Picture Holiday!

I promised you a Picture Tuesday. You're getting a Picture Wednesday. So sue me.

Actually, that's even better! Because you see, here at the Pod, we have our July 4th parade at the stroke of midnight. Yes, we like to celebrate before anyone else. Because we're just like that.

All rightie, dear friends and blogees. I worked today, shopped afterwards, came home, put away groceries, spent two hours trimming my hedges, took a shower, made a dish for tomorrow's dinner at the folks', and I'm dog tired.

It's 2 am, and I'm ready to get this blog started.

Are the boys in place for the July 4th parade?

I see that they are. Hi, boys!





















First off, from Fort Knox, KY, we have the All-Coinage Marching Band!




















They spend their time marching, drilling, playing Heads or Tails, and hiding in the couch cushions. Led by the Quarter Dollar-Bill Banner Carriers.

Next, who do we see coming around the corner but the Mattel Hot Wheels All-Rolling Band!






















Look how they take a turn. Amazing. Led by every little boy's dream, the John Deere Tractor, and followed in the rear by an ambulance. Just in case of any accidents. A picture doesn't do them justice, really. All those sirens and car horns really make for a special parade entry. This entry was sponsored by my nephew, who loved these cars 14 years ago.

Oh, you're in for a treat now, guys. Because up next is none other than the one, the only, the very Rawhide Chew Toy Drill and Precision Team!

























Now that is some fine precision work. This entry was sponsored by Mr Peabody and Huckleberry Hound. Canines everywhere, be proud!

Next we have, sponsored by the Bible Club, the Noah's Ark Marchers!

























Yes, here they come, two by two, ready to board the ark and repopulate the earth. Cheap animals they were, and the zebras and giraffes must be drinkers, because they keep falling over. Lead by storks and gorillas, and don't even ask me how those lionesses do the parade route while lying down.

And finally, from Milton Bradley High, hold onto your hats if you're wearing them, because here comes the Mighty Jenga Band!























They're brown, they're wood, they stack, and I'm telling you right now, if one of them falls, the whole band is in a big pile on the floor. A side note? Never, and I mean never ever, drink a cup of coffee and then try to assemble the Mighty Jenga Band.

And so there was our little July 4th parade.

I have to tell you the idea for this picture blog. See, I was so damn proud of my Zesta Saltine Marching Band recipe du jour a while back. No one seemed to notice it much, but I loved it. Because for some reason, I just like lining things up. I used to do it with money, and dominoes, Risk game pieces when I was a kid. Imagine the warming of my heart when I realized that, playing with Taytie, he did the same thing. One game of Jenga, and then it was an hour of playing "Marching Band" with the Jenga pieces.

So there.

And I promised you a recipe du jour too, didn't I? Well, I have one. Say hello to it now, from the "July 4th Treats" in cardland, it's the Patriotic Potato Treat.

























Yep, there it is, standing tall like the barometer of fear that it is. It's a hulled-out red pepper, with some white potatoes inside, and a teeming dollop of blue mayonnaise in the middle. That would be mayonnaise mixed with Blue Crapius. And if you folks ever doubt how much I love you all, I actually had to touch that blue mayonnaise. Yeeeccccch.

I used the word "treat" twice in that, didn't I? Oh well. It's very late.

Happy 4th.

Betland's Olympic Update:
* Slim turnout, but we have acrowinners. So, Uncle Sam says, "I Want YOU! To ______"
- Runner-Up goes to Michelle the dishy, and her, "Open rifle shop - Virginia's tame!" Oh, Michelle. We're not tame at all - we have more rifle shops than you could ever know. We make up for it by also having more churches.
- And this week's Winner is the DeepFatFriar, with possibly the most brilliant acro in history, "Okick Rgeorge Sbush Voutta Toffice." This may be my favorite acro of all time.
- Thanks to you for playing, you both did very well!