Live July 4th Thread: Share Your Celebrations with FR!!!

July 4, 2002

[Howlin]

Share your 4th of July experiences and thoughts with the rest of us!

[WIMom]

When we lived in Green Bay, we used to go out to Long Tail on our boat to watch fireworks. There is/was a huge party out there. We'd pitch tents, sleep on the boats, or crash wherever there was a pillow. It's the absolute best way to see fireworks and what a ball we had! We'd spend the entire day out there picnicing and partying with family and friends.

[katnip]

More fireworks here on Long Island than I've ever seen before.

We packed a little picnic and drove to a small park on a bay to watch the spectacular at Jones Beach.

Next year we are definitely going to do the Manhattan one.

[ned13]

Not yet, but honestly I'd say it was about 1/4 as crowded as it usually is. It used to take me an hour to get out of there and tonight only 10 minutes. I think a lot of people stayed away. It's too bad - it was a great show.

[Howlin]

One year we came up to D.C. to the 150th (?) anniversary of the Smithsonian. I swear, we had the Mall to ourselves; it was like a private fireworks show. It's a pity so many stayed home, but then, I did, too.

[big'ol_freeper]

Spent the evening at a minor league baseball game (Aberdeen IronBirds) with my lovely wife Lil'freeper, got squirted with a squirt gun by Cal Ripken, Jr. and watched one of the most awesome fireworks displays I have ever seen after the game was over.

[MinuteGal]

Happy B-Day, Mike!

What a terrific day to have a birthday. You get to have a double celebration!

"I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy
Yankee Doodle do or die
A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam
BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY!"

Hope you had a festive and fabulous day!

Leni

[fatima]

Yes,come on over ,he is still playing,the twins are falling asleep and we beat out every street,thought we were losing but one smart man saved the best for the last,A show that lasted 15 minutes.Proud of 36th street,we are the best and beat all the rest.I am having beer and the reat are having Pina Colade's.

[CaptRon]

I'm single. I still stump, but, being a native Rocklander I know the best little bistros!

[WIMom]

Hahaha, I did a google search for stud finder. Here's your choices:

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Good thread!

I grilled some food with friends and stuff, and then lit off a bunch of reports; they sky about 200' and display a nice shower of colors! Plus as I sit here, I can listen to the race cars over at the DIS, and also listened to the fireworks that they set off :)

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I recorded 3" rainfall in less than an hour-and-a-half this afternoon. Now it is just hot, muggy, and mosquito-y.

[seeker41]

For once it's hotter in the NE then Houston. Will wonders ever cease. We have lots of AC here so I can surf in my tees and sweat pants, comfy don't you know. Stay cool.

[Howlin]

Too late. My husband already tried that one -- or a variation thereof!

[seeker41]

I ordered some tees and jeans from them 2 weeks ago.LOL

[Iscool]

Hey, good lookin young lady there...And the one holding her is even better lookin...Ha!!!

But now you have to round up a bunch of excuses for the day that she catches the bigger fish...She may not rub it in but the rest of the world will...

Congratulations on a "great catch..."

[timydnuc]

To Rose:

Thank you for your review. Secondly, I will reply to your thanks for serving my country the only way I've been taught. You're welcome.

I could stand and speak for a decade, I could tell you a life story that you didn't want to hear. Or, I could stand tall, bow my head, smile, and just say....You're Welcome. That should say it all.........today.

[Iwo Jima]

Read the Declaration of Independence aloud with the family and discussed what it meant. Favorite passage by popular acclaim is the reference to "sent forth swarms of agents to harass us and eat out our substance." Looked up ten words our youngest didn't know.

[Our man in washington]

I attended the Fourth of July soiree in Fort Hunt Park outside of Washington, DC. Thanks to the Leadership Institute for putting this together. We heard excellent speeches by Asa Hutchinson and George Allen, and had people shouting "UNDER GOD!" during the pledge of allegiance.

A lot of the leaders of the conservative movement in Washington were on hand. What's interesting is how they didn't put on airs. I'm not famous, and intend to stay that way, but I got to meet a few leaders just by walking around. As soon as I walked in, I met a friendly gentleman in a cowboy hat who turned out to be Fred Singer, prominent scientist who reguarly shoots down environmental screeds. We chatted for a bit.

Later, Grover Norquist (leader of Americans for Tax Reform) happened to sit down across from me and said "hi, I'm Grover." I then happened to see his full name tag, so I complimented him on his work. If I hadn't said anything, I don't think he would have tried to impress me with who he was.

I happened to be wearing my Navy baseball cap today, and when I was walking back to my car, Wendy Wright, who is (I think) the director of Concerned Women of America, walked past and asked me if I was in the Navy. I said I was in the reserves, and she thanked me for my service. Like Norquist, she only introduced herself by her first name.

In general, I find the lefists in this city try to impress you with how high and mighty they are, and the conservatives downplay who they are. It was a day that made me glad to be a conservative.

(It does bring up a question, though: when you meet a prominent person whose work you admire, and they don't make a point of bragging about who they are, is it proper to say you admire their work? Or should one give them the chance to be just Joe or Jane Average for a change? I'm not sure.)

[Iscool]

Hey, good lookin young lady there...And the one holding her is even better lookin...Ha!!!

But now you have to round up a bunch of excuses for the day that she catches the bigger fish...She may not rub it in but the rest of the world will...

Congratulations on a "great catch..."

[McLynnan]

Hey lady, I wanted to be first, but will settle for #150-something! We decorated the car this morning with flags and ribbons and went to our community's 4th of July parade. It was as American as apple pie. The Boy Scouts placed flagpoles in front of virtually every house and business in our town. It's an awesome sight.

Tonight we watched the D.C. and NYC shows on tv. Those New Yorkers really know their fireworks. What an amazing show. It made me feel so good to see them having a party. Then we went out back and watched fireworks over the Brazos from our deck. This 4th is so meaningful for all of us. Is this a great country or what?