This Is The Day Of Our Independence Day (What?)

It's strange celebrating the 4th in London, considering I'm surrounded by the very people that my forefathers some rich white guys 120 years before my ancestors even arrived in America fought against. When I got to the office, several people wished me Happy Independence Day, to which I responded by flipping them the bird and saying 'screw you, Redcoat!'

There are no fireworks today for me, but we are going on a team outing at work where we're going to play baseball in St. James' Park. I have official scoresheets, just like I used to use in Little League, and ten copies of 'Take Me Out To The Ballgame' which we'll be singing during the 7th Inning Stretch.

This is going to be a lot of fun.

Learning About My New Home

Even though I haven't even left the country yet, several of my co-workers have wished me a Happy Guy Fawkes Day. I think it's kind of interesting that people in my new home celebrate the foiling of a treasonous plot against the King by setting off fireworks, while people in my old home celebrate the success of a treasonous plot against the King by setting off fireworks (on July 4.)

Wikipedia offers the full text of the traditional rhyme about Mr. Fawkes:

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up King and Parliament.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

You celebrate by throwing effigies of Fawkes on little bonfires and begging for money for fireworks.

I kind of wish I was there for this, but it'll make a good post for next year after I've been in London a while.