Legally Irreverent: July 2011

Monday, July 18, 2011

Celebrating America! (Part II)

On the 4th of July, we were off to a busy start! The Spousal Unit (SU) participated in the Brockway Firecracker 10k. The SU says the field was pretty intense, but the course was scenic around the town.

The only police cruiser in town leading the field! You know you live in safe parts when there's only one police cruiser and it is being used to lead a 10k!

The girl in the stroller was going yay the whole time. The mom may not be the fastest runner, but she has got heart.

We enjoyed some Sheetz coffee while the SU ran, and following the run (the SU did great! probably a personal best time for the 10k!), we went to lunch/dinner at the home of the SU's roommate's family friends (SURFF).

The SURFF had a really awesome garden, with wonderful and yummy looking produce, hops, and flowers!


We then went to a library book sale, followed by a car show! There were many beautiful classic cars, even some ricers with absurd spoilers! I thought the folding backseats/luggage boot was a nice touch! There was also a brand new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, which I would have gotten a picture of if the owners didn't seem like douche bags.

Later in the day, we went to the 4th of July parade!

The Village Voices sounded pretty good!

These people really like the Preamble to the US Constitution, the Bible, and tea.

Porta-Potties make modern American life possible!


These guys, the Kittanning Firemens Band were genuinely awesome. Old school & playing it like it is supposed to sound.

Unfortunately, we could not stay for fireworks because it was a Monday we needed to return to the 'Burgh for the Tuesday workday (and I'm getting old and can't function on 4 hours of sleep and work 10 hours anymore). But I'd imagine it was an epic show? Like our prior visits, this visit to Brockway was awesome. Our hosts, as always were welcoming and a delight, and visiting Brockway always makes this foreigner wish he was born in the US of A (which I think is quite apropos for the 4th of July). Chalk a +1 for another Americana experience!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Celebrating America! (Part I)

For the 4th of July, the Spousal Unit (hereinafter "SU") and I visited her old college roommate's hometown in Brockway, Pennsylvania.

Brockway is a borough where the people are friendly and don't lock their doors at night, wildlife is plentiful, and the water tastes good. I was told that the water in Brockway is soft, which was confirmed by how rapidly soap lathers in Brockway, and the good the pizza/baked goods (I dare say Brockway has the best pizza west of the Hudson River).

This was our third visit to Brockway, but it was the first time we had been able to stay for multiple days (a previous attempt to stay over was foiled by an alarm clock and cats). As a result! We are able experience many new and awesome things!

The first night we were in Brockway, we got to ride in a 1958 Willys Jeep Wagon that had been upgraded with ~300hp, a sound system, uber comfortable seats, and electric windshield wipers (The original wipers were driven by a vacuum engine powered by the manifold vacuum, which worked best when the car was not moving).


Sort of like Dairy Queen. Only awesome!

We also ate some awesome pizza, drank some beer from Straub Beer from St. Mary, and went to a local hangout called "Tastee Freez." This place was sort of like Dairy Queen, only it had $2.00 foot-long hotdogs,
and was generally awesome.

We also got to go to a local shooting range. It was a great educational experience, as I discovered that the SU is Annie Oakley-reincarnated.

Don't believe me? Watch the vid! This is the SU working the lever after about a dozen shots.

Note to self, in the zombie apocalypse, give the SU a lever-action .22 rifle and she'll hold down the fort while I look for Rodents of Unusual Size (R.O.U.S) to feed the family!