Fireworks and people watching...

Well, it's (still) the 4th of July. Day of celebration, family, and things that go kaboom. Here are some observations...

1. If you live in the Greater Milwaukee area, don't skip the Big Bang. This lovely kaboom-y event is held on July 3rd every year, and is totally spectacular. When I was single, I used to hang with friends down by the lakefront. We'd scope out an awesome spot and spend all day there--drinking, soaking in the sun, drinking, playing volleyball, drinking, grilling out--and then settle in for the show. Now, we get there around 6pm, bring a picnic, find a spot, and settle in for the show. The former means easier-to-find parking. The latter means no entertaining a 7-year-old all day and worrying about sunburn. Yes, we got older...
2. If you do partake of #1 above, then you'll surely agree with me when I wonder what the heck is going on with waistlines... Specifically, waistlines on pants, on today's youth. Boy, am I sounding old and crotchety or what? But. You know that whole-pants-around-your-hips-showing-off-your-boxers look the boys sport? well. Now it's the pants-around-your-upper-thighs-showing-off-your-boxers look. I will confess to actually staring. But I had a reason, truly! I was wondering how they managed to walk with pants hanging around the thighs... I still haven't figured it out. Maybe next time, I should just quit staring, and ask?
3. Every year, people go bigger and bigger. They mark off huge areas for themselves & their friends, even if they only use a quarter of the space. Gee, guys. Thanks for sharing. They also go all out with the stuff that is carted in--there were tents--big ones, and multiples too, tables & chairs, coolers and grills galore... I was a bit surprised I didn't see a couch or a TV, honestly. Seriously though. How do you pack and drag all that stuff once the show is done? In the dark? Also, (and this is my anal-retentive side coming out), how do you make sure you don't leave your crap laying around a public park? Do you even want to know how many bottles and cans I stepped on, on the way out of the park? Thanks, people! Way to take out what you brought in!

Alright, that's enough kvetching for one day. Hopefully everybody made it home safe after--and for those in accidents, I hope you're ok. If, however, you were drunk when you got into that accident, please do the rest of us a favor and stay home next year.