Raymond Johnson @ downclimb.com

The first president I ever knew was Ronald Reagan, so his death today and the accompanying media coverage held my interest for most of the day. I don't know where I place him on the list of great presidents, but he certainly had some admirable qualities - the eloquence, the charm, the humor, and the ability to get Americans to believe in their country. I've recently read some about Watergate, and am currently reading David Gergen's Eyewitness to Power , and am gaining a better understanding of those times and how Americans had lost faith in their leaders. Reagan's stability and longevity in office helped restore confidence in the system, even for those who didn't believe in his policies. I expected to spend most of the day watching D-Day specials. I remember the 50th anniversary of D-Day, but with this, the 60th anniversary, and the recent dedication of the World War II Memorial, I'm enjoying the focus we seem to be placing on those WWII vets still with ...

Summer continued yesterday with 54 holes of golf at Appletree in Colorado Springs. My performance yesterday ranged from somewhere between horrible to embarrassing, but 11 hours of golf is better than no golf at all. Appletree has a very nice layout (not too short or long, plenty of bunkers, good use of water hazards) but is currently plagued with pretty poor turf conditions. Good price, too - golf all day with a cart and lunch for $29.