Thursday, February 11, 2016

Too Cold


Wouldn't you know it?

The weather for the upcoming President's Day, three-day, weekend is forecasting temperatures to be below freezing. Temperatures are not expected to rise above freezing again until Tuesday and not before then! That is five days of frigid weather.

Bring on the ice skating.

Ugh!

I am so frustrated by the cold that I went outside last evening and hit a golf balls in the yard until my hands got numb. It wasn't very many.

The cold weather is just cruel! The snow has mostly melted and it is time to get on with spring.

By the way, I learned that the coldest day on record for Baltimore was February 10, 1899. The low was -7 and the high was 3 degrees. Brrrr!

At least we won't be getting that cold.

I hope.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

The Circus and the Orator


New Hampshire has voted and placed its unique style and mark upon the presidential olympics.

What did I see? The circus of Trump continues to attract. Scary. I do not see any depth in his proposals. He seems to be running on the ideas of candidate bashing and being the biggest bully on the block. Were he a kid in a public school today, he would be expelled for being a bully. I think the electorate is watching too many "reality" TV shows. And remember, Trump starred in one. 

I was encouraged that the trio of governors began to show some signs of life in the campaign. Someone needs to serve as an alternate to the circus.

On the other side of the campaign, it appears that the Hillary train was derailed by the orator. I listened to Sanders victory speech last evening, almost 45 minutes of it. I was struck by his oratory. He speaks in complete sentences and thoughts, unlike many candidates who speak in sound-bites. 

And now, on to South Carolina where the real campaigning will begin. I am sure Trump will declare victory, it is hard to declare a mandate with  thirty-something percent of the votes cast. The only victory of the night belonged to Sanders. 

Is November getting close, yet?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Super Bowl 50, Lessons


I enjoyed the Super Bowl played between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. I had hoped the Broncos would win the game, mostly because I have twice lived in the Denver area and have suffered, as a Broncos fan, through losses in previous Super Bowls.


Craig Morton
Denver Quarterback 1977 Super Bowl
I Cheered for the Broncos and the Orange Crush defense during their 1978, Super Bowl XII loss (27-10) to the Dallas Cowboys. I also remember the ugly loss to the San Francisco 49ers (55-10) in the 1990 Super Bowl XXIV.  The result of this game remains the most lopsided score in Super Bowl history.


Over time, and upon finding a home in the Baltimore region, I have become a Ravens fan; but I have a fond place in my heart for the Broncos.  It was not surprising, therefore, that I wanted the Broncos to win the Super Bowl.

That written, going into the game, I felt the Panthers were the more complete team with more capable players at critical positions. 

Officially, my position on the game was that I was cheering for the Broncos, but felt that the Panthers would win.

What are the lessons I take away from this game?


Peyton Manning
Denver Quarterback 2016 Super Bowl
1. No matter how it looks on paper, the intangibles affect the outcome and that is why we play the games.

2. Defense wins championships!

3. Experience matters.

4. Maturity is an important intangible.

5. The sheriff was better than superman.

6. Defensive games can be boring, but represent the essence of football.

Some of these are applicable in life as well as in the sports arena!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday, February 8, 2016

Monday Musings - February 8, 2015


1. The second week of February 2016 is underway!

2. There is another snowstorm taking aim at the Baltimore-Washington region. 

Broncos, 24 - Panthers, 10
3. Super Bowl 50 was won by the Broncos, 24-10! Defense was the name of the game, but Peyton Manning managed to lead the Broncos to a victory and his second Super Bowl win! Congrats to Denver and all of their fiercely loyal fans.

4. I did not find many of the Super bowl commercials to be especially super this year.

5. The Washington Post rated the Super Bowl commercials. I did enjoy Avocados in Space and the one about the "Weiner dogs" for Heinz ketchup. 

6. Now that the NFL season is over it is time to get ready for, yes, wait for it . . . BASEBALL! Spring Training is almost here!

7. I appreciate the respite from the presidential olympics--but it is back onto the campaign trail today with New Hampshire looming big tomorrow.

Great Wall of China
8. I was encouraged by the performance of the band of governors during the Republican debate a few days ago. Perhaps they can bring moderation and common sense to the campaign.

9. As an American, I do not want to fund the Western Hemisphere's version of the Great Wall of China to be installed on the border of Mexico and the United States.  It is too easy for a wall to change from keeping people out to keeping people in.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD 

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Squirrel Thievery


Squirrel at the Feeder
They are creative thieves--squirrels. 

Chris bought a unique bird feeder to provide peanuts for her favorite bird--the bluejay. 

The squirrels figured out how to get the peanuts out of the feeder.

It is amazing how quickly they can get the nuts out of the feeder and create a huge mess on the deal. I am really looking forward to cleaning it all up when the weather gets warmer. 



Well, at least we are helping the critters enjoy a beautiful day.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Snow Melt


Until this morning, there had been a string of four days in a row where the temperatures did not dip below freezing. That has made a significant impact on the snow around the house. 

I am encouraged because the snow is melting, quickly. I can see the ground around my house.

In another testament to the snow melt, I received an email from a Baltimore area golf course encouraging me to come out and play this weekend. They remarked that they had 12 of their 18 holes open for diehard golfers. OK, I considered it. 

As soon as the snow is gone, I am sure I am going to be outside doing something. I even cooked two meals on the grill this past week! Yes, the grill works even when the weather is not hospitable!

Storm on the horizon?

No problem, I'm hoping it misses us.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday, February 5, 2016

How Can You Tell . . . ?


I have been listening to the politicians arguing in the aftermath of the Iowa Caucus. 

What a miserable situation with every campaign claiming victory or blaming some other campaign for their poor showing. I remember a joke about it all.

How can you tell that a politician is lying?

Answer.

Their lips are moving.


I have not heard so much negativity and subterfuge on a national basis in years. 

Who won Iowa?

Here's a thought. Since no one garnered more than 50 percent, no one won!

How hard is that? Clinton and Sanders can slice the vote however they want--but there was no majority and therefore no mandate.

On the other side, how can someone who gets only 20-something percent of the vote declare victory?

I wish I could be a winner with 28 percent. In real life, I actually need something closer to 99 percent to be considered a winner. Has anyone else considered that anything less than 50.1 percent is not a winning percentage? Let's get a grip and stop letting politicians change what we know is true. Winning is different than losing.

So how can you tell? Yea, their lips are moving.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Phantom of the Opera



Chris and I spent the evening at the Hippodrome Theater in Baltimore viewing the traveling production of Phantom of the Opera
Hippodrome Interior before the Show

This performance used a redesigned set that adds significantly to the experience. 

Most people know that I am not a fan of the Hippodrome Theater in Baltimore because the seats are tight and the large balcony is a problem. And it was a problem last evening, although we were in the center orchestra seats, the balcony provided restricted viewing of some of the activity.

Chris and I at Phantom
The production, however, was great. The orchestra was well conducted and the actors were on pitch and strong. 

I recommend this performance for Phantom lovers and neophytes. Check the schedule--it may be coming to a city near you.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD


Wednesday, February 3, 2016

My Take: Political Winners and Losers


The excitement of the Iowa Caucus is almost over and attention has turned to New Hampshire. 

I have decided that politicians can redefine words to suit their individual needs. Such would be the case for Clinton and Rubio who both claimed victories as a result of the Caucus.

I was impressed with Clinton declaring victory, albeit by a mere .3 percentage points in a marred process that featured multiple coin tosses. Did I mention that no one received 50 percent of the votes cast and there were multiple coin flips involved?

On the Republican side, a letter to the editor of the New York Times by Richard Nussbaum sums up the situation fairly succinctly. Mr. Nussbaum writes:

It really doesn’t matter that Ted Cruz beat Donald Trump in the Iowa caucuses on Monday night. What matters is that the majority of Republican voters in Iowa threw their support to one of two candidates whose main campaign themes are meanspiritedness and bigotry.
Though this week’s talk will be all about Mr. Trump’s loss, it should really be about America’s loss, and about confronting head on the racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia — not to mention callous indifference to poverty and suffering — that have become the calling cards of these politicians, and that are sadly embraced (or, at the very least, overlooked) by far too many Americans.
RICHARD JAY NUSSBAUM
The comments above are precisely what has been bothering me about the campaigns thus far. The bashing has got to stop! We need leaders who can work with opposition and can build-up rather than tear down. We have had too much tearing-down in our political system lately and that is why it appears that almost nothing gets done in Washington.


A bigger problem is that the top vote getters in each party, with the exception of Trump, are all senators or previous senators. Former senators have generally poor track record as presidents. I have found the list here. I exclude some of the original Founding Fathers from the statement because the initial cadre of senators was clearly composed of the leaders of the government. Also note, Warren G. Harding became a senator (and a good one) after his Presidency. We can argue about a few of the exceptions.

Conversely, former governors comprise some of our most revered Presidents. The list is here.  Governors actually have experience building coalitions to get things done while, in my opinion, Senators frequently are single issue people who can play well with others in the sand box. 

My Take is that the Iowa Caucus pointed out that the current front runners for the office to President of the United States are flawed. We the People need to do a better job finding and supporting candidates who are more focused on running the country rather than bashing the other candidates.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Iowa Caucus Results and Groundhog Day


I'm not sure how they are similar, except they are sharing a day.


Today is Groundhog Day! Yay, the rodent from Punxsutawney is predicting the future of Winter and the arrival of Spring.

Similarly, the people of Iowa are putting their stamp on the 2016 Presidential Election process by trying to predict the candidates from the two major parties who will vie to be the next President of the United States.

Both of the events mark beginnings. One, the beginning of the end of Winter and the other the beginning of the electoral primary season. 

Let's hope both reports are good. An early Spring and competent candidates!

That would be very different, on both counts.

--Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday, February 1, 2016

Monday Musings - February 1, 2016


1. Welcome Groundhog Day, tomorrow. Let's get some good news.

2. Orioles catchers and pitchers report in 18 days and the first signs of spring will emerge.

3. The original Star Trek NCC-1701 USS Enterprise is being restored for display in the Smithsonian. 

4. It was 56 degrees yesterday and the snow looks as if it is resisting the warmth. There is still a lot of it around. 

5. Today is Iowa caucuses day. The election season hits another milestone on the path to electing our next president.

6. Had there not been over a foot of snow on the golf course, yesterday would have been a good day to golf. Well, except at Torrey Pines located in San Diego, California, and the Farmers Insurance Open where play was suspended because of violent storms. 

7. I found a fun video of a Blue Angels performance

8. I wonder of the people of Iowa will be happy to be out of the political spotlight beginning tomorrow? They have been front and center for almost a year and I'm sure they will enjoy seeing advertisements on their TV's for something other than candidates.

9. Today Iowa, next Monday? Super Bowl aftermath! Broncos or Panthers? 

10. On this date in 1884, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) debuted. It is the undisputed reference source for the current and historical meaning of words.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Boys, Dogs, and January


Ethan with Arthur (a selfie)
January's last day has arrived. Hopefully, soon, we can put the snow behind us and move into February, where we usually experience our largest snowfall.

Arthur giving Ethan a Fist Bump
Over the past few days, Chris has been spending quality time with grandchildren and their dogs,  mostly because school has been in recess due to the historic snow storm.

It is hard to look forward to Springtime when there still remains so much snow on the ground.

The harder part is what to do with the boys and the dogs with all of the snow! Staying inside, playing games and watching movies only lasts so long.

Spring is coming and we will get the groundhog's prediction on Tuesday. Here's hoping for an early and long spring!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Saturday, January 30, 2016

An Evening with Garth Brooks


Garth Brooks concert
January 29, 2016
Royal Farms Arena, Baltimore
 I last attended a Garth Brooks concert was almost 20 years ago, during April 1996, at an arena in Landover, Maryland, that no longer exists.

It was worth the wait. Some things, like fine wines, get better with age and maturity. 


The Line Waiting to get into the Arena for
Garth Brooks
January 29, 2016
Garth Brooks is one of those things.

The setlist from last night shows the diversity of the music and the experience. I was amazed that there were 33 songs on the setlist because it seemed to rush by so quickly. During April 1996, according to the records that I can find, there were only 22 songs on the setlist! And they were not so nearly diverse.

Garth is a showman and he connects with the crowd. I felt that he was truly dedicated to ensuring everyone in the arena had a great time with his music. Like he said, he was going to do all the old songs that everyone knew--and he did. 


Garth Brooks
Royal Farms Arena
January 29, 2016
People had lined up well in advance of the concert to get inside and I stood in line for about 30 minutes. I was glad that I was not disappointed. I have read reports of performers who play the setlist while watching the clock waiting for the concert to end. Garth definitely did not do that. He was on stage and fully engaged the entire time, with the exception of when Trisha Yearwood sang a few of her hits,  demonstrating the showmanship the took him to the top of his craft during the late 1990's. 


Garth Brooks
Royal Farms Arena
January 29, 2016
He is back. He has been back for a while now, but last evening was his inaugural concert in Baltimore! I know, he was supposed to perform last weekend but the blizzard forced a reschedule and so I was at his first ever performance in Charm City, AKA, Baltimore.

There are four more concerts left for Baltimore to enjoy. The energy and the excitement are difficult for any entertainer to match and my recommendation is simply--get tickets and go see Garth!

Whatever the cost, the show is worth it.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday, January 29, 2016

January Slips Away


Amazingly, January 2016 is almost complete. It is hard to believe that the New Year just began and we have already completed the first month of the year. 

Yay!

From the Blizzard
The recent blizzard and ensuing nor'easter snowfall have made getting out of January something to be remembered.

The Presidential olympics have been amped up to deafening levels and the candidates do not seem to understand--I don't want them to talk louder, or meaner, I want them to show leadership and support for the Constitution!

Primary season begins in ernest on Monday (which, according to my calendar in February 1st). It is time for the voters to begin to narrow the field a bit, or as they say in the livestock business: thin the herd.

It has been a fast January, and it is hard to believe that the decision making time is finally arriving after more than a year of posturing and positioning.

Why am I excited about February? Baseball begins again, of course. Spring Training starts with the arrival of the teams and the excitement of a new season. January was standing between the beginning of the year and Spring Training--and now that impediment has been removed. I long to hear the words, 'Play Ball!"

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Into the Electoral Fray


The drama is almost underwhelming. Trump is passing on the final Republican debate before the Iowa caucasus. 

I am appalled that the other candidates are not seeing the advantage that this gives them and are complaining about his absence.

Instead of bashing other candidates, they should be taking the opportunity to clearly state what they believe in and how they will uphold the Constitution.

That does not seem to be happening. 

I want a President who, despite what they personally believe, recognizes diversity and will uphold the Constitution. That means acknowledging differences and allowing dissension. 

Trump comes across as not been able to handle dissension. Our president should not be surrounded with "yes" people. His whole reason for not attending the debate is predicated on that idea that someone wasn't fair to him. Stop whining! Lot's of people aren't fair--that is the root of dissent and disagreement. 

Other candidates are small minded because the want to bash Trump rather than describe what they believe in and stand for.

We are a society in disarray.

We want to elect people who will cater to our individual biases.

We need a uniter, and not a divider!

E pluribus unum! Out of many, one. 

Remember that!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Snow Plow Freedom


The Street before the Plow
It may seem like a very small thing. A snow plow finally opened the street in front of my house yesterday morning at about 7 AM. With that important event, the neighborhood could begin to find an ending to the "historic" storm.

When the morning began, although it was dark, the street was jammed with ice and snow. The driveway was open, but there was nowhere to go. 

Snow Plow Salvation
And then--out of the pre-dawn darkness it appeared. The sounds of scraping and flashing yellow lights. I imagine the entire neighborhood cheered. I know I did. Freedom from the snowy prison was in sight.

And then, of course, the real work began. Clearing the plow snow form the drives. It was a funny scene late on Monday. The driveways were clear to the pavement which was drying, yet about 30 inches of snow presented anyone form actually going anywhere. Yesterday, after the plow cleared the street, the job was to remove the snow dams remaining in the driveway to allow full access to the street. My neighbor and I started up the street with her snow blower and began clearing the driveways. 

It felt good to work up a sweat, and having to take my coat off, by freeing our neighbors from the snow.

And then it was off to work to resume some normalcy and make Winter Storm Jonas a by-line in the history books.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Surviving a Snow Day


Snow Days, when I am trapped in the house because the roads are impassable, happen only rarely. It is interesting what I find to do to fill the time.

To pass the time, Chris and I decided to watch the birds. 

Chris put some peanuts atop the snow pile on the deck hoping that  the blue jays would come and feast. It was a nice diversion. The sky was blue and the sun was bright.

We had pulled out all of the cameras and video gear that we own and laid in wait for the blue jays to arrive--and they did!

They are cautious birds, but fun to watch as they begin to get familiar and comfortable with a situation. Even after we had put the dogs out, they quickly came back once the dogs were inside.

Of course, at the feeders there were some "non-birds" doing their best to snatch a snack. Squirrels are creative creatures. This one almost was posing for the event, looking straight into the camera. But, undeterred, it continued feeding.

I retrieved my GoPro and took some video of the blue jays arriving and departing. I admit, it is not a great video but it took over an hour to process and edit and that helped take use some of the time I had with precious little else to do.



Something to enjoy.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday, January 25, 2016

Monday Musings - January 25, 2016


Blue Jay at the Feeder during the Storm
1. In addition to the birds we enjoy feeding, bird feeders can bring unwanted visitors as well. We had to witness a hawk feeding on one of the mourning doves that had come to our feeder during the storm. Nature is hard.

2. Yesterday morning, a deer had made a nest under one of our trees in the snow. It stayed there for most of the morning until the dogs began to get worked up.

Mockingbird at the Feeder during the Storm
3. As computers get easier to use, they become harder to understand.

4. Someday I'm going to own a car that will drive to me when I summon it. 

5. Update from the storm--the street in front of the house has not yet been cleared. There is 30 inches of snow in it meaning that I am not going anywhere. Even the Jeeps get stuck because of lack of ground clearance.

6. Leading the news again this morning, at least in the Baltimore-DC region is the storm and the clean-up. Ill equipped as the region is to handle this much snow, it could take all week to get back to normal--and then there is another storm on the horizon.

7. The Washington Post called the storm "Snowzilla."

8. It was 11 degrees this morning. Ugh! I guess winter just wants to remind me which season is currently driving the bus.

9. I thought we could all use a joke this morning, and so from Joke of the Day, here it is:

A blonde goes to her doctor and says that every time she drinks a coffee her eye hurts. The doctor prepared her a hot, fresh cup of coffee to see what really happens. She took a sip of the coffee and screamed, "Ouch, that hurts!" The doctor said, "I know your problem." The blonde asked, "Is it bad, doctor?" The doctor replied, "No, you just need to take your spoon out of your cup before you drink your coffee."

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Dawn After the Storm


Looking up the Driveway
January 24, 2016
I had the dogs out this morning and was able to enjoy the pre-dawn clear sky. I saw stars and the moon which was casting its light upon the white world.

The snow finally stopped falling overnight and the wind has ceased creating drifts across the land as well. The snowfall totals across the area ranges from 20 to 30 inches. Officially, the snowfall total made the storm the biggest in history with over 29 inched of snow falling. Scary enough, as they were showing the top five storms of all time, I have been living here for four of them. The only top five storm that I wasn't here for occurred during 1922.

I Need to Clean the Truck
January 24, 2016
The fire is no longer crackling in the fireplace, I need to start one.

The biggest positive from surviving the storm is that for the past couple days the news media has been solely focused upon the weather and not the political olympics. It has been a much needed respite from the constant droning and sniping of the candidates 

That written, the news media have been describing the storm as both epic and historic. Fortunately, they did predict it and we are warm and fully stocked with food. Locally we are calling the storm snow-zilla!

Another day and more shoveling. Our street has not yet been plowed and so there is no where that I can go whether I need to or not.

I will enjoy the snow day.

From the bulls-eye of the now departed storm.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Saturday, January 23, 2016

As the Storm Rages


We thought it was ending, but not.




The storm has been raging for almost 24 hours and it seems to have intensified. At least the blowing has gotten worse. It is about 2:45 PM on Saturday. I can almost see where we shoveled 14 inches of snow earlier along the fence line.

We are calling it Snow-Zilla. Sitting in then house watching the storm rage while listening to The Beach Boys with a fire in the fireplace.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

From the Bullseye of the Storm


Yes, lest those of you not in the Baltimore-Washington region wonder--it is snowing!


As the Storm Begins
January 22, 2016
A lot. Hard! Continuously.

We have had lightening and thunder during the snow as well. I wonder why we usually write it "thunder and lightening" since it is the lightening that causes the thunder?


Morning
January 23, 2016
We cleared about 3-4 inches from the driveway last night hoping to make today's efforts somewhat easier. It was a nice 30 minute test run for today so we could understand how much fun clearing snow form the driveway isn't!

It is just socked in. I'm glad I don't have to travel, unlike some of our family who are returning from an enjoyable Caribbean cruise and trying to fly into the region which is paralyzed by the snow!

Plan for the day? Hunker down and stay warm. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday, January 22, 2016

Snowpocalypse Continued


The snow from Winter Storm Jonas has not yet begun to blanket the region and already schools are closing and panic is ensuing.

If we really get 30 inches of snow, it may be 3 days before my street is plowed! Seriously.

It is all supposed to arrive starting later today. 

It is supposed to be messy. Really messy!

Winds tomorrow are expected to reach 50 miles per hour. 

Blizzard warnings have been posted. 

Groceries have been laid in. 

Wood gathered from the pile and staged in the garage. 

Bring it on! OK, I was really looking ride out the storm in Key West, but the tickets were too expensive.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thursday, January 21, 2016

First Major Snow of the Season


Winter Storm Jonas is coming.

Expected Storm 22-24 January 2016
I was afraid that that a storm would eventually arrive to reinforce the hold of the season upon the region and it is coming in the form of Winter Storm Jonas according to the weather forecasters.

Jonas, expected to become a Nor'easter of epic proportions, is expected to slam into the region beginning tomorrow snarling travel and making life generally miserable. The grocery store shelves across the area are already showing signs of binge buying as people scurry to ensure they have enough essential supplies to endure two or three days of cabin fever.

I know that some areas, perhaps Buffalo, NY, look at 12-24" of snow and laugh considering it to be minor snow flurries, but in this region we consider it to be accumulations of apocalyptic proportions. Real "end of the world" stuff.

I'd like to say it is fun; however, it certainly will destroy any weekend plans that I had. I worry doubt travelers--for instance family members returning from a Caribbean cruise who my become stranded in Orlando. Well, hurt me, there are a lot worse places to be stranded and I myself once had to ride out a northeast snowstorm in Orlando. 

Well, with my bed imitation of a staunch New Englander, I say bring it on. Give me your best shot because I'm pretty sure I'll still be standing when the snow clears and springtime arrives.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Signs in the Sky


For centuries, millennia even, mankind has looked to the heavens to foretell events on transpiring here on Earth. 

There are now only eight real planets with the demotion of Pluto.
Nonetheless, five of the seven planets (not counting Earth because we are standing on it) are going to be visible in the morning sky fro about 45 minutes before dawn (weather permitting) for the next almost two months.

That is pretty spectacular. 

A New York Times article, Prepare for a Celestial Spectacle as Five Planets Align, describes how to find and view the event. If you have a cellphone, perhaps Heavens-Above can help you find and view the aligned planets. 

Perhaps you can divine what amazing event will be related to the alignment of the planets.

Have a look, it is another fantastic event brought to you by the creator if the universe!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Journeys--Beginning and Endings


I made an interesting calculation. Taking the years I have lived in my house and figuring that I probably travel in or out of my driveway about 4 times per day--on average, some days more and some less, I figured out that I have made about 22,000 journey beginnings or endings.

My Driveway--During a Warmer Season
The is an incredible number, and its accuracy is almost irrelevant.

When I think about 22,000 trips across my driveway in a car it reinforces the whole idea that "a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."

And yet yesterday, there were no trips across my driveway. It was cold and we just did not have anywhere that we needed to go. There was a fire in the fireplace and small projects to be accomplished around the house. 

As I reflected on all of the journeys that began or ended in my driveway, I realized that despite their distance, it is almost always good to be home when the trip is complete. Even if the car is full of groceries than need to be unloaded.

While some people maintain that it is about the journey and not the destination, I'm not sure that I agree. I am a big fan of getting home.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
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