Beach Life

Jupiter Beach
April 3, 2018

Sitting in a chair under an umbrella on Jupiter Island Beach looking out at the blue ocean crashing onto the shore is an enjoyable, relaxing experience that I look forward to every year. This beach is one of the reasons we keep coming to this area.

Birds Eye View of Jupiter Beach
April 3, 2018

The beach is never crowded and has over the years allowed to remain in a more natural state. As we made our small camp at 11 AM yesterday, no one else was on the beach. By the time we left, about 3PM, a few others had arrived, but there was ample room for all activities.

Radio Flyer, my drone, made its first flight over a beach next to the ocean. The winds were near the maximum sustained about 15 mph with gusts to 19 mph. I only received on wind gust warning. In the birds-eye view you can see the umbrellas in the middle of the beach, and it is also clear that almost no other beachgoers were near us, competing for space. 

Life is a beach!

Life on a beach is idyllic. 

Radio Flyer's video of the area and the beach really provide a fun perspective. I took it up to altitude for some scenic shots, but had great fun just flying along the beach. 

During my second flight of the day I sojourned a bit over the ocean, not far, just to see how Radio Flyer handled. I did not notice any difference in handling or flight characteristics. 

Beach days are the best. We are probably taking a break today due to over-exposure to the sun yesterday. We had some suntan lotion failures that we need to address with a day out of the sun.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Tequesta, Florida

From Cold to the Beach

Hope Sound National Wildlife Refuge Beach
April 2, 2018

One awesome thing about the arrival of April this year is Spring Break! Well, I don't actually get a Spring Break vacation, but Chris does. We decided to keep it simple this year. 

Jupiter Lighthouse
April 2, 2018

Florida! The travel day was fabulous. We went from cold weather to beach in six hours!

Average high temperature for the Baltimore 10 day forecast is about 50 degrees for the next 10 days with lows in the mid 30's. The 10 day forecast for Jupiter has highs averaging in the low 80's with no lows expected below 68 degrees!

And that is why we are here! We need a taste of summer, right this very minute.

Pelicans on Patrol Over Home Sound Beach
April 2, 2018

The warm temperatures and the bright sun are a stark contrast to what we have been experiencing in the Baltimore area. We actually planned our travel so that we were able to fly south and be on a beach before 1PM. It was magnificent. 

Yesterday was a beautiful beach day filled with bright sun and few clouds. I could tell that it is still the high season in Florida, the beach was crowded. There may have been 20 other people on the beach. 

I am happy to report that our golf clubs arrived without incident. One of the great things doubt Southwest is that bags fly free and so do golf clubs. 


-- Bob Doan, writing from Tequesta, Florida

Monday Musings - April 2, 2018

The Family Easter Sunday
April 1, 2018

1. It is April! We are done with March and ready for the springtime flowers and warm rains of April. 

Birds Eye View
April 1, 2018

2. We enjoyed a fun filled and fantastic Easter.

3. I managed a round of golf on Saturday. It was not one of my better rounds but the sun was shining somewhat and it was much warmer than last week.

4. Amazingly, Congress averted another budget showdown and the country gan get on to peacemaking!

Fire Pit Evening
April 1, 2018

5. Anyone not see a trade war coming? I think the train has left the station.

6. Chris and I enjoyed an evening around the fire pit after everyone departed


Headlines

Trade war escalates as China says it will impose tariffs on 128 U.S. exports, including pork and fruit - The Washington Post


Even Republicans Have Used the ‘I’ Word, but Would Firing Mueller Get Trump Impeached? - The New York Times

Trump's ignorance about DACA is stunning - CNN
Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"My foremost responsibility is our national security, just as it is the prime duty of Congress to appropriate the necessary resources to keep our defenses strong. This is our duty, not only to America but to the cause of human freedom. It's also our job to make sure that every tax dollar we spend, we spend well." Radio Address to the Nation on the Defense Budget, March 1, 1986

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Easter 2018

Hyacinth in Jeremy's Garden
March 31, 2018

Happy Easter!

It is the most important Christian celebration and it is the the most observed Christian holiday. It was the first observance that early Christians observed and every Sunday is considered Easter Sunday. That is why most churches hold services on Sunday.

Take time today and give thanks for God's great love for us. 

I am reminded of something the late Billy Graham wrote about Easter:

God proved His love on the cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, “I Love You”

-Billy Graham

Spring is finally underway. The trees have begun to bloom and the temperatures are moderating. It is a great way to celebrate Easter with the rebirth of the land after the hard winter.

Happy Easter.

He is risen indeed.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Jimmy Buffett in Baltimore

Jimmy Buffett in Baltimore
March 30, 2018

It had been a great couple of days. Thursday was Orioles Opening Day and last evening Chris and I made our first ever visit to a Jimmy Buffett concert.

Jimmy Buffett

The concert, admittedly, was held in one of my least favorite venues, the Royal Farms Arena, but the evening and the music overcame the too numerous to count shortcomings of the location.

The concert, however, was fabulous. Even the opening act, Caroline Jones, was a pleasure to listen to for the 25 minutes she was on stage. 

Inconsiderate Youths

Once Jimmy and the band took the stage, they never relinquished it until the even was, all too quickly, over. They performed for just over two hours and did all the greats. I was amazed when I realized that Jimmy Buffett is about 72 years old and he is still filling concert halls to hear his special brand of music. The age of the concert goers was similar. Most everyone sitting around me appeared eligible for Social Security, with the exception of two inconsiderate young ladies in front of us.  


It is not the money, mind you, but tickets to this concert were not inexpensive. These two ladies stood all evening, even when the rest of the crowd sat. They blocked my view of the stage. It was most annoying and continues to be one of the reasons that I am not a more frequent concert goer--inconsiderate patrons. At a baseball game the ushers take care of such problems, at the concert there was not an usher in sight and the young ladies would not respond to requests to sit and let those behind them see clearly.

Jimmy Buffett concert

Back to the concert, however. The setlist was well constructed and the acoustics were good and the music was not too loud. The songs evoked a summertime feeling that will carry with me until I am in Florida again. I did enjoy especially It's Five O'clock Somewhere and of course Margaritaville. 

This was an old-style concert where the performer stands in front of the crowd surrounded by his band an just plays the songs that made him great! Nothing more was required and there were no pyrotechnics or loud noises. No laser light shows, just big screens so that we could see the concert despite the girls in front of me. The backgrounds one the screens changed and were nicely choreographed with the music.

The test for any event I attend is answering the question, would I do it again? 

Yes! Next time he is in town I expect to be there. It was a great night.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

And it is a Win!

Chris Celebrating the Return of Baseball

What a day it was and what a game it was. The weather was perfect! It was warm and it did not rain, or snow.

The crowds around the park before the game were crushing! Seriously. All of the usual watering holes were filled to overflowing. Orioles fans were out in force and the color of the day was orange.

Opening Day 2018 Ceremonies
Camden Yards
March 29, 2018

Opening Day 2018 and the Orioles had to make it exciting by winning in dramatic fashion.

The crowd, in excess of 45,000, was treated to a pitching duel by both teams' starting pitchers. All of the runs scored in the game were off the relievers. 

Opening Day 2018 Ceremonies
Camden Yards
March 29, 2018

The Orioles started the season with a double off the bat of Manny Machado and ended the game with a home run from the team's captain, Adam Jones, to lead off the bottom of the 11th inning. Final score 3-2 Orioles.

The crowd stayed with the game, but when runs started to be scored, the entire stadium rocked. It was crushing to have to watch the weak fly ball drop in for two runs with two outs in the ninth to tie the game, but I was able to watch the winning home run as it flew from bat into the stands. There was no question once I heard the crack and saw the trajectory.

I love Opening Day. The magic seems to happen. For one day I can say that the Orioles are atop the American League East! Yes it is only one game and they are tied with the Yankees and the Rays--but at least for one day, they are in first.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Opening Day

The day I have been waiting and planning for since baseball season ended during early November has arrived.

Opening Day.

Baseball, major league-style, is returning to a ballpark near me! The best ballpark in all of baseball, OPACY, will be alive and thronging with thousands of Orioles fans this afternoon. 

Traffic in Baltimore will be snarled.

But hope springs eternal. At least at the start of the day, the Orioles are tied for first place in the American League East! Game 1 of 162 games is set to commence in a few hours. 

This is also the first opening day in 50 years where every team will play its opening game in the same day! That is really awesome. 

The Orioles face the Twins and the weather is supposed to be fantastic. We are scheduled to enjoy a one day warm up that will see temperatures inn the 70's--yes, you read it right. The cold is leaving us for one day and then it will return tomorrow. How lucky can we be. Warm temperatures, sunny skies, Orioles baseball, and thousands of adoring (but skeptical) fans.

Did I mention that I have tickets and am planning to be there?

Bring on the baseball, let's get this season underway!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Turning the Corner

The region may have turned the weather corner, so to speak. 

Hot Fudge Sundae with Malt
from Cindy's
March 27, 2018

Last night was the first night in weeks where the temperature did not go below freezing. It was 40 degrees on my thermometer this morning. That is 16 degrees warmer than the 24 degrees I experienced yesterday morning.

I went back over the calendar and the last time it did not go below freezing was on March 4th.

It is time to let Spring spring! We've sprung forward, baseball is starting, March is ending and there are so many things that need to be done around the yards.

To celebrate Spring, Chris and I headed off to Cindy's Soft Serve, which reopened this week, for some dessert last evening. The temperatures were definitely not summer-like, but ordering our sundaes made the unseasonable cold seem just a little bit less oppressive.

But it may get to 70 degrees tomorrow for Orioles Opening Day!  

Cue the sunshine and the baseball. Bring on the sodas and hot dogs. 

Take me out to the ballpark and lets party!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Orioles Outlook

It is the time if year when hope springs eternal. Spring training has ended and the Orioles have broken camp and are heading north in preparation for Opening Day.

Thursday is Opening Day and I am planning on being there to see the team in person. I have my tickets in hand for the big event and am excited that baseball is returning. 

That written, the Orioles are facing three greatly improved teams in the American League East. The Red Sox, the Blue Jays, and Yankees have each improved their positions during the off season. The Orioles will face each of them 19 times during the season. That is 57 games of a 162 game season, or almost 1/3 of their games will be against improved division rivals. 

On top of that, the Orioles face the World Series champion Houston Astros six times. 

To start the season, the Orioles face the four teams just mentioned during 13 of their first 17 games, including two four game away series against the Red Sox and the Yankees. And did I mention they open the season at home against the Twins, who may be the heir apparent to win the AL Central?

It could be a very disappointing and ugly start to the season. The Orioles could start something as bad as 4-13 for their first 17 games. I prefer to think that based upon what I saw during Spring Training they will be competitive and they will start the season 7-10. Where does it go from there?

I believe the O's are going to lose a lot of high run scoring games. Offense abounds in the AL East. The O's may have a solid rotation eventually, but they are starting the season with only three capable starters and a couple of hopefuls. The Orioles have holes in the reliever corps and are starting the season without the closer, Zach Britton. The lineup will be suspect against left-handed pitching and defensively right field and third base could be a disaster.

Did I mention Manny Machado? The circus surrounding him will likely end mid-season with a trade that will leave a gaping hole in the Orioles offense and defense.

For the 80 games against AL East teams and the Astros, it is likely the O's will collectively go 34-46 for a .425. That leaves 82 games against the rest of the league and it is likely the O's will split those games going 41-41. 

Sadly, then, my projection is that the O's will limp through the season and finish 75-87, which, sadly, is where they finished last year. I do believe that the Tampa Bay Rays will have a worse record in the AL East and so the Orioles will finish 4th.

I will be very happy for the Orioles to prove me wrong and make the playoffs.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - March 26, 2018

Hawk at Timbers at Troy Golf Course
March 25, 2018

1. This is the last Monday in March. Amazingly, by this time next week the year 2018 will be 25 percent complete.

Jeremy Suffering in the Cold on the
Golf Course
March 25, 2018

2. Amazingly, the government is funded through the end of the fiscal year! Yay! It only took Congress six months of the year to decide on a budget. And, thankfully, we did not have to suffer through another government shutdown.

3. I played in a golf tournament yesterday. It was probably a mistake because it was just plain cold. The temperature never made it above 39 degrees. 

4. Animals on the golf course were bountiful yesterday. The hawk was magnificent sitting in the tree. It was not concerned about me at all as I got close to take its image.

5. I was amazed at how quickly the snow melted. Hopefully Spring will be finally arriving later this week.

6. The MLB season begins this week. Go O's!

7. The hockey regular season ends soon--I can tell that spring is in the air.


Headlines

In Gun Control Marches, Students Led but Adults Provided Key Resources - New York Times

Trump’s Trans Ban Shows Who He Really Is - New York Times

D.C.-area forecast: Cool today, but 60-degree weather is on the horizon - The Washington Post


Ronald Reagan Quote for the Day 

"Ingenuity and innovation built our cities and made them centers of commerce and education, of culture and communication, and of progress and opportunity. But the gradual shift of power toward the Federal Government moved us away from the very principles which kept our cities on a sound footing for most of our history." Remarks at the Annual Conference of the National League of Cities, March 5, 1984

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD