Happy Birthday, America!

My initial plans for the 4th were to do nothing...  It is a school night (kids still in school - on Japanese calendar).  Eric is in Washington.  We watched fireworks on base with Daddy on Sunday.  I failed to "do" anything...


And then...  this jack-ass behind me was honking at me to turn, but there was an old lady crossing the street with her bicycle.  He wouldn't let it go!  I got a text in the middle of all this.  I unrolled my window, shook my fist at him and demanded to know what his problem was.


No problem - just Gabe.  The Sullivan's were behind me and had invited us up to their house for some hanabi.  YAY!  So, we gobbled down dinner and headed for the hills (the Sullivan's live up "the hill" from us.  There are many hills, so it isn't really very descriptive, but there you have it).


When we got there, the Fraser's were there too.  YAY!!  We had a great time eating American goodies (raspberry peach pie, brownies with whipped cream, peanut butter filled pretzels, popcorn, Green Flash Pale Ale and Bud Light) and watching the kids play with fire.


Stefan and Brennan were quite the pyromaniacs...

The other kids got into the sparklers as well.  We had to continually remind them that they DO NOT RUN with them (Elly - and apparently Brennan...).  Good thing the Japanese versions are SMALL.  Many burnt out in the time it took me to put the camera to my eye...

One got in trouble for running AWAY from the fireworks

As he ran around to the front - and to the road.  You can actually see my lip curling... (You will NOT run out of this yard and definitely NOT into the road!!!) and clearly Ian is crying (It too hot for me, Mummy!)  Ultimately, He was convinced that fireworks are not "too hot"...

Maye helped Ian with his first sparkler - a little unsure of the idea at first...  but then warmed up to it (pun intended).

 Jason helped Maggie

Jack and Dougie ditched the idea of sparks and flames in favor off making dessert soup out of their pie and whipped cream.


It was a fun evening together with friends celebrating the birth of our nation.  I don't think we are thanking the Lord nearly often enough for the incredible privilege we have living in the United States.  A country founded on the want to freely practice religion as the people, not the king, saw fit. Our forefathers were Christians and founded our country on that belief.  Whether or not the intention was to allow religious freedom to ALL religions is moot.  Our country was founded on the principle of freedom.  And I thank THE God for that.  And my prayer is that all would know that real freedom comes from the Lord.  Thank you, God, for and incredible nation and the privilege of being an American.  Thank you for friends!  Thank you for fireworks!!!

Happy Birthday, America!  Hanging with the boys...

Zushi Hanabi - Beet Fire!

Eric and I have traded babysitting with the Cohn's - thank you Gina for suggesting it!!!  A few Saturdays back was our turn.  We had plans to go to a German restaurant in Kamakura and then down to Zushi for a huge fireworks show - I am a fireworks addict!  It was the perfect date!


As we got ready, Eric got a call from a friend, Jeromy, saying Dwayne had wrecked his bike (and self) and needed to be picked up from the ferry.  Without question, nor argument, Eric went to pick him up.  Turns out, Dwayne did not want to interrupt our weekend and it was Jeromy that needed the ride!  They had been riding out on the Chiba peninsula and T-boned a car (turned in front of him).  He likely totaled the car, but landed on his feet and only required 10 stitches to patch his knee up.  Some Advil and a couple of beers later, he was feeling great! (BTW - Jeromy brews some fantastic beer!)


This all changed our date somewhat - for the better!  Jeromy and his wife life out in Zushi (where the fireworks were being held).  His wife, Megan, had been down at the beach all day and was waiting for the show.  Instead of taking the train back home, Eric and I drove he and his bike back to their house.  Did I mention Jeromy brews a tasty beer?  We have been very fortunate here that a number of guys have taken beer-brewing up as a hobby - and they do it very well!


After Jeromy graciously shared his beer with us, we all went down to the beach and met up with Megan where we had front row seats for a HUGE Hanabi show.  In Japanese, "Hanabi" is written as 花火, the kanji characters mean "flower" and "fire" respectively.  Pretty descriptive!

I wonder what the kanji for "heart" and "fire" would be... "aibi" perhaps... 愛火 (love fire)

 What about Saturn? 土星火 "Doseibi"?

How about a frowny-face?  "Kanashii kao bi" 悲しい顔火

With fireworks being "Made in China", you wonder if this is a case of (lack of) quality control, a sense of humor or just a statement of their control, "You ordered five happy faces - we gave you four.  And one frown. HA!"

There were three barges for this fireworks display.  The consensus is that we will be in the water next year to watch them!

The finale lasted over 11 minutes and was choreographed to music.  The whole program was 7000 rounds of fire flowers!  The video is big and long - I had no idea it would last so long!  The songs kept going... the fireworks kept going... Then they played the 1812 Overture...  A very fitting finale to the finale...

The photo quality was as good as it gets on a phone - not too shabby, really!  I was sad, though, that this picture did not turn out better.  This motorcycle had LARGE flake metallic paint - red and silver.  The helmets were also large-flake metallic.  The seat back was surfboard-like.  The guy standing there (passenger, one hopes) was chugging a huge can of Asahi and chatting on his cell.

The best part of the motorcycle?  It's name.  The "Beet".  Yup.  Beet - a root vegetable.  With the sparkly paint, perhaps it should be called the

"Bi-to bi"

ビート 火

"Beet Fire"!