4th of July in YOUR neighborhood - celebrate much? (buy, restaurant)

[mayfair]

We had a war zone also. I can already hear some tonight, but I hope there will be fewer. The smoke was so thick it affected air quality. This was the worst year for non-stop large, illegal fireworks which is surprising considering there were professional firework shows to attend (unlike last year).

[dav51lin]

not so surprized a lot of idiots out there

[dav51lin]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

Sounds like it varies city to city county to county. But overall, it seems there are more of the extended illegal fireworks going off during all hours throughout the state. Some extend over multiple days. Maybe 'some' neighborhoods near Seattle are more policed and actually enforce the laws more strictly? IDK

That's never been the case anywhere else I've heard of in WA including here in Vancouver. Never have I heard someone say what Hemlock just did about his area - only one boom all night. We heard and saw so many last night it would be impossible to count. Heck, it would be hard enough to count them in 'one minute' let alone all night. It was constant until ~ 1:30 AM when it finally started slowing down.

Derek

and people complain about the price of gas etc yet spent thousands on fireworks

[jertheber]

Let's be honest, the fourth of July hasn't been a celebration of the nation's independence as much as it is celebrating a day off of work. I live in Vancouver Wa also, and a young man blew off his hand, a garage was burned down, and a family of six were left homeless all because of the idiocy of fireworks being tied to the replication of a war.

The "official" displays of the past are now deemed to be a fire danger not to mention the cost factor for a city that struggles to fill even the worst potholes in their streets, fails to provide meaningful police protection, but still manages to raise taxes as the only consistent activity of city or county governments. I liked the old official displays, but, the neighborhood ones put on by people who aren't old enough to know the dangers, or worse, know, but still don't really care to be as safe as possible.

Drinking, getting stoned, and being stupid, seems to be supplanting the traditional celebrations, then throw the fireworks into that environment, and, BOOM, someone gets hurt, fires are started, people are angry. How any of that translates into a recognition of our independence from the English I certainly don't know. Like America's other holidays, the fourth has morphed into a day of celebrating everything except it's origins, or worse, it's become one more point of division over individual rights.

[MechAndy]

Wow.
What a bunch of negative Nancy’s.

I like the 4th of July.
I like seeing the stars and bars flying in town and on peoples front yards.
We have animals so I don’t much like a bunch of fireworks but I can handle a few days per year.
I grew up in small towns that had parades and festivals on the 4th that did goofy stuff like pie eating contests or crab feeds at the VFW.

I can’t seem to find the emoji for rosy colored sunglasses because that’s what I like to wear .

[Taz22]

Originally Posted by mayfair

We had a war zone also. I can already hear some tonight, but I hope there will be fewer. The smoke was so thick it affected air quality. This was the worst year for non-stop large, illegal fireworks which is surprising considering there were professional firework shows to attend (unlike last year).

Yes, typical booms going off at 3 am. Mec Andy and Hemlock obviously hit the jackpot when it came to living in a good location. I remember a post from Mec Andy where he chatted with his pleasant neighbors, I think they were ex Californians. Anyway, if I chatted to anyone out here, it would likely be with a scowling, bearded guy with ten foot tires. Or scowling lady, recently my next door neighbor was standing in her yard glaring at me, a couple of days later she sends her husband over to complain about my dog barking too early. Why didn’t she walk over to the fence and tell me herself, it’s the usual passive-aggressive attitude, but that’s another thread.

Anyway, the noise goes on for hours and on the afternoon of 4th, I was out painting some of the pasture fence and heard loud booms, the loudest possible. I’m still trying to figure out where the fireworks went, you’d think a boom like that would light up the sky with pretty fireworks, but no. All it did was scare the horses and crank the dogs up. Every year it’s the same, these loud mega booms happen and there’s nothing to see.

[mayfair]

Originally Posted by Taz22

I’m still trying to figure out where the fireworks went, you’d think a boom like that would light up the sky with pretty fireworks, but no. All it did was scare the horses and crank the dogs up. Every year it’s the same, these loud mega booms happen and there’s nothing to see.

Same here. Many of them are just giant explosions that shake the ground, scare the animals and maybe have a single, low flash of light but no beautiful sky show show or anything. They seem to have no redeeming value unless you want a giant boom.

[MechAndy]

Oops

[Diana Holbrook]

Originally Posted by MechAndy

Oops

I saw it though.... thanks.

[PhoenixSomeday]

We had a unique point of view as we were on a plane coming in for a landing at PDX in the last hour before midnight. There were fireworks all over the place. Just randomly scattered through the neighborhoods. Celebrations by locals seemed to be be very alive.