Happy 4th of July!!

[BeauV]

This has been a very odd 4th of July so far. The neighborhood parade had only 1/10th of the families with their decorated golf carts and kids on bikes, fireworks have been going off steadily since a week ago (driving the dog nuts), and got into a massive brawl with some out of town surfers. While we have a legendarily protective surf community, it usually isn't a brawl in the parking lot.

I have a stash of drugs all set for the dog tonight, the police in town have fenced off the beaches and no one goes in without a serious search (that's not new), but the limitation on fireworks on the beach has just moved them into the parks and neighborhoods. Ah me.... I think the tightening of the shut-down here in CA has driven some folks out of the central part of the state and into areas where there is a low level of disease, the locals in the destination don't welcome them. This could get really ugly.

I hope you all have a great 4th. To quote my favorite President:

""Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." -Abraham Lincoln

[Jamie]

Happy 4th! It's been a bit surreal this year for sure. But I guess there have been stranger 4ths of July and more fraught with peril.

I couldn't imagine writing such a document as the Declaration when the the most power empire of the day just landed 30k troops just 100 miles away just 2 days before.

Vicksburg was taken by Grant on the 4th as well, splitting the South in two. If Gettysburg was the high-water mark of the South, Vicksburg was the turning point.

[Slick470]

Happy 4th! everyone.

DC area was crazy as usual. Lots of local fire work displays were canceled but the Capitol Fourth went on as usual. We did a small display on our street with mostly legal for our area fireworks. Lot of people in the neighborhood obviously made a trip to the fireworks super store on the Pennsylvania/Maryland border. Had a visit from a couple officers from the County PD who asked if we knew who was lighting off the big stuff. We didn't, but while they were talking to us they saw some very large and impressive aerials go off on either side of us. You could tell they didn't really want to tell anyone to knock it off, but since someone had called, they "had to". They also weren't issuing citations, so not really a big deal either way.

Kids had a good time with sparklers and snap pops while helping me to pick what to light next.

[Tim Ford]

Lot of people in the neighborhood obviously made a trip to the fireworks super store on the Pennsylvania/Maryland border.

That pretty much mirrors what went on in our neighborhood. Tons of big aerials all around us. One of our nextdoor neighbors, a much older woman, apparently had some major issues with the cardiologist (Dr. Angermanagement we call him) who was shooting off stuff for his teenage kids. They had a loud, lengthy conversation for 20 minutes or so. Meanwhile dozens of other big stuff was exploding in the sky around us. I think the thing to do is just watch it and keep a fire extinguisher handy. I mean, it's once a year, so expect it and enjoy it. We did, sitting on the porch, sharing a snifter of Grand Marnier.

Felt sorry for all the dogs in the neighborhood though.

[LarryHoward]

We had 2-3 folks in the creek with aerials. We got together with friends across the creek and they made a PA trip and brought back mortars. Several families gathered on docks and watched as we launched them from the end of his dock (boats safely moved to another neighbour’s dock). One otherwise nice neighbor wasn’t terribly happy. We did decide that there would be no “screamers” in the future.

From the look around, each creek seemed to have 1-2 displays going on.

[BeauV]

Our poor dog is on her 5th day of heavy sedation. She literally goes out of her mind. Currently, about 0400 hrs, I was banged out of bed on July 7th by a massive BANG. Just another firework. It gets really old.

Oh, and we've had 6 small fires, but big enough to use a chopped to put 'em out given the steep mountain terrain.

I'm not fond of fireworks.

[kimbottles]

Our poor dog is on her 5th day of heavy sedation. She literally goes out of her mind. Currently, about 0400 hrs, I was banged out of bed on July 7th by a massive BANG. Just another firework. It gets really old.

Oh, and we've had 6 small fires, but big enough to use a chopped to put 'em out given the steep mountain terrain.

I'm not fond of fireworks.

Fire works have now been banned on Bainbridge Island.

[Ajax]

Being on the water, we were far away from any fireworks stupidity and slept like the dead every night this weekend.

Frankly, this was the most relaxed we've been in months and I finally had the desire and ambition to nail the wife to the bulkhead.

[BeauV]

Our poor dog is on her 5th day of heavy sedation. She literally goes out of her mind. Currently, about 0400 hrs, I was banged out of bed on July 7th by a massive BANG. Just another firework. It gets really old.

Oh, and we've had 6 small fires, but big enough to use a chopped to put 'em out given the steep mountain terrain.

I'm not fond of fireworks.

Fire works have now been banned on Bainbridge Island.

Kim, my beloved Admiral says: "GOOD! In the future, we'll spend the 4th on Bainbridge Island!"

Now, how to get the doggie to enjoy sailing......

My pal once said that: "You get used to the smell of wet German Shephard dog."

[Panope]

I also have a dog that that is not fond of fireworks. She does not require meds, but she will spend days hiding under a bed.

This year we spent the holliday (3 nights) at a national park campground (in a tent), right next to the Pacific Ocean. For the first time in my life, I did not hear or see a single firework of any kind during this 4th and the days leading up to it.

The fed park rangers are serious about the no fire works rule. Last year at the same beach, a drunk man lit off a couple rounds. Within minutes, two rangers showed up and escorted him away, not to be seen again.

Steve