We didn’t end up doing anything on the 4th of July (weird middle of the week day, friends were out of town), so on Friday we tried to make up for it with a little Opening Ceremonies/funny USA-themed Olympics party. We wanted to go all out: Pinterest desserts (ha ha), cheesy outfits, American flag decorated everything. But the American flag stuff is really hard to find this time of year, weirdly enough. And while I meant to try to come up with a funny outfit (Jamie told me to get a Budweiser crop top) I got lazy and found something I already had from a thrift store that was more picnic than patriotic.
Our friends did better though: American flags and shoes with stars all over them. Drew had on an Atlanta shirt because the Olympics were here in ’96, which still blows my mind to think about. Also we had lots of good old-fashioned American food like veggie hotdogs and sweet corn and potato salad. Jamie made jello shots and this amazing watermelon whale that I really wish we had taken a picture of. I made mini cupcakes that didn’t look so hot but tasted better since I used a Back in the Day Bakery recipe.
The Opening Ceremony was funny—sometimes unintentionally. Some of it felt like a bad cruise show, and I didn’t understand the text messaging obsession or that silly queen jumping out of helicopter gag, but then parts of it were beautiful (the Shakespeare and the scene at the beginning), and the David Bowie songs made me happy, and it always is fun watching the parade of nations.
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I guess the opening ceremony was more to our British humour. We would have never expected the Queen to participate! I watched it in a local park on a large screen and that scene got a particularly loud round of applause. I do agree with the texting thing. I don’t see why it was included other than to link the different musical eras together. Overall, I thought it was a jolly good show. Although I may be a bit biased.. Anyway, adore your blog!
Aww, I was just being negative probably. I usually love British humor too . . . Jamie and I were really hoping Eddy and Patsy would come stumbling out at some point. : )
haha this is awesome – I agree that the best parts of the ceremony were at the beginning, when kenneth branagh was speaking and the switch from pastoral scene to industrial revolution. I thought that was beautiful, neil and I almost got emotional for some reason. teenagers dancing and fake texting – not so much. but music was wonderful (it’s crazy how many awesome bands came from the uk) and the mr. bean part I loved because it reminded me of watching his show with dad years and years ago. and did you see the trainspotting toilet swimming scene (plus the giant baby felt like a trainspotting shout-out to me)? rufus is such a remote hog.
Ha ha, I’m with you. That giant baby was creepy though! Don’t know why Danny Boyle had to shout that movie out twice. Also the musical number part had some great stuff, but not as good as the Trainspotting soundtrack. Where was Jarvis??
I definitely remember watching Mr. Bean with you guys. I think Mom hated it.
looks like rufus partook in too may jello shots…
HA ha, I wish we could have included the Lightfoot photo.
Lovely post. It’s so cool to see people’s reactions to the Opening Ceremony outside of the UK, it makes the world seem so much smaller in a way. I agree, it would have been so great to see Eddy and Patsy stumbling about amidst all the performers. Although, they did take part in the Torch Relay a few days before which was brilliant!
Pinterest desserts, haha! I love it.
RUFUUUUSS! <3
Loved the Queen in the ceremony!
There was a special Ab fab Olympic themed episode aired a few days before the opening ceremony in case you didn’t know :) it’s really interesting seeing non-Brits reaction to the opening ceremony. Everyone here loved it- it was a bit crazy and quirky (the baby was creepy) but I thought a lot of fun and made me proud of my country which is something, as I don’t think we’re particularly patriotic like you in the us. The text message thing I thought was a really creative way of linking the music eras together. That section was called “Frankie and June say thanks Tim” and was a tribute to Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the Internet, who came on at the end of that section.
Congrats on all your swimming medals so far!