Gemini Rising

Welcome to July !

I just want to welcome the Blog followers to July! The 4th of July is just around the corner, and I bought tickets to see the fireworks show at Ventura college. We’ve gone before. It’s nothing special, but it feels more special than just staying in Santa Clarita and watching the fireworks at the mall. I love Santa Clarita, but fireworks at mall is a tad crowded and there’s too much asphalt.

We’ve gone to Ventura a couple of times, now. It’s at the college and we get to sit down on the grass and bring items for a picnic. We can bring in coolers, lawn chairs, blankies, but there’s no alcohol, no pets, no smoking/vaping. There will be food trucks, which are kinda’ neat. I think I got an ice cream from them last year. When the boys were little, they went and played on the bounce houses. This year we just have Joey who is 17. Andy is on Catalina Island at Camp Emerald Bay during the 4th doing his Boy Scout thing. The only thing with Ventura is that it can get a little cramped feeling. Joey has never been big on fireworks. With his ADHD, he’s also sensitive to loud sound. The vacuum cleaner drove him crazy when he was younger.

For a long time, we used to go to Avalon on Catalina Island for the 4th of July. What started out as a 2-3 overnighter turned into a week-long event. And trust me, you can pack a whole week of 4th of July fun on Catalina. We usually rented a condo on Hamilton cove and drove the golf cart everywhere. There’s BBQ’ing, fishing, relaxing, and the fireworks in the harbor were very memorable. There’s the golf cart parade and the USC marching band. 4th of July on Avalon was something special, and I think we did it from 2005 to 2012 when the boys were little. We stopped because the in-laws started coming and honestly, 2012 was not as pleasant as it could have been.



We might go back next year. Joey suggested we go while on vacation and Brent and I are seriously considering it – no in laws. We’re putting our foot down. I think Joey, heck - we all do - have great 4th of July memories on Catalina and we’d like to go back. The 4th of July isn’t the same when we’re not in Avalon.

This year I bought some fun decorations at Walmart and Dollar tree to spruce up the lawn. I’ve got beads and headbands. I want to bring Popeye’s chicken to eat on the lawn in Ventura. Last year Brent made sandwiches and they were okay, but it was too much.

What do you have planned for the 4th?