Hello, tiny dancers, and welcome to this week’s Friday Open Thread! This is a weekly space in which we divulge the secrets of our star-crossed youths and commiserate about kids these days. JK! It’s a place where I beg you for a hint of affection and offer photos of my dog in return, so close but not the same. And this week, our virtual group hug falls on one of my favorite weeks of the year: Week De Independence, AKA it was Canada Day on Wednesday and now it’s Fourth of July weekend! Wheee! Let’s drink beer out of red, white, and blue cans and forget the faults of our founding fathers! Or something.
I love Independence Day because I like fireworks, Lana Del Rey, classic rock, and denim, not necessarily in that order. I also love going outside and having BBQs, which I feel is what this holiday is made of. But I also love the idea of celebrating not only our shitty countries, but our own individual independence — the things we’re free from or free to do, the people we’ve chosen to live out and proud as, etc. That’s worth, like, a veggie dog or two if you ask me, and go ahead and toss some ‘slaw on the side ’cause you deserve it, bae.
I’m going to spend this weekend thinking about getting free. Coincidentally, I’m doing it from my home-home, New Jersey, where I once lived and thus am destined to forever identify myself with until I die. It’s gonna be a great moment to sort of pause, take stock of my entire life, and make a plan for the future. Right? That’s totally what happens when I go home. I don’t get drunk and watch cable at all.
Either way, I think we all deserve a second or two to think about getting free in our lives. Let’s do that this weekend, when we can also listen to Bruce Springsteen without shame or reservation and everyone’s okay with it. Mostly because doing some reflection to the tune of “Jersey Girl” has worked out for me a lot in the past.
So, dear readers, my question to you is this: What independence of yours are you celebrating this weekend? (It’s okay if you say the right to libate.) How are you gonna let loose and get free for a day or two? Are you grilling? Are you snuggling? Are you around to watch my dog, JK I found someone at the last minute. And really, even if you don’t wanna talk about any of this sh*t at all, that’s fine, go ahead and tell me about your girlfriend or your crush or the cat you just adopted or your friend or the fight you’re having with your friend about the cat you just adopted or something. I wanna see, know, and talk about it all. You’re pretty precious to me, in case you didn’t know yet. I just wanna love you and hold you in my arms, but virtually. I hope you will consent to this but if you don’t we can just talk it out anyway.
Okay, poodles and noodles! Let ‘er rip. Spill the beans. Fire up the grill! DISHHHHHH.
How To Post A Photo In The Comments:
1. Find a photo! This is the easy part. Find a photo on the web, right click (on a Mac, control+click), hit “Copy Image URL” and then…
2. Code it in to your comment! Use the following code, and use a DIRECT LINK to the image. Your image link should end in .JPG or .GIF or .PNG or .CallMeWhateverYouWant even. I don’t care, but it should be an image suffix! KINDA LIKE THIS:
If you need to upload the photo you love from your computer, try using imgur. To learn more about posting photos, check out Ali’s step-by-step guide.
How To Post A Video In The Comments, Too:
1. Find a video on YouTube or Vimeo or WHATEVER and click “embed.” Copy that code, but first make sure it’s for 640 px wide or less. If your player is too large, it will not display properly.
2. Copy the code and paste it directly into your comment.
3. Go forth and jam.
