Spring Rain

Although the temperatures have been cooler, the cycle of springtime rainstorms followed by piercing bright sunshine have begun.

I experienced it yesterday. A bright, sunny afternoon punctuated with thunderstorms. It has all served to bring the leaves on the trees from a bud situation into leaf.

It is funny how quickly leaves spring into view after the buds have started.

I love the greens of spring. The light greens of the new leaves are a splash of refreshing color after the gloom of winter.

And the rain just serves to generate even more leaves and springtime growth--I imagine that I can almost see the grass growing--and in fact the lawn does need to be mowed.

The first real mowing of the year, I can hardly wait to enjoy it. Although I have just discovered that I am severely allergic to nearly everything growing in the yard.

But I still stick my nose into the most fragrant flowers. I love the fragrance of flowers especially peonies. Although they are just beginning to grow after the winter, the thought of their full open flowers and sweet smell warms my heart.

And all because of the rain and the sun and the warmth.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Decisions, decisions, decisions

I make decisions every day. It is part of living. Some are pretty mundane like what color shirt will I wear. Others are a bit more important, for instance will I stop at the red traffic light.

Some people have difficulty making decisions. Really important decisions require thought and consideration. There really big ones fall into the category of things like am I going to buy a new car or change jobs. But most decisions do not fall into the same life altering realm.

I am convinced that for the majority of decisions in what I call the middle zone--that zone between life and death decisions (like stopping at a traffic light) and life altering decisions (changing jobs or buying a new home), the actual decision is less important than actually making a decision.

Decisions are points where I have the ability alter the direction of an activity. For most of the decisions we are faced with, the critical thing is to make the decision and not let fate or chance become the default decision maker. Whether the decision is right or wrong is not the best way to look at the problem. A better way is to look for opportunity.

Decisions are about opportunity. Each decision comes with opportunities gained and lost. Not making a decision or letting a decision point become "overcome by events" or OBE, is not taking advantage of the opportunities present in the situation. That is the definition of a bad decision because it allows inertia to be in charge.

Good or bad, making a decision is always better.

Even seemingly, at the time, decisions which do not maximize opportunities may be the right decision or may work out in the end because the decision maker energized the organization, or family, in a particular direction and that provided the guidance to motivate and mold the solution.

The key to good decisions is realizing that making a decision is the first and most important step in the process. The actual decision itself sometimes is almost secondary.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Men's Room

Men are complex conflicted beings, that is all that I can surmise. I write this after witnessing the disaster in the men's room at work for another day in an unnumbered string of days.

It is not too hard to hit the trash container with the paper towels. Yet, it seems that many men don't understand the concept.

And then there are the newspapers left on the floor in the stalls, near unused bits of toilet paper.

It is a sad commentary on our society.

I wonder if it is just as bad in the women's rooms?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings -- March 26, 2012

1. Baseball, and its return, have me ready for outside living.

2. Home runs by Adam Jones and Nick Markakis during the game against the Red Sox on Friday were things of beauty to watch. The crack of the bat and the outfielders watching the balls leave the park added to the ambiance. So did the 6-5 win!

3. The limits of personal privacy continue to be stretched as employers are asking for FACEBOOK passwords. How can that possibly be right? Next they will want a key to my home's front door!

4. Flying continues to be a trying experience. I long for the days of relaxation and comfort.

5. March Madness is truly mad.

6. Note to self--when traveling, if the bag can't be lifted over the head, don't try to lug it onto the airplane as carry-on baggage.

7. It was hard to transition from 80 degrees and blue skies back to 50's and gray overcast.

8. I was thinking about the week ahead and realized that I'm actually planning to be at work five days in a row. How different is that for the month of March? I was actually traveling on 15 days during the month.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Baseball Rocks!

Spring training weekend is something I have been looking forward to since the baseball season ended in October. It did not let me down.

Unlike last year when I came to Sarasota and saw them, the Orioles look GREAT!! The offense was productive and the pitching and defense was stronger than I expected. Despite ESPN's dire predictions of the O's season, I have returned to Baltimore ready for opening day in less than two weeks and believing that the Orioles Way has reemerged from hiatus and our team is ready to confront the beasts of the AL East.



I saw a quote from Rogers Hornsby that more than I could every believe stated my love of the game and the way I wait through the winter for its return.

I took an image of it in Sarasota where it graces the entrance to Ed Smith Stadium where the Orioles hold spring training. It reads:

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what
I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." - Rogers Hornsby




This weekend, I saw the O's win two games. I saw batters batting and pitchers pitching. I saw the fielders making plays and more importantly, I saw a tight baseball team that has improved on the fundamentals.

Despite the dire predictions, I believe in the Orioles Way and Orioles Magic.

I believe that 2012 will be better than 2011.

And more importantly, I believe in baseball, Mom, and Apple pie!

Maybe the cartoon bird has magic in the logo.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Awesome day at the park

We have had an awesome day at the park and the game has not even started.



I saw my favorite player, Brian Roberts, and he signed my hat. He says he is doing better and accepted my wishes for a continued recovery.

We have snared a couple balls and given most of the away.

Jeremy got Matt Wieters to sign his jersey. Mike also got Brian Roberts to sign his baseball.

Game on.



- Bob Doan, Sarasota, FL

Out the Hotel Window - Sarasota, March 2012

Sadly this was the view from the hotel window yesterday morning. I say sadly, because I was thinking about going out into the pool for a morning swim--but as you can see it was full. And I really didn't want to get into the middle of whatever lesson was taking place.



The scene is not nearly as awesome as the views of the wide open prairie from my window in Denver last week. I still remember the sunrises that I witnessed.

But despite the view, I am in Florida and an unexpected cool front has changed the forecast from sunny in the 90's to cloudy in the low 80's, meaning that my "still not acclimated to summer temperatures body" was not be too stressed at the afternoon ballgames.

The good news--baseball, sun, and warmth! As an aside, this is the sign at the entrance to the hotel--I feel so welcomed.



The bad news? I have to leave this beautiful place later today and probably not return until next year.

For now though, I will enjoy this foretaste of summer and savor the coming dog days while still being sure to enjoy the blooming springtime.


-- Bob Doan, Sarasota, FL

Sunny baseball afternoon

Sarasota and the O's are leading 4-2 in the 4th.

Awesome day.

Flowers of Spring

They are accumulating in the yard, the flowers of springtime. The weeping


cherry is preparing to burst forth is its season of color, while the less noble but still beautiful bleeding hearts are also in bloom.



It is a fun time of the year to see the rebirth happening each day.

It is a season to enjoy and savor as it too quickly passes. While summer is fun and the pool will soon be open, this time as the flowers. Brighten the awakening world and the birds reappear is truly a time to enjoy.

I love walking the yard and seeing the new growth. I remember, just a few weeks ago when the land was dormant and asleep waiting for the warmer days and shorter nights. Everything was the same from day to day. But now, change and growth is everywhere.

So now is the time to enjoy and remember while looking forward to even more warmth in the coming summer sun.


-- Bob Doan, Sarasota, FL

The Grating Sound of Springtime--Ice Cream Truck

There it was the other evening.

The sound that makes me want to head inside and close all of the windows.

Yes, it is the sound of the ice cream truck winding its way though the neighborhood.

Were it in earshot for only a few minutes, I could accept its nightly rounds; however, it seems to linger in the evening like a visitor that will not leave even though their time has long passed.

It is not that I would deny the children of the area their opportunity to receive frozen delights, but rather it is the awful music blaring from the speakers which bring all rational thought to a stop which grates on my mind.

And it seems to continue for over an hour as the truck winds its way through the neighborhoods surrounding the house.

Sadly, it can ruin the best glass of wine (whine?).

I wonder how many children actually flock to this relic of Americana i the evening? I wonder how many parents cringe at the sound of its arrival in the area?

In reality, it is just another confirmation that winter has checked out and we are firmly in the season of rebirth.

If only they would change up the music!



-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD