The Party

 

The Decorations
Odenton, MD
June 9, 2023

Graduating from high school is a big event. 

In a lot of ways, like most significant celebrations, the weeks or months of planning resolve into a few hours of excitement that are all too quickly over. I even got to reprise my skills in making a balloon arch.

It was much like that last evening as we gathered with family and friends to celebrate Ethan's graduation and put a dot on the exclamation point.

There were games, noise, conversation, and food. Lot's of food.

And then, too quickly, it was over and now life takes over and a sense of normalcy will grip us all.

Congrats again to Ethan and to all of the family and friends who have supported his academic and athletic endeavors. It truly takes a village!

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Church at the end of the Road

Church at the end of the road
Odenton, MD
June 7, 2023

 I managed a bike ride the other day, before the air quality became dangerous to outdoors activity. I am expanding my network of roads and trails; exploring some of them to the end.

That is exactly what I found the other day as I rode down a dead-end road. I had checked the road out on my bike map and noted that a small church sat where the road ended. As I biked from the main road down this small paved road past the houses, I wondered how many other bikers had, like me, biked to the end of the road? It is mostly downhill, towards the river, and I began to wonder if I was going enjoy biking my way back to the main road. 

The church was how I imagined it to be: a small, active, country chapel, complete with a graveyard in back. The road ended abruptly at a pile of road fill preventing continuing onto the old roadbed which apparently was abandoned decades ago given the amount of debris.

I enjoyed biking around in front of the church and I believe that given its remote location I was probably being imaged as I rode my bike past the front doors being careful not to touch or disturb anything.  

The ride back up did not seem nearly as long as the ride down the hill to the church and it was not nearly as steep as I had feared. In just a few minutes, I was back on the main road and the trail after enjoying a short detour.

BTW, the air quality today is 70, down from 271 yesterday.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Don't Breathe Outside

 The wildfires in Canada seem to be of biblical proportions not only in the number of square miles burned (over 12,400), but in terms of the millions of people affected. 

I was advised of a website that I can discover the local air quality. It is airnow.gov. Allowing the site to access your current location provides the display seen at the right. I encourage everyone who is affected by poor air quality to access the website.

I canceled my planned bike ride for today. I rode yesterday and it was likely a mistake, but the air quality is much worse today. 

Yesterday as I drove to a doctor's appointment, I was amazed at how the haze from the fires obscured the landscape. 

I had this thought: When I look at the cloudless sky where did the blue go? 

Be careful out there. 

Don't breathe deeply.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Graduation Day

Ethan in the Procession
Maryland Live
Hanover, MD
June 6, 2023

 The day began early and lasted until late. 

It was a day of pomp and circumstance. Hundreds of newly minted graduates marching together for the last time as they completed the Maryland mandated curriculum and accepted their diplomas. 

I think I enjoyed the ceremony mostly because it went quickly and smoothly in a fantastic facility. I had not been in the massively large room at Maryland Live and was very impressed with the size of the room and the video support that the ceremony received. 

But wait, the day was all about the graduates, their families, and their friends. As it should be.

It was fun.

Me, Ethan, Chris
Odenton, MD
June 6, 2023

It was fun to watch my oldest grandchild walk across the stage and transform, in that moment, from student to graduate. Now I believe that we never should stop being students--there is always more to learn, but celebration of completing of 13 years of COVID interrupted learning was a momentous occasion.

A moment to celebrate and remember.

The ceremony provided many meaningful moments, but I found two statements especially meaningful.

First was a from East of Eden, by John Steinbeck:

And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual. This is what I am and what I am about. I can understand why a system built on a pattern must try to destroy the free mind, for this is one thing which can by inspection destroy such a system. Surely I can understand this, and I hate it and I will fight against it to preserve the one thing that separates us from the uncreative beasts. If the glory can be killed, we are lost.

John Steinbeck, East of Eden

And the second was the charge given to the graduates from their principal:

"Go do something you are proud of." 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Baseball Banquet and the Week Begins

 

Jackson and His Coach
Waugh Chapel, MD
June 5, 2023

Last evening I was honored to attend the Baseball Banquet for Jackson. He was a contributing member of the Arundel High School JV Baseball team and last evening was the recognition for the entire program, varsity and junior varsity.

He was recognized not only for his contributions to the team, but also as a scholar athlete.

It was a fun evening watching the team accept awards and accolades, from freshmen to departing seniors.  

This banquet kicked off a week of celebration. 

This morning we are off to Ethan's graduation. And the activities associated with graduating high school have already begun in earnest. 

But, last evening was devoted to Jax and baseball, and rightfully so!.

BTW, Happy D-Day!

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Monday Musings - June 5, 2023

 

1. And here we go. Welcome to the first Monday of June 2023. Time is flying as the year nears its midpoint. There are only 29 Mondays remaining the the year. 

Biking Odenton and Piney Orchard
Odenton, MD
June 4, 2023

2. How about them Orioles? They shook off the injury bug and won another series on the road becoming the first MLB team to post 20 road wins yesterday as they defeated the San Francisco Giants and won that series. Let's Go O's!

3. Tomorrow is the anniversary of D-Day. The political career of Florida governor Ron DeSantis is the epitome of Orbán’s “Christian democracy” come to the United States. DeSantis has imitated Orbán’s politics, striking at the principles of liberal democracy with attacks on LGBTQ Americans, abortion rights, academic freedom, and the ability of businesses to react to market forces rather than religious imperatives. Last week he told an audience that “the woke mind virus represents a war on the truth so we will wage a war on the woke. We will fight the woke in education, we will fight the woke in the corporations, we will fight the woke in the halls of congress. We will never, ever surrender to the woke mob. We will make woke ideology leave it to the dustbin of history; it’s gone.” (Letters from an American) I find it sad that DeSantis stole from Churchill to make his speech.

4. Woke. Definition: aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice). Why would anyone be anti-woke? Are we trying to turn the clock back to the 19th Century?

5. I managed a 10.64 mile bike ride yesterday. The temperature was a bit cool, but enjoyable. I added a new loop to my route and found another bike trail to explore the next time I head out for a ride.

6. Today in History. Shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968, Senator Robert Kennedy is shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after winning the California presidential primary. Immediately after he announced to his cheering supporters that the country was ready to end its fractious divisions, Kennedy was shot several times by 24-year-old Palestinian Sirhan Sirhan. He was pronounced dead a day later, on June 6, 1968.

The summer of 1968 was a tempestuous time in American history. Both the Vietnam War and the anti-war movement were peaking. Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated in the spring, igniting riots across the country. In the face of this unrest, President Lyndon B. Johnson decided not to seek a second term in the upcoming presidential election. Robert Kennedy, John’s younger brother and former U.S. Attorney General, stepped into this breach and experienced a groundswell of support.

Oil Prices Jump After Saudi Output Cut - The Wall Street Journal

China Faces Uphill Battle as It Tries to Instill ‘Pro-Birth’ Culture - The Wall Street Journal

The network of sympathizers is carrying out acts of sabotage, and Ukraine has begun providing them with material to stage attacks - CNN

Federal investigators probing what led to fatal crash of unresponsive plane intercepted by US fighter jets near DC - CNN

A Florida woman’s car caught fire with her children inside while she allegedly shoplifted in a mall - CNN

Wagner chief says Russia lost ground around Bakhmut - Reuters

Chinese state media dismiss U.S. diplomat's Beijing visit - Reuters

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

The Saturday Ride

 

Snapping Turtle
Along WB&A Trail
June 3, 2023

Chris and I managed to bike yesterday. It was only our second excursion together and it was a fairly easy 8.75 miles.

Chris Making the Turn
WB&A Trail, Odenton, MD
June 3, 2023

We rode a portion of the WB&A Trail. It was an out and back ride since part of the trail remains closed. I imaged Chris at the turn where we began the return portion of the ride after we had stopped for water and to chat. 

The smell of the honeysuckle remains strong in the wooded areas. It is just enjoyable to be assaulted by such a sweet odor as we bike. 

We enjoyed a wildlife close encounter along the trail. A snapping turtle was meandering beside the trail and we stopped, along with other bikers, to view the animal and take a few images. The animal does not look happy, but then when does a snapping turtle ever look happy.

The generally gentle grade of the WB&A Trail makes riding enjoyable. Even with an elevation change of 330 feet, for the most part riding the trail is very enjoyable. There are only a couple hills which actually require a significant downshift.

It was a fun ride on a Saturday morning.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Frying on Friday

 Some wonder why we could possibly live Florida during the Summer.

Well, it can be hotter and more miserable in Maryland. Look at yesterday, for example.

Odenton, MD, topped out at 96 degrees. The air was still and the sun was hot.

Tequesta, FL, topped out at 87 degrees with an ocean breeze. 

The other thing that sizzledyesterday was the economy because the debt issue was resolved and the President will sign the bill today.

President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office to emphasize that democracy depends on bipartisanship.” [W]hen I ran for President,” he began, “I was told the days of bipartisanship were over and that Democrats and Republicans could no longer work together. But I refused to believe that, because America can never give in to that way of thinking…. [T]he only way American democracy can function is through compromise and consensus, and that’s what I worked to do as your President…to forge a bipartisan agreement where it’s possible and where it’s needed.”

(Letters from an American)

I remember when Biden was running that he promised to work in a bipartisan manner for the good of the country.

And wow, did he ever come through for the American people and the world.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Motoring on the Chesapeake

Thomas Point Shoal Light
Chesapeake Bay
June 1, 2023

 It was an absolutely beautiful day for boating the Chesapeake. Chris and I procured a boat for the afternoon intending to share the experience with the family, but as life happened when the time came it was Chris, me, and Finnegan who got to enjoy an almost perfect boating day. 

The bay was almost flat and we were able to motor down the South River, from Liberty Marina, into the Bay and enjoyed a nice ride to Annapolis and then onward to the Bay Bridge. We motored up the river to the downtown Annapolis area, but decided not to tie up and walk the city. We saw the sights and maybe next time we will tie up at Pusser's for a meal. 

Chesapeake Bay Bridge
Chesapeake Bay
June 1, 2023

We discovered a couple of things on our trip. First, it is really hard to take pictures from a moving boat. Even when I cut the engine to idle, the undulating motion of the Bay really makes taking images tough. We also noted that I need to take an extra battery or a cable for my iPhone to support my navigation app.

One thing that we discovered yesterday was that the haze from the Canadian fires raging in Nova Scotia made it difficult to identify landmarks on the shoreline. It also made the multitude of freighters and tankers riding at anchor in the bay seem like a ghost fleet as they appeared out of the haze once we transitioned form South River into the Bay. 

Finn on the Bow in His Lifejacket
Chesapeake Bay
June 1, 2023

But as can be seen, aside from the haze, it was a nearly perfect boating day. I was able to use my nautical chart app on my iPhone to navigate to the places we wanted to visit. Even the bay bridge was invisible when we first motored into the bay, only later appearing out of the haze. It is so large that it seemed close when we first sighted it, yet still took a long time to actually pass under the spans.

Finnegan at times seemed to enjoy the trip, but he definitely did not like motoring through the wakes of other vessels. I admit, I sometimes didn't slow enough to minimize the crashing of the boat as we crossed the wakes because they did not seem as large as they actually were.

All-in-all, we had a great afternoon and successfully returned the boat to the marina without a scratch!

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Debt Crisis - Solved or not?

 In a stunning display of bipartisanship, the House of Representatives voted to suspend the U.S. debt ceiling for two years.

A great victory--but the fight is not over. The Senate still needs to approve something similar. I do not fully understand why they have been sitting on the sidelines of this crisis.

Hopefully, the Senate will display similar bipartisanship and pass the measure which will avert a worldwide financial crisis once signed by the President. 

Do I like the measure? Not fully. But, it represents the kind of bipartisan compromise that our President, Joe Biden, is famous for achieving. 165 Democrats and 149 Republicans voted for the measure. 

But, sadly, the fight continues. 

Time will tell. But I am encouraged by the bipartisan vote.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD