Fireworks and Fun

MarcieZoob · #1 (**permalink**) 06-29-2005, 12:23 PM

I'm curious as to what the US members of the forum plan to do for the Fourth of July. Once again, we're blessed with a long holiday weekend (I say that because I'm in a tourist area and it helps stimulate our economy up here) so we're looking at three days of fun. What are your plans?

The 4th is huge in my little town. We have a wonderful fine art fair by the lake, a Dog-Look-Alike contest (the winner and their dog get to ride in the parade in a convertible), a fun parade that goes on for almost an hour and lots of great fundraising booths.

At night, we can watch two sets of fireworks - the display in our town and our neighboring city across the bay. The fireworks go off at different times so it's an amazing site!

Here's to a safe and fun-filled fourth!

Clicken · #2 (**permalink**) 06-29-2005, 12:56 PM

oooooo, AHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Always look forward to the fireworks. Thankfully we can see displays all around us and don't have to fight with crowds,... four youngsters can put a damper on that kind of thing.

We live out of the city limits, so the subdivision here unites for a rowdy cook-out and puts on a spectacular show of our own.

What can I say,... I am easily amused ;o)

Have a safe one everybody!

MarcieZoob · #3 (**permalink**) 06-29-2005, 01:05 PM

Hey Clicken, I'm easily amused, too... Here's a few fireworks to get FIRED up. :)

coder · #4 (**permalink**) 06-29-2005, 02:09 PM

You know I just had to respond to this topic (fireworks.com)...

I will have a pretty decent fireworks show, enough to rival the cities public show.

I plan on sleeping as much as humanly possible July 5th. I really need a day off.

webhost1 · #5 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 01:38 AM

Good quetions. I think we will stay home. The last few years that we have walked down to the end of the block to watch the works we got eaten alive by bugs and those darn mesquites. This might be the last year we can do that since they are building big time at the end of the block. To many houses will get in the way. We have laws in this town that say we can not set off the works. Wish more would take into account when they do set those off that it is not to dry where they are. We have had some homes burn to the ground cause of people not watching what they do.

HAPPY 4TH TO EVERYONE. ENJOY IT.

**jawn_tech** · #6 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 02:41 AM

Quote:

You know I just had to respond to this topic (fireworks.com)...

Phantom I know you've had that domain/business quite a while --- what a great catch of a domain name! Were you the first one to it? Just keep movin' a bit more east and set up another branch in Pennsylvania.

I will probably be watching at Merchyhurst College in Erie, PA. It is one of the hugest displays in this part of the state. In fact, it was at this exact location one July 4th that Tom Hanks watched the fireworks here and conceived the idea for the movie "That Thing You Do", based on Erie PA.

**ctabuk** · #7 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 05:06 AM

I'm not allowed to post on this, cos' I'm not American, but I will raise a glass or two, and wish all of you a great day!

coder · #8 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jawn_tech

Phantom I know you've had that domain/business quite a while --- what a great catch of a domain name! Were you the first one to it? Just keep movin' a bit more east and set up another branch in Pennsylvania.

I will probably be watching at Merchyhurst College in Erie, PA.

We have a location in Erie
http://www.fireworks.com/locations/showroom.asp?lid=33

The odd thing is that if you live in PA your not allowed to purchase fireworks from Pennsylvania. Have to go to Ohio

coder · #9 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 08:58 AM

And why is it that PA is the only that that people call by its abbreviation?

wenwilder · #10 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 09:50 AM

Would you want to spell out Pennsylvania all the time? Or say the full word all the time? I know I don't!

The fourth is the best time for my family. They actually speak to each other! We get together at my fathers and cook out. Play frisbee and football and anything else we may possibly be able to hurt ourselves doing and have a great 'ole time. Then we watch the fireworks at the college in the comfort of my dad's roof. While watching all the goofy people who race to find parking spaces at the college. Gotta love free entertainment! :)

The 4th is the perfect time for family, friends, fireworks, fires and freaks. ;)

MarcieZoob · #11 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 10:10 AM

Hey, what about DC?

Agree w/Wynn - People (freak) watching is a great pastime during the holidays. :)

webhost1 · #12 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 11:34 AM

Ya, I love to watch people a lot. It is very funny on some of the things they do.

If I could watch the works the way some of you guys do, it would be a blast. But if you want to watch the works here you have to travel outside of town to see it cause of the law they made here. Not complaining about it, it is a good law. Has saved so many houses burning down here casue of people not thinking before they light that fireworks.

Any ways, I hope you all have a great 4th of July even if your not in this country. :)

jomariet · #13 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 05:27 PM

The fireworks don't start until midnight here in the land of the midnight sun. Even then it isn't all the way dark but a brilliant midnight blue. (#00254A).

It seems as if most of Anchorage goes out of town and so we avoid the crowds: watch the parade, go to a minor league ball-game, cook out and go back into town for the fireworks.

This year there are forest fires in popular rec areas so my guess is it will be busier in Anchorage than usual. My hope is that everyone with personal fireworks leave town because it's too dry in town to use them safely.

But to enjoy the 4th's activities, we'll be working the rest of the weekend :-)

JM

http://www.probizhosting.net
http://www.crucibledesigns.com

webgoddess68 · #14 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 05:29 PM

Well since I got the luck of being completely alone for this holiday since my kids are all up north visiting their grandparents and my husband is out on the road (he's a truck driver), I decided to splurge and buy myself a ticket to Carowinds. So for the first time in my life I get to go to an amusement park and feed the adrenaline junkie in me riding any ride I want! No missing out on rides because I have to sit with the 9 year old who is not yet big enough to ride all rides. No missing out because the rest of the gang doesn't want to ride a particular ride. I'm gonna have the time of my life! Then the day will end out with a huge fireworks show set to music. Gonna be the best 4th of July I've ever had (seeing the fireworks in Binghamton, NY was 2nd best...their show is fabulous!).

bj · #15 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 08:39 PM

Not to use a sweeping generalization but-- PA people's brains don't track on all sectors, I swear (I'm allowed to say that, I live in PA.) They use fireworks in bizarrely hazardous and wildly inappropriate ways and in neighborhoods where the least little spark could have widespread consequences-- and these people are my neighbors.

The town I live in is an old Delaware River city, most of it woodframe and built before 1900 (and much before 1800!) with many rowhomes and lots of wonderfully ancient buildings, sometimes slightly and delightfully ramshackle, set very close together. There are also many, many trees with overhanging branches and other things which make this town akin to a city that existed before a certain cow kicked over the kerosene lantern.

What this means is that 4th of July weekend you’ll find me sitting outside every night with my grill and burgers, my cooler of beer, and the garden hose and fire extinguisher ready to put out any randomly occurring conflagrations caused by said neighbors, who will be drinking a LOT more beer (and harder beverages and possibly other illegal intoxicants) than me while they set off said fireworks in the most unbelievably stupid ways- and possibly a river city funeral pyre.

I’m glad my building is brick with a slate roof. I pray the fire department is sharp, alert, and not sitting back at the local hose company with a keg.

Clicken · #16 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 08:49 PM

Awwwwww,

Cheer Up bj,... Phantom can't be held responsible for those idiots out there.

Enjoy the freedoms while you can. The fathers who sweat and blead for us to live like we do will be honored by those of us, like you who can respect and be responsible with the gift they dreamed you would have.

Take care and try to stay out of the crazies way,... Sometimes you have to fight crazy with crazy ya know!

bj · #17 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 09:38 PM

I'd love to hear some suggestions!

Don't get me wrong, I love the 4th, and usually have a great time in the backyard with the few other sane neighbors, swapping food over the back fence, laughing at the idjits.

But I also recognize the huge potential for disaster. And the fact that SO MANY PEOPLE disobey the very sensible law against shooting the dang things off in town makes it an impossible one for our reasonably competent police force to enforce.

Phantom said,"The odd thing is that if you live in PA your not allowed to purchase fireworks from Pennsylvania. Have to go to Ohio" I find it interesting that if you pull into any fireworks store in the Easton area (or anywhere along the Delaware) you'll see mostly PA plates in the parking lot. As long as you sign the paper saying you're taking them out of state (and presumably into NJ where they're totally illegal) you can buy anything you want.

I'm all for personal freedom, but endangerment of so many others? NG.

**jawn_tech** · #18 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 10:04 PM

Phantom I didn't know you owned that -- I've driven by it numerous times. Cool, can I come work for you?

Yep, Penn-syl-van-ia has 4 syllables...so many to pronounce. PA is much easier.

I love fireworks, just make sure the one shooting them off is sober. In Erie we don't get too many incidents. I haven't heard of any fires or serious injuries for about a decade, knock on wood.

mike_rocker · #19 (**permalink**) 06-30-2005, 10:22 PM

wow, july 4 is fast approaching and how i am excited to watch the fireworks.

Team One · #20 (**permalink**) 07-01-2005, 02:37 AM

How about shooting bowling balls into the inlet from a canon. Charged with black powder it's a smokey blast.

Nuno · #21 (**permalink**) 07-01-2005, 04:53 AM

Sorry but i just couldn't help it by saying something ...

I'm from Portugal and maybe that's why i didn't see the "catch 22 " over here ..

but when someone ( Not) American see's the subject line "Fireworks and fun" what comes immediatly to mind is : Hey!!! lets check out the new MACROMEDIA Fireworks Features and see what i can use in webdesign ..

then we realise ahh........ you are talking about independence day .. well have a great holiday to you all
cheers!

dah..

Nuno Menezes

Workingman · #22 (**permalink**) 07-01-2005, 05:03 AM

Hey Folks,

Well we are "avid campers" so we spend the entire week of the 4th at our favorite Campground in New Hampshire.

The "highlight" of our trip is not the fireworks, but the vintage tractor parade that is provided by the owners. The children on their bikes and "electric driving toys" are always scored as 10's as we hold up our scorecards.

A Happy and safe holiday to all of those celebrating, and of course to all our friends "in the UK: Sorry 'bout that!"