Real Estate Evacuation Drill

Our realtor uses an automated appointment system to schedule appointments to view the house. It works very well, mostly.

Text of Appointment Message from Yesterday
Elkridge, MD
June 22, 2022

The quirk in the system is that it allows realtors to make appointments with very short notice. Yesterday, we received notice one minute before the appointment. The appointment notification came at 6:44 PM for a 6:45-7:15 PM preview, in the middle of dinner clean-up.

The ensuing activity became a Real Estate Evacuation Drill. Of course, we cannot be in the house when the realtor visits, furthermore, there cannot be any evidence that anyone is actively living in the home and especially no animals. We have three--two dogs and a cat that must be evacuated. 

The notification began race to clean up dinner and load the animals and their associated dishes and litter box into the truck and evacuate. We actually accomplished all of this in 8 minutes. 

After we were loaded in the truck we headed out to spend time away from the house. The really cool thing is that my home security system allows me to monitor the activity. That means I know when people arrive, the door is unlocked, and the motion sensors and door sensors allow me to follow their movement throughout the house. It is pretty cool. I also know when they leave and lock-up so that we can return. 

In the end, the realtor did not show! The activity became a Real Estate Evacuation Drill, and I believe we passed. The upside was that we deployed to the ice cream stand for a hot fudge sundae while the preview was supposed to be happening. 

I' m sure there is more fun to come!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

House Sale vs Impending Vacation

 The house sale process continues and I fear it will complicate our impending departure for a long-planned and much needed vacation.  

Princess Juliana Airport
Sint Maarten
July 5, 2017

Yes, we are headed for Sint Maarten on Friday. To say we are excited is an understatement. This trip has been planned for almost a year and we will be joining my sister Pennie and her husband on the trip, reviving a history of joint vacations with them. The island of Saint Martin hosts two countries, one Dutch and one French. We will likely visit them both during our stay as some of the most famous beaches in the Caribbean are located on the French side of the island. The Dutch side, however, is famous for Princess Juliana airport where the aircraft land right over the beach. Chris and I were there on July 5, 2017 as a stop on a cruise! Five years ago.

Pedro's Orient Beach Bar
Saint Martin
July 5, 2017

The house sale process is frustrating. We have had, as of this writing, 932 views and 48 saves on Zillow. No offers yet! And we are being very accommodating. Yesterday, we received 40 minutes advance notice of a showing. It came as I was in the middle of making my lunchtime sandwich. We packaged up the animals (yes, we have animals) and stray items around the house; making a quick exit. 

A new frustration is that the house seems to be working against us. On Saturday, during the open house, on of the ceiling light globes decided to crash to the floor. I replaced the whole unit. Yesterday, one of the less than two months old LED recessed light bulbs burned out in the kitchen just as we were leaving the house for the showing. I did not have another light an so we installed a light of a different color temperature while we bought the correct temperature light bulb during the showing.

So many things are being juggled. I might turn my phone and computer off next week just to regain some sense of sanity. But, I know that snorkeling in the warm Caribbean water will be fantastic.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Break in the Action : Cranes

 

A much needed break from the house preparation happened last evening. Along with two other couples, Chris and I experienced Cranes, a restaurant in D.C. specializing in the intersection of Spanish and Japanese cuisine. 

It was a good evening to head into D.C. because of the Federal Holiday the traffic was light. It only took about 45 minutes to arrive at a parking garage and then just a few minutes more to walk to the restaurant.

The restaurant is easy to find and it is very large. The staff was friendly and accommodating. The food options provided something for everyone. I noted that the prices have significantly increased since the web menu was posted. This is a One Michelin Star rated restaurant. So be prepared to be wowed and enjoy the experience. 

By the time the three couples departed we had enjoyed a bit of most of the menu. Everything was presented in an eye-appealing and tasteful manner. The flavors from some of the items literally exploded in our mouths and provided a symphony of tastes to enjoy as we savored the offering.

We met Chef Pepe and could immediately understand why this restaurant is a Michelin rated restaurant. He is charming and dedicated. The kitchen runs like a well oiled machine, but everyone looks as if they truly enjoy their work.

A great evening and I recommend visiting and enjoying this restaurant. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - June 20, 2022

 

1. Hey there, it is Monday again! It is the 3rd Monday of June and there are only 27 Mondays remaining in the year. 

View from the House at Sint Maarten
Sint Maarten
June 19, 2022

2. Next week, at this time, hopefully, I will be in Sint Maarten enjoying a sunny Caribbean beach. A vacation long in the making. Pennie and Scott are already there enjoying their well-earned time away. Friday, Chris and I arrive to rain on their parade!

3. Happy Juneteenth! Yes, it is a Federal Holiday--don't check your mailbox today--nothing new will be there.

4. Yes, we are back at home. For those wondering, we do not yet have a purchase offer on the house. So, if you were on the fence, now is the time to move in and offer to buy our fantastic homestead!

5. The cool weather of the past two days has been enjoyable, but not conducive for swimming. I'm looking forward to hitting the pool today as things warm back up into the 80s.

6. Today in History. On June 20, 1975, Jaws, a film directed by Steven Spielberg that made countless viewers afraid to go into the water, opens in theaters. The story of a great white shark that terrorizes a New England resort town became an instant blockbuster and the highest-grossing film in movie history until it was bested by 1977’s Star Wars. Jaws was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Picture category and took home three Oscars, for Best Film Editing, Best Original Score and Best Sound. The film, a breakthrough for director Spielberg, then 27 years old, spawned several sequels.

Small Businesses Fall Behind on Hiring as Inflation Takes a Toll - The Wall Street Journal

Russia Strikes Positions, Residential Areas in Donbas - The Wall Street Journal

Less Russian Gas Puts Europe’s Winter Fuel Supply in Jeopardy - The Wall Street Journal

Shooting near Washington, DC, concert leaves 15-year-old dead, wounds officer and 2 adults, police say - CNN

Juneteenth: What's open, what's closed today - CNN

Election standoff ends in New Mexico county after false fraud claims threw primary certification into question - CNN

Macron seeks to salvage a functioning government after French election shortfall - Reuters

Russians advance, Zelenskiy expects escalation as EU set to welcome Ukraine - Reuters

China says it tested missile-interception system - Reuters

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Father's Day 2022

Happy Father's Day!

To all of the fathers out there--this is your day to celebrate being a dad and all of the joys, and frustrations, that come with that calling. It is not for everyone--and that is OK!

To all of the sons and daughters out there--celebrate your Dad! 

BTW--forget the necktie gift--most Dads don't wear them anymore. 

-- Bob Doan, Laurel, MD

Chugging into the Weekend

What a week it was. 

Culling the Possessions
Elkridge, MD
June 15, 2022

I almost do not know how to process everything. The week had a wide variety of activity including downsizing and prep work, a trip to the local landfill/recycling center, the house going onto the real estate market, a fantastic Happy Hour with our complete group for the first time in months, and of course the 8th grade dance. Somewhere in there I also jump-started a dead car battery in Annapolis and checked out a water leak in Jeremy's house.

Whew!

And now it is the weekend and time to relax, right? 

Not so fast grasshopper!

Chris and Jax
Odenton, MD
June 17, 2022

We are currently living with a friend to allow our house to be viewed whenever someone desires and I have the season ending baseball tournament doubleheader today and at least 1 but hopefully 2 or 3 games tomorrow. 

Important programming note: just because the season is ending does not mean that baseball is over! There are at least two more tournaments on the schedule taking us into July. Sometimes I wonder where all of this was when I was a kid.

What about the 8th grade dance? Jax went off to the dance last evening and Chris and I were at his parents house to get a few pictures before the big event! That was sandwiched in between moving into the friend's house and Happy Hour! I love driving at rush hour in Maryland--just saying. BTW--guess who is getting tall?

And I thought retired life would be quiet.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Laurel, MD

The clock is ticking

For those of you following along--it is official. The homestead is on the real estate market and up for sale. The listing is here. An era is closing as we change chapters of our lives. 

6155 Rainbow Drive
Elkridge, MD
June 15, 2022

I have to admit, it has been a bit nostalgic as Chris and I remember all the events that have taken place at our home. The house has hosted graduation, anniversary, retirement, and get-out-of-jail parties. We have also hosted crab feasts (even though neither Chris nor I particularly enjoy blue crabs), church services, end-of-year parties for teachers, end-of-the-season parties for baseball teams and, not to forget, Friday Night Happy Hours!. And then there were just pool parties for the sake of having a party. During 2020 at the height of the COVID-10 pandemic when the public pools were closed, we became the neighborhood pool.

All of those do not even begin to equate to the family gatherings through the over 21 years as our family grew from the nuclear 5+1 when we moved in to the 11 of us that now comprise the basic set when we gather. Granted, there have been some swap-outs and swap-ins--but life happens. Our family, however, is larger than those who are related by blood or marriage. I think my Mom had the best definition of family, everyone is family all we need to do is just open our arms and accept them. We have friends who are more than close--they are family. 

“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life.” | Richard Bach

This statement is more than true.

In distilling the past, I realize that it is gatherings and the sharing of this fantastic home with others that have made our lives here so nearly perfect. Yea, it is hard to say good-bye--but, it is time.

P.S. Don't the hydrangeas in front of the porch look fantastic?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

1-2-3-2 Triple Play

 It was a baseball evening for the Severn Seminoles 14U last evening. The Pasadena Eagles were the opponents for the final game before the season ending tournament. 

It was a beautiful evening for baseball. The team has really come together as the season has progressed. They are generally solid in the field, although at the plate there is still some weakness even though I have seen every member of the team crack the bat on the ball.

The game was a close game for all of the scheduled 7 innings. 

As the line score shows, the teams were fairly evenly matched. Being a scrimmage, both coaches decided to use pitchers for only one inning as a tune-up for the weekend tournament. All of the pitchers brought their best stuff for the evening. Although it would seem that the 1st inning was the pivotal inning where Severn won the inning by outscoring Pasadena, the play of the night, and perhaps the season, occurred during the 4th inning. 

To start the 4th, Severn sent its lefty pitcher to the plate to face the Pasadena line-up. It was a rough start as he walked the first three batters. He took the 4th batter of the inning to a 3-1 count before the game changing pitch and play occurred. On what looked like a possible ball 4 to walk in a run, the batter swung and hit a solid drive back to the pitcher (1), he threw to the catcher (2) for the force out at home. The catcher fired a bullet to the 1st baseman (3) getting the out on the batter, but that was where the real magic occurred. The 1st baseman continued the play and fired the ball back to the catcher (2) who tagged out the runner who was trying to score form 2nd base. That friends is a beautiful 1-2-3-2 inning ending triple play--with two outs being made at home plate.

It was a fantastic way to get out of the inning!

And Severn ultimately won the game, 5-4.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Working Harder

I have been retired over five months now. I thought retirement would be a bit more relaxing than it has been these past few weeks.

Getting a house ready for sale is no small task. Trust me! There is always one more thing to do--especially after living in the same house over 21 years. 

Hydrangea Bloom
Elkridge, MD
June 14, 2022

Today is picture day for the real estate listing. Yay!

Chris and I have been busy getting the house into a "Better Homes and Gardens" category of cleanliness and beauty. I think we are at about the 95 percent level. I know of one garden that needs attention--it is not going to get it unless I decide to mow it under!

That written, the hydrangeas are in bloom in front to the house. We planted the Endless Summer variety a few years ago and enjoy their blooms all year. The plants have gotten so bit they have covered the entire garden and I often refer to them as the "hydrangeas that ate Elkridge." We are lucky right now in that we have both purple and pink blooms. It makes them very interesting. The calla lilies are also blooming as we slide into the longest daylight of the year. 

But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully by this time next week we will be under contract and preparing to escape to St Maarten for a week of beach and sun. My beach low-level light is definitely illuminated!

Happy Hump Day, btw!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Tuesday, Tuesday

 I was awakened this morning to the rumble of thunder and the flash of lightning. 

Dining Room Nearly Ready
Elkridge, MD
June 14, 2022

I am thankful I completed my outdoors work yesterday while the temperatures were in the 90s and the sun was shining. I even allowed myself some enjoyment by jumping into the pool. The water was a beautiful 81 degrees. 

Tomorrow is picture day! The house, inside and out, needs to look better than it did when we toured it over 21 years ago. And it does!

On the really exciting side, we already have a scheduled showing for Saturday. Yay!

It is both exciting and frightening. 

From a getting ready for photo day standpoint, we are almost there.

BTW, Happy Flag Day! Go wave a flag!



-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD