It's been a while now since I've been able to "properly" do some genealogy. What I mean by properly is my internal definition I guess. When I think about that definition though, I really don't have an answer - all I know is it ISN'T what I've been doing for the past year or so!!
I have had some things other than genealogy to focus on this past year, a few health things (fortunately minor) but still major time-suckers; not to mention all these other things that I've been finding more important than genealogy research this past year:
1. Celebrity Gossip
Go ahead, ask me anything. It's so pathetic. But I can visually tell the difference between Demi Lovato and Vanessa Hudgens. Can you? I didn't think so. Also I know which college the girl from iCarly is going to. And I also know what Kim Kardashian did with the wedding gifts that she didn't return and I really really hate knowing anything about that girl.
2. Little Known Movie Facts
I'm totally addicted to going to imdb.com after every movie I happen across and reading the little Trivia section. Then I annoyingly spout them of to people I'm with who are just trying to enjoy watching a movie.
3. Secret Web-Based Hypochondriacal Searches
I totally made up that variation on the word but anyway, yes, I get some sort of symptom, like for instance, an eye twitch, and then I look up everything that exists on the web about eye twitches and diagnose myself with some brain infection due to a bite from a Tanzanian parasite. Then I lose interest because my symptom goes away. Usually while I'm in the middle of searching it.
4. DVR-ing Stuff
It's really the worst thing I ever brought into my house because all it's done is give me more ways to create OCD rules in my life. Now I have these rules about how full I allow the DVR to get, and then when creating room on the DVR, which shows do I watch first first? Do I use the FIFO or LIFO method? Do I watch the HD ones first since they take up more room? Do I watch the one's I'm least excited about watching before or after the one's I'm most excited about watching? All this just reminds me that I really don't care that much about watching the shows, it's all about how I maintain DVR disc space. Clearly, this thing needs to go!!!
5. Memes
For some reason I adore wasting time looking at what other people have created for internet memes. How much more can I see on the subjects of cats, the way people dress, FAILs, cute baby animals and Graphs?? In the words of Bobby Boucher's momma, The Cheezburger Network is the Devil!
So that leads me to what to do. I've been away from my research for so long, and now I have several days home from work, I have no idea whatsoever where to start, it's been that long.
I figure the best thing to do is to start from the beginning. So I'll start with me. I'll review what information I've included on me (like addresses) and then slowly start working my way back, reviewing my information along the way.
Have any of you had to start fresh like this? And if so, how did you handle it?
Have you been watching over my shoulder??? Except for the celebrity gossip thing, we must be related! Well, I made a list, so... make a list.
ReplyDeleteOh, I think we all go down that dark road from time to time. The last five or six weeks, my Kindle Fire has never left my side and I've only read 2 or 3 books on this e-reader (usually read about 3 books a week on my old Kindle).
ReplyDeleteInstead, I've become addicted to Android Apps for the Kindle. Downloading, trying them out, keeping some, rejecting most. Checking newspaper and news sites with an addiction like never before. Can't tap that refresh button on Facebook often enough.
Not to mention copying my vast CD collection to mp3 to have available in the Amazon cloud so I can listen on the Kindle Fire.
I really went down the dark path when I bought a Roku video streamer. I thought the DVR was the greatest video device ever invented until I got the Roku. Haven't had 'regular' cable TV on since I got it. Movies, movies, movies. Started watching the "24" tv series from the beginning as I'd never seen any of it before. Addiction. Then there's Gene Simmons' Family Jewels and other guilty tv pleasures.
Don't feel alone. I think we all do it. It's just that only a few of us are willing to admit it.
As far as jump-starting your genealogy. When mine has sit for a while, I usually start with my closest ancestors and begin working my way back again. Was there something I may have missed the first time? Re-check web sites you visited a year ago as they are always updating and adding. I'm constantly finding new items when I go back and check again.
Great post - really enjoyed finding out someone else goes into the vast media jungle from time to time!
Ooh, another one joining in.... My house needed to be cleaned and organized. Work interrupted (how dare it?#$!). The great outside called. Children needed help with gazillions of applications. Today is devoted to ... cataloging documents I've received on husband's ancestors, entering the information in my genealogy program, and putting it up with images of the sources on my website - very much like starting over.... BTW, have missed your posts - glad you are blogging again!
ReplyDeleteUm ... yup! I just got myself ready to dig back in and get my stuff organized like you advised me to, what, 6 months ago? Life gets in the way sometimes. I wish I was half as organized as you are! One of these days, I'm gonna have to schedule a time to come visit you, and see how you organize it all.
ReplyDeleteLeah, I hope your health problems disappear. It's great to know that you're blogging again. You've been missed.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments everyone! I'm so glad I'm in such good company! I'm trying to cut back a little, we'll see how it goes! :-)
ReplyDelete