Last Regular Season Game of the Year

OPACY September 19, 2014

A trip to the Orioles Park at Camden Yards (OPACY) to attend my final scheduled game of the season is usually filled with sadness as the realization that autumn has arrived and the baseball season is coming to a close hits me with the reality of a baseball bat swatting a grand slam over the fence. Walking to the stadium in the waning light of day as the rays grew long and cast a golden hue across the land the scene was almost surreal. 

But, even though the Orioles lost last night AND it was my last home game of the regular season--I was excited because I know that this year there will be post-season baseball. 

As the MLB American League East Division Champions, there will be October baseball. Hopes abound for a World Series crown--but being a fan for one of the ten teams which will be in the post-season and only one of eight teams which will be playing October baseball makes it all that much more fun. 

It has been a long campaign from Spring Training in Sarasota, Florida, and after 153 regular season games of the 162 game season, only four teams in all of baseball have punched their tickets to the post-season and only three of those have clinched their division. With nine games to play there are still six invitations to the post-season outstanding! 

Having some fun with a hat I should have bought

For their part, the Orioles have a chance to end the season with the best record in all of baseball and assure themselves of home field advantage throughout the playoffs. But first things first, they need to secure home field advantage for the first round of the playoffs by winning three more of the nine games remaining. Those can be combined with Detroit losses to help--but they need to win three more games than the Angels to secure home field for the playoffs. It is complicated--but in a good way. The Orioles are not fighting for a spot, not they are battling for a better seed in the playoffs.

It is magical for diehard Orioles baseball fans like myself. It was grand being at the stadium last night not worried about how the team that shall remain nameless from up north was doing--it doesn't matter anymore. 

The fireworks display after the game was a medley of music and explosions and at one point they played Orioles Magic followed by We Won't Stop--the Orioles theme songs. 

Here comes the post-season--are you ready for Orioles from Birdland? Be afraid, be very afraid! The World Series is in sight!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

O's on the Toes!

O's toes

The American League East Champion Orioles have brought swagger back to Baltimore baseball! Winning the toughest division in baseball for the first time in 17 years will do that for a city.

And crazy things are happening. 

Like in the manicure shops where O's are being painted on toes.

Yes, I wrote that. O's on the toes!

In preparation for attending the first game of the final home series of the regular season tonight against Boston, Chris had her toes painted. Unfortunately, she had a hard time explaining to the service professionals at the nail salon exactly what she was looking for and it didn't come out exactly right.

I think they are cute!

And very personal. Far more temporary than the tattoo I was thinking about. I wasn't seriously thinking about getting a tattoo--but . . . 

A World Series ring might change the math on a tattoo.

I believe this city is going to go even more crazy as the playoffs arrive. And I am going to be part of it.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Riordin in a Wreath

Riordin in the Wreath

Why do we have animals? 

Because our children are grown and they make us smile when they do crazy stuff. Grandchildren do crazy things too, but they aren't around near as much as animals.

Enter Riordin.

Yup, the cat that came back and the undisputed king of the castle. 

The other night we received a nice gift of a wreath for our door. Riordin saw it laying in the counter and determined it to be his personal space.

Riordin Relaxing

It was pretty funny--of course being a cat, the humor was lost upon him. But, we laughed and photographed his antics. 

He makes us laugh.

Belly laugh!

That is why we have animals.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Day at the Pentagon

I had the opportunity to spend most of yesterday at the Pentagon. Because I was there for the whole day, I was able to explore more of the venerable old building than I have been able to do on my many other visits. 

I was able to visit the America Hero's Memorial to the 184 men, women, and children who died in the attack on September 11, 2001. It was sobering to stand at the precise location where American Airlines Flight 77 impacted the Pentagon on that September morning.

It was an emotional moment for me to stand there and think about that day. Although I was out of the country, the memory of the fear and the realization of the complexity of the attack washed over me as I remembered those who could not be with us today.

I wonder if we have begun to forget that day and our call to duty that the memory is those who perished at the Pentagon, in the field in Pennsylvania, and in the World Trade Center calls us to remember. The memorials seemed more subdued this year on 9-11.

The new threat in the world is ISIL (a/k/a ISIS and IS). They are the new players on the stage of worldwide terrorism and oppression that needs to be stopped. I believe that if anyone thinks that terrorism will ever be defeated, they are living in a dream world. There will always be those who desire anarchy and chaos and support death and the destruction of the mechanisms of society that result in culture, peace, and prosperity.

We must never forget and we must never rest in our quest to rid the world of those who foment terror and chaos!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

AL East Champions!

The Baltimore Orioles win the American League East Division on September 16, 2014!

The first Division crown in 17 years!

The team, the city, the game!

This team is about baseball as a team sport.

Who is the hero?

Every one of them and the fans.

Next stop--the playoffs!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Five Days in September

Glasses in Waiting at my Place for the Wine Dinner

Life has been very busy since the middle of last week. Last evening was the final scheduled event of an extremely busy set that began Thursday evening at the Ravens game, continued Friday with an Orioles game, was planned to include fireworks for the Star Spangled Spectacular on Saturday, a visit to the theater on Sunday evening and closed out with friends in Frederick, Maryland, last evening for a Wine Dinner featuring wines from the Willamette Valley Vineyard. Check my wine blog Wine4YourLife for a review later of the wine dinner later in the week. 

Busy does not even begin to describe the past five days of events--and they were extremely diverse events.

Nine holes of golf and a youth football game were interspersed in that schedule as well.

Wow!

And I my not be done yet! I am going to see about going to the Orioles game tonight because they can clinch the division with a win. They won't be the first team this season to clinch a playoff berth, but they would be the first to clinch a division this season. 

And the pace continues!

But, hey, it is what makes life full and interesting.

OK--I think I need a break to veggie out and watch a sappy movie or something. Oh, wait, the pool needs to be closed for the season.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - September 15, 2014

1. Magic numbers are the latest rage in Baltimore. What I find interesting is that a magic number is an elimination number viewed from the other direction. Today, the Orioles Magic Number is 3. They could clinch the MLB American Division East as early as tomorrow!

2. I stretched myself last evening and attended a musical at the Hippodrome Theater. The musical was Once--and while the music was good, the acoustics in the Hippodrome really impeded my enjoyment of the show.

3. Given the low temperatures, there is a very real prospect that the pool will be closed for the season this weekend. Evening temperatures are falling into the 40's--meaning the water is getting too cool to swim.

4. My propane company called me to tell me that they can no longer service my propane tanks used to heat the pool because their new trucks do not have hoses long enough. Really? What gives with that? I wish there was natural gas in my area.

5. Golf can be addicting if not monitored. Now I have practice balls and are whacking them and losing them in my yard. 

6. It was an interesting football weekend. I'm just happy my team played on Thursday and I could watch the Red Zone Channel to stay up on all of the games.

7. Found this in history: On this day in 1978, boxer Muhammad Ali defeats Leon Spinks at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans to win the world heavyweight boxing title for the third time in his career, the first fighter ever to do so. 

8. September 14, 1814--the morning that Francis Scott Key was aboard a British ship in Baltimore Harbor seeing the American Flag flying after a night of heavy bombardment against Fort McHenry. He penned the Star Spangled Banner. Happy 200th to our National Anthem.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Disappointing Trip to a Golf Store

I made my first ever trip to a golf store yesterday after playing an afternoon round of golf.

Blue Angels over Baltimore

The golf was great--since there was rain and it was the afternoon, we had the course to ourselves. It was truly awesome. If only my game was nearly as awesome. 

During our golf outing, we were treated to a performance by the Blue Angels. I am very happy that they are on our side! The roar of the jets brought back very fond memories.

The truth is--I am not much of a golfer. Not much at all. I am still learning the game which is far more complex than I ever imagined it to be.

Even so, I was really disappointed in golf store. Frankly, I felt very discriminated against. 

More blue Angels

Yes, I really wrote that!

I am left handed and apparently, left handed people do not golf. I was looking at racks and racks of really expensive clubs--just because I was amazed at the prices, and then I noticed that there was not a single left handed club in the displays. In fact, I had to ask where the left handed clubs were displayed and was informed that they were in the corner along the wall. There was not nearly the selection that right handed people had. There were row after rows of clubs of all kinds and prices for right handed people. There were fewer than 15 different and much lesser clubs for lefties.

My question was, Why aren't the left handed clubs integrated into the displays with the right handed clubs? If I want to check out a really nice club by a well known maker, why do I have to go elsewhere in the store--which, by the way was as far from the fitting area as possible. And I also noticed that the areas used for swinging and fitting clubs were set for right handed people and did not appear easily configurable for lefties, like me.

Then I went looking for a glove--same story. Three aisles of gloves for right handed people. A small area of about 12 gloves for lefties.

What gives? 

The situation is just wrong!

The store was Golf Galaxy and from what I saw it was less of a galaxy and more of a sand box. 

Do golfers really that discriminate against lefties? Thank goodness that racquetball is a hand agnostic sport.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Fan Says Good-bye

Beautiful Friday Evening Orioles Game
September 12, 2014

Last evening while I was attending the Orioles game against the team that shall remain nameless from up north, I had the opportunity to watch and appreciate the career of a great baseball player participating in his final regular season series in Baltimore.

Derek Jeter at the Plate during an
Orioles Game
September 12, 2014

I have never liked it when Derek Jeter came to the plate during his career which began much the same time I arrived in Baltimore and became an Orioles fan. I have watched him play and cringed when he stood at the plate during a critical game situation. Despite the fact that he played for "the other guys," I cannot deny he has had a great career and been a classy, complete competitor who has avoided the scandals and drug allegations which have felled so many of his contemporaries. 

Derek Jeter was a class act among too many other baseball players who succumbed to the lure of performance enhancing drugs which will forever tarnish their participation in the sport and the records they possesses. Coincidentally, it was on a night when Orioles fans were reeling from a suspension announcement for one of our own whose career will also likely be similarly tarnished.

By the way--just saying, but I will always remember the final time I saw Jeter play that his team was swept in a by the Orioles in a doubleheader for the first time since September 24, 1984! Yes, it has been 30 years since the the Orioles swept a doubleheader from the team from up north. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Football Season Gets Personal

Baltimore from M&T Bank Stadium

The young NFL season entered its second week last night with the Ravens hosting their arch rivals, the Steelers, at M&T Bank Stadium near the heart of Baltimore.

I was there. 

The weather, although thunderstorms were predicted, was warm and very pleasant. It was a huge contrast to the game I attended last Thanksgiving where temperatures hovered just above freezing. Football is much more enjoyable in summer-like conditions.

I was impressed by the view from the stadium looking out across the sea of parked cars in the parking lot. Baltimore is a beautiful city and even more so at night.

Ravens-Steelers, September 11, 2014

But, the main event was in the stadium--the game. The fans, the food, the drinks, and the sport against the backdrop of the media circus revolving around the League's handling of the Ray Rice affair.

The game went on--and the Ravens overcame a stunning loss on Sunday against the Bengals to win handily 26-6. Almost everyone I talked to before the game was convinced that it would be a blow out--we just didn't know which team would be the winner given all of the distractions. 

The Stadium from the Parking Lot while Tailgating

My own personal observation found the Ravens fans much more subdued than the game I attended last year. The vile comments aimed at Steeler's fans, and Jeremy who accompanied me in his Steelers jersey, were far fewer than last Thanksgiving. I noted the mood during the tailgating preceding the game and it continued into the stadium for the game. It made attending the game much more enjoyable.

And the Ravens are in the win column! 

Tonight? Baseball of course as the team which shall remain nameless from the north comes to Baltimore for a doubleheader.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sleeping with the Windows Open

Looking for the silver lining in the autumnal weather which has decided upon us, I have found one. It is cool and dry enough to sleep with the windows open and the air conditioning off.

I am sleeping great!

No residual fan noise or cold air conditioned breeze blowing on me as I try to sleep. 

The sound of the evening critters helps me sleep.

Last evening I was enjoying the sound of the cicadas in the trees, I know they will soon be gone as the trees lose their leaves and the autumn deepens into the Halloween season. But for now, I enjoy their songs enjoying the still warm evenings before the cold descends.

I do enjoy this part of the season--fully loaded up on allergy medicine and enjoying the cool evenings and the sounds of the critters as summer begins transitioning into autumn.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

To Protect and Serve? Wake-up Call on Illegal Police Seizures

I had the opportunity to read the Washington Post yesterday and was appalled by one of the articles I read. It was, in short, about rampant abuse of power by local police departments against citizens who are largely unaware of their rights and who, believing they had done nothing wrong, had allowed police to conduct unwarranted searched of their vehicles.

The Bible is pretty clear--the love of money is the root of all evil (1Tim 6:10)--and this story demonstrates how law abiding citizens can become ensnared in over zealous law enforcement activities and lose their livelihoods and hopes for the future.

The article was part of a three story series in the Post showing how the police are targeting cash. At the heart of the problem is the Civil Asset Forfeiture Act which allows local law enforcement to keep part of the money they confiscate which is believed to be associated with drug activity. One of the articles titled, Stop and Seize describes the process pretty well. 

A blog, called Reason, also provides a view of this practice. 

While most of us do not carry thousands of dollars around--there are people in our society who do not believe in the cashless approach to personal economics. Apparently there is evidence to suggest that the police are identifying and targeting those who probably are in a cash only place in their lives. This is wholly unfair.

I read the article about how lives are wrecked by over zealous police who confiscate cash with no evidence--just a feeling. And, it costs people thousands to defend themselves and get their money returned. That is wrong.

We need to clean up our police forces--especially in the wake of Ferguson  MO--it is time to remember the motto that I grew up feeling about police: "To Protect and Serve!"

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Last Pool Day of the Season

Jake, Ethan, Jax in the pool

Saturday the temperature went over 90 degrees and after a week of summertime weather I managed some time in my pool. I lounged there for a bit enjoying the hot sun and the warmth of its rays.

Since then, the weather has turned cooler--distinctly autumnal! The leaves are falling in greater numbers although the autumn color has not fully begun to grace the trees. But they are making a mess of the pool as the water temperature begins to fall in sympathy with the cooling weather.

I have great memories of the summer and the pool. Family gatherings always seem better around a pool. 

I had hoped to swim into late September--but it is not to be this year I fear. The coolness and the increasing number of leaves are convincing me that I need to begin the process of closing up the summertime fun and prepare for the dark, cold days ahead.. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
#Ilovemypool #family

Monday Musings - September 8, 2014

1. Technically, the season is still summer. I have heard too many people speaking of autumn breezes lately.

2. The NFL season is officially underway, based upon week one results, I am happy the the Orioles are still playing.

Jax on the Bench near the end of the game

3. I went to a youth football game yesterday--Jax was playing in his first organized tackle game. I discovered that this is where football is real. 

4. For those of us old enough to remember, it was on the date in 1974 that President Gerald Ford pardoned disgraced former President Richard Nixon for any crimes committed during his time in office. 

5. There is something comforting about having my dog, Makayla, laying at my feet. Not only that, but she is warm, too!

6. An impromptu dinner out, a horrific rainstorm which left me drenched, and time with family are an interesting way to spend an evening. Thanks P&T.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Walking the Course

Looking to the 9th Green at
Carroll Park Golf Course

I am still trying to understand my newfound interest in golf. 

For now the fourth week in a row, I have played golf on a Sunday morning. My lifetime golf experience now stands at 65 holes and somewhere around two dozen lost balls.

I am finding that golf is a strategic game and that the occasional good shot I make keeps me interested enough to keep trying. I am a morning person and walking a golf course in the morning just after dawn is a lot of fun. 

I love watching the dew dry from the grass and hear the sounds of the world as it wakes. 

And hitting the "small" ball, as I have heard it called, takes a lot of skill and concentration. And luck! Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good. 

I am still learning and with every outing I am learning more about the clubs and how to hit them. Ugh! There is so much to learn.

But walking the course on a quiet morning with the guys is a great way to start a day.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Snow Shovel by the Front Door

Snow Shovel by the Front Door with me in
an Aloha Shirt and Shorts in the
reflection

I was given some good advice from a friend yesterday. 

He imparted some wisdom in an effort to ease my obvious dread of the oncoming dark season and winter. His advice helps me to keep it all in perspective and makes the impending season seem further away.

It was a simple idea--but I like it.

He said that I should get my snow shovel and place it next to the front door. Then, I should touch it every morning on my way out and be happy not to have to use it that day.

How sage is that wisdom?

Thanks, Dick!

You have brightened a darkening corner of the year with a ray of brightness and hope.

A snow shovel not used--is a day that much better!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

September Morning

Now that September has arrived, it seems that summer has decided it had been sleeping on the job. Isn't it funny how September is thought of as more autumn than summer even though it has more summer days?

The temperatures have been warmer--high 80's and even over or almost 90 degrees. Wow! What a change from the cold August nights.

Baseball is heating up as the season enters its final weeks and the hopes of Orioles fans are surging as our team apparently has regained its 1983 form. I am excited to already have post-season tickets to some of the games we hope to host with the prospect of buying more as the reality hopefully arrives.

The warmer temperatures have been welcome. I enjoy them and relish their persistence into next weeks and even until the end of the month. Some of the trees in my yard have already begun to lose their leaves which increases the amount of time I spend on pool maintenance. 

But the pool is warm. That written, my propane company called the other day to inform me that they no longer have a truck with a hose long enough to reach my propane tanks. How did that happen? So I need to pay to move my tanks. Maybe I'll change my propane company. Sadly, there is no natural gas in the neighborhood.

Every September morning that dawns with warm temperatures and the promise of a hot day is a great day. The cool/cold autumn days will be here too soon. And then winter.

Thanks September for giving us the warmth and taste of summer that was missing.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Places not to Vacation in the world

Bonaire: Exotic Vacation Location

Vacations, especially international ones, are exciting but require planning.

Next year Chris and I  are thinking of heading off an exotic place to jointly celebrate birthdays and our anniversary. I was informed that Key West is not exotic!

But where to go? We thought of the Holy Land--but there is a scary war going on there. Nothing like vacationing on the front lines of a  conflict that has been in progress for millenniums. Probably not for us.

Then we thought of all of the other places currently embroiled in war and conflict: 

1. Ukraine-Russia, fortunately not one of our desired destinations. 

2. Syria-Iraq: Again, not on the vacation list

3. Afghanistan: Definitely not going there for a vacation. 

And there are a lot more. I ran across an interesting website: Wars in Progress which follows the strife around the world. The site lists 32 countries engaged in wars or armed conflict. Who knew that Uganda and Turkey were on the list?

An observation--with the exception of the United States being listed for the War on Terrorism, none of the countries listed were in the Western Hemisphere. I think someone must have missed the War on Drugs and the deaths associated with it in Mexico.

After looking at the list, some great destinations still remain free of war an conflict: Australia, Italy, Greece, the Caribbean, Belize, and Costa Rica. I have also heard the Croatia is nice this time of year. 

Well at least the list is narrowed. Now let the planning begin. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Baseball, Rain and Late Nights

Boog's Barbecue at Orioles Park

I had tickets for the Orioles baseball game last evening against the Cincinnati Reds. And I went, despite the dire weather forecast for thunderstorms and rain.

It rained! A lot. 

The game was delayed because of the rain and lightening. 

I enjoyed going to the park and eating dinner at Boog's. Even the walk to and from the stadium was enjoyable. But, because I work and get up early, I could not stay for the restart of the game--I saw two batters, but I enjoyed the experience.

I was reminded that during the 1970's two of the best teams in baseball were the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles defeated the Reds in 1970 to win the World Series, but during the decade it seems that either the Reds or the Orioles were consistently in the World Series when the season ended.

Sun from Behind a Cloud

I wish that baseball could be played earlier in the day. I love mid-day baseball. With the two hour rain delay, the game ended somewhere after midnight--which is just too late on a weeknight. 

While I was waiting for the game to begin, I saw a bright beam of light coming out from behind a cloud--it was unique and I snapped a quick image of it to share. 

A bright spot in an otherwise dark and rainy evening.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Back to Work after the Holiday

Sunrise over the Atlantic from Ocean City

The holiday weekend is over, but the memories remain of getting away and enjoying time at the beach and even getting in 18 holes of golf.

Sometimes I wonder why weekends have to end. I guess it is so that I appreciate them more when they come around again.

Looking out over the Atlantic Ocean on a the first morning of September yesterday was a great way to begin the new month. Even if the month is the last month of summer, I have learned how to appreciate being where I am at the time. 

I have to be careful not to be the kid who is unhappy riding a roller coaster at the amusement park because the day is coming to an end.

Every day is like the roller coaster ride and tomorrow will come soon enough without hastening its arrival.

Today is full enough of joys or sorrows that need to be experienced. 

Carpe Diem.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - September 1, 2014

1. Happy Labor Day! Wow, it's early this year. 

2. Summer is not over--it is just a that Labor Day is today, summer does not end until much later in September.

3. Holiday weekends are the best.

Life on the Beach

4. I have played golf three Sunday's in a row--I'm not sure what that means. I certainly am not that good. But, I know a lot about what I am doing wrong--like even being on the course most of the time.

5. Four days at the beach. What could be better? Oh, yea, living at the beach. 

6. I have not flown a kite in years. It is a lot of fun to fly kites at the beach where the wind is constant. But, as I remember from long ago, reeling in a kite is not nearly as much fun as letting it out to fly on the breeze. 

7. Enjoy your day. Drive safe from wherever you are, and if you are home--be happy.

--Bob Doan, writing from Ocean City, Maryland

Boy Eating Chair

Jax Folded in the Chair

I heard the weak cry for help across the room and out on the balcony. There was no panic, just a recurring call for, "Help."

I quickly scanned the area and didn't find anything too seriously out of place--until I realized that the chair folded against the balcony railing had moments before contained Jackson.

It was then that I realized that Jax was trapped in the boy eating chair with no hope of escape.

Jax in the Chair

Fortunately he was pretty good natured about it and allow a few pictures to be taken before he was released. After all, it was pretty funny. 

No panic, just frustration at being the unwelcome center of attention was setting in. 

But it made for a few laughs and some good natured ribbing. 

And then--he was freed.

I don't think he sat in the chair again.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ocean City, Maryland

Birds on the Beach

Birds on Ocean City, MD Beach

Watching birds on the beach provides a great diversion. And the birds at Ocean City, Maryland, certainly deserve watching.  Close watching!

I had a great time watching the birds on the beach yesterday. They were everywhere and they were keeping a close watch on us as we were relaxing in the sunshine and listening to the waves crash onto the beach. 

One seagull in particular, deserved to be watched carefully. He had a unique personality and was not afraid to be relatively close to where we had set up on the beach.

He was fun to watch. So much fun, in fact, that I took a video of his efforts to arrange our sunbathing blanket for his own purposes. 

He provided a great diversion and was one of the most interesting things to watch until the beach got so crowded that the birds relocated elsewhere.

Beware the Ocean City seagulls!

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ocean City, Maryland

Labor Day Weekend a Day Early

View from the Balcony at the Condo

This has truly been a weird summer for me. Until last night, I had not had my toes in an ocean on a beach. That is rare for me, I think of myself as the original beach bum and love being on a beach.

I had stood on a mountain overlooking the Pacific Ocean during July--but never made it to the beach to put my toes in the water. 

Yes, I am thinking of the Zach Brown Band song Toes.  

I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand

Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand

Life is good today. Life is good today.

Starting a holiday weekend a day early is something that I have not done in a long while.  Beating the traffic and arriving a day early was a good move because this morning, instead of waking up an going to work waiting for the day to end early and then heading out on the too narrow ribbon of highway to the ocean with thousands of my new best friends, I am already here sitting on the balcony of the condo looking at the ocean. 

And--well, my toes have already been in the water and they have been in the sand too.

Life is good today!

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ocean City, MD

Today? Tomorrow? December?

Last Winter

I have to admit--I have been a little low lately thinking about the impending end to summer and the on set of the dark days.

These thoughts have been keeping me from enjoying the final days of summer and the resurgence of the warmth that has mostly been lacking.

I saw a weather report for this summer that indicated that while the normal number of days with temperatures 90 degrees or more to this date on average are 22, this summer there have been only 10 and none since July 23rd. 

Bring on the summer. I need to be in the moment and not thinking about the rotten, cold, dark, snowy weather that is looming on the horizon.

Jax on a Floatie

Last evening, I was on a floatie in the pool! Yes the pool. Enjoying the warmth of the afternoon thinking how great it was that summer was still in control of the weather. 

Today and tomorrow I will enjoy the summer. I will enjoy each day for what it is and when December comes, all too soon, I will smile as I face the snow and cold and think about July and fireworks, heat, and the pool. It is all a big circle.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

59 Years to Retirement

Yesterday, we celebrated the career of one of senior members of the organization for which I work. He has posted 59 years of Federal service and 55 years of working for the agency.

I can hardly imagine working for 59 years in the same profession.

Think about it. 59 years ago ballistic missiles were still much like the German V-2 rockets. Space was still not explored--it was about 57 years ago (October 1957) that the Russians orbited Sputnik.

Consider some things about 1955.

Cell phones? They were imaginary items in the Dick Tracey cartoons.

Microwaves? Really? HF was the best for radios. Nobody was cooking with them.

Man on the moon was a Flash Gordon Saturday afternoon movie. 

Color TV? Was a dream.

Computers? Very rudimentary room sized mechanical and vacuum tube affairs.

I was thinking of all of the things we use routinely today that didn't exist in 1955 when he joined the Air Force. Wow. 

I guess the biggest fear of retirement is missing all of the exciting things that have happened since he has been working. 

And now--he is on to the next chapter of life. I hope to be there in the not too distant future. Writing the next chapter of life day-by-day, but still remembering and amazed by all that has happened since I have been a working-age adult.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

As Evening Falls

Watching the home improvement shows on HGTV always provides ideas for creating improved living spaces. Around the the house, Chris and I have created an outdoor living space that we truly enjoy being in when the weather allows. 

This summer, the weather has really allowed us to enjoy being outside for not only cooking and eating, but relaxing together around the pool. Now, as evening comes more quickly each evening, we are still spending time outside in the space we have created. 

It is amazing what lights--when creatively applied can do to drive off the impending darkness and help us hold onto the last bit of summer as the autumn breezes begin to foreshadow the dark days ahead.

At least for a couple more months, we will continue to enjoy our haven before the temperatures finally drive us back inside to weather the storms of winter.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - August 25, 2014

1. The last week of August has arrived. This week ends with Labor Day and a planned trip to the beach to allow me to put my toes in the water and butt in the sand.

Jeremy in the Golf Cart on a
Beautiful Sunday Morning

2. I played golf again yesterday. I'm thinking there isn't a much better way to start the day than whacking at a little ball with a club and and talking to my son for over two hours while walking in the morning light as the day dawns. 

3. A couple of small projects on a rainy Saturday helps to keep everything in perspective.

4. I don't understand the news media creation of a story around the President's vacation. President's never vacation. The country isn't being run by the Vice President--the President is still running the country. There is enough real news out there to report, let's stop making up stories.

5. Three boys, a sunny afternoon, and a pool. Nothing but fun.

6. I sat outside the other evening and just etched into my mind the view of the trees around my yard in full leaf. As the summer drawns down, I know that the leaves will soon fall and the privacy we enjoy will be gone.

7. I wonder how many brown bats live near us--we only see about five at a time circling in the evening sky.

8. I can tell that summer is coming to an end, the number of frogs in the pool is declining.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Neighbors on the Move

Chris and I knew this weekend was coming when the For Sale sign went up in the yard next door a couple of months ago.

Our neighbors--who have been the most awesome neighbors in the world, are on the move. We have been talking to them about the process and the considerations regarding moving and the start of the school year. It is hard to relocate.

We have been there--during my Air Force career we moved more times than we care to remember. No move is easy--whether across the street or around the world. But as we have been stable for the past almost 14 years, we are finding that it is hard to be the ones left behind as well. 

Great neighbors are a blessing and they are hard to find. Unfortunately, much like our family, we don't usually get to pick our neighbors. 

And so as our neighbors depart to continue their lives in a new location, we wish them the very best as they relocate.  We will miss them. 

Soon, we will have new neighbors to meet. 

We wonder what they will be like.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Under the Cat's Paw

Riordin with Florence

We have been watching our daughter's Italian Greyhound, Florence, for the past week while she and the boys enjoy the final week of summer vacation at the beach. 

People always are amazed at how well our cats and dog get along--they are all members of the same pack, it seems. Well, now it is clear that Florence has made her way into the pack as a full member--as long as she understands that Riordin is the alpha male.

I caught them on the sofa this morning, relaxing together with Riordin keeping Florence under his paw.

It was just cute. And they were both very comfortable. 

It is gonna be a great day, I can tell.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Cruising into the Weekend

Friday has arrived--for some it is the happiest day of the workweek, although, for me is is one of the busiest days as I try to finish all of the projects that I planned to accomplish. I often work later on Fridays than other days simply because so many others depart early to get a start on the weekend and in the quiet of the office I can finally turn my attention to he really important projects that have been languishing in my "to do" pile all week.

My Golf Team with two additions for Good Luck
Mike Kasel, Mike Haslup, Chris Doan, Me,
Jodie Meyers, Jeremy Doan

This has been a different week. I began the week, on Sunday, playing in my first ever golf tournament, the Troy Whittemore Classic,  and I have not been able to play racquetball--which I dearly hope changes next week and that I can get back onto the court.

Chris's summer vacation ended as she returned to work and that has added stress to life with the changing schedules. She will get into a groove soon, but probably not next week as the kids return. 

I remember those first day of the school year days. There was excitement and trepidation and sadness. Excitement about seeing friends with whom I had lost contact with over the summer. Trepidation about the start of a new school year and the stress and learning that accompanied it. And then there was profound sadness that summer vacation had ended. I loved summer and summer vacation was the best. 

Summer is not over--I keep having to remind myself of that. Fortunately, August has turned up the heat a bit and reminded me of that with a bit of humidity to accompany the incessant rains we seem to be experiencing. 

Enjoy the day and the weekend. For those of us who work M-F, it is time for a Happy Hour to celebrate the arrival of the weekend with good friends!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD