Thank You

O beautiful for heroes proved 
In liberating strife. Who more than self their country lovedAnd mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness And every gain divine! 

O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! 




Thank you to all of those who have served.
Happy Memorial Day.

Good Morning Angels!

I'm not sure if I mentioned it or not - probably not, since I've been a horrible blogger - but back in January my sister and I adopted Marines. We did it through an organization called Soldier's Angels and we did it for a lot of different reasons. Basically although most of my reasons are very personal, the long and short of it is I'm anti-war, but pro-troops. Some of these men and women are only 18 years old and they are risking their lives so that I can live mine in safety, and for that I will never be able to thank them enough.

So what is it like being an Angel? I write my Marine weekly letters, just talking about life and the ridiculous things that happen here and there. I try to tack on silly photos or comics - something to just get his mind away from whatever he's doing for a few minutes. I also send care packages once a month full of everything from toiletries to snacks. The whole thing takes me on average half an hour each week and I buy a lot of the care package bits at the dollar store - so despite the quantity of things I've sent it hasn't cost me much money. (Honestly, I wouldn't be able to do something like this if it cost me an arm and a leg, I'm a lady on a budget!)

Not only are there really awesome very involved team activities and large-scale campaigns, there are also other smaller campaigns, ones that take up even less of your time that what I've chosen to do. Our friend Libby is part of the letter writing campaign where she just writes letters and they are distributed to soldiers who do not typically receive mail. She's told me she always slips in a Calvin and Hobbs comic with her letters, it's the little bits of normality that make what these soldiers are doing tolerable. I cannot imagine being away from home for so long and not having much of any contact with those you love. Or worst yet, not having any loved ones at home to tell you how awesome you are and how appreciative they are of what you're doing.

From the few responses I've actually gotten back from my Marine, he is extremely grateful. He's so glad that he has people "back at home" who support him and are thinking of him, and I am happy that I can brighten his day.

So as we approach Memorial Day I put it to you Dear Readers, will you be someone's Angel?

Manjoyment Monday: Brother Dan

Today is my brother Dan's 30th Birthday!
In celebration of this auspicious occasion, Dan is today's Man.

"No International Incidents."

I have 3 words for you Dan:
Happy Natal Day!
Fuck yo couch!

Menjoyment Monday: BBC

I felt the need to share this. My sister found it and let me preface this video and this Monday's Men with a few things:

1. If you haven't already seen Series 2 of the BBC's Sherlock, don't watch this unless you don't care about spoilers.
2. We (meaning my sister and our friends and I) are completely obsessed with this series because it is SO VERY WELL DONE.
3. This video is also incredibly well done and makes me both laugh and cry.

Hope you enjoy.

DPF: Finnegan's Wake

New song stuck in my head. One that makes me want to dance.



I have grown a huge fondness for Darby O'Gill's version of pretty much ANY song on my Jig Rock Pandora station. I think it's his fans that make it fabulous. They remind me of RPI hockey supporters.

Parting Glass

CANNOT GET THIS SONG OUT IF MY HEAD

Foodie Challenge

This has been floating around and I thought I'd plop it here and keep track. Similar to my 101 in 1001 that I've totally failed at (and will be compiling a new one soon)...

I've started the list by bolding all the foods I've already tried, and from here on out I'll highlight in a different color additional foods as I try them.

100 Foods to Eat Before You Die

1. Abalone
2. Absinthe
3. Alligator
4. Baba Ghanoush I found it okay.
5. Bagel and Lox Gotta feed the Heeb in me.
6. Baklava Ladies, fresh baklava...
7. Barbecue Ribs I heart meat
8. Bellini
9. Bird's Nest Soup
10. Biscuits and Gravy Jason lived in the south for almost a year, of course I've tried this.
11. Black Pudding
12. Black Truffle
13. Borscht
14. Calamari I only enjoy this if it's really well cooked.
15. Carp It's a little creepy when they keep the head on the plate...
16. Caviar It's alright.
17. Cheese Fondue (HOW HAVE I NOT?!)
18. Chicken and Waffles
19. Chicken Tikka Masala
20. Chile Relleno Pretty tasty, and a good veggie alternative.
21. Chitlins
22. Churros Mmmmm
23. Clam Chowder Is that the red? Or the white?
24. Cognac
25. Crab Cakes My sister lives in Maryland, 'nough said.
26. Crickets
27. Currywurst
28. Dandelion Wine
29. Dulce De Leche
30. Durian
31. Eel Mmmm
32. Eggs Benedict
33. Fish Tacos TACO
34. Foie Gras
35. Fresh Spring Rolls Om nom nom
36. Fried Catfish
37. Fried Green Tomatoes
38. Fried Plantain Got any sweet'uns?
39. Frito Pie
40. Frogs' Legs
41. Fugu
42. Funnel Cake With Bavarian Cream please!
43. Gazpacho I do not enjoy this because it is served cold.
44. Goat
45. Goat's Milk Mmmm
46. Goulash Uhhh, hello? I'm German.
47. Gumbo
48. Haggis
49. Head Cheese (Laura tells me it is SO odd)
50. Heirloom Tomatoes
51. Honeycomb
52. Hostess Fruit Pie What small child hasn't consumed their weight in these?
53. Huevos Rancheros Whenever Dan and I failed at cooking omelettes, we always just dubbed them huevos rancheros and called it a day.
54. Jerk Chicken
55. Kangaroo
56. Key Lime Pie I don't think I could live in a world where Key Lime Pie didn't exist.
57. Kobe Beef
58. Lassi
59. Lobster Word, first one was eaten just recently in RI with Ash & her family.
60. Mimosa I did get married, I think these are required.
61. MoonPie She calls me MoonPie because I'm nummy nummy and she could just eat me up.
62. Morel Mushrooms
63. Nettle Tea
64. Octopus It is a little odd.
65. Oxtail Soup
66. Paella I love paella though I do not get to eat it often.
67. Paneer
68. Pastrami on Rye Gotta feed the Heeb in me.
69. Pavlova
70. Phaal
71. Philly Cheese Steak I prefer Jim's over Geno's.
72. Pho I cannot imagine my life without pho.
73. Pineapple and Cottage Cheese
74. Pistachio Ice Cream
75. Po' Boy
76. Pocky Delicious.
77. Polenta
78. Prickly Pear I'm going to say yes, because I'm counting a prickly pear margarita.
79. Rabbit Stew
80. Raw Oysters Indeed I have consumed these.
81. Root Beer Float ADORATION
82. S'mores I was a Girl Scout.
83. Sauerkraut Umm, I am a German.
84. Sea Urchin
85. Shark
86. Snail I have eaten these, and they basically taste like nothing.
87. Snake
88. Soft Shell Crab It was the last thing I ever ate at Crabby Dick's before they closed down in Key West.
89. Som Tam
90. Spaetzle Again, I am German.
91. Spam
92. Squirrel
93. Steak Tartare
94. Sweet Potato Fries Delicious, and one of four things I actually put salt on.
95. Sweetbreads
96. Tom Yum
97. Umeboshi
98. Venison
99. Wasabi Peas I actually like these a lot. They clear out your sinuses like whoa.
100. Zucchini Flowers I'm going to say I have eaten these because I believe I have in the past. I love zucchini in all forms but it does not like me and makes me very sick so I have to stay away from it now despite my love for it in earlier years.

Initial Consumption: 42/100

Nearly half, I'm almost on my way to being an adventurous eater!