Out the Window - Ithaca

Dawn on January 2, 2016
Ithaca, NY

It has been a while since I have traveled and my "Out the Hotel Window" blogs have suffered.

Yesterday, while I was admiring the frozen wasteland set before me in Upstate New York, I realized that I was indeed admiring the view outside the window through which I was looking.

It was about 28 degrees and the snow had fallen during the night covering the land.

I wrote about the snow yesterday, but there it was, outside the window and all around. I had to deal with it while hoping to soon return south.

As I write this, I am driving through Shamokin Dam, Pennsylvania, returning to Maryland. The snow is a memory. But there it was yesterday, outside the window.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Shamokin Dam, PA

Snow, Why does it have to be snow?

Snow Fall
January 1, 2016

To celebrate New Year's Day, we drove north to return Mom and Dad to Ithaca and complete their all too short visit.

While the weather in Maryland has been warm and rainy, we were just about two hours into the journey north when the percolation changed. It was snowing.

It snowed off and of for most of the last half of the trip. With the exception of some of the high mountain areas there was no appreciable accumulation. It was, however, an ever present nuisance.

I'm definitely over snow.

The song from the movie Frozen keeps reeling in my mind: "do you wanna build a snowman?" My response is simple, no I want to build a sand castle on a hot, sunny beach.

I'm hoping for a mostly snowless winter in Maryland.

Wel now it's on to stowing the Christmas decorations. Hopefully the snow will be light and not too intrusive.

The image below was taken as the snow fell last night. Ugh? I definitely prefer rain.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ithaca, NY

New Year's Day

Times Square
New York City

Happy New Year.

Here's hoping that your 2016 is better than 2015.

It was a great, but somewhat subdued ending to the year. Instead of the normal revelry with our friends, Chris and I went to dinner at Victoria Gastro Pub with Mom and Dad and then watched a movie while waiting for the main event--the ball to drop in Times Square.

Dinner at Victoria Gastro Pub
December 31, 2015

It was generally an uneventful day to end the year. the weather was beautiful and mild which added to the enjoyment of the day.

And so, as the new year begins, rom all of us to you--Happy New Year.

--Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

New Year's Eve Surprise

Daffodils
December 31, 2015

Had this been March, I would have been more excited; but since it is late December I am just surprised and worried.

The daffodils are up in the garden.

I wonder what they are going to do when the cold weather really arrives?

Maybe they are betting that it won't arrive.

The great weather is beginning to confuse not just we humans, but the plants and other animals as well.

Happy New Year's Eve!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Attack of the Drones

One of my favorite toys from this Christmas is my drone.

I have been learning how to fly it while also checking out the legalities of flying a drone in my area. Since my drone weighs in at only 4.2 ounces, it is exempt from the new federal registration requirements which apply if it weighed more than 9 ounces (or 255 grams). 

I have been learning how to fly it and I found it works better outside where small gyrations in the flight do not seem to be as evident as in the house cashing into the Christmas Tree or someone.

Look Who is Flying!

I am impressed with its resilience. It has taken a beating and come through the learning to fly process pretty well. 

I have managed to leave it hanging in more than one tree, sadly, but I have some long painting poles and a ladder so it has been rescued each time.

Around the Yard

The drone has an easy but sophisticated flight control system primarily because it also has a camera on it. I finally felt comfortable enough with the drone yesterday that I snapped a few images with it around the yard.

I need to work on stabilizing my flight a bit more when I take images--but it is a lot of fun to think that I am controlling my own reconnaissance platform. It also can take video. I will work on some of that today. I really need a larger SD card for that, however, as it fills up quickly.

I guess I will just continue to drone along.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sliding into the End of the Year

The end of 2015 is upon us. 

Sunset on the Loxahatchee River, Jupiter, Florida
July 22, 2015

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve and the celebrations will begin in earnest. 

From my perspective, 2015 has been a great year. I was able to do a lot of new things and enjoy life to the fullest with family and friends.

I am not going to recount the specifics of the year except to note that I had never gone on a cruise before and during 2015 Chris and I enjoyed two cruises into the heart of the Caribbean. There will be more cruises. What a great way to visit multiple locations without having to pack and unpack multiple times.

Sunrise Ocean City, MD
September 7,  2015

I reviewed my pictures for the year and realized that I remain fascinated and awed by sunsets and sunrises. Two of my favorites are included in the blog.

As the end of the year approaches it is a time for reflection and planning. I like to review the year behind to plan for the year ahead. No, I will probably not take two cruises--but, I already have a cruise planned for Spring Break.

Of course, I do plan for more important events, although what could be more important than a vacation?

I still need to do a lot of planning for 2016, but I believe that it is going to be a big year.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Heroes Around Us

Reading the news is often a depressing experience, but yesterday, I read a story about a previously unknown piece of American history and realized that there are heroes living among us.

The news article was about a now 100-year old woman who was an experienced post-WWII spy--and is only now coming out from behind the cloak and dagger.

The article published by The Daily Beast begins, "Capt. Stephanie Czech arrived at the U.S. embassy in Berlin wearing civilian clothes, as always, and delivered the report she’d been carrying to the intelligence section. The war may have ended, but Czech was still working, undercover."

I am pleased that people can keep secrets like this for so long, but secretiveness of the intelligence business often deprives the rest of us from appreciating their tales of intrigue and sacrifice. As I read the story, I noticed that Captain Czech was a child of immigrants and was allowed to perform such important duties for the United States.

The current political discussion about the value of immigrants to our society needs to be placed into context by stories such as this. 

Sadly, probably because she was an agent and a woman, the recommendation to decorate her for her actions has languished for 70 years. Fortunately, she is still alive and can finally be recognized for her service to our nation.

We can finally say thank-you to a true American hero.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - December 28, 2015

1. This is the last Monday in December and therefore the last Monday of 2015. Next week it will be 2016.

2. The NFL continues to amaze me--despite terrible calls by the referees, the Ravens won yesterday.

My New Socks

3. Socks--I used to hate getting socks for Christmas. Now, I like their individuality.

4. Christmas parties are the best.

5. At church on Christmas Eve I learned that I am in a playpen.

6. Back to the constant political drone!

7. Yesterday it was almost 70 degrees again and the doors and windows were open allowing the warm December breeze into the house. That just sounds weird.

8. I am spoiled. No snow and no cold. I wonder if January can be better than December?

9. Hoverboards are the new skateboards--lot's of adults are going to be visiting emergency rooms around the country.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Back into the Fray

2015 The Family

With Christmas now firmly behind me, it seems that it is back into the rhythm of life for me.

I am still enjoying my gifts and also enjoying seeing others with the gifts that I provided, but tomorrow is, after all, Monday and I must head back to work. I am blessed that the entire family was together. 

The Guys in Ugly Team Sweaters

I relish these moments, especially with Mom and Dad, because we can't get everyone together that often any more.

We had some fun. And we ate a lot of food.

We enjoyed some awesome wines like Barboursville Octagon 2005.

I also watched some sports.

But mostly, we were just together and did not have the TV on with the rotten news of the day. The world did not impinge upon our celebration.

And so, tomorrow, it is back into the real world, at least for a couple of days. I will  start listening to the political news and world news and the international news. I am grateful for the respite.

Happy New Year.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Remembering Yesterday

What a fantastic day yesterday was--as it played out.

Ethan and Jax around their tree

We had to run the air conditioner to battle the warm temperatures and mostly the 100 percent humidity. I was seriously thinking of putting on shorts and sandals, why? Just because I could. It was warm and too humid. I was just happy that it was warm!

Even Riordin Likes Christmas

We managed to keep the water from coming in, mostly. There was a small leak around one "almost" closed door as the skies opened up and deluged the land. We probably would have received snow measured in feet had the precipitation not been in the form of rain.

Thank you for the rain.

I wore an aloha shirt for much of the day, except for the family picture because the guys had decided to wear ugly football team sweaters. When we were planning, it seemed like a good idea. 

Mom and Dad Opening Gifts

The day started early, by 7 AM Chris and I and my Mom and Dad were with Ethan and Jackson and Nicole and Mike as they celebrated the day. It is always fun to watch the boys open gifts around their own tree.

Chris with a new Poncho

Then, by 9:30 we were back at the house for our own celebration and then making preparations for the big events of the day: dinner and celebrations. Everyone was present for the family picture--which went well. Jeremy and Nicole and Lucas spent the whole afternoon celebrating with us and thanks to P&T for stopping by, I know how tough it is to make everyone happy on big holidays.

At one point during most of the day there were two drones flying around the house terrorizing unsuspecting people and animals. It was really funny to watch. One drone looked like the Millennium Falcon while the other had a more traditional appearance.

I am happy to report that no injuries were noted.

The highlight of the day? Well, the entire day was a highlight. It is that simple (or complex). The whole family was together and the celebration was a day long affair. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD