I went to the batting cages with my kids and then I took them to our friend's pizza restaurant. We stayed at the pizza place and chatted for a good long time. I was invited to a party for tonight (not going) and I was invited to go on a friend's boat yesterday (I had to work) but I had no invites for today. Except for the beach and I declined because I'm going tomorrow and I'm lazy. I wish I was at a pool party or barbecue.

Tonight we're taking the kids to see the fireworks. Maybe we'll go to the party afterward if it's still rocking.

I'm resigning my governorship.

I saw a very nice parade complete with baton twirlers, dance teams, Shriners with little gocarts and little motorbikes, religious floats, and a couple minor-league beauty queens. Tonight I will probably watch PBS's Capital 4th thing or the movie 1776. I don't think I'll go watch our local fireworks because I am mosquito-bit enough already.

I am uncharacteristically missing a bit the big get-togethers we used to have at my grandparents' place on the 4th. And feeling a bit brood-y, which is not too uncharacteristic. On the whole, I'd rather be out grillin' some stuff and blowin' stuff up and stuff, but there's really no-one to get together with around here, and after long drives yesterday and last weekend I'm through driving places for - well, right now I'm swearing it's forever, which is probably exaggerating, but anyway quite a long time.

I'm heading off to a meetup which will then be followed by fireworks. I'm kinda nervous since it's one of those social club sorts of things and I'm trying to work on getting out of the house more.

Futzed around in the garden a little this morning, but I'm pretty much just taking it easy today. Later tonight, I might ride my bike down by the river and see if I can see some fireworks or drunks or something.

I cleaned the house, did laundry, went for a run, got some coffee, read for a bit, and edited a manuscript. Then I went grocery shopping and made nommy lunch. Now I am relaxing with a movie and a cold pint of Sapporo.

I still don't know very many people here and the two bbqs I got invited to are 15 miles away (usually a 25 min drive but with traffic it would take me almost 2 hours). bleh. And, I don't want to drive home with all the drunk drivers.

So this 4th it is me all alone at home but not as bad as I thought it would be.

I am full of pulled pork, collard greens, baked beans, and cornbread.

Zzzzzzzz

I'm not doing anything particularly 4th related but it is day one of my three week bicycle tour! So for me it means an extra free vacation day and an extra amount of people out and about.

FOOD COMA

I'm getting drunk and getting paid for it. I love America.

Went out for a big BBQ lunch, went for a ride in the convertible, and then came home and made ice cream. It's been an excellent day.

Am sort of a grumpy bunny tonight (and have been for much of the past week due to contemplating tonight). It's the first time in I'm not sure how many years that I haven't spent the 4th with at least some family members, or surrounded by droves of them. Was planning on doing my own thing (probably involving the Pittsburgh Symphony at the Regatta, some pierogi and water ice, followed by watching fireworks from my seekrit viewing spot) until, in response to my offer to work extra hours yesterday and today in order to make up for offices closing and other people taking off, I was scheduled basically all day today, and will finish up just about the time the big downtown fireworks display concludes its finale. I feel childish for being so bummed about it, but I'm also annoyed to have been pointlessly screwed out of being able to do anything that would have felt properly 4th-of-Julyish.

The meetup I was supposed to go to was a bust (no one was there and the host said that they had bailed on their table to go walk around) and so I've returned to my hideyhole to get shitfaced on my own.

It's just as well, really. I don't exactly have the money for that sort of thing. We'll see if any of the neighbors set off illegal fireworks.

If you get bored, come on over and we can light some dumpsters on fire. I'm also planning to get ice cream.

I am looking at adult websites featuring bootylicious women in tricorner hats.

Let Freedom Ring!

God Save the Queen!

Zip, zero, zilch. And although I've been in Canada for eight years, it still feels weird missing out on the U.S. holidays.

Day 2 of hardcore packing, and I got about 80% of the kitchen into boxes. I had a ton of cucumbers in the garden, and it occurred to me that I wanted a Pimm's cup or 3 at the cookout I'd be going to. But the ABC store (state-run liquor store) is closed today for the holiday. So I emailed my neighborhood listserv to see if anyone had some, and within 15 minutes a neighbor replied in the affirmative. I'll be sad to leave this 'hood.

Went to my mother's. My sister and her family are in town for our wedding, so I got to see sister, brother-in-law, and three kids for the first time since last year.

We then attended a cook-out held by Mom's friends at the retirement village: always nice but a bit weird to be at an event there, where every attendee acts like your tottery, dotty uncle or aunt. At nearly forty, I am unaccustomed to having my cheek patted quite so often as it happened tonight.

I noticed my (very polite) niece and nephews snaked in and out without getting patted or pinched, though my niece glued herself to me and followed me around all night. "I'm your lost puppy," she said.

Most of these folks don't know my name, despite having introduced myself every single time I've met 'em, and they have no plan to learn it. They refer to me as Sally's* Daughter. "So, Sally's Daughter, how are the wedding plans?" "Don, did you know Sally's Daughter is a student!"

*Name changed to protect the innocent.

And OH MY GOD I SWEAR IT'S TRUE: one of the women asked if I'd be living with my mother until the wedding. You know, to preserve my reputation or, uh, something.

Stayed inside all day. Just now failed at making 1) panfried chicken livers and 2) savory pancakes to use up leftover seasoned flour. Do I even want to eat dinner anymore?

Oh, and in a bit, I'm meeting The Fella at the neighborhood bar to raise a glass with some friends --- it's the last chance we're likely to have before the wedding. Should be fun.

Ran the local 5K this morning with a bunch of girlfriends. Out of all of my friends I came in last but so what. I came in way ahead of everyone who stayed at home in bed. It was really fun. Then my family went to our village's parade. It was so small-town and so cute. Pretty much anyone with a convertible and/or a lot of crepe paper and candy to toss can have a float and wave to the masses. Then it rained a little in the afternoon so we took naps in shifts and played with Toddler Jack, who just turned 3 yesterday. Happy Birthday Jack!!! I baked a sour cherry pie which came out really well. Cookout for dinner and then fireworks which we can conveniently watch from the foot of our driveway. All in all an excellent day.

Lazy morning, then we drove up to a local winery that was having a Cuban-style pig roast, which was awesome. Great food, great wine, great views, great live music. Came back to the house, lazed about a bit more, ate some strawberry ice cream that ikkyu2 made, and then set off a bunch of fireworks in our driveway.

Now I'm trying to convince the cat that the apocalypse did not just happen and that it's safe to come out from under the bookshelf. And doing more lazing.

Refused offers to play video games near Coney Island to celebrate the Fourth with a $2 hot dog and $3??? bottle of lemonade at Battery Park City, where I saw fireworks shoot off from Jersey and parts further west, and then launched off of a barge or island behind the Statue of Liberty. Funniest part was when earlier a cop on a scooter said, "Dude, if you're here for fireworks, go further north to 24th and Eleventh" and I'm holla back from my perch across the way, "Dude, what about the fireworks over the water?"

After the show was over, I went over to the cop who was flirting with these chicks and said, "Hey, did I call it or did I call it?" He was forced to agree that yes, I was right to be in that spot there.

Then, came home, wrote about my trip to my parents/family because I'm first-generation [LAST NAME] American, and am now listening to firecrackers going off in my neighborhood while watching my first season "Boston Legal" DVDs.

I went to a yummy bbq at my aunt's house with some extended family, including my very cute 1.5 year old second cousin who toddles around and eats anything that anyone offers him. Then we went to see fireworks (and found a totally perfect location), and now I'm home.

I went to a BBQ with Mosessis (and her partner) and Goshling (and Goshling Jnr).

It was lovely. We had American style Baked Beans, burgers, sausages, potato salad, sweet iced tea, and apple pie!