I hate the 4th of July - Page 4

DanaC · 07-05-2007, 10:45 AM

I'd second that. My mum was injured by a firework when she was little.

jinx · 07-05-2007, 11:34 AM

My kids had a great time with some kiddie fireworks yesterday. Kids need to be taught fire safety or they experiment on their own and end up getting burned.

elSicomoro · 07-05-2007, 01:58 PM

I was allowed to have sparklers as a kid, and I learned very quickly to be careful with them. Fortunately, I have no permanent scars that I know of.

Paul Harris (who is a local radio host on KMOX-AM here in St. Louis) lamented recently that parents today are too over-protective of their kids, attempting to protect them from the smallest of hurts. I agreed with his thoughts...kids need to learn pain and consequences. Otherwise, they'll be fucked when they get older. Though I think I understand where Cloud is coming from on this.

theotherguy · 07-05-2007, 03:18 PM

I love the 4th and fireworks displays. I don't really care about doing them myself. I like the large displays put on by organizations with deep pockets. My son LOVES it.

I was a beautiful night here and the display was wonderful. Oh, and the fried chicken didn't hurt things at all.

I did get a pack of poppers and noise makers for him. Nothing with fire. While I do agree that we sometimes over-protect our children, I don't think that 3rd degree burns are the way to go to "teach them a lesson."

barefoot serpent · 07-05-2007, 04:24 PM

I like Andy's reply to the question: Why is it important to celebrate Independence Day?

Quote:

“Because we have to have a day that we spend a large portion of our discretionary income on fireworks and American flags that were made in a communist country.”

— Andy Norris, local business owner, Baldwin City

barefoot serpent · 07-05-2007, 04:41 PM

I love the 'family gatherings' with 4-inch mortars.

Quote:

Paola — A Mission man has died of injuries suffered in a fireworks accident in rural Miami County.

Brock Barrett, 25, was critically injured about 9 p.m. Tuesday when a 4-inch mortar went off as he lit fireworks at a family gathering in southern Miami County.

He died at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

Elspode · 07-05-2007, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barefoot serpent

I love the 'family gatherings' with 4-inch mortars.

Hey, Barefoot...remember the guy five or six years ago here in KC who lit the mortar that didn't go off, so he looked down the tube...

I wonder if these guys were related.

bluecuracao · 07-05-2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elspode

Hey, Barefoot...remember the guy five or six years ago here in KC who lit the mortar that didn't go off, so he looked down the tube...

I wonder if these guys were related.

'Were' being the key word here.

I used to love fireworks, when the dads would make all the kids stand far enough back and light the cones, and the bottle rockets--from actual bottles, pointed away from everyone. Then came the time when teenage boys started throwing lit bottle rockets. So, so stupid.

One recent 4th, an adult friend of ours, after a few cocktails, decided it would be fun to throw bottle rockets off his balcony. I officially hated fireworks after that. The personal-use kind, anyway.

Cloud · 07-05-2007, 07:13 PM

So, today is the 5th of July. It is the anniversary of my childhood burn injury. I always get a bit melancholy on this date.

For those of you who may not have heard this story (tho I tell it pretty often) -- I was 7 or 8 years old. For Indpendence Day, my parents had shot off fireworks in our backyard. The following morning (July 5) I went out while my parents were having breakfast and lit a sparkler. I think now that I must have dropped the match on my nylon negligee. This was waaaaay before the days of fire-retardant kids sleepwear, so --

WHOOSH! Up in flames I went.

Nowadays, they teach kids to "stop, drop, and roll." Me, like an idiot, ran around screaming, fanning the flames. My dad had to catch me and throw me in the swimming pool--the huge pool just feet away from me. I still remember being wrapped in a sheet and riding in my parents' car to the hospital. Don't know why they didn't call an ambulance--guess they thought this would be quicker.

So, yeah, I had 3d degree burns covering my entire right-side torso, from my armpit to my hip, including my breast. Months of hospitalization, skin grafts, surgeries all that. Grossness and pain, but I'm over it now. Mostly.

So, no, my personal opinion is--fireworks and kids do not mix.

Urbane Guerrilla · 07-05-2007, 09:05 PM

And that'd sure as hell do it, Cloud. Jeez, is that awful.

And what I really came back to this thread for was to mention that the Guacamole Kit sometimes if not usually also includes 1 shallot to be minced along with the garlic -- this time it didn't.

Bullitt, cilantro, oh yes.

Lemon juice is quite okay for guac, but lime juice fresh squeezed seems to add a little something special to the mix. Fresh ingredients are paramount.

Of course, by now with tomato, shallot, pepper, and cilantro -- you've got pico de gallo.

Cloud · 07-05-2007, 09:40 PM

There's a private investigator in my town who only has hooks for arms, due to a childhood mishap with cherry bombs.

His name is J.J. Armes.

I am not shitting you, either.

Undertoad · 07-05-2007, 09:45 PM

Oh effing Christ!

I usta think it was interesting that my band teacher one year was Mr. Horn, but that beats all!

Cloud · 07-05-2007, 09:59 PM

Well, my doctor for all that plastic surgery?

Dr. Burner.

(hand to heart) True story.

Cloud · 07-05-2007, 10:00 PM

Mr. Armes used to be a client at a firm I worked at. I've shaken those appendages.

http://www.thrillingdetective.com/eyes/armes.html

TheMercenary · 07-06-2007, 08:36 AM

We held off this year, as did most of the neighbors, due to the drought and high fire risk. Usually every year a large group of friends and connected friends, around 50 or so, get together and shoot off about $200-300 worth of fireworks all at once. Great fun. I miss it.

07-05-2007, 11:34 AM	#2
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	My kids had a great time with some kiddie fireworks yesterday. Kids need to be taught fire safety or they experiment on their own and end up getting burned. __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

07-05-2007, 07:13 PM	#9
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	So, today is the 5th of July. It is the anniversary of my childhood burn injury. I always get a bit melancholy on this date. For those of you who may not have heard this story (tho I tell it pretty often) -- I was 7 or 8 years old. For Indpendence Day, my parents had shot off fireworks in our backyard. The following morning (July 5) I went out while my parents were having breakfast and lit a sparkler. I think now that I must have dropped the match on my nylon negligee. This was waaaaay before the days of fire-retardant kids sleepwear, so -- WHOOSH! Up in flames I went. Nowadays, they teach kids to "stop, drop, and roll." Me, like an idiot, ran around screaming, fanning the flames. My dad had to catch me and throw me in the swimming pool--the huge pool just feet away from me. I still remember being wrapped in a sheet and riding in my parents' car to the hospital. Don't know why they didn't call an ambulance--guess they thought this would be quicker. So, yeah, I had 3d degree burns covering my entire right-side torso, from my armpit to my hip, including my breast. Months of hospitalization, skin grafts, surgeries all that. Grossness and pain, but I'm over it now. Mostly. So, no, my personal opinion is--fireworks and kids do not mix. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

07-05-2007, 09:05 PM	#10
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	And that'd sure as hell do it, Cloud. Jeez, is that awful. And what I really came back to this thread for was to mention that the Guacamole Kit sometimes if not usually also includes 1 shallot to be minced along with the garlic -- this time it didn't. Bullitt, cilantro, oh yes. Lemon juice is quite okay for guac, but lime juice fresh squeezed seems to add a little something special to the mix. Fresh ingredients are paramount. Of course, by now with tomato, shallot, pepper, and cilantro -- you've got pico de gallo. __________________ Wanna stop school shootings? End Gun-Free Zones, of course. Last edited by Urbane Guerrilla; 07-05-2007 at 09:16 PM.

07-05-2007, 09:40 PM	#11
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	There's a private investigator in my town who only has hooks for arms, due to a childhood mishap with cherry bombs. His name is J.J. Armes. I am not shitting you, either. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!" Last edited by Cloud; 07-05-2007 at 09:59 PM.

07-05-2007, 09:59 PM	#13
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	Well, my doctor for all that plastic surgery? Dr. Burner. (hand to heart) True story. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

07-05-2007, 10:45 AM	#1
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	I'd second that. My mum was injured by a firework when she was little.

07-05-2007, 01:58 PM	#3
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	I was allowed to have sparklers as a kid, and I learned very quickly to be careful with them. Fortunately, I have no permanent scars that I know of. Paul Harris (who is a local radio host on KMOX-AM here in St. Louis) lamented recently that parents today are too over-protective of their kids, attempting to protect them from the smallest of hurts. I agreed with his thoughts...kids need to learn pain and consequences. Otherwise, they'll be fucked when they get older. Though I think I understand where Cloud is coming from on this.

07-05-2007, 03:18 PM	#4
theotherguy no not that other guy, the other one Join Date: May 2007 Location: TN Posts: 640	I love the 4th and fireworks displays. I don't really care about doing them myself. I like the large displays put on by organizations with deep pockets. My son LOVES it. I was a beautiful night here and the display was wonderful. Oh, and the fried chicken didn't hurt things at all. I did get a pack of poppers and noise makers for him. Nothing with fire. While I do agree that we sometimes over-protect our children, I don't think that 3rd degree burns are the way to go to "teach them a lesson."

07-05-2007, 09:45 PM	#12
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Oh effing Christ! I usta think it was interesting that my band teacher one year was Mr. Horn, but that beats all!

07-05-2007, 10:00 PM	#14
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	Mr. Armes used to be a client at a firm I worked at. I've shaken those appendages. http://www.thrillingdetective.com/eyes/armes.html __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

07-06-2007, 08:36 AM	#15
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	We held off this year, as did most of the neighbors, due to the drought and high fire risk. Usually every year a large group of friends and connected friends, around 50 or so, get together and shoot off about $200-300 worth of fireworks all at once. Great fun. I miss it. __________________ Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!

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