July 7th, 2025 // Vol. XXXIII // Did I Miss Anything?

Morning. Back in Houston, where it’s surprisingly less hot than it was in Europe (but only marginally). Now that I’m back in the US, we can start celebrating National:

• Day of Rock ‘n’ Roll (Feels appropriate for capping off Independence Day weekend)

• National Dive Bar Day (Long live the dive bar! Out with cheesy instagram photo-op displays and $15 dollar cocktails! In with cheap beer and neon signs that feature a retro beer logo you never knew existed!)

• National Macaroni Day (Another American staple. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t prefer shells though)

I floated the idea of writing on the cruise, but the official party line is the “the wifi was bad on the ship,” and I’m sticking to it. I’m sure nothing major happened while I was gone though. It’s not like the US bombed Iran’s nucle… what’s this I’m hearing? We did? And there was no major Iranian retaliation? Interesting… Well, at least the Senate came to their senses and voted down the deficit-bloating Big, Beautiful Bi… It passed? Really? Surely no Senators are still talking about the need to cut government spending just days after voting for it though. Personally, I’m shocked that the news cycle didn’t pause to let me go on vacation. Very rude, but let’s get back into it and have a day:

If I hadn’t made it clear, I just got back from Europe (and a sprinkling of Africa). My travels took me throughout the western Mediterranean, from Monaco, to France, to Spain, to Tunisia, to Malta, to Italy. I felt like an ancient Phoenician trader, just with a much bigger boat (and a lot more older folks in tow). I walked the circuit of the Monaco Grand Prix. I saw original Picassos (plus one I’m dubious on). I risked future neck problems to gape at the masterful work in the Sistine Chapel. I was weirded out by dead Popes at St. Peter’s, but looked on in awe at the casts of those in Pompeii. I sailed a subterranean lake. I slept, without fail, on every single tour bus ride, be it 10 minutes or an hour.

I also noticed some things. First, they’ve got plastic water bottle caps figured out. They stay attached to the bottle, making them practically impossible to lose and litter. They also opt for the roundabout rather than stoplights, which can add some dizziness to your life, but are supposedly effective. The relationship between car and pedestrian was also fascinating, with narrow streets bringing far less order to the system (which I kind of loved). My jaywalking skills translated well, and I learned some new techniques to add to my arsenal back home here in the states.

I leave you with a sunset over Mt. Etna, a nice symbolic representation of a good trip.

QOTD 33: How’d you celebrate the Fourth?

I spent it in Rome, secretly spreading American propaganda.