"Welcome to the Weekend Chat!" All Members Invited!! November 10th - 12th, 2023 [closed]

Question

New Members Saying Hello (our favorite!)

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Members Checking in via "All About the Weekend Chat"

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CHANGE TO BEST ANSWER PROCESS:  After much discussion we have come to the conclusion that all answers in the Weekend Chat are of equal importance and weight.  So we are going to discontinue the Best Answer portion as it adds points and then takes them away from posters and is causing some hurt feelings.  So in the interest of everyone is equal and valued we will delete any best answers given which will deduct those points because it has been pointed out that to give everyone best answer is also not a viable option. 

Weekend Chat is for everyone. It's a place to catch up on what people are up to and to share what you've been doing.  New members can say hello, introduce themselves, ask questions, and meet each other.  Our seasoned members can share progress or successes from their projects, give tips and advice, or chime in on hot topics.

Post as many answers and comments as you wish. It doesn't hurt anyone to post a lot and enjoy the multitude of topics.

Enjoy yourselves and spread the love!

Comments

Welcome, my fellow WikiChatterboxes, to an I-Can’t-Figure-the-Weather-Out Weekend Chat! And, greetings from Cathey’s Creek where yesterday’s high temperature was a whopping 81°F IN NOVEMBER! Last week, we were waking up to the high 20s in the morning. Yesterday, it was 60° at 7 a.m. We have come to the conclusion that Mother Nature is trying to fool us, that this winter will be mild. I’m not believing that for a second. This winter, I am positive that we are going to pay for such a wonderful season last year.

On the Home Front: Usually, when I finish a physical therapy session, I just head home, spurning the offer of ice. This week (Wednesday), I had the “tough” therapist who really put me through my paces. I ate humble pie and meekly asked for 10 minutes of ice. All in all, things are going very well with my left arm. I’m still being careful, but I have found that most things I can do without the pain.

We had visitors Sunday night through Wednesday morning, two friends of ours that we have known for around 37 years. We had a grand ol’ time catching up with each other. Don asked us what tools he needed to bring (he knows us too well). We told him about some pending projects. He was more than happy to be working at least part of the time as he has a hard time just sitting and chatting the whole day. So, we got two more projects done with minimal cost (parts and a meal out in town).

During the visit, I had to find cover for all my Greeter’s shifts, four of them for a total of nine hours. My fellow Greeters came though, and I am obliged to them. What a wonderful group of project members to work with! Four also participated with me last Sunday in our WikiTree Day Greeters’ Project live presentation. Kudos to John, Mickey, Hilary, and Ginny! (And a big thank you to Sandy for the intro and behind-the-scenes tech help.)

On the Genealogy Front: Both of our visitors we had this week are also into genealogy, and I was able to introduce them to WikiTree and Family Search. Connie asked a lot of questions that I was able to answer for her, and I found a good bit of stuff at FS for her: trees and documents to print, etc. for her Georgia, USA, ancestors. Don’s immigrant ancestor was already on WikiTree, Robert Cormier, an Acadian, whose profile is managed by the France Project.

Tomorrow is not only Veterans’ Day here in the US, but it is also the birthday of my grandmother, Beatrice Neal Underwood. I grew up across the pasture from her home which was built in 1901 and is still standing, one of the last of the old homes in my neighborhood.  She would have been 125 years old.

Granny was one heck of a farmer and cook. I remember as a teen visiting (nearly every day), and even if I told her I had just eaten, she would start pulling stuff out of the fridge. I remember the reaction that I got when I found out that her g-grandparents married when grandmother was already in the womb. She thought this information would die with her generation, but here was this kid who compared the marriage date with the birth date and discovered the secret. That was one story she withheld from me.

Granny told me the old stories of her family and with my grandpa took me to the many cemeteries in the area. I was hooked as a young child and am forever grateful and indebted to her for instilling in me a love of my heritage. I was fortunate to have her in my life for 27 years, and I think of her very often, missing her presence, always thinking of some genealogy question I could have asked her.

My dear friends, love one another, and honor those you loved who have gone before.

Enjoy the Chat!

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Hi Pip! I have been worried about you because I did not see your name or you during the WT 15th Anniversary. I am so glad to know therapy is going well as you are being put through your paces.

And your kindness is evident in so many ways. Your assistance with Robert Cormier for the Acadian Project is just one example.

Happy Heavenly Birthday to your grandmother, Beatrice! I miss my grandmothers terribly! They provided so much wisdom and wonderful hugs. I have already outlived my paternal grandmother by 16 years! I have 4 more to go to match my maternal grandmother.

Again, great to 'see' you on the Chat! It would not be the wonderful Chat that it is without you. Sending hugs and looking forward to your visit to Tucson. I mentioned this in my chat!

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Carol, all my grandparents died within a little over five years in the mid to late 80s. I was a pall bearer at each. I miss everyone of them, even my crusty ol' paternal grandfather. The youngest died at  very nearly 80 years old, the eldest at just short of 97. I've got a ways to go to reach that age (and probably won't).

I have had the time (and health) to watch only a few of the videos for WT Day. I've got some catching up to do when I can sit long enough at the computer.

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Funny you should mention grandparents. My latest blog is about the only grandfather I've ever really known. More details in my main post.

Both of my grandmothers died within a year of each other making the early 2000s kinda crappy with a couple bright spots. There were some weddings in between. But, losing my grandma Ollie in 2002 and my grandmother Natalie in 2004 really sucked. =/

My other grandfather died in 1983 when I was four so I don't remember him at all.

ANYWAY! Thanks for hosting, Pip. Happy heavenly birthday to your grandmother and thanks for the kind words about the Italy Project video. It was fun. I kinda miss doing videos. I don't miss the editing, though....and the scanning of comics. That was the most annoying part!

Thanks for hosting!

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Pip, I can only hope that you exceed the oldest of your grandparents by at least one year which would be 98. I cannot imagine a world or WikiTree without you!

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Some times you find interesting bits of information.

I'm rereading Jeff Shaara's book Last Full Measure about the U. S. Civil War. Much of the book is about Ulysses S Grant and Robert E Lee.

The book describes what Grant did between 1854 when he left the army and 7 years later when he rejoined the army. He spent some of that time working with his father and brothers in a leather goods store in Galena, Illinois.

So why was that interesting? Several of Robbie's extended family members moved from parts of Southern Ontario to Galena, Illinois. I have a 1860 US census record for one of them. The family would have been there when Ulysses S Grant was working at the local leather goods store.

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Pip, I think you were very fortunate to have met and to remember all of your grandparents. My grandfathers died in 1954 and 1959 and I wasn’t born until the mid-1960’s. My paternal grandmother passed in 1967 but we did not live close so I never met her and wouldn’t have remembered her if I did. My maternal grandmother passed in 1976. We did not live close to her either (opposite direction). I met her a few times but don’t really remember her. i would have liked to know them but it was not to be. Happy birthday in heaven to your cherished grandmother.

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It sounds like you are getting the temperatures we got last November. This year has been more seasonal with lots of rain. Scotland is getting frost and some places persistent fog.

Today is glorious so I am hoping to get washing out on the line.

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How fun that your friends ancestor is on WikiTree and that he is Acadian!  I hope he is able to connect up to Robert Cormier.  If he needs any help, feel free to give him my profile ID Bourque-573 and I'd be glad to assist.

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Hey Pip. That fat lady is a singing. The Alabama Fight song!

Go Alabama Go!

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Rolllll Tiiiiide!!!!!!!! What a thrilling game, Chris!

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Pip, your granny sounds like a wonderful woman. I never knew either of my grandfathers - both having died before I was born - but my grandma Daisy, who lived with us, piqued my genealogical  interest with her colorful stories of her musical family, fruit tramping in the Central Valley, hurricanes, baseball and adventures on the desert (one of which involved her husband repairing a car for some Al Capone-style gangsters...they were very grateful). My Aunr Ree (dad's sister) was also instrumental in getting me started down the rabbit hole.

We all have a lot to learn from our seniors❤

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D, I was really lucky. I don't know many people who knew all four of their grandparents, much less that they all lived for so long. I was 25 at the death of my first grandparent.

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You were very lucky, Pip. My great-grandmother, who lived across the street, died when I was 11 or 12. I wish I could've spent more time with her. My grandmother used to say how good she was to all her kids...

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@Chris Ciao Cousin Chris! Is it really true that David Tennant is coming back as Dr. Who??? I love him!

Answer 1

This Week We Go Back To the High School Sock Hops!

Chit Chat!

Sung to the tune of Splish Splash by Bobby Darin

Released in 1958, Bobby Darin co-wrote the song with DJ Murray Kaufman, who bet that Darin could not write a song that began with the words, “Splish splash, I was takin’ a bath”, as suggested by Murray’s mother, Jean Kaufman! The Song Soared to #3!

• Bobby Darin WikiTree: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cassotto-1
• Bobby Darin and Dave Draper are 17th Cousins
  • Parody by Dave Draper

Here is the music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSA-yHzkvP8

• Click on the link and the music should play, then come back here and try to sing along
  • or open the link in a new window

• Chit Chat
• Chit Chat, I was on Weekend Chat
• Long about a Saturday night, yeah
• A sandwich Club, I was eating some grub
• Thinking everything was alright
• Well, I posted my chat, then I posted some more
• Nobody replied
• So I posted once more, and then
• Well, Chit Chat, I had to walk it back!
• Well how I was I to know a Source-A-Thon was goin’ on!
• There was NO chitin’ and a chattin’, reeling with some feeling
• Moving and a-grooving, rocking and a rolling, yeah
• Next week I saw the whole gang
• Posting ‘bout their prescription drugs, yeah
• Flip flop their temps were over the top
• Wikipeeps were sick with the bug
• There was Lollipop with-a Peggy Sue
• Good Golly, Miss Anonymous was even there too
• A-well-a Chit Chat, I forgot to feed my brats
• I went and chatted all the night long, yeah
• I was a rolling and a-strolling, reeling with the feeling
• Moving and a grooving, chittin’ and a chattin’, yeah
• Yes, I was chittin’ and a chattin’
• I was a-rolling and a strolling
• Yeah, I was a-moving and a grooving, whoo
• We was a-reeling with the feeling, ha
• We was a-rolling and a-strolling, moving with the grooving
• Chit – Chat, yeah
• Chittin’ and a Chattin’ (one time)
• I was a chittin’ and a chattin’ (Whoo, Whee)
• I was a-moving and a grooving
• Yeah, I was a chittin’ and a chatting

More of Dave's Weekend Chat Parodies Here!

34 Song Parodies now! WOW

Comments

This line: 

• Posting ‘bout their prescription drugs, yeah

How very true! I'm on two myself right now, one more than usual.

Bobby is my 19th cousin.

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One of these days we should get you to do a parody of a parody. PGM project version of Weird Al's Amish Paradise. Since Coolio is gone, I think he'd be okay with it. I mean he and Weird Al DID patch things up.

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Chris, every time I post a Weekend Chat parody, my Down Vote count goes up by two or three points!  I am really afraid to do some songs like Rainbow Connection and others because of that!  I don't really want 200 down votes in 1 week! 

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David you have at least twice the number of upvotes as I have, and guess what I have more down votes.  so..don't worry bout those that downvote.  Enjoy who you are, and what you do.  After-all is said and done, when we leave we take nothing with us, except "who we are inside".  Let the ones that choose to downvote "parady" live as they choose.  Be who you, and enjoy yourself.

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@ Arora!  Hi Check and see if we are cousins!  (you have to do it from your end cause I'm not on your trusted list!)  Anyway, You can be the " Miss Anonymous" in the song!

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I hear it!! The origin of the song is a good trivia question.

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I see I have awarded several Downvotes- 31 to be exact. I have only given a couple deliberately. I recently noticed I gave a couple unintentionally. My guess is while scrolling down the screen, (touch screen) I hit the down arrow without noticing. Only recently have I made it a habit to double check and correct. On the flip side, I have received 21 downvotes. Then again, it has never been my goal to be politically correct.

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Another good one!

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For some reason I have like 40. I have no idea what I did. Whatever. =D

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LOL David we are 18th cousins 6xs removed sharing- Margaret Totehill Thornhill -she is your 17th grandmother & my 23rd.  From there we also share 68 other Ancestors going back a total of 28 generations to - Godefroi (Namur) de Namur (abt.1070-1139) , My 23 grandfather is your 26th grandfather.  Oh and way way back- we both show up at the same 30th grandmother thru 2 different sons-  Gisele (Schwaben) Braunschweig (abt.0989-1043).

& I love the parody song, it fits with the orignal tune very well. gave me a good giggle this morning, so thank you.  

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The prescription drug reference was me. 

Thank goodness for the drug book. ​

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Lol, great job, Cousin Dave! (My jazz class danced to the original when I was 9 or so...even have a picture somewhere ;) ). Had no idea about the origins...

Answer 2

¡Buenos días a todos from the Old Pueblo! It is 7:00 am and 42F (5.5C) with an expected high of 78F (25.6) with sunny skies in Tucson. Now we are moving into winter weather here. Brrrrr!

It seems like years since I last joined the Weekend Chat! Flying to Mexico a week ago Tuesday, the 15^th Anniversary activities for WikiTree, and the Tucson Celtic festival and Highland Games last weekend make it seem like our last Chat was two years rather than two weeks ago!

All the activities in Leon, Mexico went very well. The flights to and from were on time. I enjoyed spending time with the family of my heart. In the past, my classes were held at the university. Dr. Marquez, the faculty member who established the Certified Diabetes Educator Program under the auspices of the World Diabetes Foundation was named Director of the Diabetes Association for the State of Guanajuato. This time, I taught at Association headquarters. In addition to the fifteen students in this semester’s class, there were around eight Association workers who attended both my classes.

My colleagues have arranged my hotel stay at the Holiday Inn in central Leon for several years. During this stay, I got into a conversation with one of the cleaning ladies. I explained about teaching for the diabetes program, and she shared that she had diabetes and hypertension. During the conversation, the manager of the restaurant greeted me. I have known Luis for as long as I taught for the program beginning in 2011. Our chat barely started when Dr. Marquez arrived, and we left for Dia de los Muertos activities in the city center. 

I mentioned my conversation with the cleaning lady to Dr. Marquez which led to my suggesting that he meets with Luis, the restaurant manager, to arrange for monthly hour-long presentations for employees at the hotel. They learn about diabetes prevention and personal health promotion while the hotel organization gets kudos for caring about their employees! Before I left for Tucson, Dr. Marquez and Luis spoke about this possibility. Luis was very pleased and will be talking to the hotel management. Who knows? Perhaps I will be teaching abbreviated sleep and holistic practices classes at the hotel during my next stay. I practice more Spanish, and they learn Espanglish/Gringlish.

The only downside to the trip was awakening at 8:30 am Friday, teaching two classes from 4pm to 9pm and not going to bed to pack and catch the airport shuttle at 2am for a 5:30am international flight! I returned to Tucson and home around 2:30pm, napped for two hours, then caught some of the 15^th Anniversary WikiTree activities, which were splendid! On Sunday morning, I attended the Tucson Celtic Festival for several hours. I do so love seeing men in kilts! I watched the games for a while (sheaf tossing), enjoyed the bagpipes, tried a sample of mead made in Flagstaff, Arizona, renewed my membership with the Malcolm/McCallum clan and had a Tarot Card reading. 

I arrived home for lunch and spent the remainder of the day enjoying the WikiTree Anniversary YouTube activities. I was very pleased, proud, and felt privileged that Sandy Patak included the Baldwin One Name Study (ONS) during her presentation on ONSs. I took over this ‘abandoned’ ONS several months ago, made some changes/additions and Sandy designed the “B” on the sticker (because I am technologically inept). The Baldwin ONS has a long way to go, though, to compete with the other ONSs that Sandy presented! I got some GREAT ideas from her presentation. Thank you, Sandy! And thanks to ALL the WikiTree family who made this such a SPLENDID 15^th Anniversary!

I have had to take a very brief break this week on genealogy because I had to review a paper, and work on our next submission, the policy paper on costs of working nights. As well, I was just notified that I need to sign an author form for that chapter on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity for the Womens’ Health textbook. Apparently, they are going to publish the ENTIRE chapter with all 358 references!

Despite all this, I have started WikiWork on my sister’s paternal line (we have different fathers). Her paternal line is predominantly from Sweden, Germany, and Poland. The sources for these countries, even just reading the birth locations, is a challenge, but not the same challenge as the Bucks Baldwins! I want to surprise her with this paternal line for Christmas. I had her sign onto WikiTree in August when I visited with family…and got Covid on the flight from Phoenix to Milwaukee in return!

Pip, as ever, thank you for leading the Weekend Chat. I keep thinking that as each month passes, I am that much closer to seeing you, Mike, and hopefully this time your wife! I also want to wish all my WikiTree friends and family a great second weekend of November 2023.

Comments

WOW! You have been a busy person, Carol. All good things, too: Leon, the Celtic Festival, and WikiTree Day! Because I had a presentation to make for the Greeters' Project, I skipped going down to Charleston for their Highland Games which I always enjoy.

I bet you could have taken a break from genealogy just from exhaustion. I hope your health held up during all the activity.

Looking at February for a visit out your way. I think that my wife will more than likely head down to the coast to see the kids while I am gone. She says this will give me more time to be with Mike and do lots of stuff (which wears her out). I'll keep you posted!

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Hi Pip, my activities in Mexico rejuvenate me and keep me from obsessing about my ever-growing health issues. I now think I might have kidney stones. If they are removed, I hope they are the pretty ones that I can put in my meditation garden!

Well, at least I will be seeing you and Mike, if not meeting Mrs. Pip. If you go to the caverns, can I join you? No matter what, I will be so happy to see you, and Mike of course!

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Let's hope they aren't big enough to be seen in the garden.

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Carol, if you have a good starting point for your sister's Swedish ancestry, I think I can probably help a bit.

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Hi Maria, you are so kind to offer! If you start with this WikiTree link, it will take you to my sister's Swedish line:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Osborn-8648

The LNAB was actually Asbom, but Anglicized as you will see. The Nyman line goes a bit further back.

I think I have gone as far as I can with this line. Even checking for accuracy would be appreciated.

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@Carol, do you mind if I send you a private message, then I can ask you what you would like me to do and what not. 

I have time to look at this branch a bit during the weekends and am already looking forward to it!

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@Maria Lundholm,
I think anything that you do would help with my sister's paternal side. I'm going to contact folks who work with German ancestry as I am reaching far back and think I could use some help, support, guidanced, resource checks! These names and locations are killing me!

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Hi @Carol, please remove your email address though, so that you won't be getting spam and stuff. I will be able to contact you anyway, through private message. / Maria

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Welcome home, Cousin Carol! Wow...and I thought *I* had too much going on...

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@D Armistead Hi Cousin D! Keeping busy keeps me off the streets!

Answer 3

Hi from southern Ontario,

Chez moi/at home: what's been happening here? It’s November and time to prepare for winter, oh no! We already put the storm windows on the front screen door. 

First task; the furnace check up, the technician was here on Tuesday, the verdict; the heat exchanger is cracked, the furnace cannot be used and must be replaced. It is about 15 years old and we shouldn’t have been surprised.  About $9000 Canadian. 

We could have just had a new heat exchanger installed but it would have been about half of the cost of a new furnace and who knows what other problems could be lurking around the corner.

Installation of the new furnace could have been done on Wednesday, but I said I have so many Horticultural Society year end reports to write, review etc, and having noise, and disruption in the house will make me crazy. 

We booked the installation for next Wednesday, and are relying on the gas fire to keep us warm. It’s okay, daytimes temps are between about 5C and 8C, nights about 0C, next week will be warmer.

The technician also inspected the tankless hot water heater, its days make be numbered as well.

Second task; get the snow tires installed, yesterday the Rav had the snow tires installed, this morning it has a flat. Today my car gets its snow tires. 

WikiTree and family history: I have continued to work on my short biography suggestions, which has other benefits such as noticing that the profile and those for other family members need better sourcing. And some Alton cemetery people’s profiles don’t have cemetery stickers! Quelle horreur! 

After the 14th, my time will be/ should be much less busy, so after I finish putting the garden to bed, then I work on adding profiles for Alton Cemetery. 

What else: We booked a pre Christmas family get together and lunch at the Millcroft Inn, in Alton with many of Robbie’s family. Not only is it a very nice place, it is/was also one of the mills owned and run by Robbie’s family. There were to be 3 sittings for the lunch event, now there are 2, neither time works for the group, and the menu has morphed into a decidedly not kid friendly selection. We are not amused!

If you would like a peak at the mill, you can check it out here. The weir across the river was built by Robbie’s 3 x GGF in about 1840.

https://www.vintage-hotels.com/millcroft-inn/

Comments

Furnace, tankless water heater, new tires (one flat), as if you don't have enough other stuff to do. All in a days home-ownership, M.

Millcroft Inn... is this the one in Orangeville, Ontario? Can't be. Looks too big for Alton.

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Oh Wow, M! Would you adopt me and take me along as a family member to that Mill? It is gorgeous!

As to home repairs, we are twins! I had to pay ~$2700USD for two new wall-mounted toilets in March. In June, my home/auto insurance went from $1700 last year to $2500USD this year. In August I had to pay and extra $200 to delay my AA flight from Milwaukee to Phoenix as I was still contagious with Covid. I should have kept my mouth shut, my mask on and returned home to save $200 that I should not have had to pay!

Last month, I was running low on hot water for showers. The plumber came out and informed me that my EcoFriendly wall mounted hot water heater (made in Canada) was essentially dead and that I needed a new one. That was $5000 with install. This unit was made in Germany. I haven't been nickled and dimed to death this year. I have been thousand USDd to death. As past President Clinton would say, "I feel your pain."

I had planned on flying to see family in December for the holidays, but really just cannot afford it this year on my fixed income. Alternatively, the Pipster will be coming to Tucson and he and Mike can be my 'adopted' family for a day.

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The closest bigger place is Orangeville, which is actually in Dufferin County, not Peel County where Alton is.

Yes the link is for the Dods family mill.

It is/was one of about 4 maybe 5 mills in the immediate area, the 2 Dods family knitting mills, at least 2 flour/ grist mills and some sort of other mill.

They were all on Shaw's creek which is a fast moving tributary of the Credit river, one of Ontario's biggest rivers.

There were 8 sites suitable for mills on the original settlement map at different places on Shaw's creek.

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@ Carol, when you come to visit, I promise I will take you to Alton and the Millcroft Inn.

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M, it is beautiful! A popular place too, it seems...

Answer 4

Checking in from Bloomington Illinois USA! Yeah!

Lap Top:   A couple weeks ago I spilled coffee in my laptop computer!  Killed it! Good News, all the files were recovered and saved to a flash drive!  This was a brand new laptop that I bought when I joined WikiTree!  I feel it paid for itself!  Now I took over my wife's All In One HP! Sweet!

Weight Loss:  I started at 181 lbs and got down to 158! But I am back up to 163 currently!

New Job:  I am working for my son who has a window cleaning/pressure washing business and for the past few weeks have been walking door to door in the wealthy areas hanging door tags!  I'm getting paid to get my 16,000 step exercise everyday! Sweet!  And while walking between housesI have time to think through the plot and story lines of: The Book!

The Book:  I have decided to go with Living Writer software to write the story.  Presently, I am using a FREE SPACE page to write the story.  I have it sectioned up with the "=== battle scene===" and so on.  In little segments using the  three === signs, I can edit and move them around or delete them or add something else in between. But I came across a Youtube video that discussed 22 mistakes new writers make!  So, I'm taking a hard look trying to understand all of that, then going back over what I have written so far and making corrections.  The main story from start to finish is outlined but I have not figured out the story sub plot and how it impacts my hero! My goal is to have the book ready by this time next year on the 160th Anniversary of my 2nd Great Grand Father's escape from bounty hunters in Iowa because of his activities on the Underground Railroad.  So you know what the book is about, but he is NOT the hero of the book!  You will just have to wait and see!

Profile Update:  I  replaced the picture of the outdated cartoon from 30 years ago that I used in my sign business advertising: Draper the Signmaker.  So I found an even more bizarre picture to freak everybody out!  Enjoy! And I have organized My Free Space pages so they are easier to access.  Still more profile tweaking to do! It never ends!

Thank you, cousin Pip, for hosting the weekend chat and all the love and hard work you spend on it each weekend!

Comments

David, I have to admit that you have one of the most unique profile pics I have seen on WikiTree, and I love it.

I'm using an All-in-One. Perfect for me since I'm not one to have a lot of add-ons. Still there are some things I wish were included.

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Your profile pic reminds me of my granddaughter's surprise face.

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If it makes you laugh, or brightens your day, then I have done my job!

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Coffee, eh? Folgers or Starbucks?

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Do you mean did the Folgers Coffee make me look that crazy in my profile picture, or are you talking about what killed the lap top?  bahahahahahah!  Folgers is nasty and would cause that face I made when the picture was taken!  My wife swears Folgers coffee smells like SKUNK!  

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Hahaha!

I'm wondering what spilled on the computer. If it's a Microsoft friendly computer, it may not like anything that's not Starbucks.

Answer 5

Top of the Morning to everyone. I have to admit, I am enjoying the effects of global warming. The weather has been what I would prefer year-round. My wife said some lady stopped her car and was walking about our front yard taking pictures of our trees because they were so beautiful. When she was telling me the story, I was thinking the gal was about 10-12 days too late. The trees that were most colorful were bare and the Pin Oaks were turning brown besides, from my front yard you can see several thousand trees in any direction. I guess if you are used to the desert scape of Vegas, which she was, the absence of sand and cacti would be a welcomed sight.

The escape room at the museum was a moderate success. We had about 10 groups complete the challenge. That will help keep the lights on a couple more months anyway.

Comments

Ah, the summer shade has blanketed the ground in a beautiful quilt that has now been raked to the curb!

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Once, twice three times thru the mower, this year's red leaf is next year's emerald blade.

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All the leaves are brown, and the skies are gray....

Well, not all our leaves, K, but for the ones that have fallen, I'm being warned to get them away from the house. We've had a few local fires lately and the mountains are a bit gray from the smoke. Few trees have any color left.

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Keep your sprinkler attached to your hose and keep them handy. In case of Fire- water the lawn from the windward side. Try as you may, wet leaves won't burn!

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Deserts have trees too, albeit different than your beautiful maples!  From my yard I can see thousands of trees as well.  They are rarely over 10-20' tall (except for the majestic Saguaros), and stay green most of the year.  I was so surprised to see the lush greenery in the Sonoran Desert when I moved here, expecting the Sahara instead.  Our fall tends to be in January when the aspens turn yellow in the high mountains.

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I loved our Arizona vacation, the plants and trees and cacti are so different from what we have here in the frozen north!

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That's why vacations are so looked forward to and the return home is always much welcomed.

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I have to laugh at the LVNV lack of trees & the responses from those from there. My daughter & I just moved back from LV a couple of years ago, but before that, I got so excited when I drove to CA after 15 years of, mostly, no trees that I had to pull over & take pics; like I have never seen a tree before!!!

So the trees that they DO have in LV are mulberry trees. About 30 or so years ago, the entire LV area was covered with mulberry trees, not native to LV. People started complaining about the presence of the trees because the mulberries would be deposited on cars via the flying rats they have out there (pigeons, hundreds of thousands of pigeons!). So, the LV City Council, in their infinite wisdom, decided to pull up all of the female mulberry trees, but left the male trees as now there was no reason the trees couldn't be enjoyed now that they weren't negatively impacting the community.

There was only 1 problem; the male trees were having to overproduce in their quest to find a female tree. Now in LV when the trees start to pollinate, the trees drop, literally, all over everywhere. Those little caterpillar pollen pods, which here where trees actually grow, are about 1' long & look like a small fuzzy caterpillar; that's usually 1 of the 1st things tested for when you go in for allergy tests, & those little pods can be mighty powerful when impacting a human's respiratory process & reaction to the pollen. 

Those pods in LV are about 5-7", the small ones, & can get rather large in diameter as well; Tori & I liken them to bottle brushes as they are about that size in length & diameter. The ground in yellow from the pollen & stays that way until the mating season is over & those pods triple or quadruple the health impact & make everyone, allergic or not go into respiratory distress.

But will the city council uproot those trees? No, they will not. "Their beauty outshines their detrimental health impact" is the response when asked why the city council doesn't get rid of the trees.

 

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When it comes to trees, I guess I all too often, take things for granted. My grandparents had a Burr Oak in their backyard that five of us grandkids couldn't wrap our arms around. It took three full grown men. Grandpa always said it was over 200 years old when I was a kid. In my first house I lived in, there was a Red Bud that people would ask to photograph and would return year after year, due to its size. It was included in the Missouri Conservation magazine as a larger than average size. But the oaks in my front yard are not particularly noteworthy other than there are four in a row and have been recently shaped and the dead removed from an ice storm years back. I told my wife she was casing the place for her grandkids to come back and rob or looking for accessible firewood for the upcoming winter.

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Pat, yes male mulberries cause allergies.

Female mulberries can cause unexpected problems.

Several years ago a friend went to visit someone, he parked his white convertible with sky blue upholstery in the drive, with the roof down. Not noticing that there was a mulberry tree completely covered in berries, about 20 feet away.

Plus he didn't know that many birds prefer to poop over ponds.

When he came out a few hours later the entire inside of the car was covered in deep red bird poop.

The explanation from a local bird expert, the birds thought the interior of the car was a pond!

Answer 6

Hails and horns, Wikipeeps!

How is everyone? I'm doing okay. I wrote a blog about my maternal grandfather for this week's 52 Ancestors. When I think about Veteran's Day I often think of him because grandpa Robert was the only grandfather I actually remember. Check the blog here and find out why he was basically Captain America: https://allroadhaverhill.blogspot.com/2023/11/52-ancestors-week-45-war-and-peace.html

I'm glad that everyone seemed to enjoy the Italy project video I did for Wikitree Day with Frank and Sandy. The video has a permanent home on the Youtube channel. So, you can check it out here if you missed it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGvGCZbrVRc

That's easily one of the longest videos I've ever had to do. The second longest was a two part video on the top ten moments from one of Marvel's first crossover events, the Secret Wars. That was a fun video to do but I was doing that solo and let me tell you scanning a trade paperback was not fun. You practically have to break the spine and hope for the best.

I think I've found that I work better as part of a group for a video. I feel more relaxed and confident that way. But, I'm glad people enjoy it. That's the main thing. Gotta keep 'em entertained and focused. Especially on this collection of tubes we call "The Internet'. 

On the non genealogy front, we're going to be visiting my brother and his family soon. That's always a fun time. I can't wait to see the nephews. I hope everyone has a great weekend! Thanks for hosting, Pip!

Comments

Ciao Cousin Chris! That's your grandpa with the pipe? Holy Smoke, Batman, I can see a resemblance! Your blog today is great.

I know I have written in the Chat in the past that I taught for the military for three years in East Asia (Korea for 1 year and Okinawa for 2 years). This was done through the University of Maryland - Asian Division. This was when I met Paul Tedesco, who taught history.

In  actuality, there are very few bases in Japan. The majority (Air Force, Marine, Army and Navy) are on Okinawa, the gateway to Japan. I learned a great deal about WWII while living on Okinawa, but traveled throughout Japan, as well as the Philippines, Hong Kong (before the reversion), Taiwan and elsewhere.

Did you know that it was an American who helped bring post-war Japan into the 21st century. He help remake the expression 'Japanese junk' into spectacular contributions toward the automobile and e-technology. This was W. Edwards Deming: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Edwards_Deming) AND he has a WikiPage that could be beefed up a bit more (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Deming-598)

Deming really didn't get anywhere with his business management practices in the USA because management was top-down and we are very individual oriented (the self-made person). It was just the opposite in Japan with a focus on best outcomes for the group. Just after the war, he worked with the Japanese using his management principles, which really brought Japan into the 21st century. Each year, Japan provides an award for a leading business. No prizes for guessing the name of the award. Yup, the Deming Award...in Japan. One of the classes I taught was Business Communication and put a heavy emphasis on the Deming approach to management, management style and conflict tactics. I loved my experiences in Japan!

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Thanks for posting the link to the video because I did miss it!

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I attempted to answer your question re: ancestors War and Peace and received my fourth flag for off topic and ranting. I guess I'm still learning what is tolerated or allowed to be posted on G2G. I suppose I should have answered more specifically who benefitted financially and who lost all, rather than making an inference to the notion that one must follow the money.

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@ Carol: Ciao Cousin Carol! Yes, that is indeed my grandfather with the pipe. My cousin Ryan looks more like him than I do. I'll have to show a picture some time. He's just as tall, too. Comes in handy when you need to decorate the Christmas tree.

The paper I wrote about US troops in Japan was for one of my political science classes. We were doing a unit on various countries and Japan and the UK were two of them. We were covering various forms of government and those two have constituional monarchies (Emperor/King and Parliament).

The paper I wrote was actually about the troops stationed in Okinawa and how they sometimes behaved badly. I cited several articles and listed the pros and cons of having troops stationed there. Ended up getting an A! =D

I know I pat myself on the back but I managed to finish a ten page paper over the course of a night that night.

Didn't know that about Deming. Wow. But, hey like I said we got a lot of innovation from Japan over the last seventy years. Gotta love Japan and the food. =D

@David: No problem! Let me know what you think!

@ K: I had no idea that happened. Sorry!

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OYEE! And if anyone watches the Italy Project video for WikiTree Day, be sure to give it a THUMBS UP!

BTW Chris and all...great job! I especially like th opening music and visuals (not that all the other information wasn't great...it was and a really wonderful learning experience)!

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@ Chris  All is well, I learn more by listening than talking.

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Cool. =D I'll be posting the next prompt on Sunday.

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Earlier today I watched the Italy Panel discussion with you, Frank, Cristina and the other native English lady that's married to an Italian. (I can't remember her name now). It was really interesting (and it's still available roughly til the end of November).

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Danita? Yeah, that was a good video! I was going to embed it but that video was temporary. Good thing I repeated the plot beats in the Frank and Sandy video because that's important.

Answer 7

I am still waiting on an appointment for a cortisone  shot.  I hope something helps.  To get such an attack of arthritis in 5 months leaves me worried for what it may morph into.
I have been working on connecting Civil War veterans from
three northern New York counties, bordering my own county, that mostly made up the 106th NYV.  So far I have helped connect over a dozen of them.  Andrew Simpier, the main organizer, says one more profile connected to the veteran meets the requirement.  It is fairly easy to use the FindAGrave item to find relatives.  He has a way with words and asks very intriguing questions about a veteran on G2G.  Today's question is about a profile I filed yesterday, Pvt. Russell Webster.  Makes my pride puff a little.  I quit adding to the profile and went to bed.  This morning-surprise!

Comments

Hi Beulah, It was so great to see you receive the Wonderful WikiTreer award earlier this week. And I see you are continuing the work with New York veterans. Good for you and for WikiTree.

I am sorry to know that you are having such pain that requires cortisone. I can relate given the lumbar stenosis of the cervical spine. There are days I just don't want to move. Oddly enough, working on WikiTree keeps my mind from focusing on the pain...not all the time, but Wiki helps.

You are doing great work with Andrew on the 106 NYV! Well done, you!

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The cortisone shot reduced my plantar fasciitis. Hopefully, the shot helped reduce your pain.

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Hello Eileen! A brief story. I am a retiree on Medicare. I have severe stenosis of the lumbar spine that contributes to a great deal of pain. I had not had a cortisone shot for some 6 months prior to January when I switced Medicare providers from Allwell to Cigna. In January, Cigna denied the prior authorization for a cortsone injection that my pain physician ordered, but approved a caudal injection! They also denied an MRI of the lumbar spine that had not been done for nearly 2 years (not 2 weeks or 2 months...2 years). I found out that some doctor with Cigna overrode what my pain physician ordered for a caudal that did NOTHING to reduce the pain. My neurologist has a fit when he found out Cigna denied the MRI! Meanwhile, I found a new Medicare supplement representative and switched to a UnitedHealth (UH) supplement, which began on March 1. I went to the radiology department on March 6th...they alread had approval from UH to do the MRI, which showed more advanced stenosis and arthristis of the spine. The pain physician also got approval for the injection he ordered. I wrote to Medicare (they are reimbursing all these Medicare providers, who are making $$$ for their stockholders) and gave them evidence as to the poor care with Allwell and Cigna. It could be that some folks on Medicare may have supplements that work more for thier stockholders than their patients and we need to take action to make Medicare aware of these issues. I am not sure what type of insurance Beulah may have (nor should she tell us); however, Beulah might want to check into this. As a nurse, I focused on being a patient advocate. At my age now, I have to be my own advocate and it can be eye-opening as well as tiring.

I am so pleased that your shot has given you relief from the plantar fascitis. You take care.

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Ugh. Cigna.

Calculated indifference gives no aid. That's Cigna.

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Eileen, you are so right on!

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I listen to a podcast called the Tony Kornhesier Show. He detests Cigna.

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@Beulah Cramer, you Wonderful WikiTreer! If you are on Medicare, and you have options, avoid Cigna like the plague. If UnitedHealth AARP HMO POS (or some aspect of UnitedHealth) is an option in your area, I would suggest that you switch from your current provider to them. My guess is that there is an agent who represents UnitedHealth and you should contact her/him BEFORE 12/31/23. Just a strong recommendation. You will need to decide what is best for you.

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I know a sleep doc who works for a posh health ranch now. He represented Cigna back in the early 1990s and quite after about 6 months. Cigna would not cover mammograms for women under 40 years of age even if they had referrals from oncologists for mammograms. Most of these women could not afford the cost of a mammogram. My sleep colleague left because of this Cigna policy. They have since changed their policy; however, their coverage is still caca...

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I have been on UH for several years.  They have never denied me any treatment.  Waiting for the appointment is on Dr. Vans office help and I will wait for it because I do not want to lose access to him.  He is a fantastic doctor.

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Hi Beulah, I am glad to know that you're waiting for your wonderful physician and that's what the delay is. I totally agree with you about waiting for a physician. That's how I feel about mine and my specialists.

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I have great coverage and no, it's not Cigna.

Since I'm switching employers, I'm also switching insurance carriers. The good news is that they cover most of the services especially physical therapy, prescription drugs and mammograms.

Beulah, I have a great therapeutic relationship with my NP and PA. I'm keeping them when I transition to the new employee insurance next month. They make sure that I am okay. It's important to have a relationship with your providers.

If I need a specialist, the primary care providers send a message to start services immediately. That's fast service!

Answer 8

Virtual Vacation!

In the summer of 2017 when we were in England, we stayed for 1 night in a tiny place called Collingbourne Kingston in Wiltshire on the way north from the south coast to Birmingham to visit family. The Inn we stayed at is called the Barleycorn Inn. It was built in the early 1800s. 

This is the back of the building with our rental car on the left end, with a Canadian flag, not because we are being blatantly patriotic, but as a warning to other drivers letting them know we aren't used to driving on the left.

It is across the road from St Mary Church. The foundation date of the earliest church at Collingbourne Kingston is unknown. The flint, rubble and stone building as seen today dates mostly from the late 11th century when the nave, arcades and aisles were built. 

The chancel arch dates from the 13th century when the chancel was reconstructed. In the 15th century the tower and porch were erected and most of the aisle windows renewed. In the early 18th century the clerestory windows were replaced and the nave roof redesigned and a west gallery installed. Other changes were made in the early 1860's. The church was originally dedicated to John the Baptist. Then at an unknown time and for reasons unknown, it was changed to St Mary. 

After we had our evening meal, we walked across the road to wander through the churchyard. The church was locked so we couldn't look at the inside. 

In 2017 I had been doing family history research for about 6 years but seriously only for 4 years. I wasn’t familiar with any of the headstone/cemetery record websites. I was very surprised at the condition of the headstones, the stones that were quite old were mostly legible but the more recent stones from about the 1970s were almost all unreadable, I don’t know what type of stone was used for the headstones at various times, it obviously changed or maybe the engraving tools or techniques changed.

Collingbourne [Kingston] was a settlement in Domesday Book, in the hundred of Kinwardstone and the county of Wiltshire. It had a recorded population of 66 households in 1086, putting it in the largest 20% of all settlements recorded in Domesday.

This is Kingston House built about the mid-1800s

I called this ' the odd building'. it is a short building with thatch down to the ground level. It is on private property so no chance of wandering around the building to try to find out what it is being used for now or what it was used for in the past. I wondered if it was a hen house, or for some other animal. The area doesn't get cold enough in the winter to require thatch to keep livestock warm. 

Yes this is a roundabout! In small places where there isn't enough space to have a raised roundabout, circles are painted on the road, the rules are the same as they are for bigger busier roundabouts and they work very well to keep traffic flowing in an orderly fashion. Except the driver is driving through the roundabout not around the roundabout. 

 This roundabout is just down the road from the Barleycorn Inn as you drive into the village.

Comments

Well, that driver in the middle of the roundabout seems to be doing it wrong! 

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Yes he is!

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Hi again M, I so love the Virtual Vacays in England. I sometimes wish I could time travel back to Buckinghamshire to meet those Baldwins in person (even though their DNA is within). I love the idea of you Canadian flag warning folks. I will have to get a little USA flag, which will probably drive the English, Irish, Welsh and Scots to pulling off the road and screaming in fear. My sister does all the driving. I navigate...hence screaming.

The church and churchyard are beautiful. I recall someone telling me the difference between the stone used on the very old markers compared to the newer ones and how the old stones hold up better. For the life of me, though, I cannot remember the types of stone used! I'm getting addled!

That thatched structure to the ground is very interesting. Maybe lots and lots of hobbits live there! And that car in the center of the roundabout? That's me trying to navigate my sister to wherever we need to be going. She probably stopped in order to choke me to death!

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You can drive over these as long as you don't obstruct others. Some larger vehicles would need to do this on the smaller ones.

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Thank you for the cool pic of a tiny roundabout, and to Eric for pointing out that driver was wrong as I was puzzling how it was supposed to work with him occupying most of the space inside the circle!

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There are roundabouts and then there is 'The Magic Roundabout' that has 7 roundabouts in a circle and they all interconnect.

I have driven through one similar to this one in Birmingham, England and I had to go around 3 times before I could figure out how to get out of it at the right spot to go where I needed to go.

The Magic Roundabout video!

https://www.mapquest.com/travel/destinations/road-trips/swindon-magic-roundabout-7-circles.htm

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You want more roundabouts? Come to Minnesota!

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Thanks again M for the Virtual Vacay. I miss the UK so much, and hope to return one day.

Tiny roundabout? Wow, I have never seen such a thing! I have gotten used to the regular ones again here in the Midwest, since living in MA years ago (where they are called rotaries). But I had to learn left-side driving on the Gogar Roundabout in Edinburgh-yikes! (Dunno who Gogar is/was, but he sounds like some barbarian warrior from a pulp fantasy movie.)

The flag is a great idea. Maybe my fellow drivers would've been a bit more sympathetic (or at least given me a wider berth) had I displayed a US one.

The one-lane roads in Scotland, with the turnouts, were what threw me. A polite young plainclothes officer stopped and questioned me on North Uist after following me for a bit...had to check to see if I had been drinking, then realized I was just a confused American tourist. Said, "Ye'll fergie me for sayin' so, but your drivin' is not o' the best." :) I apologized and he kindly explained how the turnout areas worked...

Think next time I'll take the bus and go by shanks' mare...

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@Cindy, LOL, same here. I was remembering doing pirouettes with my forklift in the parking lot when I worked at Shopko...cars, not so much.

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D, you could try the one lane, one way tunnels with turnouts under mountains in Iceland.  Some are several miles long.

We did that it's interesting! One of the tunnels goes below sea level under the ocean.

I have a pic somewhere but can't find it. You can see one of them here.

https://www.goiceland.com/images/mulagong.jpg

There are videos of driving in some of the tunnels on YouTube.

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Roundabouts? How about several small roundabouts as part of one big one? 

 Hemel  Hempstead 

Swindon from the air  youtube

Answer 9

It's been awhile since I posted here. I've been mostly working on my Suggestion List. It's been coming down quite nicely since the beginning of the year. I think I'll be able to get it to zero (or near zero) by the end of the year, which is a major goal of mine.

I had a recent discovery. I finally figured out that all 8 of my wife's father's great-grandparent are not only all German, but I was able to narrow it down that they are all from Ostfriesland (East Frisia). This led to the discovery of the Ostfriesen Genealogical Society of America and Upstalsboom Gesellschaft, which is the society for historical personal research in East Frisia itself, and other online resources as well. I had no idea that there were a few locations in the U.S. that East Frisian Germans typically immigrated to. Apparently my wife's father's great-grandparents all ended up in the same general area in Illinois, one of these immigrant locations (due to farming, of course). So now I'm collecting more resources for this genealogical area and diving in where I can. I've already broken down a brick wall in her family that went back 4 more generations in East Frisia.

Comments

Where did most disembark and when did they arrive?

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Hi K,

I don't have all the answers to that yet. Arrival times were spread from mid-1800s to late 1800s. Three of the four grandparents were born in Illinois, while one was born in East Frisia, and he came over towards the end of that range of course. I haven't researched their arrival ships yet. Some more digging needs to be done.

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Eric, do you have profile completeness suggestions enabled in addition to regular suggestions?

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Profile_Completeness_Suggestions

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Hi Eric, nice to see you on the chat! I am sure your wife appreciates the work you are doing tracing her paternal side. These German ancestral roots are a challenge. I am working on my sister's paternal line (we have different fathers) and her german, Swedish roots are a real challenge. Congrats on breaking down a brick wall! That is a great accomplishment.

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For what it is worth, we had a guest speaker at the museum who's 2x great grandfather was injured here during the civil war. His research concluded many of his ancestors came to the States via cargo ships that may or may not have had a manifest. His focus was on history, not genealogy. He concluded that several of his ancestors migrated after importation of slaves was deemed illegal. Ships used to export cotton would often sail empty to pick up their cargo. Several took advantage of the no frills transportation offered by cargo ships used to transport cotton from the south, New Orleans specifically, as it also had access to the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. This would account for the large German population in St Louis pre–Civil War. This makes sense as my mother in law's ancestors came from Bavaria and mysteriously ended up in New Hamberg Mo en masse. Might be something to consider when looking for that last few pieces to the puzzle.

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Hi M,

No, I haven't turned that on yet. It was suggested to me many weeks back, but I need to finish the main Suggestion List first.

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Hi K,

Interestingly, the Ostfriesland Genealogical Society of America mentioned that there were several ports in America that East Frieslanders came in on, and one of those was New Orleans. I would assume then, that they would travel up the Mississippi river to Illinois and Iowa to these German communities. I still have a lot to explore and it's going to take some time.

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Hi Carol,

Good to see you too! Thanks for the compliments.  You know, when I was first looking at this part of her tree and I see "Germany", it feels overwhelming because that could be anywhere. But slowly narrowing it down, and understanding some of the location names, and how they "changed hands" throughout history, and then suddenly realizing that, no, it's not just anywhere in Germany, they are all coming from this one smaller region was a big "aha" moment. Then to find all these resources for this area was a big relief too. Then to actually break through a brick wall in quick succession. I was happy to tell Jennifer that I "found her people"! She's half-East-Frisian! (and, ahem, no jokes from the Germans, please. Yes, I'm aware.)

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I join you in the goal of near zero on the suggestions list.  I worked and worked mine (the extended one) and finally realized that Ales was always adding more so I could never catch up.  I slimmed down my watchlist recently to mainly my direct ancestors and a few other "favorites".  I still have 141 suggestions to work, but at least that might be maneagable.  Thank you for the reminder and jog to get back to trying for "zero" again.

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Hi Cindy,

I'm happy I could be the reminder. 141 suggestions is not too bad. If you chip away at them a little each day then it's not so overwhelming.

Answer 10

Hello to all WikiTree weekend chatters

Here in Interlaken the weather is as it has to be: November arrived and brings rainy and stormy days. Only the temperature missed the right month - it is still too warm.

As every 2nd month, I had my makula-injections (both eyes) to block the natural process of seeing worse and less. This 'routine' is my main medical issue since over 5 years - and I still get not really used to it.

The family is doing well, our son in Beijing is planning to visit Europe next February and March. This was unexpected but my sister invited him to attend her 80th birthday next March. We are also invited and will visit the party in the Netherlands.

I am working hard to improve my WikiTree profiles and bring my CC7-count up. Officially I started end January 2023 as a serious WikiTreer, but now I work on my first Gedcom which I uploaded to WikiTree the 1st of November 2011. Quite a lot of unsourced profiles and lacking biographies - so that's really a job. A lot of the profiles has been worked on by others but not all are fixed. By doing this I realise how much changed with WikiTree in the 12 years passed since 2011.

To find cousins in WikiTree is a special feature I enjoy. I only lost my closest cousin because he made his and his parent's profiles totally private - so he is no more on top of my cousins-list. I met him once in Friesland and we had mail-contact over the years, but I question why did he change his status. Anyway he and his family is in my local RootsMagic database.

Thanks to Pip for hosting the chat every week. I enjoy reading the stories. It is good to know, that all of us doing genealogy are living, on the other hand we 'know' mostly more about our ancestors or relatives which are not living anymore. Sometimes I would like to ask some questions to one of my ancestors but I have to find the answer by myself.

Comments

Hi Klaas,

just a question about your cousin's profile. Did he sign the Honor Code? If so he can't make his profile Unlisted unless he closes his account. If he closes it, the Team will take it under its wings until someone says "I want to be a PM for that profile". The most private version he can make his profile is to put it on red lock. See more about it here,

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Hi Jelena,

The profile manager is now [deleted] in all the profiles which are orphaned in the meantime. I checked his ancestors and the changes-tab where the original editor is now just deleted. Not really a problem for me because I have the data in my local database.

Answer 11

Happy Friday Everyone from a pleasantly cool Texas. We have had a cold front (but not a deep freeze one) to pass through. It produced some much needed rain without the accompanying thunder storms and now we are in the 50's. We'll take it!

It has been a challenge to work in everything this past week. One of my best friends was here for a week from California and we had a lovely time talking the whole week! Now, I also have to catch up on watching some of the presentations from the WikiTree Anniversary weekend. And, today and tomorrow is the Texas State Genealogical Conference. Fortunately, the videos from this are available until February 4th. Pip, it was fun to take part in the Greeter's Presentation last weekend - thanks for the opportunity.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week and, here in the United States, we are on the countdown to Thanksgiving! Can't wait to make the dressing - the same dressing that my maternal grandmother and my mother always made.

Comments

Countdown to Thanksgiving is correct. We think only one of our kids is going to show up, so we invited several people from church who do not have family in the area to come. I think we'll have at least four coming.

I'm still catching up on videos, too, Ginny. It was great having you as a part of the Greeters' presentation. Thanks so much!

Answer 12

Bonjou Wikitreers parèy yo ak byenvini nan vwayaj mwen an atravè diferan lang yo itilize nan 15 peyi yo nan Tour Entènasyonal Nasyon yo. Semenn sa map ekri an kreyòl ayisyen ki se youn nan lang prensipal ann Ayiti. Franse se yon lòt lang prensipal yo itilize. Ayiti se te sizyèm etap nan vwayaj la ak patisipan yo te konekte nèf nan Notab make yo.

Sou devan Wikitree mwen an mwen gen lis siveyans mwen an desann nan 5415 kidonk li ap desann tou dousman. Kategori pèsonèl mwen ap travay sou se 72 ak kèk paj toujou louvri. Mwen pral pran yon ti repo epi travay sou la Samdi Sourcing Sprint pou jodi samdi.

Demen, pitit fi mwen an gen yon ekspozisyon dans li pou ane a ak kèk dans diferan li pral fè tou de kòm solo ak pèfòmans ekip. Mwen pran manman m tou nan ayewopò an nan jis plis pase sèt èdtan konsa kat jou kap vini yo pwobableman pa gen anpil aktivite ki gen rapò ak Wikitree.

Comments

May I ask what language this is? I don’t recognize it.

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It looks like a French Pidgin version. But from where it actually is... no clue.

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It is Haitian Creole

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As a WikiTree Greeter we often need to translate from someone's native language so I used Google Translate and was able to read the message perfectly.

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Bonjou Darren, mwen renmen ke w ap itilize lang yo nan vwayaj 15 peyi w la. Se yon bon fason pou tout moun ki sou WikiTree reyalize ke gen lòt lang ak kilti k ap grandi sou pye bwa nou an! Akolad pou ou!

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Bonjou Darren. Mwen te vrèman renmen prezantasyon w yo pandan Senpozyòm Wikitree la! Fòk mwen aprann lang sa si mwen ale Lwizyana oswa Ayiti.

Answer 13

Hello WikiTree Weekend Chatters!

This week has been fairly quiet for me. The time change last Saturday night has been difficult for my cats as they don’t understand it but they are mostly adjusted now. They were waking me up earlier to be fed so I have been tired this week.

Continuing with my month of medical appointments, I have to get repeat bloodwork done on Tuesday morning at the hospital followed by a mammogram at a totally different location. Then Wednesday I go to see my post kidney transplant nephrologist. I did get one bit of good news this week - the orthopaedic specialists at one of the hospitals here has agreed to see me for my foot problem (left foot has a bunion plus my second toe crosses over my big toe). I just have to wait about 7 months for an appointment. Surgery is a definite possibility at some point. My foot doesn’t hurt as much now to walk as it did a couple weeks ago so that’s good too.

As others have mentioned, the weather here has been a bit all over the place. We had snow a few days ago but it has all melted. Temperatures at night are generally around -5° to -10°C with the days a few degrees above freezing. Right now it is 5°C and raining and next week it’s supposed to go up to about 10°C. Fall and winter are definitely in their yearly struggle.

As for genealogy, I did some work helping to connect 3 deceased Canadian veterans as part of the Canadian Notables Challenge this month.

As part of the last Connect A Thon I was working on my SIL’s ancestors and I added a gentleman living in England who was stated he was Jewish but converted to Christianity shortly before the baptism of his son. I remember that I couldn’t find a category to use at the time. Now I can’t for the life of me find this man. It is so frustrating so I am going through the list of profiles I manage and removing myself for many of the profiles beyond about 7-8° from me, especially those I worked on as part of a challenge.

Let’s hope for more peace and less conflict in this world, especially since tomorrow is Remembrance Day. (((Hugs))) everyone!

Comments

Lately my cats have been asking for the wet food frequently during the day.  Since they've lost weight in recent years (they are older now) I try to accommodate them so they will eat.  Now we have first breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and sometimes bedtime snack.  In Arizona we don't change time but I doubt they would notice anymore!

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Hi Liza, please know that I will keep you in my healing intentions in my daily meditations (which are indoors now that it is getting colder). Thank you for working on veterans for the Canadian Notables! As to the Connect A Thon, it is beastly when I cannot find someone that I worked on from a Thon! Very frustrating. And I will certainly hope for peas globally on Remembrance Day. {{{Hugs}}} to you!

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Seven months for an appointment, Liza? I have never had to wait so long. What's the hold up, I wonder.

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Pip,

The 7 month wait is because of two things: 1) we don’t pay directly for healthcare so sometimes we have to wait because the provincial government doesn’t hire as much staff as needed, and 2) there is a general shortage of medical staff, especially nurses and family doctors. I haven’t had a family doctor for over two years (since mine moved away) because very few doctors are taking new patients.

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Thank you sweet Carol! ❤️

As an aside, I recently found a Mecklem who married a Baldwin which made me think of you. Mecklem/Mecklam is a variation of my maiden name Macklem.

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GAH! WE have a shortage of nurses/doctors here, but it hasn't seemed to affect me as much. My appointments pre- and post-surgery came rather quickly.

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Pip, Some appointments are pretty quick, others take their time. Our system will likely never be as fast as your private system for non-emergency visits and procedures. At least I won’t end up with a bill every time!

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Liza, before I even started on the process for my shoulder surgery, I waited until I turned 65 so that I could get on Medicare. That became my primary insurance with my private insurance covering the rest. Shame that we can't get something going for more people, especially earlier than 65.

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Pip, I can’t afford private health insurance to cover dental, prescription medicine and glasses. Fortunately because my prescription meds cost so much from being a transplant patient, Ontario has a special program that covers everything above 20% of my income for prescription medication.

Answer 14

Good evening from Germany,

where the weather is windy every day and there is no day when there is not at least a little bit of rain. It's not raining the whole day, but rain is always incoming.

Personally it was a quiet week, we were "only" reorganizing our lomber rooms after we put all the stuff out of it to get it cleaned. Enough work with that. And I catched up with some of the WikiTree-Symposium videos. Since they are only available for 30 days, I have to watch them as fast as possible.

On WikiTree, I am in a connecting mood currently. I am going through the Notables Category page per page asking the Browser Extension to only show me the unconnected profiles. One day this week I connected 4 of them to the Big Tree. And I'm looking for unconnected Notables that were born in Germany to add them to my personal spreadsheet.

Tonight a merge was done that I asked for 4 months ago. It was a doubled profile of a man whose sister married an Eckstädt and whose daughter emigrated to Australia. There are still descendants of him over there. His sister (the Eckstädt one) was connected to the Big Tree, but only via America and Australia and don't ask me further. She was 60 degrees away from me. Now that the merge is done, she is only 33 steps away from me. Reconnections for the win!

Have a great weekend1

Comments

That merge and reduction in connection count is almost up there with the level of the Outer Rim! Fantastic job!

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What a big accomplishment on the completion of that merge.  Sometimes they take patience.  I had one that waited two years because the other PM had certain "rules" about what she would merge - like no recent edits, huh??  Anyway I waited her out and just got that one done a few months ago.  Very satisfying isn't it!

Jelena what is a lomber room?

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is there a typo in it? LUmber room? A storeroom. We have two small ones but with so much stuff in it that it took several days to put all the stuff again there after we had cleaned the "room".

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OK I get storeroom.  Sounds like mine was before we turned it into a man-cave.  Now a lot of that is in the garage and given away.  More to go . . .

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Hi Jelena, I understand the 'merge wait'. I just today received a message that a merge was completed that I initiated 6 months ago! I wish there was a better way with some of these merges! And congratulations on your connecting. Way to go!

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Carol, you can complete any merge after 30 days because any unapproved merge proposal is given default approval.

The reason mine took two years is the other PM kept rejecting it early on even though both Gisele and I explained how they were the same person and added about a dozen sources.  So then I waited until I hadn't seen any activity from her history for about a year.  Then reproposed it.  Fortunately it went to default and I got it done ASAP.

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I'm waiting until Nov 30 for a default merge approval for 2 identical profiles created on the same day by the same person with a 3rd profile which was the original profile for the same person created about 3 years before the other 2.

The same PM who created the extra 2 identical profiles had created 5 other duplicates for other family members, those merges were completed at the end of October also by default.

Yes all the duplicates were created from a Gedcom import in 2015.

Answer 15

On this day:

1759: The German author Friedrich Schiller is born

1903: Mary Anderson get the patent for the windshield wiper

1983: Bill Gates presents for the first time Windows 1.0

Comments

I choose Mary Anderson  Her profile on WikiTree is in sad shape!  I will adopt her profile and see if I can give her a little more dignity!  She was also a real estate developer.

Did you know that on the TV Series ''The Simpsons'' Marge says:

Marge: "Well, a woman also invented the windshield wiper!"

Then Homer says: "Which goes great with another male invention, the car!"^[12] -Simpsons

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I was surprised to see this morning that the windshield wiper is a female invention.

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Hi Jelena, today I will go with the woman! You know that when there is a woman in the trio, I will select her because women have been overlooked (and undervalued) over the centuries. And inventing a windshield wiper! Where would we be without them in rain, snow and bug carcasses?

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I remember the introduction to Windows and also the year after that... Macintosh.

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Had an unexpected visitor this weekend, Professor, so for my first reading tonight I'll go with Schiller and see where it takes me. Thanks!

Answer 16

Howdy folks! Greetings from central Oklahoma USA! The weather has been up and down. Temps have been anywhere from the 30s to mid 80s F. It sounds like this might be how this winter goes with El Nino in full swing through the first of the year. I was hoping that I was done mowing, but probably not. 

Today the wind was finally calm enough to burn all of the tree limbs that I trimmed last month. Here in OK you have to get a permit and the wind has to be below 10 mph before you can burn. I called the fire house and talked to a kid whose dad was a firefighter with me back in the day, and he gave me the okie doke. I started burning at 0900 and finished at 1430. I'm kinda tired now, but I'm soooo glad I got it done. 

Happy Veterans day to all of the vets on WT! Since none of my family is buried in OK, I have found the grave of a veteran that I have kind of adopted and taken over the care of his grave. His name is Christian Madsen  https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Rørmose-2 and he was in the US Army after the Civil War before he became a United States Marshall in Indian Territory. He, along with Heck Thomas, and Bill Tighlman were known as "The Three Guardsman of Oklahoma". They were credited with the death or capture of around 300 outlaws in Indian Territory and when Oklahoma first became a state. He is buried about eight miles from our house, and I discovered his grave while doing some research in the cemetery where he and his wife are buried. Interesting guy. 

Thanks Pip for being the host with the most, and I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Until next time.....

John

Comments

I see Madsen would have been marshalling about the time Doolin-Dalton gang was operating. I know Heck Thomas pursued them at times, do you know if Madsen did? Emmett, Bob and Grat were my 3c3r. If I had to guess, Charlie Pierce was probably related to them (and me) as well. My grandpa was Lee Dalton and grandma was Alma Pierce. Not that it matters much but, it's kind of fun to think about if I were alive then knowing what I know now.

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Yes, he was personally credited with killing three members of the Doolin-Dalton Gang (AKA The Wild Bunch), Dan "Dynamite Dick" Clifton, George "Red Buck" Waightman, and Richard "Little Dick" West.

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It is quite possible that Charley/Charlie Pierce was a gr uncle. Little is known about him. Alfred D Pierce, my gr grandpa, is a brick wall. There was also a spin off gang known as the Smith Gang, mainly cattle rustlers. They were involved in a shootout in Arizona. I had other Smith relatives end up in Az after the Civil War.

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Much as I was ready to burn a bunch of stuff, tree limbs like you John, we had a burn ban here due to more than two weeks without rain. Days were smokey from local fires in the surrounding counties.

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Pip, we usually live in a constant state of burn bans here. I was lucky that we had some rain last week so the humidity has been high enough to allow burning. It was the wind that kept me from burning.

Answer 17

Hello, friends, from Everett, Washington, where thunderstorms and wind are predicted for tomorrow. I and children were planning to visit our friends across the peninsula tomorrow, BUT:

In addition to the bad weather, the Edmonds to Kingston ferry run is down to ONE boat, the Spokane, which means a TWO HOUR wait in line. There are no public bathrooms near the ferry line, and no convenient place to buy snacks. Moreover, my drinking buddy will be absent from home that day...so I'm thinking of calling off our planned trip out there. It's just too late in the year.

I am working on quilts this weekend, getting three or maybe four ready for the Project Linus work party on Sunday/Monday. I've been appliqueing little yellow Dresden Plate flowers onto 1940s green panels. I have many, many Dresden Plate flowers ready for the right project.

We will stay home and eat the delicious dinner tomorrow night that I prepared today. The Companions Meatball Bake from the Skyrim cookbook, using ground beef, cauliflower instead of potatoes, and the fragrant Stormcloak seasoning.

I got Hal King of the Texas Rangers connected a couple of days ago. I continue to work on baseball players. I created a profile for Gary Carter, of the Montreal Expos, last week. Connecting him was relatively easy. I saw that in 1940, before Gary was born, his family was living in my old neighborhood in Los Angeles.

You all take care and batten down the hatches.

Comments

Margaret, we just spent a night sharing the wind and rain storm.

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Margaret, we were expecting way more rain than we got this weekend. We needed your thunderstorm!

Down to one ferry because of the season or is something else going on, like the cost of running them?

Answer 18

On this day:

1821: The Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky is born

1889: The State of Washington becomes the 42nd State of the United States

1933: Miriam Tiali, the first black South African woman to publish a book in English, is born

Comments

Hi Jelena (or Professor as Pip would write). YAY! Another woman yet again! Of course I will go with Miriam Tiali! Thank you for these 'On This Day'!

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Happy statehood day, Washington!

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Since I know so little about ol' Fyodor (only having read two of his books), I'll take him as my second lesson tonight. Thanks, Professor!

Answer 19

Good morning from Oro Valley with 47 degrees right now and a high of 74 expected.  This is a little too cool for me.  We had about two weeks of beautiful comfortable fall weather for short sleeves and capris.  Now it's already long pants and jackets.

The Acadian project is really humming.  We have a real professional expert in DNA (FTDNA and Mothers of Acadia) volunteer to be a project coordinator a few months ago.  Then Murray Maloney volunteered and he's going to be the go-to for Indigenous information plus the geographies of Acadian (present day) Maine and much of the Gaspe Peninsula in present day Quebec.  Gisele and I have reorganized some of our project management and I feel that I have a new interest in some of my regular duties.  We have some strong regular contributors to count on as well.  We are rolling this out to the project team this weekend.

We finished our "Five Ships" list which had almost 200 families and probably over a 1000 people on it.  My overall impression is that it was unusual for a family to arrive intact, some losing all their children, or one or both of the parents died.  I guess I've talked about this for a few weeks.  Even though I knew the history, it became very different to see the terrible destruction of families through the whole deportations, much of it intentional.

So now back to my own project list.  Coming up next week, I am going to do a genealogy class for our Newcomers Club.  Starting with just two people who can bring their own laptops and follow along with me.  So we will have two new WT members and some new profiles made!  I'm going to use the WT overview video and then work out an outline to cover for them.  We already have a Waitlist for the class so I can tweak it and do another class for those who are  interested.  Has anyone done this and have an outline I could work from?

Comments

Hi Cindy, it is too cool for me as well. I'm in flannel pajamas and just hung out the laundry (that I do in hot or cold weather). Congratulations on what sound to be the Acadian project really coming along very nicely! And two new members is really great! Thank you for all that you are doing to grow our tree! I am adding to my sister's paternal line in a break (for a bit) from the Baldwin's. No Acadians in her paternal line...all Swedes, Germans and Poles.

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I wish they had a like or thumbs up button!  Your kind words are appreciated.

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Right now, our weather is kinda matching your, Cindy. Perfect for me, but my wife would rather have it a bit warmer at night.

How cool you are doing a new members club! That's like being a missionary for WT! 

Answer 20

A Weekend Chat Blast From The Past

*Pip's computer is locking up!

*Maria, from Sweden, says its getting dark!

*John got the Internet back!  Yeah!

*Dale say: "Monday, First we had to take the youngest granddaughter to school. Then we hit the salvage stores to find some good deals. 

And much much more!  Enjoy the way we were!  November  12-14 2021    >>>CLICK HERE<<<

Comments

David, I'm John who lost the Internet in Nov. 2021 and got it back this morning......no, I didn't lose it for for that long, just since last night in the wind and rain storm.

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Hi Cousin John!  You seem to have a lot of trouble with the Internet!  You can always Hot Spot off your cellphone When I took my lap top to family reunions (before I spilled coffee all over it) I would hot spot of the phone and shopw everybody WikiTree!  Most of them could have cared less!    15th cousin once removed