Beware the Wine Tasting

 

The View from an Unnamed Winery
Northern Loudoun County, Virgnia
June 6, 2021

We experienced a COVID-19 modified wine tasting at a prestigious Northern Loudoun County, Virginia, winery the other day.

The facility was beautiful and reservations were highly encouraged for the Sunday tastings. I had made a reservation and the checking in process went smoothly. We were given a nice souvenir glass, which I think we left at the table and went off to the covered porch for a nice tasting. There was pleasant music and everything seemed very nice. 

Then the tasting. 

There were two tastings--the first, for $22 was for six of their normal wines, and the second for $18 was for three of their award winning wines. We did both--starting with the normal tasting. The wines were poured into plastic cups and I have to admit they were very small pours. We then took the tray with the cups and information about the wines to our seats to conduct the tasting on our own.

Here comes the problem. It was a near 90 degree day. Meaning it was hot. With the small pours and all six wines already poured the samples quickly warmed to a temperature which was not suitable for the tasting. We tasted two whites, one rose, and three reds during the first tasting. I have to admit, none of the wines, except for the Meritage tasted well. 

Believe it or not, I then went and bought the second tasting which was the real reason we visited the winery. Same problem. Three wines, all red with price points above $50 per bottle were too warm and were not enjoyable. 

I dearly wanted to buy something and find a drinkable wine, but because of the environmental conditions of the day, there was no way the wines would hold up. 

Note: tasting flights of wines outside on a hot day is not a good way to enjoy the fruits of the winemakers labors.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Cicada in the House

It was very creepy last evening as I was shutting down the house for nighttime. 

I turned the lights off in the living room and then heard the distinct buzzing of a Brood X Cicada somewhere in the room. And then I felt it fly past my ear making the awful sound that they make. 

It took collaboration with Riordin, our cat, to find the bug and corral it and then grab it gently by the wings to move it outside. 

Yes, I relocated it and did not flush it like I do the numerous stinkbugs which invade our dwelling. 

I am very respectful of the bugs. They are, after all, 17 years old and I believe have a right to ensure the continuation of their species. Enough of them are being splattered on windshields that I wonder if it will hinder the continuance of their kind at some date in the future. I remember the stories of the passenger pigeon which used to darken the skies, but went extinct in 1914. Perhaps it takes billions of cicadas to ensure the continuation of the species. 

I for one am happy that they are providing free aeration of the soil.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - June 7, 2021

 

1. It is the first Monday of the month of June 2021. The month is off to a fast start. There are 29 Mondays remaining in the year!

2. Summer officially begins on June 20, which is now less than two weeks away. Prepare for the solstice! Although the day of the solstice is supposed to be the longest day of the year, this year, the 20th and the 21st are within 1 second of each other.

3. Look at the Orioles! After suffering through a 14 game losing streak, they have won 4 of the last 5 games! Amazing! They no longer have the worst record in baseball, that honor belongs to the Arizona Diamondbacks, at least for this week.

Barrel Room at Big Cork Winery
Rohersville, MD
June 6, 2021

4. What to do on a hot pre-Summer Sunday afternoon? Head to the mountains of Maryland and Northern Virginia to taste wine! That made for a great Sunday afternoon. Good food, friends, and of course wine was the star of the show.

5. It is clear that traffic has returned to pre-COVID-19 levels! the roads are jammed again at rush hour. 

6. With the long days for the remainder of the month, I wonder what fun evening activities that we will find in which to engage.

7. Chris and I have been watching a series on Netflix and came to its end. I researched the series and determined that there will be no further seasons to enjoy. It is sad when a good series ends, kid of like ending a book. 

8. Today in History. On June 7, 1913, Hudson Stuck, an Alaskan missionary, leads the first successful ascent of Denali (formerly known as Mt. McKinley), the highest point on the American continent at 20,320 feet.

Stuck, an accomplished amateur mountaineer, was born in London in 1863. After moving to the United States, in 1905 he became archdeacon of the Episcopal Church in Yukon, Alaska. Stuck traveled Alaska’s difficult terrain to preach to villagers and establish schools.

In March 1913, the adventure-seeking Stuck set out from Fairbanks for Denali with three companions, Harry Karstens, co-leader of the expedition, Walter Harper, whose mother was a Native American, and Robert Tatum, a theology student. Their arduous journey was made more challenging by difficult weather and a fire at one of their camps, which destroyed food and supplies. However, the group persevered and on June 7, Harper, followed by the rest of the party, was the first person to set foot on Denali's south peak, considered the mountain’s true summit. (In 1910, a group of climbers had reached the lower north peak.)

Google Settles Antitrust Case Over Online Ad-Practices - The Wall Street Journal

China’s Tech Clampdown Is Spreading - The Wall Street Journal

U.S. Aid to Central America Hasn’t Slowed Migration. Can Kamala Harris? - The New York Times

Once a Bastion of Free Speech, the A.C.L.U. Faces an Identity Crisis - The New York Times

Supreme Court begins its sprint to finish — with a retirement decision possible - The Washington Post

Manchin says he will not support voting rights bill, in blow to Biden agenda and a warning to his colleagues - The Washington Post

EXCLUSIVE China policies could cut millions of Uyghur births in Xinjiang, China  - Reuters

Severed head, body parts and kidnappings on Mexico midterm election day - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we are in a time when there are no heroes just don't know where to look. You can see heroes every day going in and out of factory gates. Others, a handful in number, produce enough food to feed all of us and then the world beyond. You meet heroes across a counter--and they are on both sides of that counter. There are entrepreneurs with faith in themselves and faith in an idea who create new jobs, new wealth and opportunity. They are individuals and families whose taxes support the Government and whose voluntary gifts support church, charity, culture, art, and education. Their patriotism is quiet but deep. Their values sustain our national life. 

First Inaugural Address of Ronald Reagan - TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1981

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Summer Arriving

Deer on the Golf Course
Compass Pointe Golf Courses
Pasadena, MD
June 5, 2021

 It certainly feels as if this is a Summer weekend. The skies are clear and the temperatures are over 90 degrees. The trees are fully leafed and the cicadas are loud!

It is time for fun and outdoors activities. 

I have to admit I am enjoying the time spent outdoors and the close encounters with nature. For instance, yesterday a fairly large deer crossed right behind the hole I was preparing to loft my golf ball into. I took a moment to capture the event on my camera. 

The pool is back up to swimming temperature and if I were not going to be heading off to wineries to enjoying wine today, I would be spending the day in the pool. 

Or rather, I would be doing work around the house with the intent of falling into the pool to cool off after doing some projects.

Either way--I love this weather. 

Let's get out and play!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Golfing Saturday

 

Water Coming off Jeremy's Driver from the Dew
Compass Pointe Golf Courses
Pasadena, MD
June 5, 2021

Chris, Jeremy and I had an early morning Tee Time at a local golf course too begin out Saturday. 

Turtle in the Rough
Compass Pointe Golf Courses
Pasadena, MD
June 5, 2021

It was a beautiful morning and we were out before the cicadas amped up their volume, although by the time we finished they were in full chorus. 

It has been quite a while since I got up at 5 AM to make an early Tee Time. The dew was very heavy and on one hole the spray form Jeremy's club was very impressive. 

During our outing we saw many deer including one fawn and the turtles were out in the water and one enterprising turtle was spied crossing the golf course. It pulled inside its shell as I came close to take the image, but as we left its vicinity it continued its movement across the course.

The golf was good. And the day got hot by the time we finished about 11 AM.

A great start to Saturday. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

On the Cusp of Summer

Hydrangea in the Yard
Elkridge, MD
June 3, 2021

Memorial Day is the unofficial start of Summer. But, despite it being unofficial, the summer flowers are beginning to bloom. 

For instance the hydrangea in the front yard is blooming. It is an Endless Summer Hydrangea, and I call it the hydrangea that ate Elkridge because it is so large. 

There is evidence of other summer flowers beginning to bloom as the last of the springtime peony blooms fall from the bush. 

The lawn is fully green and thick in advance of the summertime heat which will thin the blades and may foretell a time when I will not have to mow on a weekly basis. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Note: I edited this item to correct the identification of the flower. Who knows why I originally called it a hyacinth? 

Happiness

 

Found this on the internet this morning. Nothing could be more true. 

We are each responsible for out own happiness. 

So this is my thought for the week.

We are each responsible for our own happiness--don't let someone else decide if you are happy or not.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

How Many Fit in a Tree

Cicada Brood X in a Bush
Elkridge, MD
June 1, 2021

 

Cicada Brood X Copulation
Elkridge, MD
June 1, 2021

This could be called cicada Part 3, but I took a couple images last evening that show just how massive the Cicada infestation has become.

Aside from the noise, they are literally everywhere. 

They are in the bushes, on the trees, in the grass and even on the sidewalks. 

I came upon two of the bugs copulating last evening on the sidewalk. 

As I wrote--they are everywhere. It is an infestation of biblical proportions. 

And I still rescue the ones that fall on their backs.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Lunch and a Movie

 We did it!

Our first post-COVID movie and food. 

Chris and I went out to lunch followed by a movie at a no kidding movie theater on Sunday afternoon. It was a freeing experience. Our first post-COVID movie.

We saw the movie "A Quiet Place Part II." It was a great afternoon and the theater was practicing both good physical distancing and enforcing facial coverings. 

We felt safe and even though we are both fully vaccinated we did not mind wearing the facial coverings. 

We felt normal for a while. 

I recommend the movie, but ensure you see the first installment before seeing the sequel. There are some references that are cleared by remembering the storyline.

And--go to the movies!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - May 31, 2021

 

1. It is the fifth Monday of May. The last Monday of the month. June begins tomorrow. There are 30 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. It is Memorial Day. Time to remember and celebrate those who gave their all in service to this great Republic.

3. The rain and cold have given way to a bright, sunny morning. 

Cicada on the Wall
Elkridge, MD
May 28, 2021

4. The Orioles have secured the bottom position in baseball. They are currently on a 13 game losing streak. I really don't know what else to write. If this is rebuilding, I think the materials being used in the construction precess are flawed.

5. It was quiet yesterday as the rain and cold made the cicadas take a day off from their breeding. 

6. I am enjoying a quiet Memorial Day. No big family gathering and definitely no time in the pool. Hopefully the cicadas will be quiet enough to allow outdoors activity. 

7. Our friends are selling their townhome, and it became clear that home inspectors must be held accountable for wild and woefully inaccurate statements based upon nothing more than uninformed conjecture made during the reports to prospective sellers. Suffice it to say, I spend part of yesterday holding a ladder while a particularly damaging part of their home report was proven to be untrue.. 

8. Today in History. Beginning on the night of May 31, 1921, thousands of white citizens in Tulsa, Oklahoma descended on the city’s predominantly Black Greenwood District, burning homes and businesses to the ground and killing hundreds of people. Long mischaracterized as a race riot, rather than mass murder, the Tulsa Race Massacre stands as one of the worst incidents of racial violence in the nation’s history.

China to Ease Limit on Births to Tackle Aging Population - The Wall Street Journal

Tulsa Race Massacre Sidelined Legacy of Black Wealth in Greenwood - The Wall Street Journal

Israel Moves Toward Coalition Deal That Could Sideline NetanyahuI - The New York Times

As U.S. Air Travel Surges, So Do Mask Disputes - The New York Times

A ski company built a power plant fueled by methane. It’s a success, but can it be replicated? - The Washington Post

Memorial Day weekend brings big travel uptick  - The Washington Post

Intel reiterates chip supply shortages could last several years - Reuters

N.Korea slams end to U.S. guidelines limiting S.Korea missile range - Reuters

A Proclamation: Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2021

{Note: It is Memorial Day and I though I would change it up a bit and instead of quoting Ronald Reagan, I would present President Biden's Memorial Day Proclamation.] 

On Memorial Day, we honor and reflect upon the courage, integrity, and selfless dedication of the members of our Armed Forces who have made the greatest sacrifice in service to our Nation.  Whether in the waters of the Pacific, on the beachheads of Europe, in the deserts of the Middle East, or in the mountains of Afghanistan, American service members have given their lives to uphold our Constitution and to defend the safety and freedoms of our citizens.  These patriots embody the best of the American spirit. They put themselves on the line for our shared values — for duty, honor, country — and they paid the ultimate price.  Our Nation can never fully repay the debt we owe to our fallen heroes and their families.

Jill and I know what it means to have a child serving in a war zone — the ever-present concern for your loved one and their fellow service members.  Today and every day, we ask God to protect our troops.  We also recognize the tremendous loss endured by America’s Gold Star families — the families of military members who died in conflict.  We have a sacred obligation as a Nation to support those families and to always honor the memories of their loved ones. 

That is the vow we make each year on Memorial Day.  Our Nation will never forget the courage and patriotism demonstrated by the countless women and men who laid down their lives so that we may continue to pursue a more perfect Union and to protect the unalienable rights Americans hold dear.  They came from every part of the country, of every background and belief, united by a shared belief in our uniquely American creed — that all people are created equal.  We will honor their legacy by continuing our work to live up to that commitment and to advance the values they lived and died to defend.  We will continue to fight for equity and inclusion in our country and institutions, and ensure every qualified American who is willing to serve our country — regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or background — has a fair and equal opportunity to do so. 

We will continue to honor our fallen service members through the actions of a new generation who volunteer to serve in uniform, who anchor our military to our democratic values, and who stand ready to deter aggression from our enemies and, if required, fight and defend our Nation.  Today — as we keep true to the memory of our fallen heroes — we will endeavor to meet their legacy and once more lead the world through the power of our example and not just the example of our power.

As our Nation’s service members continue to risk their lives to protect our homeland and thwart our enemies, we must not lose sight of our desire for enduring peace.  Every day, countless Americans pray and work for peace so that we may one day live in a world where American patriots need not make the ultimate sacrifice, and where all people live in freedom and prosperity.  As a Nation, we are grateful to the brave members of our Armed Services — both past and present — who have forged the legacy for that possibility.

In honor and recognition of all of our fallen service members, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 11, 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), has requested that the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer and reflection.  The Congress, by Public Law 106-579, has also designated 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time for all Americans to observe, in their own way, the National Moment of Remembrance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 31, 2021, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time when people might unite in prayer and reflection.  I urge the press, radio, television, and all other information media to cooperate in this observance.  I further ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.

I request the Governors of the United States and its Territories, and the appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff until noon on this Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control.  I also request the people of the United States to display the flag at half-staff from their homes for the customary forenoon period.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD