Americana (somehow makes me think of Tropicana)



Cam rules the Shirlington Dog Park.

 Okay, so there's been a bug with my blog for like the past week.  That is not an excuse - I'm serious.  I haven't been able to post.  I know that I have one more Korea installment to post, but I thougth I'd interject a quick Memorial Day post just because I have cute pictures.

It was so hard to come into work today.  After such an amazing weekend when my alarm went off at 5:00 AM, I rolled my eyes and Cameron groaned.  She has become such a good snuggler (other than the fact that she takes up the entire bed), and I actually let her sleep in the bed this whole weekend.  I don't quite know how I'm going to break it to her that she can't sleep with me every night.  I'd be more inclined to let her cuddle if she didn't find it necessary to stretch completely out and take up the whole bed.  When she sleeps in the bed, I wake up with one leg hanging off the bed about to tumble out of my slumber.



We are SO starting a band.

On to the weekend...if I could sum the weekend up in one word, it would be perfect:  grilling out, pool time, running, hanging with Cameron, eating outside, playing guitar, baseball games.  I swear, it doesn't get any better than that.  Why am I at work again today?  In hindsight, I probably should have worn more sunscreen, but at least, now I can say that I have my first good "burn" of the season.
It's funny what a difference a year makes.

On Memorial Day Weekend last year, I went to my first "branding" in Idaho.  If you're in doubt, yes, I'm talking about an actual branding where the cattle are branded with the ranch's identifying mark.  No, I'm not talking about some ritualistic branding where a bunch of drunk guys brand one another (though, I think that happens occasionally as well).  I must admit that I didn't really know what I was getting myself into, but I loved the people, the horses, the food, the ranch - really just the West, in general. 
 

Cocktails outside with Cameron.

This year, I spent the weekend celebrating a different slice of Americana.  Friday night, I grilled out.  Saturday, I fried by the pool all day and grabbed cocktails al fresco with Cameron.  Sunday, I went to the Nationals game (it seriously seems like they're trying to lose sometimes) and caught some indie rock at the Iota Club.  And Monday, it was back to the pool and grilling out.  No, I wasn't a part of Rolling Thunder, and I didn't even get into downtown DC (didn't want to deal with the traffic).  But for me, this Memorial Day was about celebrating the things that I love and those that have died in the service of this country.

During a Moment of Silence to remember the fallen at the baseball game on Sunday, I looked around me and realized once again how proud I am to be an American and how lucky we are to have brave men and women overseas fighting for all that we love.

Happy running!