Terminalcoffee discussion

In two weeks' time, cities across the USA will be setting off fireworks to celebrate Independence Day. My own city of St. George will have the usual vendors set up in the park, with fireworks to cap off the day.

Strangely, though, this will happen on July 3.

Does anyone else live in a city that refuses to celebrate holidays on the "official" day when that day falls on a Sunday?

No, but Denver sets off fireworks for a few nights all around the holiday.

I love the 4th, btw. It is, hands down, my favorite holiday.

This becomes a weird controversy around here, Phil, I hear you. Some towns/cities take the hard-line "we MUST have fireworks on the fourth, it's a tradition" while others go for the closest weekend. There are enough towns around here you could probably see fireworks a few nights in a row without too much trouble.

The weirdest are the rain/fog questions. Last year on Fish Day (I'll explain, uh, what that is some other time) the fog was thick but they set fireworks off anyway. What a dumbass decision. But the organizers said they wouldn't change their mind because of tradition. So it's tradition to shoot fireworks where no one can see them? Brilliant.

Of the three municipalities that make up this area (they flow into each other) Olympia doesn't do fireworks until Lakefair, which is the third week of July. Lacey does their 4th of July fireworks on the 3rd. Only Tumwater does fireworks on the actual 4th.

I guess that makes sense, them not wanting to compete with each other's fireworks. And that gives residents three chances to see fireworks on a not rainy night.

we are already bustin' off fireworks around here

Kevin "El Liso Grande" wrote: "we are already bustin' off fireworks around here"

Well stop standing near open flames after eating those hot peppers!

aye carumba!

Sally wrote: "No, but Denver sets off fireworks for a few nights all around the holiday.

I love the 4th, btw. It is, hands down, my favorite holiday."

YEA! Another reason to love the little D. Rockies and Rapids both have fireworks games and people line the highways and biways around the stadiums to see the shows. :)

My daughter's birthday is on the 5th. She's under the impression that the fireworks that take place on the 4th are in her honor.

Yeah! Misha, it is was fun to go to the bars downtown on the 3rd or 5th and get to watch fireworks and then do something real 4th-ish on the actual holiday.

gus - i would totally go along with it even after she knows it isn't true and every time you hear a firework go off on the 4th i would say "happy birthday" !!

Gus wrote: "My daughter's birthday is on the 5th. She's under the impression that the fireworks that take place on the 4th are in her honor."

great story. the fireworks on new year's eve are for my half birthday :)

what Kevin said!

Kevin, we're totally planning on doing such. Bases totally covered.

My nephew's birthday is on July 3rd - same sort of thing, Gus... I think he's had a cookout at almost all of his birthday parties. One year, he had a birthday party at Pump It Up (one of those inflatables party places)... followed by a cookout. :)

This will be the first year in a LONG time that I've missed his birthday party. :/

my birthday is on halloween and at 45 i still look at all the parties, decorations, costumes and such on the 31st and go "awww...you guys didn't have to go to all this trouble for me..."

Every few years my birthday falls on Thanksgiving Day.

You're welcome.

My birthday is sometimes on Rosh Hashanah. whoop.

now that folks.....is my fav comment of Da Week !!!

thank you barb

I live in a commonwealth. Fireworks are illegal.

Why are fireworks illegal in commonwealths? What's the difference between a state and commonwealth?

I don't really know. We just usually joke about it being conservative here. Like we'll say to each other, "well, that's what you get for living in the commonwealth." Bunny probably knows the real answer. Or my friend Janet, since she teaches VA history. Remember Janet? Oh that's right. She never posted. She just shebanged us and left us. OH!

It was a good shebang, too!

Isn't it always like that with the one that got away?

commonwealth's are wussies

commonwealth's whats are what?

Let us firm up our fourth of July plans. What are you doing?

My wife and kids leave for her mother's house tomorrow afternoon. I hate when they leave. In turn, I'm getting piss fucking drunk Saturday night. You are warned.

RandomAnthony wrote: "In turn, I'm getting piss fucking drunk Saturday night."

So where's the problem?

RA said "firm." Tee hee.

makes marge noise

:D

!!!!

:D

As far as I know, there really isn't a difference in Commonwealths and States in legal/constitutional terms. Although Virginia is really big on the whole State's Rights thing.

I'm pretty sure the Commonwealth goes back to Colonial times, but I'm not that smart. Most of my knowledge is preceded by, "I think" or "I've heard"

"I think" there is some Civil War relation to Virginia's Commonwealth status. Something about when Virginia seceded from the Union. Commonwealth referring to being ruled by the people not some "ruler" like the Federal Government or a pain in the ass King or Queen.


As far as Fireworks go, yes the Commonwealth is wussy.

Now that the Revolutionary and Civil Wars are over:

I'm assuming Harry, by the way, will have to attend a dance recital on the fourth of July.

Ha! Nope. No Ballet, Tap or Jazz dancing planned for the 4th as far as I know.

just played a softball game in the Haynes Apperson [look up Elwood Haynes:] Festival Tournament (we lost first game) and tomorrow i will play another game, go to the car show to take pics, check out the festival rides and food, then go canoeing in the afternoon and then back for the bands (LoverBoy and Wang Chung. i kid you NOT. that would have been a smokin line-up in 1984) and then fireworks. sunday after church we hang out and then have a family cook out here at La Ranchero Sprinkle and then possibly another fireworks display as the ones at the speedway are only a half mile away. the end