Memorial Day Weekend Books, Videos and Recipes

Memorial Day Weekend Books, Videos, and Recipes
I couldn’t stay away. I’m supposed to be on a blogging break…couldn’t do it. In fact, I’ve been so excited with everything that’s happening in my writing life that I’ve had trouble sleeping. And when I can’t sleep, I’m thinking about characters in my YA novel or future blog posts. I love what I do! I can’t not do it…

Let’s BEGIN with some heartwarming videos…

Memorial Day Thoughts
I have a friend who served in WWII and Vietnam. We go out to dinner to his favorite restaurant and he tells me stories of his life. At 18 he was drafted and promised that when he returned from his service his health needs would be taken care of for the rest of his life. The promise was broken. I listen to his painful accounts of what it was like serving in WWII and watching his friends die. I feel his sadness when he tells me that workers at the VA hospital refuse to give him what he needs or tell him they don’t believe he held certain positions during his service in WWII. I love words but words are not action. Instead of simply saying thank you we need to show that we are thankful and take care of our veterans. It can be done. We can fix this.
http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/qelsqv/world-of-warriorshaft—terrible-memory-lane?xrs=share_copy_email

On to Books
Keeping with the Memorial Day theme, I highly recommend Laurie Halse Anderson’s THE IMPOSSIBLE KNIFE OF MEMORY

Here’s Ms. Anderson’s USA TODAY interview about the book.

THE HEART AND THE FIST by Eric Greitens. “Clear-eyed account of a youth devoted to service as a warrior and a humanitarian…A remarkable story told with modesty and grace.”
– Kirkus Reviews

Eric Greitens is the Chief Executive Officer of The Mission Continues. “The Mission Continues empowers veterans facing the challenge of adjusting to life at home to find new missions. We redeploy veterans in their communities, so that their shared legacy will be one of action and service.”

UNBROKEN by Laura Hillenbrand “STAGGERING … MESMERIZING … Any one of the threads in Hillenbrand’s monumental new book could be a page-turner all its own… Hillenbrand’s writing is so ferociously cinematic, the events she describes so incredible, you don’t dare take your eyes off the page.”–People
Now For Some Delicious Memorial Day Weekend Recipes!
Back in 2011 I only gave a hint to this recipes name.  I should have titled my entire post by it’s REAL name. It probably would have gotten a lot of clicks! Someone long ago dubbed this cake– BETTER THAN SEX! You can make it and judge for yourself. <wink>

Here’s the recipe: Great Labor Day Dessert

The BANANA SPLIT ICEBOX CAKE is another great dessert for a Memorial Day party.

How about some PEACH UPSIDE DOWN CAKE or CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER PIE?

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!