Happy 4th of July everyone

Spent the 4th with some friends and our new next door neighbors who are Afghan refugees. We planned the meal to include stuff they could eat (not hard actually). The Mom brought over beef dumplings that were amazing. Their kids had an absolute ball. We had sparklers, poppits, glow sticks, and of course fireworks at dark. I busted out the PowerWheels fleet (my kids have outgrown most of them, but the neighbor's kids are just the right age) for the back yard full race track experience. The NERF arsenal was also deployed (I'll be finding wayward darts/balls for months).

The 4th is hard for me sometimes because it was my Dad's birthday. Dad would have loved the absolute pack of kids running through the yard playing together yesterday. It was a good day.

Gary said:

As I mentioned earlier on this thread, we planned to send off a Chinese lantern tonight. We did, and Annie took a video to memorialize the big event. Here are a couple pics from it.

After nearly crashing into an 80 ft. tall oak in our back yard, it slowly gained altitude and headed east towards PVD airport five miles away. I thought we'd get a visit from the FAA, but so far, so good. 

I just don't understand these or the lack of respect? common sense? fear? that goes with them. You are intentionally sending fire to an unknown location to potentially burn down someone else's property. I like fire and fireworks as much as anyone, but a hard no from me.

Happy belated Independence Day everyone! This is a great country.

We had a great time blowing up some money, and watching the big show in the Capital (of KS), even though our car was hit by a chunk of debris with us 5 feet in front of it. No injuries, and all digits still present. 

llysgennad said:

Gary said:

As I mentioned earlier on this thread, we planned to send off a Chinese lantern tonight. We did, and Annie took a video to memorialize the big event. Here are a couple pics from it.

After nearly crashing into an 80 ft. tall oak in our back yard, it slowly gained altitude and headed east towards PVD airport five miles away. I thought we'd get a visit from the FAA, but so far, so good. 

I just don't understand these or the lack of respect? common sense? fear? that goes with them. You are intentionally sending fire to an unknown location to potentially burn down someone else's property. I like fire and fireworks as much as anyone, but a hard no from me.

Uh ... the small flame burns out in minutes, usually at around two or three thousand feet altitude, it loses lift, and it drops. Cold. No hazard. It's not like a hot air balloon with a gas flame. Can a jackass start a fire with one? Can a jackass crash a car?

So, whose signature states:

"Go that way really fast. If something gets in your way, TURN."

Yeah. I just don't understand that statement or the lack of respect for others' safety in a vehicle. 

In reply to Jim Pettengill :

Drove through your town last year-Ouray is shockingly beautiful!

I'm not sure I would have known to take my hat off for the color guard in a parade.

In reply to Gary :

Maybe you should Google "fires started by Chinese lanterns". Let's see: 500 acre forest fire, 30 animals killed in a zoo fire, recycling plant burned, numerous grass fires...but hey, you do you.

My signature? It's a line from a movie. About skiing. Might also apply to, oh, I don't know, motorsports, maybe?

Happy 5th to everyone