Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/21/08

This was the day when you worry that you're not going to get everything done before you go on vacation, then when you're all done by mid-afternoon you wonder what you forgot to do. I'll probably remember something just before we leave for the airport tomorrow morning.

After reading email and blogs, I posted It's too late... about my hairline and who did I inherit it from. I did some research on Ancestry in the California voter Registrations and then wrote Political Persuasions for the next Carnival of Genealogy. I had to write an email to the CVGS list, write newsletter articles for next month, work on the SSDC Graveyard Rabbit blog (I got the logo to post!), answer a few emails, write some blogs to post later in the week, etc. I also checked in on Facebook throughout the day.

I went to the bank after lunch, and then packed my suitcase because Linda's suitcase was 62 pounds, and she wanted to put some of her stuff in mine, which weighed only 35 pounds. I sure hope the scale is right! I cleaned off the bed in the spare room because Tami is coming later in the week.

After dinner, I posted about Look for the Graveyard Rabbits about the new blog stable. I updated the Keeping Up with the Taggers - Post 3 and wrote two more posts for later in the week. Semi-lastly, I answered more email and checked some names on Ancestry in my Sarah Martin line. Then I wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 6.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Facebook, 3.5 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on CVGS things, and 1.0 hour on research.

Please note that this blog will go dark for two weeks as we are going on vacation. I'll start up again after 5 November.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/20/08

This was almost the perfect genealogy day! The only thing that would have improved it would have been going to the FHC and finding my elusive Russell Smith's parents in a record in Oneida County NY. Alas, I didn't even go. But I was pretty busy, to wit:

After reading email and blogs, I posted Are Bloglines problems fixed? I think so. I checked Facebook, then emailed my SDGS presentation handout to the program coordinator. I read the WVR blog post, checked Facebook, and in frustration wrote We're Related - when will it be useful? I seem to be asking a lot of questions recently! I created the South San Diego County Graveyard Rabbit blog and wrote a welcome post. I'm going to wait until I return to do some actual work on this blog - by then maybe I'll have lots of good examples to follow! It was time for lunch and to go to the library. We had 4 at the Table Talk, and covered a lot of experiences - the seminar, Dearl's reunion, my Project M, and lots more. I was home by 2:30.

When I got home, I checked email, blogs and Facebook, and did some looking for San Diego County cemetery data. I wrote two future blog posts for the time we're on vacation. I called my friend Ed and told him about our contact from the message board who sent some family pictures, and he was excited. I posted about Project M Progress! It was time for dinner, so I went in and watched TV news, read the paper, ate, and watched the football game for awhile.

At about 7 p.m., I came in and started copying recent desktop computer files to the flash drive, and then from the flash drive to the laptop. I remembered that I need some elusive ancestor stories for the cruise one-on-ones, so I found some and printed them out, then created more reports and printed them out too. I have about 40 pages of narrative to take along - that should be enough for three consultations? Then I updated Keeping Up with the Taggers - Post 3 with the latest additions, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 11.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 4.0 hours blogging, 2.0 hours on CVGS activities, 2.0 hours transferring data to the laptop, 1.0 hour printing elusive ancestor reports, 0.5 hour on Facebook, and 0.5 hour on Project M.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/19/08

It was a pretty typical Sunday in Chula Vista - the sun was out, the Chargers lost on the road and I did some blogging. Oh, and watched Desperate Housewives.

I read my email and blogs this morning before the game, and even squeezed in the post about the 58th Carnival of Genealogy. Then it was to the TV and my hope sprang quickly and fizzled. The TV feed from Buffalo was dead for most of the first half of the Chargers game. Even worse, it came back on for the second half and the Bolts lost 23-14 by mistakes and non-performance when it counted. Very frustrating. I did manage to finish The Best of the Genea-Blogs post before I went with my contractor to Home Depot for more wood. When we got back, I posted the seminar pictures to the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog and then to Genea-Musings. I worked for awhile on the SDGS presentation handout, and then saved it to my web page. I uploaded a number of documents to my web space using Google documents, just to see what happens to them.

We had to go out to a wedding reception for Margie and Ryvess at the South Bay Grill. It was nice - the food was good for me, but Linda couldn't eat any of the buffet food - the restaurant gave her plain veggies and chicken. We sat with our swim club friends and even talked to the mayor of Chula Vista. We were home by 7:30, and watched the end of the Bosox-Rays game - the Rays are going to the Series. Good for them. I like underdogs. I had 30 minutes before Desperate Housewives, so I checked Facebook, and read my email and blogs. After DH, I checked Bloglines and all of the posts have come through - since 1 October. Then I wrote this post. I need to back up my files tonight, and transfer files to the laptop for the trip. I still have scheduled posts to write for next week, too. Linda has started to pack.

Genealogy today was 5.0 hours - 0.5 hour doping email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Facebook, 2.5 hours writing blogs, and 1.0 hour on the SDGS presentation.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/18/08

This was the big day for the "Discover Your Family History" seminar by the Chula Vista Genealogical Society with Jean Wilcox Hibben as the featured speaker. The day really revolved around this 10 am to 4 pm event.

I didn't even read email or blogs this morning - I just picked up my briefcase, camera, publicity boards, and freebie handouts and went to my Bible study breakfast at 8 a.m. in National City, and I was at the library by 9:20. Jean and her husband were already there, and we got into the library early to set up their stuff and others did the technology, registration and food setup. The doors opened at 10 a.m. and folks streamed in - registered, got handouts, bought a raffle ticket, had a snack, and settled into their seats for the presentations. Jean did one in the morning and two in the afternoon, with lunch in the park at noon time. I was home by 4:30 after the cleanup and take out was over. I described the presentations in Jean Wilcox Hibben a Major Hit at CVGS. I read my email and blogs when I got home, and checked into Facebook.

Linda got dinner up, and I read the paper while watching the ball game. After the game, I posted Keeping up with the Taggers - Post 3. Then this post and I'm done for the day.

Genealogy today was 9.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, and 7.0 hours on the CVGS seminar.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/17/08

I did some blogging, some CVGS work and some SDGS presentation work today in genealogy, while doing work around the house and taking Linda out to dinner.

After reading my email and blogs, I updated Keeping up with the Taggers - Post 2 and then checked into Facebook. I made program handouts for the CVGS seminar on Saturday and on Wednesday, 29 October. I left at 10 a.m. to make copies of the programs and handouts at the UPS store, got a haircut finally, went to the bank and the library, and came home for lunch. After lunch, I worked in the garage and transferred all of the bedroom stuff still in the living room to the garage. Our kids are going to have a great time sorting everything out when we pass away! Back on the computer, I downloaded TMG 7 to my laptop, and wrote I'm almost ready to cruise. I updated the Tagging post again, and then posted Evidence of Sarah Martin's Maiden Name. I checked Ancestry, WVR and Footnote for some of my Project C elusives - and might have solved one of my mysteries.

At this point, I decided to go out and cut the front lawn - it took over an hour. Linda came out and trimmed the roses while I watered the plants. We went out to dinner to Daphne's and dessert at ColdStone - yummy. We were home after 7 pm, and I stapled all of the handouts for the seminar together. I spent about two hours working on the handout for the SDGS Presentation -- Genealogy Web Sites You Can Use -- I got all of the links in my 96 slide presentation on four pages. Then I wrote this post, and am done for the night.

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour on CVGS seminar and program, 2.0 hours on SDGS presentation, and 0.5 hour on Facebook.

Tomorrow is the CVGS "Discover Your Family History" seminar with Dr. Jean Wilcox Hibben as the featured speaker. I posted the seminar description here. Blogging will be light on Saturday until I get home and can summarize the day's activities.

I Got Tagged...

I got tagged for the "5 Things about me" meme. I started this meme, but it's interesting to see the progression in two days:

1. Genea-Musings tagged
2. footnoteMaven at footnoteMaven, who tagged
3. Sheri Fenley at The Educated Genealogist, who tagged
3. T.K. at Before My Time, who tagged
2. Carol Wilkerson at iPentimento, who tagged
5. The Geneaholic

A second track was:

1. Genea-Musings tagged
2. Thomas MacEntee on Destination:Austin Family and Jasia on Creative Gene, who tagged
3. Apple on Apple's Tree, who tagged
4. T.K. at Before My Time, who tagged
5. Carol Wilkerson at iPentimento, who tagged
6. The Geneaholic

Thanks, Carol for the tag. I defer to my Genea-Musings posting for my information - but I want to tag five more genea-bloggers (well, more than five):

1. The Ancestry Insider
2. Sharon at Back-Track
3. Terry at The Desktop Genealogist
4. David at Family History Tracing
5. Russ at Family Tree Maker User.

6. Holly at Genealogy Musings.
7. Deb at Genealogy, Middle Age and Life
8. Tina at Gtownma's Genealogy
9. Carolyn at Life in Possum Holler
10. Laura at Life at the Home20

If I get tagged again, I'll add more!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/16/08

I was a blogging fool today...and not much else! I did take my wife out to dinner, though!

After reading my email and blogs, I wrote the Genea-Musings traffic report and then about the Civil War Widows' Pension Files on Footnote. I checked the latest news from the cruise site, and posted advance blogs for each day's genealogy activities while on the ship, since I'm not sure I'll be able to post much from the ship while at sea. Then I wrote What will the descendants think? about a strange case from Northern California where they really did grill their granny. After that, I had some lunch, and felt better after watching some RootsTV videos and posting Abslutely Beautiful - Annie Moore.

I must have done something useful until 2:30, but I have no idea what it was. I went in to watch TV and let Linda do her email. We left at 3:30 to go to our financial advisor, then went to dinner at Mimi's Cafe in Mission Valley. We left at 6:15 and I dropped Linda off at her women's group meeting and was home by 7:15 (traffic was terrible due to a Jimmy Buffett concert at the Amphitheater just south of us). I hurried to the computer to join the TGSG chat with five other TGFers. That was over at 8 and I decided that since I started the Tagging meme that I'd better keep track of it, so I wrote Keeping Up with the Taggers - Post 1 and Post 2. I started it out like a genealogy report, but it got real complicated real fast. I shoulda put it in Family Tree Maker. Finally, I wrote this post - that made 14 genealogy related posts on two blogs today!

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 6.5 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on Facebook, and 1.0 hour on the TGSG chat.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/15/08

This would have been my father's 97th birthday. I really appreciate his fine colonial New England and English ancestry.

After reading my email and blogs this morning, I posted about the CGSSD Mini-fair on Saturday, even though I'm not going to it. Then I edited my four-generation photograph and posted it in Family Photographs - Post 27: Four Generations. I checked Facebook, edited my Haunted House story a bit, and worked on putting stuff back into the 4th bedroom from the living room. I left at 11 a.m. for the pharmacy, then lunch at McDonald's, the post office box and the library, where the Computer Group started at 12 noon. We had 12 there, including a guest, Mary. I got to share local library databases, catalogs and vital records sites. After the meeting, I spent an hour with Mary on her laptop working in Ancestry trying to find her families in Louisiana. I was home by 3.

I read my email and blogs, then posted the Computer Group summary on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe and on Genea-Musings. I posted a number of funnies and my NFL Picks for week 7 on Randy's Busy Life too. At 5p.m., I went in a put out the trash barrels, watched TV, ate dinner, read the paper, watched the debate and then some of the ball game. When I came back to the computer at 8:15, I read email and blogs, then did a bit more searching for Mary's elusive family in Louisiana. No luck. I checked for a Seaver family in the 1920 census and made a genealogy report for my Seaver correspondent. Then I wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours. 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hour writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on Facebook, 2.0 hours on CVGS activities, and 2.0 hours doing research for others.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/14/08

I read my email and blogs (Genea-Musings and Geneaholic haven't updated on Bloglines since the end of September) and then did some research on the FamilyTreeDNA site and then wrote DNA Research - Which Y-DNA Test? Why? I spent several hours updating my syllabus for the SDGS presentation on 8 November - I just need to improve the handout and I'm ready for it! I researched the land tours on the cruise in St. Kitts, Antigua and St. Thomas and printed some of them out for Linda to choose from. I unloaded the bedroom closet so that it's ready to be painted and floored. At 3:30, I went in and watched the news, read the paper, took a nap, sorted through some of my daughters pictures, watched the ball game, and ate dinner.

At 6, I came back to the computer and posted Tag - you're it! and then did some research on my Project M - I entered some census data on ancestral families, searched for the parents of Ed's grandmother, and found more information on some of the ancestral families on WorldConnect. Finally, I wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 8.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Facebook, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 2.5 hours on the SDGS presentation, and 3.0 hours on Project M.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/13/08

After reading my email and my blogs, I posted Two Free Issues of Everton's Genealogical Helper on Genea-Musings just to get the day off to a good start. I realized that I had to get ready for my presentation to SDGS on 8 November (3 days after I get back from my two week vacation and genealogy cruise...) so I spent some time working on the handout, which is due next week. I added some syllabus pages to my web site where I keep my handouts. I dug out our plane reservations and saw that we didn't have a confirmation number for our flight to NYC/JFK, so I called AAA and then Jet Blue to get the number, and then get seat reservations. I ate lunch in a hurry, then took off for the library for Table Talk, and some pictures. I also transcribed a death notice for my wife's cousin. I was home by 2:15.

I posted Using GeneaNet.org - Post 4 and then worked on several advance posts - I need to have something for the two week hiatus, right? I wish I could plan three months ahead like some people do (Pat Richley does this - how in the world?). At 5 p.m., I went in to watch the news, eat dinner, consult with the contractor, hug my wife, and watch the baseball game. I finished the newspaper and my Dean Koontz book, and read the NGSQ article assigned for the Transitional Genealogists Study Group. At 7:45 I came back in and posted about the CVGS Seminar on Saturday and then worked on the SDGS presentation - changed all of the footers and the thumbnail picture on the headers. I will probably add a few more charts, but then I'll have to edit the syllabus. Finally, this post and I'm done by 10 p.m.!

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on Facebook, 2.5 hours on the SDGS presentation, 0.5 hour on the TGSG article, and 2.0 hours on CVGS activities.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/12/08

This was a pretty typical genealogy Sunday - a little blogging and some research, but not too much.

I read my email and blogs before I went to church, and I got home at about 12:15. I wrote my Best of the Genea-blogs post, checked in on Facebook and then went looking for more Putman's on the Ancestry databases. Mark P emailed me yesterday saying we needed to find a death record for one of John and Sarah (Martin?) Putman's children, and suggested that Isaac K. Putman (died after 1880), Peter W. Putman (died 1882) or Mary (Putman) Hubbard (died 1912 in Canada) might provide a death certificate with a mother's maiden name on it.

I went in at 3:30 p.m. to watch the football games and read the paper. The Chargers game came on at 5:15 and we had dinner watching the game. After the game at 8:30, I came in and searched WVR for Putman information and got frustrated by a US database behind the World firewall, so I wrote about it in Is Northern New York Included in the WVR US Collection? Then I went back in to watch Desperate Housewives, and then the news and sports highlights. When I came back at 10:40, Mark had sent three emails and had found the Mary (Putman) Hubbard death record in Ontario (on Ancestry) that says her parents were John Putman and ??? Martin. Great and fast work by Mark! Then I wrote this post, happy as a clam in shallow water.

Genealogy today was 4.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on Facebook and 1.0 hour doing research on Putmans.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/11/08

I got up about the same time that Lolo did, and we had breakfast together and watched the Disney Channel. She was ready to go out with Linda at 9:30 for the Disney on Ice show - they went with Lolo's friend Abbie and her mom. That gave me several hours of free time - what do you think I did with it?

After reading email and blogs, I posted Using GeneaNet.org - Post 3 and did a bit more exploring in www.GeneaNet.org. I see that Jean-Yves has written several comments trying to help me understand some of the inner workings, which I greatly appreciate! I decided to work in my genealogy database. I found that my family data was pretty sparse for my Putman line (which includes my matrilineal ancestor, Sarah Martin (?)). I found Mark Putman's web site, and added some spouses names and some notes to my database based on Mark's information. I spent quite a bit of time thinking through the spouse of David Janse Putman, was she Elizabeth Beekman or Helena Van Gelder, or both, or neither? What was her maiden name? I looked for Beekman and Van Gelder data on Rootsweb WorldConnect and came away more confused than ever.

Fortunately, Linda and Lolo came home at 2 pm. and broke up my little mystery problem, and I took a nap before we had to drive Lolo up to Temecula. We left at 4, got there just after 5, had dinner with Tami at the Hungry Hunter and celebrated my birthday and Tami's birthday early - you should have seen Lolo go after the cake! We left just after 7, and were home by 8, and I watched the SDSU-Air Force game and the Red Sox-Rays game while reading the paper and my mystery book. Finally, at 9:30, I came in and read email, blogs and Facebook, and wrote Digging in the Putman Garden of Genealogical Mysteries. Then this post, and I'm off to bed.

Genealogy today was 5.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Facebook, 1.5 hours writing blog posts and 2.5 hours working on the Putman mysteries.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/10/08

This was not a big genealogy day - far from it, due to Lolo and baseball.

Lolo got up at 7 am I fixed her breakfast and we watched TV. I got her dressed and Linda came home from the hairdresser and took her off to the San Diego Zoo for the morning. I read my email and blogs, and posted about LiveRoots, then checked Facebook, and got ready to go out. I left at 11 for the church office, then the library for a book, McDonald's for lunch, and the bayfront for my walk with George. I stopped at the store for diapers for Lolo on the way home, and was home at 1:15.

Lolo watched TV while I tried to nap in my chair, and then we played a bit on the floor - doing artwork and putting puzzles together. I stole some time and posted about Megan's Annie Moore memorial presser. Then it was back to Lolo duty, dinner, and we watched the ball games. I got her in the bath at 6:30 and jammies by 7, hoping that she would go to sleep easily like last night. Oh no - it's 9:30 and she is still thrashing around on the bed. I've been in there lying down with her thrice so far ... she is so fun to be with, but it's a struggle sometimes. She goes home on Saturday... so maybe I can get back to genealogy.

Genealogy today was only 3.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Facebook, and 1.5 hours writing blog posts.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/09/08

This is countdown day - 10 -9 -8 - stop! 7-6-5-4-3-2-1! I didn't accomplish a lot today in the grand scheme of advancing the genealogy football toward the goal line. Life interrupted big time. But there was one exciting development.

I read my email and blogs, and decided to post about www.GeneaNet.org again - but I had to capture the screens again and save them again before I could put them in my post. I answered some emails and checked Facebook, then suited up and went off to Home Depot (for paint) and Costco (to scope out my birthday present and have lunch), but I was home by 12:30.

Email, blogs, Facebook, then Linda and Lolo came home, and I got the assignment to put her down for a nap. Failure - she wanted to play with Grandpa. We tried to nap, and I was almost asleep when she woke me up. So we watched TV, she drew some pictures (and decorated her body beautifully), had some strawberries, we blew bubbles outside and kicked the ball around, etc. No nap, but she was OK.

In the middle of this, Ed's brother called from Georgia and we talked for awhile. Then I discovered that Ed's other brother had sent an email this afternoon, so I replied to that. The letters worked - they are willing to share the limited information they have. Linda made dinner, Lolo played on the computer by herself, had a bath, had dessert, and went to bed without a peep. Cool. We watched the baseball game.

After the game, I called Ed and told him about the two contacts with his siblings, and then wrote the next installment of Is This My New Computer Genealogy Filing System? I checked in on Facebook, wrote this post, and will go watch ER soon.

Genealogy today was 5.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on Facebook, 1.0 hour on Project M, and 1.0 hour working on the filing system.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/08/08

Only two weeks before we leave for our vacation and the Caribbean genealogy cruise. We can hardly wait! But first, Lolo, Audrey and Tami are coming this weekend - we get our grandkids fix too. Life is good.

After reading email and blogs (day 6 of Genea-Musings held hostage by Bloglines - no posts!), I wrote King Paul I of America makes news, and Beware of this "dream" genealogy client! and then Family Photographs - Post 26: The Kids. I thought I was done posting for the day. Wrong! I checked in on Facebook, then reviewed my Genealogy News email for content and form, and printed off several blog posts and gathered up other show-and-tell items. After eating some lunch I took off at 11:30 for the post office and for the library.

The CVGS Research Group meeting had 10 attendees, and we talked until 2 p.m. I was home by 2:15, and read email and blogs, then sent the Genealogy News email to everyone on the list and posted it to the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog. Then I posted the Research Group Summary on Genea-Musings. I was tired and sleepy, so I went in to watch TV, read the paper, and take a nap. We had dinner outside, and I was back to the computer at 7 p.m.

I decided to post my NFL Picks on Randy's Busy Life, and put 8 more humor and political posts on too. Finally, I posted about the SDGS Program on Saturday, then took a walk, and came back to finish this post.

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Facebook, 3.0 hours writing genealogy blog posts, 2.5 hours on CVGS Research Group activities, and that's about it.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/07/08

Genealogy, FHC, genealogy, dinner/debate, genealogy...not a bad game plan for the day!

After reading my email and blogs (Bloglines still hasn't fixed some feeds - it's been at least four days), I posted Using GeneaNet.com - Post 1. I worked for awhile in GeneaNet, downloading more screen shots and testing it out more. I printed out the CVGS newsletter and read it, then the windows guys came. At 10:30, I had some lunch and packed up to go to the FHC to drop some flyers and do some research. I stayed longer than I expected.

I was home by 1:45, and read email and blogs, then wrote Update on contacting a living relative. I must have done something really useful in the next two hours but I'll be darned if I can remember what - where's my time journal when I need it? Aha - I researched the genealogy news of them onth for the CVGS meeting tomorrow! I posted about the CVGS research Trip to the SDGS Library and the Volume II, Surnames C and D index for the Early California Families book on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe. Then it was time for a nap, read the paper, watch TV news, have dinner, watch the debate, and the post-debate.

I came back to the computer at 8 p.m. and spent some time on Facebook, then worked on my prospective filing system. Then I wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 9.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour exploring GeneaNet, 2.0 hours at the FHC, 0.5 hour on Facebook, 1.0 hour working with my data file management, and 2.0 hours of researching the genealogy news of the month for CVGS.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/06/08

I managed to do some research, get some chores done, and blog today while catching highlights of the ball games.

After reading email and blogs (Bloglines is not sending some of my favorites, like Genea-Musings!), I posted Using GeneTree as a Social Network. I'm not impressed... I did some research on using GeneaNet for future posts. I put the package together for Project W and couldn't figure out how much postage I needed, so I sent a request through the online USPS FAQ system. They responded tonight! Now I know. I had lunch, gathered my stuff to go out, and went to the library first for Table Talk with Dearl and some light indexing. I picked up some books too. I left at 1:15 and went to the UPS store, the bank and the grocery store and was home by 2 p.m.

I read email and blogs, then wrote Who are my German-born Ancestors? in hopes that someone would help me out. Tamura did - he found new info for me quickly on the Koenig/King family. I put the new info in FTM and did a bit more searching online for other names without much luck. I went searching for funny photos for the Smile carnival...I found several, and I'm afraid I don't have some of the "really good ones" in digital format. I wonder what box or album they're in? I went in to watch the end of the Rays-WS game, read the paper and had dinner.

After dinner, I decided to work a bit on my computer data management. The "new system" I started a month or so ago isn't going to work, so I did some research on Ben Sayers site, on Ancestry's learning center, and in the SCGS Jamboree syllabus and wrote up Is This My New Computer File System? - Post 1. It isn't, of course, yet. I got real flustrated with Ancestry's Learning Center - it was taking up to 60 seconds to load a page with Java and Flash going...and all I wanted was a list of text articles and the articles themselves. Why do they hassle me like this? Oh well - I just won't use it. After all, I got my year for $22 last October...I wonder what I'll pay for it this year? Finally, this post and I'm off to watch TV and read my book for awhile.

Genealogy today was 9.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 2.0 hours doing research, 1.5 hours on CVGS things, 2.0 hours on computer data management, 0.5 hour on Facebook and 0.5 hour on Project W.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/05/08

There are good days and then there are bad days - this was good-bad-good for me. You'll see what I mean.

I slept so well - straight through for the first time in months...until 7 a.m. I managed to read my email and blogs before the Chargers game...and then there was the awful three hours of watching your team get beat. The team that was supposed to contend for the Super Bowl. Not if they keep playing like this. It's a Jekyll and Hyde team. They lost fair and square - Miami is better than most people think. Surprise, Chargers! Argghhh.

After the game, I researched and posted the Best of the Genea-Blogs for the week - a little genealogy therapy if you will. Then I wrote the Project M letters to Ed's siblings using his guidelines, and got them ready to mail. I checked the NFL and MLB games occasionally on TV, and then wrote an email to my Project W colleague summarizing what I did for her, and gathered those papers for the mail too. Finally, I answered a query about guests at Glen Abbey that came through the SD GenWeb site. Ah, dinner time...and baseball, and reading, and finally Desperate Housewives. Then I came in to post this blog and I'll go watch the sports lowlights at 10:30.

Genealogy today was 4.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour on Project M, 0.5 hour on Project W, and 0.5 hour on the query.

It's great to clear the decks of two projects and one task...I wonder what I'll do tomorrow? Ah yes, I need to start on my SDGS presentation in November.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/04/08

I'm feeling better today after a decent night's sleep - the runny nose has slowed, the coughing isn't as frequent, and I have more energy.

I was on the computer by 8 a.m. reading email and blogs, and posted about the CVGS Seminar on 18 October. I wish there was a way to keep this on "top" of all of my posts without changing the date every day. After getting ready to go out, I gathered up my stuff for the research trip to the SDGS library.

We carpooled from Chula Vista to El Cajon - Charlotte drove this time. We talked about her kids and my grandkids. We got there right at 10 a.m., signed in, and the staff gave Charlotte and Nancy a guided tour of the library, while I joined the FTM User's group meeting already in progress. After the meeting, I took some pictures of the group, then took some pictures of Charlotte and Nancy, and also of parts of the library. We had lunch there, then I did some research on my RI and NJ folks, and found some useful information. We left after 2 p.m. and I was home by 3.

I read my email and blogs, then downloaded my pictures to the computer. I wrote up the Research Trip to SDGS Library, complete with pictures (the Genea-blogger Gnome went along!). I was tired, so I went in to watch SDSU get beat by TCU and the ball game, then had dinner, and worked a bit putting the nearly finished bedroom back together. I started sorting out some of the stuff - I got the tools, pictures/slides and maps sorted - keeping just what I want and pitching the rest. In the process, I found some pictures from the 1960's and early 1970's which I've put in the to-be-scanned box. I also determined that the movie projector doesn't work but the slide projector does. I may want to scan some of the slides too. I watched the Dodgers beat the Cubs while sorting, then came to the computer and posted about the 57th Carnival of Genealogy and wrote this post, while having a coughing jag.

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours -- 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.0 hour writing blog posts, and 5.0 hours on the CVGS Research trip.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/03/08

I feel so cruddy - I coughed most of the night and only got four troubled hours of sleep.

I started early because I didn't know how long I'd last. I read email and blogs, checked Facebook, and wrote Working with my mtDNA Results - Post 2 before taking a rest break - I didn't sleep though. I posted about the CVGS seminar on 18 October on the San Diego County message boards on Ancestry and Genforum. Then I wrote my newsletter articles for CVGS and emailed them off. At 11, I gathered my stuff to go out, had lunch (beef veggie soup, cookies, pudding) and dropped flyers at two senior centers, then went for my walk on the bayfront with George. I stopped at the library on the way home to gather some information for a blog post.

I was home by 1:15, and read email and blogs, then wrote Current Obituaries by State. By now, I was exhausted, so I took my meds and lay down. I got up at 5 after a two hour nap. We watched the playoff game and had dinner, and I came in to do something useful at 7 p.m. I had done some research on Project W yesterday, so I called the client and told her my results. I will send copies of stuff to her soon. In the process, I discovered that Ancestry.com had changed their document image printing options so I wrote about it too. Then this post and I'm going to go watch the end of the game and go to bed early.

Genealogy today was 5.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on Facebook, 0.5 hour on CVGS activities, and 2.0 hours on Project W.

Tomorrow is our research trip to the SDGS Library in El Cajon so blogging may be light.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/02/08

Why do I have the feeling that I've forgotten something important? What haven't I done that I need to do? Ah yes - burn down the email list. Tomorrow?

Linda was on the computer this morning so long that I grabbed the laptop and read my email until she finished. I should do that more often! After email and blogs, I posted Working with my mtDNA Results - Post 1. I had a call from someone in Long Beach asking about the W family, so I looked up some pages from the W book on WorldVitalRecords for her. I fund her family listed in the "unconnected families" section, with no info on her great-grandfather other than his name. Then it was time to go to the doctor for my physical and lab review - and then the pharmacy. My tests were pretty good, although I've gained 4 pounds. Drugs work! Medicare works for me - the co-pay is lower than before! I was home by noon for lunch.

I watched two videos on RootsTV then wrote Happy 2nd Birthday, RootsTelevision. I worked a bit more on my mtDNA results, then did some research for Project W to see if I can find the missing link - not much luck. I got the SS5 for Project M today - and it gives the wrong surname for his mother! I hate it when that happens. Argghhh. Now what? A death record for her, I think. I took the survey then posted about it at Can doing genealogy research improve family functioning? Then it was time for reading the paper, watching the ball game, eating dinner, watering the front plants, and watching the VP debate.

At 8 p.m., I participated in my ProGen Study Group chat online using Windows Live Messenger - we talked about time management and had a good time - six of us. Then I went for my walk, talked to Linda, did the dishes, checked my email and Facebook, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 7.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 1.5 hours looking at mtDNA results, 0.5 hour on RootsTV, 1.5 hour on Project W, 1.5 hour on ProGen, and 0.5 hour on Facebook.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Genealogy Journal - 10/01/08

I still feel pretty cruddy with my cold, and was lazy today - I watched some of the ball games and did some work on the house stuff, plus the plumbing problem.

In the morning, I read email and blogs, then posted My mtDNA Results on GeneTree and Family Photographs - Post 25: Sisters and Cousins. I printed off my CVGS board agenda, gathered my stuff, and went off to lunch and the post office box before the 12 noon CVGS Board meeting. We were done by 2, and I was home by 2:30. I was tired, so I watched the playoff game and took a nap. At 4:30, I posted Doing Genealogy Time then went back for more playoff games and dinner. We had a toilet plumbing problem, so I called the plumber and he didn't come until 7:30 - but he fixed the toilet and the nearly-plugged sink.

At 8:30, I was bored by the game, so I came in and read email and blogs, then did a little research on Sarah Martin, and posted my NFL Picks for the next week and my power ratings. Finally this post, as I remember now that I still have homework for ProGen!

Genealogy today was 6.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on Facebook, 2.5 hours on CVGS activities, and 0.5 hour doing a little research.