New Year's Eve

Happy New Year's Eve

End of a year and the beginning of a new decade

The day for which we have been working towards since when the year began has arrived. 

I am amazed at how quickly the end of the year, well even the end of the decade,  seems to have arrived. It seems like just yesterday . . . 

It is an old phrase that we always use when the passage of time seems to have happened so quickly. 

As the new year and the new decade approaches (will it be the roaring 20's?), my hope is that your memories of 2019 are more good than bad. That you were fulfilled in some way during the year and that your hope for the year ahead is positive. 

Happy New Year!

May God bless you and your family and friends.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - December 30, 2019

1. Welcome to the last Monday of 2019 and the next to last day. The year ends tomorrow night, which appropriately is know as New Year's Eve.

2. It was a great weekend with the weather being mild, although rainy yesterday. I got to play golf to celebrate the end of the year.

Axis and Allies 1942
December 27, 2019
Elkridge, MD

3. The guys in the family reenacted WW2 on Friday.  It was a "do over" from Black 
Friday. In the end, the Axis again scored a "probable" victory. We classify it as probable because we only played for 5 instead of 12 hours and had to make an assessment when time expired. 

4. Family NFL results for the last week of the regular season. There were only two games as the family teams played each other.

  Ravens defeat Steelers 28-10. Ravens are the #1 seed in the AFC. The Steelers miss the playoffs because the Titans defeated the Texans.

  Cowboys defeat Redskins 47-16. Cowboys miss playoffs because the Eagles defeated the Giants. 

5. In the in-between Christmas and New Year's period, it is hard to keep focused on the task at hand and not what the New Year's Eve plans are. 

6. In just less than two months, I will be in Sarasota attending some Baltimore Orioles Spring Training games. And playing golf.

7. Rainy days are dark and dreary. Yesterday was an example.

8. I have completed watching the first season of The Mandalorian. It was excellent and I was shocked that it had only 8 episodes. Here is a shout-out for Baby Yoda!

9. Today in History, 1922. In post-revolutionary Russia, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) is established, comprising a confederation of Russia, Belorussia, Ukraine, and the Transcaucasian Federation (divided in 1936 into the Georgian, Azerbaijan, and Armenian republics). Also known as the Soviet Union, the new communist state was the successor to the Russian Empire and the first country in the world to be based on Marxist socialism.

During the Russian Revolution of 1917 and subsequent three-year Russian Civil War, the Bolshevik Party under Vladimir Lenin dominated the soviet forces, a coalition of workers’ and soldiers’ committees that called for the establishment of a socialist state in the former Russian Empire. In the USSR, all levels of government were controlled by the Communist Party, and the party’s politburo, with its increasingly powerful general secretary, effectively ruled the country. Soviet industry was owned and managed by the state, and agricultural land was divided into state-run collective farms.

Headlines

California Is Booming. Why Are So Many Residents Unhappy? - The New York Times

U.S. Attacks Iranian-Backed Forces in Iraq and SyriaU.S. Attacks Iranian-Backed Forces in Iraq and Syria - The New York Times

For China’s Pickup Artists, Sex Is the Goal, Urging Suicide Is a Tactic - The New York Times

North Korea's Kim urges 'positive and offensive' security measures at key party meeting - Reuters

Evacuation order in Australia's south-east as bushfires rage and temperatures soar - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

This year, the future of the nation and the world is particularly on our minds. We are thinking of our nation because, in the year ahead, we Americans will choose our next President. Every adult citizen has a role to play in the making of this decision. We will listen to what the candidates say. We will debate their views and our own. And in November, we will vote. I'll still be President next January, but soon after that, the man or woman leading our country will be the one the American people pick this coming November. 
 - Transcripts of New Year's Greetings From Reagan and Gorbachev on TV published in The New York Times, January 2, 1988


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Last Sunday 2019

The last Sunday of 2019 is here and the new year is only a short few days away. While the news media and many people are looking to the past to characterize 2019, I am looking forward--bring on 2020 and let's get the party started. 

2nd Tee Box
Timbers at Troy
Elkridge, MD
December 28, 2019

Yesterday, while much of the country was suffering through bad weather, it was a great day here. The sun was shining and the temperature made it into the 60's--even though officially at the airport the high was 57 degrees. AND I was able to get in 9 holes of golf during the afternoon. It was definitely winter conditions, but the course was well maintained and it was great to be out in the sunshine. I played in my shirt sleeves with my push cart and walked the course. I thoroughly enjoyed that for those in golf carts it was cart path only, whereas I was able to walk right up to my ball with my clubs and enjoy the day. I think I am beginning to really enjoy walking the course with my push cart a lot more.

Today, Chris and I expect to get more outdoors work accomplished. She did a lot while I went off and played yesterday, but there is always more that needs to be done. 

I note that it is also the last Sunday of the NFL season. Next week the playoffs begin and I am happy to say that the Ravens will not be playing next weekend because they have a bye! That is really cool as it has not happened before that the Ravens get to sit out the Wild Card Weekend of playoffs. 

Enjoy your day! Prepare for the new year.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Titanic Mystery Murder

Last evening, Chris and I enjoyed one of our Christmas gifts by attending a Titanic-themed Mystery-Murder event in Baltimore. The hardest part of the evening was actually finding the theater as it is inside of the Lord Baltimore Hotel, but nothing in the directions suggests thsat it is nested in the hotel. After successfully locating the theater we were ready for an enjoyable evening. The murder-mystery was designed for audience participation, but it also began very late--at 8:30PM. I was surprised how deserted the area of Baltimore was at 8PM on a Friday evening. I had expected traffic and vibrant activity, but there was none. That turned out to be a blessing because I drove around the block about three times before we were able to ascertain that the theater was inside of the hotel.

The event began with the explanation of the mystery at hand. A mystery in that five Titanic survivors died within two days of each other in Baltimore. Four men and one woman were involved and through the evening clues were given to help the audience solve the crime. Along the way there were some magic tricks which related to solving the crime. The tricks were very interesting and did add to the ambiance of the show. The show lasted just about two hours and the audience detectives solved the crime--the answer which I will not reveal. It was a good detective experience in putting clues together. The time passed quickly and there evening was soon over. One of the upsides--we were lucky in finding inexpensive parking in Baltimore. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Axis and Allies Redux

Today is the day that the world gets to see if it can survive World War 2 all over again.

Axis and Allies Board, Ready for Battle
November 29, 2019

The results after Thanksgiving were not so good--the Axis won a convincing victory after the Allied fleet was sunk in the South China Sea in an engagement with the German fleet. 

Today, a rematch is planned. The family will gather and see how history is changed or not.

Will the war end as history records or will there be a new reality? Time will tell.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Joy Remains

Jax at Christmas 2019
December 25, 2019
Odenton, MD

The celebration may be over, but the joy remains. 

The day has passed, but a new one is dawning outside of my window.

Memories of the day will be kept forever in my mind. The family, the food, the gathering, the conversation, the game we played and the presents exchanged. 

Christmas is not over, because it is a season and we are children of Christmas! The joy of the season lives within us and we are fulfilled when we share the joy. Christmas is not about the gifts, or the food, or the activity--it is about people and and how we each touch each other.

We improve the world, one person at a time when we share our inner joy with others that we meet and know just by doing our everyday tasks.

Merry Christmas, may your joy fill others with hope.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Christmas 2019

Christmas 2019
Elkridge, MD

It is hard to believe that the last Christmas of the 2010's is here. 

I am sitting my chair, alone in the room with the Christmas tree lit reveling in the quiet of the house. All I hear is the sound of the furnace pumping out warm air and the cat munching on the tree. It is artificial and the imitation needles he consumes means he is going to be puking later. Merry Christmas, here is a pike of puke to clean! Cats!

Chris is asleep. She will be down in a few minutes and we will share that special morning time together before the start of the day. The day is devoted to family. The gathering of the clan, so to speak. 

And now, the day begins. 

May your Christmas wishes all come true and may peace find its way into our tortured world.

A prayer of thanks for the first Christmas gift of our Savior and we are off.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Christmas Eve 2019

It has arrived--the day before the day!

I remember that when I was a kid, Christmas Eve was the longest day of the year. It would drag on forever and I would look forward to church and the candle light service because I knew that after church it was time for bed and then the BIG day would arrive. 

In retrospect, Christmas Eve is an important day. It is the epitome of preparation. 

Today we will gather the family for a brunch to start what has become a two-day holiday. And this year, thanks to an Executive Order for the President, federal workers have an official two-day holiday, so I did not have to take leave, as I usually do, to enjoy the holiday. 

And so, on the Christmas Eve, let me offer a prayer to all. It is not of my own writing, but I found it on Crosswalk and it spoke to me. 

Lord, in a season when every heart should be happy and light, many of us are struggling with the heaviness of life—burdens that steal the joy right out of our Christmas stockings. Crazy weather disasters strike at unsuspecting areas, ravaging peaceful homes and interrupting the lives of unsuspecting residents. Tragedy arrives as innocent victims suffer, and an inner voice whispers, “Be afraid!” We need your peace, Jesus.

Lord, we still carol the wonderful message, huddled beneath winter caps on snow-covered porches, or from churches, led by enthusiastic musicians or choir members. Yet we confess that our hearts are too often filled with wonder of a different kind: wondering when the bills will be paid, when the terror will stop, when rest will come. Will it ever? Is the message still true?

In a world where worry, not peace, prevails, stir up that good news again. This Christmas, make it real in our hearts. Never have we needed Your joy and peace more than now. Thank You for the gift of Jesus, our Immanuel, the Word made flesh. Forgive us for forgetting—that Your love never changes, never fades, and that You never abandon the purpose for which You came: to save us from our sinful condition, and to give us life eternal, the joy of relationship with a holy God. Your birth—and Your death—sealed Your promise to us forever. Amen.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - December 23, 2019

1. The year is drawing to a close. This is the next-to-last Monday of the year. There are two short days until Christmas and only 8 days remaining in 2019.

2. Winter began on Saturday night Eastern Standard Time. I almost did not notice it.

From Saturday Night Live
December 22, 2019

3. I do not usually watch Saturday Night Live because it is on too late and often I do not appreciate the humor. This Saturday, however, we recorded the show to review later and on Sunday we watched the show because it had Eddie Murphy as the host. It was very funny. One of the funnest parts was the comparison of Mitch McConnell to a Star Wars character. It made me laugh. 

4. Family NFL Results. There is one week remaining in the NFL season.
  
    Steelers lost to Jets 10-16 (Playoff hopes on life support)
    Cowboys lose to Eagles 9-17 (Playoff hopes on life-support)
    Redskins lose to Giants 35-41
    Ravens defeat Browns 31-15 (Earned 1st seed in AFC)

5. The packages are bought and everything is ready for the holiday! Really? No, but it is great to think about.

6. Dual youth basketball games highlighted my Sunday. The boys split with one win and one loss, but both had great performances.

7. The temperatures are going to be in the 50's for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Yay! I wonder if there is any way I'll play golf. Who am I kidding?

8. Today in History. On December 23, 1888, Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, suffering from severe depression, cuts off the lower part of his left ear with a razor while staying in Arles, France.  He later documented the event in a painting titled Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear. Today, Van Gogh is regarded as an artistic genius and his masterpieces sell for record-breaking prices; however, during his lifetime, he was a poster boy for tortured starving artists and sold only one painting.



Headlines


Three Big Child Predator Sites Were Closed.  - The New York Times

In France, Holiday Skating Rinks Are an Unlikely Climate Battleground - The New York Times

'Bull's-eye' landing for Boeing's Starliner - Reuters

Hong Kong braces for protests over Christmas holidays - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week


Christmas is also a time to remember the treasures of our own history. We remember one Christmas in particular, 1776, our first year as a nation. The Revolutionary War had been going badly. But George Washington’s faith, courage, and leadership would turn the tide of history our way. On Christmas night he led a band of ragged soldiers across the Delaware River through driving snow to a victory that saved the cause of independence. It’s said that their route of march was stained by bloody footprints, but their spirit never faltered and their will could not be crushed. The image of George Washington kneeling in prayer in the snow is one of the most famous in American history. He personified a people who knew it was not enough to depend on their own courage and goodness; they must also seek help from God, their Father and Preserver.

Ronald Reagan Christmas Address 1983

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Star Wars - The Rise of Skywalker, Review

In short, if you have seen, or in some cases suffered through, the other 8 Star Wars movies you MUST see the latest installment, which is also touted as the last installment of this fantastic series that began during 1977. 

Think about it--42 years of Star Wars--and the official end has been announced. 

Rotten Tomatoes critiqued the film: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker suffers from a frustrating lack of imagination, but concludes this beloved saga with fan-focused devotion.

Let me say that while I can see some truth in the critics assessment, the film completes the story in a creative and consistent manner. I found the movie filled with action, although the "flight" scenes seem to be almost continual, they did not drag and added to the story. There are surprises and tears. Laughter and groans. I experienced a wide range of emotions as I watched the heroes of my adult life conclude their saga. I have learned about good and evil and the force form these cinematic heroes. They have been consistent if not at times unwilling heroes through these 42 years.  

RECOMMENDATION: See this movie. It is worth the time investment. The is the triumphant completion to the saga that redefined science fiction moviemaking and has crossed generations of moviegoers. It remains as relevant today as it was in the 70's.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD