Happy 4th of July, it's time to get a new watch

We just got back from seeing the fireworks at Joplin tonight. We didn't really go down to where they were being shot off, mainly because we didn't want to be stuck in traffic forever, but we could still see them from where we were parked.

Like a lot of professional fireworks displays across the country, there was a local radio station playing an accompanying medley of patriotic songs. (Thankfully, we didn't hear Lee Greenwood's "Proud to Be an American," which I never have to hear again because it's kind of annoying to me, which I say with all due respect to my wife who loves the song). At about five minutes to 10 o'clock, they played a nice rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner," which was apparently supposed to be the finale because after it was over (and after I said "Play ball" which caused Nicole to chuckle), the announcer came on to say thanks for listening, drive safe, etc. followed by a forgettable 80's song.

However, the fireworks continued for another twenty minutes. That's right, folks: not 30 seconds, not one minute, but a third of an hour after the music was over, the fireworks finally ended.