Happy 250th Birthday America!

Squigglemom, Trish Tsoiasue is a blogger and a vlogger (please subscribe) in Long Beach California. I make things (especially bunnies and quilts), and I have made Makerspaces in Long Beach, California since 2012. Our latest Makerspace is in downtown Long Beach, on the Promenade (375 N. Promenade, Long Beach - across from Ross). We are open from 10AM to 5PM Monday through Friday. We have special free activities Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday from 3-5 PM during the month of July. Come, make buttons, learn how to sew and hang with us.

I will be headed to the Queen Mary for the fireworks show. I'm excited! What will I wear? How will I get there?

This year's Queen Mary celebrations are for everyone. Families, couples and indies can join the celebration. In some previous time, I would be an indie - a fly on the wall, in the thick of the activity - observing everyone else having fun, and in my own way, also having fun. It's what I like to do. I like to watch people and observe interactions. I like to watch the passage of time.

I will be there with a newly retired husband, celebrating a new freedom - the freedom of time. We will watch the rockets red glare and listen to the National Anthem, as we watch the flyover of jets. I expect I will dance - it's been a minute, but I will see what steps I remember and if I don't remember any steps, I will make some up.

What will I wear? Whatever it is, it should be red, white and blue. I think I should be casual, but will they let me into the ballrooms and dance halls if I am wearing shorts? How do I feel about this?

How will I get there? Parking is expected to be difficult. Much of the parking lot is a new stadium. We are thinking of taking the water taxi over, but will everyone be doing this? If we do this, we will be walking back. Will the bus be running? Or will we go at 3:00 PM to be sure to get parking? We checked with the Circuit driver, and it's not running today.

I will take video, for sure, for my YouTube channel, Squigglemom and Friends. Should I live stream? Should I make a whole lot of short videos? I never know. I'm thinking of joining Padnet, a local community of video experience creators, to better my game.

I think to July 4th, 2020. That was the year COVID-19 hit us. America was determined to have its party, and so many people bought illegal fireworks and launched them, that the sounds and lights could be heard and seen all night long. If I remember correctly, for more than just that night. For some reason I didn't make any video of that night.

I am an immigrant to this country, and i understand why my family came here. We were given the opportunity to find a new, better life and we took it. We celebrate the culture of our birthplace, Trinidad. We do this with food (roti, bara, pelau), memories, following the news. We barbecue on the 4th and yes, we watch fireworks. As an immigrant, I can understand the value of being American, possibly more than the average American who might not understand that the opportunity to go to college is not afforded to everyone in other countries. The freedom to speak out without fear of reprisal or persecution is a value that every American should cherish. It is what we have learned since we came to this country. In Trinidad, we also had that freedom, I think, but it's not so in every country.

I have a one-person bunny factory. I should have made some patriotic bunnies. I've been so busy cleaning the studio preparing for the July 11th Art and Design Walk on the Long Beach Promenade, that I forgot to do this. In another time, I would have rushed to find the patriotic fabrics that I purchased when we made masks during the pandemic, but they all have been put away into a far corner of the studio, and to take them out again would not be easy. I would then have to re-clean it before the 11th, and - sigh.

I wonder about the Queen Mary movie nights that have been announced. I saw the schedule in the LB908 magazine that came to my home. They are called Movies on the Mary and will run through July and August. Ticket prices are just $16 per person. I've sold my bunnies there, and we have hosted friends who are artists and makers at the movie nights. I took my summer interns there last year. We were at Shoreline Village, then, and we took the aquabus over. I drove around with all the goodies. Here's the video I could find of that market night. This is the June event. I wonder if there will be any artists shows in the future at these movie nights, or if that was just a moment in time.

I share with you now, some of my favorite memories of the Queen Mary, and wish you a joyful and free celebration!

This awesome video was captured from a VCR (remember those?). It is of my brother, now passed, bungie jumping with the Queen Mary in the backdrop.

July 4, 2015 - I visted the newly installed LEGO Model at the Queen Mary - Made by a professional LEGO building group, Bright Bricks, I believe it has been moved to the large space near the movie theater, which means if you go to the Movies on the Mary, you will see it.

In 2013, I went to Dark Harbor and was a Scaredy Cat.

In 2018, I took a ride on the Neverland Ranch ride at Dark Harbor. I wonder where that ride is now? Neverland Ranch was Michael Jackson's private amusement park.

In December 2012, I visited the Chill Ice Kingdom at the Queen Mary. The Aquarium of the Pacific brought out their penguins, which were from a then new exhibit to the park.

Chill 2013 - More icy and snowy experiences.

In 2025 - We went to the No. 3 Speakeasy and danced to the music of Ashley Anne.

Thanks for taking this trip down memory lane with me. I look forward to seeing you at the Queen Mary tonight! Stay safe, sane and free!

Squigglemom, Trish Tsoiasue, is a Maker, Vlogger, Blogger in Long Beach California. Come and visit her there!

Tags: @thequeenmary @squigglemom @makersville @makersvillemakers