Tuesday, May 31, 2011

My genealogy day - 31 May 2011

Five months down, seven to go.  It's been a pretty quiet year here at the Genealogy Cave - we haven't ventured too far away from home yet.  That will change in June! 

*  Read email and blogs, then wrote Tuesday's Tip -- the Relatively Curious "Internet Genealogy" Toolbar.  Wrote Navigating Ancestry.com - Post 2: New Search, Basic Form and set it for later in the morning.

*  Got cleaned up, and gathered my papers and went off to the library to search for obituaries for a CVGS query.  Had good success - found 3 of 4.  Stopped at McDonald's for lunch, and home by 1:30 p.m.

*  Read, then wrote Webinars from Utah Genealogical Association and did the research for Using AncestorSync (Pre-Beta Version) - Download from Geni.com to RootsMagic 4 Looks Good.

*  Went in at 4 p.m. to watch the Padres game, read the paper, take a nap, and have dinner.  Ron came for dinner, and we watched the Padres game to the end - Pads won 5-4 over Braves (4 straight wins, now 24-31, there's hope in Padretown still!). 

*  Read, found some Seavers in the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn through Ancestry Web Search, and entered as many as possible, with an EE-quality source, into the database. 

*  Answered some email, added to the Best Of post, downloaded an article from the NEHGS site on Bloodgood ancestry, checked in on Facebook, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 3.0 hours writing blog posts, 1.5 hours working on CVGS query, 1.0 hour in Geni/RootsMagic, 1.0 hour adding to database, 0.5 hour collecting periodical information. 

Monday, May 30, 2011

My genealogy day - 30 May 2011

It was a true Memorial Day - right on 30 May.  I tried to celebrate it with memories of my ancestors and relatives who served for our country.  We stayed home until dinner time.

*  Read email and blogs, wrote Honoring my Ancestors who Served (a repost from years before).  Then wrote Amanuensis Monday: "Tribute Paid to Hero's Worth" - Kenneth L. Blanchard and set it for later in the morning. 

*  Went in at 10:30 a.m. to watch the Padres game.  Read the paper, read some of my book, had lunch, and the Padres won it 3-2 over Braves in 10 innings.  A 3-game winning streak! 

*  Back online at 1:30 p.m. to read, then add to new Footnote Pages and write Celebrating Their Service - Adding Footnote Pages.  The three pages I added didn't show up - maybe Footnote has the day off?  I expect immediate gratification these days!

*  Added good captions to some of my scanned photos.  Need to get them all done and then put into family groups so I know what I have!

*  We left at 5 p.m. to go to Rubio's for dinner, home after 6 p.m.

*  Got into the New England presentation again, moved some charts around, added more detail, and added the pop quiz charts.  That may be fun! 

*  Looked in Geni.com to see how the info there stacks up with the GEDCOM file downloaded using AncestorSync.  Geni.com has more people than the GEDCOM file had.  The RootsMagic file also downloaded looks consistent with Geni.com. 

*  Added to the Best Of post, checked Facebook and Twitter, loaded latest GEDCOM into Legacy and FTM2011, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 8.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour working in Footnote Pages, 1.0 hour working on photos, 0.5 hour in Geni.com, 2.0 hours working on presentation.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

My genealogy day - 29 May 2011

It was a cool, rainy and windy Sunday in San Diego - probably the last rain until the fall.  A typical genealogy Sunday - some blogging, some housekeeping, some exploring.

*  Read email and blogs, finalized the Best of the Genea-Blogs - 22 to 28 May 2011 post, but forgot to change the time to post.  Got cleaned up, watched start of Indy 500, then off to church.

*  Home from church at 11:30 a.m., watched end of Indy 500 and Padres game vs. Washington.  Beat Nats 5-4 (now 22-31 on the season, still in last place).  

*  Came in at 1:30 p.m. to read, set the Best Of post off, then archived all of the Genea-Musings posts since January 2010 to the hard drive.  Will copy them to external drive later. 

*  Watched two more of the UGA webinars.  Downloaded AncestorSync and then downloaded my Geni.com file.  Checked Facebook, read blogs, etc. Read TJs site, and answered email while waiting.

*  Called at 5:30 p.m. for dinner, and back online at 6:15 p.m., but friends came over for awhile. 

*  Back to work at 7 p.m., put the My First Look at AncestorSync (Pre-Beta Version) post together.  Did more email.

*  Started next week's Best Of post, checked Twitter and Facebook, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 7.5 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 1.5 hours archiving Genea-Musings, 2.0 hours working in AncestorSync, and 0.5 hour watching webinars.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

My genealogy day - 28 May 2011

It was a woulda, coulda, shoulda kind of day, and I didn't do any of them!  I did make progress on projects, though.

*  Up early to go to the swim club breakfast at 7 a.m. at Carrows, we were home by 9 a.m. 

*  Read email and blogs, noted that Surname Saturday - GACH/GAGE (??? > New Jersey) posted.

*  Worked on the New England Research presentation.  Got Vermont done.  Added societies and periodicals, moved stuff around, edited some slides, just all around good genealogy fun.  It needs final edits and more images... and some pepper-uppers.

*  Went in at 11:30 to watch the Padres game.  They beat Nationals 2-1 in a close game (now 20-31 on the year). 

*  Back online at 1 p.m. to read everything, and noted that Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - It's Find-a-Grave Time posted. 

*  Opened up the RootsMagic 4 database and tried to recall where I was with the Piscataway NJ BMDs that I copied at the FHL in October.  Found them, figured out where I stopped, and finished the marriages and the births.  Changed file titles to reflect source and page number.  That's how I figure out what I haven't used - I change the generic file name when I'm done with it.

*  I can't stay away from newFamilySearch it seems.  I entered 40 more people using RootsMagic - up to 184 now (that's 0.46% of my database.  still lots to do!).  Probably combined 150 people with the  40 people I added, so I'm trying to do my part!  Went into nFS to see how things look.  Ran into some problems in nFS and RM4.  Will try to figure out what's happening before I add more.

*  Went in at 5:30 p.m. to watch TV, read the paper and eat dinner.  Watched the softball game until 7 p.m.

*  Read everything, checked Facebook, then listened to today's MySociety Radio show.  Also reviewed the FGS webinar from 4/30.  Wrote email to CVGS Board recommending radio show and webinar. 

*  Added to the Best Of post, then watched most of the "Genealogical Maturity" webinar from UGA.  Wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 10.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 1.0 hour writing blog posts, 1.5 hours on presentation, 2.0 hours working on database sources, 1.5 hours working in nFS, and 2.5 hours doing webinars and radio shows. 

I woulda gone to the FHC, or to the SDGS library, if I had had nothing better to do.  However, I had to finish the presentation, and the database and nFS work needs to be done.  My list of webinars to check out is now shorter too, so I made some major progress today.

Friday, May 27, 2011

My genealogy day - 27 May 2011

Yikes, May is almost over...where did the time go?  Jamboree is just around the corner...two weeks.  And my presentation is next Saturday.  Yikes!

*  Read email and blogs, then wrote GeneaBlogging Works!  Had to take Linda to Rogers School.  Managed to stay out of nFS today. 

*  Answered some emails, then went to get Linda at the school at 10:30.  Left at 11:10 for lunch at MickieD's, stopped at the library for a book, and then walked with George on the bayfront.  Home by 1 p.m.

*  Collected screens and wrote Navigating Old and New Search on Ancestry.com - Post 1: New Search, Advanced Form. 

*  Was thinking about working on the presentation when Linda said we had to go to Kurt's house.  I sat with him while Linda took Ruth to the doctor.

*  Home at 4 p.m. to watch the Padres game.  We left at 4:45 p.m. for Oggi's for dinner, and home by 6 p.m. to watch the end of the game.  Pads lost 2-1 on a walk-off homer in the 9th to Washington.

*  Quickly in to listen to Geneabloggers Radio   and the chat.  A fun 90 minutes punctuated by panic when the computer froze up.  Had to press the button and reboot.  Now I need to log in to all websites.

*  Added to the Best Of post, wrote two posts for Saturday, checked Facebook, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 6.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blog posts, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 1.5 hours on Geneabloggers Radio, and 0.5 hour in Ancestry.com.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

My genealogy day - 26 May 2011

Some blogging and some newFamilySearching...that's about it.  A fun lunch too!

*  Read email and blogs before taking the car down for service.  Walked the mile home, back by 8:35 a.m.

*  Wrote Job Opportunity: WikiTree is looking for a Cousin Connector, and then wrote Some Interesting New Ancestry.com Collections and set it for later.  Spent some time in nFS and RM4 adding people and data.

*  Joel from Goodrich called about lunch, so he picked me up at 11:15 a.m. and we celebrated George's retirement at Fuddruckers.  Hadn't seen many of the folks since 2006 - fun to check in with them.  George took me to the auto repair place and I was home by 1:15 p.m. 

*  Read everything, then added Rhode Island to the New England presentation - only Vermont to go.  Then a review for consistency and content, and I'll probably add more examples of available data.

*  Researched and wrote New FamilySearch Family Tree - Post 10: A Better Way to Access nFS using RootsMagic 4.  Bruce commented almost immediately with a better way and I updated the post.  Then updated the compendium.

*  Wrote Educational Events at NEHGS. Went in at 4:30 p.m. to read the paper, watch TV news, and took a nap.  Dinner at 6:15 p.m. and back online at 7 p.m.

*  Read everything, wrote CVGS Program Summary - "My Ancestors Came From England..." and checked Gmail for the Cafe blog.  Watched the Geni webinar on collaboration using Geni.com.

*  Added more persons to newFamilySearch and checked them on nFS - it's impossible to remember what you've done so far...I keep both RM4 and nFS open.  The changes happen quickly!  But navigation is not easy.

*  Checked Facebook, updated the Best Of post, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 3.5 hours writing blog posts, 1.5 hour in nFS, 2.0 hours working on presentation, and 0.5 hour watching the webinar.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

My genealogy day - 25 May 2011

My genealogy day was bifurcated by the Padres game, but that's life.  It was nice to get out into the sun for awhile instead of the genealogy cave!

*  Read email and blogs, wrote (Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 154: The Carringer Family in 1932.

*  Got into nFS and checked out Isaac Seaver (1823-1901) and made screens, then wrote New FamilySearch Family Tree - Post 9: Combining Records in newFamilySearch and set it for later in the morning.  Got cleaned up, and made a sandwich for lunch.

*  Left at 10:45 a.m. for the library and the CVGS meeting.  Met Fred Spong, the speaker, and helped get him set up in the auditorium.  The program started at 11:30 a.m. and Fred was on his way back to Carlsbad by 12:45 p.m.  Stayed for the CVGS business meeting and snacks afterward.  Home by 1:45 p.m.

*  Read everything, thought of nothing to blog about, got the trash out for Thursday pickup, and we left at 2:20 for the trolley station and the Padres game.

*  Padres beat Cards 3-1 with two runs in the 8th.  A fast game.  Had a bratwurst for dinner, then the ice cream cone.  We were home by 6:45 p.m.

*  Played all evening - listened to the MySociety Radio show from last week with Paula Hinkel, and wrote Genealogy Shows on BlogTalkRadio Flourish simultaneously.  Watched Geoff Rasmussen's webinar on entering death certificate information into Legacy Family Tree.  Excellent work, lots of good ideas on sources and navigating in the program too.  Added to the Best Of post, answered some email, checked Facebook and Twitter, tested out TreeSeek.com, and wrote this post.  Those three hours were a lot of fun for me!

Genealogy today was 8.5 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 2.0 hours at CVGS meeting, and 1.0 hour on radio show, 1.0 hour on Legacy webinar, and 0.5 hour in TreeSeek. 

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

My genealogy day - 24 May 2011

This was a full genealogy day up until dinner time, and then not so much!

*  Read email and blogs, researched and wrote Tuesday's Tip - Use Linkpendium's Genealogy Search Engines.   Wrote AncestorSync is coming - I got answers! and set it for later in the morning.

*  Got cleaned up, and went to the pharmacy and the car repair shop - they'll do it on Thursday.  Home to read, then started in on the Massachusetts and New Hampshire portions of my presentation.  Had lunch.

*  Worked on the presentation until about 2:30 p.m. when I researched and wrote New FamilySearch Family Tree - Post 8: Adding a Family using RootsMagic 4.  Back to the presentation.

*  Went in at 5:30 p.m. to read the paper, watch TV news, and eat dinner.  Watered the back yard and the front plants and watched the Padres game.  Pads lost 3-2 in 11 innings - still can;t hit, now 19-30 on the year.

*  Back at it after 10 p.m. to read, add to the Best Of post, check Facebook and write this post.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 0.5 hour in newFamilySearch, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, and 4.5 hours working on the presentation.

Monday, May 23, 2011

My genealogy day - 23 May 2011

Spent almost all day on the computer doing genealogy work, and made some progress.

*  Read email and blogs, then transcribed the paper and wrote Amanuensis Monday - Cornelius Feather's 1851 Affidavit.  Added it to my Notes for Corny, too.

*  Gathered screens and wrote The New FamilySearch Family Tree - Post 7: Searching using RootsMagic 4.   Got cleaned up.  Had lunch.

*  Searched for material for my New England Research talk in 12 days - and started the presentation stack.  Figured out an outline, and got through Connecticut and Maine today. 

*  Read up on AncestorSync and wrote AncestorSync is coming - I have questions.  Checked Facebook, checked new databases on Ancestry and FamilySearch, and added some Maine marriages and deaths to my database, with sources.

*  Went in at 5 p.m. to read the paper, watch TV news, and eat dinner.  Back online at 6:15 to read, answer email, and check Twitter. 

*  Went in at 7 p.m. to watch the Padres game, and read my Jeffrey Deaver novel.  Pads lost 301 to the Cards in the 9th.  Arreggghhh.  Now 19-29 overall, and 8-19 at home!  Worked out frustrations on the dishes.

*  Read everything, then added to the Best Of post and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 10.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 1.5 hours reading blogs, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour working in FamilySearch, 4.0 hours working on the presentation.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

My genealogy day - 22 May 2011

Not any real genealogy research, but I got some things done today.

*  Read email and blogs, then finished up the Best of the Genea-Blogs - 15-21 May 2011 post and set it for noon.  Got cleaned up and off to church at 9:30 a.m.

*  Home at 11:30 a.m., got into the Scanfest chat for a short while, and got 8 images scanned in the process.  Then we went off to a graduation party for Margie.  Home by 2 p.m.

*  Watched Padres game, took a nap, read the paper, Pads lost 6-1 to M's (3 straight losses, now 19-28 on season.  Doesn't look good...).

*  Read everything, then scanned more images from my stack.  Wrote CVGS Program on Wednesday, 25 May: "My Ancestors Came From England".  Dinner called at 5:15, then out to cut the front lawn and back in 6:30 p.m.

*  Cropped all of the images and saved them, then applied the file naming convention to all of them - about 25 in total.  Moved them all to one file (scanning with Windows 7 and this printer is still a chore...it used to be so easy!  There are several ways to do it and I can't remember them month to month.  Oh well.). 

*  Went hunting for RevWar pension file papers to use for Amanuensis Monday and found some good ones - even with information that I had not seen before.  Very cool. 

*  Read blogs, answered a bunch of email (the Inbox is empty!  The Sent Mail is empty - all moved to folders which are chock full!).    Added blogs to the Reader.  Changed the blog template and settings on The Geneaholic.  Pondered starting a new blog for my web page stuff, then remembered that this was Blogger and might be dangerous.  Needs more thought, or go to Wordpress. 

*  Checked Facebook, and wrote this post.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

My genealogy day - 21 May 2011

Really not much of a genealogy day except for the CGSSD meeting.

*  Read email and blogs, got cleaned up, downloaded and installed IE9 (probably a mistake, but stuck), and noted that Surname Saturday - KENT (New Jersey), with lots of editing problems caused by saving an RTF in OpenOffice, apparently.

*  Left at 8:15 a.m. with the laptop to go to UCSD for the CGSSD meeting.  Participated in the RootsMagic user group led by Chris, then had a snack before the meeting, met Nancy Loe and chatted for awhile, then found my seat, opened the laptop and enjoyed Nancy's talk while taking notes.  Emailed the file to myself so I could save it to the desktop computer. 

*  Home by 12:30, had lunch, checked email and blogs, noted that Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - it's Wordle Time! posted.  Uncovered and dug into my box of Carringer/Smith/Seaver stuff to prepare for Scanfest on Sunday, and separated bags into "already scanned" and "to be scanned."  Still lots to do, and found some photos I'd either forgotten about or didn't know I had.  Duh... outtasightouttamind!

*  Went in at 3:15 to watch the Preakness, read the paper, then baseball, took a nap, watched KPBS, then we went to dinner at Black Angus.  My steak was fine, but Linda sent everything back once, and didn't eat her steak because of a reaction.  Frustrating.

*  Home by 6:30 p.m., watered the front plants, read everything, added to the Best Of post, and went in at 7 to watch the Padres game.  Pads lost 4-0 to Mariners...can't hit at Petco (now 19-27). 

*  Online at 10 p.m. to read, check Facebook, write this post.

Genealogy today was 7.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 3.0 hours at CGSSD meeting, 1.0 hour writing blog posts, and 2.0 hours working in the treasure box.

Friday, May 20, 2011

My genealogy days - 19 and 20 May 2011

We got home late from the Padres game last night, so I didn't journal on Thursday.  A brief summary.

*  Wrote the following blogs on Thursday, 19 May:

** Dear Randy: What are Free-form Citations, and why are you using them?

** New FamilySearch Family Tree Compendium
** The New FamilySearch Family Tree - Post 5: Adding Person Identity Data to the Tree
**  Updated the NGS Conference Posts Compendium


*  Database work on Thursday included adding information and sources to several families (burning down my paper stack again) and adding a few bits of information on my Richman families from the Deceased Online database.  Edited many RICHMAN surnames to Richman in the database (but not all!).

*  In my real life, we went to the Padres game on Thursday, leaving at 5 p.m., eating at The Tin Fish, and the Padres beat the Brewers 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth.  We went home happy!

*  Wrote these blogs on Friday, 20 May:

**  More on Free-Form Citations and Template Source Citations

**  The New FamilySearch Family Tree - Post 6: Adding Sources to Assertions
**  CVGS Program Wednesday, 25 May: "My Ancestors Are From England"

** Updated the NGS Conference Posts Compendium
*  Wrote two posts for Saturday.

*  Worked awhile in the New FamilySearch Family Tree inputting sources for Isaac Seaver, and in Ancestry.com searching for Jasia's missing family in the 1930 US Census.

*  Listened to the Geneabloggers show on Blog Talk Radio with DearMYRTLE hosting.  Enjoyed the guests and the chat.

*  In real life, went for my weekly two mile walk no the bayfront with George at lunch time, and got a haircut.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Another blogging fool day - 18 May 2011

*  Read everything, added to the NGS Conference post, and wrote (Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 153: Thomas Richmond Family in Massachusetts.  Wrote CGSSD Meeting on Saturday, 21 May - "Managing Your Digital Environment" and set it form id-morning.  Got cleaned up.

*  Wrote Dear Randy: Where did Texas Death images go? and set it for around noon.  Found my Raking the Ashes book review (written back in March!), and wrote Book Review: Raking the Ashes, by Nancy S. Peterson and set it for early afternoon.  Had lunch.

*  Left at 11:40 a.m. for the library.  Got the projector set up for the CVGS Computer Group meeting and participated in it.  Helped Ron with his research, then helped Jaye afterwards.

*  Home by 2:15 p.m. to read, then researched and wrote The New FamilySearch Family Tree - Post 4: A Person's Notes, Sources and Combined Records.  That took awhile - I did some work in nFS also.

*  Went in to watch TV, have dinner, and put out the trash.

*  Back online at 6 p.m. to read, then worked on the Civil War Pension File list again - finished it up.  Went in to watch the Padres game, read the paper and finish my Robert B. Parker book.  Pads lost 5-2 to Brewers.  Drat.

*  Online at 10:20 to read, update the Best Of post, and write this post.  Done.

Genealogy today was `10.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 1.5 hours reading blogs, 4.0 hours writing blog posts, 2.0 hours at CVGS meeting, and 1.5 hour working on FamilySearch.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

My genealogy day - 17 May 2011

A little blogging and a little database work, not much special today.  I need a research challenge.

*  Read email and blogs, then wrote Tuesday's Tip - Find Revolutionary War Ancestor in DAR Records.  Got cleaned up.  Made the screens and wrote The New FamilySearch Family Tree - Post 3: A Person's Data.

*  Had lunch, read everything, answered some email.  Left at 12:30 p.m. for the library to take my overdue book back, and home by 1:15 p.m.

*  Worked in the database on DC, Kansas, Nebraska and New Jersey marriages, and added some more census sources when I found them.  Took most of the afternoon - happier than a pig in you know what.  Time sure flies when I'm having genealogy fun.

*  Went in at 5:15 p.m. to watch TV, read the paper and eat dinner.  Back at 6 p.m. to write Data Mining and Fixing the Database - an Update.

*  Back in at 6:45 p.m. to watch the Padres game, and read my book.  Pads lost 6-1 to Snakes (so now 18-24 and back in last place).

*  Online at 9:15 p.m. to read, add to the NGS Conference post, add to the Best Of post, and write this post.

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 1.5 hours reading blogs, 1.0 hour in FamilySearch, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, and 3.5 hours data mining and working in the database. 

Monday, May 16, 2011

The blogging fool's genealogy day - 16 May 2011

Did you ever have one of those days where there was so much great genealogy information that you spent most of the day writing about it?  Today was the day for me.  Six blog posts and updates to two others.

*  Read email and blogs, and scrolled through Jordan's presentations, then wrote NGS 2011 Presentations Online.    Read Mel's blog posts, and wrote Excellent Genealogy Conference Suggestions from Mel Wolfgang.  Excellent work.

*  Got cleaned up, and wrote Amanuensis Monday - the Will of John Loker (1608-1653) of Sudbury MA and set it for early afternoon.   Ate lunch.

*  Collected some screen shots and wrote The New FamilySearch Family Tree - Post 2: Searching for Ancestors and set it for mid-afternoon.

*  Worked in the database for awhile - adding information from the "to-be-entered" stack, and adding source citations when I found them in the Notes. 

*  Wrote some emails, then wrote California Vital Records Alert.  Went in at 5:15 p.m. to rest, read the paper, and eat dinner.  Back at 6 p.m. to read, check Facebook, then did some research for Nat, and emailed her with suggestions.

*  Went in at 6:45 p.m. to watch the Padres game.  Watered the front plants and filled the bird feeder too.  Padres won 8-4 over the D-backs (now 18-23, won 3 in a row, outta the cellar.  They're finally hitting).


*  Finished my Tom Clancy book, and then read everything, and added to the Best Of post and the NGS Compendium post.  Wrote this post. 

Genealogy today was 10.5 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 1.5 hours reading blogs, 0.5 hour watching presentations, 3.0 hours doing online research and feeding the database, and 4.5 hours writing blog posts.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

My genealogy day - 15 May 2011

Not much of a genealogy day today, although I got caught up on a few things!

*  Read email and blogs, finished up the Best of the Genea-Blogs - 8-14 May 2011 post and set it for early afternoon.  Updated the NGS Conference Posts Compendium post too.  Winnowed the desk pile of "interesting stuff" - just moved papers into other piles, but it's progress of a sort!

*  Went off to church at 9:30 a.m., home by 11:45 a.m.

*  Read, then went in to read the paper, watch the Padres game and eat lunch.  Padres won 8-2 (now 17-23, are 3-3 on road trip).

*  Back online at 4 p.m. to read, then putter in the database.  Fixed quite a few brackets used for sources in my Notes, plus edited some note text.  Added new blogs to Google Reader.

*  Went in at 5:15 p.m. for dinner, then worked in rose planters cutting back roses and weeding.  Only 4 or 5 pricks. 

*  Back online at 6:30 p.m. to read, then puttered some more in the database.  Wrote the SDGS newsletter article and sent it off to Diane.  Wrote "Casefile Clues for Beginners" newsletter for beginning genealogists.

*  Checked Twitter and Facebook, figured out that Dear Randy: How should I transfer my FTM 2011 database to RootsMagic? from Wednesday afternoon was missing on my blog, so found it on Google Reader and put it up.  Started the next Best Of post and added content to it.  Wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 7.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 1.5 hours reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour doing SDGS article, and 2.0 hours working in database on Notes.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

My genealogy day - 14 May 2011

Back in the swing of things - all's right in the blog world!

*  Read email and blogs, noted that Surname Saturday - NACHBAR (Germany to New Jersey)\ posted.  Wrote Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - A day without blogging.

*  Put all of my talks on my flash drive, and went off to the SDGS meeting to hear Connie Moretti talk on Lineage Societies and the DAR Online Resources.  Both talks were excellent.  Had good conversation with Connie and he friend, Kathy.

*  Home by 1 p.m. to read, then went in at 1:30 to watch the Padres game, read the paper, and take a nap.  Padres were down 7-1, won 9-7 in the 9th over the Rockies (now 16-23, still in last place).  Also watered the back lawn and picked up shells on patio.

*  Decided to copy and paste the post The New FamilySearch Family Tree - Post 1: I Have Access that was lost in Blogger mess.  Found that the draft post on CVGenCafe was there, so posted CVGS Research Group Summary - 11 May 2011.  All caught up!

*  Went to Lolita's for dinner, then to Ralph's for groceries, and home by 6:15 p.m. 

*  Did more database mining for Seavers in Iowa BMD collections on FamilySearch.  Got through them, adding names, dates, places for perhaps 50 people.

*  Answered some email, checked Twitter and Facebook, and updated the Best Of post and the NGS Conference Compendium post.  Listened to the FGS MySociety radio show that I missed.  Wrote this post.  Whew - kinda blogged out.

Genealogy today was 10.0 hours - 1.0 hour doing email, 1.5 hours reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 2.5 hours at SDGS meeting, 0.5 hour listened to MySociety radio show, 1.0 hour in social media, and 1.5 hours worknig in my database and doing online research.

Friday, May 13, 2011

My genealogy days - 12 and 13 May 2011

A day without blogging is a day to do other genealogy-related things.  so I did! And had fun doing it.

Thursday - 12 May 2011:

*  Read email and blogs, then wrote NGS Conference Posts Compendium.  Checked out the New FamilySearch tutorials and videos.  Wrote The New FamilySearch Family Tree - Post 1: I Have Access  and set it for later in the afternoon.

*  Got cleaned up, reviewed the new databases on Ancestry and FamilySearch.  Had lunch.  Can't recall what else!

*  Wrote May 2011 CVGS Newsletter is Online  and had the Research Group post finished when Blogger went down at like 2 p.m.  Argghhh.

*  Watched the Janet Hovorka webinar on Legacy, then worked in the database.  Got the 1900 census source citations finished, then added sources for several families trying to burn down my paper piles.

*  Had dinner, back online to work more in my database, made a GEDCOM file and uploaded it to FTM 2011 and Legacy, searched FamilySearch Family Tree for more ancestors, and found some.  Email from Lori with Whittle data, so I happily entered that into the database, with sources.  Blogger still down.

2)  Friday - 13 May 2011

*  Read email and blogs (not many there!) with Blogger still down.  What else can I do? 

*  Checked out how Ancestry.com WebSearch works, and thought about FTM 2012 claims.  Tweeted my frustration and added Facebook comments too.  Entered more sources into the database, and was thinking through the New England Research presentation when Blogger came back on around 10 a.m.

*  Wrote Blogger withdrawal, then Family Tree Maker 2012 News.

*  Left at 11:30 a.m. to get a Polish dog at Costco then picked up George at noon for our weekly walk on the bayfront.  Cool and breezy today.  Home be 1 p.m.

*  Read everything, then wrote What is Ancestry.com's Web Search?  Added more sources from the paper stack to the database, then mined the Iowa Marriages collection on FamilySearch for Seaver data.  Added about 60 names, dates, places with sources to the database.

*  Went in at 5:30 p.m. to read the paper, watch the Padres game and eat dinner.

*  Back online at 7 p.m. to listen to Geneabloggers Radio and chat with the folks.  A good show tonight!  At 8:30 p.m. went in to watch end of Padres game (they lost 12-7 to Rockies, now 15-23 on year). 

*  Read blogs, added to the Best Of post, then resurrected and added to the NGS Compendium post.  Still need to resurrect the New FamilySearch Family Tree post and the CVGenCafe post from Google Reader if Blogger doesn't put them back.  I'm afraid the Research Group post will have to be rewritten.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

My genealogy day - 11 May 2011

I had the day pretty much to myself, since Linda went to Tami's for the day.  It was pretty much an all-genealogy day!

*  Read email and blogs, wrote (Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 152: the Carringer House in 1957.  Got cleaned up, then wrote SDGS Meeting on Saturday, 14 May - Connie Moretti Presents.

*  Printed off my Maps handout for the CVGS Research Group, and gathered my papers.  Did some online search for Nat's Ukraine and Kazakh lines.  Used Google Translate to get English equivalent of Russian names and places, then found them on Google Maps.  Left at 11 a.m. for McDonald's for lunch (treated myself...they didn't have choc chip cookies though, drat!).  Then to the bank, and then the library.

*  Chaired the CVGS Research Group from 12 to 2 p.m.  Gave 30 minute presentation on Maps, then others shared some of their maps and stories, then a general discussion about research, software, and more.   Stayed after to talk to Nat about her research.

*  Home by 2:30 p.m. to read everything.  Added to the Best Of post, and checked out upcoming webinars.  Wrote Dear Randy: How should I transfer my FTM 2011 database to RootsMagic?  I must have done something else for awhile, but can't recall what it was!

*  Went in at 5:15 p.m. to watch TV, read the paper, eat dinner, wash the dishes and put out the trash. 

*  Back online at 6 p.m. to read, then watched Maureen Taylor webinar and RootsMagic/FamilySearch webinar.  Worked in RootsMagic to add more families to new FamilySearch Family Tree.  Gathered some screens, maybe I'll blog about it soon.  I wonder why nobody else blogs about it?

*  Checked Facebook, added to the Best Of post, and wrote this post. 

Genealogy today was 11.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 2.0 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour doing online research for Nat, 1.5 hour in FTM2011 and RM4 software, 2.5 hours at CVGS Research Group, 0.5 hour working on presentation, 2.0 hours working in FSFamilyTree.







 

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

My genealogy day - 10 May 2011

An interesting day, with some significant genealogy work done.

*  Up and out early to make 8:30 a.m. appointment in Mira Mesa for my CT scan of my brain.  Was home by 9:30 a.m. 

*  Read email and blogs, and noted that Tuesday's Tip - Find County Boundary Changes in "Atlas of Historical County Boundaries" posted.

*  Started in on the Maps and Atlases presentation for Wednesday.  Why do my presentations grow like topsy?  I'm too thorough, I guess!  Easy going - a few word slides, lots of screen shots.  Learned quite a bit too.  Had lunch.

*  Wrote Genealogical Meeting and Conference Dynamics.  Back to the Maps presentation.  Then made the handout.  Edited both, and added a bit to both.  Typical haphazard creation.

*  Went in at 5 p.m. to watch the Padres game, read the paper, eat dinner, water the front plants, refill the bird feeder.  The Padres were down 8-0 after 4 innings - came back to 8-6 final.  Now 14-22. 

*  Online at 8 p.m. to review the Maps work, and put it on the laptop.  Added to the Best Of post, checked in on Facebook.  Did first work on FamilySearch Family Tree, adding my parents data.  Then added more using RootsMagic.  That's certainly the way to go!  Did some email, then wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 8.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 1.5 hours writing blog posts, 4.0 hours working on the Maps presentation, and 1.0 hours working in FamilySearch.

Monday, May 9, 2011

My genealogy days - 8 and 9 May 2011

Not much genealogy research done on Sunday and Monday.

On Sunday, 8 May ( Mother's Day):

*  Read email and blogs, finished up the Best of the Genea-Blogs post and set it for after noon.  Went off to church.

*  Home by 11:45 a.m., read everything, worked on the CVGS Newsletter a bit.  Went in at 1:15 p.m. to watch the Padres game, read the paper, and take a nap.  Padres won 4-3 over Dbacks (now 14-20).

*  Left at 4:30 p.m. to go to dinner at Hob Nob Hill.  Not that good this time. 

*  Home by 6:30 p.m. to work on CVGS Newsletter.  Got it finished.  Printer wouldn't work.  No matter what I did, it wouldn't work, so replaced the Lexmark with the HP sitting on the chair in the spare bedroom.  Worked fine.  Now I need ink for it, after buying ink for the Lexmark on Friday.  Argghhh.  Can always reinstall the Lexmark, I think.

*  Printed out the mail labels and the newsletter to take to printer on Monday.

*  Wrote Amanuensis Monday - Will of Ephraim Buck (1646-1721) of Woburn, Mass. because of possible time problems on Monday.

On Monday, 9 May:

*  Read email and blogs, but had to watch the grandgirls in the morning.  When they went off at 10:30 as.m. for haircuts and lunch, I gathered up the CVGS Newsletter stuff and went to UPS Store.  30 minutes job.

*  Home to eat lunch, read everything, and write The Family of Martha (Davis) Seaver (1793-1868).   Emailed the CVGS Newsletter to CVGS members.  Went in at 1:30 p.m. to watch TV, read the paper and take a nap.

*  Worked on the 1900 census citations until Audrey was up from her nap at 3:30 p.m.  Got her snacked and dressed, and Lolo up at 4.  We left at 4:45 p.m. for dinner at Rubios, and goodbyes at 6 p.m.

*  Home to watch the Padres game - lost 4-3 to Milwaukee (now 14-21). 

*  Started to work on the Map talk for Wednesday.  Wrote the Tuesday's Tip for Tuesday because I have medical test in the morning.  Checked Facebook, wrote this post.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

My genealogy days - 6 and 7 May 2011

I'm getting lax in my old age...forgot to post last night!  Let's see if I can remember what I did!

Friday, 6 May:

*  Read email and blogs, wrote Attending Genealogy Conferences - My View, then FGS FORUM Magazine - Spring 2011 Table of Contents and set it for later in the morning.  Got cleaned up, and wrote Recently Added Collections to WorldVitalRecords.com and set it for early afternoon.

*  Had lunch at home, went for a walk on the bayfront with George, then to Office Depot for printer ink and home by 1:30 p.m.  Wrote the Surname Saturday post. 

*  Edited about 40 more 1900 census citations and added about 20 new ones too.  Went in at 4 p.m. to read the paper and take a nap.

*  We left at 5 p.m. for dinner at Oggi's, home by 6:30 p.m.  Checked email, Facebook and blogs.

*  Listened to and chatted on Geneabloggers Radio until 8:30, then in to watch end of Padres game (won 4-3 in 11 innings, Pads now 13-19 on the season).  Added to the Best Of post.

On Saturday, 7 May:

*  Read email and blogs, then off to Bible study breakfast at 8 a.m.  Home by 9:45 a.m. to note that Surname Saturday - Christina LNU (????-1804) of Morris County, NJ posted.  Wrote the Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - a Genealogy Scavenger Hunt post and set it for after noon.



*  Tuned in to the MySociety Radio program at 11 a.m. and enjoyed Randy Whited and Paula Stuart-Warren discussion.

*  Left at 11:45 for Bonita Library for CVGS Workshop on Mid-Atlantic State Research.  Didn';t learn anything, but met an interesting lady who wants help on her Ukraine/Kazakh families.

*  Home by 2:30 p.m. to read, then in to watch Kentucky Derby at 3:30, and we packed up to leave by 4 p.m.

*  Off to the Padres game - got there by 5 p.m., we ate there; Pads lost 6-0 to Diamondbacks, and it wasn't that close!.  We left after 7 innings, and home by 8:30 p.m.

*  Read everything, then worked on the CVGS Newsletter, and wrote this post.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

My genealogy day - 5 May 2011

It was an interesting, and somewhat different genealogy day for me.

*  Up early to leave at 6:35 a.m. for Bonita Golf course for the Kiwanis club breakfast at 7 p.m.  I made a 20 minute presentation on "Genealogy - Be An Ancestry Detective" to the group of 14.

*  Home by 8:30 a.m. to read email and blogs, then wrote Treasure Chest Thursday - the Will of Isaac Seaver (1823-1901).  Wrote Genealogy Conference Vendors - My View and set it for later in the morning.

*  Downloaded the Branches software, installed it and uploaded a GEDCOM to it.  Wrote Branches Software Rewind and set it for early afternoon.

*  Had lunch, then worked in the database.  Edited about 50 source citations for the 1900 Census, and then added about 30 census citations for a whole Seaver line.  Even found new census data for several in the database.

*  Went in at 4:45 p.m. to read the paper, watch the news, and do several chores.  Ron came for dinner and Linda had an allergic reaction.

*  Back online at 7:3e0 p.m. to read, then worked on the CVGS Newsletter for awhile.  Downloaded the Spring 2011 issue of FGS FORUM magazine.  Checked in on Facebook, added to the Best Of post, and wrote this post.

Genealogy today was 10.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 1.0 hour at Kiwanis Club, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour working in Branches, 1.5 hours working on CVGS Newsletter, and 2.5 hours adding content to my database.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

My genealogy day - 4 May 2011

This was a full and varied genealogy day.  I touched almost everything but my database!

*  Read email and blogs, then wrote (Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 151: the Bay Side of the Carringer House, then wrote Presenting at Seminars and Societies - My View and set it for later in the morning.  Got cleaned up.

*  Wrote More Information on the Family of William Seaver (1783-1821) and set it for early afternoon.  Printed out the CVGS papers needed for the Board meeting, and ate lunch.

*  Left at 11:30 a.m. for the library, and sat through the Board meeting from noon to 2:15 p.m.  Home by 2:45 p.m. to read emails and blogs.

*  Edited down my "Genealogy! Be An Ancestry Detective" talk to 40 slides from 57, and hope I can do it in 20 minutes Thursday at the Kiwanis Club.   Worked on the handout too, and printed off some (ran out of black ink in the process - need to go to Office Depot soon!). 

*  Went in to watch TV, have dinner, take out the trash and water the front plants at 5 p.m., back online at 6 p.m.

*  Downloaded OpenOffice 3.3 and installed it.  Then copied the talk material to the flash drive and to the laptop. 

*  Started work on the May CVGS Newsletter.  Need more input from Board members.  Added to the Best Of post, checked in on Facebook, and wrote this post. 

Genealogy today was 9.5 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 2.5 hours writing blog posts, 2.0 hours at CVGS Board meeting, 2.0 hours working on Detective presentation, and 1.5 hours working on CVGS Newsletter.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

My genealogy days - 2 and 3 May 2011

I missed journaling again on Monday, too tired after a full day.  Tuesday was a full genealogy day!  I had fun.

On Monday, 2 May:

*  Got the boys fed and entertained, read email and blogs while they watched TV.  Managed to write Amanuensis Monday -Will of James Stone (1702-1783) of Groton, Massachusetts in the morning.

*  Got cleaned up, and played catch with Lucas in the back yard.  Lori was feeling better, thank goodness, because they were going home today.  Played soccer with Logan, then we had lunch, Lori packed up, and we left at 12:30 p.m. for the airport.  Left them in the security line at 1:15 p.m. and was home by 1:45 p.m.

*  Put together New and Updated FamilySearch Historical Collections - April 2011 and posted it.  Figured out a way to determine what's new or what's updated. 

*  Worked a bit in RootsMagic 4 fixing my problem areas.  Got through about half of the lists.  Was dozing off, so went in at 4 p.m. for a short nap.  We left at 4:55 p.m. for the trolley station.

*  Took the trolley to Gaslamp, ate dinner at the Tin Fish, listed to Joe on his guitar, and wandered over to Petco Park at 6:30 p.m.  Watched the Padres lose to the Pirates, 4-3.  Got home after 11 p.m. 

*  Read email and blogs, but that was it.

Tuesday, 3 May:

*  Read email and blogs, then wrote Tuesday's Tip - Finding U.S. Naturalization Records.  Got cleaned up.

*  Wrote Planning Genealogical Seminars - My View, and then Genealogy Days in Chula Vista - May 2011.  Worked in the database fixing problems - got through the list - lots of women over 50 having babies if the birth data is correct.  Had lunch.

*  Captured screens and wrote FamilySearch Feature - Books.  While testing the site out, found more info on the family of the murdered William Seaver.  Captured the pages and now have several future log posts in hand!  Serendipitous, or just good planning? 

*  Went in to read the paper and eat dinner, then left at 4:45 p.m. for the library for the CVGS Genealogy 101 class.

*  The library conference room was booked, so we used the computer lab.  The lab computer had no USB ports, so had to upload the presentation to Google Docs and then work from the PDF file.  Not too bad save there!  Done by 7:30 p.m, and home by 8 p.m.

*  Checked email and blogs, watched Padres game (beat Pirates 6-5), checked Facebook, added to the Best Of post and wrote this post. 

Genealogy today was 9.0 hours - 0.5 hour doing email, 1.0 hour reading blogs, 3.0 hours writing blog posts, 1.0 hour in FamilySearch databases, 1.0 hour in BYU Family Archive, and 2.5 hours on CVGS Genealogy 101 class.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

My family history weekend - 29 April to 1 May 2011

It's been a family history weekend with very little genealogy work done at all - just some blogging and some email traffic work.  But it's been fun!

*  Friday was the big day - we were out early to play some baseball, then went to Sea World - got there at 10 a.m. and left at 4 p.m.  Lots of walking.  The boys, Lori and I went on the Atlantis ride - a waterfall ride then some roller coaster through water turns.  Then to the Arctic Expedition ride, the penguin place, the shark encounter, an aquarium, and lunch.  After lunch, the Shipwreck Reef Rapids ride through swirling and rushing water - got   drenched.  Fun - the boys and Lori did it again, and I took pictures of them.  Then another aquarium, the Shamu show and shopping.  Got home easily and had dinner at home, then watched Sharks-RedWings game for awhile before baths and bed for the boys. 

*  Saturday was supposed to be the day at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, but we didn't go.  Played baseball in front with the boys several times today - kids from down the street played too.  Tami and Lauren came by 12:30 p.m., and Lori and I took the three kids to Imperial Beach.  They played in the surf (I didn't get further in than my knees), we built sand castles (the kids got bored), and they buried each other in the sand, and then hunted seashells.  Got a bucket full of them.  It was sunny and not hot, some wind too.  Stopped for ice cream at McDonalds on the way home.  The cousins got along really well.  Tami and Lauren went home.   Lori went out with her friend this night, so we took the boys out for dinner.  Linda had Lolita's and the boys and I had McDonalds.  More baseball before watching the Padres game.  I put the boys down tonight - fun times reading and talking with them.

*  The tentative plan on Sunday was for Lori and the boys to go to friend's house to swim in the morning, but Lori woke up sick and didn't get any better all day long.  Played baseball in the morning, had lunch, took the boys to Fun-4-All to ride bumper boats and do miniature golf (Logan hockey sticks the ball into the hole).  Stopped at McDonalds for ice cream.  Home by 2:45 to see the end of the Sharks/RedWings game, then Padres game (Pads won 7-0).  Lisa came for dinner and talk, and helped treat Lori.  I played soccer in back with Logan and the boys played soccer in front with the boys from down the block.  They ran for a good 30 minutes and were tired afterwards.  Went to bed pretty easily.  Lori too.

I tried to take bits of time to read my email, read blogs, write the usual weekend blog posts, and stay up-to-date with the genealogy news.  I missed the two radio shows and the Chula Vista Home Tour.  Next year!

Back to normal on Monday - I take Lori and the boys to the airport after lunch, but we have a Padres game at 7 p.m., so blogging will be light.