Weekly Genealogy Blogging Prompt #3

3. Participate in weekly blog themes: Tombstone Tuesday, Wordless Wednesday, etc. Many genealogy bloggers post photos of grave stones on Tombstone Tuesday or a photo worth 1,000 silent words on Wordless Wednesday. Participate in these informal events or invent your own.

I was an "early adopter" of Tombstone Tuesday and I usually try to participate on a regular basis.  Wordless Wednesday has not been as consistent but that is because I need to scan more photos.  Thankfully, Scanfest is coming up this Sunday!!!

Genealogy Journal Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Wednesdays are always busy and I just needed to get over the hump - and I did!

• Reviewed all the great Wordless Wednesday posts over at GeneaBloggers. It is difficult for me to figure out if Tombstone Tuesday or Wordless Wednesday is more popular.

• Finalized and posted the Resources for Holiday Blog Decorating and even added two "screencasts" using the new Screenr application. I spruced up the Destination: Austin Family blog as an example and also helped Gini at Ginisology makeover her blog for the holidays.

• Worked with my new client on this consulting gig - it looks like final approval will come this week. I will be very busy in December but it is a great opportunity.

• Put the finishing touches on tomorrow's big holiday-related announcement over at GeneaBloggers. This will require quite a bit of work but I think with pre-posting it can be achieved and will really add value to the genealogy blogging experience for many.

• The rest of the day and evening was spent working some more on my client's Portuguese-Hawaiian research. In case anyone is interested, the main surname is GOIAS and when all is said and done, with the client's permission, there will be a series of posts.

© 2009, copyright Thomas MacEntee

Year in Review (2008) in 12 Sentences

This meme seems to be all the rage today out in the Genea-Blogosphere and since I prefer memes where I don't need to tag other genea-bloggers, I thought I'd give it a go.  The idea is to take the first sentence of the first post of each month in the previous year (2008) and list them.

1. "I have to say that I really enjoyed Craig Manson's post "Greatest Genealogy Find Ever" over at Geneabloggie." from My Greatest Genealogical Find Ever.

2. "I am happy to announce some progress on the MacEntee side of my family tree." from A Wall Broken Down.

3. "Jasia at Creative Gene, who you all know I absolutely adore and really made me the genea-blogging junkie that I am, has a great post today dealing with the concept of a 'matriname.'" from The Name Game - Family Name Schematics In Different Cultures.

4. "As I mentioned in my earlier post, I have actually been able to leverage both a website and several blogs to meet my needs." from A Melded Website/Blog Environment.

5. "Lowville in Lewis County, New York is considered the ancestral hometown in my family." from Home to Lowville.

6. "Joan and Jo'el Austin." from Wordless Wednesday.

7. "The topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy will be: Independent Spirit." from Reminder - 51st Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy.

8. "The Genea-Bloggers group has seen some more growth this past week." from The Week in Facebook 8/1/2008.

9. "Most of the heirlooms that I do have of the Austin family ancestors are in the form of photos or naturalization certificates, and perhaps some letters." from A Love Untarnished.

10. "Fred Roberts china gets ready for Sunday brunch." from Wordless Wednesday.

11. "I was fortunate enough to have been raised in an extended family that regularly shunned television in favor of discussing the issues of the day." from The Family Politic.

12. "I've had so many different Christmas trees in my life, from boyhood to adult, but I can remember each and every one of them as well as the ones of friends and family members." from Advent Calendar - December 1 - Christmas Trees.

Genealogy Journal Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Well Wednesday started out great but keep reading and you'll see how I had to cope with disaster.

• Woke up early at 3am, made coffee and figured I had such a productive writing day on Tuesday that I could go for a repeat.  Was I wrong.

• I'm saving much of the disaster description for my Data Backup Day post since, luckily, I had backed up my data the day before.  But not my settings.  The short story: I had to wipe the entire computer clean, reinstall the factory image, and reload all my programs and settings.  This is still going on and will take at least a week to finish.

• I did manage to pre-post the Wordless Wednesday post for GeneaBloggers - and there were lots of great blog posts for me to tag in Google Reader.

• Also, I had written Web-based Tools for Researching Living People here at Destination: Austin Family.  I gave it a final review and posted it.

• My intent was to work on several posts including carnival deadlines since I will be in New York this weekend visiting Mom.  Well, that didn't happen!

• Music today: no music - it takes too much concentration when you are working on reloading programs on the computer and dealing with settings.  Ugh.

© 2009, copyright Thomas MacEntee

Genealogy Journal Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Another Veterans Day and I was up early so I could put out the big 8 foot by 5 foot flag on the back deck. I know it only faces the alley (in Chicago, all our services such as garbage, parking and electrical poles are in the alleys - makes the front streets much nicer), but it is out there for all days when the US flag should be flown.

• I waited until the pre-post of Wordless Wednesday was up so I could post A Day to Remember Veterans 2009 over at GeneaBloggers. I was overwhelmed with not only the number of blog posts (close to 200) but the quality. I should have kept a box of tissues on my desk since they were needed while reading some of the stories posted.

• I stuck to my Veterans Day tradition and posted about my cousin Kenny over at DAF.

• I worked on a few pre-posts for the next few days and weeks - it was a bit of a solemn day and I didn't want to post anything light-hearted or off topic.

• While I was disappointed that the CMA Awards pre-empted my usual Wednesday night television viewing, I happily discovered a POV piece on PBS - The Way We Get By. It is about a group of folks in Bangor, Maine who make sure that every plane of US Troops on their way to or from Iraq and Afghanistan are properly greeted. Very moving documentary that not only illustrates the commitment of these volunteers, but aspects of their personal lives as well. Check your local PBS schedule and see it if you can - a most fitting way to end Veterans Day.

• Music: more of my Mellow mix. What I am really liking lately are "covers" where the original like 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover is done in an unconventional style like bossa nova or jazz. Also, this may seem weird, but there is an entire genre of female Norwegian jazz singers who are simply amazing. Sidsel Endresen is an example

© 2009, copyright Thomas MacEntee

Genealogy Journal Wednesday, October 21, 2009

In my last journal post I wondered what Wednesday would bring - well it brought lots of work, that's what it brought.  I didn't have a sense of accomplishment by day's end but perhaps that's what this journal is for - to help me see what genealogy work I actually do on a given day.

• Lots of posts to review from the genealogy blogs - Wordless Wednesday is one of the most popular blogging themes.  And there have been lots of great photos lately.

• Intriguing post from Herstoryan about whether it is permissible to "enhance" a citation format.  Take a look at her post as well as my response on How To Cite A Find A Grave Headstone as well as footnote Maven's wonderful post on the same topic.  In case you are unfamiliar with Herstoryan check out her blog - she is relative new on the genealogy blogging scene but has some great content and poses some great questions to the genealogy community.

• Posted the May Introduce To You . . . Elizabeth O'Neal post over at GeneaBloggers.  I am really happy with the writing Gini Webb of Ginisology has been doing with this series.  A hint for all those .

• Finally completed a rather technical post at GeneaBloggers on Subscribing To A Blog Via Email.  One of the participants in last weekend's blogging session at CGSL had asked for this information and I feel bad it took me so long.  But I needed to properly review the entire feed burning process in two other posts before I could get to this one.

• Well, turns out that my pro bono work for a friend may actually end up paying off.  Literally.  It seems his colleagues were "blown away" by my work and my report to the point they are interested in engaging my services.  I am working up a rate sheet and will send it along with my resume.

• I've offered to work with another friend on her Hawaiian and Portuguese research - pro bono as well - because it is an area that interests me and I need the experience.  I may start that today.

• Finally, I did not get to post more on the Marjorie Pauline Frost baby book and I will do that first thing today - I know lots of readers want the next chapter and want to see how the research was done on that project.

Well I guess I did do quite a bit yesterday.  Ever have days where you turn of the computer, turn off the desk lamp and go to bed thinking it was a day where nothing got done?  I guess that's why journaling is important - now I see that I got more accomplished than I gave myself credit for.

© 2009, copyright Thomas MacEntee

Genealogy Journal Wednesday, November 4, 2009

I think I have finally found the secret (or at least one of them) to being more productive if you work at home like I do: shower/bathe as soon as you wake up, not later in the day. It really has made a difference so far this week - I jump right in to what I need to do!

• Worked mostly on my presentation for a contract position that I'm pretty certain I've snagged. I will know more next week but I am very psyched not only for the income but for the opportunities this will provide in the genealogy field.

• Inquired about the Boston University Online Genealogical Research program - received some basic information and I need to decide whether or not to enroll by December 20, 2009 for the January 13, 2010 start date or wait for the next iteration. Completing the BU program is part of my educational plan for genealogy.

• After the presentation, I got back to catching up on emails and blog posts I missed all day. Realized that I hadn't posted the Wordless Wednesday roll-up over at GeneaBloggers. Got that posted and also pre-posted the rest of the Daily Blogging Theme posts for the remainder of this week.

• I had some non-genealogy blogging to do - mainly for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law's new opera company, Petite Opera Productions, here in Chicago. I've set up an ambitious social networking-rich marketing plan and it seems to be paying off.

• Watched my favorite new shows on television (Modern Family and Cougar Town on ABC). Then tried to sleep but couldn't. So I got up, worked on the badge for the Save The State Library of Massachusetts campaign and finally went to bed at 2:00 am.

• Music today: I am more and more in love with both Dusty Springfield and Joan Osborne the more I listen to them!

© 2009, copyright Thomas MacEntee

Genealogy Journal Catch-Up!

Somehow I've fallen behind on my genealogy journal posts. The most likely culprit is Thanksgiving preparations and then some out-of-town company over the weekend.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

• It was a very slow blogging day for most folks as they prepped for the big day tomorrow.

• I posted my annual I Give Thanks post over at Destination: Austin Family as well as A Heartfelt Thanks at GeneaBloggers. I can't believe that GB has had more than 500,000 hits since late February, 2009 - and every member of the genealogy blogging community is responsible for its success.

• I worked on entering my David Putman descendants into my new genealogy database on RootsMagic 4 as well as becoming familiar with the source citation templates. Although I've always felt more familiar with Family Tree Maker, I think I need to fully understand each of the major softwares for genealogy and I'm committed to doing this with RootsMagic as well as Legacy Family Tree and a few others.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

• A busy day in the kitchen for me - thank goodness for pre-scheduled posts!

• After cooking for close to seven hours (Roast Turkey basted in butter and Chardonnay, stuffing, potatoes lyonnaise, ginger glazed carrots, homemade refrigerator rolls, sweet potatoes, squash, homemade cranberry sauce), guests arrived and we had a nice leisurely dinner from 5:00 until after 10:00 pm!

• We did discuss genealogy and lots of family memories. There was also good news all-around from new employment opportunities to finally closing on the sale of the family house which has been up on the market for over three years! May this be a portent to a much better year and decade starting in 2010!

Friday, November 27, 2009

• I've come to the realization that I still have lots to do for pre-posting the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories posts and I better get cracking!

• At GeneaBloggers, I made sure the Weekly Events post was up - took more time than usual since there are special events such as ACCM, Holiday Cookbook and more!

• Since I am not a Black Friday shopper (and usually I am anti-consumerist but because of the economy I've been encouraging folks to spend as much as they comfortably can), I had lots of time for genealogy research!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

• Played Escape from Costco Island and got out of there in a record 11 minutes and under $100! Woot! Also picked up a few things at the grocer's but we'll be living on leftovers for the next week.

• Posted the New Genealogy Blogs post at GeneaBloggers - some great ones even though this was a light week with only six new blogs.

• Overnight guests arrived on their way home to St. Paul, Minnesota. We had appetizers and rolled out the bar cart before going off to Tapas Las Ramblas at the end of the street for tapas. Next was off to George's Ice Cream where I experienced the Kitty Kitty Bang Bang flavor: cheesecake with raspberry swirl and crushed Oreo cookies.

• Came home and saw that Randy Seaver had posted his Saturday Night Genealogy Fun which dealt with celebrity look-alikes. You know I couldn't resist participating! I was a bit surprised by the results - historically people say I look like Bruce Willis and he didn't even appear in my top eight celebrities!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

• Early in the morning (I was up until 4:00 am) I took care of all the Daily Blogging Theme posts for the week including Black Sheep Sunday. I am considering making some changes to the actual themes beginning in 2010. I think Tombstone Tuesday and Wordless Wednesday should stay since they are the most popular but others might change since new theme topics would allow others to participate. I may post a poll asking for feedback.

• Posted the SNGF rollup at GB since many folks participated - lots of fun to actually see the photos of bloggers!

• Made a huge breakfast for guests before they undertook the seven hour drive back to St. Paul. Spent the rest of the day napping and working on the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories.

© 2009, copyright Thomas MacEntee

Light On Posts

Just a quick note to my regular visitors and to the new ones as well: I've been bogged down with setting up my new company - now that I am among the many unemployed - and have been lacking in terms of blog posts.

I have lots of news and lots of posts coming up.  I am also going to pre-post several weeks of regular items such as Tombstone Tuesday and Wordless Wednesday.

Other highlights coming up this month:

- a special post on Veterans Day; remember to thank a vet not just this Tuesday but every day!

- posts for the Smile for the Camera, Carnival of Genealogy, Cabinet of Curiosities, and Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture carnivals.

- updates on the Genea-Bloggers group at Facebook.

- introduction of a new series for those thinking of purchasing a new computer this holiday season called I Dream of Genea-Computer!

- information on a genealogy wiki that I am developing called Lowville Long Ago using the same platform as Wikipedia.  This project is so complicated that it needs its own blog just to explain the construction phase!

Stay tuned.

Wordless Wednesday

Putty Basking On A Sunny Morn. Digital photograph taken October 26, 2008 at Mount Tremper, New York.  Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois.

Wordless Wednesday

Pieter De Wandelaer, (1713 - aft. 1787) - my 7th Great-Grandmother. Portrait attributed to Pieter Vandelyn. Albany Institute of History and Art, Albany, New York.

Wordless Wednesday

John Ralph Austin, age 18 months. Lowville, New York, July, 1897. Digital image. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2008.

Wordless Wednesday

Edward Farren (my 2nd great grand uncle) 1880-1942, abt. 1898. Photograph. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois.

Wordless Wednesday

Gregory Austin, Alfred Austin and Malcolm Austin. Photograph. Abt 1935. Digital image. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2008.

Wordless Wednesday

Freer House, New Paltz, New York, 1720. Digital image of postcard of home erected by my 7th great-grandfather, Hugo Freer (b. 1691). Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2008.

Wordless Wednesday

Family Portrait - Wedding of Ethel Henneberg and Raymond O'Brien, abt 1936, Bronx, New York

Wordless Wednesday

Ethel McCrickert, Dulcide McCrickert (l to r, back row), Matthew McCrickert and John B. McCrickert, Jr (l to r, front row). Photograph. ca. 1935. Digital image. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2008.

Wordless Wednesday

My barber shop, Gabby's, in Chicago . . . a step back in time.

Wordless Wednesday

Lawton Austin. Photograph. Abt 1916. Digital image. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2008.

Upcoming Posts - Week of April 14th

Just wanted to give visitors and idea of what I'll be working on this week:

April 14, 2008: My Family Traits
My post for the 46th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy

April 15, 2008 (Tax Day): The 1863 War Tax in New York
I will describe an interesting book, The Income Record: A List Giving the Taxable Income of Every Resident of New York - published in 1863 by the American News Company, New York, New York. This is available for free in Google Books and has helped me establish not only residency for several ancestors but also how they were doing financially!

April 16, 2008: Wordless Wednesday
Posting photographs connected to my family history or places I live or have lived.

April 19, 2008: 333rd Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord
I will be posting about my family's involvement with this famous battle which began the American Revolutionary War. I will be pulling biographical information from at least one ancestor who fought there. I may also try to mention several Loyalists in my family tree. I will be adding this to the Genea-Blogger calendar if anyone wants to join me.