Monday evening

It's Monday evening and I just finished book #33 for the year. 
It's a nice evening temperature-wise and the deck is a pretty nice place to spend the evening. 
I may need to get some kind of mounted light fixture so that I can enjoy the pool at night. That may also require a bug zapper of some type. We don't have the nighttime bats like the Puerto Vallarta kids have.
Today was the 7th day of having the pool. It was filled last Tuesday and I have been in it every day.
I'll try to get the lawn mowed early tomorrow so that I can spend the afternoon relaxing in the pool. We should have just gotten one of these when we moved in six years ago.

I was out for breakfast with a friend this morning so my normal morning routine was disturbed. I am spending my Chromebook and quiet time on the deck this evening. 

I avoided writing about the nation's 250th anniversary celebration over the weekend. Honestly, I am a little torn on the subject. I do very much love the life I have here in the USA, but I have become more critical of many of the methods that we employ to maintain this way of life. The deep divide that exists, not only between the US and her allies, but between political factions within the US deeply concerns me. 
Whether it is within our borders or between our allies (or even our enemies), intimidation and violence shouldn't always be the first method of attack. We should have matured beyond the playground bully stage of life.
We have earned a reputation that I do not like and fear that it will take quite some time to overcome. I truly wish that we (humanity) could have more of a global community and look out for one another. 

In astronomic news, we have passed the point on our annual trek around the sun where we reached the farthest point from the sun and the slowest part of our orbit. The earth will begin to pick up a little speed as we get closer to the sun. 
I haven't done much star gazing lately. I should do that again. Recently the night sky (day sky, too) has been a bit hazy with some Saharan dust high in the atmosphere. Soon we will be contending with smoke from the Colorado fires. Our summer weather patterns are a little strange this year. 

I hope you have had a good Monday to begin your week. 

John