Plans for the 4th?

[CaffeineHat]

I moved to Texas 13 years ago and since then every year I spend the night before the 4th smoking a brisket in the smoker on my driveway. What is interesting to me is the number of other souls who practice the art of barbecue and do exactly the same thing. So now a dozen or so guys from my neighborhood fill coolers and sit up until the wee hours feeding the fire, drinking beer, tea or lemonade and talking. Liberals, Indies, Conservatives, and secessionists all sitting around and getting hickory, mesquite or oak smoke in our eyes.

It's the finest sense of community on the night before Independence day. This year, my wife will be out of town at camp with my daughter so I'll be here with my two boys. The guys have already said that they'll rotate around the neighborhood to my driveway since I won't be able to leave the boys alone sleeping.

I love this time of year and this tradition.

[CaptainPike]

I moved to Texas 13 years ago and since then every year I spend the night before the 4th smoking a brisket in the smoker on my driveway. What is interesting to me is the number of other souls who practice the art of barbecue and do exactly the same thing. So now a dozen or so guys from my neighborhood fill coolers and sit up until the wee hours feeding the fire, drinking beer, tea or lemonade and talking. Liberals, Indies, Conservatives, and secessionists all sitting around and getting hickory, mesquite or oak smoke in our eyes.

It's the finest sense of community on the night before Independence day. This year, my wife will be out of town at camp with my daughter so I'll be here with my two boys. The guys have already said that they'll rotate around the neighborhood to my driveway since I won't be able to leave the boys alone sleeping.

I love this time of year and this tradition.

That sounds pretty cool. Normally we just set off a few fireworks and grill something.

[CaffeineHat]

That sounds pretty cool. Normally we just set off a few fireworks and grill something.

Fireworks are going to be tricky this year. Normally there is a GREAT show in the town where we have our cabin, but this year there is a statewide burn ban as a result of the hot weather and dry conditions. Otherwise I'd be performing the ritual of the barbecue in the country.

Oh and the beer makes sitting over a smoker all night much easier. Just sayin...

[hatman]

The weather is looking as good as it gets around here (83 and sunny).
We have a great fireworks display at a nearby lake (almost creates an amphitheater) with the 'big stuff'.
I never get tired of feeling the concussion from those big ones.
Happy Independence Day all.

[countmein]

We will have the family over for swimming and a bar-b-que. No big fireworks, not really allowed here. We might get the kids a few sparklers though.

Last year was a hoot. My son was five and we set out on an "adventure" to find some fireworks at one of the lakes. Unfortunately, we were a day late. While driving to the lake, I noticed that some people I knew were setting off some fireworks in their yard (kinda out in the country). On the drive home, I noticed the fireworks still going at their house. I figured, since they are one of the youth group leaders at a local church, maybe they were having a bunch of kids over, so I pulled up their long driveway and risked the emabrassment of showing up uninvited. Well it wasn't the youth group, it was family (I have known some their family for over 25 years), so I tried to appologize for the interuption and politely excuse us, but they wouldn't have it. My son had a ball watching the fireworks and they let him roast a couple of marshmellows on the fire. My "little professor" proclaimed to the homeowners (breathless, with his eyes wide and mouth hanging open) that "these were the most bestest fireworks ever" and thanked them over and over again for letting him watch. They got a kick out of him and his manners. It is a 4th I will never forget.

[LouC]

Gonna have a cookout with the immediate family and a guest or two.

No fireworks here and our town had theirs last Saturday...

I lived in Texas from 1991 to 2004 and know well many brisket rituals.

The 4th was one of those days when my grill would go all day starting with eggs, bacon, and sausage for breakfast then move into other goodies for the afternoon.

Miss those days.

[Striker8440]

In response to the OP, man that sounds just freakin awesome, just chillin, drinking your beverage of choice, and talking.

Sounds like what we do over at my sister-in-laws several times during the summer, we get a small bonfire going and just sit and talk and relax. Last one we had didnt end until 3am LOL

Plans this year are getting together with a bunch of old high school friends on the 3rd then maybe watching Red White and Boom in downtown Columbus. Saturday we may head back to columbus to hang out with a guy I work with. His house is right on the parade route and he plans on having an all day party ending with fireworks at the local park.

All in all it may be a fun filled weekend with my wife and friends.

[Dr. Funkenstein]

I moved to Texas 13 years ago and since then every year I spend the night before the 4th smoking a brisket in the smoker on my driveway. What is interesting to me is the number of other souls who practice the art of barbecue and do exactly the same thing. So now a dozen or so guys from my neighborhood fill coolers and sit up until the wee hours feeding the fire, drinking beer, tea or lemonade and talking. Liberals, Indies, Conservatives, and secessionists all sitting around and getting hickory, mesquite or oak smoke in our eyes.

It's the finest sense of community on the night before Independence day. This year, my wife will be out of town at camp with my daughter so I'll be here with my two boys. The guys have already said that they'll rotate around the neighborhood to my driveway since I won't be able to leave the boys alone sleeping.

I love this time of year and this tradition.

That sounds like a euphamism...:think:

[Vaard]

brats, beer, family and friends.......

[SaintVegas]

I'm afraid that I'm stuck working in the hotel and dealing with all the lovely Las Vegas tourists on the 4th. Not what I normally do, but that's the way it's worked out this year.

[CaffeineHat]

That sounds like a euphamism...:think:

Not in Texas. The local store puts brisket on sale for 79 cents a pound. My family in Chicago thinks it's outrageous.