July 4th

We had a surprise visit from Miss C yesterday..... C has been working in Yellowstone National Park this summer (and loving every minute of it!) but she had to take a few days off because she's in a wedding party this weekend.  C and her friend drove from Yellowstone to Texas, stopping off here for an overnight visit on their way into Houston.

C was filled with news about Yellowstone...... she's one of the horseback tour guides..... she loves her horse, loves the job, doesn't exactly love the food that's offered to the employees, but everything else is just over-the-top wonderful.  So much so that she's thinking of working a winter shift up in Yellowstone.  All that snow? And the cold?  C isn't thinking of the snow and the cold weather.... she's thinking of the cross-country skiing and the snow-mobiles. She's a true outdoor girl if ever there was one.  After working in Yellowstone, it's going to be difficult for C to even think about working in an office environment.  I would understand a Park Ranger career in her future, if she wants to live somewhere other than Texas.

We went to the small town next to ours last night, for July 4th fireworks.  I didn't have my expectations set too high for that, given the size and the budget of that town, but we were very much surprised.  A lot of fireworks around the lake, and not the loud two-second pops, but the streaming-into-the-sky color-bursts that look so beautiful as they explode.  And just when we thought we were looking at the finale, another round of colorful rockets lit up the sky.... and then another.... and another..... a lot of oohs and aahs from the crowd there.

We saw the new Johnny Depp movie today--- "The Lone Ranger."  As always, Johnny Depp gets lost in whatever character he plays, giving his own unique spin on the personality. I closed my eyes for parts of the movie.... I didn't need to see everyone getting shot, and I especially didn't need to see those scorpions (we have enough of them right here, thank you)..... and the stunts---- unbelievable.... and the white horse (a unique personality right there)............ and when they played the Lone Ranger's theme song, I'm sure there wasn't a dry eye in the house, especially from the over-50 crowd.