Friday, July 29, 2016
On to November
Amid the proclamations that barrier has fallen, with the nomination of a woman for President by a major party, the race for November and the reconstruction of our government begins.
I still believe that the choices presented by the major parties are incredible similar--even in their apparent differences.
It should be an interesting run.
There may even be another candidate looming on the scene, from the Libertarian Party who could become an alternative--although admittedly, at this point in time not an electable alternative, but one which might force the major party candidates to stop personal attacks and begin to propose concrete governmental reforms designed at strengthening our nations fundamental processes.
And now the race is on.
The sprint to election day.
Sadly, I fear that the real mudslinging will now begin. I thought it was bad to this point, but it is only going get worse.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Hot Night Turns Cold
The Orioles bats could not get it done.
The team squandered a chance to increase their American League East Division lead by losing 3-1 to the Rockies.
The game began as a pitching duel. Dylan Bundy had a perfect game going into the 6th inning. And then it turned ugly. By the end of top half of the inning, the Rockies had three runs on two hits. Both hits were home runs.
Adam Jones on Third Base 4th Inning Versus Rockies July 27, 2016 |
Best play of the game? Chris Davis' bunt down the third base line against the shift in the second inning to break an 0-24 hitless streak.
Frustration of the game? The umpires! The can't get the calls right. Three of four challenged calls were overturned and the one that was not overturned should have been--that would have given Matt Wieters a home run. Here is what Buck Showalter said after the game: “I’m not real sure what they’re looking at. We got a real good definitive shot that it’s a home run. Sometimes you’re kind of stuck with what the original call was, even though you know in your heart that it was wrong.”
And that is why I am not a believer in video replay. If they can't get it right in the booth in slow motion, then they need to quit. Failing to get that one call right materially changed the game and the outcome.
With the loss, the Orioles lose only their second series at home all season. The bats continue to be eerily quiet despite the heat. The pitching is strong, but not over powering. Frankly, it is weird to go to a game and see the O's score only a few runs, I am used to seeing numbers in excess of 5 on the scoreboard for the birds.
But, these are the Dog Day's and perhaps the bats have been chased away.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
It's Sizzling Outside
It has been hot.
Summertime hot! The kind of hot that I look forward to during the summer.
The hot that envelops me as I step outside after working in a sterile air conditioned building all day. It is a damp hot that I look forward to stepping into as I walk down the hallway at the end of the day.
Twelve of the past thirteen days have been in the 90's with Monday touching 100 depending upon the thermometer being used. But, the hot is soon to be gone. Today is forecast to be 5 degrees cooler than yesterday and soon the highs will be in the 80s instead of the 90s.
Perhaps the heat is breaking and is over.
We have had three BGE saving days where they pay me not to use electricity.
It is the dog days after all. I see rain in the forecast and we definitely could use some rain, my lawn is losing its green.
I realized that I am usually in Florida during the hottest days in Maryland, but not so this year.
Hopefully, the summer will continue warm and supportive of outdoors activities.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
And Now, the Democrats
Taking center stage (or is it the middle ring?) last evening, the Democratic National Convention kicked off to highlight the other guys in direct opposition to last week.
Despite the pre-convention hype, it was pretty much a carbon copy of the previous week's opening night.
Here are the similarities:
- The party is struggling for unity amidst allegations of favoritism during the primary season.
- They party is presenting the American people with a flawed candidate for President.
- Instead of an actor providing some opening day remarks they included an impassioned speech by an 11-year old girl.
- The candidate for the other party was vilified, repeatedly.
- There was precious little mention of the "how" behind the statements.
- True facts (or mostly true) were taken out of context to infer situations which are not true.
More of the same? It sounds like it. American politics has devolved into a game of "he said--she said, literally!
Standing by for night two! And more, probably of the same.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Monday, July 25, 2016
Monday Musings - July 25, 2016
1. I lost track of the date, because I've been off from work for three days and I had to check the calendar. I guess that is what it will be like when I retire.
Heron on Hole 12 Eisenhower Golf Course July 24, 2016 |
3. I saw a big heron yesterday while playing golf.
Clouds after the Storm July 23, 2016 |
5. The clouds were spectacular after the storms the other evening.
6. It is supposed to be extremely hot today! Be careful out there!
7. Strap in, this week it is the Democratic Party National convention. Should be interesting.
8. Lounging in the pool on a floatie with a glass of wine. What could be better on a mid-90's afternoon?
9. I ran across an interesting list of 239 people, places, and things that Donald Trump has insulted on Twitter. I didn't see my name on the list, but I'm not sure if that is good or bad.
10. It was a three-dog weekend around the house. Extra dogs sure do make for interesting times.
11. And so it begins--another workweek! The good news is, it's summertime!
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Sunday, July 24, 2016
Watching the Storm
We enjoyed a dinner on the Magothy River at The Point Crab House & Grill last evening with Nicole and Mike. Although the day was hot and sultry, the evening was pleasant. Sitting at the restaurant along the shores of the Magothy River was enjoyable.
View from our Table at The Point |
The sky was threatening as we began our dinner and just as we finished the sky opened up with torrents of rain. The image does not clearly show the rain crashing down, but it is, I can assure you. At one point the sun looked like Jupiter.
The Sun Shining Through the Rain Clouds |
It was a fun evening and a great time. The thunderstorm cooled the temperatures for providing a further respite from the heat of the day.
A great day and a better evening even with the rain and storms--which were fairly brief.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Friday Golf
From the 12th Tee Timbers at Troy July 22, 2016 |
It was scheduled to be a very hot day--and the weather report was correct.
It was a beautiful day for golf and likewise a great day not to be in the office.
Looking from the White to Blue Tees 12th Hole Timbers at Troy |
It was a great day and our team played exceptionally well together coming in 2nd in the tournament! That was a definite treat. The team played well enough to provide options for almost every shot on each hole and that allowed someone to step forward and make the best shot for the team.
It was a great Friday and a great was to spend a day outside of the office.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Friday, July 22, 2016
At the Halfway Point--A Convention Pause
Well, the Republican Convention has completed and we can get on with our lives, for three days.
What's on tap for Monday? The Democratic Convention.
I am expecting less drama coming out of Philadelphia as the democrats convene. Their task is pretty well defined--support the status quo as an alternative to the negativity exuded by the republicans.
My observations about the Republican Convention.
-- You can't Make America Great Again if you can't convince someone that it isn't great right now.
-- There wasn't a great deal of concert plans and programs discussed and offered just lofty concepts.
-- There was a lot of negativity
-- The facts presented during the Trump's acceptance speech were mostly true. I checked them with the New York Times.
-- Ted Cruz was perhaps the most interesting convention speaker because his observations were very different from the mainstream.
Well it is game on.
I wonder where it will end.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Enjoying the Summer
Hazy Dog Days Sunset |
I feel a sense of impending freedom from the workday and as I approach the glass doors I try to imagine what will greet me as I step into the outside world.
I dislike the frigid slap in the face of the winter.
Last week in California, I did not particularly enjoy to cool September-like air that greeted me and made me put on a jacket to maintain my comfort. It was July after all.
Yesterday, I realized that I love walking into the outside and being enveloped in a warm and moist environment that greets me like an old friend and guides me deep into the summer heat.
Yes, I love it.
On a real summer day, I can see the moist heat before I step outside. The haze hanging in the air is a sure sign that I will be warmly greeted as I cross the threshold and head for my car.
There have been far too many cold days this year.
The smells of the summer are everywhere--the mowed grass baking in the sun, the earth. the scent of heat hanging in the air.
It is the dog days, let's enjoy them. They will be gone too quickly.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
My Take: And the Votes are In
Well, despite what I wrote a few days short of a year ago, the Republican nominee for President was been crowned last evening. No longer do we have to hear the news media reporters talk about the "presumptive" nominee.
Donald Trump is the Republican Nominee for President of the United States.
The Republican primary season is over, the results are in and have been confirmed.
Half of the stage is set for what is shaping up to be one of the most divisive presidential elections in the history of our country.
Voter turnout in November could be either astronomical or it could be lethargic.
My Take: There is change afoot. We, as a country as a society, are losing tolerance and becoming reactive and afraid. I have to believe it is a by product of the past 8 years although I do not fully understand how or why. I find the news reported battle between the old guard of the Republican Party and the newer members interesting. I have to admit--the old guard are trying to protect something that has been largely ineffective for the past 12 or more years. Maybe they need to embrace the change, for the good of the party--but then, it threatens their positions.
Perhaps, we are seeing the evolution of the two-party system into a multi-party free-for-all?
Keep your eyes open--there could be significant backlash in November.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
It's the Future
I felt compelled to watch the opening night of the Republican Convention from Cleveland last evening.
I was treated to an assortment of short speeches from people who are definitely not accomplished orators
But they seemed real and genuine.
The future of our country is at stake. November 8 is looming closer in our divided land.
The election seems to be a polarizing event.
The candidates are alike in their oppositeness. Both seem to view their only path to the presidency comes from bashing the other.
I will likewise watch the opening night and other nights of the Democratic Convention. I want to hear both sides of the issues.
Sadly, given all of the mudslinging, there isn't much brainpower left to apply to the issues.
I have talked to quite a few people who aren't sure they will vote in the November election. I encourage them to change their minds and exercise their very precious ability to vote and change the future.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Monday, July 18, 2016
Monday Musings - July 18, 2016
1. I find it hard to believe that July is half over. It seems as if the summer is just finally getting underway. I think I need a summertime siesta.
2. Falling into the backyard pool after a round of golf on a hot Sunday is a great way to cool off.
12th Hole Crouton Country Club |
4. Cross country flying can be a draining experience, especially flying from Los Angeles. I don't think I still have fully reacclimatized to the time zone.
5. I can tell that the summer is moving along, it is getting darker earlier and the suns rising later. I checked, there is already 20 minutes less of daylight than at the beginning of the month.
Playing Volleyball Under the Lights Off the Santa Monica Pier Pacific Ocean in the Background July 11, 2016 |
7. I saw the Pacific Ocean last week, but was not able to sit on the beach and enjoy the sun, sand, and surf. I wonder when I will be able to get in a bit of "beach" time.
8. Someone I was traveling with proposed that the breeze coming off the Pacific Ocean smells different than the Atlantic Ocean breeze. I think it is true.
9. It is time for some mid-summer fun, before the summer runs out.
10. It is political convention time. Our future is at stake.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Sunday, July 17, 2016
In N Out Burger
While in California, I experienced a new burger place--In N Out Burger.
I am not a burger connoisseur, but some of my traveling companions wanted to enjoy the uniquely Californian burger experience.
In-N-Out Burger Roofline |
I did enjoy the palm tree motif on the roof line of the building.
It was enjoyable, but alas--it is just another burger place. Some say it is similar to Five Guys Burgers and Fries. I can see that.
My Lunch at In-N-Out Burger |
So if you need a burger fix--I'd recommend stopping and enjoying the food.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Friday, July 15, 2016
Out the Hotel Window - Lompoc, CA, July 2016
Out the Hotel Window Left July 15, 2016 Lompoc, CA |
Sometimes, hotel don't consider the view that guests will have out their windows.
In this case it is garbage and back alleys.
Out the Hotel Window Right July 15, 2016 Lompoc, CA |
The hotel itself is very nice to look at and a great place to stay, it is just that the back lot leaves a lot to be desired.
I understand why the curtains are closed. Although the garbage truck did wake me during my first night here, the room is generally quiet.
It is really amazing the different views that I have experienced out my hotel window on this trip.
The weather has been the big story. It is 55 degrees as I wake up on this July morning with an expected high in Lompoc of 68 degrees. I am looking forward to getting back to the 90's of Maryland and being in my pool. The hotel has a beautiful pool area, it is just that the air temperature is so cold I would never consider getting into it.
The real reason to come here, however, is for the wines! More about that in the future.
-- Bob Doan, writing from Lompoc, CA
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Lights in the Sky
Near Lompoc, CA July 13, 2016 |
It was picture worthy.
The resulting image was even more interesting that the fog ball which looks like something right out of the movie Independence Day.
What was most interesting was the bright objects in the upper left corner of the image. We did not see them with our eyes--but they are definitely there on the image.
Brings back memories of the mid-1960's and the UFO investigations.
Is Roswell, NM, anywhere near here?
-- Bob Doan, writing from Lompoc, CA
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Out the Hotel Window - Los Angeles, July 2016
Los Angeles July 11, 2016 |
I have been here before, but the sheer magnitude of the city has escaped me on the other occasions that I have traveled to and through here.
Los Angeles (in the distance) July 11, 2016 |
The hotel is conveniently situated in between two of the main runways serving Los Angeles International Airport, which is better known as LAX.
But with the curtains closed, my room could be anywhere because it is so quiet.
I enjoy watching the planes land. I have a great seat to enjoy the constant activity at the airport.
There is a whole world happening, outside the hotel windows.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Santa Monica Alive
Santa Monica Pier from the Bluffs |
Last evening I had dinner in Santa Monica, one of those places that I have seen so much about in the movies.
It exists and is every bit as diverse as I had been led to believe.
Entrance to Santa Monica Pier |
It was a stunning sight as the mountains were silhouetted against the setting sun and I was not the only person with a camera trying to get the perfect shot of the activities. I was amazed at how wide the beach appeared. It was huge. Completely different from the narrow Florida beaches that I love.
Looking out at the Mountains with the Pacific Coast Highway in View |
Looking at Santa Monica from the Pier |
It was definitely a celebration.
I enjoyed the constant reminders of life and excitement.
All in all it was an exceptionally long travel day, but it ended is a way that I could not have imagined.
-- Bob Doan, writing from Los Angeles, CA
Monday, July 11, 2016
Monday Musings - July 11, 2016
1. Life is a balance. Sometimes it gets unbalanced and then bad things happen.
2. Blue skies are the best sky!
Summer Flowers in my Garden |
4. I love summer flowers!
5. Every time I just look at the pool, I feel refreshed! If only I spent more time in it.
6. Did anyone notice that the O's are leading the division at the half-way point of the season?
7. Any idiot can face a crisis, it is day to day living that wears you out.
8. Smile--it isn't going to get any better unless you do.
9. I love July! I recently read about a couple that spends the year chasing Summer. I wish that were me!
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Sports Day Saturday
My Saturdays are often devoted to sporting activities--usually for the grandsons.
Manny Machado Gnome at Home |
I played golf in the morning and attended a long Orioles game in the afternoon.
I spent five hours golfing (including travel) and five hours at the orioles game (including travel).
10 hours of sports related activities.
My Fitbit recorded over 20,000 steps--and I didn't even try!
Some Fans Dressed as Gnomes |
The Orioles late-afternoon game was fun! It was Manny Machado garden gnome day. Everyone attending the game got a gnome. Fortunately, our seats were in the shade given the 4:05 PM start. It was a hot, slow baseball game that officially took 3 hours and 14 minutes to play in the hear. Over 43,000 fans were in attendance to see the Orioles grind out a 3-2 win! And it was a grind.
I love Saturdays like this one!
--Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Friday, July 8, 2016
My Take: Police Shootings
I read a very difficult editorial in the New York Times this morning. It was titled "What White America Fails to See," and I found it difficult to internalize and accept.
Yet, I know there are truths contained inside the words that Michael Eric Dyson wrote and I feel his hurt and frustration.
I wish that we were a multi-cultural nation of equals. I wish the concept of America being a "salad bowl" was actually true or even close to being correct--but clearly, it is not. Multiculturalism is a difficult concept and it is clear from the virulent words of at least one candidate for president, not understood or fully appreciated.
Maybe it was easier when America was "melting pot." Even if the concept was a facade, we believed that we could operate from a singular point of view across different ethnicities. I can see how America was built upon the backs of the newest groups of immigrants in history. The cities and the railroads and the critical infrastructure were built by those newest to America. Yes, that a gross generalization, but fundamentally accurate. As the newest immigrants assimilated, they became Americans and were, mostly, accepted.
But some groups, cultures, were never accepted; hence, multiculturalism has always been with us but the majority were blind to the inequity.
The police shootings of the past two years highlight the cultural differences. The author of the editorial this morning suggests that we view other cultures through binoculars. That resonated with me. We watch from a safe distance and make judgements without experiencing the the reality of life happening where the binoculars are looking.
Some of the hard words that he wrote cut deeply.
You hold an entire population of Muslims accountable for the evil acts of a few. Yet you rarely muster the courage to put down your binoculars, and with them, your corrosive self-pity, and see what we see. You say religions and cultures breed violence stoked by the complicity of silence because peoples will not denounce the villains who act in their names.
Yet you do the same. You do not condemn these cops; to do so, you would have to condemn the culture that produced them — the same culture that produced you. Black people will continue to die at the hands of cops as long as we deny that whiteness can be more important in explaining those cops’ behavior than the dangerous circumstances they face.
"Black Lives Matter." I have heard many smug people, including some political candidates, insist that "All Lives Matter" and I too, for a while was blind to the deeper meaning of the cry. Yet, even though my binoculars are still firmly in my hand, I am appalled at the events of the past two days and I am fully aware that a white person in either of the situations in Louisiana or Minnesota would not have been executed by the police. And that is the problem. I watched the video of the Minnesota shooting. There are a lot of things in that video that are just wrong.
My Take: It was wrong! It was murder. Even I am afraid.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Tractor Maintenance Blues
Tractor Tune-up Parts |
I took an image of all of the parts that were being replaced. I had already swapped out the blades when I took the shot, but there are many parts being replaced to ensure continued years of faithful service from one of the unsung heroes around the house.
Frankly, I was appalled at the cost of all of the parts. I believe that I could have purchased a push mower for the price of the parts in the image.
Sears, where Purchased the parts, did not make the process easy. The parts good was difficult to read and then, in the end, one of the parts was wrong--the mower drive belt. The belt in the book was for a 42 inch mower deck and I have a 46 inch mower. So the inevitable return is at hand to actually complete the process.
Nothing is ever easy, it seems.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Fun with Pool Animals
Chris and I rescue some of the strangest creatures from our pool.
Usually it is a stray toad or hoards of frogs (almost akin to the Biblical plagues of Egypt) that are helped to safety.
Cicada on a Leaf in the Pool |
Yesterday, however, I saw something that really got my attention--a cicada on a leaf floating in the pool. I'm not sure how the bug got there and managed to float until rescued.
It looks to me like it had commandeered a ship and was sailing until dawn or something.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Airplane Cookies
Southwest Plane Cookies |
It was an early morning flight and the cookies were my breakfast--well partly.
How unique are they.
Not really--it dawned upon me that they were animal crackers in disguise!
But there were not just plain cookies, they were plane cookies and I thought they were cute. Just like animal crackers, except there was only one plane. Oh yes, Southwest only flies one type of plane--the Boeing 737!
The cookies were, however, both cute and tasty.
I also had a couple cups of coffee which helped shake off the drowsiness of getting up at 3:30 AM to catch a 6 AM flight! Ugh! Why did I make the reservation for so early?
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Monday, July 4, 2016
Monday Musings - July 4, 2016
1. Happy Independence Day! (and it's a holiday too!)
2. Mondays that fall on Tuesday are the toughest days of the week.
3. John Adams wrote that the Fourth of July "...ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other..."
4. There is something great about starting the day on a golf course, even if I'm not playing very well.
5. We enjoyed fireworks yesterday in advance of the expected storms this afternoon. The whole neighborhood seemed alive with explosions and bright displays, almost as John Adams intended.
6. Some places are rescheduling the fireworks--it is possible to get three nights of fun and explosions.
7. Many dogs hate fireworks.
8. Enjoy your fourth and be safe.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Sunday, July 3, 2016
Strike up the Band--or Not!
Military bands are under attack by the Congress.
The New York Times, in an article titled Military is Asked to March to a Less Expensive Tune, reports that the budgets for military bands are being reduced in and effort to help the military achieve its end strength goals. The article traces some of the history of US military bands and notes that in 1862 there were nearly 15,000 bandsmen in the Union forces.
I have often enjoyed the music of military bands.
The patriotic sounds, not played anywhere else, represent a unique piece of American history that could easily be lost if the military were not preserving it for future generations.
The article does point out that the DoD spends more on music than any other part of the government. But, does that make it wrong?
Without military bands, I worry that some our our uniquely American music would be lost. While the article points out that no one in Congress is advocating the dissolution of military bands, I found the following paragraph interesting:
Leaders in the Pentagon quietly grumble that by focusing on bands, Congress is going after small potatoes. The military has for years proposed base closings that it estimates would save more than $2 billion a year, but Congress has not acted on the politically troublesome proposals that could cut jobs in their districts.
Strike up the bands!
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Saturday, July 2, 2016
My Take: When Serving Brownies is Bad
Brownies |
I especially love brownies served with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup covered by a mound of whipped cream.
And now I learn that a third grader in Collingwood, New Jersey, was subjected to police interrogation because of a simple statement made in reference to the delicious dessert being served at the end of the school-year party.
Collingwood, NY |
Sadly it does not end there.
"The boy's father was contacted by Collingswood police later in the day. Police said the incident had been referred to the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency. The student stayed home for his last day of third grade."
All about brownies?
It is clearly a policy that was poorly implemented. The article indicates that police have been called to investigate incidents was many as 5 times per day in a school district with a total enrollment of 1,875 students. Given that there are only 14,000 residents in the borough, I cannot imagine there are too many police officers remaining in the community to handle more serious matters.
One mother opined "Are we going to have to send kids to school with a lawyers name and number?"
As a society we are losing our perspective and the ability to resolve disputes at the lowest level. There is too often a rush to call police and a lawyer.
My Take: The police and the courts need to begin to help people develop common sense by enforcing regulations against frivolous police reports and lawsuits.
Brownies do not have any other name!
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Friday, July 1, 2016
Welcome July
It is with great fanfare that I announce the start of the uniquely summer month of July!
July has arrived. Hail Caesar!
Cue the beach, waves, sand, surf, and fireworks!
After a Springtime that was so cold and rainy that I thought summer would never arrive, July has finally moved onto the scene as the year 2016 slides into the second half of its run.
The weather, lately, has been almost idyllic with limited rain and moderate temperatures.
The vacation season is upon us and my plans are pretty well set.
The month gets off to a great start with Independence Weekend--the holiday with a bang! It is great when Independence Day coincides with a weekend. That will not happen again until 2020 since the holiday will fall on mid-week days for the next three years.
Not to get too far ahead of the action, let's stick to the weekend at hand.
Drive safely, if you handle fireworks do not over imbibe alcohol, and generally be responsible.
Enjoy the 4th, and better yet--enjoy July. Did I mention that July is my favorite month of the year? I wish that July would never end or that I could live in the land of perpetual summer.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
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