Patriot?

Please forgive me for ranting and bringing up all these old news stories but today I felt a little overrun with somewhat uninformed political opinions. While I truly believe that every one should form their own opinions on these subjects and that they should make those opinions known during a conversation like this, I also believe that they should have it fully formed and be knowledgable about the subject.

The presidential race came up and someone brought up the fact that they hate Obama. That's fine they can go ahead and hate him all they want but they started spouting about how they would die if he was in office because he is so unpatriotic. They referenced the picture of Barack Obama not putting his hand over his heart during the National Anthem and the fact that he doesn't wear an American flag pin on his shirt. They said, "He refuses to state the pledge of allegiance or wear a pin on his shirt."

How dare he... Can you feel the sarcasm dripping from that question? I can.

I believe that patriotism isn't shown through visual acts such as those. I believe that patriotism is an action. Actions such as paying your taxes, respecting government authority (even if you don't agree with their policies), respecting officers, following the constitution, and following the laws. I do not believe that wearing a little aluminum flag pin on your lapel makes you more patriotic than the rest. I do not believe that etiquette like placing your hand over your heart makes you respectful to our country. After researching several reputable news web pages I found no substantiated documentation or video showing good old Barack refusing to pledge allegiance to our flag. This leads me to believe that it was just rumor.

Now that I am done ranting about uninformed opinions on situations, not policies, I can leave you with my thought on this rather delicate subject. If people choose not to like him as a nominee for president, I believe they should base those opinions on policy, not hearsay.

would you trust your child with this woman?

This is my BYU ID card, which is something I need to do laundry for cheep since we live on campus.  Brandon keeps telling me that it looks like one of those photos that police send around to neighborhoods warning them of murderers, sexual predators, and/or stalkers.  I think it is a picture of a lovely girl just having a rough day before she even got a shower... It seems to me that he is just jealous of my natural good looks.  I mean come on people it's not like he can just roll out of bed, throw on a sweatshirt, and look so beautiful and kindly.  I guess I'm just one of the few lucky.  And just for the record... Brandon's picture looks like he is a little boy who is pouting because his mom won't buy him a slurpee! HAAAAAAAAA!

Nothing Can Compare

To  all of you who are thinking AWE HOW CUTE!!!!!!!!!!! and are oozing with a heart warming sensation, let me tell you how all of my clothes are covered in smelly Selina Kyle hair... Ok, so this is kind of cute.  What happened was, I came home from work the other day and usually Selina Kyle comes right to me and wants me to hold her and snuggle her and give her scratches.  There was no Selina for about 20 minutes so I decided to investigate.  I looked in the tub because that's where she likes to play.  I looked in the closet because that's where she hides from Hector.  I looked under everything and on top of everything... No Selina Kyle... I began feeling a little worried simply because I thought she got out, somehow, and we are not exactly... allowed to have any kind of animal in our apartment... SHHHH!! So I decided it was time to go get dressed and go find her when I went into the bedroom and went to the dresser and found her there asleep.  I got a little frustrated that I hadn't noticed her there at all during what I thought was a very thorough search.  Then she woke up and looked up at me and started purring and meowing for me to pick her up... So I turned and left the room without her because I needed to get the camera so I could document this unforgivable act.  

The Hector Lebowski

Does anyone else see the insane resemblance?  I think they were twins separated at birth.  I was in the bedroom the other day while Brandon, Brett, and Britt were out in the living room.  They kept hearing me going JEEZE!!!! or AWE CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!  Surprisingly, no questions came with those outbursts until I finally yelled YES!!!!!!!  I was trying to get this picture of Hector as The Big Lebowski.  It was really frustrating because he kept moving and getting really angry.  He was making these high pitched growls and in the back of my mind I was thinking, "Is he supposed to make that noise?"  It took about five minutes, which may not seem long but for a picture with a crazy cat it is.  I think it was totally worth it though because now John Goodman can finally have proof that he is one with a cat... Won't he be so pleased? 

The Lindsey Tree

Well I did it! I finally did it.  I have put it off for years now.  I have always wanted to know a little more about my heritage but I really thought the process would be painful.  I still think that traditional genealogy is something that would bore me to no end.  I was curious about the origins of my ancestors' surnames though so I looked into it.  I found my Scottish clan, which was most exciting.  I knew that I was Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and English but I wasn't sure where that all fit in.  The Coat of Arms where hard to find w/o paying for them but it was good to just see them.  

My great grandmother Eva's surname being Griffith is of Welsh origin.  The family motto on our crest is Firmitas Et Sanitas, which means Strength and Sanity.  I know some of you are laughing about the sanity part... I'm still scratching my head on that part too.  I'm not sure what part of Whales it originated though.  

My grandmother Alice's surname was Hannah Scottish in decent.  From the Clan Hannay. The earliest version of Hannah I could find was Hannay, of Sorbie Tower in Galloway.  Our family motto is Per ardua ad alta, meaning, Through difficulties to the heights.

My mother's name being Deborah Willis is English.  The name is found first in Berkshire England.  There is no motto that is found.  It is a very ancient name apparently!

Now, my maiden name, Blake, is Irish/English.  Started out as Lake from England then my ancestors moved to Ireland.  The name has, apparently, many different spellings in ancient records some include Blake, Caddell, Caddle, and others (not really sure how blake and Caddell are the same).  The Crest motto is Virtus sola Nobilitat, which translates to virtue alone ennobles or virtue alone is nobility.  

It was really fascinating learning about my family's names and meanings.  I have always prided myself in being Irish and Scottish and now I have a little more to say when people ask more into it then "UHHHHHH!"  I hope this has inspired you to look a little deeper into your ancestry.  I don't think I will ever enjoy searching for names and doing genealogy in the traditional sense but it's certainly nice learning a little more about where I came from because like I said before I knew nothing of it.  

 

I have to rant a little.  Ever since Brandon and I have gotten married, though wonderful as it has been, we have missed pretty much every incredible concert there has been.  The latest was of course the Sasquatch Festival.  I have been reading about it and it was freaking amazing, apparently.  Not only did I miss David Bazan's debut performance as David Bazan and the Black Clouds but apparently Rainn Wilson was there, just hanging out.  A few others include Modest Mouse, Death Cab for Cutie (whose new album is awsome) and many more, many more!  Brandon and I went to see David Bazan playing a few of his new songs.  It was pretty perfect but I need more.  I cannot see why I am destined to rot here in Provo while all the musical genius is in Portland.  I really feel like I have been cursed.  Well I guess I'm mostly upset because of my dreadful day!  

This is how I feel right now.  I know that those of you who have not seen me in a while are very alarmed, so to ease you, I have not turned into a creepy old man but have caught a nasty cold.  So I am now writing in my Sudafed induced state a blog about how crappy it is to have a cold.  Today I did have to go to work and was sniffing and blowing all day.  Then a wonderful coworker said, "I was sick last week and believe me, I would much rather have you have, then what I had."  As you can tell that immediately set me at ease... Did the sarcastic nature of that comment come through in my writing?  I guess she was trying to make me feel better in her own awkward way.  I was thinking the whole day that if only I could find a way sharpen a pencil enough I could end my misery but now that I am drugged I feel much better...