Howard blinks. He's gotten used to the idea that people here are from different places, some of which don't seem to be in contact with each other, but different times is something a little harder to absorb. For a moment he almost looks dizzy, as if trying so hard to process this new inform and integrate it into what he knows that he's stopped focusing on what's right in front of him.

"Ah."

None of this makes any sense. He bites his lip and runs his tongue over his teeth.

"So I guess if I start making jokes about how we beat Russia to the moon, they're going to fly over your head. No pun intended."

Then he adds, "I've never left California", as if to explain why he assumed 1800's was just normal Kansan behavior.