Monday Musings - December 8, 2014

1. What an interesting couple of days it has been: St Nicholas Day (6) and Pearl Harbor Day (7). I have never really thought about the positioning of these two days before.

2. I was reminded how exhausting it is to spend two long day with two to three boys under the age of 10!

3. I attended the movie Penguins of Madagascar yesterday. I was disappointed. It should have been so much better than it was.

Tioga County, PA

4. There is a rest stop on the south side of Route 15 in Tioga County, PA, that provides spectacular views--especially in the light of the rising sun.

5. Sadly, I am burned out on all the Christmas songs on the radio. hey just seem to play some of them  way too much. I have decided the worst Christmas song is Santa Baby, followed closely by I'll Be Home for Christmas. But Rudolph and Frosty are beginning to be played too much as well.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Symphony of Lights - 2014

It was a dark and rainy evening. Three grandsons were having an overnight and Chris and I needed a distraction for them. Let me rephrase, not a distraction but rather an event to prepare them for bedtime.

Symphony of Lights immediately came to mind. In the rain? You bet, the lights were on and the car was warm and dry. 

I enjoy the Symphony of Lights in Columbia, Maryland, and although it is not an every year event, the years that I drive through the lights I am reminded of how much fun it is and that I am making a donation to Howard County's only hospital. 

Lucas, Jackson, and Ethan looking at the
Symphony of Lights

I have been by the entrance to the lights an seen cars stacked up waiting to enter for what appears to be an hour or more. Last evening, however, because of the rain, there were no lines and no waiting. Not to self--rainy and dark nights may be the best nights to visit!

It was a fun drive through the lights, listening to Christmas music provided on the local broadcast FM station. All of my old favorites were there. I especially enjoy the cannons lobbing cannon balls over the road as I drive through.

The pictures even came out acceptably this year. The rain added a nice reflection in the foreground and increased the enjoyment.

It was a fun ride and an enjoyable time--especially with no lines and no waiting.

Bob's RECOMMENDATION: Visit the Symphony of Light and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Holiday Season. The donation is $20 per car--cash only.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Christmas Midnight Madness in Ellicott City

Ellicott City during Midnight Madness
in the Rain

Christmas must really be close. Last evening we braved to cold temperatures and the rain, I even wished it was snow, and enjoyed the festivities in Historic Ellicott City, Maryland. This is an annual event--Midnight Madness, and it happens on the first Friday of December every year. 

It is an enjoyable event being out with thousands of other holiday shoppers. The parking is horrendous--but it is worth the effort to wander the historic district and enjoy the crowds and retailers as the kick-off to the holiday season gets underway. 

Midnight Madness in Ellicott City
December 5, 2014

After creating a parking place in one of the lots, we started the evening with happy hour and dinner at Cacao Lane restaurant. After dinner we headed out into the crowds and light rain. 

It was an enjoyable stroll along the bustling streets and the vendors provided light munchies which added to the ambiance and the enjoyment of the event.

I saw one sign along the street that made me smile.

How many calories do they have and are they gluten free?

Bob's RECOMMENDATION: Plan to attend this event next year--and even if you missed it this year, Ellicott City, MD, is a great place to shop no matter the day. Go enjoy the holiday season.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Hey, Orioles--What is the Plan?

To say this off season is not off to a great start for the Orioles is an understatement. 

Nelson Cruz

This week the Orioles, American League East Division Champions, lost two key players: Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis. In my opinion the loss of Markakis, a long-time Orioles player hurt the most. I expected him back in the outfield next season and until the end of his awesome career. Sadly, it is not to be.

Nick Markakis

I don't understand the baseball offseason. Obvious things don't happen and now the Orioles have a huge hole in right field and as a lead-off hitter. 

Last season was a fantastic and almost magical season as the Orioles easily won the division and the first round of the playoffs. They ran into a Royals team in the second round that was not to be denied, but still the Orioles are still champions of the AL East.

Markakis has been arguably one of the best American League left fielders for a number of years now. Cruz came to the Orioles to prove he was still a player to be reckoned with. Together, they held the team together during the crucial losses of Matt Wieters, Manny Machado, and Chris Davis. I thought the Orioles might lose Cruz, but never in my wildest dream did I believe that they would allow Markakis to play right field for any other team.

It makes no sense to me. And the loss of Andrew Miller--the fireball throwing reliever picked up in mid-season is expected to be announced any day now. 

I am not seeing the Orioles replacing these three players. 

But I am willing to show support to the General Manager, Dan Duquette, all I need now is some insight into "What is the plan?"

I surely hope they have one.

In the meantime, thanks Nelson for last year and thank-you Nick for being a classy Orioles player through the bad times (and there were a lot of them) and the good times. Best wishes to you both!

Really.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Three Trees in Three Days

First Tree of 2014 in the Family Room

Yup, it is definitely the Christmas Season. Beginning on Saturday, I assembled three Christmas trees in three days. 

Two were in my house. One in the family room upstairs adorned in the white lights that my family is so fond of and the other in the basement recreation room done in colored lights--just for Chris.

Second Tree of 2014 in the Recreation Room

Christmasfying the house took all day--but I've already written a few lines about that.

Then on Monday, after driving my parents home after the Thanksgiving holiday, I helped them assemble their tree. I don't mind assembling Christmas Trees, but I definitely set a record this year in helping get everyone ready for the season. 

Third Tree of 2014 at Mom and Dad's

I was surprised to learn that the first Christmas Tree display in America was in about 1830. Who knew?

Of my three trees, the image I took of the one at my parents house is very intriguing because I can see myself in the mirror. I didn't even notice that as I was taking the image. Definite proof that I took the image!

This is already a special Christmas Season--three trees in three days. I am sure there are more surprises to come.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Facing the Government

Why, I ask myself, don't the people working in governmental agencies that interface with the public realize that they represent every federal worker and that the general public forms its opinions based upon these exchanges?

I write this after a friend told me about a terrible three-hour telephone experience trying to get information about an application that had not been fully processed. The call ended about 6:30 PM when my friend, frustrated at the ineptitude and being kept on hold for over an hour, hung up and resolved to address the issue again today. 

Federal workers who interact with the public need to be reminded that "We the People" means that the people are the boss!

Who are the most likely federal workers to interact with the American? Social Security, Medicaid/Medicare, IRS, and TSA come to mind. 

Let's do better!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Highways, Traveling, and Holidays

I am in the middle of a round trip to Ithaca to return my parents and officially put an exclamation mark on Thanksgiving. This is my second roundtrip to NY in two weeks. I'm finding that the driving is not so bad--especially when the weather cooperates.

But wow, what a couple of weeks it has been in terms of the weather. The weather has alternated between unbelievably fantastic and horrendous. On the trip north yesterday, I saw signs of the remnants of the ferocious storm that assaulted the Northeast last week--right when everyone was planning to travel for Thanksgiving.


It looks as if it was just plain rotten and I'm glad we got out before it hit. 

I have been traveling a new route to access upstate NY which avoids the hordes of trucks which populate Interstate 81. The driving is easier and fast, now that much of the high speed future interstate has been completed. Some of it has been designated Interstate 99, the New York part. 

My Third Christmas Tree Under Creation

What I have noticed, however, is the impatience of many drivers. They just can't enjoy not being the leader of the cars. The speeds of some drivers is just insane. I am not a slow driver, I use my portion of the speed limit to keep moving along the ribbon of highway. But I like to be safe.

I enjoyed creating my third Christmas Tree of the season with Mom and Dad.

It has been a busy and fun couple of weeks. I'm sad to see it end and slide into the chaos that has become the Christmas Season.

Later today, I'll be back and thrust into the middle of it all--the joy, the work, the craziness, and the excitement all leading up to December 25th. One down and 24 to go!

-- Bob Doan, writing from Danby, NY

Monday Musings - December 1, 2014

1. Blink. November has passed and it is December.

8th Hole at Eisenhower, Crownsville, MD
November 30, 2014
The First Time I Drove a Green

2. I was blessed with good weather enough during the past week to be able to play golf twice. And, in a momentous shot, I drove the green from the tee on a par 3. Then, after I repaired the divot,  I promptly 3-putted for a bogey! Ugh! I still have not carded my first par. I did have 4 bogeys yesterday which is one of my better outings.

3. The house has been Christmasfied. It took an entire Saturday, but we are finally, mostly, ready for the Christmas Season.

4. I read an interesting article about 1 World Trade Center, the new building that replaced the Twin Towers, in the New York Times. Maybe it didn't really need to be built.  

The Christmasfied Family Room

5. The Hallmark Channel is up and running with its continuous supply of sappy Christmas movies. The sad part is, sometimes that are the best things on TV!

6. I had the opportunity to remove the leaves from the lawn again on the last day of November. I wonder what December will bring? But without leaves the green lawn is great to practice my golf swings with practice balls.

7. Interested in a new car that is called a "terrestrial rocket?" Check this one out in the article titled, A Terrestrial Rocket That Defies Gravity. Oh yea, the price is $280K. Who writes reviews about unaffordable cars?

8. December arrived with clear skies and 50 degrees. I wonder when it will happen again? 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Flying South with the Geese

Geese flying South during November 2014

There they were flying south the other morning. The geese were formed in their classic "V" formation.

The sky was clear and blue. 

It was a beautiful scene. I even caught the airliner leaving a contrail in the image as I recorded the sight for my memory.

The geese were flying south, and with them they were carrying my heart. I wish I were heading south to the warmth of a nice sandy beach somewhere.

The jet was heading north--probably to New York or Boston or some other equally as frozen city.

My vote is clearly to go with the geese--they know their way is the best way.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Axis and Allies: WWI 1914 - Review

Wow. Axis and Allies WWI 1914 is a fantastic and complex game that captures the essence of World War I.

Three of us traveled 100 years into the past to recreate the situation in Europe at the beginning of 1914 and play out the Great War, or the War to end all wars. This is what we do while the women in our lives face the crushing Black Friday crowds.

Thankfully, the game was simplified from the actual history of the time. The instructions indicate that the game averages 8 hour to play. We played for 10 hours and still none of the national capitals had been captured. The game played out much like history records WWI--slow and plodding. But, each turn was important and critical to the overall outcome.

The Board for Axis and Allies WWI 1914

We played with three players and I have to admit, I was the central powers and the game requires constant attention. The first round through the 8 countries took us 3 hours--but much of that time was learning the rules and the differences between the classic Axis and Allies versions and this one.

After the first round, the game picked up in pace, but our efforts to achieve a decisive victory on the field of conflict were just as inept as that of the countries involved in the war. No country or alliance could gain the advantage and the game quickly descended into a war of attrition which the allies gradually began to win especially as the U.S. was allowed to entry the conflict on turn 4 and in this case the French developed into an effective fighting force.

The game is complex. Eight countries are represented. On the allies side there are the French Alliance, the British Empire, the Russian Empire, Italy, and the United States arrayed against Germany, the Ottoman Empire, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

My mistakes? As Germany, I thought that I could quickly take Moscow and before the French and British could organize and then I would be able to hold the lines while the Austrian-
hungarian armies pushed through Italy and then onto Paris. I didn't pay enough attention to the India connection of the British Empire and my Ottoman Empire forces were neutralized and I was in a defensive posture for the bulk of the game.

After 10 hours of play, Moscow was under attack and Constantinople and Berlin were under siege. The Austro-Hungarian Empire forces were finally making their way through the Alps to pressure the French and the Italians, but Ottomans and Germans were effectively neutralized. The Central Powers navies had been neutralized and the allies had unopposed command of the sea lines of communication. I conceded the game.

RECOMMENDATION: It was a great game and another fantastic Black Friday event! If you enjoy this type of historical simulation--this game is for you.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD