For Independence Day, my lovely wife and I drove over to Carrboro and spent the afternoon and evening with Jamie and his wife Steffi. It was a wonderful day, full of fun and interesting conversation, good food and wine, and great company. At one point, we drove to the very cool Weaver Street Market co-op, and had tea and cookies; I had a snickerdoodle and Earl Grey. We took a stroll through the store, and I discovered Lundberg brand Tuscan Risotto (based in California, and no relation), so naturally I had to pick up a box. We also got a bottle of Desi's Handcrafted Wildflower Sparkling Mead with a calico kitty on the label, made in NC.

Now we're home, and some of my more intelligent neighbors are lighting bottle rockets and trying their hardest to blow off a finger or two. Maybe they'll get lucky and only lose an eye.

The Boston Pops are now on TV, and David Lee Roth just sang an orchestral version of "Jump" onstage, and I died a little.

But, fireworks pretty.

It was so hot and humid today that we just didn't feel like going out to watch fireworks anywhere. And they seem smaller when you watch them on television. Still impressive, but diminished. You don't get that thump of bass in your chest when one of the really loud ones explodes. You don't get that neckache from craning up to see all the sparkling colors. You don't get that sense of wonder. But it's still fun to watch.

Instead of John Phillip Sousa, they're now playing Sheryl Crow and Creed as tiny explosions dot the sky over Boston. Because nothing says America more than a pop song written for the first Spider-Man movie.

Speaking of, we saw the sequel a couple of days ago, and I really enjoyed it. There were some pretty major logic issues (like why would Peter get a crappy apartment in NYC when he could move back in with his Aunt May?), but on the whole, it was even better than the first movie, and I agree with Tim that Michael Chabon's influence on the screen story added much more character development than we usually see in superhero movies, or big summer blockbusters. The scene when the trainload of people is looking down at Spidey without his mask on just about broke my heart.

Yesterday, I finished reading and critiquing all the stories for the upcoming SH Oregon Workshop, and also read the last half of Chuck Palahniuk's new nonfiction collection Stranger Than Fiction. We bought a wooden holder with hooks to hang our keys on; the holder is naturally shaped like a key. Janet got a large brush for her next painting, which will be large. I sold back some of my textbooks to Packbackers, the student bookstore on Hillsborough Street, for a combined total of $28.

Tomorrow, we'll go to the farmer's market. Janet will work on her painting, and I'll work on a story. Tuesday and Wednesday I'll be doing drafting work at the day job. I still haven't gotten paid for my previous work.

I leave you with a quote by Benjamin Franklin, on our most patriotic day:

"Those who would give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither safety nor liberty."

Happy Fourth, everyone.

Now Reading:
Shriek: An Afterword by Jeff VanderMeer

Stories Out to Publishers:
7

Books Read This Year:
35

Zines/Graphic Novels/Fiction Mags Read This Year:
22