Further News and Updates

1. We are back after a lovely visit with Geoff and Dave up in Quebec. We saw quite a bit of Montreal and Quebec City, ate a lot of very good food, and generally had a grand time hanging out with them. There will be bloggage soon, oh yes there will.

2. It was really nice to be in a country where the government doesn’t actively hate the majority of its citizens. The US used to be like that. We can be like that again.

3. Despite being exceptionally well cared for while we were away, the cat has been pathetically (and heartwarmingly) grateful to have us back. The rabbit remains indifferent, however, as rabbits will.

4. I have now seen World Cup games with play-by-play announcing in three different languages this year, and I have to say that it doesn’t really make a whole lot of difference for following the game. The Spanish announcers seem to be having the most fun, though.

5. Tonight’s Cabo Verde vs. Argentina game was easily the most entertaining game I’ve seen this World Cup. I suspect soccer fans are going to be talking about that one for a very long time.

6. Is tomorrow really the Fourth of July? There should have been a party to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the formal approval of the Declaration of Independence, which is the date the US traditionally gives for its origin as a nation instead of a disparate set of colonies. Apparently the Smithsonian had a party planned out, in fact. Instead, all that taxpayer money got hijacked by the grifters in the current administration and put toward the tackiest tin-horn-dictator slobberfest this nation has ever seen. I’m glad nobody is going and I hope that the people who organized it are mad about that.

7. My goal tonight is to watch more soccer, nosh a bit on random food (because neither of us are up for making any real dinner or eating same), and turn the AC down to Deep Freeze because a) yes it got hot in Quebec too, and b) neither of the last two places we slept had much in the way of air conditioning. First world problems require first world solutions.

8. I did a very poor job of keeping up with my email while I was away and I have to say I’m sneakily proud of this. Vacations should not involve work emails.

9. I don’t know why Our Little Town decided to have it’s big Independence Day party last weekend, while we were away, rather than on the actual Fourth of July, which is a Saturday after all. It seems a lost opportunity.

10. Tomorrow’s plans involve as little motion as possible and possibly grilling some hot dogs in honor of the day. Enjoy, y’all.