Meh. I wasn’t really into celebrating this year. Part of it was laziness- I do have 4th of July decorations but it seemed like too much of a hassle to get them out, especially since it was only my daughter and me (my husband was out of town all week).
Another part of it is all that’s going on in our country. Don’t get me wrong- I’m not letting anyone steal my joy. If I really wanted to throw a huge party with patriotic food and fireworks, I would have. But I didn’t- I was happy to have a low-key day of relaxing and eating.
On the most recent Girl Next Door podcast, Erica and Kelsey talked about patriotism. They discussed the idea that “patriotism” seems to have been hijacked by one political party, and that if you disagree with the current administration, you “hate your country.” You can love your country, AND want it to change and improve. It’s sad that I don’t feel comfortable putting up an American flag right now, and when I do see a house decorated for the 4th I think, “I know who they voted for!” How did this happen?
ANYWAY. I did do one thing for the 4th, which was make a special breakfast for my daughter- 4th of July waffles! Now, I had my own concept for these, but she chose to decorate them herself (sigh). She put the whipped cream on the warm waffles and let it melt into a puddle while she placed the berries on with excruciating slowness.
My day was nice. I didn’t have to work, so I got up early to run, ate breakfast and then started the festivities… er, that is, I decided to clean out the refrigerator. This was a task that was long, long overdue. How long? Well, I found a container of PUMPKIN, which has obviously been there since November.
I have to admit that I just couldn’t deal with it. I threw the whole thing sway, container and all. My apologies to the planet Earth and everyone who lives on it. I promise to do better from now on.
I also had a moment when I found a bottle of ketchup stuck way, way in the back. Just a few days ago a friend of Angie’s asked if we had any, and I said no. I felt like Otto from The Simpsons- gold start to anyone who can identify the episode, “I had MUSTARD???”
As you can imagine, it felt really good to get that task done! At night, my daughter went to see fireworks with a friend, and I happily read my book:
Allison mentioned that she liked this one better than Night Film by the same author. This book was REALLY interesting, but I also found it wordy and complicated. The narrator is a brilliant and autistic teenage girl, and it’s a mystery. The ending is great, and I’m glad I read it. But I liked Night Film better.
Speaking of Allison, she tried to “boss my TBR” (as they do on Currently Reading podcast). She saw that I have Holly by Stephen King, and recommended that I read The Outsider first. I was going to take her advice, but when I read the description of Holly on the back of the book, it sounded so good, I just had to read it. I started it today! But I am bringing these two books on my trip next week:
Or, if I finish Holly and need a break from Stephen King, I’ll bring this instead:
And I also have two library holds ready! I better get reading.
Did you celebrate the 4th?
What are you reading now? For Stephen King fans- Holly, or The Outsider?
Top photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
22 Responses
I’ve never heard of Holly and I have not read the Outsider, so keep me posted! And of course we’ll talk when you get to Kindred.
I confess that for me holidays are family parties first and whatever the holiday is second. We had a family party at my SILs on the 4th, and then the next day we went to a museum and had dinner at my nephew’s house. He recently got engaged so we’re gradually starting to get to know his fiancee’s family.
I’m hoping to finish Holly this week and then crack open Kindred the moment I get on the airplane! We’ll talk.
Yes, I definitely didn’t want to give the impression that I’m boycotting the 4th and making myself miserable. I was in the mood for a quiet day and that’s what I had! Success.
I love the idea of Fourth of July waffles and I find your experience with your daughter — and her Independence Day independence in decorating — very relatable. Sometimes Mom’s way is the wrong way, no matter what it is. (My kid is going through a phase right now where when she can’t decide between two things, she’ll ask me to choose one option… and then she automatically chooses the other. Sigh. Although I have known this a long, long time and have in fact used it to my advantage. Shhhh don’t tell.)
You sure have a lot of books on tap! I hope they are all good ones! I’m listening to Deadly Animals and I *think* Allison is the one who recommended it, but I’m terrible at remembering that kind of thing. Anyway, it’s very good, even though the villain was predictable from the beginning.
ha ha, you now have a secret weapon for getting Carla to do exactly what you want! Until she catches on, of course.
I know Allison is a big horror fan, and that’s not a genre I usually read. Holly is more of a thriller and I think The Outsider is more horror But I guess I’ll find out!
Sometimes we just need a relaxing holiday, and it sounds like your 4th was just that! I admit I felt similar about celebrating this year. I also had the day off so I did a trail run in the morning and then had lots of pool time with my parents in the afternoon, and then in the evening we had some small fireworks that we set off. Their neighbors really get into fireworks so unfortunately I didn’t get great sleep that night as they were going past 10 pm and my dog is not a fan of loud noises, but we got through it.
My neighbors also set off loud fireworks until LATE at night (and I had to work the next day, SIGH). Oh well. It was a holiday. Your day sounds really nice, with all the perfect components- a trail run, pool time and then some festivities.
I have so many books on my TBR pile. It’s a bit overwhelming to be honest, but I’ve paused all my holds at the library until I catch up.
I just finished How To Read a Book and haven’t started another book so I need to look at my (teetering) pile and make some choices.
My husband came home sick on Canada Day so we did nothing festive or patriotic (we enjoyed Canada’s universal health care system by going to the hospital and not paying a dime out of pocket), but we don’t usually do anything festive so I wasn’t too upset by missing festivities.
Love waffles. And YES. My kids automatically have to dislike most things I like. It’s like a law or something in tween/teen land?
How to Read a Book is on my TBR- I’m waiting for a library hold to come through.
I’ve been thinking about you and John! I hope he’s feeling much better by now.
TAKE BACK THE FLAG, Jenny. TAKE IT BACK. We fly our flag on flag-related holidays (Flag Day, Memorial/Labor Days, Juneteenth, Election Days, Fourth of July, Veterans Day, etc.) and I refuse to let the bad guys take away our right to fly a badly designed, terribly ugly flag. If more of the good guys fly the flag, it won’t become such a polarized symbol. I have very strong feelings on this. We shouldn’t assume everyone flying a flag is pro-Big Beautiful Bill, pro-MAGA, and against civil rights.
That being said, I was driving on the Fourth, so I didn’t celebrate, unless you consider celebrating speeding through Chicago because very few people were on the road on the actual holiday AND they removed all the construction for the day. I mean, I made amazing time. I also get irritated by the fireworks because my dog is a precious neurotic snowflake. And now the booms will continue until Halloween. But that makes me sound grinchy and grumpy. I like the parades! I like the carnivals! I like flying the flag!
You know, I thought about you- I was pretty sure you had a flag up. I like your reasoning. But- poor Hannah! Muffin hid under the bed for all the fireworks, but Charlotte was unfazed- which makes me wonder if she’s going deaf. She used to be such a scaredy cat.
I really enjoyed the episode on patriotism v nationalism. It was such a thoughtful conversation. I, too, have felt weird about patriotism, but I think it’s more accurate to say I am patriotic but not a nationalist. Gah. What a world we live in.
I am glad you had a nice 4th of July! Ours was epically hot so it was nice to be near water for most of it. We had a huge family party that day and I kind of begrudgingly went. I do not like huge gatherings…. I would have preferred to stay at my parents so we could enjoy the calm water in front of their home (it was windy at my uncle’s place. But I think/hope it’s the last massive 4th of July party because my parents have allegedly put their foot down and said they are not hosting next year (they will be 78 at that point – they do not need to host 50+ people…). Anyways… end rant! Oh the drama of large families.
I’m currently reading “Knife River” which is kind of a literary mystery. I am liking it but it’s moving a bit slower than I’d like. But I will stick with it. I would like to read Uncommon Measure! Btw, we are doing a trial lesson with a piano teacher for Paul next week. I’m kind of nervous because she said Paul should come and play a song, even if it’s one he has made up. I have done 0 piano instruction with him… So I need to see if he can mess around a bit and make up a song. The teacher came highly recommend from a good friend at work so I know she’ll be great. I’m just feeling a little stupid for not doing any basic piano instruction for Paul, especially since I taught piano as a HS job in my tiny town so I know how to teach piano (but never had the desire to teach my own child!). But we usually won’t let them touch the piano because kids pounding on piano keys is so triggering for me… So send me good vibes that he can come up with a little ditty of his own and that we like this teacher!
Okay, sending good vibes! I’m sure anything Paul comes up with will be fine, and I’m intrigued by this piano teacher- sounds like she’s really encouraging creativity. I’ll let you know how Uncommon Measure is- Kaytee from Currently Reading recommended it.
Angie’s waffles do look festive!
I hear you on feeling a bit defeated this July… but our local 50501 is holding a “funeral for democracy” and I hate that even more… It feels like *that* is playing right into the fascist playbook.
My brain is so all over the place, it took me two or three tries to realize you didn’t mean The Outsiders (Hinton) or The Outsider (Camus)!
Oh, funeral for democracy does sound… depressing. I like Engie’s motto- Take Back the Flag!
I gave my son a copy of Holly for his birthday, and he’s enjoying it. I’m not going to read it so that’s as close as I will get.
I have nine library books right now! Nine! And one more to be picked up. Eep!
I definitely do not think you would like Holly! It’s pretty dark. But I’m enjoying it.
Hmm, I don’t know, I don’t think I agree with you here, Jenny! We enjoy the same 4th of July traditions and wear our flag shirts and decorate for the 4th, every year, no matter who is in power or what is happening politically in the country. The U.S.A as a country and Americans as a people are NOT synonymous with “who the current leaders are” or a single political party, in my opinion. These things come and go. I think I’ve mentioned this before, but I have been inspired by my husband and pretty much every other Mexican I know, who are all highly “patriotic”, deeply love Mexico and always proudly sing their national anthem, DESPITE many historic and ongoing issues within the government (high degrees of corruption, etc.) and societal issues. It has nothing to do with all of that. Similarly, the U.S. is also a beautiful country full of (many/mostly) wonderful people and incredible places and an amazing history. Are there some big problems and some bad eggs? Yup!!! But find me this perfect country that doesn’t have any of those. It does not exist. And despite the many issues here right now, I still feel very blessed, grateful and lucky to have be born here… it is not lost on me that people literally die trying to get here because they want to live here that badly. I guess I might also have a different perspective being very embedded in immigrant culture and being married to an immigrant for the last 18 years. I do not publicly blog about my husband’s full immigration journey, but just trust me that I “get it” and he/we have been through some immense challenges. He definitely does not take his citizenship for granted. I’ve also traveled pretty extensively in 3rd world countries to see some of the alternatives. I currently personally know several people along the immigrant path who absolutely cannot WAIT to become U.S. citizens (Ivan’s brother just became a citizen last month and is so happy! 🥳) and who are soooo grateful for the opportunity, so it makes my stomach turn when born and raised U.S. citizens turn up their nose at the flag when others would give anything to switch places with them. (Please don’t take offense by this response.. you know I love you Jenny!!!)
Kae, I don’t take offense and I love your perspective. I already knew some of this, but I can see how coming at it that way gives you a different perspective. And- I don’t hate our country! I actually love living here! When I traveled a lot for work out of the country, I got very homesick. I just don’t like a lot of what’s going on. I also live in a very conservative state so I get a lot of pro-Trumpism thrown in my face all the time. I would probably feel differently if I lived in a more progressive area.
It was nice (and refreshing) to read your comment!
Ed’s girlfriend’s mom has a huge pool party on the 4th. Some of my older kids attended and we had such a nice time. It was relaxing. The food was outstanding and I didn’t have a husband giving me the ‘You ’bout ready to go?’ look. Coach is not as social as I am. I’m reading something right now called the Island of Missing Trees. It’s very good. The tree has its own angle on things, which take a little getting used to, but that might just be a me issue.
The waffles – ha, they were probably still yummy.
I would have thrown that away too– Cooper left his lunch box in his back pack, and I am contemplating throwing that away unopened. But it was a $40 lunch box, so I probably will not. Sigh.
I had the same complicated feelings about the 4th, Jenny! And I don’t think it’s unpatriotic or that it means I’m not proud to be an American to feel that way. I’m proud of the people who are fighting to protect the rights of immigrants and the Constitution and healthcare access. I’m NOT proud of this administration and I am certainly not proud of our governor and what he has done. It’s despicable what is happening to our country. And I think it’s FINE to have these complicated feelings. I didn’t feel like celebrating this year, and that’s my right.
I feel like that about the Union flag and especially the England flag, which would be appropriate to wave during the European Women’s Cup in football, for example, as it is England, Wales, etc.