The Rockologist Puts Together A 4th Of July 2008 Mixtape

By the time most of you read this, I'll be on my way to spend the 4th of July holiday with my buddy Dave, at his cabin up on The Lake. Dave and I are best friends dating back to our high school days, and 4th of Julys spent at The Lake are a tradition dating back at least that far.

Over the years, the stories from our summers at The Lake are both numerous and quite memorable. At least the ones we can actually remember. The area is also about as remote and picturesque as it gets — and for any of you reading this who are into stargazing, the blanket effect you get there on a clear night is unmatched anywhere.

Me and Dave have seen some really wild things in the skies at The Lake over the years, including meteors, satellites, and a few things which quite frankly, don't fit into either of those categories — or any other. Nevermind the fact that the UFO's were usually seen after draining a few beers.

In years past the 4th of July holiday weekend was usually one of several weekend trips to the rustic cabin, located on a private lake on Washington's Kitsap Peninsula. These days, we don't make it up there nearly as often, as both times and priorities have a way of changing as you get older.

But the 4th Of July is still a constant. I won't be spending the entire weekend there this year as I have so many times in the past, as my current economic situation and today's gas prices pretty much prohibit my doing so. But there is no way I am missing the annual 4th Of July blowout.

To understand this, you have to understand something about The Lake itself.

You see, being that it is located about as far away from the bright lights — and increasingly restrictive laws as pertains to everything from smoking to fireworks — of Seattle as it gets (we're talking the boonies here), what the city folk would term "lawlessness" pretty much rules the day at The Lake. There aint' a cop within miles. And on the 4th Of July, what this means is that you will find the locals drinking beer, raising hell, and blowing off all manner of bombs and explosives on the private lake.

Article Author: Glen Boyd

You'll find Blogcritics music editor Glen Boyd sharing his Thoughtmares on his personal blogs The World Wide Glen, and The Rockologist. Glen is also the author of Neil Young FAQ, scheduled for a spring 2012 release by Backbeat Books/Hal Leonard …

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