Fireworks on the Freeway-July 4th

The festival was almost dull all day. We had a few problems with some of the musicians but at a quarter to nine me and Karyn were recruited for a "Secret Squirrel" mission of sorts. We had no idea what we were doing, so when we all met up at a extra huge handicap porto-potty with gloves we thought we were doomed to move a toilet. Luckily we were escorted to a cop car (and I can honestly say that I've never heard anyone say that). The cop was going to take us up onto the closed off freeway (which was closed because the fireworks were being shot off right below and plenty of debris, some still on fire, would land on the freeway). We had to drive through town to get onto an off-ramp. It was me, Karyn, and Xolie in the backseat of this cop car, and you could tell by the looks on most peoples faces they were suprised to see such attractive young women who had been arrested. So we laughed and waved with our wrists together, making faces (some vulgar). Even the cop thought it was funny. We finally got onto the freeway and the cop let us out. I have never been on a freeway before in my life, at least not outside of a car. It was bizarre, but also very cool. We even got to lay in the middle. There was a firetruck and a group of firemen on the freeway with us, for safety reasons I'm sure, but they seemed to think they were there to flirt. Xolie and Karyn watched the fireworks laying in the middle of the freeway (but I wanted to give them some privacy, and I was scared of having some flying firing debris land on my head). So I sat on the firetruck, talking to some of the firemen. One even invited me back to the firehouse to hang out. I graciously declined. After the fireworks were over we walked along the freeway looking for large pieces of debris. There were other people that were there specifically to pick up the trash and it had a very creepy zombie feel. Me and Karyn even walked towards Xolie like we were zombies....very funny.

Having fireworks exploding right above you is loud, but brilliant. It was for sure, a once in a lifetime opportunity. I'm really glad that I got to see it happen. And I hope that next year we can do it again.

I will never forget July Fourth 2006.

Sunset July 5th

Transcribed from my journal:

My very own sunglassed sunset. I got up here early. This time alone. It's windy but the air is perfect and having the wind through my hair is nice. Without my sunglasses the sky is yellow and blue, pastel colors and so beautiful. With them though, its orange, yellow, pink and blue. (And you can see the lining of the clouds right above the mountains).
So here I am with my altered sunset. Alone, but hardly lonely. Long day. I began to think the sun would never set. But myself as my witness, it finally is. Unbelievable and so refreshing. Once it hits the mountains it sinks quickly. I almost hate to see it go. Half way gone, but soon I'll unalter it and the colors will come. Purple mountains and a rainbow of colored clouds and sky, fading into the still blue sky. The ball has sunk, completely below those mountains. And slowly a few clouds settle into place above the golden glow. Reds getting darker nowand a purple strengthens. I can feel the sky darkening above me, maybe even around me. They always say a watched pot never boils, but a watched sunset boils too fast. Unbelievable. And I'll watch it in reverse in the morning.

Beautiful.

I can't wait.

Sunset July 13th

Yesterday again, Giles (my stranger) came over to enjoy the sunset. It's become tradition and we do our best to do it everyday. We climed onto the roof and settled in for the sunset at the perfect time. The sun was just hitting the mountains, and the colors had just begun. I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful sunset last night.

And even though the sun sinks fast when it hits the mountains,
I pretended that it lasted for hours.