Happy 4th!

Happy Independence Day, loyal R&C! Take a few today to remember the people who make freedom possible. 

Random, uplifting note- I notice that half the time when I reminisce about anything, it's amazing how random the things are that I remember perfectly. Seriously, it's these small things that you have no business remembering much at all, but you remember them so clearly you swear you could live them again, still see and smell everything. Also, cool how funny other stuff has come be; things that maybe were a pain in the ass the first time around, or frustrating have become these funny stories you laugh about for hours. And thanks to rosy retrospection (thanks, psychologist friends), even some of the people who wrong you don't seem quite so bad. Overall, a new and uplifting perspective on the past, a more profound understanding of self (see post 'Interesting Insight'), and great outlook for the coming days? With that thought in mind (with apologies to Amanda, since the song is apparently overplayed in Indiana!) I give you this to muse on:

OneRepublic - Good Life (Official Music Video) by ChaOko_01

Addendum: Florida is hot as ever, and it made me wonder if I travel too much when I realized that I know my way around Fort Lauderdale by memory. Last time I was in this particular hotel was right after Port Paradise last year; odd to think both how much has gone on since then, and how it really wasn't all that long ago. A lot of memories grew out of the last two trips down here (well, all of them really, but the last two especially, thanks to someone's messages from back home.) Like I said, odd the things you remember!

The weather is at least better than Charleston... good lord, the tourists were out on waters and roads in Chucktown! Eh, I'll be back up there in a few days visiting again, but hey, most of the lookiloos will be gone by then, and I can enjoy the waters of Carolina.

Let's see, anything else before heading to bimini boatyard bar & grill for drinks and supper and watching the Chinese high explosives... um, got some really cool stuff going on for work that I can't wait to tell everyone about, but still gotta wait a little while. I hate keeping stuff like that pent up, but it'll be worthwhile!

Oh, more on travel while I have a sec! This past week I took an unexpected trip up north (or narth, if you're Irish) to visit an old and dear friend. Actually, hard to believe I've known her for over ten years! Ah, to feel old, lol. Great trip on short notice, and awesome times hanging out, nice dinner date out at Tippicanoe Place, overall great! Now if I can just convince her to move soul and embrace the southern belle way of life! Actually, the only bad parts of the trip were that a) Chicago's airport still sucks, and b) infants should not be allowed on airplanes, at least not unless there is a way to partition them away from everyone else who paid for a seat in hopes of not having to endure ear-bleeding horror for the whole flight.

More randomness: on the way down here today, I hopped off the interstate for gas, and went to get back on and the exit was closed. Fine, follow the detour and it leads... to another closed exit. Follow that detour, and it leads you back to the first closed exit. Follow the alternate detour, and it leads you away and then back into the loop. Seriously? How hard is it to fix problems like that? Great work, useless town with gouged gas pricing, you are the weakest link.

Well, I hear the faint popping of either fireworks or distant mortar bombardment (here's hoping for fireworks, otherwise this town has really gone to hell...) so it's time for dinner and drinks. Catch everyone soon!