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Jul. 5th, 2007 02:05 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spokeomg, exhausted.
So I ended up in my bath until 1:00 and didn't even realize it, I was that wrapped up in Scent of Magic? In spite of this, I did manage to drag myself out of bed in time for both a quick run to B&N for the Sherlock Holmes novel I missed last time, and. Fireworks! :D
My first proper 4th of July in ages, you know. I didn't even remember how much I love fireworks.
So, the journey goes thusly: Get to B&N maybe 10 minutes before they closed (early, on account of the holiday) and grab my book - no coffee! Their Starbucks had already closed. So, having only a small powdered donut in me, that I grabbed while shuffling about getting ready, I scooted across the street for both coffee and directions, since further reading of the ones I'd got online showed that they had me going over the Matthews.
The Bridge of Doom. The one currently under construction. With one lane open, whose direction was being reversed for the events. Ahhh, no.
Sure enough, there was a far simpler way back downtown - over the Acosta, which I also avoid because it takes me out of my way if I want to get home. Which I didn't, therefore perfect! Even more perfect? The first sign I see as I'm coming off the interstate with the rest of the growing traffic is directions to the Landing, one of our main viewing places for the fireworks. It took me three tries before I found a parking garage, where a cute guy actually let me in free. ...for someone who usually avoids this sort of thing (annoying!) , I was kind of flattered. I totally blame this on my flashy red shirt and the sparkly gold earrings I'm wearing. ^^;
Out of the parking garage and about a block around, it was crowded as anything and people were being carded to get in because all the food places were still open and there was alcohol being sold right and left - in accordance with the fine tradition of getting plastered on holidays. :P (Easter is the only one I can think of off hand that does not naturally include getting drunk...) By this time, though, I was really happy to see that they were open, I was starving. Never leaving the house with one freaking doughnut in me again. I got a slice of veggie pizza and scooted out to the upstairs level of the central plaza, I thought just in time for the show.
Then we all spent a few minutes staring around for the boat and wondering what the hold up was. It has been so long, I had forgotten this: being right on the St. John's river, our fireworks are run thusly - a boat goes out on the water in one of the three viewing spots, and sends them up the main ones, with a few things arranged on land nearby to complement them.
About five minutes late, there goes the little tug boat carrying our fireworks - cheering begins! And some grumpy wondering what took them. ;p
Then the fireworks - big scatterings of star shaped ones, and swirls and clouds and some sort of flower-shaped in every color. My favorites are the thick gold streaks, though. And anything purple-and-gold. I like those colors. The red, white and blue arrangements might have been more patriotic? But give me the purple and gold, every time. ^_^ People had cameras of all sorts out, from cellphone ones to digital. Though I think the smartest was a girl next to me who was just using a record function. ...I miss my camera. Then there's this pause, in which people start wondering if it's already over - except it can't be, right? Way too soon. Lots of snippets of patriotic music, though - the only one we all joined in singing with was "God Bless the USA".
Then the fireworks picked up again, slowly at first until it rose into this thundering roar like a gun salute, I could feel it in my chest and I couldn't hear myself talking - the only sound that got through that was some faint cheering and one wolf whistle. I remember thinking vaguely, 'This is why they have fire and rescue out. People could have heart attacks.' And this is why I'm glad I ended up in the Landing instead of Metropolitan Park like I meant: the bridge across us had been fixed with these huge fountain-fireworks, just like water fountains only gold. So beautiful!
Though I was wondering why we didn't do this every year when I was a kid, as I walked back to the car, really really ready to eat my slice of pizza. Well.
It took an hour to get out of the parking garage. During some of which several cars (including me) just parked in line, waiting until we could move. I finished the pizza slice before I even got out of there. Then I started reading Scent of Magic in between briefly inching forward. At one point someone behind me honked their horn, because I hadn't noticed we were moving again. And thinking about this in terms of the always cramped seating that results from having three kids? And the crankiness of past-bedtimes munchkins? *shudder* Oh, oh and the sweating like crazy even the short distance I had to walk because I really lucked up in my parking. All of which is okay, slightly annoying for me. But I can see it being majorly aggravating for the parents, way back when.
Something like 11:40, I finally got on the road, and decided to scoot over to Steak'n'Shake, because I wasn't hungry now but I figured I might want lunch later, and I wasn't going back out again and I need to do grocery shopping. So no food at home except breakfast-food. Well and half a packet of frozen black eyed peas.
Then I had to stop for milk, when I remembered I have maybe one cup of coffee's worth left.
But finally, finally I made it home! XD Around 1-ish. And it took me this long just to trudge into the house and type this up. I am yawning every other sentence. I think it's time for a nap,oh yes.
eeee fireworks. Long live the fireworks! :D
So I ended up in my bath until 1:00 and didn't even realize it, I was that wrapped up in Scent of Magic? In spite of this, I did manage to drag myself out of bed in time for both a quick run to B&N for the Sherlock Holmes novel I missed last time, and. Fireworks! :D
My first proper 4th of July in ages, you know. I didn't even remember how much I love fireworks.
So, the journey goes thusly: Get to B&N maybe 10 minutes before they closed (early, on account of the holiday) and grab my book - no coffee! Their Starbucks had already closed. So, having only a small powdered donut in me, that I grabbed while shuffling about getting ready, I scooted across the street for both coffee and directions, since further reading of the ones I'd got online showed that they had me going over the Matthews.
The Bridge of Doom. The one currently under construction. With one lane open, whose direction was being reversed for the events. Ahhh, no.
Sure enough, there was a far simpler way back downtown - over the Acosta, which I also avoid because it takes me out of my way if I want to get home. Which I didn't, therefore perfect! Even more perfect? The first sign I see as I'm coming off the interstate with the rest of the growing traffic is directions to the Landing, one of our main viewing places for the fireworks. It took me three tries before I found a parking garage, where a cute guy actually let me in free. ...for someone who usually avoids this sort of thing (annoying!) , I was kind of flattered. I totally blame this on my flashy red shirt and the sparkly gold earrings I'm wearing. ^^;
Out of the parking garage and about a block around, it was crowded as anything and people were being carded to get in because all the food places were still open and there was alcohol being sold right and left - in accordance with the fine tradition of getting plastered on holidays. :P (Easter is the only one I can think of off hand that does not naturally include getting drunk...) By this time, though, I was really happy to see that they were open, I was starving. Never leaving the house with one freaking doughnut in me again. I got a slice of veggie pizza and scooted out to the upstairs level of the central plaza, I thought just in time for the show.
Then we all spent a few minutes staring around for the boat and wondering what the hold up was. It has been so long, I had forgotten this: being right on the St. John's river, our fireworks are run thusly - a boat goes out on the water in one of the three viewing spots, and sends them up the main ones, with a few things arranged on land nearby to complement them.
About five minutes late, there goes the little tug boat carrying our fireworks - cheering begins! And some grumpy wondering what took them. ;p
Then the fireworks - big scatterings of star shaped ones, and swirls and clouds and some sort of flower-shaped in every color. My favorites are the thick gold streaks, though. And anything purple-and-gold. I like those colors. The red, white and blue arrangements might have been more patriotic? But give me the purple and gold, every time. ^_^ People had cameras of all sorts out, from cellphone ones to digital. Though I think the smartest was a girl next to me who was just using a record function. ...I miss my camera. Then there's this pause, in which people start wondering if it's already over - except it can't be, right? Way too soon. Lots of snippets of patriotic music, though - the only one we all joined in singing with was "God Bless the USA".
Then the fireworks picked up again, slowly at first until it rose into this thundering roar like a gun salute, I could feel it in my chest and I couldn't hear myself talking - the only sound that got through that was some faint cheering and one wolf whistle. I remember thinking vaguely, 'This is why they have fire and rescue out. People could have heart attacks.' And this is why I'm glad I ended up in the Landing instead of Metropolitan Park like I meant: the bridge across us had been fixed with these huge fountain-fireworks, just like water fountains only gold. So beautiful!
Though I was wondering why we didn't do this every year when I was a kid, as I walked back to the car, really really ready to eat my slice of pizza. Well.
It took an hour to get out of the parking garage. During some of which several cars (including me) just parked in line, waiting until we could move. I finished the pizza slice before I even got out of there. Then I started reading Scent of Magic in between briefly inching forward. At one point someone behind me honked their horn, because I hadn't noticed we were moving again. And thinking about this in terms of the always cramped seating that results from having three kids? And the crankiness of past-bedtimes munchkins? *shudder* Oh, oh and the sweating like crazy even the short distance I had to walk because I really lucked up in my parking. All of which is okay, slightly annoying for me. But I can see it being majorly aggravating for the parents, way back when.
Something like 11:40, I finally got on the road, and decided to scoot over to Steak'n'Shake, because I wasn't hungry now but I figured I might want lunch later, and I wasn't going back out again and I need to do grocery shopping. So no food at home except breakfast-food. Well and half a packet of frozen black eyed peas.
Then I had to stop for milk, when I remembered I have maybe one cup of coffee's worth left.
But finally, finally I made it home! XD Around 1-ish. And it took me this long just to trudge into the house and type this up. I am yawning every other sentence. I think it's time for a nap,oh yes.
eeee fireworks. Long live the fireworks! :D
