Monday Musings - May 6, 2019

1. Welcome to the first Monday in May. 

2. What a weekend, I have a broken mower deck on my lawn tractor, I had a dead battery in a vehicle, and I enjoyed not having to be outside in the rain yesterday.

Lilac Bush
Elkridge, MD
May 3, 2019

3. The pool is clearing up nicely. Now if the temperatures would just warm up, we can enjoy swimming.

4. Our lilac bush is finally blooming and filling the air with its sweet fragrance. Our bush is a late bloomer and many other lilacs have already bloomed.

Gray Tree Frog
Elkridge, MD
May 4, 2019

5. I found a gray tree frog on the deck on Saturday. I relocated it from the deck to a safer location, although being a tree frog I should not have worried that it would fall off the deck. 

6. It is very frustrating to be in the middle of mowing the lawn and have a critical spring break on the mower deck! The lawn is half mowed awaiting the spring to get the mower deck working again.

7. I have noticed that the mapping programs I use to go places that i am unfamiliar with sometimes route me in what seems to be a circuitous manner. I wonder why? 

8. It rained all day yesterday. I am happy that Chris and I had planned indoors activities. Sadly, however, it was another weekend without swinging my gold clubs as the small, white and frustrating ball.

9. Today in History. On this date in 1994, In a ceremony presided over by England’s Queen Elizabeth II and French President Francois Mitterrand, a rail tunnel under the English Channel was officially opened, connecting Britain and the European mainland for the first time since the Ice Age.

Headlines

After Intense Fighting in Gaza, Israel and Palestinians Observe Ceasefire - The New York Times

10 Teenagers Burned by Acidlike Liquid Thrown From Above at Raucous Party - The New York Times

Russian passenger jet catches fire on runway in Moscow, killing 41 people - The Washington Post

Two U.S. warships sail in disputed South China Sea - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

Ours was the first revolution in the history of mankind that truly reversed the course of government, and with three little words: ``We the People.'' ``We the People'' tell the government what to do; it doesn't tell us. ``We the People'' are the driver; the government is the car. And we decide where it should go, and by what route, and how fast. Almost all the world's constitutions are documents in which governments tell the people what their privileges are. Our Constitution is a document in which ``We the People'' tell the government what it is allowed to do. ``We the People'' are free.  Farewell Address to the Nation, January 11, 1989

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Bats Awaken

The win streak is now three. After starting the season 0-3, the GORC 12U Haslup (Wildcats) are now 3-3 after a hard fought 16-11 win over Crofton - Coach Plummer. 

The box score only partially reflects the hard fought victory. The six runs scored during the third and fourth innings are significant because that is the maximum number of runs allowed to be counted during an inning, until the unlimited sixth inning. It means the team scored six (or more) runs before getting three outs. In fact, the Wildcats scored eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning due to a massive three-run homer, but only six could be scored for the game. 

Jax Warming-up for the Fifth Inning
GORC Park
May 4, 2019

The team started by giving Crofton the lead at during the first inning and that held until the bottom of the third when the Wildcats took the lead for the first time, 10-7. Crofton regained the lead during the top half of the fourth, 11-10, but that lead was short lived as the Wildcats exploded for eight runs during the bottom half of the fourth and that is when Brian hit his massive three-run homer.  

Jax came in to secure the win by pitching the top half of the fifth inning. He faced 5 batters, walked 2, struck out 2 and allowed no runs. 

The game was called because of the two-hour time limit with the home team Wildcats winning after the top of the fifth inning. 

It was a hard fought complete team victory. The boys are beginning to gel as a team and trust their instincts while making some great plays.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Extrovert or Introvert?

I conducted an interesting experiment yesterday as I walked into the place where I work at the height of the morning arrival hour. 

We have always joked that most of the people who work there are introverts and are look down at their feet as they walk. 

The extroverts, allegedly, look at other people's shoes. Meaning that they are also introverts.

Yesterday, I arrived at work with one shoe untied. Instead of tying the shoe, I decided to see how many introverts and extroverts were around me. As I walked to my office, I watched the people. I discovered that the extroverts were not looking down at the floor and had their gaze up looking into my eyes or down the hallways and did not notice my shoelace. 

The introverts noticed my untied shoe and looked at their own feet wondering whether their shoes were similarly untied. 

There was one confused introvert who saw my shoe, looked at me and then gently advised me that my shoe was untied.

Of all of the people I passed, only one brave soul was able to let me know my shoe was untied.

Suspicions confirmed. Most of the people working with me are introverts.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Thunder Booms--The Movie Plays

The region experienced its first really warm and humid day of the year. The temperatures were in the upper 80's--my car thermometer indicated 90 degrees, but it had been sitting in the sun.

Along with the hot, humid temperatures came the afternoon thunderstorms. They were full of rain, but little wind. It is afternoon during late Spring--well maybe it is mid-Spring. 

The rain cleansed the earth. I love the smell of the outdoors after a cleansing rain. The smell of the earth, the mulch, and the clean air. It was not crisp, clean air as it was warm air. The rain was even warm as it splashed again my face as I was running to the theater. 

Chris and I took the afternoon and evening to finally attend a showing of Avengers: Endgame. We bought the tickets on Saturday and saw the movie last evening. It is the movie everyone is seeing but no one wants to talk about. No one wants to spoil the ending. Chris made me watch Avengers: Infinity War before going see the current movie. It was a good choice and I heartily recommend seeing the movies in order. The current movie picks up where Infinity War left off and if you have not seen the first, you will be lost during the Endgame. 

I will not write of the movie, except to say that it is definitely worth seeing at least once! Yes, it is a long movie, but that is what a tub of popcorn is for!

Recommendation: See Avengers: Endgame. It really is a good as everyone says, no kidding.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sliding Through the Months

May arrived yesterday, barely noticed during the flurry of activity that has become my daily life. 

The days are slipping by at an incredible pace and the arrival of May meant that 2019 is already 1/3 complete. My pool is only just now open, but at least I do not need to worry about opening it this weekend as I had originally planned many months ago during the deepest part of the Winter.


May Day was the nearly world-wide holiday for workers celebrated yesterday. Most of North America does not celebrate the day, but in the rest of the world it is quite the Spring holiday. May Day and International Workers Day, although both celebrated on May 1st are not the same holiday!

While the rest of the world was celebrating the arrival of May, we here in the U.S. were working, barely taking notice. 

In celebration of May Day, I was on a baseball field last evening with most of my team, working out getting ready for Saturday's game--which stands a good chance of being rained out given the arrival of thunderstorms during the next couple of days. 

But, at least May has arrived! The days will push past 14 hours of sunlight on the 6th and I may even be able to get in some twilight golfing--when it is not raining.

Happy May! May the skies be clear and your days be long.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Offense and Defense Equals a Win

The team took to the field for our first away game of the season last night. The weather was warm and it seemed to warm up the bats and the inspiration the team as the GORC 12U Haslup cruised to a five inning win over the Anne Arundel County Harundale Rebels Recreational,17-5.

Box Score from the Game

Looking into the GORC Dugout
Corkran Middle School
Glen Burnie, MD
April 30, 2019

The game was another complete team win which saw GORC throw out four runners at the plate and turned in an improbable double play that started with a ball hit deep to Michael in center field. The hitter tried to stretch the hit into a double and play continued as Michael got the ball to Sawyer, the shortstop, covering second base, who tagged the hitter out trying to advance and then threw a strike to Preston, the catcher, who tagged out the runner attempting to score. Score the play 8-6-2, as I recall it. There were many other great plays by the defense during the night, one if which was throwing the batter out who tried to advance to second base after getting a walk. Great defense is just as important as a solid offense and the team had both last night turning in 9 hits and 9 walks.

The game saw Jax's first hit of the season, a double, in a night which saw him go 1 hit in 2 at bats but score 3 runs because he was also hit by a pitch and drew a walk. Jax had a solid pitching outing as well giving up 2 runs on 1 hit with 4 strikeouts, but 7 walks during 3 innings of work. The big player of the night was Sawyer, the shortstop, who hit the team's first homer of the season and went 2 for 3 at the plate with a walk, but more importantly had 5 RBIs. 

The win felt good for the boys and the game was called after 5 innings due to impending darkness.

Tonight is practice and we have a few more things to work on to make the team even better. The written recap of the game can be found at GameChanger. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Something Ominous Arrives

Turkey Vulture on the Neighbor's Fence
Elkridge, MD
April 29, 2019

It flew low into the neighborhood last evening swooping down from the sky to land on the neighbor's house and then moved to the fence surrounding the yard.

I see the the turkey vultures in the sky all of the time, circling on the air currents, but they rarely get close. I discerned that there was something out of the normal going on. 

It turned out that the bird had spied a piece of chicken laying on top of a garbage can and apparently desired to make dinner out of it. I spooked it as I drew close to take a picture of the bird and I don't think it ever did get the chicken.

As I was taking a picture of the bird, I was reminded about how big they really are--they are big! And they are not the prettiest bird when on the ground. I guess you are what you eat, lol. 

I was a bit surprised that this bird was alone and did not have two or three of his best friends with him to descend on the small piece of chicken. That said, who really wants the vultures circling over their house? 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - April 29, 2019

1. It is the fifth and final Monday of April 2019. Where has the month gone? May is arriving with its flowers and milder temperatures.

Pool with the Cover Still Installed
Elkridge, MD
April 28, 2019

2. I woke this morning to a 38 degree temperature reading on the thermometer. Where did the cold come from after such a nice day yesterday which saw the temperature crest at just short of 70 degrees.

The Cover is Removed
Elkridge, MD
April 28, 2019

3. Pool opening day 2019 is behind me. The pool is open! The water level is still a bit low and I still need to get everything balanced chemical-wise. I realized that while I enjoy the green colors of the rebirth of Spring, I do not enjoy that same color in my pool on opening day. It actually is not that bad and should clear fairly easily.

4. I have to confess that I was so busy yesterday that I did not watch nor read any news. I guess the world is still turning.

5. Pool opening day is not just about the pool. It is also about getting our outdoors living spaces set-up and Chris and I even cleaned and rearranged the shed yesterday. Who knew that we had so much room in the shed?

6. I am enjoying seeing the leaves on the trees every day. Life is best when surrounded by green!

7. The Orioles turned in a disappointing start to their road trip by losing three games to the Twins.

8. Today in History. On April 29, 2004, the National World War II Memorial opens in Washington, D.C., to thousands of visitors, providing overdue recognition for the 16 million U.S. men and women who served in the war. The memorial is located on 7.4 acres on the former site of the Rainbow Pool at the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. The Capitol dome is seen to the east, and Arlington Cemetery is just across the Potomac River to the west.

Headlines

Losing Our Fourth Amendment Data Protection - The New York Times

Synagogue Shooting Keeps Religious Leaders on Edge: ‘No One Should Be Gunned Down in Worship’ - The New York Times

This $1,650 pill will tell your doctors whether you’ve taken it. Is it the future of medicine? - The Washington Post

As trade talks reach endgame, U.S.-China ties could hinge on enforcement - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"Don’t let anyone tell you that America’s best days are behind her, that the American spirit has been vanquished. We’ve seen it triumph too often in our life to stop believing in it now." Ronald Reagan - State of the Union Address, January 26, 1982

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The First Win

Success on the baseball field has finally happened for the Jax's baseball team the GORC U12 (Haslup). It came in the form of a complete team win yesterday. I write complete team win because everyone on the team contributed either offensively or defensively or both. 

The team posted a 7-4 win over the South River Seahawks 12U. It was a hard fought game which saw solid pitching by both teams. 

Defensively the win for GORC was highlighted by a double play, throwing a stealing runner out at the plate, and solid defensive work by by the team--including the outfield getting the ball back into the infield to minimize the number of bases taken by the runners. Defensively, the team only gave up 3 stolen bases and caught 2 runners stealing. By comparison, offensively, our team had 11 stolen bases and only 1 runner caught stealing. 

Jax Smiling after the Win
GORC Park
April 27, 2019

The hitting also came around as well. The box score records 9 hits, 1 of which was a massive double.

Jax pitched one inning, the 6th and faced four batters striking out two and walking one. He also received fielding support on a 4-3 put out. He earned a save for the effort and closed down the visiting team during the critical unlimited runs 6th inning, preserving the 3 run win! Defensively, he also had an incredible throw from deep Right Field that went on the fly to third base and almost got the runner that was advancing.

It was good to get the win. The boys have worked hard for the victory and all of the practice time is finally paying off. 

There were still some weird calls by the umpires. Jax was called out on a dropped third strike after apparently safely advancing to first base because allegedly somehow he touched the ball in fair territory. I'm still having a hard time seeing that play in my head.

A computer prepared write-up of the game can be found at Game Changer. 

The team heads on the road Tuesday night hoping to make it two in a row!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

As the Azalea Blooms--The Pool Opens

Azalea a few days ago
April 24, 2019

The gardens are alive with growth and color and it is pool opening weekend!

This Morning
April 27, 2019

The Azaleas 🌺 are beginning to bloom and fill the gardens with the next wave of color. Even in the 48 degree temperatures of this morning they are bravely standing against the cold!

Bright and white in the garden.

Spring continues to bloom even as cold temperatures and the threat of snow comes to many places in the country. 

It may not be the greatest weather for the weekend, but the bright white flowers are there, nonetheless. And Spring is still blooming.

The azaleas bring me to pool opening weekend! There is a lot of work ahead as we get the water ready for summer fun and enjoyment! So while the azaleas are blooming, the pool will be opening!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD