Happy 4th of July

Took my long lens up on the roof of my building
and got some shots of the Macy's fireworks 
display.  Not too bad for several 
miles away at night without a tripod 
(and it was raining)!
That's the Trade Tower on the right.

[Linking back to Ruby Tuesday
and Our World Tuesday.]

(Red, White, and) Blue Monday

A very Happy 4th of July (and 240th birthday)
to all my fellow Americans from the 
heart of Manhattan—let the fireworks begin!

[Linking back to Blue Monday at
Backyard Neighbor.]

(Long) Weekend Reflections

Bathing suit?  Check.  Sunscreen?  Check.
Cool shades?  Check!
Don't know how you Americans out there plan
to celebrate the long 4th of July weekend,
but I hope you get all the hot dogs,
hamburgers, beer, and fireworks you want.

[To see more weekend reflections, visit James's meme.]

Let there be . . .

. . . "light."  That's this week's Thursday Photo Challenge.

And here's a great big ball of it—in a photo
I've been waiting almost six months to use.

[To see more of the Thursday Photo Challenge, go here.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

These talented hands belong to Noam Pikelny,
who played in a free bluegrass concert
here in NYC on July 4th. Temp was way up in
the 90s (as usual), but we were all chillin'.


[To see more Shadow Shots, go here.]

Ruby Tuesday

These fifers are performing in Boston's
Granary Burying Ground. It's the final
resting place of three signers of the
Declaration of Independence, five victims
of the Boston Massacre—and Paul Revere.

Also buried here is the woman
some claim is Mother Goose.
Hope all my compatriots enjoy
the 4th tomorrow!
[To see more Ruby Tuesday 
shots, go here.]

Skywatch Friday

Macy's put on quite a show on the 4th—but before it got
dark and the fireworks began, Mother Nature
put on a little show of her own!
[To see more Skywatch, go here.]

Mellow Yellow Monday

Well, they did it again down here in VA

(home of the do-it-yourself fireworks

extravaganza). I didn't miss the

 Macy's display one bit!

[See more Mellow Yellow here.]

Jet Ski!

Daughter Katie got talked into doing this 

(it wasn't too hard to convince her). 

 At some point she said to the driver "Faster!" 

and he told her, "We're going 104 mph!"

They got off to a rocky start, though, when they 

fell off twice (!) before they even got going. 

(Made Mama nervous.)

Have you ever ridden one of these?

Hot dog!

Must admit, I've never understood the appeal.

But it's a big deal here in Brooklyn. Last year's winner broke 

his own record at this year's 4th of July contest—go, Joey!

I stopped in at this flagship Nathan's the weekend 

before the contest and ate precisely ONE (1) hot dog. 

It did have sauerkraut on it, though.  They have to

post calories on the menu (more than 2,000 for a double 

cheeseburger!) and the hot dog has 309.  So at 68 dogs,

Joey consumed 21,012 calories (and 1,360 grams of fat) 

in 10 minutes!  (That's about how many calories I

consume in 2 weeks! How about you?)

Happy 4th!

Here I am down in Virginia, so missing
the amazing Macy's fireworks display.
Have been assured that the private
show put on by our friends down here
is every bit as spectacular. Must admit,
I'm a skeptical New Yorker—but will
let you know.