4th of July

I am just trying to write more. Until I get there, I really have nothing else to say but "I'm so excited" or "I'm so nervous" or "I'm going to miss Dan a lot".

SO

I am going to write about other stuff.

Let me tell you about the 4th of July. It really is one of my favorite holidays, and simply because of memories/and what I've missed by spending summers in Minneapolis.

We go to Carlyle, IL, a little town about an hour east of St. Louis, where my grandparents live (and great aunts/uncles/2nd cousins etc). It's an adorable little town. It's right on Carlyle Lake, the biggest man-made lake in the state (fact). When we (my cousins and I) were little, we loved going down there, because Grandpa and Grandma had a pontoon boat, cousin Mark had a speed boat, and Grandpa taught us how to canoe, fish, play golf, washers, horseshoes, and just let us be kids. We did occasionally think it was boring, because there were no video stores, or McDonald's, just a Wal-Mart (all of the above is there now! yea!)

Fast-forward a few years. Grandparents no longer have pontoon, but we do lots of golfing. But it is still the best. Uncle Dave makes awesome margaritas (he is from TX), we eat fried chicken, cousin Lisa's pretzel dip, and sit out on the patio til all hours of the night, with sparklers and lots of laughter.

It is so Americana; it is what you would expect 4th of July to be in small town. Everyone wears red, white, and blue, and decorates with bunting. I love it. I am so excited this year, because my brother's wife will be with us, and Dan will be there too! Not all my cousins can come, which is sad, but it will still be wonderful.

Here are some photos, courtesy of my cuz, Frank.

I love my family.

ALSO
I found something amazing. Space Travel Bags, courtesy of The Container Store. Awesome. Compact everything so much. Yea packing solutions!

Home Alone.

I am alone for the weekend, and I am so happy. I actually really like living with my parents, but it is so nice to be alone.

They left me a little money for food, so I wandered over the the grocery store tonight. I was not in the mood for anything particular, so I grabbed a basket and started to mosey around. While I was wandering the massive, carpeted aisles, it hit me - 2 months from now, I will not have this luxury. From my research and time in Europe, grocery stores are small. And they are not open 24 hours a day. I remember ice cream runs in my college days at 3 in morning, procrastinating in the middle of massive projects and papers. Probably not going to happen next year. Which really, is good. I do need to be better at planning, and remembering the world doesn't revolve around my schedule. Maybe the Swiss groceries will help.

Right now I'm waiting for my lasagna to finish baking (very practical, about 4 meals out of one pan) and munching on my most favorite food in the whole world, sugar snap pea pods.

I have not even thought about packing or buying my camera or anything. I really need to get on the ball. Please, if you see me, or talk to me, please remind me to continue paring down my belongings. Thanks.