...and there was much pyroing off

the air is so thick with gunpowder smoke that it's substantially harder to see through than the worst of the wildfires were. the small temperature/dewpoint spread probably makes it closer to dense smog. i think i'll hide indoors for the rest of the evening.

we shot off our usual fire fountains. none of the cheap ones we like were in stock, so i got three expensive ones. fortunately, spectre had a "buy one, get two free" coupon for suckers good customers like me. some random comments on this year's threefold path of pyrotechnics:

* dragon's tears remains our favorite; gotta love those molten-looking pearls.

* apache firedance premier is much louder than i remember. hopefully, i'll remember next year and get something else.

* phantasia is expensive, but generally quiet and it flings pearls much higher into the air than dragon's tears does. if there's a similar coupon next year, i might get it. maybe. hopefully, some of the more cost-effective and quiet fountains will be available instead.