Monday Musings - June 15, 2020

1. It is the third Monday of June. June has five Mondays this month. It is also June 15th--the mid-point of a tumultuous month. The year 2020 is racing towards being half over. There is still time to salvage the year. 

2. The summer solstice will occur at 5:23 PM EDT on Saturday, June 20th. The longest daylight of the year. Plan to enjoy it!

Baby Robins in their Nest
Elkridge, MD
June 14, 2020

3. The baby robins are growing in their nest. I was able to sneak a picture of them all snuggled down while their mother was out getting food. The hardest thing we are doing is keeping the plant that their nest is located in alive while the fledglings mature. Trust me, I have had some close encounters with the parents!

4. Major League Baseball mystifies me. The other sports are finding ways to get back to the game, and the MLB is finding reasons not to play. America's pastime is being bankrupted by over paid players and risk averse owners. They have forgotten about the game. 

5. Our pool has seen some great use so far this season. It has given me a lot of joy to be able to help others escape the heat and the cares of the day while enjoying a few hours in the pool.

6. Gas prices are creeping up just in time for the reopening of society. Coincidence? I think not!

7. My gym hopefully will reopen on Friday! Maryland is moving along the path of reopening.

8. When we can laugh at ourselves we find the most joy in life.

Fogged Glasses (not me)

9. I got out this morning to play racquetball at the outdoor court again. It was a much more enjoyable activity given the cooler temperatures. I am having a problem wearing a face mask. I fog over--not just while playing racquetball. If anyone knows a simple solution, I would really appreciate it. I am considering contacts, but they will not help with racquetball since I will still wear protective goggles.  I have tried positioning my mask in different places to minimize the fogging.  The mask I have for racquetball has an adjustable nosepiece and I still fog. 

10. Today in History. June 15, 1215, following a revolt by the English nobility against his rule, King John puts his royal seal on Magna Carta, or “the Great Charter.” The document, essentially a peace treaty between John and his barons, guaranteed that the king would respect feudal rights and privileges, uphold the freedom of the church, and maintain the nation’s laws. Although more a reactionary than a progressive document in its day, Magna Carta was seen as a cornerstone in the development of democratic England by later generations.

Coronavirus Cases Spike Across Sun Belt as Economy Lurches into Motion - The New York Times

Tanker Truck Blast on China Highway Kills 19 - The New York Times

Atlanta Police Shooting Sparks New Outrage - The Wall Street Journal

MLB Players End Negotiations, Dare League to Impose Season - The Wall Street Journal

Atlanta police shooting of black man was a homicide, coroner says - Reuters

Chinese capital reinstates curbs as coronavirus resurfaces - Reuters

Twitter compares NBC News tweets on Trump event, NYC rally - Fox News

The Court-Martial of Donald J. Trump - The New York Times (Opinion)

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

I thought I'd try something different and remind everyone of a side of presidents that we have not seen much of these past 3-and-a-half years: Humor! President Reagan's best jokes and humor. There are also some great quotes.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD