Tuesday, July 16, 2019
50 Years Ago - Apollo 11
I remember the launch of the Apollo 11 mission to land men on the moon vividly to this very day, even though I was only 13 years old. I was excited about the greatest adventure in the history of humankind. For the first time, humans were planning to set foot on something other than Earth.
Today, we begin a period of remembering what happened 50 years ago. At 9:32 AM EDT, July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 launched and the journey began.
While it seems like ancient history to some, to many others of us the launch, the risk, the journey to the Moon by the brave trio of Neil Armstrong, "Buzz" Aldrin, and Michael Collins; was as if we were making the trip along side of them.
The hopes and prayers of all Americans traveled together with the three astronauts.
Take some time this week to pause and reflect about one of the greatest achievements in human history, and something that has been replicated by no other country on the planet.
-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, Florida
Monday, July 15, 2019
Monday Musings - July 15, 2019
1. The mid-point of July is upon us and, sadly, the summer is speeding by and an ever increasing rate, it seems. Don't forget to enjoy the best month of the year!
Flip-flops on the Beach Home Sound National Wildlife Refuge Beach July 14, 2019 |
3. Sitting on the beach yesterday, I was napping and enjoying the soothing sounds of the waves hitting the shore. I also spent a lot of time in the water enjoying the undulations of the waves. It seemed that my flip-flops were calling to me to walk to down into the ocean.
Moon Over Our House in Tequesta July 14, 2019 |
5. The Orioles began the post-All Star game campaign by losing 2 of 3 to the Rays and nearly having a perfect game pitched against them yesterday. Things are not looking any better for the second half of the season. They remain on track to lose 114 games this season.
6. I wish we could find the way back to a "kinder, gentler nation."
7. It is amazing how hot there sand can get on the beach as it bakes all day.
8. Today in History. On this day in 2006, the San Francisco-based podcasting company Odeo officially releases Twttr—later changed to Twitter—its short messaging service (SMS) for groups, to the public. Born as a side project apart from Odeo’s main podcasting platform, the free application allowed users to share short status updates with groups of friends by sending one text message to a single number (“40404”). Over the next few years, as Twttr became Twitter, the simple “microblogging” service would explode in popularity, becoming one of the world’s leading social networking platforms.
Headlines
Trump Fans the Flames of a Racial Fire - The New York Times
China’s Economic Growth Hits 27-Year Low as Trade War Stings - The New York Times
Hong Kong leader says protesters in latest clashes can be called 'rioters' - Reuters
Britain sees 'small window' to save nuclear deal, Iran presses Europe to act - Reuters
Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week
The problems we're overcoming are not the heritage of one person, party, or even one generation. It's just the tendency of government to grow, for practices and programs to become the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this Earth. [Laughter] And there's always that well-intentioned chorus of voices saying, ``With a little more power and a little more money, we could do so much for the people.'' For a time we forgot the American dream isn't one of making government bigger; it's keeping faith with the mighty spirit of free people under God.
-- Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on the State of the Union, January 25, 1984
-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, Florida
Britain sees 'small window' to save nuclear deal, Iran presses Europe to act - Reuters
Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week
The problems we're overcoming are not the heritage of one person, party, or even one generation. It's just the tendency of government to grow, for practices and programs to become the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this Earth. [Laughter] And there's always that well-intentioned chorus of voices saying, ``With a little more power and a little more money, we could do so much for the people.'' For a time we forgot the American dream isn't one of making government bigger; it's keeping faith with the mighty spirit of free people under God.
-- Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on the State of the Union, January 25, 1984
-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, Florida
Sunday, July 14, 2019
Walk on the Beach
Happy Bastille Day! Just saying. It is my second favorite foreign holiday.
Chris and Finnegan at Carlin Park Beach Jupiter, Florida July 13, 2019 |
Tacky or Elegant? You Make the Call |
We actually shopped for many hours--driving about 40 minutes from our home to find the special places for the treasures we were seeking. But in the end, nothing made the grade!
For Day 2, I think we will perform a repeat walk on the beach.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Saturday, July 13, 2019
Sunset Above the Clouds
Sunset Above the Clouds Southwest Flight 2418 July 12, 2019 |
End-of-the-Day Flight 2418 July 12. 2019 |
The day dawned here bright, cloud-covered, and humid--a near carbon copy of weather in Maryland. The big difference is that we will be heading to the beach in a few minutes for our morning walk along the shore.
It is nice to get away from it all by going home and to be treated to such beauty along the way.
And now, it is off the the beach.
-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, Florida
Friday, July 12, 2019
Flamingo
Flamingos are back!
Flamingo Sofa Pillow |
Flamingos are making a resurgence and just yesterday, I received a gift of a sofa pillow adorned with flamingos. This is not a solitary flamingo item, however, because out Florida house has a while room dedicated to flamingos! It also had a room dedicated to pelicans and another dedicated to turtles!
I love flamingos! They just scream the Caribbean to me and make me smile when I see them. I remember going the salt flats in Curaco and seeing the flocks of flamingos--they made me smile even then.
And now, I smile whenever I see flamingos--I could go a bit overboard, but Chris keeps my irrational flamingo desire in check, mostly.
Think pink!
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Thursday, July 11, 2019
Money on the Road
Money Along Atlanta highway From The New York Times |
The article in the Times was titled, An Armored Truck Spilled Thousands of Dollars on an Atlanta Highway. What Would You Do?
According to the reporting, about $175,000 fell along I-285, the beltway encircling Atlanta from the back of an armored truck. Drivers stopped and scooped up money and fast as they could, BUT, it is actually theft to keep any money retrieved from along the roadway and the windfall should be returned.
While the skies may have been raining $50 bills, it was not a windfall for those who gathered them from the roadway.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Wednesday, July 10, 2019
Mid-Season Break
Baseball is taking a time-out for the All Star game which was again won by the American League!
Bottom Five Teams in Baseball July 10, 2019 |
The Orioles are the worst team in baseball. They were the first team to amass over 60 losses and are on track to lose 113 games. The Orioles are 31.5 games out of first place in their division and 23.5 games out of the Wild Card spot in the league. With some luck, perhaps the Orioles can improve and become the 29th best team in all of baseball!
No Orioles player actually played in the All Star game on Tuesday night--the only Orioles player, John Means a starting pitcher, was held in reserve.
Well, now that the mid-season break is over, we can resume watching the wheels come of the Orioles. Maybe I will go to a game later in the season. I have attended only one game thus far--and it, predictably, was a loss.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Tuesday, July 9, 2019
The Fledgling
Fledgling Cardinal on the Pool Fence Elkridge, MD July 8, 2019 |
The male cardinal also appeared and both birds cared for the fledgling by periodically feeding it and trying to get it to imitate their flight patterns. The small bird, for its part, did attempt short flights and made good progress, It rested on the fence for a long time before jumping/flying down and shuffling off into the wooded area.
All-in-all the entire event took about an hour and we were transfixed watching the small cardinal begin the process of caring for itself and learning to fly.
Oh the things we can see if we just take the time to watch.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Monday, July 8, 2019
Monday Musings - July 8, 2019
1. It is the second Monday in July and the month is already beginning to speed towards its conclusion.
2. In an amazing stretch of baseball, the Orioles have improved their record to 27-62 .303 and have lowered their anticipated losses to 113 for the season.
Finnegan June 7, 2019 |
4. Finnegan knows how to relax on a hot afternoon by sleeping on his back on a cushion by the pool.
5. Congratulations to the Women's National Soccer Team for bringing home Gold! As a side note, the men failed to defeat Mexico for their gold medal.
6. Rain. Everyday there has been rain!
7. Quandary: There is a nail in the tire of my truck. My tire is not losing air. Do I remove the nail and potentially cause a leak or do I leave it in the tire until it becomes a problem?
8. Today in History. On this day in 1951, Paris, the capital city of France, celebrates turning 2,000 years old. In fact, a few more candles would’ve technically been required on the birthday cake, as the City of Lights was most likely founded around 250 B.C. The history of Paris can be traced back to a Gallic tribe known as the Parisii, who sometime around 250 B.C. settled an island (known today as Ile de la Cite) in the Seine River, which runs through present-day Paris. By 52 B.C., Julius Caesar and the Romans had taken over the area, which eventually became Christianized and known as Lutetia, Latin for “midwater dwelling.” The settlement later spread to both the left and right banks of the Seine and the name Lutetia was replaced with “Paris.” In 987 A.D., Paris became the capital of France. As the city grew, the Left Bank earned a reputation as the intellectual district while the Right Bank became known for business.
Headlines
Iran Announces New Breach of Nuclear Deal Limits and Threatens Further Violations - The New York Times
Florida, the Sunshine State, Is Slow to Adopt Rooftop Solar Power - The New York Times
Hong Kong protesters march again, reaching out to Chinese visitors - Reuters
Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week
Call it mysticism if you will, I have always believed there was some divine providence that placed this great land here between the two great oceans, to be found by a special kind of people from every corner of the world, who had a special love for freedom and a special courage that enabled them to leave their own land, leave their friends and their countrymen, and come to this new and strange land to build a New World of peace and freedom and hope. Lincoln spoke about hope as he left the hometown he would never see again to take up the duties of the Presidency and bring America through a terrible Civil War. At each stop on his long train ride to Washington, the news grew worse: The Nation was dividing; his own life was in peril. On he pushed, undaunted. In Philadelphia he spoke in Independence Hall, where 85 years earlier the Declaration of Independence had been signed. He noted that much more had been achieved there than just independence from Great Britain. It was, he said, ``hope to the world, future for all time.''
--Remarks at the Opening Ceremonies of the Statue of Liberty Centennial Celebration in New York, New York, July 3, 1986
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week
Call it mysticism if you will, I have always believed there was some divine providence that placed this great land here between the two great oceans, to be found by a special kind of people from every corner of the world, who had a special love for freedom and a special courage that enabled them to leave their own land, leave their friends and their countrymen, and come to this new and strange land to build a New World of peace and freedom and hope. Lincoln spoke about hope as he left the hometown he would never see again to take up the duties of the Presidency and bring America through a terrible Civil War. At each stop on his long train ride to Washington, the news grew worse: The Nation was dividing; his own life was in peril. On he pushed, undaunted. In Philadelphia he spoke in Independence Hall, where 85 years earlier the Declaration of Independence had been signed. He noted that much more had been achieved there than just independence from Great Britain. It was, he said, ``hope to the world, future for all time.''
--Remarks at the Opening Ceremonies of the Statue of Liberty Centennial Celebration in New York, New York, July 3, 1986
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Sunday, July 7, 2019
Just add sand, water, and palm trees
Getting ready for upcoming vacations can sometimes be a full-time job.
Ethan in the Pool Elkridge, MD July 6. 2019 |
And we made good on the promise! After he was correctly fitted as the local dive shop, he bought the equipment home to try it out.
The equipment worked and he looked like a creature rising from the blue lagoon as he checked it out.
Ethan is ready for a snorkeling adventure on a far away Caribbean island--just add sand, water, and palm trees!
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
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