Anyone else this happy about the 4th?  This is Nate’s first “4th of July” in his young life, and he’s gonna be spending it in Asia with his family and a group of friends from Kansas!  I hope he grows up to love and appreciate the USA like I do.

I think there is something about living abroad that makes you appreciate America even more than you would have if you had never left.  I know it’s certainly true for me.  There are many things (a couple of REALLY BIG ONES) that I have totally come to appreciate about America now that I don’t live there anymore.

As many of you know, I am just coming off of a 10 month stay in America where one of my observations was how much everyone – particularly politicians and journalist and those who listen to politicians and journalist without thinking for themselves – would go on and on about how TERRIBLE things were in America today.  Excuse me, ‘terrible’?!  Really?  Is your perspective really that microscopic that you cannot see beyond $4 gas?  Shame on you.  Go get a passport immediately.  Travel to ANY other country.  Live there (as opposed to being a ‘tourist’ there.)  Then come back and tell me how terrible Americans have it.

OK, I’m getting off my soap-box before I get in trouble (translation = before Erica gets upset with me.)

Happy 4th of July everyone!  Go have a burger, a Dr. Pepper and some yummy ice cream… I’ll be having rice… and I will appreciate every bite.