Happy Not Mother's...I mean Father's Day!

This weekend is Father's Day- and like many dutiful wives- I plan on letting my husband sleep in, will cook his favorite dinner and keep the kiddos as quiet as possible (I'm thinking movie day for us). What I will not do? Mow the lawn for him- since the ONE time I did he complained I did it "wrong" so he gets that honor all to himself.

 I NEVER know what to get him- usually his wishes are beyond our financial capabilities. I ALWAYS ask for peace and quiet, to be taken out to breakfast and to not have to cook or clean. If I get some actual gifts- well that is a bonus!

He doesn't do the "traditional" dad things- golfing, fishing, etc. so there goes my idea for cheap greens fees or an all inclusive fishing expedition from Groupon. I REALLY want to get him a new grill- even though he protests and says he doesn't need one (I beg to differ).  He has said something about a tow package for his Jeep- but I am severely impaired when it comes to his Jeep- and after looking online I have NO CLUE as to which one he would need...

I wish

Cool, huh?

What he did ask for was a bonfire on Saturday night with "The Boys"- complete with too much booze, long involved conversations about The Avengers, Star Wars and when he is going to make another movie. I am all for it- but don't necessarily look forward to nursing his hangover on Father's Day- but if that is what he wants, well, who am I to protest?

He was very good to me on Mother's Day- I got several things I had asked for but didn't expect to get. Now granted- we had tax return money then, and now we are really tightening the budget with me not working this summer- but I really want to get him something. I LOVE to give presents (he will say I love to spend money which isn't true...anymore!) and I love to see the look on my sweeties face when I get him something totally awesome and not expected.

Always a winner

So what's it gonna be? Crazy sex? Favorite dessert? (can be combined with crazy sex- so it's a two-fer!)  A pony? Beer of the month subscription?  A Stormtrooper helmet with voice changer?      I'm stumped. Pretty shameful after 15 years of marriage. *Le Sigh*

If I want to be TOTALLY unexpected

It's The 4th of July- Let's blow shit up!!!

I LOVE the 4th of July! And I LOVE fireworks! I love the big bangs, the  pretty colors and all the ooh's and ahh's. From my humble beginnings growing up in the Nevada desert- where we would travel to a tiny, tiny town called Schurz to buy illegal fireworks, to my now 9 year tradition of cheesy little fireworks in our backyard- I love the WHOLE thing.

What more could you ask for?

I love letting the kids run around the yard with sparklers while we sit around the bonfire visiting with whoever showed up this year. Typically I make too much food, and drink too much beer-but it is fun, fairly inexpensive, with no presents to buy anyone.. SCORE! 

Girl Child with fire...danger!

This is one of the few nights a year I allow The Boy to stay up past 8:00 P.M.  I am very lucky- he likes the fireworks. A majority of kids on the autism spectrum can't handle the noise and bright lights. My Boy LOVES it.  The 20 something always liked the fireworks too- now that he is older he has attended a few of the family backyard parties- but I rarely get to see him now. Teenzilla has pyro tendencies like her mom- and just enjoys setting stuff on fire. Last year she was allowed to light her own sparklers for the first time...you would have thought she was getting her license to drive.

Oohhh...Ahhhhh

But it seems that the anticipation, the excitement of 4th of July  has lost some of it's luster..what with fireworks every damn weekend beginning in June and going through August. I  kinda miss the once a year,  spray down  with bug spray grab a blanket to sit on get in the car and drive to a great viewing spot to ooh and ahh at the pretty sparkles in the sky. That anticipation has gone the way of Saturday morning cartoons. Sure- the kids love the fact that they have no wait time- but the SPECIAL-ness has gone out of it. 

The 4th of July is the pinnacle of summer for me. It's all down hill from here...with the exception of the kids' birthday celebrations and my anniversary  of course. But once this holiday is over- I can see September and back to school. Yet another summer gone- the kids are a year older, and  me just a little more bitter. The summers seem to be getting shorter and time is  passing by too damn fast.

So as you prepare to celebrate America's Independence by consuming copious amounts of alcohol and lighting shit on fire- please remember why you are doing it-  light a sparkler for a soldier- and above all else be safe.