Monday, August 30, 2010

True Story written August 30, 2010

I am delirious with genealogical finds including newly found family photos, family letters, stories to transcribe etc.

Last month's combination genealogy, family visit trip extended from 3-4 days to about 3 weeks. I went to San Jose to visit family and research the Martin Luther King Jr. Library next to SJSU, then to the Santa Clara Library on Homestead Road. I copied newspaper article after newspaper article, I met an author writing a series of books on Auto racing in San Jose, California. I plan to collaborate with him on his next book. I am gathering photos and stories regarding my father's days in auto racing. A very productive trip with bunches and bunches of data.


But I no sooner arrived home but Now I am compiling new data, surnames, dates, locations ready for yet another genealogical research trip, These tasks were proving to be overwhelming as more and more contacts and data started flowing into my emails and phone calls.

Yikes! I started making piles in different corners of my spare bedroom. My spare room started to get to overflowing. I was contacted about a person needing a place to stay and work. So I hired this genealogical interested person for 3-4 hours clerical work a day. I worked a full 10 hour day sorting and packing photos and data. Changing and laundering the bed, dust, vacuum, sanitize the spare bathroom. I was so ready to get down to a wonderful full week of devoted genealogy work.

I had my prioritises. First, send photos to a publisher I am collaborating with for the San Jose Auto Racing History. Then get corrected transcript for a second book and sent to the publisher.
Next prepare for my 22 day genealogy trip through Kansas, Tenn, Missouri. Compile all data in nice indexed binder for series of cities and contact people I will visit starting Sept 9.

My new clerk and I tried a few tasks. According to my new clerk, Scanning was too boring, phone calling became confusing, filing was just too much data to be done. So after 2 days the clerk asked "How did you get so far behind?"

I explained I had been on a long trip and was planning another long trip. I also explained I spent two days sorting through photos for scanning, boxing data, and preparing a room for their stay at my home.

Then the hired clerk said "This is a lot of work".

......and because I was really interested I asked --- "Well, What do you suggest I do?"

and I kid you not!! She said "Hire a clerk to help you." huh? I answered, "I did --- I hired you."

She then explained she was leaving, very busy and had lots of things to do.

What now? Here I want to post photo of my living room!!!! Tomorrow I will laundry spare room, sanitize bathroom, cry, try to scan photos needed for book collaboration, gather and file illustrations for second book. put mom's book on hold, start my indexed binder for my trip, stress through my actual life paying job , decide which Bible studies, Genealogy meetings I will skip, pray Tony will go on a fast (so I can skip daily cooking, cleaning routines)to eliminate some of my housework. But alas! Tony is fond of three meals a day......

Today I called my dad to get some data for my genealogy and all of a sudden I just started crying. It was a stress reliever for me. But I felt so bad to put that on my dad. and that my friends was my Ruth Truth day on August 30, 2010.


I waited until Oct 4, 2010 to post this blog. I did skip some Bible studies and genealogy meetings, I did have troubles with vertigo for a few days, Tony did cook and clean up after all our meals for the rest of the week.

No, I did not get the photos sent for the Auto Racing Book. No, I did not get the book transcripts sent. Yes, I traveled with only a portion of the data I needed.

But today is a new month, and I will prioritize and start again. ahhhhhhhhhh

Sunday, August 22, 2010

A New Ruth Truth

A New Ruth Truth that I am going to have to practice.


My NEW RUTH TRUTH: ALWAYS ALWAYS GREET AND LEAVE AN ENCOUNTER ON A HIGH NOTE.

Never leave a conversation, meeting with your head not fully engaged in the greeting and the leaving.

Some of you may have already figured out I am rather outgoing, multi-tasking, out- spoken little bundle of energy. I am usually very energetic and love people, ideas, travel, and learning.

Well maybe I do not always enjoy the learning but I am always thankful for insight as to how to make myself a better person.

Is your life a mess? Great!! you are getting a message! STOP! LOOK! and LISTEN!

One good thing about getting older --- you realize you are in a mess sooner than you use to be able to do. Therefore it is a shorter path to try to turn back! LOL

In very recent history I have offended and put-off two very important people to me. So much so they erased me from their friendship circles. In both cases I thought our relationship was strong and could not have been shattered by a minor misunderstanding.

Here was my problem: Two very important people in my social network crossed me off their list as a friend.

At first I was devastated; beyond comprehension, could not figure it out.

But being the detective, scientific mind that I am: I looked for clues.

OBSERVATIONS

HERE I AM ENTERING MY DISCLAIMER!! ok readers, observations are just that --- not necessarily a variable, sometimes bias by the researcher, but in brain storming there are no wrong thoughts, so I did not censor my observations for bias--- I am just stating them for scientific research at this time. Having said that:

My first observation is they are both men.
They are both men of at least 60 years of age.
They are intelligent, interesting, multi- talented, highly community-involved men.

They both find it difficult to multi-task more than about 3-4 things at once.
or carry on three conversations at once.

I actually enjoy carrying on multi-topic conversations with some of my very quick minded women friends. We can talk along, for literally hours quipping along at a rather quick rate -- jumping from subject to subject without a missed step and actually think we had a great time. It is a guilty pleasure of mine.

I have heard men do it naming players, teams, events easily seamlessly jumping from team to team, decade to decade. But that is the only time I have heard men do it --- and it is usually limited to one sport at a time. unless they start debating the greatest athlete of all time.

So slowly my eyes open to the possible root cause of my discord with these men I admire.

Being the BOLD little soul that I am: I examined with the men what was it that set their opinions against me. In both cases, I was not engaged in my saying good-bye, nice to see you, thank you for your help, let's see each other again, etc.

In one case, I was cleaning bathrooms with another lady. The lady and I were discussing past relationships that went bad. I actually think, by talking about the hurt, anger, we start scrubbing harder, and get some of that frustration out. Cleaning bathrooms is an excellent activity to do while sharing with other women bad relationships. My own kind of Gestalt therapy.

Well, then we finished the bathrooms and were discussing some of the ideals for future cleaning. And somehow I said to the other woman in ear shot of this man. And when I shut the door on a relationship; I SHUT THE DOOR and never return.

Then for several weeks I was gone with travel and then illness.

Next scenario (scientific observation searching for my RUTH TRUTH)
I belong to an organization with a body of officers that show the typical embodiment of most organizations. Some members want to try everything, do everything, While some members want all procedures, policies, activities to stay the same, to take little risks. The majority of the members listen leaning this way or that way depending on the subject. This is rather balanced and typical of most board ran activities.

Well, not my primary job but I offered to help with a project. The meetings are once a month. In order to accomplish a particular deadline expressed by some, I felt the project should be expedited this month.

So I asked permission to send an email to members concerned to see if we could get an agreement before the organizations meeting so that the approval process could go through smoothly.

In the past I have been accused of over stepping my "position" as a member to suggest, ask pertinent questions.

I was told yes but warned to make it clear this is a one time logistic job, and to keep careful notes, so happily I went on my way. EXCEPT!!!! I said before I left. "I believe this being a rather easy tasks for all to agree to unless someone digs in their heels and just refuses to approve the project." and I added "in that case we will just have to fore go our deadline and leave it for another time next year to complete."

By "someone" (digging in their heels)To whom I was referring were members that may question why I would write the email, suggest the project needed more examination, or need a committee report.

So I went home wrote and sent my email......

I started off with "I am not a chairperson or in charge of anything.....I am a clerk asking for input to this project to be presented at the September meeting....."

OH WOW!!! the backlash has been almost unbearable.......the "cold shoulder" ..... the threats ..I was accused of being ANGRY and in a MIFF.

In both cases; other members stated their opinions and things just grew and grew to be A MESS but Bless those Messes Because they usually carry a Message.

All because instead of staying in the moment and reassuring all was well---- I let my thoughts wonder to a made up possible problems that has not even happened with a proposal.

ERGO RUTH'S NEW TRUTH do not allow my head to drift around to other people other situations when I am greeting or taking leave of someone. I must stay focus, make eye contact, and be genuine to the moment.


In the first case I believe the damage has been restored and will be fine.

In the second case. I am asking for prayer. God is a good and merciful God. He has resolved and brought me through my mistakes (messes) before many times. I live only because of the Mercy and Grace of God.

Oh another Ruth Truth : GOD WILL ALWAYS GIVE YOU LESSONS IN HUMILITY

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Ruth's TRUTH : The difference between Family History and Genealogy

In this blog I will explain what I surmised to be the difference in family history and genealogy. This definitions come from the words themselves. Geneaolgy; "Gene" and study of; "ology". Therefore this is the study of genetics, ergo the charts being labeled as "pedigree charts". More the DNA composition of a person that makes you uniquely you--- in genetics.

Then the "family history" the word "Family" and the word hi "STORY". George Geder recently observed that he had difficulties with genealogy software explaining "family histories", Multiple marriages, step brothers and sisters, same sex marriages etc. There are also those numerous GOD parents, and "Aunts" and "Uncles" who were just close friends and at every holiday gathering. And of course our beloved pets, houses we lived in, influential and essential teachers and church families who again made us uniquely us --- environmentally.


Car racing is a part of my Family History, I am finding writting about the races and my families participation in auto racing to be good family attention bait. One nephew already printed and framed my blog on Wild Bill.

Interesting observation -- someone mentioned my write ups on this subject as "excellent work on family history". So I reflected what could be the difference between genealogy and family history?

And this what I concluded (for the time being, until I change my mind.

Family History is stories of your family. Genealogy follows the "genes" of that family. Therefore whereas Car Racing can and is catagorized a "Family History" the fact that my father's IRISH gene of being a little (cough cough) hard headed and contrite is the Genealogy of the sharing of these "WILD BILL" newspaper clippings.

Just my Ruth thoughts, Ruth


BTW: I am repeating this blog in my GRWM blogspot

Friday, August 13, 2010

Kitchen Cupboards via the Ruthism way

Ruthisms are thoughts, compromises, and quirky mannerisms contrived by me to help me cope in this life. Ruthisms are also filled with household hints. My housekeeping philosophy lies somewhere between Martha Stewart and MAXINE (of MAXINE cartoon fame). I also give Erma Bombeck and Roseann Barr credit to contributing to my household philosophy.

An example of my compromise between Martha Stewart, MAXINE and my own family practice.

My family would purchase beautiful shelf paper, use the graph lines on the back of the adhesive, cut perfect squared corners and lay shelf paper expertly on the surfaces of the cupboard. No folds, perfectly aligned, and without patches this shelf paper would serve as a reminder of how conscientious we keep our cupboards, clean and neat. Before 1970, the paper could also be seen folded neatly over the front of the shelf. This was visually appealing to admire the shelf paper design from afar. Thus you usually had a theme whereas your shelf paper matched your pot holders, dish towels, and resting spoon.

This method although tried in the beginning of my marriage was followed to the T (T as in the square guide used to perfectly align the paper) did not fare well in my home. For one thing, I worked full time. To shelf a kitchen usually took the better part of a day. My seven children would place or remove dishes from the cupboards in such a way that the paper would become ripped. The ripped self-adhered paper would then attract dirt and this became visually disgusting. Placing a drinking glass lip side down on this filthy adhesive surface made my skin crawl. Therefore I was forced to change shelf paper 3-4 times a year. Using excato knives, scrappers, I would crawl into my cupboards and remove the squared corners of the carefully placed shelf paper.

So ergo my Ruthism: I place clean dish towels on my kitchen shelves. Therefore my dishes, glasses, utensils rest on a clean surface. But because my family is not careful with the cupboards, dirt, crumbs, dishevel happens frequently. Once a month I sanitize my home, my husband suffers from diabetes and "germs" are our enemy. I gather up the dish towels from the cupboards, place new dishtowels in the cupboards and use the "used" towels for the subsequent housecleaning. I will use the used towels, to wipe the refrigerator, stove, rest of the cupboards, bathtub and sinks, dust and remove marks from the walls. The soiled towels will go in the hot, whiting wash and be folded to replace soiled towels the following month.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

MY FAVORITE RUTH TRUTH:

MY FAVORITE RUTH TRUTH:

"My cup is not half empty nor half full--My cup is always overflowing


"My cup is not half empty nor half full--My cup is always overflowing with that which you see (liquid) and that which you do not see (air).
Unless the cup is collapsed with a vacuum I KNOW my cup runnth over.
Faith is the Knowing." Ruth


When asked if I see my cup half full or half empty. I KNOW my cup is completely filled and overflowing at all times. This is true even if I see just a drop of anything in the cup.

This truth is based on That which you see with your own eyes is not necessarily all that is contained within the cup. The other is the presence of something unseen. In this case of the unseen substance many times, this unseen substance would be air.

It is just a simple university law of displacement, vacuums and suction:

This absence of anything, truly empty cup of any level, would cause a vacuum and the cup would collapse within it's self.

In my case my cup is filled with "what I can see", friends, opportunity, hope, material things, support networks.

But if it was all taken away from me --- no friends, no opportunity, no hope, no material things, no support network.

I would still know my cup continues to be overflowing --- with that which I can not see!! Filled with all things believed and not seen = FAITH

and the BEST PART OF THIS TRUTH even if I do not "see" the faith -- unless the cup is collapsed ---- THE CUP IS FILLED TO OVERFLOWING!!

Explanation of Ruth's Truth is the application of simple university laws of displacement, vacuums and suction:


vacuum
, theoretically, space without matter in it. A perfect vacuum has never been obtained; the best man-made vacuums contain less than 100,000 gas molecules per cc, compared to about 30 billion billion (30×1018) molecules for air at sea level. The most nearly perfect vacuum exists in intergalactic space, where it is estimated that on the average there is less than one molecule per cubic meter. In ancient times the belief that "nature abhors a vacuum" was held widely and persisted without serious question until the late 16th and early 17th cent., when the experimental observations of Galileo and the Italian physicist Evangelista Torricelli demonstrated its essential fallacy. Torricelli obtained a nearly perfect vacuum (Torricellian vacuum) in his mercury barometer. A common but incorrect belief is that a vacuum causes "suction." Actually the apparent suction caused by a vacuum is the pressure of the atmosphere tending to rush in and fill the unoccupied space.


A space in which there is a low pressure (of gas) , i.e. relatively few atoms or molecules. A perfect vacuum would contain no atoms or molecules, but this is unobtainable as all the materials that surround such a space have a finite vapour pressure. In a soft (or low) vacuum the pressure is reduced to about 10−2 pascal, whereas a hard (or high) vacuum has a pressure of 10−2–10−7 pascal. Below 10−7 pascal is known as an ultrahigh vacuum.


This low pressure (of gas)creates a force known as suction:
Suction is A Force that causes a fluid or solid to be drawn into an interior space or to adhere to a surface because of the difference between the external and internal pressures.

Thus the cup would collapse within itself under this pressure.


I am so glad you came by to read my favorite Ruth Truth. Maybe your answer to the age old question is that your cup is half full or half empty. Yet I know with scientific proof that yours, mine and everyone else (who in fact have a cup), has a cup overflowing. :-).

Ruth Truths and Ruthisms

I have started yet another bolg. Over the years, I have made many mistakes, some sucesses, and been blessed with numerous mentors. I have gained wisdom in what I call Ruth Truths and Ruthisms. Sources for these Ruth Truths, Ruthisms, and Ruth Thoughts come from Bible Study groups, being a daughter, being a wife, being a mother, being a grandmother, being a grandchild, Gardening, Gold Mining, Sports (participating, organizing, spectating), Volunteering (at church, at schools, in interest groups), Community Politics Involvement, Child Rearing, Corporate World, Friends and Friends Experiences.

Oh and I guess some from attending and participating in higher level education classes. Which brings me to my first Ruth Truth. Attending and Participating in an educational class, sports organization, event, family/friend gathering are very different experiences, with very special skills to hone in as you practice more and more.

Ruth Truth Number 1----Attending, Participating, Organizing, and Developing events (events meaning anything, from a walk in the park to life-changing activities) are all skills to be practiced and improved upon.

Another Ruth Truth: a walk in a park can and does sometimes out weighs the preceived life changing event itself. An example of this would be a walk in the park as I strolled and came to the realization that I KNEW I wanted to marry my husband versus the actual wedding.

Ruth Truth Number 2----Learning never stops.

Ruth Truth Number 3----You are never as good the first time doing something as you will be as you practice more. Many times I will see a craft, heard a lecture, attended an activity and will state "Oh, I can do that!!" The more skilled, more prepared the person in presenting this skill equals the more likely you will do a poor job. Unfortunately you may not even realize you did a poor job ever.