Cooking, cooking and more, well....cooking.
Thanksgiving has always interested me, its a strange holiday....
(And before anyone goes all red, white and blue, and screams some nonsense about this post becoming, "un-american" - don't.)
A holiday that sprang from a plentiful harvest and attempt to make nice with the locals; to regional declarations of 'when Thanksgiving' would be held; to one woman's campaign to make it a national holiday (that's right folks, it hasn't always been on the third Thursday of the month...lol) and finally to a President who changed the date.
And after all that, what do we have? Food comas, shopping frenzies, balloons marching down Fifth Ave., and Football. Take that pilgrims!
The Turkey - Where did the idea come from that we would take a large bird, mix some starchy, over-seasoned concoction and proceed to stuff the birds ass with it? Don't get me wrong....I love me some stuffing but it's an interesting and slightly disturbing method.
The Fixings - The First Thanksgiving Party-Goers probably 'feasted' on local fruits, grains, fish and boiled vegetables. So where in the world 'Mac n Cheese', 'Deviled Eggs' and I shutter to say it, ' Green bean Casserole' came from, makes me wonder? Nothing smells or tastes like Thanksgiving like an eggy fart. Yum.
Parades - I don't like em. I don't watch em. And I see no value in em. It's really just the commentators I cannot stand to watch or listen too. The fake smiling, interest and excitement is disconcerting and they 'squeal'. No.
Pretty sure the colonists weren't blowing up animal bladders and dragging them around the colony.
Football - Oh I can get on board with that. (Yes, it's not exactly traditional....BUT you never know....the original settlers might have played a game or two after the meal?....I can justify anything)
Family and friends sitting around, chewing on a leg of turkey and yelling pointlessly at a TV screen....Ahhhh, yes.
Shopping Frenzy, of you I have never forgotten......
SERIOUSLY? Although it might have some history of its own, which pains me to admit.
FDR was convinced to push back the Thanksgiving holiday after World War I, to encourage consumers to buy more and buy early. The idea was that if Thanksgiving fell on November 30, then it shortened the period of time people had to shop for Christmas. The country was still struggling after the war and retailers hoped that people spending money would bolster the weakened economy.
Encouraged by this extra week and a righteous campaign ad asking Americans to, " Do your part and shop early for Christmas!" a national Thanksgiving pastime was born.
Despite this historical precedent, it has now morphed into a national rampage of crazed consumers, camping outside retailers for days on end, roughing their way into stores for a 'bargain'..."Look Ma, 3 pairs of socks for a $1....BUY ALL THE SOCKS!!!!"
Buying a captain chair, tent, thermos, and Ipad = $600
Waiting outside WalMart for a day to save $100 = PRICELESS
Thanksgiving. A National holiday.
How I see it.
Food, family and spending time away from the stresses of the world.
Hunkered down in a home filled with cooking smells.
Cuddling on the couch watching a game of football.
Flailing around a 25 pound turkey he HAD to have and laughing when we aren't sure how to 'safely' remove it from the oven because we chose to use a flimsy aluminum tray.
Bringing food to our friends and to those who couldn't cook for themselves.
Sharing our feast with those we love and those we want to know better.
Stacking the plates in the sink and forgetting about them to the next day...because there are board games to play!!
People often say, remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Why not take a moment to remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving.
Giving Thanks.
Remembering those who cannot be home for the holidays.
Giving Thanks for their sacrifice and their service.
Tuesday
OSMW for the win!
Overly sensitive or not?
Here's your question folks.....
Military housing is being offered to single military members - is that a terrible, community shattering, unfair idea?
*facepalm*
The idea that offering military housing to single active service members is causing a 'stir' among military families, i.e. the OSMW. The argument, as far as I can tell, is that it is unfair to have single people living in a military community because (and I quote)......
"there would be more partying, more irresponsibility and they don't recognize there are small children around"
OK, I'll take this little trip with you....so what you are saying is, single service members are irresponsible and because they are ALL this way, none of them deserve or have earned the right to live in military housing.
The very housing that was built for the use of military members is going to....wait for it....MILITARY members. The very people who fight for you, the very people who have actually EARNED the right to live in these houses and the very people who should welcome into your community because, and I hate to break this to you, are the REASON you have military housing....cuz you know.....they ARE THE MILITARY.
Good job stereotyping every sigle military member as a drunken frat boy who has no common sense or situational awareness enough to understand the children that are living near by. Moreover, you are basically saying that its ok for a single service member to live in a civilian family neighborhood and run over their children and partying like its 1999, but GOD FORBID, they should be living anywhere near you.
Dumb asses.
Do you not understand that the wonderful benefits you, as a military dependent, receive is not through your service to your country, but that of your spouses? DO you understand that if ANYONE deserves the right to live in military housing it is military themselves?
Dumb asses.
"they would break our community"
Are you fucking serious? THEY ARE YOUR COMMUNITY!
The very fact that someone has to actually point that out to you makes me want to PUNCH you.
Military moving into military housing! Oh the HORROR.
What next, military members who want to us the library? DURING STORY TIME??? NOOOOO.
Get over yourselves OSMW.
I, for one, am a military wife that would happily walk next door (if I actually lived on base) and welcome the new neighbor.....single or not. Why? Because that service member has made sacrifices, has chosen to be more than themselves and protect their country; they stand among the 1% of men and women who forgo seeing their loved ones for months on end and without the comforts of home. Yes, they certainly sound irresponsible and not a positive role model for YOU and your spawn.
On last thing.....
On Veteran's Day I thanked several veterans AND their families for their service, sacrifice and commitment, because yes, I believe that families play a role in the mental health of our troops through support and willingness to stay committed to the role their active duty counterparts play in times of war. HOWEVER, these women tarnish the name of military spouse and their role in the community by being selfish and bitter.
I am disgusted by the reaction of these women. I am ashamed by their actions and words. I am worried for the military men and women who will have to live next door to these entitlement spouses - they will ensure that everything 'bad' that happens in military housing will be the fault of the ALL single servicemen and women living nearby.
OSMW for the win. *sarcasm for those of you who don't get it*
Here's your question folks.....
Military housing is being offered to single military members - is that a terrible, community shattering, unfair idea?
*facepalm*
The idea that offering military housing to single active service members is causing a 'stir' among military families, i.e. the OSMW. The argument, as far as I can tell, is that it is unfair to have single people living in a military community because (and I quote)......
"there would be more partying, more irresponsibility and they don't recognize there are small children around"
OK, I'll take this little trip with you....so what you are saying is, single service members are irresponsible and because they are ALL this way, none of them deserve or have earned the right to live in military housing.
The very housing that was built for the use of military members is going to....wait for it....MILITARY members. The very people who fight for you, the very people who have actually EARNED the right to live in these houses and the very people who should welcome into your community because, and I hate to break this to you, are the REASON you have military housing....cuz you know.....they ARE THE MILITARY.
Good job stereotyping every sigle military member as a drunken frat boy who has no common sense or situational awareness enough to understand the children that are living near by. Moreover, you are basically saying that its ok for a single service member to live in a civilian family neighborhood and run over their children and partying like its 1999, but GOD FORBID, they should be living anywhere near you.
Dumb asses.
Do you not understand that the wonderful benefits you, as a military dependent, receive is not through your service to your country, but that of your spouses? DO you understand that if ANYONE deserves the right to live in military housing it is military themselves?
Dumb asses.
"they would break our community"
Are you fucking serious? THEY ARE YOUR COMMUNITY!
The very fact that someone has to actually point that out to you makes me want to PUNCH you.
Military moving into military housing! Oh the HORROR.
What next, military members who want to us the library? DURING STORY TIME??? NOOOOO.
Get over yourselves OSMW.
I, for one, am a military wife that would happily walk next door (if I actually lived on base) and welcome the new neighbor.....single or not. Why? Because that service member has made sacrifices, has chosen to be more than themselves and protect their country; they stand among the 1% of men and women who forgo seeing their loved ones for months on end and without the comforts of home. Yes, they certainly sound irresponsible and not a positive role model for YOU and your spawn.
On last thing.....
On Veteran's Day I thanked several veterans AND their families for their service, sacrifice and commitment, because yes, I believe that families play a role in the mental health of our troops through support and willingness to stay committed to the role their active duty counterparts play in times of war. HOWEVER, these women tarnish the name of military spouse and their role in the community by being selfish and bitter.
I am disgusted by the reaction of these women. I am ashamed by their actions and words. I am worried for the military men and women who will have to live next door to these entitlement spouses - they will ensure that everything 'bad' that happens in military housing will be the fault of the ALL single servicemen and women living nearby.
OSMW for the win. *sarcasm for those of you who don't get it*
Monday
Is it safe to post?
Offline. It just seemed safer that way.
What am I talking about?
The Election and the madness that ensued.
I still feel a little strange talking about my reactions to the Election in an open, online format; that is read by friends (both actual and online). Am I coward? Am I silly for valuing my friend's opinions so much so, that I would rather stay quiet and hide than comment on the Election.
Doesn't sounds like me, does it?
Time to step out of the shadows boys and girls.....
This election was one of several 'firsts' for me.
One - I voted in person! I usually (due in part to my military way of life) vote using an absentee ballot. But this year, I registered in the great state of Virginia and waited patiently to walk into my very first polling station and VOTE! It's the small things that make me happy. I got a sticker.
Two - I voted across party lines. How can we expect our politicians to see across party lines, if we as voters, are guilty of the same thing? I voted for the candidates that represented the ability, policies and understanding that both state and federal offices needed. That's right.....I voted for.....NO! It's a personal choice that I feel should remain so.
Three - I didn't tell anyone who I voted for. Yep. That's a first. Well, I told Parker....and he smiled. But I told no one else. I am a Democrat.....but that doesn't mean I feel that they are always the party with the best candidate. Nuff said.
So with all of this said....
I sat down and watched the political debates. I read the propaganda. I did my homework. And then I voted. And then I watched the election. And here's what I realized......
You can't please everyone all the time.
I was struck by the anger and malice that spewed across every social network. I was confused by the bitterness that affected people that I had know for some time. I was struck by the immediate 'de-friending' phenomenon that sweep across Facebook. People posting malicious comments on friend's pages; calling them out for voting the 'wrong' way and being a bleeding heart liberal; for being the reason the US will 'go to hell' and people will die because of their choice of candidate. YES, I am deadly serious....I actually read this stuff!
Be angry. But be constructive. Be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Degrading people and threatening people is not the answer. It's just sad.
I lost a few people on Election night. Funny thing is, I respect their opinion. But they apparently, respect mine.
What am I talking about?
The Election and the madness that ensued.
I still feel a little strange talking about my reactions to the Election in an open, online format; that is read by friends (both actual and online). Am I coward? Am I silly for valuing my friend's opinions so much so, that I would rather stay quiet and hide than comment on the Election.
Doesn't sounds like me, does it?
Time to step out of the shadows boys and girls.....
This election was one of several 'firsts' for me.
One - I voted in person! I usually (due in part to my military way of life) vote using an absentee ballot. But this year, I registered in the great state of Virginia and waited patiently to walk into my very first polling station and VOTE! It's the small things that make me happy. I got a sticker.
Two - I voted across party lines. How can we expect our politicians to see across party lines, if we as voters, are guilty of the same thing? I voted for the candidates that represented the ability, policies and understanding that both state and federal offices needed. That's right.....I voted for.....NO! It's a personal choice that I feel should remain so.
Three - I didn't tell anyone who I voted for. Yep. That's a first. Well, I told Parker....and he smiled. But I told no one else. I am a Democrat.....but that doesn't mean I feel that they are always the party with the best candidate. Nuff said.
So with all of this said....
I sat down and watched the political debates. I read the propaganda. I did my homework. And then I voted. And then I watched the election. And here's what I realized......
You can't please everyone all the time.
I was struck by the anger and malice that spewed across every social network. I was confused by the bitterness that affected people that I had know for some time. I was struck by the immediate 'de-friending' phenomenon that sweep across Facebook. People posting malicious comments on friend's pages; calling them out for voting the 'wrong' way and being a bleeding heart liberal; for being the reason the US will 'go to hell' and people will die because of their choice of candidate. YES, I am deadly serious....I actually read this stuff!
Be angry. But be constructive. Be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Degrading people and threatening people is not the answer. It's just sad.
I lost a few people on Election night. Funny thing is, I respect their opinion. But they apparently, respect mine.
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