Grandparent's Day, Part 2

Jax at his Desk

In the interest of fairness and completeness, I attended grandparent's day at Waugh Chapel Elementary School yesterday and celebrated with both Ethan and Jackson.

It was a beautiful day to be out of work for a couple of hours and spend quality time with the grandsons.

The in processing into the school was smooth and enjoyable. There were a lot of grandparents trolling the halls and the staff was great in directing us to the correct classrooms and, when I happened into the wrong classroom initially, helping me find the correct classroom.

Jax Reading the Part of Rumpelstiltskin

My huge mistake of the day was forgetting to take a few pictures with Ethan, who kept me too busy to think about pictures. I did snap a shot of Jax telling the tale of Rumpelstiltskin. His class told a number of fairy tales to us. I was reminded how dark many of them are, especially when the woodsman kills the wolf in Little red Riding Hood.

I enjoyed Ethan's class because I got to do some coloring and answer a few questions about what school was like when I was in 5th grade. The time with Ethan passed so quickly. 

Did I mention food? The school had a great spread of munchies for the visitors! Awesome. 

I'm looking forward to Grandparent's Day next year!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: We Have Lost our Way

The tumultuous events of recent days have highlighted the continuing struggle between the peace-loving peoples of the world and those who would seek to enslave them. 

It is the classic struggle of the world, the free seeking peoples arrayed against an insidious abusers of power. It becomes more real when the fighting hits close to home, as it has in Paris and across Europe.

The discussions in Congress regarding suspending some basic civil liberties always follow dramatic events. One of the current discussions is about cell phone encryption. The arguments for reducing encryption ore fundamentally flawed and represent another potential intrusion into the lives of common people by not only the government, but the unscrupulous characters who could also use whatever backdoor is allowed to exist. Just look at how much money we pay for security software and updates on our personal computers to gain an understanding of the magnitude of the problem.

Syrian Refugees Coming Ashore on a Greek Island

Another discussion is about allowing refugees into the country. Both sides have taken the extreme view. One side says the refugees are only widows and children (wrong--look at the picture), the other side says that terrorists (possibly) may find a way into the country. But terrorists will always find a way into the country. Building a wall is not the answer and neither is not allowing refugees a place to settle outside of a war zone where both sides are trying to kill them.

With respect to refugees--I am reminded of the words on the Statue of Liberty: Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

Maybe we need to dismantle the statue and send it back to France because we have lost our way in the world. Our attitude is wrong.

Benjamin Franklin wrote something about taxes and security once which seems applicable now:

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

My take is that we need a long-term strategy and work harder to solve the crisis in Syria and the Levant. Then guess what? Neither breaking into cell phones or worrying about refugees will be necessary.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Turkey vs Pink Flamingo

My Favorite Thanksgiving Turkey

It is the season of the turkey! One week from today, we celebrate and give thanks. There will be too much football on the television and no shortage of wine and dessert.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because of the gatherings. Our family likes to celebrate together. And that is awesome. That we all generally get along is awesome as well. We also make it a two-day celebration and the annual Axis and Allies game is set to kick-off bright and early on Friday after Thanksgiving while the women are shopping and the kids are out to an eco adventure!

But right after the celebration, the most stressful season of the year begins. Even while cold turkey and desserts remain in the refrigerator, the Christmas season arrives to remind us all how far behind we all are. It seems like we are behind from the first day. That we ever catch up is amazing. "Holiday shopping" they call it.

Holiday Pink Flamingo in Lowe's

Last evening I was in Lowe's, picking up a few things for some non-Holiday related projects around the house, and I happened upon a Christmas lawn decoration that just made me smile.

I have always liked Christmas light wrapped Palm trees and have even had a few to spice up the season, but last evening I discovered the perfect yard animal to ring in the holiday season--a lighted pink flamingo!

It was very cute with the Santa hat on its head!

No, I did not buy it, yet! But I'm thinking of sneaking it into the yard for the start of the season. I was more excited about the pink flamingo than I was the outdoor wreath that Chris was was looking at that would require climbing back onto the roof to install.

Someone said "it's the most wonderful time of the year," and I know that it can be. I just wish I lived in the Southern Hemisphere and it wasn't so dark around the holidays. Wouldn't it be great to have Christmas during the summer and we could celebrate by having a pool party?

Did I mention that it is 170 days until I open the pool? Ugh! That seems like a long way off yet. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Grandparent's Day

Lucas and I Cutting Pieces

I am still stretching myself and growing into the role of a grandparent.

Yesterday I went over to the local elementary school and joined Lucas as he started his day in kindergarten.  The school had a special program arranged and both Chris and I were able to encourage Lucas as he constructed a thankful Thanksgiving turkey. 

Chris and Lucas and the Feathers

The construction project was preplanned and well thought out. The pieces were big and the supplies readily available.

I was impressed with the school, in-processing was smooth and I though the little pink tags were genius. 

I have been to schools before where they have no concept of smoothly in-processing people and it can become a real mess trying to get parents into the classrooms. 

Lucas' Turkey of Thanks

I enjoyed the story, it has been a longtime since I have had a story read to me. 

I was happy to have made one of the feathers! And an orange one at that!

Thanksgiving and the season of the turkey. A great time of the year and I am very happy that i could take a couple hours out of my too busy day to visit Lucas at school and help him to complete his very special project.

I wonder if the turkey made it home alive?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Oblivious Drivers

Oblivious to the Lines

It happens all the time in the highways these days it seems. Oblivious drivers making their way towards their destination unaware of the drivers around them. 

They can be dangerous.

Some of the obvious ones can be the most disconcerting, like drivers with no lights on after dark--I am seeing more and more of them and there is really nothing that can be done. I guess they don't understand that it is dark and no one else can see them.

The cell phone drivers are still out there as well. Driving down the road gabbing on the phone weaving across the lane and usually going a touch slow.

During our recent trip to Upstate NY, Chris and I experienced a new example of an oblivious vehicle operator. We were in a parking lot preparing to back out of the space with our engine running. The woman parked next to us opened her door to within an inch of the car and then walked around to the other side of her vehicle. We sat there waiting patiently because there was not enough room to back out of the space without possibly hitting her car door. And we waited. Finally, we saw her in the vehicle and rolled our window down to ask her if we could close her door. She seemed genuinely shocked that we were waiting for her--oblivious!

They are out there! They are dangerous, beware!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - November 16, 2015

1. November is half over. It only just began, it seems. But it certainly is tumultuous.

2. I received my mid-month golf handicap adjustment yesterday with a note that the season in Maryland has officially closed until March 15th. It must truly be winter.

3. Oblivious drivers are everywhere. I noticed more than just a few during my weekend travels to Upstate NY. They are dangerous!

4. My prayers are with and for those who were caught up in the terrorism in Paris over the weekend. Vive la France!

5. It is sad to see all the trees standing without their leaves ready for winter's onslaught.

6. A weekend in Upstate NY is not complete without stopping at at least one winery!

7. My view--it is time for the peace-loving peoples of the world to finally unite and repulse the barbarism and terrorism being spawned by ISIL and other groups across the globe. Maybe a coalition with Russia, the US, China, and NATO along with nonaligned countries can finally be formed.  Oh, yeah--that would be the United Nations.

8. The NFL continues to confound with obviously bad calls even after video review. Something's gotta give.

9. The week is beginning. What wonders are in store for us?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Apple Tree

I came upon an apple tree yesterday that caught my eye. It was sitting at the corner of a country road prepared for the winter season ahead.

Apple Tree in Danby, NY

I had forgotten how starkly pretty apple trees were after their leaves had fallen and only a few apples remained on their branches.

I would have liked to walk up an grab a truly fresh apple, taken a bite and savored its smell and crispness. But as the tree was clearly not on public property, it would have been wrong.

Looking at the ground under the tree, I gained a renewed awareness for the phrase that apples don't fall far from the tree.

Autumn is rapidly fading into winter. There was some snow on the hills above Cayuga Lake yesterday. And while pretty in a surreal way, it was a prelude of the coming season.

The apple tree reminded me of the summer behind and the cold season ahead.

And it stood tall with a few apples remaining on its branches, braced for the snows I know are coming.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ithaca, NY

150 Vacation Days

I want a job where I get 150 vacation days per year. 

Crazy?

Well, apparently not so crazy if you are a member of Congress. Next year the House of Representatives will be in session 111 days. That means they will be off 150 weekdays. This was reported in by the Washington Post in an article titled, Time to Ground Congress.

And they think that federal employees who work for the Executive Branch are overpaid because we have to work every weekday except for holidays.  

Welcome to the land of reactionary legislation. Nothing is going to get accomplished unless it is a crisis 

I want a job like that. That have reversed the workweek. They work two days and have five day weekends. Sign me up. 

Something has to change. There is an election coming. Don't forget. 

--  Bob Doan, writing from Ithaca, NY

In Need of Another Vacation

The Blue Hole, Belize

I have been getting email about planning future vacation destinations and cruises.

Specials, discounts! 

Except, none are for next summer. They all want me to leave tomorrow or next month!

Oh I wish that I could. The ultimate escapism.

Cathedral Cove, New Zealand

I would love to be cruising the Caribbean while Winter arrives in the North! I looked at the temperature graph for the upcoming week in Key West. It varies between 80 and 85 degrees! That, by the way, is the low and the high!

Perhaps the darkness, the rain, the gloom, and the too cool temperatures are beginning to get to me! I even see that snow is beginning to creep into the forecasts of cities around me. 

Brrr!

It is November after all! The news were talking about the November Witch yesterday providing frigid weather to the mid-section of the country. The same witch that may have been responsible for the wreck of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, which was 40 years ago. 

Well, after all, it is almost Thanksgiving and time for the bad weather to begin affecting activities. Darkness and bad weather. What a combination.

Find me a warm, sunny beach somewhere with gentle waves breaking along the coast.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Holiday Busy Day

I have to admit, I look forward to the autumn holidays. They allow me to get projects done, especially in preparation for the upcoming season. Yesterday was no exception. 

Makayla had a dental cleaning and so I didn't even get to sleep in. She had to be at the vet by 7:30 AM. She did very well and her teeth look great!

Christmas Lights Installed and Checked

Veteran's Day is the day I use to get the outdoor Christmas lights hung and prepared for the season which begins two weeks from tomorrow. The weather is usually nice and I can work on the lights at my leisure during the day. It took over four hours this year to get everything accomplished. But they are ready for that day after Thanksgiving when the "most wonderful time of the year" arrives.

And then there were the leaves on the lawn which needed to be repositioned. Fortunately, my tractor does an excellent job of moving the leaves from the lawn and back into the forest from which they came.

Believe it or not, I had a couple of gifts that needed to be wrapped. Christmas is closer than I think, I guess.

I had hoped to get in a round of golf, however, by the time I got everything done the course was busy and I decided to go to the driving range instead to work on my swing. Working out at the range is not nearly as much fun as missing a short putt on a green at the course of driving a ball into the deep woods off the tee, but after 168 shots, followed by about 40 putts, I had accomplished a pretty good workout and wrung out some of the problems I had been experiencing.

On the way home, I picked up Makayla dropped her off at the house and then, given a small window of opportunity, I decided to get a haircut. Later that same evening,  Chris and I had a dinner date with Patrick and Tina followed by some entertainment back at their house. 

All-in-all, it was a busy and great day. A lot accomplished and I even took time to thank a few veterans along the way!

When is the next holiday? Oh yeah, Thanksgiving when I give thanks and eat too much!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD