Carrot Top

  Well, gang, I’m here in Beijing, and I’m loving it! Nothing could have prepared me for the incredible sites of the Olympics. Would you believe it? I found this little slice of home while taking in the sites: an American barbeque restaurant and grill. I was all set to watch the opening ceremonies on a TV when they started this karaoke contest. First prize? Tickets to the opening ceremonies in The Birds Nest! I got up on stage, did my best rendition of God Bless the USA, and before I knew it I had tickets to the biggest, most colorful show I ever saw.


Flags of every nation splashed color in the crowd of thousands of people, from just about anywhere and everywhere you could possibly think. I managed to make my favorite colors of red, white and blue, the most prominent part of my wardrobe!!! I brought with me a large US Flag, draped over my shoulder, to wave like a crazy person when our athletes marched in to the stadium. I was pretty loud, too! I think one of them basketball players heard me shouting, “PHLEPS!!!” cuz someone looked in my general direction. Mmmmm, Phelps… he’s so great! And he’s a good swimmer, too… tee hee hee!

I also wore a whole punch of pins on my favorite USA t-shirt. I attached a US and State Flag Lapel Pin to my shirt. That way everyone knew I was not only American, but that I’m also from the Tar Heel State! The best there is! WOO! I popped on a bunch of Star Lapel Pins, too! Fifty of them! Guess what for?! HA! I put them all over the front of my shirt; I probably looked like a constellation. One thing’s for sure: there was no question in anyone’s mind who this girl was rooting for. Just cuz I’m abroad for the summer, trading in my favorite diet of hot dogs and apple pie for asian cuisine, doesn’t mean I checked my patriotism at the border when I got off the plane. I’m loud, I’m proud, and I love my country! No reason I should hide that.

The opening ceremony was truly a site for the ages. I sat next to a family from Canada who draped themselves, head to toe, in red and white. The littlest boy of the group, who was probably no more than six or seven years old, wore a Canadian flag like a cape. He was like Super Maple Leaf Man!! It reminded me of how beautiful International Flags are. A couple rows above me were people from France, Jamaica, Mexico… and proud Chinese natives were all about the stadium.

While enjoying the fireworks show I could not help but hum, to myself, all of the classic American hymns that we know so well on the Fourth of July. It just doesn’t seem right to watch a fireworks show and not think about the birth of our nation, the best on Earth! I’m so glad I was able to see the show from the seats, and to cheer on our athletes to victory for the next two weeks.

And on that note, I’m off to the Water Cube to catch a glimpse of Team USA in a swimming match. And I’ll tell you one thing, I really do like Chinese food, but I could really go for a hot dog and some potato salad right now! Hopefully, next time you hear from me, I’ll have found myself a yummy piece of home, and maybe, just maybe, I will see Michael Phelps break a record, too! Soooo much fun!

Lexi

Hello e-friends.

Can you believe it’s July 6 already? Summer is flying by. But being the best season of the year, I guess it always has wings.

Usually, I get a little sad around this time of year. Not because of summer’s fast-approaching end, but because all of the fervor of the patriotic season begins to fade. And soon, the waving American flags and bunting on every corner in the city will give way to the lights of the Holiday season (which are also awesome, but it’s just not the same to a patriotic girl like me.)

But this year is different. Today, I celebrated my birthday (yes, the stars were aligned at my birth - I am innately patriotic – LOL) and my favorite veteran and fabuloso grandfather said to me: “Lexi, I have a surprise for you that will have you singing the national anthem until the turn of the year.”

 Well, I do that anyway (especially in the car when I’m free to go for the high notes), but a little more inspiration never hurts. And, you will never believe the sort of inspiration my favorite veteran, hero, and awesome grandfather provided……..

Did you guess? TICKETS TO BEIJING!!!! That’s right e-friends. I am going to THE OLYMPICS!!!! For TWO WEEKS! I am going to experience not only a series of sporting events that comes only once every four years, but the brightest, most heartfelt patriotism of people from every corner of the globe. It is going to be absolute heaven. And the opening ceremonies….OMG!!! Seas of flags….of every color, shape, size.

After my second piece of cake, I excused myself so I could begin my late summer, pre-Olympic quest: Arrive in Beijing able to appreciate at least a little of the history and culture of every single country participating in the games.

Where to start? Greece, of course. Where it all began…..

The Ancient Olympic Games began in 776 BC in Olympia, Greece. But unlike the great globe-encompassing, cultural infusion of today, only free men who spoke Greek were allowed to participate in these original games (as a modern woman, I’ll refrain from comment here).

These “games” also originally featured just one event – a sprint. The actual length is still unknown – conflicting historical evidence indicates it was somewhere between 180 and 240 meters. There were no ancient stopwatches, LOL, so the race was measured with the use of stakes – a total of 5. The first free, Greek-speaking man (couldn’t resist) to pass the fifth stake was crowned the winner, earning himself, among other things, an olive wreath.

More races were added to these first Olympics – in 724, 720, and 520 BC (wow, they just LOVED to run). And over the 1,000 year span of these first Olympics (mind-boggling, isn’t it – 1000 years!), more events like wresting and some equestrian events (which women were FINALLY allowed to participate in) were added.

Then, in 393 AD Theodosius I outlawed the Olympic Games, ending a thousand years of festivals. In 1883, a nostalgic Greek newspaper editor and poet named Panagiotis Soutsos wrote “Dialogue of the Dead”, inspiring the return of the Games.

Well, e-friends, there is so much more history – the five rings, the evolution of events. But it is getting late and my over-indulgence on chocolate cake is making me sleepy. Until next time (in Beijing!!), I’ll leave you with the below tidbit from my research – not exactly uncommon knowledge, but I just always pictured the men running in togas – LOL.

 “The athletes usually competed in the nude, not only as the weather was appropriate but also as the festival was meant to celebrate, in part, the achievements of the human body.”

So how would a Nike sponsorship work? LOL,

Lexi

Hello e-Friends.

 Hope you are enjoying the heat of summer. It has been sooooo HOT lately. I live in the South and we are experiencing a heat wave. Not exactly atypical but I always forget just how hot it gets.

 *Sigh*. Well, on these lazy summer afternoons, I find myself sitting in a hammock, looking at fashion magazines – what’s up with these modern interpretations of “Old World Glamour” this season? LOL

 I also find myself wandering down all sorts of patriotic avenues of thought.

Today, I was really focused on the idea of honor. What does it mean to honor? And how do we do it? And why is this word so intertwined with patriotism across the globe? We honor our flag, Old Glory. We honor our parents and family. But there is a special kind of honor reserved for those who serve our country. And that is the shade of meaning I am most focused on in this sweltering afternoon heat.

So let’s start with the basics – the definition. Honor can be used as both a noun and a verb. To understand the verb, we must first understand the noun:

Honor (noun, primary definition) -honesty, fairness, or integrity in one’s beliefs and actions

(verb, primary definition) -         to hold in high honor or respect.

IMO, the reason we honor our war heroes is because there is no greater way to show your integrity than by serving your country.

Every year, in the month of May, we offer tribute to those who have died in service to our country with Memorial Day. But this is only one day, and because our citizens love the great melting pot that is the United States, they have sacrificed so much since the country’s inception. Sometimes, one day is just not enough.

One of the greatest extensions of paying tribute to our veterans IMO is the Vietnam Memorial. This beautiful piece of art, this great monument to our servicemen and women, was completed in 1982. But like so many great things, its development took some time. There is lots of history (and controversy) surrounding this monument, but I am choosing to focus on its initial development and christening. Because, as my grandfather always says, “The squabbles along the way aren’t what defines something. It’s the end result.”

And as always, thanks to my beloved wikipedia.com for providing  a wealth of information.

• 1979 - The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. was created to establish a memorial to veterans of the Vietnam War.
• 1980 - Congress authorizes three acres near the Lincoln Memorial to be used as a site for the memorial.
• 1980 - 2,573 register for design competition with a prize of $50,000.
• 1981 - 1,421 designs for the memorial are submitted! to 232, finally 39. The jury selected Entry Number 1026.
• 1981 - a jury of eight architects and sculptors selecte a design by Maya Ying Lin, a 21 year old Yale University architecture student.
• 1982 - The Three Soldiers was added to the design as a result of controversy over Lin’s design.
• 1982 - The design was formally approved & ground was finally broken.
• November 1982 – The memorial is dedicated following a march to its site by thousands of Vietnam War veterans. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places the same day.

So e-Friends, if you have a chance to see it, you should. It’s the best kind of art – art that honors (IMHO).

If you love tributes, check out this super-fabuloso “Virtual Wall of Honor” from my friends at Carrot-Top Industries:

 http://www.carrot-top.com/catalog/Virtual-Wall-of-Honor,982.aspx

Art? Yes, virtually…..

Until next time e-Friends,

Lexi

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Hello e-friends,

How was your Memorial Day? Mine was uber-fabuloso. I went to a Veterans’ Remembrance with my one and only hero, my grandfather. It was a somber affair, to be sure (and rightfully so). And during that somber affair, I started thinking  about how Memorial Day is virtually juxtaposed to July 4^th, another patriotic celebration that honors America in a very different way – with parades and fireworks! (somewhat ironic don’t you think?) Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that one is better than the other – they are uniquely American days. It just got me thinking, that’s all.

 I pointed this out to my grandfather. He gave me a kiss and said: “Lexi, I think you should put your nose to that one……but maybe lay off the free soda-pop for a while”.

 So, what about parades? What is the history of the parade? There are records of religions processions as far back as 3000 B.C.E.! And the Romans held some sort of parade-esque event called a “triumph” to celebrate special events. And even Mardi Gras has religious meaning – it celebrates the last feast before the beginning of lent. Now, that REALLY is ironic. LOL.

 I have to tell you at this point that this was a really hard subject for me to research – Wikepedia.com, my trusted source, didn’t have much. So, if you have information to add to this, please post a comment. I have great respect for other online readers, especially those of the patriotic flavah. ;)

Of the vague information I found, it is written that the first public parades were likely military or political. Other early parades were celebrated at fairs and festivals – which is why it sort of makes sense that they are a little flamboyant in nature, no? Way back in medieval Italy, they painted “carreros” in a historical motif. These carts were wheeled through town as a sort of exhibit.

In the U.S. we call our exhibits “floats” and often times, especially in patriotic parades, those floats are decorated with bunting and fans – striped fabric that drapes the outside of the float. Hmm…..wonder if Old Glory was the inspiration for that? Sorry, too much soda-pop again – I’ll ponder that question in another blog.

And today it seems, we’ll have a parade for just about anything. But my favorites are still good, old fashioned patriotic parades with 3-stripe red, white and blue bunting and fans, hotdogs (which I blog a lot about for some reason), and soda-pop (so old-fashioned – LOL). I have so many great July 4^th parade memories from my childhood. Ok, now I really need a hotdog. But I’ll leave you with this fun fact I picked up here: http://www.bookrags.com/history/parades-sjpc-04/

 “ Veterans of the undeclared conflicts in Korea and Vietnam complained that their homecomings went unfeted, since most Americans were merely glad to put the controversy and discomfort behind them. In a sort of backlash effect, both public and government seemed almost embarrassingly determined to honor troops. In the next major U.S. conflict, the Persian Gulf War of 1991, the spate of parades celebrating the returning troops lasted longer than the forty-three-day war itself.”

Don’t you just love being American?

Until next time e-friends,

Lexi

 Hello e-friends.

Don’t you just love this run up to Memorial Day? Longer days, vacation plans (Disney!), exorbitantly expensive gas prices. In all of this frenzied preparation for summer fun, just don’t forget that Monday, May 26 is more than a 3-day weekend and the kickoff to summer travel season – it has meaning (see my blog on Memorial Day if you need a little reminding – we all do sometimes).

So, all of this summer fun talk overshadowing Memorial Day reminds me of another patriotic day - actually a whole week- Flag Day.

Although Flag Day is celebrated on June 14, that entire week is designated as “National Flag Week”. I think this is a super-fabuloso idea, to designate an entire week to Old Glory, our greatest national symbol. She deserves that kind of reverence.

Ok, LOL, “Lexi, will you please get off your soap box?” (as my dad would say). Yes dad….where was I? Ah, yes. Flag Day commemorates (You guessed it!) the adoption of the U.S. flag by the Second Continental Congress. Wanna make it a daily double? LOL. When did that happen? Wow, June 14, 1777! But it wasn’t until 1916 that President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day. Let me just interject something here (sorry dad!). It really seems like we didn’t start “gelling” as a country until shortly after the turn of the 20^th century. That’s when a lot of legislation was passed establishing America’s patriotic symbols & celebrations. I think I’ll have to do a thesis on that some day. Well, I will have a shot soon since my ambition is to become a Vexillologist. And I’ll be the best-dressed patriotic geek in the room, ‘fo ‘sho.

Anyway, (wow – sorry – think I need to take some Ginko today) there is a little more fun trivia about Flag Day I’d like to share with you.

• Pennsylvania is the only state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday. Why? Because it’s not an official federal holiday.
• Troy, New York claims to have the largest Flag Day parade (see you there – I’ll be the girl handing out miniature flags in the cutest Jimmy Choo’s you’ve ever seen).
• According to Wikipedia, there are a lot of competing claims about flag day: “Perhaps the most fervent claim dates to 1885, when a schoolteacher, Bernard J. Cigrand, reportedly urged the students at the public school in Waubeka, Wisconsin to observe June 14 as “Flag Birthday.” He moved to Chicago to attend dental school, and in June 1886 wrote an article titled “The Fourteenth of June” which was published in the Chicago Argus newspaper. He continued to promote the idea, and by June 1811, 300,000 children gathered in parks throughout Chicago to celebrate the day.” – Thanks Wiki – I just love you!

K folks – I have to run. KC is picking me up to check out a BOGO sale at Macy’s!

Until next time,

Lexi (and please don’t forget to fly your flag half-staff until noon on Memorial Day!)

Hello e-friends.

One thing I just love about summer is minor league baseball – just got back from a Devil Rays game. The popcorn, the hot dogs, the energy of 2000 people doing “the wave” (LOL – awesomely cheesy!), and the wonderful sound that kicks off every game – The singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” Remember last blog, I was telling you about this super-cute red, white and blue silk dress that made me want to belt out that song? Well, I finally had the chance to wear it (that’s right - fashion does not take a backseat just because you are eating mustard. Plus, flip-flops are horrid!) and I do think it was the perfect complement to the beautiful lyrics of Our National Anthem.

So, I bet you know what’s coming next…..ha! That’s right. What is the history of “The Star-Spangled Banner“? Who wrote it? And how did it become the most beloved song in the United States? One that complements baseball and apple pie more than my strappy Jimmy Choo’s complement that super-fabuloso silk dress.

Well, way back in the summer of 1813, in Baltimore, flagmaker Mary Pickersgill made a 15-star, 15-stripe flag commissioned by George Armistead, commander of Fort McHenry. This early version of Old Glory (which came to be known as the Star Spangled Banner Flag) was raised over the fort on the morning of September 14, 1814, to signal America’s victory over the British in the Battle of Baltimore.

This piece of dyed English wool bunting and cotton, waving at the entrance of Fort McHenry that dawn, inspired one Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer and poet, to write a poem “Defence of Fort McHenry” (no, that’s not a typo – LOL – it’s how defense was spelled – British spelling methinks?) on the back of a letter he had in his pocket. Can you imagine if he had no scrap paper? Hmm. I often ponder that. Sort of like “What if Paris and Nicole had never lived The Simple Life?”. The world would be a different place…

Anyway, so Francis writes this poem, and then gives it to his brother-in-law, who was a judge. Ok, this is my favorite part……His brother-in-law realized that the words fit the tune of an English Drinking Song, “To Anacreon in Heaven” (that’s right! Ha! Just like 100 bottles of beer on the wall….a drinking song!). This judge (who I bet knew how to enjoy a beer) gave the poem to a printer in Baltimore and anonymous copies were printed. I think something like two of these survive – and you can add one of those copies to what I would trade my Blahnik’s for (but maybe not ten pairs this time; more like 8 – LOL).

Ok, I’m digressing into fashion – think I must have shoes on the brain today. Anyway, the printing got picked up by the press (with a reference to “Tune: Anacreon in Heaven”), and then it spread like wildfire among newspapers – faster than Britney’s latest escapade. The song was published by Thomas Carr and was first performed at…..take a wild guess….yep, that’s right – a bar! Well, once you’ve endeared Americans that way, the rest, as they say, is history.

In 1889, Secretary of the Navy Benjamin F. Tracy signed General Order #374, making “The Star-Spangled Banner” the official song played at the raising of the flag. Fast forward all the way to March 3, 1931 when President Herbert Hoover signs a law adopting “The Star Spangled Banner” as our national anthem (we do move like snails sometimes, no?).

Well, that’s about a wrap e-friends. If you want to see the anthem-inspring Star Spangled Banner Flag, it’s on display in National Museum of American History. And Key’s original manuscript is on display at the Maryland Historical society.

Until next time, Lexi

And here it is, our beloved national anthem:

O! say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust.’
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Hello e-friends. I just got back from an awesome cookout at my friend KC’s house. He always throws a smashing gig – even the hotdogs were gourmet! He’s uber-patriotic geek like me, so each hamburger and hotdog was garnished with a tiny little American Flag . Guess we’re just practicing for the big day – July 4^th , our Independence Day - LOL. That’s when we’ll have the real party. In fact, I’ve already found a red, white and blue silk dress that makes me want to belt out ‘The Star Spangled Banner’, so watch out Christina Aguilera - LOL (it’s ok mom – Macy’s was having a sale!).

So those little U.S. flag embellishments lent themselves to some very interesting conversation. It started with a discussion about that new HBO mini-series, John Adams – have you seen it? (so rad!) I just love Paul Giamatti – he was also fabuloso in Sideways. Oh, but I’m digressing. So, anyway, everyone started talking about the episode when they wrote The Declaration of Independence (that one gives me goose bumps!) and that led to a discussion of how our forefathers must have felt – the angst, the toil over every word. Can you imagine?

And that’s when KC said: “Do you think they really were splitting hairs over the word ‘self-evident’”? Hmm. Good question KC! I don’t know the answer to that, but I can give you the skinny on the exciting series of events that lead up to that historical day when The Declaration was written (and, as all my friends at the cookout can attest, I’m happy to do this).

Back in the late 18^th century (when men wore wigs – now that’s funny - LOL!), what is now the United States was made up of 13 colonies. They were: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York (well duh!), New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

The citizens of these colonies weren’t exactly happy at this time. That’s because they were still under the control of the British Crown and King George III, who taxed them but yet they didn’t have any representation in the British Parliament (this is where the phrase ‘Taxation without Representation’ comes from). Yeah, I think I’d be a bit huffy about that too. So even though George was a typical tyrant, he wasn’t stupid, so he increased the number of troops in the colonies in hopes of squashing any rebellion that might come about.

Well, that was lighting a match. In 1774, representatives from the colonies formed the First Continental Congress and although everyone was pretty unsettled, they weren’t ready to declare independence from Britain. Well, as you might imagine, it was the recipe for the perfect storm. Tensions increased and, in 1775, scattered scuffles and fighting gave way to a terrible battle at Lexington and Concord.

In 1775, less than a month after the battle, The Second Continental Congress convened. The battles continued – Fort Ticonderoga , Bunker Hill, and all the while, the Congress acted as the de facto government by organizing troops and dictating strategy. I would just like to interject at this point, that if I could have anything, anything I wanted in the world, it would be a collection of flags from this period of history. To hold the fabric, the evolution of Old Glory in my hands would be beyond compare. I would trade 100 Coach bags and 10 pairs of Manolo Blahnik shoes for this chance.

By 1776, the representatives of the congress were united and the colonies were ready for Independence. And we became the United States and the most important document in our national history was drafted by Thomas Jefferson (who is very cute in the HBO miniseries BTW) – The Declaration of Independence. If you haven’t read it in a while, you should – it really is poetry. Here is a link http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm and a very powerful excerpt.

“When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

The American Revolutionary War did not end until the Treaty of Paris in 1783, when the sovereignty of the United States of America was officially recognized. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Wow, I am wiping away a tear. And I think I need another hot dog (good thing I brought home a doggie bag ). So e-friends, have a great week in the “land of the free and the home of the brave”.

Lexi

Hello again e-friends. Sorry I haven’t posted in a while, but I have good reason. I just finished a visit to the world’s coolest veteran – my grandfather. Since I was old enough to crawl, I’ve loved going to D.C. to visit him. Mostly because he takes me shopping – LOL!

No, seriously, he tells me stories of substance – about corruption and political shifts in Washington, why Americas are so lucky, and sad, fascinating stories about the Wars that have given us our liberties. He was a decorated soldier in World War II and witnessed something on Sunday, December 7, 1941 that most of us can scarcely imagine – the attack on Pearl Harbor.

He often tells me about friends he lost that day, which is why I can’t stop thinking of Memorial Day and how I can best honor the generations of U.S. men and women who have given that ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Want the skinny on it? Well, you’re in luck! You know I love writing about flags and patriotic feeling almost as much as I like rating Oscar fashion – I said ALMOST.

So, Memorial Day didn’t start out with that name. This somber but most awesome patriotic day used to be called Decoration Day (which I think sounds much more feminine- and with good reason ;) ) and its roots go all the way back to just after the American Civil War, when women (told you!) used to decorate the graves of loved ones lost in the War.

Then, in 1868, Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic John A. Logan issued a proclamation declaring the first Decoration Day. But the practice of decorating veterans’ graves dates back to at least 1864.

The name Memorial Day came about sometime back in the late 19^th century but it wasn’t widely used until after World War II. And, believe it or not, it wasn’t declared that by federal law until 1967! After that, there was some waffling about the date of observance, but that is not important as the meaning of the holiday…..

The skinny is that on the last Monday of May (this year May 26), Memorial Day will commemorate U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country. And that, as my grandfather would say, is what it’s all about.

K – gotta run. All this blogging has made me hungry. Until Next Time.

Lexi

Happy almost-end-of-winter e-friends! Spring starts officially on March 20 and I am so excited to hoist my new stars and stripes as soon as the weather turns a bit warmer. This is an exciting year, after all. Not only is it a Presidential Election Year, it is the Year of the Rat and a Leap Year! Not exactly common stuff - lol.

So, all the anticipation of the approaching season has me thinking about our beautiful flag, Old Glory.Why do I love it so much? Even though I am partial to shades of red and blue this season (did you see the fabulous NY fashion week collections?), it’s not the color….it’s the same reason I get excited every spring and anytime someone starts talking about the United States flag .

Those 13 stripes and 50 stars sewn together in harmony are more than an ever-present American icon. Our U.S. flag and the ideas that made it make everything possible for us today – even this blog.

Did you ever consider that no U.S. flag would mean that we never agreed on a common symbol? It would mean that even after the bloodshed and sacrifice of the American Revolutionary War, there was still no symbolic unity. Alas, that is a dark thought. For us Americans, of course there was. And every time I see her flying (yes her – I’m a modern girl – lol), I am so proud of all that built America – the greatest cultural melting pot in the world.

So, what made her? How exactly did the idea become tangible – fabric cut into 13 perfect stripes and 50 stars? Well,the first thing you should understand is that it took some time. But in this great media age of broadband and M-Commerce, let me give you the skinny:

June 14, 1777 - The Continental Congress passes the first Flag Act: “Resolved, That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.”

January 13, 1794 – adjustments are made for 15 stripes and 15 stars after May 1795.

Act of April 4, 1818 – President Monroe makes accommodations for 13 stripes and one star for each state, to be added to the flag on the 4th of July following the admission of each new state.

June 24, 1912 - President Taft signs an Executive Order to establish proportions of the flag and provide for arrangement of the stars in six horizontal rows of eight each, a single point of each star to be upward.

January 3, 1959 - President Eisenhower signs for an executive order for the arrangement of the stars in seven rows of seven stars each, staggered horizontally and vertically.

August 21, 1959 President Eisenhower signs for an executive order for the arrangement of the stars in nine rows of stars staggered horizon tally and eleven rows of stars staggered vertically.

K – gotta run. All of this patriotic fervor has me hungry for a hot dog. Now I’m thinking of July 4^th and all that it encompasses, but I’ll save that for a later blog.

Until Next Time e-Friends.

Lexi, aka “Ms. Vexi”

PS – if you don’t know what buzzword I’m going for with my “Vexi” alias check out this wiki article on “vexillology” and my alias might make a bit more sense. TTYS!