Celebrating Independence Day
By dorannmwin
@dorannmwin (36392)
United States
July 3, 2012 11:20pm CST
I was wondering what other people here do to celebrate Independence Day in their area. The reason that I thought about this is because of the fact that the county that I live in decided yesterday to place a ban on all fireworks in the county with the exception of licensed fireworks shows (the ballpark, downtown on the 4th and also Red, White and Boom on Saturday night).
For us, we will traditionally go to the parade during the day and watch all of the floats and enjoy the street fair. Then we will have a cookout with my mother and siblings. Finally, we will light a few of our own fireworks before going downtown to see the fireworks show.
I guess this year we are not going to be shooting off any of the fireworks that we've purchased until they have lifted the ban on fireworks.
1 person likes this
8 responses
@ShyBear88 (59283)
• Sterling, Virginia
6 Jul 12
My husband was pretty sad that we couldn't set off the ones that we had. Our daughter is normally in bed when the fire works down town went off this year and with it being so hot for her little age we didn't want keep her outside to go down town and do all the activities they had. Instead we stayed in went to my husband grandparents house grilled with them and kind of just let them enjoy the company of a 1 year old as me and my husband relaxed and didn't worry about cooking dinner. It was a very good meal for 4 adults and one child. As soon as the banned lifts we are going to go and set off our fireworks for our daughter. I know my husband will enjoy that and so will our daughter. We got her a special firework to set off for her and next year we will get two one for her and one for her brother.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
7 Jul 12
You are definitely right that it was too hot to be downtown for the parade. I actually ended up with my first sun burn of the year and my youngest niece, Jaley, got her first ever sunburn just from being downtown for the parade.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
8 Jul 12
I consider our family to be lucky that my mom does have a pool in her backyard that is only about six miles away from our house. We can go over there and get in the pool in order to cool off. Of course we were over there today and Tom said that the pool really wasn't that refreshing because it was too hot.
Instead, he turned the hose on and showered under the hose to cool off.
@ShyBear88 (59283)
• Sterling, Virginia
8 Jul 12
We just stayed in the houses. We where over at my husband grandparents house for a while but then I throw up my lunch and wanted to rest and our daughter started to get sleep and she doesn't sleep to well there in the traveling crib so we just went home while they where cooking up dinner since it was going to take a while to get everything ready and they didn't need help. We told them where going to take our daughter out some where because she was getting restless which was true she was but she had fallen a sleep on the way over to the house. So me and her took a nap hubby played some video games. Other wise if they didn't have the banned out we would have gone and shot off the fire workers. We will wait to a day that isn't as hot as its been. I rather take her to the mall and listen to all the screaming kids in the play area then keep her out in the sun that day. I'm hoping at our family reunion in a few weeks its not too hot but at least we will be covered by a shelter.
@ryanong (9665)
• Vietnam
5 Jul 12
I will buy food and cook a menu that i prefer to eat..and then i spend time on mylot to get fun time..later i may go out with friends for coffee meeting and then go to sleep early...
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Jul 12
You know, going to bed early is something that I've not been able to do since I used to work third shift.
But, when there is any kind of a holiday and we don't have any plans that are set in concrete, I do try to make sure that I do spend some time on here because I like to be able to earn money and also see what my mylot friends are up to.
@ryanong (9665)
• Vietnam
6 Jul 12
I used to go to sleep very late, around 2 am, and finally i found that it is not good for my beauty so that i change my habit, i have this new habit for 5 months already and i like it.
I don't do mylot at night or when i am at home...earning extra money is good, i know..I wish you can earn more and more every day...
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
7 Jul 12
Try and try as I might, I've not been able to change my sleeping habits. I would like to and I think that it might change after my son starts school in the fall.
@eshaan (6188)
• India
9 Jul 12
Our Independence day is on 15th of August and in India here we celebrate by the flag hoisting taking place in all the schools and some offices too...children are given sweets and at some schools dances and cultural program including patriotic songs takes place....the program at Delhi..the capital of India is relayed live on TV ...many people keep enjoying the show at home...there is no tradition of fireworks here....we enjoy it in Diwali the festival of lights....
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jul 12
Traditions all over the world are quite different. I really don't know why there is the tradition of fireworks here for Independence Day was started, but I do think that it is a tradition that I've always really enjoyed.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
4 Jul 12
They have a ton of things going on here...but the weather is so hot! I skipped the parade last night and I won't be going to the fireworks due to the fact that I have to get up and go to work in the morning...4 a.m. I usually do have things to do with my family too...but this year things turned out differently. And that's okay....
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Jul 12
You can definitely say it again that it was so hot. It has been really hot here for a while now, but just being outside for under two hours during the middle of the day, I ended up with my first sunburn of the year. It isn't a terrible burn, but it is enough to be slightly painful.
I guess that is where my children are lucky because of the fact that neither of them has ever burned in their lives, not even when we were in Arizona when they were just four and less than a year old.
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
4 Jul 12
Happy 4th, dorannmwin! Oh gosh, we've had a ban on fireworks here for many years now! BUT - that doesn't stop people from getting fireworks - shhhhhhh. It's quite funny, but I remember my friend's mom used to work for the local police station and I'd hear there was a cop there who would take firework orders from everyone at the office and he'd go drive out of town to buy fireworks for them. HA!! And we hear people all over the place with fireworks in their backyards. In fact our new neighbors have invited us to see their fireworks tonight . . . the dad apparently bought up a bunch of fireworks in another city and they're going to fire them off in the street. So there is a ban, and there's probably some kind of fine, that is, if you get caught. 
Out here, there are many firework "shows", but they're always packed. In previous years, we used to go atop one of our local college parking structures to view the fireworks all around our Valley (we could see all the fireworks - but from our view they were more like dandelions!). Last year, we went to a park in the next county (just a short drive over), and we were so surprised how it was not as crowded as the parks here. We set our picnic up in a spot that just happened to be "front row" - oh the kids loved the fireworks show (it was the best one we've seen in a long time). Today, we are debating where exactly we will go tonight. I'll have a picnic ready regardless (the kids made a July 4th jello dessert yesterday). Enjoy your July 4th day and evening!!!!!
Out here, there are many firework "shows", but they're always packed. In previous years, we used to go atop one of our local college parking structures to view the fireworks all around our Valley (we could see all the fireworks - but from our view they were more like dandelions!). Last year, we went to a park in the next county (just a short drive over), and we were so surprised how it was not as crowded as the parks here. We set our picnic up in a spot that just happened to be "front row" - oh the kids loved the fireworks show (it was the best one we've seen in a long time). Today, we are debating where exactly we will go tonight. I'll have a picnic ready regardless (the kids made a July 4th jello dessert yesterday). Enjoy your July 4th day and evening!!!!! @dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Jul 12
Though it was really hot today, we did have a wonderful day. We went to the parade and met up with my brother, sister-in-law and three nieces, so all of the kids got to watch the parade together. Then after the parade was over because of the fact that it was so hot, we went and waded in one of the beautiful fountains that they have here in Lexington. We came home for a little bit and cooled off and then we went to Mom's house for dinner and so that the kids could swim. We finished the day on top of a parking garage so that all of the kids could watch the fireworks show.
@lifes97 (884)
• United Arab Emirates
6 Jul 12
Hi, good thing, awesome ha, its day holiday and we have to go out celebrate and eat out and party and many things to do that we dont like to go tto work then i wish they make it holiday also 2 days, so we go out and celebrate more and more i like holidays
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
7 Jul 12
I don't really think that they need to make holidays longer than a single day. However, I do think that it would be nice if all of the different holidays throughout the course of the year could be adjusted to fall on either a Friday or a Monday so that it will extend people's weekends.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
4 Jul 12
happy Independence day to you. while i am Canadian (we celebrated Canada day on July 1 with a bbq and watched a large display of fireworks, i only live about an hour north of the US border and of course, we get a ton of US programming. tonight, i will be watching Pop Goes the Fourth on my local PBS station.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Jul 12
I knew that Canada Day was a few days before Independence Day here. That is great that you celebrated your holiday with a barbeque and also a fireworks display. One of the things that I think is so interesting between Canada and the United States is that despite the fact that many of our national holidays fall on different days, the traditions are very similar.
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
4 Jul 12
This is the first year that I have been with my parents on the 4th since 2004 and we are going to BBQ. I am going to make homemade potato chips and my dad will BBQ hot dogs and hamburgers. My dad is also making his macaroni salad. At night we will sit outside and watch fireworks while playing music (God Bless the USA, America, Born in the USA, and God Bless America). I am sorry that your city banned fireworks this year.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Jul 12
It does stink that they banned personal use fireworks this year. However, they did have the big fireworks show downtown that they have every year and amazingly, this year's show was not a let down like it has been for the past few years.
I took some pretty good pictures of the fireworks as well.
