As you know, I made a joke about how we are probably all related because hashtag my big fat Mormon family. Then swingwise made that group on relativefinder.org and over the next day or so hundreds of you joined the group and obsessively started engaging in family history work. (Is "hundreds" an exaggeration? Swingwise? Do we know how many people are in the group? Lee gets mad when I exaggerate and sometimes it's scary. Because I think he's a dad.) Anyway, I never imagined that Stranger would become a family history blog. But I guess I also never imagined that I would be able to assault tens of thousands of people with pictures of my toe's photoshopped hair. Hashtag blessed.
Also, Jolyn was just at my house and she answered my phone when a telemarketer was calling and I overheard her tell the person that "no, Ellie McCain is not available right now but he will be at exactly 6:00 AM tomorrow." So that was nice.
And now, your Pictures and Distractions:
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| Sonita and I danced the night away until way past our bedtimes (11:00). |
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| Grandma, great grandma, clubbing enthusiast, unintentional motivator of family history work, California's best 85-year-old. |
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| Mr. Pants getting ready to watch Survivor! |
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| The adventures of Bob and Cathie. |
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| We found this sign in a cabin on our family reunion. Can someone please help my confused siblings and I understand what the hell this is supposed to mean? We could not agree. It nearly tore our family apart. RIGHT BEFORE I FOUND ALL OF MY TENTH COUSINS. |
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| I found this piece at a consignment store near my house (shout out The Old Flamingo!). It's the newest addition to my music room. |
Crap to distract you from whatever you're supposed to be doing:
My write-up for this week's Survivor episode.
In case you didn't see it, a chart that explains what the hell a fourth cousin once removed is. Thanks, Melissa.
The Count Censored (warning: awkwardly suggestive, but oh my gosh). Thanks, Ashley.
Woman fulfills lifelong dream of being blind. Thanks, Krishelle.
Who said it? Donald Trump or Lucille Bluth. Thanks, Krishelle.
A new app that lets you leave Yelp-like reviews about people. Thanks, Josh.
Cool 3D trick art--bullet hole in hand. Thanks, Tyler.
The 25 most brutal prisons in the world. Thanks, Jordan.
And for the Friday Night Lights fans. Thanks, Krishelle.
Please follow us on the Facebooks and the Instagrams.
If you would like to have something included on Pictures and Distractions, please email me at itjustgetsstranger@gmail.com.
~It Just Gets Stranger
That is a seriously strange quote. Very appropriate for you to share it here. Sorry, no help to offer in understanding it and mending the hole it tore into your immediate family.
ReplyDeleteAs of right now, our Stranger Family group has 265 members.
Jolyn is so helpful.
I wish my grandma were still 85. She's 95 now, and I miss her 85 year old self.
I have really enjoyed going back to the family history posts and reading all the new comments.
Thank you for not assaulting my eyes with a picture of Tami this post. Happy weekend!
I know for me anyway a big part of the excitement related to the relative finder was that this already feels like a community, an odd family of strangers, so to speak. There is generally such a good uplifting atmosphere here in the comments and we all look forward to seeing what Lee says, and other regulars to
DeleteI and then we get the chance to verify and prove our connections and we won't rest until we get everyone linked.
DeleteStrangers for the win! In 3 years of doing family history research and consulting, I've never had a group more excited about being related to each other or doing their family history. I've even begun helping a fellow Stranger with her genealogy (Yeah, Angela!) and she has Bacon relatives! We may yet find a Stranger connection to Kevin Bacon!!!!!!!
DeleteStrangers for the win! In 3 years of doing family history research and consulting, I've never had a group more excited about being related to each other or doing their family history. I've even begun helping a fellow Stranger with her genealogy (Yeah, Angela!) and she has Bacon relatives! We may yet find a Stranger connection to Kevin Bacon!!!!!!!
DeleteWho cares about Bacon relatives. . . WHAT IF PAUL SIMON?!
Delete“Thursday, March 26—President McKay told an interesting story. He said, ‘A farmer had a large tract of land. When he grew old it became too much for him. He had a family of boys. He called the boys around him and told them they would have to carry the load. The father rested. But one day he walked out into the field. The boys told him to go back, they did not need his help. He said, “My shadow on this farm is worth more than the labor of all of you.”’ President McKay said that the father in the story represented President Stephen L Richards, who was ill, but whose contribution and friendship President McKay valued so highly.
ReplyDeleteFrom https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/04/seek-ye-the-kingdom-of-god?lang=eng about halfway down the page
Dang, that's impressive of you to find it!
DeleteI kind of liked it better before I understood its meaning... Now that all of the mystery is gone, it's just not the same.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure that explanation actually explained what the quote meant . . . . .or I'm dense because I'm still confused . . . .
DeleteI think it has to do with the fact that he made the ranch what it was. And even though he is old and not doing the labor anymore, his shadow, or spirit, is worth more then any labor they are putting into it. Think of it as a person who created a company from the ground up. Even after that person is old and not working anymore, it's his/her essence that made that company what it was, not the people who are just going there and doing a job.
DeleteThat's my guess anyway.
Lee, that was my guess as well. Looks like I won the family argument with one vote from Lee! Woo hoo!
DeleteThat seems kind of harsh on the people who are working now though. Like they'll never be good enough even if they do their best. Always stuck in the shadow.
DeleteSeems like it was a senile old man's way of saying "GTFO." But that's just a guess.
DeleteMichelle, they were the ones being harsh. They told him he wasn't needed anymore and he was letting them know that without what he did first, they wouldn't be needed. And yes, they will always be stuck in the shadow until they go out and build something on their own. They are benefiting from his work.
DeleteYes I'm a dad, so you better watch it with those exaggerations MISTER!!! Or there will be no Survivor for you for a MONTH!
ReplyDeleteAnd WHY have we never heard about this Sonita before? Cause, you know, she's hot. Just saying.
Speaking of exaggerations. If Mr. Pants is really going to watch Survivor, why is he not looking at the TV?
More curious about that sign then the wording (FYI thank you to Sue Ellen for posting that information about it. That was pretty cool), why is the S and R capitalized in the sentence? I'm guessing it's to place some emphasis on the words. I can understand Shadow, but why Ranch? Anywho...I have work to get done and get out of here, gotta go pick up my kitties from the vet today. Brother and sister got spayed and neutered. They're going to be tired out.
At least they didn't put unnecessary quotation marks around "shadow" and "ranch". That really would have blurred the meaning.
DeleteI don't see the bullet hole AT ALL! It just looks like scribbles and art of a skull drawing on his hand. I DON'T GET IT!!! :(
ReplyDeleteIt took me a minute. Try blurring your eyes for a second. Once you see it, you can't unsee it.
DeleteI didn't see it until the very end with the picture, and even then...meh. I was more concerned what his poor skin was saying, "HEEEELLP ME!!! I'M DYING!"
DeleteI also think you meant to say it's a new addition, not edition. But what do I know?
ReplyDeleteSad to say we're not related. Not even a little bit!
Gracias!
DeleteI think that quote means, "I'm better than all of you put together. When I'm not even here."
ReplyDeleteAlso, I was really sad to find out we're only 12th cousins. But then I thought, hey, better to be 12th cousins than not cousins at all.
Yes. In fact when I grow up, I'm going to put vinyl on a tile with that quote.
DeleteLee, how's this for the capitalization?
I'm better than
All of you put Together.
When I'm not Even here.
I thought you meant you'd make a tile that said, "Better to be 12th cousins than not cousins at all"
ReplyDelete(no offense Lee)
Lee, please don't say, "I'm a dad" and "she's hot" in the same quote, because: gross.
and
My dad had a cabin, I gave him a drawing of an Indian Chief that has the saying: In the camp there are a lot of Indians, but only one Chief.
~the original Karen
In THIS camp...
DeleteIt said, "In this cape there are a lot of Indians, but only one Chief."
Oh forget it....
DeleteI can't win
~the original Karen
I feel like the Relative Finder group info should be put somewhere on this site prominently (and permanently) so that our family can keep growing :) and, you know, so the stranger cousins can eventually be adopted vicariously.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the Relative Finder group info should be put somewhere on this site prominently (and permanently) so that our family can keep growing :) and, you know, so the stranger cousins can eventually be adopted vicariously.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. I'll see if I can figure something out.
DeleteHey Rachel!
DeleteHi from Singapore!!
Good to see someone I actually know hanging out with Strangers...
~Karen
That sad moment when Eli doesn't post late Sunday nigh like he often does, so you have nothing to entertain you before starting the horrendous monstrosity referred to as (I shudder to say it)....Monday.
ReplyDeleteIn these moments I always go back and read old posts. It's almost just as good as getting a new one.
DeleteThanks for the Coach Taylor link....As far as I can see, the fact that Friday Night Lights is no longer in production is one of the greatest problems facing our nation.
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one who can't get Eli's Survivor link to open? Ever?
ReplyDeleteHmmm . . . works for me.
DeleteRIP Eli.
ReplyDeleteI love you and I love this blog. Thanks for the constant entertainment.
ReplyDeleteHow do you join the group to see how you're related to Eli?
ReplyDeleteGo read this post and it explains how. http://www.itjustgetsstranger.com/2015/09/we-are-all-family.html
Delete