Well, I stayed up until nearly 1:00 AM (which technically made it the 5th of July) listening to the sound of fireworks going off all across the Mat-Su valley I call home. Since we live on a hillside, I even had a fairly decent view of some of the streamers and poppers being set off in the large gravel pit about half a mile from our house - it's a popular site for locals since there is little risk of fire there. Then again, there wasn't a whole lot to see. It was about as dark as it was going to get on this sunny, cloudless 4th of July Alaskan night and I could make out different colors ... vaguely.
Still, the party-goers sure sounded like they were having a good time and I could smell the burgers from here!
Happy 4th of July, everyone!