Monday Musings - June 4, 2012

1. A beautiful weekend spent outside working on the deck. We got a lot accomplished. There is still a lot to do.

2. The Orioles are beginning their mid-season slide.

3. Good friends, hard work, something accomplished is the sign of a good weekend.

4. I had this idea that if we had part time legislators then we would have fewer nuisance laws being passed--but then I recalled the latest session of the Maryland Legislature when they failed to address the big item, the budget, and had to be called back for a special session to raise taxes to fix the budget.




5. Deconstruction and construction projects create a lot of mess. Here is the first load ready to head off to the landfill.

6. Here is the pile still waiting to be loaded for transport.



7. We have a catbird that had adopted our backyard as his play area. Although this seems nice, who knew that catbird's were so noisy?

8. I enjoy the sounds of the morning. Birds singing in the trees broken only by the sounds of planes overhead and cars revving their engines along with the occasional siren headed off to an emergency somewhere are a symphony of life.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Little Project gone Huge

It happened yesterday. What started as a smallish, spur of the moment while standing in Lowe's project to replace some old deck boards became a major deconstruction and construction project. It doesn't look as bad as it really is.


Fortunately, I have help--but when a project goes from a two day project and grows into a weeks or more project it can be demoralizing.

Originally, it was just some bad boards. Then it was all of the deck boards. The it was the stairs and railings too.



To top it all off, the first board took over an hour just to get away from the house--it was heavily glued. Persistence won out. Most of the other boards are coming out in pieces--that is how badly they have deteriorated.

Along the way we stumbled into a major ant civilization that had adopted a portion of the deck as their planet. Sadly (for them), they have been eliminated.

Day 2 is at hand! After buying more materials.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

People and Medical Issues

I have been talking to people a lot about medical issues and procedures lately. The ailments range from damaged shoulders (mine included), to elbows (surgery on Monday), and bladders and prostrates (not mine). I have also talked to people about cancer and heart issues (also not mine), joint replacements (not mine) and visited an allergist who proclaimed that I am a very allergic person. I personally have seen more doctors during the past few months than I probably have during the past 10 years.

What does it all mean? I and my friends and family are getting old.

That is my conclusion. Old people talk about their next medical issue or appointment. Ugh!

There has to be more to life than growing old and going from one doctor to another with a steady and growing stream of medical and health issues.

And I know that there are other things to talk about. This week for instance--I enjoyed some racquetball matches where I am slowly becoming competitive again, I did a lot of work around the house--it seems that there is always more to do, and I had a busy and productive week at work. I also enjoyed time on the beach and some fabulous wines.

But what do I seem to want to talk about? My upcoming medical procedure!

Ugh!

Old!

I'm going to try to do better today and tonight with my friends. I resolve that are going to talk about something else--like the taboo topics of politics and religion?

Maybe not, we'll see.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Welcome June

Summer is upon us.

Finally!

After the starts and stops during April and May, the heat has arrived, the beaches and pools are open, and the mosquitos are dive bombing at me for dinner.


May was an incredibly busy month. June promises more of the same.

June is rapidly becoming one of my favorite months of the year--it is when Summer officially arrives although everyone knows it has been summer in my head since Baseball Opening Day. June is when schools close for the summer and the beaches become crowded--except in Florida.

My pool is ready to face the challenges of another summer season--I know that I am going to give it quite a workout.

So as I shake the last grains of May dust off my feet, I look forward to a June filled with warmth, pool/water activities, friends, and vacations. And I wonder what twill be the special memory from this summer.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

She Thinks My Tractor's -- Well not Sexy

Guys love new toys.

My new toy, er tool, arrived last evening. After two weeks without a tractor/mower, my replacement arrived last evening. It was unceremoniously off-loaded from the delivery truck and placed at my feet by two guys who almost dropped it. Well it is almost 600 pounds and the ramp was a bit narrow. Not a real good beginning.



To say that I was excited about receiving it is an understatement.

24 horses of Briggs and Stratton engine powering a 46 inch mower deck on a Craftsman tractor ready to make short work of my lawn. And it did. Raw power, tight turning radius.

I had bought the bagger last weekend. It was ready. Amazingly, it installed in less than about 20 minutes and was ready for work.

The lawn looked great when I was done.

I do miss my old tractor--but the new one is really powerful. And it made short work of the lawn especially with its tight turning radius.

Out with the old and in with the new. Does anyone need a used tractor with a non-working engine?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Back from the Beach

Monday's trek home from Ocean City was, in a word, long. Traffic was snarled for over 30 miles from Easton to the Bay Bridge and it was so hot in the sun that we actually put the top up on the car because we were baking like muffins in an oven.

What a downer on a perfect weekend. And it happens every year, although usually I am not in the traffic.

For all of the money Ocean City generates and for all of the now increased taxes were are being gouged by, it would seem that the State would do something to ameliorate the problem.

But no--running a "Click it or ticket" seat belt campaign seems more important. That is almost as futile as the drug war. Pouring good money after bad. If people are not wearing seat belts by now, I am not convinced that there is a way to change their behavior.

And the road to and from Maryland's premier vacation area continues to shrink in the face of increasing demand. The taxes generated by the tourists and visitors to Ocean City alone should be enough to fix the roads.

Or so it would seem.

Five hours to complete a normal two-and-a-half hour trip seems a bit excessive. It leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth and a sore spot on my bottom.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Patty Reese House Concert - Review

Saturday night, Cellar Music sponsored a house concert featuring Patty Reese accompanied by Dave Chappell on guitar.



The venue continues to be a great place to experience artists up close and personal. This concert was very well attended and so there was a lot of conversation and food and drink before the concert actually began. That perhaps is one of the great aspects of house concerts--the intimacy and the relaxed atmosphere. There was no annoying bag check to get into the house!

Dave Chappell was awesome performing as the second guitar to Patty. His riffs and fills added significantly to the experience and it was clear he was experienced in working next to Patty. It was also evident that he is an experienced and excellent guitarist. I enjoyed listening to his music almost as much as the headliner for the evening.

Patty put on a solid performance. She worked the crowd well and was personable and approachable. I felt her vocals were reminiscent of Janice Joplin with a raspy and folksy quality. Her songs were well written and told excellent stories. The lyrics made sense and worked well with the music. I could tell that her songs are designed to highlight the best qualities of her voice. They were compelling to listen to, and I'm sure with a bit more familiarity I would be humming some of the tunes.

Bottom line--Cellar Music did it gain. Way to go Gary and Pam.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - May 28, 2012

1. Happy Memorial Day. The summer begins.

2. There is something soothing about waking up and seeing the ocean waves crash onto the shore.

3. Holiday weekends seem to pass too quickly.

4. Traffic is terrible, but isn't it cool that so many other people are doing the same thing.

5. I bought a new tractor the other evening. It is like Christmas in May waiting for it to be delivered. I already have one key and the nagger for it.

6. Seriously, what do you do with a broken tractor? Craigslist!

7. I am sitting here looking at the ocean waiting until it is time to hit the beach.

8. Has any candidate really touched on the true issues we need addressed this Fall?

-- Bob Doan, Ocean City, MD

Memorial Weekend

Guess where? I woke up in my own bed this morning and by 8:30 I was in Ocean City looking at the beach and ocean. Bring on summer and let the good times roll.

Calm at the Start of the Weekend

I fell into the white adirondack chair on the deck with my coffee to enjoy the morning. The holiday weekend is at hand and it is going to be at the same time busy and fun.


By the end of weekend I hope to be walking on a beach. But to start the weekend I'll be walking through the dump and recycling area. I will likely be borrowing my neighbor's tractor again to mow--since the refurbished one that I bought will not be delivered until Wednesday.

And somewhere in there is shopping, and tonight a house concert to enjoy.

For now though, I am on the deck in my chair--did I mention that it was wet with morning dew when I fell into it and so now I am damp?

And the birds are singing. Or screeching. The morning is alive and I can actually pause and be part of it.

I am not good with bird calls, but I hear a cat bird, a mocking bird, the racket caused by a woodpecker finding breakfast, a couple of cardinals, and many other birds filling the morning air with the sounds of life.

It is going to be a good day.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD