After the Three-day

I often make a joke about Monday being on Tuesday as the workweek begins after a three-day holiday weekend.

Teddy

It is true. No matter how we try to avoid it, the first of the workweek is a Monday. There are just things that happen on Monday that can only happen on  M Monday--like saying something simple like, "How was your weekend?"

Despite the rain yesterday and the snowed on Saturday, my weekend was interesting and overall enjoyable. 


I sojourned to Frederick, MD and beyond to enjoy two wineries and a breweries with Patrick and Tina and then subsequently visited a newly opened brewery in Odenton with Mike and Nicole. 

Radio Flyer flew above 200 feet altitude for the first time and hopefully I am ready to move into gesture control now that I believe that I have trouble shot the problems that I was having. It helps to actually enable the gesture control feature.

I also enjoyed basketball games where both Jackson and Ethan each scored and played shutdown defense.  

And did mention Teddy--Jeremy's newly arrived Keeshond?

It was a three-day weekend to remember and the last holiday weekend until Memorial Day.

Presidents' Day Quote

It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one. - President George Washington

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - February 19, 2018

1. Happy Presidents' Day! Which president is your favorite? Which one is your least favorite?

2. CBS News ranked the Presidents from 1 to 45. Review the ratings and see if you agree. Number 45 may surprise you. Numbers 1 and 2 have birthdays this month. I thought Ronald Reagan was asked too low, personally.

Teddy

3. It is a paradox that every dictator has climbed to power on the ladder of free speech. Immediately on attaining power each dictator has suppressed all free speech except his own. President Herbert Hoover.

Finnegan and Teddy with Jeremy

4. There is a new dog in the family. Welcome Teddy, Jeremy and Lucas's new keeshond. The family has a pair of kees again!

5. Both Ethan and Jax's basketball teams won their first round playoff games yesterday. Basketball continues for one more week.

6. After Saturday's snow, the temperatures and the weather seem to be improving.

7. The aftermath of Valentine's Day has a beautiful bouquet of tulips and irises sitting on the table. They are a splash of color in the dreary season.

Headlines

What to Do With a Day Off - The New York Times

How Unwitting Americans Encountered Russian Operatives Online - The New York Times

Team USA's biggest Winter Olympic team nabs few medals (so far) - CNN

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"You understand that freedom is not a luxury, but a necessity; not a privilege, but the source of our life's bread. In science, just as in our economy, our object must be to maximize freedom, to open up new avenues of inquiry and new areas of experimentation." Remarks at a White House Luncheon for the New Pioneers, February 12, 1985

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Evening at the Winery

Big Cork Ice Sculpture
February 17, 201 8

Last evening we braved the snow with Patrick and Tina and attend a a wine club event at Big Cork Vineyards. 

Snowstorm as We Arrive at Bog Cork

But wait, there was snow! Lots of snow along the way. The roads roads because progressively worse as we drove westward to Rohrsville for the event. A fast moving snow storm cruised through the area as were were making our way to the event. 

Of course, this was not just a one-stop afternoon. We visited Black Ankle Vineyard on our way and made a stop at Olde Mother Brewing in Frederick, MD.

We sampled a number of wines and beers during the day, but the wine club event at Big Cork was the highlight. 

Big Cork Wine Club events are special. There is food and last evening there was music. We had the chance to interact with the wine maker and enjoy some revelry during the dark days February. As an added benefit, we enjoyed some fruit of the vine!

It was a fun afternoon and the snow wasn't really all that bad. 

Mid-winter fun! It makes Spring seem a little bit closer.

Presidential Quote for the Day:

"Human kindness never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough." President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Presidents' Day Weekend

Last evening while enjoying Happy Hour at a local pasta restaurant, I was introduced to an advertisement from the pages of The Washington Post published in advance of President's Day. 


Usually I would be underwhelmed at the idea of looking at a newspaper ad, however, this one contained numerous statements made by great Americans about our country and justice.

The ad was titled, "Mr President, In anticipation of Presidents' Day consider the following words of counsel and caution."  Author Tom Blair took out the ad. 

One very telling quote was from Steven Hawking: "People who boast about their I.Q. are losers." I have seen this quote also written "People who boast about their IQ are idiots."

And this from President John F. Kennedy:
"Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past, let us accept our own responsibility for the future."

There are 59 quotes in total and as I researched for the blog this morning I was unable to find all of the them reprinted, although they should be. The best that I could do was a .pdf file of the February 14, 2018 edition of The Washington Post.

Happy Presidents' Day--may America be stronger through the trials of today!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Awesome Thursday

Happy Hour Around the Fire Pit
February 15, 2018

It is Friday again! The end of the work week has arrived and this Friday I do not have to deal with a government shutdown.

Looking at our house from up the street
February 15, 2018

While Friday is fantastic in its own right, yesterday was special in a couple of ways.

The weather provided a foretaste of the springtime that I seek with temperatures approaching 70 degrees. Chris and I were able to enjoy happy hour outside around a fire pit and watch the evening fall while discussing Spring Break plans, retirement, and summertime house projects. 

A Letter about Ms. Doan

I was amazed at the warm afternoon weather. I was even able to get Radio Flyer up into the sky for some flying time. I took my drone to a nearby collection pond to get some experience flying in a different area. The 12 minute flight set personal records as my new highest altitude and longest distance. I was able to get an image of our house from up the street, I am sure that once the leaves finally return that this same shot will not be possible. 

Rounding out the day, Chris received confirmation that she has reached the pinnacle of her career as an educator and that she can retire knowing that she has made a positive difference in the lives of many children. One of her students generated a letter about the great assistant that she truly is and Chris was able to take a picture of the letter. The final sentence in the letter is especially touching, "She helps me like Jesus helped the kids that are depressed become happy." Truly, when someone is compared to Jesus they have reached the pinnacle of their career and can retire knowing that they were a positive influence in the lives of others.

What a Thursday it was!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day Delivery

The way we celebrate Valentine's Day has changed over the years. 

Louis enjoying Pre-Dinner Happy Hour

We used to head off to an over-crowded restaurant and drop down an excessive amount of money for an overpriced meal to celebrate the day. 

Now, we plan a special dinner at home with a very nice bottle of wine and time alone together to reflect.

Last evening was another special Valentine's Day in the series. The wine of choice was a 2006 Chateau St Jean Reserve Merlot. I remember that we purchased the wine at the winery when we visited Napa and Sonoma a few years ago. The dinner was steak from the grill with oven-baked potato and salad. For dessert we enjoyed Key Lime Pie! I hesitate to think what that dinner would cost in a restaurant. The wine alone might be as much as a small car payment. 

Valentine's Steak on the Grill

Maybe we are just getting old, wanting to enjoy a special time out, but I suspect not. Too many people cramming themselves into restaurants to celebrate a meal for one night just doesn't seem fun. Making the meal special at home--now that is where it is all at!

I look forward to being at home and enjoying a special meal with my Valentine is the best kind of celebration.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Olympics Observations

Chloe Kim Snowboarding

I am enjoying the Olympics coverage on NBC. I guess it is because the coverage is coming live during the hours that I am most able to watch the games.

For the past two evenings I have been fascinated watching the half-pipe snowboarding competition and seeing two gold medals delivered by the US competitors Chloe Kim and Shaun White. 

Shaun White Snowboarding

I am fascinated with the agility and bravery of the snowboarders. Last evening, I also saw how it can go very badly when 16-year old Yuto Totsuka, a Japanese snowboarder, was injured during his run. There was no update on his condition this morning except that he was conscious and in some pain.

I found it fitting that the 31-year old Shaun White's gold medal was the 100th gold medal earned by the U.S. Team during Winter Olympics competitions. It was Shaun's 3rd Gold Medal!

By comparison, it seems that they give out almost 100 gold medals during every Summer Olympics, I know that isn't true, but it sure seems like a lot of medals are given out. Oh wait, according to Wikipedia, 307 gold medals were awarded during the 2016 Summer Olympics!

And the games go on!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Pitchers and Catchers

Even though the calendar says it is Winter, it must be Spring because Orioles Spring Training gets underway today as pitches and catches report to Sarasota to begin workouts.

It has finally arrived. Spring Training has returned and hopes are high or the upcoming season.

OK, for the Orioles hopes are not really that high. It is really a dark spot on the excitement that is the beginning o Spring Training. The Orioles have problems--with pitching.

MLB.com suggests that Spring Training will be an exciting one or the Orioles as they work to set their starting pitching rotation. I take the view that the entire season hinges upon what the Orioles do in the next couple of weeks. The Orioles enter training with just two of five needed starting quality pitchers. 


Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun makes the following statement:

When the Orioles officially report to spring training camp Tuesday, they will not be a better team than the one that finished fifth in the American League East last season. That should be fairly obvious.

And that is where we begin the season. 

Hopes are definitely not high. I see the Orioles losing a lot of games with astronomical scores like 9-7. 

Well, we can't win if we don't play!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - February 12, 2018

1. We survived another government shutdown. The cost to the American taxpayers is enormous and the loss of status in the world is unquantifiable.

2. What did you do with your Sunday afternoon now that the NFL football season is over?

Rolls Royce Hood Ornament

3. The U.S. is lagging in the Olympics medals race. Currently standing at 2-1-1 for a total of 4, that is half as many as Norway, the current leader.

4. The torrential rains of the weekend have soaked everything. The lawn is a squishy land of mud. Maybe Springtime is close at hand?

5. The thermometer hit 66 degrees yesterday. Officially it was 63.9 degrees. This morning it is 52 degrees, which looks as if it will be the high for the day.

6. I was reviewing some of the images I captured at the auto show last week. I had forgotten this one with the Rolls Royce hood ornament in it.

7. Youth basketball season is winding down, the playoffs are up for next week. I'm excited because after basketball comes baseball.

Headlines

Abuse Case Exposes Fissures in a White House in Turmoil - The New York Times

Russian Plane Crash Kills All 71 Aboard - The New York Times

Pence: The United States is ready to talk with North Korea - The Washington Post

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"The lesson of all this was, of course, that because we're a great nation, our challenges seem complex. It will always be this way. But as long as we remember our first principles and believe in ourselves, the future will always be ours. And something else we learned: Once you begin a great movement, there's no telling where it will end. We meant to change a nation, and instead, we changed a world."

Farewell Address to the Nation, January 11, 1989

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Radio Flyer Takes to the Skies

February, so far, has been a month of wild weather. The weather has ranged from below freezing temperatures to the current torrential rains which are making the region excessively soggy.

Looking up the Street
February 10, 2018

Yesterday, however, there was a break in the cold and rain and I was able to get Radio Flyer, my DJI Spark drone, out for a flight. It felt great to wind up the engines and have my drone respond by launching into the sky. 

The flight plan for the day was to continue developing dexterity with the controller and do a lot of low altitude work around the year and up the drive. But, I managed to get some nifty images from the skies in what was my also my highest flight to date. Even the clouds were interesting to look at an realize they contained rains which was going to envelop the region.

My flights were shorter than desired because both the batteries only contained a 60 percent charge from sitting unused for almost two weeks. Note to self--the batteries need to be topped off after they have been sitting unused.

The next time I get the opportunity to fly, I will be working on the hand-launch and hand-signal control of the drone. It is one of the coolest features of this drone and I have been studying the videos in preparation for my first hand-signal control flight.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Week that Was

Yes, there was a government shutdown, despite the news reports indicating that the shutdown was averted. It was not. I spent time working the shutdown all week and even during the shutdown. It was an incredible waste.

The weather has been cold! Too cold. It has been no fun. 

Nathan Chen Falling

The Olympics began in South Korea. 

I watched some of the team ice skating on the night before the opening ceremonies. 

I felt very bad that Nathan Chen fell during his opening program. All of the build up was a lot of an 18 year old to handle. I am sure he will recover nicely.

The Falcon Heavy liftoff from Florida restored some moxie to the US Space Programs. The double-booster landing was fabulous. No one else on the planet has been able to pull that off.

The week!

I'm happy that Saturday is here. I only wish it were warm enough to golf.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Our Government at Work

I really a being a bit facetious with the title because as I write this i have been advised that appropriations to fund the government have lapsed again and that we are in yet another shutdown furlough.

We just did this a couple of weeks ago.


Congress continues to unevenly attempt to fund the government and the President  seems to enjoy the on and off-again form of government that shutdowns create. 

Chaos!

Waste! The amount of money that goes into planning for a shutdown, whether one actually occurs or not is phenomenal. 

As I write this, the New York Times is reporting that the shutdown is over! 

House Passes Budget Deal to Raise Spending and Reopen Government - The New York Times

But has the President signed the bill? Are we going to have to do this again in a few weeks? 

The questions remain.

Fundamentally, this is not way to run a government. We are rapidly becoming a third world country in terms of consistency in government. If this continues, our credit rating will slump and it will cost a lot more to fund the debt.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

I Love a Parade

A large military parade to demonstrate how powerful the U.S. military is for all to see.

It is like an adolescent game of who can spit the watermelon seed the farthest. 

Or a game of my army's bigger than your army!

Ugh!

Have we not gone far enough with this insanity? The need to demonstrate how big and bad we are seems a bit lost on the world. Our military is becoming a shell of its former self due to the continuing budget crises.

The last big military parade in Washington D.C. was during 1991 to celebrate the end of the Gulf War.

Military parades are about ego and power. Of course Trump wants one. - The Washington Post

What would we be celebrating this time?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Budget Train Wreck

Here we are again!

Some bad dreams just do not end. 

Congress and the President are playing a dangerous game of Chicken with the future of the country.

This republic deserves responsible leadership!

Soon, I hope.

The threat of another government shutdown is looming large. The brinkmanship is horrific. 

"I would love to see a shutdown . . . " The President said.

This is not the right way to run the government. And another continuing resolution is not the way to do business. 

We need consistent and committed government. 

There is a glimmer of hope. Some Senators are talking about a two year budget. It will actually be a year and a half budget, but it would mean we do not have to do this again--next month or next year.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Orioles Outlook

Spring Training is just days away. 

Orioles pitchers and catchers report to Sarasota on February 13th. The remainder of the team is only days behind that. 

I wish I could say that the outlook is hopeful, however, the team has failed to make any meaningful moves to shore up the pitching and the circus that has become Manny Machado's tenure with Orioles will be a continual source of distraction as the season progresses.

Frankly, I do not believe that the Orioles will be a better team than the one that finished 5th in the division with a 75-87 record.

Manny on Opening Day - Will This Year be His Last in
an Orioles Uniform?

The other teams in the division have improved their teams overall, while the Orioles have done precious little.

It certainly appears that the Orioles will finish last in the division again and may not even win 70 games. I know that is a dire prediction--but reality is setting in. I need to go to baseball games for their innate entertainment value and stop hoping that my team will win the division and goto the World Series. I just do not, at this time, see that happening this year.

There is still time for the Orioles to acquire a couple of pitchers to shore up the starting rotation. 

But time is getting short.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - February 5, 2018

1. What a weekend it was. Cold and ice storms. The trees were covered with ice by the end of the day yesterday. I'm sure there are many broken limbs around the area this morning. 

2. Because of the ice, many of the schools are delaying opening for two hours to give time for ice removal/mitigation.

3. The Super Bowl was super! What an exciting game which remained undecided until the last play. I am happy that the Eagles won and secured their first Lombardi Trophy. 

4. Orioles pitchers and catchers report in 8 days! Baseball is going to get started again and that isa good thing. My Spring Training trip is planned and i will begin reviewing the Orioles soon.

5. Ice, why did the weather have to bring ice. 

6. The weather in February is what? Cold and icy!

7. Another government shutdown looms as early as Friday and the Congress and President are playing their violins as the country burns. 

Headlines

Eagles defeat Patriots, 41-33, to capture first Super Bowl title - The Washington Post

Trump steps up war against FBI, Democrats have their own memo plan - CNN

To Counter Russia, U.S. Signals Nuclear Arms Are Back in a Big Way - The New York Times

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"The task that has fallen to us as Americans is to move the conscience of the world, to keep alive the hope and dream of freedom. For if we fail or falter, there'll be no place for the world's oppressed to flee to. This is not a role we sought. We preach no manifest destiny. But like the Americans who brought a new nation into the world 200 years ago, history has asked much of us in our time. Much we've already given; much more we must be prepared to give."

Remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference Dinner, February 18, 1983

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

D.C. Autoshow 2018

The event of three day yesterday was a trip into DC to attend the Auto Show at the convention center. The DC Convention Center is huge, I had forgotten how large.

We saw lots of cars and had a great deal of fun. Chris and I went with the Mike, Nicole, Ethan, Jax, Jack, and Jim. Wandering the show was a lot of fun. And we saw there new Jaguar SUV/crossover. What a great car.

I got some great photos of cars and had a funny Kia video made with Ethan. 

The cars were the stars however. 

2019 Mustang Bullet

And I really enjoyed them.

--Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Into the Wormhole

Depiction of a Wormhole

I discovered a new fun fact the other day.

30 seconds can equal 6 minutes!

Amazingly enough I had suspected this fact for a long time. It is almost like a wormhole situation when things are just right.

In this case the right combination of events involves me leaving the house 30 seconds too late and meeting up with the dreaded school bus!

I hate the school busses that ply our streets. The kids  that board them in the morning are especially slow and nonchalant about even being at the bus stops on time. That said, if I have to wait for the bus at the end of my street, I get the added benefit of waiting through two more stops and then painfully waiting for the bus to make a right turn at the end of the community onto US 1. 

Having been 30 seconds too late on a couple of occasions this past couple of weeks I have computed the net time of the delay to be about 6 minutes. Unfortunately, I cannot see the bus when I leave my driveway and so it is not like I could pour another cup of coffee and relax while the bus picks up its "self-loading cargo."

But instead, I am stuck following along behind the big yellow bus as it waddles down the street. And time passes through the wormhole.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Happy Groundhog Day!

One of the uniquely American festivals or celebration; or is it an observance, is upon us once again.

Groundhog Day.

The day when the rodents rule!


When we find out, at least in our minds, whether there will be an early Spring or six more weeks of Winter.

It is Americana at its best. A festival to celebrate something during the coldest and almost darkest time of the winter. 

And it is just fun!

Where else does a rodent own the day--for even just one day?

I hope there is no shadow today. The winter has been too long and too cold already.


Happy Groundhog Day! May all your rodent problems be groundhogs!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Back into the Deep Freeze

Punxsutawney Phil and handler

In a twist of weather February is arriving. After a relatively nice day today, the weather is turning more winter-like for the next week. It is February after all.

Tomorrow is Groundhog Day! We will receive the rodent-generated weather forecast. I suppose it will be as correct as our local weather forecasters.

There will not be any golf this weekend. 

After we hit 50 today, temperatures will not be above 40 again until Wednesday next week.

The cold means that Finnegan will not be able to exercise his youthful exuberance outside. Frankly, his high-pitched bark, when playing, is incredibly aggravating. 

And the weather is grounding Radio Flyer, my drone.

I wish the cold was over and Spring had arrived.

On the warm side--the Spring Training trip is planned, the Spring Break trip is planned, and the summertime cruise is planned! All of them are to warm weather areas. And sandy beaches!

Here is hoping for an early Spring. It is time for the warmth to return and for us to get on with our outdoors life.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD