Friday, December 26, 2008

15 Months DO Make a Difference!

Back in September of 2007, I challenged my fellow geneabloggers to show what their workspaces looked like. It's now 15 months later and I just have one question: Just how did I manage to go from this:

To this:

Guess what's on my "To-Do" list this last week of 2008?

Thursday, December 11, 2008

A Site for Sore Eyes

Ever get in the mood to browse new genealogy blogs? I do, though I don't often have time to do it much now. I used to use Google and just type in "Genealogy Blog" and browse. Or browse the geneabloggers' on Facebooks. Which are both good sources. Tonight I found a new source. Well, it's been around for a bit, I guess, but I was re-introduced to it tonight.

I was checking out my Feedjit widget to see where people were coming from to read my blog. I think it's fascinating to see where people come from and, when they come from a search engine, what search terms they used that brought them to my site. One came from the blogfinder from Genealogue.com. That site is written by Chris Dunham, and he is an absolute riot. He has a fantastic site called Genealogy Blog Finder that not only lists genealogy blogs, but categorizes them. Looking for instructional genealogy blogs? They're there. Looking for blogs on specific geographical regions? They're there. Surnames? Yes. Technology? Of course! Photography? Yep.

Head on over to www.blogfinder.genealogue.com and you'll be amazed, too. And check out the "Who's Blogging Where?" Map while you're ... there.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Forty Things About Me (And then about YOU).

Forty things about me and then about you when you do it yourself. (honestly, I'm not sure what this last part means unless it's just saying that you need to post this to a blog or facebook site after you read it?). At any rate, I posted it here so as to avoid forwarding it via email, so if any of my readers that don't blog or facebook wish to participate, answer the questions and email me the answers!

1. Do you like blue cheese? ICK~!!
2. Have you ever done something you regretted? Um, well, yes.
3. Do you own a gun? Nope.
4. What flavor of Kool Aid was your favorite? Grape.
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Depends on what I'm there for.
6. What do you think of hot dogs? Yum!.
7. Favorite Christmas movie? It's a Wonderful Life.
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Hot Cocoa or decaf Coffee (yeah, counterintuitive, I know)
9. Can you do push ups? Maybe a couple of the "girly" kind.
10. Favorite hobby? Genealogy
11. Do you have A.D.D.? More like ADHD without hte ADD.
12. What's one trait you hate about yourself? Too high strung sometimes.
13. Middle name? Erin
14. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? Izzie, Be Quiet. Izzie Be Quiet. IZZIE, SHUT UP!
15. Name 3 drinks you regularly have? Water, Caffeine Free Coke, Hot Cocoa.
16. Current hate right now? Not being heard.
17. Favorite place to be? Home.
18. How did you bring in the New Year? What New Year?
19. A place would you like to go? Ireland, aboard a ship!
20. Name three people who will complete this: Probably no one.
21. Do you have slippers? No. Izzie ate them!
22. What shirt are you wearing? Beige turtleneck with brown sweater.
23. Do you like sleeping on satin? No. Satin is so overrated it's sickening.
24. Can you whistle? A little.
25. Would you be a pirate? I'm too honest to be a pirate.
26. What songs do you sing in the shower? Whatever tune is stuck in my head with lyrics I made up about Izzie.
27. Favorite girl's name(s)? Brenna
28. What's in your pocket right now? Lint.
29. Last thing that made you laugh? An email from my boss.
30. Favorite bed sheets as a child? I don't remember any of my sheets. I do remember one Christmas when I begged for a month for a new pillow!
31. Worst injury ever? Split big toe open while swimming. Made worse by the fact that I was warned there was glass in that spot in the pool five minutes before it happened.
32. Do you like where you live? Right now? Yes. In the middle of summer? Hell no.
33. How many TVs do you have in your house? Four.
34. Who is your loudest friend? Izzie.
35. How many dogs do you have? One living, two in spirit (Mandy and Skipper).
36. Does someone have a crush on you? I wish.
37. What is your favorite book? Hmmmmm. I should be a good Christian and say the Bible.
38. What is your favorite candy? Three Musketeers.
39. Favorite Sports Team? Buffalo Bills. Don't even ask me WHY!
40. What song do you want played at your funeral? Go Rest High by Vince Gill.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Do They Know It's Christmas?

Many of you know that I have a special blog set up for my dog, Izzie. I started this blog the day I brought Izzie home from the shelter. I'm not really sure why; part of me thought that adoption would make a good children's book and perhaps I could use Iz as the main character in the book. It turned out to be one, a creative outlet for me, and two, another method to connect with other dog lovers. Not too long after that, I'd found an online community of dog-bloggers known as Dogs With Blogs (DWB). I'd found that I was just 1 of over 600 dog-bloggers (now over 1,000!).

Anyway, it's quite a community with lots of funny blogs, educational blogs, and daily life blogs. Much like the GeneaBlogger community. Members share their laughter, tears, and joys of raising dogs and reaching out to others. One member, Pappy, created a video of a group of the dogs in the DWB community lip-synching to the song, Do They Know It's Christmas, by Band-Aid. I think it's a cute way to spread a message that reaches beyond the holidays. Since footnoteMaven is recruiting carolers, I present this video.



It's Christmastime
There's no need to be afraid
At Christmastime, we let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmastime
But say a prayer Pray for the other ones
At Christmastime it's hard, but when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clangingchimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you
And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmastime
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life(Oooh)
Where nothing ever grows
No rain nor rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?
(Here's to you) raise a glass for everyone
(Here's to them) underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?
Feed the worldFeed the world
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmastime again
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmastime againr
epeat then fade

(Bob Geldof & Midge Ure)