Sunday, July 3, 2005
Pelicans, Petroglyphs, Bunnies, Goats, Pigs and Patriots

Our family is finally taking some time to enjoy summer.  We decided to go to Pyramid on Wednesday, and Ruby put her toes in the water.  It was too cold to teach her how to swim, but she liked playing in the sand, and pointed at the huge pelicans that landed near us, yelling, “duck, DUCK!”  Close enough.

Yesterday we went with Paul to Grime’s point to look at the petroglyphs.  Ruby enjoyed herself immensely, but we kind of rushed our visit, because she started to look extremely sunburned, even though she was wearing sunscreen.  As soon as she got back in the car, the red began to disappear.  I think it was a combination of the heat and her excitement to be out with Paul.  She thinks he’s OK.  He taught her to hit herself on the head with a plastic bottle and yell, “Bonk!”  That’s a priceless lesson for a youngster, and it’s a skill she can keep with her for her whole life.

Today, we went with Dan and Leah to the petting zoo.  Ruby loves bunnies, and she got to see one up close!  Four or five goats tried to eat Ani’s dress, and a pig fell in love with Dan.  His shoes were repeatedly nudged by a muddy snout.

Tomorrow, we’ll probably walk down the street to see some fireworks if Ruby’s still awake.  If not, we’ll just stay home and comfort Kiko.  She hates the sound of explosions in the distance.  We live close enough to Rancho San Rafael to hear the Proud to be an American/Coming to America/Born in the USA/American Woman medley.  I am always amazed that Born in the USA and American Woman make it in there.  I know, they play just enough of the songs so that you don’t catch their meaning, but they are both decidedly critical of the U.S.  Born in the USA is a reaction to the Vietnam War, “I had a brother at Khe Sahn; fighting off the Viet Cong. They're still there, he's all gone,” and American Woman is about how the guy doesn’t like his American woman, and he wants her to get away from him.  “I don’t need your war machines, and I don’t need your ghetto scenes.”  You can bet your ass that those lines won’t be in tomorrow’s medley. But the choruses sound great with fireworks, and all the rednecks can yell that they were also born in the USA, and who doesn’t like to chant something about American Women.  I think they confuse that song with California Girls (the David Lee Roth version). 

I’m not feeling very patriotic this year, but I’ll celebrate the vision of what kind of country I hope that Ruby will inherit.  Enough said.  There’s no need for me to rant today.  Ruby and I hope you enjoy your holiday.