Last Snow of the Season

Last year on March 26th I wrote about the last snow of the season which had arrived on March 25th. 

This year, it is March 26th and I am again writing about what I hope is the last snow of the season--again.

Last year we at least had flowers peaking through the snow. 

This year we have just cold and snow.

But, hopefully it is the last snow. 

The final one.

And it was a light snow here--mostly a dusting even though it snowed all day there was no accumulation.

I find it coincidental that the last snow of 2013 and hopefully the last snow of 2014 occurred on the same date.

As long as it gets warmer, soon. I'm looking for the Spring flowers to start blooming. The T-Ball team that I help coach is supposed to have its first practice on Saturday. The forecast? Rain.

Orioles Opening Day is just 5 days away and the forecast is for 60 degrees and sun!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

After the Spring Training Trip

Championship Chandelier in Sarasota

By now everyone knows that I spent the weekend in south Florida watching baseball, drinking beer, and eating burgers.  I cannot say enough good things doubt my Spring Training experience.

What is the most memorable aspect of my trip? Access to the players. Saturday I stood by the bullpen in Port Charlotte talking to the relievers, including Troy Patton, during the game. They are living the dream and sometimes I don't even think they know how much guys like me would trade places with them in an instant. 

The Bird welcomes us to Sarasota

The Orioles looked good. I saw four games and they won two and tied two. The ties were against the other squads "A" teams--which bodes well for the season.

My 2014 Orioles season prediction: 96 wins, the division crown and World Series appearance. And the pitching staff will have at least one 20 game winner!

There, you have it.

My assessment of the Orioles after my Spring Training weekend. At this point they appear to be a complete team with depth at pitching and hitting with a strong defense. I cannot believe how blessed I was to be able to get to Florida and see my favorite baseball team play baseball, up close and personal. 

The sun was so warm, I had almost forgotten how good it felt. I got to see my favorite team, up close and personal. Wow! 

Mile Post at Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota, Florida

And then I came back to subfreezing cold wearing shorts and flu flops. I must have been a sight at the airport. What is wrong with this picture? 

Thankfully, it looks as if I won't have to endure shoveling snow with a sunburn today--but it was close. 

Opening Day is just 6 Days away!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

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