Three Cheers For Larry Hogan

I was met this morning with news of my former governor’s decision not to run for president. This is a good decision, the decision of a grown-ass man who understands consequences. Larry Hogan has been a good Republican governor in a deeply blue state. He stuck to his principles, and he worked with the majority to get things done. He worked hard, his ego was the least noticeable thing about him, and residents of the state irrespective of their party or ideology could be proud of him.

Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R)

But—he is the two-term governor of a state. He clearly has been an ambitious man, and it appeared that he was at least thinking of running for President. Had he done so, he would have earned a few shekels from me, even though I am well-aware that he could not possibly win the GOP nomination. I want people like Larry Hogan in American politics, and I am desperately sorry there are so few.

Wags may say that the only reason he is not running is because he cannot win. I think he would agree with their assessment, mostly. But the damage he could do if he entered the race ANYWAY is too much for his conscience, and I wish that more (see: Pompeo, Hutchinson, Younkin, Pence, Scott, Noem) Republican possibilities would see it the same way. The bottom line is that the more people that enter the race, the more likely Donald Trump is to win. It’s just that simple.

A three-person race (Trump, DeSantis, Haley) strikes me as manageable. Haley made a really good decision getting in as early as she did, and I think she’ll surprise many with the support she is able to accrue. I think this three-way leads to either she or DeSantis winning, and I am A-OK with either of those outcomes.

Summer Musings

In recent times, I have overscheduled myself during the summer months to the point where at the close of the Labor Day Weekend, I wonder what became of the summer. Work travel is a constant, but I’ve laid on some work trips that I easily could have passed on. One summer I drove back and forth across the country to deliver my daughter’s car to her while she worked in California—trips that I REALLY enjoyed, but which ate into available time. Cat and I have gone on trips. Lots of things have made claims on my time.

But a couple of weeks ago, I said to Catherine that I am not going to make any set plans for this summer. No vacation, no international travel, no added vanity/work travel—nothing. As I look at the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day (after a brutal Apr/May schedule), I see a good deal of white space, and as my occupation gives me the ability to mostly work wherever my brain and computer are, I can do a good bit of that here right here on the Miles River.

Late July on the Miles…

Part of this was born of my trip to Scotland last June. It was WONDERFUL, an amazing 8 days that I will remember forever. But the weather absolutely sucked, and I spent time each day looking at what the weather was back in good ole’ Easton MD—and I’m here to tell you that there aren’t too many places on earth with better whether in the second half of June than my little slice of the world.

My pronouncement does not mean that I will not travel or do anything—it simply means that I am not SCHEDULING it. If Dash-2 gets a job in the Bahamas that she’s thinking about—well, I may just head to the Bahamas for a few days. If my MOST WONDERFUL FRIENDS IN THE WORLD WITH BOATS wish to have my sterling wit and happy-go-lucky charm onboard here and there—well, I’m your man!

But for the time being, I’m going to look at this summer as a time to recharge, to eat a lot of crabs, to help out Catherine with some of the gardening, and maybe play a little golf.

March Madness

People who think they know me might assume that Christmas time is my favorite time of the year, what with Facebook carols starting on November 1, Hallmark movies every day, the Messiah, and “A Christmas Carol”—not to mention “It’s a Wonderful Life”—but they’d be wrong. My favorite time of the year is from the Thursday night of the ACC Tournament through the early April Monday night of the NCAA Final game—March Madness and Men’s College Basketball. Baseball hasn’t started yet, the NBA isn’t a thing for anther month, football is sleeping—no, college basketball is all there is in the American sporting world and I could not be happier.

My beloved Wahoos are the #2 seed heading into next week’s ACC Tournament in Greensboro, my least favorite place that the Tournament is routinely held (favorite is Charlotte, where I wish it was held every year. Then I would go every year). I honestly think that event THIS flawed Virginia team can win the ACC Tourney, as it LOOKS like some of their offensive woes may be turning around. That said, our first opponent Thursday night is likely to be UNC, and if my memory serves, we don’t play them all that well of Armando Bacot is in the lineup.

I’m not camp-following the team this year like I did during the most magical March Madness of all time (2019), but I will watch them in every game—and I’ll watch a butt-ton of games with other teams too. I have a feeling that UVA will 1) win the ACC Tournament out right 2) be a three seed in the NCAA tournament 3) and lose in the round of Sweet 16. Teams that go far in March have great guard play and senior leadership. We’ve got both of those things. Champions also have future NBA players, and even though my Wahoo buddies seem all to think that Reece Beekman is a pro in the making—I disagree, at least for now—and this lack of star players will cost them in late March.

Whatever happens though, there is NOTHING like the next four weeks. And I cannot wait!