Celebrating Another Year

Birthday Cheesecake

Yesterday Chris celebrated the completion of another year since her birth. 

It was a atypically quiet day. We were able to get a few things done around the house in preparation for the coming dark days. 

She received a rousing birthday chorus during the evening as her favorite cake was served--cheesecake. The boys did an adequate job. I usually make a special New York Cheesecake, but she called it off in the interest of time because it takes about five hours for my special cake.

Birthdays are special days, although I try to avoid mine. But I believe everyone needs to be celebrated and birthday's are a natural time to celebrate.

Happy Birthday, Chris.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Reflecting on NY, NY

First Street Vendor Chili Dog

Two weekends ago, Chris and I took Ethan to NYC for a fast weekend of sightseeing and excitement.

Chris with Morgan Freeman

There were the usual sights to see, however, there were a few other things that we enjoyed that helped to make the weekend very special.

One of the most enjoyable was Ethan's first chili dog from a street vendor! He thoroughly enjoyed it and there were a few more chili dogs consumed over the weekend. It seemed, however, that none of the follow-ons were as good as the first one. But he definitely enjoyed them all.

And then there was posing with a celebrity along the street. Who knew that they were every where? And he stood still for so long. He never even moved. Of course he was wax and standing in front of Madam Tussauds.

As we happened along the street, I ran across an NHL (yes I meant to type H) store. With hockey season about to start, I had to head inside. And what did I find? They were expecting me and had a jersey already prepared with my name on it! Actually it was a replica of Shane Doan's jersey. He is captain of the Arizona Coyotes. But it was cool to see the jersey with my name on it. I would have purchased it, but it was over $400! A real game jersey.

Memories made and remembered. That is the true gift of vacations and traveling.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Weekend Arrives Again

Friday's are becoming the catch-up day of the week.

I seems to get further and further behind on normal weekdays and then, Friday magically arrives and I have time to take care of the multitude of tasks that have befallen me.

Thank goodness for Friday, the savior of the week!

I have noticed that everyone seems to be in a better mood on Friday--and that is a good thing.

I am looking forward to catch up day today! Secretly, however, I wish that it was already Saturday!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Evening Falls and the Deer Play

Whitetail Playing
Photo by Chris

Evening arrives about two minutes earlier every day and so it has become easier to be positioned around the fire pit to enjoy the darkness as it envelops the region. 

The cold temperatures, in the 40s and 50s, have made the daily string of sunrises and sunsets stunningly spectacular. I enjoy the early rays of the sunrise on my way to work and the sunsets sitting around the fire pit chatting with Chris or friends recounting the activities of the day.

Two Deer on the Edge of the Yard
Photo by Chris

Last evening was especially enjoyable as two groups of deer decided to join the evening festivities. There was a small herd of five which played in the yard near us, even with the fire going. They seemed unconcerned about Makayla, who I was holding because she wanted to run and play with them. 

It was enjoyable watching them venture into the yard and then seeing the youngest of the group actually run and jump in the open space. The senior doe of the group kept a close eye on us as we sat an talked and they eventually moved along. Shortly after that, a group of two, presumably a doe and Falene, from earlier in the year, happened by for a visit. 

Watching the deer in the yard reminded me that we share the area with other wildlife. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: the Ballot Arrives

My Sample Ballot

A copy of the Official Ballot for my voting area arrived in the mail yesterday.

The past two years of political position jockeying have melted away and the reality of the decisions the are going to be made in a few short weeks are now squarely in focus. 

The debates that weren't, the mud slinging, the ads on TV will soon be over. Since I do not live in a battleground state, I have not been subjected to the complete ferocity of the campaign. I am sure that those whose lives are tied to states like Ohio, Florida, andCalifornia are  being subjected to a never-ending tirade of advertisements. And they cannot be good.

I have heard some disparaging comments about the upcoming election, for instance. "There are 300 million people in the U.S. and these two are the best we can find for President?"

My Take: Decision time is rapidly approaching!


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Opportunity of the Day

Each day brings new opportunities for action and reflection.

Garden of Remembrance
Clarksburg, MD

I receive emails offering opportunities to buy things or change occupations almost every day. Every commercial on TV presents an opportunity. Even driving to work in the morning presents opportunities. 

What I do not get every day is the opportunity to stand at the top of a hill with a hundred other people and reflect about the meaning of life as we remember and celebrate someone who is no longer walking with us.  

It is a sobering perspective changer.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - October 10, 2016

1. Happy Columbus Day observed!

2. The weather has quickly become very October-ish. The temperature this morning is in the 40's. Brrr. It was the first 40's of the season.

3. Last evening's Presidential debate was more of a backyard brawl than a debate. 

4. The leaves are falling from my trees without ever changing color. They are just turning brown and falling. Everywhere. 

Patient Greens
October 9, 2016

5. Heading off from the 1st Tee at Patuxent Greens on a cold October morning for a round of golf. I had to wear a coat for the entire round. I long for the lazy, hazy days of summer.

6. I noted that Toronto swept the Texas Rangers in their Division playoff series. It should have been the O's sweeping the Rangers!

7. I actually got to spend a quiet weekend at home, mostly. I got yard work accomplished and I relaxed. What a concept!

8. Short work weeks usually are harder because five days of activity get crammed into four.

9. Heard this the other day: "Couches are like bathing suits, they look great in the store and then you buy them and wear them or sit on them and they no longer look as good."

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Saturday Football--In the Rain

GORC Field
October 8, 2016

It happens at least once per season, we attend a football game in the rain. It just seems to be the way autumn plays out.

Jax with the Brace on his Arm

Yesterday was homecoming for GORC and the mist and rain fell during the whole game. Jax's team lost, again. The good news is that it was not a shut-out--they did score a touchdown.

Jax made some great plays, sacking the quarterback and causing a fumble was one of the best. He continues to play with a brace now, no longer a cast, on his right arm. 

Cool Rain Gear on a Young One

We did spy a small gator on the sidelines chasing a balloon--I thought the rain gear was very cute. Ot provided some comic relief on a dreary and rainy day.

The games are a lot of fun to attend, but I have to admit, they are a lot more enjoyable when the team wins. Which has only happened once this season. I guess there are only three games left. I hope the weather holds and that the rest of the games are played under a bright autumn sun with a blue sky above.

And a win would be good, too.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Hurricane Matthew

The path of destruction through the Caribbean, especially Haiti, reminded me of the awesome and raw power of such storms. 

I was very happy when the storm track changed from moving up the Atlantic Coast into a hard right turn essentially creating a donut in the Atlantic Ocean--while my area will be spared, there are too many other places which will not be as fortunate. The destruction across Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina caused by the storm is significant. 

Those of us who have been spared need to be prepared to render assistance and aid in the wake of the storm--where ever it is needed. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Reading the Newspaper

Sliding into the end of another workweek, I almost forgot that my favorite day of the week is not Friday. Of course not! My favorite day of the week is Saturday because I usually sleep in a bit late (at least until 6AM) and get to sit on the porch, in nice weather, and read the paper with a cup of coffee.

Holding and reading an actual newspaper is a joy I experience only once or twice a week--on Saturdays and Sundays. The other days I grab my news from a quick scan of my favorite on line papers: the New York Times and the Washington Post. On Saturdays, however, the Baltimore Sun arrives at the end of my driveway and Sundays bring both the Baltimore Sun and the New York Times. Because I often golf on Sunday mornings, I cannot devote the appropriate amount of time to reading the newspapers that I would desire. 

Bring on the weekend. And as an added benefit, this weekend is a three-day weekend!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Visiting NYC During October

Statue of Liberty
October 2, 2016

It was a fast and full weekend. Chris and Ethan and I boarded a MegaBus north of Baltimore at 7:20AM on Saturday morning heading for the Big Apple. We planned to return about 10PM Sunday night. In between? As much sightseeing as we could cram into one short weekend.

Little Italy

The initial itinerary included:

Hayden Planetarium
Rockefeller Center
Times Square
Statue of Liberty
Ellis Island
Empire State Building
Macy's
Central Park
Nintendo Store

We accomplished almost all of the itinerary.  The major miss was the Planetarium--we just didn't make it there. We also had a couple alternates on the list--for instance a baseball game since the O's are in town--but, this was a weekend for Ethan and carving out four hours in the middle of the day for baseball just didn't fit in. 

The Bull of Wall Street

Ethan's First Chili Dog

On the fly, we added China Town and Little Italy, Wall Street, and the 9/11 Memorial. Lunch in Little Italy was fabulous. 

I took the image of the Bull of Wall Street because it was totally surrounded by tourists and nobody could get a good picture of it. I think it is the most popular statue, aside from the Statue of Liberty, in all of NY.

Along the way we learned to navigate the Subway--and I had to relearn that Subway is not a place to eat, but means to travel. Ethan hailed a taxi! We had a long ride to China Town from Times Square. 

Did I mention chili dogs? Ethan loves street vendor chili dogs!

A View of the Weekend Weather

The weather was a bit problematic--it was misty and overcast, but that did not dampen our spirits! Although, we did visit the Empire State Building twice to find the best weather before actually paying the incredibly high admission to go to the 86th Floor.

In the end, we made it to the NYC MegaBus stop on time and had a great ride home with many memories. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Orioles Season Finale

The Orioles went to Toronto to begin the MLB Post-season. It was a one-game play in to the division series. The game lasted 3 hours and 25 minutes--but in the end, it was over so quickly in the 11th inning.

Buck on the Game

And with its ending, so ended the Orioles season. 

The game was close and tense all night. The pitchers generally controlled the batters as the innings passed. 

The Orioles three inning-ending double plays were beautiful, saving the team and the score as the game wore on. It seemed that neither team could muster the offense necessary to score and that the game could continue well into the early morning hours.

Bluejays Manager

But in the bottom of the 11th inning, the end came quickly. The first out was a 5 pitch strikeout.  And then, a pitching change with the bases empty in a move that seemed to make a lot of sense by bringing in a starting pitcher who had been almost unhittable during the month of September to set up for a long multiple-inning ending to the game. He was the pitcher that many thought should have been given the start for the game, so it seemed like a good move.

I didn't realize then that in just five more pitches to the next three batters the game and the Orioles season would be over as a three-run homer sent the Bluejays into the next round of the post-season while sending the Orioles home. 

My playoff tickets arrived by Fedex yesterday and they will remain unused. There will be no playoff games this season at OPACY. While the ending saves me a lot of money that would have been spent on souvenirs and tickets, it is money I was looking forward to spending. The World Series ticket that came yesterday for Home Game #2, will remain unused; like all of the ones that I have received before. 

But, it is over. A season in which the Orioles were projected by many to finish last in the division ended in Toronto after the Orioles had ended tied for second place. A successful campaign, but an unsatisfying ending.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Chasing October Glory

After a 162 game regular season, the play-offs begin tonight. 

American League Post-Season Teams

The goal? To win the World Series.

The participants? The best 10 teams in baseball--and what a group it is.

From the American League: Texas, Cleveland, Boston, Toronto, and Baltimore.

National League Post-Season Teams

From the National League: Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles, New York (Mets), and San Francisco.

Back in April, when the season was young everyone dreamed of October glory and now the reality is here.

Tonight in a one-game play-in the Orioles travel to Toronto for the honor of facing Texas in the Division series. Sadly, the game is not being hosted in Baltimore, although the two teams finished with the same record, the Blue Jays won the season series 10-9 and earned the right to host the Wild Card game.

I hope that the Orioles make it to the World Series and form the National League I am cheering for the Washington Nationals. It would be really exciting to have a beltway World Series. 

The stage is set and I already have tickets for the ALDS play-off games in Baltimore if the Orioles win tonight.

Let's Go O's!! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - October 3, 2016

Ethan's First Visit to Ellis Island
Mine, Too!
Oct 2, 2016

1. Slipping in quietly with the weekend, October arrived and with it the last quarter of the year. 

2. The weather has been wet, which is a good thing.

3. The length of the day is down to 11 hours and 40 minutes in Baltimore and falling by 2 minutes and 31 seconds per day. 

9/11 Memorial
Oct 2, 2016

4. I spend a great weekend in New York City. I was made even  better because I didn't have to drive. Aside form the incredibly high parking fees and tolls, there is nothing worse than having to drive almost 4 hours home after a hard day of sightseeing. Thank you Mega Bus. 

5. Did anyone notice that the Orioles played their way into the MLB post-season? They are one of 10 teams whose World Series aspirations are still alive. 

6. It is good to revisit some famous landmarks and make an inaugural visit to others in NYC taking along a first timer to the "Big Apple."

Hazy Day Atop the
Empire State Building
Oct 2, 2016

7. I watched the Pulaski Day Parade, or part of it, from atop the Empire State Building yesterday. 

8. Is it smart or criminal not to pay Federal Income Taxes? Only super rich people can get away with such things and that means that working Americans have to shoulder the burden. No wonder one candidate's tax returns are audited every year.

9. It is the stuff of dreams and science fiction, the end of the Rosetta Mission to a comet occurred the other day with little fanfare, ending a two-year treasure trove of data. We are doing such fantastic things that they are almost becoming routine.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Out the Hotel Window -- New York City

There it is. The view out my window less than a block from Broadway near Times Square. Buildings everywhere. But it is a complex view. I noted the water storage tanks. Many of them on and nestled near the buildings.

It is a visually stimulating scene. And loud. The sirens and car horns continued all night. It seems that the city never sleeps. And neither did I.

-- Bob Doan, writing from NYC

Twists and Turns

The political winds continue to blow and swirl after the "debate" and it is interesting, if not a bit scary, to watch the assessments and fallout.

The discussion/argument (I hesitate to dignify it by calling it a debate) on Monday evening highlighted two very different approaches to leadership: the prepared versus the wing-it.

In my opinion, the more prepared person on the stage was the winner, although, one writer indicated that she didn't lose.

It was a terrible example of a debate. There was no debate. 

The fallout has been instructive.

Trump has blamed his microphone and also indicated that he won the debate based upon polls. It seems that he has a problem with reality. If he cannot understand when his bellicose approach fails, then I am truly afraid of how his apparent lack of preparedness will translate into poor and uninformed decision making as our nation's leader.

Clinton, in my estimation the winner, has actually begun focusing on plans and details and programs since her evening in the spotlight on the stage.

The problem with the "debate" was that it became all about one candidate and not about ensuring the future prosperity and security of the United States. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Enter Rain, Good-bye Drought

Into every life a little rain must fall.

Finally, anyway, we are getting some much needed rain. It has been dry.

Too dry.

The amount of rain that we have received has been somewhat steady and beginning to add up. We received over 2 inches in the past 24 hours.

I remember earlier in the year when it seemed that the rain would never quit. And now, I am rejoicing at the raindrops falling form the sky.

I guess that it is a matter of perspective. I want the rain to end too, however, because I have a golf outing planned and I don't want the course too wet.

Look at me--thinking that just because I have an outdoors activity planned that the rain might hold off for a few hours.  

I wondered how many raindrops it would take to fill an 8 oz glass with water? I found a website, Bedtime Math,  that gave me an answer, although it must be stated that raindrops are not all the same size. The answer was about 7,200. Which, by the  way, would take hours. 

And so the rain continues pounding on my roof. It is going to be a long, slow drive to work today.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wednesday Orioles Update

It is Wednesday, and five MLB regular season games remain for the Orioles. Based upon their lackluster performance last evening, they are continuing their September slide which likely will find them outside the post-season looking in at the players.

Currently, the Orioles hold a 1 game grasp on the second Wildcard spot in the American League, but they are 4-6 in their last 10 games which include being swept in a four-game series by the Red Sox and barely managing to split a four-game series against the bottom-dwelling Rays. The Orioles have scored three runs or less in 9 of their last 10 games! There is no offense. The pitching has allowed 5 runs (exactly) in 6 of their last 10 games. 

Although the sweep of the Diamondbacks to complete the home portion of the season raised their post-season projected chances form 44 percent to 73 percent--the next five games are against the Blue Jays (2) and Yankees (3). Scoring 2 runs per game against these teams is not going to get them into the post season. And then, even if they do manage a Wild Card spot, their game would be in Toronto (in all likelihood) against the Blue Jays. Not a recipe for success. 

The Blue Jays close their season against the Red Sox and Detroit, who are chasing the Orioles, are playing the cellar-dwelling National League Braves. 

It is crunch time! 

Go O's!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: The First Presidential Debate

How many times did I hear "It was the worst thing ever?" And it was. I also heard "surreal" used in the post debate discussions.

I heard Trump flip-flop on the tax return situation? He went from  "No" to "If she does, I will."

There were a lot of statements made during the debate. Many false, some true based upon the political fact checking site Politifact. The New York Times also published an article this morning fact checking the debate. 

I felt that Lester Holt had great questions, but it was clear that at least one of the candidates never took a debating class in school. He was thuggish and talked over top of the others when they were speaking, while there are some who appreciate that approach, it is not conducive to addressing the issues.

In my estimation Trump generally overstated facts or just made statement that had no basis in fact, like the following statement he made about Hillary and ISIS, from the New York Times:

On Mr. Trump saying Mrs. Clinton had been “fighting ISIS your entire adult life.” 

In reality, the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, began as an Al Qaeda affiliate that sprang up in Iraq as the Sunni insurgency amid the power vacuum created by the American invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein’s government in 2003. It was largely defeated and pushed into Syria during the Obama administration’s first term, when Mrs. Clinton was secretary of state. It eventually split from the original Al Qaeda and rebranded itself as ISIS, sweeping back into Iraq in 2014, when she was out of office.

—Charlie Savage

I was looking for four things during the debate: leadership, integrity, context and details. Here are my grades for the candidates based upon what I heard:

                                      Trump            Clinton

Leadership        -                 +

Integrity         -                 +                   

Context           -                 -

Details           -                 -

In terms winner or loser? Neither candidate clearly won, but Trump was the bigger loser. His grasp of context and basic facts highlighted his lack of preparation and his "I'll just wing it" approach to something as important as the debate. He apparently believes that debates are a performance and not something materially important to the process of selecting a President.

One statement which clearly demonstrates his failure to grasp context was the statement about the $14 million loan he received form his father to start his business. The New York Times fact checker details it as follows:

On Mr. Trump’s loan from his father.

Mrs. Clinton said it was $14 million in loans from Mr. Trump’s father that helped him get his real estate business off the ground. Mr. Trump said it was just a “small” loan. A recent Wall Street Journal article notes a series of loans and gifts that Mr. Trump received from his father, citing a casino disclosure document from 1985 showing that Mr. Trump owed his father and his father’s company about $14 million.

—Steve Eder

Seriously, someone who can call a $14 million loan small lacks context. 

Trump also said, in the Spin Room, after the debate: "I'm smart for paying no taxes." So a man who would be President believes he is smart for failing to pay taxes? 

Who won and who lost? 

My Take: Chuck Todd, the moderator of Meet the Press, said it best--there was a big loser tonight and it was the American people.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - September 26, 2016

Makayla in Glasses

1. The first 2016 Presidential Debate is tonight--watch it. It is important. I read that one of the candidates is not preparing for the questions.

2. The Orioles swept a series against the Diamondbacks this weekend. They were also eliminated from the division race and can only make the post-season via the Wild Card route.

3. Makayla, my Keeshond  was trying to imitate my look in glasses yesterday. It worked pretty well. 

18th Green
Walden Golf Club
Crofton, MD

4. I need to say thank you to my family for the great birthday celebration. Of course, it was made a bit better because the Baltimore birds (the Orioles and the Ravens) both won their games.

5. Early morning golf yesterday. It was very cool! I had to wear a light jacket. Another sign that autumn has arrived. 

Geese at Walden Golf Club

6. There were a lot of geese on the golf course yesterday. And they were also flying around honking and generally being a nuisance.  

7. I was saddened at the announcement of the death of Arnold Palmer. 

8. We were invited to dinner at, a really good German restaurant right near us--The Bavarian Brauhaus. I don't know how we missed it all of these years.

9. There is rain in the forecast, finally. We are very dry. I am actually looking forward to seeing my lawn green up a bit before winter arrives.

10. It is hard to believe it, but the MLB regular season will be over by this time next week and it will be the Post-Season.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: The Debate

The first Presidential Debate between two of the candidates running for the nation's highest elected office is scheduled for tomorrow. I wish the top four candidates had been included; however, it will have to do with just two.

What am I looking for from the debate?

Leadership, integrity, context, details.

I actually can sum up my four wants in four words--but they are big words.

Leadership--one of the candidates needs to be a leader. Not a backbiting slanderer, but a leader who can rise above the muck slinging and take the shots and jabs while not responding in kind to ensure that their voice is heard as a voice of a leader amid the cacophony around them.

Integrity--this one seems to be the toughest. I am already biased that neither candidate has the integrity necessary to be the leader of the free world. Hopefully I will be surprised, but at every turn both sides have shown a propensity for fact twisting and deception.

Context--too many phrases are stolen from context to remake the world into an imaginary image. The candidates need to provide correct context for their remarks and not just make emotionally appealing or repulsive statements. 

Details--the time for the broad generalizations for programs is over. It is time to indicate how the next President will work with the Congress to enact legislation. Presidents do not pass laws and do not fund programs--the Congress does. Both candidates need to provide details of the programs and the plans to have them enacted.

It is crunch time. The polling places in some states are already open for early voting. 

My Take: It is time for this campaign to become about real issues and plans and stop focusing on the peripheral and incidental problems.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Around the Fire Pit

Around the Fire Pit

Nothing screams autumn like sitting around the fire pit in the back yard with our friends on a Friday night at the end of a long week drinking wine.

It is autumn at its best. Before the bone chilling cold sets in and while the leaves are yet green on the trees, although falling at an incredible rate because of the drought-like conditions.

Granted, there was some bug spray involved to preclude becoming dinner for the still viable mosquitos, but the evening was perfect, the conversation stimulating and the wine enjoyable. 

I even tried to get everyone to play a memory game, One Hen, two ducks; also called the Announcer's Test, that I learned in Boy Scout camp a few decades ago--the only problem was that I forgot what came after six. I had to look it up this morning.

A perfect evening. Thanks to my friends who made it that way.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Weather Changes

Leaves on my Pool Cover

The first full day of autumn, today may be the last gasp of summer for the region.

The anticipated high of 86 degrees and the low of 60 are the last of the summer-like temperatures for about the next two weeks.

Beginning tomorrow the highs will top out in the 70's (and some days are forecast to be exactly 70) and the lows will consistently be in the 50's. Autumn's weather is arriving. 

Sunset over Baltimore
September 20, 2016

The leaves are already falling as those adorning on my pool cover attest. The trees are still mostly green, the leaves are falling because of the dry weather.

The sunsets have been glorious. I imaged one during my most recent visit to Camden Yards, which likely will be my last this season since the Orioles have rendered themselves irrelevant in the playoff chase by being swept in a four game series at home. 

The changes are coming almost daily. I would say it is fun to watch, but I'm not very excited about the end result which is winter.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Autumn's Arrival

Today at 10:21 AM EDT is the seasonal end to summer.

It is over.

Those lazy, hazy crazy days are a memory until next June, although we usually herald summer's arrival during May. 

As I looked at the autumn images, I noticed that the characterization of the world seems to change from green to orange and red during autumn. And then the trees go bare.

There is a Washington Post article titled Fall begins Thursday: Five questions and answers about the autumnal equinox that goes into some of the interesting and fun facts about the start of the season.

The increasing darkness has already made its presence known. The table shows the average daily loss of light by latitude (or city). I'm glad that I am not in Alaska! But the days are shortening to the point where trying to get in a round of golf after work is impossible. I'm lucky to get nine holes in, although in reality I haven't been able to get to a course after work for a few months. Losing about 2m 30s of daylight per day means that I won't be playing evening golf again until May.

Yesterday I arrived at work during darkness and soon, I will be going home in darkness.

Another year is heading to a conclusion. I can already feel the cold winds of winter waiting just off stage to make their presence felt.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Staggering to the End

From mlb.com

Last evening Chris and I went to see the Orioles play the division-leading Red Sox. 

It should have been a great game, except that it wasn't. 

The Orioles have dropped three games out of the division race since last week and look listless on the field. Last evening they again could not mount an effective offense and the pitching failed at all of the wrong times. 

I had to suffer through another David Ortiz homer, a three-run shot that put the game out of reach. 

Trey Mancini

I enjoyed seeing the Orioles Trey Mancini hit a homer in his major league debut. His was one of the few bright spots for the team.

The stadium was not full and wild as I would have expected for a match off between division rivals vying for playoff spots. It is as if the listlessness of the team has taken over the fans as well.

How do I define listless? The Orioles have scored two runs in each of their last four games and are 1-3 during that time. 

The hitters are not getting the job done. Case in point--last evening Adam Jones came to the plate in the 7th inning with two on and two out. The Orioles were down 5-2 and had already scored one run during the inning. Instead of working for a single that would score another run, Jones swung for the fence on a 2-0 count and while he gave the ball an exciting ride, it became the third out and crushed the rally.

The season is not over. There are 11 games remaining, but being 5 games out of first is beginning to make winning the division seem out of reach. The Orioles still possess one of the wild card spots and so, hopefully, there will be Orioles post-season baseball this year.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Life with Dogs

Makayla after a Hard Day of Work

I love my dog. I can't imagine not having a dog and sharing life with a dog. (I wonder if that double negative makes sense?)

My dog, Makayla, like all of my dogs since I've been an adult, is a full fledged member of the family. Sometimes maybe too full-fledged. She makes her needs known and even forces me to get some exercise as I walk her around the neighborhood. 

Chewbacca -- Waiting Patiently

I wish I could take her with me to more places when I am out shopping or dining. She is calm and well mannered. I would enjoy taking her to restaurants where she would wait for the morsels from my plate that I enjoy sharing with her when I eat at home. She has become and expert at eating spaghetti and corn-on-the-cob. Whenever I get to the last corner of a sandwich or piece of bread, I share it with her. 

I read an article titled The Speakeasy Underworld of the Dog Bar in the New York Times this morning. The article describes how more restrictive laws are forcing establishments to exclude dogs from inside areas while at the same time allowing more dogs at outdoor tables. The article describes the reporters undercover work "sniffing" out bars which defy the health code and allow dogs with their owners.  I applaud those establishments.

I remember traveling Europe and seeing dogs more freely allowed in eating establishments. 

I believe well mannered dogs should be freely allowed to accompany their owners in all establishments. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - September 19, 2016

1. Autumn begins on Thursday this week, let the leaves fall where they may!

Maryland Wine Festival
September 18, 2016

2. Chris and I went to the Maryland Wine Festival in Carroll County with Patrick and Tina yesterday. Fantastic! We enjoyed the festival. It was a beautiful day. Maryland wines are growing up!

3. What happens if there no one is medically suitable to be the next President of the US?

4. An interesting article in the New York Times describes how the Chinese are buying tech companies. Given that the Chinese own a massive amount of U.S. debt, all I can think is that it is just our tax dollars at work.

Patuxent Greens Golf Course
September 18, 2016

5. Pre-dawn on a beautiful Sunday on a golf course with Jeremy. We had a great round together.

6. There is rain forecast for today! Yay. The region is very dry. Although there were some sprinkles yesterday, there was no meaningful or measurable rainfall. Officially we have had 0.09 inches of rain fall during September. How do you measure less than a tenth of an inch?

7. I got up this morning and wondered how many leaves I would have to take out of the pool. And then, I remembered that I had closed the pool.

8. I can begin to see autumn in the weather forecast--there are no 90's or even high 80's in the 10 day forecast and some of the daily highs are in the 70's.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD