91.67 Percent

Some of you probably recognize the percentage in the title. It is more common than you think.

I wonder why we always default to 95 or 98 percent for things. Do we really know what is 95 percent of something? Or even 98 percent?

In trying to assess the completeness of the basement remodel project I struggles with a percentage. Should I do it by dollars spent? Or the time taken to perform the activities far divided by the total time I expect remaining?

Ugh, no. 

I am just estimating, and probably poorly at that.

Today marks the 91.87 percent completion for the year 2018. Being that it is the last day of December, the year is 11/12ths complete.

It makes me sad. 

While 2018 has not been one of my better years, it has been a solid year. I have great memories of the family cruise aboard Allure of the Seas and I have great memories of spending time with friends and traveling to Florida. There was a great Kenny Chesney concert as well. I will spend time giving over my blogs pulling together the memories of the year that is nearly complete.

Today also marks the 86.36 percent completion of my prostate cancer treatments. By the end of the day I will have completed 38 of the 44 schedules sessions, leaving 6 to go! My how the time has flown. It really has.

Today also is the last day of Movember. That does not mean that I will stop advocating for men's health issues--that is a full time project. But, I will likely shave my mustache over the weekend.

Maybe I'll take an image of it before I do!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Power of Two Words

Dow Jones, YTD as of November 28, 2018

There is an interesting article in the morning's New York Times that highlights the importance of two words. In this case the context is the economy and the world we live in.

The articles is titled:

Two Words From Fed Chairman Jerome Powell Sent Markets Soaring

The two words were: "just below."

From the article the description of the effect of the two words:

The chairman, Jerome H. Powell, said the Fed’s benchmark interest rate was “just below” the neutral level, meaning the central bank was close to the point where it would not be tapping on the brakes or pressing on the gas. Only last month, Mr. Powell had said it was “a long way” from neutral, leaving investors worried that the rate increases would crimp growth.

The small change sent stocks soaring 2.3 percent, erasing the losses from a rocky November. To investors, the new wording meant that the Fed might leave rates closer to their current level, keeping in place the steady fuel that low rates have provided to a 10-year-long bull market.

For those who have retirement accounts invested in the market, all of their savings, so to speak, those two words hopefully marked the end of a disastrous couple of months that has seen overall values drop by over 9 percent since early October wiping out any gains made this year.

In looking at the Dow Jones chart, it has clearly been a roller coaster ride this year. I remember that earlier in the year the president was taking credit for the economy and the stock market. That talk of economic success stopped after the market declined significantly in February. Since then, the trade war, tariffs, rising Fed interest rates, tech stock weakness, the threat of an impending government shut down have all battered investment accounts. 

I'm not saying that declines are over, but I hope we can level out the wild roller coaster ride that has been 2018.

And all because of two words!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Rolling into Mid-Week

Wednesday has arrived. 

Wednesdays will forever be special and known as hump-day, the spot in the workweek where we transition to the weekend being not that far off. I begin to look at the weekend weather on Wednesdays. I hope for good weather, but lately have been disappointed. This weekend looks to be a mix, rainy Saturday followed by a very enjoyable Sunday. Maybe even some golf?

I suppose that someday, when I retire, Wednesdays will not be as special for me, but I sincerely hope that does not happen.

Amid unboxing the Christmas decorations last evening for another season, we also continued with a couple of the smaller projects for the basement remodel. It is something that will happen each day until the project is complete--or nearly mostly complete. Last evening I was finally able to install the toe kick on there cabinets and put a cover over the hole in the ceiling where the ceiling fan was removed.

I expect Saturday to be the last nearly full day of activity. I am looking forward to getting the project completed. I have a couple of lighting projects to complete and then we will be at the 98 percent completion point. I am not sure the project will ever be done. We are currently decorating the rooms, but for the Christmas season. After Christmas we get to decorate all over again.

I am excited about the prospects of getting our free time back. Although, there are many other projects to fill and free time.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Welcome Christmas Shopping Season

Was I ready for the Christmas Shopping Season to start? Definitely not! I'm still lamenting the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.

This, however, is the longest official shopping season we can have. Thanksgiving was the earliest that it can be, November 22, meaning shoppers get a few precious extra days to surf the net and buy those perfect gifts for relatives and friends.

White House Christmas Tree
2018

I am still trapped by the basement remodel and have not even begun to think of shopping and the holidays. Last evening I started on the final projects. I demoed the bathroom light and the ceiling fan in the main basement. I then installed a new ceiling fan, in a different location. We are still cleaning up the ceiling around the old fan's location in preparation for painting and covering it. The important aspect of the new fan is, no light unit. The ceiling in the basement is just low enough that a light unit becomes a hazard to taller people.

I do enjoy the sight of the Christmas trees in the malls and the stores. Well, I haven't actually been to a mall since the trees were installed. I need to get over to the Columbia Mall so that I can take my annual image of the poinsettia tree. I always find the tree to be stunning.

Well, there are some 28 shopping days remaining until the big day! 

Keep smiling! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - November 26, 2018

1. It is the last Monday of November. December is lurking at the end of the week.

The Christmas Effect
November 26, 2018

2. It truly is the Christmas season. Chris and I took some time off from the basement remodel project to begin to Christmasfy the house. 

3. The remodel project continues. I finished the molding on the stairwell and we bought some of the final touches for the project, a new ceiling fan and some lights. There always seems to be something more to do. 

4. Family NFL Results:

   Ravens (6-5) defeat Raiders 34-17
   Steelers (7-3-1) lose to Broncos 17-24
   Cowboys (6-5) defeat Redskins 31-23
   Redskins (6-5) lose to Cowboys 23-31 

5. The turkeys are departing the house in favor of Santas, Christmas Trees, and creches. 

6. I am excited because I have completed 33 treatments and have 11 remaining! I am 75 percent complete and December 10th, the date of my final treatment, is drawing closer.

7. I have over 200 channels of cable TV, why can't I find anything to watch?

8. I was disturbed that when asked what he wanted to give thanks for during a press gaggle Thursday, Trump responded, "for having a great family and for having made a tremendous difference in this country. I've made a tremendous difference in the country. This country is so much stronger now than it was when I took office that you wouldn't believe it." CNN.com

9. I reported, yesterday, that the washing machine was making a disturbing noise. Fortunately, it turned out to be a relatively minor fix and the washer is functional again! Yay. Who really wants to buy a new washer at Christmas and after remodeling a basement?

10. Yesterday's 63 degree temperatures provided a respite form the cold and rain. I especially enjoyed them because Chris and I were finally able to get the pool deck ready for the impending winter.

11.Today in History. In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs a bill officially establishing the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.

Headlines

The World Needs to Quit Coal. Why Is It So Hard? - The New York Times

Migrants in Tijuana Run to U.S. Border, but Fall Back in Face of Tear Gas - The New York Times

Trump demands action to reduce deficit, pushes new deficit spending - The Washington Post

Russia seizes Ukrainian ships near annexed Crimea after firing on them - Reuters

Presidential Quote for the Week

I am taking a break from quoting Ronald Reagan this week because I ran across this utterance from President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated 55 years ago on November 22, which was Thursday last week, the day we celebrated Thanksgiving.

No President should fear public scrutiny of his program. For from that scrutiny comes understanding; and from that understanding comes support or opposition. And both are necessary.
         President John F. Kennedy, April 27, 1961

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, Md

The Remodel: Stairs Completed

Stairs with Carpet Removed
November 24, 2018

Saturday was devoted to completing the remodel of the stairs as part of the basement project.

I mean, how hard could stairs be? 

Hard. Turns out that the demolition was easy, but we took our time. It was relatively easy to remove the old carpet. Next came removal of the pad and tack strips. It took some time to get the tack strips removed and the stairs smoothed. Chris then took care of painting the risers after we filled the nail holes to make them look good, 

Painted Risers and First Two Treads Fitted
November 24, 2018

Then came the reconstruction. As it turned out, we needed to borrow both a table saw and a sliding compound miter. I have a very nice compound miter, but the blade was not big enough to complete the cut on the treads and so I needed to use a sliding compound miter.

I was nervous. The treads were not inexpensive and they took about three weeks to actually arrive once I ordered them. I needed to be precise and smooth performing two actions: cutting to length on the sliding miter and ripping the extra width on the table saw. I also had to make small adjustments for each stair to customize the fit. I remembered that it is easier to trim off than to add back what has already been cut.

Completed Stairs
November 24, 2018

After each of the treads had been cut and placed, then came the glue to hold the treads in place. That part went very well and that part of the project was complete. 

The stairs were the last major part of the remodel. All that remains are smaller touches like replacing a ceiling fan, installing some light units and getting the cabinet toe kick in place. Then there is the decorating which will likely never actually be complete. 

What's next? Did I mention that the washing machine started making a terrible noise yesterday? Today I will be elbow deep in the washer, again!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

From the Battle Room

It was a long Black Friday as WW2 was reenacted beginning during the Spring of 1942. We have a number of different versions of Axis & Allies and it is always a surprise which version we are going to play.

The Axis definitely had the advantage with Russia on the ropes and the US struggling to get into the fight.

The Board When We Broke to Watch the Golf Match

But with each passing round the Allies began to gain ground and when the game was paused so that we could watch Tiger and Phil, the situation on the ground was beginning to turn in favor of the Allies. The US was about to eradicate the Japanese navy and Russia was clinging to the faint hope of rescue by the UK.

It was a classic Black Friday game. This year, for the first time, Ethan joined and wound up playing Japan. I was saddled again with Russia--a tough way to start since Russia is in the middle of the action. The Caucuses and Karelia saw most of the action on the Eastern Front.

The winner?

Well the game isn't over. It will have to be continued later. We stopped after about 6 hours of solid play. We took pictures of the board so that we could set everything up and finish the struggle.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Black Friday

It is the day after Thanksgiving. Black Friday.

In our family the women go shopping and the men reenact World War 2 by playing Axis and Allies. It is a great time because we are together and surrounded by all of the food and trappings form the day before. It is leftover heaven.

While people brave the frigid temperatures to descend upon the stores to scarf-up the deals, the guys will enjoy the warmth of reliving and replaying history.

The holiday tradition continues again for a second day.

I wonder what shopping I will miss?

I wonder if it is important?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thanksgiving: Presidential Reflections

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Today, I want to remind us of our Thanksgiving heritage by restating quotes from our President's about Thanksgiving. These are from The Christian Post and is titled 7 Great Presidential Quotes on Thanksgiving. It was published today, amazingly enough!

Below are seven great spiritual quotes from American presidents about one of America's most observed holidays:

1.Calvin Coolidge 1925:

 "As we have grown and prospered in material things, so also should we progress in moral and spiritual things. We are a God-fearing people who should set ourselves against evil and strive for righteousness in living, and observing the Golden Rule we should from our abundance help and serve those less fortunately placed. We should bow in gratitude to God for His many favors."

 2. Franklin Delano Roosevelt 1942:

 "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord." Across the uncertain ways of space and time our hearts echo those words, for the days are with us again when, at the gathering of the harvest, we solemnly express our dependence upon Almighty God.

The final months of this year, now almost spent, find our Republic and the Nations joined with it waging a battle on many fronts for the preservation of liberty.

In giving thanks for the greatest harvest in the history of our Nation, we who plant and reap can well resolve that in the year to come we will do all in our power to pass that milestone; for by our labors in the fields we can share some part of the sacrifice with our brothers and sons who wear the uniform of the United States.

It is fitting that we recall now the reverent words of George Washington, "Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy Protection," and that every American in his own way lift his voice to heaven."

3. Grover Cleveland 1885:

"And let us by no means forget while we give thanks and enjoy the comforts which have crowned our lives that truly grateful hearts are inclined to deeds of charity, and that a kind and thoughtful remembrance of the poor will double the pleasures of our condition and render our praise and thanksgiving more acceptable in the sight of the Lord."

4. Ronald Reagan 1981:

"In this spirit, Thanksgiving has become a day when Americans extend a helping hand to the less fortunate. Long before there was a government welfare program, this spirit of voluntary giving was ingrained in the American character. Americans have always understood that, truly, one must give in order to receive. This should be a day of giving as well as a day of thanks."

5. Bill Clinton 1999:

"As we acknowledge the past, we do so knowing that the individual blessings for which we give thanks may have changed, but our gratitude to God and our commitment to our fellow Americans remain constant."

6. Abraham Lincoln 1863:

"They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy."

7. Richard Nixon: 1972:

 "From Moses at the Red Sea to Jesus preparing to feed the multitudes, the Scriptures summon us to words and deeds of gratitude, even before divine blessings are fully perceived. From Washington kneeling at Valley Forge to the prayer of an astronaut circling the moon, our own history repeats that summons and proves its practicality."

President Trump added his words to the line of Presidents commemorating this day with his Presidential Proclamation on Thanksgiving Day 2018. 

An excerpt:

This Thanksgiving, as we gather in places of worship and around tables surrounded by loved ones, in humble gratitude for the bountiful gifts we have received, let us keep in close memory our fellow Americans who have faced hardship and tragedy this year. In the spirit of generosity and compassion, let us joyfully reach out in word and deed, and share our time and resources throughout our communities. Let us also find ways to give to the less fortunate whether it be in the form of sharing a hearty meal, extending a helping hand, or providing words of encouragement. 
  -- President Trump's Presidential Proclamation on Thanksgiving Day 2018, November 20, 2018

Have a very happy Thanksgiving and remember the blessings that have been secured for us by those who have proceeded us. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thankful

I enjoy Thanksgiving because it provides a time for me to reflect upon the blessings that I have received. 

There are so many things that I am thankful for because I am richly blessed, but I want to take note of a few.

As many of you know, the last half of 2018 has been challenging for me personally as I was diagnosed with prostate cancer--but, I am thankful that everything is working out and that my treatments are progressing and are nearly complete. I am also thankful for the support of my family and friends and coworkers who have shown great compassion towards me as I have been being diagnosed and then my daily treatments. 

I am thankful that Mom and Dad dropped in for a short visit and there is the promise of a return visit when they escape the warmth of Houston (why would anyone go north during the winter?).

I am thankful for my family. All of them. My wife, my children, their spouses (or engaged), my grandchildren, my Mom and Dad, sisters and brother and their families. We are dysfunctional at times, but we are still a family.

I am thankful for the fun cruise this summer. 

I have met a lot of people this year and many of them have enriched my life just by knowing them and talking to them. I chatted with a man yesterday while we were both waiting for treatment. He was three days into his second round of treatment and he related that he is an Agent Orange victim and that he will likely be treated for the rest of his life. Yet, his attitude was positive and he was just happy the be alive and able to be treated.

I am thankful that I live in the greatest country in the world. Yes, we have our warts, but we are still the best place to live.

I am thankful for the readers of my blog and I hope each of them has a blessed holiday season.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD