Annapolis on Mother's Day

A Mom is Always "On Call"

The crew was together enjoying the day. I got to buy some wine as we enjoyed the city.

Cameras flashing and the mothers in the group were enjoying their special day.

It was a beautiful day

Springtime Azalea

The flowers are out all over the area. Currently, it is the annual blossoming of the azaleas which is stealing the visual display around the area. The red, pink and white flowers are so pure in color and so full on the bushes that they look like brightly colored snow cones in the yards.

Mine are not large, but they do provide that splash of pizazz in the yard.

I have been fascinated by the size of the blooms and their pure white appearance.

All through the summer, I forget how beautiful they are during the springtime--but every year they remind me.

My white bush is just beautiful.

My red bush is just full of color sitting next to the already growing large hostas on the north side of the house.

I only wish they stayed in bloom all of the summer--the color is stunning!

And I am enjoying them every day.

Pool is Open

Pool opening day has been a success. The pool is open and in a week or so I will be ready for some serious swimming.

Springtime Flowers in the Yard

Dogwood in the Back Yard 2011

I have been off this week enjoying the yard and the weather--which has been mostly tolerable.

The other day, even in the rain I was out putting down sod over the holes in the ground created when I removed the stumps. I wanted to get the grass down while it was still damp--because I believe it will take better that way.

  All along the way though, I have been enjoying the flowers in the year--my classic favorites the weeping cherry tree, the dogwood at the back of the yard, and my four bleeding heart bushes are absolutely magnificent right now.

Bleeding Heart in the Side Yard 2011

The flowers of springtime are especially beautiful to me as the days are still cool and the trees are not yet fully in leaf--these flowers and all of the flowering trees in this area provide a burst of color and life accompanying the spring rebirth.

I have already mowed--and the lawn needs another mowing this week. It is good that all of the plants are springing to life--and warming my heart as I pause--amid the hectic pace of my life, to notice them.

Weeping Cherry in Magnificent Bloom 2011

The weeping cherry is especially full and beautiful right now--a pink snowball of color right in the middle of my yard.

We are planning to plant a couple of trees to replace those we have lost during the past few years--a willow, a redbud, and potentially a dogwood are on the short list of trees to potentially grace our yard before the end of the week.

All good springtime trees--the willows are one of the first to green up and shake off the slumber of winter, while the dogwood and the redbud are both strong springtime performers. More color and more flowers for the yard.

Springtime should be even better next year.

O's and Rolling Along

April 4, 2011 Opening Day at Oriole Park at Camden Yards

We are only four games into the 2011 baseball season and already O's fans are loving it. The O's are 4-0, tying their 1997 start and bringing back visions of the World Series winning team of 1970 when they started 5-0 with a series sweep on the road against Cleveland and then won 2 of 3 against the Detroit Tigers at home during the second series of the year.

Now in 2011, the O's are playing the Detroit Tigers at home for the second series of the year. They started the season by sweeping Tampa on the road.

Isn't baseball great. After only four games of a 162 game season, O's fans are already drawing comparisons to the history making World Series champion teams of the past.

Yesterday at the park, it was a sea of orange and black such as I have not seen in a long time. The crowd was electric and the players responded with a crisp 5-1 win, highlighted by Brian Roberts second three-run homer of the year.

The day was glorious and warm. The skies were fair and the fan base made a rare sold-out stadium appearance.

I have attended a lot of games over the past years where sometimes there are more opposition fans than Orioles fans--but not today. I actually spied only one Tiger fan and of course there was a Yankee fan wearing his team's colors and I wondered if he took a wrong turn on I-95 on his way to NYC.

But it was the Orioles and their young pitching staff that stole the show. Hanging on until the offense came around and holding the opposition to only one run, for the fourth time.

And ESPN still will not even acknowledge that the Orioles exist.  It is a credibility deep hole that they are crawling out of.  Game by game.

I love baseball--win or lose and everyone knows that I have been a staunch Orioles fan through every one of the 13 consecutive losing seasons--but this year there is at least hope.

I was astounded when the team was introduced at the size of the cheers for the manager--Buck Showalter. I wonder how many managers get that kind of reception during the opening day introductions. But, Buck has so far turned this team around. They have a solid winning record since he took over last August.

The hopes of all true Orioles fans are rising every day.

Any questions?

Opening Day 2011 Scoreboard in Center Field

High 70's and the crowd is streaming in. It is an awesome afternoon in Charm City.

Spirits are high as the Orioles open the home part of the season against the Detroit Tigers.

From the Frontlines on Opening Day



In front of Pickle's Bar on Russell Street in Baltimore on April 4, 2011

 It is here. The 3-0 Orioles are coming home today atop the AL East. This is the crowd two hours before game-time outside the stadium.

The day is almost hot--and it is early April.

The beer is flowing freely and there is a celebration atmosphere in the crowd, almost as if something special is about to happen--the likes of which we have not seen since 1997.

Dancing with the Moon

I don't know if you took some time to view the bright moon this weekend or not, but it seemed to follow me everywhere and forced itself into my stream of consciousness.

It really began early Thursday (the 17th) morning as I was driving to the club to play racquetball about 5:30 AM. Yes, it is early, but I love starting the day on the courts.

I noticed the moon setting on the horizon--it was dancing in and out of my view around hills and through trees. It would disappear for a moment--and then return, a bright orb on the western horizon cheering my soul with its apparent antics in the sky. It made me smile and I thought about the moon and how it really wasn't moving around at all, but it was my own turning that made the moon apparently dance on the horizon.

I enjoyed driving on the nearly deserted roads and waiting for the moon to peak up over a hill, or to come into view from around some buildings. It had been a very longtime since it had driven around with the moon so low on the horizon.

And then, Saturday evening as I was flying back to Baltimore from Tampa, I got to watch the moon again.

It was a bit different though as the moon appeared lower than the airplane. I watched the moon rise in the east over a cloud bank and tried to take an image of it, but the iPhone and dirt on the plane window just do not do it justice.

I watched the moon pass under the wing of the airplane as we banked. The sky was clear as we approached Baltimore, and I saw the moon illuminate the Chesapeake Bay as we turned onto final into the BWI. It was a painter's scene--the moon shining down and illuminating a long streak in the bay silhouetting the ships and shoreline. I etched the image into my brain--if only I were a painter so I could capture it for others to see. But alas, I have a hard time staying in the lines.

All in all though, it was an interesting couple of days watching the moon dance with me and illuminate the darkened planet with its reflected light.

We all need to take time to notice these things. It grounds us.

Where I am on the planet

The sign kinda says it all.

Here, they call it paradise--and I'm not going to challenge that thought one little bit.

Saturday At Noon

So what are you doing with your Saturday?

I'm in Sarasota at Spring Training enjoying my favorite sport. Live!!

Those are the Philadelphia Phillies doing batting practice.

The temperature on this March 19th approaching noon is already nearly 80 degrees. The sky is clear, the sun is hot, and there isn't a hint of snow anywhere.

Outside my Hotel

Last night as we got back to the hotel from the game and watching the NCAA Men's basketball tournament at a local and fairly empty sports bar, I parked the car under this tree.

You can see the mirror of the car in the lower right of the image.


Not going to find anything like this in Maryland in March.

This morning the sun is bright, the sky is clear and blue, and I am comfortable in a short sleeve short and shorts.

How far away is summer?

From my seat in the stadium

My first ever spring training baseball game. And I'm in my seat munching a sausage and pepper sandwich enjoying the ambiance.

Unfortunately, my glasses just broke. At least they lasted three weeks.

And I just found out that the seats we are sitting in used to be in Camden Yards. Way cool. But I'm glad we are getting new seats this year.

March, baseball, and 81 degrees--what could be better?  Nothing!

Birds Waiting for the Game

As I was walking the Sieta Key beach, I found some other Bird fans already in line waiting for the game this evening.

Since most of the spring training games are afternoon games, they were just a bit early.

Siesta Key beach

So what are you doing on your Friday afternoon?

I'm here with a couple thousand of my new best friends on the Siesta Key beach.

Baking in the sun.

The water temperature is a chilly 69 degrees though.

Out the Hotel Window in Sarasota

Awesome beautiful green morning. After the winter in Maryland, the green of Florida is refreshing. That is the thing Mike and I noticed as we drove from Tampa to Sarasota--the green.

The green-ness is everywhere and I was constantly asking myself the question: I don't live here full-time, why?

While the scene out the hotel is not much to look at, the blue sky and green grass more than makes up for it.

Spring training may become an annual event at this rate.

Out the airplane window

A beautiful clear day for flying. I'm amazed still when I think about working all morning and being in Sarasota, Florida by evening. Wow.

What a time we live in and we don't even appreciate the speed we can move and the places we can go with just a small bit of work.


I know it is a 18 or so hour trip by car. Think about riding a horse or in a wagon. Weeks.

And still I'm not moving fast enough it seems.

Out the Hotel Window - Denver in March

Looking into the Morning light

I was thinking I wasn't going to do the out the window thing for this trip--afterall, I'm staying near the airport and the area is flat with not much to look at.

But then, yesterday morning, I looked out my window after talking to Chris on the phone and was treated to that fire in the sky kind of sunrise that just makes me go: aha!

I was awesome. And then I saw the moon and a star over one of the buildings near to my hotel.

Yeah, the images are grainy--what did I expect from my iPhone.  But I captured a memory. A moment in time as the world came alive, stirring and waking from its slumber.


Moon and Star over the Plains



Interestingly, shortly after I took this these images, the loval TV station rebroadcast similar images of the sunrise on its morning show. I guess I was not the only one who thought the scene painted by God was special.


I continue to be amazed at what I see and notice outside my hotel windows as I travel. I never used to even really open the curtains and let the world in, but I am finding so much to see and marvel at now that I am taking the time to look.

Out with the Boys

Last evening was the night the grandparents get to spend uninterrupted time with the grandsons. It is a gift we are giving to their parents in the form of free baby sitting so they can do dinner and/or a movie without the added bite associated with childcare.

And while this is only the second time we've done it (so far this year), it is shaping up to be an adventure filled night which always seems to include making smores in the fireplace.

Last evening, we took the boys out to Centennial Lake to feed the waterfowl. We had hoped for ducks, we got geese as well.

There was some ice on the water in places which made for some comical situations with the geese--slipping and flying on the ice.

The boys had fun and so did grandma and grandpa.

Sadly--it was very cool--so we could not stay long and enjoy the scene.

But that was not really a problem either since we were there as the sun was setting--so it would soon be dark anyway.

The promise of Spring makes us do crazy things, I guess.

February Paradox

Yesterday the temperatures were awesome and warm even. Remember, it was the 17th of February. In one month I'll be heading to Florida for Orioles Spring Training--the tickets are on my desk as I type this.

Cat on the First Day of Top Down Driving Feb 17, 2011

Last evening I drove home in Cat with the top down and the wind (cool but not cold) whistling through my ever thinning hair.

I was the envy of so many other drivers on the road. (Maybe they thought I was crazy)

Although I felt a bit weird putting the top down on a convertible in February in Maryland--that is why I bought the car--so I could! I took this image just before I put Cat into the garage for the night.

And that is why the top was down last evening--because I could!

Today is supposed to be even nicer!

The Snow that Won't Quit

I felt as if the freakishly cold snap was finally over. But, I know there are still 30 days until Spring officially begins.

Here's the paradox part--just up the driveway--there is still a huge pile of snow.

If I don't see anymore snow until January 2012, it will be too soon!

I just hope this pile goes away soon.

I am getting itchy to open the pool. And there is still ice in it.

First Signs of Spring

Wednesday was an interesting day.

During the morning I was pleased that the weather forecasting rodent residing in Pennsylvania did not see his shadow--which of course suggests and early spring.

That would be especially nice since we have been having some of the worst winter weather imaginable all across the country, and it is downright cold here in Maryland.

Signs of Spring

So, during the afternoon as I was getting Ethan home from school and walking Florence, Nicole's dog, I noticed something that really helped to confirm Punxsutawney Phils forecast: this small daffodil or hyacinth pushing up from under the melted snow making itself available for the spring growing season.

And so there it was--as if almost saying: "Don't lose hope, there is life waiting to be reborn hiding here under the snow and frozen ground."

And it made me smile.

Broadly.

And I turned my thoughts to warmer days, flowers, and gentle breezes; despite the abundance of snow all around and the icy patches on the roads.  Maybe I can put the top down on the convertible soon.