Completed Repairs

The truck is fixed!

Yay!

My Truck -- Hauling

It is back on the road and has already been loaned out to do some hauling. 

I think all of the broken things that occurred over our vacation have been repaired!

The pool is back and supported a swimming extravaganza today. The washer continues to run and now my truck is repaired.

I think it is strange that it seems that there are more repairs to do than what the vehicle went in for--but my truck does have almost 180,000 miles on it. I probably really needed a new serpentine belt and tensioned, a muffler and tailpipe along with the broken transmission line.

But it should be good for another year!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Olympics Provide a Political Respite

The news continues to be dominated by the Olympics and the exploits of the athletes from around the world excelling in their sports.

It is a great relief from the droning of the US political landscape. 

I know what is coming--the 84-ish day sprint to the election.

Our two presidential candidates are similar:

One has a body of work fraught with failure and the other couldn't recognize the truth if it had a lighted sign on it. 

I believe that the above statements may apply to both of them.

At least the Olympics has provided a different kind of drama, such as:

Who will be the next olympian to be robbed at gunpoint on the streets of Rio?

Will the US Men's gymnastics team win a medal at the Olympics? Actually they won a bronze the other day--their only medal. The women's team has thus far earned 7 medals.

Who will win the decathlon?

Has Michael Phelps really retired, or will he be back in four years to win more Olympic gold?

I wish the Olympics would continue until mid-November, maybe then we wouldn't have to suffer through the onslaught of mud slinging that is ahead.

Someday I want to go to the Olympics so that I can hear the chant: U S A, U S A! I heard it in a World Cup Soccer playoff game once--and it was awesome!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - August 15, 2016

1. I saw the constellation Orion rising in the eastern sky this morning. Summer is coming to an end. The stars were beautiful, however.

2. Despite the oppressive heat, I managed to get in a round of golf yesterday. I wish I had played better, but there were some definite highlights.

Big Cork Vineyards
August 14, 2016

3. While we were chatting over an afternoon glass of wine listening to some oldies being played by a guitarist at our favorite Maryland Winery, Big Cork, Chris remarked, "I hope we never get so old that we stop enjoying trying something new." 

4. While the Orioles have slipped into second place in the American League East, they pulled off a stunning comeback win yesterday. Trailing 7-1 after 5 innings, and then training 7-5 in the top of the 9th, they won 8-7. The Orioles are now 2-48 when trailing after 8 innings of baseball.

5. The evening thunderstorm provided some temporary relief from the heat yesterday. 

6. August is half over. It is hard to believe. Summer is ending.

7. I am beginning to believe that Labor Day is my least favorite holiday because in a sense it marks the end of summer and the beginning of the autumn season. 

8. The Olympics continues to dominate! The stories of the athletes are compelling, but the stories of robberies on the streets of Rio are scary.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Olympics

I have been watching a lot of the Olympics. It has been easier this year because the time zones are compatible. 

Medal Count as of Sunday Morning
August 14, 2016

I think that NBC's coverage of the Olympics  leaves a lot to be desired. I tried to stay up last night to see Michael Phelps and the Men's 4X100 Relay Team receive their gold medal, but the coverage kept getting pushed later and later. I had watched the team crush the competition as Michael Phelps participated in his last Olympic Event winning his last gold medal capping an incredible 5 Olympics Games career. 

Michael Phelps with Olympic Gold

Living in Baltimore, I am especially happy to see Michael win more medals and put an exclamation point on the his career while, at the same time, hopefully overcoming the troubles he has experienced in the past. 

I have been cheering the entire U.S. Olympic Team. I was crushed when the Women's Soccer (Football) Team lost on penalty kicks to Sweden. I have been excited that the Fencing Team is winning medals, while I wonder why our golfers are not competing as well as they could be.

I continue to marvel at the finely trained athletes that are participating from all of the countries around the world. How exciting to participate in an Olympics and then how much more grand to win a medal. It is fun to celebrate their successes with them.

I like the summer games more than the winter games. I still love the heat!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Mid-August Heat Wave

It has been a hot and very damp and humid August.

I don't actually remember an August as hot as this one.

At least the temperatures are beginning to moderate.

The real problem is that the lows are staying above 70 degrees, this morning for instance it is 77 degrees as I wake up.  And humid!

Forecast Weather for August 13, 2016

It makes conditions outside miserable and it is the weekend. We are supposed to work outside and be outside!

Yesterday the high was 96 degrees! The normal high is 86 degrees. The low was 79 degrees and the normal low is 66 degrees. At least today is cooler already than yesterday!

I am careful not to encourage the heat to leave, however! When the August heat subsides, then it is Autumn and I do not want to bring the dark season into the area any faster than it is going to arrive on its own.

I think the weather map projection for today says it all: Steamy and sweltering!

I think the pool is finally recovered, mostly, from my vacation and I believe I will be getting out of the heat on a floater with a cold drink in my hand.

As the sergeant used to say on Hill Street Blues: "Let's Be Careful Out there!"

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Unplanned Vacation Costs

Things break when I go on vacation. It just seems to be the way it is. 

Broken Garage Door Opener

Last year the garage door opener was broken when I returned from vacation. I was able to buy new parts and rebuild the opener within about a week.

This year when Chris and I returned from vacation we had three broken items: the washing machine, the pool, and my truck. Ugh!

The pool was a mess because the skimmers got clogged and there was too little water circulation meaning the chlorine levels fell and the water became cloudy and tinged green. After four tough days, I am winning the war of the pool!

My Broken Truck

My truck developed a transmission cooling line leak.  It has been towed to the garage for repair.

The most frustrating has been the washer. I had though an $18 part would fix it, but the results so far have been mixed. Last night I ordered the next part in there troubleshooting checklist-$110. But, then, magically, with a little cleaning and readjustment the washer started working so now I don't know if I need the $110 part--too late, it is not cancelable or returnable!

Broken appliances and a messed-up pool are the hidden price I seem pay for a fun week away.

I just wish I could come home and have everything working.

But, that would be different.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Anniversary Dinner

Chris and I celebrated our wedding anniversary a couple of evenings ago. Having just returned from a seven-night cruise, we opted to celebrate with a home cooked dinner. 

We had just experienced seven glorious dinners aboard the Liberty of the Seas, well maybe the chicken piccata was an exception, and we really didn't need to head out for another dinner.
When we decide to stay home for special occasions, the dinners that we create for  are truly great. 

Perfectly grilled steak, salad, sweet potato, corn on the cob, and of course a great wine. The wine we chose last evening was one of those special wines we could never afford in a restaurant--a 2005 Axios from Rutherford in Napa Valley. It was truly a special wine for a special dinner.

I just wish that so many things around the house were not broken. The pool is a mess because of the storms we missed; the washer broke, but I fixed it; and my truck is leaking transmission fluid. It seems every year things break while we are away vacationing. I wonder if it is punishment for getting away and having fun?

But for a few hours, I was able to put all of that behind me and enjoy a dinner with my bride.

And we both enjoyed being together and reminiscing about anniversaries past and planning for the future.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Bay and the Lighthouse

Cruising reminds me of my connection to the sea and how much I appreciate a good sunrise or sunset over the open water. I also appreciate the beauty of the day when viewing the shoreline.

Lighthouse at Nassau, Bahamas Harbor

Guarding Nassau harbor there is a small white lighthouse. It provided a great subject to photograph and a great memory. 

It was a stunning scene--right outside my stateroom window. Shimmering in the bright afternoon sunlight, protecting the mariners from the dangerous reefs.

Beach in Mexico

Equally as beautiful was the beach we visited after the  Tulum Mayan Ruins in Mexico. The beach had beautiful sand and a protected harbor. The day was hot, but the water was a refreshing as I ever could imagine.  I wish I had remembered to write down the name of the beach. But, it was enticing and a great place to close out a day of sightseeing. 

I still can imagine the beach chairs and sipping a cold drink against the oppressive heat of the day.

I love going over the memories of a great vacation.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Seahorse Sail and Snorkel Adventure

Since I went a week without the internet, I could not share my cruise vacation adventures. I guess that gives me something to write about this week instead of the terrible state of politics in the U.S.

During one of our shore excursions, Chris and I did the Seahorse Sail and Snorkel Adventure from Nassau though Royal Caribbean. Since Nassau was not on our original itinerary, we were unable to check out the trip before hand, but the price seemed right and without internet we were not able to schedule our own excursion.

The video was taken during the snorkeling and sail adventure. There were three ships in port that day--which was an interesting sight to see. 

Sergeant Major in Nassau
August 4, 2016

Overall, the trip was solid--but uninspiring. I recommend this trip for inexperienced snorkelers who just want so see some fish and paddle around for a while in the cool water on a hot day. The staff on the Seahorse were great and a lot of fun. I appreciated their humor and they were attentive to the needs of the passengers while distributing the snorkeling gear. 

Nassau Snorkeling
People Clustered

Entering the water from the boat was fairly easy, but confusing. People did not understand the instructions. The "reef" was basic. There was a good assortment of fish and corals to view--but it was only an average reef. I was happy to see a safety observer deployed on an inner tube in the area to monitor people, but the area for snorkeling was too small for the number of people. I got hit with many fins and when we tried to get some distance from the group, we were called back into the designated area. 

Getting back onto the boat was dangerous and I was glad no one was lost. They used a single ladder for about 90 people. There was a lot of time treading water in the waves which stressed many inexperienced snorkelers. It also significantly reduced our already short 1 hour snorkel to less than 50 minutes. 

The rum punch on the trip back to shore was enjoyable, but there was no sailing adventure. Although the boat is a fully capable sailing catamaran, the captain only put up the jib and ran under power all the way back to the port--that is not my idea of sailing. 

Recommendation: Best for inexperienced snorkelers who want to see whether they enjoy looking at fish in their natural environment. The reef is not complex enough to hold the interest of more experienced snorkelers. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - August 8, 2016

Liberty of the Seas
Cozumel, Mexico
August 2, 2016

1. I did it. I lived one full week off without the internet during my vacation.

2. Yesterday morning I awoke is a stateroom on a cruise ship in Galveston. Today, it is back to work. That is just wrong!

3. The worst part about vacations is that they end.

Sunrise Over the Gulf of Mexico
August 1, 2016

4. As we were leaving the ship yesterday, we saw the people preparing to board and I wondered if we could just go around and get on again like a ride at an amusement park.

5. Sunrises are awesome on a cruise ship at sea. Yup, I was awake! (at least once!)

Miniature Golf on
Liberty of the Seas
August 7, 2016

6. I did get to play 9 holes of golf yesterday--miniature golf on the ship, that is. 

7. I was surprised how smooth travel was back to Maryland yesterday. I was expecting a travel nightmare and was pleasantly surprised.

Southwest 737 in Maryland colors
Houston Hobby Airport
August 7, 2016

8. I had almost 500 email messages to go through when I got back into internet range! Wow. Mostly advertisements.

9. I saw the Southwest Airlines 737 painted in the colors of the Maryland flag yesterday in Houston. We in Maryland do love our unique flag!

10. There is something strange that happens on a cruise ship--we all noticed it. Our clothes shrank!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD