Showing posts with label Jaguar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jaguar. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Spring is Close


How do I know that Spring is close? 

Golf Net in the Yard with Makayla
February 17, 2020
It felt Spring arriving yesterday. The temperature soared to 55 degrees and the sun was shining. I could tell that the yard was beginning to dry and I wanted to get the tractor out and start grooming the yard for the growing season except that the battery was dead. So then I decided to get my Jag, Cat, out for a drive, but the battery was dead. And my battery charger was out of the house as I had loaned it to someone. Ugh. 

Spring is definitely close. I even got my golf net out yesterday and began hitting balls into it to get my swing in shape, not that I have a swing to get into shape, before the upcoming Spring Training trip. I hit over 100 balls to begin the process. 

Perhaps I felt the need to experience Spring after spending the weekend in Upstate New York where the scenery is covered with snow and the temperatures were below 0 for most of the time I was there. Even so, I am going to enjoy the sunshine whenever it arrives as it seems that there is a definite lack of solar energy right now because of the pervasive cloud cover.

The only thing I did not do was get my drone, Radio Flyer, out to survey the winter's devastation. There are a lot of trees down and many more to fall as the ravaged ash trees become homes for insects and dinner plates for woodpeckers.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Springtime Arrived


The temperature climbed to 77 degrees yesterday. It was the region's first foray into the 70's since Christmas! We had a beautiful Christmas day, but since then it has been nothing short of miserable.

Cat in the Gym Parking Lot
I was happy to enjoy the temperatures outside, despite having a racquetball match in the evening. So no, I didn't get out to swing my clubs in preparation for my upcoming trip. I could have some ugly golf outings. 

One of the things I did treat myself to was driving in Cat with the top down! I love to take that initial image of Cat once the weather warms enough for a drive. Actually, we had the top down in late February for an afternoon, but that was pushing it a but. I feel like it is really Spring now!
Spring Peeper

It was awesome to feel the warm breeze in my hair as I sped down the parkway. 

Last evening on my way home from the gym, I even heard the peepers beginning their springtime songs. 

Springtime has arrives--and not a bit too early for my way of thinking. Looking at the weather forecasts, the region is not expected to be below 40 at least the next 10 days! I need to get some of the wintering plants outside to get used to the sun again!

I can almost hear the mower revving up in the shed.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday, April 24, 2015

Redbud and Grill

Chops on the Grill
It dawned upon me last evening about 7:30 PM, as I was warming up the grill with a couple of pork chops, that the daylight is truly lasting longer. It was just two months ago that I would have been grilling the meat in darkness--illuminated by only the porch lights.

It stopped to snap a picture of the scene to remind myself that this is what the best part of the year is all about--living outdoors. Now if only the temperatures would become more seasonable. It is 37 degrees this morning as I write this with an expected high in the high 50's for the day. I was thinking of taking Cat, my jaguar, out today--but the top is still down from the last time it drove it.
Our Redbud Tree

Ugh, it is cold. And I know Upstate New York received snow yesterday. 

At least our redbud tree is in bloom. As I was doing some research, I discovered that tradition has it that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from a redbud tree. Wow, it is amazing the things I learn when I go deeper into the background of the things I am writing about. 

If Spring would ever take control of the temperatures, I would get ready to open the pool and start the slide into summer. But--with the continued cold, there truly is no rush to uncover the pool. I guess I will have to be content with the signs of the season which appear around me on a daily basis and be happy in the knowledge that warmer weather is coming, even if the thermometer doesn't indicate that it is here, yet!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Image of the Year

5th Place (Tie) Going to the Game with E-Dawg


At the end of every year, I like to review the images (pictures) that were taken to both remember the events and to select the image of the year. 

5th Place (Tie)
Taking Pictures of Poppies in Oregon
There were over 1300 images in the running this year and I narrowed them to 17. I was surprised that 11 of the images were collected during the July trip to Oregon. Well, Oregon is a stunning place and the forests, wineries, and waterfalls are truly sights that must be visited and enjoyed.

5th Place (Tie)
Sasquatch Hunting in Oregon
Every image has a story behind it--and that is truly the interesting part. It is not the artistic value of the images, but rather the memories they recall that make them truly special to me. 

I wanted to show the top 5, but it turns out that there was a three-way tie for 5th place and so there are 7 images. 

Even culling them down, 5 images from Oregon made the top 5 (or is that 7) for the year. 
4th Place
Chris on Her Morning Walk through the Willamette Valley Vineyards vineyard
Chris and I thoroughly enjoyed wandering through the vineyard every morning during our stay at the Willamette Valley Vineyards. There is something just relaxing and idyllic about starting the morning walking through the grapes on the vines. Every morning was different and enjoyable.


3rd Place
Sunset Across the Willamette Valley

Watching the stunning sunsets across the valley in the evenings was  the perfect way to end the day. Of course, sipping on a glass of wine on the veranda of the guest house is a great addition to the view.
Runner-up
Standing Above the Pacific Ocean on the Trail

After hiking a short mile or so to get to the overlook, the reward was a fabulous view of the Pacific Ocean from a spot, which potentially, Lewis and Clark stood to get a view of the ocean. Stunning, awesome, and expansive are the words that come to mind.
Image of 2014
Looking Over Cayuga Lake
This image was captured during June on a beautiful summer afternoon. This is one of those images that just calls to me through the water and the empty adirondack chairs that just say--come and sit for a while. The scent of the summer was hanging in the air and the lake called to the primal instinct to come down and play in the water.

There they are--my top five (OK--7) images of 2014 and the memories they recall.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday, January 2, 2015

Kitty Leaves the Nest

Kitty Departs
It finally happened. On the last day of 2014, Kitty, my Jaguar, left the nest and was donated to the National Kidney Foundation. 

There is a huge space in my driveway where it was parked, and a hole in my heart. Kitty was, after all, my first Jaguar. I had tried selling the car for the past almost eight months--but there were no serious buyers. In the end, it just made better sense to donate Kitty to a foundation that works to make lives better for people.

As I was going through the paperwork, I realized that I had owned the car for just over seven years and in that entire time put only about 6,000 miles on it. 

So, good bye to Kitty--I begin the new year with one less vehicle.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD


Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Cat Stretches it Legs--Springtime is Coming

Cat with the Top Down
One of the surest signs of Spring is when Cat comes out of the garage and takes a stroll on the highway.

It happened yesterday. I drove Cat to work and was able to drive home with the top down. I wish I could have driven like my hair had been on fire, but the traffic was a bit heavy.

The temperatures were in the mid- to high-sixties and although the day was overcast, it was definitely freeing to drive home with the wind in my hair. 

The day was such a reversal from even last week when the highs were in the 30's and on one morning the low was 4 degrees. 

The image on the right shows my two primary vehicles--my winter and bad weather truck is in the back. It has been carrying the load these last five months. But, hopefully, Cat is ready to purr and take over the daily commute duties.

Now, if only the weather cooperates.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday, August 31, 2012

Cat Fails

One of my cars--the Jaguar convertible, is known as Cat. Cat has an issue. As I pulled into the garage last night clouds of steam billowed up from under the hood and orange coolant began forming on the floor of the garage.

Cat has a problem. One of the heater hoses burst and hot coolant was steaming out everywhere. It was a huge mess, and frankly it was something that I really didn't need after such a nice drive home on a beautiful afternoon.

In retrospect, where better for a car to fail than in the driveway?  At least I was not stranded on the side of a rush hour clogged highway with scores of travelers gawking at me wondering what was wrong.

I was safely in my garage.

I was home and my biggest concern was moving my racquetball gear to my truck in preparation for the morning.

Do I call AAA and have them tow Cat to a repair place? To a Jaguar dealer?

Do I attempt a backyard repair?  It looks pretty simple. Really. Only problem is that I spend most of the evening online and cannot find the hose needed to effect the repair. It has two bends in it.

Monday! I'll fix it on Monday afternoon.

I hope.

Ugh! Why do cars break? Why when we least need them to break. Although, when is a good time for them to break?

At least, as I wrote earlier, it was not alongside the parkway on a busy afternoon. I hate being stared at. People wondering what transgression I committed for my car to fail.

I'll drive my truck today.  I could drive Kitty. I have choices.

I am blessed in so many ways.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD





Friday, February 18, 2011

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.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Memorial Day Weekend

Well--even though astronomically it hasn't happened yet and won't happen for another almost four weeks--the official start of Summer is here!

Yup--Memorial Day.

Break out the pools, the grills, the bikes, the Summer fun equipment because we are gonna have a party.

Memorial Day, although with somber beginnings, has become the start of the Summer season. Many municipal pools open on this weekend--and around here they should be fairly cold given the weather we have been having right up until this week.

A lot of people have forgotten the reason that Memorial (or Decoration) Day was established. Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 31 in 2010). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the Civil War), it was expanded after World War I.

And so from this somber remembrance, we also enjoy the start of a summertime season that includes Independence Day and ends on Labor Day in early September. More than 92 days of heat, travel, vacationing, and sunburn.

Take a moment though on Monday, to remember our fallen heroes--the men and women of the military services from all of America's wars who died while in service to this great Republic.

I will be traveling--so I am sure to enjoy spending time with family and friends this weekend. We are going to do a test run with Cat--to see if we really want to pack ourselves into the car for a long ride to Florida in July. I wonder how Makayla will do riding with the top down?

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Top Down and Hair not-so on Fire

Tuesday was an awesome afternoon here. Everyone was talking at work about how great the weather was--outside.

Me--I had a late meeting that didn't end until about 4:30, so I couldn't even give into my developing case of Spring Fever and blow the popcorn stand to go outside and enjoy the weather.

But--as I hit the parking lot and noticed the great weather I did something that I have wished that I could do for years but never had the capability to do--I put the top down on Cat and decided to drive home and enjoy the sunshine and the pre-Spring day. Yes, the picture is from when I brought the car home and all of the snow is gone now--but you get the idea.

Wow--all of the snow--except for one pile along the fence is gone--we are making progress.

It was awesome. I turned the heat up to high, and left the windows up to keep the wind off me and enjoyed a great ride home in the afternoon 62 degree or so sunlight.

So how badly do I want it to be warmer? Pretty badly! It was a pretty sedate ride home--but I was already thinking of July and driving to Florida and stopping alongside I-95 to put the top up for the oncoming rainstorm in the sultry 95 degree heat and 95 percent humidity of the Dog Days of summer. I can smell it even as I write it--bring it on!!!!

Hey--the snow is gone, mostly and that is a start.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Before Cell Phones--How Did We Ever Do It?

A not so amusing return to life before cell phones (B.C.?) occurred in our family the other evening.

It reminded me how dependent we are on these little boxes that I could only dream of having when I was reading Dick Tracy comics as a kid. My how science fiction has become reality. And are we ever hooked!

I was at home, beginning work on the taxes (yes, it is tax season) when the home phone rings--it is Chris with an immediate invite to dinner at a restaurant in the mall with her, Nicole and the boys. So I quickly clean up the tax mess and charge out the door--forgetting the cell phone. Without knowing it, I hd traveled through a time warp into the days B.C.

And boy, did I pay for that.

I got stuck in rush hour traffic and wanted to call Chris to tell her--that is when I realized I was without the critical piece of technology which keeps us all in touch. I worried, but continued on my journey. After all--how difficult could this be--we were meeting at a known place.

Yeah!

I arrived at the mall and jockeyed for a parking place. Speeding into the the restaurant, I told the greeters that I was meeting someone and sped past--knowing that I was late.

Guess what I found upon searching the whole place? Chris, Nicole and the boys were NOT there! What happened I wondered. If only I had my cell to call them. But no, I was stuck in time B.C.

I waited a bit and wandered to the last known location where they had been--when Chris had called. Not there!

I wandered around a bit looking for them and began wondering if something had happened and plans had changed or if the boys were too tired to go out or something. All good questions--but with no way to obtain an answer.

Ugh! So I got a bit upset--at myself, at Chris, at the situation, at life, at traffic, at mall parking, at my truck (because I still can't drive my new cat because of the weather).

I decided the only good play was to return home to find the answers. In this case--home is about a 10 minute drive. In traffic--15 minutes.

So off I sped.

My blood pressure was rising to stroke levels because of the situation. I was B.C. in a big way.

As I returned home and walked through the door--the phone was ringing. It was Chris--she said--"where are you? We are at the restaurant." I know I unleashed a string of fairly vile words at that point because the phone went silent--I think I was burning out a transistor or a capacitor or something.

Because we've been married almost 35 years--Chris waited for the fire storm of emotion and frustration to subside a bit and calmly reinvited me to dinner with the words--"so what do you want to do?"

I was hungry by now. I decided to return to the mall for dinner--with my cell. I didn't want to be in the time of B.C. anymore.

I hopped back into my truck and realized that since they were at the restaurant, they would be waiting to order--and with two smallish children--that was problematic. So I grabbed my cell and called my order in to Chris. My beer was waiting for me when I got there and dinner was served with everyone else's.

I had a great dinner sitting next to my best bud-Jax. Much more relaxed now that I was back in the present day with my cell in my pocket--and fully connected to the world and my life.

I never want to be in the time B.C. again! I don't know how we ever did it.

And back then we only had one car, too! But that is a story for a different day.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

The New Cat in the House

So my mid-life crisis finally got the better of me and I decided to get a new pet. I kind of let the "cat" out of the bag in yesterday's blog; so I figured I should probably let everyone in on the secret.

This cat can be very mean--and is very fast. It is sleek and black for navigating the night. And it has a deep roar.

Right now--I have to keep it in the garage until I get it trained and house broken.

I guess I do crazy things when I get snowbound.

But I have been seriously looking for a car like this for months (bordering on years) now--and I finally found one that met all of my specifications and was a good deal too.

Chris and I are excited about driving it to Florida this summer! I'm just excited about driving it--once the snow melts and the temperature gets about 60 degrees. Is that ever going to happen?

Every time I drove it through a puddle while we were bringing it home the other night--I cringed! I drove it to church on Sunday just to get it out on I-95 and it got stuck in the parking lot leaving the church,. Not real good on snow and ice on a hill. But I knew that.

Ethan really enjoyed it when I put the top down on Sunday. He was a bit worried that it was going to hit him on the head though when I put it back in place. Everyone in the family wants to go for a drive--but they are going to have to wait until the weather gets a bit better.

So here is the problem--I don't know what to call it. I already have a Kitty--so that is out. And I could tell that Kitty was jealous sitting under the pile of snow she is currently stuck in. Cleopatra has been proposed--and it a good name, but, not too sure that I want to call my car that. Any ideas would be appreciated.

We will have to see what happens to Kitty--I'm not sure I have enough time (or money) to feed and maintain two big cats!



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Wednesday, May 21, 2008

The Continuing Saga of my Truck

So--it has been a week! Do I have my truck? No. Do I think I will ever see my truck again--even with a new engine? Yeah--but it sure has been painful and required a lot of follow-up to pull it off. I thought I was getting it back on Monday. Then it was yesterday. Now, supposedly, I will see my truck today.

It is not that I mind driving, Kitty, my Jaguar. But, it is not an everyday car and I really need to do some work on the air handling system. I have hot air when its hot out and cold air when its cold. Hmmmmm. I will say the air conditioning works great with the sun roof open and the windows down, although I can't carry on a conversation on my cell phone because of the wind.

Well--good things come to those who wait--but this is getting a bit extreme. That written, I now know when I will be replacing my truck--May 2009 as my graduation gift to myself for Patrick finally getting out of college.

It should be a great day.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

I Walked out of the Club This Morning, and

it was beautiful. I had just finished playing a match of racquetball and I noticed that day had broken, it was about 6:30 AM. The sky was bright. And I was filled with a sense of hope for the day.

I've been driving my Jaguar, even though I really don't want to, because my truck needs a new engine due to an oil pump failure. I like my Jag, but I did not buy it to be an every day car. Though it is fun to drive, I really want to turn it into a show car. And it has Historic plates on it, which the garage says is OK to drive since it is not an everyday car, but my everyday car is laid up.

I get to play racquetball three times this week at 5:30 AM--and I really like starting my day that way. What a great way to use my time and to get the energy level up for the day.

Do I win or lose and does it matter? Not really. Of course I'd lie if I said I didn't like winning--but I used to play a guy who I almost never beat--and my game improved dramatically over the four years we played so that by the end I was winning about a third of our matches. Now, I'm in a league and playing one guy fairly regularly. I can't remember a time when I was in as good shape as I'm in now.

So, I walked out of the club this morning with the earth alive and birds singing. It made me happy. Joy of living and life.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Jupiter



Yeah--its been cold here for two weeks. We have snow still on the ground and I haven't been able to work on "Kitty". Guess where I would rather be? Some place warm--like, here in Jupiter, Florida. Or even further south! Like Key West. Some day.

Kitty? You say? Yes that is my 1987 Jaguar XJ6 VDP. I got Kitty (get it?) after my 1998 GMC Sonoma was stolen while I was looking for a replacement. And it is a beautiful car, but as with all old vehicles it needs work and care. I do not drive it every day (it has a bit of an oil leak) but I love to drive it during good weather. And with the weather cold, I've been thinking a lot about moving lock, stock and Jaguar to Florida for some sun and surf.

But I know it will be warm soon and I'll be dreaming of getting the pool open so I can lay on a a floatie and drink a beer in the hot July sun.
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