Orca Predicament Ends Happily

The whales made it to freedom--without the assistance of humans. I was extremely happy to hear the news.

Trapped Orcas - January 2013

Why I actually care about a pod of Orcas is beyond me, but I do. Nature can be cruel and it is only humans that realize this. We are the only species on the planet able to mobilize ourselves against nature and win--sometimes.

And other times, even we lose miserably, like tsunamis.

I guess I rejoice when good things happen in seemingly hopeless situations. Because this situation seemed hopeless.

The situation was reminiscent of 1988 and Operation Breakthrough near Barrow, Alaska to free trapped gray whales..

One writer, made the following observation after the gray whales had made it to freedom:

Most importantly, I think there was and is a human lesson to learn from what happened with this International effort. Don't take this the wrong way, I love whales. I do. But I can't help but think it is amazing how much money and energy was expended, in brutal conditions, to rescue these whales. While it provided a nice diversion from the ongoing political races at the time, it remains sad to realize what we are willing to do for whales, yet we won't take the time or money needed to help out each other. Poverty, elderly folks being prisoners in their own homes, hungry children... all right here in America. It's wrong.

I really can't disagree, but then, we do what we can when we can and how can it be bad when we rally together for good?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Force is Strong with this One

Lucas and I are enjoying a great start to the morning.

Star Wars Episode VI--with the Ewoks is currently on. We have already done the complete tour of the outside, thankfully, it is a beautiful day.

He is a pistol.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Grandparent--Other Duties as Assigned

Yesterday I had the opportunity to chat with a newly minted grandmother. Her grandson was one month old and she was still getting used to finally (her words) being a grandmother.

Lucas, Christmas Day 2012

It was fun to listen to her and it reminded me that I sometimes take for granted the enjoyment that I derive from having the "grands" around. They certainly brighten up a room, house, party, or whatever other event they are attending. Chris says that they keep us young.

Being a grandparent means that sometimes I have accept other duties as assigned, or requested.

Today, for instance, I get to spend a one-on-one day with the youngest grandson--Lucas. I took a day of leave from work and am expecting his arrival soon. We should have an interesting and exciting day. I am lucky enough to have time available and also have the level of activity at work low enough to allow me this opportunity.

Ready, set--let's rock through the day.

Then tomorrow, back to the grind.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

In the Heat of Battle

Sports, it seems, can be a reflection of the warrior spirit that hides inside of us. Like anything, each person is gifted with different portion of warrior spirit--some are blessed with an almost self-destructive portion of warrior spirit.

RGIII on Sunday January 6, 2012

I was moved on Sunday during the Washington Redskins game. As he was laying on the turf after his already damaged knee which had hobbled him for much of the game, I saw that warrior spirit in their quarterback--RGIII. And it may not be a good thing.

The warrior spirit, unchecked, can cause rational people to make irrational and ill-advised choices. The ability to decide to take a path to self-destruction, while sometimes viewed as heroic, can also extract a high toll upon self and those in the vicinity.

While he was clearly heroic on Sunday in trying to lead his team to victory in the face of every increasingly over whelming odds, the decision to remain in the game and face a potentially career ending injury probably was not the right decision. Unlike warfare where there may not be a tomorrow or a next year, in sports next season holds the promise of even greater achievements--if able to participate.

But, in the hear of battle those decisions are not so clear. The harsh morning light of the day after, though, provides the illumination to evaluate decisions.

Leaders need to be sensitive to heat of battle decision making and keep the strategic objective in sight. Needlessly throwing human or fiscal capital into a losing position may have greater a negative impact on the organization than just accepting the position at hand.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - Tuesday January 8, 2012

1. Off to a not so good start for the new year--totally missed writing Monday Musings yesterday. I guess I'm not musing too much this year, yet.

2. Walking outside yesterday at 5:30 PM, I was amazed that it was not totally dark. Yay, the dark times are beginning to pass. All of the celebrating did its job. Go druids, go!

3. Taxes--I have a feeling we haven't seen the last tax increase this year.

4. Who else, like me, realizes that the 2 percent increase in the Social Security withholding (OASDI) this year is a tax increase? They keep trying to sell it as the expiration of a tax decrease--but that still makes it a tax increase, right?

5. I noticed that the socialist government in France was trying to tax individuals who make a million Euro or more at a 75 percent tax rate. That is going to really spur economic recovery.

6. Are you worried about the trillion dollar coin concept? Read about it here. It is not a good idea.

7. How about the national championship game. I really thought Notre Dame was going to play a better game. But all we are left with is a rousing chorus of roll tide roll!

8. The NHL is back! I can't believe it took so long to get back onto the ice.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Snow Remains

As I was walking up the driveway to get the newspaper yesterday morning, I noticed a remnant of snow from the storms we had just after Christmas. A small, unassuming pile has lasted over a week to remind me that it is winter and with just a little bit of unluckiness--we could have had lot more of it.

Thankfully, it is just a small pile.

But it remains there.

Right off the drive next to the fence.

I hope it goes away soon before the weather can add to it. I think between yesterday's mild temperatures and today's--it will surely be gone by tonight.

Time will tell.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

On into the Rest of the Year

The final decorations of Christmas have been returned to their storage containers where they will remain until after Thanksgiving 2013.

My, how quickly the season came and went--but I've written that before.

Today, it is onto football, playoffs, and enormous amounts of foot to celebrate the start of the rest of the year!

It is really exciting for the region that both teams are hosting playoff games on the same day. I'm not sure anything else is getting done anywhere around here today.

Hopefully, the football playoffs will not end the same way the baseball playoffs did with both teams losing in the first round! That was a real bummer.

But--here is a thought, I don't think the both of the regions baseball and football teams have ever made the playoffs during the same year!

That, as they say, is really exciting for a region where cellar dwelling has been perfected.

Focus on the positives--we are there. The outcome matters but not as much as just getting there. There are 20 other teams in the NFL whose seasons ended last year--and we are at least playing on and at home!

Go Ravens and Go Redskins (Fight for ole DC even though you play in Maryland)

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

First Basketball Game

Ethan's first game. Rolling along for another season. Going to be fun.

First Saturday

Believe it or not, the first Saturday of 2013 has arrived and after the frenzy of the holiday season I would say it is a welcomed arrival except that this day and this weekend promise to be as busy and harried as the season just completed.

The phrase that comes to mind is kick the tires and light the fires!

The last remnants of the holidays will likely be purged from the house--two Christmas trees need to be deconstructed and stored until later this year when they can reappear to assist in celebrating the demise of 2013. And then all of the remaining decorations need to be packed away and the house returned to its eleven-months-of-the-year condition.

Putting the period on the end of the seasonal decorations is somewhat sad. It causes me to reflect on how long we anticipate the season and then it seems to rocket by and we are thrust back into the routine of life. Anticipation gives way to celebration and then into a New Year and reestablishing the routine again.

Is it possible to change the routine?

I think my feeble attempt to encourage growth and change from the season is in my resolutions. I set one for myself and that was to be more sensitive of the blessings in my life--every day. Specifically, I resolved to recount at least three blessings in my life before I went to sleep at the end of every day. People who know me realize that I tend to group things into threes--hence, three blessings to find and consider.

Now four days complete into the New Year, I can report that I am running at an about 50 percent success rate. I am too tired some nights to remember anything before I my head hits the pillow.

But I think about the blessings in the morning--so maybe I need to tweak my resolution.

As for today's agenda? De-Christmasifying the house, attending a grandson's first basketball game of the season, Church in the afternoon, and squeezing in two NFL playoff games.

The blessings in these endeavors--I am not alone, my parents are still visiting and I can enjoy these activities with them, God has given me the means and the health to enjoy life and my family.

Definitely a good way to start the first weekend of the year.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Walter's Art Museum: Part Deux

I played hooky from work yesterday afternoon and took my parents to visit the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore.

Syria: The Night Watch
Brighton Riviere 

It was my second visit in a few months and it was every bit as enjoyable as my first.

I am really happy that such a world class art collection is available right here in Baltimore--and that I don't have to sojourn to D.C. every time I need an art fix.

One painting caught my imagination, Syria: The Night Watch by Brighton Riviere. I could not help but consider the current unrest and atrocities happening in that country and look at the lions in the painting patrolling the streets looking for people to devour. There was something very eerie about the painting and the reports in the news this week that 60,000 people have died in the civil war happening in Syria.

The Ideal City

I did, finally, get to view The Ideal City, which was traveling the last time I was there. I find this painting fascinating and extremely out of style for the period of paintings in which it is displayed. This is one of those very special enigmatic paintings.

It was a great afternoon and I will be visiting again, soon!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD