Reviewing the 2015 Orioles Season

Autumn has definitely arrived. The leaves are beginning to change and fall from the trees. Various animals have been seen in the yard stocking up on the acorns falling from the oak trees. 

It is also the time of year when the 20 MLB teams that did not make the post-season do a self-assessment and try to make sense of their finish.

Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette

I reviewed the commends of Dan Duquette, the General Manager, from yesterday's news conference on the 2015 season and the future. He was fairly uninspiring and continues to tote the organizational line regarding players, salaries, and finances. I was not encouraged by his comments. 

Here is my view:

Last off season, coming off a 2014 campaign that saw the Orioles win the American League East division and narrowly miss playing in the World Series, the job was to keep the team together for a successful 2015 run. In the end, three key players were in play: Andrew Miller, a lefty relief pitcher; Nelson Cruz the long-ball hitter, and Nick Markakis the long-time right fielder for the Orioles. Duquette lost all three!

Nick Markakis

I believe that the Orioles overcame the loss of Miller and Cruz, but the loss of Markakis and failing to acquire a right fielder with an arm and a bat is directly responsible for the team not making the playoffs. In Markakis the team lost a lead-off hitter who made good contact and got on base as well as one of the most feared right fielder arms in all of baseball--especially in playing the difficult corners on Orioles Park at Camden Yards (OPACY). OPACY is tough on right fielders and I watched many of the replacements misplay balls and then fail to have enough arm strength to keep runners from advancing home when rounding third base.

The task for this off season is even greater and more important to the Orioles. The Orioles have more free-agents and less depth. Here is my three-step recipe for 2016 Orioles success:

1. Retain Chris Davis, Wei-Yin Chen, and Darren O'Day. Catcher Matt Wieters is also a free agent and it would be nice but not critical to retain him, too. 

2016 Goal!

2. Here is the harder part, in addition to keeping the big three (Davis, Chen, and O'Day) the Orioles need an ace pitcher--it would be great to have someone on the staff who can win 16 or more games a season.

3.  AND the Orioles still need a real right fielder and lead-off batter.

I'm not going to postulate who the Orioles should be going after, I looked at the free agents lists and there is no clear pitcher out there. The right fielder could be someone like Colby Rasmus, but he's only batting .238.

It is a tall order for the Orioles--but their 2016 success depends upon it.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Awash in Pumpkin Pie Spice

What is it about this time of year? Pumpkin Pie spice flavor is everywhere. Retailers and shops promote the "return of pumpkin pie spice!" Really? It sounds like some kind of horror movie!

Why are people so infatuated with the flavor, which by the way I do not fully appreciate?

What is pumpkin pie spice? It is a combination of common spices: cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and ginger! Some of the most common cooking spices to be found in the most basic kitchen. 

Here is the really funny part: there is no pumpkin in pumpkin pie spice! It is the collection of spices which go into pumpkin pie to give it that down home, Thanksgiving-memory-smell that just screams: "eat me!" And don't forget the ice cream and whipped cream!

Well, for some people. 

I think America has gone overboard with the seasonal spice. I think there are even beers which advertise a pumpkin pie spice variety. 



I searched on pumpkin pie spice and  found some amazing products that are laced with the seasonal concoction. Among them marshmallows, cough medicine, and cookies. There are also liqueurs, ice creams, and yogurts! I saw an advertisement for pumpkin pie wine--seriously, made in Texas, of all places (get a grip!).

I believe that the love for this spice is out of control. The marketing machines have created a monster!

Yes, it is likely a comfort concoction to help sooth the transition from the warmth and excitement of summer to the day and dreary days of winter, but I thought that's what falling leaves were created to help us with.

All things in moderation, I seem to remember the old colloquialism. Back off on the pumpkin pie spice and enjoy the season.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - October 5, 2015

 

1. I watched the last Orioles baseball game of the 2015 campaign yesterday. I was saddened that season had ended and the Orioles were not going to be participating in post-season baseball. At least they managed to salvage a non losing record of 81-81 and swept the Yankees to close out a season of unmet high expectations.

Eisenhower Golf Course
October 4, 2015

2. Even though the weather was cool (low 50's) and overcast yesterday, I managed a round of golf at Eisenhower Golf course in Crownsville, MD. Even thought at one point it was raining, because so many other golfers had canceled it was a pleasant round and a great start to the week.

3. Watching some of the NFL games yesterday, I was amazed at how inconsistent the officiating can be especially when penalties are called during critical situations. Even the video review does not get the call right many times.

4. I am already beginning to plan my Sarasota, Florida, Spring Training get away. Sunshine, warmth, baseball and golf what could be better?

Deer in the Driveway
October 4, 2015

5. The deer are getting ready for winter. Yesterday there was one in my driveway nibbling on the acorns which had fallen from the oak trees. 

6. Interesting read: participation in children's organized sports is falling. 

7. Does anyone else think that the infatuation with pumpkin pie spice has gone a bit too far? Interesting piece, Enough with the Pumpkin Pie Spice Americas. It's Getting Embarrassing. I agree.

Arc de'Triomphe
Paris with no cars

8. On Sunday, September 27th, Paris, France, banned all automobile traffic within the city. The resulting almost 40 percent drop in pollution and noise was so astounding that more auto-less days are considered.

9. Does anyone else feel that big business is really out to get us? And it isn't just American companies as we saw with the Volkswagen diesel car scandal! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Martian - Movie Review

I have been waiting for the movie The Martian, starring Matt Damon, to hit the big screen ever since I read the book last year. The movie opened this weekend and I was sure to see it yesterday.

I was not disappointed! The movie tells the story of the first man stranded on Mars. He is the Robinson Crusoe of Mars, stranded with little hope of rescue and out of touch with NASA and earth who believe that he is dead. What happens is a resourceful story of pure survival. I especially liked the book and generally the movie because the underlying science is solid. I did not have to check my intellect at the theater door to watch the movie.

The movie has a simple plot, how to survive when the odds are almost 100 percent against you. I was generally pleased with the film adaptation of the book. Obviously, the book is far more complex and in places more suspenseful. I'm not sure the movie crowd could handle the suspense of some portions of the book.

Is the book better? You bet! Is the movie great! Definitely! 

The acting is exceptional and believable. The scenes are filmed and completely made me believe that I was on Mars. I believe that there is an academy award or two hiding in this movie.

RECOMMENDATION: See this movie. Today! Yes, it is that good.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Seasonal Dysfunction

Despite the rains yesterday, we had a coffee crisis that had to be alleviated before this morning and that meant heading out to Costco for supplies.

The trip was wet, but uneventful. As an aside, I am continually amazed by the ignorance of some drivers who do not understand how to efficiently traverse a "Four Way Stop" and who also cannot park their cars. We waited in the row at Costco for a few minutes while four drivers attempted their rendition of a water ballet with vehicles while trying to exit and then drive into parking spaces. Ugh! Chris and I just parked and walked in the rain.

Christmas at Costco
in October

Costco is a warehouse store and what greeted me as I cleared the check-in line was truly a sight that I had not expected during early-October. Christmas!

Yup, Christmas is alive and well at Costco. I did not hear any Christmas music. I had expected Halloween decorations, but found Christmas--already and completely deployed! Interestingly, I did not find any Halloween decorations or costumes in the store, although they may have been strategically displayed somewhere.

I was truly amazed, and saddened. The commercialism and the loss of the Christmas's identity is complete and the season has been reduced to a retailing frenzy. 

I must confess that we even purchased two Christmas gifts because of the "if you don't get them now, they won't be there later" mentality. I'm sure that they will be lost and forgotten before the season finally arrives.

Here we are, still at the doorstep of Autumn and the leaves have not even fallen from the trees and Christmas is already displayed in the stores. What is wrong with this picture? Even worse? I have added to the problem by purchasing gifts!

I am so conflicted!

I have entered the seasonal dysfunction zone where I no longer look to the weather or the calendar to tell me what season it is, but rather to the retailers who are working to separate me from my earnings.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Hidden in Plain Sight

Eastern Box Turtle

I was in the yard the other evening, hitting golf balls into the net with my 3 wood, when I missed the net and I went into the wooded area near my house to retrieve the ball.

I was a bit startled when I went to pick-up the ball and I noticed something that I was not expecting. There among the leaves and the gathering autumn was a turtle. I believe that it is an Eastern Box turtle. 

I don't see many turtles wandering through our yard. I see frogs and toads, occasionally snakes and worms; but this is the first turtle.

When I was younger, I would have picked the turtle up and carried him to the house to chow off to Chris, but now, with the salmonella scare and trying to be respectful of other creatures, I called Chris down to see the turtle as it was trying to blend into the background.

It just pays to keep my eyes open and notice the wildlife lurking about because somethines, they are hidden in plain sight.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

October Arrives with the New FY

Happy New Year!

It is October 1st and the US government is still running as we start a new fiscal year!

Cue the noisemakers for the arrival of FY (Fiscal Year) 16!

Yay! Congress salvaged the beginning of the year by not letting the government shut down! We are good until December 11th when we get to watch our own version of brinkmanship funding happen all over again!

There was a lot of concern about another furlough--the last one coming two short years ago when Congress failed to accomplish their Constitutional duty and fund the government.

Except for the prospect of rain, I was a bit excited about the prospect of making some early morning tee times. 

But, I get to go to work and try to take care of the myriad of things accumulating on my desk as a result of an extremely heavy meeting week.

And so, yay! Happy New Year and let's keep the government functioning.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Russians in Syria

The failure of US policy in the Middle East, the continued strength of ISIL, and the incredible refugee problem that is swamping Europe are all reasons that we should welcome active participation by the Russians and other countries to find solutions in the tinder box area.

Going it alone has not worked, the US has neither the will nor the resources to restore order to the region. Our policies inherently contradict themselves. How can we at the same time work to remove the Assad regime in Syria while also defeating ISIL which seeks to fill the power void without offering an alternative to either? It is a doomed policy and the citizens of the region who are fleeing recognize that nothing good has or will come from it.

I think it may be time that the US rekindles an old WW2 relationship, gets past the Cold War and recognizes that Russians aren't Communists anymore. We have tried to clean up a few of their messes in the past, like Afghanistan, and now maybe they can help us with a problem that clearly is larger than we have resources to commit.

There is a fairly insightful OpEd piece titled, The U.S. cannot pass Syria on to Putin, in the Washington Post this morning that helps describe the state of play and outlines some options for US policymakers. 

In my mind, we need to realize, especially now that the Russians have arrived to help, that the Assad regime will continue in Syria. Sadly, we can't solve problems in a region where everyone is an enemy and no one is an ally. We have seen the results of the power vacuum that is created. I am not saying that we have to like the continuation of Assad's Syrian leadership, it is just something that we need to use as building block to regional stability.

Simon Jenkins offers an opinion thought piece about Putin and the Syrian situation in The Guardian this morning titled, Why the west should listen to Putin on Syria. In the opening sentence of the article, Jenkins writes: "Putin is right. Everyone knows Putin is right, that the only way forward in Syria, if not to eternal slaughter, is via the established government of Bashar al-Assad and his Lebanese and Iranian allies."

To be successful in the new world, we need to get over our self-aggrandizement mentality and begin to see opportunities to work with other countries to bring peace and stability to the troubles regions of the world. It is clear the American people are not willing to devote the treasure or the talent necessary to solve the problems of the Syria and ISIL on our own--hence, we need help. Granted, the Russians may not be the calvary that we expected to come rising over the hilltop, and they are largely untried and untested in situations like exist in Syria, but to quote a movie line, "short help is better than no help."

While we can focus our energy on the political events here in the US, the situation in Syria is not going away and people are dying every day. Maybe it is time to try something new and work collaboratively with other countries to implement a lasting solution.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Orioles Mathematically Eliminated

It happened last evening as the visiting team made a stirring comeback during the 8th inning and then sealed the victory in the 9th inning. 

As the Season Ends

The Orioles post-season hopes were officially terminated, with prejudice!

With 6 games remaining to be played, the Orioles have been mathematically eliminated from the post-season. There will be no post-season baseball in Baltimore this October.

The Orioles have scored three runs during their last four games--all in the second inning of last nights blown game. Perhaps the end of the season cannot come too quickly. After getting their record to .500, they have lost four straight games and are likely to finish the season with a losing record. Given that the Orioles are playing the division leading Blue Jays and then finish the season with a four-game series against the team that shall remain nameless from up north, it is very likely that they could finish eight or nine games below .500.

I will be attending tonight's game to relish the baseball atmosphere and hold fast to the waning remnants of a summer that was filled with so much hope. Tonight, it is possible that the visitors will clinch the American League East Division that the Orioles won last year.

The August and September collapse of the team has been hard to watch. And now, in a bit of irony, the Orioles clinched the division last year while playing the Blue Jays and the Blue Jays will likely clinch the division this year while playing the Orioles. 

And that is baseball. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - September 28, 2015

1. It is the last Monday in September! I find it hard to believe that the month will end in two more days.

2. The birthday weekend is over and now it is back to regular life.

3. Going back to work after a week away can be really stressful.

Weird Image

4. I wonder what this means? Do the plants need screens? Wow, do those windows look clean!

5. The Orioles went to Boston this weekend looking at stealing a wild card spot in the post season. They came home with those dreams dashed after scoring 0, I mean zero, runs in three games. It may not be over, but the fat lady is not only warming up, she is forming the notes and words to begin singing.

Patuxent Greens Golf Course
September 27, 2015

6. It is unusual to see a fox, especially on the golf course, but it happened yesterday. It was a bit startling to see the fox and a bit disconcerting about how close it got to Mike and I as we were golfing. True, I had hit my ball and it was not on the fairway.

7. Darwin Award nominee. A man tried to kill a spider with a lighter at a gas pump. It ended poorly.

8. I have an Orioles game tomorrow night It will be the last game that I attend this season and it is likely that the Orioles will be mathematically eliminated form the post-season on that night.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Creative Spaces

Seasonal Entryway

Our home has a lot of space for conversation and contemplation. One of the trickiest things do is to create spaces where people can relax and enjoy themselves.

While I was in Denver, Chris took it upon herself to recreate the entryway with a seasonal brush stroke. I was greeted by the entryway as I returned home late Friday night. I enjoyed the sight and yesterday she added two pumpkins, not pictured because I took this image on Friday night. I was happy that she included my recently trimmed angel wing begonia as part of the festive sight.

But not content to stop there, we continued the theme yesterday by creating an outdoor space to relax and enjoy the earlier evenings. Combining our beach themed tiki torches with the propane fire table on the lawn created a new space. And it worked out really well. Total cost? Zero because we repurposed things already around the house, even the wooden stumps were laying in the woods waiting for something creative to happen to them.

It turned out really well, and added to my birthday celebration.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Song and Tears and Birthdays

Happy birthday to me!

It has been a great day and I have connected with most of my family. I am not a big birthday celebration fan--I prefer the more understated approach to birthdays.

That written, on Facebook, at least 21 people wished me congratulations on completing another decade. I feel old.

Last evening, as I was flying home from Denver, I did something that made pause. I was listening to the songs on my iPad and for some reason I played Handel's Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah.

During the song, I remembered many friends and events from the past where I had been privileged to sing this song of joy and victory.

But there was some sadness in my heart as I remembered some of my friends who have changed their residence from this world to the next. My church choir director Hiawatha Watkins came into my mind because I remember handing out the music to the entire congregation for many enthusiastic Easter sing alongs.  I am convinced that he loved this pice of music for not only its power, but how it affected everyone who sang it and listened to it. I also reflected on the first time I learned and sang the Hallelujah Chorus over 40 years ago in my high school choir.  I remember that I was amazed as the assembly rose to honor the piece.

As I remembered these poignant scenes, tears rolled down my face and I was glad that the cabin on the airplane was dark.

I am amazed at how the years have changed me. I'm not sure anymore that I am who I thought I would be. But I am who I am and I am continuously growing. I learn more each day and I strive to remember my friends and teachers and family who have taught me and coached me and mentored me into who I am.

Thanks to all of you. Living and passed. I shed a tear or two while writing this as your memories flooded back and I remembered our times together and look forward to time eternally together.

And all because, by chance, for no reason at all I played that anthem. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Homeless in Denver

Traveling for business gets old progressively day by day. 

I am glad that I only do occasional road trips now. I have enjoyed Denver and the incredibly good weather, but I have seen the needier side of the city as well. 

Homeless in Denver

I have walked around most of the downtown 16th Street Mall area at various times of the day, and I have to admit that I must be a bit sheltered in my views. The homeless or the transient people are everywhere. And the people represent all age groupings, from the 20-somethings who appear to be on a "walk about" to the definitely homeless with dogs and sometimes children.

Most do not beg--but there are those who do, looking to subsist on handouts and generosity. I admit, I was a bit offended by one the other day who advertised himself as a jobless veteran but was standing outside a bagel place hitting people up as they were coming out with breakfast in their hands.

I didn't snap any pictures of those sleeping because I felt like I was intruding in their bedroom, but I found one online that exactly caught what I have seen.

There is a Mission here that tends to the homeless and I am sure that they are far too busy during bad weather. The weather this past week has been very good and perhaps that is why there are so many people about.

I am aware that some of the discussion about the apparent increase in the numbers of homeless people centers around the liberalized Colorado marijuana laws. But, regardless, they are still people. 

People in need are still people.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, CO

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Coors Field, Denver, CO
September 23, 2015

I love baseball. That is a fact. I like to take the opportunity to visit other ballparks when I can. 

Last evening I did just that. I walked to Coors Field to see the Pittsburgh Pirates play the Colorado Rockies. Admittedly, the Rockies are my favorite National League team and so it was not too much of a stretch to go to the game. Even though the rockies have already been eliminated from post-season play, spending an evening at the ballpark was a great plan, and frankly, what else do I have to do?

View Along the 16th Street Walking Mall
Denver, CO

In another sense, it was my personal way of getting through the first day of autumn, by attending a summer activity. And is was a beautiful evening. The temperatures were mild, the humidity low--too low for this East Coast guy, and the crowd was light.

Scoreboard at Coors Field
September 23, 2015

I enjoyed a nice walk along the 16th Street Mall getting to the game and also returning home. I won't comment on the numbers of homeless or transient people I saw sleeping along the streets, just to say I was amazed at how many there were.


As I mentioned, the game was lightly attended, but the fans were enthusiastic. The Bucs (as the Pirates are known) got some early runs and were up 5-0 going into the bottom of the 3rd inning. The Rockies made a comeback and the score settled in at 7-6 for the visitors at the end of the 5th where it stayed until the fireworks erupted during the wild 9th inning which saw the Bucs clinch a playoff spot by scoring an additional 6 runs to which the hometown Rockies could manage to answer with only 1 in the bottom of the frame. 

Mostly Empty Stands
Coors Field, Denver, CO
September 23, 2015

It was a good evening of exciting baseball which ended late--later considering the 30 minute walk back to the hotel--but, hey, it was baseball. 

And in honor of Yogi Berra, remember: "It ain't over till it's over."

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

"Happy Birthday" is Free

Only in America could the most played song in history be kept from the people and not considered public domain, until yesterday.

1922 Book Containing "Happy Birthday"

The song "Happy Birthday" had a birthday of its own yesterday as it was freed from the company which has claimed it owned the copyright and returned to the people. In a Washington Post article, 
‘Happy birthday’ to all of us: Judge gives world a gift, says song belongs to everyone, the details of the court decision are documented. 

It turns out that Warner Music may have to return millions of dollars in royalties that it has collected since it purchased what it thought was the copyright in 1988.

When looking at the image of the song in the 1922 songbook, I noted that Happy Birthday is but a verse in a song titled, "Good Morning and Birthday Song." It wasn't even a stand alone song.

Did you ever wonder why Happy Birthday was not sung at the local restaurant when someone has a birthday? It was likely because of the copyright that they came up with the less than satisfactory birthday song that they sing. I mean, who really wants to hear Happy Happy Birthday and not the classic tune?

And now that the song is squarely in the public domain where it belongs, the facade of imposters will begin falling away.

Next time I celebrate a birthday, or two, I will sing the song of the people with even a bit more gusto knowing that it is finally freed from corporate copyright and is now in the corporate domain.

Happy Birthday to all of us!

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, CO

Out the Hotel Window Returns: Denver, September 2015

Denver Afternoon
September 20, 2015

I realized that it has been a while since I was in a hotel and therefore, have not added to my series about looking out the hotel window.

I did enjoy a nice cruise this past summer, but, even thought the scene outside the cabin window does change continuously and I loved being on the balcony watching the ocean, it is not a hotel.

Sunrise in Denver
September 21, 2015

I am once again in Denver, Colorado. Yes, I come here a lot. This time, however, I am in a downtown hotel with a very different view out the window. 

I have already been treated to three stunningly different views: afternoon, dawn, and sunset.  And they are all outside my window. 

I find it amazing how the scene changes as the sun moves across the land. Unfortunately, the windows in this hotel are dirty and so the view is not crystal clear. But still is awesome.

Sunset over Denver
September 21, 2015

The clouds in the sky make all of the difference reflecting the light of the sun which has set.

Today is the last day of summer, as an aside.

I hope to fully enjoy the day as the autumnal equinox is tomorrow. 

Autumn will arrive as I sleep.

I will look out my hotel window tomorrow morning and the scene will be different, as will the season.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, Colorado

Monday Musings - September 21, 2015

1. The last weekend of summer 2015 is behind us and ahead lies the beginning of the dark times. Sunrise is later and sunset is earlier every day. 

2. The loss in the 9th inning of yesterday's game probably effectively ended the Orioles season. They are 5.5 games out of the wild card with 13 games to play and four teams in front of them.

3. We are increasingly becoming an insanely intolerant society and even when innocent, people are treated like criminals. Read,  Virginia school suspends an 11-year-old for one year over a leaf that wasn’t marijuana.

4. I think the Pope's arrival in the US is garnering front page news coverage because we are all tired of the embarrassment that is the political process underway right now.

5. Writing of the presidential olympics--I'm still waiting for the one true candidate to emerge.

6. The potential of a government shutdown is looming large again. An interesting article in the Washington Post describes, Five things standing in the way of keeping the government open. 

7. The other morning, I was headed to work and noticed the stars above me in the dark sky. And there was Orion--reminding me that he is in control of the constellations for the next six or so months. I can't wait for him to leave again.

8. Ok, yes, the blog is late this morning, and probably all week because I'm in a different timezone.

9. Did I mention that summer is over? The pool is closed and the leaves are already falling form the trees? Morning temperatures are dipping into the 50's with 40's not too far behind? And my truck is broken!

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, CO

Good news--Bad News: Gas and Trucks

Royal Farms on Telegraph Road
Odenton, MD

I was in awe yesterday as we drove past a local Royal Farms gas station and I saw that the price of regular gas had fallen to $2.099, which is really $2.10, per gallon. 

Queue the party!

I remember when gas hit $4.00 per gallon that we never dreamed of seeing prices this low again and yet, this is now the second time that prices have fallen back to reasonable levels. I expect to see gas below $2/gallon soon!

But, s is the way with life lately, with every snippet of good news comes some bad news. 

My truck broke severely yesterday. Ugh! The upper drivers side ball joint separated from the control arm and so the truck is both not drivable and also not moveable! Thankfully, it happened as I was backing into the driveway after I had completed a run to the local landfill. I was able to get the truck out of the way and I soon determined that the repair was beyond the few short hours I had available. Additionally, I was going to need to get parts shipped in.

The seriousness of the situation became clear as I was jacking the truck up, but the wheel remained firmly on the ground. No, I didn't take a picture of it.

It is not pretty, although, it seems very repairable. It is going to need a tow to the local repair shop, which I will be calling in the morning. 

All the money I was going to save on gas prices not goes into repairs!

And that, is the good and bad news for this Sunday morning.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Summer's Last Weekend

It kind of snuck up on me, this, the last weekend of summer.

View of the Covered Pool with the
Vestiges of Summer

I have been so busy enjoying the pleasant evening temperatures and humidity that I had forgotten that summer officially ends with the vernal equinox on Wednesday morning. Summer slips out quietly while we are sleeping--an almost fitting end for a memorable summer, leaving during the night not wanting to linger or get caught up in a long good-bye. 

Summer's demise comes with the completion of numerous projects, not the least of which was closing the pool. Except for a few peripheral tasks, the pool was successfully closed Thursday evening. 

But even tough it is covered, the scene around the pool reveals the lingering effects of the summer--the blooming geranium, the still green ornamental grasses, and the golf target standing tall in the yard. These will soon be gone and with the gathering autumn, my near weekly golf outings will become less frequent. The desire to get home after a day of work and get to the course will eventually evaporate as sunset continues to creep forward and then daylight savings time ends.

What a Picnic Table Looks Like After
it is Decomposed

As summer slips into autumn, there will be trips to the landfill to remove the broken and no longer functioning furniture and equipment that have collected during the busy and often frenetic summer. The first trip is today to remove, among many other items, the abandoned picnic table which has been sitting just off the yard for more years than I can count. It was heavy and needed some work to allow it to fit into the truck. 

Even as autumn arrives, I will still be dealing with the remnants of summer. Raking leaves and dreaming of golfing or being on a beach somewhere. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Republican Debate

I watched some of the debate the other evening.

Eleven presidential hopefuls standing in front of America trying to sell us on why any of them should be President.

My take? I'm not sure that any of them have what it takes to lead the nation. 

The thing that bothered me the most is their intolerance. they all want to make the country over in their own image and do not seem tolerant of diversity or people who think differently. 

I heard at least two of the governments extol the virtues of what they had accomplished in their states and indicate that it should be easy to implement their view nationwide. 

What if, the rest of the nation doesn't want their view?

Individual states need the right to determine their courses. Each of the candidates, I believe, fail to understand the concept of States Rights and all apparently want to expand the oppressive power of the Federal Government.

Who won the debate? No one.

So, I am still waiting for the right person to step forward.

Soon?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Paranoia doesn't Make it Better

"Out of an abundance of caution" and "Err on the side of caution."

Ahmed Mohammed

How about the words, "zero tolerance?"

What do those words really mean?

They mean someone's Civil Rights are about to be violated because someone else made an uninformed accusation that people in charge feel they must do something about even though there is no evidence to support a criminal act or misdeed.

We are living in an era of rampant paranoia stoked by the threat of unrealistically punitive lawsuits for making a bad decision. 

Ahmed Mohammed with clock and sister

I offer the case of a 14 year old boy who brought a homemade clock to school in Irving, Texas, as an example. Ahmed Mohamed was led from school in handcuffs the other day for bringing a creatively designed homemade clock to school. 

Why was he really arrested? No one will likely ever know, but I suspect there was a bit of racial bias involved.

As I read his story, I was struck by some of the statements, especially by one police office who said that the clock looked like a bomb. If it was a bomb, where was the explosive? A police officer should know better. 

But what else concerns me about this situation? Ahmed was questioned by police without either his parents or a legal representative being present. That is not supposed to happen to a juvenile, especially when the results are likely to be that they will be handcuffed and walked out of school in front of the entire student body.

Here's hoping that the city and school district of Irving, Texas pay dearly for their uninformed paranoia which resulted in a significant breach of Ahmed's civil rights!

"Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you." -Joseph Heller (Catch-22)

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Get them done before winter

Freshly Painted Column

We are in the end-of-summer push to get as many outdoors projects completed as possible before the onset of frigid temperatures.

Last evening, we finished painting the porch.

Yes, it doesn't seem like monumental accomplishment, however, we have been trying to get the porch painted for four years. It was one of those noxious projects that neither Chris nor I desired to tackle. 

Well, A Small Project Left to complete

And now it is done, mostly. There are a few things left to clean up to make it perfect, like repainting the doorbell plate.

I wrote about lists in a blog titled "To do" or "Not to Do?" They don't work well for me.

I am glad this project was finally removed from our To-Do list. 

Next up? 

Pool closing, beginning Thursday evening. 

Isn't autumn great? And it is still really summer, it just feels like autumn with 50 degree morning temperatures.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Tales of Horror: New Appliance Installation

The phrase, "No good deed goes unpunished" has been playing over in my head a lot during the past few days.

It seems as if for every positive action there is an equal and negative reaction. 

Yesterday, for instance, our new dishwasher was being delivered and installed. The installation was planned for a day when Chris would be off from work due to a holiday and everything looked good. . . 

Until 2:15 PM, when I received a panicked call at work that the new dishwasher was too big and we were going to have to take the floor up to get it into the space. Ugh!

I raced home and the installer had started the task of removing the flooring, except that he was using a saw!!!!! Nooooooooo. The floor needed to be taken up one board at a time so that it could be reinstalled. 

The situation was a bit tense and I forgot to take a picture of the magnitude of the mess with the ripped up flooring and the new and improved dishwasher barely sliding into place. But it did.

Fully Installed Dishwasher
 with Restored Flooring

Once the dishwasher we installed and the mess cleaned, my task was to reinstall the flooring. Important safety tip--keep extra pieces of flooring around from the installation! I knew I had some extra pieces from the installation many years ago and so I was not too concerned that some of the existing pieces had been trashed. 

After about two hours of work, the final product looks good as new! Thank goodness a good friend taught me how to install wood floors a few years ago and so I knew some of the tricks to get it tight.

Good deed? New dishwasher for Chris
Punishment? Salvaging the flooring
End result? All good!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD 

Monday Musings - September 14, 2015

1. September is almost half over and I was thinking that it was just getting started.

Ocean City, MD, Beach
September 7, 2015

2. The pool will be closed for the season by this time next week. That is an incredibly sad prospect. But temperatures are falling and so are the leaves.

3. Last week I was walking on the beach in Ocean City enjoying the Labor Day holiday. It is a great memory.

4. With two games remaining today, the first week of the NFL season will draw to a close. I can't believe I watched almost nine hours of football yesterday. There is only time for a quick breath, however, because the whole thing begins again on Thursday.

5. With the worldwide concern about the immigration crisis in the Middle East, especially Syria, wouldn't it be amazing if the the UN could find a way to bring peace to the region so that the displaced persons could resume their lives rather than having to move to a strange land?

6. Ran across Golden Crisp cereal in a store in Ocean City. Although I never ate it, it brought back memories of the kids eating it--and they loved it.

7. The Orioles actually won a series over the weekend, taking 2 of 3 games from the division leading Kansas City Royals. There are 20 games left in the Orioles' season. They need to win 14 to finish with a non-losing record. Mathematically, they are still in the hunt for a Wild Card post-season spot. 

8. This is the day, in 1901, that President McKinley died of complications following the gunshot wound he received on September 6th. You may recall that the mountain named for him in Alaska was recently restored to its rightful native name of Mount Denali. McKinley's death brought Teddy Roosevelt into the White House as President.

9. Recipe for chaos: ten adults, three boys under the age of eleven, five dogs, and a football party.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Saturday Football in the Rain

It hadn't rained significantly in our area since August 28th--until yesterday when Jackson's GORC Wildcats Football Team was scheduled to play its third game of the young season. Jax is on the 80lb Central Team.

Halftime Sideline for the GORC Wildcats

And then the rains came down, as they did for most of the day.

The image is from halftime, but the score on the scoreboard was the same at the end of the game with the Wildcats prevailing against both the other team and the weather 12-0. The team is now 2-1 on the young season and both wins were by shutout.

At least the temperatures were in the high 60's and low 70's during the game. But it was still cool and damp and even I took refuge under an umbrella for some of the game. 

Jax in the Rain

Youth sports is where learning about team work and contributing to the overall effort begins. Jax had a couple of great blocks and on the second, and final touchdown of the day, it was his block against two would-be tacklers that allowed the running back to score. 

Standing in the rain watching football on a September Saturday, I guess that is what it is all about.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD