Out the Hotel Window - Sarasota, FL

Green. I have been overcome with green after the long cold and monochromatic winter of my discontent in the north.

Outside my hotel window people are playing in the pool surrounded by lush green foliage. It is awesome. I don't really want to leave. The smells of life are everywhere.

Playing golf yesterday I enjoyed the wildlife everywhere.

I am more than ready to enjoy the warmth and green on my return to Baltimore

-- Bob Doan, writing from Sarasota, Florida

Guy Trip Food

Why is it that when on a guy trip, I eat the wrong foods? The wings are so good. They smell good. But where are the veggies? No where in sight. Well there were some fried pickles.

Good food and a four day road trip to Florida.

I have not seen one snow flake since I arrive here. The 86 degrees yesterday erased all of my bad memories of March in Baltimore.

The food, it's guy food.

Baseball, the O's won yesterday. Golf this morning and baseball this afternoon. What could be better?

The food. How long can someone survive in guy food?

-- Bob Doan, writing from Sarasota, Florida

It's just not Fair!

Daffodils in the Snow

Spring began yesterday and we suffered through yet one more blast from Winter.

Snow, cold, and messy roads.

I had hoped that the snow would have been melted before the end of the day, but alas, the weather forecasters steered me wrong. 

The daffodils in my gardens stoically stood their ground against the onslaught. Undeterred, they continued to repel the monochromatic snowfall with their determined green and reminded me that spring is not gone, it is just a slow starter!

Good-bye Winter, may this be your last gasp!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Start your Mowers--Spring is Arriving

Chris on the Tractor

Yesterday afternoon the lawn tractor took to the yard! It was the first sortie of the season and while it wasn't technically mowing, it was removing the accumulated winter's trash and leaves from the yard!

We worked in the yard even though there is snow in the forecast. The snow won't last long and we needed to clear the yard and get the reemergent fertilized down. 

Today marks the beginning of Spring, although we need to withstand one last punch from Winter before we can truly celebrate the passing of the season of cold and darkness.

The Yard after removal of the debris

It was really cold--my electric bill was $200 above normal as a result of our efforts to hold the cold at bay and maintain a warm, toasty home.

But Springtime is starting and the temperatures are moderating!

The yard is getting ready, as am I, for outdoors living.

Bring on the grill and the fire table!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Robins and Peepers and More, Oh My!

Robin in a Tree

During our walk last evening I took notice of the multitude of Robins which have returned and are looking everywhere for food.

I hadn't noticed them in great numbers before--but they are back and looking for critters in the thawing lawns.

And then, while on the walk, I heard the peepers for the first time this year. The arrival of their evening chorus is a sure sign of Spring's arrival although the official arrival is not until Friday.

The beginning of Spring is based upon the equinox, but the amount of sunlight available on the day is probably greater than 12 hours? It is really cool. The arrival of Spring is based upon the center of the sun crossing the equator--however, the amount of available sunlight (sunrise to sunset) is based upon the top of the sun either rising above or setting below the horizon. Hence, the first day of Spring for Elkridge is about 12 hours and 8 minutes from sunrise to sunset--Oh My! Who knew the sun was that big?

But the arrival of Spring is heralded by the peepers and the Robins. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a good picture of a Robin when the background is brown and gray? They blend.

Spring starts at 6:45 PM EDT on Friday, March 20th. 

Don't miss it!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

I Took a Detour

Lifetime Racquetball Court

It seemed innocent enough. I played racquetball yesterday morning, but got done a early. I was excited about getting to work a few minutes early--about 15. 

I had talked to Chris, went over the plan for the day and had just hung up the phone as I approached the exit for my place of employment.

That is where it went bad.

There are three exits from the highway near where I work. I was a distracted as I was reviewing the day ahead of me and I turned early to exit the highway onto another four lane highway. Panic! There was no going back--suddenly, instead of exiting into the parking for my job, I was headed down a road to a destination I had not intended to visit.

No problem--I thought, the next exit is not too far, I'll turn around there and still be early to work. 

Then the car started telling me of a problem with the cruise control and lights. Ugh. I got distracted again and missed the exit! Darn. The next exit is a lot further--but I have no choice.

Traffic was beginning to build and I needed to keep my attention on the road, but the warning message on the console in my car was not only annoying, it was flashing as if it were important! Ugh, I was trapped. 

Time passed, traffic increased and finally the exit loomed. I made the exit and successfully reversed my direction and was not headed towards rather than away from work.

During the remainder of the journey I needed to stay extremely alert because traffic stopped completely on a number of occasions for no apparent reason. It can be somewhat scary to be in the middle of executing a lane change and suddenly everyone is stopped!

I finally, and uneventfully arrived at work. On time!

My detour had used up all of the extra time by driving around aimlessly on the highways. 

Moral of the story? Stay alert when driving. Bad things can happen!

As an aside, I looked up the earning message, and I need to replace the brake switch--but the lights actually do work!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Orioles Baseball Tuesday Update

Tuesday's are my days to write about the Orioles. 

Yesterday was a good day for the team. It has been a quiet Spring Training for the team, except that yesterday they belted 21 hits, 5 homers and won a blow out game 16-4 which finally saw the hitting, defense, and pitching all come together in one solid game!

Yes. Baseball season is coming and I am ready to see the team in person beginning this weekend in Sarasota.

So, do professionals enjoy games like this? Rock Kobatko reported about the Manager of the Orioles, Buck Showalter: "Did Showalter enjoy watching the offensive fireworks? You figure it out.
"You bet your sweet (butt)," he said. "Anybody who says, 'Oh, it's just spring training,' you like to see them have one of those days. They've been working hard. Get a return for it. You bet.""

The Orioles are now 4-11 in Spring Training. But the Spring Training record means nothing after April 5th. The Orioles are the defending American League East Champions!

Let's Go O's!!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - March 16, 2015

Et tu, Brute?

1. Yesterday was the Ides of March, I have attached the funniest image I saw during the day. An historical parody.

2. March Madness is officially underway. Go Maryland!

3. Fun times together with the family should not be missed. Especially when there are celebrations involved!

4. The weather is warmer--why is it that I want it even warmer?

5. Spring Training continues and the Orioles are still waiting to gel and have a disappointing 3-11 record. I hope they turn it around during the next couple of weeks. 

6. Spring begins on Friday! The Winter is nearly over!

7. The scary part about yesterday being the Ides of March is that there are now only 30 days left to get the taxes done for all of the procrastinators out there.

8. Is this really another 5-day week with no holidays in sight?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

NCAA - Tournament Time and Sanctions

The NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament has arrived. The conference championships are finishing with teams across the country vying for a spot in what is known as March Madness.

People are beginning complete their brackets to predict the road to the Final Four and the eventual NCAA Men's National Basketball Champion.

It is all very exciting.

What is at stake? According to one report I read, over $800 million. The tournament has become much larger than amateur athletics. 

Yesterday, the Maryland Men's Basketball Team lost its semifinal game and will not be playing for the Big 10 Conference Championship today; however, they are expected to be a 3 seed in the tournament. They posted an exceptional year and I wish them the best of luck as they start down the path that leads to an eventual champion of the nation.

One team that is not participating in the post-regular season conference and NCAA tournaments is Syracuse. The school is enduring a self-imposed post-season ban because of violations of NCAA and school standards. The NCAA, as I have written about two other times this past week, has levied a number of sanctions on the school which seem to be to be very harsh. I read an Op-Ed piece by Joe Nocera in the New York Times yesterday that expresses my feelings about the situation titled, Syracuse, Boeheim and the N.C.A.A. 

I have to agree with Joe--reading about the NCAA report in the news and then actually reading the report I was left wondering about the true intent of the NCAA in the situation. The sanctions levied on Syracuse are very severe--returning over $100 million in revenue sharing monies, vacating over 100 wins, and other equally as harsh penalties. And the difficult part is the Syracuse recognized the problems and corrected them before the investigation. 

Is it about the student athletes? Especially the ones currently in the program? No.  I did not see any mention that the program had self-corrected from 2012 onward. Is that not what the true desired end state is? Programs discover problems, correct them and move on? I guess not.

It all comes down to money. 

The tournament is about money and, sadly, college sports are about money. Everyone gets a piece except the student athletes.

The report and the capricious sanctions against Syracuse tarnish the image of the NCAA as a governing body and confirms that it is not about the students--but about making money!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Snow Swan Song

Ice on the Pool Cover

It is nearly gone. 

Finally! 

The temperatures have been above freezing for most of the week and only a few piles of snow remain in and around my yard. 

March 6, 2015
Snowy Dawn

Even the ice in the pool is mostly gone and I can begin to think about living outdoors and the impending warmth of summer with life around the pool!

Sure, opening the pool is still over a month away--but it seems a lot closer this week than it did last week. 

I am just happy about the change in the view of my yard from frozen and snow covered to greening and ready for Spring--and yes, that is the golf target ready to receive golf balls.

March 14, 2015
Rainy Dawn

What a difference a week makes. I never would have thought it possible that almost all of the snow would be gone and the green would already be returning!

This is a much different scene from my friends and family living in the frozen northlands--but the good news is, the thaw is coming to you as well!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD