So it was a rainy grey and relatively cool Independence Day.

The early afternoon was all about the usual Doo Dah Parade and Browning cookout.

It pretty much rained the entire parade but I was impressed with the number of people that watched from the sidelines as well as participated. The weather sure wasn't inviting.

Came home and then went across the street to the block cookout.

Apparently, every year J. buys and blows up thousands of firecrackers.

He had this 25-30 ft roll of about 16,000 firecrackers.

It took about 6 minutes to blow the entire roll.

Hell... my camera even ran out of space at 4 minutes.

After that, I briefly stopped by Carina and Skippy's party but they were all heading down to Whetstone for the fireworks.

Not one for big crowds, I did my usual anti-social thing while Giga went with them.

Yeah. I came home and went to bed.

Fun, ain't I?

So much fun that my July 5th will consist of cutting up hundreds of branches and placing them in compost bags all the while waiting for the BBC to air the series finale of Doctor Who "Journey's End".

Yes.

I is the lame.

On more levels than any human can possibly imagine.

Today's the day when we remember President Whitmore and Captain Hiller's successful defense of the Earth against invading alien attack.

May it never happen again.

My general ongoing malaise when it comes to funny books can be easily overcome with a dose of Krypto.

There is nothing more f'n awesome than a white dog of questionable breed with a red cape that has super strength, super hearing, and can fly.

No.

There's no denying it.

There's nothing better.

May you always remember that if things had gone differently in 1812, you'd be eating normal bacon.

*ducks head from thrown Best Diorama Botcon 2008 award*

Giga brought home the one he bought during the Cinci toy runs at Botcon and added it to the Crack Den.

TF Animated Bulkhead is the 2072nd Transformer that I've acquired.

Giga brought home the one he bought during the Cinci toy runs at Botcon and added it to the Crack Den.

TF Animated Prowl is the 2071st Transformer that I've acquired.

The World's Most Beloved Official Mascot of The Crack Den™ was waiting at the front door today.

Behold his awesome glory!

See?

I'm getting better.

Yes. I will!

With that said...

*possible spoilers ahead*

Trailer for tonight's UK episode of Doctor Who. US won't get this for about 3 weeks.

Spoiler warnings obviously apply if you haven't been keeping up.

Unfortunately, a character returns that I really have never been able to stand.

Opinions.

Botcon sets since Fun Publications took over.

Which should I keep?

Boxed set or a loose but sealed bagged set?

That bad eh?

Yeah. Pretty much same here.

Spent all morning moving pallets and shit on a humid dank loading dock at work. Between that, the feeling of puking from the stickiness, and my back and shoulder blades hurting like a mo fo this is looking to be a shitty weekend.

The robots?

Nah. Haven't got the room done yet.

I pull a few out every day and throw 'em up on the shelf. I try to dust them off at least.

No. I'm still not completely sure what the hell I'll be getting rid of.

Huh? Oh yeah, I'll probably be selling off a bagged set of Botcon Games of Deception that I shouldn't have bought.

No. Black Fire Convoy is not for sale.

Hah! That's funny. You are right. I have absolutely no idea how Botcon Ratchet's head managed to get stuck and won't flip up. Maybe I'll let Arjun play with him and he can figure it out. Those Ukraindian kids are clever like that.

Comfest? Ugh. No. If you've been to 15+ Comfests you've been to them all. And the gays just had to move their gay parade to the same weekend at the same location so as to make the last week of June even more horrible.

Hah! You too? I almost ran over a drag queen once too but with a 1981 Pontiac Grand Prix!

No. There's never been a Grand Prix Transformer. Bears. Bunnies. Giraffes. Bugs. No. No Grand Prixes (sic). No. I don't think there have been Otters either.

Me? I'll probably go home and lay on an ice pack for 30 minutes or so. I may take a vicodan. If I'm gonna spent the night messed up on goofballs for my pain I should probably hit Target and snag The Beast With A Billion Backs on the way home.

3:30.

Maybe earlier.

No. I already took off 2 hours early to go home and lay down.

Hah! Funny you should ask about all the work I haven't got to. AEP came over yesterday. The Hoont was barking his head off and woke me up. Sure enough the guy was at the door.

Yeah. I managed to get them to agree to tear down those 2 awful and bare pine trees that are in the back yard. They reach up into the power lines somewhat but apparently it isn't something to worry about.

They'll cut them down but they'll leave the waste in the yard. They'll cut them to a safe area and then I'll have to chainsaw them down to the stump.

No. I don't know if "to chainsaw" is a verb or not.

I've got a shitload of other debris that needs to get carted to the dump. Apparently they'll take the wood from the pine trees.

Sell it? Hah! And what, buy more useless robots? Not on your life.

Daddy needs new deck and patio furniture!

My how that so easily translates to "If I didn't by transforming robots I'd just spend the money on pot, house remodeling, dog food, and hookers."

I'll drink a Corona Light and sing Sto Lat tonight in your honour!