Thanks to Crazy Sam for today's questions! You can join the fun HERE!
American Soldier
Saturday 9: American Soldier (2003)
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.
Memorial Day is a federal holiday that honors men and women who served and died in the United States Armed Forces. We want to make sure that message is not lost this weekend.
1) Are you a veteran? Are there veterans in your family? Do you know anyone who is active military? We are grateful and want to hear about it. I am not a veteran, but my Joe was. His two brothers served, and a nephew served. My dad was a veteran. I don't know of anyone who is currently serving in the military.
2) In this song, Toby Keith reminds us soldiers "work straight through holidays," even this one, and we are grateful for that, too. Have you ever had to work on a federal holiday? If yes, did it make you sad to be on the job when everyone else was celebrating? Most of my working years were for non-profits and we always got holidays off. I always had to work Mother's Day weekend when I worked at the art museum because that was Mayfaire. I did work a few holidays when I worked for Florida Fish and Wildlife because I was part time and didn't get paid if I didn't work. It didn't make me sad.
3) The video for this song was filmed at Edwards Air Force Base. This site was chosen to make it easier for off-duty soldiers, reservists and their families to appear. Have you ever visited a military base? Yes. Ft. Belvoir, in Virginia.
4) Toby Keith never served in the military but often performed for the USO. While the USO is best known for providing entertainment to our troops, they also have a "Canine Comfort Crew." Local USO centers make dogs available to troops who long to see a wagging tail. Are you a dog lover? I do love dogs, but it has been a long time since I had a dog. Cats are easier when you are working full time. Now I am retired but cats are still easier.
5) Memorial Day kicks off the summer season. What's your favorite picnic food? The question should be "pot luck" instead of picnic, at this stage of my life! LOL I am taking a Jiffy Corn casserole to the clubhouse for the Memorial Day potluck.
6) Let's welcome summer with ice cream. What's your favorite flavor? Cone or cup? These days, it is a toss-up between chocolate and mint chocolate. I have cones in the pantry, but also like it in a bowl. No preference. There are no dishes to wash when I use a cone!
7) This marks the weekend when Americans step up their outdoor activity and do things they may not have been able to do during the winter months. For example, when is the last time you applied mosquito repellent? I don't remember the last time I used mosquito repellent. I don't go outside much, and certainly not at night when the mosquitoes are out.
8) Or swam? It has been years since I was in a swimming pool. I stay out of the sun because of melanoma risk.
9) As you answer these questions, is there an air conditioner or fan on? Both! This is Florida.
Peace and Hugs!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country love
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine!
So thankful for our veterans and for Joe's service. As you know, our son was also in the military.
ReplyDeleteI worked lots and lots of holidays, it's nice to not think about that now.
I laughed at your potluck answer, but you are exactly right!
So thankful for veterans and for Joe's service as well. Wishing you a beautiful day, Terri. And your casserole sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteMy husband served too but isn't considered a Veteran, which I think is a bummer, because he was in the National Guard. He still served our Country though. I too am thankful for Veterans and all they've done. I'm so thankful that President Trump wants to stop all this war mongering and using our soldiers as cannon fodder to enrich Big Business, etc. Time for peace. 🥰
ReplyDeleteOur veterans' service never fails to humble me.
ReplyDeleteA Jiffy corn casserole is my "go-to", whether it be funeral food or pot luck -- easy peasy, and sooo good! I usually eat my Keto ice cream right from the pint ... bad, bad!
The casserole sounds yummy.
ReplyDeleteFeeling so grateful to all who served and died for our country and our freedoms. Blessings, Terri!
ReplyDeleteI agree on the potluck vs picnic. Much better on us these days:) We keep jiffy mix in our pantry, it's sooooo good. Happy Memorial Day weekend☺♥
ReplyDeleteI LOVED Toby Keith and think he was a real live American Hero.
ReplyDeleteMy answers to these questions:
ReplyDelete1. Both of my husbands were/are veterans.
2. I may have had to work on the 4th of July when I was a coffee shop waitress in 1968..
3. I’ve lived on one military base, in base housing.
4. I am a dog person.
5. Favorite picnic food? Chicken salad on a croissant roll.
6. Vanilla is my fav ice cream and cones are fun (as long as I lick fast!).
7. Mosquitos love me as I pull weeds outside in the morning hours. Yes, I use mosquito repellent!!
8. My last trip to a swimming pool was the summer of 2021 although we have a gorgeous one in our +55 community. I just don't like being on display in a swim suit. If it's warm enough to weather a swim suit, it's too hot to sit in a beach chair, even in the shade.
9. AC is definitely on, and sometimes the ceiling fan is needed, too.
I'm definitely a cat person. And you're right, they're easier to care for, especially if you travel. Favorite picnic food? Probably watermelon. :) We went swimming at our condo in Anaheim last summer but I haven't been swimming since. No AC here in Seattle. Some people have portable AC units they bought at a hardware store but we never have. We do have lots of fans though! I plan to put out my American flag this weekend (and will lower the flags at work too) and we're watching TV shows about the different wars our veterans have fought in over the years. I'm so grateful we haven't had an all-out war here on our soil in my lifetime. (Not counting 9/11 because that one we eventually fought there.) I hope you have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteFort Belvoir is where my son Sam married his wife Grace! (He was stationed at Fort Myer, at Arlington, so I was on that base...and on the one in Georgia where he did basic training...and Fort Sill in Oklahoma where Benjamin trained...and Fort Lewis Mc-Chord where Ben was stationed in Seattle.)(Once we were visiting Sam at Fort Myer, and had brought him some Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch, his fave...when we were stopped at the gate showing ID, they asked me to open the tailgate of the car, and that box of cereal fell out, we died laughing...)
ReplyDeleteWe celebrate the memory of our vets in this family- and honor our living ones....
ReplyDeleteI am very thankful for the veterans as well as Joe's service. Terri, I am so happy to have found you again! You and I used to follow each other's blogs when I was at Linda's Peaceful Place. I had no computer for more than 7 years and due to the amount of time that had passed, I lost access to my old blog. I have missed you!
ReplyDeleteI started a new blog at the end of March, Linda's Relaxing Lair (link to my blog is in my profile).
I wanted you to know that I am thinking of you and that I am blogging again, and where you can find me. I also wanted to tell you that your blog background is beautiful!
Take good care of yourself and warm greetings from Montreal, Canada.
I am not a Veteran and neither is my husband. His number was coming up fast for the Vietnam war (long before I knew him), but they stopped drafting. My daddy was a World War II veteran. I am a cat person, too, though we have no pets at this time. I promised the allergy doctor that I wouldn't replace Harvey when he died last August.
ReplyDeleteI love your answers. We had several veterans in our family-all gone now save one. I used to have cats but have family members with severe allergies to them. So, I now have two Cockapoos-like one wasn't enough, right? Couldn't resist #2 so here she sits on the bed next to me. Both are big babies and they are a lot more work than a cat but I guess it is good for me. lol....Have a wonderful Memorial Day- xo Diana
ReplyDelete