Damned DIY Fireworks!

[MineralMan]

In St. Paul, MN, where I live, fireworks that explode or fly are forbidden. 20 miles away, across the border in Wisconsin, are dozens of fireworks dealers selling them, including near-professional grade mortar shells, etc. So, some of my neighbors disregard the prohibition and shoot them off for a week around July 4.

Not only are they a fire risk and a safety hazard, they absolutely freak out dogs. Last night, my wife and I had to stay up and try to comfort our lab rescue beagle, Sam, for three hours while the booming went on. Sucks!

The local authorities do not respond to calls about illegal fireworks. They have too many other serious calls to go on. So, the front yard fireworks show just goes on, year after year.

We have to leave the 4th of July party we're going to this afternoon to get home in time to try to keep the poor dog from going nuts. He'll get a dose of xanax, as recommended by our vet. But it will still freak him out.

Boo!

[xmas74]

1. When I was young, growing up in SE Wisconsin,

all we could have were sparklers, snakes and snappers-nothing else was legal for sale and there were big, big fines for possession of anything but. It was a noise ordinance violation and something to do with the fire safety codes. The only way I saw anything bigger than a sparkler was whenever we would travel north and go through the Menominee Reservation. You could buy almost anything there, though the most we ever bought were those little tanks. Once we purchased a pinwheel and once we purchased some parachutes. Nothing bigger.

Times have really changed since my childhood.

[MineralMan]

2. You can buy any fireworks in WI, but it's illegal

to set them off in that state. Weird. It's illegal in MN, too, but everyone seems to fire off the big ones every year here.

[xmas74]

5. I remember going to stands with nothing but sparklers, snakes and poppers.

It was crazy.

I also remember having relatives living on the WI/MI state line. They'd cross into the UP and could buy everything you could ever think of.

[HassleCat]

10. Pennsylvania has the sme goofy law

When you buy fireworks in Pennsylvania, you sign a form that swears you will take them out of the state and not shoot them within PA. I grew up in Wisconsin, and had the same experience as the posters who mention the old laws that prohibited anything but sparklers and "worms" and such, nothing that blew up or flew up.

[Curmudgeoness]

18. They are so afraid of offending any businesses in PA

that they refuse to do anything about it. These fireworks sellers are big business, I guess. I read the other day that they are trying to change the law so that fireworks bought here can be used here, adding an excise tax to the sale to bring in money for the state. Oh goodie!

I dream of the day when they start to enforce the law and there are huge fines for setting off illegal fireworks. I can dream.

[femmocrat]

27. I'm with you, Curmudgeoness.

Every small town around here has a fireworks show, which is fine and fun for everyone. Yet, every yahoo within a 10 mile radius of me has to have his own sky show! I swear they try to outdo each other. They buy huge professional-grade pyrotechnics that make so much noise that our windows rattle. It's the same nuts every year, but I have never seen a state police vehicle on our road. Surely they must know where the violators can be found!

The plus side of making them legal is that the excise tax would be used to help volunteer fire companies. I still don't support legalizing them, though.

Bah, humbug. I am praying for rain.

[Curmudgeoness]

84. Ha, I hope for rain every 4th of July!

It isn't happening this year, dang it. But that definitely puts the brakes on the amateurs....unfortunately, they have too much money tied up in their noisemakers so will set them off another day.

Sorry, but I am fed up with all the help to volunteer fire departments while we have a paid force, so our local real estate taxes go to our own department as well as state taxes going to the other locations with volunteer departments. And those locales have much cheaper real estate taxes for that reason. I can't get over this.

[guillaumeb]

11. The same situation applies in Illinois.

It is illegal to possess, sell, or use fireworks in Illinois. In neighboring Indiana, it is illegal to use but not illegal to sell fireworks. So Illinois residents travel just over the border, between Chicago and Hammond, to buy massive quantities of fireworks to demonstrate their patriotic spirit.

Interesting that conservatives will complain about paying taxes, but willingly waste millions on fireworks and billions in legal and illegal gambling.

[former9thward]

69. I really doubt it is just conservatives

doing fireworks and gambling. I guess you are in a different place than I.

[guillaumeb]

71. Agreed.

But a favorite right wing argument is that people are overtaxed to support useless social programs for undeserving people. What these conservatives really mean is that any government spending that does not benefit them is useless spending.

[former9thward]

72. You are right but ...

that goes both ways. Liberals tend to oppose government spending such as the military that they don't like. Or some corporate welfare spending from government. It is more human nature than ideology in my view.

[guillaumeb]

73. Do liberals tend to reflexively oppose all military spending,

or just military spending such as that spent on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars?

[former9thward]

77. I imagine it is all over the map.

Some oppose spending on new weapons, some on our nuclear weapons, some on our vast overseas bases. It goes on and on. I am apposed to any tax benefits or subsidies to any corporation no matter what their purpose. Some agree with that and some favor government benefits for 'green' corporations.

[enlightenment]

3. I'm with you on this.

Professional displays are pretty - and if parents want to give their kids sparklers, go for it.

But that's it. Flying and exploding fireworks (I call it ordinance because it might as well be) is prohibited, but easily bought. Our neighborhood, which is in the middle of the city, is like a war zone for two or three nights. Presumably we can call the police after midnight tonight, but they won't respond unless someone blows themselves up or sets a house on fire.

Last night, I got a 4 am wake-up as someone set off two shells right across the street. My windows shook from the blasts. The cats are already stressed from the heat - I just can't wait to add this cr*p on top of it.

If that makes me an old curmudgeon, so be it. I'd like to toss every one of those idiots down a very deep well.

[MineralMan]

6. It's pretty amazing around my neighborhood.

Looks like a fireworks show. One guy near me buys 6" mortar fireworks. Whump.........BOOM! Drives me nuts for three days. Makes the dogs crazy. In fact, a couple of big mortar rounds went off just a couple of minutes ago, in the middle of the day, for pity's sake!

[xmas74]

12. I work from home now

and am on the phone all night. The last two nights I have not been able to work due to the large amount of fireworks going off at all hours of the night. No matter how good my headset is it won't drown out the sound of my windows shaking and rattling because my neighbor shot off a firework in the street right in front of my house at 2 in the morning.

I've lost two days of pay because of this. We have a lovely-and free-show the city puts on every year. I donate to it every year so I know all about it. They run it as a festival all day long until it's time for the fireworks. From 6-9 they offer hot dogs, soda, popcorn, chips, shaved ice, cotton candy, kids games with prizes, contests, drawings, entertainment and music-all free to the public. The local pool offers free swimming today with free snacks from 12-6. Fireworks are at 9.

There is so much to do around here, for free, that there is no reason for some redneck to stick a Roman candle in his kid's hand, light it and then tell the kid to aim it at cars or trees or whatever they think is funny.

[KarenS]

4. yes, yes and yes.

Our dogs esp one of them is extremely nervous & scared during the fireworks,,,, either city or illegal (which there's plenty of those here). She shakes & pants & hides for hours.

Our plan for the evening is to take them outside while it's still light to 'take care of business', then come inside, put their Thunder Shirts on them (helps alot), find a good movie on TV & turn it up pretty loud,,, our intent is to sit on the couch with them while we watch so that we can comfort them. Then later we can take them outside again after most of the hoopla dies down.

The loud TV and sitting on the couch with them along with those Thunder Shirts worked pretty well last year.

[MineralMan]

8. Hmph! We have a thunder shirt for our sensitive dog,

but he hates it. So, we give him a xanax and cuddle him through the fireworks. Uff da!

[KarenS]

21. oh dang,,,,

That's too bad. It doesn't make our girls totally calm but it lowers their stress considerably.

Good luck tonight with your doggie.

[MineralMan]

23. He'll survive. It's just hard to watch.

He was just fine this morning, ready to head out for his morning walk with the usual eager glee.

[catchnrelease]

56. Do you feel that the Xanax helped at all?

I've never had to give any of my dogs meds for the fireworks noise, but our 8yr old Vizsla has gotten worse every year. So this time I decided to get something from the vet. She gave us Xanax for the anxiety and Acepromazine as a sedative, and said to use as I thought necessary. So, last weekend was the official city show which is about a mile away and it lasts only about 15mins. I thought I'd just try the Xanax since it would be over pretty quick. I gave it to him about 2hrs ahead as directed but it didn't seem to do anything other than make him uncoordinated. So then he was freaked out AND would tip over if I wasn't restraining him.

Tonight will be the neighborhood (illegal) fireworks. These are right on our street and will last from this afternoon until who knows when. I think I'll give him both drugs this time and hope for the best. Once the worst of it starts I will put his harness on and hold him until it dies down. (If I just hold him by his collar he will choke himself by pulling to run around the house.) Meanwhile the other dog could care less and will probably just lay there. Weird. I was just curious as to whether other people using the drugs felt they worked at all.

It's so sad seeing on local facebook all of the dogs that have already been found running loose or reported escaped due to the noise. And I read that the local shelters have had to kill more dogs sooner to prepare for the flood of new strays that will be brought in in the coming days. People suck!

[LWolf]

7. Yes.

I've had to do that for the last 12 years; even living rurally, where there aren't any fireworks for several miles, the sounds carried over the still air, and terrified my poor dog. I never bothered to go to bed, settling in on the floor and holding her while she shook and hid her head in my chest.

Not tonight, though, because I lost her this year. I woke this morning thinking of her; part of me was already automatically reaching out to reassure her on this, her least favorite day of the year, and then I realized again that there was no need.

Keep your dogs in, safe, and loved tonight.

[demmiblue]

17. :(

I felt the same way after I lost my girl. She was terrified of fireworks. So much so that I had to get a prescription for meds, after trying everything else.

My new pup, well not exactly a pup, seems to be ok with the noise. I even took her out at night last year to acclimate to the sounds (I would have brought her in immediately if I sensed it bothered her). To me, it seems like dogs get more sensitive to the noise as they age.

I also think about our vets with PTSD this time of year.

[LWolf]

32. I do, too.

I'm not ready for a new dog yet, but someday...

Meanwhile, my heart goes out to all the dogs and the vets with ptsd today.

[jwirr]

9. That goes for all animals. Our farm animals go crazy on the fouth.

[Curmudgeoness]

13. Our local cops call this "Night in Baghdad".

There are so many fireworks, most of them are illegal here too, that there is no way to police it. I am always amazed that so many "law abiding citizens" just ignore this law, and teach their children that if they don't like a law, they can just ignore it without repercussions. I don't know when this became a problem, because when I was growing up, we didn't have this happening.

This is my least favorite holiday of the year. I absolutely hate it.

[MineralMan]

14. In my experience, most of those setting off those

aerial fireworks turn out to be assholes, so it does no good to ask them to knock it off. You just get a "fuck off" and even more of the noise. So, I don't bother to try any longer. Fortunately, there are none immediately adjacent to my house, so I'm not too concerned about the fire risk. If there were any close neighbors doing it, I'd have to be out there, manning a hose.

Very distressing. I suspect that most of them are Libertarian Teabaggers, too. Dumbasses, one and all!

[secondvariety]

53. New Year

is just as bad here. Here in Florida, you have to sign a state form saying you're going to use exploding and flying fireworks for "agriculture purposes" (wink wink) such as scaring birds away from crops. My county (Pinellas) wasn't buying it so they made all the road side stands selling illegal fireworks sell legal ones only.The state didn't like the county trying to usurp their authority and told Pinellas they couldn't enforce the ban. Pinellas told them to go blow and enforce their OWN laws. Now at least the drunken dullards have to go to another county and get their stuff.

I think all this firework stuff coincided with China becoming a major trading partner. I don't remember EVER seeing a firework stand 15 years ago. Now they're everywhere.

Night in Baghdad is a good description-sometimes the smoke is so thick it literally looks like the neighborhood is on fire.

[Curmudgeoness]

85. Lucky for us, it is too cold then to have many people out

for very long. We do have some fireworks and noisemakers, but it doesn't go on all night.

You could be right that all of this is related to China trade. But I don't even know where all these fireworks they sell are made (I know, you will give me one guess).

[Vattel]

15. Mutt muffs might help if he doesn't try to get them off.

Also, some studies suggest that thundershirts actually work. (I was skeptical at first.) Next year you might try playing him a recording of fireworks at low volume and gradually increase the volume over a few months to desensitize him.

[Vattel]

16. Also don't over-comfort him. That can make it worse.

Just be calm and project confidence to him so he picks up on your emotions and feels more confident himself.

[alphafemale]

31. Funny how people that hate fireworks tend to have animals that over stress about them. nt

[catchnrelease]

57. I never hated fireworks

And don't mind the smaller ones for the kids or the shows put on by the city. I also have had dogs all of my adult life and none have been particularly freaked out by the noise. Now I have 2 rescues of the same breed. One could care less about the noise and one wants to go and GET the thing that's making the noise. In the past I would take the dogs out on the porch to watch the neighbor kids do their thing and the 'problem' dog would almost drag me across the yard to try to run TO the sparkling, whistling, popping things in the street.

It got to the point that he was so wound up that I just brought them inside, where he then runs from room to room and jumps on the chairs to try and see out the window. Since I'm not sure how far he would go re the windows, this year he's getting some meds to try and make it easier for him. I hope it will help.

So I have learned to hate some fireworks--the M-80s, bottle rockets etc that idiots feel the need to fire off for a week before and after, at all hours. On second thought maybe it's not the fireworks that I hate but the people that use them.

[Kali]

58. same with kids and bugs/snakes

not always, but pets and kids for sure do follow our lead. I had a dog that would chase fireworks - no fear whatsoever and we have always had a lot of them on and around the 4th. I do have one now that hides from them and she also hates small motors like blenders, mixers, the vacuum etc. something in her past, I guess.

just now she bailed out of the house when I took the mixer out of the cupboard! didn't even turn it on and she was out!

[Liberal_in_LA]

19. my cats were showing anxiety about the fireworks but they will live

[MineralMan]

20. Yes, of course they'll live.

That's not the point, really, is it?

[Fumesucker]

22. Six months a year we get near daily thunderstorms that are far louder than any fireworks

Had a big one nearby about one AM this morning as a matter of fact, impressive light show through the trees and prolonged grumbling when I was doing the bedtime walk with my dog.

Most of the animals around here are long since acclimated to big booms, my mini doxie doesn't even wake up for anything but a major flash snap bang event. A neighbor did have a Doberman that was terrified by storms though, never got over it until the day he died.

We will probably get some fireworks set off in the surrounding neighborhoods this evening and tonight but we also have hunters in the fall and when they are on the property next door it's louder than fireworks.

[MineralMan]

24. We get lots of thunderstorms here, too.

They don't seem to bother the dogs quite as much, though. Don't know why that is.

[demmiblue]

25. Consider purchasing a box fan.

With the windows closed, it really seems to drown out the noise.

Also, it is rather relaxing (though a little loud if you are not used to it).

[MineralMan]

26. We have several, along with a noisy window AC

unit in the living room. They help some, and making sure all windows are closed helps, too.

[mmonk]

28. We have the same problem with our dog.

[old guy]

29. Kindred spirits.

We fight this problem every year and it only gets worse. Fireworks are illegal in Wi. without a permit and anyone can get a permit. The problem is that the permits have very specific restrictions that people don't want to abide by and they know the sheriffs dept. won't respond at any rate so they don't bother to get one. In my area, north of St. Croix Falls this goes on all summer and holidays in the winter. I have had several sometimes heated discussions with county law enforcement but it has always been an exercise in futility. We know that tonight(4th) all hell will break loose so we pile the dogs in the car and head to Crex Meadows where its quiet.

[Novara]

30. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

My neighborhood in Michigan has been sounding like a freaking war zone for a week. I dread tonight. Last night was bad enough. My poor cats are freaked.

[AngryOldDem]

38. So's mine.

Loudest I have heard. We also live close to an outside venue that has fireworks after their concerts for three nights running. Those have been louder than usual this year, too.

I don't know if the neighborhood folks see it as competition with the venue, but I wish they would knock it off. I just love going out for a run the morning after July 4 and seeing all the burned out shells and boxes and black marks on the roads, not to mention the leftover stink. Totally ridiculous, IMO.

We have a Dachshund and you'd think she'd be a nervous wreck, but she's not. We crate her at night and she burrows under her blankets, so I guess she feels secure enough.

[CountAllVotes]

33. Today is my birthday

and guess what? I HATE fireworks!

They frighten the animals so bad and all of the yahoo's around here are firing off their stupid damn gunz!

& recommend.

[No Vested Interest]

52. Happy Birthday, our sparkling friend!

[CountAllVotes]

54. Thanks

The only thing I ever liked about it is that you never have to work on the 4th of July. BOOM!

[MH1]

34. They're terrible for the environment, too.

It seems an awful lot of liberals either don't know that or don't care.

[Kali]

59. huh?

the ones that have a bit of plastic are trashy but most are paper and light wood. I don't even think the chemicals are all that bad, hell some of it is just fertilizer.

[MH1]

68. Perchlorate and other poisons. They don't just vanish into the air (and if they did,

you'd be breathing them.)

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-fireworks4-2008jul04-story.html#page=1

Also, traces of poisonous metals, which give fireworks their bright colors, and perchlorate, a hormone-altering substance used as an oxidizer, trickle to the ground, contaminating waterways.

One Environmental Protection Agency study found that perchlorate levels in an Oklahoma lake rose 1,000-fold after a fireworks display, and they stayed high in some areas for up to 80 days.

European chemists Georg Steinhauser and Thomas Klapotke wrote in a recent scientific journal that "several poisonous substances are known to be released in the course of a pyrotechnic application" and that they are dispersed over a large area.

"It is clear from a vast array of studies that traditional pyrotechnics are a severe source of pollution," they wrote.

[KT2000]

87. thank you nt

[yeoman6987]

63. Forgot your sarcasm tag

[MH1]

67. Nope.

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-fireworks4-2008jul04-story.html#page=1

One Environmental Protection Agency study found that perchlorate levels in an Oklahoma lake rose 1,000-fold after a fireworks display, and they stayed high in some areas for up to 80 days.

[AngryOldDem]

35. This is absolutely the worst time of year for dogs.

Story on this news this morning said that the greatest number of lost pets and pets that end up in shelters happen around July 4. Little wonder -- some of those explosions can be downright shattering.

Hopefully you can keep your dog calm for the rest of the weekend -- not easy, given that he doesn't understand what's going on.

[BainsBane]

36. I really hate the noise

I just want it all to be over. It will go on for a while though. Tonight won't be the end of it.

[greytdemocrat]

37. We got two ThunderShirts

This year and though the pups don't stop
fretting entirely, it has helped.

Last night was bad and tonight will be worse.

[CountAllVotes]

39. You might try Rescue Remedy for pets

I swear by this stuff. It is not very expensive and takes about an hour to work.

The "holiday" totally sucks I agree!

[demmiblue]

40. Another recommendation: Stuff a Kong with wet dog food and freeze it.

The licking and gnawing to get the dog food out helps to reduce tension and keeps your pup occupied.

[KingCharlemagne]

41. You have my sympathies. Our cat seems to be handling the noise OK, but we do

feel very badly for the dog owners we know in our building and neighborhood. I don't know a single dog owner who likes this holiday, come to think of it.

[rwsanders]

42. Our vet prescribed valium. Seems to work very well.

And our neighborhood sounds like a war zone every year. It goes from about 8 pm to midnight or longer.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

43. I was in La Habra for the 4th one year....

We were sitting on the patio passing a hooter and guessing the type of guns going off in the distance by the sound.

".22",..."9mm",...".38",......"shotgun".

[SheilaT]

44. I wonder what the statistics are for fires set by these fireworks,

or how many are injured.

Back in 1987, some idiot setting off fireworks around the 4th, managed to hit sheds that stored hay for the horses at a racetrack, Turf Paradise in Phoenix, AZ. It was two days before they could get the fire out.

I barely bought sparklers for my sons when they were growing up.

[kiva]

45. Hate them too.

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[Fred Sanders]

46. Bold prediction! More people will be killed, maimed and injured by domestic fireworks terrorists today than ISIS and

shark attacks combined.

[NuclearDem]

47. I've already had it with fireworks this year.

We have a two week period in town for fireworks, but my dumbass neighbors can't even bother to abide by those very lenient rules.

[Warpy]

48. They're really hard on Middle East war vets, too

Here, laws restrict people to packs of little Chinese firecrackers, fountains and sparklers. People go down into Mexico (drug war and all) to stock up on the illegal stuff.

Last night at 3:30, as I was preparing to have an early night, some asshole the next street over started blowing up large firecrackers. He must not have liked what I yelled out the window because he stopped, but not before he woke me completely up and kept me mad for another 2 hours. Bastard. Bars close at 3 AM here.

My poor cat went a little deaf in her final years, so fireworks and thunderstorms stopped bothering her. However, this area is full of vets in assisted living apartments and they're far from deaf, poor bastards.

I hate this holiday, the combination of alcohol and explosives meant a horrible night when I was a nurse. Then there's the idiots who start brush fires with them, the idiots who fire their guns into the air and invariably hit somebody, and the air thick with the stink of burned gunpowder.

Nah, this is one holiday I wish would go away.

[Kali]

62. I have seen way "better" bigger fireworks in New Mexico than old Mexico.

the stands aimed at Arizona in Demming and Lordsburg have a really um, large selection. I hardly ever see much in Mexico. When we used to go to Rocky Point we always took our own (from New Mexico).

[Warpy]

64. Yes, the cities down south have less restrictive laws

We're more forest and less scrub up here and that forest catches on fire a lot so counties have clamped down on firework sales, possession and use.

I don't bother finking out illegal fireworks because I know they're going to be busy already with fires, injuries, and mayhem.

[DawgHouse]

49. I hate fireworks and my dog trembles from the fear.

She'll get a dose of valium in a few hours and hopefully retreat to the bunker I made for her on the floor of my closet.

[Travis_0004]

50. I can buy fireworks, but I have to sign a form promising to take them out of state in 48 hours

The form asks which state you will be bringing them to. My standard answer is always 'guam'.

[DawgHouse]

51. Most fireworks are illegal in Florida but there is a loophole

that allows you to buy them if you claim you intend to use them for lawful purposes, like keeping birds out of your corn field or in some sort of mining operation.

[Travis_0004]

55. If I buy one ear or corn and throw it in my yard is it a corn fiield?

I am willing to shoot fireworks off for 30 minutes to protect that corn.

Loopholes like that remind me of when we were having a bonfire.

The police came out and said we had to put the fire out due to an ordance against fires

I reminded him that cooking fires are legal. He said you are not cooking anything.

Sure we are. We have marshmallows cooking right now

He left and we continued on

[PotatoChip]

60. Maine had a similar law for as long as I can remember. Until idiot Paul LePage changed it.

That was done when LePage had an R state house and state senate (2010-2012). I don't recall there ever being actual citizens lobbying for this, so it must somehow, somewhere, benefit people/business owners with already deep pockets.

It's been horrible ever since then. I live near a lake, and there are yahoos from nearby towns who come here and have booming fireworks 'wars'. They go to the various public access swimming areas, and trash them w/beer cans and other garbage. At some point, someone will inevitably get hurt or worse. It surprises me that nothing terrible has happened already.

1 of my two cats who startles easily, as well as my dog, always have a very rough time with it. I don't particularly like the fireworks rattling my house (and my nerves) either.

BOOM!

[Kali]

61. oh, you meant retail product

I thought this was going to be about homemade goods. I know a guy that used to make his own. pretty fun hobby, really.

I am lucky to live in the sticks and we get to play all we want. One current dog doesn't like them, but she does ok hiding under the bed for an hour or so and comes right out when they stop.

[sadoldgirl]

65. Oh, MM, I hate them with a purple passion!

Dogs go crazy, birds suffer, and the air next morning
is full of Sulfur.
In my city in spite of the laws, it starts about 10 days
before and lasts another 10 days after the fourth.

Several times I called the police, but they are overwhelmed
and cannot do anything.

Sometimes I dream to play at that same noise level
a Wagner opera during a night, but I doubt that there
is a machine creating that level for a disk.

I suppose we have to suffer for FREEDOM!

[awoke_in_2003]

66. "same noise level a Wagner opera"

Make sure to get a helicopter with a killer sound system.

[former9thward]

70. I have hunting dogs.

They sleep like a log through fireworks.

[yuiyoshida]

74. Fact is that any time a law is made, there will always be someone

who will break it. I sincerely doubt the jails will be filled with law breakers who set off fire works, though many might wish it to be so.

[Aerows]

76. Lighting fireworks aren't the problem

Or, I should say, lighting fireworks reasonably is not the problem.

The problem is some people getting drunk and deciding that if one conflagration is good, a bigger one must be better. Then it is time for all sensible people to vacate the premises. If you are searching the garage for things that say "flammable, do not put near open flame" so you can specifically do just that, there are problems.

[yuiyoshida]

78. Around my house I always hear some loud booms

As I type this, I can smell the Steaks on the grill next door... I am surprised I am not coughing with all the smoke that comes off that grill. Have to admit it smells great...but I will never get an invitation!

[Aerows]

79. I grill, too

But this was absolute insanity. It started with fireworks, and as I said, escalated into some idiots looking for everything they could ignite to make it bigger. I was at the party.

I am all for fireworks, but people plain being stupid and reckless is my cue to leave. And this was when I was 19... many years ago.

[yuiyoshida]

80. well grab a brandy and kick back and listen to some great

Steeley Dan! That's what I am going to do... sure wish I had the brandy part!

[Aerows]

81. Damn, I'm not that old

LMAO!

[yuiyoshida]

82. I was not born in the 70s...

I am 28! I got turned on to Steely Dan a while back... great stuff. I have this love for music in the 70s..great freaking stuff!! check it out!

[Aerows]

75. My county allows them, but the incorporated city I live in does not.

90% of the reason why fireworks are dangerous could be summed up by a party I went to on New Year's Eve many years ago. Everybody is shooting off fireworks, having a good time, and enjoying some beers. *Note this was when I was 19 and most of the folks at this party were 18-20 year olds and drinking beer/liquor was still legal in New Orleans when you were 18. And shots.

And all the fireworks are getting shot off. Then about three idiots start looking for things to blow up, to make bigger explosions including lighter fluid, starter fluid, and my friends and I left when they were contemplating the best way to ignite gasoline.

I suspect a few were on more than just alcohol when they starting lighting cans of hairspray on fire, and I said to my two friends that were not lunatics that it was time for us to go before someone got hurt. We did.

There was a gigantic boom in that direction, but to my knowledge, they had some serious guardian angels because it didn't harm someone irrevocably or burn down a house. Alcohol + Let's see what shit we can blow up is not a safe combination.

[malaise]

83. THey also affect military personnel suffering from PTSD

I had no idea how bad this was for them but saw a discussion with data.

[Vinca]

86. We're in the same boat, although it hasn't been quite as bad this year.

One of our cats freaks out and hides under the bed trembling. I've never understood why people even like fireworks, but that's just me I guess.

[KT2000]

88. living in a tinderbox this year

so the sheriff asked people to refrain because of the drought and risk of fires. It doesn't sound like anyone was listening to him though. Apparently no one has the authority to establish a ban.

[MineralMan]

89. Well, Sam, our lab rescue beagle, survived the

war zone in my neighborhood last night. The xanax helped. He laid on my wife's feet all evening, panting and shaking, but didn't run around in a panic. This morning, he's his normal happy self, ready for his walk.

I did go out to see who in my neighborhood was doing heavy fireworks. After the weekend, I'll be sending a polite, but firm letter to all of them, explaining the problem and asking that they not do this. It won't work, of course, but they'll know that not everyone is happy about their celebration.

In addition, I'll be communicating with the city councilman from my ward. He knows me, because I campaigned for him. He's running for re-election this year, too. I'm going to quote the city ordinance and the state law about fireworks to him and ask why this law is not enforced in our city. I'll explain about the dogs and PSTD veterans and ask him to bring all this up with the city police chief ask the councilman to get back to me with the police chief's response. From experience, I know that he'll follow through with this.

Calls to the police do not result in any enforcement action. I'm done with being "Minnesota Nice" about this particular issue. If there are laws, they should be enforced. If there will be zero enforcement, then the laws need to be changed. I think I'll make this one of my issues going forward and press the issue in a more public way.

Maybe we can get some enforcement. A few large fines and confiscations of this expensive stuff should limit its use, I think. I know I'm not the only one who is troubled by the growing issue it represents.

[beaglelover]

90. My beagles were very unhappy last night but thankfully

they are back to normal this morning. The 'local' fireworks show has definitely gotten worse over the years. Last night they started before sun down and were still going strong with some major boomers when we went to bed at midnight. Enough is enough. But nothing would change here in North Hollywood even if I did complain to my local politician.

[pintobean]

91. Good luck with that.

[MineralMan]

92. Yes, well...

It's always better to try and fail than to fail to try. That's my personal philosophy.

I'd rather act than not do anything.