Hello hello folks - happy Canada Day to my Canadian peeps and happy 4th of July to my American peeps (too many bloody holidays now to keep track of). First and foremost - I GOT AN AIR CONDITIONER!!!! I don't know why it took me this long to go get one (probably because I didn't want to ask a friend to drive me somewhere to get one) but I think Kalyn was starting to get worried about my health and my projection of cantankerouness towards them so we went and got one on Sunday and holy smokes - it is awesome. I never want to leave my place now hahaha. I have also started to freeze my pillows and that makes a huge difference at night (I am actually keeping my freezer free of food to allow room for my pillows). Some days are better than others to be outside, but when it is above 40, I tend to cloister myself at home and not move. Needless to say, my cross stitching has been getting done and looking fabulous!!!! I am not going to post a picture until it is completely done, but I am so proud of it!!!
Meg, Riya, Kalyn and I took a little road trip a couple of weekends ago to Rehoboth Beach (to listen to the conversation Riya and I had about where exactly the beach is was along the same lines as a Gilmore Girls conversation as I kept saying that the beach was east of us, Riya kept saying that Washington is basically on the east coast and said that Delaware was to the North and the conversation went back and forth for a bit. So, for those people who are confused - Delaware is both North and East of Washington....hahaha) to hit the beach and to go outlet mall shopping. The drive there wasn't that long but I swear for about 15 to 20 miles, all we saw was cornfields. It is like the world's worth of corn came from this one area. And then, of course, my imagination started and all I could think of was either Field of Dreams or Children of the Corn. But seriously folks, the corn went on for miles and miles and miles. It actually got tiring to look at after a while. And I saw some deer, which was nice as I don't see much wildlife kicking around these parts. 
When we got to the actual beach (after the monsoon of a rainstorm went through), I was in heaven being surrounded by all that water (my Aquarius and Pisces coming out in full form) and seeing the Atlantic Ocean. It was so calming to be standing there, watching the waves and dipping our feet in it. Meg and I were like children in that we would wade out into the water and when a big wave was coming in, scream and run back onto the beach. Oh how much I wished I had my bathing suit that day and could have actually gone into the water and just had fun. That day there was no school or life stress - the water was my escape. We are definitely going to go back. This picture taken by Kalyn and is probably one of my favorite pictures of my time spent down here thus far.
When we got to the actual beach (after the monsoon of a rainstorm went through), I was in heaven being surrounded by all that water (my Aquarius and Pisces coming out in full form) and seeing the Atlantic Ocean. It was so calming to be standing there, watching the waves and dipping our feet in it. Meg and I were like children in that we would wade out into the water and when a big wave was coming in, scream and run back onto the beach. Oh how much I wished I had my bathing suit that day and could have actually gone into the water and just had fun. That day there was no school or life stress - the water was my escape. We are definitely going to go back. This picture taken by Kalyn and is probably one of my favorite pictures of my time spent down here thus far. 
So the past week was 4th of July and I mean, come on, how can one not celebrate it in the nation's capital!!!! Wednesday night we had a BBQ/sleepover at Kalyn's place so that we were all in one place and could go downtown at the same time and not lose each other and the BBQ was amazing. Hotdogs, hamburgers, salads, dips, wine, beer, good music and good laughs. America had thrown up in Kalyn's place so it was hard not to feel American hahaha. Thursday morning, it was like America had thrown up on us. Red and blue hair paint was sprayed in hair, only colors on our bodies were red, white or blue and an impromptu Star Spangled Banner was sang in the car on the way to the metro station. We stopped at the Giant to grab some food for the picnic and I felt like we were in an oddball parade as people would just stare at us. We got downtown in good timing and managed to catch some of the Parade and then we headed over to the Mall to see some of the Folklife Festival. 
Stopped in at the Tavern for a beer and then made our way over to the sculpture garden to soak our feet at the fountain (one of the best parts of the day as it was roasting out and I definitely needed to cool down in some way). The Capitol Fourth concert didn't start until 8ish, but we got to the Capitol around 4:00 to get some good seats for the concert and fireworks. It got packed in there when the concert started - I couldn't even tell you how many people were there (between people at the Capitol and at the National Mall but there were people everywhere). It was hot sitting there for 4 hours in the sun, on the concrete. I am surprised that I didn't burn more than I did in that heat, but I got more color to me (which is super odd for me hahaha). Once the concert started, the wait was worth it. First up was Barry Manilow, who should lay off the botox or face lifts or whatever he is doing as he is looking pretty plastic. He sang some songs (actually none that I knew, surprise surprise) but still good to listen to him. Then some American Idol winners, a Motown Music broadway thingy, a broadway star, Darren Criss (whom to Meg's dismay only sang 1 song and that was the only reason why she was there in the first place hahaha 0 - so sorry Meg) and.......NEIL DIAMOND!!!!! It was amazing!!!! Oh my goodness. Listening to the crowd sing along with Sweet Caroline was just wonderful. So much energy in that place and to hear the people was fantastic. Here is the youtube link to him singing (kind of shaky as I was singing along). Sweet Caroline bum bum bum 
The reason why I wanted to be at the Concert so much was for John Williams - he is a kick ass composer and he did some of the score to Lincoln and it was astounding (I don't know other words to use for amazing, wonderful, fantastic hahaha). Very moving and touching. But then, the piece de resistance to the whole night was the 1812 Overture to the fireworks with live cannons going off!!! I love fireworks and these ones did not disappoint at all - they seemed to go on forever and with the music and the atmosphere was just memorable. Here is the link to the finale of the fireworks: simply amazing and wonderful . Below is the actual video to the 1812 Overture fireworks display - you can hear me in the background when I get super excited about the cannons hahaha.
