Countdown begins + Last Reunion post? + Helpful fireworks info

Exclusive 2016 Hill Family Summer Reunion *

* AKA Hill Family Summer Reunion Exclusive...Hill Family Exclusive 2016 Summer Reunion...Hill Family 2016 Exclusive Summer 2016 Reunion...ad infinitum...ad nauseam...

Countdown Begins! 

If I've counted correctly *,18 calendar days remain from today until THU 6/30.
* which is always an adventure, since--as I never cease to remind my many **, readers--I'm a secondary English major.
** Several? Few??? One or two??? I'm nothing if not humble, which I'm always *** willing to admit.
*** Sometimes? Rarely?

A Word (or several) about plans . . . 

Apparently [I'm kidding. Not "apparently." Certainly.] The Sisters have been communicating among themselves, despite my months-long, intentsive--& with the help of my own team of tireless consultants [Family Reunion Surveillance Assistants . . . Remember them . . . F.R.S.A.?] offering a plethora of optional activities & sites, including [but not limited to]:

• religious . . . 
• cultural . . . 
• historical, including Hill family [both famililial & camp-followers] . . . 
• natural wonders [including both regional & international flora & fauna] . . . 
• even shopping opportunities [which I must admit I have shared somewhat reluctantly] both retail in nature & scope [partly out of both safety & moral concerns *] . . . that it will not be on my conscience if horrendous consequences ensue . . . 

* But I have concluded--after much deep, theological & ............ Christian apologetical-thinking that it won't be on my conscience 

Re:  any nefarious & despotic plans.[Let me add *** that I still love . . . nay, REVERE The Sisters. [I anticipate that I always will, especially since one of them includes my wife.] Although I am also somewhat * reluctant to remind them of my fragile, multiple emotional and/or mental disorders . . . which include diagnosed clinical depression, anxiety, OCD, & more **, which may/or may not wound me deeply, I suppose I can live with this. [Does it seem as if my musings have taken on a rambling-sort-of nature this morning? We were up much too late, but enjoyed a wonderful Hawk Nelson concert @ the Christian Cross Festival at Skyview Lake in Norfolk, followed by fireworks. And I'm only on my first cup of Seattle's Best Dark #5. Hand on while I get cup #2 . . . OK, I'm back.]

* Not really.
** And here is where I both draw the line AND admit that I've lost track of my foot-notes. I apologize IF I have caused you any confusion, but I digress . . . ]
*** Whether you let me or not really doesn't matter. As I always countlessly add to my entries . . . it's MY blog . . . of if you don't like it . . . start your own blog . . . AND I sincerely apologize, AND IF this sounds snarky AND offends you AND sounds like a "qualified apology, **** I apologize deeply.
**** For which I don't feel the need to explain this morning . . . Been there; done that.

Therefore, today's entry, which may or may not be my last Hill Family Summer 2016 Exclusive Reunion Blog [and you only have yourselves * to blame ] * and you know who you are! . . . will focus on important facts & details to remember . . . some of which I am sharing--as a public service announcement--for the first time.

> > > Important Reminders and/or Public Service Announcements < < <

1. The highest elevation in FL is 345'. The highest elevation in MN is 2301'. The highest elevation in CA is 14,497,' which is the top of Mt. Whitney. I feel conscience bound to tell you that there is a virtually 0% chance that {1} you will fall off the highest point in either FL or MN & die; that {2} you will get altitude sickness or a nose-bleed while either climbing and/or standing on top of the highest "peak" in either FL or MN; and that {3} P.E.T.N. * will bar your access from the highest peaks in either FL or MN. * SEE previous entries to Hill Family Reunion features. [OK, P.E.T.N. may try to bar you from the highest peak in MN . . . but they will do it politely.]
2. The capital of MN is St. Paul, where we will be spending some time. [The capital of CA is Sacramento. Rush Limbaugh launched his illustrious career at a radio station in Sacramento . . . but I digress.]
3. Significant dates in MN history: {a} 1819...The 1st permanent settlement is established @ Ft. St. Anthony, later renamed Ft. Snelling...which is located practically in Nathan & Laura's backyard; {b} 2016...Calvin Leckband, grand-son of Paul & Lois, is born...practically in Ft. Snelling's backyard.
4. State bird:  There is some controversy about this. "Officially" it's the loon. [NOTE: Minnesotans do NOT appreciate jokes about this, i.e., "You'd have to be looney to make your state bird the loon."] Unofficially it's the mosquito. I realize that Floridians may think that the world's most vicious & populous hordes of these nefarious creatures inhabit their state . . . They are wrong. Anybody who has spent any amount of time in MN will agree with the author of this blog. Mosquitos & MN belong together like Jesse Ventura & looneys. Rumors about hordes of mosquitos carrying off small children? Not rumors. Bring plenty of DEET products . . . although there some native Minnesotans who will tell you . . . somewhat factually . . . that certain strains of NMM * thrive on this chemical and/or it only makes them angrier & more aggressive. * Native Minnesota Mosquitos.
5. Last [We all hope & pray. *] but not least, MN is a blue state, which is especially evident in the Twin Cities. That means heavy government regulation. [Those of you in certain states west of Nevada should easily relate to this.] That means fireworks are pretty heavily regulated. Here are a few regulations. {a} You can only purchase "fireworks" between 1:00-1:15p on 7/3. {b} There is a 125% state tax on "fireworks." {c} You can only set off your "fireworks" between 6:00-6:15p on 7/4. {d} "Fireworks" are limited to "sparklers" & 1/4" "firecrackers." {e} You are only allowed to wave "sparklers" around; you are not allowed to light them. {f} You are also not allowed to light "firecrackers;" Depending on local sound ordinances, you are only allowed to throw them & yell "BAND!" {g} When you purchase your "fireworks," make sure you pick up the 11-page EPA forms, which you will need to fill out & submit within 48 hours after midnight on July 4, attesting that you have picked up all of your personal "fireworks" & disposed of them--in EPA-approved disposal receptacles--in EPA-approved disposal sites. ** {h} Out of respect for the many indigenous peoples who were NOT included in the historical events of the first "4th of July," proper decorum dictates that you do NOT display any patriotic iconography, including flags, clothing, or Toby Keith t-shirts. ** The nearest one is on a fracking site in North Dakota.

* You will undoubtedly observe a lot of Minnesotans praying before meals in public restaurants. Many Catholics live in Minnesota; 98% of them in St. Paul. There are also 75 different Lutheran Synods in Minnesota. Examples:  Old Danish Synod, New Danish Synod, Orthodox Danish Synod, Reformed Danish Synod, Synod of Traditional Liturgy & Hymnology, Synod of Contemporary Liturgy & Guitars, etc.