Happy Birthday America

[scaeagles]

May it be a truly wonderful 234th.

[I Heart Disneyland!]

Amen! And, thank you to all who served and serve our country to keep us free!

Happy 4th everyone!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Theo survived his first fireworks show! We hadn't planned to stick around for it, but as it turned out he was awake when it started, so we decided to stick it out. He was riveted, didn't cry once. He seemed a little overwhelmed by the end, but really was unshaken. We kept our hands over his ears for the whole thing to keep them protected.

Another great year at the Warner Center celebration.

[Mousey Girl]

We BBQ'd. drank and blew things up. All was good. (ok, so those of us who were drinkng didn't do the blowing up, The Boy did most of it)

[Alex]

Indeed and in celebration I went and saw parts of it I hadn't seen before.

Evidence of a 4th of July well spent, as defined by me.

Lava Beds National Monument was new to me, but when I was a kid our primary camping destination were the lava beds in southeast Oregon so the environment was very familiar and nostalgic.

The other new part of that route was using CA-89 and CA-4 to cross back over the Sierra's through Ebbetts Pass. Fun driving and some great views.

Spoiler:

Mt. Shasta as seen from the town of Mt. Shasta. Because in America we are ok with redundancy. This is why every building in Chicago with a view of Wrigley Field is called Wrigley Field.


An American White Pelican in the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. We know this because on its migratory return from central America it passed through Arizona and had to show papers.


Exposed raw lava bed. Surprisingly, not the title of a Paris Hilton sex tape.


A tribute to our armed forces. May you be ever vigilant, not get surprised by a red-tailed hawk, and eventually notice the bastard sneaking up behind you.


A tribute to the most American of Americans. It was touching that on this American holiday at least half the people visiting this perhaps sacred place were Indian. The meaning of that is rendered murky by the fact that they were India Indian not "what the **** to you mean we half to move again?! We had a treaty!" Indian.

And the best part? So far I have not yet seen a single firework, whether personal or municipal. I haven't even seen news footage of one. Also, not one note of Lee Greenwood and the most annoyingly cloying song of all time.

[~MS~]

Wow Alex, excellent photos and a fond trip down 'old home week' for me...your route took you thru the area I spent over 25 years of my life...I'm happy with it being a memory now tho!

[JWBear]

"4th of July... it's St Patrick's Day with explosions!" Craig Ferguson

[The Lovely Mrs. tod]

My entire block went down to the corner where we could all watch the Studio City fireworks spectacular and not pay the 10 bucks they were charging on Ventura Blvd.

Mid-way through the show my 4 year old neighbor, standing on a retaining wall behind me announced:

"This is the best movie I've EVER SEEN!"

[flippyshark]

Originally Posted by The Lovely Mrs. tod

My entire block went down to the corner where we could all watch the Studio City fireworks spectacular and not pay the 10 bucks they were charging on Ventura Blvd.

Mid-way through the show my 4 year old neighbor, standing on a retaining wall behind me announced:

"This is the best movie I've EVER SEEN!"

That's adorable.

[I Heart Disneyland!]

Those photos are awesome Alex! LOVE the squirrel standing at attention.

Hi TLMT! Nice to see you!