A mini-rant: Not fire, Doesn't work

I used to like fireworks as a kid, as basically all little boys do. Then in my 20s I started to find them pretty boring although they could be fun when "discovered"--e.g. if I was out driving somewhere and saw fireworks in the distance through the trees. But eventually they became annoying to me, especially as I created a series of young children who were scared by the sound of the explosions, and now I full-on hate fireworks. (And I don't even have a dog!) When I eventually buy my piece of property in the mountains, I hope I'm far enough away I never have to hear anyone else's fireworks ever again. Happy Independence Day, now go to bed.

Move to the boondocks and you probably will never have to worry about them anymore.

We have been here since 2013 and I have not heard one crackle, boom or seen any fireworks.

They are also very expensive ...

I have one dog that can’t be bothered from his busy life of sleeping on the floor to worry about fireworks. I have another dog who is bothered. Very bothered. Over the past several years with him, I have found I get very little sleep the week of July 4th because of the poor guy’s fear. The past two years, the cat has decided to join him, so I have two miserable animals.

This year, we’ve moved out to a much more rural location. Crossing my fingers that it’ll be quiet tonight; last night was!

I like the big professional fireworks displays big cities put on for their national days or New Years I live on a farm adjacent to a small town and while the fireworks display they put on is impressive for the town's size, they dont do much for me and  they terrify my dog. This year for Canada Day, Gordie (my dog) and I were on a road trip to a secluded cottage in Nova Scotia and that turned out to be a win-win.    

We're in a high summer fire risk zone. Anyone setting off summer fireworks is likely to get a visit from the Fire Chief - maybe even the Police if the Chief didn't think the message went in well enough.

However, we also live near ocean, so 2 local cities each choose a "Fireworks" night and they are launched on barges with lots of water around them. If the wind is strong from the right direction, we might hear low booms from the festivities in one of the 2 cities.

For us, the trouble is Hallowe'en. By then we've usually had enough rain that the danger is minimized. Despite that, the Municipality firmly encourages people just to go see the display at the main Fire Hall - yep, our firefighters are in charge of our fire works! It's dark early at that time of year, so they start at 8pm and are over by 8:30 and everyone gets a good nights sleep. They even serve hot-dogs!

We're in the Ozarks - close enough to the lake (maybe a mile, as the crow flies) that the entire area becomes one massive party, and the fireworks typically start around June 30 and keep going until the end of whatever weekend the 4th is near. Our dogs (goats, sheep, ducks, chickens...) aren't fazed. But, then, we also have year-round gunfire, so to them, it's just another day, even though it's definitely much more intense. We have dear friends with ptsd, who are horribly triggered by it, but love the area, otherwise, so they stay in, and wear noise canceling ear protection, turn up the tv or radio, or take their own vacations to quieter spaces.

We lit them off the first couple years after we bought this place, then drought hit, and after a grass fire that got within 2yards of the goat barn, I became very skittish about it. Now, we're practically in a rainforest, and I'm good, but hubby refuses, because he doesn't want me to 'freak out'. 🙄

Anyway, today isn't about fireworks - it's about celebrating the birthday of the USA. Happy 248th Birthday, y'all!! Have a great day, and do your best to keep all your fingers!!

For those that have pets affected by fireworks here is an article to help you out:

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/five-ways-to-help-your-pets-cope-with-fireworks

Oooh, you’re not going to like me. I love setting off fireworks!

However, I will temper that by saying I never set off fireworks at home and I will set them off once a year.

I’m on the management team for a Christian youth retreat centre. To say thank you to the village for putting up with noisy teenagers all year (noisiest is the summer!) we make… more noise.
We hold a bonfire and fireworks night around Guy Fawkes night.

It’s free entry (although the donation buckets usually mean we break even on the fireworks), everyone is a volunteer and it’ll be over in half an hour, usually by about 8:30.

It means that the budding pyromaniacs get to group up and set of bigger fireworks than we could individually afford and it’s over in one go.


Sorry for disturbing your pets.

For some of us the sounds of the large professional displays can still take us back in time to places and events that we wish we could forget.  The smaller ones that most of the homeowners around me can now buy are of a low power and just annoy me a little, along with some of the neighborhood dogs.  

I've only felt beside me in my chair to check that my weapon was still there a few times since dark.

I do enjoy listening to the joy of the young ones while the fireworks are underway.  I only hope they can keep that joy forever!

We had some showers late today, so the air is damp and thick, sounds seem louder and travels {?) a greater distance.  I'll be OK, I still have some Oxyc from the cancer treatment, and being that I'm such a Cheap Date, I'll be out in a flash if needed.

I hope everyone has a great time on this 4th!!


Peace

I sincerely hope those suffering from ptsd are all ok. Please take care of yourselves and your critters, everyone. And, to those who served, I'm horribly sorry that the celebration of our independence, that you fought to keep, often brings you further harm. My gratitude goes out to you, always, and I wish you peace.