Happy 4th America!... 'n' stuff

• I am losing myself to my pages. Between Facebook, Twitter and here, I don't remember if I've said it, where I said it or why in some cases.

• I want for just one millisecond, to feel the exhilaration my boys do when they have sparklers in their hands.

We took them to buy what we consider the kid stuff of the 4th; sparklers, snakes, poppers and smoke bombs. The first guy we talked to tried to rip us off. i think he thought that telling us outlandish prices would cause us to blindly buy an expensive package, but it didn't work that way. I was not about to pay $20. for sparklers and smoke bombs.

I don't get the lure of the smoke bomb, at all. They are expensive as hell and at best, clear away the mosquitoes for awhile.

But my boys go ape-shit over them. It is worth the $5. a 1/2 dozen just to see that much fricken joy in person for a few seconds.We did the smoke bombs and sparklers tonight ((as in Friday the 3rd, I haven't slept yet so it's still Friday)).

• I had a whole evening planned. Put the tent up in the backyard, cookout on the grill, a nice fire in the fire pit, smores, kid friendly fireworks.

A backyard camp-out, a very fun time, w/ a bathroom just inside the door, everything we could possibly need - and our comfy beds if it just doesn't work out. Problem... we loaned our tent to some friends late in the Summer last year and w/out telling us, they returned it damp. It's ruined. Think tent house w/ 2 rooms. Very nice and very ruined. I am so pissed. I'll deal w/ that and them another day.

• Soooo we did our thing and now the family is resting for the big day tomorrow. The longest day of the year in my eyes. Sun and swimming, food and family alll day long and then late into the night waiting for the fireworks.

The fireworks themselves are totally worth it, but it's the waiting that kills me. Cranky, sun drained people, exhausted from the day, often grimy from sweat and sand. But we sit and we wait and we gasp as we watch them, when they do begin, usually 45 minutes later than scheduled. Ahhh tradition.

• Fucking mosquitoes.

I have a raging bite on my arm that is driving me crazy. Big B came to me this afternoon complaining of one on his arm. I saw one that looked irritated but not in a nutso way. He was like, no Mom this one, and showed me his elbow. Right at the crook of the arm he has a golfball size knot where there is a bite. It's hot as hell to the touch.

I was a little freaked and called for opinions. If ever you find yourself needing a bite taken care of, I highly recommend a product called Prid. It is awesome stuff and appears to be drawing the yuck out. I expect it to be healed in a day or so.

• Speaking of bites and biting. Last night I was just settling into bed, which involves plugging the cell in to charge and reading any texts or emails waiting on it for me. Depending on my level of exhaustion and ability to fall asleep, I check Google Reader. So I'm laying there reading an email continuance from Marf and I describing his characters in Sims 3 and feel a creepy crawly on me.

I sit up and in the dark, thereby unable to see, start swiping my arm so whatever it is will be hit to the floor. Then I wait for that feeling again, and sure enough there it is again, same thing. This time I shine my phone around to see what is attacking me. Nothing. So I go back to what I was doing, but on high alert now.

Almost like I willed it to happen, there is another one on me, but this time on my forehead. Too much. I jump out of bed and turn the light on. There is an ant on my bed. Then another. 3 total.

Where in the hell are ants getting into my room and onto my bed? I have this answer now and it has been fixed, but in the moment it was groggy confusion. Not fun.

The rest of the night I had that itchy, not quite right feeling. I hate that. Especially if I get it into my head that I feel like something is in my panties. Then I really spaz and will have to go wash, change clothes and beds. Yikes, just the thought.

• Enough rambling randomness, we're waking up at 6, in like 4 hours to start the smoker. 2 slabs of ribs, 12 ears of corn, 2 chickens, chicken breasts for me and whatever else J can think of to throw on the smoker. Ok, I'll be honest, HE is getting up at 6 to do this. I will be up at 8 to get the corn ready and soaking. That's my own job in the cookout, and I am so loving that.
  

Enjoy your day blogosphere.