Friday, July 29, 2005
Nice Day To
Start Agaaaaaaaain
Calm down everybody. We're all okay.
There's a trend I'm noticing. Well, a few. I've just finished reading everyone's blogs. (I do this sometimes... just sit and read blogs.) And for the first time, I noticed a common theme amongst almost all of the blogs I read. That common theme is marriage. Some are for it, some are against it, some are afraid of it, and some are proud of it.
What is it about the early twenties? No matter how we all feel about marriage, somehow the early twenties curse smacks us in the head. It's either "marriage is stupid!" or it's "marriage is wonderful!" or something along those lines. What I want to know is, why do we have to decide today whether marriage is stupid or wonderful? Now, before I get a million nasty comments on my blog, allow me to confess I too have recently been struck by the metaphorical marriage frying pan. It's funny too... sometimes I'm all for it, and sometimes I'm against it. I can't seem to decide. I think I feel like marriage can be a really wonderful thing if it's done for the right reasons, and so many people are missing those reasons. I'm way excited to be married someday, and I'll never deny that. However, a marriage is eternal, (or it's supposed to be anyway) and so I really feel that something eternal would never need to be rushed. This is why I don't understand the wave that's come over us all.
Some of us are all, "People who get married are so lame! We laugh up our sleeves at them! Thank goodnes we'll be happy in life, and they'll end up divorced and miserable." I am one of these people sometimes too. In all honesty, I partake in the protests of both sides.
But here's what I don't understand. No matter which side we're on, whether for or against, it's on our minds. Now, it may just be women. (Of the 4 blogs that mentioned it, all were women - 2 for, 2 against.) But either way, for some reason, it's struck us all, and all at the same time. I don't know why. We're all in our early 20's. We've got plenty of time for such a decision, I don't know why we're all confronted with it. Maybe it's because a lot of our friends are getting engaged, which they are. But they may just be responding to the frying pan that's just hit them. And anyway, think about your reaction when someone gets engaged. We're happy for these people, but the second they look away, we think about ourselves. Will we ever be married? And then... are you really happy for these people? Maybe you think to yourself, "Hahahaha! Sucker! I know I'll sure as hell never make that mistake!" Or maybe you think to yourself, "I hope I have that someday." But either way, you think to yourself. I just wish I knew why.
If someone walked in the room with a cow, would you think, "Hahahaha sucker! I'll never buy a cow!" or "I hope I have a cow someday"? I doubt you would. There's this weird mysterious fascination with marriage that I can't explain. The people who read this are all insightful and intelligent. Maybe you folks can help me piece it all together.
My point is this: If you're against marriage, calm yourself. First of all, we're all young, and you might change your mind when you find somebody. And don't give me the "I'm not going to find somebody, and I don't want to find somebody" because you don't get to pick. You don't get to pick whether or not you find somebody and when and who. They don't tell you that when you start life, but I've found it to be true. Sometimes people just find you, and when you find yourself caring for them back, you may change your tune. You can't predict the future, and you certainly can't predict your own emotions. That's what makes them emotions instead of logic.
If you're for marriage, calm yourself. You too may also change your mind. Sometimes ten or twenty years with a person will teach you things about him/her that you didn't know before and can't commit to. You have to accept the fact that the anti-marriage people may be right just as they have to accept that you may be right. Like I said before, you can't predict your emotions. People who are "in love" never want to admit that they could be wrong. The feeling of love is too assuring and addictive. You may wake up one morning and not be in love. You may wake up and decide that marriage is not for you.
I have no idea what I'm getting at. I think we all just need to breathe. We're freaking out and we're all okay. We don't need to be upset about the engagements that are going on, and we don't need to be upset at the crusading singles. We've all got plenty of time, and there has never been a rule that says married people and single people can't be friends and have a good time together. Single-pride people are all "THEY'RE LEAVING US" and married-pride people are all "I NEED TO FIGURE OUT THE NEXT 30 YEARS OF MY LIFE TOMORROW." Come on. We're all cool, we're all still humans that eat the same foods and breathe the same air, and we all okay. The married people won't (or at least they sure as hell shouldn't) be "lost to the dark side" or "dead to us" and the single people won't (or at least they sure as hell shouldn't) look down on anyone or misunderstand.
And besides! We're young! Let's think of big swirly lollipops and little red wagons!
That is all.
DISCLAIMER: I am a hypocrite. I do not deny this. I have made pretty much all of the above statements myself. This blog was a therapy blog more than it was an instruction manual for people. It was sort of an attempt to sort out my own thoughts on the matter, and I still am not sure exactly where I stand. I don't pretend to have the answers, all I know is how I feel. That is all.
Calm down everybody. We're all okay.
There's a trend I'm noticing. Well, a few. I've just finished reading everyone's blogs. (I do this sometimes... just sit and read blogs.) And for the first time, I noticed a common theme amongst almost all of the blogs I read. That common theme is marriage. Some are for it, some are against it, some are afraid of it, and some are proud of it.
What is it about the early twenties? No matter how we all feel about marriage, somehow the early twenties curse smacks us in the head. It's either "marriage is stupid!" or it's "marriage is wonderful!" or something along those lines. What I want to know is, why do we have to decide today whether marriage is stupid or wonderful? Now, before I get a million nasty comments on my blog, allow me to confess I too have recently been struck by the metaphorical marriage frying pan. It's funny too... sometimes I'm all for it, and sometimes I'm against it. I can't seem to decide. I think I feel like marriage can be a really wonderful thing if it's done for the right reasons, and so many people are missing those reasons. I'm way excited to be married someday, and I'll never deny that. However, a marriage is eternal, (or it's supposed to be anyway) and so I really feel that something eternal would never need to be rushed. This is why I don't understand the wave that's come over us all.
Some of us are all, "People who get married are so lame! We laugh up our sleeves at them! Thank goodnes we'll be happy in life, and they'll end up divorced and miserable." I am one of these people sometimes too. In all honesty, I partake in the protests of both sides.
But here's what I don't understand. No matter which side we're on, whether for or against, it's on our minds. Now, it may just be women. (Of the 4 blogs that mentioned it, all were women - 2 for, 2 against.) But either way, for some reason, it's struck us all, and all at the same time. I don't know why. We're all in our early 20's. We've got plenty of time for such a decision, I don't know why we're all confronted with it. Maybe it's because a lot of our friends are getting engaged, which they are. But they may just be responding to the frying pan that's just hit them. And anyway, think about your reaction when someone gets engaged. We're happy for these people, but the second they look away, we think about ourselves. Will we ever be married? And then... are you really happy for these people? Maybe you think to yourself, "Hahahaha! Sucker! I know I'll sure as hell never make that mistake!" Or maybe you think to yourself, "I hope I have that someday." But either way, you think to yourself. I just wish I knew why.
If someone walked in the room with a cow, would you think, "Hahahaha sucker! I'll never buy a cow!" or "I hope I have a cow someday"? I doubt you would. There's this weird mysterious fascination with marriage that I can't explain. The people who read this are all insightful and intelligent. Maybe you folks can help me piece it all together.
My point is this: If you're against marriage, calm yourself. First of all, we're all young, and you might change your mind when you find somebody. And don't give me the "I'm not going to find somebody, and I don't want to find somebody" because you don't get to pick. You don't get to pick whether or not you find somebody and when and who. They don't tell you that when you start life, but I've found it to be true. Sometimes people just find you, and when you find yourself caring for them back, you may change your tune. You can't predict the future, and you certainly can't predict your own emotions. That's what makes them emotions instead of logic.
If you're for marriage, calm yourself. You too may also change your mind. Sometimes ten or twenty years with a person will teach you things about him/her that you didn't know before and can't commit to. You have to accept the fact that the anti-marriage people may be right just as they have to accept that you may be right. Like I said before, you can't predict your emotions. People who are "in love" never want to admit that they could be wrong. The feeling of love is too assuring and addictive. You may wake up one morning and not be in love. You may wake up and decide that marriage is not for you.
I have no idea what I'm getting at. I think we all just need to breathe. We're freaking out and we're all okay. We don't need to be upset about the engagements that are going on, and we don't need to be upset at the crusading singles. We've all got plenty of time, and there has never been a rule that says married people and single people can't be friends and have a good time together. Single-pride people are all "THEY'RE LEAVING US" and married-pride people are all "I NEED TO FIGURE OUT THE NEXT 30 YEARS OF MY LIFE TOMORROW." Come on. We're all cool, we're all still humans that eat the same foods and breathe the same air, and we all okay. The married people won't (or at least they sure as hell shouldn't) be "lost to the dark side" or "dead to us" and the single people won't (or at least they sure as hell shouldn't) look down on anyone or misunderstand.
And besides! We're young! Let's think of big swirly lollipops and little red wagons!
That is all.
DISCLAIMER: I am a hypocrite. I do not deny this. I have made pretty much all of the above statements myself. This blog was a therapy blog more than it was an instruction manual for people. It was sort of an attempt to sort out my own thoughts on the matter, and I still am not sure exactly where I stand. I don't pretend to have the answers, all I know is how I feel. That is all.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
We Were on a Break!
A quote from "Friends" to begin tonight's entry
I'm on a break. Every night this week I've had some pressing issue of which I needed to take care. Not tonight. Tonight I'm catching up on my tv, doing a bit of reading, and typing a bit of blogtastic bullshit. I did some songwriting right after work, but then my mother came home, and I can't write songs with people around. It makes me feel like they're listening and critiquing, and that makes me nervous. It's hard to explain. I'm especially weird about it with my mother since she would use my lyrics to try to analyze me, and the scary part is she'd probably be right. I don't want anyone getting into my head that shouldn't be there. That's why I love singing with a band. We all write songs. There's no way to tell who wrote what, and whose pain you're tapping into by listening. I like the anonymity.
Just now I was going to share the news that I've lot five pounds. I'm a sly one, for I shared the news anyway without that being the point of my statement. Anyway, I thought about sharing that info, but then it occurred to me that by stating to the world that I've lost five pounds, I am sounding like the weird 40-something ladies at work who think they're 20-something ladies at work. They sit in the lunch room (which is right across from my room so I hear EVERYTHING) and discuss one or more of four topics: 1. Weight Loss, 2. Anti-aging creams, serums, surgeries, etc., 3. Men and how they're pigs and we don't need them because we're strong and independent and don't care what anyone thinks of us (despite spending millions on weight loss and anti-aging creams...), and 4. Reality television.
It's really kind of sad. These women have children, and they talk about how annoying their children are, and how they don't understand why they're all into drugs and are popping out kids at age 15. Meanwhile, while they're bitching, they get calls on their cell phones from said children, and completely blow them off. "I don't care! I'm at work! ..... Then clean it the fuck up! Don't fucking call me again!" They hang up and turn back to their 40-something friends and take another bite of the slim-fast ice cream crap they're eating. "Gawd, how stupid is my daughter" Eye roll.
Literally. In all honesty. Never have I once ever heard them talk about anything but weight loss, anti-aging tricks, men, and reality television, unless, of course, they're complaining about their children. This is why when I was about to gleefully announce my recent loss of five pounds, I thought better of it and feared becoming one of these women. Unfortunately, as I said before, I mentioned it anyway, and now I'm like them. Sigh. At least I only have one strike. I don't use anti-aging products yet, I'm quite fond of men (sometimes too fond... sigh) and I am proud to say I don't watch a single reality TV show. To be fair, we all have our vices. Anyone who knows me knows that I had a sick sick Friends addiction, but now that the show's off the air, I'd say I'm well on my way to being fully rehabilitated.
Josh doesn't like it when I talk like I'm better than people. I never mean to come off like that, although, rereading this entry so far, it does come off that way. Hmm. Maybe I oughta rethink my rhetoric. Maybe I just look down on people too much. I oughta start giving humanity more credit. Although, really, let's be honest. There are a lot of morons out there. Am I a bitch, or am I a realist? It's not important.
What's important is that the Pirates are whoopin' the Rockies' asses at present. 7-0 in the top of the 4th. I'm enjoying it quite a bit.
SWEET! The Powerade commercial with the weird sports is on. You know, the one with the dude getting catapulted through the goal post and the people walking on treadmills on their hands? It's a pretty sweet commercial.
I think it's time for me to toast an English muffin. Heavy on the butter.
Mmmm... butter.
I'm on a break. Every night this week I've had some pressing issue of which I needed to take care. Not tonight. Tonight I'm catching up on my tv, doing a bit of reading, and typing a bit of blogtastic bullshit. I did some songwriting right after work, but then my mother came home, and I can't write songs with people around. It makes me feel like they're listening and critiquing, and that makes me nervous. It's hard to explain. I'm especially weird about it with my mother since she would use my lyrics to try to analyze me, and the scary part is she'd probably be right. I don't want anyone getting into my head that shouldn't be there. That's why I love singing with a band. We all write songs. There's no way to tell who wrote what, and whose pain you're tapping into by listening. I like the anonymity.
Just now I was going to share the news that I've lot five pounds. I'm a sly one, for I shared the news anyway without that being the point of my statement. Anyway, I thought about sharing that info, but then it occurred to me that by stating to the world that I've lost five pounds, I am sounding like the weird 40-something ladies at work who think they're 20-something ladies at work. They sit in the lunch room (which is right across from my room so I hear EVERYTHING) and discuss one or more of four topics: 1. Weight Loss, 2. Anti-aging creams, serums, surgeries, etc., 3. Men and how they're pigs and we don't need them because we're strong and independent and don't care what anyone thinks of us (despite spending millions on weight loss and anti-aging creams...), and 4. Reality television.
It's really kind of sad. These women have children, and they talk about how annoying their children are, and how they don't understand why they're all into drugs and are popping out kids at age 15. Meanwhile, while they're bitching, they get calls on their cell phones from said children, and completely blow them off. "I don't care! I'm at work! ..... Then clean it the fuck up! Don't fucking call me again!" They hang up and turn back to their 40-something friends and take another bite of the slim-fast ice cream crap they're eating. "Gawd, how stupid is my daughter" Eye roll.
Literally. In all honesty. Never have I once ever heard them talk about anything but weight loss, anti-aging tricks, men, and reality television, unless, of course, they're complaining about their children. This is why when I was about to gleefully announce my recent loss of five pounds, I thought better of it and feared becoming one of these women. Unfortunately, as I said before, I mentioned it anyway, and now I'm like them. Sigh. At least I only have one strike. I don't use anti-aging products yet, I'm quite fond of men (sometimes too fond... sigh) and I am proud to say I don't watch a single reality TV show. To be fair, we all have our vices. Anyone who knows me knows that I had a sick sick Friends addiction, but now that the show's off the air, I'd say I'm well on my way to being fully rehabilitated.
Josh doesn't like it when I talk like I'm better than people. I never mean to come off like that, although, rereading this entry so far, it does come off that way. Hmm. Maybe I oughta rethink my rhetoric. Maybe I just look down on people too much. I oughta start giving humanity more credit. Although, really, let's be honest. There are a lot of morons out there. Am I a bitch, or am I a realist? It's not important.
What's important is that the Pirates are whoopin' the Rockies' asses at present. 7-0 in the top of the 4th. I'm enjoying it quite a bit.
SWEET! The Powerade commercial with the weird sports is on. You know, the one with the dude getting catapulted through the goal post and the people walking on treadmills on their hands? It's a pretty sweet commercial.
I think it's time for me to toast an English muffin. Heavy on the butter.
Mmmm... butter.
Monday, July 18, 2005
Full Moon Rising
Ahead of me, behind me, and above.
Full moon rising ahead of me
Behind me and above
Twenty PM
Smells like morning
On a dust storm winter day
Footprints
Three at a time
To a cave I've slept in before
Watch blue neighbors spin far away
And wait for
Transmission
In the distance I can see the Earth
Spinning all about itself
Hey
I'm up here
Beauty to show you and I wonder what
You would show me
Guess you could say I'm cosmically unstitched
Can there be a way to know?
Look away
Back to the shadows, the warm wind
That comes on the hour
For a moment I see a light
Shimmering
Could it be you?
So much to say
About this place
I want you to know
It's here
Come on by
Look for me
I look to you
Every night
In the distance I can see the Earth
Spinning all about itself
Hey
I'm up here
Beauty to show you and I wonder what
You would show me
Guess you could say I'm cosmically unstitched
Can there be a way to know?
Take your time
I'll be here
I'll be here
Today was a really weird day. For one thing, they laid off a bunch of people at work, which is very unlike them. Fortunately, despite being at the very bottom of the totem pole, I maintained my job. I think it's because I'm at the bottom. I make less money. Cutting me wouldn't save them enough money. Weird. Creepy.
John wasn't around tonight, so it was just Jason and I at the Rex this evening for open mic. Wouldn't you know it, it was yet another Montour high school reunion when we encountered our friend Chris from back in the day. He's in a band that's doing rather well, and he offered to help us out a bit. His band is in negotiations with some pretty big record labels, so if we could even open for them somewhere, I'm sure it would be a good place to get our foot in the door. You know, sometimes it's frustrating playing teeny shows in places with no audience, but when you think about it, we've had so much more success than we dreamed we'd have with this band. It's especially true considering that we've not even been a band for an entire year yet, and we just acquired Tyler a few short months ago. Our very first show was in January. That's six months. Half a year we've been playing, and not even with our current drummer. To have the shows that we have is a blessing. I think we owe it to fate.
I love the stage. This is nothing new, as the one thing that reeled me in to Mercyhurst College was the tour I took when they brought me out on the PAC stage and turned on the lights. They said this was where the music majors played, and it was almost as if a game show host had said, "Yes, Claire, this could all be yours if you successfully complete four years of grueling education." And every time I stepped out onto the PAC stage, or even Walker or Taylor Little Theater for that matter, my nerves were tolerable because I loved to be performing. Great Fall shows are no exception. I think it's even better, because people cheer and whistle and shout things (Sometimes lewd things haha) You definitely don't get that in the classical music genre. It's such a blast. You also don't get cool lighting effects and smoke machines in the musical genre. The show at the Rex on Saturday was definitely our finest hour in public performance. Well, finest half hour. Our music was super tight, and the audience, however drunk, was super into it. I have some pictures. I will post them here.
Among audience members this time around were my sister, my brother in law, my hot n sexy boyfriend, and even my mother. There's something really awesome about looking out into a crowd and seeing friends and family cheer you on. Ahh... we are blessed.
Anyway, I'd love to continue, but it's time for me to post some pictures and GO TO BED. Been a tiring few days.
Friday, July 15, 2005
Transpondster
I'm so lame
So... I'm back to Claire-like activities. I'm watching Friends and I'm loving it, and I'm acknowledging how lame I am for knowing more Friends trivia than any human should. I've been bitter lately, and I'm trying desperately not to be. I do this thing sometimes when I think about all that's going on in my life and all that has gone one in my life and, as all people do whether or not they admit it, I feel sorry for myself, and I know that's wrong. What makes things worse is that feeling sorry for myself makes me sort of look down my nose to other people, and that's really... crappy. I catch myself thinking about how "nobody knows what it's like. They go on living their empty meaningless lives, and these people are shallow." And that's not true. Everybody has had hard times, and I need to acknowledge that. And even people who have had near flawless lives aren't any less of a person than I. They've all been upset at one time or another, and they've all got worth and value to contribute to the world. I hate people who look down on people, and I'm doing that. Stupid Claire.
Anyway, somehow I got from sitcoms to self-loathing. Haha... odd.
Tam week was a freakin' blast. We saw what was quite possibly the most exciting Pirate game I've ever attended. Very cool! We also went to Kennywood, Sandcastle, Coldstone, and Nail Club, a Korean-run (aren't they all) nail salon where we got fabulous manicures and pedicures. Who knew toes could be so hot. It always makes me nervous when they talk to me though because I can't understand a word they say. Bummer.
A Great Fall plays tomorrow night at the Rex! A half hour set this time, none of that flimsy open mic 10 minute crap! I'm so pumped. Now if I could just decide what to wear...
I love being a rock star.
So... I'm back to Claire-like activities. I'm watching Friends and I'm loving it, and I'm acknowledging how lame I am for knowing more Friends trivia than any human should. I've been bitter lately, and I'm trying desperately not to be. I do this thing sometimes when I think about all that's going on in my life and all that has gone one in my life and, as all people do whether or not they admit it, I feel sorry for myself, and I know that's wrong. What makes things worse is that feeling sorry for myself makes me sort of look down my nose to other people, and that's really... crappy. I catch myself thinking about how "nobody knows what it's like. They go on living their empty meaningless lives, and these people are shallow." And that's not true. Everybody has had hard times, and I need to acknowledge that. And even people who have had near flawless lives aren't any less of a person than I. They've all been upset at one time or another, and they've all got worth and value to contribute to the world. I hate people who look down on people, and I'm doing that. Stupid Claire.
Anyway, somehow I got from sitcoms to self-loathing. Haha... odd.
Tam week was a freakin' blast. We saw what was quite possibly the most exciting Pirate game I've ever attended. Very cool! We also went to Kennywood, Sandcastle, Coldstone, and Nail Club, a Korean-run (aren't they all) nail salon where we got fabulous manicures and pedicures. Who knew toes could be so hot. It always makes me nervous when they talk to me though because I can't understand a word they say. Bummer.
A Great Fall plays tomorrow night at the Rex! A half hour set this time, none of that flimsy open mic 10 minute crap! I'm so pumped. Now if I could just decide what to wear...
I love being a rock star.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Tamalot
On second thought, let's not go to Tamalot... it is a silly place
One of my favorite humans is in town for a week, and man I am pumped. Miss Tamara Snyder herself has graced us all with her presence and will continue to be a force to be reckoned with for the next seven days. Yes!
It's rare that I blog two days in a row, but for some reason I'm feeling verbal. Enter: segue
I saw a great band in DC this past weekend called... Verbal. The irony (the ironing is delicious) is that they are an instrumental ensemble. No lyrics. They were awesome, however, and I invited them to be A Great Fall's friend on myspace, and they obliged. Sweet.
I just spoke of one of my favorite humans, and now I will speak of my favorite non-human, who has just decided to grace me with her presence as well. My cat, Molly has decided at the ripe old age of 10 that she wants to be a lap cat. It is kind of cute. However, as I have just purchased this shiny new laptop, she is very jealous of my computer and continues to sniff it whenever I am blogging (such as right now.) I think she's trying to tell me she doesn't approve. Oh well, it seems she has been distracted by something tasty on the floor anyway. Saved.
I guess I really don't have anything important to say. Nothing too exciting has been going on here, besides the fact that I got to indulge in Nacho Mama's Taco Platter today at Mad Mex, which is one of my favorite meals ever.
I see that blogger is now allowing images in blogs. Excellent! You should be expecting some soon. Especially now that it's Tam week.
Time for bed.
Yes.
One of my favorite humans is in town for a week, and man I am pumped. Miss Tamara Snyder herself has graced us all with her presence and will continue to be a force to be reckoned with for the next seven days. Yes!
It's rare that I blog two days in a row, but for some reason I'm feeling verbal. Enter: segue
I saw a great band in DC this past weekend called... Verbal. The irony (the ironing is delicious) is that they are an instrumental ensemble. No lyrics. They were awesome, however, and I invited them to be A Great Fall's friend on myspace, and they obliged. Sweet.
I just spoke of one of my favorite humans, and now I will speak of my favorite non-human, who has just decided to grace me with her presence as well. My cat, Molly has decided at the ripe old age of 10 that she wants to be a lap cat. It is kind of cute. However, as I have just purchased this shiny new laptop, she is very jealous of my computer and continues to sniff it whenever I am blogging (such as right now.) I think she's trying to tell me she doesn't approve. Oh well, it seems she has been distracted by something tasty on the floor anyway. Saved.
I guess I really don't have anything important to say. Nothing too exciting has been going on here, besides the fact that I got to indulge in Nacho Mama's Taco Platter today at Mad Mex, which is one of my favorite meals ever.
I see that blogger is now allowing images in blogs. Excellent! You should be expecting some soon. Especially now that it's Tam week.
Time for bed.
Yes.
Monday, July 04, 2005
Pyrotechnicalities
And spark-shooting chickens
This Fourth of July, I had enough. For the past few years I've been unable to view fireworks because I was among non-fireworky company. This year I wasn't going to tolerate it. I was all set to go see the fireworks in Crafton-Ingram by myself, yet, on a whim I invited my mother, knowing full well that she hasn't gone to fireworks with us since I was probably six. Oddly enough, she agreed to go. I think she found the thought of me watching fireworks in a shopping center all by myself somewhat pathetic. I guess she'd be right.
Anyway, I dragged my mother off to see the fireworks, and the whole process brought back memories. I parked in the same spot where my dad would park when he brought my sister and me to the fireworks, because, as I learned from him, it's right by an easy way to get out, and you can see the fireworks quite nicely from your car. This makes things easy in the event that it starts raining, or you just wanna recline your seat and chill inside, or if you want to sit on top of the car and watch from there. We parked there, on the side of the road to the shopping center, and I sat back and thought about the weird stuff my sister and I used to do waiting for the fireworks to start. Sometimes we did normal things like catch fireflies, and that was always fun. This evening, there were two little kids, a little boy and a little girl, playing "Steelers" on the lawn. It was pretty cute. My sister and I never did that though. We were really vagtastic children. Although back in the day when the fireworks started, I vaguely remember coming up with "names" for all the different types of fireworks. I wish I could remember what they were, but uhh... I can't. Anyway, it was fun.
One year I remember my dad bought one of those bags full of stuff... sparklers, those loud snappy things, party poppers, etc. at the store and we went outside to play with them. In the bag we found this... cardboard chicken with a fuse sticking out. We couldn't imagine what this chicken would possibly do when we lit it, but of course, there was only one way to find out, so we took a lighter to the fuse, placed the chicken on the concrete, and took a step back. The chicken began to shoot gold sparks out its neck and green sparks out it's butt. Now, bear in mind that my sister and I were probably about 8 and 11 years old, and to children that age, nothing is funnier than a chardboard chicken shooting green sparks out its butt. Eventually the chicken made a "SCREEEEEEEEEE!" noise and its head popped off. I honestly thought they were going to have to take my sister and me to the hospital we were laughing so hard. My dad thought it was pretty funny too, but I honestly think my sister and I will remember that chicken... shooting green sparks out its butt, screaming, and decapitating itself for the rest of eternity. That chicken represents the American way for me.
The fireworks show was actually quite impressive. Even my mom couldn't deny it and she's never been a firework fanatic. I was really glad I went. Unfortunately, I have to work tomorrow after a weekend that included a visit with Damien and Josh, and also a visit with my family at Lake Chautauqua. It's been a really great weekend. Lots of fun had all around with family and friends. (Awwww.) Anyway, I need a snack. Catch ya'll later. Happy 4th!
This Fourth of July, I had enough. For the past few years I've been unable to view fireworks because I was among non-fireworky company. This year I wasn't going to tolerate it. I was all set to go see the fireworks in Crafton-Ingram by myself, yet, on a whim I invited my mother, knowing full well that she hasn't gone to fireworks with us since I was probably six. Oddly enough, she agreed to go. I think she found the thought of me watching fireworks in a shopping center all by myself somewhat pathetic. I guess she'd be right.
Anyway, I dragged my mother off to see the fireworks, and the whole process brought back memories. I parked in the same spot where my dad would park when he brought my sister and me to the fireworks, because, as I learned from him, it's right by an easy way to get out, and you can see the fireworks quite nicely from your car. This makes things easy in the event that it starts raining, or you just wanna recline your seat and chill inside, or if you want to sit on top of the car and watch from there. We parked there, on the side of the road to the shopping center, and I sat back and thought about the weird stuff my sister and I used to do waiting for the fireworks to start. Sometimes we did normal things like catch fireflies, and that was always fun. This evening, there were two little kids, a little boy and a little girl, playing "Steelers" on the lawn. It was pretty cute. My sister and I never did that though. We were really vagtastic children. Although back in the day when the fireworks started, I vaguely remember coming up with "names" for all the different types of fireworks. I wish I could remember what they were, but uhh... I can't. Anyway, it was fun.
One year I remember my dad bought one of those bags full of stuff... sparklers, those loud snappy things, party poppers, etc. at the store and we went outside to play with them. In the bag we found this... cardboard chicken with a fuse sticking out. We couldn't imagine what this chicken would possibly do when we lit it, but of course, there was only one way to find out, so we took a lighter to the fuse, placed the chicken on the concrete, and took a step back. The chicken began to shoot gold sparks out its neck and green sparks out it's butt. Now, bear in mind that my sister and I were probably about 8 and 11 years old, and to children that age, nothing is funnier than a chardboard chicken shooting green sparks out its butt. Eventually the chicken made a "SCREEEEEEEEEE!" noise and its head popped off. I honestly thought they were going to have to take my sister and me to the hospital we were laughing so hard. My dad thought it was pretty funny too, but I honestly think my sister and I will remember that chicken... shooting green sparks out its butt, screaming, and decapitating itself for the rest of eternity. That chicken represents the American way for me.
The fireworks show was actually quite impressive. Even my mom couldn't deny it and she's never been a firework fanatic. I was really glad I went. Unfortunately, I have to work tomorrow after a weekend that included a visit with Damien and Josh, and also a visit with my family at Lake Chautauqua. It's been a really great weekend. Lots of fun had all around with family and friends. (Awwww.) Anyway, I need a snack. Catch ya'll later. Happy 4th!
