July 18 2:30 a.m.

I have spent the last 4 hours working on family history. Have uploaded 400 names from New Family Search. Have corrected the duplicates and have 2 pages of problems. I like that Ancestral Quest gives you an option to print out possible problems. I have places where the dates are wrong....and this is a great way to catch errors.

Bob Jenson came to visit my class today and talked about family history: the process. Two things that he said...Verify, verify, verify! AND
Just because you have the data doesn't mean your family history is done. Find out who you come from. What the people were like, know them and then you'll know yourself. That is very profound when you think about it. Even being adopted I always wonder where I get my nose for example. Is it a Miller nose? It is not a Russell nose (I don't think!) Anyway....very very inspiring.

One thing that makes me cranky about the verifying bit---- The subscriptions at the Branch of the Family History Library on 5th North and 1st West....are public subscriptions so one doesn't get all the benefits of a personal subscription. For example Ancestry.com costs 56.00 for 3 months. It's cheaper by the year but I never have enough at one time to do that. But I can't access all the records --- I get a message that I need to buy the full price subscription to gain access.  POOK. Order birth and death records can be done online for some states - but gosh it is pricey.

I have lots of questions to research, lots of data to verify and the last time I did anything was 2003. Wow. I have enough work to keep me out of trouble for about 35 years....(and that is just verifying and researching 4 generations.)  I guess I can't complain I am bored.

I saw today that most of the lobelia is dead. I really try to be a good gardener! Maybe it's the soil...maybe it's the gardener! But the lobelia is dry and sad looking. I may have to pull it out and try again. RATS.

Finished the pillowcases. They didn't turn out as lovely as I'd hoped. RATS.