I'm sure that was a tough decision, Laura, but I think it's the right one.

And, as you note, DH has access to regular testing and is being super conscientious.

I'm with you on the "ugh," meara. So tired of fireworks.

I used to enjoy them growing up, but that was a once a year thing with a sky show. Not just bombardments of noise. I think SF had something like 30 small fires to put out last night.

And, as Jen noted on FB from her ER, somebody put their eye out.

Right decision, meara!

My neighbor across the street and up the hill had a seriously impressive show last night. He was done by about 10 and shouted when he was on the last six, then again when he was done for the night. In the mountains both the sound of his fireworks, the community cheers, and his announcement that he was done were clearly heard as they echoed around the hills. There were at least two other locatins on the lake that were doing major displays, the three of them took turns for people who went out in boats to see them all. I should have, but I was lazy and just watched what I could see from the porch.

Fireworks are a lot more fun when you don't have animals or kids that are freaked out by them. I have had more than one dog who needed to be drugged in advance.

Timelies all!

Heard some fireworks going off at a distance last night, but not very loud.

I fell in love with Groff during my Spring Awakening fandom days, partly because I thought he was great, but mostly because he was incredibly kind and generous with fans at the stage door. He and John Gallagher Jr. would both stay and talk with fans as long as it took, often for more than an hour after the show ended. (Lea Michelle, not so much.) I think he was perfect for his role in Spring Awakening but neither it nor Hair allowed him to stretch his comedy muscles like Kristoff and King George.

Best fireworks story I've heard so far this year: a friend on Facebook was enduring the bombardment, noting it was closer than usual, when there was yet another close-by B A N G... followed by some loud yelling and cursing that went on. She decided to go out her front door to see if there were body parts scattered around, and that maybe she should call 911.

But when she opened her door, the VERY distinct smell of skunk permeated the neighborhood, so it appears the revelers got their comeuppance.

I watched Hamilton on Disney. I was also lucky enough to see the touring show when it came to Durham, NC. I hadn't noticed, or perhaps they choreographed/lit it differently. But Burr, at the end of Room where it Happens, Disney version, is lit from above while pointing down, and the iconic Hamilton pose is lit from above while pointing up. It's a great visual nod to how Burr consciously became Hamilton's opposite at that moment.

If you're interested in a historian talking about the play and the person of Hamilton, here's Joanne Freeman, who has studied Hamilton for much of her career (history prof at Yale), talking about the play:

So fun to see what she looks like, after listening to the (now ended) Backstory podcast!

Anyone interested in making a decision for me? We have the time share coming up in about a month and I can't decide if we want to try to rent it or try to go. It seems like a lot of work to pack up and drive to another place just to mostly stay in and get takeout. And yet a change of scenery might be nice...I feel completely incapable of making a decision right now, and everyone says it is up to me. I have to make a decision soon if we want to try and rent it and I need to order a specialty cake soon for ltc's birthday and the date of the order will depend on whether or not we go.

sj, where's the timeshare?

Cape Cod. So same state but a 2 hour drive.