This is the time of year when I get to wear my Union Jack T shirt and drink Boddingtons all day, laugh about the old days and how my relatives used to own this bit of the US in the 1700’s and marvel at the massive number of fireworks set off by drunk fathers at 9PM while they try to impress the wives, amaze the kids, and not lose any body parts in the ensuing explosions. It was all rather entertaining.
So, what exactly were we celebrating? It seems that a disproportionate number of said US citizencs could not correctly state what the 4th of July was. Well, it was independance day, right? Or was it the celebration of the singning of the declaration of independance? I bet P. Shannon gets it right. He’s of Irish decent and so sharp he could cut himself:-)
While all this was going on, I was in the land of Cheese, Wisconsin to be exact, a state where dental health care has long since been forgotten and people really don’t care how fat they are. I went fishing so I did not have to look at them all day, and caught a lot of bass (the small mouth variety) which we also ate, and they were very good too. Just can’t seem to buy vinegar anywhere though. When all said and done the whole 4th of July celebrations went well, no one was injured or killed, and I enjoyed myself, even if I did get a lot of shit for being a Brit.
It has been a while since my last blog, I have been travelling again to Sacramento, Indiana and WI so time is short during these little escapades. A lot has happened, the world cup took place, the shuttle got off the ground and into space at last (can’t wait for re-entry), the pope made his rounds, and a lot of people died all over the place as terrorists continue to bomb the shit out of their own people as well as anyone else who gets in the way. A precision airstrike killed the top terrorist in Iraq (did you see the size of that hole the bomb left?) and nothing has changed since then. In fact the situation got worse. Who knew.
I like to travel (as any of my friends will attest to) and as such get to see a lot of the US and the various people that inhabit this great land. I’m also fortunate to have met some really good people, friends, and colleagues, all in the space of 12 years. Irrespective of my heritage, and my comments on this blog (which are only intended to amuse and if you are lucky, educate), I really do love this country. It has now, as it always has in the past, great potential. All we need is someone at the helm other than G.W.Bush who can realise that potential. I can barely contain myself as I wait to see what hot prospects the next election will bring. I hope you all had a great Independance Day, and I promise to keep blogging more frequently now I am back in my cubicle and chained inexorably to my desk. If you read these missives and like a good laugh occasionally, forward the link to the blog to your friends (preferably the skinny ones) as I like to read all the nasty comments, hate mail, and the compliments too. It beats working for a living.
Robespierre.
P.S Hey Shannon, I caught a 20 inch Bass on a single hook, 6lb test and a leech. What have you caught other than a cold this year? Hope the wife and kids are doing great, and say hi to your mom for me.
A normal life? 
My guess for July 4th holiday is this:
A national holiday, invented for the benefit of popcorn and peanut promoters; tin horn and toy-balloon vendors; lemonade chemists; dealers in explosives; physicians and surgeons. A grand chance for the citizen-soldier to hear the roar of battle, smell powder, shoot the neighbor\’s cat, and lose a night\’s rest–or a finger.
I\’m on a business trip in your homeland, staying in Reading UK. Great history here, great restaurants, great pubs, and great weather add up to me getting little sleep and the occasional hang-over. Took the train up to Leeds last weekend and saw the Snow Patrol concert in Millenium Square. That place is great. I love this country, even though the dollar sucks and the costs are high.
Hope you are enjoying your summer!