Sunday, July 10, 2011

How Hot Do Fireworks Get?

That is the question I posed today to my dear husband.  He replied, "700 degrees, maybe?"  That sounded incredibly hot, but I wanted to confirm it.  (Not that I don't believe everything that comes out of the man's mouth, I do....) I got on my trusty Google Search Engine.  I was asking because even after almost a week after the 4th, my arm is still hurting where I was hit by an errant firework at our family party.  And the ugliness on my arm makes one want to avert their eyes because if you didn't know what it was, at first glance it looks like some kind of fungus or leprosy eating two holes in my skin.  
    Yep, it seems like I can never get through a summer without some kind of mishap, ruining my summer "look" with some kind of scar, bruise or scrap.  It never fails!  Last summer I sported a slow-healing red scrap on my lower leg as a result of a mishap on my bike.  It just wouldn't go away.  It has finally healed, but now this year I've got another nick on my calf from something (probably shaving) and now this!  I don't anticipate this going away for some time.  I mean, seriously, my darling nephew basically blew two holes in my arm.  We're all joking around as I scrape off the black charred skin, and I'm telling him the inevitable scars will give me something to remind me of him, dear sweet Matthew!  But inside, it's not quite as funny as I let on.  I'm using tea tree oil like crazy, hoping it won't get infected because doctors are to be avoided if possible, since I don't like going to them!  Didn't I just post about a traumatic event that happened to me one summer?  This could get old!  
    Oh, by the way, the result of my Google Search was this:
  • Black powder (gunpowder) commonly used in rockets and as a burst charge in aerial shells, burns at temperatures up to 1700oC.
  • Pyrotechnic stars used in rocket headers and shells, if fuelled by a metal powder such as magnesium, can easily burn at temperatures in excess of 2200oC.
  • Flash powders used to make a bright flash and a loud bang, can burn at temperatures above 3000oC.
Ummm....pretty sure that I got a burn from flash powder used to make a bright flash and loud bang since we were doing aerial fireworks that have just recently been made legal in the state of Utah!  "Can burn at temperatures ABOVE 3000 degrees centigrade"?  Ahh, that's why my skin turned black and there are now two holes.  Got it!  Baby, 700 degrees was quite a low ball figure!  Just saying......
     But being the quintessential optimist that I am, I am telling you that there is always a silver lining in this!  For one thing, I won't be washing my own hair for awhile.  My local hair salon will be seeing a lot more of me so I can get my hair washed, styled and blown out!  (They give great scalp massages too!)  And, I have a whole pack of cute, girly designer band-aids that are just waiting for the perfect wound. I will be injured in style!  So there you go, positive thinking at its best!
I can't wait to get the girly band-aids out.  That WILL be my summer look


6 comments:

scrilla said...

oh wow, sounds like we snuck out before the real action happened. Sorry to hear you were in the crossfire, ouchy.

Chastina said...

Love the positive attitude!

Unknown said...

I just wanted to come over and thank you personally for "liking" my blog.

When I get in blog reading mode I will come by and check you out. Or should I say I will come back and check your blog out? LOL I added you to my reader. Will hopefully have some time tomorrow. I am up to my eyebrows in e-mails.

Crystal Escobar said...

Oh ouch! That looks painful!!!

le Chef said...

So late to the post .. OY.
Um. OUCH.
We must be related, because I have two burns from the stove that I've had ALL summer.
Try lavender oil ASAP after you get burned. You will be amazed. Stinks to high heaven, but as a chef who gets burned a lot - try it.

yeskaquarnstrom said...

Harrah's Cherokee Casino & Hotel - Mapyro
Harrah's Cherokee Casino & Hotel. 1 Casino 순천 출장마사지 Drive, Cherokee, NC 통영 출장안마 28719. Directions. Map. (580) 986-3340. 과천 출장안마 Call Now · More Info. Hours, Accepts Credit 밀양 출장샵 Cards, 김제 출장안마 Accepts