And into Double Digits

Jax's 10th Birthday Party
Family Edition

Jackson turned 10 yesterday. Jax, as he prefers to be called, made it into double digits and celebrated a complete decade.

What a decade it has been since his birth. 

The family celebrated Jax last evening. Everyone was in attendance and it was a great way to begin the week. Our family gatherings seem to be fewer of late as we all seem to be busier.

Jax is a sportsman. He plays basketball and baseball. He is a math whiz and has an infectious personality that can fill a room--or sometimes clear a room!

Such are the joys of Jax! Birthdays are great times to think about the joys that people bring to our lives!

Happy Birthday Jax!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - March 5, 2018

1. March has arrived. There are only 16 days until Spring!

2. After the storm came the yard work. Chris and I are already Clearing the yard in preparation for recurring maintenance.

Sunset Above Elkridge, March 4, 2018
Radio Flyer

3. We met one of our neighbors yesterday, he has lived in his home 10 years and who only just met. Of ouches, he lives across the hedgerow and we go there only infrequently.

4. Radio Flyer, my drone, made a sunset flight above the house on Sunday evening. It took a couple fantastic images.

5. Leaves seem to be everywhere as Chris and I attempted to get them removed.

6. The Orioles have improved to 5-5 in the Grapefruit League Spring Training. That is really a turn around from the week before.

7. Without basketball games to attend on Sunday, it was a very different day. Here's looking forward to baseball season.


Headlines


‘Like a pinball machine’: Lawmakers struggle to negotiate with an erratic Trump - The Washington Post

Trump Advisers Fervently Defend Tariffs (Unless They Change, That Is) - The New York Times

Indonesian Christians flogged outside of mosque for violating sharia law - Fox News


Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"And you who are on the cutting edge of human achievement understand that freedom is not a luxury but a necessity. Freedom to think, freedom to imagine and create, these are not privileges, but the very source of our life's bread and the hope of mankind's future."

Remarks at the Presentation Ceremony for the National Medals of Science and Technology, March 12, 1986

- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Storm Damage

Limbs in the Yard

Chris and I went out yesterday to assess the damage from the storm.

We were lucky as we had many downed branches, but little other damage. We even enjoyed the relative warm mid-40's as we cleaned up the yard. 

Bleeding Hearts
March 3, 2018

I was shocked at how some of the branches wound up imbedded into the ground. I heard that a 77 year-old woman was killed by a falling tree limb whole retrieving her mail. I can see, from the mess in my yard how that could happen.

We also made a run to the landfill and said good-bye to the tiki bar. It served us well for many years, but its time had come. 

In the it must be Spring category, the bleeding hearts are popping up in the yard. I was amazed to find the clumps already striving to find the sun. I expect them to grow even more this week. Who knows, within two weeks they may even be blooming!

It should be exciting as the day dawns bright and clear. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Nor'easter

I am happy to report that I successfully traveled from  Denver to Baltimore yesterday. My Southwest flight was on time--which is almost a rarity these days and with the exception of the final about 20 minutes of the flight it was a normal flight in terms of turbulence.

The final 20 minutes were mildly exciting as the jet was buffeted by the winds of the nor'easter. The airport changes the active runway while the aircraft was in the approach and so the time exposed to the blustery winds was a bit longer, but I have to admit--it was not the worst ride I have experienced in the air by a long shot.

The Nor'easter destroys our Tiki Bar

And the landing? Well, I was expecting the jet to slam onto the runway, but despite a huge gust just as we were about to touchdown, the pilot greased the landing and the entire plane erupted in applause. In terms of actual contact with the runway it was one of the best landings ever. Much better than the carrier style landing I experienced upon arrival in Denver earlier in the week. 

At home, things were not so good. The high wind gusts destroyed our tiki bar as well as dropping many branches form the trees. But, other things were generally well. Chris and I had thought the tiki bar was about at the end of its useful life and the storm confirmed that decision.

The winds continue this morning, but the day is dawning bright.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Travel Days

Pikes Peak
March 1, 2018
The view I should have had from my hotel window

Weather! I think I write about it too much, but it seems to be everywhere.

There is a Nor'easter raging on the coast and flights are being canceled on a regular basis. My flight, however, apparently is still on schedule. As I write this it is three hours before take-off. The cancellation, if there is one, should come about one hour before flying after I am trapped in the airport and can be precessed as just another piece of SLC (self-loading cargo).

Hotel Window View
Denver, CO
March 1, 2018

Sometimes I think the airlines forget that passengers are people, too. 

But, I do want to arrive and so I have to understand safety of flight procedures are more important than my insignificant schedule.

Upon my return to Denver last evening, I was greeted with a brown view out of my hotel window. Spring is not quite here yet. 

I hope that the green returns soon.

-- Bob Doan, writing form Denver, CO

Out the Hotel Window - Colorado Springs Feb 2018

Colorado Springs
February 28, 2018

Sometimes you get a view of the mountains and sometimes you get a view of the parking lot.

I got the parking lot view for my one night stay in Colorado Springs.

I also got a ground floor room. I will try to avoid that in the future.

The scenery is just not much to look at from the gourd floor through the screen. Ugh.

The trip is going well. The days have been busy and I enjpyed a Brazilian steakhouse last evening, Tucanos. It was enjoyable and affordable. Affordable being the operative word.

Hopefully, today will be just a good as the other days of the trip. I hear there is weather brewing that may delay my departure tomorrow--hopefully, that does not happen. Getting home is the best part of any trip.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Colorado Springs, Colorado

Out the Hotel Window - Denver February 2018 #2

Dawn, Denver
February 27, 2018

The scene changes with the lighting outside of my hotel window. I was luck enough to get a mountain view.

Afternoon, Denver
February 27, 2018

I was able to both start and end the day enjoying a view of the mountains in the distance. 

The temperatures were cold to start the day yesterday, but warmed nicely by the evening. In the dawn image, I can see the lights of the street lamps ands the other lights as the mountains are bring lit by the diffuse pre-sunrise light. 

The afternoon image showed the haze which has been obscuring the mountains, but the bright sunlight and nearly cloud free skies have been welcome.

Another day has arrived. Let's see how much more fun I can have.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, CO

Out the Hotel Window - Denver Feb 2018

Out the Hotel Window - Denver
February 27, 2018

Well, I am on the road again. And of course I am in Denver again. I have not been here in a while and it is interesting to see the changes that have occurred. 

The hotel has received an complete makeover and is very new and modern. 

The roads are as crowded as ever. 

I was amazed how slow the car rental place was in moving people through. 

I did enjoy a nice Italian dinner last evening. I think I enjoyed it more because the portion sizes were  more normal and I was not left with a huge amount of left overs. 

I awakened this morning right on schedule at 4AM--that is actually sleeping in for me as the two hour time difference really hits me hard. I even tried to stay up late (well until 10 PM) to help my body adjust.

And so it begins.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, CO

Monday Musings - February 26, 2018

Ethan with his Championship Trophy

Jackson with his Championship Trophy

1. Duo champions. Both Ethan and Jackson played on basketball teams which won their league championships yesterday. The games were thrilling and both boys made significant contributions to their team's championship win. Ethan's six points were the margin of victory for his team. 

2. The weather lately has been so mild that the trees are budding with leaves. 

3. I think I heard the peepers the other evening.

4. There weather this past weekend was too wet to golf. I hope it dries out soon.

5. With the ending of youth basketball it means that it is baseball season.

Buds on the trees
February 25, 2018

6. The Olympics have ended. The U.S. Team finished fourth in the medal count. It kind of confirms that statement made earlier during the olympics that the U.S. was the king of 4th and 5th place.

7. Orioles baseball is underway in Sarasota. The Orioles currently hold a Spring Training Grapefruit League worst record of 0-3. No panic yet.

Headlines

An attack on North Korea would be massive – and massively stupid - The Washington Post

China Moves to Let Xi Stay in Power by Abolishing Term Limit - The New York Times

Lower Oil Prices Force Saudis to Widen Their Circle of Friends - The New York Times

Teen Parkland survivor David Hogg calls for Spring Break boycott of Florida until gun laws change - Fox News

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"You know, the story, as I say, will continue. Every time we place our hand over our heart and pledge allegiance to the flag, we'll be reminded that our most precious inheritance is freedom and that history has bestowed on our nation the unique responsibility for its protection." Remarks at a Flag Day Ceremony in Baltimore, Maryland, June 14, 1985

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Gray Skies Again

Miniature Daffodils in the Garden

A Gray Day over the Neighborhood
From Radio Flyer
February 24, 2018

I have to admit. I am really longing for some blue sky and warmth from the orb that occupies the daytime. 

The gray gloom is oppressive! 

But, yesterday I managed a flight from my drone Radio Flyer, in between rainstorms, and I also found a sure sign of Spring in the gardens. 

The daffodils and crocus are coming up. There are clues throughout the gardens and Chris and I noticed that the forsythia are beginning to bloom in some areas. At least Springtime has not yet been delayed because of the gloomy weather.

The gray is ubiquitous, which is the best word to describes the weather. 

Radio Flyer went through its paces. I wish I could manage to smile more when I am flying, but I am working hard and concentrating on safety of flight issues. Radio Flyer did manage to collide with a small branch that I could not see which caused a minor mishap. I did not have the video running during that portion of the flight and so it is not documented. The good news is that Radio Flyer survived and made another flight.

I managed to make good use of the otherwise dreary day.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD