by Christine Rimmer
Okay, not really boring. But this year, Independence Day will be very…understated. Just me and the DH, working all day, grilling in the evening.
Usually we have the kids over and enjoy the summer day. Rumor is we’ll hit the high ‘70s tomorrow, which amounts to a veritable heat wave around these parts.
But this year, well, I really need to work. And the DH has volunteered to be the one holding down the fort where he works. And the kids have to work on Thursday and have an afternoon party to go to nearer their house.
So that means me and the DH and our grill in the evening. I think we shall sit outside. And I will definitely hang out my flag in honor of the day. It will be low-key festive. And fun. And easy. And since it’s Portland, there will be fireworks all night, which I do find rather festive, even if they do keep me from sleeping much.
I’m looking forward to it.
What are you doing tomorrow? Big party? Just you and someone special? Spending the day quietly on your own?
Leave a comment today or tomorrow for a chance at a signed copy of one of my recent releases of your choice. I’ll choose a winner on Thursday and post it on the Winners page. Good luck!
And Happy Independence Day, whatever your plans may be!
For the 4th we usually go to my High School hometown which is about 20 minutes away. They have a flea market, Ice cream social, many kinds of tournaments, bands and street dance. They have a huge parade in the afternoon and then fireworks at night. They have not said yet, but I won’t be surprised if the fireworks get cancelled since it is so dry this year. Most of the other towns around here have already cancelled. We will probably just hang out around the house that day if they end up not having them.
Rhiannon, oh yes, on the hometown events. I love those. All my young life, I went to Downieville, California where both my folks were raised for the 4th. All the events you mention…and races on Main Street for all age groups. Then we would drive over to Brownsville for fireworks at night–well, unless we went way up in the mountains to my uncle’s gold mine where the men would put on a private fireworks show, which was not, er,strictly legal. But hey. My dad was known locally as Tom the Torch. (!) I hated the years it was dry and just too dangerous to have the show. Hope you get fireworks, but totally understand if they have to cancel….
We are taking our son and his wife to a minor league baseball game tonight. There is suppose to be fireworks but that could change. I had to get a sitter for my animals though since one cat is diabetic and needs an insulin shot while we are gone. Tomorrow we are having a family/friends picnic. It is suppose to be hot which isn’t any different than the weather we’ve had for the last few weeks.
Sandi, sounds perfect. All of it. From the game to the picnic. Enjoy. And I guess the heat is part of the, er, experience, right??
We are currently getting a thunderstorm and much needed rain which I hope passes before tonight’s game. It is in the low 70′s right now which is a nice change.
So maybe you’ll get those fireworks? Hope so! Happy dancing that you got some rain.
Christine, a calm holiday is nice sometimes. We are doing more than usual this year. Burgers on the grill for my in-laws and my son and his fiance’, then we’re joining my daughter and son for a minor league game and fireworks. Our temps have been between 90-100, so I plan to take one of those battery operated mini-fans and a mister…. and maybe an umbrella.lol Happy Gentle Fourth!:) xo, Leanne
Leanne, thanks! Yours sounds wonderful. And I love the umbrella, fan and mister. Yeah! Congrats to your son on his upcoming marriage. And have a fabulous time for your fabulous self!
WOW! Leanne, thats sounds about as All-American as you can get! I hope ya’ll throw in some apple pie and ice cream
It’s gonna be just me hanging out in the A/C.
I think I need to move out your way – the weather sounds perfect to me.
Marcie, it is kind of weird to be here weather-wise with most of the rest of the country frying in the heat. Sometimes I would like more sunny days. But I am not in any way complaining. Enjoy that A/C!
I’m most happy when it’s in the 60′s and 70′s. My asthma is very happy too.
Marcie, well stay as cool as possible. I would send you a little jar of our weather if I could!
Aw thanks. But I’d probably inhale it all at once!
Marcie, re your inhaling it at once, then I would only send you more.
Fourth of July is one of those holidays like New Year’s–where the expectations are so high that it’s easy to feel you are doing it “wrong” if you don’t live it up. It is also my birthday, so the pressure increases. And this year it is a “milestone” birthday (I’ll let you guess which one LOL). So I probably should be perched on the torch of the Statue of Liberty with a firecracker in my mouth. But with the reports of four-hour delays in and out of the New Jersey/New York waterfront area, we are thinking smaller, not bigger. A nice lunch with Mom, hubby and son, and then maybe the local fireworks at the football field. As is befitting a woman approaching her 21st birthday…:)
Marcia, you’re turning 21! Of age at last! I personally turn 30 every year!
I heard on the news that travel to NYC was the big thing for the 4th this year. Totally surprised me as way back when I lived there, the town was deserted on the 4th. Everyone had fled upstate to get out of the city heat. I think your choice of lunch and fireworks is the wiser one. Though if you do climb Lady Liberty and light that firecracker, be sure to get a picture! 
Marcia — your 21st? Hey, me, too! (Never mind that four of my sons are older than that, heh. )
Nothing going on here, either. Feels weird, considering alllll those years of doing fireworks with the boys in front of the house, maybe having people over for dinner first. But the youngest is nearly 18 and doesn’t care, and everyone else is off doing his own thang. I’d watch So You Think You Can Dance but it’s not on, wah! So maybe I’ll watch a movie…
Karen, so glad you’re reaching your majority at last! Don’t worry about those sons who are older than you. This is America. We do it OUR way!
Here’s to a nice afternoon with a thrilling summer blockbuster!
We are grilling today so that we can spend more time with family tomorrow.
Abigail-Madison, grilling today is a great idea. Have a ball tomorrow. I know you will!
I have had mini flags throughout our cedar landscaping since May. Love showing patriotism year round in some– whether flags, chimes, or door hangings. But last weekend I added red, white, and blue pinwheels, too. They look so pretty spinning in between the waving of the flags. As for tomorrow, we are hitting the beach in the morning. Later that evening, we are hitting a boathouse restaurant for dinner and firework viewing. Super excited. Last year wr spent the day at the naval museum and vet memorial but missed fireworks. We made sure to seal the perfect spot this year
Kristine, so great that you show our patriotism in such rich and enjoyable ways. Your flags and pinwheels sound enchanting. And moving, too. Enjoy your day. I know you will.
I will be reading your book, The Last Maverick, of course.
Happy 4th Christine.
Linda, XOXOXO! Music to this author’s ears. Enjoy, enjoy! It has the 4th of July in it, so that’s kind of nice.
Hubby and I are playing in safe, and cool, in the A/C – it’s in the 100s with 70+ dew points here. Our two younguns are headed for the lakefront with their friends for the huge fireworks display. People camp out there days in advance to stake out a nice place. I’m not about to put up with several hundred thousand people when I can be comfortable in my house! Old fogies that we are…
C-Jay I hear you! Old fogeying here in Portland, too! Leave it to the youngsters to go stake out a place by the lake. XOXOXO!
Happy 4th, Christine! My potato salad and I are heading to a friend’s house who has a great view of their local fireworks display. It’ll be lots of fun, I’m sure.
Susan
Have a fabulicious time, Susan! I know you will. 22 days and counting till we meet in Anaheim. Can’t wait. XOXOXO!
i’ve become a home body and dont really go anywhere anymore. plus its to hot
Amy, stay cool then! XOXOXO!
I have a stack of library & other books calling my name, so I’m planning a marathon reading session!!! One of my absolute FAVORITE things ever to do !!! I live in Oklahoma where the temperatures have been extreme and the rain non-existant lately AND have a husband and son who do construction work and have been outdoors in it for a couple of weeks now and really wanted a day indoors with nothing to do ……so for us it will be a day of air conditioning and couch potato-ing !! We’ll grill burgers for dinner and then watch fireworks when it gets dark. We live just outside town, close to the rodeo grounds where they have a big fireworks show every year, so all we do is sit outside and watch…no crowds to battle for a good seat or anything !!! Actually, there have been fireworks being shot off several times this week already at the rodeo grounds, so we’ve gone out and watched a few times….. Sounds like we’re going to be good and lazy doesn’t it ?!?!
Renee
Oh, yum Renee! Marathon reading. Perfect for the 4th! Good and lazy in a lovely way. Have a fabulous time.
Oh, and stay cool. I moved from Norman a year and a half ago and I know it can get sooo hot there. Miss it in many ways, but not the triple-digit temperatures for weeks and weeks.
We have Canada Day on July 1st. The border crossings are just crazy as so many people want to celebrate both. We skipped the crowds and had a family BBQ in the backyard. I do miss the days when we were allowed to do fireworks, especially the Roman Candles.
Linda, a family backyard BBQ sounds wonderful. Sorry ’bout the fireworks.
.
I will be caring for two of my grand kids cause my son has to work . Then BBQ burgers in the back yard and hopefully find a fireworks show to take them to. Pretty low key day. But above all this I will be remembering all our servicemen and women and wishing them all safety where ever they may be serving this great country and protecting our beloved freedoms.
Valerie, have a lovely time. And well said! Our servicemen and women are the best of the best and we are blessed to have them protecting our country.
Happy 4th Christine,
My DH is at the beach playing golf with friends, while I get the honor of staying home and going to work. It’s not all bad…no cooking, just air conditioning, sleeping and reading…..
Linda, sounds fabulous. I know you had a great time! Thanks, I did, too!
And the winner is…Renee Wiswell! Congrats, Renee! Email me at christine@christinerimmer.com to choose your signed book! Everyone, I hope your 4th was fabulous!
Oh my gosh!! I can’t believe I won!!! I am such a book addict and much prefer to own books than borrow them…and now I’ll have a SIGNED one to add to my collection……..that is so awesome!!!! Thanks a bunch. And my fourth was absolutely perfect….I fixed breakfast, everybody fended for themselves for lunch and my husband fixed dinner…..and I just read all day. I read until my eyes just couldn’t stay open any longer and got through almost four books that day….it was the best way to spend a lazy day!!!
Thanks again!!
Renee