Red, White, Blue and You

This week's weekend edition is, "... Brought to you courtesy of the red, white, and blue." - Toby Keith, Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)

SEE

If you've never been to a National Cemetery, what better time to go than over Memorial Day
weekend, when we remember the men and women who have selflessly given their lives so that we remain free and brave. Michigan has two: Fort Custer National Cemetery and Great Lakes National Cemetery. If you do happen to make it to Great Lakes, stop in and visit my brother, USMC Sgt. Michael R. Mandley in Section 2, Plot 1322. Yes, for those who know me, Mike really is buried in plot 1322. Who says there aren't signs from the afterlife?

C²

Grab the kids or even your dog, and head on out to some Memorial Day Parades. The city of St. Clair Shores will be having their Memorial Day Parade on Sunday, May 29 beginning at 1:00. On Monday, there's the Plymouth Memorial Day Parade starting at 8:30 a.m. and Royal Oak's annual Memorial Day Parade will begin at 9:00 a.m. Click on the convenient links I provided for more information about routes, etc.

Hear

While I'm not ashamed of this fact, it's not something I generally advertise, but I... am a country music fan. I'm not the biggest fan of old country (Johnny Cash is a major exception, but Patsy Cline is definitely a rule), but still.... Country musicians seem to be more patriotic than most, and so take a minute or two to download (or at least YouTube) a few of the following songs.

"Travelin' Soldier" - Dixie Chicks

"American Soldier" - Toby Keith

"I'm Already There" - Lonestar (YouTube it but have a box of Kleenex on hand)

"Come Home Soon" - SheDaisy

"If You're Reading This" - Tim McGraw

"Letters From Home" - John Michael Montgomery

"Arlington" - Trace Adkins

"God Bless the USA" - Lee Greenwood

"Some Gave All" - Billy Ray Cyrus

"America" - Waylon Jennings

"I Just Came Back From A War" - Darryl Worley

Taste

So I mentioned Eclair Cake in my previous post. Delicious! The best part about it? No baking involved, easy ingredients, and it's so easy the kids can make it. Thanks to my high school friend and college roommate Christine for introducing me to this recipe. And if you dont' want to take my word for it, it's a Paula Deen recipe so that should speak for itself.