Memorial Weekend

Let the summertime begin!

Armed with idyllic weather, a pool that is ready for fun, and a holiday weekend it is time to celebrate! 

The pool, although empty in this picture, will soon be full of activity and fun. The heater is on bringing the water up to an acceptable adult temperature. Kids, it seems, can have fun in the coldest water. In my view, just add propane (in the form of a heater) and transform the cold water into enjoyable Caribbean temperature water.

We have been working hard to get the house and yard ready for today. Tree stumps have been removed, sod laid because grass seed is just too slow, and pool repairs effected. There is still so much more to accomplish--but this weekend, hopefully, we will be able to overlook the "still need to do" and enjoy the "already been done."

Bring on the weekend, the baseball, the pool time, and most importantly, the fun!

May you have an enjoyable holiday weekend.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Home from the Past

A long, long time ago and in a very different time of our lives we lived in a small house on a street in Aurora, Colorado. We were there for 18 months during the late 1980's in between Air Force assignments to Omaha, Nebraska, and San Angelo, Texas. 

I stopped by that house during my recent sojourn to Denver, yes on the same day as the incredible hailstorm. I wanted to get a picture of the house and recall some of the memories. 

I remember installing the garage door opener. I wonder if that original opener is still functioning. I watched playoff baseball with Jeremy-- including the end of the 16 inning thrilling win by the New York Mets over the Houston Astros on Chris's birthday. That threw a kink into the celebration. The afternoon game went almost 5 hours.

There was also an incident where one of the glass panels by the entry door broke due to a flying object from inside the house. We replaced both panels and it appears that they remain intact to this very day.

And then there was the ill-fated Halloween where shortly after visiting the first house, in the darkness, Chris fell and had to retire from the festivities and I was left guiding two young trick or treaters around the neighborhood while she returned to the house with the youngest goblin.

Looking out of the windows in the living room, the right side of the house as we look at it, there was a spectacular view of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and were able to watch the ever changing weather patterns. Some of the more spectacular lightening storms are still etched into my memory. We took the mountain view almost for granted and have never lived any where with so stunning a view since.

There were trips to the mountains on the weekends and visits from family. It was a busy, but short time in our lives. And it seems so long ago.

Here's to the memories, may the good times never be forgotten.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Even When the Bull Wins, it Still Loses

I read an interesting article, complete with graphic images, about a bullfight in Madrid, Spain in which three matadors were gored facing the first two bulls in the annual bullfighting festival. The article titles, Bulls take down bullfighters but still lose in Spain, was published by CNN.

I am not a fan of bullfighting, but it is a tradition in some parts of the world.

I was encouraged by the beginning of the story:


Madrid (CNN) -- Chalk one up for the first two bulls at Spain's top annual bullfighting festival.

Between them, they gored or bashed three bullfighters, putting them out of action, and forcing authorities to suspend a bullfight at the San Isidro Festival in Madrid for the first time in 35 years, said a spokesman for Las Ventas bullring, who by custom is not identified.

The bad news was that by tradition the bulls must die--and they did. The good news was that there were not enough matadors to finish the six bull card for the day, "and the four bulls that didn't fight were returned to their ranches, safe and sound."

Some days it is hard to tell the winners from the losers. 

In the end, I guess the bulls won the day--4-3.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Surviving the Storm

I have survived a lot of bad storms during my life.

Thunder, snow, torrential rains, hurricanes. But I have never felt as helpless as I did yesterday while sitting in my trusty rental vehicle hiding out during the most ferocious hail storm, accompanied by tornado warnings, that I have ever experienced. 

I was not afraid, but I was concerned for my fellow drivers on the highways. 

Tracks in the hailstones leading out of the gas station

I took this video of the incessant hail storm--but itr kept falling and falling. Fortunately I was in a gas station under the awning and so my vehicle did not get pummeled too badly. 

It seemed there was no end to the storm. I was amazed at its ferocity.

OK, I'm gonna ask this question just this once: people like living here, why?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

More from the eye of the storm

Yes. I took a picture of a hail stone next to a quarter. Unbelievable storm complete with tornado warning and lots of confused and dazed drivers.

- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, Co

Eye of the storm

In the aftermath of the nearly 40 minute hail storm in Denver, the roads were covered and barely passable. It was the most ferocious hail storm I have ever witnessed.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, Co

Out the Hotel Window - Denver, CO May 2014

Denver in the Distance, May 2014

Different month, different window and a vastly different view, that is what I found as I from my hotel near the Denver airport.

I saw the mountains and the skyline of the great metropolis of Denver in the distance. They were calling to me--off in the not so distance.

After the Storm

It was hazy and cloudy. A deluge occurred yesterday afternoon which left the still barren field draining water as quickly as it could and for hours after the storm. The amount of water that fell from the sky was amazing.

Morning Clouds Hide the Mountains

And this very morning, the mountains are completely hidden from view by the clouds.  

The views outside of my window for this trip were certainly different and they changed--almost by the hour.

This morning, I can still see the standing water in the field which is a reminder of yesterday's torrential storm.

I hope the weather today is better.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, Colorado

Let there be Light

Scientists, and most especially physicists, seem to harbor dreams of being God. Many seem to want to figure out how God created the universe.   

That suggestion is even how the article in the Los Angeles Times begins:

God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Then a trio of physicists said, “We have a simple idea for turning that light into matter” – and they may set off a race to demonstrate an idea first proposed 80 years ago.

Actually, the idea was not first proposed 80 years ago, God did it when He created the everything that is. God went one better--He even created the light.

Sure, the idea of creating matter (and anti-matter) from light is exciting, but its been done. Understanding how it is done is very interesting, but I not sure spending millions of dollars to built the unique facility to conduct the experiment is the best use of limited funds for basic scientific research.

The article describes the next step to confirm the idea that matter can be created from light.

The experiment the physicists describe requires the construction of a new type of subatomic particle collider. But they insist this would be much less complicated than, say, building the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, where physicists confirmed the existence of the Higgs boson.

In terms of bang for the buck, I'm not sure. But, it is interesting.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - May 19, 2014

1. Overheard at an office gathering: Everyone brings joy to this office, some bring it when they come and others when they leave.

2. I find it amazing that the temperatures were in the 80's when I opened my pool, but they have been only in the high 60's to low 70's since.

3. The idea of "pay it forward" did not start with the movie by the same name. 

4. Heard this in church yesterday: Grace received is grace expressed.

5. It takes a lot of work to get the outside of the house ready for the summer season. I wonder if it would take that much time if there were no winter?

6. The lilacs are blooming!

7. I saw this sign, and thought it was so true.

8. Speaking of retirement, I'm thinking, Florida--but everyone knows that.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

"And they're off . . . "

California Chrome Winning the Preakness

I watch two horse races per year--The Kentucky Derby and The Preakness. I usually lose interest after The Preakness because the possibility of a Triple Crown winner has ended.

Not so this year.

California Chrome has my interest and the possibility of finally crowning a Triple Crown winner rests on his broad shoulders.

The story is not just of the horse, but of the owners as well. Their story is recounted in a New York Times article. They are hard working people not part of the usual elitist horse racing owners crowd. The story of one of the owners, Carolyn Coburn, really demonstrates that these are horse lovers, not just horse owners and racers. 

Racing for the finish at the Preakness

In the article, Carolyn gives some insight as to how these owners view their horse:

“We were walking with Chrome at the Derby, bringing him out to the paddock, and Steve [one of the owners] stepped aside,” Carolyn said. “He didn’t say, ‘Make him win.’ He said, ‘Keep him safe.’ ”

I am beginning to believe California Chrome may be the horse to claim the Triple Crown. I remember when Secretariat won, it was an exciting time, he won after 25 years without a Triple Crown winner. It has been 36 years since the last Triple Crown winner (Affirmed)--and perhaps this horse of the people can write a new chapter of history. 

This year, I will be watching The Belmont Stakes--and cheering for California Chrome and his owners to claim the elusive Triple Crown.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD