Good morning all! Here in New Mexico this is a special date. Often mistakenly called “the Mexican Independence Day” May 5 is celebrated by folks of Mexican heritage around the world and a favorite along the southern US border especially. It actually commemorates the defeat of a French army by Mexican forces back close to the time of the US Civil War when a descendant of Napoleon Bonaparte  was trying to take over the country. It’s actually a bigger day outside of Mexico than in the country itself where  September 16, the real “Mexican Independence Day” is favored.  But who needs an excuse for fireworks, fun and a bog party?

I will also make a small contribution to politically incorrect silliness with a ‘fuzzy puppy story. Shaggy dog stories are long and have no real point while fuzzy puppy stories are shorter and always culminate in a perfectly awful pun. Let it not be said that I am poking fun at my many Latino/Hispanic/Mexican friends here as I have no intention of that but as Zen says, anything you cannot laugh at must have little value or strength indeed. I think we tend to forget this in today’s ultra-correct and super-sensitive climate! A joke unless very crude and sharp should not always be taken as a slur, slam or insult! I will also add that Spanish is one of the two official languages of my adopted home state.

So, on to the story. It is said by some that May 5 actually celebrates the date in which Mexican people began to use Miracle Whip. How could that be, you ask? Well, as the tale runs, there was “a terrible sheep wreck and she sink-a de mayo.’ (Yes, you may boo and hiss!!)

Let me add that in Spanish the letter i is pronounced like a long e and often this comes through with those who speak English as a second language. The five Spanish vowels sound like ah, aye, ee, oh and you. I am not fluent but did take the language in school and living in the southwest most of my life, I  do read, understand and use it quite a bit.

Okay, enough levity. Today we are featuring exotic or unusual professions for our principal characters in mostly romance stories. We have a great group of authors sharing with us and several did do a fun interview with a mix of serious and lighter questions which I will be posting throughout the day. Although I did not sign up to participate, I may jump in wearing my Gwynn Morgan hat a bit later too since she (I)  has a new book out as of this weekend with an anthropologist and a financial adviser as the H&H. And next post will be drawing details and other fun stuff! Welcome to Book Brew for May 2014!