Can’t really celebrate Independence Day until we shake off the tyranny of Russia.

For no explicable reason, I am the toddler’s favorite for “Come. With. You.” I would rather hear people talk about gaming, but what am I supposed to do when I’m needed as a backstop for Matchbox car disasters (“Uh oh. Oh! No!”)?

Engaged in important summertime activities like splashing my feet in the pool (forgot my swimsuit, but actually sitting and splashing was pretty nice), eating grilled skewers and potato salad, and watched fireworks.

Marith reports that the cats got into a cupboard and flung some bowls onto the floor. As cat crimes go, this is pretty minor, but sheesh.

Played (board game): Sagrada. As always, I thought I was doing okay at the beginning but ended up with blank spaces and a terrible score.

Read (manga): VACATION.

Written (anything): VACATION.

I do not have a ginger cat of my own to appreciate right now, and if I did they would be at home, but I can still appreciate them in general!

Car people (Ayse and Ken and Jus and Nonny) departed today, but Dave and I stayed to play more board games. I was terrible at them all, but that’s okay. We played Thurn and Taxis, which has nothing to do with taxicabs but everything to do with postal routes in early Germany; Sagrada, which would have gone better if the dice hadn’t failed to fit a very important spot in my pattern; and Spirit Island, which is complicated but it’s satisfying to crush the white plastic colonizers. Somewhere in there we had grilled dinner, but really it was all about the board games.

Read: What If? (Randall Munroe): I didn’t read it in order, but I think I got every chapter, so I’m counting this as a reread.

Written: VACATION