Anniversary Dinner

Chris and I celebrated our wedding anniversary a couple of evenings ago. Having just returned from a seven-night cruise, we opted to celebrate with a home cooked dinner. 

We had just experienced seven glorious dinners aboard the Liberty of the Seas, well maybe the chicken piccata was an exception, and we really didn't need to head out for another dinner.
When we decide to stay home for special occasions, the dinners that we create for  are truly great. 

Perfectly grilled steak, salad, sweet potato, corn on the cob, and of course a great wine. The wine we chose last evening was one of those special wines we could never afford in a restaurant--a 2005 Axios from Rutherford in Napa Valley. It was truly a special wine for a special dinner.

I just wish that so many things around the house were not broken. The pool is a mess because of the storms we missed; the washer broke, but I fixed it; and my truck is leaking transmission fluid. It seems every year things break while we are away vacationing. I wonder if it is punishment for getting away and having fun?

But for a few hours, I was able to put all of that behind me and enjoy a dinner with my bride.

And we both enjoyed being together and reminiscing about anniversaries past and planning for the future.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Bay and the Lighthouse

Cruising reminds me of my connection to the sea and how much I appreciate a good sunrise or sunset over the open water. I also appreciate the beauty of the day when viewing the shoreline.

Lighthouse at Nassau, Bahamas Harbor

Guarding Nassau harbor there is a small white lighthouse. It provided a great subject to photograph and a great memory. 

It was a stunning scene--right outside my stateroom window. Shimmering in the bright afternoon sunlight, protecting the mariners from the dangerous reefs.

Beach in Mexico

Equally as beautiful was the beach we visited after the  Tulum Mayan Ruins in Mexico. The beach had beautiful sand and a protected harbor. The day was hot, but the water was a refreshing as I ever could imagine.  I wish I had remembered to write down the name of the beach. But, it was enticing and a great place to close out a day of sightseeing. 

I still can imagine the beach chairs and sipping a cold drink against the oppressive heat of the day.

I love going over the memories of a great vacation.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Seahorse Sail and Snorkel Adventure

Since I went a week without the internet, I could not share my cruise vacation adventures. I guess that gives me something to write about this week instead of the terrible state of politics in the U.S.

During one of our shore excursions, Chris and I did the Seahorse Sail and Snorkel Adventure from Nassau though Royal Caribbean. Since Nassau was not on our original itinerary, we were unable to check out the trip before hand, but the price seemed right and without internet we were not able to schedule our own excursion.

The video was taken during the snorkeling and sail adventure. There were three ships in port that day--which was an interesting sight to see. 

Sergeant Major in Nassau
August 4, 2016

Overall, the trip was solid--but uninspiring. I recommend this trip for inexperienced snorkelers who just want so see some fish and paddle around for a while in the cool water on a hot day. The staff on the Seahorse were great and a lot of fun. I appreciated their humor and they were attentive to the needs of the passengers while distributing the snorkeling gear. 

Nassau Snorkeling
People Clustered

Entering the water from the boat was fairly easy, but confusing. People did not understand the instructions. The "reef" was basic. There was a good assortment of fish and corals to view--but it was only an average reef. I was happy to see a safety observer deployed on an inner tube in the area to monitor people, but the area for snorkeling was too small for the number of people. I got hit with many fins and when we tried to get some distance from the group, we were called back into the designated area. 

Getting back onto the boat was dangerous and I was glad no one was lost. They used a single ladder for about 90 people. There was a lot of time treading water in the waves which stressed many inexperienced snorkelers. It also significantly reduced our already short 1 hour snorkel to less than 50 minutes. 

The rum punch on the trip back to shore was enjoyable, but there was no sailing adventure. Although the boat is a fully capable sailing catamaran, the captain only put up the jib and ran under power all the way back to the port--that is not my idea of sailing. 

Recommendation: Best for inexperienced snorkelers who want to see whether they enjoy looking at fish in their natural environment. The reef is not complex enough to hold the interest of more experienced snorkelers. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - August 8, 2016

Liberty of the Seas
Cozumel, Mexico
August 2, 2016

1. I did it. I lived one full week off without the internet during my vacation.

2. Yesterday morning I awoke is a stateroom on a cruise ship in Galveston. Today, it is back to work. That is just wrong!

3. The worst part about vacations is that they end.

Sunrise Over the Gulf of Mexico
August 1, 2016

4. As we were leaving the ship yesterday, we saw the people preparing to board and I wondered if we could just go around and get on again like a ride at an amusement park.

5. Sunrises are awesome on a cruise ship at sea. Yup, I was awake! (at least once!)

Miniature Golf on
Liberty of the Seas
August 7, 2016

6. I did get to play 9 holes of golf yesterday--miniature golf on the ship, that is. 

7. I was surprised how smooth travel was back to Maryland yesterday. I was expecting a travel nightmare and was pleasantly surprised.

Southwest 737 in Maryland colors
Houston Hobby Airport
August 7, 2016

8. I had almost 500 email messages to go through when I got back into internet range! Wow. Mostly advertisements.

9. I saw the Southwest Airlines 737 painted in the colors of the Maryland flag yesterday in Houston. We in Maryland do love our unique flag!

10. There is something strange that happens on a cruise ship--we all noticed it. Our clothes shrank!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

On to November

Amid the proclamations that barrier has fallen, with the nomination of a woman for President by a major party, the race for November and the reconstruction of our government begins.

I still believe that the choices presented by the major parties are incredible similar--even in their apparent differences.

It should be an interesting run.

There may even be another candidate looming on the scene, from the Libertarian Party who could become an alternative--although admittedly, at this point in time not an electable alternative, but one which might force the major party candidates to stop personal attacks and begin to propose concrete governmental reforms designed at strengthening our nations fundamental processes.

And now the race is on.

The sprint to election day. 

Sadly, I fear that the real mudslinging will now begin. I thought it was bad to this point, but it is only going get worse.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Hot Night Turns Cold

The Orioles bats could not get it done. 

The team squandered a chance to increase their American League East Division lead by losing 3-1 to the Rockies.

The game began as a pitching duel. Dylan Bundy had a perfect game going into the 6th inning. And then it turned ugly. By the end of top half of the inning, the Rockies had three runs on two hits. Both hits were home runs. 

Adam Jones on Third Base
4th Inning Versus Rockies
July 27, 2016

The Orioles had left three men on base in the fourth inning. They had runners on the corners with no outs and then based loaded with one out but failed to push a run across the plate. Their only run of the night came on a solo home run from Manny Machado in the bottom of the sixth.

Best play of the game? Chris Davis' bunt down the third base line against the shift in the second inning to break an 0-24 hitless streak. 

Frustration of the game? The umpires! The can't get the calls right. Three of four challenged calls were overturned and the one that was not overturned should have been--that would have given Matt Wieters a home run. Here is what Buck Showalter said after the game: “I’m not real sure what they’re looking at. We got a real good definitive shot that it’s a home run. Sometimes you’re kind of stuck with what the original call was, even though you know in your heart that it was wrong.”

And that is why I am not a believer in video replay. If they can't get it right in the booth in slow motion, then they need to quit. Failing to get that one call right materially changed the game and the outcome.

With the loss, the Orioles lose only their second series at home all season. The bats continue to be eerily quiet despite the heat. The pitching is strong, but not over powering. Frankly, it is weird to go to a game and see the O's score only a few runs, I am used to seeing numbers in excess of 5 on the scoreboard for the birds. 

But, these are the Dog Day's and perhaps the bats have been chased away.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

It's Sizzling Outside

It has been hot. 

Summertime hot! The kind of hot that I look forward to during the summer. 

The hot that envelops me as I step outside after working in a sterile air conditioned building all day. It is a damp hot that I look forward to stepping into as I walk down the hallway at the end of the day.

Twelve of the past thirteen days have been in the 90's with Monday touching 100 depending upon the thermometer being used. But, the hot is soon to be gone. Today is forecast to be 5 degrees cooler than yesterday and soon the highs will be in the 80s instead of the 90s. 

Perhaps the heat is breaking and is over.

We have had three BGE saving days where they pay me not to use electricity. 

It is the dog days after all. I see rain in the forecast and we definitely could use some rain, my lawn is losing its green.

I realized that I am usually in Florida during the hottest days in Maryland, but not so this year. 

Hopefully, the summer will continue warm and supportive of outdoors activities. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

And Now, the Democrats

Taking center stage (or is it the middle ring?) last evening, the Democratic National Convention kicked off to highlight the other guys in direct opposition to last week.

Despite the pre-convention hype, it was pretty much a carbon copy of the previous week's opening night. 

Here are the similarities:

- The party is struggling for unity amidst allegations of favoritism during the primary season. 

- They party is presenting the American people with a flawed candidate for President.

- Instead of an actor providing some opening day remarks they included an impassioned speech by an 11-year old girl.

- The candidate for the other party was vilified, repeatedly.

- There was precious little mention of the "how" behind the statements.

- True facts (or mostly true) were taken out of context to infer situations which are not true.

More of the same? It sounds like it. American politics has devolved into a game of "he said--she said, literally!

Standing by for night two! And more, probably of the same.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - July 25, 2016

1. I lost track of the date, because I've been off from work for three days and I had to check the calendar. I guess that is what it will be like when I retire.

Heron on Hole 12
Eisenhower Golf Course
July 24, 2016

2. What a great weekend. I played 36 holes of golf and got some projects completed around the house.

3. I saw a big heron yesterday while playing golf.

Clouds after the Storm
July 23, 2016

4. Having a 6:14 AM Tee Time meant we were off the course before the heat yesterday. It was great to be home before 10:30 after playing 18 holes. 

5. The clouds were spectacular after the storms the other evening. 

6. It is supposed to be extremely hot today! Be careful out there!

7. Strap in, this week it is the Democratic Party National convention. Should be interesting.

8. Lounging in the pool on a floatie with a glass of wine. What could be better on a mid-90's afternoon?

9. I ran across an interesting list of 239 people, places, and things that Donald Trump has insulted on Twitter. I didn't see my name on the list, but I'm not sure if that is good or bad.

10. It was a three-dog weekend around the house. Extra dogs sure do make for interesting times.

11. And so it begins--another workweek! The good news is, it's summertime!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Watching the Storm

We enjoyed a dinner on the Magothy River at The Point Crab House & Grill last evening with Nicole and Mike. Although the day was hot and sultry, the evening was pleasant. Sitting at the restaurant along the shores of the Magothy River was enjoyable. 

View from our Table at
The Point

The sky was threatening as we began our dinner and just as we finished the sky opened up with torrents of rain. The image does not clearly show the rain crashing down, but it is, I can assure you. At one point the sun looked like Jupiter.

The Sun Shining Through the Rain Clouds

Although we were eating outside under an umbrella, common sense prevailed and we moved inside as the rains began. Fortunately, we had finished eating--I left only a few fries behind on my fish & chips plate. 

It was a fun evening and a great time. The thunderstorm cooled the temperatures for providing a further respite from the heat of the day. 

A great day and a better evening even with the rain and storms--which were fairly brief.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD