The Weekend Arrives Again

Friday's are becoming the catch-up day of the week.

I seems to get further and further behind on normal weekdays and then, Friday magically arrives and I have time to take care of the multitude of tasks that have befallen me.

Thank goodness for Friday, the savior of the week!

I have noticed that everyone seems to be in a better mood on Friday--and that is a good thing.

I am looking forward to catch up day today! Secretly, however, I wish that it was already Saturday!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Evening Falls and the Deer Play

Whitetail Playing
Photo by Chris

Evening arrives about two minutes earlier every day and so it has become easier to be positioned around the fire pit to enjoy the darkness as it envelops the region. 

The cold temperatures, in the 40s and 50s, have made the daily string of sunrises and sunsets stunningly spectacular. I enjoy the early rays of the sunrise on my way to work and the sunsets sitting around the fire pit chatting with Chris or friends recounting the activities of the day.

Two Deer on the Edge of the Yard
Photo by Chris

Last evening was especially enjoyable as two groups of deer decided to join the evening festivities. There was a small herd of five which played in the yard near us, even with the fire going. They seemed unconcerned about Makayla, who I was holding because she wanted to run and play with them. 

It was enjoyable watching them venture into the yard and then seeing the youngest of the group actually run and jump in the open space. The senior doe of the group kept a close eye on us as we sat an talked and they eventually moved along. Shortly after that, a group of two, presumably a doe and Falene, from earlier in the year, happened by for a visit. 

Watching the deer in the yard reminded me that we share the area with other wildlife. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: the Ballot Arrives

My Sample Ballot

A copy of the Official Ballot for my voting area arrived in the mail yesterday.

The past two years of political position jockeying have melted away and the reality of the decisions the are going to be made in a few short weeks are now squarely in focus. 

The debates that weren't, the mud slinging, the ads on TV will soon be over. Since I do not live in a battleground state, I have not been subjected to the complete ferocity of the campaign. I am sure that those whose lives are tied to states like Ohio, Florida, andCalifornia are  being subjected to a never-ending tirade of advertisements. And they cannot be good.

I have heard some disparaging comments about the upcoming election, for instance. "There are 300 million people in the U.S. and these two are the best we can find for President?"

My Take: Decision time is rapidly approaching!


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Opportunity of the Day

Each day brings new opportunities for action and reflection.

Garden of Remembrance
Clarksburg, MD

I receive emails offering opportunities to buy things or change occupations almost every day. Every commercial on TV presents an opportunity. Even driving to work in the morning presents opportunities. 

What I do not get every day is the opportunity to stand at the top of a hill with a hundred other people and reflect about the meaning of life as we remember and celebrate someone who is no longer walking with us.  

It is a sobering perspective changer.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - October 10, 2016

1. Happy Columbus Day observed!

2. The weather has quickly become very October-ish. The temperature this morning is in the 40's. Brrr. It was the first 40's of the season.

3. Last evening's Presidential debate was more of a backyard brawl than a debate. 

4. The leaves are falling from my trees without ever changing color. They are just turning brown and falling. Everywhere. 

Patient Greens
October 9, 2016

5. Heading off from the 1st Tee at Patuxent Greens on a cold October morning for a round of golf. I had to wear a coat for the entire round. I long for the lazy, hazy days of summer.

6. I noted that Toronto swept the Texas Rangers in their Division playoff series. It should have been the O's sweeping the Rangers!

7. I actually got to spend a quiet weekend at home, mostly. I got yard work accomplished and I relaxed. What a concept!

8. Short work weeks usually are harder because five days of activity get crammed into four.

9. Heard this the other day: "Couches are like bathing suits, they look great in the store and then you buy them and wear them or sit on them and they no longer look as good."

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Saturday Football--In the Rain

GORC Field
October 8, 2016

It happens at least once per season, we attend a football game in the rain. It just seems to be the way autumn plays out.

Jax with the Brace on his Arm

Yesterday was homecoming for GORC and the mist and rain fell during the whole game. Jax's team lost, again. The good news is that it was not a shut-out--they did score a touchdown.

Jax made some great plays, sacking the quarterback and causing a fumble was one of the best. He continues to play with a brace now, no longer a cast, on his right arm. 

Cool Rain Gear on a Young One

We did spy a small gator on the sidelines chasing a balloon--I thought the rain gear was very cute. Ot provided some comic relief on a dreary and rainy day.

The games are a lot of fun to attend, but I have to admit, they are a lot more enjoyable when the team wins. Which has only happened once this season. I guess there are only three games left. I hope the weather holds and that the rest of the games are played under a bright autumn sun with a blue sky above.

And a win would be good, too.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Hurricane Matthew

The path of destruction through the Caribbean, especially Haiti, reminded me of the awesome and raw power of such storms. 

I was very happy when the storm track changed from moving up the Atlantic Coast into a hard right turn essentially creating a donut in the Atlantic Ocean--while my area will be spared, there are too many other places which will not be as fortunate. The destruction across Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina caused by the storm is significant. 

Those of us who have been spared need to be prepared to render assistance and aid in the wake of the storm--where ever it is needed. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Reading the Newspaper

Sliding into the end of another workweek, I almost forgot that my favorite day of the week is not Friday. Of course not! My favorite day of the week is Saturday because I usually sleep in a bit late (at least until 6AM) and get to sit on the porch, in nice weather, and read the paper with a cup of coffee.

Holding and reading an actual newspaper is a joy I experience only once or twice a week--on Saturdays and Sundays. The other days I grab my news from a quick scan of my favorite on line papers: the New York Times and the Washington Post. On Saturdays, however, the Baltimore Sun arrives at the end of my driveway and Sundays bring both the Baltimore Sun and the New York Times. Because I often golf on Sunday mornings, I cannot devote the appropriate amount of time to reading the newspapers that I would desire. 

Bring on the weekend. And as an added benefit, this weekend is a three-day weekend!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Visiting NYC During October

Statue of Liberty
October 2, 2016

It was a fast and full weekend. Chris and Ethan and I boarded a MegaBus north of Baltimore at 7:20AM on Saturday morning heading for the Big Apple. We planned to return about 10PM Sunday night. In between? As much sightseeing as we could cram into one short weekend.

Little Italy

The initial itinerary included:

Hayden Planetarium
Rockefeller Center
Times Square
Statue of Liberty
Ellis Island
Empire State Building
Macy's
Central Park
Nintendo Store

We accomplished almost all of the itinerary.  The major miss was the Planetarium--we just didn't make it there. We also had a couple alternates on the list--for instance a baseball game since the O's are in town--but, this was a weekend for Ethan and carving out four hours in the middle of the day for baseball just didn't fit in. 

The Bull of Wall Street

Ethan's First Chili Dog

On the fly, we added China Town and Little Italy, Wall Street, and the 9/11 Memorial. Lunch in Little Italy was fabulous. 

I took the image of the Bull of Wall Street because it was totally surrounded by tourists and nobody could get a good picture of it. I think it is the most popular statue, aside from the Statue of Liberty, in all of NY.

Along the way we learned to navigate the Subway--and I had to relearn that Subway is not a place to eat, but means to travel. Ethan hailed a taxi! We had a long ride to China Town from Times Square. 

Did I mention chili dogs? Ethan loves street vendor chili dogs!

A View of the Weekend Weather

The weather was a bit problematic--it was misty and overcast, but that did not dampen our spirits! Although, we did visit the Empire State Building twice to find the best weather before actually paying the incredibly high admission to go to the 86th Floor.

In the end, we made it to the NYC MegaBus stop on time and had a great ride home with many memories. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Orioles Season Finale

The Orioles went to Toronto to begin the MLB Post-season. It was a one-game play in to the division series. The game lasted 3 hours and 25 minutes--but in the end, it was over so quickly in the 11th inning.

Buck on the Game

And with its ending, so ended the Orioles season. 

The game was close and tense all night. The pitchers generally controlled the batters as the innings passed. 

The Orioles three inning-ending double plays were beautiful, saving the team and the score as the game wore on. It seemed that neither team could muster the offense necessary to score and that the game could continue well into the early morning hours.

Bluejays Manager

But in the bottom of the 11th inning, the end came quickly. The first out was a 5 pitch strikeout.  And then, a pitching change with the bases empty in a move that seemed to make a lot of sense by bringing in a starting pitcher who had been almost unhittable during the month of September to set up for a long multiple-inning ending to the game. He was the pitcher that many thought should have been given the start for the game, so it seemed like a good move.

I didn't realize then that in just five more pitches to the next three batters the game and the Orioles season would be over as a three-run homer sent the Bluejays into the next round of the post-season while sending the Orioles home. 

My playoff tickets arrived by Fedex yesterday and they will remain unused. There will be no playoff games this season at OPACY. While the ending saves me a lot of money that would have been spent on souvenirs and tickets, it is money I was looking forward to spending. The World Series ticket that came yesterday for Home Game #2, will remain unused; like all of the ones that I have received before. 

But, it is over. A season in which the Orioles were projected by many to finish last in the division ended in Toronto after the Orioles had ended tied for second place. A successful campaign, but an unsatisfying ending.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD