The Holocaust Museum

     One of the most horrific acts of inhumanity in the history of the world is the Holocaust. The Nazi's persecution of Jews and many other non-aryan groups. Here in Houston we have our very own Holocaust museum. I spent a day there and was very moved. I have watched a few documentaries and read quite a bit on the Holocaust but I still learned some new things from my visit. Antisemitism was a pretty common view of people in Europe long before WW1. Jews were expelled from countries if they did not convert to Christianity: England in 1290, France in 1306, and Spain in 1492. I was surprised to find this out. But it makes sense, because like they say in the museum, "If antisemitism wasn't already so widespread and accepted then Hitler never would have been able to get away with his actions for so long." A couple other interesting events of earlier antisemitism I learned about: Italy in 1215, Jews must mark their clothing with a badge and Switzerland in 1434, Jews may not obtain academic degrees.
     Once the Hitler and the Nazis took over it wasn't just the undesirable groups that got sent to the concentration camps. Any suspected political opponents were sent there as well. Hitler didn't want any opposition to his rule and new laws. On May 10th, 1933, the 100th day of Nazi rule, there was a mass book burning of all Blacklist books. In Berlin alone 25, 000 books were burned. The books burned were not only those of German authors but American ones such as Ernest Hemingway and Helen Keller as well. This was how the Nazi could work their mind control. Children's books were written with Nazi propaganda, teaching them at a young age to hate.
     Also in 1933 Nazis started mass sterilization of people sick with hereditary diseases and those handicapped of the body or mind. By 1939 they had started the "Euthanasia Program" where they would just kill the handicapped and sick. If they weren't killed then they were used for experiments. The Nazis really were exterminating Jews. In the year of 1942 alone 2.7 million Jews were murdered. The museum also sheds light on the  victims of the Holocaust other than Jews and the handicap. Groups such as homosexuals, gypsies, soviet POWs, and Jehovah Witnesses.
     The museum is put together very nicely. There is a steady flow that takes you through the timeline. There are many artifacts on display which was very exciting to see. There are also many many pictures some that can have a profound effect on a person. As I was walking through I noticed that I heard a lot of sniffling. Soon I too was sniffling. By the time I was only half way through I was crying and didn't stop until I left. 
     Going to this museum was a profound experience and one I will treasure. I think everyone should take the time to visit it. It really can remind you of the world we live in. People talk about the Holocaust like it is some unbelievable thing that could never happen again, but the truth is genocide is still going on today. That is another thing they open your eyes to at this museum.  Once you leave the main exhibit they have an area with books and pamphlets on the inhumane acts going on in the world today. Everyone needs to take the time to check this museum out to be educated and reminded of the world we live in.

 

Critique of Mildred Pierce

     Mildred Pierce is a five part mini series that aired on HBO last month. It is a story of a woman's struggles during the depression era. Mildred lives with her husband and two daughters in a nice neighborhood in a very nice house. Her husbands company goes under and their banks close leaving them with some serious money issues like the rest of the nation. To make things even worst, Mildred finds out her husband has been cheating on her and she throws him out of the house. Now being a single mother she has to find work. In the 1930's it was very hard for women to find work, especially because of the depression. Mildred refuses to let her daughters see the struggles she is having with money and keeping them living respectably. She has a hard time dealing with the kind of jobs she has to take. She is offered a job as a waitress but has a very difficult time acclimating to having to wear a uniform and serve people.She has to swallow her pride, but she makes sure that her children don't find out so that they won't be ashamed of her. 
     Mildred is an excellent baker and ends up making a deal where she sells her pies to the diner she works at. This is an excellent opportunity for her and eventually leads to her opening up her own restaurant. In the rest of the story Mildred deals with a lot of sadness from the death of one of her daughters and the estrangement of the other. She also gets caught up in a financial war with creditors when things start going south with her businesses. There is a lot of drama and romance and substance to this great tale.
     The creators of this series do a wonderful job capturing the essence of the depression era. The costumes and props are fantastic! All the furniture, automobiles, and buildings are perfectly matched to the time period. This series really opens your eyes to how things really were during that time. Women weren't all "Suzy Homemaker" and the husbands weren't all moral. The children were not perfect obeying angels. I really enjoyed watching this series. It opened up my perspective to how things were in early suburban America. I would recommend for everyone to check it out. The acting is superb and the cinematography is amazing. It really takes you back in time. Its a beautiful story of a woman's struggle for independence during a depressed and repressed time.

Excellent costumes and props!

Renaissance Festival 2010

     I went to the Renaissance Festival in November, 2010. I chose to go on the Highland themed weekend since I have ancestors from Scotland. I made my own costume with a green plaid that I liked. I had so much fun. It really was like stepping back in time. They set the place up so perfect and all the vendors talk in old English. The costumes are amazing. So many period specific outfits. This weekend was especially special because there were many people in real kilts. This is a real treat because kilts are hard to make and very expensive to buy. But there were so many people all decked out in authentic kilts and plaids, it was wonderful!
     We went to the stadium and watched shows were they reenacted jousting and royal processions.  There was also a guy who did a flame whip act at night that was so cool. All the vendors sell different kind of props you can buy. Some for play but also a lot of real stuff. Like swords and drinking skins and daggers. I really got into the spirit. I tried mead and ate an entire turkey leg and drank a whole bunch of ale! Two of my friends brought fake swords with them and they challenged each other to a duel. We went out to an open area and they fought. It gathered a bit of a crowd and was hilarious! I was the acting referee but I tried to stay out of it so I wouldn't get whacked.
     We went to the Greek area and they put on an awesome show with belly dancers and snakes and violins. It really was like something you would have experienced if you were visiting a Greek palace hundreds or even thousands of years ago. I had a great time. They really do an excellent job there and everyone really gets into the spirit. Everyone plays along and you really feel like you are in that period of time. Because it was the Scottish weekend the bagpipe band Tartanic was there. They put on a really good show at night right before the festival closed. It was so cool to see and hear such a beautiful array of music come from only a couple of primitive instruments. It was such a great show. I had a blast and can't wait to go again!

Feasting like a king! (No pun intended, lol)

Just a couple of sweet little lassies.

Just one word: awesome.

Tartanic!

Just say yes to bagpipes and kilts!

Belly dancers!

Flan Recipe

My family on my mother's side is Cuban. A very popular Latin American dessert is Flan. My grandmother makes it all the time. It is a delicious creamy custard with a caramel topping. So I got the recipe from my grandma and made one with her.

Ingredients

3 whole eggs
2 egg yolks
3 tbsp sugar (for caramel)
5 tbsp sugar (for custard)
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14oz)
1 can evaporated milk (12oz)

Directions

1. Heat the 3 tbsp of sugar in an 8 inch pie pan (use a pan with high sides) over the stove burner. Turn the pan constantly so that as the sugar melts it evenly coats the pan. Careful not to burn the sugar. Set pan aside.
2. In a mixing bowl combine the condensed milk, evaporated milk, and sugar. Whisk very well until completely blended. At least 1 min.
3. In a separate bowl whisk eggs until the whites and yolks are completely combined.
4. Slowly poor eggs into milk mixture while whisking.  
5. Continue to stir in the same direction for at least 1 min.
6. Pour mixture through a sieve into pan.
7. Put pan in a big pot and fill with water about 3/4 the way up the pan creating a "bath".
8. Bring water to a boil and then lower heat to medium.
9. Cook for 45 minutes.
10. Due to water loss from evaporation you might need to add more water while its cooking.
11. Allow custard to cool for an hour on the counter.
12. Then put in freezer for at least 4 hours.
13. Once the flan is cold and set up slide a knife around the edge to loosen it and flip it onto a plate.
14. Enjoy! 

Options
*For a less dense flan add 1 cup of regular milk to the milk mixture before putting in eggs.
*You can add 8 oz of cream cheese to give it a "cheese cake like" texture and flavor. Just add softened cream to the milk mixture before the eggs and use a blender or mixer to get the cream cheese completely incorporated.

Camping

     There is no better way to experience what it must have felt like for the explorers who "discovered" the New World than to go camping on the beach. While the topography might be different, I can imagine what it must have been like landing on the beaches of the Caribbean Islands and having to make camp. I went camping at Clear Lake in Galveston County which is still wrecked from the past hurricanes, so it is still very remote and desolate. It was kind of eerie to be out on the beach at night with nothing else around. The stars were so bright because of the lack of light pollution. Other than a tent and sleeping bag it was pretty primitive. 
     We made a fire, which took forever to accomplish. The wood wasn't dry enough so it wouldn't stay lit. We had to use a ton of kindling. But finally we got it hot enough to stay lit. It was so nice to sit around the fire and hear the ocean waves. I brought some sausages that we cooked right on the fire. We also had some beer, but I'm sure those sailors brought some kind of alcohol with them on their voyages. It was exhilarating spending the weekend with no creature comforts, just roughing it with nature. The only part that I hate about it is having to find a sand dune to hide behind to go to the bathroom!

Horseback Riding

     Not too long ago the main means of transportation was on horse back. This meant that if you needed to go somewhere that wasn't in your village you could be riding for days. I decided to see what it would be like to spend all day on a horse. 
     There is a lot of preparation to go on a day long ride. I'm sure it's even more complicated if you planned on going across state which could take months. We had to decide on all the things we would need while we were out. And everything we wanted to bring was going to be carried by us or the horse. We packed food and water. We also brought toilet paper since we weren't going to be riding out in the woods, away from civilization.
     We road through some woods and then followed a creek for the rest of the day. It was very tranquil. We didn't really have an end destination, it was just a really long loop. When we would hit more open areas we would go faster and run the horses a bit. Cantering in an open field was so invigoration. We were out in the middle of no where so it really did feel like we had stepped back in time. We stopped a couple times to rest, eat and let the horse graze and play in the water. It was a wonderful way to spend the day. 
     I had a great time, but the next day I was feeling it. My butt and thighs hurt so bad! I can't imagine what it must have been like to have to ride everyday for weeks or months at a time. But I'm glad for the experience and plan on doing it again. Next time I go I want to plan to camp out for the night. I think that would really be an experience to resemble the past.

Saddling up!

Crash course in steering and breaking.

    

Archive of Old Photographs

     I gathered all of my parents old photo albums from when they first got together and when I was a baby. I scanned the photos into my computer so now they will be preserved. I found pictures from the hospital when I was just born. I also found my parents wedding photos and photos from their honeymoon. It was so fun to go through them and see all my aunts and uncles when they were so young. Most of the pictures are from the 80's which you can tell by the fashion and the furniture. I got quite a laugh at all the funny fashion statements my parents were making back then. I also stumbled upon an even older photo from 1956 of my dad when he was only 6 months old. There are over 600 photos that I've made digital. So I'm only posting a few. I'm in the process of organizing them all into separate albums so I can make digital copies to give to my parents and brothers. It's a work in progress.

Me fresh out of the womb: Feb 5th, 1984

Our first house being built in 1982.

This is my dad at 6 months old. You can see the date on the photo Nov 1956.

Me and my grandma.

My mom and dad in Canada in 1982 before they got married.

My parents in 1981.

Here are a few from my parents wedding in June of 1983:

Some more favorites:

My uncle baptizing me.

My mom liked to play dress-up with me. Is this child abuse?