Computer Overload

I got a new computer.

I transferred all the files myself. I am extremely proud of myself for getting that done. Even though it took me two days and a whole lotta grief. I'm still loading odds and ends that I forgot about, like bookmarks.

The new computer has new software. With a learning curve. Things are not where I expect them to be. Some things are gone completely, I think, maybe, but I'm still looking. My picture viewer is different. My Outlook is a monster. I started using Chrome and that's all new too. Sigh.

In other news...

Bertie likes houseplants

Bertie still likes to help me work

Bertie likes to hide.

The black hole of family research continues to eat away my time. I find myself cruising through old newspapers reading stories over 100 years old. It's amazing what you can find. I have discovered that many of my relatives were entrepreneurs. There were a bunch of businesses started - a marble (stone not toy) company, a grocery store, jewelry store and an excavation equipment company.

The search for the relative that came over from Ireland has skidded to a halt. I may need to pay for some of that information, so I've put it on the back burner.

October has been an odd month. I didn't get a lot of writing done, but what I did was more in the way of outlining. It is helping me to see some holes that need fixing. New characters are cropping up and new settings. I'm still putting the pieces together. But I feel like I'm making some progress.

Catching Up

It's a rainy day, perfect for catching up with myself.

I haven't worked on End of the Lines all week. I've been listening to the audiobook recordings for Unintended Consequences. I have to say that hearing it in someone else's voice has me finding all sorts of things to fix. I may have rushed that one a little. I wanted it out of my brain. Other than typos, I don't think I will do any other fixing. I will just acknowledge them as a lesson and move on.

Hopefully, that audiobook will be available by mid-November.

I am still losing way too much time to the genealogy black hole. I am so excited to have found the LDS website. They had Hungarian Baptismal records through 1895, which was very helpful. I found a lot of relatives in there. Now I just need something a little more recent. The language is a barrier. Although Google Translate has worked well enough.

The Irish side isn't faring as well. All civil records were burned up in a fire in the 1920's (I think). That only leaves the parish records. I'm trying to narrow down a town in County Roscommon, but it's a big county.

I won't even mention the garden, which is an absolute jungle at this point.

And the new kitten is doing very well. Although she is still way too rambunctious and bite-y.

So you can see I've had a lot of distractions this month. I am hoping to get back on track with myself this week. I need to allocate time for things and stick to it. Lately I have been sliding past self-imposed deadlines and putting off things that need to be done.

Like getting a hair cut. Which I will do today.

Down the genealogy rabbit hole

This picture was taken at Maroon Lake in Colorado while I was there for my nephew's wedding in June of 2011.

Family.

Seems I have a lot of it. I got bit by the genealogy bug when I saw a free tree-building website. Who knew it was going to result in so many hours in lists and census pages? I am totally sucked in by the search.

My mother's side of the family came from Ireland, 1851, I think. They settled in upstate NY. Luckily they all stayed put and the local paper took note of everything - births, deaths and marriages. Now I need to jump over to Ireland and see if I can trace the family there. I think I have found the great-great-grandfather that came over. Luckily he was a mason, because his last name is insanely common.

My father's side is both harder and easier. He was born in Hungary. I know the village and my grandmother's maiden name. The big problem is that I don't speak Hungarian. And wow is that a hard language. The other problem, their village is tiny. I have doubts about finding any census information. Many records were lost in the wars over there. And I have lost touch with relatives, which were all my grandmother's siblings. Most likely all dead now.

But it is a merry chase trying to find this aunt or that great-uncle and they did what for a living? Amazing. I have had to limit my time because once I start digging, I lose hours!

Goodreads Giveaway is closed

Thank you to everyone who was interested! 1081 people signed up to my giveaway! That is so exciting. I will be mailing out the books early next week to the 4 winners.

And I hope some of the people who didn't win will consider buying the book.

Thank you all!

Kitten Update

Our little waif has made herself to home. She is turning the house upside down, terrorizing the older cats and making us laugh every day.

The vet was amazed at how well she's doing. The broken leg is totally healed and Bertie is racing around the house like a flash.

And chewing things up, shedding, sharpening her claws on the furniture... Sheesh, we hadn't planned on a 3rd cat!

The older cats are still hissing at her. Mallory gives her a smack from time to time. Rascal is a little more gentle, just lifting a paw in threat. But she does follow them constantly and has been know to jump an a tail and bite it.

I'm hoping they will get along when she gets a little older and less rambunctious. That's what everyone says.

Fingers crossed.

Just a heads up - the Goodreads Giveaway for Unintended Consequences ends on Saturday.