It's the Fourth of July...

and I am spending it laying out by the pool preparing for my class tomorrow.

I want to say congratulations to Whitney and Josh! I can't wait to see the newest Kasinger in December. I am so happy for you! Whit, I was looking through photographs the other day and found one of us in fifth grade...Mrs. Casella's class. It is hard to believe that you will soon be having a kiddo of your own. I hope he/she is blessed with incredible friends (like you have been to me throughout the years), much love (which you and Josh are overflowing with), and many fun times full of laughter (which you were always a large part of in my life as we were growing up). I love you very much and I can't wait to see you the next time you are in town!

I hope that all of you are having a terrific Fourth of July! Prepare food on the grill. Watch the fireworks on a blanket with someone you love. Eat watermelon. Just get plain crazy!

Okay, I have a lawn chair calling my name.

But before I go, I have kept my mp3 player on shuffle all day and this song just made it into the rotation. I forgot how much I like this album. I thought I would post the song lyrics here.

"So Beautiful" by Dashboard Confessional

I heard that you were home again,
but you don't look like you're back to me.
With your focuses changing
your gaze is transfixed on a point
that I cannot see.

You've got your new ties.
I've got my old knots.
You've got your inside lies,
but you're never happy with what you've got.

Careful now, you're so beautiful
when you've convinced yourself.
No one else is quite as beautiful.

I heard that you were living well,
but you don't look like you're living to me.
Though the sparkle is gone
your smile is in place so that
everyone watching will see.

You've got them all convinced,
but I know so well
that you could list your friends
but you can't count on them.

Hold it now, you've got everyone convinced
that you're alright
when no one else is quite as vulnerable.

As soon as you've got it
you want something else.
It's not the sale that you love,
it's the sell.
It's not the price
that's gonna cost you.
It's just the weight
that's gonna bring you down.

Hold it now, you've got everyone convinced
that you're alright
when no one else is quite as vulnerable.
Careful now, you're so beautiful
when you've convinced yourself.
No one else is quite as beautiful.

As soon as you've got it
you want something else.
It's not the sale that you love
it's the sell.
It's not the price
that's gonna cost you.
It's just the weight
that's gonna bring you down, down, down, down....