Driving into the Sunrise

Stoneybrook Golf Course at Dawn
Bradenton, Fl
March 22, 2015

I almost enjoy going to work during this time of year because the sun is rising across the land and I can enjoy my favorite time of the day--dawn.

I noticed the jets landing at BWI Airport yesterday as I drove to work. They were flying into the rising sun which was casting its golden hues across the scenery. 

I find going to work during this time of year to be much more preferable than traveling to work during hours of darkness.

I enjoy the sunrise, and even though I can't take a picture of it as it rises--because I am driving, I remember the scene with the long shadows chasing darkness from the landscape. 

Some of the best images are captures during the morning while the air is clean and crisp. And it has been crisp--yesterday dawn broke with the thermometer at 47 degrees. It is warmer this morning at 52 degrees. 

I remember standing on a Florida golf course at dawn on morning just two months ago--the fog was lifting from the world as the sun rose to warm the land. The scene was beautiful. There is something serene about being the first group of the day hitting out of the tee box and into a fog wondering if any of the balls will be found again. They were and the day dawned beautiful.

I enjoy every new dawn and the promise that the day ahead brings.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

As the Ice Cream Falls

Last evening was one of those perfect mid-week evenings. Chris and I both made it home early enough to beat the heavy traffic and head to Annapolis for a tasting at a local wine wine store followed by roaming around the city and some dinner at the Red Red Wine Bar.

One of our favorite wineries, Fess Parker, from St Olivos,  California, was conducting a tasting at the Mills Fine Wine & Spirits and that is what caused us to sojourn to Annpapolis for the second time in two weeks. 

Coming to the completion of a perfect evening, a bit cool, but nice; we decided to get an ice cream cone as the perfect topper on the evening before heading home. 

Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
on the Sidewalk

We should have known that it would not end well when it took three tries to actually find an ice cream store that didn't smell bad. The first two that we tried both had off odors of heavy chemicals cleaners and it was just not conducive to selecting and then eating ice cream. 

The third store, Kilwin's,  had a nice sweet smell and seemed fine. We selected our ice cream and walked outside to enjoy the evening and stroll back to our parked car when tragedy struck.

As Chris went to enjoy the first lick of her cone, the top fell off onto the street--not ten steps outside theater. Visions of small screaming children immediately came to mind--but, being an adult Chris handled it admirably. She returned to the store for a replacement leaving me to guard the fallen ice cream so that no one accidentally stepped into the pile and potentially injured themselves. 

We tried to find a dog to clean up the mess, to no avail. A small bird happened by briefly--but was not really interested. When Chris returned with her replacement scoop, I used some napkins and removed the fallen scoop to a nearby trash can, ending the crisis.

I chuckled to myself remembering the old adage about not crying over spilled milk--and thought it was good we didn't cry over fallen ice cream.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Looking Ahead to the Summer

Here it is, the middle part of May 2015 already. Wow, it seems that just a few short days ago I was complaining about cold weather and immoderate temperatures that were destroying the excitement of the new year.

Expired Heat Pump

And now, the year is almost half over. Summertime is upon us and the vacation season is almost here.

We are busy, too.

As part of our summertime fun, we get to replace one of our heat pumps! Admittedly, coming in at 24 years old and being part of the original equipment of the house, it has served us very well. There just never seems to be a good time to replace a major system household system.

At least the failure of the system to provide cold air was discovered before the real heat of the summer arrived. We have a few days respite from the heat and humidity to complete the installation without extreme discomfort and panic.

Hopefully, the replacement system will be installed and functional before the Memorial Day holiday and we will then be able to cruise into summer and focus upon vacations and not worrying about the much anticipated oppressive. 

Why is it that there is always something more that needs to be done?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Back in the Win Column

It was a doubly good night for my baseball teams last evening.

Post Game Celebration
May 11, 2015

In an amazing display of batting prowess, the GORC Pirates, Jax's baseball team and the one that I help coach, managed to eke out a one-run victory. That was amazing given the lack of hitting that has plagued the team lately. 

I was happy because each boy on the team contributed to the win both with their bats and with solid plays in the field. And it was a come from behind victory at that, as the team was down by four runs at one point.

My other baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles, also played a great game and overcame the Toronto Blue Jays to secure a victory in their first game at home with fans since before the Baltimore unrest. They also got just their second win in seven games against the Blue Jays to get back in the win column after two especially disappointing series against the the teams from the Big Apple.

Playing for the first time ever--or at least in a very long time, wearing home jerseys emblazoned with the Baltimore city name instead of the traditional Orioles, the O's showed that they are truly the pride of our region and a team with class. 

Two teams, two games, great night! Gotta love baseball!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - May 11, 2015

1. The Orioles are not in a good place right now. They have lost 5 of the last 6 games. I'm glad they are leaving New York City and coming back home to Baltimore. They are at the bottom of the division, 5.5 games out of first with 133 games left to play. No panic!

2. Did you call your Mother yesterday? If you forgot, call her today.

3. Who knew golf could be so exciting. The finish of The Players Championship yesterday was riveting--down to the 6 foot putt that finally won it for Rickie Fowler.

Mothers Day Family Pool Party

4. Sunday was a great day. Sitting around the pool, swimming in the pool, and being with family made the day great.

5. The pachysandra is planted!

6. The NFL really has a conundrum: what to do with Tom Brady? Not only did he fail to admit complicity in Deflate-gate, but as a pro quarterback he surely knew the balls were under inflated. 

7. Turns out that coffee may actually be good for you and an important part of a healthy diet--the unadulterated straight from the pot variety without the sweetness and additives. Bring me another cup, please.

8. Ready for the week ahead? Neither am I. When does my vacation start?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Weekend Recovery

Sometimes, I feel that I need a weekend to recover from the weekend.

Mary, Sue and Chris in the Wine Room
at the Engagement Party

Weekends are so busy that come Monday morning, as I am dragging myself back to work, I begin to wonder if it is more relaxing to go to work than to survive a weekend.

Yesterday was a good case study. 

6:00 AM - Depart for and play 9 holes of golf (there wasn't time for a full round)
9:40 AM - Depart for and watch a lacrosse game
1:15 PM - Depart for baseball picture day
3:00 PM - Coach a baseball game
6:00 PM - Arrive at an engagement part that started at 5:30 PM
10:00 PM - Fall into bed at the end of a full day

Chris at the party

So when did the lawn get mowed or the pachysandra planted that was donated to help cover the shaded bare spots? I was smart and mowed the lawn Friday evening! The pachysandra, however, is waiting to be installed in its new home.

There is always something more that needs to be done!

Maybe the pachysandra will be planted today. After brunch, after shopping, after spending time in the pool which I heated all night to get it up to temperature!

Happy Mother's Day--btw. I get to do the cooking, too!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Cats

I have two very different cats.

Louis Asleep Outside

One sleeps. The extent of Louis' physical activity is getting up to find food or to change sleeping locations. 

He often asked to go outside to sleep in one of the lounge chairs under the deck. I'm not sure he realizes how much he sleeps--but it is a lot. The only time he comes around is in the morning to get some cookies and food. But he is pretty when he sleeps. His disposition in not all that inviting. He is a loner and does not like to be held.

Riordin on the Pool Deck

Rirordin, on the other hand, is a people cat. He is more of a dog than my dog. He is active and around. He likes to sleep, but on or with people. And he plays. He runs with reckless abandon through the house to stay in shape. 

When he goes outside he has to be watched because he figured out how to climb the fence. 

Riordin is a cat who is definitely not happy with the status quo--he wants to be part of everything and greet every person. He even enjoys some of the family dogs that come to visit.

Two cats--two different personalities, one house.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

First Pool Party of the Year

KJ, Chris, and Patrick

The first pool party of the year was a success. It was not a large affair, but it was huge in its impact. Patrick and Tina joined KJ, Chris and me around the pool and then the fire table for a relaxing evening to for dinner and to celebrate just being together.

Patrick and Tina regaled us with stories of their just completed bike trip from Pittsburgh to Cumberland along the Great Allegheny Passage. The images of the trip and the short movies provided by their GoPro added laughter to the evening. Who knew that a biking trip could be fraught with so many perils and humorous events? The stunning vistas imaged from the bridges along the trail and the incredible mud of the one tunnel highlighted the discussion of the evening along with the stories of sleeping in the cold and finding refuge in a hostel for one of the nights along their journey.

As the evening fell we continued to enjoy being together telling tales. Sadly, it will be a long time before we all can gather around the pool again, but the memories of laughter and fun will sustain us.

Pool season has arrived and with it, outdoor living.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Annapolis in the Evening

Annapolis Docks

Just because it was a beautiful evening, and that KJ had never visited Annapolis, we headed off to the State Capital last evening to enjoy the sights and some dinner.

We waited until after 6PM to depart and that meant the traffic was not too bad. The trip, which used to seem like a long one, has over the years become familiar. Upon arriving, we wandered through the old town area along the docks enjoying the sights and stores--most of which were closed because it was a Wednesday evening. 

KJ and Chris in Annapolis
May 6, 2015

The city was alive. The usual bustle of the midshipmen from the Naval Academy added to the ambiance of the crowds, their white uniforms glistening in the waning light of the day. 

Even though the skies were not clear blue, the evening was generally warm with a cool breeze from the water. There is something enjoyable about getting near the water and Chris and I exchanged our usual joke about wanting a boat. 

Main Street as Sunset
Annapolis, MD

As evening turned into night the colors of the city accentuated and the taillights of the cars could be seen driving up Main Street into the cloud covered sunset. The water, the historic buildings and the cars created a scene that I had to record.

All of the walking around the city made us hungry and we decided to enjoy dinner along the docks at Pusser's Caribbean Grille. Sitting along the docks enjoying dinner at sunset--what could be better? 

Curried Scallop Sautee
Pusser's, Annapolis

My dinner was a sight to behold and equally as good to enjoy. I do appreciate dinner served with a bit of panache.

It placed the exclamation point onto the end of a long day in a most perfect manner. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Needing a Baseball Fix

Nationals Park
May, 5, 2015

Needing to get to a live baseball game, I hadn't been to one in over a month since Orioles Opening Day, I headed off to Washington last evening to a Nationals game with my nephew KJ who is visiting from Colorado. I have had to miss one and reschedule another of my Orioles season plan ticketed games. 

It was very different heading off to a baseball park to a game in which I wasn't rabbit about one of the teams. I had been to Nationals Park before--but when the Orioles were playing. This time it was different--I was cheering for the home team--and it wasn't the Orioles who were managing to lose to the Mets in New York.

Many of the fan songs are the same--I did the obligatory rendition of Take Me Out to the Ballgame during the Seventh Inning Stretch. The Seventh inning Stretch has quite a history and some believe that the idea of stretching during the middle of the seventh inning may have begun in Washington, DC, although the tradition may have already been in place and just observe by President Taft. 

The Presidents

Speaking of Presidents--I met a few last evening. Yes, I met George, Tom, Abe, and Ted. They were standing in a row when I went to find ice cream.

They were, I must say, larger than life in person. And the Geico Gecko was even there.

The game was close and exciting. The home team was behind by a run entering the bottom of the ninth inning and got two men on base with the opportunity to tie theme or take the lead--but, alas, the Nationals failed to plate a run and the game ended in a 2-1 loss to the Miami Marlins. 

Thoughts? 

Nationals Park is a great venue. The variety of food is great and the fans were nice. 

I did have a problem deciding what to wear because it is very poor style to show up at a game wearing the colors of a team that isn't playing and so I had to leave all of my Orioles team clothing and accessories home. 

The drive to the metro station at rush hour is a prime reason I don't go to more Nationals games. Also, getting home after midnight and then getting up to get ready for work at 5AM puts me in an extreme sleep depravation situation. 

All in all--great evening, good fun and if the home team had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, it would have been perfect!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD