Well, it wasn't a weekend this year. So I think everyone can stop calling last weekend or this weekend 4th of July weekend.

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God is the uncaused cause of the universe. He had no beginning and has no end. He is not bound by the laws of the universe he created.

went to the parade in my area of town. it was very un festive. seemed like people were just not into it. and most of the regular floats and stuff were missing. it was like 2/3 of a full parade this year. must have been because it is on a wednesday.

The craziness started up here an hour ago.

It will go on u too 3 or 4am.

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ya thats going to happen regardless of the day of the week. kids out of school and they will be doing fireworks long into the wee hours.

Every holiday should be on a Wednesday. This week has been fuckin glorious so far.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Kids?

These are grown ass men with oilfield money to splurge.

It is an awesome fireworks show.

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I was supposed to go to San Diego for five days of vacation through tonight, and got sick Thursday morning and fucked the whole thing up by ending up in the hospital for two days. So instead of vacation I'm technically out sick even though I'm out of sick time from my open heart surgery last October and thus using vacation time. The only difference is that I'm not expected to look at my email when I'm sick once I've set my out of office message. So now I have four days worth of email waiting for me, although it's abbreviated because so many people took Friday through Tuesday off.

I am working from home on Thursday, and then I'm taking Friday off as I have work travel on Sunday. Having to work a full day tomorrow is going to suck ass.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

Sun is finally going down up here. Time to light some shit off.

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Crazy rain in the Illinois Valley.

Fireworks rescheduled.

We must have gotten about three inches of rain tonight.

Good thing I watered my garden this afternoon.

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"This is Chicago, my friend. Anything can happen."

Came out of nowhere too. I’m a little west of there but it went from clear skies to 2” of rain in an instant. Just popped. Oh well, at least it cooled down.

Or it could be due to this country degenerating into Dumbfuckistan.

Right? We were out in the backyard sweating and then drenched with rain before we knew it.

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"This is Chicago, my friend. Anything can happen."

where is the illinois valley? is it like farmland? how is life there in the winter? do they plow the snow like in the city?

Watched it march across a field towards me. I was like “Huh, that looks like rain”, 30 seconds later, I was drenched and running for cover.

Illinois River valley. Yes, lots of farmland. Yes they plow the snow, even in rural areas although township roads are not salted. ( At leash in our county). If you can survive the rampaging packs of wolves it’s just like anywhere else in northern Illinois.

interesting. why did you choose to move there? just more quiet than chicago? how long is the drive into chicago ?

housing prices lower there? property tax still robbery or better?

Best of both worlds out here on I-80, HY. If they can get more than 2 horses hitched up, then the snow gets plowed. Kidding. Look up the Starved Rock State Park/LaSalle-Peru area. We boast some famous alumni from the cornfields out here including actor Walt Willey and that international man of mystery, Dr Kenneth Noisewater.

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"This is Chicago, my friend. Anything can happen."

I blame my wife for me being here. Or credit her, depends on the day.

Housing is cheaper, I’m unaware of intown taxes, mine are far too high but it is what it is. I can get to many places in Chicago in two hours pending traffic. Ottawa or Lasalle area significantly closer to Chicago than that.

is that around Aurora. I think Aurora was a farmland when I left but now I guess i'ts more like a suburb.

You should always get the day off after the 4th

I wish you guys could see what I'm looking at from my balcony. The entire skyline of the city is shooting off fireworks. It's insane. Thousands and thousands of oilfield dollars being shot up in the air.

This is by far the coolest part about living in an oilfield boomtown.

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i was there at this time last year. it was the same, late night fireworks from your local neighborhoods. it was good to see but that sucks they dont do the city fireworks over the lake anymore.

You were here?

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ya chicago.

I'm in the bakken North Dakota.

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oh i did not know that. it's like an oil place in ND? Are you there for work or you retired there?

funny : https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44696502

I wish I could retire at 35. It's all for the $$$ then get out to a better state.

This is the second biggest oilfield in the US behind the Permean Basin in Texas and New Mexico.

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wow. how long have you been there for now? what do you consider a better state? how is it socially? do people treat you well?

1. 5 years
2. Colorado
3. Men outnumber the women at least 10 to 1
4. Yes

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