July 4th

**Waylander** · 4th July 2005, 17:45

You know, there are a few things that I miss from the states. Some more than others ofcourse. One of the things I miss most would be on the 3rd of July me and my dad would drive outside the city and spend close to $400 on fireworks and other explosive stuff.
Then on the 4th my family would all drive out to some field in the middle of no where. My dad would grill us up some burgers and steaks. My mom having made all the other stuff for a good bbq the day before aswell. Anyway as that was happening I was some 30 yards out in the field setting up the display. Then at about this time of night after we had all eaten and layed out on blankets I would go back down there and start lighting up the fuses. Been doin it since we first moved to Texas back in 1986 though I didn't take charge of the fireworks till I was 11.
I always set up big elaborate displays of fire in the sky. Just setting it up and enjoying a good BBQ and firworks with the family that's what it was all about for me.
Nothing about the american revolution or indapendance came into it, and the only thing I can compare that euphoria to is riding out in the middle of no where with no one else around for miles.

I guess it's one thing I'll always miss here. May have something similar but I doubt it will ever be the same.

**Ixion** · 4th July 2005, 17:48

Originally Posted by Waylander

You know, there are a few things that I miss from the states. Some more than others ofcourse. One of the things I miss most would be on the 3rd of July me and my dad would drive outside the city and spend close to $400 on fireworks and other explosive stuff.
Then on the 4th my family would all drive out to some field in the middle of no where. My dad would grill us up some burgers and steaks. My mom having made all the other stuff for a good bbq the day before aswell. Anyway as that was happening I was some 30 yards out in the field setting up the display. Then at about this time of night after we had all eaten and layed out on blankets I would go back down there and start lighting up the fuses. Been doin it since we first moved to Texas back in 1986 though I didn't take charge of the fireworks till I was 11.
I always set up big elaborate displays of fire in the sky. Just setting it up and enjoying a good BBQ and firworks with the family that's what it was all about for me.
Nothing about the american revolution or indapendance came into it, and the only thing I can compare that euphoria to is riding out in the middle of no where with no one else around for miles.

I guess it's one thing I'll always miss here. May have something similar but I doubt it will ever be the same.

Guy fawkes Night. Until the wowsers totally abolish it

**Waylander** · 4th July 2005, 17:51

Originally Posted by Ixion

Guy fawkes Night. Until the wowsers totally abolish it

Not the same mate. The fireworks y'all have down here arn't worth a dogs swollup. And on that night all feilds nearby are taken up by drunk teenage ricers, not exactly an isolated experiance then.

**Motu** · 4th July 2005, 17:58

Originally Posted by Ixion

Guy fawkes Night. Until the wowsers totally abolish it

Guy Fox - get the spelling right willya? The biggest mayhem night of the year,totaly irresponsable giving 10 yr olds explovsives to play with unsupervised,running around letting off Double happies,mighty cannons and sky rockets....there was also a 2 week lead up and cool down of double happies in letterboxes and rubbish bins.We used to drill holes in clay banks and set off demolition charges - now you know why there is a stone breakwater on the foreshore of Bucklands Beach....every year we'd take another foot out of it.

**Motu** · 4th July 2005, 18:00

Originally Posted by Waylander

Not the same mate. The fireworks y'all have down here arn't worth a dogs swollup. And on that night all feilds nearby are taken up by drunk teenage ricers, not exactly an isolated experiance then.

We are talking about when we were kids,nothing like today at all,at all....

**Waylander** · 4th July 2005, 18:08

Originally Posted by Motu

We are talking about when we were kids,nothing like today at all,at all....

Would have been a grander time to grow up then I guess. Still I can't complain Texas was really fun so long as you weren't in the city. Here though almost anywhere that isn't city is either farm or government reservation land or some such. I don't know I'll figure something out. This is one tradition I actually don't want to give up.

**crashe** · 4th July 2005, 18:28

Well you could buy a heap of fireworks in November... and then store them in a cool room.
Then on July 4th go and let them off.... somewhere safe and away from where there are animals and kids etc.

But in saying that you are now in NZ... do as a NZer would....
You are becoming a kiwi citizen aren't you...?
Let them off on Guy Fawkes night and join in the NZ celebrations.

**Waylander** · 4th July 2005, 18:33

Originally Posted by crashe

Well you could buy a heap of fireworks in November... and then store them in a cool room.
Then on July 4th go and let them off.... somewhere safe and away from where there are animals and kids etc.

But in saying that you are now in NZ... do as a NZer would....
You are becoming a kiwi citizen aren't you...?
Let them off on Guy Fawkes night and join in the NZ celebrations.

Ok you missed my comment earlier about how the fireworks here suck. Guess in the months between Guy Fawkes and July 4th I could take them appart and make my own. But then I run the risk of actually blowing myself up.

And the fireworks wern't the whole thing most of it was time spent with the family. Here though my imediate family is spread from here to Tauranga and my mom is always busy with her "surragate" family. Guess I can just wait 20 years or so for when I have my own kids...

**Virago** · 4th July 2005, 18:54

Originally Posted by Waylander

Ok you missed my comment earlier about how the fireworks here suck. Guess in the months between Guy Fawkes and July 4th I could take them appart and make my own. But then I run the risk of actually blowing myself up.

And the fireworks wern't the whole thing most of it was time spent with the family. Here though my imediate family is spread from here to Tauranga and my mom is always busy with her "surragate" family. Guess I can just wait 20 years or so for when I have my own kids...

Hey mate,

You need to take the bull by the horns and organise your own 4th July party.

People up the road from us were from Cincinatti. They've gone back now, but while they were here they missed the American traditions like 4th July, Thanksgiving etc, really bad. So, they organised their own celebrations and invited NZ friends and neighbours to participate. We went to a couple of their 4th July parties, with Fireworks, pinyadas(sp), etc. They were great fun, and a positive way to experience their culture. Real family affairs, with kids running everywhere.

For me, it was a really positive multi-cultural event.

Send me an invite for next year!

**Hitcher** · 4th July 2005, 18:55

You could always take your ass out and kiss it...

**Indiana_Jones** · 4th July 2005, 19:09

Speaking of the 4th of July. Where were the stars and stripes on the harbour bridge today? They seem to have them for any other countries holidays etc?

-Indy

**Jeremy** · 4th July 2005, 21:48

By the way, there are places where you can still get the decent fireworks. Stay away from the warehouse. If you know where to look there are places that will sell you skyrockets.

**Motu** · 4th July 2005, 21:55

Originally Posted by Waylander

Guess I can just wait 20 years or so for when I have my own kids...

Worked for me......

**Jackrat** · 4th July 2005, 23:11

Originally Posted by Waylander

Ok you missed my comment earlier about how the fireworks here suck. Guess in the months between Guy Fawkes and July 4th I could take them appart and make my own. But then I run the risk of actually blowing myself up.

And the fireworks wern't the whole thing most of it was time spent with the family. Here though my imediate family is spread from here to Tauranga and my mom is always busy with her "surragate" family. Guess I can just wait 20 years or so for when I have my own kids...

If they suck that bad,make your own.
It's piss easy an there's even an international pyromaniacs club with web site ect ect.I have a Mate from Malta who makes his own,a couple of years ago we launched a fridge several hundred feet in the air,complete with pretty colors

An if you think there's no places to do it,you hav'nt looked man!!

**Ixion** · 4th July 2005, 23:16

Originally Posted by Jackrat

If they suck that bad,make your own.
It's piss easy an there's even an international pyromaniacs club with web site ect ect.I have a Mate from Malta who makes his own,a couple of years ago we launched a fridge several hundred feet in the air,complete with pretty colors

An if you think there's no places to do it,you hav'nt looked man!!

Yeah, tis easy enough to make them, though getting ingredients can be a pain. You can make some BIG BANGS this way.