Weekend Weather Woes

Gray and Overcast Weekend

We have been blessed this summer, so far, with fantastic weather weekends. Rain has fallen during the week and the clouds parted to provide a stunning and enjoyable weather weekend. 

This weekend the weather pattern was broken and, perhaps, that is why I noticed it. It has been a rainy and overcast weekend with some significant breaks in the clouds which still allow for outdoors activity.

So much for the outdoors projects--although I was able to get the lawn mowed during a break in the clouds. 

Cloudy and overcast weekends do allow for indoor projects to finally get completed. For instance, today I will be playing plumber and fixing a leak under the sink. Ugh! There is a reason that I do not like doing plumbing work! But it needs to be fixed. I have already heard that there might be some painting and electrical work that needs to be accomplished.

Even rainy weekends are not total washouts.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Frogs in the Pool

Northern Green Frog
(not in my pool)

Some mornings, especially after damp and rainy nights, I find many frogs who come to my pool for a visit. This morning there was what I believe was a record number of 11 frogs in my pool. Five living and six expired visitors.

Sadly, for many of the frogs who visit, it is their last swim in the warm waters. I dearly wish there was a frog repellent that could keep these small critters for wanting to take a swim in my pool.

Most of the frogs are northern green frogs, I thing, I never rally take that close a loo at them, but I try to rescue as many as possible although I do not know how long in it takes to receive a fatal dose in the chlorinated water of the pool.

It is a daily task--but we do it saving as many frogs as we can. I wonder how many of those saved return for a fatal swim.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Last Enola Gay Crew Member Dies

Enola Gay Landing at Tinian after Dropping Atomic Bomb

According to CBS News, Theodore VanKirk, also known as "Dutch," died Monday, July 28, 2014, of natural causes at the retirement home where he lived in Stone Mountain, Georgia, his son Tom VanKirk said. He was 93.

Why was this man significant? 

Theodore VanKirk was the navigator of the Enola Gay, the B-29 Superfortress aircraft that dropped "Little Boy" - the world's first atomic bomb - over the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. The bomb killed 140,000 in Hiroshima. VanKirk was 24 years old at the time of the mission. He was the last surviving crew member of the 12 men who flew the Enola Gay mission over Hiroshima that day.

Enola Gay on Display at the
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Theodore VanKirk was a hero. A man who was in a place in time and did his duty as he was asked to do. The discussions which have ensued in the 69 years since the bomb was dropped do not diminish what was done which saved millions of Japanese and American lives because an invasion of Japan was not required. The impact of the bombs dropped by his crew and the crew of the B-29, Bockscar, which dropped another atomic bomb on Nagasaki three days later, have so far spared the world from the destruction associated the use of these weapons of mass destruction in the decades since their first and only employment.

Thank you for your service and your life Theodore VanKirk.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Good-bye July

Today closes the chapter of the year called July.

Hay in the Fields of Oregon

It slipped by so quickly and was so full of activity that it is hard to believe that it is over and August is walking up the path to my door.  I wish that I could convince July to remain for a few more weeks. Already the cool breezes have been blowing as August waits impatiently for the calendar to turn. 

MiG-15 at the Udvar-Hazy Museum

Temperatures in the 50's, tying records for low temperatures seemingly ready to usher in a new Ice Age. I have not been able to enjoy the heat and humidity that I long for from July--and it is gone, just that quickly.

July was good. National celebrations to start the month with the promise of hot, sultry weather which never fully materialized. I visited my favorite museum and then traveled from coast to coast looking for Big Foot in the forests while standing behind a waterfall and

Behind a Waterfall in Oregon

enjoying the coolness of an Oregon summer day. And then there was the family celebration to which saw nearly the entire family gather for a few all too short days. 

It was at the sometime a busy and yet enjoyable month which passed too quickly. It was the perfect month, the trees around my house are in full leaf--and I know that as August arrives and then September that the canopy of green which surrounds me will only begin to thin and then disappear.

Good-bye July. Your memories are strong and your time was far too short.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Statistics and Baseball

Machado Coming Home after Walk Off Home Run

It should be no huge surprise that I attended an Orioles baseball game last evening. What may be a surprise is that I departed the game before it was complete in an effort to ensure I received enough rest to make it through today. I left the game at the end of the 10th inning with the score tied 6-6. I arrived home during the bottom of the 12th inning just in time to enjoy Manny Machado's walk off home run to win the game for the Orioles. The time was about 11:10 PM when he slugged the game winner--or 4 hours and 5 minutes after the game began.

I have begun to take an increased interest in the statistics of baseball lately. Baseball is rich in statistics and numbers and trends all of which would seem to be important, but it is important to remember that the game is still played by people and every at bat is a new event. For instance--When Machado came to the plate in the bottom of the 12 inning last evening, he was batting .268, or hitting about once for every four trips to the plate. He had never faced  the pitcher before, and so there were no statistics, but he had never hit a walk off home run in his career. It was Machado's 6th at bat for the night, and he already had 1 hit, so he was batting .200 for the game, which is close to his average. 

Based upon the statistics, I believe the probability of Machado hitting a walk off home run was near zero. And yet it happened.

In baseball, while statistics are valuable for explaining what happened in the past and which batter or pitcher is doing well or not; they are not definitive predictors of the future. Every at bat is a new event.

That is why the game is played on the field and not by a computer.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

USS Oregon, BB-3, Bulldog of the Navy

USS Oregon Tower

Walking around downtown Portland, along the river, I discovered some history with which I was unfamiliar. The story of the USS Oregon, BB-3.  

Turns out, the USS Oregon was one of the heroes of the Spanish American war when it sailed from California to Key West in 66 days--a record for the time. 

The ship was immediately pressed into action after war had been declared and was instrumental in the defeat of the Spanish Fleet. 

All that remains of this naval veteran is the main mast near the Portland Seawall with a small memorial. I was pleased to learn about the USS Oregon and its role in a war which usually begins with Remember the Maine and ends with Teddy Roosevelt and his Roughriders.

Only three ships have been named Oregon. The Battleship Oregon being the most recent. The battleship's nickname was Bulldog of the Navy!

And I found out about her in Portland. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - July 28, 2014

1. I knew that my vacation was over this morning when my alarm rang.

2. The things you want the most are sometimes the things you already have.

3. Last week at this time I was in Portland, Oregon. Wow, how things change.

4. The saddest part about a vacation is when it ends.

5. I know that I have been away from work for more than two weeks because I had to look up the date this morning--and I was glad I did because I was a day off.

6. I wish that violence in the world would take a vacation.

7. I had the opportunity to watch the movie "Real Steel" again over the weekend and I was reminded of what I believe is the best line from the movie: "Your secret is safe with me."

8. The month of July ends this week and we transition into August where summer dreams die and autumn winds begin to blow.

9. I have finally come to realize that July is my favorite month of the year!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

60th Anniversary Celebration

Mom and Dad

The family gathered together to celebrate a beginning. 

The event happened 60 years ago and from it has come a family. Four children, 10 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, and let's not forget the 9 spouses (of either children or grandchildren) who have been added to the clan.

Dinner

The official beginning was 60 years ago on a hot August summer day in Ithaca, NY. From the union of those two people, Mom and Dad, the family has grown to 30 people. On top of that, the group is spread across the country and living in 5 states (and that doesn't include the states of either confusion or chaos). Wow. It is something to consider. And to think that we were, with only a couple exceptions, gathered together in one place for the better part of a weekend is mind boggling. 

Still Crazy after 60 Years
Reenacting their Kiss after Eating Cake

It was a memorable event. It was a celebration and a great time. Memories were made and relationships rekindled.

Thanks to everyone who took part in the planning to make it happen. And thanks to everyone who carved out time to travel and participate.

It was memorable.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Anniversary or Reunion--A Celebration

The Gals

Sometimes we just need a good reason to get the entire clan together to reconnect and reestablish relationships and contacts.

This weekend would be that weekend--a celebration of 60 years of marriage creating a great reason for the entire family, with only very few exceptions, to gather.

The Guys

Last evening the partying really got underway, as the majority of the family had arrived, with a festive meal around the pool where the kids were playing and the "not kids" were taking and interacting.

Mom and Nicole

It was really great watching everyone interact during the day. 

The pool received a great workout. At one point I believe it would have been possible to walk across the pool on the floaties.  But the kids were having a lot of fun and I enjoyed watching them have fun. 

Kids in the Pool

Today promises to be an even more full day as the gathering expands to include a few who had not yet arrived yesterday. It should be more exciting than a three-ring circus. Exhaustion should ensue about nightfall.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Standing at the Vista House

Vista House in the Distance

There is a spot at the entrance of the Columbia Valley Gorge, Oregon,  where you actually get to stand and enjoy the grand view of the expansive valley below. It is called Vista House. 

From this location it is possible to look west towards Portland and east towards the deepest parts of the Columbia River Gorge. It is one of those natural beauty locations that made me pause and just enjoy the handiwork of God. 

Looking West towards Portland

The beauty of the views are stunning. I stood there for quite a while just enjoying the view, but since this was the beginning of the day, I had no clear idea of what was still ahead. 

Looking East into the Gorge

But even so, this was worth the price of admission.  Did I mention that it is free?  Just the time invested which is well worth the effort.

Chris with the Gorge behind her

Map of the Gorge

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD