One of the features before the fireworks show included skydivers!
Once again, up bright and early with the sun, we headed for the park in Green, Ohio. The racks had already been built so all we needed to do was drop shell and wire it up (all of our shows are now shot electronically). The crew finished in record time and the guy in charge said “Let’s head back to Portage Lake and get more done.” SOMEONE was going to have to stay behind to make sure this site stayed secure. The local sheriff and fire departments were already doing an awesome job of making sure the area was roped off and secure, but we need to keep a licensed crewmember on the site… just because. Being the one to stay behind and simply baby-sit a site is like winning the lottery in this business and I WON! They sent me with money for food while they set up a canopy, cot, snacks, water, and my Harry Potter books.
Me, last year, at Green while I was babysitting. Those are actually some pretty small tubes compared to some we do.
I then spent 5 hours reading, basking in the sun, and chatting with local fire and sheriff officials, AND GOT PAID TO DO IT! BWAHAHAHA!
About 6:00, Mom (who was babysitting Portage Lakes while the crew was at Green) and Dad came back. Dad, Dan and I set up the concussion bombs for the performance of the 1812 Overture performed by the Akron Symphony Orchestra (who are awesome, by the way). I told Dad we could say we were guest soloists in an orchestra now!
Immediately after that, we headed back to the site, donned our firing attire (long sleeved cotton shirts and cotton pants; in case of sparks, you know) and prepared for launch. Now, I’m sure you’ve all seen fireworks shows, but there’s NOTHING like watching them from the site. I tried to catch some pictures and apologize for the fuzziness, but you get the idea. The show went great.
Now, the worst part, clean up time. Yech. Imagine gunpowder, teensy pieces of shells, tin foil, cardboard, and other random “stuff” spread out over hundreds of feet. We clean up at the time of night when dew starts to set which turns the gunpowder into a pasty sludge like substance that burns your skin. It’s hard, heavy, filthy work. I was in bed around 2:30 a.m.
