Happy Independence Day!!!

I'm sitting at home, relaxing after a long day celebrating the Fourth of July.  This morning I watched the big parade in Huntington Beach on channel 7. It's still going strong after 110 years, and is said to be the largest one after the one in Washington DC. It still felt like small town America, with the bands, floats, equestrian units, military, and others all celebrating the day.

We didn't have people over this year. Instead, Rick came and took Mom and me to meet Orin for lunch at Coco's. Then we rook him home and saw his refurbished apartment. The entire senior complex has undergone a makeover. Most of the carpet has been replaced by wood pattern vinyl, walls have been repainted different shades of beige, kitchen and bathroom cabinets have been replaced, as have appliances--a good job overall on the individual apartments. The exterior has been repainted, and awnings replaced, There is still work being done on the entry, front office and common areas, but I imagine work will be complete by the end of the month, which will make Orin a happy camper.

After grocery shopping, we came home to watch Kershaw pitch a lovely 9-0 shutout over the Rockies, although Rick left during the middle of the game. Then Mom and I alternated between watching the Angels squeak out a 7-6 victory over Houston, going outside to take in the aerial panorama of fireworks, and watching the professional shows on PBS (Capital 4th in Washington DC) and NBC ( Macy's big New York bash). It was all spectacular in different ways. PBS tend to be a little more traditional, but very creative in the use of color and patterns, while NBC is a littler hipper, and a lot bigger, with their barges and bridges used to launch an amazing amount of fireworks. Now if they could just get rid of the commercials, that would be so much better--as if a commercial broadcast network ever would.

The air is already thick with smoke, so I won't be headed back outside tonight. I remember the sparklers and fireworks lit on the ground when I was a kid, and I saw plenty of those "safe and sane" fireworks around the neighborhood tonight.  But every year the "dangerous" illegal fireworks increase in number and sophistication, to the point that you'd think you were watching a professional show, in spite of law enforcement's best--if underfunded--efforts to curtail their use. I guess people are gonna do what they gotta do, when they've been saving all year for their parties, so that they can set off their colorful explosives until the early morning hours.

I just hope there aren't too many serious injuries or fires.