In Memoriam

Today is Memorial Day, a day set aside to commemorate US men and women who died while in military service. It used to be called Decoration Day and was first enacted to honor Union soldiers of the Civil War. It was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any military war or action. [via]

We of course, usually expand it's meaning. I don't mean we as in me - I mean the country - people - the general sentiment. We honor and revere those who were lost in this way, but we also honor those who served the country and are still with us (and also on Veteran's Day) and we generally remember those who have gone before us whether they were in the military or not. Many people go to the cemetery on Memorial Day to place flowers on the graves of their dearly departed. I remember doing this with my grandparents and my Aunt Betty and Patty a few times. I know we also have All Saints Day to remember those people, (and every day in our thoughts) but it seems Memorial Day conjures up remembrances all around.

So, today's post will cover the "larger" observance of the day. First, I want to share with you a piece of music that uses a poem I find so fitting for Memorial Day. It is not that old of a piece - it was written to be included in the ending credits of the movie We Were Soldiers where, when I heard it, I cried. It has quickly gained acceptance and use in the military community since it's writing. It was used as part of Ronald Reagan's funeral ceremony. It is called Mansions of the Lord.

Here are the words:

To fallen soldiers let us sing,

Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing,

Our broken brothers let us bring

To the Mansions of the Lord.

No more bleeding, no more fight,

No prayers pleading through the night,

Just divine embrace, eternal light

In the Mansions of the Lord.

Where no mothers cry and no children weep,

We will stand and guard though the angels sleep,

Oh through the ages safely keep

The Mansions of the Lord.

It is traditionally sung by a men's chorus, which makes it even that more meaningful, I think. Here are some links where you can hear/see performances of it:

A Recording from the We Were Soliders Soundtrack
(It moves on past this after about 2 mins)

NPR Recast from Ronald Reagan's Funeral

A Very Moving Photo Montage with Music
If you can watch this without a tear in your eye...


And, on a personal remembrance, on days like today, I remember many of my relatives and friends who have passed out of this world. But, I most often remember my grandparents, because they were so central in my life as a child. I tried to find some photos of all of them, but of course here in Texas I don't have access to the "family albums" that are in Indiana. So, I have a few to share, but not perhaps the ones I would share if I were choosing from all that exist.

This is an important note though - I know in this day of digital media, our future generations, if the media all survives in some format, will have more photos than they can possibly even process through. But, it is important to point out that you, no matter how much you hate getting your photo taken, that YOU should GET IN THE PICTURE, because someone someday will be glad to have that photo. So, get over what you look like or how you feel and take the photos with the people you love. Just think - you might look better today - certainly younger - than you will five years from now - and you'll look back on that photo and like it! I'll try to follow my own advice. Ahem.

Ok, so here are a few photos and remembrances of my grandparents.

First - Grandma Irene and Grandpa Frank - I realize I have NO PHOTOS of Grandpa Frank in my house. So, we will go with a few I found of Grandma Irene. And when I'm next in Indy I'm going to remedy that situation.

Grandma Irene was a twin.
That's her on the left.

Grandma Irene lived about 45 minutes from us when I was growing up - close enough that we saw her regularly, but far enough away that you didn't just "pop over". Which meant, when we were kids, we'd go spend the night. Not that I didn't spend the night with my other grandparents, but going to Grandma Irene's was sort of like a trip. I remember Grandma playing with us, doing pretty much anything we wanted to do - she lived in a tiny little town, so we'd walk to the grocery store and to the playground and on a big day, we'd go "into town", which was the next "bigger" town about 3 miles away. But, you didn't do that just any day. She would climb to the top of the jungle gym with us. She was up for pretty much anything, which we loved.

Grandpa Frank liked to fish. We weren't so big on fishing as kids because the way Grandpa Frank did it (and maybe the way everyone does it) there was just a lot of getting up early and sitting around to be done. Grandma would go with us though, and make it a lot of fun. Grandpa Frank used joke with us a lot. He used to "challenge" us to impossible tasks - like putting something in our mouth without bending our elbow. Stuff like that.

Grandma, Dad and Me
When I was in college on a trip to Florida to see Uncle Ray.

Grandma had wild raspberries that grew behind her house. We'd go back there and pick them to our heart's delight. She picked them and made jam, pies, etc.

We used to write her letters and put as little on the address as possible to see if they'd get to her in her small town. She was "Box 2". So, we'd write "Grandma, Box 2, Waldron" and it'd get there. We even just wrote, "Grandma, Waldron" on one, and it got there. But, I think at that point the postmaster knew our handwriting. She was very good at writing us letters too. I cherish those letters.

Grandma liked Liberace. If he was on the TV, you better be quiet. And until I was older her house had no air conditioning. And even then, it was only in the living room. In Indiana, though, this was not so bad. A fan would make it pleasant. She had one phone, on the wall in the kitchen, and one bathroom, and her house had a cellar. When she re-did her front room, they found wallpaper that could be dated to the last part of the 19th century.

Grandma in front of her big frame house, probably on Mother's Day.
I was going to crop this up, but I like that you can see the house, so I left it.

We usually spent my birthday in her small town, because there was a parade and a festival every year. We were there to celebrate the 4th of July with all the extended relatives, and at some point in the day, we'd have some cake for my birthday, you know, for dessert. I think that's why I like to spend my birthday with lots of people celebrating the holiday, and not really celebrating my birthday. That's what seems right to me.

Grandma was a great cook. She used a lot of bacon fat. She liked to eat the turkey gizzard. Her homemade noodles were to die for. And her peanut butter fudge. And, she loved for all her kids to go to church with her on Mother's Day. I loved Grandma Irene and Grandpa Frank and I'm so glad they were my grandparents, and I miss them.

You'll remember this photo from last November...that's my Nana at age three, third from the right.

My Nana and Paw-Paw were also very special to me. For the first two years of my life, Nana babysat me while my mom went to work. And, we spent a lot of time over at their place after that too. We lived pretty close to them, especially when I was very young. I used to have conversations with my Nana about how when I was older I was going to ride my bike to her house. When I stayed with Nana, I wanted to drink coffee like she did - she'd pour me a glass of milk and add one teaspoon of coffee to it - just enough that it would change the color slightly. I think that's way I like coffee to this day. With a lot of milk in it - but not quite that much. ;)

Paw-paw and Nana when they were very young.

I love this photo of them - it's actually a slide we found a few years back when we went through a bunch of Paw-Paw's slides. This photo was taken before they had kids - maybe even before they were married. It's just such an easy going look, like they're having a nice time. Look at the old cars in the background. And, Nana's ric-rac on her dress and her jewelry. Divine. I have this photo in a frame in my house. I love it.

Nana and Paw-Paw had a big yard with a lot of trees - and a lot of flowers. So, when you went to their house, you "helped" with the yardwork - watering or feeding the flowers or picking up sticks or nuts. And, sometimes, Paw-Paw would let you ride the mower with him or in the leaf collector behind the mower. Great fun.

The most "recent" photo I could find - that's me on the right.
So, not so recent.

Nana was very artistic and crafty. We were always doing something around her house that had to do with making a craft or cooking or something. Or playing games - they liked to play games. Boy, did they. And, Paw-Paw could add up scores in his head like nobody's business. I did not inherit this trait.

I used to go with Paw-Paw to buy milk at Linder's Dairy, and while we were there he'd let me have an ice cream cone. I always got peach ice cream. It was so good. We'd sit there in the dairy and eat our ice cream together. When I rode in their big boat of a car, they let me sit on the "hump" in between them in the front seat. No one worried about that not being safe back then. I survived.

Paw-Paw would tickle you until you couldn't stand it any longer, and Nana would read books to you over and over. We were indulged as only grandparents can do. And they were great at it. I'm so glad they, too, were my grandparents. I loved them very much and I miss them.

So, on this Memorial Day, please take a moment to remember those who have lost their lives in defense of this great country, have served or are serving in our Armed Forces, and also remember those special to you. I know I will.

See you tomorrow.

Ode to the World's Best Shower

Oh, how I love my shower. And, how so very glad I am to be back in my own bathroom. Thank goodness. After a long hiatus, I am back, one with the 1951 green tile bathroom. And I love it.

You never really fully appreciate what you have until it's gone sometimes, do you. Boy, do I ever appreciate this here bathroom. Thank you very much!

The clean draining tub - the drain is a little worse for the wear with some corrosion from all the "drain clearing activities".

That's right - I mentioned the tub drain got fixed last Friday, but S had to put the pipes back together this week. He did, and now, for three mornings - three glorious mornings - I have been back in my own shower. My very own. A shower of one's own.

A few hard water stains don't slow this showerhead down, no sir.

So, I thought I would share with you my joy, and really, celebrate this momentous occasion with a few odes - homages, if you will, to the shower I love so dearly.



As you can see, it's nothing fancy. Not a thing about it is memorable. Except that it is exactly the kind of shower head I prefer to use. So, that makes it perfect.

Let's start out with a little haiku, shall we?

Good Water Pressure
Is Next to Perfection, Yes
And, It Moves Around!

Ahhh, high art. How about another one?

Rainwater Showerheads
Are Not Worth the Hassle, Man
Go Simple, Mobile

We could do a limerick...

There once was a girl from Nantucket...

Ok, so maybe not.

We could turn the showerhead into high art.
It deserves the spotlight.

Digitized Dot Matrix. Very nice.


An artist's rendering, if you will.

"Posterized"
Go Army.

And last but not least - heat sensor.
Because this shower is HOT.


But, I pretty much think this one sums it up.
Takes the cake. Is da bomb.
And, so is the shower, of course.

Best wishes for a wonderful weekend, hopefully long due to Monday's holiday. I'll be working, but here's hoping you aren't. I'll post something here, too, though. See you again next week.

Gastronomie Austin

Before we go on to today's post - ladies and gentlemen - this here blog now has 14 FOLLOWERS. This is momentous. To think that there are 14 people on this planet that occasionally every once in a while when they think of it stop by this blog for even one second is amazing to me. And I am so grateful. Because, people, I have a lot of nonsense to post, and it warms the cockles of my hear that someone is reading said nonsense. It's wonderful. Welcome, number 14. Come on in, the water's fine.

One of the things I miss about Austin - besides the scenery, the people, the general feel and funkiness - is the food. I miss my restaurants! I left Austin, incidentally, ten years ago this coming weekend. Ten years ago, Memorial Day weekend, S and his parents packed up my stuff and drove me back to Dallas in torrential, unending, horrible rain. Now there's a story...for another day.

So, you know, we don't get to Austin too often. Thus, S and I tried to be strategic about our choices about where to eat. Just imagine if we knew about all the great places in Austin that have come to pass in the last ten years - we'd be on overload. Good thing we're stuck in a time warp. Last weekend, on the up and back visit for the near death practice run in the 97 degree heat, we at at one of S's favorites, the Austin Pizza Garden. Check.

Lunch Saturday was at Rudy's Barbecue.

I know it's a chain people, but it's a chain that we don't have near us in Dallas, and their spicy barbecue sauce (or sause the way they spell it) is my favorite. I LOVE it.

And, I love the cole slaw and - especially - the banana pudding. So good.

I also thought I liked the creamed corn.
But, not so much on that one.

So, that pretty much sums up Rudy's for lunch. Check.

For supper, we met our friend Marcia at the Shady Grove. This is my FAVORITE restaurant in Austin for many reasons. It has a patio that is unparalleled in possibly all the world. It's fabulous, so I don't think it's reaching to say it's the best in all the world. Yep, let's go with that.



And, my favorite thing to get at the Shady Grove is the chili dog. But, for some reason on this night, I could not order it. I'll chalk it up to pre-race jitters. How's that.



Pre-race jitters did not stop me from drinking one delicious margarita, though, or having some yummy chips and salsa, or enjoying the steak salad I chose to order instead of that chili dog. Another reason to go back to Austin soon - that chili dog.

And that patio.

And, of course, all of our friends in Austin!
Shady Grove. Check.

On Sunday I had yogurt with walnuts and blueberries and a banana with some peanut butter, coffee and orange juice.

You'll remember what S had.

Had we not been going to a triathlon, on a Sunday morning in Austin, we probably would have gone to Kerbey Lane Cafe or Z'Tejas on 6th for breakfast or brunch, depending on the time we woke up. And our mood. But, the food from the H-E-B had to suffice this time.

After we cleaned up on Sunday, Kellie and Kevin suggested this WONDERFUL restaurant in Georgetown.




If you're near there, go to this restaurant. It's called the Monument Cafe. And, dear friends, it's to die for. We now have a new restaurant that must be added to the Austin list. We'll call it the "Austin area list" and add this gem.




This place only serves locally grown, hormone and pesticide free food. They even grow some of the vegetables right out back. And, dear fourteen blog reading friends, this food will make you want to slap your granny. It's that good. It's wonderful. I wonder if S is up for a drive to Austin three weekends in a row...hmmmm....probably not.

Sweet baby Sam gave me a smile...

I had the fried chicken with onion rings, mashed potatoes...

...and fruit salad. It was better than the blurry photo.

S had the eggs and bacon with a side of onion rings. We heard they were not to miss. The yolk color on those free range eggs - amazingly vibrant compared to what we get in the store. Amazing. We also all had some seriously delicious dessert. But, I wasn't in the mood to photograph that I guess - I was too busy eating. Yes ma'am. I ate. Mmm good.

There were several restaurants still on the list when we left town. And, actually several friends we didn't get to see. So, we'll be back, dear Austin, we'll be back. And, hopefully, before another ten years go by!

The Real Run and Finale, Baby

So, Meg set off on her run.

That's a new skort for the occasion. Nice, yes?

And while Meg ran, me and Kellie - we talked.
About how glad we were that we were done.

And S had a seat at the command center and took a break from photographing stuff.

Meg said the run was muddy - very, very muddy. She said the only way through the path was sometimes through some seriously thick mud - there had been several runners before her, of course. She said it added about five pounds of mud to each shoe as she went along, which made for some unpleasant moments, but all in all she felt it was a fine course and a decent grade.

Before Meg was expected back, Kellie and I walked up before the end of the run just a little ways so we could meet Meg and run with her the last bit, finishing together. About 40 minutes later, there was Meg!

Still smiling!

So we ran it in together.
I use the term "run" loosely...

Over that mat - that's when the timing chip charted us as DONE.

Then we got our triathlon medals from Sally Edwards herself.
So cool.

But when it came time for my medal...

You see folks, we had a case of three contributing factors - I have a big head and a lot of hair. That's probably the biggest factor. And, I was wearing glasses. And, I had on that hat.

Sally couldn't get the medal over my head.
Even after I removed the hat...

...she had some difficulty...

...um, yes, that's Sally PUTTING MY GLASSES BACK ON...

...but she still gave me a hug.

And I was still very happy to be there.

Nice shot of Meg, no?

We joked that if Kellie would change her name we could go by the name,
"Little Women Triathletes"

Not that we're "little women"...the names...Amy, Meg...get it?

Those endorphins were making me happy.

There's the medal.

Nice, huh?

After we turned in our timing chip, there was a opportunity to take our photos in front of a TREK Women's Triathlon banner.

This was a large group that trained together.

Then we had our chance for a photo op.

This one's my favorite.
Love it.

After we took these mugs, we went to get my bike. Yeah, remember when I told you yesterday that Kellie got the Sharpie written on her and we decided not to? Well, if it wasn't for Kellie, we would not have gotten my bike out of the transition area - they were matching Sharpie numbers to bikes. Don't get me wrong - I'm glad they were doing that, but up I walked, with no number on me, and they stopped me. I was able to show them the number on Kellie's arm, and that's the only thing that saved me. Kellie wanted to make sure I covered that little point on the blog. So, thanks Kellie for getting my bike out of hock.

As far as the contest goes, we did not break any land speed records - we were the last relay team to finish. But, as S points out, 8/8 equals 1. He's so supportive, I love that. And, we were overall only 42 people from being dead last. We were slow. But, we didn't plan to be fast. We planned to just finish. To just move our butts, get them in gear and accomplish something small like crossing the finish line. And we did that. We had a great time - a blast - and we finished. And, I think for that, my Uncle Kenny owes the charity of my choice a $20, doesn't he? Get it ready, Uncle Kenny, get it ready.

After that, we cleaned up and then we went to EAT. Then we drove back to Dallas. I'll tell you all about the food tomorrow. It deserves it's own post, yes? See you then.