Happy Birthday Dear America, Happy Birthday to you! We live in a great country and as we celebrate this 4th of July on Friday, I realize this holiday is truly steeped in tradition for me. July is also my birthday month so a month chock full of celebration, well, that is pure genius.

As those who are paid to think out loud about stuff try to unpack the real reason why Sarah Palin decided to call it quits on Friday (the multi-million dollar book deal,legal problems, another pregnancy - yes CNN's Rick Sanchez actually lobbed that idea out loud to a stoic Candy Crowley-- or that she has simply become too big for Alaska), one thing is clear, the reasons people give for quitting a job are rarely the real or entire reasons.

Human rights, is a subject that passes the lips of most people I have known in certain circumstances. `It is MY human right`/`it is `OUR` human right..etc, etc! When at times like this I write down my true thoughts, it usually brings a reception of disgust or dismay. I am never quite sure why that is save to say, in my view it can only be a sense of denial, either self or projected. Human rights organisations have even wanted to represent me.

Ok. I LOVE the 4th. I am very patriotic and I really enjoy Independence day. Even this one when I worked a 12 hour shift. 12 hours at time and a half :)I do NOT love my neighbors. None of them. NOT ONE. As I commiserated with a co-worker this morning, nobody thinks about those who still must work the next morning. NOBODY.I expect fireworks set off at odd hours for a few weeks before and after. I expect them to go off late on the 3rd and 4th. I know .especially when it falls on a weekend, that people will be up much later and be much louder.

I’m not so fond of Food Network’s new direction.  The other day I sat down to watch a cake decorating show, but this one turned into a show about engineering. Could the bakers/designers duplicate (in cake) a favorite car?   On the next show, they built a replica of a DJ’s sound board.     I like the cooking process so much that I’ll watch enthralled while someone makes a sandwich, but I don’t want to watch cooks building structures out of food.