h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The 4th is a lot less fun when Tom can't be around

Some of you may remember that Tom's been working with a ministry that feeds the homeless and low-income here in Del Norte county (amongst other things, but that's the main thing everyone thinks of). This year, Daily Bread is running 2 fireworks booths (well, 1.5--the second one is being shared with another ministry)--today's the last day of sales. So Tom's been doing that all week. And obviously, the 4th itself is a rather busy day...

Anyway, Faith and I met Tom and the gang at their line-up spot for the parade--Faith to ride in the back of the truck pulling the float, me to take off and find a good place to take pictures. Since Daily Bread's float was in position 85 (of 67), I had a while to wait. After the parade finished passing the point where I was, near the beginning, I cut across to the end, to get more pictures from the other side of the street. Then I followed the float to get more pics of individuals, and to hop on the back of the truck, because my feet were killing me, after the hike across town. We ended up sitting quite awhile, waiting for a parent to pick up his son, so Faith and I took off for home on foot, because my feet had stopped hurting, and it looked like we'd get home faster that way.

I got Faith some lunch and a video, then I crashed. I woke up about an hour and a half later, and Faith had taken my advice to take a nap as well, since we'd be watching the fireworks later. After Faith woke up, we gathered up blankets and chairs, and drove to find parking somewhere near Beachfront Park, where all the 4th of July festivities were.

Since this is getting a bit long, I'll shorten it up. We met friends, and waited for the big fireworks to start. Unfortunately, it had been foggy most of the day, and it got thicker after dark, and of course there was all the smoke from everyone doing their own fireworks (some nice illegals, though). Anyway, the big fireworks ended up being nigh-on invisible, so we packed up and left. Now, I'd never driven in fog before (oh, sure, the kind that makes trees 10 blocks away a bit fuzzy, but nothing that really effects close-by visibility) and there were people walking all over the street. I got us home safely, got Faith a snack, put her to bed, ate something myself, then went to bed.

Maybe the walking far more than the proverbial country mile, while carrying the good beginnings of another person, is more tiring than you remembered?

Our own fireworks display was rather lame this year (on the 1st). The weather was ideal for it, but they just didn't have much altitude or 'pop'. I can only guess that maybe they were poorly stored, and got a bit damp'ish.

Yeah, I think I walked a bit too far, and I'm sure how tense I was while I was driving home last night didn't help any. I can't even imagine how I'd be feeling if I hadn't had that nap

Milady got her first season of driving experience in a very ugly winter. Often several inches of wet snow, followed by deep measures of freezing rain. Visibility was often measured in feet, single digit measures. If you can handle that or a pea-soup fog, you can handle pretty much anything, m'dear Lady.

Dearest Amy,

that is what comes of being the wife of a Minister!! You are also a Minister - to your family. I am so sorry that I never wished you a happy Independence Day. Anyway I do hope that you will show us some of the photographs. Lucky Faith to have such a considerate Muim. Was she in any sort of fancy dress? Did Faith enjoy it?

I hope so.

Well, I am off to a First Holy Communion at the church today. The son of a new friend of ours is making it together with 24 other boys and girls. Then we are invited to a luncheon. As it is the first invitation since we have arrived it is exciting for us.

We both send you you all lots of affectionate

Christiane
AlsoRan80

Not particularly fancy, but she has a sleeveless red dress with white hibiscus flowers that she wore a blue t-shirt under I do have a picture of her petting the miniature horses in the line in front of the Daily Bread float, while we were waiting for the float to arrive. I don't have them on my computer yet, because the camera cable is in Tom's office.

Eep, how did it get to be 1 I told Tom I'd come to bed "soon"--over an hour and a half ago Should I blame 2legs, or the fact that there are 440 photos in az's friends album? I'll do this... F19585?thread=607652&post=65704129#p65704129

I spent the 4th of July at my sister's cottage high up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. With gasoline so expensive, I doubt that as many people are going to the White Mountains as usual, but traffic was still pretty heavy in downtown North Conway.

I vote for blame 2legs.

Very dear Paul H,

Belated good wishes for Independence Day. All those places sound so beautiful.

How about visiting us in the UK?

Christiane
Alsoran80

Because I can't swim that far?

(Reaches into Excuse Bag to see if any other excuses will work)

Another reason I can't visit the UK is because Amy is .

Look at any map or globe, ... it's a seriously lonnnnng uphill swim from your corner, Paul. Without a single Tim Horton's coffee shop along the way.

I have actually manged to swim that far, but not all in one session. It took about 30 years, laying all my pool laps together...

Dearest Amy,

Hangs head in shame. <ah?

I totally and utterly forgot - had a very moment about the phone call.

Oh my gioodness.

I shall have to do it on the spur of the moment when I think of it.


If I write it down in my diary I shall forget to look in the diary. Anyway, please forgive me. I shall just have to try my luck and phone when it is right for you. i. e 6 p.m. our time, and 10 a.m. your time.
belated birthday wishes to our darling Faith.

We both loved the photogrpahs.

Much love.

Christiane
AlsoRan80

I forget a lot too, AR1.

If I write a note to rmeind myself, I misplace the note.
Sometimes I can't remember to write the note at all.

Very dear Paul,

well, join the club. !!

I did phone the family yesterday though. I had a lovely chat to them and to Faith who spioke very well. It was her birthday, and today is their eleventh wedding anniversary. !!

and I believe that we have known one another at least seven or eight years. Old friends - or rather young friends of an old lady who have known one another for ages.

At the moment we are embroiled in a search for Jean Mermoz and also Antoine de Saint Euxpery. Have you read the Little Prince?. and Night Flight? which gives all the story of their first flights starting a postal service between toulouse and Buenos ayres? They were such brave men. . I found some photogrpahs of Mermoz

He was so good looking. I wish I had been older than five years old. !! Poor guy, he disappeared whilst on flight womewhere literally two years after I was introduced to him.

Go well,

Christiane
AlsoRan80

I've seen a movie adaptation of "Le Petit Prince," but I can't remember having read the book.

"Vol de Nuit" (Night Flight) always makes me think of Harry Potter's nemesis Voldemort, who seems to be a darkness-loving creature .

We've known each other since late October 2001, AR!

Thank you my so dear friend for that information.

And in that time I have had to change my name at least four times because I kept forgetting my password or some such stupid thing. which I kept sdoing.

Hopefully now that I have reached this venerable age I shall be able to remember my name. And stay on line until I have reached AR90 [ |I wonder if I really want to be as old as that.

did you have a nice wedding anniversary. and did our little one like her letter and did she enjoy her party?

I am still thrilled about our two different views of two different expanses of water.

Bonne nuit. Christiane
alsoRan80