:15 to mow the front lawn.  Back in at 5:15 to eat dinner on the patio.

*  Online at 6 p.m. to read, answer email, and wrote "Finding the Living - and Maybe the Dead" CVGS Program on 28 September.  Wrote another post on Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog.

*  Added VRs, notes and sources for two more articles from the Eva Belle Kempton book Part I (obtained at ACPL) for William Cheney and John Rogers. 

*  Received email from local asking about first women voters in Chula Vista.  Checked 1908-1912 and 1914 Voter registration files on Ancestry/com and found quite a few in Otay precinct (includes CV) and sent them to the focal person.

*  Went in at 9 p.m. to watch Charger highlights, then washed dishes, and back online at 9:40 to write this post.  Will check Facebook too.

Genealogy today was 4.5 hours.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

My genealogy day - 24 September 2011

This was a typical genealogy Saturday for me - a society meeting, some blogging, a Padre game.

*  Up early to read email and blogs, gathered laptop for CVGS Seminar.  Left at 8:15 for Bonita.

*  Got to CV Golf Course for CVGS Fall Seminar, and welcomed by CVGS staff after my vacation.  Talked to several folks, then got laptop set up near Claire's booth.  Connected OK to Internet there.

*  Seminar started at 9 a.m. with Gary's pitch about CVGS, then Donna gave her keynote talk about overcoming brick walls without any visuals.  Anne had visuals for her talk on Irish and Scots-Irish research.  Put comments on Google Plus and took notes in MSWord file on laptop.

*  Lunch was pretty good - sat with Sam, Claire, Karen and Steve.  Talked a bit to Ruth and Wanda. 

*  Sat through Donna's talk on American Indian research seething - the first 45 minutes was about the pure-at-heart Indians and evil white men.  The second part gave a few pointers on finding resources, but no visuals and no handout yet.  Internet didn't work after lunch for me - it would never connect.  I took notes on laptop. 

*  Home by 3 p.m. to read, note that Surname Saturday - FISHER (England > Medfield MA) and Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - What does Spokeo Know About You? posted.

*  We left at 4 p;.m. for the Padres game.  Picked up sandwich at Subway, took trolley to downtown San Diego, walk over to Petco Park, was in my seat by 5 p.m.   Padres won 3-0 over Dodgers.  I had Filippi's pizza slice for dinner, and an ice cream, then visited Rudy's section in 5th inning and had cream puffs and cookies. 

*  Home by 8:45 p.m. and finished up Saturday's "Good Genea-Reads" then wrote Sunday's Best Of post.

*  Tried to make a Google map of our vacation travels and couldn't figure out how to do it.  There must be an easy way!  I should Google "how to make a Google map of travels."  Tried Mapquest too...same result - frustration.  It can't be that hard!

*  Wrote this post, checked Facebook and Google Plus, and I'm done.

Genealogy today was 8.5 hours.

Friday, September 23, 2011

My genealogy day - 23 September 2011

It was another full genealogy-oriented day, although I did go out of the house for a walk and to get the car gassed up.  We had a bit of rain in the morning, and it was cool and foggy all day.

*  Read email and blogs, wrote Follow Friday - Weekend Genealogy Fun and J.K. Rowling's "Who Do You Think You Are?" episode (England).

*  Checked Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus.  Had lunch, then left at 11:40 to pick up George for our weekly walk on the bayfront.  I told him about our vacation.  Stopped to get 14 gallons of gas on the way home - the light was on!

*  Worked on the Barron data from the Eva Belle Kempton book, adding names, dates, places, notes and sources. 

*  Wrote Dear Randy: " I've searched everywhere for my ancestor. What Now?" 

*  Wrote the Surname Saturday post, then worked on the Bullard data from the Kempton book. 

*  Went in at 5:15 p.m. for dinner, then did some chores.  Back online at 6:15 p.m. to write the SNGF post.  Listened to Geneabloggers Radio show until 8:30 p.m.

*  Watched the Padres game with dodgers - we lost 2-0 (now 68-89 with 5 games left to go). 

*  Finished up the Friday's "Good Genea-Reads" post, checked Facebook and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 9.5 hours.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

My genealogy day - 22 September 2011

We got back from our 16 day vacation on Wednesday, 21 September, at 9 p.m.  I couldn't find my keys to get us in the house at first...but we had given the neighbor one so no problem.  I found them in my suitcase under all of the clothes Linda didn't wear (yes, hers was full, so she added stuff to mine).  My suitcase was overweight at Chicago, so removed the FGS bag of papers and the two AAA travel books and it was good to go.  I carried them on board.

After a decent night's sleep, I worked at genealogy all day and had a good bit of fun.

*  Read email and blogs, then wrote Treasure Chest Thursday - Rose Anna (Noel) Seaver's Death Certificate and then Visiting the Beaver Dam (Wisconsin) Community Library.

*  Sorted through the two bags of paper to cull the throwaway stuff, get the research material into separate folders, charge both cameras, capture the goodies from FGS, etc.  Copied FGS syllabus and September photos from flash drive, then the recent photos from Linda's camera.

*  Wrote Ancestry.com New Subscription Discount and Family Tree Maker 2012 Pre-Sale.  Ordered FTM2012 online for $23.99.  Should have waited to learn about the discount code - it could have been $19.99.  Drat.

*  Answered several emails, some from two weeks ago.  Got onto Twitter and Google Plus to add followers and read. 

*  Entered the Norwegian data and sources into my RootsMagic database.  Was contacted by a Leland researcher two weeks ago and now I have the answer for him from my trip research!  That's cool.

*  Watched Marian's webinar on Connecticut Resources.  An excellent summary!

*  Went in to eat dinner on the patio at 5:30, and back online by 6.  Answered more emails.  Printed out the two Casefile Clues reports and read them.

*  Watched the JK Rowling WDYTYA (English version) episode - very well done, interesting records, touching story.  I hope that makes it to the US series next year.

*  Put Thursday's "Good" Genea-Reads together.  Wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 12.0 hours - it's great to be back!  I wonder how badly my Genea-Musings stats have fallen off, even though I posted every day.  Not too bad, actually.  Good.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

My genealogy days - 3 and 4 September 2011

The days have dwindled to a precious few before we go on vacation...I'm still trying to get everything together.

1)  Saturday, 3 September:

*  Read email, then printed off the CVGS Newsletter masters, before going off to my Men's brekfast at 8 a.m.  Stopped at the UPS Store to copy, stamp, label and mail the CVGS Newsletter. 

*  Home by 10 a.m., and noted that Surname Saturday - STEARNS (England > colonial Massachusetts) posted (written the night before).

*  Read blogs, and added to the Best Of post, then tuned into the MySociety Radio show to hear about Ancestry Content Publishing.  Had lunch, gathered laptop, and off to Bonita.

*  Went to CVGS workshop at Bonita Library for Susi's Pennsylvania Research talk.  Plussed the talk a bit... and noted that Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Ahnentafel Roulette! posted.

*  Home by 3 p.m., checked email, took very short nap, and we left at 3:35 p.m. for the trolley to downtown San Diego.  Ate at the Tin Fish, and were in our Petco Park seats by 5:15 p.m. for the Padres game.

*  Padres lost 5-4 (9th straight loss, now 60-79).  Home by 10 p.m. to read and add to the Best Of post, check Facebook, but didn't journal.

Genealogy today was 4.5 hours.

2)  Sunday, 4 September (brother Stan is 65 today!).

*  Read email and blogs, got the Best of the Genea-Blogs - 28 August to 3 September 2011 post finished and ready to post.

*  Off to church at 9:20 a.m., and home by 11:45 a.m. to read, answer some email, and check Google Plus.

*  Went in at 12:30 p.m. to eat lunch, read the paper, watch TV and take a nap. Watched the Padres game - we won 7-2 over Rockies. 

*  Online at 3:45 p.m. to write 1940 U.S. Census Contractors Questions and NARA Answers.

*  Went out at 5 p.m. to mow the front lawn, then water the plants.  Came in for dinner.

*  Online at 6:30 p.m. to read, write some blog posts for the next two weeks, organize my folders, make some maps for the trip, check Facebook and write this post.

Genealogy today was 6.0 hours.

Friday, September 2, 2011

My genealogy day - 2 September 2011

I finished a few tasks today...good thing, since we leave on Tuesday.  Now to pack.

*  Read email and blogs then wrote Follow Friday - Labor Day Weekend Genealogy Fun.  Wrote FGS 2011 Conference - my Saturday, 10 September Selections and 1000Memories Breakfast Panel at FGS Conference on Thursday and set them for later.

*  Finished up the Seaver sources and to-be-reviewed lists, edited them to print, and printed all three lists out for the notebook.

*  Had lunch, and went off at 12:15  to the library and then got a haircut.  Home by 1 p.m. to read, then worked on the CVGS Newsletter and got it finished. 

Wrote I'm almost ready now to go research! and answered some emails.  Printed out several reports to go with me to Wisconsin.

*  Went in at 5:30 to read the paper, watch TV, almost dozed off, and we ate dinner on the patio again.  Watered the front plants.

*  Listened to Geneabloggers Radio and chatted until 8:30, then went in to watch the end of the Padres game.  They lost their 8th straight game, now 60-78 and buried in the NL West cellar. 

*  Online to add to the Best Of post, check Facebook and write this post.

Genealogy today was 10.0 hours.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

My genealogy day - 1 September 2011

It was a decent genealogy day - the clock is ticking towards the FGS Conference, and I still have lots to do to prepare for that.

*  Read email and blogs, then wrote Treasure Chest Thursday - Amy Oatley's 1865 Death Certificate.

*  Got cleaned up, and tested the car's lights.  Not good. Drive down to the repair shop and left it, and walked the mile home uphill and downhill.  Uphill was hard, I stopped at Bjorn's to catch my breath and catch up with him.

*  Back to work, looked in the BLM GLOrecords site and found that Leland and Natvig did not get a land patent in Dane County - good to know.  Made my hotel reservation for RootsTech too.

*  Saw Archives.com announcement, so researched and wrote Archives.com has 1790 to 1930 U.S. Census Records and then saw the email that came in an hour earlier.  Had lunch.

*  Wrote Searching Census Records on Archives.com and then Content from SmallTownPapers and Gannett Leaving Fold3.  Answered several emails.

*  Decided I'd better do something useful, so worked on my Source Reference List for Seaver - got the E to R segment done, only S to Z to go.  We went down at 4 to pick up the car - the lights seem to work OK.

*  Went in at 5:30 to eat dinner on the patio.  Online again at 6:15 to edit the CVGS Newsletter.  Wrote New FamilySearch Historical Collections - August 2011, and added it to the newsletter.  Got it about 90% done, waiting for Susi again. 

*  Recalled that the Chargers were playing, so went in at 7:30 to watch some of it.  Ho hum.  Watched more of it and read my book - almost done.

*  Added to the Best Of post, checked Facebook and Google Plus, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 10.0 hours.  Six blog posts...no research...some progress toward goals.