My Dad and I were out and about today, and we bought Family Tree Maker 2010. When we got home, I spent hours working on our family tree. I added relatives and typed some stories as my parents told them. How my paternal grandmother died; how the births of 2 aunts went. It was very interesting. I'm excited about doing more work on this.

Family Tree Maker is made by the folks at Ancestry.com. With the software comes a free month of membership at Ancestry.com. I had enough frustrations today that I can't say I'm wild about that part of it yet.

Who the hell named the "Social Security Death Index"?! It's a wonderfully descriptive name, but sheesh! Does it have to be quite that descriptive?

Our shopping spree also included Spanish Phrases for Dummies. So now I can say, "We're going to a very tall building" ("Vamos a un edificio muy alto.") without having to think at all. Lovely :) I've actually enjoyed wandering around the Dummies website. I'm not the greatest fan of the use of "Dummies." But. There's lots for me to learn and lots that's interesting. I now can consider hypnotizing myself and I know 10 things never to say or do in Russia. Hey, if all the knowledge in our heads could be put to good, solid, practical use, what fun would that be?