Orioles Return

We are on the cusp of the return of major league baseball--coming to a ballpark near you.

I enjoy reading the pundits as they wade through the off season changes and believe that they can divine the outcome of a 162 game campaign followed by the playoffs before even one game is played.

Usually, the Orioles are projected to be a bottom finisher; however, in a strange twist, one New York Times writer provides a very different view of the American League and the Orioles. In a story titled, A.L. Preview: The Orioles Have Quietly Reloaded, Tyler Kepner makes some very interesting predictions for the upcoming season.

I have to agree with his predictions, because they follow my heart. He writes that the Orioles will win the American League East Division for the second straight year. He goes on to predict that the Orioles will win the ALDS over the White Sox, the ALCS over the Mariners, and then in a dramatic prediction, losing the World Series to the Nationals!

What a wild season it may be. Most other predictions have the Orioles finishing the season outside of the playoffs. And that is why they play the games.

Play Ball!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Temperature Rising--Baseball is Coming

First Crocus of 2015

I awoke this morning to temperatures in the 60's.

Phenomenal! Just a few short weeks ago, I woke up to 6 degrees on March 7th! A 50-plus degree difference in less than a month!

April is making good on its promise! Warmer temperatures and, of course, rain! Today is supposed to be a washout.

I'll take it. It is better than snow.

I am beginning to plan the pool opening for late in the month. I need to get the cover off the pool so that I can believe that warmer temperatures are coming--soon.

The Orioles home opener is just a week away now--and although temperatures are forecast for the 70's--April showers are also included in the plan for the day.

I am sure that even a bit of rain will not deter Orioles fans from flocking to the home opener to cheer on the AL East Champs as they seek to repeat as division champs and improve on their 2014 performance. Excitement abounds. It is too bad that three games will already be in the books before the birds make their initial appearance of the season in Baltimore. 

Spring is truly here and as the MLB teams break their Spring Training camps to head north--baseball is in the air and the sports of winter are beginning to wind down to make room for the Boys of Summer.  I have my tickets in hand and am ready!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

What a difference three-hours make

Crossing the Route 11 Bridge
Northumberland, PA
April 1, 2015

I drove north yesterday and was amazed at how different the weather was just a short three-hours away.

I found snow and cold--although the temperature was 43 degrees, there was snow on the ground, a lot of it.

It was amazing how the snow began appearing in the hidden places as I drove further north towards Williamsport, PA--home of the Little League World Series. By the time I arrived there, snow was on the ground and on the houses. It was melting--but there was an abundance of the white stuff everywhere.

I snapped a quick image of the snow on the hill about an hour south of Williamsport, while stuck in traffic on the Northumberland US 11 bridge crossing the Susquehanna River. I was happy to see that the tattered American flags had been removed from the bridge. I wrote about them last November when I drove north in my blog titled, Travel, sunset, flags, and pizza. 

It was demoralizing to see so much snow while I am plotting to mow my lawn for the first time probably within a week if the temperatures remain above freezing at night!

Spring is coming! The daffodils are blossoming and my bleeding hearts are gaining height every day. Still, I am too far north. I long to be in a place where palm trees grow and the ocean waves crash against the shore.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

April Arrives, Finally

Flowers in My Garden

After a long stretch of too cold temperatures and below normal forecasts we have finally stumbled into April where the hope of warmth and more moderate weather is still strong.

Even so, the temperature danced with freezing this morning, for hopefully the last time this Spring.

The Springtime flowers are beginning to bloom, despite the continual onslaught of frigid weather. I noticed buds on the forsythia yesterday as I was doing maintenance on the house and getting it ready for the coming year.

I know in my head that it is Spring--it is just that the temperatures do not seem to bear out the fact. 

But, the new month has arrived and hopefully it is time for the weather to change.

Important Dates in April:

4 - Passover Begins
5 - Easter
6 - MLB Opening Day for Orioles in Tampa
10 - Orioles Home Opening Day
15 - The Tax Man (or woman) Cometh
16 - Holocaust Remembrance Day
22 - Earth Day
24 - Arbor Day
25 - Anzac Day 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

D.C. on a Spring Day

V-2 Rocket in National Air and Space Museum

A Spring-like Day during Spring Break was what greeted me yesterday. Who could ask for more? Really?

The day provided the perfect opportunity to sojourn into D.C. and show the sights to visiting family who were attempting to escape the frozen northlands.

Washington Monument

First up was the National Air and Space Museum, of course. I had been told that it was the most visited museum in the world, however, according to the best information that I could find, it is number three behind the Louvre in Paris and the National Museum of Natural History, which is across the National Mall from the Air and Space Museum. 

It turned out that many, many other people had the same idea about spending a bright and sunny day in our nation's capital. It was a busy day. I reconnected with many of the exhibits that I enjoy and I always learn something new. The visit even helped me answer a Jeopardy question by reminding me of events associated with the Battle of Midway. 

Walking around D.C. to see the famous structures was enjoyable. The blue skies and white puffy clouds made a perfect backdrop for the images. If only the leaves had been on the trees or the cherry blossoms had been in bloom. 

The White House

The White House was there as well as the Lincoln Memorial. I had forgotten that the Reflecting Pool is being reconstructed and it was mostly empty--marring the view to which I have become so accustomed. 

Lincoln Memorial with empty Reflecting Pool

Someone asked me where the fences around The White House were, as they are not evident in my image. I'm leaning on them to get the shot. But beware--there are a lot of fences and guarded areas around The White House that impeded foot traffic and automobiles as well--be ready to walk a lot to get to the spot where I took my image! 

There is always a lot of walking when I visit D.C.  It just seems that I like to walk to get from one place to another. 

But the day was pleasant. There is a lot of construction underway on the National Mall which does impede foot traffic--but on a beautiful Spring day, who really cares? It was fun to be outside enjoying the sights and the other people who were also enjoying the beauty of our nation's capital!

I truly enjoyed getting outside for the day and reconnecting with the sights which are essentially right in my own backyard.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - March 30, 2015

1. March is drawing to a close. It has been another in a series of too cold months, but at least the snow has melted here and it is melting in the frozen Northeast as well. Maybe April will be a more normal month.

2. I am getting tired of hearing the weather forecasters call for temperatures 10 degrees below normal. Can we just get some normal?

3. March Madness has been reduced to the final four--three of whom were number one seeds: Duke, Wisconsin, and Kentucky. The only outlier is Michigan State. When will the madness end?

4. I played golf yesterday, just because. It was really cold.

5. The family gathered for an afternoon together--it was good to have everyone around and it was fun to watch the kids finally be able to run around outside. 

6. Here's a sport we don't hear a lot about: Australia won the cricket world cup. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our own sporting events that we miss what is going on elsewhere in the world.

7. Writing of sports, the MLB season begins in one short week! the first game is next Sunday with the rest of the league opening on Monday. The Orioles do not open at home until Friday the 10th.

8. It is Spring Break! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Clocks and Trains and Children

A visit to the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore reminded me that my love for clocks and trains are entwined. 

The massive locomotives which played the rails and moved America from coast to coast depended upon reliable time keeping to make their runs safely. In the days before computers and sensors, it was the pocket watch of the conductor which controlled the progress of the trains across the nation. 

Seeing the behemoths of the past first hand reminded me of what a marvel these engines truly were. They were constructed in an era without computers to precise mechanical standards. It was a marvel to think about the machining associated with building these complex engines. I was reminded about how big an 80 inch drive wheel is--and it is all steel!

Riding the rails. I enjoyed reviewing the evolution of rail travel from the small boilers on a carriage to the super fast steam locomotives and then to the diesel electric engines of the modern rail era. 

Standard time--the time zones that we live with: Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific were established during 1883 to support rail traffic. Although not enacted into law until 1918, the standardization of time increased safety on the rails. 

I took a video of the roundhouse and some of the engines and rolling stock on display. Of course, Jax needed a diversion, so he got to enjoy the carousel. What a great way to spend a too cold day in Baltimore? I also become very childlike when I visit this great museum, but the carousel was too small for me.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD 

50 Shades of Green

Florida Green
March 23, 2015

The weather has been playing with my affections. During the past week I have experienced the 80's of Florida and the 20's to 70's of the Baltimore area.

I wish it would settle into a solid range--like the 70's to 80's. 

Along with the whipsawing temperatures, I have enjoyed what I will call, 50 shades of Green. 

13th Hole at Timbers at Troy
March 27, 2015

While in Florida--the green trees and grass exhibited deep and mature hues of green. Against the cyan sky--the colors were stunning and rich.

Yesterday, I experienced the faded hues of green attempting to transform from the faded tones of Winter while golfing during the afternoon.

The two just do not compare. 

I long for the deep mature greens--but waking to temperatures in the 20's is not going to make the transformation happen anytime soon. I am hopeful, however, because tomorrow morning is the last one with below freezing temperatures forecast for the next ten days!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Spring Break 2015 Arrives

One of the best parts of the school year has arrived--Spring Break. Families are traveling to warmer destinations to escape the winter and get a jumpstart on Springtime.

It is exciting. I get to enjoy Spring Break because Chris is a teacher and has this week of freedom provided to her every year.

The whipsaw temperatures of the past few days are frustrating. Wednesday morning it was 24 degrees with a high in the 40's and yesterday it was over 70 degrees. Today's high will only be near 50 degrees.

It was fun to conduct baseball practice in just shirts and not be encumbered by heavy coats--what a difference a day makes.

This year for Spring Break I will be taking a stay-cation and doing projects around the house to get things tidy and ready for the summer season. The Winter has been so long and rough that I have not been able to do many projects that need to be accomplished in advance of the Summer play season.

And there may be some racquetball and golf, too!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Youth Baseball Spring Training

Although only about 50 degrees this evening, it was dry and Jax's GORC (Gambrills-Odenton Recreation Council) baseball team had its first practice. 

The field was in perfect shape, the evening air was cool and the boys were ready to play baseball.

It was good to be back on the field and moving up with the team from T-Ball to coach pitch.

I was in the batting cage pitching most of the evening--what a good way to get my arm into shape. But since the idea is to pitch the ball so they can hit it, it is a lot easier on the arm. 

The team this year is the Pirates--which is better than last year's Tigers because the Pirates do not directly compete with the Orioles. 

I was amazed how quickly the practice passed while I was in the batting cage throwing up home run balls for the boys. Some of them can really tag the ball. 

It is going to be a long season and I'm happy that it is finally underway!

I'm back from Spring Training in Florida and now it is time for baseball to really begin!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD