Independence Day: An Open Thread
Last night I arrived to discover that United Airlines had somehow lost my bag. On a non-stop flight. It was in Chicago they told me.
I was in Boston.
Okay, I can survive a day without a bag. It's the Fourth of July, right? They survived facing down the British Empire, I can survive a day without my flip-flops and moisturizer.
And besides, this is the sight that greeted me on this still-misty morning.
So, how about an open thread?
What are you doing, seeing, or cooking this Independence Day? I'll post a bunch of pictures as the day unfolds. (It's still early yet.) You do the same.
And have a Happy Independence Day.
(Notice how I didn't say "Have a safe and happy Independence Day?" I hate it when people say that. The Fourth of July isn't about being safe. It's about lighting off small and dangerous explosives in the dark.)
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Dec '10
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
Unfortunately, I have to board a plane this afternoon and will be landing in Dallas around midnight. My family will be enjoying a "cul-de-Q", as we call them - the neighbors in the cul de sac drag out their barbies, potluck the side dishes, and then sit in a big circle watching fireworks through the evening. Sigh. Oh, and our subdivision has a 4th of July parade every year where the children decorate their bikes, etc. The fire department leads with one of their trucks.
Edited on Jul 4, 2011 at 5:54amApr '11
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
Flying to Paris today then 10 days of war history along coastal France. An uncle landed on Utah. Much of WWI and WWII history is forgotten. This history has great influence on the politics of the Middle East today.
Feb '11
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
My mother and my grandmother were both born on July 4th in Philadelphia, so it is a double header of a special day for my family.
Sep '10
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
Just getting cracking here in Norwood, NC. We had our 6 and 8 year old nephews in Charleston for the last 10 days and will drop them with their folks today. I am sitting on the porch of their lakefront home waiting for my boss to tell me to load the car to head back to the Lowcountry. We rediscovered with them Charleston's historical significance from Fort Moultrie v. The British, to Fort Sumter v. Ourselves, to SC (people and Boeing) v. The Federal Obama Government. Gotta go.
May '10
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
I'll be celebrating thirteen (umm, wait ... let me check ... yep, thirteen!) years of marriage to my lovely bride.
Best wishes to your moisturizer in Chicago. I think there will be a nice celebration in Grant Park if it needs a place to kill some time.
May '10
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
We're takin' a ten mile boat ride in our little Whaler to Cleveland for dinner at an outdoor burger joint, then anchoring off-shore for fireworks.
Best part is the ride home on a smooth, dark lake with a view of the lighted city and lingering fireworks here and there along the shoreline. Beautiful.
Happy 4th, all.
Dec '10
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
We're having a 235th birthday party. After the cake we'll head over to FAU for a fireworks display.
May '10
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
Scott Reusser: We're takin' a ten mile boat ride in our little Whaler to Cleveland for dinner at an outdoor burger joint, then anchoring off-shore for fireworks.
Best part is the ride home on a smooth, dark lake with a view of the lighted city and lingering fireworks here and there along the shoreline. Beautiful.
Happy 4th, all. · Jul 4 at 6:16am
Here's hoping the fireworks don't set the lake on fire. (Sorry, couldn't help it.)
Mar '11
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
I'm in the heart of the British Empire - this Sceptered Isle - where, in contrast to a President trying to create a Marxist paradise, we have an old, benign, powerless Queen and a somewhat Conservative Prime Minister.
Not much to mark the unruly colonials, here, other than an unveiling of a statue of one Ronald Reagan.
In my home-away-from-home, AZ, there are no fireworks this year, for understandable reasons.
Edited on Jul 4, 2011 at 7:21amJan '11
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
My Mom was also born on July 4th, although not in Philadelphia. I'm in Rocky Point Mexico to get fireworks Americans wont sell. Dad would be proud.
Jan '11
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
What are you doing, seeing, or cooking this Independence Day? I'll post a bunch of pictures as the day unfolds. (It's still early yet.) You do the same.
Can we post pictures in comments? How?
Feb '11
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
Picked 10lbs of green beans from the back yard garden. Will be blanching, and freezing them, then taking the kiddos to the pool at the Y. Afterward, hotdogs on the grill, fresh green beans, and potato salad. Happy Independence Day Ricochet!
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
Yeah...ok.:
Can we post pictures in comments? How? · Jul 4 at 8:10am
Go to the comment box. See the toolbar at the top with a "picture" of a tree? Just click on that to upload your photos.
I'll try to upload a photo later of our neighborhood where someone went around and planted miniature American flags in everyone's yard. How about that?
Edited on Jul 4, 2011 at 8:15amMar '11
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
Rob,
Is the picture from coastal Maine or coastal Mass? It looks very familiar to me, and makes me a bit nostalgic for home today.
May '10
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
Yesterday we celebrated a little early with a day at the beaches on Lake Erie where I managed to twist an ankle and wrench my back. So today is a declaration of dependence on cold packs, heating pads and Tylenol.
Luckily for me my oldest son manages to hit all the right notes between rebellious teenager and adoring sycophant.
But there will be food on the grill, baseball on the radio and 1776 on the DVD player sometime today.
Nov '10
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
We'll have most of the folks from our church over for a BBQ and a swim today. It will be in the 90's and bright sunshine. That's how it always is 45 miles south of SFO.
;-)
May '10
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
My girlfriend and I are going to Bolinas, Ca to spend the afternoon with an old friend I have not seen in about thirty years (how about that internet, eh?). He was my big sister's boyfriend and someone I looked up to admiringly way back then; a hippie; now's he an oldster who's been married for thirty years with two fine grown kids.
Bolinas is stunningly beautiful. A wooded spit that juts out into the Pacific just north of S.F. The residents want to keep it to themselves so much they rip out the highway sign that directs travelers. The California highway department has long ago given up replacing it. Good thing I know how to get there.
Sep '10
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
My family will go to a party this evening to watch fireworks. In the meantime, after I get off this computer, I am going to change the oil in my wife's and my car. I got a pretty good deal on the supplies at Wal-Mart yesterday and I am pumped to get it done before it gets too hot.
Strangely that sounds very July 4th to me.
May '11
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
I always watch The Revolution series on History International. We'll watch "1776" later; although historically innacurate in many ways, still very entertaining. It never ceases to amaze me how much courage and fortitiude our forefathers had. Later a cookout of beer can chicken and grilled corn.
What a great country !
Jun '10
Re: Independence Day: An Open Thread
Just got back from Home Depot. I'm about to put a pot of potatoes on for a boil then it's out into the wilds of our exurban backyard to do some yard work. The big fireworks show around here isn't until next weekend.