It reminds me of people who have others save a space at the front of the line while they miss out on the waiting part & just show up when the doors open, tickets go on sale, etc. PTC could handle this like most stores now do and let people wait in line to get a number, then a few hours before the fire works let people into a roped off viewing area in the order of their numbers. If you want a number you wait in line with the rest. If that's too much troouble, PTC should just remove any unattended blankets or tarps up to the evening of the 4th and break people of this rude habit. Just my .02 (two cents).

It's been that way for years, and I don't see the big issue. I wouldn't mind seeing the reserved blankets being limited to PTC residents and guests, but I don't see how to enforce that.

You put out your tarp, you take your chances. We had a friend who had one stolen this year that was right beside ours. We were further down the path in the trees along the lake.

All in all, good times again this year.

Thanks PTC.

So you are OK with reserving a space with a blanket?

Will never understand that attitude or rudeness!

I may lay one out at some sale, first in line, and see if it is still there the next day! Even if it was still there I would actually feel ashamed to take "my place." What kind of gall is that? Pilot, maybe?

To answer your questions.

It is a chore to go that is for sure.

If you stay at home the lovely angels that people have here will be setting off fireworks and shooting moontraveler rockets at people on the cartpaths. Also if you live near the nature preserve (that's PTC talk for swamp land) the teens usually set that on fire. Lots of action.

Hey, since the cops and their parents don't care, I guess it is a good thing. In the past 2-3 months we have heard many coyotes, or wild dogs yipping back there. This year could get interesting. I'm betting on the coyotes.

I live in Brooks, and don't really have neighbors, so no one will be shooting at or near me!! I know what you mean about the coyotes....we've got a lot out here (foxes too). If I'm lucky the Camp Thunder guy won't contact me for rappelling help on the 4th and I will have the entire day to myself! I volunteered during a "generous" moment, or was it an old age moment? Who knows! !

The newspaper?

What I did last year was to put a large jar in my spot on the 2nd of July with a hot and hungry rattler in the jar with a little battery electrified fence around it.
Only trouble was, someone took a shot gun to it and left the broken glass, snake parts, and a holey blanket lying there.
I just cleaned it up and sat down there. That was my plan.

I just don't know how I would be able to go long without seeing the farcrackers go off. Aside from NASCAR wrecks and beer bottles flying, and six flags killins, I don't get much excitment except the farcrackers.

That is a good $30-40 thousand expendture, I think. I get my enjoys outn it. Does the town haf to pay fireman and cleaner uppers overtime fer all the mess?

I hat ethet ifn they do. I take most uf my tresh wif me.

This time, I'm just placin my blanket with big rocks on the corner and one of those battery operated wiggly thangs under hit. Shuld worke agin!
As to the parade, it don't make no never matter how fer you set youre chair outin the rode, some ididott will sot one down in front uf you and stand the whole time. They; send thar youngans out in trafic to git the candy too.

Those six foot steel stakes driven in at an angle have been lucky so far in not hitting a power line. Also, the steel reinforced blankets are hard to cut loose from such stakes, I tried.
There is a kit available on "Nasty, Ill-Mannered People" magazine
for just such a purpose.
The steel rods actually have hooks on the bottom end that can be expanded once driven into the ground, but can only be opened with a key. A bulldozer will not pull them out of the steel ring re-inforced corners.
An option is underground (under the blanket) batteries to shock hell out of anyone not knowing how to cut off the charge.
These are the same people who get stupidly drunk at the amphitheater and stand in front of your seat all night and pretend to dance in one square foot.