Reflections of a Golf Weekend

This past weekend I was blessed to be able to play 72 holes of golf on four different Florida golf courses. Three were in Bradenton and one was in Fort Myers. 

Me Beginning my Tee Shot

In the two days since returning home, I have not even unpacked my golf clubs because I have been so busy. 

During our time together away, some pretty funny things were said and some fun situations arose.

Some of the best quotes from the trip include:

"You broke the tee box." 

"Gravity is like Santa, it only works if you believe."

Jeremy Deciding on a Club

"I know the ball had to come down somewhere, because if it didn't we have bigger problems."

"That was a great shot, right up until it wasn't."

"Where's the green? It's not even in the same time zone."

"The van that Budget gave us is like the Tartan Prancer."

Of course the Tartan Prancer is the fictitious vehicle from the most recent Vacation movie. Our Ford van was big, bulky, but surprisingly agile. The problem was that while big, the interior space was not easily reconfigurable and we had trouble getting four people, four golf bags, and associated suitcases stowed.

About the golf courses. 

Eagle Ridge Golf Club, Fort Myers. Well maintained and a tough course. Lot's of water, but generally wide fairways and well maintained greens. Bring extra balls. Club house is nice and the staff helpful. Great location near the stadium and the airport. I highly recommend playing this course mid-Sunday morning as we had the the place to ourselves, it seemed. This is one of the few courses where I was advised to drive the cart on the fairway! Awesome, I can do that!

Waterlefe Golf and River Club, Bradenton, Florida. Well maintained and the greens were great. A beautiful course with nice views and tough but fair holes. Pace of play was good. Some of the fairways were narrow which made for interesting golf. 

12th Green at The Preserve at Tara

Preserve Golf Club at Tara, Bradenton, Florida. I was disappointed in the assistance with getting started. After paying the greens fees, we were left on our own to find the first tee. Never saw a marshall and there was a very slow group in front who finally let us play though on the 12th hole. Admittedly, we did have an afternoon tee time. The greens were in adequate condition, but needed work. 

Rosedale Golf & Country Club, Lakewood Ranch, Florida. This was the first club we played on the trip and it was probably the best maintained. The marshall was everywhere and kept the pace of the game moving--which was great. We felt a bit pushed, but were always right behind the group in front of us. Excellent greens and good tee boxes. Most of the fairways are tight with houses close by. A great course, but probably not the best choose as the first course after not playing for the winter.

And there it is. A quick recap of the courses and our golf experience.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Out the Hotel Window - Sarasota, Florida

I am actually astonished about how little I have been traveling recently. I have become pretty much of a home-body; not traveling far from with the exception of trips to Ithaca. 

Out the Hotel Window - Sarasota, FL

Last week when I arrived in Sarasota to golf and attend a few Orioles Spring Training games, I was excited that I could again get an image of life outside the hotel window. 

As it turns out, I waited until my second morning to snap the image, but it turned out to be a great day. The Orioles won their first game of the Spring Training campaign. 

I was disappointed in the window of the hotel room  however. It was dirty and I was afraid that the image would not be as vibrant a the scene that I was viewing. I do enjoy the sunrise and the opportunities that begin with each new day. 

Not seen in the image, as it was captured, is the large play tree right outside the window that I enjoyed looking at. Palm trees are a good symbol for me that I am far enough south. 

The clouds in the sky turned into a blessing as the day wore on and I spent time on a golf course. The clouds kept the temperatures moderate and the breeze made the game enjoyable. 

It was, as it turned out, a great day. And it all began by looking at the world outside the hotel window.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - March 14, 2016

1. My short baseball and golf vacation has ended. When can I do it again? I can't believe I played 72 holes of golf and saw three Spring Training games in four days while also flying into and out of Florida!

Orioles spring Training Parking Lot Sign

2. Today's high in Baltimore will be 17 degrees lower than this morning's low in Sarasota.

Getting a Toddler through an Airport

3. March Madness is underway. Don't forget to pick your bracket for the biggest tournament in basketball.

4. Saw this sign in an Orioles Spring Training parking lot. I'm not sure exactly how these two go together. I've never tried playing golf from a motorcycle, I wonder how that works?

5. Coming back through BWI last evening as I was getting a dose of weather reality from the cool temperatures and cold rain, I saw this creative way of getting a toddler through an airport.

6. Don't change your drink order mid-thought. I wanted to order a large diet cola but changed my mind while talking and it came out: "Can I have a large diet . . . water?" I have created the next fad: Diet Water!

DirecTV Blimp over Eagle Ridge Golf Club
Fort Myers, Florida
March 13, 2016

Pileated Woodpecker

7. While on the golf course yesterday, I thought it just a bit creepy that a blimp kept stalking me through the trees. I wonder if I was secretly being televised.

8. I found more critters on the golf course yesterday, but this time is was a rarer sight as a pileated woodpecker posed for me. It was very busy getting breakfast.

9. Matt Wieters' elbow seems to just sore and need more strengthening. That is good! He left Saturday's game after the first inning.

10. Have you noticed that Donald Trump blames someone else for his problems? Now he is blaming Sanders supporters for problems at his rallies. Really? How does that make sense?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

In the Win Column Again

Ed Smith Stadium
March 12, 2016

The Orioles made it into the win column for the first time this Spring Training yesterday.

Ny Spring Training trip mission is accomplished!

Hopefully the Orioles new found winning ways will continue today with another win in Fort Myers against the Twins!

I did briefly meet General Manager, Dan Duquette, yesterday. Seriously, it was a brief hello and hand shake at the stadium and we mentioned hoping for a good season from the team and I felt that they had the players and staff to every successful.

Getting Ready for the Game

That is one of the great things about going to Spring Training, you never know who you are going to meet while prowling the stadium. 

To recap the game, the Orioles starting pitcher, Ubaldo Jimenez, allowed a run early in the top of the first inning and over the course of the game the Orioles scored eight unanswered runs to make the final score 8-1. It was exciting to be there for the first win of the campaign.

The concern of the day was when catcher Matt Wieters left the game after the first inning with elbow soreness and given his recent surgery there is come cause for concern. The tests should be back today on the elbow. I noted that on the one throw to second to stop a steal that his throw was unusually high. 

The pitchers who relieved Ubaldo did their jobs and included some of the ones I expect to see back at Camden Yards once the season begins and included Zach Britton and Darren O'Day who each pitched one scoreless inning. 

It was a great baseball day with a nice breeze and temperatures in the mid-80's. 

Do I have to come home?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Critters on the Course

Golfing in Florida is different than golfing in Maryland, by a long shot.

Jeremy and Mike in the Tee Box

Yesterday, my traveling companions and I, played 36 holes of golf on two different courses. During that span, we spied a couple dangerous critters but also enjoyed the antics of many more harmless ones. 

A Small Gator Guarding a Water Feature
on a Golf Course

There are two rules that I adhere to when golfing in Florida. The first is never reach in to the water to retrieve a ball no matter how placid the water seems. Every water feature comes complete with its own alligator. The gators are always watching. OK, I did get one out of the water yesterday, but I made sure there were no large reptiles within a good distance.

Watching the Birds on the Course

Second--since snakes do inhabit the underbrush, don't go poking around with your hand. Use a club.

But those rules written, there are al to of fun critters to enjoy while golfing. The sand cranes man a sound like a dinosaur and can be a bit unnerving, but they seem relatively harmless.

The most important rule, however, is to have fun and play good golf!

-- Bob Doan, writing from Sarasota, Florida

Orioles Training

BWI Preparing for a Pre-Dawn Departure

I arrived in Sarasota well in enough time for lunch and a ball game yesterday. Thankfully, the flight from Baltimore to Tampa was on time, even early.

I thought the view in the morning light was especially interesting with the sunrise behind the jet that carried me south. It is amazing what 2 hours and a few minutes can do to change the temperature and the scenery.

View from the Standing Room Only Seats
Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota, FL
March 10, 2016

Those of us traveling together arrived in Florida with the idea that we could bring some magic into the 0-9-1 start and even more importantly break the string of 9 consecutive losses. And we did, partly. The Orioles did not lose, but they tied the team whose  name shall remain unspoken from up north. That was a good thing. The stadium was sold out for the game and that always makes it exciting when a large crowd is on hand to view a contest.

Manny Machado and Adam Jones Warming Up

We had the opportunity to see many of players and even saw one of the Orioles new acquisitions get his first ever hit off U.S. major league pitching! That was exciting.

Even though it ended in a tie, the game was exciting. The weather was fantastic--a strong breeze kept the temperatures feeling cool.

Observation. The Orioles bats are still coming around. They had a lot of hits but could not string them together to secure enough runs to win the game.

It was a great day to be in Sarasota, Florida.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Sarasota, Florida

Buds on the Trees

Well, I thought Tuesday was great with temperatures in the 70's, but yesterday was even better. The temperatures crested 80 degrees and I wore shorts for the first time this season.

It was awesome to be outside and enjoy both the warmth and the sunlight.

While I was tracking down an errant golf ball, I discovered buds on the trees behind the house.

They were a little blurry--but they were definitely emerging from the winter slumber to restore green to the scenery.

Today marks the beginning of my southern sojourn for baseball and golf.  Be advised, I expect to be writing about mostly those topics for the next couple of days. I may be lucky enough to see the Orioles get their first Spring Training win. The are still mired at a dismal 0-9-1. I am excited about seeing Chris Tillman, our pitching ace get the start today.

Even with less than successful baseball, Spring is here. We moved some of the plants outside to enjoy the sunshine and warmth. I want the weather to continue.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Springtime Arrived

The temperature climbed to 77 degrees yesterday. It was the region's first foray into the 70's since Christmas! We had a beautiful Christmas day, but since then it has been nothing short of miserable.

Cat in the Gym Parking Lot

I was happy to enjoy the temperatures outside, despite having a racquetball match in the evening. So no, I didn't get out to swing my clubs in preparation for my upcoming trip. I could have some ugly golf outings. 

One of the things I did treat myself to was driving in Cat with the top down! I love to take that initial image of Cat once the weather warms enough for a drive. Actually, we had the top down in late February for an afternoon, but that was pushing it a but. I feel like it is really Spring now!

Spring Peeper

It was awesome to feel the warm breeze in my hair as I sped down the parkway. 

Last evening on my way home from the gym, I even heard the peepers beginning their springtime songs. 

Springtime has arrives--and not a bit too early for my way of thinking. Looking at the weather forecasts, the region is not expected to be below 40 at least the next 10 days! I need to get some of the wintering plants outside to get used to the sun again!

I can almost hear the mower revving up in the shed.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Another Day--Another Loss

The Orioles are perfect in Spring Training games. they haven't won yet and the prospects are not good for the inaugural win to happen anytime soon. 

Yesterday, with the most of the expected regular season starting lineup in the game, they were shut out 3-0 by the Twins. The O's are 0-7 (not counting one tie on the first game of the Spring Training session).

It is dismal and probably will not do a lot to sell opening day tickets when they go on sale next week.


I know it is Spring Training and I know the games are more to see who can play and who can't, but I'd like to see something other than another loss posted on the scoreboard. I am going to see the team in person on Thursday against the team that shall remain nameless form up north; I'd dearly like to beat that team--just because! Turns out, I think the game will be broadcast on MASN back to the Baltimore area! Hopefully I can get on camera!!

On the other hand, the temperature was 77 degrees at Ed Smith Stadium for the game yesterday. It was only in the low-60's here. And I know the palm trees were dancing in the 18 mph breeze!

So does it really matter if the team loses, but I am baking in the bright sun with an adult drink in my hand watching the palm trees dance?

Yes, it really does matter.

Let's Go O's!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - March 7, 2016

1. March has arrived. Warmer temperatures in the 70's are in the forecast! Springtime may actually be here.

2. No good deed goes unpunished.

Jackson Turns 8

3. It is amazing how paint can be rejuvenating and therapeutic.

4. Happy Birthday Jackson. You're 8!

5. I did not attend any basketball games this weekend. I did, however, attend two birthday parties.

Ronald and Nancy Regan

6. Did anyone else notice that the Orioles are winless thus far during the Spring Training campaign?

7. With the death of Nancy Reagan yesterday, an era as ended. Ronald and Nancy Reagan were a class act as President and First Lady and they brought a resurgence to America that we are searching for again.

8. Peyton Manning is expected to announce his retirement from the NFL today. He had a great career and won two Super Bowls. 

9. Does anyone else think that watching an episode of Caribbean Life on HGTV during March makes them feel warmer?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Crazy Busy Day

No good deed goes unpunished.

I have heard that phrase repeatedly during my adult work life. It seems that it also applies to home life as well.

Newly Painted Family Room

Yesterday was a Saturday with nothing specific planned. That meant painting the family room! We had purchased two gallons of our new favorite color a few weeks ago, but had not yet had time to change the wall color. 

Yesterday was the day! And the painting went well. So well that we were also planning of refreshing the trim as well--right up until water began pouring out from under the kitchen sink after the brushes were washed.

Newly Installed Faucet

What seemed like a simple leak quickly turned into a trip to Lowe's and a $10 repair to the sprayer hose became a $350 new faucet assembly! I have to admit the existing faucet did have a drip, too and needed some work. I did have a lot of fun working under the sink installing the new faucet. To begin with, it took over an hour to get the old faucet deconstructed. 

But the new one is installed and fully functional. A new sink may be coming soon, but fortunately, Lowe's did not have the desired replacement in stock! 

By the end of the day a simple job devoted to painting the family room quickly became a new faucet! What a day!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Last Snow of the Season

Yesterday I woke up to the world repainted by the brush strokes of snow highlighting the trees and bushes. 

I am not a fan of snow, but nearly everyone I talked to during the day stopped for a moment to appreciate the beauty of the snow on the branches of the trees. Even I, a person who finds few redeeming qualities in snow, thought the scenes played out before me were especially pretty. I enjoyed the constantly changing landscape during my drive to work.

I think it was the clear, wet roads and sidewalks framed by the trees covered with the white snow that made the scene so stark and enjoyable. I took the images in the predawn light, but the day became more beautiful as the sun rose.

I am glad that I was able to enjoy the beauty, which lasted for only a few hours. 

And now it is gone!

I was a fitting end to winter! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Too Much Reality TV

Yes, I watched some of the most recent Republican debate last evening. I compare it to the "Gunfight at the OK Corral." There were definitely a lot of shots fired.

And then there were four
March 3, 2016

The four remaining Republican candidates took to the airwaves again to enlighten us as to why we should elect them President in November. 

For three of the men, the evening can be summed up in the following paragraph extracted from the New York Times article titled, In Republican Debate, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio Wage Urgent Attacks on Donald Trump

At times, the face-off in Detroit also deteriorated into the kind of junior high school taunts that have startled many Republican elders but have done little to dent Mr. Trump’s broad appeal. As Mr. Trump and Mr. Rubio traded insults over their manhood, Mr. Trump recalled Mr. Rubio’s innuendo that Mr. Trump’s “small hands” correlated with another part of his anatomy.

My Take? Unless these guys can stop slandering each other and begin to propose solid mean to get our dysfunctional government working again, I am pretty much done with all three of them. 

The only candidate on the stage who has meaningful proposals was largely overlooked in the media bloodbath that the media would have us believe is a debate. He was mentioned only once in the article I referenced above.

The fourth candidate, Gov. John Kasich of Ohio, who has positioned himself as the positive-sounding and seasoned executive in the race, largely stuck to that strategy. But Mr. Kasich, who is lagging far behind Mr. Trump and the other candidates, struggled to leave a mark in the debate.

Gov Kasich left his mark by not lowering himself into the mudslinging into which the debates and the campaigning have degenerated. Sadly, I am sure he will soon be out of the race.

The media and the candidates have allowed the presidential primary season to become a reality TV show.

It is reality and it is just as bad as any other reality show currently being offered, the problem is--this one has real consequences not just for our country, but for the world.

My Take: We need substance and not sensationalism to help us elect the next leader of the free world!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Boys of Summer Return

Grapefruit League Scores March 2, 2016
Washington Post

Yesterday, for the second day in a row, I was able to check the baseball scores and find that games had been played! It made me happy.

The results don't make me particularly happy, but the idea that I can check the scores and see that Major League Baseball Spring Training games had been played warmed me against the steadily falling temperatures that I experienced yesterday.

Even better? Next week I will be climbing onto a Southwest Airlines 737 and heading to the warmth of South Florida to experience some of the games in person!

Since I have been to both of the stadiums in which I will be watching games, I know what to expect and that is simply--bright sunshine, blue skies, and the need to apply copious amounts of sunscreen! 

To say that I am excited is an understatement. The idea of getting away to Florida to enjoy an early taste of Springtime is very appealing. I am already beginning to think about wearing shorts, flip flops, and short sleeve shirts. Although, as I look at the temperature forecasts, the highs in Sarasota are projected to be 79-81 degrees while in Elkridge, the highs are going to be relatively warm topping out in the 60's and low 70's. 

But Florida has palm trees! And baseball! And Golf! and Sunshine!

Baseball is warming up in the bullpen, and with it the return of summer, pools, and outdoor living.

Maybe the groundhog was right about an early Spring!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Year in Space

Scott Kelly has returned to Earth! Safely. That may not seem like such a big deal to most of us, but for him I believe the readjustment is going to be interesting. 

As reported by the New York Times in the article titled, Scott Kelly, American Astronaut, Returns to Earth after 340 Days in Space,  Scott set a record for consecutive days in space by an American. Couples with his other trips off the planet, he has spent 540 days in space.

I can only imagine how it feels to be reacquainted with gravity.  Going from the relative freedom of microgravity and back to full gravity will likely take some adjustment. I wonder how long it takes a body to fully recover so that every step or breath is not painful?

Scott Kelly's Last Tweet from Space
The Sunrise

It was written that he observed 10,944 sunrises and sunsets! That is almost 30 years worth of sunrises and sunsets in less than a year! That would, in an of itself, be a spectacular experience. Living in a container for almost a year, however, is not something that I long to do, even with the incredible view. I have come to appreciate the smell of the morning and the feeling of the breeze upon my face.

Scott Kelly is an American hero! We have forgotten the time when astronauts received ticker-tape parades through New York City and the entire country celebrated their achievements. I believe we have become too focused upon the mundane and the political upheavals to allow our imaginations to soar away from the planet anymore even as the possibilities are becoming reality.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Super Tuesday

Arundel Park Golf Range
February 29, 2016

March has arrived! I cannot believe that it is already the third month of the year, although I am happy to bid farewell to February. What a crazy month it was. From frigid temperatures to top-down-driving-with-your-hair-on-fire sunshine splashed warmth to close out the month.

Arundel Park

I regret that I was not able to get in a round of golf during the month, although yesterday I did make it to the practice range for a few bucket to begin trying to get my swing in shape before next week's golf trip to Florida. I was surprised that the range was empty. I even found a rare left-handed tee box right in the front of the entry instead of having to go all the way to one end.

But on to today--it is Super Tuesday. I'm not sure why they decided to call today's primary extravaganza "Super" and not "Insane" or something like that, but I already know what will dominate the news. I wished I lived in a state that was holding its primary today and that way it would all be over except the shouting. 

I am not going to make a prediction about the outcome of today's primary voting except to say that I believe one clear candidate will emerge for each party and that the rest of the primaries will be dedicated to confirming that candidates ability to win the primary on the first vote during this summer's conventions.

I remain disappointed over the media coverage and the debates.I do not believe that the American people get to adequately examine all of the candidates when the media coverage is provided commensurate with the shock effect of the individual candidates. In my estimation, each of the top five candidates (3 Republican and 2 Democrat) have significant deficits which make them less than optimal choices to be President.  

It is time to choose! I wish I could go golfing.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - February 29, 2016

1. Happy Leap Day! It is February 29th!

Snow Along the Fence of my Yard

2. Small patches of snow remain around my yard from the last big snow. I hope they are gone soon.

3. Daylight saving time returns in two short weeks! 

Wine and Munchies on a Saturday
Fauquier county Wine Tasting & Competition

4. One great was to spend an afternoon is with friends judging wines at a competition. We had a great time at this year's Fauquier County Wine Tasting and Competition. 

5. I discovered that Virginia has ceased production of its annual wine trail map and that it is only available via the web. While I laud their use of electronics, I have been at more than one Virginia winery without internet service which will make it hard to get to another winery.

6. I saw this sign at a local Middle School yesterday. It embodies the idea of "closed more often to serve you better."

7. The youth basketball season ended yesterday for Ethan and Jackson. I witnessed two close and exciting games. One saw the what would have been the winning basket hit the rim and fall away after the buzzer sounded and the other saw a flurry of shots all miss which cemented a win after five scoreless minutes in the final period.

February 28, 2016
Enjoying the Afternoon as it Passes into Evening

8.  I have been attending many youth games this past year but it wasn't until the Dad that coaches Jackson's basketball team looked at me in the hallway yesterday and said, "it's baseball season now, over to you," that it really struck me that I am not just an observer but an active participant in teaching sports to young and active people. 

9. Golf season is getting close, I was hitting balls yesterday and feeling good about my swing. 

10. Sipping wine around the fire table at the end of a beautiful day which saw the convertible being driven with the top down. What a great way for February to meld into March.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Democratic Primary Reflections

I watched the results from South Carolina's primary pour in last evening and I was struck by the lopsided results.

Results from Democratic Primary in South Carolina | InsideGov

What bothers me is the emphasis on monitoring the results across ethnicities. I have been concerned all along about the way particular candidates seem to be targeting specific ethnic groups. 
CNN reporting in an article titled Hillary Clinton crushes Bernie Sanders in South Carolina: 5 takeaways this morning provided some initial analysis of Clinton's recent Nevada and South Carolina victories. Some excerpts:

Clinton's firewall of minority support held, helping her seal a close contest in Nevada and then turn South Carolina into her first dominant win of the 2016 race.

South Carolina's electorate climbed from 55% African-American in 2008 to 62% in 2016. And the vast majority of those voters -- 84% -- backed Clinton, according to exit polls.

This type of campaigning is also happening in the Republican primaries, however, with five candidates still in the race it does not seem as evident.

It seems that the campaign is becoming a race for race.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A New Strategic Bomber for the Air Force

The Air Force has been discussing a new long range bomber for a few year now. They finally released a concept diagram of the bomber and it is diagrammed in a CNN article.  I have to say, it looks a lot like something that we already have. 

B-52G Taking Off

Supposedly, this bomber will finally be a replacement for the venerable and old B-52. The new bomber has been dubbed B-21. I wish I could understand the Air Force numbering system. There is a B-1, a B-2, a B-52, and the new bomber is B-21? Why not B-3? Or B-53? I know, it probably means that it is the bomber for the 21st century and if history is any guide, it will probably be flying into the 22nd century.

B-2 Bomber

According to another article, the Air Force wants to have 100 of the B-21's flying by the mid-2020's to replace the B-1B's and B-52H's. Good luck with that. Note, the B-52H is the only version of the B-52 remaining in operations, but I am kind of partial to the B-52G since those were the versions of the bomber being flown by the bombardment wing to which I was assigned as a young lieutenant in the Air Force.

Well, I guess we do need a new design for the 21st century. Oops, I though I wrote new design? The new bomber looks a lot like an old bomber. I wonder why?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Another Debate--More of the Same

The debate season remains in full swing, and they all seem to be the same. Last evening the Republicans held another in an unnumbered series of debates. 

The back biting continues.

Who of these people really deserves our votes to be president?

Someone needs to propose a plan. 

How come it seems that thing new ever comes out of these debates. I wonder if any of the candidates actually debated during school?

These debates are more like an afternoon fights behind the high school stadium between bullies--no rules and no intelligence required.

I was disappointed last evening to hear the reality TV programming continue. As I read the news assessments of who won, I remain disappointed that the winner was decided by assessing which candidate was able to tear apart the other candidates and not based upon which candidate laid out the best vision for the country.

I suppose the debates will continue, they do provide some sideshow comedic relief on an otherwise dark and gloomy night.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Dark and Stormy night

"It was a dark and stormy night . . . " I seem to remember Snoopy starting many stories with this phrase and never finishing it.

Last evening was truly dark and stormy. We were out in the worst of it driving home from a local restaurant. 

How do you know it is raining hard?

1. The rain comes down in torrents. (I never really knew what a torrent was until last evening)

2. The rain looks like it is running uphill.

3. The tail lights of the car in front are almost visible. 

4. The lines on the road are invisible.

5. The person in the passenger seat asks if the headlights are on.

I receive emergency notices from the county and my phone was blowing-up last night. Between the tornado watch, thunderstorm warning, and flood warnings it was difficult to concentrate on dinner. Even though I had the sound turned off, the phone was still vibrating in my pocket every few seconds as the storm raged around us while we were in the restaurant. 

Where does the phrase "It was a dark and stormy night . . . " come from? 

According to Wikipedia, the phrase comes from the original opening sentence of the novel Paul Clifford:

It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents — except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness.

.

Last night, the opening sentence was all too true, except I was in Elkridge and the flame of the lamps was in fact the glow of the headlights.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

From Under the Snow

Flowers Growing Under the Snow

As the snow melted, there they were. Hidden in a place that earlier in the week covered by a foot of snow, the green plants of springtime were waiting for the sun.

And there they were right there hidden in plain sight, waiting for me to discover them. 

They had grown under the expanse of snow, protected form the frigid cold waiting for the warmer weather, much like me.

Springtime is beginning to push winter out of the way making ready for the green again. I love the green of spring. Green is the color that goes away during the dark season. I love the green. 

I have an urge to get onto a golf course, why? Because it is green.

I want to mow my lawn, why? Because it is green!

My lawn is brown, but it too, has been growing under the snow and the warm temperatures and rain will soon return it to green--the color of life and shamrocks! Did I mention that St Patrick's Day is coming? Even sooner, I will be heading to Sarasota for palm trees and Spring Training.

There is hope for Spring because some plants were growing under the snow.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Toilet Bowl of Life

Sometimes life takes a turn and I wind up deep in the toilet. And I do not mean figuratively, either. 

I came home last evening to a slow toilet. You know there is something drastically wrong when the water doesn't rush out of the bowl. Yet, The water was moving, slowly!

Stand by for potential catastrophe. Fortunately, there were no solids in the bowl to deal with, yet.

The Offending Toilet Bowl Freshner

After significant plunging and buckets of water to increase the pressure no appreciable change was noted. It then became clear to me what I was dealing with. This was not the usual blockage caused by too much paper--no, it was something different and as I scanned the rim of the bowl I realized what it was--the bowl freshener!

Well, this would be easy then, all I needed was my snake--except my snake had been liberated for a good cause! Ugh! No good deed goes unpunished.

And of course, I had a racquetball match looming! I declared to the family that the toilet was closed for repairs and raced to Lowe's for a new snake, or as they call it an auger.  Before returning home I had a racquetball match to play which turned into a quick losing effort.

Once I returned back home, the process seemed fairly straightforward--in my mind. Sometimes things do not execute on paper the way I draw them up in my mind. But, I was successful after a few minutes in dislodging the object and restoring full flush functionality!

Sometimes those toilet bowl freshness are more work than they are worth!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - February 22, 2016

1. Today is National Margarita day. Have one for me!

2. MLB Spring Training is underway. Hooray for Springtime.

3. Sunday's can be the busiest day of the weeks. Yesterday was filled with two basketball games and an acting performance by the grandsons.

4. It came to me why I have developed a love of golf. I can watch my heroes play AND since I also play the game it is possible for me to play on some of the courses the they do. That doesn't happen in many other sports.

5. The political races are narrowing. That may not be a good thing. The leading candidates are too similar.

6. The Daytona 500 was run yesterday. I had no clue!

7. Would it upset the balance of nature if we just eradicated mosquitoes? They seem to transmit disease and little else beneficial.

8. After a taste of warmer weather this weekend, I am ready for Springtime!!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Longer Days

Friday at Dawn in Columbia, MD

I noticed it the Friday morning while leaving the fitness club after a racquetball match to start the day. It was light outside at 6:45 AM. This represents a significant change from just a few short weeks ago. 

Friday the sunrise was building in the east and the dawn was in full glorious array. Although I have to drive into the dawn and rising sun, I am not complaining because I am happy to get to work in light instead of darkness.  

Coupled with the beginning of Spring Training, the dark season is beginning to fade. The daylight up to 10 hours and 58 minutes per day, which is already 1 and 1/2 hours longer than on December's  Winter Solstice.

Of course, with the longer days comes more activity! And that is awesome. Yesterday was warm and I enjoyed doing some work outside the house. Although the lawn was soggy, it felt good to be beginning to live outside again! I am hopeful that there will be no more snow this season and we can soon slide into the early Springtime predicted by Punxsutawney Phil!

For now, I will enjoy the day at hand and revel in the lengthening days.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD