And the Winter 2018 Games Go To...

No, not anywhere in the USA, I just really like this graphic. It went finally on their third try to Pyeongchang. Yes, South Korea was awarded 2018 Winter Olympics. As noted on http://www.msnbc.com/ The South Korean city of Pyeongchang was awarded the 2018 Winter Olympics on Wednesday after failing in two previous attempts.

Pyeongchang defeated rivals Munich and Annecy, France, in a landslide in the first round of a secret ballot of the International Olympic Committee. Needing 48 votes for victory, Pyeongchang received 63 of the 95 votes cast. Munich received 25 and Annecy seven.

The Koreans had lost narrowly in previous bids for the 2010 and 2014 Olympics. "Koreans have been waiting for 10 years to host the Winter Games," bid leader Cho Yang-ho told The Associated Press. "Now we have finally achieved our dream." Pyeongchang will be the first city in Asia outside Japan to host the Winter Games. Japan held the games in Sapporo in 1972 and Nagano in 1998.

Fabulous Fireworks

The nation's capital kicks off our tour of fireworks and this is an amazing picture. You just cannot make this stuff up. The colors and iconic buildings make for a wonderful sight. This does not hint at the nasty weather that whipped through Washington, DC on Sunday stopping the rehearsal for the big show that is a PBS staple. Another favorite is the show put on by the Boston Pops and I have to say that their finale was the best as it was set to Sandi Patty's full rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" that I still remember hearing the first time back in 1986 at the end of the 4-day Liberty Weekend. You can see it on You Tube and she is introduced by Peter Jennings. I sure miss him.Without a doubt, top honors for show stoppers goes to Macy's fireworks display that is shot off on the Hudson River. Six barges shoot off a nearly 30 minute display and this year it was a nod to the 125th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. The music was all over the place and worked quite well. Katy Perry's "Firework" has become a staple I fear of all shows. I watched 6 different displays and it was one of two songs in every show, the other was "Star Spangled Banner." The Empire Building got a much deserved 2nd appearance here in the blog. Love what they do with light on the top of the building. See June blog for Gay Pride lighting!And finally Seattle shot off a grand display and I watched it on TV, but at the same time I sat and looked out my window to the south as there was a string of fireworks going off along a slice of land that is country owned and there was a non-stop show going on down near my friend Markie's house. I watched for nearly 2 hours non-stop. Awoke just before 1am and sure enough, fireworks were still going off...Yankee Doodle Do or Die!

125 + 235 = Happy 4th of July!

Good Morning America and Happy Birthday! Yes indeed and tonight the rockets red glare and bombs will be bursting in mid air. Will you be part of the zaniness. I plan to have a low energy level day of relaxing and then head out later this day to be part of the festivities. May all of you have a great holiday and glad you stopped by.Macy's fireworks honors the 125th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. With a nod to Wikipedia - The Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World, French: La Liberté éclairant le monde) is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886. The statue, a gift to the United States from the people of France, is of a robed female figure representing Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, who bears a torch and a tabula ansata (a tablet evoking the law) upon which is inscribed the date of the American Declaration of Independence. A broken chain lies at her feet. The statue has become an icon of freedom and of the United States.

It is an awesome sight and I so remember when Janet, my sister, came up for Thanksgiving in the late 80's and we ventured out to the Statue of Liberty in the bitter cold and yet that just did not matter. It was just awe inspiring.This is America's 235th birthday and so get out and enjoy. I am heading down to Markie's for a fun al fresco dinner with friends and from what Markie has shared there will be a plethora of fireworks going off. Whatever you decide to do today, be sure to be safe and sane so you can share the details tomorrow!

Reading and Learning

It has been a weekend of reading. Got caught up on the last of the backlog of New Yorkers including the July 4th issue! That makes reading 11 issues in the last week. Markie is buried in them now. I also took on the New York Times today. I am feeling rather smug, if only overnight. Glad I do not have to face the office tomorrow, but rather I plan to have a mellow morning and then make deviled eggs for the get-together at Markie's tomorrow evening. I believe it will be 5 or 6 of us tomorrow. May stay late or I might get home early and watch fireworks on TV. FYI Macy's fireworks will be on NBC stations at 9pm.Fun Fact #1 = I learned an interesting item about bar-b-que vs. bar-b-cue. It seems that the former refers to the actual cooking device. The latter refers to the food that has been cooked. Thus, the bar-b-cue was cooked on the bar-b-que. Go figure. I never knew? How many of you will be cooking on a bar-b-que tomorrow? Or will you be using a grill? Yes, most of us will just be grilling meat tomorrow as cooking bar-b-cue takes hours.Fun Fact #2 = There are still 371 Drive-In's around the United States. When was the last time you went to a drive-in? Have you ever been? It was a staple of growing up and I still have vivid memories of seeing "Old Yeller" at the Lithia Drive-In in Talent. It is now a sub-division. And so goes another memory.

Mid-Summer Memory

A couple of weeks ago my brother sent the above image. Boy did it suck me back in time. We used to listen for the bell that would clang to let us know the ice cream cart was coming. Seriously, we would get our nickels and dimes together and get it going. Too funny. This was before all the motor carts puttering around playing the theme from "The Sting" that would drive people nuts. Oh the memories that began to pop up that I had not thought of in years. From the sand box up in the corner of the property to the shack that was the "store" to go shopping in. The sledding and the snowmen plus all those Christmas memories that still live on from 697 Indiana Street. Our house until we moved when I was in 4th grade.

Seriously, Can She Look Bad?

Catherine at Canada Day festivities - Love the hat!

Oh Canada!

Welcome to the second half of the year 2011. We kick it off with a salute to Canada on their 144th birthday. If you have not visited in a while, you have not missed a lot as the past two months were like a faux vacation for me. I had a heck of a spring and the blog took a back seat. Work was challenging and a dear friend moved to Idaho to be more comfortable as her cancer proves more invasive. Mom's dementia continues to be more challenging for all the family and weight issues moved front and center. Hosted a really good pity party and now it is over. Life happens and we need to take it one day at a time. Also, I am finding that it is OK to admit that I am not perfect. Maybe I just thought I was. But at least I have a weekend that will be a nice blend of fun.