I would say my week entailed some genealogical fun, challenges and spring cleaning!
I suddenly realized that I had been so busy doing some things and not doing others. In particular, working on my own genealogy. I couldn't remember the last time I actually worked on it, which left a very bad vibe with me. I decided I needed to take some time for this, so I could feel good about what I had accomplished. Here are a few things I have noticed and worked on...
Everything seems to take a little longer these days, and not because I am old! It is more because everything seems to be a challenge, more involved than they should be. If, for instance, I chose to scan, I need to set up my old laptop and scanner in the dining room. I scan my items to the old laptop and then need to transfer them from the old laptop to the new laptop. As if that wasn't time consuming enough I have been challenged with where to find my photos afterwards. Having gone from Windows XP to Vista to Windows 7 and a laptop change, I have really been tried with my photos. Each program sets them up differently. I am still trying to find some of my photos.
I have never used Picasa before, can you believe it? I finally downloaded the program and most of my photos are now in that location. I spent a little time poking around and playing, but definitely need to do more in order to take full advantage of Picasa. It looks like I have been missing the boat and hope it will cover my needs at this time. I need to thank Gini from Ginisology for clarifying some misconceptions I had regarding the program. Thank you Gini!
Genealogy e-mail...I was falling further and further behind. It wasn't so much that I owed responses, what I really needed to do was process and save all of new information I had been receiving. This involved saving photos, stories and email copies to the correct location. I have several email accounts and have only cleaned up one of those accounts. I have genealogy information on a couple more accounts that also need cleaning up.
Is anyone ever caught up reading genealogy blogs they subscribe to? Hours have been spent this week while I was trying to catch up. I did a lot of reading, not much commenting and tried my best to catch up, but still show over 1000 in Google Reader that need to be read.
By far, the best genealogy moment for me this past week was the connection with a new cousin! Terri from Finding Our Ancestors and I started Tweeting on Twitter and low and behold we are cousins! This excitement found me spending a full day working on that particular line. So much work was accomplished, and yet there is so much more I want to do. I can't begin to tell you how happy I was to find Terri as a cousin and the information we shared. With this particular line, I have always felt I knew of another person who would end up being a cousin. Until I accomplished what I wanted to with this line, I wasn't going to bring it up. Terri has informed me this person IS also a cousin, just as I figured! I haven't discussed it with this person yet so they are unaware of the cousin connection with me. I won't share this person's name just yet, but I will share the the name of the line. It is RICHMOND, the family line that was my toughest to initiate. Yeah for new found cousins!
I have accomplished quite a bit this week. From scanning, to organizing, filing and learning, reading and sharing, it has been a great genealogy week! Hope yours has been just as great! Now, if I could just figure out how to get totally caught up and stay caught up...
Thanks for stopping by!
Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!
Yeah on your successes this week!
ReplyDeleteI am glad I am not alone in being behind on everything from photos, email, filing, entering data into TMG, etc, etc, etc...
Maybe once I get my family's taxes done...
Cheryl, you have been very busy! I am so happy to have found a new cousin as well. Excited about the other one as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the plug on my blog as well. I look forward to really looking into this line with you!
OMG, I thought I was the only one that had that chaos-creating system of old scanners, new scanners, old lap tops and new laptops, and where the heck is that picture.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have never used Picasa--- woe, is me.
Same here. No matter how much I try to get organized, I am continually behind in one or more areas: actual research, research-related mail, scanning and organizing photos, writing posts, reading posts, etc., etc. If I could just have one quiet week at home...
ReplyDeleteMichelle, Thank you!I do believe it is the nature of the beast, genealogy! We aren't ever suppose to be caught up!
ReplyDeleteresearchingoconnells We are excited about "cousinship" together! We will have fun, for sure!
Joan, maybe we can compare notes and find a better way between us? ;-)
Greta, I really understand your feeling for a quiet week, they can be so nice.
Cheryl ~
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely not alone in this...I need to scan a box of photos that my mom brought me two Thanksgivings ago! Then I need to organize once they are on my computer...I have yet to figure out the best labeling system in "My Pictures"! I have so many emails that I have read quickly but didn't delete or put into the proper folders that I had already created for them! It's crazy and I get very frustrated when I am behind...but as I can see here...I am too am not the only one...thank goodness!
You are so welcome on the "Picasa" info...I am very much a beginner too but I love it and if there is anything else I can help with, let me know.
Vickie over at "BeNotForgot" (www.benotforgot.blogspot.com) has a wonderful tutorial on using Picasa for your photos in the "Captured Moments" article, starting with the November issue in the "Shades" (www.shadesofthedeparted.com) magazine that has been created by footnoteMaven (www.footnotemaven.com) and her contributors.
I know with each others support and help, we will all get it together someday...right...we will...right!?! Thank you for your support and helping me along my way too...I love your blog and I am loving the look too! You are the best Cheryl.
Hi Gini!
ReplyDeleteYes, one day we WILL get it all together!:-)Thank you for the reminder of Vicki's article, I would like to play some with Picassa soon. I thank you! and you are welcome! We all support each other!