Cold-Cold-Cold Baseball Afternoon

Jax on the Bump
Columbia, MD
April 2, 2026

 How do you describe a baseball doubleheader where the temperature begins at 56 and falls to 49 degrees during the two games? Oh yes, it is overcast, misting, with an occasional wind. 

COLD!

Chris and I went to an Arundel High School baseball doubleheader yesterday in those conditions. We were ,of course, hoping to see Jax pitch--which he did, but during the very last inning of the second game. Ugh!

Cold does not begin to describe how we felt. The misting rain was aggravated by the occasional wind which stole all of our body warmth. We even had blankets to help preserve warmth--they got wet. Ugh. Fortunately there were heated bathrooms and during the second game I was able to seek refuge and warm up to stop the cramping I was experiencing from shivering. 

While the weather made the day painful, it was worth the pain to see Jax pitch one of the most impressive three outs of baseball we have seen. It was short. He was projected to pitch the final two innings of the second game, but the team scored enough runs during the bottom of the 6th inning to, mercifully, end the game by mercy rule. His pitching line for the inning was astounding. No, it wasn't three strikeouts, but it was 1 inning pitched, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 earned runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, and only 3 batters faced. He threw 11 pitches with 8 of them strikes. And induced a double play after the leadoff batter got an infield hit.

It was a commanding performance and well worth the over 4 hours we waited for him to take the mound in the much-too-cold-for-Florida-residents' weather!

Capping the inning with a three-pitch strikeout was the best!

Baseball in Maryland during April can be harder on the fans than the players! And that was the case yesterday, but we would not have missed it!

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

To the Moon and Beyond!

Time 

Artemis 2 Launch
Cape Canaveral, FL
April 1, 2026

It is the first time, all over again!

 It has been more than 50 years since a crewed spacecraft from this planet ventured to the moon and beyond. 

The Artemis 2 launch yesterday was fantastic and rekindled the explorer spirit in many. But, let's not forget the men who preceded this mission over 50 years ago. We have been to the Moon before--but not in a very long time. 

Apollo 8 blazed the trail during December 1968, becoming the first crewed spacecraft to leave Earth orbit and reach the Moon. They did not land on the Moon, but paved the way for the eventual Moon landing during July 1969 by the astronauts of Apollo 11. 

But we have not been to the Moon in a half-century. We are starting over, but this time aided by immensely improved computers and 50 years of technological progress in outer space operations and materials. 

I only wish that I had been at home in Florida to see the launch in person.

Godspeed to the four astronauts!

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

April Fools' Day 2026

Turtle on Branch
Odenton, MD
March 31, 2026

April Fools' Day 

As our visit to Maryland continues, we are seeing more signs of life as the lingering effects of winter fade and are replaced with the vibrant springtime. 

Yesterday, I was able to capture an image of a turtle sitting on a low hanging branch in the pond. In addition, I noted the return of the woodchuck to the scene. 

Yesterday was pleasantly warm, topping out at a beautiful 82 degrees. I was comfortable being outside, finally. Springtime is on full display! 

Some April humor for the day:

Why do bees become so indecisive after April? They become may-bees.

What do you call an Easter bunny with fleas? Bugs Bunny.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Spring Continues

Flowering Tree on our Walk
Odenton, MD
March 30, 2026

A conundrum. I couldn't decide this morning whether to rant about our President planning to commit War Crimes or the springtime explosion of flowers here in Maryland. 

I decided on flowers. 

Why? Well because I guess if the Congress is not interested in protecting America from a wannabe war criminal, I guess I should not be too concerned either. 

Maple Tree Helicopters Preparing for Launch
Odenton, MD
March 30, 2026

The Spring explosion of flowers is beautiful. Spring in South Florida arrives gradually. There are some trees that lose leaves for the Autumn and replace them during Spring, but they are relatively few. Mostly what happens is about 50 percent of the deciduous tree leaves are replaced over the course of the Winter. The leaves fall all the time; clogging the gutters and downspouts. I was able to convince our COA to have leaf guards installed on the gutters that are most susceptible to leaf blockages.

Chris and I have enjoyed watching the progression of Spring in the trees and flowers here in Maryland. When we arrived, the trees showed only sporadic signs of leaves. But now, the red and green leaf buds are everywhere and actual leaves are beginning to appear. 

Along with the leaves, we are seeing ducks, geese, and turtles in the pond nearby. And turtles! There apparently was an explosion of turtles because I counted at least 10 the other day. With the temperature headed for 80 degrees today, I'm sure there will be turtles and additional wildlife to enjoy and document. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Monday Musings - March 30, 2026

 

Beck and Bubbles
Glen Burnie, MD
March 29, 2026

1. The 5th and final Monday of March has arrived. Whew, we made it, I think. Spring arrived and April is upon us. There are only 39 Mondays remaining in the year--but it is definitely heating up. 

2. How about them O's. It took six series for the team to win a series last season, but this year they won the first series right our of the gate. Hope springs eternal. 

3. Chris and I spent yesterday enjoying the antics of a rambunctious almost 15 months-old grandson named Beck. We had a great time and he made us laugh a lot. We also enjoyed the time we spent with his parents as we always do when we get together. 

4. It just doesn't add up. All along, the Republicans have been trying to blame the Democrats for the partial Government shutdown which has disadvantaged TSA, FEMA and Coast Guard personnel. Yet, when they had the opportunity to solve the pay issue and fund those agencies they chose to go on vacation for two weeks. 

5. Why the SAVE America Act is a sham. The New York Times’ Peter Baker did the math on the solution in search of a problem that is the SAVE Act. Trump and Congressional Republicans maintain that its passage is necessary to keep noncitizens from voting. But the ultra-conservative right-wing Heritage Foundation, the folks who oversaw the creation of Project 2025, found only 1,620 cases of voter fraud from 1982 to 2025. That included 100 cases of noncitizens voting, or as Baker pointed out, “That's about 0.000008% of more than 1.3 billion votes cast in presidential elections in that time.” (Civil Discourse)

6. Today in History. On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan is shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C. hotel by a drifter named John Hinckley Jr.

The president had just finished addressing a labor meeting at the Washington Hilton Hotel and was walking with his entourage to his limousine when Hinckley, standing among a group of reporters, fired six shots at the president, hitting Reagan and three of his attendants. White House Press Secretary James Brady was shot in the head and critically wounded, Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy was shot in the side, and District of Columbia policeman Thomas Delahanty was shot in the neck. After firing the shots, Hinckley was overpowered and pinned against a wall, and President Reagan, apparently unaware that he’d been shot, was shoved into his limousine by a Secret Service agent and rushed to the hospital.

The president was shot in the left lung, and the .22 caliber bullet just missed his heart. In an impressive feat for a 70-year-old man with a collapsed lung, he walked into George Washington University Hospital under his own power. As he was treated and prepared for surgery, he was in good spirits and quipped to his wife, Nancy, ”Honey, I forgot to duck,” and to his surgeons, “Please tell me you’re Republicans.” Reagan’s surgery lasted two hours, and he was listed in stable and good condition afterward.

Personal note: Chris and I were at a hospital in Shreveport, LA, at the time of the shooting as our oldest son was having tubes put into his ears to reduce/alleviate recurring ear infections. 

Iran calls US peace proposals 'unrealistic', oil rises amid new missile strikes - Reuters

Spain closes airspace to US planes involved in Iran war - Reuters

Ukraine's drone masters eye Iran war to kickstart export ambitions - Reuters

Trump threatens to obliterate Iran's energy sources if deal isn't reached - CNN

Miserably long airport lines begin to ease as TSA workers start to recoup back pay - CNN

The U.S. and Israel say they’re fighting together. On the biggest questions, they’re not. - MS Now

Congress is back to square one on the DHS shutdown after House GOP rejects Senate deal - MS Now

These Airports Don’t Use T.S.A. Your Current Wait: Minutes, Not Hours. The New York Times

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Off to Big Cork

 

Big Cork Tasting Menu
Rhorersville, MD
March 28, 2026

It was a great day for a visit to our favorite Maryland winery, Big Cork Vineyards.  

We were treated to the 2025 vintage white wines as well as a solid line-up of reds. 

The 2025 Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Viognier were all tasting very nicely as were the 2023 Meritage and Cabernet Franc. The 2022 Nebbiolo remains one of my personal favorites.

The 2025 Sauvignon Blanc has a spectacular nose that is alive with lemongrass and lime. It was a bouquet for the nose. But, the 2025 Viognier was the king of the whites we tasted. Fresh crisp aromas of citrus blossom and peach with a stunning taste and feel in the mouth to match.

The excitement for the day, however, was tasting the as yet unreleased Tempranillo. It is a stunningly good wine with a full mouth feel and layers of complexity along with well integrated tannins! Wow! I hear the release date is rapidly approaching! I am not sure of the vintage as I did not get a good look at the bottle. It will be the first ever Tempranillo released by Big Cork!

After the tasting, we tarried on the covered and heated patio enjoying a bottle of Nebbiolo and munchies while listening to live music by Drew Adams. 

Definitely worth the drive for a few hours of tasting and wine enjoyment.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Rainy cool Friday

 

Dogwood in the Neighbor's Yard
Odenton, MD
March 28, 2026

The cold and rainy gray overcast weather returned Friday as the temperature plummeted through the 60s into the 50s during the day and bottomed at 33 degrees this morning. 

Call it, Springtime in Maryland. 

Chris and I have been enjoying the blooming trees and bushes of Spring in advance of leaves erupting on the trees. 

View from the Deck
Odenton, MD
March 28, 2026

The cold, however, is somewhat harder to deal with. We enjoyed the near 80 degree temperatures of the baseball game Thursday evening a little too much, I think. The actual temperature dropped 46 degrees in 36 hours. The "feels like" temperature was reported at 24 degrees this morning by the weather service.

On this clear and cold morning, the scene off the porch is stunning. Blue sky, vibrant green grass, some trees displaying the first green against the stark trunks of the trees still waiting to burst with leaves. It looks like springtime, but feels like Winter. There is not much temperature relief in sight as the high for the day is anticipated to be about 47 degrees. 

We are headed to our favorite winery, Big Cork, for some tasting and purchases. We have not been there since the Christmas wine pick-up party. It should be a fun day with Nicole and Mike.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Baseball in the Warm

 

Jax at the Plate
Odenton, MD
March 26, 2026

As a counterpoint to yesterday's blog, we went to a baseball game last evening that was perfect in terms of temperature. 

Arundel High met South River High in a tussel with the game time temperature at 78 degrees. Wow! What a difference a day and twenty degrees makes. Although Arundel ultimately lost, the game was far more enjoyable than the 58 degrees we experienced at the start of yesterday's game. And then it got colder!

Jax on the Bump
Odenton, MD
March 26, 2026

Jax was the starting pitcher and pitched the team to a 3-3 tie at the end of 4 innings. Ultimately the team lost 11-7. The team let him bat and he made solid contact with the ball, unfortunately he hit it right to an opposing player who threw to first to make the out. It was a fun game to watch however, because the team never stopped trying and it  ended with the bases loaded and the tying run at the plate. Now that is some excitement.

In other baseball news, the Orioles began their season with a gritty 2-0 win over the Twins. I am excited about this version of the Orioles team and am expecting an 88 win season! With 1 in the books, they only need to win 87 of the next 161 games.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Baseball in the Cold

Jax Leading the Cheer
Odenton, MD
March 25, 2026

 Chris and I enjoyed two events yesterday. 

Baseball in the cold and dinner with Jeremy, Julie, and Lucas. 

I write baseball in the cold because after attending two Spring Training games in South Florida this season, yesterday's Arundel High baseball game against Severn Run High was just downright cold. 

Although Jax was not scheduled to start, we still wanted to go to the game to see, in person, the boys we have been following nearly every game so far this season on Game Changer. 

Arundel in the Dugout on Offense
Odenton, MD
March 25, 2026

The temperature at 4:45 PM, game time, was about 54 degrees, but as the game went on it got colder and the wind picked up. Nicole introduced me to some really nice electric hand warmers! Trust me, I learned they were lifesavers! As for the game, Arundel won 6-5 with some bottom of the 7th inning heroics to enjoy a walk-off win.

Jax is the scheduled starter for the tonights game! Already the temperature this morning is warmer that it was at game time last evening. Game time temperature is expected to be around 79 degrees! Yay!

We left the game during the 4th inning to enjoy dinner with Jeremy's family. We had a great meal together.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Travel Tuesday Report

Ships at Anchor
Chesapeake Bay, MD
March 24, 2026

 We were fortunate. Our travel day was mostly the same as any other travel day. It was a beautiful day for flying!

There were no lines for security screening  (TSA-pre) at PBI Concourse A/B. The line for regular screening was not as long as I have seen it in the past. The actual process for security screening was smoother than normal. We were relieved, but we cleared security almost two hours before our flight and were lucky to find space in a lounge to grab some drinks and lunch while waiting to board. 

It is important to note, that we arrived at security about 1:20 PM on a Tuesday for a 3:15 PM flight. We were not there during the morning rush, thankfully. But, the iFly app was accurate about the wait times. 

Gate B5 @ 2:54 PM
Palm Beach International, FL
March 24, 2026

Now about Southwest.

The airline has cheapened itself in an effort to adopt a new profitability standard to please ownership. That is sad. Losing "Bags fly Free" and choosing your own seat as you boarded were two things that made Southwest a preferred airline for many travelers. 

Check-in was smooth at PBI. Boarding was confused and people stood around like on so many other airlines with multiple numbered boarding groups. Although we chose our seats in advance, I still got to ride in the center seat for most of the flight. I am getting used to being in the center seat. The FA's were great, but apparently the new boarding approach takes longer and Southwest has not updated their ground stop times as we were 22 minutes late departing, mostly due to the slower boarding process. 

It should be noted that Chris and I checked two bags and I only had a backpack while Chris only had her purse. That meant we did not experience any shortage of overhead bin space, as has been reported by many people. 

Baggage remains a problem in Baltimore. It is incredibly slow and believe it or not confusing. We were originally told that bags would be on carousal 6, but at the last minute were moved to 8. We waited a good 20 minutes for our checked bags. 

And that was our travel day. We arrived safely--which is the most important thing, and the lines and waiting were mostly normal despite the partial government shutdown which has prevented TSA personnel from being paid.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD