Pirates Get Serious - Then Silly (Of Course)
Today is the observed first day of summer, though the real first day of summer is not for weeks, so we thought we’d pull into port and join all the Memorial Day celebrations. We’ll start with the serious stuff and get silly from there.
The official origins of Memorial Day are sketchy, but it basically started in the 1860s when people wanted to honor and remember those who gave their lives in the Civil War. After World War I, it changed to honor all who died in any war. And it became an official federal holiday (in the US) by an act of Congress in 1971. So, might I suggest, between the hot dogs and the belly flops, take a moment to remember those who have fought and died for our freedom. And those who will die today, and tomorrow, and the next day.
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
- Moina Michael
Now onto the silly stuff. Here’s what the crew will be doing on shore leave. *Note: these are true testimonies of the Pirates herein and I take no responsibility for their accuracy or debauchery.
The Captain will be depleting her alcohol stores: cold beer in the fridge, rum behind the bookcase, and wine given to her by a faculty member with the title “Grad-zilla Eraser”. She is going to do her damnedest to erase the Grad-zillas she’s had to put up with the last few weeks and think of new and creative ways to stop doing folders.
In honor of our fallen heroes, Gunner Marnee will also be drinking alcohol, though probably something girlie, like whiskey or tequila. She will also be stuffing herself with her fair share of salads and burgers in their honor, attempting to wrangle her son, and keep her adult cool when the teenagers next door set off fireworks at ungodly hours, as they are wont to do during holidays of patriotic classification.
Beyond that, she would like to write her sex scene as she’d expect her characters are sexually frustrated at this point and she almost feels bad about stringing them on in this fashion. Almost. (editor’s note: love that whiskey is considered a girlie drink.)
Powder Monkey Lisa will be celebrating L’il Pirate Chad’s birthday with an inflatable party and 30 kids. She will need Valium in the worst way:) PM will also be cooking out on Monday and doing the usual placing of flowers on relatives graves. (editor’s note: bonus points for Lisa.)
Quarter Master Sin’s got nothing. She could make up something really awesome and people would believe it, like roasting said kittens Hellion was saving (inside joke – just go with it) and selling them as kabobs to hungry orphans. But that would seem rather mean. Just a little bit.
Honorary Pirate Queen and Whip Wielder Dee will be relaxing, watching Blockbuster movies and WRITING. (editor’s note: no need to show off.)
And I, Bo’sun Terrio, am leaving my options open. I’m pretty sure there will be time spent at the community pool (where I will be hiding far from the water’s edge pretending to write) and lots of sleeping. Did I mention sleeping?
It’s your turn. What are you doing today? And contrary to what’s written above, don’t be surprised if most of us just end up playing online today. Or sleeping.
May 26th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Hmm, so far this weekend I dogsat, cleaned my closet, gardened, wrote, read most of two books, ate too much, drank nothing, and watched old b & w war movies on TV. Today I hope to write more and pray for the safety of all the kids who are putting themselves in harm’s way so I can stay in my nightgown at 10 AM and type this.
May 26th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Terri, I like the sound of being lazy around a pool, but my sister added too much shock to her pool. (She probably did it just to keep everyone away today. Good idea.)
Good idea, Maggie.
I think that I shall remain in my pajamas, too.
My day will consist of continuing to watch all the Jane Austen movies that I burned onto DVD’s while they played on PBS.
After seeing the new Indiana Jones movie yesterday, which I really enjoyed, the DH and the boys will be having an Indiana Jones movie marathon today.
If I’m motivated, we may grill something for dinner. Grilled chicken, baked cabbage, baked potatoes with onions and squash, and pasta salad are beginning to sound like a good idea. May top it off with a Chocolate Delight.
May 26th, 2008 at 9:15 am
LMAO! After reading my post, it seems that everything is a “good idea” today.
May 26th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Happy to report it’s after 11 and I’m also still in my PJs. Seems we have a theme going.
Hopefully we’ll be able to get into the pool today. We stopped and got out little admission card from the front office Friday and as is to be expected, I managed to lose it somewhere between my truck and my apartment. Seriously, it’s a wonder I’m not locked up somewhere.
May 26th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
I did something very dangerous and foolish yesterday and am paying the price today… yard work! Someone whose idea of exercise for the past couple of years has been turning the pages in her books should not all of the sudden decide to tackle weeding, planting and trimming in one fell swoop! Stupid, stupid, stupid!
I woke up this morning groaning and it wasn’t for a good reason! I thought I seriously injured myself and the DH’s insensitive jokes at my expense did not make matters any better. The fact that I decided to have a little wine last night didn’t help either. So, not only did my thigh, calf, back (upper and lower), toe, finger and arm muscles ache… my head ached too!
Therefore, today is a day of rest. The DH went car shopping with his father, I put National Treasure II on for the kidlets and I’m reading. I’m going to suggest eating out when and if the DH checks in. I’m also trying to score a copy (from the neighbors - I figure all the movie rental stores with be out) of the original Indiana Jones so the kidlets can see it before we take them to see the new release.
May 26th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Irish - looks like we are suffering together this weekend. I got the bright idea of going out to throw the softball with kiddo yesterday. My legs and my right shoulder are not happy with me. They don’t hurt as much as I thought they would, but I could still go for a good soak in a hot tub. Too bad I don’t have access to one of those. *sigh*
Good luck finding the movie. I’m sitting pool side but I think I’m ready to head back to the house. I’m trying to write but nothings coming. Apparently, the muse is as happy around a pool as I am.
May 26th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Sorry it took me so long to say hi, but hi!
Glad to see that everyone spent some time in their jammies today. I spent a lot of time covered in sunscreen. It was a great weekend.
May 26th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Yo ho, wenches! It appears I stayed in my pj’s along with everyone else until 11:00 a.m. Swam with my grandsons who have been visiting for a week and also did some belated housework and laundry before feasting on BBQ ribs. Yum!
I’ve been thinking a lot about our country’s servicemen and women. My son is in the Air Force and leaves for the Persian Gulf in June. My youngest son leaves for West Point the end of June to begin 4 years of college. My nephew is in the National Guard and leaves for Baghdad in June. I’m proud of my family’s military service and of the young men in our family who continue to serve.
So much bravery. So much dedication and sacrifice. God bless each and every one who answers the call of our country.
Let’s toast them all with rum!
May 27th, 2008 at 9:27 am
You mock MY response, but you had nothing planned yourself?
And I’ll have you know I put flowers on grave markers, too, after a skiff with Dad. He wanted to go RIGHT THEN and I wanted to wait until LATER. We went RIGHT THEN. Then I got a practice lesson in how to drive a stick shift…that was fun. I also made a pie. *sticks out tongue* So THERE.
I also watched Indy 4, and it was really, really good.
May 27th, 2008 at 9:31 am
The day you learn to seperate reality from pretend, I’m going to throw a party.
I meant thank you for letting the rest of us know it could be worse, we could be dealing with Grad-zillas all day. Not that I should have to defend my post that was ALL PRETEND.