juneteenth shoutouts!

Happy Juneteenth Day to everyone! Juneteenth Day (June 19) remembers the emancipation of slaves in the state of Texas in 1865. I may have to check, but I'm fairly certain that the Emancipation Proclamation had an effective date of 1 January 1863 (yep, it was 1863...). just another item in my growing list of "things about texas, texas history, and texans that makes goose shake his head slowly back and forth with a slight frown." This adds to a list that includes: humongous trucks that don't fit in parking spaces yet are so clean and customized that there's no way they do ranch work with them, carrying knives everywhere, a slice of wonderbread as a side dish with your bbq, keeping your truck running while you eat dinner to keep the a/c going, racing down dead-end streets (like mine) or down a major road where you see a red light waiting, and the gawd-awful heat and humidity. and it's not even summer yet! hurray!

on the bright side, Happy Texas Peach and Watermelon month shout-out to everyone. As an avowed "fruitatarian", I couldn't be more effusive in my praise for the local produce right now. Amazing.

Keeping with the Texas theme: Happy Welcome to the Neighborhood to T3 and Joy S., who have officially moved into their home in Austin. Super excited.

Congratulations and "Go Nittany Lions!" shout-out to my cousin Leah K. of Cheswick, PA. after much research and pestering of her aunt and cousins, I have learned that she will be matriculating to Penn State in the fall. Which means I get to write one more email each week to a relative after each USC win and Penn State loss (or when they play Notre Dame, a win). I was discussing college the other day with some classmates and we all agreed on one thing, of which I now share with Leah: If you do college right, you can stay five years and not irritate your parents! this requires a few study abroads, perhaps changing major or picking up a second, plenty of social obligations, but, and this is the hard part, not letting your GPA look like you're having too much fun... So have fun, and as promised to other members of the Mis clan (many many family members have gone to Penn State), if USC plays PSU in a bowl game, we shall convene and make fun of each other's face paint and in general have a great time.

Best non-newsy blog shout-out to Minter D. of Paris, France. I think the value of his blog is largely due to knowing who Minter is. But perhaps it is more accessible than that. either way, i highly enjoy his thoughts and if you have a moment, check his site out. it's much more futuristic and interactive than mine.

and finally, a "i saw you on tv!" shout-out to dear old dad, who (i believe) i saw at the U.S. Open at Oakmont C.C. yesterday, following Tiger Woods. seeing someone you know on tv never gets old.