Thursday, April 30, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/30/09

This was an interesting day - I got a lot done toward my 5/16 presentation about Ancestry.com and then found a puzzling quirk in Ancestry searches.

After reading email and blogs and Twitter, I posted What Should I Say About Ancestry.com? thinking my readers might be able to help me out some. The response has been civil and helpful and interesting - I hope A.com reads it. I then wrote A Victorian House in San Diego - turned into a box for the Carnival of genealogy, but set it to post late in the afternoon. I got cleaned up, and checked in on Facebook, and Ancestry new databases (not much new US Content recently), had lunch and headed out for my walk with George on the bayfront. I was home by 1 p.m.

It was time to get serious about my Ancestry 101 presentation, so I made a format for the presentation, and over the next four hours I had almost 50 slides done - mostly screen captures from the Family Tree and Search sections of Ancestry. I still have plenty to do for the other sections. I will need to go back over it and highlight things, but I'm pleased with the progress so far. I'll be OK as long as A.com doesn't change their page format on me in the next two weeks! I found a quirk in the New vs. Old Search and captured some screens to test it out. At 5 p.m. I went in and watched the news, read the paper, and we had dinner.

I was back at the keyboard at 6:30, and wrote Ancestry.com Quirk - Different Results for Old Search and New Search. I tested it again and the problem is still there. Strange! Then it was time for the Padres game ... we went ahead 3-1 and 5-4, but the Dodgers beat up our bullpen to win it 8-5. We're now 11-11. I was back at the keyboard at 10:20 p.m., read everything, checked the A.com quirk (still there) and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 8.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour checking out Ancestry problems, and 4.0 hours working on the A.com presentation.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/29/09

We're almost to May, and I have three speaking engagements to prepare for. Yikes! Gotta get started, because the grandkids will be here in two weeks for a week.

After reading email, blogs and Twitter, I posted Family Photographs - Post 53: Was Della driving? and More on Better Source Citations. I listened to Lisa's Genealogy Gems Podcast #64 too. Pam emailed me her notes for the OASIS class, so I copied them into an MSWord file and started editing it. There may be something missing, so I emailed her about it. I'm just 12 days away from the first class so I need to get that act together! I ate lunch and went off to the library for the 12 noon CVGS Program meeting. Shirley Becker talked about Digital Documentation.

I was home by 2:15 p.m., and read everything and tried to find something interesting to blog about. I worked on the class notes some more too. At 4 p.m., I went in to read the paper, watch TV and take a nap. At 5 p.m. we left for dinner with our neighbors - went to Rubio's. We were home by 7 p.m. I read everything, checked some Ancestry functions, attached some documents to people in my tree just to see how that works, put my mtDNA results into the Ancestry DNA page, and found no matches. Oh well. Then I wrote "Digital Documentation" - CVGS Program Summary about the program today. After browsing Twitter and Facebook, I wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blog posts, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 0.5 hour listening to podcasts, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 2.0 hours at CVGS, 2.0 hours working on class notes, and 1.0 hour working in Ancestry.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/28/09

It was Audrey's first birthday today, and we missed it. Tami said she pulled herself up and stood up today. Cool. The second year is my favorite! I get to chase them. Lucas and Logan called tonight and we had a good talk.

After reading email, blogs and Twitter, I posted about Happy Dance, Ah-ha, Eureka, Geneagasm Moments and then did some reading and playing with Ancestry and WorldVitalRecords - even captured some Barbour Collection pages. I got cleaned up, but stayed home and had lunch, then researched and posted Tombstone Tuesday - David Auble (1817-1894) in Terre Haute, Indiana. I'm almost out of gravestone photos of my ancestors. There are lots that I know where they are but haven't photographed, and I'm not ready for another trip yet. I posted CVGS Program on 29 April - Shirley Becker on "Computer Document Organization" and then Are You Reading "The Examiner" Genealogy Columns? I was bored with blogging, so I did something I've wanted to do for awhile - I made "head shots" of many of my family members and ancestors so that I can add them to my software program and be able to make Photo Trees. Finally, I wrote "The Census Taker Cometh." Excellent article.

At 5 p.m., I went in to watch TV, read the paper, and we had dinner while watching the Padres game. We won 4-3 coming from behind (now 11-9 in the young season). At 9 p.m., I came back and read everything, tweeted a bit, edited the Examiner post, checked in on Facebook, and then wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 2.0 hours working on the photos, 1.0 hour on ancestry and WVR, and 3.5 hours writing blog posts.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/27/09

It was nice to have a day to catch up on reading and blogging and resting.

I was up really early because Linda's alarm went off at 5:15 a.m. so she could takeo ur neighbor to the airport. After breakfast, I was on the computer before 7 a.m. and read email, blogs and Twitter, then posted RAOGK - Find the family of orphaned pictures from Brian's link. I got cleaned up and then put together Working in RootsMagic 4 - Summary of Posts at long last, and then worked on Working in RootsMagic 4 - Post 16: Creating Lists - Part 5. In a groove, I posted five items to my Randy's Busy Life blog and then wrote Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nestor on the SSDGC Graveyard Rabbit blog, which I've woefully neglected the last two months. I went exploring for new genealogy websites and almost blogged about one of them. Lunch time - I ate while blogging, then took off for the library at 12 noon for CVGS Table Talk.

Table Talk was uneventful, and I dozed off reading things due to my early wakeup. I went home early, although I picked up another Jeffrey Deaver book for my evening reading. I was home by 2 p.m., read everything, then decided to write and post Book Review - "Social Networking for Genealogists" - which I read several weeks ago but haven't found the time to write about. When I was done, I dozed off at the keyboard, so I went in and took a nap and we had dinner while watching the Padres game on TV. The Pads lost 12-7 to Colorado - damn pitching is terrible. A fellow called twice during the game asking for help making a powerpoint show of his family history - I ran through some basic things with him and he will come to the library next Monday for more help. I watched 24 after the game, and then read everything and wrote this post, my 11th blog post of the day (but only 6 were genealogy related)!

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter and Facebook, 1.5 hours on CVGS activities, 1.0 hour exploring several web sites, and 4.0 hours writing blogs posts.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/26/09

Got a good nights sleep and was rarin' to go ... to church. Then home for genealogy fun.

After breakfast and before church, I read my email and blogs and Twitter, and posted the Best of the Genea-Blogs post written last night. Off to church a 9:30, and home by 11:40 a.m., and jumped right into the Scanfest that started at 11. I lasted until 2 p.m., and got 30 scans of about 55 pictures from my grandfather's box done - these are mostly orphan pictures put into a plastic bag 20 years ago - some good ones. There are plenty more pictures from four generations to scan. At 2, I went in to watch the Padres game - they lost 8-3 to the Pirates - and took a little nap.

At 3:30, I came back to the computer and wrote three posts on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog - Genealogy Software Review Summary, CVGS Spring Saturday Seminar Review - Part 1: "Doing a Reasonably Exhaustive Search" and CVGS Spring Saturday Seminar Review - Part 2: "Solving Your Brickwall Problems" Panel . It was dinner time, so I had my Dinty Moore beef stew since Linda was out with her friend, and came back to the computer to read everything, tweet and answer some email. At 9, I went in and watched Desperate Housewives, and daughter Lori called to coordinate her visit in May with our schedules. Then I wrote this post and I'm done.

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter and Facebook, 2.5 hours on the Scanfest, and 3.0 hours writing blog posts.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/25/09

The seminar day was here and I was ready! I never sleep well the night before a presentation, and I didn't last night.

I was up early, had breakfast and came in after 7 a.m. to read email, read blog posts and Twitter and make sure I was ready for the day. The post Working in RootsMagic 4 - Post 15: Creating Lists - Part 4 went up this morning but I wrote it last night. I wrote the Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Where's Your Date Calculator? post and scheduled it for the afternoon since I was going to be busy all afternoon. Went in and got cleaned up, came back and scrolled through the presentation again, gathered up the research problem statements and left at 9:20 for the library.

We couldn't get into the library early for some reasons, so had to set up after the 10 a.m. opening. Gary got the projector and computer hooked up, I got the presentations transferred to his computer, and we started the seminar on time. After a short introduction, Gary introduced me and I spent 80 minutes going through 120 slides about "Doing a Reasonably Exhaustive Search." I don't know if the audience was exhausted, but I was! I had many compliments on the talk, which I really appreciated! We had lunch - I talked to several people out on one of the benches in the sun. At 1 p.m., we set up the table on the stage and started the "Solving Your Brickwall Problems" segment of the seminar - Gary was moderator and four of us were panelists. Six problems were presented verbally and on charts on the screen by the "owners" of the problems, and the panelists provided help and guidance, and commiseration, on the problems. I will post on the two sessions later. This was over at 3 p.m., and I was home by 3:45 p.m. I read everything, and went in for a nap and to watch TV. We had dinner and I spent a while working on the "Best of..." post for Sunday.

At 7 p.m., I went in and watched my Padres lose 10-1 to the Pirates in a terrible game (for me anyway - worst pitched game of the year by us, and best pitched game by an opponent). I read the paper, then read my book, toyed with the idea of typing seminar notes on the laptop, but didn't. The game was mercifully over at 9:45, and I came in to finish the "Best of ..." post, write this and read everything.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blog posts, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, and 5.5 hours on the CVGS seminar.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/24/09

One more day until the CVGS seminar - I'm ready, I think. I spent most of today gettng ready, not only for the seminar activities, but having most of my Saturday time taken by the seminar. That means planning ahead for SNGF among other things. We were planning on going to the Padres game, but have scratched that.

After reading email, blogs and Twitter, your hurried reporter wrote Adding Quality Source Citations to Genealogy Software Through Technology in an effort to regain his mojo after fumbling badly on the earlier post - he didn't understand what Mark was proposing. Now he does, and appreciates Mark's vision. Then your intrepid reporter figured he should make a presentation of the CVGS seminar problem statements, so he did that and sent them by email to the panel moderator. He had to go to the bank and get gas, so a lunch at the world famous McDonald's Restaurant was in order.

Back home by noon, your exhaustive reporter read everything plus Facebook, and then wrote Have you checked USGenNet.org Databases? after doing just that for his Lam/Lanphere/-phier/-phear/-fear/etc. He wrote a response to Ancestry questions prepared for Thursday's telecon. Next, he worked on a Research Summary and To-Do list, in order to present himself as an organized researcher (heh heh) and added them to the "Doing a Reasonably Exhaustive Search" presentation. At the least, preparing the presentation has been reasonably exhaustive! After an email from a colleague, your exhausted reporter wrote Special Offer on Footnote for NEHGS Subscribers. What happened to the Ancestry/NEHGS deal? Is that no longer available? Drat. Planning ahead, he wrote another RootsMagic post for Saturday morning posting. At 5, we went down to the noisy but good Mr. V's Italian restaurant and he gustaciously ate spaghetti and meatballs for $3.95 on their special.

We were home by 6:30, and Linda used the desktop computer until the Padres game started at 7, so your happy reporter set up the laptop on my TV table and transferred the presentation and other files to the laptop from the flash drive. Uh-oh - he needs to write the Best of post before Sunday (due to Scanfest) and do a little research on the seminar research problems. Your fanatical reporter did that watching the Padres game - got the Best of post half finished (can do the other half on Saturday night watching the Padres game since we're not going after all). The Padres won 4-3 in 11 innings, so at 10:45 he came in and read email before going off to bed reasonably exhausted.

Genealogy today was 10.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blog posts, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 3.0 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour on Ancestry questions, and 5.0 hours on CVGS seminar preparations - presentations and research problems.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/23/09

I'm only two days away from the seminar, and now I'm almost ready to present it. This was a full genealogy day on a number of fronts.

After reading email and blogs and Twitter, I worked on answering questions posed by an Ancestry rep in preparation for a telephone call at 11 a.m. The cal went over an hour and we had a good conversation, but didn't answer all of the questions. We may connect again next week. I had lunch, got cleaned up and came back to the computer. I wrote Using Ancestry.com's Hot Keys about the "New Search" feature - I really like it, and it makes using New Search my preference since I can get to the search box with one keystroke and no clicks, with some limitations.

I received another research problem for the seminar, so I edited the file and sent them all off to the panel again. I worked for awhile on the research problems - trying to find suggestions for further research by checking for FHLC entries, and online records, etc. I didn't finish but was really sleepy at 4:30 so I gave in and napped in my recliner for 30 minutes while watching TV (or not). I read the paper and we had dinner, and I was back on the computer at 7 p.m.

I downloaded the pictures from last night, and wrote When Genea-bloggers meet... Then it was working on the seminar syllabus which I finished and sent off to be copied. I worked on several more research problems too, and then on the presentation. I'm almost finished with it now - I added the Senate bill summary and need to add my summary tables and I'm done. Over 110 slides now - for an 80 minute (really fast) talk. Then I wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 10.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 2.0 hours on Ancestry telecon, and 4.0 hours on CVGS seminar handout, research problems and presentation.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/22/09

Ah, a good day for me and genealogy. I gave a presentation and had a great dinner and conversation with my wife and another genea-blogger.

I didn't sleep well last night (perhaps the heat, perhaps anticipating the presentation?) and was up before 6 a.m. to have breakfast, read the paper and watch TV. At 7:15 a.m. I came in to read my email, blogs, and Twitter. Quickly wrote Family Photographs - Post 52: Ellen at the beach and Cape Cod History and Genealogy web site. I got the laptop set up and transferred files to it so that I could use it at the CVGS meeting at noon. Then I went through the three programs using a feature list to make sure I didn't miss anything important. I checked Ancestry's new databases, and saw the US to Canada Border Crossings database, tried it and found it was not in the US collection. I wrote Why does Ancestry.com do this? - it says US! It has US people in it, not Canadians. Why shouldn't it be in both collections? Ate lunch and left for the library.

The library opened at 12 noon and I got set up in the Conference Room. I couldn't make my laptop look "right" on the screen and messing with the Display numbers didn't help. We had 11 people, and I did the Genealogy Software Review showing features of Family Tree Maker 2009, Legacy Family Tree 7 and RootsMagic 4. I ended just after 2 pm. - not bad, that was my target time. I was home by 2:30 p.m.

After reading everything, I wrote Electronic Genealogy Magazine Publication. I checked Facebook for awhile, and answered a few emails. At 4:15, I went in and got ready to go out to dinner. We had a 5 pm. meeting time at the unknown genea-blogger's hotel. We were there right at 5 and she walked out to meet us. We went to Hob Nob Hill in San Diego and had an ice dinner, with much sharing and laughter and questions - Linda sat on one side of her and I sat opposite her, so we double-teamed her. She gave as well as she got, I think. It was fun getting to know her in person rather than just by blogging, email and Facebook. After dinner, we drove through Balboa Park, along the Bay front, Shelter Island, Point Loma and Ocean Beach before heading back to her hotel. We were home by 8 p.m. Can anyone guess who she is?

Linda did her email for awhile, and at 9:15 I got on to read everything and type this post.

Genealogy today was 9.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 3.5 hours on the software presentation, and 2.5 hours sharing with the mystery genea-blogger.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/21/09

Well, I have few memories of what I did today, but I'm sure I'll remember something about the day.

After doing email and reading blogs and Twitter, I posted Tombstone Tuesday - Joanna Sawtell (1701-1786) in Groton MA, got cleaned up and then researched and wrote Working in RootsMagic 4 - Post 14: Creating Lists - Part 3. I spent an hour making a PowerPoint for my software presentation on Wednesday and copying it to the flash drive. I had lunch, and worked a bit on the CVGS seminar problems, and then on the presentation and handout. I got the handout almost finished, and improved the presentation in the process. I have too many slides and need to find a good place to end it and come up with a finishing hook. In the process of looking for Lam/Lanpheres/etc. in the online book services, I ran across a fascinating autobiography and wrote about it in Internet Archive search reveals a fascinating book of life in the 1800's. I saved it in my Lamphear surname file.

At 4, I went in and watched news, read the paper and took a nap. We left after 5 p.m. for dinner with our elderly neighbors - celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at The Galley at the Marina. They loved the ice cream sundae freebie! We were home by 7:30, and the Padres game was on. I got the laptop out and tested everything I could for tomorrow. I ran a scan of the laptop and came up with two problems, so that worked. The Padres lost 8-3 (Pads now 9-5). At 10 p.m., I came in to read everything and to write this post.

Genealogy today was 8.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 2.0 hours on the software presentation, 1.5 hour on the Saturday seminar, and 1.0 hour doing online research and reading.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/20/09

It was another hot day in Chula Vista - 98 F in the shade, and GIA (that's the Genealogy Investigation Agency) agent Jeanie Allogee went to the Library to cool off, and search for her lost ancestors. Oops, wrong blog ... it was so hot today that the Padres got rained out in Philadelphia and flew out to San Francisco instead. At least they'll get a good night's sleep!

After reading email and blog posts and Twitter, your intrepid reporter checked out Dunham's new site and then posted Who's Talkin' about you? Or me? Or something you care about? and the CGSSD Meeting Summary - "Spring Cleaning for Genealogists" with Dorothy Miller. He got cleaned up, worked a bit in the three genealogy software programs for practice, ate lunch and headed off to the library for CVGS Table Talk. Only John and Dearl were there. He made them read his FORUM magazine column to impress them. He worked on the laptop to see if all three programs worked - they didn't! One needed to be registered. All three needed a good wireless connection, which is rare these days at the library. Genea-Drat.

Your intrepid reporter was home by 2 p.m., and wrote Genealogy Software Review on Wednesday, 22 April on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog and CVGS Seminar on Saturday, 25 April - "Finding Your Elusive Ancestors"on Genea-Musings. He decided that it was enough blogging for the day and he needed to work on the presentation and do some Lamphear research, but his nemesis, the wily and beautiful Angel Lady, needed to use the computer for her dreaded email, so he went in and took his nap. Then it was time for the Padres game but they were rained out and he came back to the computer, set up his laptop, worked with the three programs on both machines, in order to figure out just what the heck he was going to do on Wednesday in the Software Review. The beautiful Angel Linda called him for dinner at 5:30 with some enticing macaroni and veggies, followed by a luscious chocolate Dove bar and a dose of local news before he returned to the Genea-Cave to work on the Lamphear problem.

He decided to work in Ancestry, and then Footnote, methodically looking for historical records, family trees and stories and books about Isaac Lamph*/Lamf*/Lanph*/Lanf* the current research nemesis. He actually found some family tree data and an 1820 census record. That leaves just ten more Lan/Lamphier candidates to search for in hopes of finding the proverbial needle in the genealogy haystack. He edited the CVHGS problem statements and sent them off to the panel members. At 9, he went in to watch secret agent Jack Bauer almost die for the eighth time in the current series of 24. After doing the dishes, he came in and read everything then wrote this post. It's been a long day reading, writing and researching, but someone has to do it. After all, Devier Lamphier's parentage has been hidden for 170 years!

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 2.5 hours on CVGS things, 1.5 hours working on software, and 1.0 hour working on Lam/Lanphear research.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/19/09

It was a typical Sunday at the Genea-Cave, but it was hot - over 95 F here during the afternoon, and is still 82 F in the house at 10 p.m.

I let Blogger post Working in RootsMagic 4 - Post 13: Creating Lists - Part 2 in the 6 a.m. hour this morning, and did manage to read email and blogs before I went off to church. I was back by 11:30, but the Padres game was on. I made bacon and scrambled eggs for lunch and watched my Padres blow a 4-run lead and lose 5-4 to the Phillies (the frontline relievers were used up in the last three games). Oh well, second place at 9-4 on the season. While I was watching the game, Blogger posted Best of the Genea-Blogs - April 12-18, 2009 while I was watching the game (I wrote it last night).

After the game, I read email, blogs, Twitter and Facebook, and tweeted about BOGB. I worked on the problem statements received so far from my CVGS colleagues for the seminar next Saturday, and sent out emails asking questions and confirming their participation. We need more problem statements! At 3:30, I went in to watch TV, read the paper and take a nap. At 5, we went out to deliver flowers to the pastor, ate dinner at Daphne's, and stopped by Barbara's to swim in her pool (Linda swam, I watched). We were home by 7 p.m.

I read more, watched Mark's video and posted "A Better Way to Cite Online Sources" Video, then worked a bit on the presentation and searched the book sites for Lanphere surname books, finding only one on Ancestry, and downloaded a bunch of pages to read later. At 9 p.m., I went in to see Desperate Housewives - I must have missed the last one where Edie was killed. At 10, I read stuff and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 5.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 1.5 hours on CVGS seminar, 1.5 hour on presentation research and writing, and 0.5 hour writing blog posts.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/18/09

This was a typical Saturday in spring and summer at the Genea-Manor. Genealogy in the morning, a Padre game and genealogy in the evening. Some poetry thrown in for good luck!

I was up early and read my email and blogs while downloading and installing RootsMagic 4 on the laptop. I scheduled posting of Finding the Devier Lamphear ==> Smith Name Change Record for this morning. I got cleaned up and left at 8:20 a.m. for the CGSSD meeting at UCSD in La Jolla (a 22 mile trip), taking the laptop. I attended the RootsMagic class led by Pam Journey. Of the 11 in attendance, 10 had downloaded RM 4. Pam demonstrated some changes from RM 3 and some of the new features. At 10:15, the entire group of about 60 heard announcements (I got to make an announcement about the CVGS seminar next Saturday) and then enjoyed Dorothy Miller's talk on "Spring Cleaning for Genealogists." I will write a summary soon!

I was home by 12:45, and after reading email, blogs, Twitter and Facebook I wrote and posted Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Poetry and Genealogy. This was fun! I know that there's a Padres game on Sunday morning, so I wrote another RootsMagic post and scheduled it for the morning so that my readers have something new to ponder. At 3:30, I went in to watch the news, read the paper, take a nap, and watch the Padres game. We went to dinner at Oggi's Pizza at 5 p.m. and were home by 6.30 to watch the end of the game (the Pads won it with 4 in the 9th inning, 8-5. Go Padres!!).

After the game, I came in at 7:30 p.m. and read everything, then worked on my presentation for awhile, searched for the Dodge County court records and newspapers, then wrote the Best of the Genea-blogs post and scheduled it for early afternoon on Sunday.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 3.0 hours at the CGSSD meeting, 1.0 hour on the presentation, and 0.5 hour working in RootsMagic 4.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/17/09

This was a busy genealogy day as I'm facing the pressure of working on the Lamphear case and preparing the 4/25 presentation about it simultaneously. I wont get it done, but I'll get to the point I can say "here's what I'm gonna do next" and tell them that next year they can see the results! I got some wonderful help today from footnoteMaven!

After reading email and blogs and Twitter, I wrote Finding Lamphears in Jefferson County NY - Post 2 and then did more research in Jefferson county NY and in the family tree databases trying to find specific Lamphear people without much success. At 11:20, I left for lunch at McDonald's and picked up George at 12 noon for our weekly walk on the bayfront - nice day today - 70 F and sunny. I was home by 1 p.m.

I read everything, then researched and wrote Working in RootsMagic 4 - Post 12: Creating Lists - Part 1. I started to Google for the Wisconsin Senate book for 1866 but had little luck. I needed a family tree chart of Devier Smith before I found out he was a Lamphier, so I made one in FTM2009, LFT7 and RM4 to see the comparison. I used the RM4 wall chart one (captured screen image, cropped image, saved it as JPG). At 4 p.m., I went in to watch the Padres game, finish the paper, eat dinner and read Drew Smith's book (finished it!). My first-place Padres overcame 5-0 and 7-1 deficits to win 8-7 (now 8-3 on the year).

When I came back to the computer at 7:30 p.m., I had emails from footnoteMaven helping me out with the Wisconsin Senate Report from 1866 - it's on Google Books! Thank you, fM!!!! Big hug for you, my friend! I found the book, copied some screens to OpenOffice, and saved them. I worked on adding more content to my 4/25 presentation and have gotten almost to the end. I'm over 100 slides for a 90 minute presentation, but many are screen shots of images of my research process. I wrote a post about the Wisconsin Senate book scheduled for tomorrow morning, since I am off to the CGSSD meeting early on the 'morrow. Finally, this post!

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 2.5 hours researching and writing blog posts, 2.0 hours doing Lamphear/Smith research, and 2.5 hours working on the presentation.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/16/09

This was a fairly full genealogy day, with time off for the Padres game on TV!

After reading email and blogs and Twitter, I settled in for a morning of blogging and browsing. I posted CGSSD Meeting on Saturday, 4/18 - Dorothy Miller on "Spring Cleaning for Genealogists" early on and followed it with Working in RootsMagic 4 - Post 11: Creating a Relationship Chart. After getting cleaned up, I came back and read Twitter/Facebook for awhile, then did some Googling for my Lamphere/Lanphere/etc. names. Didn't find anything new. Did find a Lamphere surname site and I captured screens for the presentation. Another box checked on my web site list!

Had lunch, then captured some screens from the Jefferson County NY USGenWeb site, wrote an email to the South Jeffco Historical Assn, and found Isaac Lanfier (indexed as Lmfrie) in the 1850 census for Lorraine, Jefferson, NY. I think that my Devier is a grandson of his. It may be an early death of a wife of one of his sons, or an out-of-wedlock birth to one of his daughters, but this is the closest person with young males in the 1830-1850 time frame near Henderson, Jefferson, NY where Devier ended up with the Ranslow Smith family. Decided to write up a bit of what I know, and posted Finding Lamphears in Jefferson County NY - Post 1 before going in to watch the Padres game at 4 p.m.

I read the paper, then the TGSG article, and some of Drew's book while watching the game, we had dinner and at 7 p.m. I came in to take part in the TGSG monthly chat. My Padres beat the Mets 6-5 (came back from down 3-0, now 7-3 on the year). The chat lasted an hour, and I resumed my Lamphear searches in Jefferson county. Found several more entries in the 1830 census and the 1850 census, and found several more web pages to capture for the presentation. Updated my MSWord tables of Lamphere data. Finally, this post.

Genealogy today was 10.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 1.5 hours on TGSG chat/reading, and 5.0 hours on Lamphear research for presentation.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/15/09

Tea party day - and the 3rd birthday for Genea-Musings too! I celebrated by doing what I love doing!

After email and blog reading and Twitter checking, I posted MyGenShare.com - coming in May 2009? and then Want a genealogy job? FamilyLink is hiring! I got cleaned up, posted Family Photographs - Post 51: The Longley's corn field, had lunch and went off to the library for the CVGS Computer Group.

I had to lead the group because Gary and Shirley were late in coming. We muddled through several web sites, but solved only one out of 12 problems raised by the attendees. Some folks did their own thing online in the Computer Lab. While I was there, the Uncle Ed post went online. I was home after 2 p.m., and read everything, then decided to write Genea-Musings is a 3-year old today! - some musings to celebrate the blogiversary (I had forgotten about it up until 2:30 p.m.!). That was fun - I had to go find the statistics and previous posts. At 4 p.m., I went in to watch the Padres game, read the paper, watered the back lawn, and we ate dinner at 6:30 p.m. The Pads lost to the Mets, 7-2 (we are now 6-3).

I was back on the computer at 7:30 p.m., and wrote up the CVGS Computer Group Summary on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog. Then it was time to really work on the presentation for 4/25. I loaded a number of scanned images into the file for Devier J. Smith to show that I've done a RES (Reasonably Exhaustive Search) for his life. I need to start loading the Lamphear data I've collected over the past few weeks, update my To-Do lists and research summary charts, come up with a great ending and I'm done. I'm already up to 78 slides... At 10:15 p.m., I started this post.

Genealogy today was 10.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 3.5 hours writing blog posts, 2.5 hours on CVGS activities, and 2.0 hours on the 4/25 presentation.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/14/09

Ah, finally a genealogy day, and no baseball game to interfere with my genealogy fun!

After reading email and blogs and Twitter, I posted Tombstone Tuesday - Obadiah Sawtell (1648-1741) in Groton MA and then captured screens and wrote Working in RootsMagic 4 - Post 10: Creating a Box Chart. I got cleaned up and took the tax returns down to the Post Office. Done! Back home, I started on my Lamphear work. I transferred the deed and court record indexes from my flash drive to the desktop computer, then made MSWord tables for each item, plus the 1830, 1840 and 1850 census data for Lamphear/Lanphear/ Lanfear/etc. in Jefferson County NY. I transferred all of the tables into an OpenOffice presentation file so that I can add them to my presentation. All of this took several hours. I sent an email to my CVGS colleagues about the April programs, and answered a few emails. At 3:15 p.m., I went out to cut the front lawn before it rains again.

I came back in and watched TV and took a nap, then we had dinner and I was back on the computer at 6 p.m. After reading everything, I wrote Book Review - "In Search of Your German Roots" since I finished this book yesterday watching the Padres game. I still have several others to review! I looked for and found the xerox copies of the pages from Della's scrapbook and scanned 8 of them, because they have items concerning Devier J. Smith. After scanning, I rotated, cropped and brightened the items, including three playbills from 1887 which list my great-grandparents, Della Smith and Austin Carringer. I went back into the USGenWeb site and captured some Jefferson County NY maps that - one shows a Lamphear house in Wilna in 1864. I wrote a piece for the Carnival of Genealogy about my uncle Ed Seaver, and scheduled it for Wednesday. Then I wrote this post. I still need to put the images, maps and lists into my presentation for 4/25.

Genealogy today was 10.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blog posts, 0.5 hour reading Twitter/Facebook, 0.5 hour on CVGS things, 3.0 hours preparing and writing five blog posts, and 5.0 hours working on the Smith/Lamphere research for the presentation.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/13/09

I missed posting on Sunday again it was a busy day. Today was an almost normal genealogy day, except for finishing up the tax returns.

Tami, James, Lolo and Audrey were here on Sunday morning, and Lolo got up early, the others slept in until after 8 a.m. We had the Easter Egg hunt in the house for Lolo, then took it out back for one turn while Tami got Audrey fed and dressed. Linda and I took the girls to church and Tami and James packed and were ready to go at 11:30 when I brought the girls home. Our friend, Judy B, tripped over a wooden cross leg at church and fell heavily. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital, and Linda went with her and stayed with her. I went to lunch with Tami's family, said goodbyes, then took Linda a Rubio's meal at the hospital. I came home and wrote the Best of the Genea-Blogs post in a hurry, then watched the Padres game (we won 6-3).

Linda called at 4:15 p.m. and I went and picked them up at the hospital, we took Judy home - she has a broken hand, then headed to Coronado for a Burger King dinner and a play at Lambs Players Theater - "The Glass Menagerie." Not wonderful, not terrible. Linda slept through the second half. We were home by 9 and I read everything and did nothing else.

On Monday, after reading email and blogs and Twitter, I posted the Working in RootsMagic 4 - Post 9:Creating a Timeline Chart after doing it and capturing screens. I got cleaned up, then checked the tax returns a final time and realized I didn't have enough paper to print them out. Spent some time getting screen shots from the FHLC for Jefferson County NY and the Lanphere/Lamphere surname for my 4/25 presentation. I left at 11:30 for Costco, bought paper and batteries, had a Polish dog and drink, and headed for the library for CVGS Table Talk. I was home by 2 p.m.

I posted What's on the FamilySearch Record Search Database List? and then wrote up the SDGS Meeting Summary - Colleen Fitzpatrick on 11 April. It was almost Padres game time, so I printed off the tax returns. Went in to watch the game, read the paper, had a short nap, had dinner, and the Pads won 6-5 over the Mets (now 6-2, won 5 straight). I was back to the computer by 7:30, reading everything, then put the tax returns, estimated tax forms, checks and everything into envelopes for mailing tomorrow. I had some time to answer some emails too. Then it was time for 24!

After 24, I came in and read email, blogs, Twitter and Facebook, then wrote this post.

Genealogy on Sunday was 3.0 hours - 0.5 hour reading email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hour writing blog posts, and 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook.

Genealogy on Monday was 6.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour in RootsMagic 4, 1.0 hour on presentation, and 1.5 hours on CVGS activities.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/11/09

I missed last night! Just completely forgot. Was in bed watching the Padres game, rolled over and went to sleep. Oh well.

Tami, Lolo and Audrey were here Friday and Saturday. We went to the Fleet Science Museum and Imax Theater on Friday morning - saw the Animalopolis movie - good one. Audrey and I dozed off together. I posted about FamilyRelatives.com in the morning and about Mexico church records on FamilySearch during the rain delay in the Padres game. That, besides reading email, blogs and Twitter was the genealogy content for the day.

Saturday was a bit more genealogy oriented. I was up early with Lolo and didn't get to the computer until about 9 a.m. when Tami got up. After reading email, blogs, Twitter and Facebook, I posted about the CVGS Saturday Seminar on 25 April on Genea-Musings and Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe. They went off to get their pictures taken, and I wrote the Saturday Night Genealogy Fun post and scheduled it for the afternoon. Had lunch at 11, and took off at 11:20 for the SDGS meeting.

Got to the SDGS meeting in San Diego at 11:50, said a quick hello to Colleen and Andy, then talked briefly to Marna and set out my CVGS Seminar flyers for pickups. When the meeting started, Marna allowed me a minute on the CVGS seminar, which I greatly appreciate. Both parts of the program by Colleen were excellent and I was home by 3 p.m. I read everything, did the SNGF actions, captured images to an OpenOffice presentation file, and was ready to blog about the meeting when Tami and the girls came home, and her hubby James came too. We went out to dinner at Souplantation and stopped at the Babies 'R Us store to get the pictures taken earlier. We were home by 7 p.m., just in time for the Padres game. I got Audrey bathed and then Lolo, and T&J went out for awhile together. Audrey struggled going to sleep and Lolo was pretty good. They were both asleep by 9 p.m. The Padres won 6-3 over the Giants.

I was on the computer at 9:45 p.m. and wrote up the My Genealogy Easter Egg Hunt post. Then this post. I'll check Twitter and Facebook and hit the sack. We have an Easter egg hunt scheduled for 9 a.m. tomorrow morning!

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

Genealogy Saturday was 7.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour doing online research and 3.0 hours at the SDGS meeting.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Genealogy/Family History Journal - 04/09/09

This was more of a family history day - I spent most of it at home with Audrey, my 11-month old granddaughter while her mom, sister, and grandma went to the Padres game and out to dinner.

After reading email and blogs, I posted A Noble Life - Lyle Lawrence Carringer (1891-1976) and then The Graveyard Rabbit Online Journal (scheduled it for later). Got cleaned up, came back and checked Twitter and Facebook before Tami brought the girls at 11 a.m. I fed Audrey, played with her, and put her down for her nap at 1 p.m.

I worked from 1 to 3 p.m. on genealogy - reading, then posted NARA Laguna Niguel to Close after receiving Joel's email. Worked a bit in FamilyRelatives.com to see what they offer. Went in to take a short nap at 3 p.m., and Audrey woke up at 3:30 p.m. We watched Fox News all night long. I fixed beef stew for me, and she didn't want her Gerber's sweet potatoes so she had a granola bar - stuffs that down quickly!

Tami, Linda and Lolo came home after 7 p.m., and I had Audrey out of the bath and ready for bed. She went down easily. I was back on the 'puter at 8 p.m. and read everything and lazied around Twitter and Facebook before writing this post. I'm tired out from Audrey all day.

Genealogy today was 5.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours on Twitter/Facebook, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, and 1.0 hour on FamilyRelatives.com.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/08/09

Baseball season has started to cut into my genealogy time already. I knew that I should have finished my coming presentations before the season started.

After reading email, blogs, Twitter and Facebook this morning, I posted Family Photographs - Post 50:The Lath-house and then SDGS Meeting on Saturday - "The Hand in the Snow" before getting cleaned up, eating lunch and heading off to the library.

We had the CVGS Research Group meeting and it was a lively affair. Only nine folks, but three were visitors with lots of questions which was great. I was home at 2:45 p.m. and read everything, then answered some emails and checked out some online family trees before tiring and going in to watch news, read the paper, take a nap, and have dinner. I came back to the computer at 6:45 p.m. and quickly wrote CVGS Research Group Meeting Summary before the game.

Went in at 7:10 p.m. and the Pads were already behind. They lost 5-2 to the Dodgers. During the game, I scanned through the latest Genealogy Online for Dummies book and then started the John Sandford murder mystery book that's been waiting for two weeks to be read. I have several other genealogy books waiting to be read and reviewed, so the games give me a chance to do that. I was back online at 10 p.m., read everything, posted the CVGS Research Group Summary on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog, then wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 3.0 hours on CVGS Research Group, and 1.0 hour in online family trees.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/06/09

Not too much genealogy today - pretty much wasted by going to the Padres game this afternoon.

After reading email and blogs and Twitter, I posted Top 25 Genealogy Blogs for 2009 and my own opinions about the list. Many other bloggers did also...I'm gratified for being on the list. I got cleaned up, then wrote about the Expert Connect Service from ancestry.com and set it to post early in the afternoon. I edited my GYR column for a last time and sent it off, and sent an email to the CVGS membership telling them that the newsletter was available on the web site. I had lunch, then went off to the library for the CVGS Table Talk.

I was home at 1:50, took a few minutes to read email, and then we left for the Padres game - drove to the trolley, took trolley to downtown San Diego, walked to Petco Park, found our seats and watched the pregame introductions. Linda picked up Subway sandwiches for dinner, and we bought a 5 for $5 (hot dog, peanuts, popcorn, cookie, drink) to supplement our dinner. The Padres lost 4-1 to the Dodgers in a frustrating game - the Pads could not hit with men on base, and the Dodgers did. We were home by 8:30 p.m. and I read email before '24' started.

After '24', I read email, blogs and twitter, and then wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 5.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours on CVGS things, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, and 1.5 hours writing blog posts.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/05/09

I managed to spend some time today tying up loose ends, and then finding more loose ends to pull on. Fun sometimes!

Read my email, blogs and Twitter before church, but didn't get back until 12 noon. By that time, the Best of the Genea-blogs post was published (I wrote it last night). I read everything again, gathered up my newsletter stuff and headed to the UPS Store for our grand newsletter publishing party. We got it done in 30 minutes, and headed for the Chinese place. It was my turn to pay.

I was home by 2 p.m. and after reading everything I found that I was on the list of top 25 genealogy blogs - a nice honor. Something tells me I'll drop on the next list. I finished up the newsletter computer pages, and emailed the PDF file off to Gary for the web page. Tax time ... I worked on them for awhile, and at 5 p.m. went in to watch TV, take a nap, read the paper and have dinner.

Back on the computer at 6:30 p.m. determined to do something useful, I answered several emails that were in the queue, read everything, and at 9 went in to watch Desperate Housewives. A repeat, so back to the computer, looked for Lamphere's in the 1850 census in Jefferson County NY, and then found the Lanphear book on Ancestry. Downloaded some pages from that, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 6.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.0 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 0.5 hour writing blog posts, 2.0 hours on CVGS newsletter, and 1.0 hour doing online research.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/04/09

Was up early, and got my email read before going off to the Men's Bible study breakfast this morning. I was back by 9:15 a.m. Read my blogs, Twitter and Facebook, then worked awhile on the post Working in RootsMagic 4 - Post 7: Creating a Narrative Descendants Report. Received several things in email for the CVGS newsletter, so I was able to add them and essentially finish the print edition by 5 p.m. I'm still working on the PDF edition for email distribution - we add two pages of computer stuff for those who receive it via email. I also got the snail mail list from Shirley and copied labels to use for this mailing.

At 3:40 p.m., I realized that I had not written the Saturday Night Genealogy Fun post yet, so I took some pictures of the Genea-Cave and wrote the post. These are almost written on the spur of the moment!

At 5 p.m., I went in and watched basketball for awhile, then had dinner, and was back on the computer by 6:30 p.m. I worked some more on the CVGS newsletter - still have a bit to do. Read email, blogs, Twitter and Facebook, then worked on the Best of the Genea-Blogs post scheduled for Sunday. Read some more, then wrote this post. I need to go in and read my library books! Got Drew Smith's book today also.

Genealogy today was 10.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 4.0 hours writing blog posts, and 4.5 hours working on the CVGS newsletter.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/03/09

The baseball season in San Diego began today - an exhibition game between the Padres and Angels. We went - it was cold, Pads lost 6-5. We came home after 7 innings. That gave me time to write this post.

Read my email and blogs, then Twitter and Facebook to start the genealogy day. Started to write Genealogy Videos on YouTube but the computer got real slow, so shut down, rebooted and finished it up later in the morning. Answered some email, checked some genealogy work sent by a correspondent who found my work on my web site - and told me I was wrong with a marriage. He's right! I guess I will have to fix the web site material sometime soon. Or create a new web site. Bother! Left at 11:20 a.m. for lunch at McDonald's (no choc shakes today, bummer!), then my weekly walk with George on the bayfront. It was cool - only 63 F with some wind, but we toughed it out in short sleeves.

I was home by 1 p.m., and started in on the CVGS newsletter work. Made a template for it, saved it, then started on the April issue. Got 6 of the 8 pages done - I need material still from other folks. I wrote Articles at Ancestry.com, then let Linda have the computer and I took a short nap watching TV.

We left at 5 p.m. for dinner at El Pollo Loco, caught the trolley to downtown San Diego, walked the three blocks to Petco Park, and saw the Padres-Angels game. Even though we had just had dinner, we couldn't resist the 5 things for 5 bucks (hot dog, peanuts, popcorn, cookie and drink) - we shared it - and I had an ice cream sundae too. We left at 9:15 and were home at 10:15 p.m.

Checked email, blogs, Twitter and Facebook, then wrote this post. Not much happening in genealogy blog-land it seems.

Genealogy today was 6.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, and 3.0 hours working on the CVGS newsletter.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/02/09

It was a strange day - I stayed home, blogged a bit, read a lot, had the ProGen chat and said goodbye to an old friend.

After reading email and blogs, and checking on Twitter, wrote We're Related - what value is it? - a rant about the Facebook app that still sucks. Sorry, that's how it really is, at least for genealogists. Changed my colors, and the blog name, back to semi-normal after leaving the Genea-Fool up for a day. Finally decided to write a What If... for the Carnival, so did that in There are things that happen in a moment... and backdated it to pretend that it made the Carnival deadline. Facebooked, Tweeted, emailed, read blogs, and wrote my article for the next GYR OJ (Online Journal). Along the way, I wrote Genealogy Days in Chula Vista - April 2009 on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog.

Had lunch around noon, then back at it working on my ProGen homework some more. Wrote Working in RootsMagic 4 - Post 6: Creating a Narrative Ancestors Report and then searched for society newsletters available on the Internet - found some nice ones - they give me ideas for spicing up the CVGS newsletter. Dinner time, and Linda was tired from the zoo and the park with her friend, so I fixed split pea soup out of the can for her and I nuked a pork rib and canned corn for me for dinner.

Came back to the computer after 6 p.m., checked email, blogs, Twitter, Facebook and looked for more newsletters. Sent email to the CVGS Board asking for newsletter stuff, and at 8 p.m. the ProGen chat started. Windows Live Messenger shut us down twice for some reason, but we were done by 9. That was good - I went in and enjoyed watching two hours of ER and saying goodbye to the series and the actors - bittersweet - it's been part of my Thursday nights for 15 years. Some surprises tonight - Dr. Greene's daughter came back as a med student, Carter's former wife came back to see the opening of the Joshua Carter center, and Benton, Lizzie, Susan and Carrie showed up in the final hour. Life - and death - went on in the ER. I felt sad and really enjoyed the show.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 2.0 hours on ProGen, 1.0 hour on GYRabbit article, 1.0 hour online looking at newsletters, and 0.5 hour on CVGS.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Genealogy Journal - 04/01/09

It was April Fool's Day and though I tried hard to be creative, the only thing I could come up with was to change the blog name and description on Genea-Musings for the day. I had other ideas but I'm not creative enough to do it in one day...

After reading email and blogs and Twitter, I posted Related to Barack Obama? Aren't we all? just because I could. It was funny, but a time-waster, and put lots more false information on the Internet (although it won't be on Facebook, I guess). I knew it was a joke all along - sometimes I play dumber than I look :). It gave me a chance to rub in my real cousinhood to BHO - maybe it will garner more hits to G-M. Awhile later, I posted Family Photographs - Post 49: An Outdoor Playpen - a picture of my mother as a baby. Got cleaned up, read Facebook, registered my RootsMagic 4, and got my CVGS board stuff together - the newsletter to-do list, the problem forms, the interview sheets, etc. I helped Linda in the kitchen, had lunch and took off for the library at 11:40 a.m.

We had our CVGS Board meeting today, and it lasted until 3 p.m. We got a lot done - an hour on the By-Laws revisions, more programs, etc. I was home at 3:15 but Linda was on the 'puter until after 4, so I took a short nap. I read stuff then tried to add folks on We're Related (two took, two didn't, pissed me off) before I went in at 5 to watch TV, read the paper, and we had dinner.

I was back to the computer at 6:30 p.m., and made more RM4 screens and wrote Working in RootsMagic 4 - Post 5: Creating a Family Group Sheet. I finally was able to complete the 1840 and 1850 census returns for Lamphear/variants in Jefferson County NY for my own research. also searched more on Ancestry in family trees for Lamphere/variants there. Printed off some grandkids photos for Linda, and tweeted a time or two.

Genealogy today was 9.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour in RootsMagic, 3.5 hours on CVGS activities, and 2.0 hours doing online Lamphere research.