Monday Musings - May 18, 2020

1. It is the third Monday of May and the month is slipping away. We continue to grapple with the coronavirus and the economy is only beginning to show signs of life.

Starfish in the Sky
Elkridge, MD
May 16, 2020

2. While out for a walk on Saturday, yes I went for a walk after walking a round of golf earlier in the day, Chris spied what she called a starfish in the sky. It was the pattern created by contrails and it did seem to be a starfish pattern. The beach, the ocean, and the surf are definitely calling out to us. 

Patrick on the Stump Grinder
Elkridge, MD
May 17, 2020

3. Yesterday provided a much needed opportunity to remove four tree stumps from the yard. Three of large stumps were the result of the China provided Emerald Ash Borer which killed the majestic ash trees and the last year's loss of our weeping cherry tree was the fourth. It was six hours of hard work in the yard and it would not have been successful without the great help of Patrick who shifted off with me manning the stump grinder. Thanks, Patrick! Next time, we will definitely rent the bigger one with the hydraulic drive. The manual one is not suited for the size stumps that we removed. 

4. I have noticed traffic increasing as I head out for limited drives. People are moving around, finally.

5. We had two 80 degree days in a row--it was fantastic. But the weather gods are sending rain and cooler weather for the next week. Summer is only about a month away! Bring on the sun and heat. 

6. I am amazed at the numbers of nails and metal strips in the wood from the felled trees that my saw blade continues to get dulled cutting. We even found nails and metal strips in one of the stumps we removed yesterday.

7. Funny Joke for the Day. Why do seagulls fly over the sea? Because if they flew over a bay, they would be bagels.

8. Today in History. On May 18, 1920, Karol Jozef Wojtyla is born in the Polish town of Wadowice, 35 miles southwest of Krakow. Wojtyla went on to become Pope John Paul II, history’s most well-traveled pope and the first non-Italian to hold the position since the 16th century. After high school, the future pope enrolled at Krakow’s Jagiellonian University, where he studied philosophy and literature and performed in a theater group. During World War II, Nazis occupied Krakow and closed the university, forcing Wojtyla to seek work in a quarry and, later, a chemical factory. By 1941, his mother, father, and only brother had all died, leaving him the sole surviving member of his family.

Kim Jong Un Disappeared From View, But North Korea’s Problems Never Left - The Wall Street Journal

On Furlough From the Kingdom, Disney Workers Try to Keep the Magic Alive - The Wall Street Journal

Where New Yorkers Moved to Escape Coronavirus - The New York Times

McConnell admits he was wrong to say Obama didn't leave Trump a pandemic 'game plan' - NBC

Hong Kong: Lawmakers carried out during parliament mayhem - BBC

What did eight weeks and $3 trillion buy the U.S. in the fight against coronavirus? - Reuters

Fired inspector general was examining whether staffer did Pompeo’s errands, official says - The Washington Post

China under-reported number of coronavirus cases, Chinese medical advisor says - Fox News

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

Remarks at Memorial Day Ceremonies Honoring an Unknown Serviceman of the Vietnam Conflict

May 28, 1984 

The Unknown Soldier who is returned to us today and whom we lay to rest is symbolic of all our missing sons, and we will present him with the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration that we can bestow.

About him we may well wonder, as others have: As a child, did he play on some street in a great American city? Or did he work beside his father on a farm out in America's heartland? Did he marry? Did he have children? Did he look expectantly to return to a bride?

We'll never know the answers to these questions about his life. We do know, though, why he died. He saw the horrors of war but bravely faced them, certain his own cause and his country's cause was a noble one; that he was fighting for human dignity, for free men everywhere. Today we pause to embrace him and all who served us so well in a war whose end offered no parades, no flags, and so little thanks. We can be worthy of the values and ideals for which our sons sacrificed -- worthy of their courage in the face of a fear that few of us will ever experience -- by honoring their commitment and devotion to duty and country.

-- Bob Doan, still stuck in Elkridge, MD

Near Normal Saturday

There was a sense of rediscovered freedom yesterday as the Maryland Stay-at-Home order had been lifted by the governor. Although Chris and I wanted to go to a beach and enjoy the sand and surf on a beautiful day where the temperature reached an unexpected 87 degrees, we remained close to home and found peace in normal weekend activities. 

Chris on the 5th Tee Box
Carroll Park Golf Course
Baltimore, MD
May 16, 2020

The day began with a 9-hole golf outing to Carroll Park, a Baltimore golf course, where we met Jeremy for a round of golf. I was glad it was only 9 holes as we were behind a foursome that was clearly unfamiliar with the game and a round that should have taken less than two hours stretched to two-and-a-half hours. But it was fun and I played well as did Chris. We have become fans of walking with push-carts and Carroll Park is a good course for that activity. I do wish that was 18 holes, but 9 holes of golf is a lot better than no golf at all!

Me and Finnegan in the Pool
1st Time this Year
Elkridge, MD
May 16, 2020

Once we returned home, the question was what to do next? The temperature had climbed into the awesome range (that would be above 80 degrees) and we have this really beautiful pool just waiting to be used for the first time this year. I checked the water temperature, it was a cold 71 degrees. I have not heated the pool this year because the nights have been too cold to retain any of the heat. Despite the less than optimal temperature, I remembered that as a kid 71 degrees was considered warm water, I decided to jump in and enjoy the sunny day while catching a nap on a floatie. As I surfaced after jumping off the diving board, I remembered why I like the 84 degree waters of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Jupiter, Florida. Seventy-one degree pool water can be described in one word--frigid! But I lounged on the floatie, Chris joined me on a floatie of her own, enjoying the hot sun, napping, and dreaming of more warm summer-like days. 

I am seriously considering installing a solar heating system for my pool so that I do not have to burn propane raise the pool water temperature. I have found an interesting system at Home Depot which looks as if it will do the job nicely and seems easy to install. 

Chris and I continue to battle the coronavirus from home, but that does not mean that we are just sitting on the sofa watching Netflix. We continue to be outside to enjoy the good days that we are given and we go for our daily walk. Yesterday's walk took over an hour because we talked to a number of our neighbors while maintaining proper personal distancing!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Logic Free Zone

It is a logic free zone--The White House, I mean.

The statements coming from the The White House are sometimes mystifying. The most recent one about the coronavirus, reported yesterday in Forbes and attributed to President Trump really caught me by surprise:

“And don’t forget, we have more cases than anybody in the world. But why? Because we do more testing.” 

Next, he clarified: “When you test, you have a case. When you test, you find something is wrong with people. If we didn’t do any testing, we would have very few cases.”

Huh? 

So let me get this straight, if we didn't do any testing, and people continued to get sick and die and we didn't know why, that would make it all better?

The article went on to remind me of the now infamous and reclassified as sarcasm April 23 statement, “I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute, one minute. And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning?”  I remember as I watched it live it certainly did not seem to be sarcasm, 

I return to my post of two days ago--some people are worried about the "numbers," but it is clear that they have detached the numbers from the faces. 

The Forbes article contained an explanation of the president's most recent statement, Certainly, it’s clear that ignoring some problems can make them go away. For example, if your friends keep telling you to bathe more, ignoring that nagging will likely eventually make your friends go away. Problem solved.

Got it, if you can't see it then it isn't there, it is what I call the ostrich approach to problem solving--just stick you head in a hole in the ground and it will go away. 

What we have is a logic free zone. I am anxious to see what the "spin doctors" do with this one.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Surviving Coronavirus with Squirrels

Squirrels are a fact of life. 

Squirrel at the Made to Scale Picnic Table
Elkridge, MD
May 14, 2020

We can love them or hate them--but no matter which, they will likely always be with us to either enjoy or be tormented by. It turns out that their antics are a worthy diversion from thinking about coronavirus and the uneven reopening of counties in Maryland which will begin this evening at 5 PM.

Chris loves squirrels, except when they are ravenously devouring the food from her bird feeders. I can enjoy them and I remember the summer we had a squirrel that, for a few months, seemed to be almost a pet--but, we went on vacation and never saw that squirrel again. We called that squirrel Rocky and I wrote about it in a 2008 blog titled, Rocky is Gone. I had first written about the squirrel in a blog titled Backyard Friends. 

We have reached the pinnacle of the Yin and yang of squirrels. We now have a made to scale squirrel picnic table. It was lovingly constructed by a family member in Upstate New York--where there also is no shortage of squirrels, and arrived Wednesday afternoon. It was christened with peanuts and squirrels on our back porch last evening. The table was also enjoyed by blue jays which enjoyed flying away with the peanuts.

There is the dark side to squirrel watching. I was introduced to the following You Tube video which shows an alternative approach to feeding the gray furry "tree rodents." 

Finnegan on Guard for Squirrels
Elkridge, MD
March 28, 2020

Of course I would never do such a thing to a squirrel, but it is funny to watch. I wonder how many times that squirrel came back to enjoy another amusement park-like ride on the catapult?

Chris now has a problem of conscience. Finnegan, our Yorkie, has proclaimed himself the protector of the porch and loves to chase the squirrels away. I wish I was going to be home today to see how she balances inviting the squirrels to dine at the picnic table and managing Finnegan's desire to chase them away.

It should be interesting and, yes, a great coronavirus, COVID-19 diversion. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Not numbers, but faces

OK, I am going to do some axe-grinding. 

I sense that our political leaders and even the government officials forecasting the numbers of COVID-19 infections and deaths are forgetting a very important aspect of the statistics: each one of the numbers represents a person. That person is likely part of a family. That person is a son, daughter, brother, sister, possibly a father or mother, or a grandfather, or grandmother, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, and friend.

Each one of the numbers has a face. A community, a social group, a history. 

And the numbers being thrown about are beginning to numb the senses. 

When they talk of flattening the curve, they are talking about people! Reducing the number of people infected so reduce the number of people who will die. 

As of this morning from the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Map:

Globally, over 4 million people have been infected and over 297 thousand people have died. 

In the United States, 1,390,764 people have been confirmed infected and 84,136 people with faces and families have died.

It grieves me that so many people are being treated as just another number.

U.S. Unemployment Percentage May 2019-April 2020
From Trending Economics

But the mind-numbing statistics do not stop there. 

The U.S. unemployment rate has skyrocketed to 14.7 percent, as of last week, equating to 36.5 million lost jobs (from NBC this morning). There is a face and possibly a family behind every one of those 36.5 million lost jobs--it is not just a job--the numbers represent a person who had the job.

And here is the even more sobering part--and this is just me doing the math, but if you multiply the 36.5 million by 3 (the average family size in the U.S.), getting 109.5 million people, I think you begin to approximate the number of people who are directly affected by being jobless--and taking the estimated size of the U.S. population at 328 million--you find that about 33 percent, or one person in every three people, are directly affected by being out of work in America--today.

I am trying to remember, when I hear the numbers thrown about in a cavalier manner by our leaders and the news media, that behind each number is a face. 

So when the expected death toll from COVID-19 was doubled from 70 thousand to 147 thousand (by August 2020)--remember that we are talking about 147,000 fellow Americans, friends, neighbors, and family. I have to believe that the number of lost lives and lost jobs could have been reduced had the U.S. not acted like a third world country when confronted with the signs that coronavirus was coming to a city near us. 

They are not numbers--every one of them is a face with a history and a story to tell. We need to stop thinking of the statistics as detached numbers and think of them as faces.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Updated at 9:05 AM EDT May 14, 2020 with new unemployment numbers

Robin and the Snake

Robin with Nest Building Material
Elkridge, MD
May 12, 2020

The wildlife around the house were engaged in unusual activity yesterday. The good news is that by the mid-afternoon my allergy medicine finally overcame the impact of the pollen on my immune system and I was able to actually spend a few hours outside. 

First, we discovered that some enterprising robins were building a nest in one of our hanging flower pots. It was entertaining to watch them fly into the middle of the flowers and rustle around as they placed their building materials. I even caught an image of one of the robins with nest building materials in its beak headed for the hanging flower in the image. The bird was definitely determined and was not deterred by my presence in the yard. Chris and I were able to watch the activity from the dining room window. For some unknown reason, however, by the end of the day it appeared that the birds had abandoned the project. I was a bit sad that the project was abandoned because I was planning to install a camera above the nest to capture the activity. Maybe they grew uncomfortable with our presence on the porch and in the yard as we were doing some yard work. 

Portion of a Snake on the Pool House Roof
Elkridge, MD
May 12, 2020

The second really unusual thing that we discovered was a small snake on the roof of the pool house. Of course, we were a bit mystified at how a snake could manage to be on the roof of the pool house and I even went into the pool house attic to look for evidence of snakes. Fortunately, I did not see any signs of snakes in the attic. So, I collected my ladder and went onto the roof to remove the snake's remains and noticed that the head was missing. The missing head led me to believe that the snake was collected as a meal by a bird which left most of the body on the roof. I did not examine the snake to determine what type of snake. It did not appear to be a Common Gartersnake, but it had been baking in the sun for a while. Regardless, it was strange to see a snake on the roof--they just do not belong there.

Even the wildlife are doing strange things during the coronavirus stay-at-home orders. It is a difficult time for humans and wildlife.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Revenge of the Allergies

It happened over the night. My allergies kicked into high gear early Sunday morning and I have been a miserable mess since. 

It is not supposed to happen like this! I faithfully get allergy shots every two weeks and visit my allergist three or four times per year to check-up on how things are going. The past couple years have been great, but not so this year. 

Maybe my trips to Florida during the Springtime have protected me during the past few years, but this year, because of coronavirus, I have been in Maryland the entire time. Maybe it is just building up? 

Of course, there is the concern, is it coronavirus? Well, based upon my symptoms, the time of year, and knowing that one of the pollens to which I am very allergic is at a VERY HIGH level right now, it is easy to conclude that I am allergic and not contagious. 

It still sucks! I called my allergist yesterday to get the next level of allergy control medicine--it helped, but has not defeated my reaction to the allergies in the air. Maybe playing golf Friday and Saturday did not help. 

It has to get better soon. I hope!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - May 11, 2020

1. Welcome to the second Monday of May. Maryland remains under a stay-at-home order, but that could be lifted this week.

The Family Maintaining Personal Distancing
Mother's Day 2020
Elkridge, MD
May 10, 2020

2. Mother's Day was yesterday. The family gathered, sort of, to celebrate. he picture represents the family picture maintaining personal distancing. 

3. The seven day forecast finally has some 80 degree days on tap for Maryland! Yay! That would be a nearly 45 degree temperature swing from Saturday's morning's low of 35 degrees. Maybe I will be able to heat the pool and enjoy some time in the water this coming weekend!

My White Azalea
Elkridge, MD
May 10, 2020

4. The azaleas are fully blossomed as is befitting of Mother's Day weekend!

5. The pollen is stifling. My allergy medications are beginning to falter. It must be Springtime in Maryland!

6. Coronavirus/COVID-19 Status as of 0432L/11 May based upon the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Map:
     World: 4,116,767 cases/282,782 deaths
     U.S. :  1,329,799 (32% of World)/79,528 (28% of world)
     Maryland:  32,587 (2.4% of US)/1,644 (2% of US)

7. I am concerned that the frigid weather of the past two mornings may have destroyed the grape harvest which was destined to become the 2020 vintage from the wineries in Maryland and Virginia. 

8. It was sad that the U.S. cannot separate politics from leadership. The U.S. blocked a U.N. Security Council resolution to calling for a halt to armed conflict around the world because of a political dispute with China and the World Health Organization. See US blocks vote on UN's bid for global ceasefire over reference to WHO in The Guardian. 

9. Today in History. On May 11, 1934, a massive storm sends millions of tons of topsoil flying from across the parched Great Plains region of the United States as far east as New York, Boston and Atlanta.

At the time the Great Plains were settled in the mid-1800s, the land was covered by prairie grass, which held moisture in the earth and kept most of the soil from blowing away even during dry spells. By the early 20th century, however, farmers had plowed under much of the grass to create fields. The U.S. entry into World War I in 1917 caused a great need for wheat, and farms began to push their fields to the limit, plowing under more and more grassland with the newly invented tractor. The plowing continued after the war, when the introduction of even more powerful gasoline tractors sped up the process. During the 1920s, wheat production increased by 300 percent, causing a glut in the market by 1931.

Americans Are Being Turned Away Trying to Buy Life Insurance - The Wall Street Journal

For Flynn, Dropped Charges Are the Latest in a Life Full of Reversals - The New York Times

As deaths mount, Trump tries to convince Americans it’s safe to inch back to normal - The Washington Post

Trump eyes federal retirement plan investments amid virus showdown with China - The Washington Post

Iran says United States yet to respond about prisoner swap - Reuters

Indian, Chinese border troops in brief skirmish on northeast Indian border, India says - Reuters

Major U.S. airlines endorse temperature checks for passengers - OANN

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week


You know, Nancy and I, coming down here from Camp David on the helicopter, we couldn't help but be thinking about this particular day and what it was. I think in hindsight, perhaps, I realize more about my mother than -- and as so many of us do, did not at the time -- Nelle was a little woman, auburn hair, and, I realize now, had a strength through some very trying times that held our family together. We were poor, but the government didn't come around and tell us we were, so -- [laughter] -- we didn't know it. And probably we didn't know it because Nelle was always finding someone that was worse off then we were that needed help.

 -- Remarks During a Visit to the Jeanne Jugan Residence on Mother's Day, May 13, 1984


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Thief

Finnegan with his Stolen Goods
Elkridge, MD
May 5, 2020

He was caught after leaving the scene of the crime. 

He is a thief and a stealthy one at that. In the blink of an eye he can conduct a successful grab and go more efficiently than a gypsy on a crowded European city street. Of course the fact that he is only about 8 inches tall and races around the house on four feet contributes to his success. He is especially good at stealing unattended napkins and he loves to shred them into a pile of useless paper to demonstrate that his prowess as a thief. 

The pictured caper involved stealing Chris's pajamas from the bedroom and relocating them to the front door to make a comfortable bed for himself. He is not the least bit guilty for committing his crimes--he finds them amusing. In fact his crimes provide comic relief around the house and redirect our attention from coronavirus news reporting to thwarting his thievery. 

His seemingly boundless energy means that we have to be constantly vigilant, lest he make off with another treasure. 

Caring for pets allow me to focus on things other than the news and the constant stream of coronavirus reporting. That is a good thing.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

First Steps to Normal

Looking at the 17th Hole
Crofton Country Club
Crofton, MD
May 8, 2020

Yesterday was a momentous day. I took the first steps towards finding the new normal in there post-coronavirus period. 

I played golf! It was great to get out on the the course and smack the ball with my clubs. Sure, my game was ragged and I had more than one "blow-up" hole.  I also finally had to leave my driver in the bag because it was doing more harm than good, but it was great to be out walking the course. 

Geese on the Golf Course near Hole 12
Crofton Country Club
Crofton, MD
May 8, 2020

One of the other things I enjoy while out on the course is the wildlife--and I do not mean the other golfers. There is usually an assortment of wildlife that makes the day interesting. In Florida, I enjoy watching the sand cranes and the gators. In Maryland, such as yesterday, seeing the geese with their goslings during the springtime is enjoyable and allows my mind to take a break from the usually miserable golf that I am playing. Yesterday was no exception as I had the opportunity to walk past this gaggle while making my way from the Tee-box to the green. 

In terms of changes due to the coronavirus, the foursome I played in yesterday respected personal distancing and the only awkward moment was at the 18 hole when the round was over and we usually doff our hats and shake hands. We just said "good round" to each other, stowed our clubs and walked off towards our vehicles. It was a bit weird. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD