Our Veterans Day Tradition

Happy 11/11/11 everyone!

And more importantly, happy Veterans Day.

When Rob started college in the fall of 2008, we were both shocked to learn that his school did not honor Veterans Day.  Well, more correctly, the core offices (Financial Aid, Admissions, Bursar) get the day off but students still attend classes.  We were both pretty infuriated by this especially given that the school gives the entire school a free day for Columbus Day. Seriously, Maine?

Rob decided back then to protest the fact that he had to attend class by going to class...well, inebriated.  Rob and I are only moderate drinkers and I typically don't encourage anyone to drink a lot, but dammit, I think my husband gets to do pretty much whatever he wants on Veterans Day. The funny thing is, he's managed to include a lot of other people in on this, to the point at which most of his friends--those of legal drinking age, anyway--show up to class on Veterans Day in solidarity with Rob, with Nalgene bottles full of vodka cranberries and screwdrivers. The other funny thing is that he always seems to have a test or important lab on Veterans Day, and he always manages to totally rock it and get a really high grade.

Also, as part of this tradition, I take Rob out to eat and enjoy a few drinks to, in Rob's words, "honor the people who don't get to have a drink today."

So, this year I will be celebrating Veterans Day by driving my husband to and from classes and I couldn't be happier.  However you choose to celebrate Veterans Day, please take a second today to remember the sacrifices of our veterans and if you know one, say thanks or give them a hug.

Below, I offer you my two favorite veteran-related songs, which were introduced to me some years ago by my darling husband.  Both of them can make me cry any time I listen to them, but even more so on Veterans Day.  These songs are written by Eric Bogle, and though they specifically refer to the first World War, the message is timeless.

Honestly Honest

I read this post that Danielle wrote earlier this week and it got me thinking about blogging and how we portray ourselves.

I am no stranger to comparing myself to others.  I did it long before blogs and I'm sure I'll do it for the rest of my life.  Blogs are interesting because they allow us to put out only what we want, which usually ends up making ourselves look good.  That's not a comment on anyone in particular--I think it's human nature to only show our best selves, especially when you're facing so much potential criticism from the Internet.  Sadly this usually means that we end up comparing ourselves fruitlessly to a mirage, and as we all know, if we compare ourselves to perfection we will always fall short.

I'm learning more and more to not compare myself to anyone, because no one is perfect and I can only live life in the way that seems the most logical to me.

I like to think that my blog is pretty honest.  I'm pretty sure that if any of you met me in real life--as some of you have, and you can correct me if I'm wrong--you'd see that I'm pretty much the exact same person I portray on my blog.  I try not to hide my proud moments and my not-so-proud moments because my favorite blogs to read are the honest ones--the ones that remind me that we're all people, that we all have problems, and that it is our struggles that help define our lives.

That said, I decided to share some true honesty with you today, just to snap you back into reality if you had any delusions of my perfection (I have no delusions about this and assume you do not, but still, this will be fun, I promise).

---------------

1.  Rob and I hate folding laundry and haven't folded a load in probably around 4 months.  We get our clothes from here more frequently than our own dressers:

2. Rob and I are often too lazy to actually change a roll of toilet paper, so we end up sort of propping the new roll on top of the spent roll and call it good.  

3. This is seriously what our bedroom looks like right now.  Note that my dog has more beds than I do.

4. Remember the rug I so provocatively posed with in this post?  Yeah, it's still there.

5. Our kitchen table looks like this.  Obviously we don't eat here.

6. My muffin top is all that, whole-grain, low-fat.

So there you go - total, unflinching honesty from yours truly.

This has to make it easier for the rest of you.  Just the pictures alone make me anxious.

Things I Love Thursday

I love this - What Dogs Want. (Thanks Meg!)

Supposedly (and scientifically) the most relaxing song ever. (Thanks Justine!)

I never get tired of SNL's digital shorts...this one did not disappoint.

Nerdy science tattoos, anyone?

I made these cookies with gluten-free flour and they came out amazingly.  Go make them now!

Celebrity Halloween costumes!

Don't put your life on hold.  A reminder I could use daily.

25 Words You Might Not Know are Trademarked.

This is nuts - Extreme Sidewalk Chalk.

BOOKSTAIRS?!

Make your own hemp lanterns.

Grandma's Super Hero Therapy.  The pictures alone are awesome, but the story makes this series positively epic.

I had fun reading these - The Best Comedy Movie Quotes of all Time.

6 Mind-Blowingly Huge Versions of Things You Loved as a Kid.

Don't forget to ask Robbie and I any questions you'd like us to answer via vlog.

Coming Soon: Caitlin & Rob Super #1 Vlogtime Extravaganza

So I had this idea to do a joint husband-wife vlog.

That's right.

Rob and I, together on video, answering your questions and doing what we do.

As you can imagine, Rob is not excited at all SUPER EXCITED about this idea.

So, if you have any questions for me, Rob, or for me and Rob, leave them for me/us in the comments and we will answer our favorites together in vlog form!

I feel like this will be a fun way for some of my newer readers to get to know me, and for everyone to know a little more about Rob, darling little enigma that he is.

Have a wonderful week everyone! We look forward to reading your questions!

Some Letters I've Been Meaning to Write

Wow, I haven't done this feature in awhile, eh?  Monday just seems like the perfect day to write hypothetical letters to various forces in your life.

-----------------------------

Dear Cypress,

Thank you for your enthusiastic greeting on Saturday upon my arrival.  Belly rubs and excited whining are the absolute best.  I'm also glad you enjoy your AngryBirds dog toy.

----------------------------

Dear Maine,

You know how today it is 60 degrees and sunny, despite the fact that it is November? THIS is what I've been trying to tell you.  More of THIS in the winter and less SNOW and COLD.  

----------------------------

Dear Eastern Time Zone,

Daylight Savings Time was created for farmers.  Most of us do not farm. Can we just quit with these shenanigans and change Maine's time zone so it's not dark at 4pm anymore?

----------------------------

Dear Arizona,

Thank you for being such a hospitable host.  Now please ask your illustrious governor to cut the racism and to also stop defunding state parks.  /politicalrant

----------------------------

Dear Cypress's Dew Claw,

I don't know what you do exactly but I don't appreciate your presence.  Especially because you are growing far too long and Cypress won't let us cut her nails (and I'm too scared to).  So, stop growing or disappear entirely please.  

----------------------------

Dear Writer's Block,

Please cut it out.  This is annoying. And I'm resorting to writing fake letters.

This Weekend...

This weekend, I am thankful for:

// Being in my home state after a whole month.

// Frost on the ground and foliage past peak.

// Dinner with some friends.

// Photobooth sessions with Amie that turn out like this:

// Taking a family nap together, cuddling with my husband and telling him how much I missed him.

// Finally spending time with two of my favorite beings in the whole world:

What are you thankful for this weekend?

Things I Love...Whenever.

Yeah yeah, I haven't been great about posting these on Thursday, but life is all about taking risks and breaking rules, right?

--------------

The Most Beautiful Suicide.  Apparently this photo/story is quite old, but I'd never seen it before. Very moving and haunting.

The world's population hit 7 billion.  What's your number? (Thanks Alice!)

I loved all of Betsey J's Halloween posts, but especially these Halloween Inspired Cocktails and Mocktails. Yummy!

I was turned on to these watches through Sam of Young People in Love.  I think this would be perfect for me, who is allergic to every conceivable type of metal (including the metal in watch fasteners).

Creative writing for dummies.  I never write fiction but this guide could come in handy should I try.

Check out these awesome photos from the NatGeo archives!

My friend, sponsor, and photographer Justine shared Donna's story, about a little girl with an aggressive brain tumor. It's long, but I read the entire thing in one sitting.  And totally cried my eyes out.  Being a childhood cancer survivor myself, and having several friends who died as children from cancer, many of whom had the same spirit and tenacity as Donna, I really connected with this story. Here is the first post - you can move through each post chronologically using the "Donna's Cancer Story" section on the right-hand side of the page.

Cutest thing I've seen all week.

50 Hilarious Things that Siri Says.

Lauren has shared this, but I think it's just awesome. Out of Print Clothing.

Scarf tutorials? Yes please!

Be a more productive writer.

Pretty sure my husband would love to see me in one of these 7 Geeky Dresses.

Confession: After seeing that last article, I totally bought this dress.

And finally: I go home today barring no cancellations or delays!!!!1!!1!


What are you loving this fine Friday?