My neighborhood's July 4th parade was awesome as usual. I'm assuming we were the only neighborhood in Cincinnati whose parade had high school marching bands, 2 separate floats with drag queens, a horseback therapy group (on horseback), a roller derby team, a street roller hockey team, politicians, 2 separate pro-Palestine groups, a Jewish Voice for Peace group, the library, the art museum, a random woman with a sign saying "FUCK SCOTUS," Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Water Works, pro-LGBTQ churches, the animal shelter, an anti-gerrymandering group, antique cars, the Teamsters for the Amazon hub at the airport, and a random dude on a riding mower. We have a little bit of everything. Except Republicans and other assorted bigotry, I guess. There was even a Kennedy for President group. Tim wouldn't let me yell "Tell us about the brain worm!"

Have I mentioned that we're finally moving out of Texas? At some point in 2025. Bought a house that's being built in Richmond, VA, so sometime early-ish next year we'll move. It's exciting yet anticlimactic right now. Once the building actually starts, we'll see if the next 7-9 months feel endless. I guess I'll still be here to cast a vote against Ted Cruz in November.

Oh no, the fog is coming in just in time to thwart the fireworks.

It looked for sure like we were going to have the first clear night in 10 years.

Dana, super exciting! I mean, yes, a ways off, but... exciting!

We went to see A Quiet Place Day One tonight with two friends. Two of us were bored senseless, one thought it was OK, one thought it was good. So, there you go. Then we had a yum, fun dinner nearby. As expected, our pup doesn't notice the fireworks. Honey badger don't give a shit.

I wish I had taken PTO tomorrow. Oh, well. For sure, it will be a mellow day.

Hope the fireworks were still OK-ish, David.

Hope the fireworks were still OK-ish, David.

I mean, I can hear them. But as a veteran of 38 years of SF Fireworks you're just getting dim glimpses of colored lights in the fog.

I can't emphasize enough how warm and blue skied it was all day, and then just as the sun went down the fog came in with Eddie Izzard described speed. It does roil in quickly when it's in the mood.

Congrats on the move, Dana! I haven’t been to Richmond, but I’ve been to other parts of VA and they were lovely.

I’m sorry about the past few days, erikaj.

Congrats to any UK Buffistas! It looks like the election results went exceptionally well.

I had a really good strawberry and feta salad in Richmond. Twice. I've only been once. We had fun.

Supposed to be a heat index of 109° today. Don't really care to know what that feels like, but I guess I still have to let the pup out. If she'll go.

What I have been thinking lately, and I'm sure it's not an original thought:

Why don't we call it pro forced pregnancy? That's what it is. Pro life is FAR too gentle a term, in addition to being utter bullshit. Do I think they are pro life? No. Do I think they are pro forced pregnancy? Yes.

And, I'm against forced pregnancy. "Pro choice," again, too delicate.

I mean, I do say it that way now, but...

I'm not saying it would change much at all, but call it what it is.

Exciting, Dana. Richmond has grown up a lot in recent years. I lived there in the 70s for a couple years. The cemetery overlooking the James is really lovely.

Sorry, about the shrouded fireworks, David. Ours were quite nice for a small town. Posted a couple videos on the FB.

(oops, just noticed I hadn't clicked post)

eta: Yes, forced pregnancy is exactly what it is.

I've seen the term "forced birth" around.