The community fireworks were held near here last night. We thought we might be able to see and hear them in the backyard. We went out at dark and saw flickering to the south, over the roof of the house. It was very faint, and we could hear nothing. We watched a bit and grumbled about how disappointing the experience was. Just as we were about to give up and go in, the real fireworks erupted over the trees in the east. We’d been watching a thunderstorm 50 miles away.
58 responses to “Happy Independence Day!”
Sideburns:
I hope that you come this side of the country before long but only during lightning bug season.
Once you see them, you will realize what you have missed. They are among the most beautiful creatures in nature.
One of you inquired / my absence. Extract of my email reply: “I’m fine, but laptop was sick, M pm until today [F]. I got withdrawal symptoms. Thanks for your concern. Going to an “Oh, You shouldn’t have” [UMC] shower tomorrow afternoon. No major power loss here, though we did have a real but short-lived tornado near St. Bart’s EC. Church was undamaged [maybe some shingles], but they lost some nice trees. Peace,”
High art.
https://www.gocomics.com/bloom-county/2018/07/07
There’s been a series / jackelopes, mostly regular cartoons but at least one other painting.
Peace,
And there was the book, The Last Basselope, as described at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Basselope
If you want a copy, visit Amazon or a favorite local bookseller.
And another great comic artist is gone: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/steve-ditko-dead-spider-man-creator-was-90-1125489
I liked his art style and the comics he worked on when i was young. I still like them now.
I didn’t have time to post it the other day, but July 5th was National (Guess-What) Day.
http://fijiswimwear.com/wp-content/uploads/Z262-0-500×700.jpg
Probably no one will be surprised to learn that Steals and Deals Boutiques ran a special on bikinis that day. No, it wasn’t “Half Off” (get your minds out of the gutter), it was “Buy One Get One Free.
Bikinis are definitely popular around the Lake. Having lunch at our favorite roadhouse yesterday, one of the cute waitresses (of which said roadhouse seems to have many) told us she had purchased one of our red, white and blue ones, but had lost it, along with just about everything else, in a house fire. Jackie immediately offered to replace it for her at no cost, but she told us she already had, and that it was one of the first things she had replaced after the fire.
Yesterday was National Fried Chicken Day. How ’bout that…two chick days in a row.
Sideburns, how come you are moving to Colorado? Inquiring minds want to know. Say, where is Sandcastler these days? He used to post quite often.
I have been reading all the posts but it’s been so hot here in NH my brain was frizzled. Today such a relief — cool breeze, clear blue sky, and I felt terrific. I want to spread the joy.
Post Script. Awfully glad to read that emb is all right.
Driving to church before 2 pm yesterday, was puzzling over whether I’d ever been to a bridal shower before. Had a pretty mailed invite, and had bought a useful gift at Target, using the registry there that I’d used for wedding presents on earlier occasions. Shower was for one of several foster granddaughters I’ve accumulated over the years.
Lo, I was the only male there, save for a young father who was out in the narthex to sit his one-yr old daughter during her naptime. Mom was one of several young women running the shower. Realized then that this was Elaine’s job; showers were very much women’s affairs, and she’d been to several over the decades. No problem; like Ghost, I’m quite comfortable in all-female groups, and didn’t hear, “How about them Twins?” once. Used to be the only male at nurses’ farewell gathering at local steakhouses; husbands and lovers were invited, but most were scared to come to “hen parties.”
Also, a good lunch. Plan to also be at the BUMC wedding and reception in Oct. Peace,
I’ve been the so-called “token male” in quite a few church-related meetings. Fine with me – and you get to overhear some interesting things upon occasion.
I was the only male in my medical office training class in Tennessee. As you say, you hear some interesting things. Also, they sometimes said things to try for a reaction from me. I had been married for 4 years at that point and they didn’t faze me.
Charlotte, my sister and I have been living in what was our parent’s retirement condo, but she owned it. She decided to sell it and buy a home in Trinidad, CO, from our cousin. I had two choices: move to Colorado or find a homeless shelter that would take me and my cat in.
Oh dear! So it’s not exactly what you would have chosen. Well, I gather that there is a lot to like about Colorado, and I hope you will find all those things and explore the new possibilities that have opened up for you. And your cat. Please send progress reports. This could be exciting!
Sideburns, Google shows this as the closest VA facility to Trinidad. It is shown as being 25 miles away. https://www.albuquerque.va.gov/locations/RatonClinic.asp
Good luck with the move. I was left in a similar situation in 2016, which was remedied by Jackie letting me use a mother-in-law apartment at her place till I got an apartment in Tulsa. I was taking care of mom, when brother decided to take her when he and his wife moved out of Tuscaloosa. He then informed me he would be selling the house and I would need to move. Brother moved mom, Jackie helped me move, mom died within two weeks. The whole month of October 2016 is pretty much a blur, but thank God for Jackie. Without her I have no idea where I would have gone.
Mark, the Raton Clinic has GP, Dermatology and lab work only. For anything else, I have to go to Albuquerque, almost four hours each way by car, or six by train, with one train each way per day.
That’s the pits. Is the Veterans Choice program still operating? You will be so far from the main location that you would qualify, if anyone in Trinidad accepts it.
I’ve no idea. I do know that our cousin is a vet and uses Raton and Albuquerque. Considering that I’d have to go down there to see specialists, I don’t expect to find qualified locals in a town of only 9,000 people.
Sideburns, It’s less than 90 miles from Trinidad to Pueblo, which is large enough that you should be able to get civilian care under Veteran’s Choice. If you are eligible, that might be better than going all the way to Albuquerque.
I’ve been researching this for weeks, David. If I go to Albuquerque, the VA gives me mileage, and I think I can get reimbursed for gas and lodging if I turn in the receipts. (It’s a combination of low income and 30% disabled, Service Connected.) Maybe even meals, but I’m not sure. And of course, no copay. I’ve already got my Veteran’s Choice card but I’d rather not have to wait to be paid back, except in emergencies.
you may be surprised, Sideburns. My uncle lives in a very VERY small place in mountains of Virginia. WHen he got sick (one of those weird things that normally no one’s heard of or would even suspect to look for) he found that the local dr had been a highly valued member of Miami, FL hospitals , etc., and was up on latest issues/solutions. He’d just gotten tired of the noise and moved to somewhere peaceful.
of course, actual mileage may differ, but wishing you the best! sounds like you’ve already done homework.
Jimmy!!!!! that’s a good one. 🙂
Cats and toddlers (but especially cats!) won’t be ignored:
https://www.ksl.com/article/46356827/have-you-seen-this-cat-crashes-live-tv-interview
TruckerRon, reminds me of another video I’d seen. In that one, a woman reporter is doing an on-site report in front of a building when a cat shows up and proceeds to climb to her shoulders.
Good timing, wrong cat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ePOKqkwkOM