Racing Across the Brown Grass

Ethan with Team Before the Start
Arundel High School
Odenton, MD
October 5, 2019

The regional drought continued yesterday. The grass is getting dry and brown in most areas. It was also very cool yesterday morning and that made it a great day to go attend my first cross country meet.

The JV Team Singing Sweet Caroline
Arundel High School
Odenton, MD
October 5, 2019

Ethan was running for the Arundel High JV team. 

It was great to be there to see the race. I decided that I like cross-country because it is over in about 25 minutes. Ethan ran a hard race and is showing significant improvement every week. I am learning that the time on the scoreboard is only a guide because each course is different and some are much harder than others. 

It was fun to watch the start of the race. I was lucky to have my iPhone at the ready to capture the start of the race. It is very impressive. I think seeing so many boys racing across the dry, brown grass is quite a sight. And Ethan is clearly visible towards the end.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Cold

It happened overnight. The temperature dropped into the 40's for the first time since early Spring. It was a rude greeting to Autumn! I expect the trees to begin changing in earnest and the leaves to begin piling up in my yard. 

It is real! After setting a record the other day at 98 degrees--perhaps Summer is finally over. 

I am not ready for summer to depart!

The departure of summer means that winter--and the dark season is not too far behind. It is already dark more than it is light. 

But the day is busy with cross country and baseball--it should be a nice day to be outside. I will try not to get to sunburned. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Second Season

It is playoff time! Yes, baseball continues. 

And there is a local team actually in the playoffs-- the Washington Nationals. They won their wild card game and last night played the Dodgers in game 1 of the NLDS. For those who wonder about the abbreviation that is National League Division Series. 

OK, the Nationals got blown out 6-0. But they just need to get their feet under themselves. It is a five game series--so they could turn it around. History says that they won't--the team has a miserable record and has lost every post-season series they have been in except the recent Wild Card game that they won. 

It is sad that the Orioles are not anywhere near the playoffs. I was fairly close in my preseason prediction that they would wind 57 games--they won 54. I was hoping for a better performance. 

Baseball is into its October run, however, and there are some great teams chasing to be World Series winners. 

It will be fun to watch.

My prediction? Astros vs Dodgers with the Astros winning the World Series in 6 games. You read it here first.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Last Gasp

Summer does not realize that its run is over. Yesterday saw a new high set in Baltimore. The high temperature yesterday was 95 degrees eclipsing the previous high by 3 degrees. Summer is still here. It was the hottest October day since they began keeping records in 1872.

We enjoyed baseball practice last evening in the heat. While the boys withered a bit while working out, but I enjoy practice in the heat far better than in cold weather. I remember last April when the temperatures were in the 30's--it is hard to concentrate. 

The weather reporters are forecasting that Autumn is on its way. they are saying cod front is on its way and Saturday morning the forecast is for lows in the mid-40's. Now that is cold. 

I suppose that yesterday's temperatures are summer's last gasp. Today is supposed be in the 70's. Over 20 degrees cooler than yesterday's high. It is 77 degrees right now but the cold front is on its way and the temperatures will drop. 

On the weather front--we really could use some rain. But I am sure that will come and then I will complain.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum

A-12 on the Deck of the Intrepid
NYC
September 29, 2019

We took a lot of pictures during our two-day visit to NYC. It seemed harsh to share just four of them in yesterday's blog. So, I decided to do another day on the city and focus upon on specific stop.

Jax and Chris in Gemini Capsule Mock-up
Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, NYC
September 29, 2019

Amidst all of the fun of walking around in the man-made canyons beneath the towering buildings, there were a lot of fun things to see and experience. We had a very busy schedule and there was almost no downtime. 


Today, I am going to focus on the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. I had never been to the museum before, but I will not miss it again. It is definitely on the stop for every visit to the Big Apple with people who have never been there before. First, the view from the ship of the skyline is stunning! But even more important, the aircraft carrier and its history is presented in spectacular form and the ability to wander around the carrier is a second-to-none experience. the museum represents probably the best nexus for sea, air, and space that I have ever experienced. 

Me and Jax
Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
September 29, 2019

Regulus Cruise Missile
Cold War Nuclear Relic
USS Growler
Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, NYC
September 29, 2019

The exhibits are in great shape and they are, most importantly, accessible. It is east to get close--but do not touch. There are many hands-on exhibits for the young people in your life. 

The tour of the submarine and the the space shuttle Enterprise hangar are highlights--but there are highlights around the entire complex. The museum is truly a gem in the heart of the city. 

It is a must see.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Conquering NYC

At Night from the Empire State Building
September 29, 2019

Reflection of the new World Trade Center 1
on another building
September 30, 2019

It was a whirlwind trop to the Big Apple for Chris, Jax, and me. 

We left Sunday morning and returned last evening. It was a trip to celebrate his promotion from 5th grade and into middle school. We could not have picked a better weekend for the visit and making use of a school holiday made it an even better trip. The weather was generally fantastic with only a few raindrops falling onto us as we disembarked from the oat which brought us back to shore from visiting the Statue of Liberty. 

The trip included a visit to the Intrepid Air and Space Museum, the obligatory visit to Times Square and dinner there followed by a nighttime visit to the Empire State Building--which was awesome. I had never seen the city from there at night. 

Chris and Jax at the Shuttle Enterprise
Intrepid Air and Space Museum
September 29, 2019

Statue of Liberty
September 30, 2019

Yesterday was a fast paced day. We began by going to Rockefeller Center and visiting some of the shops. We missed the Today Show by a few minutes. From there, after retrieving the car, we headed off to the World Trade Center Memorial and from there the Statue of Liberty. There is so much to do in NYC, a short overnight just does not seem to do it justice. 

But we had fun and squeezed in a much as we could. We drove this time and it was not too bad. I even did pretty good in the NYC traffic. It is not all that much worse the Baltimore traffic.

And now, we return to our regularly scheduled week.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Unsatisfying Result

It was a doubleheader Saturday and the GORC Cooperstown 12U headed to La Plata to play the Senators. 

Lunch Between the Games
La Plata, MD
September 28, 2019

It was a long drive. But everyone arrived ready to play the games. The day started cool due to the heavy overcast, which was great--but, we began the first game in a drenching rainstorm, which while keeping the dust down on the field also seemed to quench the intensity of our bats. The games ended under a burning sun. We managed only three runs over the two games. The final results were losses: 14-1 and 14-2. The mercy rule kicked in for both games. 

We made some good plays in the field, but the Senators bats were very hot and they were able to find holes in our infield and outfield all day. 

It was a learning experience!

We will be better for it next time. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Crashing through the Weekend

Me with Jeremy, Nicole and Patrick
Elkridge, MD
September 26, 2019

We have so much stuff planned this weekend that two days were not enough in which to complete everything and so I stole a day from the workweek and added Monday to make this a three-day weekend!

We are going to be "crazy" busy. 

We have already been busy starting with my birthday on Thursday, followed by Happy Hour with friends last evening. 

Today the GORC Cooperstown Wildcats play a double header in La Plata! At least we get two games because it is over an hour drive with no traffic. That will eat up most of Saturday. But it will be a baseball Saturday--what could be bad about that?

Tomorrow, bright and early probably before dawn, Chris and I head out for NYC with Jax for an overnight. I am taking a day off on Monday so that we can explore NYC and then return at our leisure. 

By the time the weekend is complete, I may be looking forward to getting back to work to get some rest. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Birthday

Thanks to all who provided greetings for my birthday. It is overwhelming to get greetings form so many people. I remember that in the olden days we would rush to the mail box for greetings and now we go to Facebook. 

I cannot believe that I am another year older--I hope I have the mental capacity to remember my new age when asked--whatever it is.

I have been asked about retirement and I think the end of the daily work rodeo is forming out on the horizon. It is still in the distance, but I have begun to get ready for the day when I no longer report to work promptly at 0700--but not yet. 

What will life after retirement look like? 

I am still looking for that answer. 

Prostate Cancer Awareness Ribbon

From seeing my retired friends, I know that there is life after retirement, but I am not too sure what it is at this point. 

But this birthday reminds me that the year past was a traumatic year. I went through 44 prostate cancer treatments starting right after my last birthday and have been recovering marvelously since then. September is, after all,  prostate cancer awareness month.  Chris and I bought a condo in Florida--but did not go on a cruise, although we recently went to Hawaii. But most importantly, we have spent time with family. 

A wise man once told me that after I retire and leave the organization where I work that people will quickly forget what I did there, but my family will never forget the times we spent together and the times we spent apart. 

I have had both times with and apart from my family.  Last evening was special because I was able to gather with my whole family--minus one, to celebrate.

Let the next year begin.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD 

Craziness in D.C.

The back and forth summer of jockeying by the President and the Congress has continues into autumn and the wheels are threatening to come off the country. My minds is reeling from all of the activity. 

Wow it has been a wild week! Or is that a month? Possibly a wild year? Maybe two-and-a-half wild years?

Accusations. Charges. Counter-claims. Whistle-blowers. Indignation. Ukraine? Elections.

And then there is the impeachment probe being initiated in the House. More dysfunction at work. 

Is anyone governing the country? Managing foreign policy? Ensuring Domestic tranquility? 

Who is in charge at The White House? 

Will there be another government shutdown as early as Tuesday? 

Is anyone in charge anymore?

Have our leaders lost sight of their primary mission?


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD