Enjoying the Heat and the Beach

Chris in Cocoa Beach
July 1, 2017

Rediscovering Summer was a great experience yesterday. 

Chris Striding to Her Ball

The temperatures were hot, the sun was shining and there was even an afternoon thunderstorm to raise the humidity and make the summertime stickiness return.

Yes, I am a bit crazy about the heat and sun. But I truly love it. I enjoy the heat so much that Chris and I played a round of golf during the heat of the afternoon. It was fantastic because there were no other crazy people on the course.

The morning was filled with time on the beach getting reacquainted with the Atlantic Ocean and the wildlife. 

At the Beach

It was a busy interlude vacation day where we began the process of decompressing from the frenetic pace of life and began to get our "Island Time" approach to life.

Along the Indian River
July 1, 2017

Hopefully it will be a good day. 

To end the day yesterday, we celebrated sunset along the banks of the Indian River with a great meal and a beautiful scene.

Vacations can be great. We just need to open our eyes and absorb the scenery.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Melbourne, Florida

Out the Hotel Window - Melbourne, Florida

Out my Hotel Window
Near Melbourne, Florida
June 30, 2017

Vacation night one was in a hotel near Melbourne, Florida.

At the end of a marathon 13-and-a-half hour drive its was a great relief to find our hotel to be easily accessed and clean.

As Evening Falls
Out my Hotel Window
June 30, 2017

As usual, I peered out the hotel window with my camera in hand to image what I could see. It was an empty, well almost empty parking lot. And trash bins! How exciting is that? I don't even see any palm trees in the image. 

But I am in Florida, again! It is warm and humid.

And there are palm trees, I have seen them and toughed them.

Later in the evening, the sky was lit like fire coming through the clouds and I was able to obtain a better image from my hotel window.

The image is not one of my better, but the fiery scene was spectacular.

Who knows what today will hold?

-- Bob Doan, writing from near Melbourne, Florida

Road Trip Blues

It seems that I am destined to never have a truck with an unblemished windshield.

I had replaced the windshield in the Sonoma a few years ago and almost immediately caught a rock that grew into a huge crack that remained until the truck was towed away two weeks ago.

This morning, during the second hour of the current road trip my Ram caught a rock on the windshield. I took a picture of it. Ugh.

I'm reminded of the statement, "and that's why we can have nice things."

I think I can get the divot filled if it will hold until we get back.

Well it's a jungle on the highway.

-- Bob Doan, writing from somewhere in North Carolina near mile marker 152

Ready, Set, Wait

Sometimes it seems that I get prepared to accomplish or enjoy something and then I have to wait for it!

It happens all of the time.

I am prepared for a big event and something makes me wait!

Vacations can be like that. An incredible amount of preparation goes into the lead-up to the main event, but then it becomes a waiting game.

Sometimes we do need to just wait for it--but wouldn't it be nice if we could just get started?

The Fourth of July Weekend, is upon us, but wait--it isn't a weekend this year. The 4th is on a Tuesday and so there really isn't a weekend.

I wonder how many people are going to take Monday off to create a four day weekend instead of waiting for the actual holiday? The smarter move might be to take Wednesday off and create a weekend in the mid-week.

But, no matter, we just need to wait for it.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Who Turned off Summer

Looking Over Baltimore on a Hot Sultry Evening

Last week I celebrated the solstice and the arrival of the best season of the year. 

This morning it was 53 degrees when I woke up and went outside to do my pool maintenance before struggling off to work.

Who turned off summer?

I need the 90's and the sultry humidity! I want to see the humidity and heat hanging in the air.

I know the heat will return soon enough and people will be complaining, but it is almost July and I expect to be enveloped by a blanket of hot, humid air when I step out of the air conditioned buildings that i work and live in. How did we survive before air conditioning?

I remember lying in bed on hot summer nights as the air hung damp in my room, unmoving, and I longed for a breeze. It was similar to when I moved into the the six story dormitories in Coral Gables, Florida, and found they didn't have air conditioning. But I got used to it. 

Since then, I guess, I have become an air conditioned creature. But, I still long for the hot air and the smells of the summer.

Soon enough, I am sure.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Gardening

Planting flowers and doing yard work is rewarding. I complain about it while I am doing it, but I love the results.

Saturday, Mom, Dad, Chris, and I spent the day sprucing up the house. Mom and Dad really appreciated the help and work.

It was a long day, but worth it in the end. Mom and Dad were right there all the way.

I think gardening lowers blood pressure. Lol.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Danby, NY

Monday Musings - June 26, 2017

1. Amazingly, this is the last week of June. July is standing in the wings ready to make a grand entrance.

2. I saw this barn in Danby on a cool but clear evening. The colors were so bright I had to snap this image.

3. Sitting in a hospital waiting for Mom's surgery and the delays have begun. Ugh!

4. The Orioles won a road series for the first time since April. They also tied the Major League Baseball record for most games allowing five or more runs per game. They allowed only three runs on Saturday to end the streak, but yesterday they allowed five runs in their 8-5 win.

5. What happened to summer? It was 50 degrees this morning in Central New York.

6. Vacation season is upon us.

7. I love the smell of a fresh mowed lawn.

8. I enjoyed watching a thunderstorm arrive yesterday. The cool air and the ozone smell preceded the arrival of the rain and wind.

9. It is fun to look back a week and then project forward. What was I doing last week at this time? What am I doing now? What will I be doing next week? They are all very different answers. That is exciting.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Corning, NY

Dinner Out

Last evening we headed out to dinner after a day of hard work around the house. Mom and Dad were in great form and surprisingly the restaurant was not too busy.

It was an enjoyable dinner and made even more special because we had all worked hard around the house planting gardens and mowing lawns. The place looked great by the time we were done.

Spending time with Mom and Dad was the highlight of the day, however. Sometimes I get so involved in the hectic pace of my own life that the joy of sharing a relaxed dinner put with my parents gets lost in the noise.

After dinner we stopped at a small ice cream shop in Danby to enjoy the sunset. I couldn't believe how cool the evening had become. The crystal cyan sky was stunning as it met the hilly horizon in the distance.

It was so cool that I had to put a long sleeve heavy shirt on to stay warm while sharing an ice cream cone with Chris.

It was a perfect ending to a great day.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ithaca, NY

Saturday Projects

Saturday is project day. Last Saturday I played golf in the morning and general contractor in the afternoon.

The microwave died corresponding with the first day of summer vacation. That is a crisis because it stops the production of popcorn to feed the grandsons.

In the photo, I had removed the non functioning microwave and was about to begin the installation process for the replacement.

I remembered when I first installed the microwave. We have lived in the house long enough that we are replacing appliances that have already been replaced. This is the second microwave I have installed. Last year we installed the second dishwasher. It is a good feeling to have been living in the same place long enough to be replacing replacements.

I wonder about today's projects. What will be on tap?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Longest Day

The longest day has passed. 

Daylight stayed on my doorstep until almost 9 PM until the day slipped away into darkness. 

I enjoy that day every year when the light keeps the darkness at bay for the longest amount of time. From now until the winter solstice the days will progressively become shorter. But for the next month I will revel in the longer days.

The past three days were 14 hours 56 minutes and some seconds long with daylight! By December the daylight will be down to 9 hours and 24 minutes. Over 5 and a half hours of difference. 

Summer is off to a great start. 

The hot and long dog days are coming in a month to punctuate the arrival of summer. 

Bring on the heat, the fun and the vacations. Not to mention the pools.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Record Not Wanted

It is an ugly record in the annals of baseball. 

The Orioles have already set the American League record for giving up 5 or more runs in consecutive games and by my reckoning they stand at 18, with last night's 5-1 loss. They broke the American League record somewhere around 16 consecutive games and with the streak now at 18 they are two games shy of tying the 1924 Philadelphia Phillies at 20 consecutive games of allowing 5 or more runs. 

But, despite the terrible pitching streak the Orioles are only 5 games out of first and 1 game below .500!

Amazing.

The team is suffering a spate of injuries which add to the already bad situation.

Hopefully, however, this is the August-September slump happening a couple of months early and the team will get back on track soon. 

At least they won the game I attended Tuesday night, 6-5. But still gave up 5 runs!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Solstice

It happened while I was asleep last night. 

The solstice occurred and Summer arrived. It is the best season of the year. 

The trees are fully green and the cicadas have been gone for about a month. July is around the corner and I just got in from getting the pool ready for another day of heavy use by the grandsons. I love the summer pool scene! The pool is in exceptionally good shape this year and that makes it all the better.

The official arrival of Summer brings with it the vacation season and the continuation of the outdoor living season. The weather has been spectacular lately. It has been hot and steamy--just like summer weather is supposed to be. The 10 day forecast is nearly perfect. A mix of sun and rain with highs in the near 90's or 90s and lows in the high 60's or low 70s. 

Even the Orioles, the Boys of Summer, got it right last night an delivered a win to close out Spring and begin the Summer run for the World Series. I am a bit concerned that they have allowed 5 or more runs in each of their last 17 games, but hopefully that will turn around soon. 

Bring on Summer and let's enjoy the heat!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Third Eye Blind - Review

It was a hot and sultry Sunday night in Baltimore when Third Eye Blind played at the Pier Six Pavilion. 

It was my first concert at the Pier Six pavilion and I really did not know what to expect. The venue is covered open air and the sights of the city mix with the atmosphere in the concert area to create a unique environment for the show. 

Stephan Jenkins
Baltimore, MD
June 18, 2017

Third Eye Blind presented an energetic and musical show. The highlight was celebrating the 20th anniversary of their first album which was played complete and in order, except for the last song, God of Wine which was the appropriate closer for the show. Full disclosure, I like Third Eye Blind but I do not have all of the music memorized, but the music I have memorized is almost entirely from the first album. 

Shadow in the Lights

The band came on stage just after 9 PM and played a 30 minute opening set of newer music before transitioning to the first album. The setlist from the show shows that 21 songs were played. 

The set for the show was stimulating and bright. Working without the massive big screens of many entertainers, the show was reminiscent of a classic rock concert of two decades ago. I liked a comment that Stephan Jenkins made about being a real rock band with no added backtracks or synthesizers. 

The crowd was nothing short of adoring and clearly knew all of the words to all of the songs.  The band was awesome and the drummer, Brad Hargreaves, of course, stole the show during a couple of sequences which highlighted his abilities. 

This was a great show for a great classically organized rock band. The energy was infectious and most of the crowd did not sit down for the entire show. There were no "slow" songs and only a couple "slower" pieces.

It should be noted that this is an adult band and the lyrics deal with topics that are not suitable for the younger generation. 

Great show, high energy and exceptionally performed music! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - June 19, 2017

Summer Flowers Blooming in my Garden

1. The summer solstice is Wednesday. The longest day of light for the year will arrive. And then it will be passed.

2. The forecast for the past few days has been for rain, yet none has materialized.

3. I enjoyed a very different Father's Day. I spent time individually throughout the day with each of my children and grandchildren.

4. Third Eye Blind gives a great concert. It incredibly exceeded my expectations last evening. Unfortunately, we did not arrive home until after midnight. I fear I am going to have a very long day.

5. The red Sonoma should be removed from the driveway today. It will end an era.

6. We discovered a new place to relax in Baltimore. It is called Sand lot and it is right on the water in Fells Point with libations and lots of food. 

Baltimore
June 18, 2017

7. Baltimore has a pretty skyline, especially at sunset. 

8. The Orioles have figured out how to win again! They took a weekend series from the Cardinals, but it was with the bats and not pitching. The winning scores were 15-8 and 8-5. Way too many runs given up.

Quote for the Week

"Our fathers bear an awesome responsibility -- one that they shoulder willingly and fulfill with a love that asks no recompense. By turns both gentle and firm, our fathers guide us along the path from infancy to adulthood. We embody their joy, pain and sacrifice, and inherit memories more cherished than any possession."

Ronald Reagan

Proclamation 4845 -- Father's Day, 1981, May 20, 1981

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Where does Chocolate Milk Come From?

This is serious, although I am still mystified.

According to a report in The Denver Post, 7 percent of American adults believe that chocolate milk comes from brown cows.

The article, titled, The surprising number of American adults who think chocolate milk comes from brown cows, is really a very deep and interesting discussion about how detached from our food chain Americans are becoming. 

The article summarizes the problem as follows: “At the end of the day, it’s an exposure issue,” said Cecily Upton, co-founder of the nonprofit FoodCorps, which brings agricultural and nutrition education into elementary schools. “Right now, we’re conditioned to think that if you need food, you go to the store. Nothing in our educational framework teaches kids where food comes from before that point.”

The education system, including parents, needs to ensure the entire food chain is known. And it extends beyond chocolate milk and cows.

Brown eggs versus white eggs?

A pickle is a cucumber?

French fries come from potatoes?

Wine comes from grapes? (I had to throw that in)

I am glad that I grew up in rural America where I watched and sometimes helped farmers milk cows, we had a garden, and understood where food comes from.

Drink up and remember that a farmer somewhere is milking cows for their milk, plain white milk no matter the cow color. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Right, Wrong, and The Rifleman

Growing up, television was much different than today. We had the choice of three networks and four channels. Three channels were form Syracuse and represented the networks NBC, CBS, and ABC. Our fourth channel was from Binghamton and was a CBS channel. 

TV was black and white, our color TV was delivered during my 12th birthday celebration. We still only got four channels and had to move the antenna on the roof to see them clearly. 

One of my favorite TV shows was The Rifleman about a widowed rancher who was raising his son during the post-Civil War period in the Hollywood-style Old West of New Mexico. Unlike the TV shows of today, this show had a definite sense of right and wrong. It also portrayed civic responsibility in the idea that sometimes community came before self. It also highlighted the concept of defending those weaker than you. The show aired form 1958 until 1963, but was in reruns for many years afterwards. I can still find it on occasion. 

I realized, the other day, that much of what I learned about right and wrong and community and service came from watching The Rifleman and similar shows.

The show always portrayed a clear sense of right and wrong and it seemed, in my memory, to revolve around a conflict where "bad" showed up required someone to step outside their quiet life and take action to restore order and protect the lives and property of neighbors and friends. The show also portrayed the judicious application of force to protect and serve, a concept that escapes many today.

I'm not sure there is too much of this moralistic storytelling on television today. I find it harder and harder to watch shows on a recurring basis because morally they are self-interest oriented. 

They don't make shows like The Rifleman anymore. I wonder, is that a good thing?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

New Truck

2000 Red GMC Sonoma

Well, it finally has happened. My red Sonoma has reached the end of its trail at 179,990 miles traveled. 

It still starts and moves, but needs some likely expensive work. No fluids are leaking and even after the mechanical catastrophe happened almost two weeks ago, the faithful spirit of the Sonoma deposited me safely in my driveway after a sometimes harrowing and extremely slow 20 mile ride home. 

Ram 1500 Big Horn and Me

Enter the new truck!

Chris and I shopped around and decided to get a new truck to replace the Sonoma. A trucks the size of the Sonoma are not produced anymore, it was clear that we were going to get a larger truck. It turns out, I didn't fully realize how much larger until i actually saw both trucks together. 

Imperfect Size Comparison

The new truck is a Ram 1500 Big Horn. It is not really new, as it is a 2016, but it is new to me. I'm still getting used to the size and creature comforts. 

The Sonoma was power nothing--that's correct I had to manually roll down the windows and the door locks were manual as well.

The new truck is power everything with more options than I could imagine. Even the tailgate has an electronic lock. Who knew?

I am anxious to take it on a longish trip and see how it feels for hours on the road. It certainly rides more like a car than a truck!

My hope is that some 16 years and 180,000 miles from now that this truck is still serving faithfully like its predecessor! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

End of the School Year Party

End of School Year Party
June 14, 2017

For the students and teachers of the Howard County Public School System today is day one of summer vacation! 

What that meant was the the end of the school year party was conducted in my pool yesterday afternoon. And it was a fantastic party. 

I really enjoy sharing the pool with friends and family. It makes all of the work and expense worth it when others can share the fun and joy.

The end of the school year party has almost become an annual event and Chris and i look forward to it every year. It gives us a reason and a date to have everything up and running. This year, despite the forecast for thunderstorms, the weather was fabulous!

And another party is in the books. Cue summer, let's play!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Makayla and the Fox

Makayla, Defender of the Yard

The day got off to a racing start this morning as Makayla defended our  yard from a fox.

Ugh. It all happened at 4:40 AM (that is 0440 hours for the military mind). What does the 0 stand for? Oh my goodness, it's early!

I had seen the fox a few days ago. I had expected a fox to return to the neighborhood because of the rabbit explosion. Rabbits are everywhere! Through the years I have noticed a cycle of that starts with abundant rabbits, then a fox arrives, then less rabbits are seen. And the cycle repeats.

This morning the fox was in the driveway when I let Makayla out for her morning constitutional. I always look outside before I allow her out, but I admit I look for larger animals, like deer. I did not, in the darkness, see the fox. 

Makayla did! For the next ten minutes the fox chase was on and Makayla pursued the fox, which was crying the whole time, through the adjoining neighborhood. Fortunately she tired of the game and came home with the promise food.

At least she was not injured.

Hopefully the fox will stay out of the driveway, but there are a number of rabbits living near the drive and so I fear that it will be a long summer of fox sightings. It is a scrawny fox, too. 

I will do a better job making sure the area is clear tomorrow.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Summer is Cleared to Arrive

Endless Summer Hydrangea in Full Bloom

The last two evenings erased the last vestiges of Winter and Springtime. With the crowning of the Stanley Cup Champion Penguins on Sunday night and the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors last night, summertime has officially begin. 

It takes a long time for some sports to end. Hockey and basketball began during October and now eight months later they have finally concluded!

On to baseball, except the Orioles are turning in losing scores that look like football contests. They lost 10-7 last night. By one count they have given up 44 runs in their last four games!

But the weather is hot, the pool is cool, and the summertime flowers are abounding in the gardens. June is slipping away so quickly I can't believe it. The solstice will be here all too soon. 

I just enjoy each day and each moment because i know what is lurking just a few months away.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - June 12, 2017

My New/Used Truck at the Dealer

1. The weather is finally getting to be summer-like. Highs in the 90's and lows in the high 60's or low 70's. 

2. I found a replacement for my truck. It is a 2016 Dodge Ram Big Horn. I take possession of it tomorrow!

3. My 2000 GMC Sonoma has been a faithful servant for the past 10 plus years. I will be sad to see it leave, but the time has come. 

Jackson and Me after the Game
June 11, 2017

4. A long, rain filled GORC Intramural U10 baseball season ended yesterday with a playoff loss for the Dodgers. Jax and the team were devastated  not at the loss but at the way it ended with the umpire making two bad call for two outs in the bottom of the last inning which deprived the team of the comeback they were serving up. 

5. One of the kids on my baseball team asked me if my puka shell necklace was candy. 

6. The deck staining job continues to grow. Now, because the colors don't match, we have to do all the rails balusters. 

7. The pool is fantastic, especially on a hot summer-like day. Why does winter even need to arrive and spoil my outdoor days.

Sidney Crosby Lifts the Stanley Cup
June 11, 2017

8. The cicadas have disappeared. I wonder where they went but there was no excessive noise yesterday. 

9. The Penguins win the Stanley Cup for the second straight year!

Headlines

Opioid Dealers Embrace the Dark Web to Send Deadly Drugs by Mail - The New York Times

Democrats in Split-Screen: The Base Wants It All. The Party Wants to Win. - The New York Times

How the British right went so very wrong - The Washington Post

Quote for the Week

"You all knew that some things are worth dying for. One's country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for, because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man."

Ronald Reagan

Remarks at a Ceremony Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion, D-Day , June 6, 1984

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

More Fun with Decks

Deck Work

It seems that this is the summer of decks. Last weekend I was helping Patrick and Tina and this weekend my deck needed some maintenance and updated stain. 

Chris Clearing the Plants off the Deck

First up was to replace one of the boards. While it should have been easy, one of the screw heads was stripped and I had to pry the board up. I cut a new board to fit and we were ready to deck wash and then after it dried refresh the stain to protect the decking. 

We had last stained the deck about four years ago and it is remarkable how much wear was evident. It was a perfect day for the activity. The humidity was low and so drying time was reduced. 

After the First Coast of Stain

In the end it came out very nicely. It looks good and now we just have to refresh the railings so everything matches. The brighter redwood color is nice as well. Looks like it is going to be a long summer of staining the deck.

It was nice to be able to fall into the pool at the end of the hot workday! Yes, someone finally swam in my pool which has been open for over a month!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Weekend Weather and Activity

Jeremy Teeing-Off at the Tournament Yesterday

As I have been writing, it has been a long time since we have had great weekend weather. 

This weekend is it!

The weather looks fantastic, or mostly so, and the outdoor projects are abounding. 

I am excited about the prospects of high 90 degree days in the coming days. That will finally make it worthwhile to bring the pool up to swimming temperature. 

Today, however, looks to be a day to refresh the stain on the deck, mow the lawn, and change the brakes on the car. Tomorrow will be a hot day for a a baseball playoff game, but baseball is supposed to be a summertime sport.

I have also been truck shopping and am totally disillusioned. It is hard to find the truck of my dreams. I know what I want and it does not seem to be out there right now. At least I have time to look. 

Weekends are the busiest.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Summer Despite the Temperatures

Hydrangea Blooming
June 8, 2017

Technically, it is still the Spring season until June 21st. That is when the calendar officially heralds the beginning of the best season of the year. But, we all know, at least in the United States and in the Northern Hemisphere, that the unofficial beginning of Summer was a couple weeks ago with the Memorial Day holiday.

That written, the summertime flowers are beginning to bloom and despite the cool weather with 50 degree mornings and high 70 degree afternoons, the season is progressing. Yesterday the morning low was 48 degrees and the afternoon high was 73 degrees. Definitely Spring-like conditions and not conducive to swimming in my pool. Today should be a bit more Summer-like with the high reaching about 83 degrees. This morning, however, the temperature was only 58 degrees as I was working around the pool.

Today should be a needed change of pace because I am playing in a golf tournament. 

I guess my weekend is beginning a day early. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Truck Shopping

Dodge Ram
Possibility

The truck shopping has begun in earnest. Fortunately, it is not yet critical because my summertime car, the Jaguar convertible, is happily taking over the load. 

There are so many options out there. Big trucks and smaller trucks. Do I want a Dodge, Ford, Toyota, or Chevy?

Ugh, decisions, decisions. The only think that I am sure of is that I don't want a white truck! I don't know why, but white is not my favorite color. 

Although I have wanted a new truck for a while, I was generally happy with my truck. It is hard to think of getting a different truck, but repairing my truck seems to be out of the question. Although, left to my own devices I probably would.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Deck Work Continues

Working from the Lower Deck

Some projects are not meant to be finished in one or even two weekends. 

Such is the situation with Patrick and Tina's deck. The project is probably more complete than not, but there remains a long way to go.

Close-up of the upper deck

The lower deck has the boards installed, but the upper deck remains. We spent the better part of last evening working out the first couple rows so the the complete will get closer.

It isa process and I am looking forward to the end of the projects party.

I have to remember that projects like this are a marathon and not a sprint.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

When Sleep is Elusive

It doesn't happen too often, but occasionally I wake up in the middle of the night with a lot of issues on my mind and I can't get back to sleep.

It is happening right now. It is 2:50 AM, the house is dark and quiet--too quiet for me to go back to sleep. I turned on the fan about 30 minutes ago to generate some white noise and drown out the voices in my head going over the jam packed day ahead.

I need to be at the top of my game today--there are a lot of things that need to be done. For instance, meetings to attend and decisions to influence. I love what I do on a day-to-day basis, but sometimes big and impressively important actions get my mind running down multiple rabbit holes simultaneously. And I can't sleep.

I want the day to begin so that I can tackle what lies ahead. But I need sleep to be on my game.

So I am up. My mind is calming as I write and compartmentalize the plans and actions for the upcoming day. 

Sleep will return soon and with it my anxiety at not sleeping will dissolve.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD