Fireworks

Fireworks are just okay by me.  Over the years of my life, I have observed a lot of fireworks displays, and they are fine, but not something I would go out of my way for.

Lubbock has an all day Independece Day celebration:  The Fourth on Broadway Street Fair and Parade http://www.broadwayfestivals.com/events/ , the Picnic in the Park http://www.broadwayfestivals.com/events/2013/7/4/plainscapital-bank-picnic-in-the-park-and-youth-orchestra-of-lubbock-concert and the fireworks display http://www.broadwayfestivals.com/events/2013/7/4/gandys-fireworks-extravaganza.

Well, I like a parade.  Although I have to say, this year, I did not really see the parade.  The people who were seated behind us moved to stand in front of myself and several other people who were seated on the berm during the parade. We did not confront these people (one never knows what a confrontation will bring) but the people around me and I were very loud and vocal about the rudeness of these standees, to no avail.

I regret that I was not paying close attention, and one of the floats was playingn "The Star Spangled Banner," which I did not realize until it passed, so I did not stand.  But no one along the parade route seemed to have stood either.  At least, when the parade started, and the color guards came through, most people stood. But not all!  That is disgraceful!

I stayed for the street fair which is mostly music and food.  I had lunch and listened to some good and not so good music.  When "Mariachi Amistad Lubbock" https://www.google.com/search?q=Mariachi+Amistad+-lubbock&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&rlz=1I7ADBF&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=pjPWUcGoLIbc9ATVooDADQ&ved=0CC8QsAQ&biw=1280&bih=647
played the "Star Spangled Banner" I was one of the few who stood immediately, although by the end of the rendition, all were standing.  Can you imagine, a mariachi version of "The StarSpangled Banner"  Wow! Fabulous.

Later in the day, when "The Pride of West Texas Show Chorus" http://prideofwesttexas.com/ sang "The Star Spangled Banner," most of the audience was slow to rise. I was not.

There is a "Picnic in the Park",  and "Concert in the Park," and fireworks show tonight. I used to attend this event when there was  free off site parking, and bussing to and from the park.  I do not so much mind having to pay for parking, but the hassle of walking a ways to the park, versus being dropped at the entrance is a problem.  Also, the concert in the park is generally of very poor quality, until the Lubbock Youth Symphony plays, in coordination with the fireworks.

So July 4th night, I watched The Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular. http://www.nbc.com/macys-4th-of-july/  I then turned to the airing of "A Capitol Fourth.  http://www.pbs.org/capitolfourth/"  It was okay but did not live up to my expectations of fireworks synchronized with the "1812 Overture" by  Tchaikovsky.