Second Half Bullets and Nuggets.

Having kept a diary for almost 26 years I am reminded that today marks the start of the second half of any given year. It also means that for the next mini month the topic of conversation shall turn to events across the Atlantic in the name of Wimbledon tennis at 8am, Tour De France, and of course the Final Four of Europeans representing the FIFA World Cup 2006 style...

It's also the time of year where the Texas Rangers get written off as the media and fans of the NFL and Dallas Cowboys start getting amped about what's to come for the season. Alas I am getting ahead of myself.

Starting Tonight in downtown Dallas and continuing Monday and Tuesday night in Arlington as well as other parts of North Texas and America, children and adults get treated to a fireworks show. You'll be able to watch them two nights in a row at Ameriquest July 3rd and 4th. There's always Kaboomtown in Addison.

I remember two years ago on July 4th sitting myself on a lawn chair at the corner of Hebron Parkway and Josey in Carrollton and watching three fireworks shows go on simultaneously at dusk. I remember the date well with the Rangers at Houston hitting six bombs in an 18-3 rout. Right as night fell, and the mosquitoes began to bite, there was color and noise for almost an hour. Red, White, Blue, Green, and Purple all around. A symphony of smoke and a cacophony of colors. The only thing missing was a coke and a hot dog.

I always related Independence Day to a day at the Ballpark, either in person or on TV. 4th of July fireworks also meant being around family and food. When I lived in the OC I remember watching the Disneyland fireworks each night at 9:30 pm in the summer and rejoicing at how vast the noise on the 4th was. 230 years of celebrating that which we know to be our freedom, our choice here in America.

A more interesting question might be in what year did we begin shooting off fireworks in the USA? Has it been 50 years? 75/ 100? 150? Another homework assignment for yours truly.

To those of you who choose to partake in the bubbly, PLEASE DESIGNATE A DRIVER! It isn't worth the pain, hassle, humiliation, or court cost of being pulled over for over indulging! Have fun but by all means be safe!

If you choose to let loose on the fireworks different than I have outlined, God Bless. You're a bigger freak than I am.

Happy 4th!

Over and out in Big D

Mr Will