Trip: Phase 2

We leave Iceland on Sunday, heading toward D.C. to celebrate the 4th of July in our nation's capital. We love this holiday commemorating our independence as a free nation. We were in Boston one year - a lot of tea got wasted in the harbor - probably, Earl Grey... and we ate a lot of good seafood. Celebrating in Washington is a treat. There's a concert on the mall, fireworks galore and of course, we get to visit old haunts.

We're supposed to stay at a friend's condo in Virginia but I'm pushing to stay at the Woodland Park Sheraton which is one subway stop away from the National Zoo. I've been there before - they have Maryland crab cakes on the lunch buffet! The giant squid is thinking about it. He doesn't mind taking me to the zoo but he says he doesn't want me to eat my way across the whole place. Tsk. The zoo is so large I can barely eat my way across half of it.

SWAT

Tsk

We'll stop by Smithsonian House. That's where we met and that's where we were married a heck of a lot of spankings ago. And we'll go to Arlington because it's always good to visit old friends to let them know we continue to think of them. At the end of each visit we make a final stop at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Today's technology helps us identify most remains but Cowboy sees the Tomb as a memorial to all the valiant warriors that remain MIA or are buried in unknown places.

4th of July celebrations include parades and hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill and cherry cokes and root beer floats and lots of pie. Cherry pie is traditional and so are apple pie and blueberry pie. Mr. Grumpy isn't too happy about this. He looks forward to a thick slice of peach pie. I'll eat the blueberry and probably eat his share too. I like blueberry pie served hot with vanilla ice cream on top. It takes about a pint and a half of ice cream to cover a pie - perfect! I like to get a mouthful and smile... then I can gross out all the old ladies tsking away at how much I'm consuming.

Where does she put it?

In my mouth, you moron!

SWAT

Tsk

We get to eat all these treats at a tent reserved for military visitors during the celebrations. Cowboy says the ladies serving are members of the DAR - Daughters of the American Revolution. I've seen some of these ladies and some of them probably saw the revolution first hand... for sure some of them are also members of the temperance union. This might be the time for me to sing "God Save the Queen."

SWAT!

Tsk

Called home last night to check on my pups. BullyBoy complained about the lack of beer but our house sitter said he was getting beaten to death by Bully's happy end as he listened to me talk to him on the speakerphone. I promised him a six-pack as soon as I get home - BullyBoy, not the house sitter. The Rott whined and wanted to know when I'd be home. I don't know why folks think Rotts are so ferocious; mine is a mama's boy.

DomTom played the innocent card and purred into the phone. DomTom only purrs when he's been up to mischief. I wonder where he learned that. The house sitter said Miss Emmy lost one of her lives when she sneaked out onto the back deck. The outside Rott, Tank, caught her and slobbered over her and it scared her to death. She's been under the bed since Tuesday.

House sitter also said Tank and Panda made whoopee in the middle of the backyard. I don't have the heart to tell Tank that Panda was fixed a long time ago. Cowboy says as long as they're enjoying themselves and we won't get puppies, who cares? Well... I know for a fact that my almost-98-year-old neighbor, Peeper Patterson took pictures... and he's been showing them around the neighborhood. Our neighbor Ms.HairUpHerAss is easily grossed out. I wonder if I should let Tank and Panda into the front yard where all the neighbors can watch the show live...

SWAT

Tsk

We'll be home in a few days and the pups will go back to their normal diet of eating what I eat. I found a supply of the original Cracker Jack in a box with prizes in Reykjavik of all places. I bought the inventory and had it shipped home. I also emailed the grocer to ship a crate of Kraft Mac & Cheese to the house - one can never have enough of that on hand. Between that and my Twinkie stash, the pups and I can eat very well when Cowboy leaves the house.

Will try to send a note from D.C. but no promises. I know my way around that town and it's my responsibility to make sure Cowboy has his hands full chasing me hither, thither and yon. He doesn't seem to mind the hither and thither. It's the yon that usually gets me in trouble.

~Sar~