I had an unusually good Independence Day. I say this because I spent it (a) with my family and (b) outside. Yesterday morning, my mom mentioned something about going to Bolling to picnic and watch the fireworks. Despite last year's Fourth being so enjoyable for me (oh, do I love Cassie Claire's writing), I knew that spending this one at home would just be hellish. And I knew Greg was going to Six Flags after he got off work, so I wouldn't even have the comfort of knowing there was another shut-in somewhere. So, to my family's great surprise, I decided to go with them.
We got out there in late afternoon. We found a tree to sit under to watch the "events." That tree provided no shade whatsoever, but I had my visor, a lawn chair, and a book, so I was fine. I wanted to see if I could tan my legs anyway. I realize that tanning is just cooking my skin, but I'd already started a tan running around the track in gym class. Might as well finish it, right? And I was wearing SPF 30.
First, they had various dog contests. Very informal, very fast, but kinda cute. They gave awards for Shortest Tail, Longest Tail, Curliest Hair, Dog and Owner Lookalikes, and Most Patriotic. That last one was interesting -- people dress their dogs up like they're people. Having never had a dog, I can't understand this. But they do look kinda cute. Then they did a demonstration with the SPs (Security Police -- think cops in fatigues) and their Military Working Dogs (think vicious German Shepherds). The dogs are very well trained and very strong. Quite impressive to watch. Not so impressive if you were the idiot stupid enough to commit a crime and have
dogs on you.
Then I read for a while. Then they had more contests: a watermelon-eating one for the kids, which was only mildly interesting 'cause I couldn't see that from my chair between the trees, and a frozen t-shirt contest.
Not a wet t-shirt contest. This is the military. The idea is that t-shirts are soaked in water and frozen, so they resemble wrinkled fabric snowballs. Each contestant gets a frozen t-shirt and can use any means to unravel the shirt enough to get it over his or her head. It was very interesting to watch. You could hear loud banging noises over the music as people fought to unwrap their shirts. The girl that won started by jumping on hers, which is what I would have done, had I entered. It was great fun to watch people were flinging their half-frozen shirts against the stage in the sun, trying to melt and break them at the same time. One guy was so harsh with his, it had holes all over it. I laughed the entire time.
After that, I read some more. Mom brought fried chicken for dinner. And a bag of potato rolls, mostly for me. What can I say? I love bread. And potato rolls are really good. Then there was a big lull until the fireworks. They were excellent. Bolling is on the bank of the Potomac opposite the mall, so we could see the fireworks right next to the Washington Monument -- an advantage to being military in this area. You know you're looking at big fireworks when they still look tremendous from half a mile away. It was a long display, very colorful, and very pretty.
The traffic heading off the base was
terrible. And we were all cramped into Dad's new truck. It's cool, but it is
not a passenger vehicle. I was very aware of my long legs as they bumped against my mom's seat in front of me.
Today we went swimming. The pool on Andrews is great: not too far away, and never really crowded. Sure, they make all the underage people get out for break time every 45 minutes or so (even though the adults have their own separate pool on Andrews), but it's still nice. I had to sit out the first half hour because I ate on the way there, but I got to swim (my arms were so tired), I got some sun (and tan lines to go with it), and I didn't feel like a shut-in (my family's not so bad in small doses.) [Note: I take that last part back. The rugrats are fighting again. Why,
why do they always have to hover around me when they fight?]
I am now unusually bronze, and I redid my toenails 'cause I chipped the polish at the pool. It's just multi-colored glitter this time. Subtle, but they're all shiny now, and
I know it's there.
I start work this week. I'm going to help my piano teacher sort research for her dissertation and organize various things for her in-home businesses. I'm only working four hours a day (10:30 to 2:30, 'cause I'm still responsible for watching the rugrats), and getting paid well for it. And I get to get away from the rugrats. I am so relieved.
I almost forgot. I made a
links page Thursday night. It's much better laid out than this blog, 'cause I used a different method to get everything to line up. I was so happy it turned out well that I wore pink pajamas. You know, 'cause it's the same color scheme, pink and brown. I wanna see if I can change this layout to something cuter like that. Ooh. I have skills, even if they are somewhat limited.
