Cinco de Mayo (nnaise?)

You DID read today's title with the appropriate accent, right? It is Mayo, the Spanish word for the month of May, not mayo, a shortened version of mayonnaise. Why do the Mexicans celebrate Cinco de Mayo? It is not their Independence Day, which is Sept 16. In fact, it is not even a big deal in Mexico. It is a much bigger deal for Mexicans who live in the US. It is a day for margaritas and salsa. Anyway, it celebrates a battle between the French and the Mexicans in 1861. Read more here.

So, it is not surprising that today's 365 Stupidest Things Ever Said calendar is related:
In one edition of today’s Food Section, an inaccurate number of jalapeño peppers was given for Jeanette Crowley’s Southwestern chicken salad recipe. The recipe should call for two, not 21, jalapeño peppers.
newspaper correction


Sometimes, you want something sweet after a meal. Where to find a place with a bunch of choices in NYC? Oh, hey, what about this place with all the logos of probably every chocolate and sweets company in the USA?

One day, we grabbed some breakfast items from a food truck on the street and headed down to eat it on a subway train.

Here we are at the 50th St subway station with SS holding our breakfast. Actually, we didn't eat it until we reached the end of our ride and cold sit down and eat.

Finally, we reached the embarkation station for our boat ride to Ellis Island. It was time to eat.

Today's devotional was interesting and intentionally condemning. It talked about how, because of scientific, industrial, and technological achievements, every bit of time in a person's life is booked up because he wants to get the most out of life. Even among those who are reasonably religious, the result has been that Sunday has become the hour of worship. The older among us can probably remember that, in the community, Sunday was once set aside very seriously. People did not work. They usually spent the day at home. Maybe the most secular thing they allowed themselves to do was to read the Sunday newspaper. But over the years, Sunday worship— which used to be kept somewhat as God expects us to keep the Sabbath— has now become, even among religious folks, an hour rather than a day of worship. People go to church for that one hour then perhaps return home. Or, maybe they go to a Sunday brunch at a restaurant. They spend the rest of the time on that day either making money or seeking their own pleasure. Ouch. Guilty. I can hear Preacher Bro asking me (and all of us), "So, what are you going to do about it? How can you make the Sabbath holy in your life?" The truth is...I don't know yet. Every other Sunday or so, the Chorale does have 1-2 concerts wherein we are ministering, but what am I willing to do?

I'm starting to hit the gym again after months of not doing so. Will this help me lose weight? Of course, everyone knows that. Not so fast, say 60+ studies. Get all the details here.

Clever business name time:

Here is a horrible things done to a wrong number texter. They think their shift is covered, and then, just 45 minutes before they are due at work, the unknown recipient responds saying Melanie from Old Navy had the wrong number. Can you imagine?

How would YOU explain the plot of Beauty and the Beast?

As I write today's blog post, I am listening to the soundtrack to In The Heights, a musical written by the author of Hamilton. It is obvious that both were written by the same person, but this one does not even come close to capturing my attention in the same way that Hamilton does. I have a theory on why that is true, at least for me. Hamilton is based on the story of a famous US leader who helped shape our country in its early years. In the Heights is a story of three days in the largely Dominican-American neighborhood of Washington Heights in New York City. It is based in a culture and environment that have a minimal effect on my life now and on my shared heritage as part of the US. Hamilton tells a real story about someone I have heard of my whole life. I think that is why Hamilton is "Yeah!" and In the Heights is "Meh".

So our options in November are the first woman president or an openly bigoted obnoxious TV personality. It will be a long presidential campaign. I hope one of them steps up with promises that make sense for our country.

Well, enjoy your Mexican food today or however you celebrate Cinco de Mayo. For me, probably nothing, but please, do not let that spoil your plans. See you soon.