Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 30 June 2010

It was a fairly full genealogy day until dinner and after, which was a fun family time.

* Got breakfast for the girls, but Tami up by 8 and out the door with them by 9, so I had time to work in them orning.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and posted (Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 109: San Diego Beach Fun and then researched and wrote "Learn from Experts" Articles on Archives.com and set it for latem orning.

* Got cleaned up, worked on the new column idea for awhile, then had lunch and left at 11:30 a.m. for the Chula Vista library.

* At Library at 11:45, helped set up, had CVGS program meeting, it was pretty good, was home by 2 p.m.

* Read everything, answered some emails, worked more on the column, then researched and wrote Ancestry.com has Complete Revolutionary War Pension Files! Wrote "Infectious Diseases of the Civil War" Presentation by Barbara Hemmingsen on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog also.

* Was tired, so took a nap watching TV, we had dinner at home, then went shopping and for ice cream with the girls, watched the turtles and goldfish in the pond, and they played in the playground at Trader Joe's. Home by 8 p.m. Helped with baths.

* Read everything, answered more email, checked Facebook and wrote this post. Will go check some databases on Footnote later.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours researching and writing blog posts, 2.0 hours at CVGS meeting, 0.5 hour doing online research, 0.5 hour on Twitter and Facebook, and 3.0 hours writing my FORUM column.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 29 June 2010

One more day left in June? Drat. Have a deadline on Wednesday. Got another project completed, now need to concentrate on the column article.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, then found and posted Tombstone Tuesday - Arthur and Katherine Spanks. Did a little research to see where they are buried - no luck!

* Worked for awhile on the Book Review: The Journey Takers, by Leslie Albrecht Huber. Edited it several times during the morning, and set it to post after noon. A wonderful book.

* Started on the FORUM column, and got about 50% done but wondering if it is not the "right subject" for Genealogy 2.0. Oh well - maybe I'll have more inspiration tomorrow! Had lunch.

* Tami and the girls arrived at 12:45 p.m., and all the girls went down for naps. This boy too, at 2 p.m.! Feeling feverish and rummy today - weak headache, eyes hurt, must have something!

* Back online at 3 p.m., read everything, did some editing of the column, still not convinced. Answered some email, and then wrote U.S. Census Records on FamilySearch.org based on research last week.

* Went in at 5 p.m. to watch TV and eat dinner. Linda, Tami and grandgirls went shopping and out for dinner. Was back online at 6 p.m. and read everything, did some more email, and worried about the column. Drat. Checked Facebook and chatted a bit with Lori.

* Went in at 7 p.m. to watch the Padres game, read the paper and finish the book. Pads lost 6-3 to the Rocks, drat some more.

* Back online at 10 p.m., read everything and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 1.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hour writing book review, 2.0 hours working on column, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on Twitter and Facebook.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 28 June 2010

Another genealogy project finished - but I didn't get started on the next four, all due in July. Drat. Didn't feel good in the afternoon - maybe have a bug? Hope not - the grandgirls come visiting on Tuesday for a week - their summer vacation while their floor gets replaced.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and posted Amanuensis Monday - Shubael Seaver's (1640-1730) Estate Division and wrote Consolidated Index to Plymouth Colony Records and set it for after noon. Got cleaned up and ready to go out.

* Left at 9:15 a.m. for Mission Valley to teach my fourth class on Beginning Computer Genealogy for OASIS. Got there at 9:40, got set up, and was ready by 10 a.m. to greet my students. A good class - we had almost an hour to do some problem solving and demonstrating web sites.

* Stopped at McDonald's for lunch on the way back, visited the Chula Vista library for a few minutes, and was home by 1:45 p.m. Read everything, but felt terrible - headache, clammy, so took a nap.

* Back online and felt a little better, but didn't even think about the upcoming projects. Opened up the database, remembered I had some Horton data from 1983, and entered some of that into my database. Looked up and it was 5:30 p.m.!

* Had dinner, fed the birds, came back for awhile before the Padres game. Downloaded several years of NGSQ issues for my laptop library.

* Went in at 7:10 to watch Padres-Rockies game. Jimenez took no-hitter into 6th inning, then Pads scored 4 to make it 8-4. It ended 10-6 Rockies. Oh well. Read quite a bit of my new book which I need to review soon!

* Back online at 10:30 - posted CVGS Program: "Infectious Diseases of the Civil War" on Wednesday, 30 June and sent it to the CVGS member email list. Wrote this post, and I'm done!

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hour writing blog posts, 2.5 hours at OASIS class, 0.5 hour on NGSQ downloads, 2.0 hours working in my database, and 0.5 hour on CVGS.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 27 June 2010

Finished one project, need to start three more. It never ends, I fear.

* Read email, blogs and wrote Best of the Genea-Blogs - June 20-26, 2010 before getting cleaned up and going to church. A friend asked me to find her niece on the Internet - lost contact over 30 years ago. Home by 11:30 a.m.

* Checked in on the Scanfest on Miriam's blog. Found small packet of photos to scan and did that while chatting and eating lunch. Had to stop at 1 p.m. in order to watch end of Padres game (we won 4-2) and get ready for the talk at the library.

* Left at 1:15 p.m. for the Chula Vista library to present "Using Ancestry.com Effectively" to a Sunday CVGS crowd of over 40 - about 25% were non-members. Went a bit long - over two hours - too much material! Or too much talking. Home by 4:45 p.m.

* Watched TV, read newspaper, took short nap while dinner boiling, and ate dinner watching the Dodgers game. Went out and trimmed rose bushes in front.

* Back online at 7 p.m. - read everything, printed out my syllabus handouts for OASIS class on Monday, and printed my FORUM columns to put in one place. Checked several online databases, searched for my friend's niece (found her), checked Facebook, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour in Scanfest, 3.0 hours at CVGS meeting, 0.5 hour making final changes to OASIS handout and presentation and printing the handouts, and 1.0 hour messing around in databases.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 26 June 2010

Presentation done? Check! Copied to PDF and all on flash drive? Check. Copied to laptop? Check. Practice completed? Check. Ready for Sunday at 2 p.m.? Check!!!

* Up early to go off to Linda's swim club breakfast at Carrows at 7 a.m. Yawn. Dreamed about presentation snafus last night... Stopped at market on way home, home by 9 a.m.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and noted that Surname Saturday - HORTON (of Eastham MA) posted. Wrote the SNGF post and set it for noon time.

* Went in at 11:30 a.m. to watch the soccer game. Read the paper, then magazine, still need to finish book for review. USA lost 2-1 in overtime - a pretty good game. We didn't get cheated. Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Why Do Genealogy? posted while I was offline.

* Back online at 2 p.m. Worked in my database on source citations, merging duplicate persons, and finding additional BMD info for ancestral families using WorldConnect and Google. Three hours flew by...

* Went in at 5 p.m. to watch baseball - Padres not on, but they beat Florida 2-1 (now 44-30, in firstp lace in NL West). Had dinner, watered back yard, filled the bird feeder.

* Back online at 6:30 p.m. - balanced checkbook, read everything, edited presentation one more time, then practiced it. Copied all to flash drive, then to laptop, and ready to roll on Sunday.

* Checked in on Facebook and Twitter, then wrote this post. Need a good night's sleep tonight...

Genealogy today was 7.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.0 hour writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on Facebook/Twitter, 3.0 hours working in database, 2.0 hours working on presentation.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Randy's Family History Day - 25 June 2010

It had to happen - we had to give the grandgirls back to their parents...it was tough to say goodbye, but it's for the best ... and for our sanity and physical well being. Parenthood is really for the young! The good news is that they'll be back next week!

* Lolo was up at 7, and Audder by 8 a.m. Got them fed, hydrated, snuggled, dressed, entertained and played with all morning. Gold nuggets with glitter glue, treasure boxes for each, these kids are really creative.

* Managed to read email and blogs in the morning off and on, and noted that Follow Friday - We Tree blog and What's Cooking at FamilySearch.org? GIGO? posted on schedule (written the night before).

* After lunch and during girls nap time, was able to write a newsletter article for CGSSD and to work on my presentation and handout for OASIS Class 4 on Monday. Just need to print out the handouts and put files on flash drives.

* Decided to meet Tami and James in Temecula for dinner and transfer the girls back to them. We left at 3:30 p.m. and sailed through the carpool lanes on I-15 and were to In-n-Out in Temecula at 5 p.m. The girls, Linda and I ate, and James and Tami came about 5:30 p.m. and we all left at 6:30 for home.

* Home at 7:30 p.m., read everything, answered some emails, and worked on two posts for Saturday. Checked on census records on FamilySearch too. Wrote this post and I'm done.

Genealogy today was 6.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hour writing blog posts, 1.0 hour writing CGSSD article, 1.5 hours on OASIS presentation and handout, and 1.0 hour doing online research on FamilySearch.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Randy's Family History Day - 24 June 2010

Another day with the grandgirls here, but I got some genealogy work in...and am almost ready for Sunday presentation.

* Lolo up at 6:30, Audrey at 8:30 a.m., got them cuddled, fed, entertained, and changed/dressed before Linda came home from swimming at noon.

* Read email and blogs during the morning, and noted that Treasure Chest Thursday - a Hildreth+Newton Marriage Record and Searching Ancestry.com Newspapers Using Keywords posted (both written night before).

* Noted the Vlad Dracula blog post and newspaper article, figured out why it bothered me, commented on the Ancestry.co.uk blog post, and wrote Is Robert Pattinson a cousin to Vlad III Dracula?. I think not! That was fun...will there be a reaction?

* Worked on Sunday presentation about Ancestry.com. Got it done (I hope), and edited the handout (now three pages) and sent handout off to the printer.

* Girls up from naps, happily working away on their treasure boxes and watching TV. Linda went to dinner with retired teachers, so I took girls to Chick-Fil-A for dinner. They scarfed their nuggets, fries and my chocolate milkshake, then played on equipment for 30 minutes. Home by 6:30 p.m.

* Got the girls bathed, jammied, snacked, read to and down by 8:15 p.m. Linda home at 7:30 p.m. to help.

* Read everything, answered some emails, wrote two posts for Friday, copied photos from Linda's camera to computer, and wrote this post. Whew!

Genealogy today was 6.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours researching and writing blog posts, and 3.0 hours working on Ancestry presentation for Sunday.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Randy's Family History Day - 23 June 2010

Not a big genealogy day, although I got my presentation almost finished for Sunday. The grandgirls are still here and took all of my time up until 1 p.m.

* Lolo was up at 7, Audder at 8 a.m., and got them fed, changed, entertained, and snuggled with. Managed to read email and blogs during a TV time. Noted that (Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 108: San Diego Carringers posted this morning (written last night).

* Linda home at 12 noon, got lunch for everybody, then we put girls down for naps. Noted that "Using Ancestry.com Effectively" Talk on Sunday, 27 June in Chula Vista CA posted at noon (written last night).

* Worked on Ancestry.com presentation for Sunday - got it almost finished. Need to review and practice, then make handout. Time sure flies when you're having fun!

* Girls up after 3, Linda took them shopping, dinner and swimming. I worked until 4:30 then went in to watch Padres game, and left at 5 p.m. to have dinner with Ed the birthday boy. Stopped at the library to drop off flyers for the Sunday talk.

* Dinner at Black Angus to celebrate Ed's 83rd birthday. Two attendees were LDS and knew genealogy, so we chatted about education, records and such. Nice dinner, excellent choc cake! Was home by 7:30, just as Linda got home.

* Got girls bathed, dressed and down by 8:15. Read everything, checked Twitter and Facebook, sent CVGS flyer by email and posted on San Diego Rootsweb board, then researched and wrote two blog posts for Thursday. Also took some time to convert more TIF pictures to JPGs, and to name many of them consistently. Whew!

* Wrote this post, and it's off to bed!

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on CVGS flyer, 1.0 hour on photos, and 3.0 hours on Ancestry.com presentation.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Randy's Family History Day - 22 June 2010

It was not much of a genealogy day, but we made some more family history! The grandgirls are here for the week, so I have them in the morning while Linda swims and teaches swimming.

* Lolo was up at 7, and Audrey at 8, so I didn't get to read email or blogs until later in the morning when they were happy playing together and watching TV.

* Managed to sneak in posting Dear Randy: What is the AGBI? in the late morning in between crown-making and castle building. Of course, Audrey managed to decorate her hands and face with some makeup in the meantime.

* The girls went down for naps after lunch, so I was able to work on my presentation for next Sunday. Got it about 50% modified. When the girls got up, Linda took them swimming at Ron and Kathy's. I continued working on my presentation.

* They came home around 5:45 p.m. and I realized I had missed the Padres-Rays game on TV. No matter - we went to El Pollo Loco for dinner and were home by 7:15 p.m. The Padres beat the Rays 2-1.

* Got the girls bathed, brushed, dressed, read to and down for bed (fingers crossed - it's 10 p.m. and I still hear Lolo squeaks). Researched and wrote Who's #29,849? The Least "Popular" Ancestry.com Databases? That was fun!

* Worked on two posts for Wednesday, since I'm not going to have much time to read or blog. Created a flyer for the Sunday talk too - will try to get it to the library on Wednesday. Wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 6.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 3.0 hours working on the Sunday presentation, and 0.5 hour working on CVGS flyer.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 21 June 2010

The day had gone exactly to plan until my daughter called at 5 p.m. The dishwasher had overflowed and they had standing water throughout the house. Could we take the grandgirls for several days? Of course we could, and we will enjoy them... but it sure changed my evening genealogy plans.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter and posted Amanuensis Monday - the probate records of Elizabeth (Arnold) (Hawkins) Smith.

* Got cleaned up, gathered my OASIS class material, and out the door at 9:10 a.m. Got to Mission Valley by 9:35 and was set up for class by 10 a.m. Loaded Ancestry.com, LearnWebSkills, FamilySearch on the browser, RootsMagic with my file, and the PDF of my presentation. The class went well, although I couldn't solve all of the research problems they had.

* Left at 12:30 p.m., stopped at McDonalds for lunch, then to the library for Table Talk with Gary and Ruth, and home by 2 p.m.

* Read everything, wrote "Trees" on FamilySearch Beta Site. Opened my database and tried to work on errors and duplicates - got the Hs done, plus some whole families. Checked in on Facebook.

* Went in at 4:45 p.m. to read the paper, take a nap and have dinner, but Tami called with her flood problem. No nap for me! We had dinner, and left around 6:15 for Temecula to meet and pick up the grandgirls.

* Got there at 7:30, met up and transferred the stuff, had a drink, watched the girls play on the equipment, and left at 8:30 for home. Lolo talked and sang all the way and Audrey dozed. Got here by 9:45 and Audrey went right to sleep. Lolo is still up at 10:30. Wrote this post and I'm off to bed myself.

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 at library, 2.5 hours on OASIS Class, and 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 20 June 2010

A pretty typical Sunday at the Genea-Cave - some blogging, some reading, but not much else!

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, wrote Happy Father's Day! - Great Quotes and then worked on the Best of post before having to get cleaned up and go to church.

* Back at 12 noon, finished up Best of the Genea-Blogs and posted it.

* Went in at 1 p.m. to eat lunch, watch Padres game, read the paper, and take a nap. Successfully accomplished all of the above, and enjoyed the Pads 9-4 victory over the Orioles (Pads now 40-29, in first place in NL West).

* Online for awhile after 4 p.m. - wrote three posts for the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog.

* Linda made a special Father's Day dinner for me - meat loaf, peas and mashed potatoes. I loved it! Was so happy that I went out and mowed the front lawn without being asked. Came back in for strawberry shortcake for dessert.

* Online after 7 p.m., read everything, checked in on Facebook, compiled my tweets from Saturday, checked some message board posts, watched parts of two Ancestry.com webinars.

* Edited my presentation and syllabus for Class 3 of OASIS Beginning Computer Genealogy one more time, and printed out the copies for the students. Made PDFs of the files and added all to my two flash drives.

* Wrote Daniel Horowitz talk on "Genealogy Super Search Engine" . Downloaded updated copy of Family Tree Builder 4, and also updated Legacy 7 (mine had a bug for some reason - download works fine!). Then wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 3.5 hours writing 7 blog posts, 1.0 hour on Ancestry.com things, 0.5 hour on software, and 1.0 hour on OASIS class.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 19 June 2010

A really different genealogy day, plus the Padres game tonight.

* up early, read email, blogs and Twitter, and noted Surname Saturday - PLIMPTON (ENG > MA) posted (written last night). Wrote Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - A Prolific Dad and set it for noon time.

* got cleaned up, left at 8:20 a.m. for UCSD for CGSSD meeting. Was in Corlee's DNA discussion group about autosomal DNA technology. Interesting, useful, need to understand it better.

* Daniel Horowitz was the feature speaker on Super Surname Search technology. I tweeted the whole talk - you can read it by reading my Twitter feed for 19 June at http://twitter.com/rjseaver/

* Daniel showed me some coming Family Tree Builder features, and then we went to lunch with Pam, Gene, Phyllis and Chris at TGIFridays. After lunch, I drove Daniel around town and dropped him at Petco Park at 3:15 p.m. He was going to do some shopping at the Padres store and wanted to watch batting practice.

* I hurried home, Linda upset that I hadn't called, got there at 3:35 p.m., left at 3:40 p.m. for trolley station and trip to Petco Park. Ate dinner at Tin Fish and were in our seats at 5:05 p.m. Daniel had a seat in the lower level - I never did find him without binoculars. Padres lost 5-4, but made it interesting in the 9th.

* Home on the trolley and at our house by 9:30 p.m. Read everything, checked Facebook, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 5.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour writing blog posts, and 3.5 hours at CGSSD meeting (Twitter time included here!).

Friday, June 18, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 18 June 2010

It was a decent genealogy day - and I spent most of it researching and writing my little case study on Nathaniel Wade's wife, Ruth. That was fun - it's great to have time to do some research, analyze and come to a conclusion.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and posted Follow Friday - The Family Curator. Added several blogs to my Jamboree list too.

* Decided to write about my Thursday search results - shouldn't let frustrating research fester, you know. Wrote Nathaniel Wade married Ruth (who?) in 1731 - Post 1. Nice to get it down in writing. Checked in on Facebook.

* Got cleaned up, and came back and worked on Finding Nathaniel Wade's Wife's Name Online - Post 2 and set it for early afternoon. Had lunch at home, and worked more in my database on the Rhode Island families, trying to find spouse information for some of the siblings in my ancestral families.

* Researched and wrote Finding Nathaniel Wade's Wife's Name Online - Post 3 to complete the study. Realized about then that I should have written Posts 2 and 3 first, then hit the readers with Post 1. Oh well, couldn't unring that bell! Worked more in my database, and found some useful information about Ralph Shepard. Not so much information about Peter Dill, though! Worked on the Surname Saturday post too, since Saturday will have limited time.

* Knocked off at 5 p.m., fed the birds, closed the windows, watered the front plants and took Linda to Lolita's for dinner. We were home by 6 p.m.

* Had an hour to kill - read everything, then visited the free time on FindMyPast. Looked for parish records and census records. Found only what I'd found before for my Richman, Rich and Marshman ancestral families. The search capability on FindMyPast is pretty limited.

* The Padres game started at 7 p.m., so went in and watched it while reading the paper and then my Robert Parker novel. Padres scrapped and won 3-2 with 2 in the bottom of the 9th inning over the Orioles - a good game. Pads are 39-28, one game up in NL West. There's joy in Pad-ville!

* Back online at 10 p.m., read everything, then wrote this blog post, and I'll check Facebook again before retiring.

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 researching and writing blog posts, 3.5 hours working in my database and with online resources, and 1.0 hour on FindMyPast.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 17 June 2010

Just damn...seems like I wasted the day looking for Rhode Island records in a bunch of ratty databases. Finally figured them all out, though.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and wrote Treasure Chest Thursday - an Account Statement.

* Got cleaned up, and researched and wrote FamilySearch Advanced Search Capabilities. Worked on Class 3 presentation and syllabus - added some content to both.

* Answered several emails, and got started on the Nathaniel Wade marriage problem - Ruth Hopkins or Ruth Hawkins in 1731? Found web page with lots of Hawkins material with excellent sources, so added data missing in my database. Worked right through lunch...went in and ate hot dogs and grapes.

* Worked more on the Hawkins lines, then checked out Ancestry's historical county maps, and then California maps online.

* Went in at 5 p.m. to watch TV, read the paper, water the back yard, and have dinner.

* Back online at 6:30 p.m. - searched for something to blog about. Tried several ideas, finally picked one and had problem with popups - damn things. Ranted about it... not proud of that!

* Decided to see which databases have Nathaniel Wade/Ruth marriage online. Ancestry has some RI VR books, but not Scituate. NEHGS has transcriptions of all 21 volumes but no images. FamilySearch has only Scituate births, not marriages, in their collection. WorldVitalRecords has images but terrible search engine. Took me hours to figure this out.

* Went in to watch last 5 minutes of NBA season - that's about all I can take. Back to work - read everything, checked on Facebook, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 11.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Facebook/Twitter, 2.0 hours researching and writing blog posts, 1.0 hour working on Ancestry maps, 1.0 hour working in FamilySearch, 3.5 hours working on Hawkins families in database, and 1.5 hours searching for Wade/Hawkins marriage online.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 16 June 2010

It was a major genealogy day, but I feel like I didn't accomplish much of anything useful. Kind of nice to just mess around with deadlines a week away.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and posted (Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 107: Unknown Chicago Family and wrote CGSSD Meeting on Saturday, 19 June for later posting.

* Got cleaned up, then looked in FamilySearch databases for the Cropp family, who may be in the WW picture. Not much luck there - just Andrew's death record. Had lunch, left at 11:15 for the library.

* Attended CVGS Computer Group at library. Shirley led, but I did the last 30 minutes showing Footnote Pages and City Directories. Was home by 2:15 p.m.

* Read everything. Worked a bit in FamilySearch some more, and then researched and posted SCGS Jamboree 2010 Post Summary. Added photos to Facebook too. Fed the birds and got the trash out.

* Went in at 4:30 p.m. for dinner, then watched TV and napped a bit. Back online at 6 p.m. to research and write Online Periodical Indexes - Maryland Historical Magazine.

* Used Ancestry.com to find 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 US census records for the Cropp family, then searched the Chicago Tribune in Ancestry's newspapers for Cropp obituaries. Found several, and added them to the database. The grand-children of Sarah (Kemp) Cropp would be my third cousins, and they're probably out there - will they ever find me?

* Checked Facebook, tagged all of my fuzzy photos, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 11.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours researching and writing five blog posts, 3.0 hours doing online research in FS and Acom, 1.5 hours on Twitter and Facebook, 2.0 hours at CVGS meeting, and 1.0 hour working in my database.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 15 June 2010

Not really much of a genealogy day although I had every intention of making it a good one. But life sometimes gets in the way. Tonight it was a good life event!

* Read email,. blogs and Twitter, and wrote Some SCGS Jamboree 2010 photos and then Online Resources - Genealogy Book Collections but set it for noon time.

* Got cleaned up, and went into some of the book collection sites and searched for family surnames. Found some interesting stuff, but nothing momentous in my ancestral families. Need to do that more often, though!

* Left at 10:40 a.m. for my dental appointment, was home by 12:15 p.m. The hygienist brought in an old DAR application and wanted advice on how to add to it. I put her in touch with one of my colleagues who is in the local DAR chapter.

* Had lunch at home, read everything, and sorted through the SCGS goodie bags. Loaded the syllabus onto the computer and scrolled through the pages - copied off some articles. Meant to work in my database, but didn't. Checked Ancestry for new databases - not many recently for US collection. Downloaded latest Legacy upgrade, and worked in it for awhile relearning some things like sources and notes.

* Wrote New Modules on LearnWebSkills Genealogy Tutorial site and went in at 3:45 p.m. to watch TV and read the paper.

* Linda and Tami left at 4 to go shopping and pick up the grandgirls, and I watched TV, had my nap and left at 5:15 to meet them for dinner at Rubio's. The grandgirls were really happy, cute and fun tonight. They came back to our house for a bath and book reading, then went home at 7:15 with hugs and kisses for Grampa and Grandma. Did I mention that they are really cute?

* Watched the Padres game, read the paper and then my Spenser book, and Linda used computer after the game, which Pads won 8-2 over Jays (we're 38-27, still in first in NL West).

* Answered some email, read everything, checked Facebook, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 6.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hours checking online books, 1.0 hour working on SCGS syllabus, 0.5 hour in software, 0.5 hour in Twitter/Facebook.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 14 June 2010

Back from the SCGS Genealogy Jamboree - had a great time, and then really rocked and rolled tonight with 5.7 earthquake in Ocotillo area. Felt it good!

* Up early, read email, blogs and Twitter, got cleaned up, posted Amanuensis Monday - the will of Joseph Seaver (1672-1754) of Framingham MA. Packed up OASIS class material, checked USB drive for right files, and off at 9:15 a.m. to Mission Valley.

* Got set up at OASIS by 10 a.m., downloaded RootsMagic to OASIS computer, set up Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org and Rootsweb.com for demonstrations, and students came by 10:20 a.m.

* Two plus hours later all were filled up with online computer genealogy information. Left for home, stopped at McDonalds for lunch, then library for Table Talk, and home by 1:45 p.m.

* Read everything, wrote Sunday at the SCGS Jamboree and then added all photos and videos from three cameras. Not many from SCGS turned out well, unfortunately. My camera stopped flashing, which means I need to hold it still longer in lower light. Need a new camera!

* Went in at 5 p.m. to eat dinner, then watered front plants, fed the birds, and back to computer to write Why Don't Genealogical Societies put their Periodical Indexes on the Internet for Free? It will be interesting to see responses from societies.

* Went in at 7:10 p.m. to watch the Padres game, read the paper, and read my Spenser mystery. Padres lost 6-3 to Blue Jays. Rudely interrupted at 9:29 p.m. by earthquake - 5.7 epicenter at Ocotillo, had 30 seconds of decent shake and roll. Checked USGS site, and added many updates to Facebook over the next hour.

* Wrote this post, and ready for bed. It was a fun genealogy day.

Genealogy today was 9.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blog posts, 1.0 hour on Facebook, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 2.5 hours at OASIS class, 0.5 hour at CVGS Table Talk, and 1.5 hours on photos and videos.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 10 June 2010

We're off for Burbank in the morning on the train for the SCGS Jamboree, so this blog will be dark for several days. Check in on Genea-Musings for daily updates of Jamboree activities.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and noted that Footnote.com Civil War Collection FREE through June posted while I was asleep. Wrote Treasure Chest Thursday - Hannah Richmond's obituary and posted it, then researched and wrote Checking out Footnote.com's Civil War Collection and set it for early afternoon.

* Got cleaned up, and worked in the database some correcting errors and adding sources to events. Had lunch, then packed the laptop case with everything I need (I hope!).

* Worked more in the database, only got K and L done, but got sidetracked on a website with many common ancestors with sources, so checked out a number of common families. Edited comments, added sources, corrected errors, had a grand time and before I knew it, it was 45 p.m.

* Went in to watch Padres game (they lost 3-0 tonight, won 4-2 this afternoon, now 35-25 on season), read paper, eat dinner, then did chores, and packed for trip. Worked more in database.

* Went for a walk while Linda did email, and back at 8:30 p.m. to edit OASIS presentation and syllabus one last time, then printed them out. Copied latest files to USB drive. Checked Facebook, and wrote this post. Going to bed early tonight - have to be up at 5 a.m.

Genealogy today was 9.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours researching and writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 1.0 hour on OASIS class, and 4.0 hours working on database and 1.0 hour doing online research.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 9 June 2010

Two more days - better start thinking about what to take to Jamboree.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, then wrote (Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 106: Carringer and Kemp families in 1920? and SDGS Meeting on Saturday, 12 June. Also wrote Randy's Ancestry.com Talk is NOT on 12 June and set it for early afternoon.

* Got cleaned up, and searched for those Kemp brothers in the census records. Had lunch at home, printed out some stuff for the CVGS Research Group meeting.

* Left at 11:30 a.m. for CVGS Research Group meeting. We had 15 total, including some new faces. Some really interesting problems and questions. Stopped at bank on way home, home by 2:45 p.m.

* Read everything, tried to find things to blog about, then researched and wrote Family Association Wikis - Whitney.

* Went in to watch Padres game, but rained out. Worked in the database for awhile.

* Went in at 5 p.m. to watch the news and read the paper, we had dinner at 5:30, and I watered back yard dirt again.

* Back online at 6:45 p.m., read everything, worked in database correcting errors. Got M through R done! Checked Facebook. Wrote this post, and will write two posts for Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe. That's seven genealogy blog posts today!

Genealogy today was 12.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 3.0 hours writing blog posts, 3.0 hours on CVGS Research Group, 1.0 hour researching online, and 3.5 hours working in my database.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 8 June 2010

Only 3 more days to Jamboree! This was a stay at home day, and I got a lot done in my database.

* Read email, blogs and twitter, and wrote Getting Ready for SCGS Jamboree and then Book Review: Wanted! U.S. Criminal Records by Ron Arons and set it for noon time.

* Got cleaned up, and worked on the OASIS Class 2 presentation and syllabus. Added some content, especially new websites with significant content. I think it's ready to print.

* Researched and wrote Finding Massachusetts Death Records on FamilySearch Record Search and set it for mid-afternoon. Wrote a post for the weekend.

* Read everything, checked Facebook, worked in database on the Knowlton family line. I have pretty much what everyone else has on this family, at least that's in print and online. And it is not much, and not especially well done.

* Went in at 4 p.m. to read the paper, watch the Padres game, take a nap, eat dinner, read my book, and do the dishes. The Padres lost 2-1 in the 11th (now 34-24).

* Back online at 7:15 p.m. to read everything, answered some email, and worked on database, doing P through R error corrections - almost finished it. Lots of Richman entries with baptisms and burials in England - added birth and death dates/places based on that information. also lots of duplicates after I merged my databases. Major surgery still needed!

* Listened to election returns during the database work, wrote this post.

Genealogy data 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, 2.0 hours working on OASIS class, and 4.0 hours working in the database and online research.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 7 June 2010

The OASIS class went well, the Padres won, and I worked in my database tonight for a bit. A decent genealogy day!

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, then wrote Amanuensis Monday - the Will of Isaac Read of Sudbury. Got cleaned up.

* Gathered syllabi, flash drives and laptop and off to Mission Valley at 9:15 a.m. for 10:15 a.m. OASIS class on Beginning computer Genealogy. Had 9 students (1 no-show), and I talked for two hours. Class 1 is Genealogy Basics, then software basics, then website basics.

* Stopped at McDonalds for lunch, then to Library for brief table talk with Gary and Ruth, then home by 2 p.m.

* Read everything, checked FamilySearch videos, wrote New FamilySearch Videos Online and helped Linda with chores, then to chair for Padres game at 4 p.m.

* Read the paper, took a nap, watered back yard dirt/weeds, had dinner and dessert, and Padres won 3-1 over Phillies (now 34-23, still in NL West first place).

* Back online at 6:30 p.m., read everything, made business cards, checked Facebook, had a short chat, took a walk down the block, then worked in database for about an hour. Got the T through Z folks done - delete obvious duplicates, give widows their maiden name and add the previous spouse, rectify the double dating problem, etc.

* Backed up and compacted the FTM database, then made a GEDCOM file of it. Wrote this post!

Genealogy today was 8.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours on OASIS class, 0.5 hour looking at FSI videos, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 1.0 hour getting ready for Jamboree, and 1.5 hours in database.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 6 June 2010

Finished another project - the to-do list is getting check marks! Still lots of to-dos though - they never stop!

* Up early, read email, blogs and Twitter, finished writing Best of the Genea-Blogs - 30 May to 5 June 2010 and set it for 12 noon.

* Off to church at 9:30 a.m., napped a bit, home at 11:45 a.m. Had quick lunch, then gathered papers and off to the UPS Store to publish the CVGS Newsletter. Shirley, Susi and Virginia there to help - home by 12:45 p.m.

* Watched the rest of the Padres game - they won 6-5 in 10 innings (now 33-23).

* Worked on OASIS Class 1 presentation and syllabus for Monday - added several pages to presentation, and text to syllabus, still 14 pages. Saved them as PDFs. Wrote Recent Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe Posts and posted it.

* Went to dinner with neighbors Kurt and Ruth to Oggi's for pizza - watched first half of Lakers/Celtics game. Home by 7:15 p.m.

* Read everything while printing off the syllabus copies. Checked in on Facebook too.

* Worked in genealogy database - did date/place corrections, source citations, duplicate persons, and made widows names consistent for the T surnames. Whew - two hours! Lots more to do. Wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 0.5 hour on CVGS newsletter, 2.5 hours on OASIS class preparation, and 2.0 hours in database.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 5 June 2010

It was an interesting genealogy day, and I got one more task completed.

* Read email before I got cleaned up and went off to breakfast at 8 a.m. with my church men's study group, then got waylaid by Ruth and Susi at another table. Home by 10 a.m.

* Read email, blogs, and wrote Surname Saturday - WHITNEY (England > MA) and then wrote Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Feeling Lucky? and set it for after noon.

* Found great info in the Whitney Research Group wiki, and compared their data to mine. They had some source citations that I needed, so I checked on data for all of my Whitney families, cleaned up my notes a bit, added some source citations to my database, and realized I missed lunch again. Had a bite or two at 1:30!

* Researched and wrote Using Branches Genealogy Software - Post 4: Using the Help Function and set it for late afternoon.

* Went in at 3:30 p.m. to help with chores, then watched Padres game, read the paper, and at 5:15 we took food over to Bill's house and watched the end of the game there (Pads lost 6-2, drat). Back home at 6:15, we had dinner and I did more chores.

* Back online at 7 p.m., worked on CVGS emails for awhile, checked Facebook, then worked on CVGS newsletter. Got it done. Then worked on the Best of blog post for Sunday and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 1.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour in Branches, 3.0 hours writing blog posts, 2.0 hours working in database, and 2.0 hours working on CVGS newsletter.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 4 June 2010

Sort of the blogging fool today, although I had a good time at George's house in the afternoon, the Padres lost, and I worked on the CVGS newsletter all evening.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, then wrote Using Branches genealogy software - Post 3: Adding a Spouse and Parents. Wrote "The DNA Detective" article in MORE Magazine about Colleen Fitzpatrick, and then got cleaned up.

* Wrote Live Genealogy Gems Podcast at SCGS Jamboree and set it for early afternoon, then wrote FamilySearch Beta Library Search - Works! and set it for midafternoon. Had lunch.

* Worked in WeRelate.org wiki for awhile, comparing my data to the wiki data. Added some data to my database that was sourced in the wiki by other submitters.

* Went to visit George at 2:30 p.m. - he had heart surgery three weeks ago and is doing well at home. Had a fun time talking about family, and even got into genealogy and family history. Encouraged them to write their memoirs.

* Home at 4 p.m., watched Padres game, read the paper, took a nap, had dinner, watered the back, filled the bird feeder, and Padres lost 3-2 to Phillies (Pads now 32-22).

* Back on computer at 7:15 p.m., read everything, wrote post on Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog, then worked on CVGS newsletter. Have it almost done. Checked Facebook, and wrote this post. Done!

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 3.0 hours researching and writing six blog posts, 1.5 hours in database, and 3.0 hours on CVGS newsletter.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 3 June 2010

Stayed home all day and worked on several projects - and finished some of them! And started two others, but that's my genealogy life it seems.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, then wrote Treasure Chest Thursday - 50th Wedding Anniversary Article. Had to transcribe the article (I thought I had done that before, but couldn't find it).

* Worked some more in Branches, then wrote Using Branches Genealogy software - Post 2: Adding Unrelated Person. Got cleaned up and came back to the genea-grindstone.

* Attacked my long email stack - answered 9 emails with short or long responses - even did a little research on Ancestry.com for one of them. Had a late lunch - missed it I was working so hard.

* Wrote three newsletter articles for the SDGS Newsletter at the editor's request.

* Proofed the Summer 2010 FGS FORUM Magazine for Sandra, including my own column.

* Read the May Shades Magazine and blogged about it in May 2010 Issue of "Shades of the Departed" Magazine.

* Went in at 5:30 p.m. to watch TV, then we went out to Lolita's for dinner, and then shopped at Ralphs. Home at 7:15 p.m., and Linda used the computer while I read and watched TV.

* Online again at 8 p.m., Answered several more emails about CVGS activities, then worked on the June CVGS newsletter. Got it about 50% complete with available copy.

* Checked in on Facebook, then wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 11.5 hours - 1.5 hours doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Twitter/Facebook, 0.5 hour in Branches, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour doing online research, 1.5 hours writing SDGS articles, 1.0 hour on FGS FORUM, and 2.5 hours on CVGS business and newsletter.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Randy's Genealogy Day - 2 June 2010

The first decent genealogy day in a week - was having withdrawal! Now having withdrawal from grandchild exposure. Sad but not as tiring. The memories are great. Looked longingly at the "field of concrete" where the boys and I played ball all week.

* Read email, blogs and Twitter, and posted (Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 105: Betty and her Dolly and then wrote What is the Best Place to leave "Cousin Bait?" and set it for later in the morning.

* Got cleaned up, printed out CVGS board stuff and went to McDonalds for lunch, then the bank and then the library.

* Sat through CVGS Board meeting until 2:20 p.m., then went to "lunch" with Gary, Ruth and Ginny - had a Hi-C punch drink. Home by 3:30 p.m.

* Read everything, went in and took a nap, had a headache, watched the news, put out trash cans, ate dinner, and filled the bird feeder.

* Back online at 6:15 p.m. with hopes of hours working in my database. Nope - downloaded update of Branches and worked with it for awhile, resulting in posting Using Branches Genealogy Software - Post 1. I'm not ecstatic about it - needs some work.

* Wrote Genealogy Days in Chula Vista - June 2010 on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog. Checked Facebook, then wrote this post. Done!

Genealogy today was 8.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour on Facebook/Twitter, 2.0 hours in Branches software, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, and 2.5 hours in CVGS Board meeting.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Randy's Family History Day - 1 June 2010

The house is still tonight, no little boys running or shouting, no big girls talking or reading, just one tired grandma sleeping and one tired grandpa typing. It was a really fun week.

* Up early, played with boys off and on all morning. Managed to post Daniel Horowitz is coming to town in a quiet moment just before going out to play baseball in the driveway. Many home runs, and grandpa chased every one of them.

* Got cleaned up, got the boys lunch, played Monopoly (Lucas won...we think - a six day marathon game), then Tami and the grandgirls came to see Lori and the boys, and it was bedlam for an hour. Lori packed up and we went off to the airport at 2:15. Was home by 3:30 after stopping at the library to return 15 books.

* Read new Internet Magazine issue, and wrote June/July 2010 Issue of Internet Genealogy Available. Played with Audrey a bit after she woke up. Then it was off to dinner at Panera with Tami and the girls, we were home by 6:45 p.m. Watered the front plants. Watched the Padres game (we lost 4-2 to Mets, we're now 31-21).

* Read everything, checked Facebook, wrote this post. Done!!

Genealogy today was all of 3.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 0.5 hour reading blogs, 1.0 hours writing blog posts, and 1.0 hour reading Internet Genealogy magazine.