Plans for the 4th?

[Boomhauer]

Drive a fire truck in the parade and then go home and visit my family

Wait, this gets even better. Found out today I'll be riding with one of our firefighters who's a Brit. Yes, that's right, rolling in an American firetruck, in an American state, celebrating the quintessential American holiday with a British import.

[Perd Hapley]

Wait, this gets even better. Found out today I'll be riding with one of our firefighters who's a Brit. Yes, that's right, rolling in an American firetruck, in an American state, celebrating the quintessential American holiday with a British import.

He'll be wearing tar and feathers, right?

[seeker_two]

He'll be wearing tar and feathers, right?

....or at least chains & a white flag......

[freakazoid]

I'll be on duty. Yay.

[Scout26]

Heading out to ASC with friends.  Some shooting then Robert and Conner will be blowing up fireworks.

Wheaton cancelled it's fireworks because of the storms.  Half the town is still without power.

[RocketMan]

Working.  There aren't many holidays off in this line of work.

[charby]

Fireworks done, fingers intact.

Dawn Patrol for any unfired shell fragments.

[Ron]

The fireworks and barbecues are a nice distraction from the ongoing decline and fall of the republic!

[Tallpine]

The fireworks and barbecues are a nice distraction from the ongoing decline and fall of the republic!

There really isn't anything to celebrate anymore 

In honor of the fact that it is less than 90 degrees today, and our neighborhood isn't on fire right at this moment, we're going to go ride our horses for a while this morning.

[MrsSmith]

The fireworks and barbecues are a nice distraction from the ongoing decline and fall of the republic!

Ain't it the truth.

GA was a no fireworks state too, so the kids and I used to drive to AL or SC to buy them every year. The road trip together became part of the tradition. Then whatever sounded good to everyone that year was thrown on the grill, beverages were consumed by adults, there was some discussion with the kids about why we were celebrating, and at dark fuses were lit, regardless of legality, because "this is America, damn it!"
The local cops never messed with us. Ah, the good old days.

Ben and I are throwing a couple steaks on the grill later. Plan to watch a couple patriotic movies (I'm pushing for Red Dawn and maybe Air Force One for a reminder of when we had a president we'd fight to protect). Might go watch the city's display later if it doesn't appear to be too crowded. Though I'm not feeling particularly festive about the state of our Freedom and Liberty at the moment so if we don't see fireworks, that's fitting too.

[lee n. field]

Ain't it the truth.

GA was a no fireworks state too, so the kids and I used to drive to AL or SC to buy them every year. The road trip together became part of the tradition. Then whatever sounded good to everyone that year was thrown on the grill, beverages were consumed by adults, there was some discussion with the kids about why we were celebrating, and at dark fuses were lit, regardless of legality, because "this is America, damn it!"
The local cops never messed with us. Ah, the good old days.

Ben and I are throwing a couple steaks on the grill later. Plan to watch a couple patriotic movies (I'm pushing for Red Dawn and maybe Air Force One for a reminder of when we had a president we'd fight to protect). Might go watch the city's display later if it doesn't appear to be too crowded. Though I'm not feeling particularly festive about the state of our Freedom and Liberty at the moment so if we don't see fireworks, that's fitting too.

Ill-i-noise is a no fireworks state.  Somehow that doesn't keep the weeks before and after from sounding like a minor war zone.

Do it yourself, is more fun.  Much more satisfying than sitting in the bleachers watching some professional (how very like what our lives are like, much of the time).

Going to my Dad's in a few minutes, where we will char mammal flesh, shoot guns and set off fireworks.

[geronimotwo]

the band is playing at the margeretteville firemans fieldays.  we start around 7:30, play 2 sets, then get to watch the fireworks and play 1 set after.  kind of a nice gig as the family comes to this one every year as well.  the fireworks are very up-close and personal which i like.  last year the breeze was just right that the crowd was envelloped in smoke from the display.  not sure that would be good for anyone with asthema.

[BlueStarLizzard]

Ain't it the truth.

GA was a no fireworks state too, so the kids and I used to drive to AL or SC to buy them every year. The road trip together became part of the tradition. Then whatever sounded good to everyone that year was thrown on the grill, beverages were consumed by adults, there was some discussion with the kids about why we were celebrating, and at dark fuses were lit, regardless of legality, because "this is America, damn it!"
The local cops never messed with us. Ah, the good old days.

Ben and I are throwing a couple steaks on the grill later. Plan to watch a couple patriotic movies (I'm pushing for Red Dawn and maybe Air Force One for a reminder of when we had a president we'd fight to protect). Might go watch the city's display later if it doesn't appear to be too crowded. Though I'm not feeling particularly festive about the state of our Freedom and Liberty at the moment so if we don't see fireworks, that's fitting too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urgrF6OBuZc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Watch this. and the lee thing is not the only line you can repeat over and over to annoy people and giggle like a mad person.

[vaskidmark]

Ain't it the truth.

... so the kids and I used to drive to AL or SC to buy them every year.

Ah, yes!  The annual jaunt down I-95 to count the signs telling us how many miles until we got to Pedro
(now long gone) http://www.dwmorrison.com/sotb-a.htm  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_KludExnpE .  One year we needed a U-Haul to go home.  (OK, so at that time I was driving a Ford Fiesta - I needed a U-Haul to bring home groceries for more than one day.)

Just another indicator of the decline and fall.

stay safe.

[lupinus]

Burgers, corn and not being much of a beer drinker wifeys choice of Independence Day drink is wine. Unable to find the wine bucket needed to..improvise-

[Scout26]

Too GD hot and dry out at ASC.  (It's well over 100 here.) 

Screw it.  The boys can blow up the driveway.

[Boomhauer]

Well, the parade was...interesting. One of the golf carts ran off the road and into the woods, hitting a big rock and throwing a woman out so we got to go help her before resuming the parade.

[lupinus]

Well, the parade was...interesting. One of the golf carts ran off the road and into the woods, hitting a big rock and throwing a woman out so we got to go help her before resuming the parade.

How does one loose control of a golf cart? And at such speeds as to eject a passenger?

[Boomhauer]

Dunno but she was letting her 8 y.o. son drive. I was leading the parade and looked back and noticed no one was behind me then another cart rode up to us and flagged us down to tell what happened.

[Tuco]

Woke up pleasantly late this morning and went to a pancake breakfast benefiting the SLYC junior sailing program.  Walked around chatting as the Fourth of July regatta got underway.  Found a nice breezy spot in the shade and watched the boats go 'round for about an hour.  Wife left for a few hours of work, daughters left to a friends house with a pool.  I elected to remain in the shady, breezy spot watching the boats go 'round.

Grilled two porterhouse steaks and was joined by my wonderful wife.  After retrieving the children, I watered the shrubbery, and by the urging of my friend Blondie, read aloud and commented on the Declaration of Independence. 

Now, awaiting darkness, I sit on the porch swing as families file past towards the waterfront, hurrying to claim their spot for the firework show.  We will head down about five minutes before blastoff, get a crick in our necks as the show explodes over the harbor, walk the three blocks to home, and crawl into bed, protected by the hum of the air conditioner, as the tourists wait loudly in line to leave town and drive home.

Life is good.

[MrsSmith]

Very lovely, Tuco.

[freakazoid]

Somehow that doesn't keep the weeks before and after from sounding like a minor war zone.

Reminds me of my first Fourth of July in the city listening to distant booms and rumbles. 

[lee n. field]

read aloud and commented on the Declaration of Independence. 

"He has sent swarms of officers to harrass us and eat out our substance."

Hmm.

Went to Dad's, hung out with family.  Weather thingee says 100 degree max, next couple days.  I believe it.  No AC at home, I suspect I will be pretty underslept by the time it's all over.

Son's girlfriend wanted to shoot, never had before.  I think we might have won one to the Dark Side.  She seemed especially taken with my brother's Springfield 1911.  (Full size, all steel, no nonsense.)

[RevDisk]

Drank like a fish, hung out with three ladies, ended up with towels.  Did not grill.  Whoops

[freakazoid]

I've been watching the Twilight Zone Marathon on the SyFy channel. Lot's of classics. Lot's of ones that seem especially appropriate for today. My personal favorite, The Obsolete Man, is currently on, which is one of the ones that seem to fit today really well.