2013

Hello little blog.  I've missed you.  2012 turned out to be a pretty crazy year and I promise to update on that soon, but first I just want to say hi to all my readers out there.  Thanks for sticking around.

My only resolution for 2013 is to get back into the hobbies that I most enjoy.  Genealogy is near the top of that list and I have a few goals to go along with that.

1. Spend at least 1 hour a week on my genealogy, whether research or organization.


2. Read at least 1 genealogy book a month and post about it here.


3. Post at least 2 times a week on my blog about my exploits.  These can be about genealogy, libraries, travel or just general updates on life.


4. Update/organize categories and pages on the blog.

I have been organizing my apartment and am shocked at the amount of genealogical research I have just sitting in boxes.  Many boxes, in many rooms, full of glorious information that I couldn't find if my life depended on it and that is probably not in my genealogy program.  So while new research is always my favorite thing to do, I think organizing the information I have into nice binders and source citations in Legacy is probably a better plan.

I'm looking forward to catching up on all my genealogy blogs in my Reader and finding new ones, too.  Happy New Year!

Motivational Monday: June

It is hard to believe we are at the halfway point of the year already.  After hearing Elizabeth Shown Mills speak at NGS, I am focusing the majority of my time putting sources into my updated RootsMagic database.  Although most items are sources in my Legacy database, not everything is and there is almost no document transcription or comments on the validity of the document/information.  As such, I am trying to create a main database that will include all of this information and have decided that RootsMagic 5 is the best program for this.

Research:

• Main focus: Sophia Possehl research strategy
• Secondary focus: Continue basic search for the husband’s family (Ancestry, FamilySearch, etc.)
• Search for tombstones for my husband’s family in the Utica area

Organization:

• Put all Whitehead family sources into RootsMagic.  All sources must be fully documented, transcribed and with comments as needed.
• Dedicate one shelf on our bookcase to my genealogy notebooks

Education:

• Watch all RootsMagic webinars of interest
• Read the 4 genealogy books I have out from the library
• Continue reading and taking notes on the NGS syllabus
• Attend 3 CLRC library/archives workshops

Misc.

• Post at least twice per week on this blog
• Complete at least 3 Find-A-Grave cemetery requests

Happy June Day!

When did it get to be June?  And why does only May get "May day"?  I proclaim today to be "June Day".  Happy June Day!

May was pretty great.  Finished grad school, got promoted at my job, and it finally got warm and stopped raining in Syracuse.  Now that I have settled into the work routine and fully staffed the place so that I can have some time off, it's time to get started on the rest of everything.

My June Goals:

• Tried to do this during the school year and just couldn't find the time.  I am looking forward to completing it this time around.


• Posts on Barbara Fleeman's probate packet.  It will show why probates are fantastic and why to look for them for men in your family, too.


• Finish ProGen!  Working on my first proof argument, the final assignment!!!


• Update at least 3 times per week, plus a tombstone Tuesday post.


• Get caught up on my reading and post a couple book reviews.

Looks like a full schedule, especially if I can add some research time in there, plus everything else life has to offer...

 

January Goal Update

Didn't so so well so far.  I am going to print these out and put them on my calendar so I can remember and work towards them.

Personal:

• Become a better blogger, posting at least 3 times a week and commenting more on other blogs. - Not so much


• Train for and run a half-marathon - On my way to do this


• Read at least 2 new books a month -Yes!


• Plan more game nights/dinner parties/etc. to see friends more often - Not really


• Become more active with my church Social Justice Committee and History Committee - No


• Send birthday and anniversary cards to friends and family - Sent Facebook messages...

Genealogy

• Write one ancestor profile a month for the blog - No


• Create written research plans, at least one per month.  Post on my blog, along with follow-ups as to how the research goes - No


• Complete at least the first two CDs of the NGS home study course - Working on it


• Attend at least one national genealogical conference - Not yet

2011 Goals

Happy New Year!  1/1/11 is here!  I love 1s.  New beginnings, new challenges, change (yep, I'm one of those weird people who likes change).

The end of the year was rather different from years past.  I slipped on ice at school and sprained my ankle on my birthday.  I have spent the past few weeks on my couch, which has given my a lot of time to think and plan for 2011.  I am not a fan of resolutions, but I did want to come up with some goals.  2011 is looking to be a great year: I will get my Master's degree, find a job outside of retail, turn 30...  Here is a list of my personal and genealogy-related goals for the coming year.

Personal:

• Become a better blogger, posting at least 3 times a week and commenting more on other blogs.


• Train for and run a half-marathon


• Read at least 2 new books a month


• Plan more game nights/dinner parties/etc. to see friends more often


• Become more active with my church Social Justice Committee and History Committee


• Send birthday and anniversary cards to friends and family

Genealogy

• Write one ancestor profile a month for the blog


• Create written research plans, at least one per month.  Post on my blog, along with follow-ups as to how the research goes


• Complete at least the first two CDs of the NGS home study course


• Attend at least one national genealogical conference

Goals for the New Year

In 2010, I hope to accomplish the following:

• Interview my grandmothers, parents and great aunts, uncles and cousins on video ASAP!
• Goal is to do this by the end of February for my grandmothers
• Update each of my lines sideways and forward.
• I usually do well with my information about my ancestors siblings, but I have not done so well finding cousins in more recent generations.
• Focus my search for my German lines so that I can visit their hometowns while I am in Germany for 4 1/2 months
• I will therefore focus on the Eichhorn, Gresz, Fink, Weiss and Tross lines for the next two months
• Stay in touch with my relatives searching my fathers side of the family.
• I research my mothers side as I have great aunts and uncles who research my fathers.  I will be helping my Aunt Dottie with her search in Poland for the Karpinski's (my great-grandmother's line)
• Complete Dear Myrtle's finally get organization checklist from 2009
• Start researching my fiancé's line (at the very least, get the information he knows into my file)
• Blog: Participate in Surname Saturday each week in order to get my surnames out there and find new cousins!  I plan on going alphabetically though all my surnames.