Hi Acra. I'm here but just checking in real quick because you're right, I'm on 'vacation'. (With SD, two of her friends and a short-tempered FDH). Whoo hoo!

Hi Acra! I loved your continent when I visited a few weeks ago. Like you said, no tombo in South Africa, but I LOVED amarula.

I know it's boring today, but just think how many stories there are going to be tomorrow about bbq's gone wrong!

We are supposed to go to fireworks tonight but they get rained out a lot because in Florida it is our rainy season. So we will see.

Celebrating 29!! WooHoo

Ha! Not much happening. DH still hasn't initiated a convo with me about 'our family' but it may happen on our vacation (he and I, no SDs!, are road-tripping next week so have lots of time.

SD11 is fine, cleaned up her room very well and apologies for leaving food in it.. SD13 shockingly cleaned hers and did laundry but I suspect DH helped her AGAIN. Their bathroom still needs cleaning today.

Food? I had a lovely french red wine last night to go with brats and smoked saurkraut. And a coconut ice cream bar for dessert. Tonight I have no idea. We're going to a friend's house. I'll likely bring hummus and chips and fruit. And I'll prep both beef and turkey burgers too. And a bottle of whatever white wine I have on hand plus some of my favorite hoppy pilsner (with a lime).
Sundress and sunscreen and good to go.

DH and SD11 will stay there for a neighborhood fireworks show while I'd rather see the huge show closer to home and SD13 will go with me to that.

Then we hit the road at noon tomorrow after BM picks up SDs for her 3 weeks!

Hahaha if you come to the USA it should be for something better than 4th of July. I bet you'd love Mardi Gras here in New Orleans. Naked bodies painted walking around the French Quarter. We eat so much and it's all bad for you haha. I think it's the best celebration in the US but I am obviously bias. But here we do the same for the fourth as we do Memorial Day and NYE.

I'll have a glass of wine for you!

Wavin' hi, Acra!

I've got my Constitution festooned with fireworks shirt, my red pants, my layers of red, white, & blue star necklaces and my little flags bracelet on. That last one purchased from a presidential library, no less.

Dh and I went driving around small town America yesterday, bought corn and squash and melons at stands right next to the gardens where grown. Had Indian frybread on a reservation and drove to a national monument but it was closed. Ended the day in a giant traffic jam topped off with local lemon pie. All in all, couldn't have been a more American 24 hours.

Thanks for your good wishes and all best trans-oceanic friendship back at you!

Yeah, the state of our country currently sucks, Acra, but you already know this.

Skid is FAR away at the beach with the inlaws. Yay!

DH is working a half day - he'll be off in less than an hour. Then it's high gravity beer, food off of the grill, and catching-up on Tour de France (that we recorded earlier). Basically, our dream evening for a pending stormy evening here in the southern U.S.

OH So Sorry (bows and scrapes) your Highness!

We had no kiddos. Munchkin was off with her mother (who doesn't do ANYTHING) so who knows what she was up to. Winona stayed in her room, who knows what she was doing. Didn't care, still don't.

SO went fishing, while I went to local hometown parade and then SHOPPING, to get new clothes to go with new hair (newly blonde), and then we went to a local rooftop to watch the ocean and drink adult beverages. No bbq, no drama. Just a few fireworks on the drive home, a few shots of patron and then sleepytime.

Just wasnt in the mood for all day Queing. Or anything.