Show Your Holiday Spirit on the "Weekend Chat" December 8 -10

+19 votes
1.1k views

 

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New Members Saying Hello (our favorite!)

Puzzles by Laura Bozzay

"Today Is" by Dorothy Barry

Eddie's Picks - Movies & Music

Where in the World is Steve Today?

Members Checking in via "All About the Weekend Chat"

 

 

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Have fun and let others know you liked their posts... click the stars and mark answers you like as "best".  Those posts will be temporarily highlighted by being placed as the first answer in the chat for a while.  Members will also receive email notification (unless they opted out) that let them know you liked what they did.

At the end of the weekend "best answer" will be removed as all answers are equal in the eyes of the Chat.  Click to learn more.

It's ok.... go for it!

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The 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 many will enjoy their multitude of reading options.

Weekend Chat 30 June - 2 July 2017

Enjoy yourself and spread good will :)


Yes WikiTreers it is Dec and the Holiday Parties and Shopping and Cookie Baking are all in full swing!  Welcome to the Weekend Chat!  Everyone is welcome!  Let your spirit show this week!  

in The Tree House by Laura Bozzay G2G6 Pilot (824k points)
Thank you, Laura, for hosting the Weekend Chat. Looks perfect!

Wow, it is tough realizing weekend chat starts on friday. Christmas is approaching fast and soon it will be next year. 2017 has been one heck of a ride politically and economically. 

Sheet usage is up along with the live chat. Feel free to stop by. 

http://tinyurl.com/Doctorsheet spreadsheet
http://prntscr.com/hk72jy instructions

Thanks for hosting, Laura !
Hi Laura!  Thanks for hosting!
Thanks everyone.  We have just now reached page 2.  Please remember to visit both pages.
Yes thank you for hosting Laura.

24 Answers

+7 votes
 
Best answer
So,  I have a history of being an elf.  Actually had the elf clothing growing up.  You see, Santa lived across the street from me.  He knew all the neighborhood children.  When you reached the age of babysitter it was expected you would work elf time.   So we donned our elf attire and helped deliver presents to the neighborhood kids who we often babysat... it made the job a no brainer... when a child would start acting up I would look at him or her and say "Now, you know I am one of Santa's Elves... do you really want to do that?"  Worked like a charm.  

Last year I gave my two daughterinlaws each a big sack filled with Elf supplies and a certificate inducting them into the Honorable Order of Santa's Elves so that if they ever get caught wrapping a present they can calmly show the child their membership and explain they are just helping Santa.  Everyone has to be part of the magic....   when you reach a certain age...
by Laura Bozzay G2G6 Pilot (824k points)
selected by Mindy Silva
For the last 13 years, at least, I have grandchildren that swear I am Santa. I mean just because I am fat, wear wire rim glasses and have white hair and beard I fail to see why they would think that lol.

One even told a friend that I have a secret tunnel under my shed that goes to the North Pole. True Story.
Yep I know people like you....  of course I am an elf....he he he....
Elf, Laura and Santa Dale, which one of you do I mail my wish list to for Christmas to?
David you know Santa gets the list but the elves do the work!!!!
Love this post, Laura, I just LOVE IT!!!

(No elves in our neighborhoods though.) (Tooth fairy was almost as much fun!)
Hi Roberta!  Welcome back!  I know you were travelling to see family.  Hope you had a wonderful visit!
+12 votes

This week's puzzle

Language Volunteers

A project to help people with foreign languages (such as interpreting foreign genealogy records), as well as investigating ways to make WikiTree more friendly to non-English speakers.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Project:Language

Leaders: Paul Bech and Karen Tobo

There is a docx and pdf version at

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rqo8mt2eobujwgd/AAAzB3IGNHqNKXBfdE985NBZa?dl=0

by Laura Bozzay G2G6 Pilot (824k points)
edited by Laura Bozzay
Another great puzzle by the Weekend Chat puzzle lady, Laura. Thank you!

Answers are in the answer folder at 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rqo8mt2eobujwgd/AAAzB3IGNHqNKXBfdE985NBZa?dl=0

Plus there is a bonus document called Genealogy Word List 7 in both Excel and html format.  It has 8 or 9 languages with more words for each one.  You might find it helpful when coming across something in another language.  

That's a great puzzle Laura, amazing how many languages we all (can) learn around here ! Perhaps it should be added somewhere (with the translations of course), might be a great help for all of us :D

Thank for hosting the chat and the puzzle Laura and have a wonderful weekend everyone !

Preparing for Christmas and decorated the tree and the house and ..just in time..it started snowing here just when I was ready...forgot to take a picture, but to give you an impression, here's a picture a friend took yesterday

And here are more picture of how it looks now in different places in the Netherlands

Hi Bea,  I have posted a larger grid of translations in the WikiTree Chat Puzzle Answer folder.  I think you posted soon after  posted the link to where that file is.. just look at my post above your post for the location.

Just copy it over to your computer.  Or open it and do a file save as.

Laura
Thank you Laura, I think I can add a link to it to our Dutch Portal pages for all members :) (is it a permanent link ?)
I will leave it in there for a while.  You can copy it or save it to your own file or project page if you want.  Feel free to use it.  Also there are some words I never got a translation for (I worked with a number of native speakers to create the grid) and I am always happy to have someone add a translation to it.
It snowed in Brooklyn after I was returned to Arizona. No snow in AZ, just dull skies, and warmth only in name.
In Loudon, Tennessee it just spitted snow on Friday morning. My mother worked out on Friday morning and rest of the  day I worked out mulching the leaves in the road on my side and my neighbor who I told you about dying in 10 weeks after finding out that she had 3 inoperable brain tumors.
+16 votes

This Week’s Tips

1,  Look under the Find icon on your menu at the top of the page.  There is a link called WikiTree Matches.  This allows you to search for possible matches to people on your watch list.   You can used the advanced search setting to limit the search to specific criteria.  The limiting criteria includes:

Date range for matching? 

Include matches with surname variants

Include matches without dates

Include possible century typos

Search all of WikiTree

Limit to one surname in your Watchlist:

Limit to one person (WikiTree ID) in your Watchlist:

Skip Pending MergesUnmerged Matches, and Rejected Matches?

You can then mark any that do not match rejected.  Conversely if you find one that you think is a match you can compare it more fully and if it is a match mark it for a merge.  This helps us prune duplicates from the tree.

2.  Also under Find you will see Pending Merges.  You can do this for all of the tree or just for those suggested for members of your Watch list.  If we all do this once a month we can clean up a lot of pending merges just sitting there. If your watch list is clean then you might want to scan the pending list for those with a specific surname you might be familiar with. Once again this helps us prune duplicates.

3.  Things to look at when considering a merge.  Merges generally are not just done because a name is the same.  We look at birth dates, death dates, parent names, spouses, children, locations.  Sometimes you will find a person who looks like a match but some of the data is slightly different.  These are good candidates to ask others in G2G to take a look at to see if they think it is a match or just one of those coincidental profiles that looks similar but is different.  Sometimes you will find that person A had 2 spouses with different children but the same parents and birth date.  This is a good match.  Sometimes you may find parents, spouse, and children match but dates are off.  This is a good candidate for more research.  Always try to enlist the help of the other profile’s listed PM.  You can send them a private message by clicking on their name which will take you to their profile and then select private message. 

4.  If you have what appears to be a good match with some minor variations and you and the other PM agree to do the match, you can list the alternate data in the bio section.  Something like:  Prior to matching Jones 1 and Jones 2 there were two slightly different birth dates.  We have opted to display birth date of x vs that of y which was on Jones 2 profile.  We did this because … and give the reason for your choice.  

by Laura Bozzay G2G6 Pilot (824k points)
Find/ pending merges? holy crap you have no idea how I've been trying to get there.  LOL Much easier. now, any easy way to pop up that compare/merge window?
When you get the list there is a link to compare.  Click it and the compare window opens.
Thank you, Laura, for another of your great tips.
Great tip!

If you include matches without dates there is a pretty good chance you can find a number of profiles that merit {{Unsourced}}
Kay that is a great tip about helping to find and indicate the unsourced!
Thanks for the great tips Laura.
+18 votes

Good Weekend to All!

 

It looks like we may get our first taste of winter tonight with a chance of wintry mix.

Busy weekend coming up with our daughter's college graduation (valedictorian...I'm a proud Papa) & our son's Christmas party.

Our cats are enjoying all the activity. (this is what happens when you are a landscape designer & have extra time on your hands - your cats become the subject of your designs).

 

Have a great weekend.

Peepers

Our Boy Smoochie

My Boys

Smoochie

by Doug Lockwood G2G Astronaut (2.6m points)
edited by Doug Lockwood
It's cold here in St Louis area but so far no snow.  

Looks like your cats are enjoying the flora.
Love black cats! I can see some Photoshop traces - so how many black kitties do you actually have?
Great photo's of your black cats, Doug, thank you for sharing them with us.
I have 3 currently. I have had 4 more earlier in life. There has always been a black cat in our home since 1980.
Nice kitties. Hope they like to play in the snow.
Cats and flowers! What's not to love?

What a great way to start the weekend!
Beautiful pictures as always, Doug.  Congratulations to your daughter on her graduation!
Lovely, Doug.
Ditto to whatevery one said Doug.
+14 votes

Aaahhhhh

Rugged week. Need music ! For your consideration

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4_FDjDwNygM

by Eddie King G2G6 Pilot (690k points)
Fair enough. =)

Working on my next comic and planning a video.
RAPHAEL DESCENDING

This is the first day of our second year as Family. The surveillance camera shows a clumpy tumbling gray sky. It rains for days and freezes at night and the rain next day washes the ice away. Someday it won't. The ice will stay. The spy satellite in orbit got a peek through the cloud cover yesterday. We stop-framed the feed and searched hi-mag through the pix for lights and other signs of people. We thought there was something in Wyoming but it was just Yellowstone. The volcano finally blew. Curiosity burns. What's happening beyond Silver Lake? We've heard nothing from the outside the past four months. We dare not call out. We don't want to be discovered. We just listen to the silence. The day they decided the world would die wasn't a placid day.  Choices matter more than circumstances.
Wow, that's dark.  But darn good.
Nobody believes me when I said I was going to write a novel. Started Wednesday, got thirty pages done so far. Sci Fi. NO ZOMBIES OR VAMPIRES ! ! Real Sci Fi.
Dude, I believe you. It's good to see another writer in our midst. =)

I just put up my 372nd comic.  Very cool premise. =)
I believe you Eddie.  I have written several short stories for people I know as gifts.  Most had a sci fi bent or fantasy spin depending on the person and their age.  Of course my closest friends think I came from outer space....  but that is a different story!
You haven't written anyone falling into the heart of a collapsing star, I hope, Laura. =O

Not that I've ever done that. =)

No I tend to use John Gribbin's In Search of Schroedinger's Cat: Quantum Physics and Reality  as inspiration.  However I would have to get a new copy as I gave mine to a young man who wanted to study Quantum Physics in college.  He sent me a note saying he was one of the only ones passing because after they did a topic in class he went back to the book and then understood it.  I was glad to hear that!   It is really a good primer for basic understanding of quantum.  Which is where the theory of time travel meets science vs fiction.  

I mean, it gave me the perspective that life is more like a woven tapestry of various threads that intersect into a myriad of patterns and sometimes when you pull a thread down here the pucker happens way up there...  so interconnections are what I find so interesting.....kind of like fun with lateral thinking vs linear proof theorems.

I wrote an essay on how time perception changes based on where you stand in terms of age, culture, and type of "being"...   A rock is weathered by time but because of its longevity will experience time much more slowly than a house fly.  Humans and all sentient beings will perceive time based on life span, where they are in it (time as seen through the eyes of a child is limitless and waiting another day for Santa is an eternity vs an adult who is in panic mode because we only have a day...)  You get the idea...

Glad you helped someone out. =) Interesting take on time and life itself. Pretty cool.

My inspiration comes from a variety of sources. Notably the comics I read growing up and various scifi things I've seen.  Lot of life lessons you can learn from comics.
Laura, Comments like yours are what make Wikitree a shining place in the infinitude of stars. I hope that book is still in print but I can't guarantee I'd be understanding it ever. Nonetheless, it must be touched, explored, examined.
+15 votes

I really liked this movie. It's a true story !

One man can make a difference

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4O5DI4z7BDU

by Eddie King G2G6 Pilot (690k points)
A friend mine's father was in Hitler's Youth Brigade by day and at night was working to smuggle Jews out of the area.  Sometimes you had to lead a double life to do what was right.  If he had refused to be in the Youth movement it would have cast suspicion on him and his family.  Sometimes you just have to figure out how to live in a world that makes no sense.  

It seems to me I read something about DNA tests that showed Hitler and Eva Braun both had some Jewish ancestry.  Make sense out of that!  

Madness, hate, and genocide are never reasonable.
Thanks for the recommendation, Eddie. Still watching it right now.
But they may, Laura, be present in the DNA. (I think here too of the old concept "original sin."
+12 votes
Where am I and what is the weather? I am just east of the city of Cleveland and South of the City of Chardon in Northeast Ohio and it is cold. They were calling for about 2 inches of snow on the ground for this morning but we have no snow, yet. I am still not doing anything major with the profiles I manage but I am trying to do at least some small minor improvements.
by Dale Byers G2G Astronaut (1.7m points)
Sounds like you are feeling better!  That would be good!  Even small improvements help the tree.  Thanks for doing what you can!
Here in Indianapolis, they started with 1-2" due tomorrow morning... then they went to 1"... now they're talking less than an inch... by the time it gets here, and we spend thousands throwing brine all over the roadways, we'll get a tiny dusting of snow and it will disappear soon after.

At least I'll still get to rake my leaves in the back yard then. HA.
A little better Laura, but still a little foggy and I have at least one more week of the drugs I am taking that make me feel that way.
No snow here but quite a bit feel just south of us. It was chilly last night got down in the upper 20's here. Glad to see you are feeling better, Dale!
Glad you are feeling better. Hope you don’t get too much snow. Snow brings some fond and not so fond memories of living in central New York.
+16 votes

Merry Christmas from my Granddaughter:

by Bob Jewett G2G Astronaut (1.2m points)
May Santa bring her lots of goodies!
privacy protected image. Only the thumbnail can be displayed. At Bob Jewett
Thanks Steven ... you'd think I'd know how to fix this ... duh on me!!

I uploaded the image to my profile ... Guess that's not good enough ???

Linked it on my GGrandfather's profile, which is open.
Beautiful picture!
Oh, I love that photo!
Beautiful picture, Bob!
well ain't she just a little snicker doodle
Beautiful picture, Bob!  Definitely Christmas card worthy.
Ditto to what every one said Bob especially Star.
+15 votes

  Today is...

                      

Time travel has captured our imaginations for generations.  Science and authors keep coming back to the topic again and again, so it should be no surprise there would be a day to pretend to be a time traveler.  

For more resources on how to be a time travel or at least act like one, we can explore the wide array of television and movies produced over the decades:

Television

Doctor Who  (is in its 26th season).
Quantum Leap
Outlander
Voyagers!
The Time Tunnel
Tru Calling
Continuum
11.22.63
Fringe

Movies

Groundhog Day
Back to the Future
The Terminator
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
Midnight in Paris
Edge of Tomorrow
About Time
Peggy Sue Got Married

Books

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
The Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams

How about our imaginations when we study our ancestors and the time period they lived in as we add them here on WikiTree. Some of us have been lucky enough to have stories and memories passed down to us about the lives they lived. We can imagine walking a mile in their shoes can't we!! I know I have. 

The original blog post that got the day rolling can be found here.

(URL: https://geekusa.wordpress.com/2007/12/04/act-like-a-time-traveller-day/ )

 

Sources: 

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/pretend-to-be-a-time-traveler-day-december-8/

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/pretend-to-be-a-time-traveler-day/

by Dorothy Barry G2G Astronaut (2.7m points)
Dorothy how fun!  I love reading about what it was like to live in different time periods.  Some of what was common we would cringe at or say Yuk! But there are also some things that we have lost along the way.  One of the biggest differences is how many women survive childbirth now that did not in the past.  So many women died young giving birth.  Not everything in our more modern age is bad.  But it would be fun to be able to see our ancestors in the various time periods.
I'm a Tom Baker Doctor Who fan - just something about him with his goofy smile, kind of barging in on all kinds of situations, and generally getting into trouble - and always seeming to find the best and often most unique way of resolving problems. Wish they had an inexpensive way to watch his shows without jumping through so many hoops - ah well. If I wait long enough... maybe that day will come.
Yes, I am a huge Tom Baker fan as well!!!

My husband says that he will be appearing in a Xmas special this month for Dr Who. So you will get to see his cheeky smile again. He still has all his hair, but now it is snow white!!  LOL

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/4487111/tom-baker-playing-doctor-who-return/

Oh yes, he is at long last going to be able to COMPLETE an episode he was filiming that had to be abandoned for some reason back in the 1970s...
I have 3 actors who I loved as Dr Who.   Tom Baker as said above, but also David Tennant and Matt Smith.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_actors_who_have_played_the_Doctor
I really liked Chris Eccleston and David Tennant both as the Doctor - I loved their wit and humour.

I did not like Matt Smith very much at all. I am also not a fan of Peter Capaldi either.
What a timely post. I have been reading a (free Nook download) time travel romance about a woman who survived the starving time at Jamestowne and somehow ended up in 2015 Washington DC. Definitely been doing way too much genealogy, as I was dreaming about finding sources for her lineage! That was probably influenced by the character who found a history book about her.
Time travel! Interesting thought, are you booking trips? I would like to go back to the late 1700's and early 1800's.
Might want to edit that bit about Doctor Who. The original series ran 26 series. The new series, which started in 2005 and is a continuation of the old is still going. In fact, the 12th Doctor is due to regenerate this Christmas into a lady.

It's gotten a lot of Whovians angry, but, it should be good. The show's getting a new showrunner as Steven Moffat is leaving. Been a fan of the show for years. =D

Oh and Scott? Care for a jelly baby?

Favorite Doctors are the 4th and 11th. Great show.

I haven't hear anything about Baker being in the Christmas special. But, we will be getting David Bradley as the First Doctor. He played William Hartnell in the bio pic about the show's creation. Now that should be good. Here's a clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkWxMG-JDk4
Sounds like what they did too Albert Dumbledor. they just could not get a guy too replace him when he died haha
Well, Hartnell died in 1975. So........yeah.......

Sucks, too. It was just two years after the 10th anniversary special.

Of the people who played the Doctor only Doctors 1-3 have passed away. And John Hurt.
Anyone ever tried fish fingers and custard?   

http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Fish_custard
Nope. I hear jellie babies are good.
+17 votes

Hi everyone!! Hope your week went well! I had a lot going on, but first.... Weather Alert in the United States "Southern States"!!

It is COLD.. but snow bypasses Tennessee, moves more south bound, towards Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. I thought if you moved further down south it would be warmer and little chance of snow lol!! (Photo: National Weather Service)

Getting into the spirit of the Christmas and other holidays, I have been watching a lot of  Hallmark's  (http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/) Christmas/Holiday season and romance movies this week. Along with that, I started decorating my living room and this song keeps popping in my head, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow"!!

Here's a preview of my decorations (and my Christmas outfit for today):

So now, can we see your decorations, outside and inside!! Or maybe your favorite Christmas Sweater or Holiday outfit!!! Are you expecting guests this year?? Who has the farest away "company" coming???

by Dorothy Barry G2G Astronaut (2.7m points)
edited by Dorothy Barry
Wow Dorothy your decorating look amazing must have use lots of time

Gorgeous photo of you
Oh I love it!  We have decorations up outside but I have not had a chance to do anything inside yet.  Hope to get it started maybe this weekend.  

I have started making cookies with my oldest granddaughter's help. So far we have had 2 cookie sessions and made Sugar Sprinkle Cookies (cut out shapes), Cream Cheese Cookies,  Chocolate Chip Cookies, Spice Cookies,  Pretzel Rods Rolled in Chocolate and Decorated with Sprinkles, and Almond Cookie Balls.  I still need to do Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies.  Store them in a cold area.
Great decorations! We managed to put up a few decorations today, but the garden flags can wait until it stops raining.
I've got my real pine tree up, with lights and ornaments, and just finished hanging the stockings tonight. If I get a chance, I'll snap a few photos.
I'm really bad at doing something for Christmas - this is the year when my daughters go to their father's family, so Christmas will be quiet.

But I LOVE your pictures, Dorothy.
well that is lovely.Love it
Ok, I got the inside almost done.  Have to stop and get some sleep as t s after 4 am and I have to do a demo this afternoon for a client.  So after I get t all done tomorrow I will try to get a photo or two...
Great pictures Dorothy. I haven't started yet because having to mulch and get up leaves in the road and yard. Today I started doing some and also I got some gifts. I am hoping to go get rest of my shopping for gifts tomorrow or Tuesday even. Got to get ready by day before Christmas eve because my sister and brother-in-law and their dog my nephew Ollie and my sister-in-law and brother is coming on Christmas eve day and spending the night and be here on Christmas Day.
+10 votes
Going to be a BUSY weekend for me. Tonight - clean the house, help the wife bake cookies, scrounge up dinner at some point, do some Christmas decorations, drop to bed exhausted - Tomorrow - take my brother-in-law to the bank and library, finish cleaning and decorating and baking and cooking for the party, put everything away before the guests arrive, set up the extra table and chairs, help the wife set out the food, greet the guests, have the dinner party, exchange cookies, send everyone home, clean up, put away food, drop to bed exhausted - Sunday - get up for church, spend all morning in church, lunch with Dad after church, come home, go back to church later for a special concert, come home, clean up anything remaining, look at doing Christmas Cards and put that off, look at doing more decorating and put that off, get dinner late, fall asleep watching TV... and then start off a new week all over again... holidays can be exhausting!
by Scott Fulkerson G2G Astronaut (1.5m points)
Amen to that!  I have more late night and early mornings in the last 3 months of the year.  Elf time....  I am running on Elf Time...
Wow! Scott, after reading all you have been and have to do I think I will go take a nap.
David is correct, I got tired just reading your post.

It sounds like you’ll have a good time, though.
sounds like the life of a "Workingshire",when you where young growing up parents were like "play sports and lots of sports while you can sunny" I love the part where you said "spend the whole morning in church".THAT'S EXACLTLY HOW Time FEELS then Too.a whole day of Lovely entertainment in front of you, and you just can't wait till that final Hymn so you can get yourself some of that coffee. and sit down for ten minutes.
+12 votes
Have just finished my weekly chat with my mother and sister. Went a lot better than last week - my sister only dropped off twice durin the one hour chat so that was good.  She has informed her ISP of the problems and they will be monitoring her connection over the weekend so here''s hoping.

The temps back in NZ have been very high. They are Sweltering under daily temps of 27 and 28 degrees Celcius. It's not muggy but it is hot!!

An unknown cousin from back in NZ contacted me this week because she found her ancestors and family that I had put up here on Wikitree. Turns out she is a second cousin to my mother on the Stephens side.

So we have been exchanging details and today I was able to add 1 new  generation and several siblings to the McKinnon family I already had.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Stephens-6616

I have been busy these last few weeks with planning a curriculum and slowly buying books in order to home school my son through high school starting in January 2018. I responded to a question about what we do when we are not on wikitree. I posted my response there and why I was doing this.

https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/518861/when-you-are-not-on-wikitree-how-else-do-you-fill-your-day?show=518962#a518962

Otherwise not much else is happening..

See you all next week.
by Robynne Lozier G2G Astronaut (1.2m points)
Robynne nothing is so frustrating as having a connection drop out.  Hope you all get to the bottom of the problem.  

I have quite a few DNA cousins in New Zealand and Australia.  All I think from my Scottish branch.  Summer there Winter here.  I often have some issues with connection from the US to that part of the world.  Not sure why either.  Hope you find out!
One of the reasons for drop-outs is that is a long path with many switches and links in between. Heck, I've done a "tracert" across the US and had 12 connections. Going all the way to New Zealand might be up to 30. Any glitches in those connections would cause a drop-out.

As far as home-schooling your son, sadly that is about the only way to get children to learn instead of just memorize in this day and age. I wish you luck with that.
It is unseasonally hot, Robynne. It's late January weather. Today it clouded over and we had two spots and a spot - literally! We'd love some rain. My husband's theory is that it will start when the primary schools break for the summer. Update - 1mm of rain overnight. It's starting to dry up already.
+13 votes

Last chance for the Military Challenge to honor our great veterans!

Add ===Military Service=== sections to the Biographies of veterans' profiles.  You can track your changes in the Challenge Tracker.  Both existing profiles and newly-created profiles will count for the challenge, and the person with the most contributions will receive a badge.

Please read the full instructions on the Military Challenge space page, and post an answer here if you'd like to participate, or if you have any questions!

Here is the link with the scoring: http://wikitree.sdms.si/function/WTChallengesScores/Scores.htm?code=MilitaryChallenge&Type=5

Over 525 veterans profiles created and improved!

by Russ Gunther G2G6 Pilot (103k points)
Thanks Russ for posting this reminder.  I just sent you an email with 3 names if you want to fix them!   All 3 are open profiles.

550 veterans profiles created/improved!  Great work WikiTreers!

That is great!  Kudos to the WikTree Team!
+14 votes

Here's a post with minimal holiday spirit in it, but it will focus on one of a genealogist's favourite topics... dead people.

This week saw the passing of a huge huge HUGE star in France: Johnny Hallyday. Here is my very favourite Johnny song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmWBkKb5x1Q

This one will gve you a better idea of the phenomenon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo8N0IMqEJw

As a personal anecdote, in 1965 "Johnny" married his first wife Sylvie Vartan in a tiny village called Loconville, just 3 or 4 kms from where I was raised. There were 200 journalists covering the event (almost as many as the village inhabitants), not to mention the hordes of fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the celebrity couple. It took Johnny and Sylvie half an hour to walk from the mairie to the church (this normally takes 3 minutes). Here is a link where you can see a picture of the register - the marriage, on 12 April, was just the second of the year. There is a nice little video linked to this article.

by Isabelle Martin G2G6 Pilot (561k points)
Sometimes a favorite actor or singer feels like part of the extended family.  So sorry for your loss.
+11 votes
Less than a week to go until Star Wars: The Last Jedi! I've seen just about every Star Wars movie in theaters. My first was Return of the Jedi and I was like five. Who is going to see it?
 

As for the questions:

It's cloudy now and I fear I may have angered the snow gods by taking their name in vain. It's going to snow later on.

Met a new cousin while working on the Dore/Locke tree here.

My Revolutionary War soldier hunt is almost complete. I created a thread last night hoping people can help me find the last five or so people who may have participated in one way or another. Doesn't matter if they polished someone's boots. They still count. I mean I have a guy who served for three days!

I did find my 8th through 10th ancestor who fought in the revolution. I am thinking there were a few more in the back. Eddie wouldn't want me to say this but I got a full New England Patriots team now. =D
by Chris Ferraiolo G2G6 Pilot (756k points)
Chris that is great about your ancestors!  

As to Star Wars, we saw them all up to the last 2 I think.  Life got in the way...
I am going to wait until it comes out on video. I own all of the earlier films and watch them over and over with the grandchildren.
That's okay, Laura. It'll always be there. =D

Dale, that is really cool. My nephews love Star Wars. I am sure they will see it at some point.
+11 votes
A bit late to the chat this weekend, probably influenced by the dreary weather. It has stayed just warm enough that we didn’t get snow, just 2 inches of rain. Lots of the southern US has gotten snow to welcome the holiday spirit. Several folks on the RV forum I follow have posted pictures of campers with snow, and the inside with decorations and the electric fireplace running.

Spent some time exchanging research with a half first cousin found via genealogy, confirming our shared brick wall. She did have information on our 4 great grand uncles killed in the Civil War. We agreed that it’s just by chance our great grandfather didn’t fight so that we’re here to work on genealogy.

We have nearly finished our Christmas decorations. I might skip Christmas cookies since I have a very nasty very contagious infection. It’s as good an excuse as any. You can spend hours on fancy cookies, and everyone still asks for chocolate chips. The dogs do really like the peanut butter cookies though.

I have added a few more profiles, and have almost finished all the great grandfather’s siblings I had previously researched. There are a lot of Scranton. I have also added sources for a few profiles.

Here’s a tip, which I happened upon while searching for possible matches before creating profiles. If you want to find profiles that should have the unsourced tag added, look at profiles with no birth date or location. To find ones that probably need attention, pick a surname and sort by oldest edit date.
by Kay Knight G2G6 Pilot (593k points)
Glad you could join us!  Hope you feel better fast! Don't worry about cookes there are probably enough other people making them someone will give you some!
+10 votes
With all of the posts about snow I thought I would chime in with this tidbit. Our forecast calls for snow over the next 8 days but we actually have about 6 inches less than normal for this time of the year so I guess we have been lucky so far.
by Dale Byers G2G Astronaut (1.7m points)
It's snowing in Kentucky right now. I wasn't expecting it today... Feels like it's almost Christmas :)
Based on where you live you might regret your comment! There sure will be some lake effect in your future. May it all be fine and granular.
Kay, yes there is lake effect where I live but as of right now it would have to accumulate over 6 " just to catch up to the average for today's date.
We got snow last night, but the grass is still showing thru so I think we are still at lease 6 inches short of the average for this date.
+9 votes
I thought I would mention food because it will warm the chat up on a cold day. Today I made my Western style ribs, in a slow cooker with broccoli and garlic bread for sides.
by Dale Byers G2G Astronaut (1.7m points)
Sounds good......
+11 votes

Hi everyone, can you believe there is ....

             

before Christmas!! Have you gotten your Christmas shopping done yet??  Sad to say, I haven't. 

Since we won't be back to chat until the 15th I wanted to share this song.....

"The Twelve Days of Christmas"

.. but first here's the history behind the song:

 

The Twelve Days of Christmas is a song that was written during Puritan Movement in England. During the years 1558-1829 Catholics were not allowed to practice their faith. The song actually has two meanings. The first is the literal meaning of each verse of the song and the second is the subtle translation that was known to those of the Catholic faith.  You can read more here: 

http://christmascarols.us/history/twelve_days_of_christmas.aspx

or here: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Days_of_Christmas_(song)

 

Here are the Lyrics to the song: 

On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the second day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the third day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fourth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
12 Drummers Drumming
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Want to sing along with a video, go here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyEyMjdD2uk

by Sandra Davidson G2G6 Pilot (188k points)
Fascinating histories.  I tend to lean to the Wikipedia version... The cadence of the words no matter what melody you apply has a feel of a secular song as opposed to the more spiritual hymns.
+10 votes
Hi Everybody!

Another wicked week for me.  The special project I've been on continues, while some of my regulars have checked in with year-end questions.  Last night I was nodding off at my computer by 7:30 and just went to bed.

We got a little bit of snow and some cold temperatures.  Thursday morning walking on the snow made that crunchy almost squeaky sound.  That means temperature in the 15F neighborhood.  Today was sunny and a bit warmer.  Now I'm enjoying Eddie's movie selection.

Sorry, no origami again this week.  This working for a living nonsense can be a real drag.

Cheers,

Herb
by Living Tardy G2G6 Pilot (762k points)
edited by Living Tardy
Herb we miss your sublime artistry!  Has the receptionist figured out it is you if you have been so busy?  

Yes sometimes work keeps us from the fun things in life.
We haven't talked about it in a couple of weeks, but I'm pretty sure she's on to me.  I planted the Thanksgiving turkey without realizing that my scapegoats were absent yet again.  She stated with fair certainty that she thinks I'm the origami bandit.

Speaking of the receptionist, this week she put up a lovely little Christmas tree in the lobby, with the permission of the landlord.  She told me she hopes it gets to stay up.  How sad is that?  :(
We miss your visual treats.  You are truly an artist.  So maybe since she got the landlord's permission the tree will stay up.  Tress are pretty much a secular thing these days.

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