bang bang

Every year the city puts on a fireworks display at the park that's like, two blocks from our house. The first year we lived here Shawn and I watched it in awe since we hadn't known about it. Every year since ALL our family has watched it with us.

Well, not all of them. Mom and Dad can't come because their dogs wig out and get loose every fireworks season. Shawn's Mom and eldest brother don't come because it's too hot, too late, too many bugs and they're too tired.

I don't blame them.

Anyway, the rest of the crew comes here EVERY year, which is cool, you just have to realize how tiny this house gets with that many people and I'm not used to being around that many kids at one time except when I go to Wal-Mart.

I told Shawn if we ever move we've got to find a place that prohibits fireworks so we can avoid this all together. At least everyone understands that I have to get up for work 6 hours after the show is over. They to leave pretty quickly after I start growling.

I told Shawn I didn't want anyone bringing fireworks to set off in the backyard because it creates such garbage and we've got the new dog now (who hates everyone) but that remains to be seen. I thought we could use the excuse that the Chief of Police had moved in across the street a few days ago.

But he moved a few days ago because the house he was having built was done. I guess he didn't like the neighborhood! With the Cheif moving away, I'm afraid everyone will bring their ominous paper bags. Maybe they won't notice the Cheif is gone...

Either way, as much I love celebrating our nation's freedom, I hate the Fourth of July now. I don't get a full day off, I have to stay up incredibly late making--Wednesday pure hell, I get no overtime for the week, I have to smell everyone on the block barbequeing except us and I have to watch the same old tired show the city puts on every year while me and Shawn slap ourselves silly with bugs as we stare at the roof ready with a water hoses in hand. The next day is spent aching for the bed but scouring the yard for trash and shells left over from the display.

Oh, and it's extremely hot, too. Maybe it'll rain....