McKinney, Texas, July 11, 2010~

Dear Journal~

Rat-Nose here.  How are y'all?  Me, I'm just up long enough to write in my journal here, and I'm on my way back to bed after I'm through.

Yesterday was A W E S O M E  with a capital A!  Me, Hornsby, Tic, Rafael, and Rudy (co-workers and friends of mine) were all off work yesterday, so we went to Crowley, Texas, for the annual Freedom Festival, which is always held a week after the Fourth; this was the fifth year for the event.

We were not disappointed.  We didn't make it in time for the parade (Rafael overslept LOL), but we got there about nooon-ish, and we had a blast.  It all started when Dana Bowman, this guy who lost both his legs in a skydiving accident, leapt out of a good, perfectly-working airplane and lowered himself to the ground as he carried an American flag.  Unfortunately, there was not much wind by then, so he had a very bad landing. 

For a minute, we thought he was hurt because he didn't get up, but then he did, and when he waved to the crowd, everybody sighed with relief and cheered.  (Don't you know HE is going to feel THAT in the morning! *OW*)

After that, we headed to the tent where they were serving lunch.  It was good:  choice of fried chicken, hot dogs, or beef brisket, baked beans, potato salad, three bean salad, regular salad, and for dessert, fruit cups, cake, and ice cream.  All Veterans and their families got to eat free.  Since my dad is a Veteran, I qualified (don't know if he made it to the festival or not; I couldn't find him OR ma). 

After lunch, they had music (fifties rock and roll and traditional contry later in the afternoon), a "Crowley Idol" contest, a beautiful baby pageant, and military flyovers, aomngst other things.  There was a great turnout, especially in the evening prior to the fireworks.

The fireworks lasted 20 minutes (approxiamately).  They would have been longer, but one of the firework casings didn't ignite.  Still, it was even better than last year, and I saw some fireworks I'd never seen before, so it was worth it!

Saw the twin ladies I mentioned last year:  one wearing her Air Force shirt, the other wearing a "One Nation, Under God" shirt that had ice cream stains on the American flag (guess she missed her mouth while eating her strawberry ice cream!  LOL).  I didn't really recognize the smaller one:  her hair got longer; it was past her shoulders and very curly.  They were also both very sunburnt, especially the smaller twin: talk about a boiled crawfish; she was practically G L O W I N G!!  LOLOLOL

The band that played before the fireworks was the same one they had last year:  Landon Dodd and "The Dancehall Drifters".  Very traditional, hardcore country featuring the pedal steel guitar and fiddle.  They were very good, even though, in all honesty, I am not much into that kind of country music.  Still, they were enjoyable, and I had a good time.  My buddies and I just pretended to dance with each other and cut the fool.  LOL  People were looking at us, but we didn't care!  LOL

The weather was cloudy most of the day, but by evening (and the fireworks), it was clearing up.  That was really good to see because we'd had days and days of the threat of rainfall and thunderstorms.  No rain at all yesterday except, perhaps, for a few sprinkles, and they really didn't last long at all, much to my relief.  It was rather humid, though, which made for rathr uncomfortable conditions to those who weren't used to it or to those who didn't like the heat.

It was a lot cooler than last year, with temps in the nineties instead of in the 100's, like it was last year (last year, it got up to 105 degrees!!).  And there was a nice breeze, so that felt great on hot, sweaty skin! :)

Well, I am going back to bed, so I will write in here again.  Besides, I am toasty red; got burned big time!  *OW*  Until later, this is Rat-Nose saying so long!  God bless; I'm outta here!

~Rat-Nose.  :D