In all the places I've lived in Racine, I've never been more than a block from Main Street, if not right on the street itself. The parade finds me. The past few years, I've holed up while the cat hides under the bed. I may take a peek at the pre-parade, or at portions of the goings-on, but I'm not up for sitting through the whole thing. It's a great time for family and kids, though, and I think it's grand that the city comes together for an event like this.
I took mom grocery shopping this morning and the store was busy. Lots of people buying soda and beer. You can feel an urgency in the air. On Main Street, the No Parking After Midnight signs are up, barricades dropped off at intersections, trash barrels strategically placed (there's never enough), vendors' trucks and trailers parked near the route. Everyone is getting ready. Everyone is getting set.
Tomorrow, everything goes!
Past couple of years I've watched it on Telecable. Just too much brew-ha-ha to go. The weather is supposed to be excellent, so I'm toying with the idea of showing up. I will have to go solo though. All my kids are working or are out of town. Orbs, if you do go out, look for me. I usually hang close by where you are. Next door, in fact.
ReplyDeleteSkipping Racine prade this year and going to Union Groves. No thugs walking around.I do hope Becker gets boo'd as he staggers.... um I mean walks the route.
ReplyDeleteI am soooooo not a crowd person, and it bugs me too much to see people behaving badly (especially with their kids in tow-- that stick in my ass gets bigger every year, sadly:-( I don't go to the fireworks, Racine county fair, etc, for the same reason. It's a small dose of narcissism that keeps my happy little world intact, lol! Have fun:-)
ReplyDeletetyping over here if I am welcome...did not get to the parade this year either. The bigger kids went with Dad, I am home with the twins. Both have strep, ear infections and now are vomiting! I love my life! After 10-days with the il's in MA, I thought we'd get a break and enjoy the holiday...nope. Sis, have fun at moms. We had movies outside in the lawn last night. I am hating the neighborhood kids right about now. Picking on the kid with autism. What a bunch of jerks! see if I give them any of our freeze pops anylonger ;)
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th!
Attached Mommy, Welcome. Of course you are invited! The more the merrier. : ) If you choose to stay and want to post your own blogs, send us an email to register.
ReplyDeleteI didn't go to the parade either. Watched on the tube from my comfy desk chair. No sunburn, no annoying kids throwing poppers, clean bathrooms, stocked fridge. I'm getting almost as bad as a shut-in. :o
attached_mommy, too bad about the sick kids. I hope they and you are feeling better soon.
ReplyDeleteI heard the parade. Went to mom's about 12:45, right down Main St. Lots of police and a crowd in front of the VFW. They had the southbound lane closed off at 8th. There were still pockets of parade watchers/partiers. And lots of people who live on or near Main have picnics/parties on the 4th. The usual madness.
I'm like cyndi - you won't see me at the fireworks, either. That crowd, in particular, scares me. I saw the firewroks in Chicago in the 80's, in Grant Park, on the lake downtown. Took the El there and back. Now that was insane. Thank God me and the ex were both as drunk as everyone else.
kk, that's why Al Gore invented the internet, to give us shut-ins something to do.
The soapbox: THANK YOU! to all area law enforcement and emergency personnel. I could never be a police officer on the 4th of July (or any other day, for that matter). Thank you.
My family and I went to the fireworks and found a nice spot near Melvin and Michigan. That was until a group of appx. 5 adults and 2 OUT OF CONTROL kids sat right next to us. Having kids ourselves, we pretty much ignored the unruly children who's parents or whatever they were let them bother everyone. So while we were getting ready to watch the fireworks, 2 of the drunk adult women (I think they were women anyway) began making out, french kissing eachother in front of my 7 and 9 year old children. I was asked many questions by my kids about these "adults" kissing and to be honest, I didn't know what to say. I tried to ignore the 2 and enjoy the fireworks until the "F" bombing began coming from these two Lesbians. Now mind you, I have nothing against Lesbians (I don't think anyway), but after the 4th or 5th "F" bomb I couldn't take it anymore. I asked them what their problem was and asked them if they realized that there were numerous children in the area to which they replied "So?". My wife then took our children from the area at which time I blasted these fucking ignorant Lesbians. I admit, I let them get the best of me, and I was no better than them using foul language, but what is a parent to do? Honestly. They show up minutes before the fireworks, crowd people in even more because they were to lazy to come early and get a decent seat, their kids were obnoxious, they frenched and fondled eachother in front of children (I swear they were starving for attention, and they got it!), and used loud foul language on top of it all. What was supposed to be a nice evening turned out to be shit because of a few rude people. In closing, If by chance they are reading this: You dirty dike mother fuckers need to get a bedroom for your sexual pleasures and your dirty rotten mouths. Fuckin' asshole douche bags!! Thanks to all for letting me post here to get some more frustrations out.
ReplyDeleteSure, anon, it's healthy to get that stuff off your chest.
ReplyDeleteBesides, dirty dike douche bags are part of our targeted demographic, so there's a good chance that your message got to the appropriate parties.