End of the Day Treats

The weather made it feel like summer yesterday.  And it will likewise feel like summer again today.

I love the summer.

During early summer evenings the canopy of the trees are alive with fireflies that light up the evening and chase away the darkness. It is fun to sit and enjoy the light show while also remembering my childhood when I would chase and capture the fireflies in a mayonnaise jar filled with a few strands of grass. I wanted to enjoy the their light for myself. I would release them after a while, usually just before I went to bed.

The fireflies never seemed to be as much fun in a jar as they did flying about illuminating the sky with their cool light.

Last evening, with Mom and Dad, Chris and I went to a local place in Elkridge to enjoy some ice cream at the end of a long day. 

Fireflies are a treat for the eyes, Cindy's Soft Serve provides a treat for the palate. 

Cindy's is one of those emblematic soft serve ice cream stores that I see in so many small towns and cities across the country. It is a place where people gather at the end of a hard day to find some cool sweetness and be around the other residents. It is one of the last places, I think, where communities gather.

What I know is that there is something great about having a sundae in my hand and sitting in the yard watching the fireflies. They are truly end of the day treats.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Cool Summer Days

The Team

Last evening I spent another two-and-a-half hours watching Jackson and his tournament team prepare for the weekend's games. 

Jax During the After Practice Team Meeting

It was another long practice in preparation for a tiring weekend of games when the weather is expected to be hot. At least the evening weather was cool and provided the perfect conditions for another lengthy practice.

Jax is enjoying moving up to the next level of baseball where the game takes on deep strategy and complexity. There are signs to get the players ready for all aspects of the game from batting, to pitching, to base running, and even calling plays in the field.

Something the coach told the boys really resonated with me, he said, "You are not playing baseball, you are baseball players!" I think it is an important distinction. They are no longer just playing a game. 

The boys of summer are here!

In other news, the Orioles lost another game last evening 8-7.  They were winning in the 9th and managed to lose in the 11th. They are now a dismal 23-56 and they are 26 games out of first place.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Mid-week Baseball

Jax at Practice
June 26, 2018

I returned to the baseball field last evening watching Jackson practice with his tournament team. Sitting off the field watching is not nearly as enjoyable as actually coaching. I did learn some things about teaching the game and running a practice that I could use next year, if I was going to coach again.

Jax Avoiding the Pitch

The likelihood is that my coaching days are through because Jax is likely moving on into more competitive leagues. 

It was a two-and-a-half-hour plus practice and I admit that I was beginning to get cold in the cool evening air as practice ended at 8:45 PM. 

It was long, but with the threat of rain and the two tournament games on Saturday, the team needed to work on a number of things.

In other news, the Orioles managed another loss and are now 23-55 and looking at a solid 114 loss season. It is both frustrating and embarrassing to be a fan right now. Nothing seems to go right--they lost a tight 3-2 game to the Mariners last evening.

When does next season begin?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Dog Sitting

Florence

We have great family when it comes to dogs. We all help each other out when we travel by watching each other's dogs. 

Arthur

This morning, for instance, we have two additional dogs in the house, Florence, an Italian Grayhound, and Arthur, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

They add a lot of excitement to our two permanent residents, Makayla and Finnegan.

You could say that we are going to the dogs--lol.

We are lucky the they all get along so well, although the bed does get full at night.

We also have two extra boys--Ethan and Jackson, but they are a lot more self-sufficient. 

It makes for exciting days and is keeping Chris busy as she enjoys retirement.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - June 25, 2018

1. This is the last Monday of June! Next Monday it will be July and the year will be more than one-half over.

Steve on Eisenhower Hole Golf Course #2
June 24, 2018

2. I had a good golf outing yesterday. It was nice to play two weeks in a row and return to a course that I am very familiar with, not that it helped my scoring much.

Gathering Storm Clouds from my Yard
June 24, 2018

3. The rains continued last evening. It was funny in a way, Chris and I watered all of the outside plants thinking there was no rain in the forecast and then the clouds opened up.

4. I have noticed that many of the drivers that I share the road with are oblivious to what is happening around them and to make it worse, they apparently believe that I am a mind reader and know in advance when they are going to turn or change lanes.

5. I have been very encourages about the bipartisan response to the current immigration border process. I am more concerned, however, that the good work being done to keep families together is somehow going to be undone.

6. I am excited about the week ahead. Mondays are full of promise and expectation.

7. On this day in 1876, Native American forces led by Chiefs Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull defeat the U.S. Army troops of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer in a bloody battle near southern Montana’s Little Bighorn River.

8. The Orioles lost yesterday and are now 23-53. If they continue to play as they have been playing, they could lose as many as 113 games this season. They have, however, won 3 of their past 6 games.


Headlines

Trump’s Trade War Could Shut Cheesemakers Out of Foreign Markets - The New York Times

Suicides Have Increased. Is This an Existential Crisis? - The New York Times

Trump advocates depriving undocumented immigrants of due-process rights - The Washington Post

Supreme Court poised to rule on Trump travel ban, other cases - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Sky is Blue

I took the dogs out this morning and was greeted by a blue sky after two days of dreary clouds.

I am looking forward ot the prospects for the day and especially golfing at one of my favorite courses--Eisenhower in Crownsville.

I am hoping for a great day.

The Orioles did a great thing yesterday. They won another game. Their projected losses have dropped to 112 with the win. Today they go for a sweep of the division leading Braves. 

It should be a sports-filled Sunday.

Blue skies! Golf. Baseball. 

And of course everyone's favorite--lawn mowing.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Here Come the Rains, Again

First Sunrise of Summer before the Rains
June 22, 2018

After a brief respite, the rains have returned with a vengeance. It has been raining for the past two days, again.

It really had put a damper on activities.

Yesterday, I took Radio Flyer our for a quick shot of the dawn under the clouds before the rains started in earnest. I was a bit late getting the colors of the sunrise, but I wanted to document the dawning of summer.

Then it rained!

And it is still raining this morning.

I'm not sure what the day will bring, except more of the rain. We are five inches of rain over normal for the year. Someone postulated yesterday that if it were snow, we would have possibly 60 inches! Ugh. I'm glad it is not snow.

Well, at least summer has arrived. This morning it is a balmy 68 degrees outside with the rain.

In other news, the Orioles won a 15-inning contest last evening and lowered their expected number of losses from 115 to 113! The are 3-2 in their past 5 games!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday Again

The end of the workweek is upon us. Here comes the weekend.

I sometimes call it Aloha Friday and today I will be wearing a new Aloha-type shirt that Chris gave me for Father's Day. It is bright.

The First Evening of Summer
June 21, 2018

Today is also the first full day of summer. I feel robbed of the solstice since we had a fairly heavy cloud cover and I could not celebrate the first sunset of Summer 2018.

Even without a brilliant sunset to record from altitude, I flew Radio Flyer to document the end of the first evening of summer. I wish the images were better, but I had an inflight emergency that I successfully dealt with and saved my drone from loss or destruction. 

Radio Flyer in the Yard during the Winter

The battery lost charge suddenly and I had to make and emergency landing. Fortunately, I found a suitable location that allowed me to successfully recover Radio Flyer. I learned a lot about emergency procedures, but most of all I learned that the screen I use to control the drone becomes clogged with all sorts of warnings that hinder the ability to identify a safe landing location.

In other news . . . 

The Orioles continued losing and remain on pace to lost 115 games this season. The only question I have is whether I should round up or down when dealing with the fractional part of the losses? Is 115.397 really 116 losses? On the good side, they have won 2 of their last 4 games and are playing .500 baseball this week, so far.

Despite the Radio Flyer emergency and the O's loss, I am excited about the beginning of summer. It is, after all, my favorite season of the year.

Bring on the heat, the sun, the sand, and the fun! And palm trees, cue the palm trees!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Summertime Begins

Finnegan Staring at Something

The best season of the year begins today. Summer arrives, or for some of you has already arrived!

Yes!

The Hydrangea that Ate Elkridge

Pools, fun, golf, travel, and hot sultry days floating in the pool.

Of course last evening it was raining, again! Ugh. 

Finnegan is excited about summer. He was on the back of the outdoor sofa looking for its arrival the other evening. At least he was staring out at something. 

The hydrangeas in the front yard are growing out of control. The deer have not managed to consume the blooms yet.

The rain is keeping everything very green, which is fine with me. The fire risk for the 4th of July is likely to be very low. That is good for the local fireworks displays.

On the baseball front, the Orioles have won two of their last three games. They posted victories on Sunday and last night, they lost on Tuesday and are now posting a 21-51 record. They remain poised to lose 115 games.

Happy summertime. Break out the beach umbrellas!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Last Day

Watermelon Margarita

Retirement is sweet. 

Well, so says Chris.

Yesterday, after 23 years of getting every school day to greet, encourage, and teach students, was the last day. Through tears and cheers, Chris walked out of Lime Kiln Middle School and into retirement after the last bell rang. 

Evening Happy Hour

The first thing she did after leaving school was go to lunch with her friends where, in addition to food, she enjoyed a pretty awesome looking watermelon margarita.


And then she came home. Later in the evening we enjoyed a special happy hour together. Throughout the evening, I was pleased by the number of people who called her to wish her many years of joy as she begins the new chapter in her life. 

Chris on the Beach

It was a day of celebration, fun, parties, and some sadness as the reality of retirement became very real. Hopefully the friends and relationships of 20 plus years will remain strong well into the future.

I am so proud of her!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD