A Good Day at the Park
Yesterday was the first time I've been able to get up to PacBell Park to watch any Giants games. And I realized just how much I'd missed going to games. Even though the Giants lost, they lost to the A's and Eric Byrnes hit for the cycle, with a spare double just to make sure.

P and I had a nice drive up in the morning through the gorgeous sunny day. We hit heavy overcast conditions as we got into the city and then, just before we got to the park, the sun broke out again.

Free parking in the nice lot, club level seats and my girl. It was a good day and only enhanced by the drive back down along the coast. And the Freedom Fireworks stations along the route made it all that much better. Fireworks are as American as Apple Pie even if they are made in China.

But not firecrackers or bottle rockets anymore. I didn't know it but they're illegal for sale in California, which isn't to say that they are illegal to use. Because the fireworks we bought are illegal to use. Its one of those what-the-fuck doubled over laws that are incomprehensible to the lay person. I think it goes something like, you can sell them but you can't use them in certain counties, you can possess them and use them in certain counties but not sell them and you can not possess them but you can use them in certain counties and you can only trade them for beaver pelts.

I like bottle rockets though, those and roman candles. Things that either rocket themselves or shoot flaming balls of death. And isn't that what the Fourth of July is all about? Sparklers in kids hands, floating half empty kegs of fromaldehyde laced Budwiser, piles of half burnt-half raw cow meat, children with fiery red backs, mothers and fathers with fiery red forearms. And explosions, explosions to symbolize the victory of American forces over the English, of the declaration of our independence, the day we cast off the empire's protective control.

It also means a short work week and a long weekend, one that it makes a ton of sense to keep the car parked and either pedal places or take the motorcycle. Which, by the way, has a sweet new tire that seems to grip the pavement like its glued down. Makes buzzing the hills lots of fun!