The Pool Man Cometh

Pool on Closing Day 2013

I was around by my pool yesterday evening with a contractor who will be giving me an estimate about rehabbing the entire thing.

It needs it because it is about 23 years old and most everything associated with pools is certified for about 15 years. We are about 8 years beyond the normal life expectancy.

That, however, translates into thousands of dollars. I found out that there are no tax credits available for upgrading pools! Now I know why so many get filled in about 15 years into their life. 

Dirt is dirt cheap!

But, it is time to redo the pool and continue to make it the centerpiece of my resort-life at home concept. If I can't live on a beach, I can at least bring the beach life to me.

I realized that I need to order the chemicals--better living through chemicals, to get the pool through another summer. When I looked under the cover last evening I saw the usual springtime mess on the bottom. Important note though, I could see the bottom!

May 3rd is coming and that is pool opening day and my unofficial beginning to summer. 

The weather seems to be cooperating as well, the first 70's of the year are forecast for the weekend.

It is going to be awesome! Why am I always looking ahead to the fun activities that I'm going to do as an escape from the mundane things that I'm doing?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Fortunes of the Game

Safe at Home!

Baseball is a fickle sport. Unlike football, a four game losing streak is not the end of the season, but rather just another bump in the highway that is MLB's 162 game season. 

It is hard to get excited about a team when they are losing, but a big win, like the one yesterday over the team from the north that shall remain nameless, restores a swagger to both the team and their fans. And hey, they have won two of their past three games.

But today is another day. The teams will take the field tonight to do it all over again.

Baseball provides an example for life. Just because yesterday was, bad or good, today is a new day with new possibilities. It is not a day until I get into it and despite the apparently crushing schedule  I may have on my calendar, I still have the opportunity to crush a home run and have a great day. Even if I don't park one over the fence, I can still hit a solid single and bring the day home successfully.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

It is Springtime when?

Daffodils in my Garden

The signs of springtime are everywhere. In my own garden the daffodils are now in full bloom. Due to the abundance of shade in my gardens, flowers tend to bloom later than elsewhere. It can be frustrating because I see them everywhere else, but then I get to enjoy their blooms later and longer than my neighbors.

The April showers have been excessive. I believe that almost an inch of rain fell yesterday, most of it during my drive home from work. At least the lawn was ready to receive it and the weed and feed I spread on Saturday morning should spur the growth of grass while killing the undesirable weeds.

And then there are the taxes, one of the true joys of springtime which are due exactly one week from today! I was appalled at the amount of taxes that I pay. It feels like I'm paying more than the GNP of a small third world nation. I mean the total tax bite--including federal, OASDI and Medicare plus my ransom to Maryland, one of the most heavily taxed states in the Union. The great lie of tax season is the refund scam where the government keeps more money than they are entitled to and I say thank you when they give some of it back making the hidden tax bill somehow more palatable.

Maybe yesterday's gray skies and rain just made me more grumpy as I completed my taxes and was wishing for a better way, like a flat tax.

One of the final signs of springtime is the completion of March Madness and the crowning of the nation men's basketball champion which happened last evening and saw the string of upsets continue to complete the upsetting tournament. Congrats to Connecticut, I never guessed they thad a chance. I had them going out in the second round.

It surely is Spring. Let's play some baseball now that the weather is warmer. I even see 70's in my local seven-day forecast.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - April 7, 2014

1. It is tax season! Ugh! Why is it getting more painful every year? And it seems to get worse no matter how hard I try to make it better. I'm tired of paying for everyone else to get the things I want.

2. Blue skies and warmer temperatures, it was a marvelous weekend.

3. T-ball batting practice can be hilarious, especially when the fielders decide the all want the ball and wind up in a heap in the field. 

4. I find it very cool that the military forces of the U.S. can be used to help sailors in distress, like the 1 year old girl. Good job all who participated.

5. Chris made chocolate chip cookies yesterday. Mmmm. I have a huge weakness for them. So much for my diet for one day.

6. I have decided to sell my 1987 Jaguar named Kitty. Having two Jags is a bit much and I want a Jeep so I can have fun at Jeep weekend.

7. I am so glad that baseball is back, I just wish the O's were doing a bit better.  OK, a lot better.

8. Are left-handers the most discriminated against group of people in the world? I wonder?

9. On this date, April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House officially ending the U.S. Civil War. I wonder why this date is not a national holiday? It passes almost without anyone noticing, yet almost everyone who died during this war fighting on both sides was an American.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Simple Designs Gone Bad

Cart Designed for Right-Handed People

I was in Lowe's yesterday buying supplies to make my lawn green so that I can mow it more and discovered a seemingly simple but poorly designed cart.

Yes, the pictured cart is the offending item. 

As I was pulling the cart through Lowe's, I kept bumping things and running into displays. It was not trailing well behind me.

I looked as I pulled it and discovered that was offset to my left and not trailing right behind me. Even my lovely wife made mention of the fact that I was having a difficult time controlling the cart after it pushed over a fruit tree.

So I stopped for a moment and looked closely at the situation. Surely, I was not the only shopper to have trouble pulling the cart through the store. 

And then it occurred to me: this cart is designed uniquely designed to be pulled only by right-handed people. I was pulling the cart with my left hand--when I pulled it with my right hand, it trailed perfectly behind me. Wow, I was the problem!

I suffer through examples of this kind of poor designs all of the time. This is a design flaw that could have been easily remedied by designing a bend in the bar leading to the handle so that the handle would be centered over the end of the cart rather than offset to the left.

Most people use this cart and never notice the unintended discrimination against left-handed people.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

On the Edge of the Weekend

Friday's are unique days.

Friday is special because it is a work day but it is also the launch point for the weekend and executing plans for both Saturday and Sunday.

I enjoy hearing about the plans of my friends and their expectations for the weekend. Likewise, I enjoy sharing my  plans for the weekend with them even when I know that mine are a bit nebulous.

This weekend is a sports weekend. Lots of kid oriented baseball and lacrosse. Add to that some wine tasting and watching the Orioles try to get the baseball season back on track after three successive losses and I am sure I have many more expectations for the weekend than it will be possible to execute.

I guess that is what makes the weekends so special, the planning and the ability to change life up and do different things for two all too short days.

Four Legged Garden Eating Machines

Sometimes, things occur on weekends that will affect my planning for the future. Like, the deer in this image which I took this morning, this totally changes my plans for the gardens this year. Can I spell deer resistant?

One thing that is true about my weekends, however, is that they are almost never relaxing. But that is not a bad thing, it is just the pace of life.

Despite the pace, I always look forward to the weekend.  So, enough writing, it's time to get started!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

T-Ball Begins Anew

I am serving as an assistant coach for Jackson's T-Ball team again this year. Last night was the first practice and my first opportunity to meet the team and the many new players.

The core of the team are two returnees, Jax (of course) and Jack. It was good to be on the baseball field with youthful talent (4-6 year olds) excited about playing baseball and learning the game.

And the parents were there too, watching their sons (we have no girls on the team so far) learn the game.

This age group of kids has an attention span of about 30 seconds. I think of them much like Dory in Finding Nemo. 

But they are fun and eager to please.

The field was soggy, but we were shagging baseballs and talking baseball! Jax had a great night batting and also throwing strikes to me from first base.

Playball!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Lawn Tractors on Steroids

I read an interesting article about how Honda has created the world's fastest lawn tractor. Coming in at 116.57 MPH, this Honda is equipped with a motorcycle engine and it is called the "Mean Mower." 

Really?

Why do I need a lawn tractor that can go in excess of 116 MPH. The Snapper runner up did over 96 MPH. Still too fast for my yard. I wonder how the blades stay on and how much damage they would do to the the surround structures and even people if they did fly off the tractor.

I also wonder how it corners around a tree at 116 MPH? I bet it rolls over multiple times.

I'm happy with my Sears tractor that maybe does 8 MPH. I rarely go that fast. Driving too much faster would make mowing much too exciting.

I'm glad Honda was able to construct a lawn tractor with a high top speed, but I don't think it would sell very well. I wonder how log the engine and transmission would last at those speeds?

Lawn mowing should be enjoyed. There is something intoxicating about the smell of fresh mowed grass. I can't wait to do my first mowing this season. As soon as the ground dries I will be out there with my tractor making tracks on my lawn.

Tim the Toolman would be proud of Honda if he survived using such a beast, but he might be the only one. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Makayla's Rough Day

Makayla Relaxing after the Vet Day

If dogs had support groups to discuss the things in their lives that cause them problems, then Makayla would definitely need to discuss her day yesterday.

She did not have a spa day, but rather a vet day. She knew something was up when she didn't get a cookie after our short morning walk to allow her to take care of her personal business. And then, there wash no food or water. Both were a sure sign that something was up, and it definitely was.

It was dental care day at Banfield. Had that been the only thing she had going it probably would not have been too bad--but there were shots to be had, nails to be clipped, and anal glands to be expressed. She knew something was up when I dropped her off at 7AM. Her separation anxiety almost got the better of her as she refused to go with the vet tech, but her resistance was futile. When I picked her up at about 4PM she was still a bit groggy from the anesthesia. But she was happy to see me. I was happy to see her too. There is something great when your dog is excited to see you.

She has to take some antibiotics for a few days, and she hates pills, but she came through the ordeal very well and her breath smells good, too.

She certainly would have a lot of issues to discuss at her doggie support group.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Opening Day Reflections

Opening Day Baltimore Orioles 2014

Springtime arrived, at least for a day. With temperatures soaring into the 60's and skies turning blue allowing the warming rays of the sun to do their work, it was an idyllic baseball day in Baltimore. The stadium was ready and beautiful bathed in the sunlight with the backdrop of the city to complete the image. The Orioles faithful arrived in droves decked out in orange and black enveloping and hiding the few outsiders who tried to represent for the visiting team.

A Sea of Orioles Orange

The home team players ran down the orange carpet to the cheers of the crowd and the excitement in the air was a prelude to the game which was to be played. 

Baseball is back on center stage. Despite it being opening day there was still a lot of talk in the stands about other sports, but baseball was the prime topic. This game pitted the Orioles against the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox and everyone knew that it would not be an easy game. The Red Sox are talented and demonstrated their ability to win close games last year. It was not to be this day as the hometown Orioles took a close, well pitched and played game from the Sox 2-1. 

Conflicted Fan

Highlights? There were a few. Like the conflicted fan. Although I have seen something like this before, I am always astounded when fans want to hedge against announcing which team they are cheering for. I did tell this nice person that I would be using this image in my blog today and she actually posed for the shot. Out of a deep love for the game, I guess I can appreciate her position being from the visitor's city but living here in the land of the Oriole's. It must be a tough life.

Patrick in the O's Maryland flag cap

Another game highlight was the Maryland flag Orioles cap that made its debut at the game. I wanted one of these caps, but by the time I got to the stadium store, they were sold out. Ugh. Why is it that Marylanders love their state flag so much that they want to wear it? I dunno, I guess because it, along with the Texas flag, is the coolest state flag in the country. 

It was a great afternoon of baseball and fun with nearly 47,000 of my new best friends. Sadly, I was late to the festivities and so I missed all of the pregame hoopla at the local watering holes this year with the boys. But, Opening Day is a special day for all of us. More than any other day of the year it is a celebration of springtime looking forward to the hot Dog Days of summer and the many hours of family, friends, and fun that lie ahead.

Walking Eutaw Street in the Stadium

Even better, the Orioles started out with a win! As did all who attended the afternoon game no matter which team they supported. It was a beautiful day after a long and hard winter.

Baseball is back!

Summer is around the corner.

Singing "Take me out to the ballgame" was fun and the crowds were real. Who cares that it took me almost an hour to get home after the game because the traffic was terrible? 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD