Saturday, May 2, 2015

Sunlight on the Green Leaves

From the Back Deck
Looking out my window today as the day dawns, I am enjoying the green. I still remember how bare the trees were just a few weeks ago. They have filled out with leaves to catch and filter the light.

The sight is something I want to etch into my mind. 

As I was landing in Baltimore returning from Denver the other afternoon, I looked out the airplane window and saw the trees--they were full of leaves. Just two weeks earlier the leaves were barely visible as I was returning from my trip to Salt Lake City. On the areas surrounding Baltimore, the trees are everywhere and surround the houses in many neighborhoods. 

There is something peaceful about the trees that fill in the spaces around the houses. People sitting next to me on the place remarked about the number of trees in the area. Denver has some trees, but mostly open fields and spaces.

I enjoy the green, and I know that the leaves are not fully deployed yet--soon they will envelop my yard and provide and amazing screen of privacy for the summer.

Next weekend is pool opening weekend! Finally the cover will come off and hopefully the last throes of winter will be past. Outdoor living will begin! 

And the trees will provide privacy, shade, and quiet broken only by the chirping of the birds.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday, May 1, 2015

Out the Hotel Window - Denver, Colorado, April 2015, Part 2

Out my Hotel Window
April 29, 2015
I was reviewing the post about the scene out my hotel window and I realized that it was a pretty gloomy view. 

Over the past two mornings, however, I was treated to am such more exciting sight out of the window. In the first, the early morning rays of the sun cast long shadows across the land, but the sky is clear and the day is dawning with great promise. 
Pikes Peak
April 30, 2015

In the second,  taken a bit later in the morning, Pikes Peak is in view to the south. The snow capped peak was majestic on the horizon rising almost 9,000 feet above the plains well to the south to an elevation of 14,114 feet.  It is sad that my cell phone camera could not capture the spectacular beauty of the scene that greeted my eyes. 

Out my hotel window the scene changed every day. I'm glad that I took a few moments each day to view the world as the day began.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Would it be a Game, If no Fans were allowed?

April 29, 2015 White Sox vs Orioles Game
Without Fans

Yesterday the Orioles defeated the White Sox 8-2 in a MLB record setting game. The stadium was empty--no fans were allowed to attend the game due to the unrest in Baltimore. 

A game without fans? The players demonstrated that baseball is our national pastime whether fans are allowed or not. Further--this weekends home series between the Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays has been moved to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, where despite not being in Camden Yards, the Orioles will be the home team for statistical purposes. the series promises to set records for low attendance as it it much too far for the Orioles faithful to make last minute plans to attend. 

Yes, it was still a game. This weekend's series will still be games as well--it is just that the local fans do not get the enjoyment of seeing our team in person.

Baltimore Orioles Manager
Buck Showalter
Baltimore Orioles Manager
I was having trouble understanding understanding the decision to play a fan-less game, so I did some digging. Turns out, it was because the Orioles did not want to dilute the police and security forces protecting the city to be at the game for crowd control. I hadn't thought about it like that before, but it does take quite a large security force to keep us all safe when we attend sporting events.

Buck Showalter, quoted by MLB.com, had one of the classy comments of the day:

 "Everything in life, this too shall pass. Something's bad if you keep repeating it. We hope to take out of it a starting point for our city." 
-- Orioles manager Buck Showalter on the magnitude of the game

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, Colorado

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Out the Hotel Window - Denver, Colorado, April 2015

Looking at Denver April 27, 2015

Yes, I am at a hotel near Denver looking south across the plains to the mountains and the ever increasing urban sprawl. 

It is amazing how different the scene can seem separated by a day. 


Looking at Denver, April 28, 2015
Even separated by a day, however, the effects of the drenching rains can still be seen in the huge puddle in the overflow parking lot. Both images were taken in the morning, just about sunrise. One day dawned rainy and cold with only the promise of more rain all day. The next dawned cold but clear and ended with sunny and bright skies.
From the ViewHouse Restaurant
Centennial, Colorado
April 28, 2018

Yesterday's ending was far more spectacular than I would have imagined. I enjoyed dinner at the ViewHouse Restaurant in Centennial, Colorado, and was treated to the spectacular sunset as I was leaving. I could not pass up taking a quick image of it--the colors were fantastic and placed an exquisite exclamation point on the end of the day.

Today promises to be an even better day!

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, Colorado

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Unrest, Anger and Baltimore Burns

It pained me to see my home city of Baltimore figure so prominently in the news during the past few days. 

It obviously was not for something good and it has become almost a media circus not unlike a feeding frenzy.

I am saddened for the good people of the region that are being held hostage and viewed in a bad light by a few thugs who have taken a valid and important point and protest and moved it into the theater of the absurd.

A man, Freddie Gray, is dead. Riots and vandalism do nothing to bring the people who killed him to justice and they further do nothing to promote increased awareness of the causes for which the peaceful marches were held. I was encouraged that his family called for peace and also noted that the violence tarnishes the memory of their son and brother.

I watched CNN most of last evening in total disbelief that the city that I most closely associate with my home with was being held hostage by violence for the sake of violence. I was appalled that one of the targets of the violence was a newly constructed senior center--which was constructed by a church to serve the people of Baltimore. 

I was appalled that the Mayor of Baltimore failed to act proactively.  I was, however, encouraged that the newly elected Governor was ready to respond within seconds of the request for help to stem the violence with the National Guard.

I believe there is a problem that needs to be investigated and reviewed, but it cannot be accomplished amid the destruction and unrest of the moment. 

Pray for peace. Work for healing and help rebuild the damaged areas.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, Colorado

Monday, April 27, 2015

Monday Musings - April 27, 2015

1. Weekends pass too quickly. There always seems to be more things to do than time to do them.

Victory Cheer
2. Flying is becoming like being packed in a cattle car. Has anyone flown on a plane lately with an open seat next to them?

3. Although I missed the game because I was at a wine fest, the Pirates, Jax's baseball team, won their first game in dramatic walk-off fashion! It is fun to be coaching in a league where the scores actually matter.
First Tee at Carroll Park
April 26, 2015

4. I got to play nine holes of golf yesterday morning. It was nice to be out on the course. I played miserably--but that is golf. I'll do better next time. I am learning more and more every time I venture out. Weirdly, yesterday I did best on the par 3's--they usually are my toughest holes. 

5. Prayers and support are needed for the people of Nepal after the earthquake and aftershocks. 

6. I just have to write it--the 18 runs the Orioles scored yesterday are the most in a single game since 2006. I hope they didn't use up the whole weeks allotment of runs.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, Colorado

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Waiting at the Door

Dogs have a way of expressing themselves even without words. 

Yesterday, while we were stopping by Patrick and Tina's house to drop off Makayla for a play day, two overly rambunctious dogs--Chewie and Warren, had to be separated from the larger group.  Realizing the error of their ways, they stood at the door hoping be reunited with the group. To no avail. Makayla was sitting next to me, quietly enjoying the respite from her high energy companions.

But Chewie and Warren were clearly repentant.

Really? Is that anthropomorphism? I think so. 

But they were cute standing at the window hoping to be allowed to rejoin the group. 

Another day in the life of a dog.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Friday Night Living

Chris--Posing
Friday evenings are perhaps the best of the entire week when I gather with friends to put the exclamation point on the end of the workweek and cast a glance forward to the weekend.

It is a rhythm to living that I have grown accustomed to repeating--in a good way.

There is something about getting together over some great munchies and some nice wines to compare notes and relive highlights and low lights of the week.
Fran and Pam

It is therapeutic, truly, to be with friends who really care about what is happening in each others lives.

I took some candids last evening of us sitting around--eight friends, one week, and, yea, a couple bottles of fine wine.

Bring on the weekend--we can conquer anything!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD


Friday, April 24, 2015

Redbud and Grill

Chops on the Grill
It dawned upon me last evening about 7:30 PM, as I was warming up the grill with a couple of pork chops, that the daylight is truly lasting longer. It was just two months ago that I would have been grilling the meat in darkness--illuminated by only the porch lights.

It stopped to snap a picture of the scene to remind myself that this is what the best part of the year is all about--living outdoors. Now if only the temperatures would become more seasonable. It is 37 degrees this morning as I write this with an expected high in the high 50's for the day. I was thinking of taking Cat, my jaguar, out today--but the top is still down from the last time it drove it.
Our Redbud Tree

Ugh, it is cold. And I know Upstate New York received snow yesterday. 

At least our redbud tree is in bloom. As I was doing some research, I discovered that tradition has it that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from a redbud tree. Wow, it is amazing the things I learn when I go deeper into the background of the things I am writing about. 

If Spring would ever take control of the temperatures, I would get ready to open the pool and start the slide into summer. But--with the continued cold, there truly is no rush to uncover the pool. I guess I will have to be content with the signs of the season which appear around me on a daily basis and be happy in the knowledge that warmer weather is coming, even if the thermometer doesn't indicate that it is here, yet!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Fortunes on the Field

Jax and Jack
Yesterday was a frustrating day for both of my baseball teams.

The Pirates, Jax's coach-pitch baseball team were out slugged in a game and the Orioles managed to find another creative way to lose to the Toronto Bluejays. 

Not a good day on the field. 

The Pirates played an older and more experienced team and held their ground during four of the six innings. Unfortunately, a comedy of errors resulted in a blow out score for the final. But, that is why we are there--to learn the game. I think the final was 13-4. 

The Orioles were victimized by the long ball and dropped a close game 4-2. They just can't seem to get the hitters and the pitchers working together, but the season is still young.

While the on field fortunes for my teams were not good yesterday--today promises to be a better day. Well, at least the Pirates don't play today. Their next game is Saturday.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
My Zimbio
Top Stories