Seasonal Dysfunction

Despite the rains yesterday, we had a coffee crisis that had to be alleviated before this morning and that meant heading out to Costco for supplies.

The trip was wet, but uneventful. As an aside, I am continually amazed by the ignorance of some drivers who do not understand how to efficiently traverse a "Four Way Stop" and who also cannot park their cars. We waited in the row at Costco for a few minutes while four drivers attempted their rendition of a water ballet with vehicles while trying to exit and then drive into parking spaces. Ugh! Chris and I just parked and walked in the rain.

Christmas at Costco
in October

Costco is a warehouse store and what greeted me as I cleared the check-in line was truly a sight that I had not expected during early-October. Christmas!

Yup, Christmas is alive and well at Costco. I did not hear any Christmas music. I had expected Halloween decorations, but found Christmas--already and completely deployed! Interestingly, I did not find any Halloween decorations or costumes in the store, although they may have been strategically displayed somewhere.

I was truly amazed, and saddened. The commercialism and the loss of the Christmas's identity is complete and the season has been reduced to a retailing frenzy. 

I must confess that we even purchased two Christmas gifts because of the "if you don't get them now, they won't be there later" mentality. I'm sure that they will be lost and forgotten before the season finally arrives.

Here we are, still at the doorstep of Autumn and the leaves have not even fallen from the trees and Christmas is already displayed in the stores. What is wrong with this picture? Even worse? I have added to the problem by purchasing gifts!

I am so conflicted!

I have entered the seasonal dysfunction zone where I no longer look to the weather or the calendar to tell me what season it is, but rather to the retailers who are working to separate me from my earnings.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Hidden in Plain Sight

Eastern Box Turtle

I was in the yard the other evening, hitting golf balls into the net with my 3 wood, when I missed the net and I went into the wooded area near my house to retrieve the ball.

I was a bit startled when I went to pick-up the ball and I noticed something that I was not expecting. There among the leaves and the gathering autumn was a turtle. I believe that it is an Eastern Box turtle. 

I don't see many turtles wandering through our yard. I see frogs and toads, occasionally snakes and worms; but this is the first turtle.

When I was younger, I would have picked the turtle up and carried him to the house to chow off to Chris, but now, with the salmonella scare and trying to be respectful of other creatures, I called Chris down to see the turtle as it was trying to blend into the background.

It just pays to keep my eyes open and notice the wildlife lurking about because somethines, they are hidden in plain sight.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

October Arrives with the New FY

Happy New Year!

It is October 1st and the US government is still running as we start a new fiscal year!

Cue the noisemakers for the arrival of FY (Fiscal Year) 16!

Yay! Congress salvaged the beginning of the year by not letting the government shut down! We are good until December 11th when we get to watch our own version of brinkmanship funding happen all over again!

There was a lot of concern about another furlough--the last one coming two short years ago when Congress failed to accomplish their Constitutional duty and fund the government.

Except for the prospect of rain, I was a bit excited about the prospect of making some early morning tee times. 

But, I get to go to work and try to take care of the myriad of things accumulating on my desk as a result of an extremely heavy meeting week.

And so, yay! Happy New Year and let's keep the government functioning.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Russians in Syria

The failure of US policy in the Middle East, the continued strength of ISIL, and the incredible refugee problem that is swamping Europe are all reasons that we should welcome active participation by the Russians and other countries to find solutions in the tinder box area.

Going it alone has not worked, the US has neither the will nor the resources to restore order to the region. Our policies inherently contradict themselves. How can we at the same time work to remove the Assad regime in Syria while also defeating ISIL which seeks to fill the power void without offering an alternative to either? It is a doomed policy and the citizens of the region who are fleeing recognize that nothing good has or will come from it.

I think it may be time that the US rekindles an old WW2 relationship, gets past the Cold War and recognizes that Russians aren't Communists anymore. We have tried to clean up a few of their messes in the past, like Afghanistan, and now maybe they can help us with a problem that clearly is larger than we have resources to commit.

There is a fairly insightful OpEd piece titled, The U.S. cannot pass Syria on to Putin, in the Washington Post this morning that helps describe the state of play and outlines some options for US policymakers. 

In my mind, we need to realize, especially now that the Russians have arrived to help, that the Assad regime will continue in Syria. Sadly, we can't solve problems in a region where everyone is an enemy and no one is an ally. We have seen the results of the power vacuum that is created. I am not saying that we have to like the continuation of Assad's Syrian leadership, it is just something that we need to use as building block to regional stability.

Simon Jenkins offers an opinion thought piece about Putin and the Syrian situation in The Guardian this morning titled, Why the west should listen to Putin on Syria. In the opening sentence of the article, Jenkins writes: "Putin is right. Everyone knows Putin is right, that the only way forward in Syria, if not to eternal slaughter, is via the established government of Bashar al-Assad and his Lebanese and Iranian allies."

To be successful in the new world, we need to get over our self-aggrandizement mentality and begin to see opportunities to work with other countries to bring peace and stability to the troubles regions of the world. It is clear the American people are not willing to devote the treasure or the talent necessary to solve the problems of the Syria and ISIL on our own--hence, we need help. Granted, the Russians may not be the calvary that we expected to come rising over the hilltop, and they are largely untried and untested in situations like exist in Syria, but to quote a movie line, "short help is better than no help."

While we can focus our energy on the political events here in the US, the situation in Syria is not going away and people are dying every day. Maybe it is time to try something new and work collaboratively with other countries to implement a lasting solution.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Orioles Mathematically Eliminated

It happened last evening as the visiting team made a stirring comeback during the 8th inning and then sealed the victory in the 9th inning. 

As the Season Ends

The Orioles post-season hopes were officially terminated, with prejudice!

With 6 games remaining to be played, the Orioles have been mathematically eliminated from the post-season. There will be no post-season baseball in Baltimore this October.

The Orioles have scored three runs during their last four games--all in the second inning of last nights blown game. Perhaps the end of the season cannot come too quickly. After getting their record to .500, they have lost four straight games and are likely to finish the season with a losing record. Given that the Orioles are playing the division leading Blue Jays and then finish the season with a four-game series against the team that shall remain nameless from up north, it is very likely that they could finish eight or nine games below .500.

I will be attending tonight's game to relish the baseball atmosphere and hold fast to the waning remnants of a summer that was filled with so much hope. Tonight, it is possible that the visitors will clinch the American League East Division that the Orioles won last year.

The August and September collapse of the team has been hard to watch. And now, in a bit of irony, the Orioles clinched the division last year while playing the Blue Jays and the Blue Jays will likely clinch the division this year while playing the Orioles. 

And that is baseball. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - September 28, 2015

1. It is the last Monday in September! I find it hard to believe that the month will end in two more days.

2. The birthday weekend is over and now it is back to regular life.

3. Going back to work after a week away can be really stressful.

Weird Image

4. I wonder what this means? Do the plants need screens? Wow, do those windows look clean!

5. The Orioles went to Boston this weekend looking at stealing a wild card spot in the post season. They came home with those dreams dashed after scoring 0, I mean zero, runs in three games. It may not be over, but the fat lady is not only warming up, she is forming the notes and words to begin singing.

Patuxent Greens Golf Course
September 27, 2015

6. It is unusual to see a fox, especially on the golf course, but it happened yesterday. It was a bit startling to see the fox and a bit disconcerting about how close it got to Mike and I as we were golfing. True, I had hit my ball and it was not on the fairway.

7. Darwin Award nominee. A man tried to kill a spider with a lighter at a gas pump. It ended poorly.

8. I have an Orioles game tomorrow night It will be the last game that I attend this season and it is likely that the Orioles will be mathematically eliminated form the post-season on that night.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Creative Spaces

Seasonal Entryway

Our home has a lot of space for conversation and contemplation. One of the trickiest things do is to create spaces where people can relax and enjoy themselves.

While I was in Denver, Chris took it upon herself to recreate the entryway with a seasonal brush stroke. I was greeted by the entryway as I returned home late Friday night. I enjoyed the sight and yesterday she added two pumpkins, not pictured because I took this image on Friday night. I was happy that she included my recently trimmed angel wing begonia as part of the festive sight.

But not content to stop there, we continued the theme yesterday by creating an outdoor space to relax and enjoy the earlier evenings. Combining our beach themed tiki torches with the propane fire table on the lawn created a new space. And it worked out really well. Total cost? Zero because we repurposed things already around the house, even the wooden stumps were laying in the woods waiting for something creative to happen to them.

It turned out really well, and added to my birthday celebration.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Song and Tears and Birthdays

Happy birthday to me!

It has been a great day and I have connected with most of my family. I am not a big birthday celebration fan--I prefer the more understated approach to birthdays.

That written, on Facebook, at least 21 people wished me congratulations on completing another decade. I feel old.

Last evening, as I was flying home from Denver, I did something that made pause. I was listening to the songs on my iPad and for some reason I played Handel's Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah.

During the song, I remembered many friends and events from the past where I had been privileged to sing this song of joy and victory.

But there was some sadness in my heart as I remembered some of my friends who have changed their residence from this world to the next. My church choir director Hiawatha Watkins came into my mind because I remember handing out the music to the entire congregation for many enthusiastic Easter sing alongs.  I am convinced that he loved this pice of music for not only its power, but how it affected everyone who sang it and listened to it. I also reflected on the first time I learned and sang the Hallelujah Chorus over 40 years ago in my high school choir.  I remember that I was amazed as the assembly rose to honor the piece.

As I remembered these poignant scenes, tears rolled down my face and I was glad that the cabin on the airplane was dark.

I am amazed at how the years have changed me. I'm not sure anymore that I am who I thought I would be. But I am who I am and I am continuously growing. I learn more each day and I strive to remember my friends and teachers and family who have taught me and coached me and mentored me into who I am.

Thanks to all of you. Living and passed. I shed a tear or two while writing this as your memories flooded back and I remembered our times together and look forward to time eternally together.

And all because, by chance, for no reason at all I played that anthem. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Homeless in Denver

Traveling for business gets old progressively day by day. 

I am glad that I only do occasional road trips now. I have enjoyed Denver and the incredibly good weather, but I have seen the needier side of the city as well. 

Homeless in Denver

I have walked around most of the downtown 16th Street Mall area at various times of the day, and I have to admit that I must be a bit sheltered in my views. The homeless or the transient people are everywhere. And the people represent all age groupings, from the 20-somethings who appear to be on a "walk about" to the definitely homeless with dogs and sometimes children.

Most do not beg--but there are those who do, looking to subsist on handouts and generosity. I admit, I was a bit offended by one the other day who advertised himself as a jobless veteran but was standing outside a bagel place hitting people up as they were coming out with breakfast in their hands.

I didn't snap any pictures of those sleeping because I felt like I was intruding in their bedroom, but I found one online that exactly caught what I have seen.

There is a Mission here that tends to the homeless and I am sure that they are far too busy during bad weather. The weather this past week has been very good and perhaps that is why there are so many people about.

I am aware that some of the discussion about the apparent increase in the numbers of homeless people centers around the liberalized Colorado marijuana laws. But, regardless, they are still people. 

People in need are still people.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, CO

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Coors Field, Denver, CO
September 23, 2015

I love baseball. That is a fact. I like to take the opportunity to visit other ballparks when I can. 

Last evening I did just that. I walked to Coors Field to see the Pittsburgh Pirates play the Colorado Rockies. Admittedly, the Rockies are my favorite National League team and so it was not too much of a stretch to go to the game. Even though the rockies have already been eliminated from post-season play, spending an evening at the ballpark was a great plan, and frankly, what else do I have to do?

View Along the 16th Street Walking Mall
Denver, CO

In another sense, it was my personal way of getting through the first day of autumn, by attending a summer activity. And is was a beautiful evening. The temperatures were mild, the humidity low--too low for this East Coast guy, and the crowd was light.

Scoreboard at Coors Field
September 23, 2015

I enjoyed a nice walk along the 16th Street Mall getting to the game and also returning home. I won't comment on the numbers of homeless or transient people I saw sleeping along the streets, just to say I was amazed at how many there were.


As I mentioned, the game was lightly attended, but the fans were enthusiastic. The Bucs (as the Pirates are known) got some early runs and were up 5-0 going into the bottom of the 3rd inning. The Rockies made a comeback and the score settled in at 7-6 for the visitors at the end of the 5th where it stayed until the fireworks erupted during the wild 9th inning which saw the Bucs clinch a playoff spot by scoring an additional 6 runs to which the hometown Rockies could manage to answer with only 1 in the bottom of the frame. 

Mostly Empty Stands
Coors Field, Denver, CO
September 23, 2015

It was a good evening of exciting baseball which ended late--later considering the 30 minute walk back to the hotel--but, hey, it was baseball. 

And in honor of Yogi Berra, remember: "It ain't over till it's over."

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD