Memorial Day Ideas

(The American Flag above the USS Arizona Memorial)

Memorial Day is probably the second most important holiday to me - July 4th being the most important.  Maybe it's my love of history or watching lots of War Movies with Dad during these kinds of holidays - but I am very grateful to those that have sacrificed for my freedoms. If like us you have grey skies or need some thing to do here are my suggestions:  ***Note - not all of these suggestions are suitable for all****

1.  Fly a flag.  If you don't have one, go get one!
2.  Make something and take to a neighbor that has served in the military, reserves, national Guard, or has someone currently serving.

3.  Watch a war movie - my suggestions:  Midway, Battle of the Bulge, The Longest Day, Band of Brothers, Drums Along the Mohawk, and the History Channel will usually have some good documentaries on.

4. send a thank you email to a service person -  http://www.amillionthanks.org/

5.  Donate to an organization that supports our veterans and current military servicemen and women.  You can make blankets, donate books, music etc - just search for what you'd like to do and you'll find the right place to donate to. 

6.  Write in your journal about what freedom means to you.

7.  Start a book about the history of the United States.  A great book is David McCullough's 1776.  (there's lots of others, but I really like this one).

Enjoy your Memorial Day and don't forget the reason for this day!

NASCAR All Star Party

Yesterday was the NASCAR All-Star Race.  I hosted a party for Amy, Abbie, and Jeremy.  I decorated with Stars all over the living room.  We took pictures and ate lots of food - Pizza Bites, Brownies, Cheesecake from http://www.ourbestbites.com/ and other items. 

 The race has four segments.  Everyone got a team of drivers to route for.  At the end of each segment a prize was awarded to the person whose driver was leading.  Amy won this hat when Kurt Busch led the first segment:

Abbie won segment 2 & 3 with Jimmie Johnson, but Amy won the grand prize, when Kurt Busch came back from major damage to win the race and a million dollars (Kurt got the million, not Amy). 

My Job Next Year

Today I was officially excessed from PCFC and assigned to a new position.  I am now an Issaquah High School Eagle.

They weren't always the Eagles - they used to be the Indians, but well it wasn't very PC.  I don't know what in the Social Studies I'll be teaching, but I ended up where I wanted.  My favorite part (aside from being in a brand new building) is that the school colors are Purple and gold.  Gold may not be the best color on me, but Purple is AWESOME!!!!!!!!

My recent Movie watching

I've been sewing the binding on some quilts and watching movies.  All of my choices have been great, mostly foreign, and I end up crying.  So if you need a cyring fest - you might want to try these movies (I watched them on Netflix)  *** since most of them are foreign you may need to be careful if kids are nearby, I can't remember which ones you might need to censor****

Rosenstrasse - This movie is about a daughter trying to understand her mother by finding out what happened in her mother's life during World War II. I really liked it and have a whole  new area of World War II to learn about. Made in 2003, PG-13 and in German

The Butterfly - 2003, French, NR  - This movie is about an older gentleman that collects butterflies.  A young girl who needs attention from her mother moves in upstairs and stows away on his trip to see a butterfly.  Also has a happy ending.

As It Is in Heaven - 2005, Swedish, NR (see warning above)  This movie was nominated for an academy award.  The story is about a conductor who returns to his hometown for a fresh start.  I loved this movie, even if it was slow in a few places.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - It's in English, 2008, PG-13 - It's about the Holocaust. I hadn't read the book, but it's very good.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Right now I'm watching Sweet Land.  It's an independent film about a mail order bride in a Norwegian American community who happens to be German not Norwegian, and a Socialist  after World War I and all the problems that come from dealing with all of that!  I love getting a picture of what a Norwegian American farming community would have been like, since some of my ancestors would have been in communities like that.

Something I've been working on

This is a quilt I've been working on.   It's not finished and I'm not sure the borders are what I want.  I'm going to embroider a scripture or two around the outside.