Monkey Madness Monday

He's not a real monkey, but I love sock monkeys too. 

I know, I know, I didn't blog Friday and you missed me terribly.  Sorry.  After almost a week of traveling for the day job, I suddenly had to prepare a visual presentation of what I learned for our firm retreat which was Thursday and Friday.

So Tuesday and Wednesday I hurriedly prepared outlines and a Powerpoint presentation, then first thing Thursday morning we were off to Leavenworth.  The quaint German town here in Washington, not the prison.

Busy weekend and  now here I am.  Independence day has mostly been my least favorite holiday.  People eat and drink to oblivion, it's normally crappy weather here in the PNW (today is beautiful though, hell must have frozen over).  And then those drunk people light off fireworks.  Whoever thought THAT was a good idea should have been bitch slapped.

While I was married (did I mention my divorce finally went through?) we'd go to the ocean and light our fireworks on July 5th when the beach looked like a garbage dump, but was mostly empty, me not being one for crowds, or obnoxious drunk people, or getting hit in the back of the head with a bottle rocket.

My kids are at the lake with friends and when they get home, they go to their dads.  Today I'm spending it with a "friend" and his kids.  I have no idea what we're doing.  Probably just hanging in the backyard, bbqing, letting the kids swim (I got an above ground pool on the cheap) and catching some fireworks.

I'm wishing you all a happy Independence Day.  Be safe, be sane, and don't blow your arm off.

We didn't blow our arms off...

We had a safe and fairly sane holiday weekend.  It was mostly devoid of sun, but of course it usually is here in the beautiful but gray and wet Pacific Northwest.

The girls and I came to the beach Thursday afternoon.  Traffic was fine, and the drive was okay except for the fact it was raining and rain + car = tired Megan.  But we arrived without incident, got settled then I took the girls our for dinner, and luckily their tastes still border on the simple, so they did not break the bank.  That night we had a mini 80's film fest with The Outsiders and Pretty In Pink, which I thought the girls would like since they had gotten into 16 Candles, Breakfast Club, and The Heathers (girls after my own heart)  They preferred the latter to the former and I'd forgotten how cute those boys were and how I was so in love with every one of them, especially C. Thomas Howell, Rob Lowe, and Emilio Estevez.

On Friday took them to see Eclipse, and since it was my favorite book of the series it only makes sense it was my favorite movie.  Taylor Lautner's abs were the star of the show and it didn't suck (haha, get it? Suck?) to look at the new vamp, Riley.  When we came out of the movie, the sun had miraculously decided to show itself so we hung out in the back yard, played badminton, and I bbq'd us some chicken, and it was good.

Friday night my sister and her kids came and we just chilled while watching Lords of Dogtown.  Which of course is the only way to watch Lords of Dogtown, if you're not chill, forget it.  Great movie btw, and I love Emil Hirsch and of course the late Heath Ledger.

Shopped around and laid in the sun all day Saturday.  Got the kids some pizza and my sister, her mother in law and I hit the casino.  Starship was playing (suddenly belts out *Jane, Jane, Jane!*).  We lasted about five songs as the wind was kicking and a glass of wine and Lobstermania slots were calling my name.  I dropped a $20 and it was good.

Then the grand finale, July 4th, the weather was crappy, like I said.  We just chilled, I made my famous (okay it's really Rachael Ray's) pesto pasta salad, we pretty much ate all day, bbq'd (I grilled the perfect hot dogs) then hit the beach for fireworks.  It was freezing, Thing Two and my nephew pretty much blew everything up while the rest of us bundled up in blankies or sat in our cars, and as soon as they were done, we were out of there.  I could not stay up for one more minute, so hit the hay.

Today me and the girls and whoever else wants to join us will take some garbage bags to the beach and help clean up.  Because sad as it is, people leave their trash for the tide.  Dead fireworks, bottles, cans, food wrappers.  We did the same thing last year.  It's a good lesson for the kids and we're doing our part, if only a little.

Hope you all had a great holiday.  I know I did.


Ciao,

Megan

F³A: Celebrating Our Freedoms

With Independence Day right around the corner, I thought I'd chat you up about our freedoms and traditions.

I do realize I  blogged about freedoms when Memorial Day rolled around, but I think we, and when I say we, I mean Americans, forget how good most of us have it.  We take for granted the things that other people only dream about.  Little freedoms, big freedoms, think about it.

Like right now, I'm sitting in a beach house, using my laptop to talk to people all over the world.  How cool is every little bit of that?  My kids are sleeping in their own room, in a comfortable bed, and they will wake to my famous cheesy eggs and ham.

I'm drinking purified water from a bottle and good coffee.

Little things.  Big things.

Last night we had an 80's DVD film fest (The Outsiders and Pretty in Pink). And today I think we'll go see Eclipse.  Little things.

All religions, races, and cultures are able to live in this country together in peace (mostly, don't get me wrong, I know there is still prejudice, bias, and bigotry, but still...) while other countries still kill for these reasons.  Big things.

So, how do you celebrate these freedoms?  Do you have traditions?  Or do you just see what comes up?

We've been going to the beach for a few years now.  We usually buy fireworks and shoot them off on a mostly abandoned beach on July 5th, which is way cool.  This year is a little different for reasons I'll not be going into at the moment.  This year will involved spending it with some family, bbq, hopefully some sun so we can play fun games like ladder ball, and water balloon volleyball.

And though I'm not pro war or anything, it wouldn't hurt to thank a soldier today, I know it's not a soldier-thanking holiday, but their sacrifices and just their presence make these freedoms possible.

So, have a safe and sane Independence Day.  Don't blow your arm off.

Ciao,

Megan

Current song on my iPod: Kandi by One Eskimo

Current read: Fatted Calf Blues, and anthology of short stories by Steven Mayoff.  And let me just say, I'm impressed so far.

Current watch: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.  Will probably be watching this tonight.

Quotes of the week: "Independence is my happiness, and I view things as they are, without regard to place or person; my country is the world, and my religion is to do good." ~ Thomas Paine


"You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence." ~ Abraham Lincoln

"I am lord of myself, accountable to none." ~ Ben Franklin