I'm talking about the 250th Anniversary on the 4th of July of course! I am holding the great American BBQ at our lake cabin. All the lake neighbors are invited and are bringing their guests as everyone seems to have company for the weekend. Looks like I'm feeding about a hundred folks.

I will be serving several briskets, chickens, ribs, sausages, pulled pork and BBQ pit beans. All prepared on the wood fired smoker. We have been freezing much of our fish caught from this spring and will be frying up some bluegill and crappie for appetizers. I already have my anniversary flags flying and other decorations are going up this week. Have plenty of fireworks to play with. One of the neighbors has a floating swim platform he is outfitting with mortars for setting off the fireworks from out on the lake. Looking forward to the event. Lots of food and drink and a chance to meet some new folks.

Attending the town parade. The flyover should be excellent this year.

Inviting friends over for a cookout.
Then going to my neighbors Range to shoot my Barrett.50 and making a Lot of booms

We'll be in Rome, will have to do something from afar.

I'll put up my Betsy Ross flag, then range day with The Lovely Girlfriend, then a good meal at the house, then across town for fireworks, then probably a "patio campfire" and a good bourbon.

I'll be working 6a-6p that day, then staying over to help with fireworks and egress until after midnight, then getting up at 4:30am to work another 12 hour shift. There will be drunks, domestics, shithead kids fighting in the park, and thousands of unnecessary humans and vehicles clogging the roads. It'll be hot, buggy, and I'll be dehydrated and soaked through with sweat by the time I get home, and I won't have enough time to wash my uniform before I have to go back to work the next morning. Most holidays suck, but the 4th of July is the worst.

Truth. I don’t know. I’m not wild about the idea of spending time with a bunch of people. I guess we’ll see.

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Originally posted by 92fstech:
There will be drunks, domestics, shithead kids fighting in the park, and thousands of unnecessary humans and vehicles clogging the roads. It'll be hot, buggy, and I'll be dehydrated and soaked through with sweat by the time I get home, and I won't have enough time to wash my uniform before I have to go back to work the next morning. Most holidays suck, but the 4th of July is the worst.

Agreed. All holidays here are like this. Roads are like clogged arteries. It’s just much less stress to press skip. Get groceries early in the week as well as all errands for the week completed. Then stay home the entire weekend and only leaving home for the gym.

I’m happy for the celebration for the country but I want no part of any holidays. It’s a shit show here.

Burgers, hotdogs, swimming and a $70 pack of fireworks from Walmart.

I’ll also be enjoying a front row seat to the circus, specifically tasked with dealing with the hooligans in uptown that night.

Should be a grade A shitshow.

I'll be working a 12-hr shift on the 4th & 5th.... Wife works weekends also! No plans right now for either 3rd or 6th!!

I'm out of the country so I expect the celebrations here to be muted

I will just have a nice glass of some bourbon

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Should be a grade A shitshow.

It SHOULD be a moving and uplifting demonstration of patriotism and commitment to the ideals upon which this country is founded.

Will it be perfectly implemented and without incident? Of course not, but that's why so many of our finest officers will be paid for the day. I would only hope that some of you had more regard for the citizens who pay the taxes which pay your salaries.

Mrs. BRL and the dogs are heading to Grand Marais, MN. It's been a 4th tradition not often missed over the past 30 years or so. This usually includes an afternoon bombing around Duluth/Canal Park for some lunch or dinner on the way up. I'll honk the horn for ya as we roll through town.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:

quote:

Should be a grade A shitshow.

It SHOULD be a moving and uplifting demonstration of patriotism and commitment to the ideals upon which this country is founded.

Will it be perfectly implemented and without incident? Of course not, but that's why so many of our finest officers will be paid for the day. I would only hope that some of you had more regard for the citizens who pay the taxes which pay your salaries.

Thanks for the lecture. I'll remember that 17 hours in when I'm trying not to get run over directing traffic in the dark.

Yeah, I'm getting paid. No, it ain't worth it. I'd happily forego the overtime money to spend the day at home with my family, but I haven't been able to do that one time in the past 16 years.

I do it because I care about my community and the guys I work with. Somebody has to deal with the mess, take the calls, and break up the fights. And if I don't show up it just makes it harder for the other guys who have to be there. But it doesn't mean I have to pretend that it's something it's not. Shitshow is absolutely what it's going to be, just like every other year. And I work in Mayberry...I can only imagine what it's like for the guys in big urban areas.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:

quote:

Should be a grade A shitshow.

It SHOULD be a moving and uplifting demonstration of patriotism and commitment to the ideals upon which this country is founded.

Will it be perfectly implemented and without incident? Of course not, but that's why so many of our finest officers will be paid for the day. I would only hope that some of you had more regard for the citizens who pay the taxes which pay your salaries.

It’s not the ones that pay my salary that are the problem. Although I’m salaried and will be working for free that evening.

Just last night they arrested 24 teens where I’ll be working on the night of the 4th. Not in the city. Not in that district. In the square block area I’ll be assigned to help supervise.

And that was a Sunday.

I believe you misunderstand the situation.

quote:

Shitshow is absolutely what it's going to be, just like every other year. And I work in Mayberry...I can only imagine what it's like for the guys in big urban areas.

I used to go downtown every year for the VP Fair, which became Fair St. Louis. The fireworks on the riverfront were spectacular and the concerts and entertainment under the Arch were really awesome. It was one of the largest 4th of July celebrations in the country.



Were there trouble makers? Yes, some. Some probably went to jail and deserved it. But for the most part it was a family friendly event. I haven't been in a few years because well, it's in one of those "big urban areas". What will we do when we no longer feel safe in public, in crowds? What will we have left to celebrate?

Maybe I'll go back downtown this year... if I feel like it will be safe.

https://www.celebratesaintloui...nEAAYASAAEgKjuvD_BwE

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It’s not the ones that pay my salary that are the problem.

That's probably true. The trouble makers are not usually net taxpayers.

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Originally posted by lastmanstanding:
...Looks like I'm feeding about a hundred folks.

I will be serving several briskets, chickens, ribs, sausages, pulled pork and BBQ pit beans. All prepared on the wood fired smoker...

That's an impressive party and a lot of work! I have an annual summer barbecue (late July) and have been smoking briskets and feeding 50. It's a lot of work, but it's my favorite day of the year.

No plans yet, just watchful.

Staying home to try and console the pups as all the fireworks go off in the neighborhood and be available for my son to talk if he needs to.