New Truck

2000 Red GMC Sonoma

Well, it finally has happened. My red Sonoma has reached the end of its trail at 179,990 miles traveled. 

It still starts and moves, but needs some likely expensive work. No fluids are leaking and even after the mechanical catastrophe happened almost two weeks ago, the faithful spirit of the Sonoma deposited me safely in my driveway after a sometimes harrowing and extremely slow 20 mile ride home. 

Ram 1500 Big Horn and Me

Enter the new truck!

Chris and I shopped around and decided to get a new truck to replace the Sonoma. A trucks the size of the Sonoma are not produced anymore, it was clear that we were going to get a larger truck. It turns out, I didn't fully realize how much larger until i actually saw both trucks together. 

Imperfect Size Comparison

The new truck is a Ram 1500 Big Horn. It is not really new, as it is a 2016, but it is new to me. I'm still getting used to the size and creature comforts. 

The Sonoma was power nothing--that's correct I had to manually roll down the windows and the door locks were manual as well.

The new truck is power everything with more options than I could imagine. Even the tailgate has an electronic lock. Who knew?

I am anxious to take it on a longish trip and see how it feels for hours on the road. It certainly rides more like a car than a truck!

My hope is that some 16 years and 180,000 miles from now that this truck is still serving faithfully like its predecessor! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

End of the School Year Party

End of School Year Party
June 14, 2017

For the students and teachers of the Howard County Public School System today is day one of summer vacation! 

What that meant was the the end of the school year party was conducted in my pool yesterday afternoon. And it was a fantastic party. 

I really enjoy sharing the pool with friends and family. It makes all of the work and expense worth it when others can share the fun and joy.

The end of the school year party has almost become an annual event and Chris and i look forward to it every year. It gives us a reason and a date to have everything up and running. This year, despite the forecast for thunderstorms, the weather was fabulous!

And another party is in the books. Cue summer, let's play!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Makayla and the Fox

Makayla, Defender of the Yard

The day got off to a racing start this morning as Makayla defended our  yard from a fox.

Ugh. It all happened at 4:40 AM (that is 0440 hours for the military mind). What does the 0 stand for? Oh my goodness, it's early!

I had seen the fox a few days ago. I had expected a fox to return to the neighborhood because of the rabbit explosion. Rabbits are everywhere! Through the years I have noticed a cycle of that starts with abundant rabbits, then a fox arrives, then less rabbits are seen. And the cycle repeats.

This morning the fox was in the driveway when I let Makayla out for her morning constitutional. I always look outside before I allow her out, but I admit I look for larger animals, like deer. I did not, in the darkness, see the fox. 

Makayla did! For the next ten minutes the fox chase was on and Makayla pursued the fox, which was crying the whole time, through the adjoining neighborhood. Fortunately she tired of the game and came home with the promise food.

At least she was not injured.

Hopefully the fox will stay out of the driveway, but there are a number of rabbits living near the drive and so I fear that it will be a long summer of fox sightings. It is a scrawny fox, too. 

I will do a better job making sure the area is clear tomorrow.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Summer is Cleared to Arrive

Endless Summer Hydrangea in Full Bloom

The last two evenings erased the last vestiges of Winter and Springtime. With the crowning of the Stanley Cup Champion Penguins on Sunday night and the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors last night, summertime has officially begin. 

It takes a long time for some sports to end. Hockey and basketball began during October and now eight months later they have finally concluded!

On to baseball, except the Orioles are turning in losing scores that look like football contests. They lost 10-7 last night. By one count they have given up 44 runs in their last four games!

But the weather is hot, the pool is cool, and the summertime flowers are abounding in the gardens. June is slipping away so quickly I can't believe it. The solstice will be here all too soon. 

I just enjoy each day and each moment because i know what is lurking just a few months away.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - June 12, 2017

My New/Used Truck at the Dealer

1. The weather is finally getting to be summer-like. Highs in the 90's and lows in the high 60's or low 70's. 

2. I found a replacement for my truck. It is a 2016 Dodge Ram Big Horn. I take possession of it tomorrow!

3. My 2000 GMC Sonoma has been a faithful servant for the past 10 plus years. I will be sad to see it leave, but the time has come. 

Jackson and Me after the Game
June 11, 2017

4. A long, rain filled GORC Intramural U10 baseball season ended yesterday with a playoff loss for the Dodgers. Jax and the team were devastated  not at the loss but at the way it ended with the umpire making two bad call for two outs in the bottom of the last inning which deprived the team of the comeback they were serving up. 

5. One of the kids on my baseball team asked me if my puka shell necklace was candy. 

6. The deck staining job continues to grow. Now, because the colors don't match, we have to do all the rails balusters. 

7. The pool is fantastic, especially on a hot summer-like day. Why does winter even need to arrive and spoil my outdoor days.

Sidney Crosby Lifts the Stanley Cup
June 11, 2017

8. The cicadas have disappeared. I wonder where they went but there was no excessive noise yesterday. 

9. The Penguins win the Stanley Cup for the second straight year!

Headlines

Opioid Dealers Embrace the Dark Web to Send Deadly Drugs by Mail - The New York Times

Democrats in Split-Screen: The Base Wants It All. The Party Wants to Win. - The New York Times

How the British right went so very wrong - The Washington Post

Quote for the Week

"You all knew that some things are worth dying for. One's country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for, because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man."

Ronald Reagan

Remarks at a Ceremony Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion, D-Day , June 6, 1984

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

More Fun with Decks

Deck Work

It seems that this is the summer of decks. Last weekend I was helping Patrick and Tina and this weekend my deck needed some maintenance and updated stain. 

Chris Clearing the Plants off the Deck

First up was to replace one of the boards. While it should have been easy, one of the screw heads was stripped and I had to pry the board up. I cut a new board to fit and we were ready to deck wash and then after it dried refresh the stain to protect the decking. 

We had last stained the deck about four years ago and it is remarkable how much wear was evident. It was a perfect day for the activity. The humidity was low and so drying time was reduced. 

After the First Coast of Stain

In the end it came out very nicely. It looks good and now we just have to refresh the railings so everything matches. The brighter redwood color is nice as well. Looks like it is going to be a long summer of staining the deck.

It was nice to be able to fall into the pool at the end of the hot workday! Yes, someone finally swam in my pool which has been open for over a month!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Weekend Weather and Activity

Jeremy Teeing-Off at the Tournament Yesterday

As I have been writing, it has been a long time since we have had great weekend weather. 

This weekend is it!

The weather looks fantastic, or mostly so, and the outdoor projects are abounding. 

I am excited about the prospects of high 90 degree days in the coming days. That will finally make it worthwhile to bring the pool up to swimming temperature. 

Today, however, looks to be a day to refresh the stain on the deck, mow the lawn, and change the brakes on the car. Tomorrow will be a hot day for a a baseball playoff game, but baseball is supposed to be a summertime sport.

I have also been truck shopping and am totally disillusioned. It is hard to find the truck of my dreams. I know what I want and it does not seem to be out there right now. At least I have time to look. 

Weekends are the busiest.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Summer Despite the Temperatures

Hydrangea Blooming
June 8, 2017

Technically, it is still the Spring season until June 21st. That is when the calendar officially heralds the beginning of the best season of the year. But, we all know, at least in the United States and in the Northern Hemisphere, that the unofficial beginning of Summer was a couple weeks ago with the Memorial Day holiday.

That written, the summertime flowers are beginning to bloom and despite the cool weather with 50 degree mornings and high 70 degree afternoons, the season is progressing. Yesterday the morning low was 48 degrees and the afternoon high was 73 degrees. Definitely Spring-like conditions and not conducive to swimming in my pool. Today should be a bit more Summer-like with the high reaching about 83 degrees. This morning, however, the temperature was only 58 degrees as I was working around the pool.

Today should be a needed change of pace because I am playing in a golf tournament. 

I guess my weekend is beginning a day early. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Truck Shopping

Dodge Ram
Possibility

The truck shopping has begun in earnest. Fortunately, it is not yet critical because my summertime car, the Jaguar convertible, is happily taking over the load. 

There are so many options out there. Big trucks and smaller trucks. Do I want a Dodge, Ford, Toyota, or Chevy?

Ugh, decisions, decisions. The only think that I am sure of is that I don't want a white truck! I don't know why, but white is not my favorite color. 

Although I have wanted a new truck for a while, I was generally happy with my truck. It is hard to think of getting a different truck, but repairing my truck seems to be out of the question. Although, left to my own devices I probably would.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Deck Work Continues

Working from the Lower Deck

Some projects are not meant to be finished in one or even two weekends. 

Such is the situation with Patrick and Tina's deck. The project is probably more complete than not, but there remains a long way to go.

Close-up of the upper deck

The lower deck has the boards installed, but the upper deck remains. We spent the better part of last evening working out the first couple rows so the the complete will get closer.

It isa process and I am looking forward to the end of the projects party.

I have to remember that projects like this are a marathon and not a sprint.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD