Training Wheels--The Simple Made Hard

Original Poor Design

It appeared to be a simple task, install training wheels on a bicycle for Lucas. Sadly, nothing, it seems, is as easy as it should be especially when the items being installed are poorly manufactured and the instructions were not clearly translated form the original Chinese. 

Amazon let me down, because the training wheels were supposed to be delivered on Monday--but they did not arrive. And then, when they did finally arrived yesterday, they were poorly designed and did not accomplish the task in a safe and consistent manner. They did not properly fit the bike and I had to make modifications to try and adapt the training wheels to the bike. After a few short rides, it was clear that they were not acceptable. 

Attempt 2: The New Ones

I was amazed at the poor quality and design of the wheels. In the end there was no was to properly fit them to the bike to make them safe for Lucas.

So off to the local store to acquire an acceptable set of training wheels. After a few more frustrating installation minutes, they were ready for a test ride.

Then the chain fell off the bike, during the first short ride. Another agonizing few minutes of backyard bicycle repair. Finally, for the third time of the evening, the bike was presented to Lucas--who had not yet lost interest, for a test ride.

Lucas was a bit wary of the bike and not ready to fully commit himself to the ride. Grandma walked beside him and help him gain confidence in the wheels, although after the failure of the previous set of wheels, this was not as easy a task as it should have been. 

And what a test ride it was. Within a short time, Lucas was riding the bike and feeling a bit too comfortable on it. 

At least the evening had a happy ending.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Trail Goes On to Where?

Trail in the Oregon Forest

Life is a journey along a path that sometimes goes on into the forest and often obscures the destination.

I experienced the reality of walking along a trail a few weeks ago while hiking through the forests of Oregon, where there was something new around every bend. One time I saw a huge elk crossing the path about 100 yards in front of me. I tried to get a picture of the elk, but he was too fast for me and all I got was blur and a great memory of the huge magnificent creature that graced my life with its brief presence.

View at the end of the trail

Although I hoped the end of the trail would soon come, I still found every twist and turn interesting. Much like life. Although I could not see the end of the trail, nor hear the end of the trail as it was obscured by heavy forest, I sensed that there was something special up ahead.

The view and the beginning of a new journey

When I finally broke out of the forest into the grasslands, it was worth the hike. The view was magnificent. 

And, reflecting upon the moment, I knew that although the immediate journey had ended, another journey was about to begin.

I guess journeys, like hikes, are both endings and beginnings as I take the things I learned form the experience past and apply them to the journey ahead.

Life is a journey, after all and that is what makes it so much fun.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - August 4, 2014

1. The first full week of August has arrived, I guess there is not doubt now that the summer is winding down.

2. I noticed the stores are full of "Back to School" supplies yesterday. I remember the days of supply lists and the stress associated with the approaching return to normal day as school resumes.

3. I was successful in my plumbing project of yesterday! A miracle.

4. Charles M. Blow makes the following statement at the beginning of his NY Times OP-ED Column this morning: Congress is a joke. But the joke isn’t funny — unless, of course, you’re into dark humor.

5. The NFL Pre-season is officially underway. The Giants rallied to beat the Bills. I'm glad I decided to cancel NFL Sunday Ticket, I am going to get NHL Center Ice instead.

6. Rain and cool temperatures. Yup, summer is already giving way to autumn.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Weekend Weather Woes

Gray and Overcast Weekend

We have been blessed this summer, so far, with fantastic weather weekends. Rain has fallen during the week and the clouds parted to provide a stunning and enjoyable weather weekend. 

This weekend the weather pattern was broken and, perhaps, that is why I noticed it. It has been a rainy and overcast weekend with some significant breaks in the clouds which still allow for outdoors activity.

So much for the outdoors projects--although I was able to get the lawn mowed during a break in the clouds. 

Cloudy and overcast weekends do allow for indoor projects to finally get completed. For instance, today I will be playing plumber and fixing a leak under the sink. Ugh! There is a reason that I do not like doing plumbing work! But it needs to be fixed. I have already heard that there might be some painting and electrical work that needs to be accomplished.

Even rainy weekends are not total washouts.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Frogs in the Pool

Northern Green Frog
(not in my pool)

Some mornings, especially after damp and rainy nights, I find many frogs who come to my pool for a visit. This morning there was what I believe was a record number of 11 frogs in my pool. Five living and six expired visitors.

Sadly, for many of the frogs who visit, it is their last swim in the warm waters. I dearly wish there was a frog repellent that could keep these small critters for wanting to take a swim in my pool.

Most of the frogs are northern green frogs, I thing, I never rally take that close a loo at them, but I try to rescue as many as possible although I do not know how long in it takes to receive a fatal dose in the chlorinated water of the pool.

It is a daily task--but we do it saving as many frogs as we can. I wonder how many of those saved return for a fatal swim.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Last Enola Gay Crew Member Dies

Enola Gay Landing at Tinian after Dropping Atomic Bomb

According to CBS News, Theodore VanKirk, also known as "Dutch," died Monday, July 28, 2014, of natural causes at the retirement home where he lived in Stone Mountain, Georgia, his son Tom VanKirk said. He was 93.

Why was this man significant? 

Theodore VanKirk was the navigator of the Enola Gay, the B-29 Superfortress aircraft that dropped "Little Boy" - the world's first atomic bomb - over the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. The bomb killed 140,000 in Hiroshima. VanKirk was 24 years old at the time of the mission. He was the last surviving crew member of the 12 men who flew the Enola Gay mission over Hiroshima that day.

Enola Gay on Display at the
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Theodore VanKirk was a hero. A man who was in a place in time and did his duty as he was asked to do. The discussions which have ensued in the 69 years since the bomb was dropped do not diminish what was done which saved millions of Japanese and American lives because an invasion of Japan was not required. The impact of the bombs dropped by his crew and the crew of the B-29, Bockscar, which dropped another atomic bomb on Nagasaki three days later, have so far spared the world from the destruction associated the use of these weapons of mass destruction in the decades since their first and only employment.

Thank you for your service and your life Theodore VanKirk.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Good-bye July

Today closes the chapter of the year called July.

Hay in the Fields of Oregon

It slipped by so quickly and was so full of activity that it is hard to believe that it is over and August is walking up the path to my door.  I wish that I could convince July to remain for a few more weeks. Already the cool breezes have been blowing as August waits impatiently for the calendar to turn. 

MiG-15 at the Udvar-Hazy Museum

Temperatures in the 50's, tying records for low temperatures seemingly ready to usher in a new Ice Age. I have not been able to enjoy the heat and humidity that I long for from July--and it is gone, just that quickly.

July was good. National celebrations to start the month with the promise of hot, sultry weather which never fully materialized. I visited my favorite museum and then traveled from coast to coast looking for Big Foot in the forests while standing behind a waterfall and

Behind a Waterfall in Oregon

enjoying the coolness of an Oregon summer day. And then there was the family celebration to which saw nearly the entire family gather for a few all too short days. 

It was at the sometime a busy and yet enjoyable month which passed too quickly. It was the perfect month, the trees around my house are in full leaf--and I know that as August arrives and then September that the canopy of green which surrounds me will only begin to thin and then disappear.

Good-bye July. Your memories are strong and your time was far too short.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Statistics and Baseball

Machado Coming Home after Walk Off Home Run

It should be no huge surprise that I attended an Orioles baseball game last evening. What may be a surprise is that I departed the game before it was complete in an effort to ensure I received enough rest to make it through today. I left the game at the end of the 10th inning with the score tied 6-6. I arrived home during the bottom of the 12th inning just in time to enjoy Manny Machado's walk off home run to win the game for the Orioles. The time was about 11:10 PM when he slugged the game winner--or 4 hours and 5 minutes after the game began.

I have begun to take an increased interest in the statistics of baseball lately. Baseball is rich in statistics and numbers and trends all of which would seem to be important, but it is important to remember that the game is still played by people and every at bat is a new event. For instance--When Machado came to the plate in the bottom of the 12 inning last evening, he was batting .268, or hitting about once for every four trips to the plate. He had never faced  the pitcher before, and so there were no statistics, but he had never hit a walk off home run in his career. It was Machado's 6th at bat for the night, and he already had 1 hit, so he was batting .200 for the game, which is close to his average. 

Based upon the statistics, I believe the probability of Machado hitting a walk off home run was near zero. And yet it happened.

In baseball, while statistics are valuable for explaining what happened in the past and which batter or pitcher is doing well or not; they are not definitive predictors of the future. Every at bat is a new event.

That is why the game is played on the field and not by a computer.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

USS Oregon, BB-3, Bulldog of the Navy

USS Oregon Tower

Walking around downtown Portland, along the river, I discovered some history with which I was unfamiliar. The story of the USS Oregon, BB-3.  

Turns out, the USS Oregon was one of the heroes of the Spanish American war when it sailed from California to Key West in 66 days--a record for the time. 

The ship was immediately pressed into action after war had been declared and was instrumental in the defeat of the Spanish Fleet. 

All that remains of this naval veteran is the main mast near the Portland Seawall with a small memorial. I was pleased to learn about the USS Oregon and its role in a war which usually begins with Remember the Maine and ends with Teddy Roosevelt and his Roughriders.

Only three ships have been named Oregon. The Battleship Oregon being the most recent. The battleship's nickname was Bulldog of the Navy!

And I found out about her in Portland. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - July 28, 2014

1. I knew that my vacation was over this morning when my alarm rang.

2. The things you want the most are sometimes the things you already have.

3. Last week at this time I was in Portland, Oregon. Wow, how things change.

4. The saddest part about a vacation is when it ends.

5. I know that I have been away from work for more than two weeks because I had to look up the date this morning--and I was glad I did because I was a day off.

6. I wish that violence in the world would take a vacation.

7. I had the opportunity to watch the movie "Real Steel" again over the weekend and I was reminded of what I believe is the best line from the movie: "Your secret is safe with me."

8. The month of July ends this week and we transition into August where summer dreams die and autumn winds begin to blow.

9. I have finally come to realize that July is my favorite month of the year!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD