Monday Musings - August 13, 2012

1. Olympics completed. Medals won. The world shrunk a bit for a few short weeks.

2. Completion. That is the exclamation point on the deck project with the final screw being driven into the final piece of wood.

3. Politics heats up as we head into the convention season. Less than three months to go.

4. Mars--the Red Planet seems closer again as Curiosity begins its mission. I know that Bugs Bunny's nemesis Marvin the Martian is hiding there somewhere.

5. I am taking a few days off this week to complete those summertime projects that haven't been completed yet.

6. Check out the Orioles--they are still in the play off race and it is heading into mid-August. Ya gotta believe!

7.  Olympics highlights--Michael Phelps, USA Women kicking the world's butt, USA Men's and Women's Basketball, Women's Soccer, Men's Platform Diving, Men's and Women's Swimming. Wow!

8. In 3114 BC, the Mayan calendar started on this date.

9. In 1940, The Battle of Britain begins on this date. I wonder if the Olympics ended yesterday because of this historical remembrance.

Olympic Thoughts--The End is Here

The U.S. is pulling away in the medal take at the Olympics and even has more gold medals than China.

I watched some of the Men's 10 m Platform Diving--which ended with a surprise Gold Medal for an American. Think about it--10 m platform diving is like jumping off a three-story building. I think I am too sane to even try that one. I dove off a 3 m springboard once and thought I was going to die after crashing into the water.

And then there were the track and field events. I had hope that with three Americans in the field that we would get at least one medal on the 5,000 m race. But no. It wasn't to be.

Sadly, the U.S. women--who seem set on conquering the world, settled for silver in volleyball. The men never even made it that far.

The nice thing about the Olympics--there always seemed to be something on tother than the nonsense of the regular TV programming. I mean, how many episodes of some program on HGTV can one person really watch?

We tried to find a movie to watch last evening--with over hundreds of channels we felt lucky to find Moneyball playing on one channel for some evening entertainment as the thunderstorm rained down upon us.

At least the Olympics are entertaining. And they can be mind expanding by watching events that we never even knew were in the Olympics-like mountain bike riding.

As the games close today, we will be forced to choose from the usual mind numbing shows to watch on TV again. Ugh!

Just when you think it can't get worse-it finds a way.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Running Mate for Romney - Yawn

I am sitting in front of the TV, taking a break from the Olympics to focus on something important--the Presidential sweepstakes.

The pundits are gearing up for the stretch run and the Republican candidate is announcing his running mate. The scene is splashed with flags and red, white, and blue bunting. Imaginary excitement, it seems. Whipping the crowd into a political frenzy by touting the record of failures--but never spouting a vision for the future.

I wish the campaign would change into one focused on defining the future in terms other than one candidate is better than the other guy.

So, while I'm watching and listening to the candidate bashing, I wonder what is in store for the winner of the election the day after inauguration? It is like too many marriages--all of the effort is put into the wedding day and none into the day, weeks, and months after that fantastic day.

We need a President who has a vision for the four years after inauguration day.

And so, I wait. And while I listen to the bashing and the blustering, I yawn and wonder . . .

is there any substance to either of the leading candidates, one of whom is our President? Will there be any positive action as a result of the words?

I hope so, because one of them will be leading our great nation come January 2013.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Anniversary Number 37

Last evening--it was off to Yellowfin, near Annapolis, for a celebratory dinner.

Looking out the Window of Yellow Fin

Thirty-seven years ago at the tender age of 19, my high school sweetheart and I were married. Really. And it has been an adventure ever since.

It is fun, once a year to reflect on life together because we spend so much time living day-to-day that we often don't have the time to think about where we've been--only where we are going.

Sitting at the restaurant, looking out at the water and the boats as the sun was setting behind a cloud was a great place to reflect on where we've been and plan for the future. You can almost make out the roses in the vase in the corner--I put them in the image intentionally--but now am not so sure it worked.

Every couple needs time to reflect, away from the hassles of life in a spot isolated from iPads and iPhones. Last evening was ours.

Happy Anniversary. It has been 37 years to the same person. Cool. Sometime when asked I remark that I have been married too long, but in reality it has passed so quickly that the time seems too short. I guess it is easier when you are married to your best friend.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

All in a Day's Work

Some days are unique just due to  diversity of the activities involved.

Yesterday was no exception.

Weirdly, I went to work for the morning, then off to the dentist, followed by the allergist for one of my twice weekly shots, and the reconnected the Wii for Ethan to play some games followed by more work on the stair railings on the deck--which, are all but complete, finally.

The balusters are all in place and I am doing some final work on the rail and topping for the railings--but it is so close to being done that I am about to say, finally, the project started during the first weekend of June is done.

Bird Sweeps-up

For an encore, it was off to see the now nine games over 500 Orioles sweep the Seattle Mariners, 9-2. It was a hot and muggy evening. Very close, I would describe it. Except for the score. I do enjoy seeing the Oriole Bird with a broom sweeping away the competition.

Muggy is an interesting word. It is of Scandinavian origin it turns out.  Who knew?

Being at Camden Yards last evening was great. The crowd was small but, about 17,000, but it was all Orioles fans and were definitely into the game. Chris and I visited Boog's Barbecue and Boog Powell himself was there signing autographs. I like seeing the great former Orioles first baseman as it reminds me of the great history that the team has, and especially the 1966 World Series sweep of the Dodgers. Maybe lightening will strike like that this year.

After the game, yes, I stayed until the last pitch was thrown, it was back home and into bed a bit past my bedtime, but at the end of an activity packed day. I sure am glad that every day is not like yesterday, but then, I am glad that some of them are!

--Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Football? Hall of Fame?

For the first time in many years, the NFL Football Hall of Fame game came and went with almost nothing louder than a whimper. It was played last Sunday! Another meaningless pre-season game marking the beginning of the NFL campaign.

Although a number of great football players were inducted into the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, we heard almost nothing about the ceremony this year.

The news coverage was drowned out by the playoff inspiring Orioles here in Baltimore.

Yeah--the Ravens, the Steelers, the Redskins and the other 29 teams in the NFL are in training camp and the NFL season opener is less than a month away.

But we are in a play off race for the first time in 14 or more years.  It's BASEBALL, baby!

The O's have a winning record and have their sights set on the evil empire, the NY Yankees, who currently sit atop the AL East. There are 52 games left and it is on, again.

Football can wait--we are extending summer this year! I even have visions of October baseball and trying to get tickets to sold out Orioles games at inflated (rather than reduced) prices.

For the first time in years, we have a contender on the diamond. And i am heading out to the ball park tonight to cheer on the Boys of Summer!

--Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Standing in the Throng

It happened Sunday. I was in church part of the gathered congregation singing an especially great praise song. It was dark, the band was leading and it seemed that everyone around me was singing joyously. I suddenly got lost in a vision.

I understood, just for a brief moment, these verses in Revelations Chapter 7:

7:9 After these things I looked, and here was an enormous crowd that no one could count, made up of persons from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb dressed in long white robes, and with palm branches in their hands. 7:10 They were shouting out in a loudvoice,

“Salvation belongs to our God, to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” - NET Bible

I was part of the great multitude singing, no we were shouting, to God seated on His throne. I could hear my small voice joining with thousands of others in choruses of praise. And I never tired of singing songs of praise. For a moment, I think I had a vision of heaven.

I realized that I never tire of singing praise songs.

But it was standing in the middle of a great congregation on Sunday that reminded me that I am journeying here. It is not my home.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - August 6, 2012

1. The first week of August is nearly gone and I am still thinking it is July. It is hard to let go of a great month.

2. I think I'll buy something from Chick-fil A today--just because. Did that whole political outcry backfire, or what?

3. Do we like Michael Phelps more because he is from Baltimore? Perhaps. The most decorated Olympian of all time--not a bad signature block.

4. Well it is off to work again. Balancing work and life is one of the most difficult things that I do. Sometimes I spend too much time at work, but at other times, I want to spend too much time at home.

5. Watching the Olympics events, I continue to marvel at the dedication of the athletes. The sacrifices they make to become the best in the world are incredible.

6. Weird events in history--on this day in 1967, the Orioles Brooks Robinson hit into a record 4th triple play.

7. When we hit our lowest point we are open to the greatest challenge. Aang

8. Mars--the red planet continues to intrigue. NASA and the US is there again. Way to go for Curiosity and a safe landing. Now, let's find those pesky Martians!

9. Is where we grew up the same as where we are from?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Heat, Sweat, and Saturday

It was hot and humid yesterday. Almost too hot for working around outside--but that is exactly what I did. I mean, I am the crazy that vacations in Florida during the summer.

The stairs on the deck are still screaming to be finished--so I worked on them. Chris power washed the exterior of the house to remove the built up grime that just is a part of life.

She at least had the cooler job although she did have to play like a monkey on the ladder.

The rails for the stairs are not yet done. It was slow, tedious work requiring lots of measurements and cutting. I used both my table saw (Shop Smith), my compound mitre, and my jig saw to at various times during the day to fit in the pieces.

Stairs Near Completion

We also discovered that one of our hoses needs replacing as do the connectors on the others. It made hooking them together quite an experience.

The house looks good and the stairs are getting closer. I even have one baluster installed--just to see how it looks and how the final project will come together.

This project certainly has dragged on for over two months.  But, I guess when vacations, surgery, and other activities are considered, at least we are still making progress. I just want to be able to say that it is finally done though.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Olympics Reflection - Near the Mid-point

They are everywhere it seems, the Olympians, the news, the papers, even the social pages. We were out to dinner in Fells Point last evening and the people in the restaurant were asking about how often Michael Phelps visits.

He lives nearby.

I was watching a ping pong match on TV. Why? Just because it was on and there was an American playing. Poorly.

It is nice to see and hear so many people interested in the team representing our country on the world stage. I was even happy to see that the US Team medal count finally crept in front of China--both in terms of total medals and gold medals.

So far, it has been a pretty much a swimming show--but we are transitioning into the track and field part of the Olympics.

But the swimmers have been fantastic.

Why aren't baseball or racquetball Olympic sports?

Who knows. But then neither are cricket or squash. But handball? Rugby? They are. And most Americans don't even know what handball is. And it is not two people in a court whacking at a ball with their hands, either.

I could complain about the TV coverage--but why? It is what it is. We live in a world run not by politics, but by corporations.

So--press on American Team. There are a lot of events yet to be played out. Do your best and make those of us back home proud.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD