Thursday Thoughts - on the double, ralphie!

1. Remember when MFD was sitting around in a Ralphie bunny costume on Halloween? This will be the first Halloween in 12 years that my dogs will not be wearing a costume. Geege was my Halloween dog who endured the dressing up with silent dignity while the other two raged against the machine. I just can't do it this year.

2. Mae is exercising demons out of her asshole, from prednisone maybe? I have a call in to the vet. But she seems much better overall, which is weird to say after that first sentence. We're all still assimilating to Bruce Springsteen, of course. He is tiring himself and us out every day.

3. Today is my last day off of the year aside from a holiday. I'm hanging out with Lola Jean. I picked this vest up for her at Old Navy. New nephew coming soon! I got him some things too.

4. Last night we had dinner at the Continental with Melissa and Blane then went to see Trae Crowder/ the Liberal Rednecks WellRED tour at Helium. Not too shabby for a Wednesday night, am I right?


5. Every day is a good day to have a BFF sunglasses designer who sends you free glasses you like because she has them laying around since she worked on the design. Thanks KVSR for the shades. I got my plaid Toms too. Boom. And my Christmas gifts have started arriving. I'm about halfway done with the shopping.

6. I finally got my lazy ass over to see the Octavius Catto statue that was installed at the end of September here in Philadelphia. An educator, scholar, writer, pioneering baseball player, and fearless civil rights activist,  Catto fought unflaggingly for an equitable society in the wake of the Civil War. He successfully protested to desegregate Philadelphia’s trolleys, he fought to pass constitutional amendments enfranchising black citizens, and then he worked to bring those new black voters to the polls. He was shot and killed on his way to vote in 1871. It's the first public monument honoring one specific black person erected in the city of Philadelphia.

7. I walked all the way around City Hall first because I love the building and second because I was looking for the trump rat that was up near the Rizzo statue the day before. Alas it was nowhere to be found. Such a gorgeous building though and there's always something going on. This is Flores de Libertad, the installation of 1,600 hand dyed flowers, a creative action against family detention by artist Michelle Angela Ortiz. She's led several free paper flower workshops. Flowers from participants join the flowers made by undocumented mothers detained at the Berks County Family Detention Center, a prison for immigrant families in PA. Think of how fucked up that description is...a prison for immigrant families. The flowers of the mothers carry messages of freedom.

8. This week in NOT NORMAL: Amy Siskind's authoritarian list, week 49 where she points out we spent most of our time talking about the imposter's actions towards a fallen soldier instead of the scary shit on this list; the two-person company Whitefish Energy with small town neighbor ties to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke got the $300 million contract to fix the electrical grid in Puerto Rico (80% of the island is still without power as of Monday) in a no-bid process - swampy as fuck, you guys; and mothers who defend sons who sexually assault women. This week in everyone read this: I'm giving you the BoredPanda link to a tweet thread by @stealthygeek because it's hard to find the thread wading through the insane people who responded to his commentary on the assertion life begins at conception.

9. Reminder:

10. E-card of the week: 

Philly Favorites

Have you ever been to Philadelphia? I grew up in the suburbs, have worked in Center City for the past six years, and live in the far Northeast. I could list 101 things to do here in town, many of them much more cultural than the things on this list, but if I was a tourist in my own town, here are some things I'd do...

1. Pose with the Rocky Statue and take pics on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I've never seen a town identify a movie character with itself like this one does. When you're finished with the Rocky stuff, wander into the Museum if that's your bag.

2. Walk the Parkway and pause in front of The Thinker at The Rodin Museum. You can see the Gates of Hell and The Thinker from outside the museum. Go in for more.

3. Stop in and tour The Barnes - make a reservation if you can. This eclectic collection and non-Museum feeling display are worth the trip in.

4. Visit LOVE Park and Logan Square (Swann Fountain) and get pictures taken in front of the fountains.

5. Pop in to see what's playing on the Video Wall at the Comcast Building, which boasts the largest four mm LED screen in the world.

6. Walk around City Hall to see William Penn at all angles, and go up to the City Hall Tower & Observation Deck.

7. Visit The Wanamaker Organ in Macy's. All of Macy's inside is actually a grand old store. I remember going to see the Christmas Light Show in Wanamaker's when I was a little girl.

8. Wander the aisles of Reading Terminal Market, eating freely.

9. Catch a glimpse of the Liberty Bell. I wouldn't wait in line for it though. It's a bell with a huge crack in it. What more do you need to know?

10. Walk down Elfreth's Alley, America's oldest continuously occupied residential block.

11. Visit Independence Hall and tramp around Independence National Historical Park. During the summer of 1776, 56 men gathered here to defy the King of England by issuing the Declaration of Independence. Eleven years later representatives from 12 states gathered here to shape the U.S. Constitution. You can see the original inkstand used to sign the Declaration of Independence as well as a draft of the Constitution here. You need a ticket to enter but the admission is free, unless you want to time it. Then it's a buck fifty.

12. Throw a penny on Ben Franklin's grave in Christ Church Burial Ground. As Ben himself said, "A penny saved is a penny earned," and even though you're throwing a penny away, what the hell? It's customary.

13. The Italian Market - 10 blocks along Ninth Street in South Philly - is one of the oldest and largest open air markets in America. You need cheese from DiBruno Bros. You can check out the infamous Pat's and Geno's while you're in this area too.

14. Go through the Magic Gardens - three lots on South Street, it's the biggest work of the mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar. Even if you're not into art it's cool to travel through the outdoor labyrinth. Cost: $7.

Via

15. People watch in Rittenhouse Square at lunch time.

16. Check out Boathouse Row at Twilight.

Photo taken by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia

17. Watch out for murals. The Mural Arts Program is celebrating 30 years this year. You can even take a tour of the murals around town, touted as the world's largest collection of outdoor public art.

18. Have a cheesesteak. My favorite is at Jim's on South Street. Ask any Philly person and they'll give you a million more options. The best cheesesteak is a highly contested, feverish battle. However! If you come to this town and at Subway, we are through.

19. Soft pretzels - get 'em hot.

20. Visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington Square Park.

A whole list with only mention of a cheesesteak and soft pretzels for sustenance? Shameful, I know. Philly has a ton of excellent restaurants. It truly has become a food town. Some of my favorites are Zahav, Honey's Sit 'N Eat for breakfast, Parc. I could go on and on because there are really so many good ones, but I won't.

There's much more to do here than this list - both higher and lower brow. I love this town and all of its history. I hope you visit from out of town or spend a day being a tourist in your own town and love it too. Fellow Philadelphians, what did I miss that would be on your must do list?



Linking up with

Stars and Stripes Forever

Happy Fourth! Here's some July 4 trivia for my fellow nerds:

-Presidents John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe all died on July 4.
-July 4 was not declared a National holiday until 1941.
-July 4 is the date the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. It could have easily been July 2, the date the Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution for independence from the Brits.
-Philadelphians celebrated that first year on July 8, and George Washington's troops didn't even know about it until July 9. And the British didn't receive word of it until August 30. No email back then and all.

Unfortunately for Geege, July 4 means fireworks out the wazoo, a tradition that originated right here in this fair city, the birthplace of the nation:

source

Have a banner day!

I'm a yankee doodle dandy

It's easy to point out many things that are wrong in this country, and what our government is or isn't doing that makes us angry. I'm sure many of us could gripe until the cows come home. 


Tomorrow isn't the day for that. July 4 is a day to appreciate what we have here, to celebrate the courage of our forefathers for securing our independence, to go swimming, to have a beer, to eat a hotdog, to wave a flag, and to watch some fireworks. 

Photo: anediblemosaic.com

Here are just a few of the things I love about my country and being an American. I hope you take some time over the Fourth to reflect on the things you love about America.

1. The Star Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, God Bless America, Yankee Doodle - I am a true sucker for the patriotic songs. I will tear up without fail.

Photo: spiritof76dar.org

2. We're the home of the free because of the brave - the American armed forces have long been a source of pride for this country, heroes who provide defense and order and hope not only to us, but to people around the world.

3. Thanksgiving.

4. The hamburger. Cherry pie. Ice cream. Cobb Salad. Buffalo wings. Cheesesteaks. The almighty hotdog.

 "You look like the Fourth of July! Makes me want a hotdog real bad." 

                                                                           ~Legally Blonde II

Photo: imsuchateas.tumblr.com

5. That unique aura of Americanism. That pride. That America, FUCK YEAH attitude.

6. Disney World.

7. Nathaniel Hawthorne, Walt Whitman, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald.

8. The Bill of Rights.

9. Baseball.

10. Our politicians may or may not be crooks who may or may not give a shit about us, that's always up for debate. Regardless of where you stand on that issue, we vote without fear of oppression or death. Many people on this planet are not so lucky.

11. Revolutionary War history. I love walking the streets in Philadelphia where so much risk was taken, so much put on the line for liberty. You can still feel the hope and fear of the founding fathers as they worked to declare our independence...and the strength of the women who were holding it together on their end.

12. College football on Saturdays. The Notre Dame Fight Song.

13.  The Brooklyn Bridge. The Golden Gate Bridge (which I will see in person for the first time in just a few short weeks). The Seven Mile Bridge. Magnificent.

Photo: fla-keys.com

14. Our national motto - E Pluribus Unum - out of many; one.

15. When there is trouble, Americans come together. It doesn't matter what political table we sit at, we put it aside and take care of business. If there is an OH SHIT problem, you want Americans around.

Photo: ducksnarow.com

16. In this country, what you make of your life is up to you. No one is stopping you but yourself.

17. Lady Liberty.

18. The Rule of Law.

19. Bruce Springsteen. Rock-n-roll.

Photo: penetratingthevoid.blogspot.com

20. Our indomitable spirit and belief that our way of life should and will prevail. We may fall down seven times, but we will stand up eight.

Photo: abc-news.com

There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.

                                  ~William Jefferson Clinton

Happy Fourth of July! Don't lose a finger setting off your fireworks. 

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.