Happy Independence Day to all of you!
Have a good time but don’t eat and drink too much!
Kind of fond memories:
After my first wife died in 2003 I tried to continue my life, already retired. Some day in June I went to my favourite bar – and sat outside in the beautiful weather for a beer – and stayed totally alone …
All my friends were inside watching some soccer game in the world championship in Brazil.
So I decided to GAFIA, went to our last minute travel office and found a flight to Ft Myers including a hotel in Ft Myers Beach and car for a week (or was it 10 days?) – really cheap. I spent a wonderful time there, nice weather, nice beach, nice people, nice shopping in a mall.
And then I realised that one of the last days was July 4th so in the evening I walked to the pier and saw those glorious fireworks.
OT:
On the day of arrival (or the day before?) there was the soccer game USA/Germany and when I came into the Ft Myers airport all (or most of …) the German tourists were dancing: We won, we won!
Nice memories, Wolf. We have British friends who have flown to Florida in the summer too, when most Americans are fleeing north.
We’ve been in London on July 4th more than once (1972 was the first time), and to say it had a different feel is an understatement. After Pan Am 103 crashed in Lockerbie, Scotland in December of 1988, no one wanted to fly, so there were great bargains to be had. We left for London as soon as school ended on June 28, went to London, then to friends in Suffolk, then York. On July 4 we arrived in Edinburgh (a favorite city). Being so far north that early in the summer, it stayed light out until after 10 pm I can remember shutting the curtains in our hotel room and there still being light coming through.
We’ve traveled on or around July 4 many times.
In 1987 we flew to Cleveland to visit Ellen & Al Nehr in SHaker Heights. We went to a small local fireworks show that was fun.
In 1993 we spent almost two weeks after school ended visiting my parents in California. On the 4th we visited my sister in San Francisco and accompanied her (it was a Sunday) to the famous Glide Church, where she was a member. My parents had a barbecue and that was the year my father made people read from the Declaration of Independence, which was a little bizarre.
In 1998 we went to Yankee Stadium and saw the powerhouse team (114 wins that year) beat the Orioles 4-3, then went to Virgil’s BBQ in Midtown.
For a number of years, if the Yankees were home on July 4, we’d get tickets for the game. I remember one year we had front row seats in the upper deck right behind home plate. We were totally exposed to the sun, it was a hot day, and Jackie nearly had heat stroke. We had to get her inside and hydrated.
Jeff, Happy 4th to you and Jackie! My sister is going to the Blue Jays vs. Rays game today. It will be hot, but the stadium in Buffalo is near Lake Erie so the breezes keep it comfortable.
Beth Fedyn
Happy 4th!
It’s going to be Hades hot so I’m headed to the garden for some early morning weed-pulling.
Have a wonderful day!
Patti, Happy 4th! Diane’s sister, who has been visiting us this weekend, is packing up and about to leave for Ohio. Diane and I will be busy getting back to Normal.
The band John plays in has a gig today, so we did burgers & all the fixings yesterday. Also, the municipal fireworks were last night, but the weather had been on-and-off rainy, so we stayed home and watched THE LAST OF SHEILA (a favorite of the twins).
Deb, Happy 4th! Around here, fireworks have been going off all week long! More tonight, of course. And I’m sure we’ll be hearing rockets going off tomorrow, too. Diane, as always, overbought food for her sister’s visit. We have a ton of leftovers and cold cuts and cheeses and fruits to eat in the days ahead.
Jackie wanted to know: “What is Deb’s menu?” We almost went for the Chinese food but instead decided on Outback Steakhouse for the first time in at least a year and a half. Ordinarily, we wouldn’t as we both had steaks on the trip to Boston, but what the heck? It’s July 4 and the new barbecue place still hasn’t opened yet. We’ll go for the strawberry shortcake slice for an appropriate dessert later (adding extra berries).
Still nice and cool and the sun is actually out for the first time in days. The heat is making a comeback here for two days only (they promise) – Tuesday and Wednesdat at 90+ – but then back to around 80. We’ll be mid-70s today, which is perfect. I’m sure John’s gig will be fun.
Movies: tonight will definitely be 1776. Other than that, we’ll see. Some years we watch YANKEE DOODLE DANDY. Last year we watched THE MUSIC MAN. And Jackie is always up for INDEPENDENCE DAY.
Rick, Happy 4th to you! There are tents set up in a dozen locations locally selling fireworks. And people are buying them by the ton! Every night this week explosions rocked our neighbor. I’m expecting a crescendo tonight! We’re only going to heat up tomorrow!!
Both the city and county ban fireworks, both sales and using, but the neighboring counties allow them. Luckily, our noisiest neighbors are away, so we’re hoping it won’t be noisy. We haven’t heard any so far. We’ll hit 87 today, 92 tomorrow.
Our menu is hamburgers and Barbara is making a key lime pie.
Wolf
This again reminds me of a nice coincidence.
In Germany, Hungary and most of Europe New Year’s Eve is the night for fireworks – some people spend hundreds of Euros/$ on it. In Germany the use of fireworks and the sale of it are forbidden until the 28th of December but of course people find ways …
The most horrible, loud and dangerous fireworks (every year we have horrible accidents and even deaths there) are produced in Poland eg and imported illegally.
So after Xmas 2006 I walked my dog through the city and suddenly I heard and saw some “crackers”. My dog (a mix of German shepherd and Belgian shepherd aka Malinois, a wonderful animal) got so afraid that I took her into the next office to calm down – it was the last minute travel agency where I used to book my US travels and the guy was very friendly and loved my dog.
The same day I decided to leave for Hungary again as soon as possible because of my poor dog – at that time Hungarians didn’t have the money for lots of fireworks so from experience I knew that the village would be quiet.
When I arrived there I immediately went to the beautician to have my nails and my face done etc …
And she asked whether I had found a new girlfriend and then said she had the perfect partner for me …
And that’s how my new life started …
Happy Fourth to you, George, and your little firecracker!
Wondering why you decided to once again go with a picture of Deb.
Went to the beach early this morning and there was already a crowd. When we got there, the sky was clear but the weather was muggy. By the time we got onto the beach, the sky had darkened and thinder and lightning drove us back to the car. **sigh** When we tried to leave, the starter suddenly died on our car. **double sigh** **bah, humbug!** We’re now safe at home, enjoying each other’s company, and carless for at least a day, but we hadn’t intended on going to tonight’s fireworks anyway. It’s been a pretty good day so far and we’re happy to celebrate it quietly
Happy Independence Day to all of you!
Have a good time but don’t eat and drink too much!
Kind of fond memories:
After my first wife died in 2003 I tried to continue my life, already retired. Some day in June I went to my favourite bar – and sat outside in the beautiful weather for a beer – and stayed totally alone …
All my friends were inside watching some soccer game in the world championship in Brazil.
So I decided to GAFIA, went to our last minute travel office and found a flight to Ft Myers including a hotel in Ft Myers Beach and car for a week (or was it 10 days?) – really cheap. I spent a wonderful time there, nice weather, nice beach, nice people, nice shopping in a mall.
And then I realised that one of the last days was July 4th so in the evening I walked to the pier and saw those glorious fireworks.
OT:
On the day of arrival (or the day before?) there was the soccer game USA/Germany and when I came into the Ft Myers airport all (or most of …) the German tourists were dancing: We won, we won!
Stupid me!
Of course that game was Sweden – Germany, USA – Germany was in 2014.
Sorry.
Wolf, memories get slippery as we grow older!
Wolf, thanks for sharing those memories!
Nice memories, Wolf. We have British friends who have flown to Florida in the summer too, when most Americans are fleeing north.
We’ve been in London on July 4th more than once (1972 was the first time), and to say it had a different feel is an understatement. After Pan Am 103 crashed in Lockerbie, Scotland in December of 1988, no one wanted to fly, so there were great bargains to be had. We left for London as soon as school ended on June 28, went to London, then to friends in Suffolk, then York. On July 4 we arrived in Edinburgh (a favorite city). Being so far north that early in the summer, it stayed light out until after 10 pm I can remember shutting the curtains in our hotel room and there still being light coming through.
We’ve traveled on or around July 4 many times.
In 1987 we flew to Cleveland to visit Ellen & Al Nehr in SHaker Heights. We went to a small local fireworks show that was fun.
In 1993 we spent almost two weeks after school ended visiting my parents in California. On the 4th we visited my sister in San Francisco and accompanied her (it was a Sunday) to the famous Glide Church, where she was a member. My parents had a barbecue and that was the year my father made people read from the Declaration of Independence, which was a little bizarre.
In 1998 we went to Yankee Stadium and saw the powerhouse team (114 wins that year) beat the Orioles 4-3, then went to Virgil’s BBQ in Midtown.
For a number of years, if the Yankees were home on July 4, we’d get tickets for the game. I remember one year we had front row seats in the upper deck right behind home plate. We were totally exposed to the sun, it was a hot day, and Jackie nearly had heat stroke. We had to get her inside and hydrated.
Have a safe day whatever you do today.
Jeff, Happy 4th to you and Jackie! My sister is going to the Blue Jays vs. Rays game today. It will be hot, but the stadium in Buffalo is near Lake Erie so the breezes keep it comfortable.
Happy 4th!
It’s going to be Hades hot so I’m headed to the garden for some early morning weed-pulling.
Have a wonderful day!
Beth, Happy 4th to you! I’ve got the A/C cranked up to the Max! Temps will be near 90 tomorrow!
Loved and was saddened by Wolf’s memories. Holidays without a loved one are hard. I am lucky to have a day full of treats.
Patti, Happy 4th! Diane’s sister, who has been visiting us this weekend, is packing up and about to leave for Ohio. Diane and I will be busy getting back to Normal.
The band John plays in has a gig today, so we did burgers & all the fixings yesterday. Also, the municipal fireworks were last night, but the weather had been on-and-off rainy, so we stayed home and watched THE LAST OF SHEILA (a favorite of the twins).
Deb, Happy 4th! Around here, fireworks have been going off all week long! More tonight, of course. And I’m sure we’ll be hearing rockets going off tomorrow, too. Diane, as always, overbought food for her sister’s visit. We have a ton of leftovers and cold cuts and cheeses and fruits to eat in the days ahead.
Jackie wanted to know: “What is Deb’s menu?” We almost went for the Chinese food but instead decided on Outback Steakhouse for the first time in at least a year and a half. Ordinarily, we wouldn’t as we both had steaks on the trip to Boston, but what the heck? It’s July 4 and the new barbecue place still hasn’t opened yet. We’ll go for the strawberry shortcake slice for an appropriate dessert later (adding extra berries).
Still nice and cool and the sun is actually out for the first time in days. The heat is making a comeback here for two days only (they promise) – Tuesday and Wednesdat at 90+ – but then back to around 80. We’ll be mid-70s today, which is perfect. I’m sure John’s gig will be fun.
Movies: tonight will definitely be 1776. Other than that, we’ll see. Some years we watch YANKEE DOODLE DANDY. Last year we watched THE MUSIC MAN. And Jackie is always up for INDEPENDENCE DAY.
Happy 4th…Ninja the cat is still irritated about last night’s explosions…we can hope most of tonight’s activity is more visual than aural…
New Jersey isn’t quite as devoted as Hawaii to personal fireworks, but certainly close enough for my ears…and certainly the feline’s!
Todd, Happy 4th! The fireworks are endless around here!
Happy 4th George and Diane. No fireworks, stay safe and cool.
Rick, Happy 4th to you! There are tents set up in a dozen locations locally selling fireworks. And people are buying them by the ton! Every night this week explosions rocked our neighbor. I’m expecting a crescendo tonight! We’re only going to heat up tomorrow!!
Both the city and county ban fireworks, both sales and using, but the neighboring counties allow them. Luckily, our noisiest neighbors are away, so we’re hoping it won’t be noisy. We haven’t heard any so far. We’ll hit 87 today, 92 tomorrow.
Our menu is hamburgers and Barbara is making a key lime pie.
This again reminds me of a nice coincidence.
In Germany, Hungary and most of Europe New Year’s Eve is the night for fireworks – some people spend hundreds of Euros/$ on it. In Germany the use of fireworks and the sale of it are forbidden until the 28th of December but of course people find ways …
The most horrible, loud and dangerous fireworks (every year we have horrible accidents and even deaths there) are produced in Poland eg and imported illegally.
So after Xmas 2006 I walked my dog through the city and suddenly I heard and saw some “crackers”. My dog (a mix of German shepherd and Belgian shepherd aka Malinois, a wonderful animal) got so afraid that I took her into the next office to calm down – it was the last minute travel agency where I used to book my US travels and the guy was very friendly and loved my dog.
The same day I decided to leave for Hungary again as soon as possible because of my poor dog – at that time Hungarians didn’t have the money for lots of fireworks so from experience I knew that the village would be quiet.
When I arrived there I immediately went to the beautician to have my nails and my face done etc …
And she asked whether I had found a new girlfriend and then said she had the perfect partner for me …
And that’s how my new life started …
Wolf, you’re really a lucky guy!
Happy Fourth to you, George, and your little firecracker!
Wondering why you decided to once again go with a picture of Deb.
Went to the beach early this morning and there was already a crowd. When we got there, the sky was clear but the weather was muggy. By the time we got onto the beach, the sky had darkened and thinder and lightning drove us back to the car. **sigh** When we tried to leave, the starter suddenly died on our car. **double sigh** **bah, humbug!** We’re now safe at home, enjoying each other’s company, and carless for at least a day, but we hadn’t intended on going to tonight’s fireworks anyway. It’s been a pretty good day so far and we’re happy to celebrate it quietly
You think I’d learn not to send George those “private pics”! Lol
Deb, I think this 4th of July pic is one of your best!
Jerry, Happy 4th to you and your family! We’re just hazy, hot, and humid here. No rain in sight.