Elisabeth .......

It's true....."They've done studies" as Mrs H pointed out on the view today!

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Good Taste

Joy Behar:  "Your mother, Judy Garland and you, are such gay icons.  Why is that?"

Liza:   "Because they have good taste."

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Who Do You Think YOU Are?

About two years ago I began working on restoring the old family pictures, and I wondered about the people, and the times they lived in etc.   We knew a tiny bit about my mom's side of the family and practically nothing about my dads.   Then last Christmas, I decided I would see if I could research my family tree.   I had no clue as to how to begin, and I soon hit a brick wall and gave up. 

Then, "Who Do You Think You Are" aired on TV. 

Produced by Lisa Kudrow, the show featured real life family searches by celebrities.  Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields and Spike Lee were all favorites of mine and so I watched.  It was amazing and lit a fire under me to try again.  This time I was successful.
It's kind of daunting to start a search like this because you never know what you'll find, and I found some doozies, but I had to get started because my mom is the oldest remaining person on her family side and when she goes, all that she knew would have gone with her.  
Everyone wants to find someone famous in their family tree, or some amazing incredibly fantastic story to tell about an ancestor and I was no exception.  However I didn't think I would get far in my search or that there would be anything notable.    I was wrong.

My mom's side of the family is amazing.   My great great grandfather fought in the civil war, as did his father.   Then because the genealogical community is so connected I found his line all the way back to before 1776.   On my grandmother's side, her family is a direct line from Stukely Westcott who came to the new world and established Rhode Island and the first Baptist church.  Go figure.

As neat as that information was, it didn't compare to the excitement I felt when I tracked down my great grandmother's brothers who had disappeared from the family.   One divorced his wife and married a black woman, the other was a true cad.   He was a successful rancher who divorced his wife, and left his six children, and was shot and killed in 1924 by his second wife while visiting a whore house.    The court records from his case are riveting.  It was a huge scandal....and his wife (who shot him) was found not guilty.  

I've also found out some not so proud information, including being related to Benedict Arnold...yes that one, a great grandmother on my father's side who was in the KKK, and two first cousins who married each other (thank god my family isn't from their line)

So there's good and bad and a whole lot of inbetween when you start searching your family tree.    If you haven't looked into yours, I would encourage you to do so.  It's an amazing journey.

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La Lohan Parte Deux

I'm a Lindsay Lohan sympathizer probably because she reminds me so much of my wayward niece.  So sad to see a talented kids life swirl down the toilet. 

During her court appearance yesterday I did notice her nails and thought "Wow that is one shitty manicure".   Today I ran across this blowup of said manicure from an article on CNN.  

Lindsay was offering up a little message on her middle finger.   How sad this kid just doesn't get it.  

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Get Better Lindsay

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Special Order Of The Court?

So I get back, and find out I'm up for jury duty.

Okay...no big deal.  I found out in plenty of time, and really, I'm all for serving.   I believe in the system (in it's imperfect perfectness....mostly) and since I escaped serving the first time I was called when I was 25, I'm kinda looking forward to it.

I wonder if it will be like "Twelve Angry Men"....or "The Juror".   Will it be hot and sexy like "The Practice?" Or cleverly funny like "Ally McBeal"?  What will I wear?  Will I be sequestered?  

I quickly receive my card which is complete with my juror number and instructions, so I log on to check my schedule.   There are three groups of numbers and in the third category which I fall into....there is the little added text.  It reads:  "Numbers 1216 through the number 1349 appear, by special order of the court; Friday, July 9th at 9:00 a.m."

By special order of the court?  Huh?  Me?  Why me?  What doesthismean?

The county clerk has not called me back.   So I'm left wondering!

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It's Monday!

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Happy 4th

I've been traveling, sunning, and just enjoying life.   Hope to be home soon and blogging again.  Have a Happy 4th !!

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