Tuesday Blues

Chris on Hole 7
Willow Springs Golf Course
August 8, 2017

I struggle with Tuesdays. It is the lost day of the week. 

Sandwiched between Monday, the start of the workweek, and Wednesday which is "hump day" Tuesday seems to have no particular identity of its own. 

There are some unking Tuesday sayings out there. For instance:

Dear Tuesday, nobody likes you either. You're just Monday's ugly cousin.

I try to do special things on Tuesday to give the day some character. Most often, the things I do are sports related. I like to go to Orioles games on Tuesdays, but my racquetball league plays on Tuesday nights during the autumn and winter. During the spring and summer I try to get out for a quick round of golf, as Chris and I did last evening. 

Heron Keeping Watch

It made for a great ending to the day. I was amazed, however, that we had to travel as far as we did to find a golf course to play. The close ones all were booked. It seems that every other golfer had the same idea about playing yesterday. 

It was a beautiful day. Low humidity and bright sunshine. 

We saw a lot of animals yesterday as well. There were many woodchucks and this one heron sitting overlooking a pond. The heron did not seem to mind our presence and even posed for my picture. 

It was a fitting end to the "in between" day. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Back at 500

Drum roll please!

American League Wild Card Standings
August 7, 2017
From MLB.com

With their 6-2 late night win against the Angels last night, the Orioles have returned to .500 for the season. Their record stands at 56-56, with 50 games remaining in the season and the Orioles continue to claw their way back into the post-season playoff picture.

The Orioles have not been at .500 since June 29th and had sunk to 6 games below as recently as July 28th. 

For now it is a sprint to the finish line of the season. The Orioles are 1.5 games out of the second wild card and there is now only one team between them and team currently in possession of that magical playoff spot.

I am not going to write about last night's game because I did not get to watch it as it started after I was already in bed. The west coast games are difficult to watch since they begin after 10 PM and I get up about 5 AM to start my day.

Manny Machado

I do want to congratulate Manny Machado for his grand slam homer which secured the victory. It was his 21st homer of the season and he now has 65 RBIs. He is second on the team for RBIs to Jonathan Schoop who has 82.

There is hope for meaningful October baseball in Birdland!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - August 7, 2017

1. August is passing. One week is gone already.

2. Weekends are pleasantly busy times. There always seems to be so much to do.

1st Tee Box
Maryland National
August 6, 2017

3. Being on a golf course at 7AM on a Sunday morning can't be beat. Sunday it was Maryland National in Middleton, MD.

4. I enjoyed working with Tina yesterday doing the back brakes on her Jeep. Jeeps have enough room to actually get around and work on. 

5. I find it interesting that we need to excavate more coal.

Chewie in a Towel

6. I cannot do a project without bleeding. I was able to cut myself yesterday doing brakes. I guess it isn't a project unless some blood is spilled!

7. What do you do with a wet dog? He loves the pool. Wrap him in a towel of course.

Headlines

U.S. Troops Train in Eastern Europe to Echoes of the Cold War - The New York Times
Let Forest Fires Burn? What the Black-Backed Woodpecker Knows - The New York Times

Kayleigh McEnany appears in pro-Trump 'news' video after leaving CNN - CNN

Quote for the Week

"I believe that we've come too far, struggled too hard, and accomplished too much to turn back now. Once again the world knows that America will stand up for freedom, democracy, and peace with human dignity. And once again America is prepared for peace."

Ronald Reagan

Remarks at the National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Chicago, Illinois, August 24, 1984

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Day Exploring

Yesterday was devoted to wine and cider and friends.

The weather was classic August--clear skies, sun, but not blistering hot. Chris and I took to the road for a day trip to Charlottesville to look at a wine fridge that was advertised on Craigslist.

But the day turned into so much more. 

Bold Rock

We also planned lunch with friends, Mark and Peggy, visited Bold Rock Cidery for the first time and dropped by Keswick Vineyards to pick-up our wine club wines and visit with the winemaker. 

The motivating purpose for the trip was to consider purchasing a wine fridge in response to a Craigslist ad. The price was very enticing as was the size of the fridge. Due to potential structural problems, even after the seller offered to discount the fridge by more than 50 percent, we declined to purchase the item and continue looking. 

As the day progressed, I was amazed to learn that the Charlottesville region has been dry, rain wise, compared to Baltimore. The wine makers actually indicated that they could use some rain. Just a bit because the vines were beginning to shut down from the dryness.

Lunch was enjoyed at Travinia Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar in Charlottesville. It was very enjoyable to sit outside, enjoy lunch and catch up on life with Peggy and Mark. 

Bold Rock was the find of the day. Recommended by Patrick, it was no small jaunt from Charlottesville, but definitely worth the drive. The area was beautiful and along the way we discovered more wineries that we will be exploring in the future. I did not realize that hard cider could come in so many different varieties. I also did not realize that apples were as genetically diverse as they are. Apparently even more diverse than people.

Ending the day we stopped by Keswick Vineyards and renewed acquaintances there while sampling the current offering on the wine list. 

Once finished at Keswick, it was travel the almost three hours back to Elkridge after enjoying a great day out and about. 

The day passed so quickly. I wish we could have made it last a few hours longer.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

DC on a Friday Afternoon

Confusing Array of Signs

It seemed a simple task. Drive from home to Reagan National Airport, retrieve three people, and drive home.

At the proper time of the day it is a longish drive, but not too disturbing. But starting the trip at 3:40 PM when Waze indicated a 1 hour 5 minute drive turned into a marathon-like event.

DC Traffic

It was, after all, Friday afternoon and even though I was going against traffic, there still was a lot of traffic. The flight I was meeting was scheduled to land at about 4:50PM and so I built in a few minutes slop and allowed for time to retrieve bags. 

The trip took closer to 1 hour and 25 minutes as the traffic continued to build during my travel. 

But I arrived, even using the confusing National Airport parking shuttle service, at the terminal as the weary travelers retrieved their bags. 

And then the return trip through 5 PM Friday rush traffic. It was a planned 1 hour an 40 minute trip, according to Waze, through the middle of DC traffic. Thankfully, as we finally broke out of DC the traffic the time began to reduce as the evening traffic jams cleared. 

Note to self--in the future use BWI, it is closer!

But it all worked out.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Controlling the News

I ran across an article about government controlled internet use in China.

Internet Cafe in Shanghai
From New York Times

While we who live in the U.S. worry that we are confronted with a dizzying array of news and fake news, in China the government is working to control what people are able to access on the internet and ensure that only one source of news about the outside world is available.

The New York Times article titled, China’s Internet Censors Play a Tougher Game of Cat and Mouse, describes the ability of the government to control what the populace is able to access.

SHANGHAI — The shutdown was unusual, and came without warning.

Chinese censors tested on Thursday a new way of shutting down websites and cutting off the country’s internet users from the rest of the world. The censorship drill targeted tools that many in China use to thwart the country’s vast online censorship system, though internet companies said it also hit some sites at random.

Americans, need to treasure our unfettered internet access. We also need to understand that evaluating the source and authenticity of the news and information we are receiving is one of the requirements that comes with our freedom. 

Let's realize that the freedoms we enjoy are precious and not shared by people living in other countries and that they come with responsibilities.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Talking About the Orioles

From MLB.com

I attended another Orioles game last evening and was pleasantly surprised about the sense of urgency the team displayed in dispatching the Kansas City Royals in a 6-0 shutout.

With 55 games remaining in the regular season, the Orioles have come alive. They swept the Royals by winning the game last evening. The Royals had come into Camden Yards as one of the hottest teams in baseball. They are one of the three teams that the Orioles must catch and pass to earn a ticket to the post-season. The Orioles are now just 2.5 games out of a wild card spot!

The Orioles did their jobs! I watched a game with great pitching, good fielding, and most importantly I saw the Orioles score 6 runs and they hit only one homer! The Orioles are learning to move around the bases with clutch hitting and not relying on the long ball to get the job done. 

Did I mention awesome pitching? The Orioles latest acquisition, Jeremy Hellickson, pitched seven shut-out innings and turned the game over to the resurgent bullpen to secure the win!

Since the debacle that was June and July, the Orioles starting pitchers have arrived and begun controlling games, the bullpen has stabilized with the return of Zach Britton and Darren O'Day, and the hitters are not slugging for the fences but are getting timely hits. The result? They are on a 5 game winning streak and have won 7 of their past 10 games. They are 11-5 in their past 16 games! Just saying. 

Winning the division is still a possibility!

Bring on October!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Making the news

The White House

I just have to comment on the wild White House weekend.

It is hard to remember that the current administration has been in office only six months and a few long days.

The only constant seems to be a virtual merry-go-round of faces moving through key administration positions.

During the past week or so, it has been a truly revolving door of people in key positions. 

And then there are the tweets from the President. Daily insights into what matters most to the President. 

From yesterday, the President tweeted:

Only the Fake News Media and Trump enemies want me to stop using Social Media (110 million people). Only way for me to get the truth out!

And on Monday after the changes in The White House:

A great day at the White House!

I have no idea where everything is heading but I am sure of one thing: 

Making the news is controlling the news!

The President is certainly controlling the news!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Time Rockets By

Happy August 1st, it is hard to believe how quickly July passed. 

Carlin Park
Jupiter, Florida
July 10, 2017

I have been on my own for a couple of days now as Chris is out in the west visiting her brother and preparing for a wedding.One thing that has really struck me is how quickly time is lost. There is so much to do, but it seems that there is not nearly enough time to get it all done.

Each project requires time to set-up and clean-up. And then there is the obligatory trip to the home store for supplies. 

The lawn still needs to be mowed and I think it is finally dry enough after the rains. It is definitely tonight's project.

And the pool always needs care.

Did I mention vacuuming? Doing laundry? Cleaning up the piles of towels that do not seem to have home form around the pool? I am mired in the mundane.

Most people know that July is my favorite month of the year because I generally travel and do unique activities that do not happen during other months of the year. As I was reflecting upon the hectic pace of this most recent July, I remembered sitting on a couple of beaches where the  conflicting priorities of life melted away and I was just able to be in that moment.  

And now, July is twelve long months away.

I wonder what joys August will bring?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - July 31, 2017

Patuxent Greens Hole 1
Laurel, MD
July 30, 2017

1. It is the last day of July, the year is now seven months complete and I can feel August in the air. 

2. The past two mornings have seen temperatures in the 50's to start the day. It seems that the summertime heat has been turned off.

3. I played golf yesterday. The course was wet from all of the rains. I could tell the course had too much standing water in places because there were ducks swimming in the fairway.

4. Changing plans are because of life. 

Screen Shot of George C. Scott as
Patton

5. I heard an interesting thought last week in a meeting. It may be a leadership concept. "Everyone has an opinion, but not everyone gets to vote."

6. I found this small bug on the tail light of my truck. I was intrigued by the green and red contrast.

7. Chris has been away visiting in Colorado. I watched Patton a couple of times while doing house projects. 

Headlines

Russia flaunts military might across the world with Navy Day celebrations - CNN

Putin, Responding to Sanctions, Orders U.S. to Cut Diplomatic Staff by 755 - The New York Times

Hot Spot for Tech Outsourcing: The United States - The New York Times

Quote for the Week

"The price of freedom may be high, but never so costly as the loss of freedom."

Ronald Reagan

Remarks at a Rally Supporting the Proposed Constitutional Amendment for a Balanced Federal Budget, July 19, 1982

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Rainy Saturday Report

Getting the Cut In's Done

Despite the rain, it was a productive day around the house.

Chris and I have been procrastinating painting the wine room. One wall of the room was painted a few years ago, but the remainder had not been refreshed since we moved into the house some 17 years ago.

The Completed Wall
The Lighting Makes it Look Mottled

We are slowly changing the color palate and updating the walls. We have had the paint for many months, but just not had the opportunity to take a day and actually paint. Until yesterday. 

I was able to paint the room and get it put back together.

Job done.

I also watched Patton for the second time this weekend. I think I will make it a Patton marathon this weekend.

Along the way, the door handle to the garage door broke and I replaced it. Ugh. It is amazing the number of things that continue to need replacing and updating. 

I wonder what today will bring? The morning temperature is 57 degrees! Hopefully the rains will stop and I will be able to get the lawns mowed.

After I play a round of golf, of course. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Rainy July Saturday

Rains Falling in the Backyard
July 28, 2017

The rains from yesterday and overnight have created a soggy mess outside which caused a rescheduling of my early morning Tee time, created lawns so wet that they can't be mowed, and have generally postponed most outside activity. 

The rains last evening were heavy and I had to drain a few inches of water from the pool.

I guess I will be stuck doing indoors activity today.

Of course, I could spend the day watching my favorite movie, Patton. 

But, there is a room to be painted. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

D.C. in Traffic

Driving through D.C.
with Washington Monument and
Jefferson Memorial in  view

I had the opportunity to drive through the heart of DC during high traffic yesterday. 

It was an experience that I had forgotten. 

I quickly remembered why I don't drive through DC too often. I prefer to take the metro.

Traffic is slow, crazy, and dangerous. The dangerous part is an understatement. People drive like they have no respect for the damage a vehicle can do. 

I had dropped Chris, Jodie, and Trev off at Reagan National and was headed back to work. The roads were jammed. Who is out driving at about noon on a weekday? Lots of people, it seems. 

I was at a total standstill on a bridge when I snapped this image.

At least I could sightsee in the traffic!

Remind me again why flying out of National is better than BWI? I forget! Lol.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

John McCain Lays it Out

I had the opportunity to see some of Senator John McCain's speech to the Senate on Tuesday. 

Senator John McCain Addressing the Senate
July 25, 2017

He is an American hero.

There may be no one who better understands the construct of the American government, our Republic, than John McCain.

Senator McCain laid it all out in this part of his speech,

“We’re getting nothing done. All we’ve really done this year is confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. Our healthcare insurance system is a mess. We all know it, those who support Obamacare and those who oppose it. Something has to be done. We Republicans have looked for a way to end it and replace it with something else without paying a terrible political price. We haven’t found it yet, and I’m not sure we will. All we’ve managed to do is make more popular a policy that wasn’t very popular when we started trying to get rid of it.
 

He mentioned that the Senate had done nothing all year more than once.

He also has a great grasp on the concept of checks and balances--he was clear and unequivocal in his assessment of the unwelcome influence of the President on the Senate.

“We are an important check on the powers of the Executive. Our consent is necessary for the President to appoint jurists and powerful government officials and in many respects to conduct foreign policy. Whether or not we are of the same party, we are not the President’s subordinates. We are his equal!

No truer words have been spoken. 

The Senate needs to exert leadership in the Congress for America.

I was impressed with Senator McCain's grasp on the true importance of the Senate and its check on the powers of the unruly presidency. 

“That principled mindset, and the service of our predecessors who possessed it, come to mind when I hear the Senate referred to as the world’s greatest deliberative body. I’m not sure we can claim that distinction with a straight face today.


I urge you to read the test of Senator McCain's speech and relive the greatness of what America was and yet should be.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Golf off the End of the Runway

Golf requires a mixture of playing and practice.

Chris at the Range
July 25, 2017

I could never approach the amount of practice time that the pros dedicate, but heading off to the driving range for an hour or so of practice allows me to work on aspects of my game that I would not attempt during a round of golf when I am trying for my best score.

Last evening, instead of hitting a course for a fast 9 holes, Chris and I went to the range for some serious work. It was a beautiful evening and the range was full--both levels. I guess all of the other weekend golfers wanted to enjoy the relative cool, low humidity evening. 

The range near the airport is a lot of fun because when the correct runway is active the planes seeming fly right over top. 

The range is nice because I am able to hit more balls in an hour than I would during a four hour 18 hole round--and I can work to adjust my stance and swing to begin to learn how to better aim my shots.

It was a great way to begin an evening--for both Chris and I.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

As the Day Ends

Last evening was one of those all to rare experiences which put the period at the end of the day in a truly enjoyable and relaxing fashion.

The Pool as Evening Falls
July 24, 2017

I had not realized the amusement park-like pace that Chris and I had been on until we were lounging on floaties in the pool with a glass of wine for the first time all season. Yes, it is late-July and we only last evening found time to lounge in the pool and enjoy some time to ourselves.

Admittedly, the weather has been questionable, we have been traveling, and we have been busy--but lounging in the pool is something that I look forward to enjoying. 

Chris and I are fortunate, we have been able to carve out a piece of serenity amid the cacophony of the world around us to enjoy the ending or the beginning of the day. Last evening the stars and schedules finally aligned to allow us to decompress without struggling to get everything done. The late evening ending thunderstorm was but the icing on the cake as we both enjoy watching the storms rage around us.

I hope for more such days as the summer winds down because I can already feel summer losing its grip as the temperature this morning was 64 degrees and cool with the humidity finally falling into the comfort range.

Evenings like that are to be enjoyed and then treasured.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - July 24, 2017

1. The next to last Monday of July is upon us. August is breathing heavy in the stable waiting to be released. 

Cannon at Antietam Battlefield
July 22, 2017

2. The month of July has been a great month with lots of memories. 

3. July is vacation month. 

4. Saturday Chris and I drove through the Antietam Battlefield. It was a very sobering experience to think about the battles and horrific scenes that played out there.

5. Finding new Maryland wineries is a great weekend past-time. 

6. I was playing golf yesterday as Jordan Spieth was setting golf history by winning The Open tying only Jack Nicklaus and the other player to have ever accomplished that feat.

7. The British Open is correctly titled just The Open.

Headlines

In Minneapolis, Unusual Police Killing Raises an Old Outcry: Why? - The New York Times

9 people dead after dozens found in sweltering tractor-trailer at a Walmart in Texas - The Washington Post

Jordan Spieth Edges Matt Kuchar to Win 2017 British Open - CNN

Quote for the Week

"Time and again our nation has proved that there are no limits to what we Americans can achieve when we work together. Well, today we are working together to do what is right. And as a result, we can look forward to a more secure tomorrow." Ronald Reagan Radio Address to the Nation on Arms Control and Reduction, July 16, 1983

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Societal Breakdown

A very disturbing article out of Cocoa, Florida, found in The Washington Post highlights a potential tear win the fabric of society. 

The article titled, Police seek charges after teens film, mock drowning man, mayor says describes how five teenagers aged 14 and 16 filmed and mocked a man who was drowning, but did nothing to help him.

CNN reports that they will not be charged with anything. They should be charged with something, most likely failure to render aid if that statute were still on the books.

What is most disturbing is that the drowning happened on July 9th and the teens filmed the death in realtime, but never reported the event nor called 9-1-1. The badly decomposed body was not discovered until July 14th. 

Jamel Dunn, the man who drowned, died while people who potentially could have saved him and rendered aid watched, filmed, and mocked the event.

The incident is described:

Police said that the teens didn’t attempt to help Dunn as he struggled and screamed.

“They didn’t call the police. They just laughed the whole time. He was just screaming … for someone to help him,” Yvonne Martinez, spokeswoman for the Cocoa Police Department, told Florida Today

I cannot imagine how society, parents, and the education system failed the young men who joked as they watched a man die without rendering aid.

We need to take action and do better. The cavalier attitude towards our fellow citizens cannot be allowed to continue.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Dunkirk: Movie Review

See this movie!

That, in short, is my review. 

Dunkirk is 1 hour and 47 minutes long and it is a riveting and fully involved story. The filmography is spectacular and the up close and personal look at a select number of the characters provides a unique perspective of the events and the situation faced by the 400,000 trapped British, Belgian, and French soldiers on the shores of Dunkirk, France during May and June 1940. In the end, 330,000 of the troops were evacuated.

It took me a while to understand the manner in which the events were presented because the movie does not proceed in a classic chronological manner. The events are overlaid upon each other and viewed from the multiple perspectives of the participants. 

The movie provides a gritty, earthy, realistic look at the events that are unfolding from multiple perspectives. The action is intense and very personal. 

I had the opportunity to view the movie in a D-Box seat. While is it not as plush as some other movie seats, it transmitted the action including the bombs exploding, the aircraft dogfighting, and the swells of the sea for me to enjoy adding a new viewing experience. I enjoyed the D-Box seat.

Recommendation: See the movie and get in touch with the history of the greatest generation.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

When the News Becomes Too Real

Missile Graphic from the New York Times

I usually watch the news on television and feel detached from the unfolding events. Unless the action is happening in my own backyard, I feel like the activity is not likely to affect me personally.

That is changing as the world continues to grow smaller.

An article this morning in The Washington Post, titled Hawaii rolling out civil defense plan for North Korean missile attack, took me back to my days in grade school when we practiced sheltering in place and civil defense drills. 

What caught me was how Hawaii, in response to something that happened almost an ocean away on during Independence Day celebrations is creating a plan to protect people. 

Here is an excerpt from the article:

The state of Hawaii is formulating a preparedness plan for a North Korean missile attack, much to the dismay of the state’s tourism boosters.

“We do not want to cause any undue stress for the public,” Vern T. Miyagi, Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency administrator said in a statement reported Thursday by the state’s news media, but “we cannot wait to begin our public information campaign to ensure that Hawaii residents will know what do if such an event occurs.”

The full plan for that campaign will be unveiled Friday, according to Hawaii News Now. 

So while I watch the news, sometimes the news becomes more than just a detached event on the television and it requires action. I applaud Hawaii for their proactive response to the news. It is scary, but sometimes we need to respond and be prepared.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Confounding Orioles

OPACY
July 19, 2017
Orioles Defeat Texas 10-2

I was ready to write the season off and begin thinking about trades to make the Orioles a contender next year after the weekend series against the Cubs which saw the Orioles get swept while surrendering 27 runs and scoring 11, and 8 runs were scored in a losing effort. 

It was and ugly series and I have to remember that the league leading Houston Astros are coming into town for a weekend series that could result in a similar slaughter; however, there is still hope!  

The Orioles have played three games of a four game series against the Rangers and have surrendered only 4 runs while scoring 25 and winning the all of the games so far. They actually could complete a four-game sweep tonight with a win. The turn around, which has been fueled by three consecutive quality stats from the beleaguered pitching corps, has returned the O's into Wild Card contention and they remain only 8 games behind the Red Sox for the division.

There remain 68 games in the regular season and the Orioles need to start winning. The Red Sox are 8 games ahead of them with a .563 winning percentage. To achieve that modest goal, the Orioles need to get to 91 wins which means winning 46 of the remaining 68 games. Going 46-22, .676, over the course of the remainder of the season is not likely. That means that the Wild Card is the most likely route into the playoffs. 

The mid-season collapse of the pitching staff coupled with inconsistent batting has pushed the team to the brink of elimination, yet there remains hope. It should be a fun run to the end of the season and hopefully some great October baseball.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Going to the Dogs

Arthur and Florence
By the Door

I have wondered which is harder--watching other people's children or dogs?

It is an interesting question. 

I am sure watching kids is harder than watching dogs, but sometimes I wonder. Dogs, other than my own, require work to keep them regular and happy when they are not in their usual environment. 

One of the hard parts is picking up on the potty cues. 

And it is hard as well because the environments are different. But, I think we have reached a classic canine-human, or cross-species understanding about potty time. 

Feeding time is easy! Keeping the water dish filled is a chore, but fairly self-explanatory--fill it when it is empty.

But we are having fun together. The cats are a bit frazzled, but they have a portion of the house they can live in free from the dogs.

Life can go to the dogs for a while, it is all about keeping perspective!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Towel Animals

One of the fun things about cruises are the towel animals left in the cabins by the stewards.


During our recent cruise, we received five towel creations to enjoy and I took an image of each one. 

I don't intend to post them all, but just a few of them.

It is funny ho at the end of the day I looked for the towel animal to enjoy.

It is funny the things that we look forward to on cruises. Towel animals. Who would have thought?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD