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BBQ! BBQ! BBQ!
Ribeye on the grill, NY Strip on the grill, hotdogs, hamburgers.
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Last year, and over the years, the mrs built this huge slip and slide, with splash pond at the end. We have family over and all our adopted children and their families. Burgers, etc. Since we live close to the reservation, we have lots of, potentially, not so legal, fireworks involving mortars, etc. We encourage everyone to bring a firearm and shoot on our range!!!
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Family is over and pig butt on the smoker.
The local fireworks stand didn’t have any lady-fingers so it’ll have the be pew, pew, pew all day long !
Happy Independence Day everyone and stay safe.
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Go to the range. Nothing screams freedom like the report of a firearm. Then we’ll grill some burgers and brats, and shoot off fireworks after dark.
Edit:
And, I just ate a piece of homemade apple pie for breakfast. I’ll drive a Chevy(GMC) to the levy later.
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Race track away from (most of the) crazy people!
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I usually put a brisket on the smoker and also make burnt ends 
This year it’s standard hot dogs and hamburgers…maybe a brisket next weekend.
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Beer brauts and hot Italian sausage, foil boat potatoes, corn all on the coals and some drinking here in Crystal lake, IL. Happy fourth everyone!!!
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Happy 4th! Proud to be an American and give thanks to God for living in such a wonderful land of freedom and opportunity for all!
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Shoot, grill, cigar, adult beverage.
I will get at least the last two in today.
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Can’t really answer now, still sleeping in.
Oh, I guess I just answered it. Nighty nite all! 
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Happy July 4th everyone.
And here is here is Red Skelton explaining the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE and what it means. Enjoy.
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I observed on one of the drums belonging to the marines now raising, there was painted a Rattle-Snake, with this modest motto under it, “Don’t tread on me.” As I know it is the custom to have some device on the arms of every country, I supposed this may have been intended for the arms of America; and as I have nothing to do with public affairs, and as my time is perfectly my own, in order to divert an idle hour, I sat down to guess what could have been intended by this uncommon device – I took care, however, to consult on this occasion a person who is acquainted with heraldry, from whom I learned, that it is a rule among the learned of that science “That the worthy properties of the animal, in the crest-born, shall be considered,” and, “That the base ones cannot have been intended;” he likewise informed me that the ancients considered the serpent as an emblem of wisdom, and in a certain attitude of endless duration – both which circumstances I suppose may have been had in view. Having gained this intelligence, and recollecting that countries are sometimes represented by animals peculiar to them, it occurred to me that the Rattle-Snake is found in no other quarter of the world besides America, and may therefore have been chosen, on that account, to represent her.
But then “the worldly properties” of a Snake I judged would be hard to point out. This rather raised than suppressed my curiosity, and having frequently seen the Rattle-Snake, I ran over in my mind every property by which she was distinguished, not only from other animals, but from those of the same genus or class of animals, endeavoring to fix some meaning to each, not wholly inconsistent with common sense.
I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has no eye-lids. She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance. She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. As if anxious to prevent all pretensions of quarreling with her, the weapons with which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenseless animal; and even when those weapons are shown and extended for her defense, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal. Conscious of this, she never wounds 'till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her.
Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and conduct of America ? The poison of her teeth is the necessary means of digesting her food, and at the same time is certain destruction to her enemies. This may be understood to intimate that those things which are destructive to our enemies, may be to us not only harmless, but absolutely necessary to our existence. I confess I was wholly at a loss what to make of the rattles, 'till I went back and counted them and found them just thirteen, exactly the number of the Colonies united in America; and I recollected too that this was the only part of the Snake which increased in numbers. Perhaps it might be only fancy, but, I conceited the painter had shown a half formed additional rattle, which, I suppose, may have been intended to represent the province of Canada.
'Tis curious and amazing to observe how distinct and independent of each other the rattles of this animal are, and yet how firmly they are united together, so as never to be separated but by breaking them to pieces. One of those rattles singly, is incapable of producing sound, but the ringing of thirteen together, is sufficient to alarm the boldest man living.
The Rattle-Snake is solitary, and associates with her kind only when it is necessary for their preservation. In winter, the warmth of a number together will preserve their lives, while singly, they would probably perish. The power of fascination attributed to her, by a generous construction, may be understood to mean, that those who consider the liberty and blessings which America affords, and once come over to her, never afterwards leave her, but spend their lives with her. She strongly resembles America in this, that she is beautiful in youth and her beauty increaseth with her age, “her tongue also is blue and forked as the lightning, and her abode is among impenetrable rocks.”
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Fried chicken, apple pie, Potato salad, fire works, reflection of our forefathers.
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Relax…
This year, went to the range to do some shooting with the boys, washed the truck, came home and grilled some steak and some chicken that the wife put in a killer marinade.
After taking a little nap, now it’s time to go enjoy all the hundreds of dollars my neighbors spent on fireworks…(while trying to keep our dog from freaking out too bad).
To quote Ice Cube…“today was a good day…” 
Happy 4th everyone.
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ok, this is kinda odd, I set back a movie to watch: The Kingsmen, the first one.
I’ find it odd the parallels imaginable just now.
Happy Independence Day (the movie!)
another odd parallel?
Ribs, watermelon, boating, swimming and then “Thunder on the Mountain”.
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