A few things that bear mentioning, with pictures.

Hi there. I obviously haven't felt much like posting lately. To catch you up:

1. Montpelier's 3rd of July parade happened. (We have it on the 3rd so that the municipality gets a deal on the fireworks crew, and locals can also go to the bigger, more renowned parade in Warren, VT on the 4th.)

Here are two local curiosities: the secessionist contingent (U.S. out of Vermont!) and a 'peace clown'.





2. I went to Philadelphia. Those of you who know me will know why.

This is what it looked like.





3. While I was there, I turned 36.

4. After a recent blood test, I learned that, at least according to the white jackets at a place in Fort Lauderdale called Immuno Laboratories, I have immune reactions to eggs, milk, cheese, and leavened bread (all of which my refrigerator usually contains significant amounts).

While this particular test does have a reputation for returning false positives, I'm considering this the universe's way of smacking me on the head and telling me to EAT MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

5. Away We Go is the best movie I have seen in a long time. Initially I wasn't interested in a movie about a pregnant couple (not having much interest in being pregnant myself), but I enjoyed it so much more than I expected to. It is sweet, sad, true, hilarious, and hopeful. I saw it on the last night it screened at our local theater, otherwise I probably would have gone back to see it again.