My First Webinar!

Since I haven't posted anything genealogy related in a while, I thought I would update you. Yesterday evening I attended my first webinar sponsored by Roots Magic and taught by Lisa Louise Cooke the producer and host of the free podcast Genealogy Gems, that I listen to. She spoke about Google search tips and tricks.

At first I was a little nervous because I had never done this before. But, let me tell you it could not have been easier. After I subscribed, Roots Magic sent me an email with my personal log in number. Once it was time for the webinar, I just found the email and clicked on the link, and voila` I was there. Another thing I want to point out is that these webinars are free.

It was so nice to hear a friendly voice, and boy was that voice smart! Once the webinar was over I was so excited to use the new search techniques Lisa talked about. I have been to lectures on Boolean search techniques before, but they never clicked. Mostly because they went to fast. But Lisa explained it well enough and went slow enough that I was able to keep up, as I was furiously scribbling notes.

Last night, all night long I was dreaming of Google searching my ancestors and being so excited that I found something. I would like to think that this was a message from my ancestors to me, telling me that there is stuff out there about them. I only need to took for it in a new way. I am also excited to share what I have found with my non-genealogy minded friends.

So please keep reading, and I'll keep posting and maybe one day I will turn you into a Gen Head. Which is my made up silly name for people who LOVE genealogy and family history as much as I do.

Battle Creek Falls

Now that the weather is getting a little better, I have started to train for the Grand Canyon hike outside. First up, Battle Creek Falls. This hike is way close to my house and it is nice because you are hiking next to a river, and you get to see two waterfalls.

I also got some shots of the mountains and the valley.

And of course there is a picture of the long and winding road. Sing it Paul!

It was a fun day to be out in the sunshine after such a long winter. My friend Sarah Garcia and I are going to hike it again today.

Oh Christmas Tree and Adventures in Candy Making.

Last night John and I got our Christmas tree. It is beautiful; a seven foot noble fir. I named him Lewis. I have always named my Christmas trees. I don't know why, something weird about me I guess.
When we were at the Christmas tree lot all the trees were $50 or more so we decided to leave. The attendant asked why we were leaving and we told him that we did not want to spend $50 on a tree. Then he said that he could negotiate the price.  He then asked us how much we wanted to spend. $30 I said. Thinking that that would be a fair price and not the insult that $20 would have been. He countered with $40. and then John said $35. We settled on $37.99; okay, sold!

On the way home we stopped and picked up the pizza we ordered and John ran into Skyler Judd, a guy that he lived with for a time on his mission in California. That kid knows so many people. I can't take him any where.

Once the tree was up and dinner was over I started my endeavor, to make some divinity for Christmas boxes. I boiled the sugar, water and corn syrup and waited until they reached "hard ball" stage. then I whipped the egg whites to stiff peaks. When i tried to combine the sugar mixture to my egg whites, it was a mess. The sugar had cooled too much. I called mom to ask her what I did wrong. She told me to not let the sugar cool. Okay, thanks. I said. I put the pans in the sink with some warm soapy water, but the sugar was not budging. Eventually I had to boil some water and pour it into the pans and scrub with a knife and sponge, because the water was too hot. An hour after I had begun, I was ready to begin again.

My second attempt, although better was still not perfect, and I beat too much air into the mixture making it not want to stick together. Hopefully my third and all subsequent attempts here after will be successful. Today I am going to make truffles; also something I have never done before.
Wish me luck.

Good Day

Today was a day of cleaning in preparation to christmasify our house. I cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom including the fridge. I can't tell you how many times I did dishes today. Well, maybe I can it was 4. I never do dishes that much. I also swept and mopped the floor.

I was going to move onto the bathroom but then John came home and he wanted the carpets cleaned before we got our Christmas tree. He borrowed his friends, Zach's carpet cleaner and we figured out how to work it. Then I cleaned the carpets. They look a lot better. I was able to get most of the oil stains out. Once Christmas is over we will have to clean the floor again.

In addition to all this cleaning, I threw a chicken in the crockpot with potatoes and carrots. Six hours later we were eating a wonderful dinner. Today I felt like a good wife.

After dinner we headed over to Barnes and Nobel to once again look at the Nook e-reader (it is on my Christmas list) and once again decide that there is something missing. John and I decided that an ipad would be better. It is more user friendly, I can get books from other sources than just the company I purchased the e-reader from and it already has color. one con is that it is back lit, but they have different colors that make it easier on the eyes and a night time and daytime feature. In the world of e-readers this is just the beginning. you wouldn't want to buy a first generation car, so why would you want to buy a first generation e-reader?

Happy Birthday John!

This past weekend, along with General Conference, John and I celebrated his birthday. I was a little worried about it because last year we lived in Los Angeles and went whale watching. "How am I gonna top that?" I wondered. It turned out to be a great celebration with just the two of us. Friday we went to Bombay House and enjoyed our favorite curry; lamb for John, chicken for me. Then we laughed at a silly movie, Hot Tub Time Machine.
Saturday we ate pizza and watched one of my favorite movies and Johns too, The Sum of all Fears. I had baked John's favorite cake, german chocolate; which actually was really good this year. The first year I made birthday cake for him, I didn't understand it was a special formula. So I just bought a chocolate cake mix and put the German chocolate frosting on that. I don't think I'll ever live that one down, but I'm okay with that.

John enjoyed his gifts. A new dress shirt from Mom and Dad, a book entitled Digital Soul, which talks about AI (artificial intelligence) and machines. A years subscription to Maximum PC, and a collectors addition copy of Rolling Stone magazine which rates the 100 best Beatles songs. Before John and I went out for his birthday. I made him a play list of the top 20 songs and told him it was a clue. It drove him crazy, and he loved it.

At the end of the weekend, the almost impossible had come true. John declared that this was his "best birthday ever." 

Thank you to everyone who called, texted and facebooked John to wish him a happy birthday. He felt truly loved by your thoughtfulness.

Let the More Loving One Be Me

The More Loving One

 Looking up at the stars, I know quite well

 That, for all they care, I can go to hell,

 But on earth indifference is the least

 We have to dread from man or beast.

 How should we like it were stars to burn

 With a passion for us we could not return?

 If equal affection cannot be,

 Let the more loving one be me.

 Admirer as I think I am

 Of stars that do not give a damn,

 I cannot, now I see them, say

 I missed one terribly all day.

 Were all stars to disappear or die,

 I should learn to look at an empty sky

 And feel its total dark sublime,

 Though this might take me a little time.

-- W H Auden

Afternoon in Nephi

This afternoon, I went down to Nephi Utah to visit my maternal grandparents; Don and Rula Gowers. I arrived around 2:15pm. Grandma was in the house and told me that she had just finished putting her feet up to prevent swelling in her ankles. She then proceeded to explain how she moved the couch cushions for optimum comfort and drainage.

After that we went into the kitchen for Grandma to drink her daily glass of Gatorade, to help ward off hyponatermia. At that same moment I realized I had not eaten lunch. I asked Grandma for a sandwich. She pulled out the bologna and asked if I liked butter or salad dressing "aka mayonnaise" on my sandwich. I said salad dressing. I asked if there was any mustard, but there was not. "Did you want ketchup?" she asked. "Ewww." I thought. "No." I answered. I added potato chips (of which any lunch is not complete without) and Grandma gave me a tub of fresh peeled peaches.

As I munched we discussed medical problems. I get this a lot. People find out I'm a nurse and inevitably they will say "Oh!" and ask me a question about some specific thing that I don't know about because it is not what I do, so I have forgotten it; except maybe the hazy memory here and there, or they start to tell me about all their ailments. I used to try to give them a somewhat intelligent answer or explain a concept or diagnosis better to them. Now I just say "I don't know." I wonder if this is how doctors feel? Sometimes I sigh to myself, but if you are my grandma and have managed to survive past your 90th birthday. I am all ears. What can I do to help your life be a little better; even if it might be just listening with the occasional "huh, hum, or grunt."

After lunch we looked at the Church News and I read an article aloud about people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the town of Luputa getting fresh water to their village with the help of LDS Charities.

Grandma then commented how she did not realize how may temples were in South America; 34 in all. We counted.

We spoke of family things, Jordan going into the MTC today. Grandpa went to his farewell. Kerrin is going to make me a temple dress. I am co-teaching a class on meal planning and couponing. Isn't Landon the best baby? He hardly ever cries. To that Grandma said "Do you know why Ethan and Landon are such good children?" I kind of already knew the answer, but I let her tell me anyway. "It's because Alice keeps them on schedule. They nap when they're supposed to, she feeds then when they're hungry and does not let them stay up late." Then she added. "If you ever have children, you would do well to take a page out of her book." Amen.

Grandpa ever the worker and tinkerer, was not at home. He and his Jazzy were over at the other house. Grandma and I went over to find him, but he was not there. I went back over later by myself when I was getting ready to leave. He was pruning a tree. He was pruning this tree because it was in the way of the workers who were putting aluminum siding on his house. The house needed to be painted again. At first Grandpa had thought about climbing on a ladder and doing it himself, but then thought better of it and decided to have the siding put up instead. It looks really good.

While talking to him in the back yard we munched on raspberries from the bush. According to Grandpa the crop has not been very big or plentiful this year. Never the less, we ate some anyway. When I put the fresh raspberries into my mouth, I was transported into summers of my childhood. Memories of my sisters, the swing and tree house, the huge trunk of dolls and fuzzy kittens from the next door neighbors came to mind. Grandma reading us bedtime stories as we sucked on orange cream-o and fudge icicles

Also of “helping” Grandpa do whatever he was doing. He was always so patient and so quite with me. I can only recall that he was upset with me once my whole entire life. I feel we have a special unspoken bond he and I; like our spirits understand each other very well. I love you Grandpa. Thanks to you both for making it a great afternoon.