MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND LOUNGE, MAY 23-25, 2015

Home The Daily Kitten Cat Chat Forum TDK Cafe MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND LOUNGE, MAY 23-25, 2015

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  • #832223
    JerseyJoan
    Moderator

    This weekend we take the time to remember the cost of freedom here in the USA. From Flanders Field to cemeteries and memorials around the world, we remember those who sacrificed their lives so that we may live free. Parades and services remember our war dead, and honor our veterans and service men and women currently serving to protect the freedom of which we should never take for granted.
    On Memorial Day, and throughout the weekend, family and friends get together and celebrate our freedom.
    * * *
    The lounge has been lovingly decorated in red, white and blue. All things barbeque are here, and if you don’t see it, an agency kitty will surely whip it up for you!
    Welcome!

    #832224
    JerseyJoan
    Moderator

    http://c.tadst.com/gfx/600×400/usa-memorial-day.jpg?1
    Memorial Day in United States

    Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May. It was formerly known as Decoration Day and commemorates all men and women, who have died in military service for the United States. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day and it is traditionally seen as the start of the summer season.

    USA memorial day

    Memorial Day remembers those who died serving the United States military.

    ©iStockphoto.com/ Alan Crosthwaite

    What do people do?

    It is traditional to fly the flag of the United States at half mast from dawn until noon. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries. Memorial Day is combined with Jefferson Davis’ Birthday in Mississippi.

    Memorial Day has become less of an occasion of remembrance. Many people choose to hold picnics, sports events and family gatherings on this weekend. This day is traditionally seen as the start of the summer season for cultural events. For the fashion conscious, it is seen as acceptable to wear white clothing, particularly shoes from Memorial Day until Labor Day. However, fewer and fewer people follow this rule and many wear white clothing throughout the year.

    Public life

    Memorial Day is a federal holiday. All non-essential Government offices are closed, as are schools, businesses and other organizations. Most public transit systems do not run on their regular schedule. Many people see Memorial Day weekend as an opportunity to go on a short vacation or visit family or friends. This can cause some congestion on highways and at airports.

    Background

    Memorial Day started as an event to honor Union soldiers, who had died during the American Civil War. It was inspired by the way people in the Southern states honored their dead. After World War I, it was extended to include all men and women, who died in any war or military action.

    Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. The current name for this day did not come into use until after World War II. Decoration Day and then Memorial Day used to be held on May 30, regardless of the day of the week, on which it fell. In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed as part of a move to use federal holidays to create three-day weekends. This meant that that, from 1971, Memorial Day holiday has been officially observed on the last Monday in May. However, it took a longer period for all American states to recognize the new date.
    http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/memorial-day

    #832225
    JerseyJoan
    Moderator

    “If you smile at me, I will understand, ’cause that is something everybody everywhere does in the same language.”

    * * *

    #832226
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    OH MY! What memories those songs bring to my heart! Thank you Joan, for opening the weekend lounge. I will come back later to hang out longer as Hazeling is in dire need around here, and that danged HAG didn’t show up yet again. Everyone have a wonderful day and a SAFE weekend~as parties abound everywhere. Not a solemn holiday around here, but the cemeteries are abundant with decorations and flags, and tears as well. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to those that gave everything for what we now enjoy.

    #832249
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Hi Everybody,

    Thank you for the wonderful tribute, Joan.

    http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/janedodo/imgres_zpsa9rs3wwj.jpg
    http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/janedodo/memorial-day-cartoon-how-much-did-it-cost-the-lives-of-soldiers_zpsnes9xg6t.jpg

    This video is about the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It’s very powerful!

    I’m back from New Mexico with Mom in tow. She’s going to hang out for a couple or three weeks. My kits weren’t happy esp. when a stranger came in but they’ve settled down. It’s raining/hailing and stuff so I’ll chat l8r.

    Have a happy~
    PG

    #832252
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    Thanks for the pics and video PG! Have fun with your mom, enjoy!

    #832254
    Buttons
    Moderator

    Hey guys 🙂 I’m checking in quickly 🙂 had a great weekend .. Lots of fun apart from one small incident.. But hay hoe it can’t all be perfect 🙂

    Miss TDK so when I get home tomorrow I’ll catch up with everyone’s week ..

    Can’t wait to get back to Mr B and my furry babies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    #832259
    ecbrown
    Participant

    I enjoyed the Memorial Day info, Joan and the pics, PG.

    Our cats seem to have forgiven us for being gone ALL day yesterday. Their dinner was even 2-3 hours late! The lake was fun. Uncle brought his eleven yr old golden retriever…too cute and still super playful. She insists on having a cat. Uncle and his wife aren’t really cat people but the dog insists…even teaching her first cat to come in thru the doggie door. They decided a friend’s farm was a better home for the cat. The dog pined for him, whining when she would see cats on TV. Kitty made the fifteen mile journey back home and doggie got to keep her friend. :). When that friend passed on, Uncle and wife relented and went to the shelter to get doggie a new kitty. :).

    #832260
    AV
    Participant

    Morninall! Made it home from NYC, with both Grandmas, Sis and Nephew …. Saw Son graduate and Dau’s bf, Met bf’s parents, lovely people! Did a whirlwind tour of NY, climbed the crown and saw the world trade center memorial …. Had a wonderful dinner at ‘the Tavern on the Green’ …. Tired and need to rest today …. I missed tdk, will read back posts to catch up! …..

    Love the weekend cafe, Joan!
    PG, enjoy the time with your mom
    EC, i love that story and glad that dog got his kitty!
    Kz, Buttons and anyone else lurking, have a relaxing day!

    #832263
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    Good to see you ECB and AV and glad you all are back from your ‘travels’! So glad that doggie got his kitty, made my heart smile!

    #832270
    JerseyJoan
    Moderator

    Hi everyone – KZ, hope you are having a great weekend! I’ve always liked those CSN/Y songs. 🙂
    Welcome home, PG! Glad the kitties are settling in with mom. Thanks for the pics and vid – changing of the guard at the tomb is fascinating.
    Yay for a fabulous weekend, Buttons!
    Glad you had a fun day at the lake, ECB. That is so cool that the dog decided on having a cat! Amazing journey for the cat.
    Welcome home to you too, AV! Congrats on son’s graduation. Nice to get together with everyone and happy you got to take in NYC!

    #832271
    AV
    Participant

    Afternoon all, ya’ll have no idea how glad I am to be back home! …. the trip with two (82 & 85 year old) Moms was not the easiest, as you can imagine! …. it started out – we’re approaching the airport, Mr. AV is driving, going to drop us at the ticketing counter and go park the car in long term parking …. so I say, OK ladies, get our your driver licenses and I’ve got your boarding passes …. my Mom (85) “oh I cleaned out my purse, I didn’t bring my driver’s license, I won’t be driving ” ….. I’m like “ok, so what photo ID did you bring?” …. Mom …. “I don’t have a photo ID, I’ve got a credit card” ….. *my head explodes* ….. Mr. AV, I’ll drop ya’ll off, zoom back to Grammy’s apt. and get her driver license … have the guard call ahead so he will let me in …. ok ….. I get her to the ticketing counter, sit her down in a wheel chair and we wait for Mr. AV to get back with the ID …. meanwhile, his Mom (82) ….. “I’ve got my ID, I’ll just go thru security and meet you at the gate ” (background here – she has memory issues) … 4 times me telling her it’s terminal E gate 69, she gets on the tram and the last thing I hear is her saying “what’s the gate again?” …… *sighs* …. I phone my sister, who is already at the gate with my 13 old nephew “if you don’t find MIL in the next 15 min. call airport security …… back to Grammy waiting in the wheelchair …. phone rings, its Mr. AV …… the guard won’t let me in, did Grammy call him …. I look at her, she says “well I didn’t have the phone number, I cleaned out my purse” ….. so I’m like – “put the guard on the phone, here’s Grammy” … they talk, he lets Mr. AV in, who is now racing back to us …. he gets there and we get her ticket, with 20 min. to get to the gate ….. we throw her in the wheelchair and speed through the terminal on the tram, and get to security ….. Mr. AV is pushing her, they direct them to one line …. me (with all three bags now) they point to another line … ok …. bags on the conveyor belt thru the machine …. TSA agent says “Madame, please step aside” …. I’m like “what? why?!” …. he says you have what looks like a knife in your bag, we must do a full bag search and body pat down ….. *my head explodes again* …. me “I have no idea what you’re talking about, I have no knife” …. he says do you have a wine opener? *thinks* … it’s possible … of course he pulls one out, and unbeknownst to me, there is a small blade that pulls out of the side of the wine opener! … who knew?! ….less than 7 min. now til take off, and they’re searching every inch of all 3 bags, I have my arms out, legs spread being patted down ….. *sighs* …. FINALLY they clear me thru, which now makes me (all of 120lbs on a good day) lug 3 large carryon bags through the terminal to the gate, just as they’re about to close the door …. I throw myself on the mercy of the last flight attendant, who luckily had pity on me and I’m the last person to board! …… needless to say, though it was only 10:30am, I drank my breakfast on the plane ride to NY 🙂

    #832273
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    AV, you made me LOL at the airport fiasco…someday, and maybe even now, you will see the humor in the situation! It’s like “who’s on first?” And there’s something to be said about liquid breakfasts…. 😈

    #832274
    AV
    Participant

    Right!?!! … it was like the Keystone Cops go to NYC! … and believe me, I have nothing but respect for the TSA agents, they were just doing their job, and a good one at that! … who knew some 20+ year old wine opener had a secret blade in it! ….. That was just the icing on the ‘crazy’ cake of the morning …

    #832278
    JerseyJoan
    Moderator

    Oh my, AV, what a fiasco!
    Had a cookout at mom’s today. The parade route of my hometown is lined with flags; the route begins close to where mom lives, and travels to Town Hall and First Reformed Church. The Scouts put flags on the grave markers of those who served in the armed forces. It’s beautiful!
    I made potato salad, mac and cheese and AV’s frozen key lime pie.

    #832279
    Moonshadow_NZ
    Moderator

    Good Monday morning all.
    AV welcome back, glad you had a fantastic time. I couldn’t help but LOL at your story of just leaving the airport.
    Winter has invaded the last days of Autumn put out her icy tentacles to let us know what we are in for. It has snowed in the south of the country, some areas have had up to a foot of snow, not bad for a first taste.http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/68812214/heavy-snow-falls-around-new-zealand
    In my area where it doesn’t snow we have gales coming from the south bringing us very cold air even though the sun is shining. It’s 20C in sunny sheltered places like my balcony but way way below that in the wind. Local weather site has us at 12.5C with 48km/hr winds. HRH Shadz is sprawled on the balcony in the sun with a full tummy and not a care in the world after another night snuggled between our pillows.
    Heard from Airy this morning, there is snow on the hills around her city and she was dressed like the Michelin man to get to work. Brrrrr. The feather/down duvet we gave her is now much appreciated. 🙂
    ECB, what a wonderful story about the dog that likes to have a cat friend. Glad you had a great day at the lake.
    Joan, just the mention of cookouts makes me wish we had warmer weather already and we haven’t even begun Winter.
    Off to prepare a chicken casserole for the slowcooker for dinner and hopefully leftovers for Mr MS for work lunch tomorrow.

    #832281
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Hi Buttons-I’m glad you’re enjoying your weekend. How is Droopy?

    OMG-I would drink my breakfast too, AV. Talk about Murphey’s Law! I’m glad you got to see Son graduate and meet the BF’s family. They sound very nice. Has Miss Abby forgiven you? I bet if you tell her your travails she might feel sorry for you! :-B

    We went to Mass this morning for my great niece’s confirmation. I’m proud of her. My nephews’ in laws were in tow. They are their very own army except less well behaved! OK, some of the adults are behaved 😉 . Clayton planned a BBQ afterward but it started to rain and mom won’t stand being around that many children if it’s not absolutely necessary. I can assure you that at 84 there is very little that mom finds absolutely necessary.

    Miss Gaea is glad her grandma is back. Mom lavishes attention on her and she lets her!

    Wow, MS-I guess this means summer is over. Your chicken casserole sounds delish!

    Mom decided it is cold so she made a nest and is burrowed into it.

    I’m going to see if there’s a movie for us to watch.

    L8R
    PG

    #832283
    Moonshadow_NZ
    Moderator

    Hi PG, http://myhoneysplace.com/crockpot-cashew-chicken-recipe/
    I use cornflour to coat the chicken rather than flour.
    I’ve made it once and it was excellent. I added chunks of potato and broccoli flowerets as I didn’t have any rice and I didn’t want to get any pots out.
    I had to rescue my Monarch caterpillars from the gales, they are now safe inside and I’m listening to the sounds of caterpillar poop hit the paper under them. Also rescued two Monarch chrysalis from being dashed apart.

    #832284
    AZDEBRA 5/27 & crew
    Participant
    #832288
    Moonshadow_NZ
    Moderator

    Wow, a powerful and beautiful vid Deb. Wonderful how the man’s impression about animal communication changed once he saw it in action.

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