#1. Hopefully I unscrambled all the tangled Ancestry information yesterday. Too many hours on the computer (sometimes ten to twelve hours on Ancestry.) #2. Too little sleep (although I try sleep aids).  #3. Remember how I love to spend time in my yard? I haven’t been outdoors for many days because cold, gloomy, rainy. This morning, TV meteorologist said we won’t see sunshine until next weekend (and this is only Monday morning). #4. Overdue for grocery shopping (out of perishables and “the healthy stuff”).

 I planned to walk away from Ancestry for a few days but “curiosity made me do it!!” While researching the tangled relationships radiating from my great-grandfather–on my mother’s side of the family–I came across a relative on my father’s side.  Six degrees of separation. Unfortunately that branch of my tree hasn’t been developed in my Ancestry tree. Partial information is in the book I published in 1996: Frantz Families–Kith & Kin, Vol. 3, p. 53. To my exasperation, I haven’t been able to develop additional information regarding that family from records on Ancestry. More research needed!! The Wagoner/Swartz information is indelible in my memory. (I’m so grateful for my memory!!) I saw their gravestones in a cemetery in Pyrmont, Carroll County, Indiana.

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Quite by accident, the “armchair researcher” noted she had 12,999 names in her Ancesty.com database. Furthermore, she did not know how many individuals added in two months. This is “evidence,” in black and white, of hours, days, and weeks meticulously documenting family–and collateral lines. The word “evidence” used because that’s paramount in my research. To repeat an earlier lament: Too many careless errors in Ancestry individual member trees.Too few sources attached to their individual(s). So-o-o-o, I search, and search…!

(Smiley face) APPRECIATION for the remarkable Ancestry.com computer.  Information delivered to my fingertips within seconds. Their “search” feature is almost lightning fast. Furthermore, the program is so intelligent it anticipates my needed information. That “anticipation” got me in trouble yesterday: Ancestry scrambled  about a dozen records. I’ll spend hours today trying to unravel the mess!! If it wasn’t Ancestry’s computer, it was Lorraine’s computer. For many days, I have been working almost exclusively with a great-grandfather. Armchair Psychologist, written yesterday, was attached to his record. “Records” seem to indicate George Thomas Showalter (1848-1921) had four marriages. To perfect documentation…, I also documented his wives. Wife #2 had five marriages; wife #3 had three marriages; wife #4 (to my knowledge) only one previous spouse. Wives…, and their spouses…, excellent exercise for the brain of this old lady!! I’m documenting individuals living in the late eighteen hundreds, early nineteen hundreds. Few records acknowledging a divorce. Marriage records “yes,” divorce records “no.” Question: bigamy? Seldom a remarriage after death of spouse (spouse still living at time of remarriage). Swapping partners is common in twenty-eighteen but surprising (to me) in late eighteen hundreds. Maybe I’m dealing with an anomaly?

…just before going to bed last night and slept until 3:12 AM.

I continue to experiment with sleep aids and someone recently suggested adding magnesium to melatonin. 

I failed to fall asleep (after 3:30) so got up and wrote a story that I may attach to a great-grandfather on Ancestry.com.

…before going to bed last night but only two hours sleep.

The reader is probably tired of hearing about my lack of sleep. I’m tired of writing about lack of sleep!!

Another dark, gloomy, occasional rain day.

…of “sleep aid” before bed last night–but awake part of the night.

So extremely grateful the furnace is working admirably. Weatherman said “Colder here than Boston.”

…haunt me at night. Seriously, bad dreams!!

Almost overnight, we’ve gone from extremely hot and humid to cold and rainy. Leaves are “raining” off the trees and so many to “blow” or “vacuum.” I’ve been anticipating “Fall”  so cooler, so I can do outdoor projects. If I venture outside today, I’ll need a sweater or sweat shirt. There are so many items–so much “clutter”–that needs time and attention. Confession: I’m so addicted to “climbing the family tree”–on Ancestry–I’m actually delighted with another day. (Twelve hours yesterday!!)

Last night, a vivid dream. It was snowing!! It was a “white out”; I couldn’t see the Clubhouse across the street. I rushed for my camera. With camera in hand: “Ready, aim, shoot.”  Reminiscent of those times I’ve tried to photograph a Hummingbird: The snow was gone!! Absolutely no evidence of the white stuff on the ground, or Clubhouse roof top.

Bottom line: Because I was dreaming, that’s an indication I was sleeping. Right?

During the night, asleep or awake, I’m always doing “searches” on Ancestry. Search and save, search and save. Over and over!!

Watching/listening to a morning TV program, I heard that using the word “brainstorming”  is taboo. Why? Click this link for an explanation.

Yesterday, all day, not one minute on Ancestry.com. It was a wonderfully cool and comfortable day; no need for air-conditioner. It was so pleasant to work outdoors.