Hooray for the Red White and Blue! And Fireworks, too!

Summertime!  And the living is....the same as every damn day.  But anyway, we've got the Fourth of July to liven things up, and the holiday falling in the middle of the week did nothing to damper local spirits.  Our city still allows the "safe and sane" fireworks, so of course...

SOME PEOPLE... I WON'T SAY WHO...insisted we purchase the big ones:

Ahh, what's more patriotic than a 100 year old doll kicking it with the flag, while the cat sneaks in:

I'll tell you what is...ME ACTUALLY COOKING!  Yes, I threw off the microwave shackles, tied on the apron and headed outdoors to BBQ some hot dogs and sausages.  True, I was scared, as there were things like fire, and smoke and bees and such in the air...but I sucked it up:

 I also bought a mini watermelon and when I sliced into it, was freaked out to see no black seeds:

 Of course, since I fired up the BBQ, I figured why waste all that heat and smoke and ash and stuff?  TIME FOR SMORES!!! (with patriotic marshmallow shapes, of course!)

 The end result...pretty tasty, but very messy.  This Virgo does not appreciate such foods:

Then we headed to the beach, the only one that allows fireworks on it.   SOME PEOPLE, I WON'T SAY WHO, were a little anxious to light up the sky:

Once our awesome "wind protection" pit was dug, I took the annual photo of the firepower.  SOMEONE, I WON'T SAY WHO...thought they would gross me out with a "foot in photo" bomb:

My friend's favorite firework to burn - need I explain why?

Here's a little one I found that turned out to be pretty cool - once lit, it sparked from the top, then finished off with fireworks coming from the spout.  Not bad for a $1.99:

Time to relax while awaiting the sun's exit from the sky...check out DP and the phone DP uses....how narcissistic can you be!

Time for some rounds of the classic game PassWord - this game set is from the 60's (it was my grandmother's) and is based off the popular TV show of that time - Unfortunately, this set did not come with an "Allen Ludden".

 Well, here it is barely dark and DP was all "give me the matches, give me the damn matches!!"

So I thought I'd distract everyone by taking some photos as the sun went down.  This one of my friend is the best of the bunch.  Tragically, as I backed up to take this photo, my dignity was killed as I fell backwards over a rock and fell, camera and all, into the sand. My "friends" almost died laughing.  All night.  WHATEVER!!

My other "friend" did well with this pose as well.  

 ME?  Oh no, I posed and ended up looking like a guy peeing in the ocean!  Not the photographers fault mind you - MINE.  RETAKE needed! So here, instead, is a photo of the sunset with a sailboat under it:

FINALLY - the sun set and the matches were out - This first firework is my favorite to light up, as it has bees on it and anything that causes bees harm is ok by me:

 Nice effects by the camera, despite the traumatic sand landing it had earlier:

This here is a Roman Candle - I get these instead of those new piss-ant sparklers they sell nowadays.  The ones we had as kids were better and lasted longer, too.  Look as Miss BravePants here:

 Ahh...a final image of the beach...commonly known as "The War Zone" on the Fourth of July:

Random shots and an update on "Lame"

Here is a random collection of what I like to call..."Things I see while walking on the beach"

First up: Monk on the Beach

I told some people last week that I saw this huge Monk walking a tiny Chihuahua and I don't think they believed me. So when he showed up again tonight, I was glad I had my camera. I snapped this covert photo.

Next: Sandffiti

These could be a) crop circles, b) art completed by talented sandpipers, or c) sandffiti - a form of graffiti.

Next: Dudes on Sewer PipePeople (generally males leading younger males) who think it's "cool" to walk along the sewer outlet pipe. I await the moment the pipe suddenly opens, the smell overtakes them, and they fall into the sea.

Next: Footprints that aren't a sign that God was carrying me
Next: Annoying people who shouldn't be allowed to take my regular parking spot!

I like to call these things "Sunshine Come Latelys" - these people show up when the sun comes out, take all the parking, and leave little remembrances of their visit here behind. Like coke cans. And empty chip bags. And used diapers. Despite the garbage cans every 10 feet!

Even the sea birds are crowded by those folks.

Next: This shot I'll call..."What keeps the "Sunshine Come Latelys" away:

You'll notice in this next shot how empty the beach appears:

I wonder why?

Next: Sadistic stairs from hell

These stairs I take most every night to keep my Weight Watchers results at a good level.

Next: Obligatory lovely sunset shot:

Next: One night later, same beach, same time:

Now you FAITHFUL readers should remember last weekend's blog about "Lame" the duck I birthed. I suggested I might take him to the beach "for a visit", and tonight I did:
Lame at first seemed quite pleased to be outside. He liked the sand, and the sound of the waves, I think.

Then, a tragic turn of events:

Lame was not amused, as you can clearly see by his expression. But the worst was yet to come:

While I was focusing in on the very wet and annoyed Lame, a dog came up behind me and snatched Lame up into it's mouth! Although the dog dropped Lame quickly enough, the damage was done and now Lame was a bit traumatized and paranoid:

I had to talk him down off the rock. Took me quite awhile, as there are a lot of dogs on this beach.
Then I had to talk him out of the mussel shell. He called it his "armor".

His next action was simply pathetic:

Lame knows I collect beach glass, so he attempted to disguise himself as a yellow piece among the green and whites, hoping I would take him back home.

I did.