On this nostalgic Tuesday, I will write about my experience in the U.S. military.  But first,  the government shutdown will end tomorrow, or Thursday  at the latest.  Then, air travel can get almost back to normal, but only for a while, as this agreement is only good until 30January2026 when the U.S. Congress will again go through these same motions, and maybe set another record, 42 days today, to hopefully end tomorrow, but maybe not until Thursday. Who won?   Well, Democrats won the off-year election, so they can pat themselves on the back for this accomplishment.  However,  polls show that voters blamed Democrats for the shutdown . But Republicans deleted extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act credits, so they can say the Democrats caved, as five senators did. But this agreement promises a vote on this measure next month in the Senate.  Which will, of course, be voted down again, for just before the 60-40 vote to end the shutdown, the S...

For some, Memorial Day is the start of summer.  For many others, this is a national holiday to go shopping or rest or whatever.  For the nation, this a celebratory day established to honor those who gave their life to preserve freedom and liberty.   Call it a celebration of life.  This is also your special day for patriotism.   Specifically for me, observation began last night watching the  2025 National Memorial Day Concert  on the Mall, as I've been doing now for 36 years, except for 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic.  This show is also beamed to more than 175 countries and aboard more than 200 U.S. Navy ships at sea.  Up to half a million people watch in person. I especially revere this occasion because of another Mall event, A Capitol Fourth, the concert of the National Symphony Orchestra that began on July in 1979.  Went to the first one, and three more.  The 1980 concert was the first to be telecasted nationwide,...

 Day 28 found us in Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal. Photos from the pool deck. 441 Lunch of salad, soup and noodles, with a gin & tonic and beer. Went to the pool deck for a walk, and saw the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos. Dinner in the Garden Cafe buffet with glasses of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Karaoke in The Cavern Club. Midnight snack in the Atrium. Walked  a good 4410 steps today. Ponta Delgada, on the island of Sǎo Miguel Island, is the capital of Azores in Portugal. First populated in 1444. There are around 68,000 people now living on this island. Ponta Delgada became a city in 1546 after the 1522 earthquake, which devastated the island. The Cult of the Lord Holy Christ of the Miracles is the largest and oldest religious event in Portugal. The Azores is one of two autonomous regions of Portugal, along with Madeira. There are nine volcanic islands about 870 miles west of Lisbon. Possibly discovered in 1427 by Gonçalo Velho. In 1583, Philip II o...