Repeat Maryland State Champions!

 

Stock Market Game State Championship Investment Team 2023
Arundel High School
Odenton, MD

Today is a total brag blog!

I am so very excited that two of my grandsons, Ethan and Jax Haslup) are part of a Maryland State Champion Squad for the second year in a row!

No, it is not a sports team, is it the Stock Market Game Team. Ethan was on the team last year and is repeating as a champion. Jax joined the team this year, as he is a freshman.

From the high school's Instagram posting:

For the second year in a row, “Team Om & the Ethans” have won the Maryland yearlong championship for the Stock Market Game by beating 750 teams this year 👏👏👏

This is an incredibly difficult feat along with the fact that even with a relatively flat stock market this past year, this team more than DOUBLED their initial $100,000 to end the game with a portfolio value of $219,200. Even more impressive, they beat the second place team by an astounding $62,000 😱📈💪💰

Congratulations to Om Desai, Ethan Nauroth, Ethan Haslup, Ethan Howe, Afolami Elabanjo, Caden Houck, & Jax Haslup 💚

(Instagram)

I want these guys to manage my investment accounts!

Winning one state championship is a grand achievement and resume worthy, but winning two in a row is phenomenal! 

Congratulations to the whole team! You have established a record that may never be equalled.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - April 24, 2023

 

1. The last Monday of April 2023 has arrived. Next Monday will be May Day. There are 35 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. How about them Orioles? Tied for the second best record in the American League at 14-7 and on a 6-game winning streak! What a win yesterday--another late inning comeback by walk-off in the 10th inning. And I noted there were 36,000 fans at OPACY and the visiting team was not one of the AL East thugs!

Carlin Park Beach
Jupiter, FL
April 23, 2023

3. For the second evening in a row, Chris and I went out to the beach to enjoy the end of the day. It was magnificent. The sky was blue and the water even bluer. The beach was crowded, for Jupiter, but not nearly as crowded as Ocean City during the summer. The osprey's were actively fishing and are always fun to watch.

Moon and Venus over Tequesta
Tequesta, FL
April 23, 2023

4. I hope that you saw the Moon and Venus last evening in the Western Sky. They were a stunning pair hanging over the palm trees and houses. I find that taking images of the Moon as some of the toughest that I attempt. I can never seem to get the Moon and it never seems as big in the image as it does in real life. But, I keep trying.

5. I am concerned about the debt crisis. It appears that too many members of Congress feel that they can hold the country hostage for their own personal gain. Funny part is, while they want to hold the President responsible, the Congress passes the budget and obligates the funding. So they are really holding themselves hostage. 

6. Today in History. On April 24, 1916, on Easter Monday in Dublin, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, a secret organization of Irish nationalists led by Patrick Pearse, launches the so-called Easter Rebellion, an armed uprising against British rule. Assisted by militant Irish socialists under James Connolly, Pearse and his fellow Republicans rioted and attacked British provincial government headquarters across Dublin and seized the Irish capital’s General Post Office. 

Following these successes, they proclaimed the independence of Ireland, which had been under the repressive thumb of the United Kingdom for centuries, and by the next morning were in control of much of the city. Later that day, however, British authorities launched a counteroffensive, and by April 29 the uprising had been crushed. Nevertheless, the Easter Rebellion is considered a significant marker on the road to establishing an independent Irish republic.

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-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Super Saturday

Clouds from the North Fork Loxahatchee River Bridge
Tequesta, FL
April 22, 2023

Saturday arrived and I admit that it felt like a weekday. I have trouble distinguishing weekdays from weekends anymore. I placed a call to an insurance company and was surprised when they advised me to call back during normal weekday business hours. 

I began the day by enjoying a pleasant almost 22 mile bike ride through Tequesta and Jupiter. As I stopped on the Loxahatchee River North Fork Bridge in Tequesta, I took an image of the scene looking North. The reflections of the clouds on the water caught my eye, like an impressionist era painting. 

Perhaps I was more attuned to the view as it was Earth Day. It was also at about the 20 mile mark of my ride and I was a bit tired. April has been a light riding month. The almost two weeks spent in Maryland with no biking has reduced my miles ridden. When Chris and I return to Maryland next month we are taking our bikes with us. I have a number of trails that I want to ride. 

Jupiter Island Beach
Jupiter Island, FL
April 22, 2023

For the evening, Chris and I went to the beach for a walk. We were not sure what we would find with the sargassum, but the beach was not badly covered. We found optimist fishermen and boys enjoying the cool afternoon breeze while wondering why they were not catching any fish. We noticed significant beach erosion and there is an 8 foot wall at the base of the dunes. Fortunately the stairs come down to the current beach level. We both wondered how the sea turtles were going to find a suitable location to lay eggs. 

We enjoyed the walk on the beach, with Finnegan, as a way to close out the day. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Day of the Truck

Earth Day Sunrise this Morning from my Patio 
Tequesta, FL
April 22, 2023

Happy Earth Day! 

I had a fortunate event happen two weeks ago as Chris and I were returning from Universal Studios. It may not seem fortunate, but given future plans the timing it could not have been better. When I got out of my truck after arriving home I smelled radiator fluid. Being that it was after 10 PM and we had enjoyed a very long day, I made a mental note to check the truck in the morning. And I did. 

Upon inspecting the truck, I determined that the water pump had failed or was failing. Normally a failed water pump becomes a catastrophic event along side of a busy interstate highway, but in this case I believe the pump was in the process of failing and we made it home. The engine did not overheat and I had no indication from the instruments in the truck that a failure was underway. 

As we were leaving for Maryland to celebrate Easter a few days later, I made an appointment at the local repair shop after our return. My truck was returned to me yesterday. As it turned out, the entire cooling system was contaminated. The water pump failed, the radiator was failing, the thermostat needed replacing as did the housing. As the mechanic noted, he had expected, given the age and mileage on my truck, that the repair would be a fairly simple water pump replacement. It was not! The good news is that my truck is ready for the upcoming trip north and that is the really fortunate part of the story. I would hate to break down along I-95 in Georgia or South Carolina in the middle of the night. 

We discussed the contamination and have no idea about the source. I suggested that it might be windshield washer fluid accidentally placed in the wrong reservoir by an attendant at the oil change store we use, but the mechanic said that that is a windshield washer fluid is water based product and not likely to cause the contamination he saw. He suggested that someone may have put a stop leak product into the system, but I know that I did not do this. Had there been a leak, I would have taken the truck for repair. I was not surprised when he mentioned the contamination because when I was inspecting the fluid that was pooled on the ground I noted it was not a clear and consistent color. 

I will take the truck for a test drive of at least an hour to ensure everything is ready, but I am thankful that it all played out as it did.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Birds of the Day--Golfing

Blue Heron at Jupiter Dunes
Jupiter, FL
April 20, 2022

Yesterday was a golfing day for Chris and me. We try to play golf on Thursdays and having that plan seems to be working as we are golfing more than not. 

Florida golf courses generally have a lot of water. The water creates hazards from which it is unlikely that the errant golf ball will be recovered. I know this because my golf balls seem to have a built in homing device to find water. 

Blue Heron Takes Off with Turtle Watching
Jupiter Dunes, Jupiter, FL
April 20, 2023

The enjoyable thing about the water, however, is the wildlife. Yesterday, for instance, I saw many turtles both in the water and on the shore, a couple very interesting herons, thousands of tadpoles, and even a fish that jumped completely out of the water. The wildlife mercifully distracted me from one of my most miserable rounds of golf in a long time.

I managed a unique image yesterday on the 6th hole, after my ball had rolled down the side of the raised green and into the water. I was setting up for an image of a blue heron with a turtle just off shore. And then, just as I snapped the image, the heron took flight. The turtle remained visible, near the top of the image on the left.

It was a beautiful morning for golf and I was happy to be on the course playing and able to enjoy the wildlife. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

A Road Less Traveled

A Less Traveled Road with Finnegan
Odenton, MD
April 18, 2023

 Walking the dogs, Finnegan and Lily, became a daily affair while Chris and I were visiting in Maryland. It worked out great because there is the perfect walking path, an old unused road. I have walked this road for many years, but it was only until this visit to Maryland that I noticed that the lane markings and the road edge markings were still visible in places. The road runs parallel to Strawberry Lake Way off Waugh Chapel Road. I am not sure of the name for the original roadway, but I'm guessing it was not Strawberry Lake Way, that seems to coincide with the construction of the multiple communities in the area.

As Chris and I walked yesterday along US-1 in Tequesta, were very aware of the quiet and beautiful setting for the road in Odenton. The noise of the US-1 morning traffic was deafening and we both noted that walking in Odenton was much more enjoyable than Tequesta.  But, then, we were not at the beach which does beat Odenton for peace and beauty. 

I guess we need to head to the beach more often!.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Documenting the Springtime

The Forest in Spring
Odenton, MD
April 6, 2023

 I took an image of trees yesterday. It was of the same group of trees that I imaged upon arriving in Maryland on April 6th. 

Yesterday's image clearly shows the progression of Spring in 12 days. I was amazed when I compared the two images. The trees filled out during the interval between the images. Of course, I didn't remember which orientation I took the original image in and so one is vertical and the other is horizontal. 

As the Spring Progresses
Odenton, MD
April 18, 2023

I was there to experience Springtime 2023. Now I am back in Florida and enjoying summertime. 

While it is very good to be back in Florida, I missed riding my bike and sitting under the palms, I also miss the Spring as the season deepens. 

While Chris and I were in Maryland we enjoyed six junior varsity baseball games, dinners with our family, Happy Hour with friends, and just being around hanging out. 

We will return next month and we are planning a full schedule to include visits to Maryland and Virginia wineries and the good news is that we will have a vehicle to transport the wine back to our residence in Florida.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Following Along with Spring

Dogwood Bloom
Odenton, MD
April 17, 2023

 Although yesterday was much cooler than the previous days, it remained a spectacular Spring day. 

There were two dog walking events, one which was 2 miles in length, to enjoy the day. Along the way I noticed the dogwoods were in full bloom in the Maryland forest. I managed an image of one of the blooms hanging onto a low branch of one of the trees. 

Chris and I took the dogs along part of the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail. I love walking off the streets and more into the foliage. Activity was everywhere especially squirrels. We saw one busy chipmunk along the walk. I had forgotten how well their coloring blends into the dry leaves. 

Today is a travel day. We return to Tequesta and say good-bye to Spring. It will be good to be home for a few weeks before we return.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Monday Musings - April 17, 2023

 

1. Welcome to the 3rd Monday of April. The month has churned past middle and is now waning. There are 36 Mondays remaining in 2023. 

2. Tax Day is tomorrow! Hopefully everyone has their taxes completed or an extension filed. 

Ethan's Brunch
Odenton, MD
April 16, 2023

3. Ethan's birthday celebration continued and concluded yesterday with a brunch and was later celebrated with another Orioles comeback win, this time in Chicago against the White Sox, 8-4. 

4. All five teams of the American League East are at .500 or better. That is pretty much where the division ended the season last year. The Orioles are in fourth place just a game behind the two teams tied for second place. 

Chris and the Dogs
Odenton, MD
April 16, 2023

5. Our time in Maryland is drawing to a close. We will be returning to Florida, and the much needed rain, tomorrow. I am sure that Riordin, our cat, will be happy to welcome us home. 

6. Chris seems to attract dogs when she eats. Here she is last evening attempting to eat dinner in piece. She has three dogs monitoring her every mouthful.

7. Today in History. With the world anxiously watching, Apollo 13, a U.S. lunar spacecraft that suffered a severe malfunction on its journey to the moon, safely returns to Earth on April 17, 1970.

On April 11, the third manned lunar landing mission was launched from Florida, carrying astronauts James A. Lovell, John L. Swigert and Fred W. Haise. The mission was headed for a landing on the Fra Mauro highlands of the moon. However, two days into the mission, disaster struck 200,000 miles from Earth when oxygen tank No. 2 blew up in the spacecraft. Swigert reported to mission control on Earth, “Houston, we’ve had a problem here,” and it was discovered that the normal supply of oxygen, electricity, light and water had been disrupted. 

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-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

I Love a Parade

 

GORC Spring Sports Parade
Odenton, MD
April 15, 2023

Before the drenching afternoon thunderstorms arrived yesterday to cancel most of the scheduled games, there was a parade to celebrate the beginning of the youth sports season in Odenton. The Gambrills-Odenton Recreation Council's (GORC) Annual Spring Sports Parade kicked off at 9 AM with police, a firetruck, and most importantly hundreds of youth sports enthusiasts. The day was gray and overcast, but spirits were high as this annual celebration of Springtime resumed after a three-year hiatus.

While all of the spring sports: baseball, soccer, flag football, lacrosse, and softball were represented, baseball was king with the most teams and most youth participating in the parade. In the image, the firetruck is at the head of the parade with the teams arrayed behind. On the left, in green, are the players of the Arundel High School baseball teams (Varsity and JV). As each of the GORC baseball teams passed by, two members of the Arundel High School Teams were added to the team for the parade. Most all of the Arundel High School baseball players began by learning the game on a GORC field and likely participated in this very parade when they were younger.

Jax (on the left in green) with the Pirates
Odenton, MD
April 15, 2023

Jax marched in the parade. He was inserted into one of the teams. He marched with one of the Pirates teams and it was a step back into time because for a couple years he was on a Pirates team learning the fundamentals of baseball. 

Having the high schoolers march with the younger players reminds them of their baseball beginnings. After the parade concluded in the sports complex, the high schoolers were given an hour to be on their own fields for practice. And it was not a short practice, running from 10:30 AM until 1:30 PM. Wow. 

And so with a bit of fanfare, a fire truck, and the expected Maryland Springtime thunderstorms the youth sports season got underway!

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD