How was your 4th?

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We decided to forgo the "big" fireworks this year. Traffic, people...yikes, shudder! Went down to Hartsburg, it's a small river town, quaint, really is. It's on the Katy Trail and has a winery, American Legion, junk shop, tavern, B&B, cafe made from a caboose, old restored movie house was converted to a bike shop, (the facade it awesome). Old fashioned white church with tower. Cute farmhouses with expansive porches. Hemmed by bluffs on one side, the river on the other. Centered on fertile bottomland, harvest as far as the eye can see. Claim to fame being the annual Pumpkin Festival. Blink-your-eyes-you-miss-it, tiny. It's real close to us, we saw a great horned owl driving the dirt back road down there, soybeans and corn appear to be comin' along nicely. The American Legion does a smallish show as well as Sapps Produce. It was nice!!! June-Bug (Junior) worked the concession, he's the bus driver, I've known him since that first scary morning all those years ago when my daughter, now nineteen, climbed those huge steps, leaving her baby brother frowning and envious. We set out chairs on the edge of the park/ ballfield where the event was to take place, then went back to the truck to wait. Sit on the tailgate and light some fountains and such on the gravel road. When we got back two grannies were sittin' in our chairs, grandkids perched on laps. Good thing we had a blanket as well, turned out better anyhoo, we layed side by side, oooohing and ahhhhing, very relaxing. Wished on the first star, then decided it must be a satellite, as it moved back and forth across an area of sky, veeery slowly, so guess no wishes will come true!? Then we mosied down to river, built a bonfire and shot off fireworks. Ate hotdogs, potatoe salad, marshmallows, deviled eggs, you know, the usual yuck food. All up and down the river people were doing much the same, some had really impressive displays, I must say! From the Easley Boat Club, down the river a piece, you could here the live band playing off the back deck. Folk music drifted across the water. We could also see the display from the capital from there, even though it's more that 30 miles away. Lauren said she liked the "new" sparklers, the metal ones. lol I told her a story about a party I was at years ago, the kids were lighting their sparklers off the bug zapper, and this poor boy ran up and before anyone could stop him he shoved two metal ones in! He was ok. It was a nice 4th for us. I did get bit by something mean (bug-wize), swelled up my calf with a lump the size of a huge walnut and left a deep purple bruise three inches in diameter. Oh well. Think we may go back down tonight and finish off the 'works, this time we will bring a flashlight, duh. :)

-- Patty (SycamoreHollow@aol.com), July 05, 2002

Answers

got the metal roof on the shed (finally),, fireworks are tonight, along with the Logging Days Festival all weekend,,went there today,, and got a new tatoo ! ! ! ! Not telling where it is though

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), July 05, 2002.

AWWWWWWWW, c'mon!!! You gotta tell!!! What and where?! And how many tatoos do you have? I don't have any, I entertain the idea at times, something smallish and tasteful(?) silver dollar size maybe, but.....eh, I don't know.

-- Patty (SycamoreHollow@aol.com), July 05, 2002.

A little dinner, some firworks with my girlfriend and worms, worms, worms and more worms. I have an order for 2000 pounds I'm working on filling and don't want to exhaust my entire stock :>)

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), July 05, 2002.

this makes #8 ,LT arm, this is the second on my RT arm, both pecs, 2 on the back of my shoulders,,, and the last,,, ,only a few have ever seen,,,:)

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), July 06, 2002.

I new a sailor that had "Welcome Aboard" tatoo'd on himself long before the movie Down Periscope

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), July 06, 2002.


Gosh Stan, maybe I'd be scared of you if I met ya! LOL

So what are the tatoos of? Don't tell me sculls with knives, ok?

I knew this one guy who had Elmer Fudd saying, "come out of there you wassically wabbit!!" as he pointed a tiny gun at the guys belly button. Funny, but for your whole life?

-- Patty (SycamoreHollow@aol.com), July 06, 2002.


I have a peace dove tatooed on my forearm.

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), July 06, 2002.

no daggers skulls, crosses, nazi or harley symbols. All but one have a "religuos" meaning to me,, since Im half Indian,, they have an Indian theme,,2 are from my animal spirit guide. This last one, symbolizes,, something like a good luck charm, keeps "evil" thoughts/dreams away. 3 are also symbols of, earth, wind, water. If anyone is really interesteed in seeing them,, maybe i can email pics of them.

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), July 06, 2002.

I didn't know you were half Indian, what tribe? I don't really know much about different tribes but I do have a netfriend that has enlightened me somewhat. She lives on a rez in Montana. Great gal!

Still not sure how I feel about tatoos. If I ever got one it would have to hold personal meaning to me as well. I saw a guy at the river with is family last night and he was covered in tatoos and I found myself making a snap judgement, much to my own dismay. That's just NOT right, but some stereotypes are hard to break! Although, he was COVERED, and to me it was just way too much. Still, what does that have to do with what kind of person he is, he could be a great guy! On the flip side, I've seen some lovely tatoos that I admired, I seem to like symbols rather than a more pictoral application.

-- Patty (SycamoreHollow@aol.com), July 06, 2002.


My 18 yo daughter just got a tattoo; I'm starting to save my change in a jar for her laser surgery!! It's probably 2" x 4"; on her lower back (right above where hiphugger pants come to) and is a flower and vine theme. I'm not what you could call real happy about it. Her Dad signed for it and he has been avoiding my calls for the past week! I think that it's a decision better left until you're older - much older! Pop asked her why she didn't get a naked lady tattoo'd on her arm; and Hubs and I were teasing her, telling her that we were going to go get tattoos now. Hubs wants his to say "Born to be mild" (no, that's not a typo); and I want one of the Reduce/Reuse/Recycle triangles...

She got a lot of razzing about it on the 4th; as we had 20+ members of our extended family out for a fish fry at noon. My Uncles had set a trot line out earlier on and pulled in about 90# fresh weight of catfish, plus a couple of turtles and a crappie. Hubs and I were out hanging up the flag at 6:30 am; then got busy setting up tables and chairs in the side yard under the maple and walnut trees. We were wringing wet with sweat within minutes - ended up back in the shower by 9am! Everyone carried in food - way too much food! - but it sure was good eatin'! It was kind of old fashioned - watermelons and soda pop cooling down in washtubs full of ice, tables made out of sawhorses and plywood; plus a couple made out of old hollow core doors. Hey, throw a tablecloth over it and who will know any better?! We managed to stay outside in the 98* heat long enough to eat lunch, but when we carried the food inside so that it wouldn't spoil, most of us just stayed inside in the air conditioning. I was in and out of the house, giving garden tours and talking to everyone - had a great time! They all stayed long enough to have leftovers for supper; then took off for their home to get ready for the fireworks, so I could head in to work at 7pm. I had stocked up on a bunch of those plastic containers - Glad or Ziploc, whatever they are - so everyone got to go home with something other than what they came with. I snagged some peach cobbler, blackberry pie, Cowboy beans and fruit salad for myself! I had made homemade ice cream ahead of time and stashed it in the freezer; it turned out just fine - black cherry ice cream on blackberry pie is pretty darn good! Later on that night, Hubs brought one of the leftover watermelons out to the hospital where I work; I gathered up all of my patients that were appropriate for the group and we all went to one of the rooms that faced the airport (where the fireworks were being set off) and had watermelon and watched the fireworks from the vantage point of the 3rd floor and in the air conditioning! No heat, no smoke, no traffic, no bugs, no booms - worked for me!! I always feel sorry for my patients that are in the hospital over a holiday, so it was kind of nice to do something to celebrate - the hospital didn't even serve a special meal or anything. I hated the thought of missing the fireworks, so it worked out pretty good. I've only missed seeing them one time in my life; when I was out in the Lake Vallecita area of Colorade (below Durango) on the 4th; and there was a fire watch out. The only thing that was missing this year was the corn dog, funnel cake and cotton candy! Oh well; the 4-H fair is only about 3 weeks off....

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), July 06, 2002.



For those pale faces that always held an interest in native American culture and have felt a spiritual connection to the native way of life, maybe even know the animal that represents your spirit guide, the Hoppies believed in reincarnation through their grandchildren or great grandchildren.When they were being exterminated in large numbers they feared they wouldn't have enough decentents to incarnate into to carry on their culture and that it would be lost forever. A medicine man who ingested mind altering herbs that break the illusion of time meeting space which creates matter,in other words he saw the future . (Albert Einstien explained similiar therories in scientific terms that all time happens at once , just in parellel dimensions ) The medicine man had a vision and told his people they will incarnate into the children of the white man who are born on this soil, made of this soil. They will bear the hoppie name.The hoppies were a agriculture society that were known for their peaceful ways and creative colorful crafts.It is believed by some, the ones called hippies have been the forfillment of the Hoppie prophesies.As of the early 70's hippies on the Pacific northwest coast started calling themselves the Rainbow Tribe .It's just a legend ? As of sterotype stuff, I saw a women on the tube who had a rare disease that made her skin super sensitive to the uv rays of the sun. She had her whole body including her face totally tatooed.And a sterotype can be sometimes justified. A person with a pot leaf tatooed on their arm probably smokes pot.

-- SM Steve (Unreal@ home .com), July 06, 2002.

Hi Polly!

It sounds like you had a wonderful 4th! I sure miss large family gatherings! I've seen quite a few teens with tattoos located there, do you suppose it is a trend?

Hi Steve,

I'm interested in all cultures to be quite honest! Some ring more to to my heart than others, but I still find learning completely fascinating! The internet has really opened up that door, and I converse with folks from the England, Ireland, Scotland, India, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Germany, etc. I LOVE it!

Are you of Native American heritage as well? Thanks for the information, I hadn't heard that. How do you know which animal is your guide? Curious?

-- Patty (SycamoreHollow@aol.com), July 07, 2002.


spirit guides can be any animal, some amy not even be a native species,, and most arent even a large, fast of strong animal. Usually, some type of "vision" will tell you what animal your guide is. Either by drugs, yea, NAtive Americans used drugs,, hemp, peyote, mushrooms,, ect. A physical challenge, suana, no sleep, running challage, ect. SOmething to tire your concious mind out, to let your spirit open up and "see" for you. For me, it was during a fishing trip,, 5 days, with little sleep,, and lots of partying,, I fell alseep on the bank of a river,,, and woke to a splash, and saw a tree moving up stream. I realized it was a beaver, and I just started to talk to it, wasnt expecting an answer or anything. Then it turned, came towards me,, climbed the bank,, and "spoke" with me,, it didnt actually say anything, but I just seemed to understand. Even though I was pretty drunk and tired, I remember that time perfectly. Ive talked to my guide and a few other occasions,, usually when somethign is happening in my life that I dont feel is going too well. Ive talked with others, and never the same story is told about the spirit guides.

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), July 07, 2002.

"2 are from my animal spirit guide"

So Stan, you have two beaver ones? Now....hehe.....see? Someone could conceivably miscontrue those! LOL I'm kidding with you, don't be mad, ok? I think the idea of a spirit guide is pretty cool.

Thanks for telling me about it!!! I really do like to hear about what makes folks tic! :-)

-- Patty (SycamoreHollow@aol.com), July 07, 2002.


I went home to Michigan for the weekend. My neice's birthday is July 5th so we had a little family birthday party for her, she's 7 now. It was nice to see the family again but it reminds me why I don't want to move back home! :)

I have a rainbow colored Celtic knotwork armband tatoo. It's about 2" wide and completely encircles my left bicep. I have 2 other ideas in the design stage, just haven't taken the time to go get them done yet. One is my totem animal and the other is a tribute to one of my patron goddesses.

-- Sherri C in Central Indiana (CeltiaSkye@aol.com), July 08, 2002.



That sounds pretty, I love celtic designs!

-- Patty (SycamoreHollow@aol.com), July 08, 2002.

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