After the Storms

The warm, humid air with a hint of honeysuckle mixed in assaulted my nostrils as I walked through the doorway following the thunderstorm. Although I had expected the air to be cool, crisp and clean; washed by the storm, it was not. Instead it was full of musky odors. It was damp and alive with the smells of life. I enjoyed the smells of the freshly mulched flowerbeds as I stood there on the porch.

The dark clouds that had brought the storm were clearing and I could see stars beginning to fill the space between them encouraged by the fast approaching darkness.

The honeysuckle in the breeze was light, wafting and enticing me to pause and enjoy the moment. It was a magical moment, caught between the ending of the day and the clearing of the storm. A timeout on the playing field of life for a reset.

And then, Makayla, my dog, reminded me why I had opened the door to venture out in the first place and the spell was broken.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Fundamentalism gone awry

I read a funny item from 2002 yesterday which shows the extremism to which some people can take things. It is titled Why Can't I Own a Canadian.

Taken out of context we can run afoul of the most well meaning things.

One of the items it contains reads as follows:

When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

Why don't we sacrifice bulls anymore?

Or any of the other things referenced?

I guess if you have to think about this too long, we need to have a talk. Maybe it has something to do with Romans 10:4.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Big Moon - Blue Sky

Remember a few weeks ago the media attention that focused our attention on the moon that was supposed to appear 10 percent larger because the full moon was going to occur perigee?

I looked at the moon that night. It was bright, but how does one measure an additional 10 percent of moon brightness and size? It didn't seem bigger-and in truth, it wasn't. It was the same old moon--I just took time to notice it.

Like the blue sky on Sunday.

So clear and blue that it seemed like I would get lost in it. And for a while, I did get lost in it as it enveloped me and I drifted off to sleep under its vast covering.



Did it seem bigger then? No clouds; just blue sky adding depth to the scene behind the trees and buildings.

The same sky that has always been there. I just took time to notice it.

Sometimes I just need to slow down and notice the world around me and then the things I have always accepted and seen will look new and different.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

And the grass keeps growing

I looked at my lawn last evening after nearly a day of rain. Although freshly mowed on Saturday, it was already beginning to get long and scraggly. A sure sign that I was going to need to mow again soon.

Oh yeah, I still do not have a mower. Even my broken lawn tractor remains at the repair shop. I could believe the grass is growing wild knowing that I have no way to tame it. No "sheriff" to keep it in check.

I look back two months ago when I was excited about getting the tractor out and mowing. Has the excitement of that first Spring mowing already become the drudgery of yet another chore? No, I don't believe it has become drudgery, but the excitement certainly has passed.

And I continue to search for a replacement tractor.

My new trimmer is awesome, but it is a too small to attempt to use on the entire lawn.

Another day of rain and prime grass growing conditions are ahead.
I wonder if the lawn will make it until Saturday for its next mowing?
I think not.

It is green, mostly. I enjoyed looking at the clear, deep blue sky behind the fully leafed and green trees on Saturday. The green grass of the lawn completed the image and I find it far more pleasant to regard than the brown lawns of the winter.

So I encourage the grass to continue growing with the application of fertilizer, because I prefer the green and the mowing it requires to the alternative.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - May 21, 2012

1. Impromptu parties are awesome. We had the first pool party of the year last evening. Best of all, we couldn't plan for it all day.

2. I was able to sleep during the middle of the day on my floatie in the pool. What could be better?

3. Summer is getting so close. The daylight is lasting longer and longer and we are getting so much done around the house.

4. Lilacs and hoses. What do they have in common? They occupy nearly the same space in my garden.

5. Shoping for a replacement garden tractor is not easy. And who really wants to spend money on a garden tractor?

6. How about the Orioles? When they used the cartoon bird as the symbol of the team, they were one of the best teams in baseball. Now that the cartoon bird has returned they are number one again. Coincidence?

7. Have you noticed the stock markets? Can you believe that Greece is behind the current problems?

8. Dogs know best.

9. The rain is coming again. Ugh!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Baseball, Lacrosse, and Tractor Shopping

The weekend revolved around a trifecta of activity. Friday night we traveled to Nationals Park to watch the Orioles continue their fantastic season.


They defeated the Nationals in eleven innings. I discovered that Orioles fans are far more polite when traveling into hostile parks than are the Red Sox and Yankees fans are that I get to meet at Camden Yards.

Nationals Park is a great pace to watch baseball and the evening was awesome.

Yesterday was a day devoted to yard work and trying to find a new tractor. By 7:30 am, I was looking at Craigslist possible replacements. Too bad that one did not start. By 9 am, we had driven about 20 miles to look at another. Disappointed, we did not buy that one either. Fortunately, the neighbor let me borrow his and the lawns are mowed--but the search goes on.



The afternoon took us to a lacrosse tournament. We had been watching Jax for the late morning while Ethan was spending time playing lacrosse. Sadly, it took so long to get to the tournament, we only saw the second half of Ethan's second game. But it was fun to see how much he has developed as a lacrosse player this season.


A truly busy Friday night and Saturday--and there is still Sunday to contend with!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

At the Symphony

Saturday evening was spent at the Baltimore Symphony reliving the music of the 60s and enjoying old memories.

After a day of shopping, work, and sports what could be better?

And the Baltimore Symphony does it best. They put on a great show that truly spanned the decade. Although they almost forgot the Beach Boys, they did get them in.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Taxes and Lack of Representation

The governor of Maryland, Martin O'Malley, who has presidential aspirations, has succeeded in firmly placing Maryland into the top five states with the highest personal tax rates this week.

Did he do this himself? Well, essentially yes he did!

How, you might ask?

By creating a no fault situation in which no one needs to accept responsibility for raising taxes. The legislature will blame the governor for calling the special session and having no other alternative. The governor can correctly point out that it was the legislature which actually passed the bills raising the taxes.

But in my mind--they are both at fault for not managing the budget and the state better to have to resort to such oppressive tactics.

Here is the kicker--now Maryland will be going back to employers and having them begin withholding taxes at the new higher rate retroactive to the beginning of the year! The year is almost half completed.

I am amazed that so many elected officials can be oblivious to the consequences. This, after all, is an election year and as of right now my vote goes to anyone who voted against the tax increase.

The day of uneven and increasing tax rates must come to an end. It is simple--which taxpayers are fueling the economic recovery? I am becoming an advocate for a flat tax with no exemptions!

It is only May, and I know many people have short memories--but we have to remember the tax increases when we vote in November.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Oil and North Dakota

An article in the Wall Street Journal yesterday really intrigued me. North Dakota passed Alaska to become the number 2 oil producing state.

I guess I thought that Alaska had been the number one state all along. Turns out that Texas is the number 1 oil producing state.

It all goes to show how much oil the shale in North Dakota is capable of producing. And there may be even more in Ohio.

Contrary to what we have been led to believe, the U.S. is beginning to increase oil production. Can we meet our needs? Probably not.

But it is an interesting thought.

As the Wall Street Journal reports: North Dakota is likely to hold onto the No. 2 spot, as Alaska's output has steadily declined over the past decade. Six years ago, Alaska produced about eight times more oil than North Dakota.

Wow--we can continue to pollute our planet and deplete its resources for a few more decades.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Frustration on the Court

My racquetball has been awful lately. And I mean totally miserable. It is following the problems going on in my life with my shoulder and now my cubital tunnel syndrome.

But worse, I am not moving and seeing the ball--it is like I am playing in slow motion.

Last night I got smoked like I wasn't even on the court.

I am frustrated. To say that I definitely do not have the "eye of the tiger" right now would be a understatement.

Playing so miserably really takes the fun out of the game. I hate losing--don't get me wrong, but losing when I am playing well is a lot more palatable than just acting like road kill on the court.

I am like road kill.

But I keep playing because I figure there is no way to get out of a funk unless I keep trying. Every day is a new day. Maybe it is just like an extended hitting slump that some baseball players go through.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD