1. What does freedom mean to you? 

To me, it’s the ability to live life as I please and I know that means everyone else is free to as well. It means you can fly your weirdo flag but I too can put my American flag up. I understand that it means we can all be who we are, though there are limitations. When people say their freedoms are being infringed on, there’s always a caveat. For example, when I was working in the House and the members were trying to make it so weirdo cross-dresser types couldn’t go in the ‘wrong’ bathroom, I got so sick of them saying their rights were being taken away. From the other end of things, a mother of a small girl was worried that a guy, sick in the head, would walk into the bathroom and potentially harm her child. So freedom means that we can all live life as we wish BUT not if it imposes on someone else’s safety, be in physical or mental.

2. How will you celebrate Independence Day this year? If you live outside the USA answer this question as it relates to your own country’s patriotic holiday, wherever that may land on the calendar. 

This year is a little different because 2/5 of my family will be coming back from a trip. So the plan is that I will make my husband’s birthday meal on the 4th. I am guessing we will do not much else then because they’re taking a Thursday night red eye. But on the 5th, we’ll head out to a friend’s house where they do big fireworks in a field.

3. This or that…red, white, or blue? Stars or stripes? Watermelon, home made ice cream, or blueberry pie? How do you feel about fireworks? 

Blue but I love the colors together and have amassed quite a few decorations and outfits with these colors.

Stars I guess; or at least, vertical stripes for me – lol. I did just pick up another cycling jersey and it’s USA.

I guess I’ll go homemade ice cream. I am not the biggest watermelon fan and I don’t often eat pie. Though, apparently on RAGBRAI every town specializes in a certain kind so the pros always warn you to try it all!

I enjoy fireworks quite a bit, actually. I think it just feels patriotic. That being said, I dislike when I am still hearing them either past 12 PM or on a random day a week later.

4. What have you purchased recently that made you excited? 

I haven’t bought much of anything lately but I did try out my new gloves and shoes for cycling yesterday and those made me happy. I still dislike that the sport itself lends to having to buy equipment. Running is so easy; a quick sports outfit and a nice pair of shoes and you’re good to go. Not cycling!

5. I’m thankful to live in America because_____________

This one is pretty complicated but the simple answer has to do with #1 – Freedom. I know there are some beautiful places out there but none as easy to live in. I watch a lot of videos about European countries where immigrants have taken over, where the citizens are letting their country be destroyed. At least here, we are trying to have some kind of balance. I am not, let it be known, against people coming to this country – the right way. By all means, come to the border through the proper channels, file paperwork, get a job, work towards citizenship. That’s all well and good. What I don’t like is how many people want to simply give away the hard-earned aspects of American living. I love American because of all the opportunities we have. You can be gainfully employed with insurance, if you try hard enough. I am so grateful I was born here and have been able to see other countries so I can come home and be thankful I live here and not there! (Not that I didn’t have a nice time in others; I certainly did. But I wouldn’t want to live there.)

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

As mentioned yesterday, the reason 2/5 of my family is gone is because my BIL ran a 100 mile race. It was really cool that there was a livestream of it and I watched it long enough to catch him at various checkpoints and watch him coming into the finish! Ash was able to run with him in the last mile and that was all on the stream. Then when he finished, his whole family walked with him. He didn’t make his goal time but he was only off by 45 minutes; he was a little over 24 hours.

I think they planned for a bit too long there so I am to the point where I wish they were home already. I think they are ready too, to be honest. I am hoping today is better; maybe they can ride bikes. I know Ash feels behind on his rides. I have one more 20 this week before out 65 on Saturday. I could put it off until Sunday but I think I’ll pass! I plan to get some grading done today then hit Costco. When we switched to ATT we got gift cards for each phone we traded in so I can go stock up now without feeling like it’s breaking the bank!