The One with July 2022

“I know how memory works. I know what happens to it. Some people pine for the past so bad that if you give them even a glimpse of an ear they'll grab hold of it and hang on, telling you stories about the past as if the present were drowning them. Believe me, I know how it happens. Memory comes in to fill the spaces of whatever isn't there.” - Josh Ritter, The Great Glorious Goddamn of It All

Looking back on July with Covid-brain, here’s how I remember the month.

While the actual Independence Day holiday was spent quietly at home with a Supernatural marathon, the days leading up to it were spent in festive spirits with beloved people and water activities.

There were days at the swim beach and nights at the pool.

The second attempt for a movie on the beach with my goddaughter was a success. The weather was perfect, the company was fun, the concessions were yummy, and the movie was a delight. We followed it up by going back to the swim beach the next day for actual swimming. 

My Best Favorite and I had tickets to the Royals double header on one of the hottest days of the summer. This was our first time to be at The K together since 2019. Although we didn’t make it to the second game it was such a fun, albeit sweltering, date day. 

My Uncle Larry celebrated his 80th birthday in July and to mark the occasion the family shared table at Willow Springs Mercantile in Excelsior Springs. In the spirit of making the most of time and gas money I decided to make some work stops while in Excelsior Springs, so I dropped my Best Favorite and my parents off in the downtown and told them to have fun for a bit. Fun they had. The Atlas Saloon ended up opening just for them even though they are typically closed for inventory on Sundays. In true fashion, my people befriended the manager and her husband and their time together ended with a promise to return the following weekend for live music and drinks.

So, return we did. And we brought a friend. It was fun to do something different for a night.

Happy Hour is always fun when I get to catch up and cheers with My Constant, My Lobster, My Sexy Penguin, My Lighthouse, and My Hello Kitty. Also, Michael Forbes has many rules for their Happy Hour, but the sangria is delicious. 

Market days that turn into days spending all the money and buying all the things at Big Lots with friends are memorable days. The peaches from the market turned into a great little cocktail. The bourbon peach smash recipe is HERE. 

July brought our first bout of Covid. My Best Favorite and I sure felt the love from all the text check-ins, special deliveries, and cuddly naps with the pups. We love our people so much and are so thankful for love, support, and health.

The pups were very near and were the best company during my multi day quarantine. Luckily, they got to go out for ice cream before Covid hit. They are so loved and so spoiled.

July was a slow reading month, but I am still making progress towards my goal for the year. Books read to date: 30.

The memories of July 2022 will come in to fill the spaces of whatever isn’t there for a long time to come. Here’s to the great glorious goddamn of it all.

The One with June 2022

“I long ago abandoned myself to a blind lust for the written word. Literature is my sandbox. In it I play, build my forts and castles, spend glorious time. It is the world outside that box that gives me trouble.” - Rabih Alameddine

For as true as the above quote is for me, I do also spend glorious time at the swim beach (and  pool) of which June was full of. 

There was also a movie night at the swim beach -  that got rained out.

A cancelled swim beach movie night led to a sleep over party instead and bright sunny skies the next day. 

My parents and I ate festive treats, people watched, and shopped for antiques and succulent plants at the Strawberry Festival.

There were family nights full of watching old home videos.

There were birthdays to celebrate! 

There were fathers to celebrate!

And there were memories to celebrate. My best favorite and I spent some time with family in Colorado and enjoyed making so many new memories while reminiscing about so many old ones.

We spent a day in the mountains at the Frisco BBQ Challenge. 

We got to watch our nephew play some baseball which led to even more reminiscing of My Best Favorite’s baseball days. 

There were nights with friends. 

Before we came home, we treated ourselves to some pampering at the Denver Beer Spa. Yep, we got to sip beer while soaking in beer. It was an experience that I highly recommend and will absolutely do again.   

There was so much hockey in June. We got to watch some of the Avalanche games during our time in Colorado. Our experience at the DNVR bar was really something special.

And then right after we got home the Avalanche won the Stanley cup. There was much celebrating. 

The pups were so spoiled in June and loved all of their outdoor time.

And there were books to read. Book tally for the year: 26

Here’s to spending glorious time in our sandboxes this season.