Sunday, July 5, 2009

Weekend recap: The 4th of July, Wisconsin-style

Hello and happy belated 4th of July!

I hope everyone had a nice, relaxing weekend. I took a few days off after my little vlog adventure to relax and chill in Wisconsin, where is it so quiet, it creeps me out sometimes.

I find that now, whenever I go home, I miss the Chicago urban hum. What? No drunk person stumbling around or horns honking at night? I should record the Chicago "hum" and bring it with me to soothe me to sleep. Or get a nice little mobile for above my bed. Sad.

Anyhow, outside of getting a much needed/deserved mani/pedi at home, the big activity of the weekend was my hometown parade, which I chronicled here last year and was dying to photograph again.

Wisconsin loves the 4th and it loves our country. I see this displayed in several ways at home, from interesting outfit combinations to pride in our parade.

In fact, our local parade is so big and popular that the city had to pass an ordinance a few years ago to keep people from putting out their parade materials too early, thus monopolizing the good places. Clever. And I can guarantee you that people woke up early and waited outside until it was officially 6 a.m. to start roping off space. We're that hard core.


You don't f*ck with America and you don't f*ck with our parade spots. I even started stretching before the parade so I could be more limber to get candy instead of kids. Yes, that's what I do, please don't pretend you're surprised.

So here are some highlights from our parade, from sh*t to camels to kazoo bands to enjoying the parade with bistro tables, wine and a feathered mullet. It's better than what people used to do which is drink openly and ignore their children at the parade. Guess that was cracked down on too with the new ordinance. I cannot wait until next year!

Saw this on the hood of a car en route to the parade - yes, I'm immature

Celebrating the Civil War heroes

My favorite picture of the day. Bistro tables, feathered mullet and wine (forgive the grainy image, I had to zoom almost all the way to capture it)

Yay, a camel...in a southeastern Wisconsin parade...yay, a camel!

Kazoo band drummer. Yes, he's pointing RIGHT AT ME *faints*

Parade outfit - Wisconsin loves America and keeping its legs warm on a cool July day

Cleaning up sh*t from a horse-drawn carriage. We're givers

I was also home this weekend because tomorrow is my dad's 61st birthday. I mentioned here last year that I risked increasing my chance of skin cancer to help him ring in #60 and this year, he's keeping the celebration much more low key and unfortunately I can't be with him on the big day.

I know he doesn't read this blog (thank god, although I think he's hunting for it), but I want to say in closing, happy birthday dad. I know I'm not always the easiest person to love, but you do, and I love you back a lot.

How was everyone else's fourth of July? Is there anything you do every year or that your family/city is really hard-core about?

Note: Thank you everyone for the sweet comments about my vlog last week. I was so nervous in recording it and making it public. Your comments definitely made my day and made me smile. I'm so lucky to have you guys :) Oh and yes, big things are coming up! I can't wait.

23 comments:

Jenn said...

1. Love that there's a camel in the parade.

2. I've tried telling people about this "urban hum" and they just laugh at me. They don't think they'll miss it, but I tell ya, they will! When I lived in SLC & southern IL, I missed hearing honking and planes going by. Weird, but true.

lollygagger said...

Looks like fun. So did you knock over the kids for candy? My grandma used to do that. Seriously. :) And what exactly is the camel for?!

Surprisingly, the 4th is the one holiday I don't really have a family tradition, except I always try to get in some fireworks!

alexa @clevelandsaplum said...

i'm glad to see that the parade didn't disappoint this year.

i think the golf ball pic cracks me up the most. obvy.

Erin said...

That is one crazy parade! And I think that's the fluffiest mullet I've ever seen.

We went to Navy Pier on the 3rd. Whew! That was an adventure. And, to be honest, I don't think the fireworks were worth it.

Mandy said...

Wow, people really are hardcore about putting things out to stake their spot. Thats awesome. Glad that you had a fun 4th, really that mullet would have completely made my day. My 4th was sort of a fail but thats a whole blog post. Thankfully copious amount of Yuengling helped. =)

Auburn Kat said...

I haven't been to a parade in ages!! I think one of my favorite parts is watching the other spectators!

Maxie said...

we have a parade here, but i always get the hell out of town because there's NOTHING good. Just fire trucks and mullets.

Melissa said...

Haha, that parade is pretty hardcore! Color me impressed.
& I know what you mean, I live right near Chicago (Brookfield) and it's just city-ish enough where I know I'd be lost without my nightly noise.

Ali said...

That parade is hilarious and I love it.

Happy belated 4th to you!

jenn said...

oh my. living 2 blocks from summerfest really gives me a chance to see many of Wisconsin's finest - but it looks like you saw quite a few of your own. love the mullets and wine. keep it cla ssy,wisconsin!

Andhari said...

Camel!! I love! It sounds super festive :) glad you had fun :)

Pretty Unfamous said...

Ok, if that golf-ball scupture ISN'T supposed to be a penis, I don't know what the owners of the care were thinking it WOULD look like!

LWLH said...

A camel?! WTF?
That's sooo random.

fritz said...

ohhh how i miss wisconsin and the mullets and the socks up to your knees...they really know how to celebrate!! eh?

Kyla Roma said...

Looks like so much fun! A Camel? Really? What's more American than that? ;)

I'm glad you saw the fierce mullets and were able to walk away unscathed. Hope you got to see some great fireworks!

Anonymous said...

soon i won't have to live vicariously through you in regards to wisconsin holidays and midwestern stuff. at the end of this month, i'll finally be back in wisconsin!

i love the parades and i'm so sad i didn't get to go to even one this year. my parents called me and texted me pictured all day on the 4th because my dad was in two parades. i grew up riding in the passenger seat of his 65 mustang convertible for every parade imaginable, from miss wisconsin and easter to thanksgiving and christmas and everything celebratable (new word!) in between.

oyveyheyhey said...

Lol, got to love the mullets!

Anonymous said...

I'm coming with you to your parade next year. It sounds (and looks) pretty fabulous.

Jess said...

Looks like a great weekend! And happy bday to your dad.

Katelin said...

ummm amazing?

seriously love the camel and the feathered mullet, probably the two greatest things of the weekend.

Living Dees Life said...

the kids don't need all that candy. im sure the parents are thanking you!!

happy birthday to yer daddy!!

Jenny Grace said...

Golfball Penis?

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