Happy July Fourth Everyone!

Dramatic changes in the way the DH and I celebrate this holiday. Seven years ago, before downsizing to this apartment, we lived on a wooded acre, in a large house, 3600 square feet. Three outdoor decks surrounded the house, one at the bottom of the hill in the back yard, with a small deck (or landing) leading down to the lower deck.

Attached to the house, a large deck was situated outside the sliding door from the kitchen. Two steps down from the kitchen, we had put in a stone patio, with several small garden beds. The main deck was a step up from the patio. A large deck, under a canopy of beechwood trees. At one time a large, triple trunk dogwood tree covered one corner of the deck. We set up our table and chairs under the dogwood.

Many pleasant days and evenings were spent on this deck, many times with a large gathering of friends and relatives. July 4th was our big holiday gathering. I planned this party for months, gathering all sorts of patriotic paraphernalia, storing lists of patriotic facts in MSWord for use in the annual puzzle game for the guests. Other games, very simple, were included, most of them gone from memory now. The prizes were simple, little things like, pencils, stickers, or whatever I found in the dollar stores or similar places.

Everyone enjoyed the games, win or loose. But one couple took the game seriously. So much so, that to our shock and surprise, they would cheat to win the game. Cheat for a red, white, and blue pencil??? Why were surprised when this was the same couple who cheated on the golf course. Eventually, we dropped them as guests at our home.

Now, I miss planning this party and celebrating the Fourth of July. Sometimes, though, I drag the DH to fireworks that are launched at a small farm just down the road from us. If we get there early enough, we can nab a parking spot right along the field where they stage the entire production.

This farm is surrounded by all sorts of single home, most of them more than 50 years old. It an old community The residents near the farm all seem to have gatherings of their own and baby versions of fireworks on their lawns. So getting there early means you can enjoy their fireworks, too. But they all stop when the farm begins to load their pyrotechnics. People are parked along the street on the two sides of the field that have road access. Others are parked on the opposite side of the road, or along the community's side roads. No one in the community seems upset at outsiders invading their little village.

The traffic is horrendous after the firework spectacle. But everyone is polite and patient in this jam of cars. No way can we turn around and go back the way we come. We have not choice but to got straight ahead with the traffic flow. There is no two way traffic on this road after the show. So straight ahead we go, knowing we will eventually get to a road where, if we turn left, we will eventually find out way back home. For some unknown reason, we've never turned right. Perhaps this year, I'll take this road. (I'm the one driving at night...all the time) I'll have to bear with the objections of the DH and all his expletives directed my way. "Why the #%^ are we going this way?" Etc., etc., etc.

This year, with no plans to do anything and no invitations, I emailed several friends and asked then if they wished to join us for dinner at some lively place, give me a call. Two of them answered, so for two nights in a row, we will go out with friends, to down a bottle or two of wine and toast our freedom.

Freedom??? Will we be losing this soon? It appears that our Congress might be leading us this way. So far now, they are running the automotive business, they've taken over financial companies, and are attempting to absorb the insurance and medical institutions in our country. Why? They want to be like Canada and Europe. WHAT? In Canada, one has to get in line for serious medical concerns such as breast cancer operations, heart bypasses, etc. It's so bad, Canadian citizens come to the USA for treatment. They know they will get treatment immediately on all serious health problems and fast help for other medical concerns. And Europe? Heck, if it wasn't for the USA, they would all be speaking German, including Great Britain.

So why do our reps think we want their systems. Two hundred years plus, our ancestors proved to England and the rest of the world that they had a better idea on how to live in and run a country. Sure, we're a young country compared to Europe, and our Republic's democratic system is still evolving. It's a work in progress and always will be. So why change to Socialism or, Lord forbid, Communism? I learned in college that any system or belief that ended in "ism" is to be questioned and avoided.

I'm afraid for this country. I know there are folks out there who are actively working to keep this from happening. But is that enough? Should I get involved in local groups of the TCUnation? At my age, adding another event to my schedule will only result in anxiety attacks. So what should I do?

Well, I'm here, telling the world how I feel, what I believe. I'm a practicing Roman Catholic and proud of it. I believe in God and know that He is always with me. I pray for our Congress to be circumspect and consider the consequences of their actions. Seems like they don't understand the law of unintended consequences.

I won't get into Global warming today. Much to much to think about. I'd rather be knitting. Plus I have friends to get in touch with. I've neglected them recently.

I know this post comes on the heels of my last one...but I'm full of surprises. Seems I don't' always procrastinate. Well, that's not true...I procrastinate on my knitting time. Seems it's fun to do and I was taught that all the hard work was to be done before you had fun. Interesting, how this stuff stays in your psychic forever. And it's hard to fight. So I procrastinate.

Finally...another post...just where I've been

Finally...another post



When I said I procrastinate, I wasn't lying, was I? I do excel at this!

We're in the midst of summer and the humid, sticky weather is upon us. Sitting on the patio is out of the question on most days. It's sticky. It's hot. Even with the new umbrella in place, it can be too warm. Sometimes, however, we do have a neat breeze flowing down between the buildings here. That makes it pleasant.

I've continued on my Wrap Me Shawl...to block 14 out of 21. Block 14 almost undid me. It's been a stumbling block. It's a close knitted pattern called cross stitch by the designer. Only a two row pattern but somehow I manage to make errors even when I'm being extra attentive. I'm about 1/3 of the way through and I can't wait to finish it. So why don't I forge ahead with it?

Thank you notes are holding me up. Had a one of big O birthday's on June 23rd. My husband hosted a family party at a local restaurant. My brother and his wife, from Cleveland, Ohio, and sister and husband, from Reading, PA came in for the event. Also, the DH's daugthers and significant others came to the party, too. They traveled from Hartford, CT, Denville, NJ, and Hockessin, DE.

It was a wonderful party. The DH gave a spectacular speech, all about me and my activities and how proud he is of me. He also praised the women in the Prayer Shawl Ministry. He thinks this is a wonderful thing I did...starting up the ministry at my church.

Then his daughter stood up and thanked me for being so nice to her mother and that she was so happy I married her father. Can't ask for more than this.

The DH's daughters are highly creative and super intelligent...along with being attractive women. The gift they had prepared didn't come in on time, so the graphic artist in the group hurriedly put together another. She did an ad campaign, using ad campaign posters from yesteryear, substituting my face for the original face in the ad. When I saw the first one, I was taken aback. Where on earth did she get my HS graduation picture? Even I can't find that! It was really spooky, seeing me at 18 again. Turns out the original face in the ad had her hair fixed as I wore mine back in the day. Later on, this same daughter brought the original project she and her sisters dreamt up for me. It is a booklet, about 12 x 15, a memory lane trip. Pictures from the beginning of our relationships 40 years a go to the present. What a wonderful gift! On the back cover, there is a picture of the three of them with me and the caption reads "A Three Wicked Stepdaughters Production." Only these three...I can imagine them dreaming this up and the myriad phone calls back and forth.

Today is Prayer Shawl Meeting day at the local B&N. Got a gift certificate, a dollar for every year, from my sister and brother. It's burning a hole in my pocket. I want to make sure I make the best use of it. Now what books do I want that will amuse and entertain and educate me forever? My cat just shook her head and said, "Don't ask me. I can never understand you." Smart cat.

We are happy in this house lately. Our favorite team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, won the Stanley Cup. Pittsburgh,m, PA, where, alas and alack, we no longer live, is once again the City of Champions. Three Stanly Cups and Five Super Bowl trophies! What a town. I could move back there in a New York minute!

Off to do some more thank you notes. Next time...the Wrap Me Up shawl will be done. Meanwhile, I've posted some pictures of the work in progress.