The Great British Empire Opt Out 🇬🇧
a.k.a. Independence Day (from them ⬆️)
Hello Friends.
Many moons ago, in a time when stamina knew no bounds and unbridled enthusiasm veiled more reasonable decisions, my husband and I used to host a Fourth of July party.
There was always a general rhythm to it. Paella was on the menu, the long, singular dinner table was set atop the pond levee, and outdoor games would be played.
We decided that this type of holiday celebration needed a proper invitation versus our typical casual invite via phone, email or text. I could design it on my computer and we could then print or email it. Perfect. Now our party just needed a name.
While my choice of ‘Independence Day Celebrations’ was direct and to the point — and most importantly the name of our national high holiday, my English-born husband found it both bland and not entirely accurate. Almost immediately he said, “The Great British Empire Opt Out”.
His reasoning? “Don’t be so sure we didn’t want to leave this mosquito infested land filled with ungrateful colonists. We opted out.” And so his humorous monologue continued. It was an undeniable hit.
Now that this was settled — and fully embraced — we set about decorating with an obscene number of Union Jacks flying high on the ranch and themed more than a few games as USA vs. UK. And with a healthy community of expats it was competitive and hilarious.
I know there are a few people reading this who were guests all those years ago — and are undoubtedly smiling (or wincing) as they reminisce.
xo ~ Suzanne
As we head into this week’s Fourth of July celebrations, here are a few quick tips to help your dog weather the sound-storm caused by fireworks as well as the general mayhem of festivities, strange people, and potential chaos.
If you’re a seasoned dog owner you are probably familiar with these tips, but it’s worth revisiting to make sure you and your dog are ready… and to pass this along to others.
Firstly — Remember this stuff usually starts before July 4th and keeps going after the day itself. I recommend starting these suggestions no later than July 3 and going through until July 5. Given that Independence Day weekend will be a long weekend for most (Thursday - Sunday), prepare for a lengthy display of shenanigans.
Noise Travels — Just because we can’t hear it, doesn’t mean the dogs cannot hear it. In fact, they do. Their hearing, on average, is 4 times greater than ours. Fireworks may not be scheduled in your town or surrounding towns but that doesn’t mean your dog won’t be able to hear it in the distance.
Collar with ID — Make sure your dog is wearing her/his collar with your phone number on it. If the ID is faded or has fallen off, improvise by either writing directly on it with a Sharpie pen or use paper to write it and then use clear tape to adhere to the collar.
Crate Your Dog — Put your dog in her/his crate (a secure one; not the fabric kind and preferably not a wire one) at least 2 hours before you expect fireworks. Make sure this crate is placed in a quiet part of your house (perhaps your bedroom). Have a lightweight blanket or towel nearby in case you need to provide additional comfort by placing it over the crate.
Use the Leash — Use your dog’s leash to take them outside — even if it’s in your own backyard.
Microchip Information — Do you know the microchip number? Where did you store this info (in your phone, on your desktop, etc.)? Have you scanned your dog’s body to make sure that the microchip hasn’t traveled to another part of its body from the original injection site? Do you know who in your community has a microchip scanner in case you need one (i.e. you find someone else’s dog or vice versa)?
Closed Offices — Many small practice veterinary clinics will be closed for the holiday weekend. Many animal control offices and shelters are closed on the holiday and weekends. Bear this in mind…..
Play it safe and have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend!
