Dear Jack: Shooting 4th of July Fireworks for the 1st Time While Living in Alabama

13 years, 7 months.

Dear Jack,

Last week, I could have easily forgotten about it being the 4th of July until I started hearing the fireworks that night.

But not you. You made sure that we took you to buy a 13 year-old’s worth of fireworks.

While we watched you host your own fireworks show in the driveway, there were multiple other fireworks shows going on all around us.

Our surrounding neighborhoods clearly had a much bigger budget for fireworks than we gave you.

You didn’t seem to notice.

Not only were you happy with the fireworks you managed, but you truly didn’t seem to notice all the other fireworks going on behind you the whole time.

Love,

Daddy

 

Dear Holly: Throwing Water Balloons at the 4th of July Parade

7 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

Last week for July 4th, our family was visiting Grandma in California. We had never been there before on that holiday to see their Walnut Grove community parade.

We were invited to hang out with some of Grandma’s friends in their yard for the festivities.

I was very surprised and confused to see Grandma’s neighbors pull out a bucket of water balloons and water guns to attack the participants in the parade.

You and your brother were encouraged to proactively attack the people in the parade floats as they drove by the house.

Granted, they were prepared for battle as well. The fire trucks even used their hose to soak everyone!

It was a one of a kind experience!

 

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: You Got to Ride in a Hot Rod for the 4th of July!

12 years, 7 months.

Dear Jack,

Last week, I would say you had a dream come true: You were invited to ride in a hot rod on the 4th of July!

As we were setting up our lawn chairs in Grandma’s neighbors’ driveway, you couldn’t help but notice the festive classic car parked out front.

It didn’t take the neighbor long to realize you are as crazy about cars as he is, so he decided to drive you around the block, right before the parade started.

For you, it was a whole lot better than actually being in the parade!

Love,

Daddy

What Do Vegans Eat for the 4th of July? Just Ask Me, The Manliest Vegan on the Internet!

It’s understood in our American culture that a real man takes pride in eating bacon, sausage, and beef.

Especially on July 4th. He simply (and ironically) laughs in the face of high cholesterol and onset diabetes.

Why? Because it’s manly to eat meat.

And because… ‘Merica!

How else could a man possibly get enough protein?

However, I am currently taking America by storm, as I am stumping both scientists and sociologists alike…

They are being forced to take notice that I am in deed the manliest vegan on the Internet, yet I am still alive and well.

Miraculously, I am perfectly in the correct height/weight/age range. I not overweight nor underweight. In other words… I’m getting enough protein.

How is it that I am not a walking skeleton? Why does I seem so happy and content in life? 

I am currently baffling our nation, as Americans everywhere are trying to wrap their minds around the fact that I haven’t eaten any pork (which includes bacon and sausage) in 8 and a half years, any meat at all in 5 and a half years, and no eggs or dairy in over 4 years.

My protein comes from six sources:

Veggies, fruit, beans, grains, nuts, and seeds.

So what does a manly vegan eat on July 4th? Whatever I want, as long as it consists of veggies, fruit, beans, grains, nuts, and seeds.

For this July 4th, my wife made a vegan lasagna (containing noodles and veggies) and some vegan sausage by Field Roast Grain Meat Co. as well. And I liked it.

I didn’t feel left out. I didn’t feel victimized. And I didn’t feel jealous.

Why? Because I am the manliest vegan on the Internet.

Instead, other men surely felt left out that they are not part of my manly vegan club.

(Mic dropped.)

 

Dear Jack: Novelty Fireworks in the Cul-de-Sac for July 4th

5 years, 7 months.

Dear Jack: Novelty Fireworks in the Cul-de-Sac for July 4th

Dear Jack,

My philosophy on fireworks for the 4th of July is this: Enjoy the entertainment in which our neighbors provide as they go all-out on fireworks; meanwhile, we’ll spend $13 on novelty items to get the show started.

And that’s exactly what happened this year.

Dear Jack: Novelty Fireworks in the Cul-de-Sac for July 4th

After we finished dinner Monday night, I set up a folding chair for Mommy and Holly in the driveway. Then you and I went to work.

The show started with you blasting through 50 Mega Snaps, about a dozen of which were instant casualties when they fell out of the box as you were opening it.

Dear Jack: Novelty Fireworks in the Cul-de-Sac for July 4th

Next I lit the ladybug, but unfortunately, nothing happened. The fuse burned up and that was it. Bummer.

I think even Holly was disappointed on that one.

Dear Jack: Novelty Fireworks in the Cul-de-Sac for July 4th

You were very excited about the American flag themed tank, which of course, was made in China. It provided a nice explosion. We both liked how it was smoking afterwards, like it just came out of battle.

Dear Jack: Novelty Fireworks in the Cul-de-Sac for July 4th

The smoke bombs remain to be one of your favorite types of fireworks every year; though you and your friend Aiden didn’t appreciate the sulfur smell.

Dear Jack: Novelty Fireworks in the Cul-de-Sac for July 4th

Both you and Mommy decided it was best that I handle the sword, once we learned what it actually did; which was to shoot sparks out for about a minute straight.

Dear Jack: Novelty Fireworks in the Cul-de-Sac for July 4th

We finished off our family’s fireworks show with the most curious item: the Poopy Puppy.

It was impossible not to laugh: He shot sparks out his rear-end, spun around, “pooped” out ashes, and then self-destructed by catching on fire.

Dear Jack: Novelty Fireworks in the Cul-de-Sac for July 4th

Dear Jack: Novelty Fireworks in the Cul-de-Sac for July 4th

By that time, our neighbors came out with the real fireworks and we got to relax, as spectators, watching the explosions in the air, as neighbors from nearby cul-de-sacs tried to compete for glory.

Ah, the cul-de-sac life.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: Novelty Fireworks in the Cul-de-Sac for July 4th