Midnight Madness

Nothing good happens after midnight.

Makayla and Finnegan 

That is a phrase that I believe in strongly. When I hear reports about accidents and shootings, it seems that many of them happen after the witching hour, while it is still dark.

The same is true around my house. 

The photo of Makayla and Finnegan is proof. That photo was taken in the morning, about 6 AM after they had been up since 3 AM playing with Riordin, the cat. The three of them were everywhere and it was as if the day had dawned. It was nice that they could curl up and go back to sleep, while I had to leave for work. 

Being a pet in my house is a cushy assignment. I remember that years ago I had a friend who was a fellow officer in the Air Force and he would joke that after he died he wanted to come back as an officer's dog. 

It is a good gig.

I just wish they would sleep through the night. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Darkness Arrives

The return to standard time has happened. 

I got to sleep an additional hour on Sunday morning. I can't for the life of me remember actually enjoying the additional sleep. The penalty, however, was that it gets dark by 5:30 PM, which is great for sitting around the fire pit but not much else.

And the weather is getting colder.

We are expecting our first no kidding freeze on Saturday morning. The projected temperature is now down to 24 degrees! That, friends, is cold. I have a lot of work to do around the house, including getting in some of the not-freeze tolerant plants inside to escape Jack Frost's touch.

The march of darkness continues. The days are progressively getting shorter, and darker.

I think I need a trip south of the equator! Maybe the wine country of Argentina or South Africa where springtime is fading into summer.

It is nice to remember that while we are devolving into darkness, elsewhere the sunlight is strengthening. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - November 5, 2017

1. November has arrived, but fortunately the weather has been wet it has been warm. Our first hard freeze is expected Saturday morning.

2. It was interesting to see the transition of autumn leaf colors during our trip to New York. In Maryland, the leaves are just past peak while in places north the leaves are gone form the trees. Orange and yellow are the predominate colors.

3. Winners and Losers: Winners: Cowboys, Redskins. Losers: Ravens, Penguins. DNP: Steelers.

Doe at the Neighbor's Garden

4. I have noticed that some drivers are becoming more aggressive on the roadways. They are driving at unreasonable speeds and making dangerous maneuvers.

5. Traffic is more frustrating when tie-ups happen during a long trip.

6. Winter is coming. The deer are getting pretty bold. This one let me within 10 feet of her while she was eating.

7. It must be late-autumn, I have not played golf on two successive weekends.

8. With the return to Standard Time, the dark season has arrived! Ugh! I'm not sure what happened to the extra hour.

Headlines

Trump Opens Asia Trip Talking Tough in Campaign-Style Rally - The New York Times

At least nine people in Trump’s orbit had contact with Russians during campaign and transition - The Washington Post

US, Australia and South Korea hold joint Navy drills - CNN

Ronald Reagan Quote of the Week

"Democracy cannot be imposed from outside and it frequently evolves only after patient, incremental steps. It must be the product of free institutions -- churches, labor unions, independent judiciary, and the press -- and its life-giving, rejuvenating process is a citizen placing his vote in a ballot box -- the subject of this Conference."

Remarks at a White House Luncheon for Delegates to the Conference on Free Elections, November 4, 1982

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Autumn Vines

Vines at Magnus Ridge

We stopped at Magnus Ridge, an upstate New York winery. The vines were displaying their autumn colors. The vineyards are beautiful this time of year after the harvest and before the leaves are gone.

We did a tasting at Magnus Ridge and and found solid wines up and down the tasting list. Our favorite was the Reserve Riesling. A very nice wine with 0% residual sugar and nicely rounded flavors centering around pear.

Although the leaves have fallen from most of the trees, the vineyards are still exciting places to visit and enjoy the lingering autumn colors.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ithaca, NY

Puppy Love

Dad with Finnegan

Who doesn't love a puppy? They are just cute and adorable, mostly. Yes training can be trying, but rewarding.

Dad and Finnegan bonded yesterday. But then, Dad has always liked dogs. I was the cat lover when I was a kid. I always thought cats were more affectionate. I was wrong.

It is a rare cat, our Riordin for instance, that is more affectionate and caring than a dog.

Bring on the puppies!

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ithaca, NY

Car Talk

On the Road in PA

We started the day departing under the cover of darkness as we left Baltimore in our rear view mirror.

The day dawned clear around Harrisburg but turned cloudy and overcast near Williamsport.

The traffic was light and the conversation in the car covered a wide range of topics. We also discuss seed which wineries we should visit on this trip north. There was also some discussion about next summer's cruise. Yes. Ten months away and already a topic of discussion.

We talked about how the trees have already lost their leaves here. Where did autumn go?

Car talk. Trapped together less than three feet apart for almost 6 hours. At least we still talk.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Route 15 north of Williamsport, PA

Congrats to Houston Astros

I stayed up until midnight and watched the Houston Astros win their first ever World Series by defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in game 7 of the Fall Classic.

Baseball is over for the year. A new champion has been crowned. 

The Astros now leave the group of teams which have never won a World Series. That group is larger than you might think and consists of the San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies. Additionally, the Washington Nationals (formerly the Montreal Expos) and Seattle Mariners have never even appeared in a World Series.

It is hard to believe that a sport which has been around for so many years has 7 teams which have never won a championship. I read that the Astros were formed during 1962.

I am glad that my prediction of a Dodger series victory in six games was wrong. That, after all is why they play the games. 

The off-season can now begin in earnest!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

On to November

Ethan, Jack, Jackson, Lucas

November arrived overnight, but not without some fanfare. 

Finnegan Ready for Halloween

Of course there was the Halloween celebration with scores of kids and adults wandering the neighborhoods in search of treats. Fortunately, there were far more treats than tricks. 

The grandkids and friends got together for their annual costumed walk through the neighborhood. 

Even Finnegan was costumed and ready to meet the neighbors. 

But now it is November--the month of Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving. It dawns on me that it is but one of two months of the year blessed with two holidays. 

Happy November! It is the season of the turkey!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Halloween 2017

Jeremy's Light Wrapped Tree

It is the day of decorations and costumes.

The family will gather tonight for our annual trek through the neighborhood to collect treats from those who participate.

Halloween is the celebration at the beginning of the dark days. Winter is on the horizon, but more importantly the length of daylight is waning significantly day by day. The length of the daylight is 10 hours 32 minutes today. Each successive day is over 2 minutes shorter. There is still more than one hour of daylight to shed each day until the days begin to lengthen during late December. 

Witches with a Cauldron in a Neighbor's Yard

The lights of Halloween are a reminder of the lost summer days as we drive away the darkness that is creeping into our lives. Of course the tales of witches and goblins also provide some excitement as the harvest celebration continues.

Tomorrow begins the season of the turkey!

Be careful out there tonight. I think it is going to be cold and I know it is going to be dark!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - October 30, 2017

1. It is the last Monday of October. Tomorrow is Halloween and then we are onto November. 2017 is racing towards its conclusion.

2. I had to get a new laptop yesterday. Mine would not stay running. 

3. I saw a funny sign on the internet yesterday. I am sure cats would not text back, either.

4. Winners and losers. Winners: Ravens, Cowboys, Steelers, Astros. Losers: Redskins and Penguins.

5. The World Series has become a wild affair. Sadly the games are on too late for me to see the endings, but my prediction will not come true. It is the Astros who can win the series in 6 and not the Dodgers. The Dodgers will have to go to Game 7 to win. And talk about home runs!

6. Rain everywhere saturating everything. Wind blowing. I took the dogs out this morning and was surprised by how loud it was outside with the wind blowing hard through the trees. I wonder how many limbs are down in the yard?

7. Watch out for Trick or Treaters tomorrow. 

Headlines

Republicans, desperate for a win, already face setbacks as they prepare to unveil tax bill this week - The Washington Post

Dread, expectation hang over Washington before Mueller sweep - CNN

Russia Uses Its Oil Giant, Rosneft, as a Foreign Policy Tool - The New York Times

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"Well, I'm here today because I believe you're right to care about the future. I believe America's future and your future hold promises bigger than the sky and more vast than the galaxies -- if we have faith and if we're true to the values of family, work, and community that have always been America's guiding stars on the path of history." Remarks to High School Students and Citizens in Sterling Heights, Michigan, October 7, 1988

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD