Escape from DC

 

South of the Border
South Carolina
June 13, 2025

We are on the road headed south. I made a point of getting away from the DC area before the Flag Day festivities get out of hand. 

Or is the 250th Anniversary of the US Army?

Or is it a birthday celebration?  

Who knows?

Tanks will be rolling through our nation’s capital. 

 Chris and I decided to escape before the roads become gridlocked.

We have been driving about 6 1/2 hours and are in South Carolina headed into our first rainstorm of the day. 

Travel days can be so much fun.

— Bob Doan, near Dillon, SC

Liberty and Justice for all

 

I remember saying the Pledge of Allegiance every morning in school.  And I believed those words. I have always believed these words from which I understand that the U.S. is a republic (not a true democracy) and that everyone is entitled to "liberty and justice". 

It seems that forces in our country right now would have us forget that based upon our Constitution ". . . with liberty and justice for all" is a bedrock principle of our society and country. 

I had an enjoyably heated discussion the other evening about the principle of due process. Apparently, some of our leaders and many citizens do not believe that due process is entitled by all people in the United States. Reviewing three of the salient Amendments to the Constitution makes the point that liberty and justice for all is not just a convenient idea, but it is embedded in our laws as also is due process.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.  (Cornell Law School)

What is happening? It is routinely reported that warrantless searches of homes are being conducted by government officials. The exclusion describes in the interpretation of this amendment is, I believe, being exaggerated. These searches, therefore, may violate this amendment. It has also been reported that people are being whisked off the streets by masked officers who do not display their official affiliation. I cannot see how this can be legal? 

Amendment XIV (portion of section 1)

No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. (National Constitution Center)

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. (National Constitution Center)

Amendments five and fourteen go together to protect life and liberty while ensuring due process. I found it instructive in the Fourteenth Amendment that one portion specifies citizens, which are defined earlier in the amendment, but the next sentence states "any person." It is an important distinction because the constitutional protections are for everyone within the United States. For the purposes of Liberty and Justice for all, the constitution applies to everyone: illegal immigrants and legal visitors as well as citizens. And it further states persons are entitled to due process. 

Due process is where mistakes can be corrected, like trying to deport a citizen. Citizens cannot be deported by definition. And as for immigrants, dismissing legal asylum claims violates due process.

Liberty and Justice for all. That is what it is all about. Just because ensuring liberty, justice and due process may be inconvenient, does not justify abridging rights guaranteed by the Constitution. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

 

Evening Golf

Me Waiting for Tee Time
Timbers at Troy, Elkridge, MD
June 10, 2025

 I managed to get away for some evening golf yesterday. Jeremy and I headed off to the local course for a 5:45 PM tee time knowing that we would not be able to play the entire 18 holes, but still looking to enjoy hitting the ball and playing as many holes as we could. Evening tee times are much less expensive than the normal day rate. 

We were the first time after the league teed off. That meant that we were behind some slow golfers. We have played the evening times before and usually get through 14 or 15 holes. Last evening, because of the slow play of the league foursome in front of us we only were able to play 11 holes. Somehow, the course did not advise us of the 9-hole rate, for which I am a bit miffed because they tried to kick us off the course after 9 holes and only allowed us to play on after we had an excited discussion with them. But we had to succumb to the darkness in the end.

But we had a great time!


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Happy Hour and then the Game

 It was a great afternoon and evening where everything fell into place, smoothly. 

We began with Happy Hour and friends, Cathy and Gary, at Seasons 52 where we caught up and enjoyed great company. The apps we enjoyed were good, but the assortment of mini desserts was over-the-top delicious. It was funny that we had never enjoyed multiple desserts before, but last evening they were the perfect exclamation point to a wonderful Happy Hour.

Jax on the Mound
Arundel High, Odenton, MD
June 9, 2025

Following Happy Hour in Columbia we raced to Odenton to attend an American Legion team baseball game.

Jax was on the mound for the team and posted a dominating performance notching no earned runs and nine strikeouts over six innings. He only allowed four walks and three hits. 

The team played well and they won 4-1 with Jax getting the win.   

We definitely enjoyed the afternoon and evening especially the conversation during Happy Hour and Jax's great pitching performance to cap the evening.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - June 9, 2025

 

1. It is the second Monday of June. There are 29 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. Through an oversight, last week's Monday Musings was not published. Oops! 

Chris and Beck
Glen Burnie, MD
June 8, 2025
(Image by Patrick)

3. Happy Grandma. We spent last evening with our youngest grandson, Beck. Chris was in her glory with the opportunity to spend quality time with Beck. We enjoyed a great dinner and time together with Jen and Patrick. It was especially nice to sit outside around the fire pit and enjoy great conversation and food.  

4. We journeyed to Big Cork in Rohrersville, MD, yesterday. We enjoyed a tasting of a variety of wines and were then treated to a very nice charcuterie box which contained more choices than we could eat along with wines. The 2022 Cabernet Franc continues to be a great wine and my personal favorite. The 2022 Meritage, which is a blend of 50% Cab Franc, 25% Malbec, and 25% Petit Verdot; was also drinking very nicely. 

5. There are a lot of things happening in the country right now, but critically, the most concerning of the moment is the unrest in Los Angeles regarding the ICE arrests. The federal response seems excessive. But, perhaps that is why LA was chosen to have such a display of force. This situation surely is taking our eyes off the bigger issues and problems.

6. Today in History. With a spectacular victory at the Belmont Stakes, Secretariat becomes the first horse since Citation in 1948 to win America’s coveted Triple Crown: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. In one of the finest performances in racing history, Secretariat, ridden by Ron Turcotte, completed the 1.5-mile race in 2 minutes and 24 seconds, a dirt-track record for that distance.

Secretariat was born at Meadow Stables in Doswell, Virginia, on March 30, 1970. He was sired by Bold Ruler, the 1957 Preakness winner, and foaled by Somethingroyal, which came from a Thoroughbred line known for its stamina. An attractive chestnut colt, he grew to over 16 hands high and was at two years the size of a three-year-old.

California governor calls Trump National Guard deployment in LA unlawful - Reuters

Israeli forces seize Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg - Reuters

Iran to present counter-proposal to US in nuclear talks - Reuters

Exclusive: US expects Russia to launch multi-pronged strike on Ukraine - Reuters

'Tom, arrest me. Let's go.': Gov. Gavin Newsom responds to Trump border czar's threat - MSNBC

LAPD says ‘agitators have splintered’ in downtown area, declares unlawful assembly - FoxNews

The NASA science missions that would be axed in White House’s 2026 budget - The Washington Post

Trump tax bill reveals striking shift in GOP’s focus - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sunday Activities

 

We have a busy day planned. Once the day begins Chris and I expect to be visiting a our favorite winery for the late-morning and early-afternoon and then we celebrate the evening with our youngest grandson and his parents. It is a distinct change from yesterday which saw me golf in the morning and enjoy a very relaxing afternoon and evening. 

We visited Primanti Brothers to enjoy lunch with Jeremy. That was our first visit to Primanti Brothers. I enjoyed a huge Ruben sandwich and, well, an adult beverage. We enjoyed the atmosphere and the multiple sports games on the TVs for a while. The remainder of the afternoon was devoted to watching baseball and a movie. There may have been a nap involved. 

We are more than recharged for a busy day. 

Today promises to be cool--with a projected high around 74 degrees. In Rohrersville, MD, it will be cooler crawling up to a high of 70 degrees. I am glad that we golfed yesterday.

I guess we will need to take some jackets with us once we begin the day.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Being Watched

The Watcher, Deer on Hole 13
Timbers at Troy, Elkridge, MD
June 7, 2025

 Saturday was a golf day. Jeremy and I hit the course for 7:15 tee-time and because of the rain we got moved forward to the first tee-time of the day and led everyone off. Actually the course was pretty open, but it was fun not having anyone in front of us. 

We had a great time. My scorecard was typical for the course--Timbers at Troy in Elkridge. We were treated to a rainstorm for a couple of holes, but we looked at the radar map and saw that once the rain stopped we would be dry the rest of the day. It had been a while since I played in rain, but the day was warm and the rain was not at all uncomfortably cold.

Once the rain stopped and we dried off the day was actually a fantastic one for golf. We were lucky in that it did not rain hard enough to produce standing water on the course. 

We finished our round in 3h39m. The course posts that an acceptable pace of play is 4h20m.  

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

We Made It!

81st Anniversary of D-Day 

Our two-day I-95 fun drive was a success and we arrived in Elkridge yesterday afternoon. I had correctly discerned the weather from the projections and we only had rain for about the first 45 minutes of yesterday's six-hour highway event. It was supposed to be only five hours of road fun, but as usual, traffic delays that began in Richmond and continued through D.C. and into Maryland. 

View of the Roads Ahead
I-95 near Fredericksburg, VA
June 5, 2025

 During the drive, I especially do not enjoy getting a message like the one at the left. A 41-minute traffic delay is no fun at all. This message was from Wednesday as we were trying to make our way to the hotel. The day began with the mapping program estimating a 2:33 PM arrival at the hotel, based upon the need for gas and rest stops I had estimated 3:30 PM, and we finally got to the hotel at 5:02 PM. Having departed home at 5:07 AM that made for a very long day. 

We are looking forward to visiting with friends and family and reconnecting, before reversing our route and returning to Florida.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wait, That's a Torpedo

Torpedo
St Marys, GA
June 4, 2025

 It is not something that is expected to be seen when traveling north on I-95 and entering the state of Georgia--but there it was, a torpedo!

Amazing!

Well, we were in submarine country.

And I had forgotten how large actual torpedos are--but there it was, right in front of the restrooms. 

It was a reminder of naval warfare and the presence of the US Navy in the area. I love the display. Most people walked by and didn't even notice the weapon. Or, sadly, cared.

It was a more advanced version of the weapon that helped win the WW2 Battle of the Atlantic and also helped win the war in the Pacific. Many Japanese and German ships and subs succumbed to the predecessors of this weapon fired by the intrepid crews of U.S. submarines, many of whom never returned from their patrols, but who were instrumental in winning the naval war.

Wow. History in the raw!

-- Bob Doan, Dunn, N C

On The Road

 We are in Georgia having been on the road 5 hours already. It has been rainy at times as it will be all day.  Chris just took the wheel as we race through the state. I am taking a break. 

The program I use to forecast the trip weather was showing thunderstorms and rain all day, but the showers have been spotty so far.

We have just entered another storm area. Chris is doing well, she hates driving in the rain. 

After a stop tonight, we should arrive in Maryland tomorrow early afternoon. 

— Bob Doan, Brunswick, GA