In this strange (and possibly unAmerican) manner, Iowa City shoots off its fireworks on July 3 rather than July 4. Tonight, since we were under a severe thunderstorm watch and could hear thunder and see lightning just before we were to leave for the fireworks show, we decided to hold tight at home, head out to Coralville (Iowa City’s illustrious suburb, although I’m sure the Coralvillians wouldn’t think that way…) tomorrow night, and watch their fireworks on the actual holiday. The forecast for tomorrow is clear and mild, so no worries about weather issues.
But when we were at Paul’s Discount on Saturday, I grabbed some cheap sparklers imported from China. They work about as well as one might expect…it’s quite possible they traveled across the sea in the sea. But tonight we got enough lit to get Tom, our upstairs neighbor, to peer over his deck railing to find out why there was all that smoke and weird light in the back yard.
As I type this, I’m listening to the booms of Iowa City’s display down in City Park. Apparently the city and the Jaycees, who put on the event together, are paying no mind to the growling sky.
Happy Birthday Eve, America!
on Jul 4th, 2006 at 9:40 am
i know! the city of detroit has their fireworks last wednesday, JUNE 28TH!!!!
on Jul 4th, 2006 at 12:52 pm
June 28? That’s absolutely bizarre…way too early!
on Jul 4th, 2006 at 9:01 pm
Ours are the 3rd as well, but for a reason. There’s only one fireworks shooter-offer around here, and he does Clear Lake’s fireworks on the 4th. I kind of like it though – I’m usually partied out by the night of the 4th :)
on Jul 4th, 2006 at 11:41 pm
Ah…having the shooting-off-the-fireworks monopoly is definitely one way to have to spread yourself around a little bit. You’re right, though — I was thinking tonight on the way home that it would have been nice to go to bed a little earlier than I’m bound to…
But the fireworks were fun!
on Jul 5th, 2006 at 12:06 am
[...] Sparklers in the garden [...]
on Nov 13th, 2009 at 1:42 am
[...] Paul’s Discount, I made a beeline for the sparklers. “Look,” I said. “We need [...]