Springtime Projects and an Update

 

Electric Mower
Odenton, MD
April 11, 2023

I live in a condo community and so I do not have yard work. I must travel to have the opportunity to get out into the yard with a mower and create the dust and pollen to which I am allergic. The other day I mowed the lawn at Nicole's townhome. It is much smaller than the lawn I used to mow on my tractor and I used a self-propelled electric mower. I was good to be in the yard doing work. I did need to boost my allergy medicine afterwards--I am very allergic to Maryland. Funny, I don't need allergy medicine in Florida. 

I actually enjoyed getting out in the yard and doing one of the first mowings of the season. Chris and I used to compete to do the first mowing at our house in Elkridge. 

As an aside and a follow-on to yesterday's blog about the Arundel Junior Varsity Baseball Team, Chris and I attended a home game last evening. The Arundel team spotted the visitors 10 runs in the top of the 1st inning, but over the course of the remaining innings of the game outscored the visitors 14-2. Final score: 14-12 Arundel! Jackson did not get into the game, but it was thrilling to see the boys claw back into the game by tying tie the score at 11-11 in the 4th inning and then press on to win. It was a long almost three-hour game, but it was full of action and drama.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Baseball Afternoon

Jax on the Mound
Southern High School
Harwood, MD
April 11, 2023

 One thing that both Chris and I are experiencing during our visit to Maryland is junior varsity high school baseball. And it is great to be at the games we otherwise would be tracking on GameChanger. 

Yesterday we traveled to Southern High School for an afternoon game. The weather had warmed since the weekend and was absolutely perfect for baseball. 

We had comfortable seats, in the shade, for the game. I have to admit, I was thankful that I brought a sweatshirt to ward away the cold which began to sink-in about mid-way through the contest. 

Jax was not in the game as a position player, he often plays an outfield position. As the game wore on, into the third inning, the score began to get more lopsided and we were hoping that the contest would end after the fifth inning by mercy rule--a ten-run advantage for the Arundel Wildcats. 

Then, to begin the bottom of the 4th inning, who should appear from the dugout and stride to the mound? Jax! We were very excited to see him pitch in person. He had only posted one other appearance this year--two solid innings of work combining for a shutout. Today, however, was another day and we held our breath as he took the mound. 

When the game was over, Jax had posted two solid innings of work. Two hits, one unearned run and two strikeouts. He threw 27 pitches to 8 batters, 20 of which were for strikes. He also demonstrated a great pick-off move which caught the runner leading too far off first base leading to a rundown which ended when the runner was tagged out. He held the more than 10 run lead and the game was mercifully over 2 hours and 15 minutes after it had started.

Since we have been in Maryland we have seen Jax play right field, pinch run, and now pitch! Oh yes, and bat!

Today, we will be attending a home game!

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Birthday Burger for Lily

Lily Waiting for Birthday Hamburger
Odenton, MD
April 8, 2023

 Celebrating dog birthdays is something our family enjoys. We do not celebrate them with the same level of excitement that people receive, but they are special moments for the furry four-footed members of the family.

The other day Lily, Nicole and Mike's dog, celebrated her 5th birthday! The special event was planned for lunch time. We were having burgers and one had Lily's name on it. It was better than a birthday cake and in an effort to keep the event sane, the burger was quartered and given to her in pieces. I have the video below, but it is important that fingers were definitely at risk as the birthday burger was provided to the dog of honor!

Lily is a great dog. She is a rescue and a foster fail. She is devoted to the family and a steady, if not loud and excitable force in the house. No one would ever consider entering this abode uninvited once they hear Lily on the other side of the door--and they would be wise to heed her bark!

Sadly, I forgot to turn my phone to horizontal. Ugh. I hate it when that happens.

Everyone survived without permanent injury.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Monday Musings - April 10, 2023

 

1. Welcome to Easter Monday 2023. It is the second Monday of April and there are 37 Mondays remaining in the year. 

Creatively Hidden Easter Eggs
Glenelg, MD
April 9, 2023

2. Chris and I celebrated Easter and enjoyed multiple egg hunts and meals. Brunch was highlighted by many children racing across a vast yard to snatch as many easter eggs as possibly. Most of the eggs were hidden in plain sight, but even so required some manual dexterity to retrieve. The weather, although cold in the morning, was made enjoyable by the crystal blue skies and warm sun! 

3. The colder weather of Maryland makes wardrobe choices a bit tougher than the normal tee-shirt, sandals, and shorts that I normally wear back home in Tequesta.

4. The Orioles are off to a slow start for the season. They are 4-5, having dropped series to division rivals Boston and New York while winning the series from Texas. They have to do better against the division teams. 

Flamingo
Flamingo Gardens, Davie, FL
February 27, 2023

5. Chris and I will be enjoying Maryland for another week! I am enjoying the Springtime, but the cold is disheartening! There is a lot of junior varsity high school baseball in our future, however.

6. Fun Fact. Flamingoes are only pink because of chemicals called carotenoids in the algae and fish (which also eat the algae) they eat; their feathers are grayish-white when they're born. (Parade Fun Facts)

7. Today in History. On April 10, 1866, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is founded in New York City by philanthropist and diplomat Henry Bergh, 54.

In 1863, Bergh had been appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to a diplomatic post at the Russian court of Czar Alexander II. It was there that he was horrified to witness work horses beaten by their peasant drivers. En route back to America, a June 1865 visit to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in London awakened his determination to secure a charter not only to incorporate the ASPCA but to exercise the power to arrest and prosecute violators of the law.

Offices are half-empty. That could be a risk for banks - CNN

Highly classified Pentagon documents were leaked online, leaving US officials rattled - CNN

Fox News reaches settlement with Venezuelan businessman in election defamation case - CNN

Ukraine says Russian forces using 'scorched earth' tactics in battle for Bakhmut - Reuters

China ends Taiwan drills after practising blockades, precision strikes - Reuters

China hands lengthy jail terms to two lawyers in rights crackdown - Reuters

Auditors Didn’t Flag Risks Building Up in Banks - The Wall Street Journal

Tennessee’s Political Divisions Deepen Between State and Its Cities - The Wall Street Journal

Research with exotic viruses risks a deadly outbreak, scientists warn - The Washington Post

‘Not going to be bullied’: Why Ron DeSantis went after Trump, then retreated - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Happy Easter 2023

 

Springtime Blooms
Odenton, MD
April 8, 2023

Good morning.

Happy Easter!

May the blessings of the risen Christ be with each of you.

May the glory and the promise of this joyous time of year bring peace and happiness to you and those you hold most dear.

And may Christ, Our Risen Savior, always be there by your side to bless you most abundantly and be your loving guide.

— Author Unknown

Enjoy the day and if you are able to celebrate with family, take a moment to appreciate the opportunity. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Colors of Spring

Mini Daffodils by the Walk
Odenton, MD
April 7, 2023

 

Bluebird at the Feeder
Odenton. MD
April 7, 2023

I have been enjoying the colors of Spring. The redbud trees are in bloom along the roadways and blossoms cover many of the trees. The forsythia are a ball of yellow on the landscape. The daffodils are everywhere, although their time is almost past as the tulips are arriving more and more daily. 

There are also many animals about. I have seen deer still in their darker winter coats, birds of many varieties, squirrels by the dozens, and I have heard the peepers at night singing the song of Spring.

It is fun to see the world wake from the dark days and burst into the light. 

Here is hoping you have a blessed and happy Easter.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Springtime

Young Leaves Off the Back Deck
Odenton, MD
April 6, 2023

Sitting at the high school JV baseball team doubleheader yesterday it became clear that Chris and I had been transported from eternal summer into the middle of springtime. 

I became aware of the springtime explosion almost as soon as we got off the plane, but as the day went on I became more sensitive to the light-green new leaves and the bright flowers dotting the landscape everywhere.

Probable Apple Blossoms
Crofton, MD
April 6, 2023

We had noticed new leaves sprouting on the trees in Florida, but so many trees there do not lose their leaves that the new growth tends to blend into the old. Not so here in Maryland where the entire scene is composed of new leaves struggling to grow and mature.

Sitting at the games yesterday, we were under a blooming apple tree. I took this image looking straight up from the chair in which I was sitting behind the screen at home plate. 

Last evening I stood on the deck at Nicole's home and looked at the expanse of new leaves on the trees against the dark rain clouds. It was a sight to enjoy. Springtime against the backdrop of a storm. We actually experienced a real rainstorm driving after  the game yesterday. South Florida is in severe drought conditions and the area is seven inches (or more) below normal rainfall for the year. We have been enjoying the rain-free weather, but need rain.

It is nice, however, to be in Maryland to enjoy the Spring.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

80s in Maryland

Arundel High JV Baseball Team
Crofton, MD
April 6, 2023

 Chris and I landed in Maryland just a few hours ago and we are already at a junior varsity baseball doubleheader enjoying 80 degree temperatures. 

The Orioles canceled their home opener due to the threat of thunderstorms, but the skies at 2 PM were partly cloudy. 

We had an early morning flight from West Palm Beach which went smoothly. The plane was packed. 

Of course this is a holiday weekend and we are back in Maryland for Easter. 

Sitting here, I am amazed at the number of kids on the team that I have had the honor to coach with my son-in-law Mike in the past. They are so big now and still using the fundamentals of the game we taught them. Wow! 

- Bob Doan, Crofton, MD

What Happened Yesterday?

 

Some call yesterday an historic day. Sadly, I guess it was because of what happened in New York City involving a former president. 

I have always looked up to most former presidents, of course there was a guy named Nixon who departed under a huge cloud. 

My point here is that a lot more happened in the world other than a former president begin indicted. 

From the Atlantic, here is a recap of some big other stories of yesterday:

Of course, a lot of other things did happen in the world today. Finland officially joined NATO, a hugely important geopolitical development. Wisconsin, long described as a “laboratory of democracy,” is holding an election that could alter the country’s future. A freight train sits as a derailed wreck in Montana. And in Florida, the state rapidly emerging as our own laboratory of authoritarianism, it’s a new day where people can walk around carrying concealed weapons without a permit—a policy that polling suggests most Floridians oppose but that is apparently wildly popular with the “own the libs” demographic.

“The era of nonalignment in our history has come to an end—a new era begins,” Finland’s president Sauli Niinistö said. (Letters from an American)

Of course, I am especially interested in the Florida item.  I guess I will never know who is packing heat. 

And I welcome Finland into NATO! That, friends, is huge!

So quite a bit happened yesterday. We were just a bit myopically focused upon a courthouse in NYC.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Universal Orlando Resort - A Review

Chris, Luke, and I in Harry Potter Land
Universal Orlando Resort
April 3, 2023

 It was a very full day. Chris and I departed home at 7:30 AM and returned home just after 9 PM. In between was four hours driving with the rest of the time spent at Universal Orlando Resort. 

Let's begin with the cost. We bought a two-park one day pass for $209 per person. We knew we would be visiting both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. We made the transition on the Hogwarts Express--definitely worth the ride, but not the posted 75 minute wait. To miss the wait, we also bought the two park Express passes at $314.99. Total admission cost for the one day jaunt for two people: $1116.12 (with tax).

First Observation. The resort is incredibly expensive and that jaundiced my objectiveness even before we arrived. I paid less for a 7-day cruise in November than one day at Universal. 

Second Observation: Driving to the resort is relatively simple. It is right off Interstate 4 and there are large parking garages close to the resort. I was not happy that after paying over $1K to visit the resort for the day that they gouged me for $30 to park my truck. Ugh! Really? With the price of admission being astronomical, parking should be included. 

Street Sight
Universal Orlando Resort
April 3, 2023

Third Observation: It took 45 minutes from parking the truck to finally get through security and the admission process and actually be inside Islands of Adventure. This meant navigating the crushing crowds on City Walk and getting scanned and admitted. The actual admission process is cumbersome, even with passes on the phone because there are so many people who are unfamiliar with the process.

When we finally met up with family, who proceeded us to the resort, we began to have some fun. We went first to the Jurassic Park area and our first ride was the VelociCoaster. Even with the express pass we had a very long wait and it was almost 90 minutes from arriving at the resort's gates until we were actually on our first ride of the day. 

As the day progressed, things got better. I was told, but unable to confirm, that the park was a maximum capacity while we were there. It was clear that they were unprepared for the crush of people and the crowds were evident all day. 

Fourth Observation. Use the mobile app to order lunch. It took about 90 minutes to get burgers and eat them because we did not use the mobile app. The automatic Coke dispensing machines are a joke. They were not dispensing drinks reliably and I saw many people put their daily paid cups in the dispenser only to be turned away. I found that beer was a much better choice. Overall food prices are not bad. The burger platter was $15.49 and beer was $9.50. Coke was $4.49 per glass or they had a plan for an all day drink package--which seemed a bit pricey to me. 

So let's talk coasters. I love coasters and I got to sit in the front seat on two of the best. We did not get to experience Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure due to long lines and it does not accept the Express Pass. But here is my ranking of the four coasters that I experienced:

1. Hulk - old, yes, but smooth and like flying a jet fighter (P.S. I did fly a jet fighter trainer, once) (I was in a front seat)

2. Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket - really cool vertical start and music to enjoy while riding (I was in a front seat)

Men In Black Alien Attack
Universal Orlando Resort
April 3, 2023

3. VelociCoaster - Fun, but not smooth and the turns are rough although the maneuvers are creative.

4. Revenge of the Mummy - Nice special effects, but I always think a coaster in the dark removes the fun of seeing the world spin around.

Other rides as I remember them:

Dudly Do-Right's RipSaw Falls - A classic log ride with a scenario that has outlived its time. A great ride to enjoy getting wet, but the story is dated.

Jurassic Park River Adventure - Great ride, you will get wet. It seemed that parts of the ride were not fully operational when we were on it. 

Men In Black Alien Attack - A great fun ride to play "shoot the outer-space aliens." I won the car with 75,000 points. Sorry Luke!

The Simpsons Ride - Not worth the time. They paid too much for this ride. The story is not compelling and the 3D graphics are cheesy.

The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman - nice ride, good 3D graphics, great story and put together pretty well. Enjoyable.

Hogwarts Express - already mentioned. 

Harry Potter The Forbidden Journey - great ride but somewhat intense. Great story and graphics.

We probably did a couple more, but these were the memorable rides. When you divide it out, I paid about $45 per ride. 

We departed the park about 6:30 PM to allow us to get home at a reasonable hour.

It was a fun day filled with thrills and the joy of being with family. Some of the rides were memorable, BUT the overall park experience needs improvement. Given the amount of money being collected, I expected a first class experience--I do not feel as though I received that. 

Fifth Observation - The Express Pass is a requirement! That written, the pass is expensive and in a perfect world I would do away with express passes and increase the capacity of the rides. I felt bad walking in front of families with kids who could not afford an extra $300/per person and had stood in line for 75 or 80 minutes for a 90-second ride, while I stood in line for maybe 10 - 20 minutes at the most.  As the day went on we actually almost walked onto some rides, for the same 90-second experience. 

Bob's Recommendation - Visit but only after fully understanding the cost! Universal Orlando Resort is overpriced; offering mediocre service in every venue. Some of the new rides are first class, but looking around, many of the others require maintenance and the warts are showing. The day I visited, the park seemed to be over capacity.

Important note--this was not my first visit to Universal Orlando Resort. I remember the days before Harry Potter when one of the marquee rides was the Jaws boat ride and there was a dueling rollercoaster, both now gone. Express passes were not a requirement in those days. I believe express passes are a result of running the parks above capacity.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Note: I updated the ride list and amount per ride because I had forgotten one. April 4