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:

Fourth of July Shenanigans

Step One: Light BBQ Duties
Despite my obvious lack of skill no humans were burned, no cats were traumatized, and the hot dogs still resembled hot dogs when the grilling was done!


I put DP outside to enjoy his watermelon:
Step Two: Check fog level outside. Looks good this year!

Please note the difference here...LAST YEAR AT THE BEACH: FROZE TO DEATH:

THIS YEAR AT THE BEACH: SUNNY SKIES AND I AM UNCLOAKED (relatively speaking):
Step Three: Ensure enough fireworks have been purchased.

Step Four: Pass the time till sundown by taking random photos:

DP even found a new friend! Someone named "Gort" stopped by:

Step Five: Light up the very second the sun touches the horizon!

Some weren't impressed with mere sparklers:

Here is a 2 minute overview of the evening for you to enjoy!

July 4th, SF Style

The Fourth of July, Northern California style:
Please not the requisite Uggs and heavy jacket for the July Fourth Beach experience. Even DP had to fashion a sort of "snuggie" out of a napkin:


Of course, the all American Tattoo is a must to show your spirit:

So we arrived early, hiked the hills and lunched, then settled in to people watch and play some dominoes:

Apparently, I was the only one who noticed the flying shark. As dusk falls, it's time to build and perfect the "wind proof sand pit" - a MUST for beach fireworks:




Without proper construction, you will be unable to light your fireworks without going through boxes of matches, two or three torch lighters and one blowtorch. Then, when finally lit, the damn thing will blow sideways. This lesson I have learned the hard way.

I submit the following firework to shock and appall your sense of taste:

Seriously??? Someone actually said, hey, wouldn't the tragic loss of 1500 lives in the Titanic disaster be an awesome theme for a firework??? It gets better:


Yes, those are victims of the Titanic disaster falling to their death from the ship that I have circled in the above photo. Seriously people???

DP was all disturbed by this heinous lack of tack on the part of the firework designers. He was ALL ready to light this thing up. Of course, I kept the outer covering of this firework so I could keep the artwork to shock and appall others for years to come.

While waiting for the approach of darkness, I spied a co worker of mine sitting on the beach (after she texted me to mock my rolled up jeans and dark sweater). She was all wrapped up in pink and miserable in the "cold". HA HA HA!!! She doesn't know what a "cold" 4th of July can be here! Check out the photo closely:

This "pretty cold in pink" woman ended up leaving before dark, and missed out on the illegal firework show. I bet that chic in the bathing suit stuck it out!

So we waited for dark and played some dominoes. SOME people cheated. I won't say who:

DP was getting all antsy waiting for the chance to light one off, so we let him sacrifice a small one to keep him happy:

Then the cops showed up:

So we waited for dark to light up the rest. Here I am with a large "roman candle" sparkler...much better than those wussy ones they sell to kids nowadays:

Of course, Titanic the Tacky Firework turned out to be a major disappointment:

But other ones were quite nice:

DP had to be reminded several times to back away from the flames:

But all in all, a good night was had by all: