Pandemic, Week 68 (Days of Summer )

This week the House of Representatives approved a Select Committee to investigate the January 6th Riot after Senate Republicans blocked an independent investigation. While the Committee is supposed to be bipartisan, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy threatened to strip GOP member of committee assignments if they participate.  President Biden visited with victims' families of the Surfside condo collapse as rescue attempts were suspended due to structural concerns as Hurricane Elsa threatens the area. The Trump Organization and its CFO have been charged with tax fraud, falsifying business records, scheme to defraud and conspiracy. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania overturned the conviction of Bill Cosby and ordered his released, just three years into a 10 year sentence for raping and drugging a Temple University employee (he was also accused of raping at least 60 other women). Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld died. 

This week the world reached 184.2 million COVID cases and 4.0 million deaths of which 34.6 million of those cases and 621,000 deaths were from the US. 182 million Americans, 55 percent of the population, have received at least one dose of the vaccine with 157 million, or 47 percent, being fully vaccinated. Only 20 states reached President Biden's goal of 70 percent of adults vaccinated by the 4th of July.

But mostly, this was the kids first official week of summer and their last week that isn't fully scheduled until mid-August. While we intended it to be fairly chill, we also started the week with the end-of-year First Day School and Climbing Team parties. Owen had his best friend from daycare, Leo, over for a much overdue (and undocumented) playdate, Allen went to a Nat's game with Brad, we went to Molly and Adam's for a lovely dinner (and cocktails), and a tornado passed over our house.

But the big event of the week was heading out to Cooperstown, NY (or rather Oneonta) -- via Hershey Park (and the kids' first ever rollercoaster) -- with the Telfair-Chas for a week of swimming, baseball, some impressive cornhole playing, day-drinking, virtual reality, and kettle corn, lots and lots of kettle corn. And that was just the first two days...

(To see all of this week's pictures, click here.)