Happy Fourth Of July!
From Illinois! Tinley Park Benches 2015! The theme is “Heroes and Villains”. Me and the BF walked the empty streets this afternoon and came across this one (out of twenty) that I thought would be perfect as a post today and a good way to pick up where I left off. As this site becomes more and more random, I still like to try and make the occasional effort for purpose and meaning. Remember why we celebrate even if it’s just for a minute or two while waiting for the fireworks to start. My son will soon be out there as part of the bigger picture. This time next year he will be far from here, doing things, and going places he can’t even begin to imagine yet. He’s excited for his life to keep moving forward. I’m excited for him (and just a little bit nervous because life does keep moving forward). But more about that later. Graduation and going away. Plenty of news to come, and a Really. Big. Party. But for today, just this. Have a safe and happy holiday! Later.
Before The Fireworks
Sitting in the middle of Illinois waiting for night. Ate too much smoked meat, drank too much whiskey and beer, and sucked down too many very strong, very strong, jello shots. And that’s not really even true. I paced myself for the long evening, but still felt sick over night. I even managed to drink 2 bottles of water during this Fourth Fest mess. The food combo and combo alcohol is probably what turned my stomach. I should have eaten less grease and stuck to one beverage. No actual vomiting occurred, in case you should be thinking that I am some lightweight who can’t hold her liquor. I can drink the alcohol. I just shouldn’t. Anyway, we saw “home” fireworks until about midnight. This town we were in basically has the residents blowing off commercial grade fireworks for a lot of hours. We also saw a lot of those paper lantern things. No really good pictures because the displays were too unpredictable and I only had my phone. I was a mere spectator for this show. But I will put up my one blurry, bursting picture (if you squint and stand back, way back, from the screen you can kinda see the firework thing) and move on to the usual daily routine. Which includes work for me. The BF is off and the kids are still in Kentucky, and none of those little bitches at my job would work for me today. Wah wah wah. No one ever wants to give up their Friday. I’m hoping for a quick night and no admits. I really, really, really, need to win the lottery. Oh well. Until then.
Red, White, And Blue In America
What’s more American than a small town parade, a painted horse, a cowboy, and children waving the flag? Nothing, that’s what. Happy Fourth Of July!
HAPPY
Brought to you by the Tinley Park “Benches” Summer Art Project. I don’t really know if that’s what it’s called, but it’s pretty cool. I drag my kids out every year to walk the few miles around the downtown streets of Tinley and take pictures of the benches. This year’s theme seems to be “America”. It’s the perfect way to kick off this little (hopefully) daily new feature. I had started posting them a year ago and never finished. So now I have this year and last year to catch up with.
I will be watching my son march in the parade today. For our town. He’s in the band. And I think there’s fireworks. So it should be a fun night.
Have a safe and happy Fourth wherever you are!
July Fourth Parade Highlights!
This is what you have been waiting for. I know you didn’t believe me, (unless you are from a small town), but I wasn’t kidding when I said I was going to my mom’s to watch the Fourth of July (Tractor) Parade. They do have alot of them in her small town.
Keep in mind while scrolling down that these are all different tractors. They may look the same but I only took one shot of each, so the quality varies, and it was raining like a bitch, and kept getting on the camera lens, but it was still pretty fun. And, yes, I finally feel better, thanks for asking. (Got a nasty chest/head cold down at the Taste, 6 days ago. Sore throat is much better but I still have the gravelly, husky voice, sexy!)
I threw in some local flavor to keep it fun. It starts with Uncle Sam, and it ends with a power tractor hanging a “THE END” sign off the back.
The Bell Truck is new, and the PINK Tractor is the town favorite! Plus, they throw candy and chocolates!
My personal favorite are the International Harvester tractors (that’s where my dad worked before they striked and closed in Chicago, so many years ago).
Grab a beer, settle into your lawn chair and raise another toast to America. One more year for freedom is in the books.

Check out the missing wheel!

The Bell Truck. It was chiming while driving. Very nice.

So rainy! But kind of arty, don't you think?

Some local flavor! Here it comes...

Sorry, Jas, I think his is bigger than yours!

Bonus pics with extra tractor!

The train tractor!

Tractor on a trailer!

The best for last!! The very famous PINK tractor!

The End!
Cheers Everyone! I have to go do CPR on dummies now! Wish me luck!! See you later.
Happy Fourth of July!! From Paris!!
Haha… I kid! I’m not in Paris. I’m in Chicago, where it is actually raining right now. I’m not sure if they still do fireworks in the rain??
The pictures are pretty funny though huh? They are actually from Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum in Panama City, FL. It’s the Eiffel Tower made of matchsticks with a fireworks display as the background. I thought it would add that extra holiday flare to my usually outstanding posts! Don’t you agree?
Anyway, I’m off to my mom’s now to hang out in the rain with my family and wait for the small-town Tractor Parade and try not to die from the head/chest cold I picked up from the Taste of Chicago on Wednesday. Where, incidentally, it rained all day there too! I know I’m such a baby. Do you think that cold medicine and vodka would cure this thing?
See, if I had just gone to Vegas like I planned on Tuesday, I’d be getting home just about now, tanned, happy and NOT sick!
Happy Independence Day ya’ll!