Cudahy fireworks exceed expectations

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: The grand finale of the Cudahy Park firework show booms above the Los Angeles River Wednesday night. 

I lied when I said the East L.A. show was my favorite. Watching the works at Cudahy Park from the Los Angeles riverbed is my favorite part about this holiday.

The pyrotechnics shoot the show over the river. So being in the riverbed as the fire bangs right over head, exploding in front of my face is one of the most amazing feelings.

Last night was my fourth time attending the show, and I am declaring that to be the best show before the fourth in L.A.

Tonight's show should be fun. Fireworks boom from all over the city. The twinkle of sulfur in the sky makes up for the lack of stars all year round. I love July 4. 

Happy Independence Day to all of you.

Firework hunters: Six days of firework festivities

This is my fifth year living in Los Angeles, and I am a self-proclaimed firework hunter. Each year since I've moved in, I've found a new show to add to my firework tour.

This year I decided to make the most of Independence Day, which in L.A. should be deemed Independence Month. Fireworks are more than just fire in the sky; they represent freedom and they go off all month long. I wanted to take in as much freedom as I could, so I decided to hunt fireworks. 

My first fourth in L.A. was probably five or six years ago. I remember being totally upset all day about not being next to a body of water for this holiday, which was my tradition since I was a child. 

Once the day was done and the darkness settled, things changed. Fireworks were shot up from neighboring backyards. People were in the streets lighting their own fireworks bought from the local fireworks stand. The entire city lit up. It was quite incredible to see such a sight. 

I wasn't used to seeing such a spectacle, since I grew up in Riverside where fireworks of any kind are banned. Here in L.A., I could turn in any direction to see a firework shot up in the sky. They went off for hours that night. 

Little did I know that they were going off for the entire month before. This was the year I realized that Independence Day is my favorite holiday. 

My hunting kicked off this year with Friday Night Lights at Dodgers Stadium. A night hike with my fellow firework hunters lead us to the top of Radio Hill, which oversees the backside of Dodgers Stadium. We were there for Friday Night Lights, which is the show Dodgers put on for Friday night home games. 

The seven-minute show, sponsored by Denny's, was definitely better than the shows taking place throughout the cities, though the view wasn't. Friday Night Lights looked more like fire art than fireworks.

We hiked up to the top of Ascot Hills in El Serreno on Saturday. The hike up the steep hills is worth the phenomenal view overlooking the furthest corners of L.A.

We originally went to watch the  El Serreno Park show from above, but the Saturday before the fourth is pretty busy for pyrotechnics. So many other shows took place in various cities along with solo booms coming from neighboring yards, and we could see them all.

It had to be the ultimate firework extravaganza, and that was only Saturday night. 

Sunday was the show in East L.A., which is one of my favorite shows. Fireworks bang to the sounds of Bruce Springsteen "Born in USA," remixed with Cheech Marin's "Born in East LA." 

Monday was our day off. We needed to breathe between shows, and the closest show was at Disneyland. But that doesn't mean we're through hunting. 

The Hollywood Bowl is doing two nights of fireworks, and I'll be there for the first. Tuesday we'll be at the Hollywood Bowl overlook off of Mulholland Drive. It usually gets pretty crowded, so we'll be showing up early to get a good spot. I missed it last year looking for parking. 

For Independence Day Eve, we'll ride our bikes down the Los Angeles River bike path to watch the Cudahy Park show from the riverbed. Being my favorite show, the feeling of fireworks exploding right above my head is exhilarating. 

Each show is special in its own way, and I'm always looking for a new show to add. Chasing fireworks for my favorite holiday makes the unbearable heat worth it. 

LOS ANGELES LOOKOUT: Lights twinkle throughout Los 

Angeles as darkness settles in the city on Saturday from Ascot Hills. 

BOOM, BOOM, POW: Fireworks light up the sky in East Los Angeles at the civic center as the scent of tacos and sulfur linger in the air. 

UP TOP: Los Angeles lights up on Friday night from Radio Hill in Elysian Park. 

FEEL THE BANG: The firework show from East L.A. on Sunday night. 

Summer kicks in with extreme heat warnings in southern California

Times are heating up in southern California as temperatures are expected to soar this weekend, with a Los Angeles County Health Department Officer issuing an extreme heat alert for the next few days. L.A. is supposed to see temperatures peak in the high 80s and low 90s, according to The Weather Channel's website, although now it is 95 degrees in Monterey Park (my current location).

Today us Angelenos, along with everyone else in the heat warning areas, need to be extra careful. According the National Weather Service, heat is one of the leading weather-related killers yearly. How can someone tell if the heat is winning the battle against? The NWS has a list of heat-related illnesses, symptoms and solutions, along with hazards, facts and tips on staying safe from the sun: "Heat: A Major Killer." 

Also, don't forget the basics:

1. Drink plenty of water. I know it's hard to do on Fourth of July weekend, but avoid alcoholic beverages while in the sun or heat. This will only dehydrate you faster. If you feel you must have a drink, drink a glass of water in between beers or cocktails. This will help your body stay hydrated. 
2. Dress for the occasion. It's hot, so why not where something that will keep you cool. Loose, light clothing is they key here. Light colors reflect the sun and the heat, keeping you cooler in the sun. 
3. Don't get too much sun. Sunburns are never fun, trust me on this. Not only does it feel like your body is on fire, it reduces your body's ability to dissipate the heat, causing your body to overheat. 

It doesn't seem too hard to stay hydrated, but some forget or simply are too lazy to take the extra step to hydrate themselves. Don't be that person who's passed out and needs an ambulance ride to the hospital. This weekend should be a fun one, so don't ruin it for your buddies. 

LOCAL PLACES TO HELP YOU STAY COOL:

• Find a public swimming pool nearby, if you don't already have one. If you do have one, get your booty in it with tons of sunblock to help keep your body cool. 
• Go to the local library. Libraries normally have a nice, cool area for visitors to sit and relax while they read a book or newspaper. Not much of a reader? Then hang out in the comfy chairs and people watch.  
• Find a shade tree at the park to cozy up under. 
• Walk around your grocery store's frozen food section, where the freezers are usually on. 
• Get an umbrella to keep the sun off your neck, and a bucket of water to keep your feet cool. Feet regulate body temperature, so keep your feet cool to stay cool.

The Summer of Megan

School has been out for like a week, and graduation is done and over with. So what's next?

I've been stuck in a sleepy haze, as I'm sure we all have. Gravity is working against me as I try to pull myself out of bed to get the second chapter of my life going.

What am I supposed to be doing?

I was accepted to University of California, Santa Barbara, which starts the next semester in September. My housing contract won't be ready for another week. I have no money, since I have no actual income and everything I do get is being saved for my brother's army graduation in July.

So I'm here with "16 and Pregnant" on the television and some homemade cookies in hand. I always tell people "only boring people are bored," so I won't let myself be bored.

But I'm quickly running out of ideas. I need to get a life. I need to find friends. But I probably won't, which is why I started this blog.

Writing this blog inspired me to get out of the house, explore my local surroundings and let the world know what it's like in my life.

This will be the "Summer of Megan." I am going to set myself five goals to complete over the summer. Not only will this keep me busy, but it's good practice to set and complete goals. What is it good practice for? For life.

My goals:
1) Hang out at the beach.
The beach is relaxing; there's no doubt about that. It feels good to have the hot summer sun and cool ocean breeze hit my skin as I sit under an umbrella with book listening the waves crash against the shore and kids scream in the distance. Of course, I'll stop at CVS before I go to pick up some sunscreen. I wouldn't want to do any more damage to my skin. (I'm already extra moley because I used to sunburn as a hobby when I was younger.)

2) Go on an early-morning hike.
I'm not much of an early-morning person. Actually, I can't stand mornings and their perkiness. So it would be good to break free from my norm and do something unusual. I've never really seen the mornings and appreciated everything they have to offer. Maybe experiencing and appreciating mornings with their dewy drops glistening off of green tree leaves and truck windows would awaken the morning person inside me. It's worth a shot.

3) Find a location in L.A. I've never been.
I am an explorer. I love to go in random directions with no idea of where it leads and figure out my way back home. Consequently, this means I've seen most of Los Angeles in my five years of living here. I've seen more of L.A. in my short five years than a lot of people born and raised here. But I know there's more. There's always more. So I plan to find a new-to-me place around here somewhere. (And I am open for suggestions, if you think you know of a place I've never been.)

4) Catch a fish.
I love to fish. There's nothing better than the serenity of dipping a line into the fish-filled waters and pulling one flapping around out. I don't think I've felt that feeling in a couple years now, and that's not for lack of trying. This summer will be the summer where I will pull one of those suckers out of that water and take it home for dinner.

5) Keep up a blog.
This is my second attempt at a blog. I usually procrastinate keeping up a blog, because I don't think what I have to say is worth reading. But I've been looking at some of these other blogs, and I think I can stand up next to some of these other guys. So my final goal of summer is to keep up this blog.

I know these seem like mindless goals, but it's better to have some goals than none at all. This is something that helps keep me sane. If I didn't give myself something to do, I'd go crazy with boredom. But only boring people are bored, so it's time to get out of this house and get on with my life.