Downsizing - As the Dog Barks

Finnegan is a bundle of energy. 

Finnegan at Halloween
Elkridge, MD
October 31, 2021

He is an excellent watch dog and is always aware of what is happening around the house. 

And that, is the problem--he alerts on everything. He has a shrill, ear-piercing bark that does not stop even when people arrive at the house. It is, at the very least, annoying. I have noticed it more lately as we have had many people coming and going as we downsize. 

But Finn has a soft and gentle side. He loves to curl up in a lap and sleep or to lay in a sunbeam during the morning hours when the sun comes through the window before we lower the shades to keep the house cool.

Finnegan is a gamer and allows himself to be thoroughly humiliated at Halloween. Somehow the costume was too cute. 

When visitors arrive, however, his energy overflows and he runs circles around them, non-stop. It is amazing that he has escaped being stepped-on and hurt.

The joys of downsizing and moving. Finnegan is ever and extra vigilant. And loud.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Houses and Homes

Houses are meant to become homes.

Truck Loaded with Belongings
Glen Burnie, MD
August 3, 2022

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon and evening helping Jen and Patrick transition from their old house to their new home. It was hot and the work was hard, but they were well organized and we were able to get the final items, including the most massive bed that I have ever seen, out and reinstalled.

Mind you, this was only the stuff they had been living with for the past 80-some days. Most of their furniture and belongings are in storage waiting for the real move-in day next week when the movers will relocate everything in their storage units, yes plural, to the home.

Empty Porches and Yard
Glen Burnie, MD
August 3, 2022

But, back to my original thought. Houses are meant to become homes. Yes, there is a difference. I can see it in my own house as we begin the process of changing it from a home to a house. Homes have character and are a reflection of the occupants. Houses are a blank slate providing the raw materials and space to become a home. 

I have been watching the construction of Jen and Patrick's new house for the past months and have been lucky to see the hole in the ground become a house. And last evening the transition from house to home began.

Conversely, at the old house it was clear that transition from home to house was complete. It was sad, but I know that house will soon undergo the transition back to being a home.

My house is preparing for a similar transition with a lot of work yet ahead.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Good Omen

Gaggle of Geese
Glen Burnie, MD
August 1, 2022

 Monday afternoon, Chris and I attended the final walkthrough at Jen and Patrick's new house in Tanyard Shores. 

It was a lot of fun to check out the house and help them identify the little things that still need to be corrected before settlement--which is scheduled for today at high noon. It was a much needed break from downsizing--which is ramping up as more and more stuff heads out to door to new homes. We are conducting an estate sale on Saturday--things should begin to be real empty around here.

Today, however, the fun begins at Jen and Patrick's as my truck provides the muscle to move belongings from one place to another. There is so much to do while concurrently Chris and I are still struggling to reduce the furnishings in our own home. 

While I was at the new house, I spied a gaggle of geese in the wild area. The area is visible from the house I take that as a good omen that there will be joy and happiness into the future. 

And so, the fun continues!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Orioles Dog

 Sadly, the Orioles managed to trade one of my favorite players yesterday, Trey Mancini. 

Makayla, Orioles Fan
Elkridge, MD
August 1, 2022

Baseball is a business, I need to remember that. The Orioles are building for next year and the future beyond that and Trey is 30 years old and that means he is coming to the twilight years of his baseball career. I am happy that he was traded to a contender--although the Astros are a bit of a pariah in baseball because of the sign stealing scandal of a few years ago in which they might have stolen a World Series away from the Dodgers. But, in good news, this may be a late-season "rental" as Trey is a Free Agent and the Orioles may resign him for next year! It would be really cool if the Astros manage to win the Series and Trey gets a ring, returns to the Orioles, and then leads the team to the playoffs or even more! Oops, I'm dreaming again. 

Nonetheless, Makayla and I remain Orioles fans. Makayla even rocked her hat yesterday! I thin she was smiling as I took the picture of her. She likes the straw hat because it protects her ears from the sun and now that she has been shaved, she needs a bit more protection. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - August 1, 2022

 

1. Welcome to August 2022. It happened overnight and today is the first of five August Mondays. There are 22 Mondays remaining in the year. We are on the downslide. 

2. With the passing of my favorite month of the year, it is time to begin planning for the dark season while still enjoying the fading light as the next month's vernal equinox approaches.

Sunflowers in PA
North of Scranton on I-81
July 31, 2022

3. Driving to and from Central New York this weekend, I noticed the flowers at the rest areas. The summer flowers were visually stimulating and provided a brief relief from the highway stretching out in front of me with traffic consisting of a lot of trucks.

4. Sadness at the passing of Nichelle Nichols, Lt Uhura (Star Trek). She helped to change the face of television and our country.

5. The green hills of Upstate New York make driving a pleasure. Around every corner and turn there is more natural beauty to enjoy when driving during the Summer and Autumn. I do not enjoy the drive during the Winter, however. 

6. For those who live in Maryland, I have renamed Route 100 as the Maryland Racetrack. I am continually amazed at how fast some drive. I believe I have been passed by people speeding over 100 MPH on the 55 MPH road.

7. Today in History. On August 1, 1943, 177 B-24 bombers take off from an Allied base in Libya, bound for the oil-producing city Ploiești, Romania, nicknamed “Hitler’s gas station.” The daring raid, known as Operation Tidal Wave, resulted in five men being awarded the Medal of Honor—three of them posthumously—but failed to strike the fatal blow its planners had intended.

Operation Tidal Wave began ominously, with an overloaded bomber crashing shortly after takeoff and another plunging into the Adriatic Sea. 167 of the original 177 bombers made it to Ploiești, whose oil fields and refineries provided the Germans with over 8.5 million tons of oil per year. Whereas most Allied bombing in World War II was carried out from a high altitude, the bombers that raided Ploiești flew exceptionally low in order to evade the Germans’ radar. The bombers lost the element of surprise, however, when one group veered off on the wrong direction, forcing the others to break radio silence in order to direct them back on course. This unplanned adjustment also led to the bombers approaching from the south, where the Nazis had concentrated their anti-aircraft batteries.

Pelosi expected to visit Taiwan, Taiwanese and US officials say - CNN

Northern California wildfire exploded in size over the weekend - CNN

Democrats' climate and health initiative back on the table this week - CNN

First Ukraine Grain Shipment Departs Since Invasion - The Wall Street Journal

People Start Buying More Essentials at Dollar Stores - The Wall Street Journal

Europe’s Energy Crisis Threatens to Slow Green Transition - The Wall Street Journal

Inflation spurs U.S. consumers to spend more on credit cards - Reuters

As Pelosi begins Asia tour, China warns against visiting Taiwan - Reuters

U.S. considers crackdown on memory chip makers in China - Reuters

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Tournament

Elm Tree Golf Course 18th Green
Cortland, NY
July 30, 2022

 The Troy Whittemore Annual Golf Tournament played on Saturday. It was held at a different golf course than in previous years, this one in Cortland, NY. The course was fun and challenging. I would like to say that the team I was on won the tournament, but in fact we worked hard to finish at par.

It was a beautiful upstate New York day. Although the temperature was in the 80s, it seemed much cooler. The course is very open and I did not lose a ball, which is rare for me. The team played well together. We did great on the par 5 holes, there were three and we birdied two and eagled one. The par 3s were tough and we made bogey on two of those and par on the other two. We actually wished there was another par 5.   

Hole 3 
Troy Whittemore Golf Tournament
July 30, 2022

Chris and I sponsored a hole and had a nice sign on the hole.

Next year the team will do better and we may even have two teams in the competition. 

—Bob Doan, Cortland, NY.

Taking a Break

 Downsizing and packing has become the primary reason for my existence, it seems. I was happy that yesterday we decided to take a break. 

Timbers at Troy
From their Website

I actually played nine holes of golf, just to see how the game would be tomorrow at the tournament. I should hold my own and contribute positively to the team.

I knew it was time to head home when torrential rains started just as I finished the 9th hole about 7:30 PM. I was considering playing a couple more holes, but the rain convinced me otherwise. 

I got drenched anyway getting my clubs into the truck and returning the cart. 

Tomorrow we are playing the Elm Tree Golf Course in Cortland, NY. I have never played the course before and it should be exciting. I usually do terrible on courses that I have never played, but it is for a good cause, the Troy Whittemore Scholarship Fund!

Today, then, is a travel day. Off for Central New York and a much needed continuing break from packing, downsizing, and house selling! Who knew retirement could be so exhausting?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Downsizing - Dog Days

 Aside from being in the middle of the dog days, today is a dog day.

Makayla in Front of the Door
Elkridge, MD
July 28, 2022

Makayla is going to the groomer. We are getting her shaved. I actually do not like to get her shaved, but hew skin has become so sensitive that it is hard to keep her brushed. She looks more like a mop right now than a Keeshond. She is also serving as our dog welcome mat. That is she lies in front of the door most of the day and doesn't even move when we pass by her.

As the downsizing continues, we realized yesterday that we have completed most of the packing prep and and are down to mostly things that we need to keep out until we depart. The Pod arrives in two weeks and that is when everything, including the items already boxed, will get loaded and ready for transfer to Florida. 

Florida seems like a dream now. I have been away so long. It has been cooler there than here. And I miss sitting on the beach for Happy Hour.

This weekend will be different. We are heading to New York for Annual Troy Whittemore Memorial Golf Tournament! At least there will be a change of scenery and I will get to play some golf, or rather the course will get to frustrate me.

And the Dog Days of Summer continue.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Orioles Magic in July

 I have to write about the Orioles because something really exciting happened last evening--the Orioles are no longer in last place in the division. The Red Sox claimed that wit their loss and the Orioles win. 

The Orioles continue to play solid baseball and are winning the close games. For instance last evening the O's came from behind with 3 runs in the 8th inning to defeat the Rays, 5-3. 

And it is a team effort with different guys leading the team every night. 

Trey Mancini

Sadly, one of the guys which has been leading the resurgence of the Orioles, Trey Mancini, is rumored to be on the trading block. He is mired in an 0-22 slump which has seen his batting average fall to .266, but his WAR is still 1.6--which is not shabby but well below his 9.7 career WAR. He is THE clubhouse leader and I believe his loss would hurt the Orioles overall. But then, I thought keeping Chris Davis was a good idea--until it wasn't.

For now, the O's are fun to watch and root for. They are actually winning games. But beware--August is at hand the and Orioles slumps begin in August as the long baseball season begins to take its toll on the players. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Downsizing - That Empty Sound

 It has begun. 

The Emptying Wine Room
Elkridge, MD
July 26, 2022

As I walked into the house yesterday I noticed the empty sound had begun in some of the rooms where the carpets and furniture have been removed or reduced. 

It is eerie and weird. 

I think maybe that the downsizing is getting serious. A bit too serious.

The empty sound is only the beginning because we still have a lot of furniture yet to remove and items to pack.

Amazon was not helpful yesterday. We needed more newsprint for wrapping and we went to Lowes in the morning to get some, but they didn't have any. So, I ordered from Amazon with a delivery time of 1-5PM. Then it changed to 2-6PM. The newsprint arrived about 8PM. Not very helpful--but the wrapping and packing will continue today. 

Another day of wash, rinse, repeat.. 

On the exciting news note, the movement into new homes begins today when Cory and Julianne settle on their new townhome. This comes a week before Patrick and Jen settle. And then hopefully, by the end of August we will settle on our home. It is definitely an exciting time with many moves coming during the next few weeks.

And the empty sound in the house will only get more noticeable.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD