Miles 4 Kyle

Miles for Kyle

I happened upon an interesting event yesterday. I was a charity event for a college student at the University of Maryland who has cancer. It was called Miles for Kyle. 

Groups of runners, followed by two busses and escorted by police were running along US 1 from College Park to Johns Hopkins to raise money for a fellow student afflicted with a rare form of cancer. I could not find direct information about the run on the internet, but I did find a couple of other events dedicated to Kyle.

I was parking my car in Elkridge town center when I saw the police escorting the group. I was lucky enough to learn the story from the proud mother of one of the runners who was there taking images of the group as the ran through Elkridge. 

It is amazing what a bunch of college kids were able to put together to support one of their own. I learned that Kyle was not able to observe the event because he was receiving therapy in Baltimore that day. But his friends were definitely on guard for him that day. 

As a result of my conversation with the proud Mom, I found the imaged note on the seat of my car when I returned. She was a great woman of faith and we had a deep conversation about cancer and young people and God's plan. We talked about how it is encouraging to see young people rally for those in need. I think we were both encouraged by each other after that short exchange. 

It is amazing how you can meet the best people in the most unexpected places. And I am praying for Kyle, and all of his supporters, too! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Hats of the Game

Maryland Flag O's Cap

Hats are worn everywhere and for almost every occasion  I must own 50 or more hats and caps. And I do have a hat for every occasion. 

Showing off my new cap with Patrick

This morning I have a new hat! I was at the Orioles game last evening, watching them lose because of ugly errors, but came home with the hat the that I had wanted since Opening Day thanks to the perseverance of Patrick and Tina. I had gone to the only stadium store which sells the hats and they did not have my size. Chris and I asked the manager about more hats in my size--which apparently in one of the most popular sizes only to be given a number to call back during the week when more were expected. As a surprise, later that same game, Patrick and Tina were able to get a hat, in my size, from the same store and the same manager! How does that work?

That was my personal highlight of the game--that, and being out on a beautiful, but breezy, Friday night with Chris, family and friends. 

I wish the outcome of the game had been different, but it was a beautiful early April evening and I was happy to be out at the ballpark celebrating the first official 80 degree day since October 2013 and watching baseball.

Thanks for the hat! When is my next game?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Spring Fever

Forsythia by the House

Yesterday was one of those days that I just enjoy because i can marvel at how quickly the springtime had shaken off Winter's cold grip. 

I was able to check out some of the true signs of Spring and enjoy their once per year color. For instance, my forsythia are in full bloom. Hidden around the side of the house, I almost missed their flowery explosion which brightens an otherwise dark corner of my lot. 

Buds on the Weeping Cherry

I was encouraged by the greening of the grass and the other early springtime flowers which are pushing up into the the sunshine. I saw my bleeding hearts pushing through the mulch into the sunshine where soon they will be part of the next wave of plants to blossom as life returns to the gardens. 

I am waiting for my weeping cherry to blossom. It has buds and should be beautiful for Easter pictures. I love Spring! It is fun to watch everything spring back to life.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Pool Man Cometh

Pool on Closing Day 2013

I was around by my pool yesterday evening with a contractor who will be giving me an estimate about rehabbing the entire thing.

It needs it because it is about 23 years old and most everything associated with pools is certified for about 15 years. We are about 8 years beyond the normal life expectancy.

That, however, translates into thousands of dollars. I found out that there are no tax credits available for upgrading pools! Now I know why so many get filled in about 15 years into their life. 

Dirt is dirt cheap!

But, it is time to redo the pool and continue to make it the centerpiece of my resort-life at home concept. If I can't live on a beach, I can at least bring the beach life to me.

I realized that I need to order the chemicals--better living through chemicals, to get the pool through another summer. When I looked under the cover last evening I saw the usual springtime mess on the bottom. Important note though, I could see the bottom!

May 3rd is coming and that is pool opening day and my unofficial beginning to summer. 

The weather seems to be cooperating as well, the first 70's of the year are forecast for the weekend.

It is going to be awesome! Why am I always looking ahead to the fun activities that I'm going to do as an escape from the mundane things that I'm doing?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Fortunes of the Game

Safe at Home!

Baseball is a fickle sport. Unlike football, a four game losing streak is not the end of the season, but rather just another bump in the highway that is MLB's 162 game season. 

It is hard to get excited about a team when they are losing, but a big win, like the one yesterday over the team from the north that shall remain nameless, restores a swagger to both the team and their fans. And hey, they have won two of their past three games.

But today is another day. The teams will take the field tonight to do it all over again.

Baseball provides an example for life. Just because yesterday was, bad or good, today is a new day with new possibilities. It is not a day until I get into it and despite the apparently crushing schedule  I may have on my calendar, I still have the opportunity to crush a home run and have a great day. Even if I don't park one over the fence, I can still hit a solid single and bring the day home successfully.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

It is Springtime when?

Daffodils in my Garden

The signs of springtime are everywhere. In my own garden the daffodils are now in full bloom. Due to the abundance of shade in my gardens, flowers tend to bloom later than elsewhere. It can be frustrating because I see them everywhere else, but then I get to enjoy their blooms later and longer than my neighbors.

The April showers have been excessive. I believe that almost an inch of rain fell yesterday, most of it during my drive home from work. At least the lawn was ready to receive it and the weed and feed I spread on Saturday morning should spur the growth of grass while killing the undesirable weeds.

And then there are the taxes, one of the true joys of springtime which are due exactly one week from today! I was appalled at the amount of taxes that I pay. It feels like I'm paying more than the GNP of a small third world nation. I mean the total tax bite--including federal, OASDI and Medicare plus my ransom to Maryland, one of the most heavily taxed states in the Union. The great lie of tax season is the refund scam where the government keeps more money than they are entitled to and I say thank you when they give some of it back making the hidden tax bill somehow more palatable.

Maybe yesterday's gray skies and rain just made me more grumpy as I completed my taxes and was wishing for a better way, like a flat tax.

One of the final signs of springtime is the completion of March Madness and the crowning of the nation men's basketball champion which happened last evening and saw the string of upsets continue to complete the upsetting tournament. Congrats to Connecticut, I never guessed they thad a chance. I had them going out in the second round.

It surely is Spring. Let's play some baseball now that the weather is warmer. I even see 70's in my local seven-day forecast.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - April 7, 2014

1. It is tax season! Ugh! Why is it getting more painful every year? And it seems to get worse no matter how hard I try to make it better. I'm tired of paying for everyone else to get the things I want.

2. Blue skies and warmer temperatures, it was a marvelous weekend.

3. T-ball batting practice can be hilarious, especially when the fielders decide the all want the ball and wind up in a heap in the field. 

4. I find it very cool that the military forces of the U.S. can be used to help sailors in distress, like the 1 year old girl. Good job all who participated.

5. Chris made chocolate chip cookies yesterday. Mmmm. I have a huge weakness for them. So much for my diet for one day.

6. I have decided to sell my 1987 Jaguar named Kitty. Having two Jags is a bit much and I want a Jeep so I can have fun at Jeep weekend.

7. I am so glad that baseball is back, I just wish the O's were doing a bit better.  OK, a lot better.

8. Are left-handers the most discriminated against group of people in the world? I wonder?

9. On this date, April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House officially ending the U.S. Civil War. I wonder why this date is not a national holiday? It passes almost without anyone noticing, yet almost everyone who died during this war fighting on both sides was an American.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Simple Designs Gone Bad

Cart Designed for Right-Handed People

I was in Lowe's yesterday buying supplies to make my lawn green so that I can mow it more and discovered a seemingly simple but poorly designed cart.

Yes, the pictured cart is the offending item. 

As I was pulling the cart through Lowe's, I kept bumping things and running into displays. It was not trailing well behind me.

I looked as I pulled it and discovered that was offset to my left and not trailing right behind me. Even my lovely wife made mention of the fact that I was having a difficult time controlling the cart after it pushed over a fruit tree.

So I stopped for a moment and looked closely at the situation. Surely, I was not the only shopper to have trouble pulling the cart through the store. 

And then it occurred to me: this cart is designed uniquely designed to be pulled only by right-handed people. I was pulling the cart with my left hand--when I pulled it with my right hand, it trailed perfectly behind me. Wow, I was the problem!

I suffer through examples of this kind of poor designs all of the time. This is a design flaw that could have been easily remedied by designing a bend in the bar leading to the handle so that the handle would be centered over the end of the cart rather than offset to the left.

Most people use this cart and never notice the unintended discrimination against left-handed people.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

On the Edge of the Weekend

Friday's are unique days.

Friday is special because it is a work day but it is also the launch point for the weekend and executing plans for both Saturday and Sunday.

I enjoy hearing about the plans of my friends and their expectations for the weekend. Likewise, I enjoy sharing my  plans for the weekend with them even when I know that mine are a bit nebulous.

This weekend is a sports weekend. Lots of kid oriented baseball and lacrosse. Add to that some wine tasting and watching the Orioles try to get the baseball season back on track after three successive losses and I am sure I have many more expectations for the weekend than it will be possible to execute.

I guess that is what makes the weekends so special, the planning and the ability to change life up and do different things for two all too short days.

Four Legged Garden Eating Machines

Sometimes, things occur on weekends that will affect my planning for the future. Like, the deer in this image which I took this morning, this totally changes my plans for the gardens this year. Can I spell deer resistant?

One thing that is true about my weekends, however, is that they are almost never relaxing. But that is not a bad thing, it is just the pace of life.

Despite the pace, I always look forward to the weekend.  So, enough writing, it's time to get started!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

T-Ball Begins Anew

I am serving as an assistant coach for Jackson's T-Ball team again this year. Last night was the first practice and my first opportunity to meet the team and the many new players.

The core of the team are two returnees, Jax (of course) and Jack. It was good to be on the baseball field with youthful talent (4-6 year olds) excited about playing baseball and learning the game.

And the parents were there too, watching their sons (we have no girls on the team so far) learn the game.

This age group of kids has an attention span of about 30 seconds. I think of them much like Dory in Finding Nemo. 

But they are fun and eager to please.

The field was soggy, but we were shagging baseballs and talking baseball! Jax had a great night batting and also throwing strikes to me from first base.

Playball!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD