OT: And so it begins (fireworks)

[Dan Jacobs]

The only thing I miss about living in an area with tight fireworks restrictions (read that to mean no fireworks allowed, and penalties were pretty harsh) is that folks tended to wait until it was actually July 4th to start lighting the damned things.

As I laid my cherubic cheek upon my soft pillow, I thought WW3 had started outside.

It's only July 1st. Sunday night, even.

The CPAP machine will be of little help tonight.

[Goofproof]

My sleep won't be affected, but the animals frightened to death by them will wear on me, also is very dry here and fires are going to be started. I don't mind the fireworks, only the fools that have them. I no longer have a dog, so I won't have to watch their pain, but I know it's there. Jim

[Dan Jacobs]

Talking with a friend about it, he said "It's the sound of freedom." I reminded him that all the fireworks sold at stands for the general public to buy had been made in China. Sound of freedom made by the Chinese, how American.

[Goofproof]

If it's the sound of Freedom, it should be pretty quiet, since the government is stealing our freedom daily, the Bill of Rights and The Constitution are redefined daily by the fools we elect and their appointments to the Supreme Court. The deck is stacked. Land of the Free, not anymore.

A Poem Worth Reading

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Joe has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his likes again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

Sorry this was so long, I'd have cut out the bad parts, but I couldn't find any. Jim Goofproof

I didn't write this, it just describes what the Fourth of July, still stands for to me.

[LSAT]

Nice Jim.....

[Pad A Cheek]

Jim,
Thank you for a very worthwhile poem. I really enjoyed the sentiment that we need to put the thanks where they belong. I thank every service man or woman that I talk to for their service. It is a little thing, but it keeps me humble, and makes me remember that my freedom is not free.

Karen

[greatunclebill]

i agree, goofproof. the election of 2012 in time will come to be known as the most important election in the history of the world. succeeding generations will look on us as either fools or heroes depending on the outcome and their point of view.

as to fireworks, these rednecks in alabama "love them some fireworks" at many different times of the year. in mobile alabama on new years eve at midnight they even drop a giant moon pie downtown just like the thing in times square with the ball in NYC. the thing i don't like is the idiots shooting guns in the air. the bullets all land somewhere.

[chunkyfrog]

Nearly every firework made is illegal here. Doesn't stop anyone from shooting them off.
A random burst of firecrackers under the bridge, the echoing boom of out of state contraband.
I walk the dog when the coal train is passing through, hauling black electricity from Gillette to KC.
Even on the Fourth, nobody wants to compete with that, and the dog is used to the train.

[Suzjohnson]

I love what the Fourth of July stands for and the poem is lovely. Thank you for posting the whole thing. I do not love the sound of fire trucks scurrying to put out the fires started with illegally used fireworks or the ambulances screaming toward another injured child or adult because of stupidity and improper handling. When another gun goes off or a rocket is fired into the air, I get angry when I see the fear in my dog's eyes, I guess because it mirrors my own. I don't understand where common sense and values have gone.

Suz

[portiemom]

Goofproof, amazing as always, I will be reading that poem at my Annual Military Appreciation Breakfast that I hold each year for my School Community, this past year we lost our oldest WWII veteran just after our celebration, the stories, and memorabila he shared with our 500+ students over the years is immeasurable. His widow will attend this year in his place and she will enjoy this poem.
Thanks you always for you contributions to the forum.
I do miss your emails....BUD
Portiemom (n2waterdogs)

[6PtStar]

I appreciate Jim's comments about the animals and yes it has started here. Not supposed to be inside the city but always does. We went for a walk with my 4 dogs last evening just after dark when it cooled off enough to get out. About half way through our normal walk some one set off a string of firecrackers. Our big Golden Retriever went into a panic. He broke loose and ran across a street to get back to the car. He really suffers during fireworks season.

Jerry

[BlackSpinner]

We had them last night after a day of rain and thunderstorms. They were over the river so they were quiet here, the thunderstorms were louder. We missed the Victoria Day ones because of the fire ban.

Happy Canada Day (one day late)

[Goofproof]

One of the better things about holidays and rednecks, they promote natural selection. Yes I am a redneck too, I just don't allow booze to make all my party plans.

[Sloop]

I loved as a kid seeing the quart size cylindrical ice cream cartons painted red to look like a big firecracker and placed in all the stores to get 4th of July donations.

As an aside -- my first job was as a genuine "soda-jerk" and I use to hand pack those same containers with Hoods Ice Cream. I can guarantee you that there was more ice cream packed into one of the quart containers than you find today in a half gallon. Weight alone would back me up.

[Goofproof]

I loved as a kid seeing the quart size cylindrical ice cream cartons painted red to look like a big firecracker and placed in all the stores to get 4th of July donations.

As an aside -- my first job was as a genuine "soda-jerk" and I use to hand pack those same containers with Hoods Ice Cream. I can guarantee you that there was more ice cream packed into one of the quart containers than you find today in a half gallon. Weight alone would back me up.

I never Jerked any sodas, but I was a Car Hop, I also worked inside filling them, I made all the Ice Cream & Sherbet we and the restaurant used. back then Ice Cream was sold by weight, you can change the amount of air in the ice cream. More air more money, but packing by weight makes everyone honest.

Now days honest doesn't count, want more money srink the package and bump the price, or don't make it in the U.S., still bump the price. The Corp Way!

We had the best back them, 12% butter fat for soft cones, 10% for normal Ice Cream, check your packages today..... Jim