Independence Day.

Always has been one of my favorite holidays. There are the fireworks, of course, but it's also just a nice gathering time.

We kept it low key this year. Bought some minor league LEGAL (this time) fireworks to enjoy, and fabricated a few LEGAL big boom things to listen to and had a great time.

The kids made some new friends here and they stayed with us for the evening. Met a coupla neighbors and I think I'm gonna like them too.

Nobody got hurt, we played it very safe, and just now are winding down for the evening.

Hope you all and yours are having a similar experience.

We have a deal with the United States government: They always celebrate our wedding anniversary with fireworks and a huge party!

Happy 4th everyone!

Yes: Happy 4th, everyone!

Watched the fireworks from the Morrison Bridge (very cool: two barges this year) and could see Oaks Park and Fort Vancouver from there as well. Got some good pictures...then home to calm my cats.

Missing, glad you're settling in your new digs so nicely.

Semoochie: brilliant idea! Happy Anniversary

Happy 4th of july PDX peeps!

Hope the fireworks are going strong outside and IN THE BEDROOM

Stayed home this year and watched House. Wife hit the sack early so I played Guitar Hero for a while. (Got a bit of respect for Carlos Santana now).

Happy John Adams Day everybody. If it wasn't for him, we'd all be singing "God Save The Queen". (Or perhaps one of these: "La Marseillaise"; "La Marcha Real"; "Het Wilhelmus".

Celebrated my birthday on the 4th. The entire day was a family thing. Ended up on the grass near the Morrison bridge to watch the fireworks. Got home around 11:30pm

Off to basketball this morning.

Although I don't actually celebrate the 4th of July (and haven't for the past 4 years), I ditched the regular (pissed-off) family when the 23 year-old member got pissed 1550 switched to the baseball game (yes, you read that correctly), for a friends' party in Vancouver. Met some folks from out of town and returned to Portland on some of the last buses and MAX runs of the night. MUCH better than some of the anti-society comments I normally have to put up with.

Happy belated 4th of July. I moved to the US a little over 27 years ago, and I have not regretted a single day, even though the move was not by my own choosing.

I was invited to watch fireworks from the third floor of a furniture store on Hawethorne, which a friend of mine operates. This provided a decent view of the PGE park fireworks, but not the Waterfront Park fireworks (a building was in the way). We could see a little of the Fort Vancouver fireworks, too.

It's a different way to shock your parents and grandparents. Start listening to your great grandparents' music!

My wife's grandfather played in Vaudeville. He was apart of a band that featured 6 saxophone players. We have some of those recordings from circa 1923.

Some of the songs were originals. We even have some of the sheet music too. It's a great family heirloom.