My First Day of Spring Break

Every year, Chris and I plan a get away during Spring Break. For Chris, who works in a school, the week provides a much needed escape from the daily grind.

We we're supposed to be in Florida soaking up sun and walking the sandy beaches. 

Due to many flight cancellations on Thursday evening, we are hoping to get out on a flight today and start our early-Spring vacation a couple days late.

A Warm Beach that I Am Not On
Bahamas from 2016

So what did I do on my first day of Spring Break?

First off, I sojourned to Lowe's to get the supplies to replaced the innards of a noisy toilet.

Then, I finally got my tractor started amid a humorous and frustrating series of mishaps to get it out of the shed and into the garage for the necessary work. In the end, I couldn't push it up the yard and had to work on it in the cold 45 degree temperatures of the day. Who knew that tractors with soft tires could be so hard to push. I almost hooked a tow cable to it and towed it with my truck, but that seemed to be a bit excessive.

But, with a little work and tinkering the tractor started and I mowed, yes, mowed, the lawn. I was freezing mowing the lawn in 45 degree temperatures--but the thoughts of soon being on a warm beach kept me warm (in my mind).

I definitely was not relaxing on a beach for my first day of vacation.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

I'm Not In Florida

I was supposed to wake up this morning in Florida surrounded by palm trees and 80 degree temperatures.

Due to the rough weather along the East Coast yesterday, I am at home superfine through 40 degree temperatures and will not be leaving for Florida until tomorrow!  Ugh!

Travel was catastrophe yesterday. 

First the flight was delayed three hours. OK--no big deal. But then, it was canceled! And we HAD to go to the airport to try to get rescheduled--for Saturday!

Well, it is Spring Break and everyone who can is trying to escape to Florida, it seems.

We met some nice people, especially the couple trying to return home to the West Palm Beach area after living in Australia for the past three years. They were really in a mess because their dog was being delivered to their house today! They needed to be home. I hope they made it.

I hope we make it tomorrow!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Loss of Privacy

Soon, I expect many more ads to start appearing on my computer because Internet privacy has been repealed. 

My service providers are going to begin selling my browsing history to make a buck.

I feel as if my privacy is being invaded. 

It is like people can rummage through my personal mail and then sell lists of whom I receive mail from to advertisers.

It is wrong. 

I'm thinking about a VPN to try to keep at least some privacy. Big corporations do not need to know when I am planning to go on vacation--that becomes a security issue because I plan all of my trips on line. Cruises, get-aways and the like.

Even my car repairs and home repairs are subjects of internet searches. Also, all of my medical doctors now have web services that I use to schedule appointments and renew prescriptions. Do I really need big business to know these types of personal things?

No.

Just like I do not like having my USPS mail examined.

My Take: What happened to the idea of privacy?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

As the Day Ends

The Setting Sun Illuminating the Tree Tops

Despite all of its hectic abuses of my time, I enjoy the ability to sit around a fire pit and reflect on the day as the sun sets.

Sometimes I am rewarded with a stunning sunset, but more often it is just the slow fading of the light into darkness that signals day's end. 

The Moon with the Setting Sun
on the Tree Branches

Last evening marked the first day of the year where I changed into shorts and a tee shirt from my normal work clothes upon arriving home. It was a novelty and I enjoyed sitting around, chatting while clothed in my normal summertime garb. The temperature topped out at just shot of 80 degrees yesterday. I remembered how much I enjoy the warmer temperatures.

The clear sky last evening added to the enjoyment. It was warm and clear. 

Another day and another fantastic ending.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Opening Day Ends in Celebration

Patrick Walking Towards OPACY for the Game

The Crowd on Eutaw Street

Of course today is going to be about the Orioles Opening Day. Patrick and I invested about seven hours in the festivities and the game--and were not disappointed.

Pre-game Festivities and the Orange Carpet Run

The game was both long and exciting. We were at OPACY with over 45,000 of our new best friends for the 11 inning, 3 hour and 41 minute contest in which only 5 total runs scored on 20 hits. Eleven pitchers were used during the game.  The weather was OK for early April with temperatures in the mid-60's, but overcast with the threat of rain as the game moved into extra innings. 

The Skyline from my Seat

Most importantly, however, was that the Orioles put a 1 in the WIN column and sitting at 1-0 for the season are tied for the American League (AL) East lead. Yes, it is only one game, but I am hopeful that the Orioles will be in the AL East lead for more of the season and especially at the end of the season during October.

After the Walk-off Homer in the 11th Inning for the Win

The game was exciting and I was impressed with both teams desire to win. At one point the Orioles had 5 hits in the game and four of them were doubles! They ended the game with 9 hits and of that four were doubles and then there was one home run, the game winning walk-off dinger by Trumbo!

Final score: 3-2 Orioles! The game had been tied 2-2 since the 6th inning.

There is really almost nothing more exciting in all of baseball than winning a game via the walk-off home run! The hardest part of the play, and especially on Opening Day, is making sure the batter actually gets to touch home plate before the ensuing mob of players express their enthusiasm for the dramatic victory. 

It was a great day at the park. There are still 161 games remaining in the season and 80 of them are home games!

Let's Go O's!!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - April 3, 2017

Jim on Hole 13 at Patuxent Greens
April 2, 2017

1. April has arrived and outdoor life is resuming its pre-winter pace.


2. Today is Orioles Opening Day! Guess where I am planning to be for the game. Here's hoping for a win!

3. I did enjoy a game of golf yesterday. I didn't play very well, but I enjoyed getting out for a round at Patuxent Greens.

4. It is tax season! Are yours done, yet?

5. I hate tax season, it is the most depressing time of the year. Just saying.

6. On one hole yesterday, a goose was keeping a close watch on my activities.

Headlines

7. Trump ready to 'solve' North Korea problem without China - BBC News

8. Leopard briefly shuts down Nepal’s only international airport - Indian Express

9. Venezuela is Becoming a Failed State - New York Post

Quote of the Day

"Thomas Jefferson was no reactionary, he was a true progressive when he warned, the only safe depository of the ultimate powers of society are with the people themselves. The 10th amendment tells us the Federal Government will do only those things called for in the Constitution, and all others shall remain with the States or with the people."

Ronald Reagan

Remarks at the Annual Meeting of the United States Chamber of Commerce, April 26, 1982

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Saturday Workday

The first reasonably nice weekend of the Spring and coincidentally of the the month provided the opportunity for a work day around the house.

Lucas with the Ball

The leaves that winter's winds had blown into the yard and along the fences needed to be removed to allow for the grass to spring up and fill in the bare sport. There actually were a lot of leaves to move and that they were heavy from the past few days of rain added some weight to the operation. 

Lucas Takes a Shot

Chris and I labored outside for a number of hours on the leaves and and also set up our pool deck, although pool opening day is still about a month away. The blossoms are coming on many of our flowering trees. The weeping cherry is visible near the shed in the picture of Lucas with the ball. 

There was time for some fun along the way. Jeremy and Lucas happened by for a visit and there may have been some basketball played in the driveway. My truck, as usual, served as a partite backstop, ugh. Chris managed one shot which saw the ball hit my truck on three separate occasions. 

It was a busy and enjoyable day outside. As the Springtime continues, there are sure to be many more outdoor days! 

Sunscreen! We forgot the sunscreen!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

It's April

April showers bring May flowers.

The official first full month of Spring has arrived. 

It is April Fool's Day! 

Weeping Cherry in My Yard

I have been impressed with the recovery of the blooming trees after the frigid weather interrupted their explosion of color for a couple of weeks. 

But the flowers are back and springtime is progressing once again.

The green is back and I have seen leaves on some of the trees in the forests which line the highway that I drive to work. 

Don't be an April Fool--but get out and enjoy the day. 

It is April, after all. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Racing through the Week

If I had thought that the pace of life was going to slow down with the arrival of Spring, I was mistaken.

It seems as if things have roared off the launch pad at near supersonic speed this week.

After an great Sunday which saw a relatively leisurely trip to Annapolis to watch Ethan's basketball game, things have really moved out.

Monday after work was baseball practice, followed by Tuesday's racquetball league. Wednesday brought another baseball practice and Thursday was a great evening at home joined by friends. Friday will be a huge birthday celebration, Saturday more baseball practice, and on Sunday I have an early morning tee time staring at a temperature expected to be about 40 degrees. After a break on Monday for Orioles Opening Day, the week will pretty much repeat!

Sometime during the weekend, I need to get my tractor started and possibly even do the inaugural mowing of the year!

Spring break is coming and I will be taking some time off to spend with Chris during the ramp up to Easter and so I know there will soon be a break in the action.

Pool opening day is drawing close as well!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

This is Making America Great, Again?

Smoggy Afternoon in Beijing

Consider this: China may be pushing the united States to keep its promises to ensure a cleaner environment.

Sound fanciful? 

I have read about the suffocating air pollution in Beijing and the general disregard for the environment through out industrialized China. But in the united states we are different and more environment friendly.

Wrong, it appears. 

This morning's New York Times in an article titled, China Poised to Take Lead on Climate After Trump's Move to Undo Policies suggests that the roles of the world's two biggest producers of greenhouse gasses may soon switch. 

The New York Times article closes with the following:

“There are clear differences between the Chinese approach and the Trump administration on climate change,” Ms. Hilton said. “While Trump’s administration seems to believe that action on climate change is a waste of money and threatens jobs in the U.S., China sees investment in climate-related action as essential to secure a safe and prosperous future for Chinese citizens, as well as a strategic opportunity to develop and supply the technologies of the future.” 

Note: Isabel Hilton, founder of Chinadialogue, a prominent website that reports on environmental issues and policy.

In my mind, making America Great Again means taking the lead on planet-wide issues that will affect the health and prosperity of future generations, not increasing the country's use of 19th Century energy sources that, I have heard, caused the streetlights of come on at midday in some coal burning cities like Pittsburgh. 

Climate change and especially global warming is not a theory--it is a fact. If the U.S. turns back the clock on environmental controls the green movement will soon change colors and fade to brown.

Making America great means leading the charge to protect the planet and make the world a better place, not mortgaging the prosperity and health of future generations for profits today. 

I guess that is what businessmen do, right? Work the system to turn a profit today and worry about tomorrow some other time. After all, they are only in the game for the short haul.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD