Today is Independence Day!
We had a great barbecue at our place Saturday to celebrate. Jessi, Joe & Jerry, with their dogs, came down from Seattle. A bunch of our friends showed up. Jim bbq'd bratwursts, which were a big hit, and because he was in such a celebratory mood, he even made some veggie dogs for the vegetarians in our midst. Kids jumped on the trampoline. There was a tragic and hilarious hammock-related injury. It was also a going-away party for my coworker Dave (bye Dave!), so the root beer floats flowed freely. After a long, bad night in the newsroom, the copy editors showed up at a late hour, and the party continued. By my count, it was about a 10-hour party. Sheesh. But we had fun. :-)
Jim left for Idaho the next day, and Jessi & Jerry went home, too. Joe stayed until today, and we took an awesome long bike ride and made some gourmet meals using leftover hot dogs and buns. Hee.
This afternoon, Brody and I went with some friends to a state park called Helmick Recreation Site. We had asked our outdoors reporter for his recommendation for a secluded, warm swimming hole, and this was it. It was great- lots of trees, a secluded little sandy beach, not too deep, not too shallow. We had so much fun. There were three dogs with us, including one who discovered his love of swimming, an 8-month-old cockapoo (hee, so tiny & cute), and Brody. Brody did really well! He spent a lot of time in the water, and he explored the area, and he took a nap, and he stopped going in the water about 45 minutes before we left, and he bathed himself, so he was dry & clean when it was time to go. And he never ran away and he always came when I called him. It was very cool.
Everyone else who I know in town is down at Riverfront Park watching the fireworks. But I am sitting here on my bed with the cats and with Brody, who is panting and shaking really really hard. The whole bed is shuddering. He's really freaked out. Last Fourth of July, I was working a night shift and Brody was home alone. He dug a hole in the wall by the front door. So I'm home with him tonight. Right now he appears like he's trying to relax- he's laying down, with his head down, but shaking really hard anyway. Poor baby. I've got music up really loud on Jim's computer (Jeez, Jim, what playlist IS this??), so that sort of helps. It could be a long night...
Joe and I watched “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” while he was here. I really liked them both, which surprised me. 'Kiss Kiss' was especially great.