No Joy in Baltimore

With a thud and a throw across the infield, the Orioles 2014 baseball season ended last evening in the fourth game of the American League Championship Series.

The Orioles lost 2-1.

They lost the series in four straight games and my hopes to attend a World Series game in Orioles Park at Camden Yards will be unfulfilled for another year.

It was raining in our area all day, almost as if the storms were shedding tears for the unexpected end of the Orioles improbable season.

The season did not end the way I would like to have seen it end, but it is over. I am already looking forward to spring training.

The team from the mid-west earned their berth in the World Series by winning the championship series from the Orioles. I will not be cheering for the mid-west team--not because I have a bad attitude, but because I like the teams from the other league more.

Our guys played hard--and came up just a few runs short.

It is sports: there are winners and losers, I know this because I play racquetball. Someone wins and unfortunately, the other player loses. It is a fact of life.

In the meantime, I celebrate the accomplishments of the team from Baltimore. 

There are special. I hope they can come back almost intact for the run to the post-season next year

Go O's! 

Thanks!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Why so Scary?

I need a mental diversion from the MLB playoffs. I think I am getting a bit wrapped up in the excitement that is this Orioles post-season. I have been dreaming of attending my first World Series game.

I remember being at Spring Training during March, enjoying the sun and heat of Sarasota while watching this Orioles team come together. They are, after all, one of the last four teams standing. Even though they lost again last evening, I am comforted by knowing that when I was in Sarasota the baseball pundits were picking the Orioles to finish last in the division which they won.

But this is October, the month of Halloween!

Scary costumes, parties, and trick or treating. 

I admit, I do not fully understand the fascination with blood and destruction. Like the image I snapped the other day of a display in a store.

It made me shiver--what if I really ran into one of these guys on a dark street?

I'm not sure I could run fast enough to get far enough away.

Do I really want my nightmares coming to life?

I'll stay with the Orioles--at least they are not going to be scaring anyone on Halloween. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Jack-o'-Lantern Carving

It's the season for the harvest and pumpkins. Sunday, we gathered the grandsons, selected a few pumpkins and hosted a carving party.

First, however, was the trip to the Pumpkin Patch to select the perfect pumpkin for carving and to become the jack-o'-lantern of their dreams. That was an experience in an of itself, but it was early enough in the day and the season that the patch was not too crowded and the trip was a great success. 


Next came the carving. Think about it, sharp objects and three boys under the age of 10.

And of course there were the stars of the day, the pumpkins. Prices are up. One pumpkin weighed in at a weight equivalent to $30. It was summarily rejected. It is a pumpkin, not a Christmas tree!

But Ethan, Jackson, and Lucas picked out pumpkins. Big pumpkins. And then, once we returned to the house the carving began. It was organized chaos.

It was not easy wading through the pumpkin entrails to get to the part where they become jack-o-lanterns. But the boys, and parents and grandparents, were up to the challenge. 

After some tense moments, the jack-o'-lanterns began to emerge. The efforts and the design process began to payoff and the final results were in sight. 

We had to opportunity to view Jax and Ethan's jack-o'-lanterns lighted and scary in the night. They are a study in contrasts--traditional and modern. But they are both awesome.

--Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - October 13, 2014

1. Happy Columbus Day observed. In 14 hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. We have reduced the celebration of this observance in recognition of the subjugation and genocide directed at the native people inhabiting the hemisphere as a result of being "discovered" by Columbus.

2. The ALCS resumes this evening. Not for the faint of heart. Go O's

3. The grandson's got together in the garage yesterday to put together some Orioles cheers. I wonder where they learned all of those cheers?

4. I am still amazed at how therapeutic it is to get out early in the morning to play a round of golf. I did it again yesterday. At least once every week since August. Not a new low score, but better shots in all parts of my game--well except for 5 putting the par 4 9th hole. I went from putting for par to ugly in a few short strokes. Ugh!

5. Autumn is gracing the trees in our neighborhood finally. The color is beginning to show and the trees are donning their autumnal colors in anticipation of the finally beauty show before the onset of the dark days.

6. I am not a huge fan of the Washington Post, but they are running a series of articles highlighting how local police departments are using asset seizures to fund their operations. The series Asset Seizures Fuel Police Spending highlights how things that I didn't believe could happen in the United States are happening and are apparently "legal." Here is the part that really got me: Of the nearly $2.5 billion in spending reported in the forms, 81 percent came from cash and property seizures in which no indictment was filed, according to an analysis by The Post. Owners must prove that their money or property was acquired legally in order to get it back.

7. Let's Go O's.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Fumble Recovery and Yards

I getting into youth football because Jackson is playing. Here is my personal play of the game from Saturday. Number 60 is Jax!

Even though it was early on a cold and rainy October autumn morning, Chris and I were there to see the play. And the game. 

BTW--he is only 6.  

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Down but not Out at 0-2

Yesterday was a difficult day for me, in terms of sport. I watched the Orioles lose two games that they should have won.

The first game was a continuation from Friday night's game in to the wee hours of Saturday morning and the Orioles, uncharacteristically, lost the game in the 10th inning. The Orioles gave up three runs in the 10th inning. In the bottom of the inning they and got one back but the game ended with two men on base and the winning run at bat at the plate. Final score: 8-6.

OPACY October 11, 2014

I attended yesterday's game and the ending reminded me of the classic poem Casey at the Bat. The visitors scored first, but the Orioles came back, on multiple occasions. But with the score tied at 4 going into the 9th inning, again our "lights-out" relief corps couple not contain the visitors and two runs were scored. No panic, the Orioles own the bottom of the 9th inning. Even though the first two Orioles batters in the bottom of the 9th failed to get on base, the crowd remained hopeful. And then, Nelson Cruz, the league home run hitting designated hitter singled and stood on first as Steve Pearce came to the plate. Much like the mighty Casey the battle between the pitcher and Pearce progressed. As the pitch count rose, the fans became more hopeful--but then on the sixth pitch of the at bat, after three foul balls; like the mighty Casey:

But there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.

And the game ended with the tying run striking out at the plate.

The series now goes to the visitor's city and a brash player for the their team made the statement last evening that he does not expect the series to return to Baltimore because they will close it out at home and gain the American League berth in the World Series. While that statement made me cringe, I was happy to have heard it because it showed me how much the team from the mid-west underestimates the determination of the Orioles. 

Orioles Magic plays well on the road. While their noses are bloodied, I believe the Orioles now realize that they are looking at themselves in the mirror and will be ready to win at least two games on the road, if not sweep all three possible games.

Buck in Control as Andrew Miller arrives to pitch

Like Buck says, "I like our guys!"

Down, but not out. Just making the opposition a bit over confident while we revise the game plan.

We Won't Stop!

Stay tuned for Game 3 of the series on Monday night.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday Rescues the Week

I continue to be amazed at how a great Friday can rescue a mediocre week.

I spent the week in a training class and that wasn't bad, but the slower pace of training begins to wear on me after a while. My normal days zip past and I frequently lose track of time. Not so in class--I watch the clock. It is amazing how slowly the second hand moves.

So why was Friday the rescue day of the week? Well, the Orioles were playing baseball in the American League Championship Series (ALCS), although they lost, it was Saturday when the game ended; I spent a great evening at a wine restaurant in Ellicott City with friends; and although I lost the earpiece for my phone this morning--it was returned to me this afternoon. And the training, Oh yeah, it was pretty good too and it ended!

So what is the real importance of Friday? It is the day before Saturday, which is my favorite day of the week. I am now officially in the weekend and I am headed off to the Orioles playoff game today. It should be another great day--because the Orioles will even their series with the Royals today.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

October Evening Enjoyment

Lucas

The best evenings often happen without a lot of planning. Like last evening. 

Chris and I were watching Lucas, the sky was clear and the evening was only a bit cool. We enjoyed a glass of wine together in the backyard as evening began to fall.

Bogle Phantom in the Back Yard

I admired the evening, because I know the number of such perfect evenings will be fewer as the year progresses into November and then December. The wine in the backyard was a nice touch. I was even assaulted by a few mosquitoes, just to remind me that autumn has not fully wrested everything from summer's grasp.

Rain is forecast for today. 

I believe we will not be enjoying a repeat evening tonight and the memory of last night will have to remain as the season continues to evolve into autumn and then winter.

I relish every day and every evening more and more. Especially, the ones which create memories.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Take Charge and Take Control

I have been in a class this week learning about achieving effective results as a leader. I have been exposed to valuable concepts, but one thing I ran across--which is not part of the curriculum, is that some people have a victim mentality.

What is a victim mentality? It is perpetuating the belief that we cannot change our circumstances and that we have no control over what happens to us.

I do not subscribe to that idea. 

I do not want to live like a victim--sometimes bad things happen and we truly have no control over the event, but we can control how we react.

We do not need to react like a victim.

While we are not in control, we do not have to be victims--there are circumstances that we can control, and we should exercise controls appropriately.

One of the things we can control are the stories we use to understand the situations in our life. A classic victim story is the one that goes: "I work hard to give you all of the things you want and I have no time for myself." It is a rationalism--it is a victim story. The rationalism suggests that the person is not in control of their life and that everything that happens, occurs despite their efforts.

One of the hardest things we can do is take control of life because it means we can't blame our decisions on others. It goes back to the classic question: "Does a red light make you stop?" Of course not, it is a suggestion--a pretty good one, but we have to decide to follow the advice.

Stop being a victim and take control in the areas of life where it is possible.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Frost on the Pumpkins

Frost on the Pumpkin

The nights have been getting colder and the days are cooler than they have been. 

With each successive day, we wonder if we should finally turn on the heat and succumb to the fact that summer is gone and the autumn has progressed to a point where coats are becoming the norm for mornings and afternoons.

I knew this time would arrive.  Even if it is too soon.

The Halloween decorations are adorning the stores and my neighborhood homes--we even have decorated our house with the trappings of the season.

Sadly, as I discovered on Sunday morning, the frost is on the pumpkin and Jack-o-lanterns are adorning houses. The harvest season is underway.

Soon, too soon, the heat will have to be on to warm the house.

And then November will arrive.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD