4th of July: Part 2

The real reason I went to Maine for the 4th of July was to see a FREE Matt Nathanson concert at L.L. Bean. I headed to Freeport in the early afternoon, convinced that I'd be able to find a good seat. Well, apparently people put out chairs at 12:01 am for summer concerts. 

After tossing my blanket on an empty area of wood chips, I took on the task of wandering around Freeport by myself for 7 hours. It was super hot and humid so I spent an hour or so in Starbucks enjoying their air conditioning and wi-fi.

Eventually, I grabbed some dinner and headed back to my blanket. I quickly learned that a blanket on the ground in a sea of lawn chairs is a terrible way to see a concert. 

I ended up walking around a bit an eventually found an empty corner of grass where I was able to see much better.

The concert was amazing. I almost didn't go because I had to drive to Maine, then drive to Freeport, then spend the entire day alone just to see a concert alone. But I'm glad that I went because I got to see Matt Nathanson for free!

After the concert ended, I headed to the baseball field behind L.L. Bean to see the fireworks. I stayed very close to the edge of the field and it felt like the fireworks were falling right on top of me. 

After the fireworks ended, it took 45 minutes just to get out of the parking lot. Lesson learned, next time I'll park farther away on the main street! I had spent the entire day in the heat and was so sticky. By the time I got back to the house in Maine it was after midnight. I bypassed the house and drove straight down to the lake and took a midnight dip to cool off.

4th of July...A Bit Late!

When I was growing up, I spent every 4th of July at camp. In recent years, I've attended my towns local 4th of July Eve festivities on the 3rd of July. And for many, many years in a row it has rained, poured, and thunderstormed.

But this year it was sunny and a tad humid. We watched majorettes dance, listened to patriotic tunes, and wrangled toddlers.

It looked like the weather was going to turn but it held out for the rest of the night.

The next morning I got up super early, stopped at Dunks for a patriotic breakfast:

And drove to Maine to celebrate 4th of July festivities in the pine tree state.

The (very) small town parade was disappointing compared to the craziness that my hometown puts on. The DPW was in charge of blocking off the road...no cops needed.

The parade marshall led the parade in style...a riding mower and a pomeranian! Just kidding...but this guy did drive down the road right before the parade began.

There were a few army trucks and one firetruck with an awesome mural on the side.

The parade was super short but there was the obligatory parade candy thrown by a giant strawberry.

Part two to come!

No Better Time...

To talk about the Fourth of July then in November...right?

I was talking to the BFF yesterday about how I couldn't believe we were well into November when I feel like it was JUST summer vacation. Seriously, I don't know where the time went. It seems like we jumped from swimming and kayaking to peppermint lattes and ignoring Christmas carols by way of a few colored leaves.

Yesterday, we went to see About Time. I LOVED it. The movie is about an endearing British family where the men can travel back in time for do-overs. (Perhaps one of the reasons I loved it is that I've always wished for powers like that!) The main character falls in love with Rachel McAdams and they have cute babies. There is more to it but I wouldn't want to spoil anything. It was hilarious and sweet and heartbreaking and thought provoking.

The main take away from the movie is to enjoy the "normal" days in life because ultimately, those days are what make up most of your life. And I loved the idea that the key to happiness is just to change your perspective about difficult things and make the best out of every situation. The idea that the meaning of life is simply about spending time with people who love you seems so easy.

In stark contrast, I am currently reading Inferno by Dan Brown. I'm not thrilled with it, but as I'm 250 pages in, I feel like I must plow ahead. The premise of the book (as far as I can tell) is that an individual or organization is plotting to destroy half of the world's population in order to keep the human race from going extinct.

My mind is torn between wanting to find joy in ordinary things and trying to come to terms that the world is collapsing all around us. ← A bit dramatic maybe?

So back to the 4th of July...I did so many mundane yet fun things this summer and aside from photos published to Instagram or worse, pictures merely filling my phone's memory, I haven't really acknowledged or written about my adventures. Since the days are getting shorter and darker and colder, I thought it would be fun to relive my summer vacation.

Won't you join me?

Today

Today is November 8, 2013.

Today I attended ALICE training where I learned that shelter-in-place lock downs are ineffective in school shootings. Instead, we were instructed to barricade the door, evacuate the building, and confront the attacker.

Today I was shot at by a Nerf gun, threw Nerf balls at a police officer, and got some cardio in when I bolted from the building.

Today was a harsh reality of educations new "normal."

Today I wore penguin socks.

Today I took a two hour nap.

Today I heard my first Christmas song on the radio and IMMEDIATELY changed the channel. I'm determined to hold out until after Thanksgiving before I start doing Christmassy things. But it is so hard. I'm still trying to enjoy fall but all I find myself wanting to do is start making holiday cards and baking cookies.

Today was good.