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I am just not doing this holiday. Too much politics involved, not to mention the danger of fireworks. One man in Ohio was already killed when he was demonstrating fireworks to a group of kids and had it pointed towards himself...the fireworks killed him instantly and now these kids will carry a terrible memory for the rest of their lives. I am staying in, reading library books, and catching a baseball game on TV.
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Well at least they won't need telling twice that fireworks can be dangerous. Sheesh. How old were they, Katie?

Speaking of horrible, unforgettable shocks - an as yet unidentified stowaway on a Kenyan Airlines flight died and fell (I sort of hope in that order) from the landing gear compartment of the plane, thus:

'The body fell a metre away from a resident who had been sunbathing in the garden in south London's Clapham suburb, a neighbour said.

The neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he heard a "whomp" so he looked out of an upstairs window and saw the body and "blood all over the walls of the garden".

"So I went outside, and it was just then the neighbour came out and he was very shaken," he said.'

I bet he was.
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I saw that headline CM and I chose not to read the article. Oh well.
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As a kid I use to love to watch the fireworks, and occasionally now I can see sky lite fireworks from neighboring communities, but then the neighbors bring out these rocket and fireworks that make a LOUD booming sound. Thank goodness it rained big time last night so it was quiet.

My late mother-in-law, who lived in France during World War II, she was a teenager during the war, never could get use to the very loud fireworks we have here once she moved to the States. It just brought up fear of gun fire and bombs for her.

And people with pets, I don't know anyone who has a pet that loves that noise. My old guy "Charlie" [19] who is on palliative care, I don't know if he will survive the noise.... [sigh]. I got to figure out how to mask the sound. Think a cat would like cotton in his ears? Probably not.

Some times those rockets will vibrate the house they are so deafening.

Makes me wonder how Assisted Living and Nursing Homes deal with residents who revert back to the sound of war time. Or are just plain confused by the noise.
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I am not sure how old the children were that witnessed the fireworks accident, but it would be awful to have that memory at any age. Someone dropping out of the sky into one's garden would be awful as well. The stuff shot off by amateurs is the worst, and upsets the pets worse than far away large fireworks. Those large M80 firecrackers are the loudest and most startling.
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That fireworks story and the stowaway story are just horrific. I can’t even imagine witnessing something like that :(

A lot of people where I live don’t give a rats behind about others. They don’t care about people who’ve survived wars, they don’t care about pets or people with PTSD. They shoot their illegal fireworks off and when neighbors take to the local neighborhood watch Facebook groups to complain, they are told to get over it! We can have “safe and sane” fireworks here, they are not aerial fireworks, they are pretty.....unimpressive LOL! They put out a lot of smoke and not a lot of “firework”. But the laws don’t stop people from using the illegal aerial fire works. I blame the city for the problem. They stopped putting on a fireworks show years ago citing money as usual. And then they graciously allowed us to have safe and sane fireworks. But on new year’s eve and the 4th of July, parts of the city light up like Baghdad and it legit sounds like a war zone!

the illegal fireworks usually start a few weeks before the 4th. I’ve only heard a few so far. I’m an old curmudgeon and I don’t like it one bit. Because they set them off at random. So you’re just sitting at home enjoying the quiet and all of a sudden you’re startled by a loud explosion! I always want to run to the window to make sure a neighbors house hasn’t exploded! Goes back to when I was a kid and a house on the next block exploded one Saturday afternoon! Guy was in his garage working on his car and something got too close to the hot water heater and the house exploded. And not long after that, another house near by was firebombed by rival gang members. That house got hit twice actually. So anytime I hear a loud explosive firework, my first thought is that a neighbors house has exploded!

also.....at least one house per year gets hit by an illegal aerial firework and catches fire. Because again these idiots don’t care about anyone else!

And on the subject of nursing home and AL residents......the biggest, loudest, most violent neighborhood 4th of July block party takes place just a few blocks from several long term care facilities! They have lots of illegal fireworks. One year there was a shooting. There is zero regard for the residents of the LTC facilities nearby. Absolutely none.
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It is very loud and annoying tonight! Hate to think of how bad it will be tomorrow night!
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I can't imagine how the "sunbather" is feeling right now, Cali. What is the appropriate response to an experience like that? I don't think your worldview could ever be the same again.

I was thinking about the stowaway last night. Food and water were found in the plane compartment, he'd evidently planned his escape, but without realising how cold it was going to be up there and for how long. I oscillate between thinking "you stupid sod!" and feeling terrible pity for what he must have gone through - though I believe there are worse ways to go than hypothermia, I think you eventually just fall asleep, don't you? - and of course he must have family somewhere.

This is not suitable material for Fourth of July! Wishing all of you lovely American people a very happy holiday, lively or peaceful according to taste :)
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Today I have something positive to hold onto in my future. My mom lives with my husband and I and our adult handicapped son, so I am sure a lot of you have seen my previous tribulations. I was feeling very let down since my sister decided to spend her vacation with her college friends instead of coming down to visit our mother and then posted it all over FB so my mom could see it; but then booked myself a little mini vacation to fly where my son is to throw a baby shower for my new grandbaby coming in a few months. Flush with this, I then audaciously booked a vacation for my husband, son and I to go stay a week when the baby comes and enjoy our newly born grandson and our existing grandsons. Mom will have to fend for herself for a week - and I am feeling more relaxed already.
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Overcast, cool so far today. Here's hoping for the severe thunderstorms this evening. I prefer the natural fireworks!

Have a touch of something, cold, sinus, I think I started the emergenC early enough.
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Gladimhere, right now here in the Wash DC area we are having nature's fireworks.

Or as my late Dad would say "it's booming banging, spittin, sparking".
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Tornado watch! Strong storms coming in, fireworks starting early, beating the storm? Maybe quiet by bedtime.
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I think I’m the only one who didn’t feel the quake today

I so clearly remember the morning in October 1987
in the shower convinced the house would collapse
should I stay put or run outside naked ?

two weeks without gas
gas company wouldn’t go under house to check if it was safe to turn it back on as long as there were aftershocks
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In DC with family. I am miserable after all of the rain and excessive walking that I am not healthy enough to do. I should have stayed at the hotel. I have been to out of a to enjoy it. I look forward to food at the hotel.
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The Fourth was fun when I was a kid,but now I can't wait till it's over.My poor little dog,Precious is shaking SO bad and hiding under the bed with her eyes bugged out.I'm afraid she might have a stoke or something,so I gave her a Benadryl to try to help calm her.
I feel so bad for all the animals everywhere tonight.
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Msmadge, I didn’t feel the earthquake either but that’s because I am about 330 miles north of L.A.
in fact we were out hiking in the valley and had no idea SoCal had been hit by an earthquake until I randomly checked my email while we were having a snack break & read an email from a friend in Maryland asking if we were OK!

i was 9 when the big quake of 89 hit the San Francisco Bay Area. Remember that vividly. As a kid, it was fun times, I remember the power was out for a few days and we got our news via a battery operated radio. It was like camping. Us kids didn’t understand the destruction it caused. Now that I am an adult with kids and a husband who’s job requires him to have to leave us in the event of a major earthquake, I don’t think it would be fun at all!

its only 8:43 here and not yet dark enough for fire works. I’d like to put on my jammies, send the kids to their rooms and watch a little TV but....there are “safe and sane” fireworks to be lit. Haven’t heard too many illegal fireworks this year. I think it’s because some police departments here are using drones to catch offenders so people are afraid to set off their illegal fireworks. 2 houses in a neighboring city caught fire yesterday after being hit with illegal aerial fireworks :(
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Growing up in Central California, I remember the big earthquake in 89, as well.


Lu- Poor Precious. I know she is not a happy camper. She will be ok.
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Thanks smeshque....Precious is better.She switched from under the bed and now she's in the closet and she's quit shaking I washed her face and soon,she'll be in bed with her Daddy where she belongs I hope.
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Wish our police dept had drones
we're still like a war zone here
I nearly yelled out the bathroom window
Stop it
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Oops, we are not supposed to yell out the bathroom window?
My bad.
I could see some of the fireworks from there. Wanting to share the experience with dH, I called him in, said to turn out the lights.

Uhhhh, nooooo. I left.
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Luckylu,
Ever hear of a thundershirt for dogs? Good for thunder and fireworks, it calms them.
You could make your own by cutting a stretchy sleeve off, pulling it on Precious (Not too tight over her chest, back, and tummy). Legs, all 4 go free. One can look it up online.
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Good idea Send.I'll look online how to make one & try your way.My dH won't spend the money on a storebought Thunder shirt,so your idea helps me alot.Thank you~
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Thundershirt? Sounds cute. Maybe I should have picked up one for Daniel instead of his head cone.

He may be getting it off tomorrow. I sure hope so. He is so depressed about it. I'm hoping he'll get back to his old self soon. We still haven't received the biopsy results back to see if they got all the cancer. We may find out tomorrow.
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Sure hope Daniel has a good report tomorrow Gershun~
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I lived in southern California when the earthquake of 1971 happened. I remember the bed shaking wildly. My mother came and told me to come and stand in the door frame. Being a young teenager I found this annoying as I could sleep like a rock back then. I long for one night of similar sleep now. Our pool looked as though it had Whitecaps. I attended a private school and I remember the more vocal classmates making up headlines such as "the world ends yet __ still holds classes". I am glad this one was not in such a populated area. I hope there does not indicate much suffering as more information is uncovered.
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Do they make thunder-shirts for adults?
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I loved the fireworks this year.... watched them outside from my front porch, and inside the DC and the Macy's displays.... so beautiful!! Reminds me of childhood. Independence Day -- July the 4th -- is one of my very favorite holidays !!!

And the 2 cats and 2 dogs seem non-plussed by the entire evening.... probably because we watch lots of TV (loudly) and especially all the NCIS, Law and Order, Chicago PD and such. And if not, we have over the counter calming drops that really help.
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I need a thunder shirt for myself each and every day, it seems! They do have a new product out, a weighted blanket, but I have not tried one. It is supposed to calm you down and help you sleep. I would think it too hot for Summer months though.
For all the care givers in CA, please stay safe. I just saw there was another quake at 7.1 in the same area as before....
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Katie, I've heard about the weighted blankets. Not sure if they are a fad or not. Some swear it works to help a person sleep.

Some say it feels like that x-ray apron that the dentist puts on you. That has never relaxed me :P

One said it felt like sleeping under a pile of rubble.

One said the pellets inside the blanket can be a bit noisy [that would trigger my OCD especially with the cat walking back and forth on the blanket].
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Not sure, but there are weighted blankets, developed for those with Autism.
Would have to look it up again to get any facts. They are used for sensory integration, and a calming effect.

Search: Autism weighted blankets.
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