Three sheets to the wind

During our weekend in Jackson Hole we arrived at our fireworks-watching-spot a few hours before the beginning of the fireworks. This gave us plenty of time to hang around, chat with the adults and play with the kids.

While I was playing with Colette at the playground, my brother, John, was wrestling with the kids. They had been carrying on with the wrestling and running around for quite some time. A rather drunk man came up to my brother and said, "These kids are crazy!" My eleven-year-old nephew, rather unaccustomed to being around inebriated folk replied, "You're kind of crazy!"

I wish I hadn't missed it. I don't know if it was Tyson's first encounter with a plastered fellow, but it brought to memory my own first encounter.

I was eleven. My family and I had attended my first ever Texas Rangers baseball game at the Ballpark in Arlington. The game was against the Minnesota Twins. I don't remember who won, but I think it was the Rangers. As we were leaving amid throngs of people a man started talking to me. He mentioned how crowded it was, and then he said, "Wouldn't it be funny if somebody farted?" Then he laughed. A lot. But I was just confused. Then my mom grabbed my hand and told me not to worry, he was just a friendly drunk.

And that was it. When did you first encounter a sloshed individual?

(Incidentally the drunk man was completely zonked out before the fireworks even began).

Editor's note: As it turns out, when my brother told me Ty's response, he didn't mean my nephew. John meant his friend, also named Ty. So, as it turns out the story is a little less funny than originally published.

"Important" Facts

My nephews have this book. Ooooooh! Educational!












The back of the book agrees:

Give your child a head start with this informative and interactive Lift-A-Flap book. With brilliant colors and peek-a-boo flaps, your child will have a great time learning many important facts about the Presidents of the United states [emphasis added].

Important facts, eh? Let's see what you've got!



What can we learn about Andrew Jackson? He was the only president to fight in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Interesting.

John Tyler's wife is the reason Hail to the Chief is played to the president? Interesting, but not really important.






James Buchanan was known as the Bachelor President because he promised his wife he'd never remarry after she died? That's sweet. Interesting-ish. Important? I'm not sure.


What's this? Abraham Lincoln was the tallest and the first to have a beard?

I guess that's all I need to know about him!





Seriously though. They couldn't think of anything better than that?

Weekend in the Hole

The first day there was a cookout in the Tetons that was preceded by a lovely little hike.

These are my nephews and niece. As my brother says, if you've seen one you've seen them all.

We took a little detour to see the Moulton Barn on Mormon Row. It's supposed to be the most photographed barn in the world. That's probably true. We managed to get one good shot with all the kids.

But it's important to note that this is what the kids normally look like.

.
On Saturday we attended Music in the Hole. It was awesome. (There's my brother on the left. Do we look alike?)


After Music in the Hole we went to a field to watch fireworks. We were there rather early and had plenty of time to play.
Dave and Colette took turns riding my feet and legs.

Then my back started playing up so I tried to teach Dave how to do a head stand. I can't say that it was a successful lesson

Of course, there were fireworks too. Probably the best show I've ever seen.

What Are You?

I had a discussion once about how many people claim "American" as their ancestry on the U.S. census. This person felt that this was a sign of how many people didn't know where their ancestry originated. I took it as a sign of a lot of people feeling they are not English just because their great-grandfather was. Usually when people ask me, I say I'm American. But if I give that answer and the inquirer is specifically asking about my heritage, "American" doesn't really appease them. I know my Americans came from somewhere, but they've been here a rather long time. In fact, MOST of my ancestors have been in America for a long time. I have many ancestors who fought in the Civil War (both sides), and many who were around and fought in the Revolutionary War. Not to mention my Dutch ancestors who helped settle New Amsterdam (which, as They Might Be Giants have taught us, is now New York City).

For example (I'm using the Ahnentafel numbering system, lest there be any confusion about why I started on #4):

My Grandparents (for simplicity's sake, born about 1920):
4. California
5. California
6. Iowa
7. Texas

Looking at just those four, I'm 100% American.

My Great-Grandparents (furthering simplicity - born about 1890-1900):
8. England
9. Illinois
10. Tennessee
11. Alabama
12. Virginia
13. Wisconsin
14. Texas
15. Texas

Looking at those eight, I'm 87.5% American and 12.5% English.

And my Great-Great Grandparents (born approximately 1860 - 1880):

16. England
17. England
18. New York
19. Illinois
20. Tennessee
21. Tennessee
22. France
23. Tennessee
24. New York
25. New York
26. Denmark
27. Denmark
28. Texas
29. Georgia
30. Alabama
31. Texas

As you can see there's only slightly more variation when you go back a generation. 68.75% American, 12.5% English, 12.5% Danish and 6.25% French.

You could also break it up by Yankees vs. Confederates, in which case the Confederates win: 43.75% Confederate; 31.25% neutral; and 25% Yankee.

I guess I better wear some more grey.

But anyway, what are you?

Review: Tomato and Spinach Pulao

Here's another recipe from the book I mentioned on my post about kidney bean curry. (I've put the bibliographic information at the end of the post.)

I made tomato and spinach pulao once a couple of years ago, and I liked it quite a lot, but I never got around to making it again until last Sunday. Then I took it to work as leftovers for a few days, and at least three people commented on how yummy it looked and requested the recipe. Here it is:

Ingredients:
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp ghee or unsalted (sweet) butter
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
1 generous cup brown basmati rice, soaked
2 tsp dhana jeera powder OR 1 tsp ground coriander and 1 tsp ground cumin
2 carrots, coarsely grated
3 3/4 cups vegetable stock
10 oz young spinach leaves
1/2 cup unsalted cashew nuts, toasted
salt and ground black pepper
naan bread, to serve

Directions:

1. Heat the oil and ghee or butter in a wok, karahi or large pan, and fry the onion and garlic for 4-5 minutes until soft. Add the tomatoes and cook 3-4 minutes, stirring, until thickened.
2. Drain the rice, add it to the pan and cook for a further 1-2 minutes, stirring until the rice is coated.
3. Stir in the dhana jeera powder or coriander and cumin, then add the carrots. Season with salt and pepper. Pour in the stock and stir well to mix.
4. Bring to the boil, then cover tightly and simmer over a very gentle heat for 20-25 minutes, until the rice is tender. Lay the spinach on the surface of the rice, cover again, and cook for a fruther 2-3 minutes, until the spinach has wilted. Fold the spinach into the rest of the rice and check the seasoning. Sprinkle with toasted cashews and serve with naan.

It's a really yummy and healthy dish. Enjoy. I think it's definitely worth the prep involved. Also, don't bother peeling and seeding the tomatoes. You'll be fine.

Source:

Baljekar, Mridula. Best-Ever Curry Cookbook. London: Anness Publishing Limited, 2005.

Family legends

You are not Native American. I'm sorry. You're just not.

I know you have high cheekbones.

I know you rarely have to shave your face.

I know that family legend says that you are descended from a Cherokee princess.

Nonetheless, you are not a Native American.

At work we get a lot of people who want us to prove they are Native American. A lot, I tell you. The thing is, most of these people are not, and even if they were, most tribes have closed books these days (meaning, they are not accepting new members). Why do people suddenly want to become members of the tribes? Affirmative Action? Not really. Cool stories? Nope. Money? We have a winner.

Native American tribes with casinos and hotels and such are making big bucks. My fellow-genealogist just spent a week with members of a certain tribe who earn $45,000 per month. Each. Every single tribe member. That's $540,000 per year. No doubt, that is a lot of money. And who wouldn't want to get in on the action?

The only thing is, if you are a white individual who has been raised as a white individual, who has never had to endure any sort of hardship because of your race, you do not deserve to cash in.

I believe my great-great-grandfather was Jewish, which would make me 1/16th Jewish. That does not mean I deserve a settlement on the West Bank. My family and I have not ever had to endure any trial related to our Jewish ethnicity. I cannot even begin to claim any remote sense of connection to Jewish people. In short, I am not Jewish even though my second-great grandfather, Isadore Gasser, was.

Attempts to claim Native American ancestry irritate me (in case that wasn't already apparent). It's one thing to know that your ancestors endured a lot as part of their race; it's an entirely different thing to attempt to profit from that.

And yet, it's a two-edge sword. If a client wants us to determine their Native American ancestry, we are not going to turn them away. We will certainly tell them from the start if it looks unlikely that we will be able to prove such a thing, but we do need to make a living, and if you want to pay us for something, we will gladly take your money. Just know that if I am researching your Native American roots, I am (a) probably not going to find anything, and (b) I am going to be annoyed that you are trying to profit from other people's misery.