Jeff Schrembs Blog (thanks Google).
Priorities are: God, Family. Health, Country for everything else is...fleeting.
Cancer survivor (thus far thank God)
Elvis Presley Historian, Expert and Collector for (approximatley) six decades {which is amazing as I am only 27....psyche....humor attempt}
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Old age.
Six letters.
It's a trick and not...a good one.
It never gets better.
Everyday is another opportunity to find something else has gone wrong.
If I wasn't, as I have been these 5 years, already at the highest level of depression thinking about it would make me sad. And yet my faith will never waiver and I thank God for my loved ones, friends, fellow man, etc.
Well, enough of the "all is fine" speech. Did it cheer you up?
I read a story about a woman, named Rachel Dolezal, who has been lying for years claiming that she was/is black.
Though I limit my political, social, etc. beliefs to me - God - and, when warranted, to my children/loved ones/family/etc. it is stories (and none are quite like this one) like this that need to be discussed, debated, and heard.
Her parents confirm that not only is she white but that there is no known family member, dating back centuries, who (whole and/or in part) was African American. Her only family members who are African American are her two adopted brothers and her ex-husband and (note - there is alternate information online about this) possibly her children through the marriage.
Solely based upon her lies she (including but not limited to); attended Howard University on scholarship, was appointed president of the NAACP in Spokane Washington, and other various employment/education opportunities.
Here are a few videos that, among other things, are eye opening about this matter.
According to her parents, and her adopted brothers who are African American, she willfully lied for decades about her race and her brother said that she asked him (among others) to never disclose that she is white. She even posted fake photographs of an African-American man, on Facebook and other social media sites, who she claimed was her father.
This story is not only shocking but shows the idiocy in (including but not limited to) college admittance whereby, under the guise of diversity, anyone claiming to be a minority is given preferential treatment thus creating real victims.
I have always believed in the wisdom, and works, of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who believed/said that (to paraphrase) "I pray for a day in which a man will be judged by his character and not the color of his skin".
Contrary to belief, and the constitution which provides for "equal protection under the law", we are not all treated equally. If a police man/woman gets killed (sadly) the prosecution is swift and the prosecutor vigorously demands the harshest penalties in court proceedings. If a gay person (sadly) is involved in an altercation it can be, with direct evidence or not, categorized as a "hate crime" and the injured party is entitled to additional options/protections and the perpetrator is punished with additional charges.
In courts, society, and the workplace basically everyone other than a white heterosexual christian male is considered (and thus entitled to extra support, protections, remedies, rights, etc.) to be a minority.
Shockingly, this woman even went to the police on several occasions and wanted others charged for a hate crime solely because she (falsely) claimed she was African American. After investigation her claims were proven to be false. Real people could have faced real prosecution and real prision time had this turned out differently.
Even women, who now surpass men in the population here in the United States, are considered as minorities and (again) given extra rights, remedies, treatments, etc.
I believe that everyone should be given the same rights, remedies, protections, love, consideration, respect, etc.
Basically this woman has received (legal terms) goods, services, monetary benefits, tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars for education, etc. by purposely lying about her race. Once the initial disbelief wears off I would hope that steps, including possibly criminal charges, would be taken so that any/all benefits/jobs she is receiving are revoked/changed to reflect the fact that (a) she lied and (b) she is white. This is a serious injustice that requires serious answers/actions.
Not only is this wrong but there were other individuals, African American or otherwise, who did not get into College because of her. Did not get a position of power in the NAACP. Did not enrich themselves monetarily. Did not have the chance for job(s). Did not have the chance for admittance in college. This is a tragedy and there are, and were, REAL VICTIMS whose lives were adversely affected (directly and/or indirectly) because of this woman's lies.
Not only has this woman lied, time and time and time again, but she was employed to teach our youth about African American studies under the guise that she was African American.
ENOUGH.
ENOUGH.
ENOUGH.
Things need to change and all races should be celebrated, admired, and respected. God made us all so respect his work(s) and love our fellow man.
Think it is only a woman's "job"? No. Come on man it's 2015 and women have enough to do. I have always believed, and put into action daily, that cooking, like all other activities inside the home and out, should be evenly divided/undertaken.
Don't think it is manly? Ok Mr. Misguided. I'm 6 foot 1 and 195 pounds and there is nothing "unmanly" about cooking/baking/grilling/etc.
Generally speaking anyone, over the age of 18, who can't cook either has never really tried - was never really taught - or whose bank balance allows restaurant reservations 7 times a week.
Baking? Yes indeed. Everything from homemade fudge to brownies to white divinity. Shout out to my grandparents for teaching me at an early age.
Grilling? Check
Salad? Try this recipe and let me know because I have enjoyed it for years.
SERVINGS: 6 - 8
The traditional recipe calls for 2 heads romaine lettuce (washed and tear into bit size pieces) but I prefer to change it up with 2 large bags of "spring mix" (aka; baby salad).
2 cups pecan halves (toasted)
3 (8 ounce) can mandarin oranges
Dressing
1⁄4 cup vinegar
1⁄2 cup vegetable oil
1⁄4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1⁄2 small red onion, chopped
1 teaspoon dry mustard
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons of sugar
DIRECTIONS:
Note - if you prefer more dressing simply double the ingredients.
Place lettuce and mandarin oranges in salad bowl.
Under low heat, on stove, put in 2 tablespoons of sugar with 2 tablespoons of water and 2 cups of pecans. Stir, and add additional tablespoons of water if needed, and flip the pecans until toasted.
Combine dressing ingredients in a blender and blend until well mixed.
Make ahead and refrigerate until ready to toss with salad.
CONGRATULATIONS you are done and you are in for a treat as this salad is delicious.
Feel free to leave comments and/or share this recipe via social media or with friends and family.
Take care and may God bless you and yours...always.
I wanted to wish everyone a; happy, healthy, enjoyable, memorable, etc. Memorial Day 2015.
Here is a great article about the history of Memorial Day in the United States.
History
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America. Over two dozen cities and towns claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it’s difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day.
Regardless of the exact date or location of its origins, one thing is clear – Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War and a desire to honor our dead. It was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in hisGeneral Order No. 11. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle.
On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there.
The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war).
It is now observed in almost every state on the last Monday in May with Congressional passage of the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 – 363). This helped ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays, though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19th in Texas; April 26th in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10th in South Carolina; and June 3rd (Jefferson Davis’ birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.
Red Poppies
In 1915, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” Moina Michael replied with her own poem:
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.
She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms. Michael. When she returned to France she made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children’s League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help.
Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans’ organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their “Buddy” Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms. Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.
National Moment of Remembrance
The “National Moment of Remembrance” resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans “To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to ‘Taps.”
I was thinking about how my steps have taken me to the place in which I am. Was it happenstance? Was it by design?
I waived it off and instead I thought what if I were given 7 second chances about my life with the conditions that (a) I could not purposely alter major aspects (b) each second chance had to be about a certain time and (c) it could not involve the same people.
Here are my 7 second chances:
Try # 1 - I would have prayed more for my mother and my little sister, Kimberly Ann Schrembs throughout the pregnancy, who (so very very sad) was born alive but died shortly thereafter due to a blood issue that (medically speaking) possibly could have been prevented.
Try # 2 - Approximately 1976 = I would have stayed at work longer so that I would not have been able to play football which, per the surgeon was a "million to one incident", I snapped the tendon in my right index finger (my throwing, and writing, hand) requiring major surgery and the placement of metal pins.
Try # 3 - Approximately 1974 = I would like to take a walk again (and these were routinely for several miles) with my grandmother and just enjoy being together and find a way to tell her how much I loved her and thank her.
Try # 4 - Approximately 1976 = I would try to absorb more about, and this only occurred once and was never spoken of again, my grandfather told me about his family.
Try # 5 - Approximately 1977 = I would have put a letter my preacher Brother Richard wrote to me, when he presented me with a rare and beautiful bible, in my pocket instead of (accidentally) throwing it away. Out of all the things I have "lost" throughout my lifetime, and many would be shocked with disbelief to learn of the details, this bible is (thankfully) in my possession to this very day.
Try # 6 - Approximately 2010 = I would have said yes to a (repeated) request.
Try # 7 - Current = I would find away to simply, and with a sincere heart, let others know how much they have meant to me and how much they...mean to me.
Years ago I was fortunate to take ownership, the year it was custom made, of a 35th anniversary Corvette.
Having been a "car nut" for most of my life I appreciate fine workmanship, craft, quality materials, and...style.
This Corvette had a brilliant white exterior. White leather interior. Two tops - one white and the other tinted. And custom made, never before seen, white wheels.
Though getting into, and out of, a Corvette can be a challenge I loved this car. Being six foot one, and for some strange reason at my last doctor appointment I came in at six foot two, it was trying at times to enter the vehicle once there it was...exhilarating.
For some reason(s) I found myself remembering specifics about this car as well as memories associated with the time of my life during that period. Why I thought of it now is puzzling but it prompted me to do a google search and the images, and videos, of this car reinstilled my belief that this car was beautiful.
Via YouTube here is the one and only 35th anniversary Corvette.
Yeah I can cook. Always have. Always will.
