Went to friend's bbq, had fun. Got home in time to see fireworks. Could've walked down the hill to the highway overpass which gets closed to traffic to watch, but decided to find out if I could see from my balcony. Turns out there's a tree in the way, and I kind of have to lean over, to see--it's on the wrong end of the lake. Not a fan of heights, so...I'll just listen to the booms. And sit on my balcony and type, and drink a glass of wine.

Why do the dumbasses on my block wait until AFTER midnight to blow off all their illegal fireworks? Now they're violating the noise ordinance as well as having illegal fireworks, on top of being asshats. Not that' i'm going to call the cops on em, i know just how terrible the dispatch situation is tonight. But there's just as many officers on the street now as there were an hour ago, the afternoon shift doesn't log off until 2am, and now they are less busy with crowd control for legal fireworks displays. *sigh* stressed out kitten just pooped in the middle of the floor and looked at me imploringly as if to say "make the loud noises stop, please."

I put a few drops of Rescue Remedy in the cats' supper last night. Of course, then I had to go pick Daniel up, so I couldn't be there with them. And it doesn't really seem to work for more than a couple hours, but I have also heard you can drop some in the fur behind their ears and it helps.

Then again, it could be that it only helps because I expect it to help, and I send them "you are much calmer now" vibes.

OMG people, I am exhausted. Happy July 5th.

And we'll still have prettier money.

Australia has very pretty money. The best part is, Australia puts writers on its money. I think we need a Mark Twain bill.

The best part is, Australia puts writers on its money.

So does Ireland. Yeats on the 20 pound note!

Keats and Yeates are on your notes, but you lose because Wilde is on mine.

OK, maybe not.

So, my mother calls me at 2AM. I'm in bed, but I answer the phone because my SIL is two days from her due date and I am on standby. she is calling because my 2nd cousin's 3rd birthday is tomorrow and I've been "invited". I have not been invited, my mother is on this "everyone has to be equal" thing (i.e. she gives me and my SIL the same gift for Christmas). My bro is invited because he has a 4 year old, but I should be invited too! @@ Look, I love my family, but I see this kid maybe three times a year, and my aunt/cousin didn't invite me because they didn't want to put me in the position of being invited to an event that I have no interest in attending and have no reason to be at, but feel like I have to because it's family. but, my mother has to fuck it up AND call at 2AM the day before!!!! I've just told her that I can't make it. I can't make it because I'm busy watching the Food Network, but I didn't get into that.

It was nice of you to let all those people watch fireworks from the top of your mountain, Zen. I'm sure they appreciate it.

I'm generous like that!

And today I'm covered in mosquito bites (okay, I have two, but I usually don't get bit at all) and sleepy.

Vortex, geez. 2AM calls are for emergencies only.

I had so many unwanted conversations with my dad the last week or so of my sister's pregnancy because I thought it might be news of my nephew's birth.

Happily, now I can go back to screening my calls so I am not subjected to his drunken rambling calls.