Friday, July 10, 2009

I'd rather drive twice as far than go back to these fireworks.

This year's fireworks was quite an (mis)adventure. Last year we frantically searched for fireworks in our area only to head into another state to find them, so we were pleasantly surprised to find that a town 15 minutes from us celebrated the 4th of July ON the 4th of July WITH fireworks. We had already filled our day with yard work, hours on the beach, neighborhood parades and ice cream sundae parties, but we just weren't done celebrating.

After a quick stop at Illiano's for dinner (because nothing says I love America like Italian food, right?), we headed up to the fireworks. Upon GPS's insistence that we'd hit our destination, we were forced to accept that the area set aside for fireworks was really small and already PACKED with people. Confident we could still find a spot, we found a place to park about 1/2 mile away and walked back to the venue.

By this time we needed a restroom. Badly. So we started looking. This city had planned their fireworks display at a boat dock. A BOAT DOCK. A long, narrow strip of land mostly covered in asphalt with a small sliver of grass on the edge of the water. I began to wonder what the event organizers were thinking. The crowded area was made more so by vendors running the length of the dock. Weaving through the throng of teenagers and young adults milling around, we finally found the restrooms: two little porta potties. We had passed CHAIN LOCKED bathrooms, which appeared to have running water, before finding these. Did I mention the place was packed with people? After waiting in line forever, we were finally next in line. The lady leaving the potty kindly informed us there was no toilet paper left. I considered switching lines, but we'd already waited 20 minutes and the line next to us was just as long. Plus, there was a suspicious amount of women in that line getting napkins from the food vendor next door, discretely folding them up as they waited their turn. We opted to use the wipes I had on hand.

Our bathrooms needs finished, we started looking for a spot to sit. This was when we realized another problem. Not only was there limited grass, most of it already jam packed, there were also huge tress blocking the view from most places. The larger asphalt areas was covered in vendors and loud, half drunk young adults. The whole place reeked of cigarette smoke and pheromones. Finally we gave up and set up our blanket on the back of the asphalt where there was a small break in vendors. Very comfortable, nothing says relax and enjoy like a thin blanket on a hard surface. After what seemed like a small eternity, we enjoyed the fireworks display, or at least the half of it that wasn't blocked by a big tree in front of us. (In the picture, you can see the tree blocking the view. You can also see some of the people walking up and down the strip the entire time the fireworks were being set off. After sitting on the asphalt all night, I don't blame them.)

Next year we'll head out of state again instead of going to a too small, mostly asphalt covered, bathroom limited, toilet paperless, more young single adults than families, smoking everywhere, tall trees lining the entire strip of land blocking the display venue. It will be worth the extra drive.

On the plus side, we did get lots of compliments on our matching tie dyed T-shirts!



(P.S. Instructions for the hairdo can be found HERE. Instructions for the shirts HERE.)

16 comments:

  1. I think Peter should get a boat and then you can watch the fireworks from the water next year ;) Or, ("save" the boat money and) just travel to Utah like the rest of us and watch fireworks together with old friends!

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  2. See, I made it through to the part where you tie dyed your own shirt and didn't even say, "Man, she's such a much better mother than me." Then you had to post a picture of star shaped hairdos.

    I bow to your super-motherness.

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  3. I am sorry your fireworks were a bit of a disappointment. Your t-shirts look great, though. Much more red and blue than our fuschi and turquoise attempts. I also bow to your mother fabulousness.

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  4. Did I just misspell "fuschia"? Yeah, okay, so "pink".

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  5. I'm with Cire. Don't drive out of state next year. Fly! To Utah! Next year may be the last year that we have bleacher seats in the shade for the parade, and we would be happy to save a space for your family. Then you can picnic, tour the Colonial America activities, and catch Stadium of Fire. You can stay with us and we'll roast s'mores before putting the kids to bed in our big tent and then play Settlers all night. Just trying to put a bug in your ear. ;o)

    BTW, those star hair-dos were great!

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  6. We didn't even go to fireworks....and we did buy sparklers...and they are still sitting on counter. Although my boys did wear matching red/blue shirts. I do love America..I promise. Your shirts and hairdos are great. Sorry about the crappy fireworks.

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  7. Dang it. I was in Utah for the 4th. Why wasn't I invited to Mary's?? Sounds awesome!
    We bought snap pops and sparklers and set them off with 2 of our 3 kids on the 4th and 2 of our 3 kids on the 5th while the twins took turns going to bed early.
    Your shirts are FABULOUS. So are the hairdos.

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  8. Our fireworks potties ran out of toilet paper too...I don't think I helped the situation, I had to use them four times! Gotta love being pregnant! Next time I'll work a roll into my outfit.

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  9. The fourth is much funner with kids. We watched the fireworks from the roof of our new house. We haven't moved in but we still consider it ours. Loved the shirts and the hairdos. Like you short hair.

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  10. Sounds like a ton of fun ;) This was our first year being home on the 4th, it was nice.

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  11. Your shirts did turn out great! Have you washed them yet? Mine faded to oblivion when I washed them. At least I got some great pictures before that! I almost did that hairdo on Kaylee but chickened out last minute and went for a half ponytail with a red ribbon. Sorry the fireworks stunk, we have had years like that.

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  12. Wow! Doesn't sound so fun. Now I'm not so bummed that we stayed home all day with sick kids and put them to bed at 8. I had been feeling really bad about that, but your little adventure doesn't sound so fun. I do love the hairdos and matching shirts. I may try that next year! I know my girls would love it.

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  13. LOVE the shirts. We're totally doing that next year. The hair too! Poor Matthew looks so sunburned. Sorry your fireworks stunk too.

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  14. The shirts turned out really cute, so that is a good thing!

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  15. Nothing like an unforgettable holiday experience. I love your t shirts and the amazing hairdo's. It looks like a very lovely tree.

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  16. The next week we went to the casino sponsored fireworks. Not only are they 10 minutes from our house, the best spot to watch is the top of the hospital parking lot (we happen to have a parking permit for the best parking spaces there). They were the best fireworks show I think I've ever seen, so I guess that makes up for the less than spectacular 4th.

    Maybe someday we'll make it out west for fireworks again.

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