Friday, July 1, 2011

Flags and Matchsticks

            Well, folks. Here’s a cheers to you having a weekend full of beer, bratwurst, and smuggled explosives. Are fireworks legal anywhere these days? I mean, besides those godforsaken wastelands where people have to drive in order to buy them? I’m not feeling all ranty about the subject or anything (I really don’t care), just kind of curious. This time of year always makes me long for the days of blowing shit up on my friend’s CO dairyfarm. There was a long list of crap set ablaze with roman candles and gasoline that summer, including a decade-long abandoned Hyundai. Don’t look at me like that. I’m not a redneck. I just don’t like Hyundais.
Here in Chicago, it always makes me jumpy to hear fireworks. Too many gunshots in this city to feel completely comfortable with random explosions. But, I suppose the kids here have to take their fun where they can get it. It’s not like there are any places to have a good old-fashioned Ford Fiesta bonfire in the inner-city. Actually, I take that back. See below.
I took this pic the morning after it happened this past winter. Were renegade sparklers and everclear the culprits of this oversized trashcan fire? Who knows. In this town, it gets so damn cold I’d probably consider doing the same if I ever forgot to pay the heating bill.
Anyhow, happy Friday. Go drink and be merry. And have a nice 4th of July weekend. Even if you aren’t a Yankee, you don’t need any patriotic excuses to crack open a frosty brew and lounge on the porch in your underwear.

Cheers,
-brandon  

Beer: Bell's Two Hearted Ale
Music: Georg Telemann

29 comments:

ipenka said...

Craigslist: Van for sale
- Unique exterior design
- Nice draft through window
- Can shoot fireworks directly through sun roof

Happy 4th of July!

klahanie said...

Ah Brandon,
Great photo for the Chicago Tourist Board, eh.
Chicago the windy city.
And, what the heck eh, July 1 is Canada Day so here's wishing all those folks in Canada a good day, eh.
And may y'all have a rip-roarin' 4th of July.

Whiskey Girl said...

***drinks whiskey*** To celebrate of course because I'm not a raging alcoholic.....

Whiskey Girl said...

hehehehe - ok, maybe I am..... fuck if I care. Life in MD is better drunk.

blorriepoes said...

lol nice photo of chicago.
im not sure about canada's day lol

Lost.in.Idaho said...

Telemann? Really? Go you...

and yes, in buttfuck Idaho, fireworks are still legal...

Mynx said...

Wee bit cold here to be sitting on the porch in my undies but I appreciate the okay.
Beer is good anytime although I do prefer a nice warming red in this weather
And yes, fireworks are banned here too.

todd carr said...

I'm throwing back my 4th Bell's Oberon..woo hoo! Despite the ban on fireworks in Chicago, I am amazed at the money/effort my neighbors put into these explosive paraphernalia. I just sit back and enjoy the show....of course I double up on my dogs anxiety meds, they hate this time of year.

Libby said...

I just finished an Old Dominion Oak Barrel Stout. Celebrating the 4th early.

Anna Gray said...

I started last night and slept in the hallway of my building. For serious. Because I left my roommate at the bar and forgot to bring my keys.

JayJay said...

One day I am determined to be over in the States for July 4th. I need to see what this fuss is about.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Lemons Don't Make Lemonade said...

Come to China. I see fireworks and firecrackers out of my 2nd storey window ALLLLL the time.

TheStephenson said...

Haha, I'm not from the US but there's an American bar with cheap cocktails this weekend, so I'll gladly celebrate the 4th of July. Have a good weekend.

Zombie said...

nuthin like some smuggled explosives to start the 4th of July weekend off right! :)

Lynne said...

Cheers Mate!!!!

LoneIslander said...

We lit some sparklers in North Carolina last year. The neighbors still called the cops on us for being "dangerous"

Andrew said...

You know, I burned a van like that once. Of course, I was driving it at the time it caught on fire. It wasn't really a good time. Middle of the summer, too.
My advice is to not.

ed said...

time to move out of the hood?
i cant wait for the 4th

Mustang Sally said...

They're legal here. I know a couple of neighborhoods that almost rival the fireworks the city puts on. Of course, they don't go as high in the air, but every bit as pretty.

-E- said...

we used to blow up people's mailboxes on the 4th!

Major.Mack said...

i got smashed last night....i was merry as shit

Bouncin' Barb said...

OMG...South Carolina has firework stores one after another. We literally have 3 next to each other right here. They just opened a fireworks outlet store. We've got businesses going under and empty stores everywhere but we got fireworks!! Can you believe this crap? Can't wait to see what the aliens do for the 4th here!!!!

Brenda said...

Good grief! That's enough to make one flee the city! Run away, run away!

VersionDouble said...

haha, i think fireworks are still legal here.... i think.

Adsila said...

You can buy them here in AZ but the state is so damn dry it wouldn't be wise to shoot them off.

Kirk Farber said...

Brandon, I didn't realize you were previously living in such a dicey neighborhood. Yikes! Glad you got out alive. As far as fireworks go, when I was 14 the kids in our neighborhood (myself included) all thought it was great fun to shoot bottle rockets at one another. Teenage logic is mystifying. Ah, the halcyon days. Hope you have a great 4th!

Henrietta Collins (aka Kage) said...

hey! THAT'S MY VAN, YOU ASSHOLE!!!!!!!

just kidding. happy yank day :)

Banacek said...

Happy 4th! Don't get shot.

Aaron said...

I miss shenanigans on the old farm too...

I DON'T miss getting big scars on my hands though

Post a Comment