| 4th of July Fireworks, Portland | 4th July 2006 |

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I had my first Fourth of July experience in Portland, Oregon. We went to Oaks Amusement Park by the Williamette River. It was all budging with people from all around. We had thrill rides. I really liked the small but yet daunting Looping Thunder Roller Coaster Ride. Suhaib and Dan went on the Rock-o-Plane, while I was trying to identify the singers painted above the ride (was too scared or too disinterested to go on the ride, I don't remember). But the scariest (and funniest!) of them all was the Scream-N-Eagle! That's the one that rotates and rotates and takes you swinging with your head swinging downwards! I was laughing like crazy, scared like shit, and felt like my soul had been centrifuged from my body! I was telling Dan, who was in the next seat, 'Dude! This POT really rulez!', hahaha. In between, I was deeply entangled with on-and-off discussion with Dan Sandler about the lifes and visions of John Adams, Teddy Roosevelt, and other US presidents!!!

In the evening, Fourth o' July fireworks went up the sky from a boat on the Willamette River. I guess it was not as grandiose or fabulous as so many others that takes place all over the United States, but I love any fireworks (may be because I am a pyromaniac?!). Check out the photos below. When we were returning, we taught each other our National Anthems. And sang out the Star-Spangled Banner with Dan. 'O say, can you see by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?.... O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?' Once again I realized what makes this nation free and brave!