It's back to work. At least it's a beautiful day as we launch into the intense time when we close out the fall quarter. Folks on campus will be more stressed than usual due to the backlog caused by the campus closing. The stress will be offset by the relief of having life get back to normal.
How was golf yesterday? Did you get a hole in one? I understand that you have had a few, including one in 1993 on the 12th hole of Pebble Beach at the Bing Crosby Pro Am Tournament. That must have been exciting!!! My sister-in-law wants to play at Pebble Beach but I understand that it's very hard to do so.
You aren't firing Steve Mnuchin, are you? You may be unhappy with him for recommending Jerome Powell for the job of setting interest rates, and I know that the economy is starting to look iffy with a narrowing gap between short and long term bond yields, slumping home prices, low oil prices and declines in global growth. You can't blame that on Steve or Jay.
I understand that you are thankful that you made "a tremendous difference" to the USA. I am not thankful for that. I am thankful that we remain at peace. I implore you to keep it that way.
Did you see the article about Donald Jr. in the WP today? I think it was complimentary. I was surprised to learn that he courted conservationists during the 2016 campaign.
11/21/2018
It's nice that you'll get to see your friends at the club. Is it true that club membership can lead to being appointed ambassador? Business Insider speculates that's the reason that Lana Marks has been nominated to serve as top diplomat in South Africa. It's great that she speaks Afrikaans and Xhosa, but are you sure that designing and selling handbags made from diamonds and exotic animal hides prepares one for diplomacy?
Are you ready to pardon Peas or Carrots? I understand that this year's Presidential turkeys hail from South Dakota and spent last night being pampered at the Willard Hotel so they could look beautiful for their photo op today.
I hope you get to meet Larry Smith who owns the farm. I'm sure he is psyched! He had to compete with growers from all over the USA to get the honor. He was named the winner at the National Christmas Tree Association’s annual meeting.
What do you think of Marcia Fudge from Ohio's 11th? She's been the chair of the Black Caucus and has some great ideas. She says she believe in bottom up governing and voters are telling her that they don't feel like the government is serving them. She's even willing to help you if your goals align. She thinks infrastructure would be a good place to start.
We can't see anything from the road so I was surprised to learn that it is home to a fleet of spy planes including the U-2 Dragon Lady. I encourage you to take a few minutes to meet with Lt. Col. Merryl Tengesdalto get a tour of one of those ladies. She's the commander of the 99th RS and is the first African American woman to fly one of those planes. You know it's a very special aircraft because it flies so high in the atmosphere that the pilot needs to wear an astronaut's outfit.
Did you know that my uncle, Stephen, the historian, got a medal from the Clinton's? His was a National Humanities Medal. My parents got to meet Bill and Hillary in the WH. We were all very excited.
Please don't hire Nick Ayers to replace John Kelly. I don't care how charming he is. He's just a kid and you don't need more kids running the show in the WH.
I had fun watching, Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King, on Netflix last night. He was raised in Davis. The show was filmed at the Mondavi Center at UCD. He discusses the challenges he faced as a POC in a place where White privilege is taken for granted. You should take a look.
What did you think about the demonstration of the Femen at the Arc de Triomphe? Apparently, one topless protester approached your limo with FAKE PEACEMAKERS written across her torso. It sounds like the kind of thing my daughter might do.
It's too bad that the rain prevented you from going to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery yesterday. Some folks think you should have suffered the 2-hour long drive as a demonstration of the kind of endurance that the WWI soldiers had to have. I understand it's probably quite complicated.