Monday, July 5, 2010

Fourth of July Redneck Style!

We ventured down town last night. 
We do that every year.
The family from the Peanut Gallery hauls blankets, water bottles, bug spray and snacks down to the heart of the Fourth of July festivities.


We wiggle our way onto a patch of grass.
Un-beknownst to us, we usually plop down smack dab in the middle of the "smoke stack" couple and the Hicks from Hickerville.
Of course, our dilemma is fairly apparent moments into our adventure.
By then, escape is impossible as there is nary a slice of grass left.
There we sit for hours on end.
And it's all worth it in the end, to see the awe in our children's eyes as the fireworks display begins!

This year was no different.
Thankfully the chain smoker was a bit further away.
We only occasionally caught wind of her smoke stream.
However, the back woods family...the Hicks from Hickerville...well they were only inches from us.
As I scoped out the scene, I quickly realized we were surrounded.
And folks, they had pitched a tent!

Now, I have nothing against hicks.
In fact, I'm pretty sure I live with one.
D-man enjoys covering things with blue tarps.
He isn't ashamed to keep a pile of trash recycled items on our driveway.
And there is no doubt in my mind that he would plop a couch on our front porch if I would allow it!

I also know that not all hicks are created equal.
The antics of this particular Hick family were above and beyond what I could've ever hoped or dreamed.


At this time I must admit that I have a slight problem.
I enjoy people watching.
D-man calls it staring.
But I take pride in my discreetness while staring!
It doesn't just stop there.
I love listening to their conversations.
I believe it's called eavesdropping.


I prefer calling it "private investigation"!


Does anyone remember the As Seen On TV Loud N' Clear??
With the Loud N' Clear you can adjust the volume to your environment.
Hear a pin drop from across the room.
Make out what number the Bingo announcer is calling,
or even eavesdrop at parties.
And we mustn't forget that it is great for hunters because you can "hear wildlife before it hears YOU"!
loud and clear


Well...I really want the Loud N' Clear.
Mainly for Bingo and wildlife reasons...
However, I'm sure it would come in handy for situations like last night.


I had a slight problem, though.
The Donny and Marie wanna-be band had only one volume....LOUD.
It was cramping my "eavesdropping" style!


Thankfully, the family from Hickerville enjoyed conversing at an ungodly decibel.
You know the type.
The ones who seem to be having a conversation for the sake of those around them.

For instance, Daisy Mae had a heated conversation on her i-phone.
I feel sorry for the poor soul on the other end.
It was enough to curl my ear hairs.


Thankfully my children were having sugar induced moments of spacticity and were unaware of the conversations going on within inches of them.


At one point, Cletus, the assumed patriarch of the family, jumped out of his seat at Bubba John.
He hurled a whole knapsack of obscenities in his direction.
I couldn't quite make out the reason behind this.
Darn that "Donny and Marie" band.
I so needed that Loud N' Clear!


I was enthralled with the similarities of all of the women's features.
We're talkin' grandma, mother, daughters.
The youngest probably being 20. (I'm leaving the innocent littles out of this)
I expressed my observations to my sister.
She, being the perceptive dental hygiene assistant, pointed out that most of them were missing their teeth.
Which in turn, gave them similar facial characteristics.


Finally, to top it all off, Honey Lou, asked some of us around her if we could scootch off to the side a bit.
She needed to get her baby to sleep by "rocking" him in his stroller!
She then proceeded to yank that stroller back and forth with such force, I was sure poor baby Boo was gonna fly right out.
Seriously, if it hadn't have been so dark I would've video taped it.
It was unreal.
Surreal might be a better word.
Apparently she noticed a few of us wincing with each thrust of the stroller.


Don't Worry...she kindly reassured...
I ain't gonna run you over!


My investigations were cut short.
Apparently my children wanted me to pay attention to them.
And, I might add, they were every bit as entertaining.
In fact, I'm sure that someone is writing a blog post about their observations of my children at this very moment!
At some points in the evening they were just plain weird.
I laughed at them and pretended my sister was their mother!


C-boy and J-boy were bustin' some serious grooves.
I might add that no one around us was dancing.
They apparently are unopposed to being the center of attention.
Nothing like a little "Saturday in the Park", "Funky Town", and "Celebrate Good Times" to get the dancing juices flowing.
And did they ever flow.

Finally, the fireworks display was beautiful.
And wouldn't you know it...the Hicks from Hickerville sang along at the top of their lungs!
That my friend, was icing on the cake!


I will now end this extremely long description of our most eventful evening with a few pictures.


dance

dance 2

dance3


dance4

I hope that your Fourth of July was every bit as fun and memorable as ours!

19 comments:

A said...

TOO FUNNY!!!! :)
I love seeing a new post from you in the morning, I know I'll be laughing or smiling by the end. True enough, I'm laughing out loud :)
Happy to see you had a great 4th - I love your pics, you have such beautiful kids.

Hannah said...

That's too funny. I live in the country so I am feeling your pain :)

My son is a fan of the stare and ease drop act of 98. He is not even subtle at it. Usually it is followed by an overly LOUD observation about whoever he has been stalking.

Rebekah said...

Too funny! I do the same, sit and watch people, its interesting! Wearing sunglasses helps! ;0)

Wanda said...

Thank you - I thoroughly enjoyed your celebration and all your fascinating observations.

Have a great week!
:)

Pam said...

You should be a writer!!! LOVED this description of your eventful (and yet fun) 4th of July!!

Anonymous said...

Honey Lou must've rocked L-Boy to sleep too, I'm guessing?

I'm loving that your husband is flashing the I love yous and you've got the devil horns going! So funny!

We walked down on the beach for fireworks and a drunk girl was crawling on all fours at the cross over, her friends were trying to get her to just make it to the dunes. Try to explain that one to your kids. Whew!
Great pictures! Hope the second hand smoke didn't do you in!

Love Letters To China said...

Wow... it sounds like you had a great time! Love the description of your fellow firework watchers. Too funny!

Great pics of your family!

Dan and Shell said...

LOL!! Made me laugh! Bummer, if we would have known you were down there we would have come and squeezed in on the grass with you! It really brings out the best & worst doesn't it...more of the 'worst' though!! Did you get my text...I thought for sure D would have brought down your motor home like all the people we saw!! Park it sideways taking up 5 spots and BBQing right out front!! They really were pretty though!! Thanks for the chuckles as I read, unfortunately I can picture the Hicks as there are WAY too many here!!!

liz said...

Mine was neither as fun nor as memorable as yours! Were those their real names? And the tent??? I'm sure the people behind them were thrilled with that.

Do your boys get their moves from their mama? :)

Heather said...

The pictures look great!! It sounds like fun. :)
I loved your little story! I'm a people watcher, too, and I totally saw that commercial for that ear thing and wanted it, too! I even asked my husband - "Do you think that really works?" :)

Bethany said...

I was thoroughly enjoying myself, and then you got to the part about the hicks singing along to the fireworks music, and I busted out loud! I love it when there's a freaky side show! It really adds to the festivity!

Nice fireworks pics, too! Those are hard to nail!

Sonora said...

The pictures are great! It really looks like a lot of fun. Your description of the hick family brought back many memories from growing up in Wyoming. There was nothing like a summer fair to bring out the hicks. Oy! I keep thinking about that poor baby being "rocked" to sleep. Anyway, I'm glad you had a great fourth!

TheFitHousewife said...

Gorgeous photos Julie! Your family is so beautiful! Those fireworks pictures are great!

I so remember the Loud n' Clear commercial. It cracks me up everytime I see it!

Yes, your hubby sounds Canadian....the tarp thing! I laughed out loud at that one!

Laura said...

Hahahaha you crack me up, this was the greatest post ever! Funny stuff!

Love all the pictures, looks like everyone had a great time!

Manda said...

Oh Julie... You had me in stitches. I have to admit, my favourite part was when D-man said your "people watching" is staring. Too funny! I'm a people watcher myself... or now I guess I just stare. :)

He & Me + 3 said...

You are too much. OMGosh this post was hilarious. I felt like our fireworks experience was similar. I love to people watch and eavesdrop just a bit too. Cracking up at the donnie and marie band. LOL yOu are seriously too funny. Love it.
Love the pictures and the whole family shot. YOu are all too cute.

Seizing My Day said...

and yet apparently I didn't comment... no seriously I read this and commented but blogger was giving me trouble... so I gave up! =) This story had me in stitches!! I am a people snooper too... people are funny! ha ha!

Alisha said...

Haha! Investigations!

Cute post.

I too love to people watch & eavesdrop, however, I suck @ it. Not a discreet bone in my body when it comes to that stuff!

Shannon K. said...

Oh your 4th was WAY more fun than ours. Our kids were in bed by 7, and Andy and I watched a rented movie then went to bed. Like we're 80.

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