Fireworks on the 4th

After what felt like an eternity, the sun finally set, ushering in my favorite 5 hours of the year: the 4th of July Night. My friend Dan, pictured above with the ginger bread and camo shorts, picked up a trunk full of fireworks on a his five show tour with fish throughout the American Midwest. Despite the spineless and, for lack of a better word, unAmerican firework legislation in the People's Republic of Massachusetts, my bros and I honored our country's birthday with an ample dose of gunpowder smoke, cheep domestic beer, laughter, and explosions.

Does any one see anything wrong with the picture above? Dan and Tucker are giving Edge the green light to put in a mortar upside down. Roughly 15 seconds later, the mortar backfired, exploding tube, spilling everyone's beer and burning Nick.

A botched mortar loading job on the first try would have ended many a firework enthusiasts' evening, but not us. Ten minutes later and a role of tape from a first-aid kit we were back in action. Please note the fraying at the top of the tube and the upside down text.

"Thank god, the fuse finally lit, my thumb was starting to burn..."

"Ohh shit that fuse burns fast..."

"I hope my bush-league taping job holds..."

After five mortar rounds the tube split completely in half. For a few moments we considered reinforcing a Pringles can but opted out of it in favor or waging battle with a dozen or so Roman Candles lying in Dan's trunk like arrows in a quiver. After a few exchanges and heckling laughs from accurate shooters, the night wound down. In proper, sunburnt exhausted fashion I crawled into my sleeping bag for some much needed sleep.

Here are some more links,
Fireworks (Picasa),
4th (ART).

Festivities on the 4th

After a three hour nap, I emerged from my sleeping bag to celebrate the 4th of July by playing croquette, swimming in the river, listening to the Dire Straits, and tempting skin cancer.

Feeling grass on my toes felt new after spending all but two days of the month of June working. The tops of my feet were pealing on Monday.

Handing off the shades.

Tucker testing how close he can go mid croquette round.

Supplies for the day's festivities.

Yeeehhaaaa! Rope swigging at Ashley Falls.

Breaking in my wingtips.

The anticipation of the evenings fireworks kept me excited throughout the day despite my early morning start and four mile walk.

Here are some more links,
4th of July (Picasa),
4th (ART).

5AM on the 4th of July

Copious amounts of Redbull and Vodka made the night leading up to my favorite holiday very long. I tried in vain to sleep at 1:30. After three hours of rolling over, drinking water, and frequent trips to the bathroom, I climbed out of the crowded bed, grabbed my camera and went on a four mile walk.

Record rainfall in June raised water levels and created the perfect breeding conditions for mosquitoes. A cloud of twenty potential carriers of the West Nile Virus followed me around like a lingering fart.

I really liked this stone wall. It had to be a few hundred years old.

On my four mile jaunt I digressed from buzzed to hungover and covered in flattened mosquitoes. Despite a throbbing headache, the beautify of the red dawn kept me smiling and inspired.

Two hours and hundreds of mosquito bites later, I crawled back in bed exhausted and thoroughly satisfied after seeing one of the most beautiful sunrises of my life.

Here are some more links,
5 AM on the 4th of July,