As I do on most Fourths of July, today I will re-read my copy of The Declaration Of Independence, which I purchased for just $1.95. Who knew that freedom from tyranny could cost so little?
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I bought my copy of our founding document at Knott's Berry Farm's 'Independence Hall' on January 22, 2001.
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Tonight I'll probably sit on my front porch like a tired old dog, with a Bloody Beer in my big Tervis Tumbler (still proudly made in the U.S.A.) from where I can watch the fireworks display they put on from the roofs of the Nugget Casino in Sparks, Nevada, only a few miles from my house in Reno. (They say, "Reno is so close to hell that one can see Sparks.")
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNEDjBL0CC4&t=70s
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But until then, lemme share a few songs with ya for this special day. This is "Outlaw Country" in celebration of our Outlaw Founders (at least King George the
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This first one, 'America', is from Waylon Jennings, the actual founder of "Outlaw Country".
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'America' by Waylon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YYzIWTE1L4
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Now, let's hear from Waylon's friend, the great Bocephus. Bocephus has a terrific E-Ticket sense of humor. Circa 1991, I saw him perform live at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, and I think he was the only person in the Theatre who was drunker'n I was. (Ha! Fun show!!) My girlfriend, "The Countess", and I had gone before the concert to El Coyote for dinner and Margaritas (Warren Zevon's favorite Margaritas, by the way.) And since The Countess was driving, I had maybe a Maggie or two too many.
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'The American Way' by Hank "Bocephus" Williams, Jr.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seRJARhRUd8
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BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!...
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This isn't so much about America, but it does feature Waylon and Bocephus singing together, with some nice harmonizing by Jim Beam. And watch for cutie Jessi Colter making a surprise appearance near the end.
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'The Conversation' by Waylon, Bocephus, and Jim Beam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csONW-zWFqs
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AND THAT'S NOT ALL!...
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A blog y'all should be reading regularly (like I do) is (link:] FELLOWSHIP OF THE MINDS. And today, DCG at FOTM posted an inspired blog bit titled (link:] 'Happy Fourth Of July! The Greatest Play In Baseball'. I commented to her:
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Hokey-Smoke! DCG, you rock hard!
What a fantastic idea for a 4th O’ July post! Baseball — America’s pastime — and saving Old Glory on the Green Fields of Summer. A very imaginative combination on your part.
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You old baseball fans will remember this perfectly well -- it's a legendary baseball moment that occurred in America's Bicentennial year of 1976 -- and we patriotic baseball fans will always remember and applaud Rick Monday more for this than for anything he ever did on a baseball field with his glove or bat.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrV8QPQAhxo
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A tip of my Stetson to DCG @ Fellowship Of The Minds, and love to all my Friends & Family. Please re-read The Declaration Of Independence today, have a cold Beer or a cold Mojito, safely enjoy the fireworks, and if you have the opportunity...
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
'Loyal American Revolutionary Underground'
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Al Bondigas here. Happy 4th mu bruthu. Every 4th of July brings me back to that wonderful and magical time when we all went to El Segundo Park for the fire works displays. A much better time and place. That was back when California was a red state. This must be the worst day of the year for libtards. Hooooeeeey Hoey!!!
ReplyDeleteMUH BRUHTHUH, did you kick a commie for our Mommy? I would have, but in my cowboy hat, none of 'em ever find the balls to approach me. (Of course, they'd need to HAVE balls first in order to FIND 'em, right?)
Delete4th of July, El Segundo Park: Man, same here. Not a 4th has passed since then that I did not think about that place multiple times during the day. I think we actually went there for the 4th at least a couple times, but the first time is the one I always think of. (When Uncle J told that staggering dude he'd better drive home because he was too drunk to walk! Ha! What a terrific line. I've reused it over the decades.)
Yeah, that was the best 4th of July our family ever celebrated and I'm always reminded of it by (link:] THIS SONG! I would have posted that video in this blog bit had I thought of it earlier. (Maybe next year.)
The best times and places are in the past. (At least until we all enter Heaven at the side of our Savior, Haysuz, in 2029. Be there or be... somewhere in hell.)
~ D-FensDogG
[Link:) Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Wow!! The Peanuts gang sing it just as good as Chicago.
DeleteHeck, maybe even a little bit better.
DeleteThis could be a future BOTB installment: Chicago Vs. Peanuts. Ha!-Ha!
~ D-FensDogG
[Link:) Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
mm,mm,mmm! You have some kickass music jammin' here today! I love me some Waylon Jennings! And some Hank... Good stuff!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story about Rick Monday! I had no idea. I enjoyed watching the Rick run up and tear that flag away from them. Bet they were surprised! Great video. I would like to know a little more info, like who's those idiots were that were attempting to burn our flag. Maybe I'll find some answers on my favorite hangout, Wikipedia. :)
Happy Independence Day my friend! And thank you for posting the fireworks! I never get to see fireworks anymore and I sooo love them! I always have to stay home and keep the dogs from freaking out. I have 14 here right now so it may be a big job tonight. I have lots of Benedryl on hand...
What's worse than just the booms from the local displays is the knuckleheads who buy fireworks and blow them off in the neighborhood. My subdivision doesn't allow fireworks but these folks don't care about rules and do it anyway. And it goes on and on and on til way past midnight. Pisses me off. The poor dogs!
Anyway, I also have alcohol on hand for me... :)
Have a good time tonight!
XOXO
Michele at Angels Bark
MICHELE ~
DeleteWell, let's face it, the 4th of July (1776) was just an intro to some ass-kickin'. I once visited the site of "The Shot Heard 'Round The World". It was pretty awesome! In the woods, you could almost still here the Redcoats running back to their ships. Let's hear it for the ragtag Militia -- The Minutemen (aka We The People).
Those idiots who tried to burn the American flag in the outfield at Dodger Stadium are probably college professors today. What else would they be qualified for, anyway?
FUN FACT: Some time later, Rick Monday was traded and he went from the Cubs to the Dodgers. For years, he spent a lot of time patrolling that same outfield for "The Boys In Blue -- DODGER Blue".
Glad you enjoyed the songs.
The best dog my family ever had was Yoey. That was the smartest dog I ever knew. But even he got freaked out by fireworks / firecrackers. We'd always bring him indoors during the 4th of July, if we were at home.
In fact, we found Yoey wandering our neighborhood (circa 1967) just a day or two after the 4th of July. When we later saw how he reacted to fireworks, we realized that he'd probably jumped his previous owner's fence on the night of the 4th. So we always celebrated Yoey's birthday as the 4th of July -- with a birthday cake and everything. He loved it -- until night came and with it, the noise.
Are you three sheets to the wind yet? I'm workin' hard at it. Ha!
~ Stephen
[Link:) Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
re: 3-sheets: not even close yet!! I took all the dogs out to potty before nightfall and of course wanted to give out their treats before the booms start. I gotta have a clear head when giving out treats to this many dogs! That's actually the scariest part of my job, giving out treats to a crowd. If something drops to the floor and a few dogs go for it at the same time, can be a fast dog fight. Likewise, handing out treats with everyone wanting to be next and having some dogs not displaying courteous behavior and trying to take a treat out of another dogs mouth... yeah, can get ugly real quick. So I'm just getting started with a little drink... :)
ReplyDeleteThat was awesome how your family found Yoey. And you're probably right: this is the time of year that shelters see the highest influx of dogs because so many of them jump fences or dig out of the yards. What breed was Yoey?
I'll toast to ya during the fireworks... :)
MICHELE ~
DeleteWell, dang! Those dogs sound just like people -- always fighting over something. Ha!
I, myself, wouldn't fight over a dog biscuit. BUT!... when there's only one beer left in the fridge -- LOOK OUT!
Yoey was a mutt of some kind, but he was primarily golden colored and looked most like a collie.
I thought for sure I had posted a photo of him with my Pa and my Brother in an alley on one of my blogs years ago, but I can't seem to find it now.
However, when I'm home from work, I'll email it to ya. I know I have it in a file on my home computer.
~ Stephen
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Stephen,
ReplyDeleteHappy Independence Day to you, my friend! Sounds like you had a laid back day as it should be for all but we know it could be so different today had our forefathers not fought so hard to secure the American liberties we enjoy and so often take for granted. Being the gal that I am, I wanted to get you that second glittery American patriotic pinup girl for ya, so here she is...https://goo.gl/images/aAPkM7!
HA!-HA! Thank you, CATHY! Woo-Hoo! Very nice. I think I like it even better'n the first one. I'm gonna save that and try to remember to post it on my own blog next Fourth of July. To me, she almost looks like Dale Evans when she was very young. (And you can call me "Roy". ;^)
Delete~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Great post today, Stephen!
ReplyDeleteJuly 4th has always been a bit difficult for me. See, July 2 is my most favorite brother's birthday and I lost him to cancer about four years ago - there is a bittersweetness to that date as it is also the wedding anniversary for another brother and his wife. But July 4 - that's the day my sister went home to heaven 21 years ago from her cancer. Not a week goes by that I don't think about those two siblings. But I didn't come here to drown myself in my sorrows. I dropped by for another reason - to tell you that I really enjoyed your post today!
We must be on some kind of similar wavelength this week. I've got a post coming out tomorrow (or possibly late this evening) about one of those there Outlaw Country boys. If it's received well, I'm tinkering with an idea to turn it into something of a series.
Hope your holiday was a good one, and you're not suffering from too much of a hangover today.
~Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
DANG! This is a pretty rotten week for you, MMQE. (I know that cancer will never get you again though because... you know, 2 books.)
DeleteThanks -- I'm glad you liked the blog bit. I wasn't really planning to post anything for the 4th, but then when I stumbled upon that great "Rick Monday Saves The Flag" video I was inspired to use it, and just started throwing spaghetti at the walls and ceiling.
Plus, is it truly a holiday if no one mentions Foghorn Leghorn?
I'm looking forward to your Outlaw Country post. Loves me some Outlaw Country!
And by the way, I did indeed enjoy that Charlie Daniels 'My Beautiful America' video. Thanks! When he asks, "Have you ever...?" I could actually answer YES to a number of them (e.g., seen Mount Rushmore, driven on old Route 66, seen the St. Louis arch, etc., etc.)
Now I'm thinking I should put together a similar video based on things from my own life...
Have you ever spent a night in a Mexican jail? Have you ever had a hangover so bad you hallucinated and saw telephone poles doing jumping jacks? Have you ever lost your virginity in a whorehouse? Have you ever...
Hmmm.... On second thought, maybe this isn't such a good idea after all.
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
LMAO! Did you know it's easier to eat spaghetti if it's not on the walls or ceiling? Do you need to do a review for bowls so that you have something to eat from?
ReplyDeleteI can't say that I've had a bad hangover before. But I've had olfactory hallucinations. It alternates between fresh cut lawn and stale Marlboros. I googled the symptoms - of course it all leads to a brain tumor! I think I'm going to go with the lesser self-diagnosis.
~Mary
Oh, heck, spaghetti and tantrums -- I never eat them, only throw them.
Delete>>... I can't say that I've had a bad hangover before.
Apparently I got mine AND YOURS by mistake. I was the first on my block to collect all 666 of them.
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...