I R a LAZY BLOGGER. (Memorial Day Weekend Version)

So, I have been absent from my blog for a few weeks. I have these waves which make me want to or not want to write to extreme degrees. These past few weeks were the second wave which made me lazy and not want to do anything. OK, back to my new post!

The last Monday of May (This year, it was on May 26) was a US Federal holiday, Memorial Day. It normally gives a long weekend including the Monday after. Quick history lesson: I have learned that this holiday was formerly known as Decoration Day which was for the people in military service.

Even though, there are reasons to celebrate this holiday, many people tend to use the day to mark the beginning of summer and enjoy cooking outdoors. It is also the day that swimming pools open. Ed had the BBQ party, so there I was.

Ed's treats =D
(Shish Kabob and a really tasty seafood pasta salad. I had too much of the seafood salad... so, couldn't try his burgers.)

Nedra's famous Jello shooter. (Strawberry and mixed fruit ones)

I realized that there are at least two Federal holidays to honor the dead and alive of military services in the US: Memorial Day and Veteran's Day. It's quite different from my own national holidays. I don't think there is any national holiday which was enacted to honor the military service in Japan. (Well, we don't really have that kind of thing to begin with.) The similar thing we have is "Obon: お盆," but that is the time your ancestors coming back to home from... the afterlife. It is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor your ancestors. We go to grave sites to display some flowers, food, and incense. We wash the tomb stones as we show our respect for the dead. After visiting the grave sites, many people set up lanterns to show the way to get back home for their ancestors. It is observed in August. (More Info)

The grave site where my ancestors rest (taken in summer 2006)

The Lantern at my grandma's.

It seems slightly random to post these photos... but they are from the Memorial Day weekend as well. There were many festivities in downtown B'more. They weren't taken at Inner Harbor, but they are still from there. The night visions of B'more.