Posted on 07/05/2011 1:24:49 PM PDT by no gnu taxes
Now that 4th is over, I will make my rant.
Don't get me wrong -- I have nothing against the custom. But you have to get there 2 hours early to be able to park anywhere close to an area you can view the event. The show lasts about 30-40 minutes, and then it takes you 2 hours to get out of the parking lot.
I don't have the patience for this anymore. I think last night is the last one I'll be attending.
Amen... the commentators were unwatchable, I was clicking ON commercials while switching back and forth. Tivo is the answer next year, but the kids want to see it now...
ymmv
For those in the suburbs, organize with your neighbors to spend a set amount per family on fireworks and set up a block party. Often people will spend a lot more than their allotted amount(we had one house this year spend at least $300). It’s a great alternative.
I will add to this, you need some creative older teens/younger 20s to set off coordinated volleys to create a real fireworks display. Between myself and 4 others we’d set off 8+ artillery shells close together for quite a show. Towards the end when those were running low we’d throw in cheap fountains, flashers, saturn missiles, etc. My brother had one very creative setup that I wish I’d taken a picture of, he managed to set off two artillery shells, three fountains, two rockets, and four strobes all with a single wick.
Completely safe, of course. -cough-
We were on the lake last night where we could view one show clearly and another off in the distance just over the treetops.
The one in the distance didn’t even last a half hour. 25 minutes tops, if not only 20 minutes. The closer one started earlier and ended much later than the one in the distance.
However, the really fun night for fireworks on the lake was on Sunday night. There were six homeowners on the lake that put on a great two-hour show. We can’t even imagine the amount of money spent on the fireworks but it was a great time!
For years we went to Panama City Beach for the 4th. Imagine walking onto the sand and looking both left and right, and all the fireworks from visitors going off at the same time. For what it’s worth, I do agree about the hassle with parking, etc. Next time, go to the beach - and be young at heart!
Actually those coons named
“Ray” cause less problems than the other kind!
I had 2 nasty banty roosters I named coon bait and sunday dinner....
You ought to come to Hurdland Missouri on the fourth. They have a parade, patriotic speeches, country music, the best jumbo tenderloins, great lemon shake-ups, and you haven’t truly lived unless you’ve had one of Dottie’s funnel cakes. Plus you have people yelling out random things during the display, like “God bless America”, and “Makes you proud to be an American” and such. Plus, it takes all of 5 to 10 minutes to leave.
Live in a small town. Took about 10 minutes to get in and park. Lasted for 1 hour and they were GREAT!!!!!!!!
I commented to family last night that it’s nice to live in a *free* state where we can purchase and launch our own fireworks. Our block had an impromptu fireworks party where 4-5 of us launched our own — and, put on quite a show.
First thing this morning we purchased the bulk of next year’s show at 50+% off.
It’s good to be free.
hmmm.
Going back and reading it now makes me think I must have had a brain-dead moment, because the sarcasm is obvious.
I was going to say...I didn’t know which West Virginia you were talking about, but it wasn’t the one I live in.
Sorry about that, and glad you didn’t get blown up in those fireworks that weren’t set off on your property.
It was a beautiful night in Baytown, TX last night. Moderate temps with low humidity and a nice breeze. 10 minutes to get there and 20 minutes to get home.
Had Pat Green as the main performer. Not bad for a small city.
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