July 4th 2006: The Pursuit of the Perfect Tan!

Another Fourth of July, another year without citizenship, and yet I still celebrate the day you claimed your independence from my people (all the while driving around in my Union Jack topped Mini, avoiding the couple of dirty looks I did get).

For the life of me I can't remember what I did last year, but this year was spent pursuing that perfect tan! But after two days out on the beautiful sandy beaches of Venice, Joe gets burnt, while I've barely any colour at all (according to Ed at work). Great!

My quest began a few weeks ago at the gym. This guy working out next to us had the most spell binding colour (I couldn't stop staring). So even. So complete (even his pits). So spectacular that we had to wonder if it were in fact Mystic! But in truth, he is not alone. Many an Angelino has that same, truly perfect tan! And I want to be counted amoungst those proud tanned souls! Plus, it does help to clear up my skin!

But what is a "hard-tanner" to do? I only used SPF 15. I turned accordingly. I lay in the appropriate direction. And after many hours in the sun, I'm still as pink as a lab rat!

Will I have to make that treacherous 1/2 hour journey west every weekend? Spending hour upon hour reading trashy novels while laying on the sands? Peering at the hard-bodies running along the water's edge? Having to deal with free-parking (thanks Cary) and homeward-bound trips to Target or Toy "R" Us?

Yes, I could well be in for a rough summer!