Happy Independence Day America!
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118365)
Gainesville, Florida
July 4, 2020 8:08am CST
Good morning world! Today is the 4th of July, which is celebrated as Independence Day for the United States, the day 244 years ago that we first declared independence from England through a written letter to the king. Interestingly, it is not the birth date of our new nation, as that date came later once the Revolutionary War was over and we had drafted a new Constitution.
Being that it is summer here in the US, this day is often celebrated with family reunions, barbecues, picnics, trips to the lakes and beaches, and other fun outdoor activities, and culminated in the evening with elaborate fireworks shows.
This year's celebration will be much subdued, due to the corona pandemic. Most places have cancelled their parades, festivals, events and fireworks shows. Some places are continuing their shows, but have gotten creative with how guests can view the pyrotechnic displays.
I have a long 3-day holiday weekend, but given the rising corona cases here in Florida, I did not make any special plans. In addition, it is forecast to storm here all weekend long. So my plans are to just relax, enjoy the time off from work, and sit in the cool AC inside my home.
What are your plans for today and this weekend?
19 people like this
18 responses
@DianneN (246334)
• United States
4 Jul 20
Happy 4th Jeff. Glad you are at home. I’m watching the number of cases that surged to over 11,000 in Florida today.
My friend with cancer finally flew out of Florida this morning and is back at home in NY on the island.
Just celebrating with hubs safe and sound.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jul 20
I hope you enjoyed your day Dianne! I had an enjoyable day of doing relatively nothing. Just me and the kids and the gf hanging around the house. It was raining all day, so there really wasn't much we could do even if we wanted to! haha
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jul 20
@DianneN I didn't even think to watch fireworks on TV! Then I could have at least said I celebrated! haha
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246334)
• United States
5 Jul 20
@moffittjc You picked a good day to do nothing then. lol
Thanks. It was just the two of us here. We had a beautiful day with low humidity, so we played tennis, I walked, we gardened, had a BBQ, and watched the fireworks on TV. Not good as being there.
1 person likes this
@Butterfingers (66585)
• India
4 Jul 20
Happy independence day. No plans will be relaxing
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 20
Relaxation is what weekends were made for!
2 people like this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
12 Jul 20
@moffittjc You would probably be bored if you got too much relaxation 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jul 20
@simone10 You are pretty accurate on that statement. I'm all for relaxation, but too much of it drives my batty.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jul 20
I always love a day of good food and relaxation. That's my kind of day. Unfortunately, I never get enough of those days!
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (94747)
• Marion, Ohio
4 Jul 20
The house is asking for attention AGAIN. So I will stay in except for animal chores until evening.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 20
What happens when YOU ask for attention? Who comes to your aid? lol
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (94747)
• Marion, Ohio
4 Jul 20
@moffittjc I dont ask. The dogs always want to help and in this heat YUCK
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (94747)
• Marion, Ohio
5 Jul 20
@moffittjc I have had a couple do that. Pretty is good about staying on the floor. She likes to help me with my phone apps.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jul 20
For the most part, we do need it. I just wish we didn't get it all over the course of a holiday weekend! haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Jul 20
@just4him It sure didn't slow down all the crazy people shooting fireworks off all night! I guess they didn't let a little rain slow down their celebration of the holiday!
1 person likes this
@just4him (305417)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
8 Jul 20
@moffittjc Rain messes up a holiday weekend. I'm glad you needed it.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (155469)
• United States
4 Jul 20
No special plans here. Have a great 4th, Jeff!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 20
Yeah, nothing special here either. It's pouring down rain right now. I'm just relaxing and playing on myLot. Gonna grill some burgers and dogs later if the rain lets up.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jul 20
@LindaOHio It ended up working out pretty well. The rains let up right around sunset, so I was able to fire up the grill and cook a bunch of meat. Later, after dinner, our neighbor had a ton of fireworks, so we went outside and hung out with them and set off a bunch of fireworks. It was a pretty nice evening.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Jul 20
That photo was taken at the Rockefeller Center in New York City during Memorial Day a couple of years back.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jul 20
@kareng I thought so too, which is why I took several photos.
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@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jul 20
I just pulled up the weather a few minutes ago, because I'm getting ready to go on my morning walk, and it is saying that it is 100% humidity outside. I'm in for a rough morning walk! haha
@JESSY3236 (18886)
• United States
7 Jul 20
We went to my great-aunt's house. Not many of the family comes to the fourth get-together. I heard fireworks Saturday night. Lily wasn't scared of them. I think she watched a few.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul 20
That was nice that Lily wasn't scared of the fireworks. Many animals are afraid of them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325321)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Jul 20
@moffittjc Oh, of course. Silly me. 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jul 20
It has been raining nonstop here in Gainesville for the past week. I can't even get outside to do my yard work because of all this rain. That grass sure is getting tall and thick!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul 20
@Elizaby Finally had a nice enough morning to get out and mow today. Glad I did it when I did, because it stormed all afternoon.
@Elizaby (6902)
• Pensacola, Florida
7 Jul 20
@moffittjc Getting high here too. Not enough break in showers for the grass to dry enough for someone to mow. Hopefully we are getting enough tain to get us off the drought monitor (we are on the low end here.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jul 20
Aw, that's so cute Mike! I doubt England would want to take us back nowadays. You guys are probably sitting over there watching our country self-destruct before your very eyes, and thinking to yourselves "Good bye and good riddance!"
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jul 20
@Mike197602 I guess we're all in this together, good or bad! haha
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@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
5 Jul 20
@moffittjc we aren't doing so great ourselves
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 20
Yeah, you've been spending some time at the beach lately. That's great! Sorry to hear today is cloudy though. Is it going to clear up later, or will the clouds remain throughout the day?
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (115913)
• United States
4 Jul 20
@moffittjc It cleared up about an hour before we left.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jul 20
Yep, same here. And there were a lot of noisy neighbors! I don't mind all that noise until it hits about 10pm. After that, people really should start winding down the excessive noise, so that everything can be wrapped up by 11pm. If only we lived in an ideal world! haha
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
5 Jul 20
@moffittjc It is called repost. Many have no idea the definition.
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@FourWalls (61937)
• United States
4 Jul 20
Staying inside and hugging the AC sounds like a plan.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 20
I've never hugged my AC before, but that sure sounds like a wonderful idea! Happy 4th to you!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jul 20
Ugh! Yardwork. That reminds me that I've got to get outside and do mine. I haven't been able to in over a week because it's been raining nonstop! It seems like my grass has grown over a foot high over the past week.
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jul 20
Thank you! It's been raining all weekend, so really not much to enjoy except getting to be lazy for three straight days! haha
1 person likes this
.@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 20
Saved from work by the rain. Nice! It's pouring down rain here, so whether I wanted to do anything or not, the rain put a quick stop to that. Happy 4th to you!
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