Flexing my Independent Muscles in the Free Land

5 Ways to Celebrate the Big 231:

1. Writing cards for the US. I think at 231, you're still not allowed to start the "Over the Hill" limericks, because in international retrospect, we should be losing our first tooth or using the toilet on a semi-regular basis.
2. Playing Apples to Apples. Because ex's make great "create your own" for adjectives like useless, desperate, and overly sensitive. Fruit is best served with a side of resentment.
   
3. Record how people verbally respond to fireworks and use it as your ring tone. Some good starting points: "Ohhh! WOW! OHMYGOSH WEEPING WILLOW! WEEPING WILLOW!!!!!"
4. Wrestle the brother that is 18 months and 100 pounds your senior in the mud at 3 am. Lose terribly, but then gloat about how Tess let you drive her fancy car and wouldn't let brother pry the key fob from her cold, dead hands.
   
5. Make key lime bars from a box, and tell people that they are homemade. Because really, what's more patriotic than lying?