Fourth of July...not just the birth of our country but a day to party! Fireworks..alcohol and great macaroni salad! What are your favorite memories of the 4th?

What are you planning on doing this 4th of July?

For those outside the US...tell us what your favorite past times are for your countries birthday.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000

Answers

Canada Day is July 1st. I fly my flag from our apartment bedroom window that day; more accurately I tape it to the window, but it's the thought that counts, right?

I tend to avoid crowds at fireworks displays - I get claustrophobic in large clusters of people like that. We might head down to one of the jazz festival venues, or we might just stay home and bbq some nice steaks and toast Canada in our own way.

Canadians aren't known for our rah-rah! flag-waving patriotism, all beer commercial rants aside. That said, I'll do a little nation-pimping and point out that the UN has voted Canada as the country with the best overall quality of life for the 7th year in a row. Yay us!

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000

I always get all tingly just thinking about an entire nation of people getting drunk and playing with explosives.

When I was a kid, we always went to the parade, frog-jumping contest, and fireworks display in Gustine, California (they still have all that, Xeney?). Since we moved to Saint Paul, we've taken advantage of the Taste of Minnesota fireworks--they have fireworks every night for about a week before the 4th, and the big show is on the 4th. We sit on the grass in front of the cathedral about a mile from the capitol building and avoid the huge crowds; we usually don't go on the 4th itself, because it gets kind of crowded. God, I'm sounding old, here. Somebody give me a beer, a piccolo pete, a pair of pliers and a match...

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000

Prepare the pity, people. I need heaps of it.

I have to work.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000

We're moving this weekend. What fun, what joy. In fact I should be packing instead of posting on this forum.

Suzyramble~The Mutterings of A Fool

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000

A bunch of my co-workers are running several miles that morning. Which wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't mostly uphill, if it wasn't threatening to rain (thus it's muggy but not actually raining) and if it wasn't 100oF outside.

I think they're being very silly.

Their idea of fun also includes hiking up a mountain in 100oF heat, though.

I have no problem with mountains or running, but I tell you this: I am not going to be frying myself and perspiring and getting dry heaves at 6AM-noon on the 4th. Absolutely not.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000

I'm going to DC! Woo hoo!

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

This is the first year in many that I'm not going to our family shin- dig at my uncle's house in Hanford, CA. (For any of you know know Hanford, I'm sorry.) We decided rather than go through the usual gauntlet of cousins wanting to know why we don't have kids yet and sales at Wal-Mart, we'd hang out at the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and watch fireworks here... seeing as we gotta move back to LA next month....

Generally, I hate the 4th of July. I hate hot weather, crowds, screaming kids, drunk people and mass stupidity, and this holiday seems to pack all those things into one colorful package....

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Suzy, I think I have you beat:

I'm actually moving ON July 4th. That's right. I take possession of the new place on the afternoon of the 3rd, so my "holiday" is going to full of hot 'n sweaty lugging and unpacking. Yippee!

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

I am going to a bar-be-que with my roommates.

Three guys, who are friends with my roommate, Michael, are throwing a bbq/party for the 4th. Good food, good drinks, watching the fireworks over Lake Union from the balcony in their apartment.

Following that, we're heading to a bar or club....Man Ray or Neighbors. Those familiar with the Seattle area will realize those are both gay bars....

Looks like myy roomie, Liz, and I are going to be the straight girls with the group of gay men....

Should be a good time....Don't think I'll see any personal fireworks though....

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Yeah, well, I have to work. But at double time in a half, I think I can afford my own fireworks.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

My husband I are going to watch lots of movies, and I'll keep lording it over about us Yanks beating the British if we don't get to see all the films I want to. And I think I might eat a hot dog, just as a small token of my Americanism.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

I'm not going camping. I was going to, but we planned our trip too late, so all the campgrounds are full. So Jay and I are going to the fireworks tomorrow instead. There's a new park opening tomorrow, too, so there's all kinds of fun stuff planned.

I!

Am!

Canadian!

(I just had to say that-- tee hee!)

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Actually I'm hoping to meet up with a cute boy that I've met through the personals. Eeek. He saw a picture and he still wants to meet me. Eeek. I'm all a-flutter. Hee hee.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

One word:

SLEEP

And then start the new job all fresh and happy.

The Semicolon

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

I used to say I took two days a year off: Christmas and the 4th of July. But I don't actually take them off. I write the same amount as ever. I might be somewhere where I have to socialize with other people, or be away from my computer, and have to write in longhand, but I write the same amount and type it up later.

I usually barbecue something on the 4th of July. Goat is traditional.

When Owen and Balder were young, we took them to fireworks displays, but haven't gone since they grew up and moved out.

This 4th of July I'll probably watch the Braves game on television. Watch a rented video. Read a book. Write. Cook out.

I don't drink beer anymore.

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2000

I'm seeing the fireworks in New York. I'm from DC. You should have fun Laural.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

I actually had to be at work today at seven in the morning (!), but I'm off by mid-afternoon and will be joining the hoardes of people watching the fireworks here in D.C.

I think our little group will actually be at Iwo Jima, in Rosslyn. It's near the office (so people can park) and you get a nice view of the action without being in the crush of the crowd on the Mall.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2000

*tosses some sympathy Katherine and Mike's way* ick @ work on holidays

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2000

Yeah, well, at least there's not much going on ... plenty of time to surf the net.

Besides, I get Thursday off instead, and you know those Sixth of July parties are much cooler than anything going on today, right? Right?!

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2000