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May 06 2009

Get Her Princess Bride

Mother’s Day will be here before we know it. Since my mother is still living in Michigan and I’m out here in California, it’s always a chore trying to find just the perfect gift for Mom.

After all I would not want her to think she’s not special because we all know that all mom’s are pretty special people. Clothing was out – we have entirely different tastes and her weight fluctuates as much as mine and well, I haven’t seen her in six years. I’d be way off.

I didn’t want to send roses because they don’t last long enough. Knick-knacks are out because she’s moving and it’s just one more thing to pack. I just bought her a pair shoes and it’s too soon to buy her another pair. So, I was stuck. What to buy?

I decided to send her some of my favorite movies — ones that I was pretty sure she would enjoy.

Nothing says love like the The Princess Bride, this is one of our all-time favorite movies and can you believe that my mom has never seen it! This is one movie that has everything.

Notting Hill, is another romantic movie, mixed with humor that is a must see! I won’t mention that it’s an awesome "chick flick."

I’m not so sure about 12 Monkeys, she might not like it but I reasoned, who could resist Brad Pitt and my favorite line, "games that wanna get out…" I’m hoping it’s a big hit but if not, my sister will enjoy it.

I had to make sure there was one on the list that was a sure-fire bet. Mom has been talking about seeing Paul Blart: Mall Cop since it came out in theaters. She can’t wait to see it, so I pre-ordered it and she’ll get it hot off the presses.

What are you getting mom for Mother’s Day?

Happy Mother’s Day everyone!

Categories: Rants

Tags: 12 Monkeys, DVD, favorite, gifts, Mother's Day, movies, The Princess Bride

Mar 16 2005

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

By Shawn & Annette

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day Family Heritage

My maiden name is Patrick and I’m hard pressed to let a single St. Patrick’s Day go by without making a big deal of it, it is still to this day one of my favorite holidays.

For many years I claimed Irish as my own heritage. Surely, with a last name like Patrick I must be Irish. You can imagine my dismay when I discovered that I’m actually Scottish. I’ve traced our families heritage back to the Lamont clan in the 1400’s, in Edinburgh, Scotland.

As a child I was convinced that somewhere along the line we were related to royalty. As luck would have it, I haven’t found a royal bone in my body, turns out instead of being heir to a throne, I’ve decended from horse thieves and criminals.

My husband on the other hand is the great-great-great-great-great grandson of Lyman Hall a previous Governor of Georgia and signer of the Declaration of Independence, not to mention being related to William Shakespeare.

St. Patrick’s Day Links:

Celebrations

Fortunately, you don’t have to be Irish to enjoy the festivities on St. Paddy’s Day. Just don your green beanie or your “Kiss Me if your Irish” button and make your way to one of the many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Who knows maybe the Luck O’ The Irish will rub off on you or you’ll find that pot o’ gold at the end of the rainbow.

St. Paddy’s Day is celebrated the world over, with parades and events taking place in Irish communities in cities around the world. Though many communities have jumped the gun and held their festivities a little early, perhaps to prolong the holiday, we’ve managed to locate 2009 St. Patrick’s Day Parades all over the U.S. and even a few across the globe.

Irish Stew – Pugg Mahones

St. Patrick’s Day Parades & Events

The first formal celebration of St. Patrick’s Day took place not in Ireland, but in Boston in 1737. It consisted of a dinner attended by wealthy Protestant gentlemen and merchants who had recently come over from Ulster to settle in the colonies. By 1775, the Boston celebration included a march with 70 soldiers from the British Army who were at the time occupying Boston (an interesting note is that exactly 1 year later, in 1776, the British Army was marching again – but in double time – as they were retreating from the city. So in Boston, March 17 holds two causes to celebrate – St Patrick’s Day and Evacuation day.)

The very first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the United States was held in New York City in 1766 by a band of homesick Irish ex-patriots. This was during a time when the “Wearin’ O’ The Green” was still a sign of Irish pride that was banned in Ireland.

A parade celebrating the freedom to speak the Irish language, sing Irish songs and play the bagpipes to Irish tunes was very meaningful to the immigrants who had fled their homes at such great cost leaving so much behind. Today modern celebrations in Ireland tend to avoid the green which has come to symbolize the flag that flew during the years that Ireland suffered under British rule!

American’s have a lot in common with the Irish people, which might be perhaps one of the many reasons so many in this country celebrate this joyous holiday.