Go USA!!

I'm by no means a soccer fan.  At one time, when I was about 10, I decided I was going to be a soccer player like all of my friends.  I got a uniform and cleats, and shin guards.  I became part of the local team (not even sure what our name was), and I "played" soccer for one whole season.  What was learned during this foray into sports was I can't run - it's completely not in my nature; I bounce instead of running - and soccer's hard.  Like really hard.  After that first game, my soccer career was officially over but I was stuck slugging through for the rest of the season, much to the chagrin of my family who was forced to watch their incapable daughter bounce all of the field in search of a ball that was most likely somewhere she wasn't,

However, that's not to say, that I'm not all about the Women's World Cup this year.  These girls are awesome and are kicking some serious butt!  I have all the respect in the world for anyone who can run and play that hard for 90 whole minutes and not die of a heart attack in the middle of the field. I sure as heck couldn't.  They are some serious athletes! And they deserve to have all little girls looking up to them!  Maybe those little girls will soon have more soccer prowess than I ever did.

The US team is all pretty popular right now, but I have a suspicion that when (why even bother with if?) they win, they'll have millions more fans screaming they're praises. It's so cool to see!  You go girls! 

Happy Fourth of July!

       Hope your day was filled with family, friends, food, fireworks and all things fantastic! 
                                                     Happy Independence Day America!

Just a Thought...

At the moment, there are 16 people in the running for the Republican nomination to the presidency.  16.  You have got to be kidding me! (I know there are quite a few Democrats in the running too, but at least they're not up to 16...) I understand, that's the reason we have primaries, but there's no chance any state will be able to pick a decent candidate from such a huge field.  You're basically just picking the lesser of the 16 evils.  

Then there's the fact that Donald Trump is one of those evils.  Donald "I have really ridiculous values that don't really matter because I'm loaded and get to say whatever I want" Trump.  Not that I have a strong opinion on him or anything...  But I have to say I was quite excited to see him dropped by NBC and Univision this week.  His mouth is finally getting him into trouble and every bit of it he deserves.  

Because of this, I have a proposition.  Seeing as the primary isn't until November, there's a good chance that even more candidates will enter the race.  To stem the tide of ridiculousness, I propose we start issuing IQ tests to all the candidates.  If they can't pass at a decent level, let's kick them out of the race.  Why should we have to worry that some dumbo with a bad comb-over and a tendency to say hateful things about immigrants is going to rule our nation?  Just give him the same IQ test that's been given to thousands of regular Americans. 

I guarantee he would't pass.  He's never had to worry about smarts.  I don't want you to think I'm just focusing on Trump either.  I'm sure some of the candidates are quite smart - most are already elected officials.  Unlike certain candidates, I'm sure they actually understand how laws are created and how the government works.  I'm sure they'd do fine. 

And at the very least, it could drop the playing field down to a bit more manageable number. 

Just a thought...

Washington DC Day

I always forget how much I like DC until I go there, and then I fall in love all over again. Aside from the ridiculous amount of construction happening down there and gobs and gobs of people, there really is just so much to see.  I think it's finally come to my attention in the last few years or so, that everything is fairly centrally located.  So if you want to see everything DC has to offer, they make it pretty easy for you - do you think they did that on purpose? : )

 

Thank You!

Memorial Day is not just the start of summer, but it is a day to remember all of those brave men and women that have served over the course of time and those that have given their lives to protect our honor and our rights.

Thank you to all who serve and all who have served!  You truly are heroes and we owe you everything!

I'm Ready to See the...

I have this severe case of wanderlust.  I'd be quite happy if I could just quit my job and see the world.  I realize that doesn't really work out mathematically as, quitting my jobs cuts off the finances to afford seeing the world.  It's quite the mathematical conundrum.  The worst part of this whole traveling desire is that I never really want to go on the cheap.  There are some professional travelers out there that stay at hostels and eat minimally for days on end just to be able to afford huge excursions.  

I don't want to do that.

I'm terrified to stay in a hostel - bugs, shared bathrooms and possible exposure to serial killing vagabonds, are just a few reasons why.  And honestly, if you're not going to splurge on delicious regional cuisine, what's even the point of traveling in the first place?  Also, I like tchotchkes too much.  I like buying little things - jewelry, scrapbooking supplies, books, more books, probably even more books - to help remember the trip.  It's fun to be able to look at a necklace that you bought in Scotland and remember the little store on the High Street you bought it in.  

I'm also way too in love with Europe in general, and England more specifically.  If I were a big fan of say, Asia, I'd be able to afford numerous glorious trips, because the cost of the Yen is way down and they're always wanting for travelers.  However, if you've been to Europe and England, you know that's not the case.  Europe is a bit better than England because the Euro's down quite a bit however, the GBP just keeps rising. Which makes trips to England twice as expensive.  What a pain in the neck!

So that brings me to my newly minted plan - for 2016 of course, as I still have a trip to England coming up in the near future that's calling my name.  I realized I've only ever been to 16 of the 50 states.  Considering I live in one of them, that's just sad.  There are so many cool places I've never been: The Portland, Seattle, Vancouver (Canada I realize, but still) route, Yosemite, Santa Fe New Mexico, LA, Mardi Gras, Disney Land, Chicago and dozens more.  If I focus on the little places with (much shorter and cheaper flights) I can see a whole lot more than one big crazy out of the country trip.

Why exactly did this take me so long to realize?  And more importantly, who's up for at least 4 US trips next year - I've already started planning... ; )

Well, That Sucked...

After years and years of not giving a lick about soccer, I have to admit I became a bit of a fan these last few weeks.  It was pretty exciting to see lots of Americans make the same discovery I did: It's actually pretty awesome.  The running those guys do is pretty insane and they are athletes even more so than football players, in my opinion. Imagine someone like Haloti Ngata, running back and forth on a field for 90 minutes.  I'm not thinking he'd be able to.  

But as cool and exciting as it's been, it seems the party is over for the Americans.  After 2 straight hours of playing their hearts out, the Belgians were able to beat the US 2-1.  So depressing!  I'm not sure if Soccer does the whole MVP thing, but if they do, Tim Howard deserves the title more than any other goal-keeper ever!  He may have given up 2 goals, but the number he prevented was 5 times that.  He's a pretty amazing guy and it was neat to see him get the love on social media, that he's been deserving.

Of course now that the US is out, even though Soccer isn't as boring as I once thought, I'm probably done watching it.  But, I'm proud our boys!  Go USA!!

Thank You!

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty.” — President John F. Kennedy

Thank you to all that have served and continue to serve the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Goal!

For someone who understands nothing that happens on a hockey rink, I've found myself quite obsessed with the US Hockey teams (Men and Women) this Olympics.  Luckily I have a hockey fan dad that puts up with my inane questions like, "What's icing mean?", or "Why didn't they get a penalty? or my most common question "Where did the puck go?".  Thank goodness he loves me or I feel he'd throttle me : )  In hockey though, I feel they get the short-end of the stick sometimes in the grand scheme of things.  Most events like figure skating or luge finish up within a day or two so those competitors are able to go enjoy the rest of the Olympics experience.  But hockey (and in the summer, soccer) seems to go on forever.  I've lost count of how many games each team has played but I have to say they've all been thrilling.

This weekend's game between US and Russia was awesome.  The overtime rules were a mystery to me but I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.  Today's game with Czechoslovakia wasn't nearly as thrilling as that one, but they had some good plays (from what I can tell - what do I know?)  and grabbed the win to go onto semi-finals (still not the gold medal game- ugh!) While the women finally get to play in the big game tomorrow.  As tired as I am of snow, I'm hoping for a snow day (seeing as it's 55 degrees right now, I'm highly doubting it) tomorrow just so I can stay home and watch the game.  It'll be awesome and I just know it'll be next to impossible to avoid the darn scores all day.

All I have to say, from one clueless fan is Go USA!  Do whatever it is you do with the little puck and the big stick to grab those golds. You all deserve it!  And maybe in 4 years, I'll finally understand what the heck is going on...

Always Remember...

Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid.  They have earned our undying gratitude.  America will never forget their sacrifices.

 ***

President Harry S. Truman

Thank you Veterans!

Shame on You!

As a resident of the state closest to Washington DC, as well as the state that houses a certain government agency starting with an N and ending with an S & A, we here have been hit pretty darn hard by this government shutdown.  Quite honestly, I'm completely and utterly embarrassed by and outraged with my government.  The United States Congress, the same body that was democratically elected by the people they're screwing over, are playing Russian Roulette with their constituents' lives.  They're so focused on a law that's already been voted on, that they'd rather furlough over 800,000 people just because they didn't get their way.

They are acting like spoiled rotten 5 year olds that aren't being allowed to stay up past their bed time, and it's truly disgusting!  What they need to do is apologize to the workers that have been affected by this shutdown and end it immediately.  Anything less would be a slap in the face of good government workers who are in fact showing up and doing their jobs each day.

Friday Five (plus a few more...): Flag Day Edition

Each year Ft. McHenry celebrates Flag day with fireworks and a parade of flags.  It's always a good time and I've been going for as long as I can remember.  Here are 5 (+3 more for good measure) of my favorite shots from this beautiful (if not a teensy bit chilly) evening.

Me and the Bestie

Grumpy Gus

Flag over Ft. McHenry

Parentals

Taps

Natty Boh way over there : )

Happy Flag day (tomorrow)!

I pledge allegiance to the flag,

of the United States of America,

And to the republic for which it stands,

one nation, under God, indivisible,

with liberty and justice for all.

***

As much as I go on about moving to England (something that is still at the top of my list of greatest desires) I feel quite humbled and quite honored to be an American.  With all the troubles, problems, and fears we're living with now, it's amazing to see the power of the American Spirit.  For all the terrorists or those wanting to spread evil, there are those that will put their life on the line for us or just quite simply comfort someone in a time of need.  That's why it's so important to celebrate flag day.  It gives us as Americans the chance to salute everything our Red, White and Blue stands for.

 

Happy Flag Day and God Bless America!



Happy Memorial Day!

My hope is that the men and women we are praising on Memorial Day know how much they mean to us the whole year through.  Their duty, service and sacrifice should be honored and respected each day. 

Thank you again to all that serve and who have served!

Happy Memorial Day!

Thank You to All Who Serve!

 "The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example."

***

Benjamin Disraeli

 

 Thank you to all who have served and are currently serving.  We will never forget your dedication and sacrifice!