Monday Musings - July 30, 2018

Church in Harper's Ferry from the Railroad Bridge
July 29, 2018

1. The last Monday of my favorite month of the year has arrived. August is waiting in the wings for a grand entrance on Wednesday.

Fence Lining the Sunken Road
Antietam Battlefield
July 28, 2018

2. Chris and I spent a weekend immersed in history. We walked the Antietam Battlefield as well as wandering around Harper's Ferry.

3. I am glad the rains stopped for the weekend. We enjoyed a concert by 1964 the Tribute at Big Cork Vineyard on Saturday night. What a great idea, hold a concert on the grounds of a vineyard with a generous supply of great wine available!

4. The rains are expected to return this week. Sadly. I was enjoying the sunny skies.

5. Our dogs and cats are tired of Chris and I taking off for the weekend. I think they will be happy when remain are home for a while. 

1964 The Tribute
Big Cork Vineyards
July 28, 2018

Truck Loaded with Bushes Ready for Recycling
July 30, 2018

6. Despite the travel, Chris and I managed to remove three unsightly large bushes from the side of the house. Their time had come and it is now time to refresh the appearance.

7. On this day in 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signs Medicare, a health insurance program for elderly Americans, into law. At the bill-signing ceremony, which took place at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, former President Harry Truman was enrolled as Medicare’s first beneficiary and received the first Medicare card.

8. Joke for the Week: Why shouldn’t you write with a broken pencil? Because it’s pointless.

9. The Orioles just won three games in a row all by scoring 10 runs or more and, weirdly, they had 15 hits in each of the three games. That has to be some kind of record. The three successive wins have lowered their projected season losses to 113! They are over .300 in winning percentage for the first time in a long time and are making a push to get out of last place in MLB.


Headlines

G.O.P. Faces Another Midterm Threat as Trump Plays the Shutdown Card - The New York Times

Air marshals have conducted secret in-flight monitoring of U.S. passengers for years - The Washington Post

'Happy with tariffs': Steel industry emerges as trade war winner - CNN


Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"But if we remember that freedom rests, and always will, on the individual -- on individual integrity, on individual effort, on individual courage, and in an individual faith in God -- then we will have met the challenge of our generation and brought our great nation safely through our turning point in history."

Address Before a Joint Session of the Iowa State Legislature in Des Moines, February 9, 1982

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Civil War History

Burnside Bridge
Antietam Battlefield
July 28, 2018

The Antietam battlefield is close to where we live and on Saturday it was the destination of choice.

It is important to immerse in history and honor the past. Burnside Bridge was the scene of fighting and I was amazed to learn that the tree at the end of the bridge was there during the battle. It was a fascinating piece of history.

Returning to the battlefield is sobering. Recounting the struggles that happened during that fateful day during September 1862 remind me of the past from which our nation is forged. The 23,000 casualties are mind numbing.

And now the landscape is bucolic and peaceful. Only hints of the horrors of that day remain.

An important piece of American history that needs to be remembered.

— Bob Doan, writing from Harpers Ferry, WV

Twilight Flight

Looking up the Street at Sunset
July 27, 2018

Looking to the Sunset
July 2Nd 7, 2018

The weather cleared enough last evening for a quick Radio Flyer flight as the sun was setting.

I enjoyed the colors of the sunset and was anxious to get my drone airborne before they faded away.

I intended to fly to the end of the street and take a few shots looking over I-95, but due to the rain, the trees were impeding the quality of the signal between Radio Flyer and my controller. I kept losing contact at the target location and so I brought it back where I had full control and took some evening images.

I especially like the one where the golden colors of the sun are reflecting off the houses along my street.

It was a relatively short flight all-in-all, but I enjoyed the final results. It was a nice way to watch the end of the week fade over the horizon.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Made it to Friday

Moon from Elkridge
July 26, 2018

The rain is back this morning, but I made it to another Friday.

That is a cause for celebration--even with the ever pervasive rain. I had hoped the day would be clear and sunny!

Chris and I have another busy weekend planned and hopefully the rains will hold off.

Moon
July 26, 2018

Last evening as Chris and I were walking the dogs, we noticed that the Moon was especially beautiful.

I now realize that photographing the Moon is difficult. The camera never really captures what the eye sees, especially with a dog pulling n the leash as the hand attempts to snap and image.

But I tried.

The good news is that the skies at the time were mostly clear and it was not raining for the first time in about five days. It had dried out enough for me to cut the lawn and begin to get it back into shape.

I was beginning to feel like I was living in a rainforest.

All of that written, and even with the rain, it is still Friday and we are on the cusp of the weekend!

Why does Friday seem to make is all better?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Rain--Build an Ark

Sun over Cayuga Lake near Ithaca, NY Looking East
From Radio Flyer
July 21, 2018

The rains continued pounding the region last evening and rained out the Orioles baseball game that I had tickets for but decided not to attend because of the storms. Unfortunately, they rescheduled the game during the Troy Whittemore Annual Golf Tournament in August and so I have another group of tickets to exchange. 

Oh, boy!

It has been a tough season. Last evening was the third rain out from my 13 game package.

The rains, which hopefully are ending today, have been wrecking havoc on the area with flooded homes, roads, bridges, and downed trees abounding.

I was beginning to think about ordering some gopher wood, but since no one seems to know what gopher wood actually is, it is hard to order some to construct an ark.

I don't have the time anyway. And who wants to clean up once all of the animals show up?

I am hopeful that the rains will end today and some drying will occur. My lawn looks like a jungle and needs to be mowed! The pool is in good shape, but requires constant attention to ensure the skimmers are clear. Radio Flyer, my drone, has been in its storage case since the weekend. I am itching to get it out and do some flying.

Maybe the sun will shine today, somewhere near where I live!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Dismantling the Team

The Orioles continue to dismantle the team by trading off the best players to in the hopes of creating a winning future.

Last evening my favorite player, Zach Britton, was traded to the Yankees. I cannot believe that the Orioles would do business with the Yankees who are in their own division, but it happened. Maybe he will be back?


Last week the Orioles traded Manny Machado to the Dodgers. 

Who is next? I expect Adam Jones, center field; Brad Brach, reliever; and Mychal Givens, reliever; will also soon depart the sinking Orioles ship.

The Orioles did manage a win over the Red Sox last evening. I know that for many people, their favorite team is whomever is playing the Red Sox and so I am glad the O's could finally manage a win. They are now 29-73, .284 and have fully descended into last place in the major leagues.

The Orioles, with the win last evening, remain on pace to lose 116 games!

I wish there was a way to get a refund for my season tickets. Since the team did not show up for the season, why should I have to pay to watch them play?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Spur of the Moment

Chris with the Sign in the Theater
July 23, 2018

The rains have returned to the region and are drowning out any idea of outdoor activities.

I had experienced a long day at work, getting home much later than normal, and after a fantastic dinner that Chris had prepared I knew that it was going to be another evening in the house. I surprised Chris and suggested that we go to a movie.

She was elated and we headed off to see Mama Mia!: Here we go again!

It was not so much which movie as it was any movie. And I stumbled onto a great deal. Monday was senior night at the movies. For $16.75, we both attended the movie. That is not each, but both!

Parking was easy, traffic was light, the theater was empty, and the rains did not bother us while we were watching the movie. It was a win all the way around.

Yes, I like Mama Mia! and I enjoyed the movie. Will it win an academy award? Probably not, but it was fun and took my mind off the ever pervasive rain for a couple of hours.

We are going to remember senior night at the movies. Both of us attended the showing for the price of one regular adult ticket!

On to Tuesday, and more rain!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - July 23, 2018

View from Four Friends Vineyard
Williamsport, PA
July 22, 2018

1. The month is cruising along. This is the fourth of five July Mondays this year. 

2. Chris and I took a relaxed approach to the drive from Upstate NY back to home yesterday. We stopped at a winery which had a magnificent view and we also stopped to enjoy lunch rather than eat while driving. It took longer but we enjoyed the drive a bit more

Mom and I on the Back Deck
From Radio Flyer
July 21, 2018

3. Although we frequently make the trip along U.S. Route 15 south of Williamsport, we had not stopped at one particular vineyard advertised from the road. Yesterday we changed that and stopped at Four Friends Vineyard. It was a nice respite from the drive and we enjoyed a stunning view along with some very drinkable wines.

Bluebird
July 21, 2018

4. I enjoyed flying Radio Flyer over the weekend and took some very nice images. I am hoping to begin to take some flights into the gorges of Ithaca next time I visit. 

5. If the contractors are replacing Federal employees, is the size of the Federal Government really shrinking?

6. I was able to snap a quick image of a Bluebird on a weather vane on Saturday. I am glad it posed for a brief second.

7. On this day in 1976, members of the American Legion arrive in Philadelphia to celebrate the bicentennial of U.S. independence. Soon after, many began suffering from a mysterious form of pneumonia. Their ailment would come to be known as Legionnaires’ disease.

8. It looks as if it is going to be a rainy week out there. Total rainfall totals are expected to be 6-12 inches. Ugh!



Headlines

Trump Threatens Iran on Twitter, Warning of Dire ‘Consequences’ - The New York Times

Donald Trump Has Endangered Species in His Sights - The New York Times

While federal employment shrinks in D.C., government contractors are on a hiring spree - The Washington Post

Mexican League Umpires Suspended After Making Terrible Check Swing Call - CNN

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"For all Americans, we want to open more and more paths of opportunity in education and expanding scientific literacy and fostering new technologies and, through new technology, new jobs for the future; and building a fair, free, and growing world economy that gives hope and opportunity to all Americans, all mankind."

Remarks at a White House Meeting With Members of the Council for a Black Economic Agenda, February 24, 1987

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Beautiful Day

I spent most of yesterday at my parents in Danby, NY.

Radio Flyer spent a few minutes touring the area and I snapped this image looking North. Cayuga Lake is just visible on the horizon and the blue sky was welcome.

It was another great July day. This July has seen one great day after another. Although today has seen some much needed rain, the days remain the stuff that great memories are made from.

I was happy to help mom and Dad with a few chores around their house yesterday. It is too bad that the drive to see them eats up the better part of the day.

I am going to be very unhappy when July slips away next week. It has been a month to remember.

— Bob Doan, writing from Williamsport, PA

Danby Sunset

It was a beautiful sunset last evening. It was a work of art to be admired as the colors deepened.

I enjoy the blending of the ending of the day colors.

I just stood there and admired the work.

I will keep a piece of this sunset in my mind for a long time.

— Bob Doan, writing from Danby, NY