Monday Musings - March 24, 2014

1. Sitting in the breakfast area of the hotel yesterday morning I heard a couple complaining about everything and everyone in the area. I felt sad for them. They just had a very crusty view of life.

2. OK--I got sunburned in Florida. I had to come back looking like I actually spent four days in the sun. In olden times I would have called it a good base for my expected summertime tan, now I feel a bit silly letting myself get burned.

3. Weddings are exciting times and bring families together. They can be a bit chaotic to outsiders. They also are very noisy at hotels.

4. It was a huge shock to leave Tampa's 80 degree temperatures and arrive back in Baltimore's 36 degrees dressed in my shorts and flip flops sporting a sunburn.

5. There was something really great about looking up at the stars in the sky from Sarasota and being warm knowing they were the same stars over Baltimore.

6. I arrived at the Tampa airport yesterday just in time to see the end of the Kentucky-Whiticha State basketball game. Many people were transfixed on the game and as soon as the upset was secured they scurried off to their waiting airplanes.

7. Sadly, the Soviet reunion appears to be continuing despite the best threatening the West can muster.

8. How lucky am I? I just completed a weekend of burgers, beer, and baseball. Four baseball games--the Orioles were undefeated (2-0-2, yes, they allow ties in Spring Training) and the weather was, in a word, idyllic!

9. I am still amazed that I can wake up in Florida, see a baseball game, board an airplane, arrive home and be ready to play racquetball the next morning and then go to work. 

10. Opening Day for the Orioles is 7 Days away. The temperature here this morning is 24 degrees. I may have to wear a parka and mukluks to the game if something doesn't change.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Beer, Burgers, and Baseball Part 2

Port Charlotte Sports Complex

Day three of the trip was was as spectacular as the first two. I sojourned to Port Charlotte for a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at their Spring Training facility.

Although the outcome was a lukewarm tie, 3-3, it was Tampa's A squad against the Orioles B squad. The Orioles looked good and it was another idyllic day in the sunshine with warm temperatures.

Ubaldo Jiminez

I stood near the Orioles bullpen in the outfield for the entire game and really got a sense of the pitching staff. They are going to be great. I had a lot of fun watching them and talking to them and even got a baseball tossed up to me before the end of the game from one of the pitchers. I watched the starting pitcher Ubaldo Jiminez (31) get ready for his six innings of work as well as the four relievers who followed him for an inning each: Brach, Stinson, Meeks, and Aceves. We traded quips with Troy Patton about his suspension and he made it clear that it will be "game on" when he finally joins the team after his 25 game suspension.

The Orioles are going to be awesome this season. The Orioles B team tied the Rays A Team 3-3 yesterday.

Yay.

The best thing about Spring training is that it is all about baseball and the team allegiances are secondary. I have seen fans from almost every MLB Team is represented  in the parks and it is all good. Everyone is relaxed and on their best behavior. I have also enjoyed the access to the teams and the players. 

Today is Day 4 of the trip and, sadly, it will be time to call it a Spring Training and head home at the end of the day. The memories will be more than enough to get me through the 8 days until Opening Day!

-- Bob Doan, writing from Sarasota, Florida

Out the Hotel Window - Sarasota, Florida

Sarasota Hotel Window View

Looking out the window from the hotel room I see green. And that is awesome. 

I can also see my favorite "not really a tree" palm trees which just scream sun, warmth, and fun to me.

There is a palm at the edge of the image that I decided to take a shot of from the front of the hotel, just because.

I went for a nice walk yesterday down the street in the image. It was flat and compelling. I walked along a wetlands area full of wildlife which made the walk very enjoyable. I wanted to stop and take pictures of the birds and wildlife, but was conflicted because I was trying to walk a consistent 15 minute mile. I came up a bit short only walking 15:20 miles, but I did more than two miles of great walking through the green, teeming wetlands. 

Palm Trees Outside my Hotel Window

It is March, the temperatures are going to be in the 80 degree range today. There is another baseball game on tap--we are headed to Port Charlotte to see the Orioles and the Rays play a Spring training game ever mindful that Opening Day in only 9 days away--or if I happened to be in Australia it might be today as the MLB 2014 Season officially starts today with the Dodgers and Diamondbacks playing two games "down under."

Outside my hotel window, here in Sarasota, there is so much life and so many things to do--I am already itching to hit the pavement and get going on the day.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Sarasota, Florida

Burgers, Beer, and Baseball

Pirates Complex in Bradenton, FL

It finally arrived, I am at Spring Training and have already seen the Orioles in a game.

It is time for burgers and beer and baseball!

I am excited to get out of the cold of Maryland and spend a few days basking in the Florida sun while watching four games in four days--that is the plan. Oh yes, in three different stadiums. Last evening we were in the Pirates Complex in Bradenton. It was a nice stadium and we were part of the largest night game attendance at the complex in their history! Almost 9,000 people. Watching major leaguers play ball up close and personal is the best way to watch a game.


After the game, we went down near the field and could almost hear Buck, the Orioles manager, talking to the media. He is actually in the background of the picture of Mike, Jeremy and me.

What a day. I worked the morning, flew two hours, and attended an Orioles road Spring Training game. Wow!

Today the game is at 1PM in Sarasota against the Braves--more fun and given that it is a clear day--fun in the sun!

Thank-you to all of my friends, family, co-workers  who are filling in while I am off on a jaunt, playing.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Sarasota, Florida

Spring Finally Arrives

After the snow--my yard is mud. Ugh! It rained most all of the day yesterday, but in addition to the mud there was a secret reward waiting under the snow!

Green!

My lawn is beginning to revive from its slumber and change to green. Had I not known that just 48 hours before it had been covered with almost 7 inches of snow, I would have thought that April's showers had arrived two weeks early.

But, that was not the case--Winter is clinging to the weather patterns with every ounce of its ability. The lawn, however, provides evidence that Winter's grip is weakening despite the snowy forecast for next week!

Next up? Flowers? Leaves? 

I suppose that I shouldn't rush things too much. But I do feel the need to start the lawn tractor and get the first mowing of the season completed. At this rate, maybe in a couple of weeks. 

Just as a reminder, the Springtime countdown:

Days until Spring: 0 (Today at 12:57 PM EDT)
Days until I hug a palm tree in Florida: 0 (Today at 5:30 PM EDT)
Days until Pool Opening: 43 (May 3)

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Good-bye Scarf

My Scarf on my Winter Coat

I love my scarf. It has my favorite colors in it and it feels good around my neck on a cold, blustery winter's day. 

Enough is enough! There have been too many cold and blustery winter days already this year!

I have determined that I will not wear my scarf again this season (which ends on Thursday, by the way), nor will I wear it during the Springtime.

I'm done!

I'm drawing a line in the quickly melting snow and saying no to more cold!

Last Fire of the Season?

On Monday I had a roaring fire in the fireplace while 7 inches of snow was falling mercilessly from the gray skies and hopefully, that was the last fire for the cold season as well. I am tired of the cold and I am not going to succumb to it anymore. I received my heating bill for last month and while it was $100 less than the month before, it was still too much!

It is time to wrest control of the seasons from Mother Nature and take matters into my own hands!

If only that were possible. I long for green grass and trees with leaves and springtime flowers.

They are coming!  I believe!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

You Might Be a . . .

I decided that I needed to change up the tone of my writing a bit, it has been a bit serious lately, which is not surprising. But, I found something to chuckle about while I was visiting Upstate NY this past weekend.

I remember the famous monologue that Jeff Foxworthy does that describes things that would suggest that "you might be a Redneck." I have always found these funny, mostly because some of them hit a bit close to home.

Well, I have a new one to add to the list on the website of 300 reasons that you might be a redneck.

You might be a redneck if your 2012 truck has one mirror held on by packing tape.

I found this relatively new road warrior--a beautiful 2012 truck with this one defect--it apparently had some issues going into or out of the garage.

I have to admit--I too, might be a redneck because as number 298 on the list of 300 reasons says:

Ya celebrate groundhog day (cause ya believe in it!!)
Spring begins in two days--and it still feels like winter. I believe the rodent got it right.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

St Patrick's Day Snow Update

It snowed, for real. 

I looked out this morning and saw that the weather forecasters had not been wrong, as I had hoped. 


At first I thought that we had about 5 inches, but when I put my ruler into the white, cold stuff; it read 7 inched piled on my deck.

Ugh!

Spring begins in four all too far away days.

It is St Patrick's Day, I had planned on wearing some really cool socks to work in celebration of the day. The last thing I needed was another day off from work. I am just too busy to leave thinks lying around waiting.

I am sure Springtime will arrive soon!

Reassure me!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - March 17, 2014

1. Happy St Patricks Day. Wear some green. It is snowing.

2. I am a bit freaked out that a really big airplane can just vanish.

3. How many laws are enforced only occasionally. I wonder if that is why more and more I see people who openly disregard these laws.

4. We have too many laws.

5. Spring begins on Thursday. That's the good news. The bad news is the five inches of new snow in my driveway.

6. I've been thinking about this verse from Ecclesiastes 3:4, "A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance." This would seem to say that the process of going through pain and suffering enhances our celebration because we know how bad it can really be.

7. I prayed a mile while walking Makayla yesterday--it was a pretty short walk.

8. What's the difference between common people and brave people? Common people run away from danger, the brave run towards it. 

9. The news media seems at its best when the weather is at its worst.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Return to Winter

Sunday Morning, March 16, 2014 Dawns

I decided to return to Winter for the weekend. Despite the wintery storm approaching Maryland, I determined to drive to upstate New York to experience real winter just to remind myself what it was like.

It is cold! There is an incredible amount of snow and the car received a dusting of the unpleasant white stuff overnight. It is depressing.

Dusting on the Car

The drive yesterday began under broken skies with scattered rain showers. By Harrisburg the skies were blue and clear. It was a stunning drive except that I longed for the greens of Spring and Summer rather than the grays and browns of the Winter. The weirdest part, however, was that as my journey crossed into New York, the skies became dark and threatening and despite the 40-something degree temperatures I felt sure that I was going to soon be enveloped in a blizzard--which, thankfully, did not happen.

Snow in the Yard

The gray skies did compliment the mood of the trip. But, I am happy to report the trip was pleasantly uneventful and that my parents were restored to their home after sojourning for the past two months to warmer climates--well, Houston anyway. Lucky them!

I have determined that this winter really needs to end and it appears it is going to remain until well after the calendar says it is over--which, by the way is Thursday when Spring starts which the vernal equinox. I hope Winter takes the hint.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ithaca, NY