Update

I sense much grit in you.

Not having internet access at one’s residence will certainly decrease the frequency a blog is updated. In brief, in no particular order, here’s what’s been going on with me.

Went to Imperial Beach, just a mere moments from the US-Mexico border for the annual sand castle competition (these photos make it look much more impressive than it really was, trust me). It was a global disappointment and the two best ‘castles’ were both Star Wars themed.

I learned how to make homemade pesto with fresh basil. Yummy, yummy in my tummy and incredibly easy.

I missed out on seeing G Love play on the Del Mar race track for $13 bucks ($8 for parking, $5 for admission). Who cares about the horses running around and around in a circle and apparently the big fun hats are only for the opening day. Race track promoters are trying to get younger folks hooked on betting on ponies so there’s a whole summer concert series that I have now taken note of.

And while I was missing out on G Love I was out with a new acquaintance who was under the rather unfortunate perception that it was a date. Luckily, it was close to home at the Whistle Stop and I was introduced to a fun local band The Truckee Brothers. Their tagline is “Roadhouse Raunch & Roll”. Two electric six strings, a bass, loud drums, harmonies and rockabilly shirts and Elvis style glasses, what's not to love?

I read The Half-Blood Prince this past weekend. Yup, I’m a Harry Potter geek and not afraid to admit it. (Rowling's site is quite fun, no doubt kid oriented as it's less sales orientated, imagine!)

Left the house after reading all day on Saturday and went for a run in my hilly neighborhood.

This weekend I also finished The Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri. Great writing about the microcosm of Bombay culture in one apartment building. And while the bookworm was so ferociously gnawing at me I started reading Blink. Just in case I get invited to a dinner party I’ve got three texts ready to discuss.

Watched the sun set at my favorite beach on Sunday, Ocean Beach (the hippie beach).

And that’s about it.

Pro Choice

On June 4th I was one of nine bridesmaids ensconced in pink at the black tie nuptials of a college friend from Philadelphia. She looked beautiful in ivory satin, crowned in tool but I couldn’t help remember the girl that would dance in her dorm room in her uniform of ripped jeans, a faded baseball cap and black, six-hole Doc Martens.

While caught in the bridal vortex of running errands and folding endless cake boxes I thought lots of negative stuff, "Like what the hell is a cake box?" and other standard thoughts like:

“This is too much money to spend on one day.”

“Fill-in-the-blank-tradition is SO misogynistic.”

“She really registered for household goods? Is it 1953?”

Eighty-six years prior in 1919 on June 4th Congress introduced the 19th Amendment for ratification by individual states allowing voting rights to all
citizens regardless of gender. Full ratification of the amendment was reached on August 18, 1920.

Over the Fourth of July weekend I attended a delayed reception for my twenty-three year old nephew in Chicago. After initial hellos and hugs he directed our eyes across the courtyard, “The bride is in the long black flowy dress, wearing the dog collar.”

They had married in a civil ceremony the previous December, my brother the only witness. Initially, they claimed it was friendship and other matters of convenience that motivated the ceremony but you can’t deny the way a smitten couple looks at one another.

Thankfully, at neither affair I never thought ill of those getting married, it was love, sweet love, everywhere.

Having the anniversary of the success of the Suffragist Movement and the independence of the US coincide with the weddings of a friend and family member within thirty days of one another reminded me about the exhilarating power of choice. And while my choice on marriage, which may very well be to remain single, is incredibly powerful because I, in fact, have a choice about everything in my life.

When I watched my friend say her vows and I saw clearly it was her choice that she was exercising without hesitation or reservation and that was the personification of independence.

Ah the power of choice, ivory tool or dog collar.