Blame the Italians. Or at least, one Italian in particular. It was an early explorer and cartographer named Amerigo Vespucci who first identified the new world as separate from Asia, and since his maps all had his name on them the new world became called "America". Vespucci sailed further, and was the first man to suggest the idea of two separate Americas, the North and the South. When the American colonies were founded, they were settled by people from all over Europe - and they were called the American Colonies, of just America for short. When the War for Independence was fought, the earliest Americans couldn't agree on what they wanted to call this new country they were trying to found, since every colony would become a state, and each new state wanted to be more important than the rest. Eventually, they settled on The United States of America... for lack of anything better.
We're all proud to be Americans because we have plenty to be proud of. Our Founding Fathers risked everything they had in the fight for freedom from oppressive government. When they wrote, "Our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor", they meant it. They knew that they could be summarily hanged in the village square by the British military on a whim, if the local Governor wished it. Since then, our freedoms have been preciously guarded and defended by rough men standing ready to do violence upon any who threatened it. Eleanor Roosevelt (wife or President Roosevelt) once remarked, “The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!”
We may have different ideas on how our country should be run, and who should be in charge, but there's one thing we're all certain of: that we're all Americans, through to the bone. And why shouldn't we be proud? Yakov Smirnoff once remarked, "You can go to France, and never become French. You can go to Italy and never become Italian. But you can come to America, and become American. And for that I am forever grateful." Yes, some people like to identify with a part of life their ancestors lived. I have German and Norwegian ancestors, and Swedish and Irish. If I looked hard enough I could find cousins living in those places. I like to identify in small part with the cultures and lives my grandparents lived. Who they were makes up a part of who I am. But I'll never forget that they left their homes to come here, and make better lives for themselves. And I'll never forget that above all else, I'm American.
I went skinny-dipping in the rooftop jacuzzi of a downtown hotel once. The bubbles covered up my skinny-dipp-ed-ness. Make sure the pool area is open late and that there are no security cameras around. Also make sure you have a cover handy if any other late night visitors show up.
For beaches, the same rules apply. Position yourself someplace relatively dark and with a good view around so you can see people approaching a good distance off. Make sure you have a coverup handy. Don't get so wrapped up in extra-curricular activities that you let someone sneak up on you.
Last time I heard that joke, it went, "Oh no you don't, motherfucker.... You're gonna EAT ME, just like the story says..."
We had a country dinner. Two fat racks of babyback ribs, rice and black-eyed peas, corn on the cob, and biscuits slathered in butter and/or jam.
No option for "Transparent"?
I'm a simple guy, with simple tastes. I mostly prefer drinks with little mixing involved. Get me a Glenlivet on the rocks, and I'll be your friend. Or a Chivas, or... heck just about anything distilled from a grain. Yes, I'll drink fru-fru drinks if I have to - for instance if the girls ask me to whip up a pitcher of pina coladas, it's hard to not pour myself one as well. But my own personal preference is for simplicity. A cold beer on a hot day is one of life's true pleasures.
I, for one, welcome the coming of our zombie overlords...
I gotta give the Miss her props. 23 years old, and already the owner of a successful business? Shit - all them haterz is just jealous...
Me, I wanna get me a Supa Dupa Fly Ho to go...
...