Monday Musings - November 5, 2017

1. November has arrived, but fortunately the weather has been wet it has been warm. Our first hard freeze is expected Saturday morning.

2. It was interesting to see the transition of autumn leaf colors during our trip to New York. In Maryland, the leaves are just past peak while in places north the leaves are gone form the trees. Orange and yellow are the predominate colors.

3. Winners and Losers: Winners: Cowboys, Redskins. Losers: Ravens, Penguins. DNP: Steelers.

Doe at the Neighbor's Garden

4. I have noticed that some drivers are becoming more aggressive on the roadways. They are driving at unreasonable speeds and making dangerous maneuvers.

5. Traffic is more frustrating when tie-ups happen during a long trip.

6. Winter is coming. The deer are getting pretty bold. This one let me within 10 feet of her while she was eating.

7. It must be late-autumn, I have not played golf on two successive weekends.

8. With the return to Standard Time, the dark season has arrived! Ugh! I'm not sure what happened to the extra hour.

Headlines

Trump Opens Asia Trip Talking Tough in Campaign-Style Rally - The New York Times

At least nine people in Trump’s orbit had contact with Russians during campaign and transition - The Washington Post

US, Australia and South Korea hold joint Navy drills - CNN

Ronald Reagan Quote of the Week

"Democracy cannot be imposed from outside and it frequently evolves only after patient, incremental steps. It must be the product of free institutions -- churches, labor unions, independent judiciary, and the press -- and its life-giving, rejuvenating process is a citizen placing his vote in a ballot box -- the subject of this Conference."

Remarks at a White House Luncheon for Delegates to the Conference on Free Elections, November 4, 1982

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Autumn Vines

Vines at Magnus Ridge

We stopped at Magnus Ridge, an upstate New York winery. The vines were displaying their autumn colors. The vineyards are beautiful this time of year after the harvest and before the leaves are gone.

We did a tasting at Magnus Ridge and and found solid wines up and down the tasting list. Our favorite was the Reserve Riesling. A very nice wine with 0% residual sugar and nicely rounded flavors centering around pear.

Although the leaves have fallen from most of the trees, the vineyards are still exciting places to visit and enjoy the lingering autumn colors.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ithaca, NY

Puppy Love

Dad with Finnegan

Who doesn't love a puppy? They are just cute and adorable, mostly. Yes training can be trying, but rewarding.

Dad and Finnegan bonded yesterday. But then, Dad has always liked dogs. I was the cat lover when I was a kid. I always thought cats were more affectionate. I was wrong.

It is a rare cat, our Riordin for instance, that is more affectionate and caring than a dog.

Bring on the puppies!

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ithaca, NY

Car Talk

On the Road in PA

We started the day departing under the cover of darkness as we left Baltimore in our rear view mirror.

The day dawned clear around Harrisburg but turned cloudy and overcast near Williamsport.

The traffic was light and the conversation in the car covered a wide range of topics. We also discuss seed which wineries we should visit on this trip north. There was also some discussion about next summer's cruise. Yes. Ten months away and already a topic of discussion.

We talked about how the trees have already lost their leaves here. Where did autumn go?

Car talk. Trapped together less than three feet apart for almost 6 hours. At least we still talk.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Route 15 north of Williamsport, PA

Congrats to Houston Astros

I stayed up until midnight and watched the Houston Astros win their first ever World Series by defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in game 7 of the Fall Classic.

Baseball is over for the year. A new champion has been crowned. 

The Astros now leave the group of teams which have never won a World Series. That group is larger than you might think and consists of the San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies. Additionally, the Washington Nationals (formerly the Montreal Expos) and Seattle Mariners have never even appeared in a World Series.

It is hard to believe that a sport which has been around for so many years has 7 teams which have never won a championship. I read that the Astros were formed during 1962.

I am glad that my prediction of a Dodger series victory in six games was wrong. That, after all is why they play the games. 

The off-season can now begin in earnest!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

On to November

Ethan, Jack, Jackson, Lucas

November arrived overnight, but not without some fanfare. 

Finnegan Ready for Halloween

Of course there was the Halloween celebration with scores of kids and adults wandering the neighborhoods in search of treats. Fortunately, there were far more treats than tricks. 

The grandkids and friends got together for their annual costumed walk through the neighborhood. 

Even Finnegan was costumed and ready to meet the neighbors. 

But now it is November--the month of Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving. It dawns on me that it is but one of two months of the year blessed with two holidays. 

Happy November! It is the season of the turkey!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Halloween 2017

Jeremy's Light Wrapped Tree

It is the day of decorations and costumes.

The family will gather tonight for our annual trek through the neighborhood to collect treats from those who participate.

Halloween is the celebration at the beginning of the dark days. Winter is on the horizon, but more importantly the length of daylight is waning significantly day by day. The length of the daylight is 10 hours 32 minutes today. Each successive day is over 2 minutes shorter. There is still more than one hour of daylight to shed each day until the days begin to lengthen during late December. 

Witches with a Cauldron in a Neighbor's Yard

The lights of Halloween are a reminder of the lost summer days as we drive away the darkness that is creeping into our lives. Of course the tales of witches and goblins also provide some excitement as the harvest celebration continues.

Tomorrow begins the season of the turkey!

Be careful out there tonight. I think it is going to be cold and I know it is going to be dark!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - October 30, 2017

1. It is the last Monday of October. Tomorrow is Halloween and then we are onto November. 2017 is racing towards its conclusion.

2. I had to get a new laptop yesterday. Mine would not stay running. 

3. I saw a funny sign on the internet yesterday. I am sure cats would not text back, either.

4. Winners and losers. Winners: Ravens, Cowboys, Steelers, Astros. Losers: Redskins and Penguins.

5. The World Series has become a wild affair. Sadly the games are on too late for me to see the endings, but my prediction will not come true. It is the Astros who can win the series in 6 and not the Dodgers. The Dodgers will have to go to Game 7 to win. And talk about home runs!

6. Rain everywhere saturating everything. Wind blowing. I took the dogs out this morning and was surprised by how loud it was outside with the wind blowing hard through the trees. I wonder how many limbs are down in the yard?

7. Watch out for Trick or Treaters tomorrow. 

Headlines

Republicans, desperate for a win, already face setbacks as they prepare to unveil tax bill this week - The Washington Post

Dread, expectation hang over Washington before Mueller sweep - CNN

Russia Uses Its Oil Giant, Rosneft, as a Foreign Policy Tool - The New York Times

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"Well, I'm here today because I believe you're right to care about the future. I believe America's future and your future hold promises bigger than the sky and more vast than the galaxies -- if we have faith and if we're true to the values of family, work, and community that have always been America's guiding stars on the path of history." Remarks to High School Students and Citizens in Sterling Heights, Michigan, October 7, 1988

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Last Baseball Game

Jackson at Shortstop
October 28, 2017

Yesterday represented the last baseball game of the season for Jackson. 

He has effectively been playing baseball since March and is heading into the off season as a much better player than he was as the season began.

Final Baseball Game of the Season
An Idyllic October Day

Since March, he has become an effective relief pitcher, has hit two grand slam home runs, become a smart baserunner, and can effectively play all infield positions. Yesterday saw him take a slow rolling ball and fire it to first base to get the batter. In March, he would have thrown a "rainbow" ball that never would have made it to first in time.

It is officially the off-season. I am already looking forward to March when we start up again.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Autumn Color Arriving

Color on a Tree in My Yard

I have finally noticed the colors of autumn gracing the leaves of the trees. 

It has been a mostly colorless autumn. Many of the leaves have fallen from the trees around my yard, but they just turned brown and fell to the ground.

Within the past few days, however, the trees which still have leaves have finally begun donning their autumnal garb. As can be seen from the photo though, many of the leaves have already fallen without providing the much anticipated autumn color.

It is a different autumn. September and October have been two of the warmest months of their kind in memory. I think September was warmer than August.

Perhaps the winter will be warmer and produce more rain than snow! I can hope, right?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD