God Bless America My Home Sweet Home

Happy Memorial Day ! {?}

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Isn't it odd how a holiday that mourns and honors our fallen has morphed into welcoming summer with barbeques, picnics and parades?

I know some people feel this is disrespectful but I feel that it's fitting. After all, truly, is there anything more truly American than kids running around, neighbors and friends meeting up and talking, everyone getting out of the house to grill up some {veggie} burgers and bust out the watermelon?

{None for me thanks I'm allergic. Yes, to watermelon. It's a total tragedy.}

Anyway, isn't that America at it's finest? The simplicity of summer, of children's laughter, the smell of food wafting through the neighborhood...fantastic parades, and the music! oh, I am a sucker for a good march.

To me, this is the American way of life at it's best. For all of us. Color, creed, religion. None of it matters. Everyone loves to hear their child laugh, to feel the warmth of the sun soaking in to our winter-fied bones, our eyes drinking in all the colors of the grass, now green, and the flowers. It's glorious, isn't it?

To me, this is what our men and women died for. To me this is American. And every child's laugh today is like a bell giving an angel his/her wings. Every joyous laugh from a child lifts a soldier up.

The willingness to give up your very life - to leave your children, your home - to go across the world to fight for freedom. Sometimes, not agreeing with the fight, but believing in the ideals of freedom itself. This, this idealism, this bravery is breathtaking.

So, to those who served and serve still, thank you.

To those who have lost loved ones, my heart aches for you, my soul thanks you for your sacrifice. May my son's giggles tomorrow heal your heart, just a little bit, as his first popsicle drips down his chin and onto his new All American Boy t-shirt, know that while we are laughing and smiling and enjoying the day we know, I know, that the sacrifice your loved ones made is what protects this...this beautiful day where we all stop and smell the apple pie.

They did not give their lives in vain.

We will be attending the parade, and as The Boss grows up, he will learn about the day and why it is a Holiday. His great grandfathers fought in WW2 and his Bob-Bob served in the army during Vietnam. By the grace of God, they all survived. We are so grateful.
By relishing the sun and the celebrations, please know that I haven't forgotten your service, your sacrifice, I honor it. I honor it by enjoying the very things your loved one died for, the things your loved one loved too.

There are no words in the English language, nor I suspect in any known tongue on this earth, to convey my thanks, my gratitude, my very soul filled love and appreciation for you. All of you. Those who serve. Those who are families of those who serve...for you serve too.

And lastly, for those who died. Bless you. Bless you. Bless you.


And God Bless America.

International (wo)man of (no) Mystery.

Behold! My mother's day gifts:

Mayhaps you will recognize the all too familiar logo's from my Motherships. Target Boutique and Starbucks.

Now before you go thinking my fam is lazy for just doling out the gift cards, you must understand how very much I adore gift cards. Two words, people: FREE SHOPPING.

I love to shop. I do. Now that I've bested my eating disorder and given up soda, I will absolutely admit that I could easily go to the dark side of retail and develop an addiction.

Thus far I've held it at bay (although TOTT would now snort and say "barely" but then I bring him something coolio and he forgives. He's the awesome) I suppose if I had more friends in this zip code I might not spend my days plotting the new finds and making lists of things I want as soon as payday comes around. Okay, it might be a small problem. Very small. I window shop far more than I buy and I really choose things wisely. And if I make a mistake I return it ASAP. And so my family gifted me with the happy day of shopping!

I lie about the friends thing...If I had more friends in this zip code I would just be shopping with them.

But here's the thing...I will always love my Target and yes, I will always choose the Target with the Starbucks in it over one without. But perhaps I need to mix it up a bit. I've become a no brainer.

My high maintanance rep is feeling a bit bruised over this. I mean, it's so easy now!~ Just toss Target at me and watch me squeal!

But where, oh where, is there a store as glorious as Target??? I need to go get a coffee and give this matter some serious thought. Maybe I need some shoes too,oh, and hair dye...huh. Target it is.

Audition..AUDITION!

*The title of this post is to be sung to the tune of Tradition from Fiddler on The Roof.

Has Spring sprung for good?

We've been singing a lot of Fiddler round these parts as the wee one has suddenly begun adressing everyone as 'the'. As in The Mommy. The Daddy. The Bob Bob. And as every loving family does, we are beginning to referr to everyone and everything using the Lexicon of Max.

Everyone is a geek about something and I am a geek about religion. So the fortuitous culmination of both Easter and Passover Seder on Sunday was a joy of much glee for me. (See? Geek) Plus an actual quote from the Seder is "Lean to the left and drink" which makes it far groovier than the Easter Mass (which I love btw). I totally dig that my kids gets to grow up in a multi denominational family.

My mother in law is Jewish and I'm slowly discovering that I know disturbingly little about her faith. Despite my fascination and all my study of religions I've never really delved in to Judaism. (My main fascination is the Christianization of indigenous cultures and especially the Catholic Church and Popes- the good the bad and the ugly. Let's me honest...things are a little ugly over at the Vatican rightaboutnow, eh?)Anyway, I could write a book called Everything I know about Judaism I learned from Dub's Mother. From my little childhood mind it would include things like this:

1. Hanukkah can be spelled a couple of different ways and I am sure to misspell each way at least once before deeming it ok...but it's probably not right.
2. Hanukkah is AWESOME! We light candles and sing and then get presents. What is not to love? Plus?  Dinner at Dub's house with Potato pancakes and apple sauce. Delish.
3. Dub and I get to find the Matza and that is good for yet another present, usually a chocolate present. Again, what is not to love? 
4. Dub's Mom lets us decorate for Hannukah by painting the windows. Repeat, we get to paint on the windows.
5. Passover, so cool. Bitter herbs- sign me up! YUM! 
6. Getting to be with the whole fam. Sweet! 
7. Again, we get to find the Matza and get a present. (maybe we only do that at Passover...I was a poor student.)

Not that Dub's mom wasn't a great teacher, we were just more interested in giggling and eating and talking about boys. Oh, how things have changed. (Not at all, except now the boys are 20 months old and way cuter than anyone we ever had a crush on. Sorry past crush boys.) So my lovely mother in law set about teaching me a little here and there and it is fascinating. I just love religions. (GEEK!)

Max even chimed in with a Dai eh nu or two of his own. Also? There is no way I spelled that right. No way. I myself had to be reminded that it is not Bah Ram Ewe, which is totally from the movie Babe and not religious at all. My kid is way smarter than me. (Thank God.)

After a delicious meal and some super yummy vegetarian matzo ball soup we headed off to bed. I had an audition this morning and wanted some sleep. Too bad Max was all hyped up from the Seder. (at last years Seder he called me Momma for the first time, I'm definitely pro-Seder.) So we were up half the night, but I made it on time Starbucks in hand to audition for the part of the stylist.

Clearly I was the only one there who watches the Rachel Zoe Project. I may have been dressed a little...ummm, Los Angeles? But it went well and as always I love auditioning. The thing I don't like is getting there. I have all my stress about finding the place, once I'm there I'm golden!
Lietrally, because while I won't wear fur like RZ (eeewww. My grandmother left me furs; including one particularly icky one of a full fox that was biting it's own tail. We donated them to the theatre department of my mother's alma mater. Cause there ain't no way I'm ever wearing that!!) I do indeed like to drip with yellow gold during the summer season.

And fake tanner. The summer is all about yellow gold and fake tan. Now you know.You're welcome.

All in all this weekend was a lovely juxtoposition of two beautiful religions and it ended with a rendition of Audition! Audition! Even if I don't get the part of the stylist, I'm thrilled to have been cast as The Mommy!