Monday Musings - May 14, 2018

1. May is cruising along and the wild weather ride continues. While it was 87 degrees and sunny on Saturday, yesterdays;' high was 62 degrees under cloudy and generally rainy skies. Today is expected to see the high reach 80 degrees.

Jax Preparing to Tag the Runner
May 12, 2018

2. Action shots say it all. Jackson is about to tag the base stealer attempting to take second out. He has the ball and the bead on the runner. The umpire, however, called the runner safe. Wow. It would have been the second caught stealing runner on the game for the Dodgers on Saturday.

3. The Orioles have won two series in a row for the first time this season. They are 5-2 in their last 7 games and had a 4-game winning streak at one point. Yesterday was a 17-1 victory. I hope they have finally turned the corner.

Finnegan and the Rabbit

4. What to do on a rainy afternoon and evening? Watch movies and series on Netflix. Chris and I finished watching the Netflix series Lost in Space yesterday.

5. The pool is looking swimmable and except for the cold temperature, it is ready to host fun!

6. What does a dog do when separated from a rabbit by a hidden fence? Answer? Look and wait.

7. Enjoy Monday. Just remember that Tuesday is not far behind.

Headlines

Gasoline prices could see summer spike, with prices at 4-year highs and record demand - CNBC

China ‘ready to build bigger warships’ as first home-grown carrier starts sea trial - The Economist

Bloomberg warns of 'epidemic of dishonesty' - Yahoo


Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"For all Americans, we want to open more and more paths of opportunity in education and expanding scientific literacy and fostering new technologies and, through new technology, new jobs for the future; and building a fair, free, and growing world economy that gives hope and opportunity to all Americans, all mankind."

Remarks at a White House Meeting With Members of the Council for a Black Economic Agenda, February 24, 1987

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Hot Saturday

First off, let me say Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers.

Yesterday was a hot Saturday. Although the temperature only made it to 87 degrees, it felt much hotter.

The Pool
May 13, 2018

Despite the heat, which was very nice, a lot of activity was accomplished around the house.

The pool continues to clear and is almost ready for the first splashes of the season. 

The lawn was mowed again and looks good. I actually enjoy mowing the lawn because it means that Springtime is in full swing.

The Deck
May 13, 2018

But, in the real highlight of the day was that the deck was restrained. Fran and Chris got two coats of stain down on the deck with enough time to cure before the evening thunderstorms arrived. It looks very good and is a major springtime project completed. 

And in the sports report for the day, the GORC Dodgers played a tough game against one of the two teams that defeated them last week and pulled out a hard fought 14-12, 4 inning victory. It was exciting especially since the Dodgers were the away team and they had to hold the opposition to less than 4 runs during the last half inning--which they did! The Dodgers now have a three-game winning streak.

The heat was definitely a factor during the entire day. 

But it was a great day.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Pool Opening Day 2018

Pool Opening
May 11, 2018

It arrived yesterday. The annual pool opening day event.

The Pool Cover is Gone
May 11, 2018

I had help this year and the whole process went fairly well. The pool had not fared well during the off season and there was a lot of muck at the bottom from the winter. 

The pool is clearing up nicely and the back of the house looks much nicer from the same with the pool cover gone. I can almost believe that the summer is coming. 

The days have been fantastic and truly summer is getting very close. There is still a lot of work to do on the pool to get it into swimming shape, but it should be ready in a few all too short days.

The Ultimate Selfie Machine, My Drone
A Man and His Dog
May 11, 2018

I have discovered that my drone is the ultimate selfie machine. I God an image of me with Makayla yesterday as I was landing Radio Flyer after cruising the neighborhood and taking images of the pool after the opening event. 

Makayla did not mind the buzzing of Radio Flyer until it got wishing a few feet of us. She accepted it, but was very wary. I am just impressed with the amount of green in the image. I love the green and I firmly believe that the reason that I despise winter is because the green goes away.

But, the pool is now open and almost swimmable. The trees are in full leaf. The grass in growing, probably because I put fertilizer on it so that I could cut it more.

The pool, the grass, the trees. Cue summer!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Redemption on the Diamond

Double Rainbow
Piney Orchard Elementary School Field 1
May 10, 2018

Despite the weather forecast which made it seem as if torrential rains and thunderstorms were imminent, the GORC Dodgers met the GORC Angels for their rescheduled game last evening. 

Martin Pitching, Jax in the Outfield
May 10, 2018

There were some sprinkles off and on at times during the game, but the weather held and we were treated to a an infrequently seen double rainbow towards the end of the game.

The boys played a complete game with solid pitching, hitting, and fielding to defeat the Angels 12-6. The game started off fairly evenly with the score after one being 2-1 Dodgers. Then the scoring began in earnest. The game only went four innings due to time limitations and darkness. The innings were often long and laborious, but the boys played hard and made some good outs in the field. Once the bats got going everyone up and down the lineup contributed.

It was great to have the guys get back into their winning ways and play hard-nosed baseball.

Saturday presents the opportunity to get even with one of the teams that beat us last week.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Azaleas in the Spring

Azaleas in the Spring

It is Springtime and the Azaleas are in bloom. The white one in my yard is magnificent. 

The blooms are fully opened now and the splash of white against the backdrop of green is stunning. 

Although not easy to discern, this image was obtained using Radio Flyer, my drone.

The Springtime flowers are all in full bloom around the house and the neighborhood. It is a great time of the year.

I have determined, from weather forecast that the pool will be opened on Friday. Once opened, then the preparations for the impending Memorial Day Holiday will be complete.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Rough Night on the Diamond

Some nights the baseball just does not seem to bounce in the right direction and the umpire's calls seem to go the other way.

Jax at Third

Such was last evening.

The GORC Dodgers ran into a buzz saw and lost to the Diamondbacks in a game the was tied 0-0 at the end of the first, but ended, because of time expiring, after four hard played innings at 15-5. I really though we were going to end in a 10-10 tie, but that is where the Umpire ripped the boys hearts out with some incredibly close calls at the plate.

To say that it was not our finest hour is an understatement. The hard part was that it wasn't hit balls that were the problem, it was the walks; hence, the game dragged on forever.

To say it was another hard learning experience is an understatement. We really need another practice, but there are none on the schedule.

Oh well, there is another game on Thursday!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Season Ending Loss - Penguins

No Cup This Tear

For the first time in three years, the Penguins will not be playing hockey while other teams continue their playoff runs. The Washington Capitals made a bit of history last evening by overcoming the curse of the Penguin and winning their first playoff series against the defending Stanley Cup champions since 1994. 

I have to say congratulations to the Capitals and I actually hope they can bring to Washington their first ever Stanley Cup. The city deserves it after decades of dashed hopes.

With the dreams of winning three consecutive Stanley Cups dashed, the Penguins get a well deserved off season to lick their wounds and prepare for the next campaign which starts in five short months.

I guess it is time to move onto the next sport--baseball. I hear the Orioles are trying to lose over 100 games this year.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - May 7, 2018

Geese at Oak Creek Golf Course
May 6, 2018

1. It is the first Monday of May. We have already enjoyed three celebrations: May Day, May the 4th Be With You, and Cinco de Mayo! What a great month.

The Leaves Have Returned
May 6, 2018

2. I played golf yesterday and came across this goose family. The adults were very protective of the goslings. I was being watched very carefully as I searched for an errant shot.

3. The trees are really rocking the green. My house is not completely surrounded and the solitude of my back yard has returned. My drone was able to document it yesterday.

4. I took Radio Flyer to a new place yesterday. Troy Park, year my house. I decided to fly up a light pole and examine the lights. They are very interesting as you get to the top. It seemed like a long way up!

Top of the Light Pole at Troy Park
May 6, 2018

5. There is almost nothing better in the world than sitting outside on a beautiful evening and enjoying a glass of wine, or two, with friends.

6. I have mowed the grass now three weeks in a row! Yes, the Springtime is in full force. 

7. The Orioles remain winless for the month of May. The hoped for turn around still has not occurred.

Headlines

Verifying the End of a Nuclear North Korea ‘Could Make Iran Look Easy’ - The New York Times

Yes, It’s Bad. Robocalls, and Their Scams, Are Surging. - The New York Times

Gina Haspel, nominee to head CIA, sought to withdraw over questions about her role in agency interrogation program - The Washington Post

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"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

Tough Outing

Jax Warming Up
May 5, 2018

Entering the day as the only GORC Intramural Team with an unblemished record, the Dodgers faced a determined Orioles team.

The game started evenly, with both teams scoring single runs in the second inning. Then the Orioles scored two runs in the third. Things got away from the Dodgers sat that point. 

Jackson pitched the first three innings. His longest outing of the season. He was tough and had good control. 

The bats were mostly silent during the day. The boys could not seem to string hits together. There were some fantastic moments, to be sure. A bases loaded double in the bottom of the 5th scored two runs, but that was all the Dodgers would manage for the day in a disappointing 11-3 loss. 

The great thing about baseball is that there is another game coming where the team can get back onto its winning ways.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Saturday Snippets -- May 5, 2018

Happy Cinco de Mayo! My favorite foreign holiday and a great day for celebration. We had a great kick-off party at the house last evening and the margaritas were flowing freely!

The green has returned and filled the blank spaces in the trees. I am concerned about some of the trees which have not yet begun to green. I hope that they have not been lost. 

The 90 degree temperatures of the past few days have been fantastic! I have really enjoyed the heat and the sun! I hope that it keeps coming. The weather for the week ahead will not be hot, but it will be very nice.

Pool opening day is drawing closer. Perhaps this week. 

One of my friends made an interesting observation last evening. He posited that people drive faster when the economy is doing well. He may be right.

It is a busy Saturday. Baseball is center stage again.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

As the Games Go On

The Field
May 3, 2018

Jackson Pitching
May 3, 2018 

Last evening the GORC Intramural Dodgers continued their winning ways by defeating the Marlins in a hotly contested game.

It was great that the temperatures were in the high 80's at game time and that the boys of summer were truly experiencing summer.

The Dodgers built a 7-3 lead by the 4th inning and hung on to win 7-5 in a game that went only 5 innings due to the time limit. The Dodgers were blessed with great pitching and some timely fielding plays, including the play that ended the game. Jax pitched the 5th inning and turned in a solid performance. 

Here was the game ending play. With two outs and a runner on third, the Marlins batter hit a shot that got by both the third baseman and the left fielder. But the boys did not panic. The left fielder ran down the ball and threw it to the shortstop relay who fired it to the third baseman who tagged the batter who was trying to stretch a double into a triple. The umpire signaled out and the game was over!

Very exciting.

The boys hung tough.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Orioles Thursday: How Much Worse?

With the arrival of May, my expectations for the Orioles soared.

My hopes have been dashed now that May has actually arrived and the Orioles look the same as they did during April and last September.

The Orioles are 0-2 on their current road trip and currently facing the Angels. Last night the final score was an apparently respectable 10-7 loss, until the truth of the scoring is known. The O's scored 5 runs during a futile comeback attempt in the 9th inning.

For the first 8 innings of the game they scored 2 runs on 5 hits. During the 9th inning, they scored 5 runs on 5 hits. 

It is hard to win games attempting late inning comebacks when down by 7 runs.

The night before, they managed to tie the game in the 9th at 2-2, only to see the bullpen surrender the walk-off run in the bottom of the 9th. 

New and creative ways to lose ballgames.

The operative word here is lose.

And there does not seem much hope for the future. The team batting average is .221 which is 15th among the 15v AL teams. The team ERA is 4.84 which is 12th among the 15 AL teams.

The outlook for the Orioles is gloomy!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Mid-week Arrives

The middle of the week, "hump" day, has arrived. 

It is exciting that the weather has improved corresponding to the workweek. I wish I was off to enjoy the day--one of the first days to possibly cross the 90 degree threshold.

It is exciting. 

Baseball practice with the GORC Pirates last evening was fun, it was warm baseball weather. It should be hot for our game tomorrow night. It was nice to be wearing shorts and not heavy coats while practicing. 

The trees are filling in the bare spaces and that is returning my yard to the private sanctuary that it becomes during the summer. 

Welcome Hump Day--let the summer fun begin!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Beginning of the Nice Days

I looked at the 10 day forecast.

Elkridge, MD, Forecast for May 1-10, 2018

Excitement abounds. I am seeing things in the weather forecast that have been missing since September. 

There is a projected high of 90!

No projected lows are below 55!

No snow, little rain and great weather for outside activity.

Last evening it was a bit cool, but we had a large congregation outside around the fire pit. It was great, a couple bottles of wine were consumed, until the smoke from the fire became a problem. I'm thinking we are going to install a gas fired pit to solve the smoke problem. 

Cue summertime! I hear the sounds of children splashing in a pool!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - April 30, 2018

View from the 18th Tee Box
Timbers at Troy
April 29, 2018

1. It is the last day of April. May begins tomorrow.

2. It is hard to play golf when the temperature is falling from the 50's to the mid-40's.

Trees Rocking the Green in the Neighborhood
April 29, 2018

3. The Orioles managed a win yesterday! They have tied September 2017 for the number of wins during a month at 7. Ugh! They have won two of the last three, however!

4. The trees are finally rocking the green!

5. There are 80's in the forecast.

6. Don't forget Cinco de Mayo is Saturday. It is my favorite foreign holiday and there were direct implications for the United States.

7. Pool opening weekend is coming, I am deciding that it may be this weekend! I am feeling stirrings of summertime! I am tired of looking at images from Radio Flyer with the cover on the pool.

8. The Penguins stumbled yesterday in their quest for their third consecutive Stanley Cup losing to the Caps 4-1.


Headlines

Trump threatens government shutdown in September if no funding for wall - Reuters

Myanmar violence: Thousands flee fresh fighting in Kachin state - BBC

‘Ready, shoot, aim’: President Trump’s loyalty tests cause hiring headaches - The Washington Post



Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"We must be willing to pay for excellence in government or risk a government run only by people of wealth or by those beholden to special interests."

— Radio Address to the Nation on the Federal Budget and Executive Salaries,

January 1, 1989

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Busy Beautiful Day

Springtime Scene Under the Weeping Cherry Tree
April 28, 2018

Yesterday was an exception to the spate of bad weather days.

The sky was blue during the morning and the temperatures were into the 70's and Chris and I got a lot of outdoors work done recovering from the winter.

The pool area is coming along, although I have not decided when to actually one the pool. I'm feeling like it may be next weekend, especially if the forecast 80 degree days actually show up. It is time to begin to celebrate the arrival of the outdoors season.

I wish that we had a longer outdoors season, but I need to enjoy what I actually can. 

The leaves are beginning to fill the blank spaces in the trees and return the scenery to green. That is encouraging. Flowers are blooming, finally, everywhere and my azaleas are about to burst forth as an added benefit.

It was a great and busy day!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Saturday Snippets

After I wrote about how miserably the Orioles were playing, they shut out the Detroit Tigers 6-0 last evening. It qualifies as their first blow-out delivered of the season AND a shut out. They have now won 6 games during April and are posting an overall 7-19 (.269) record. 


The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Washington Capitals in game 1 of their second round series in pursuit of the Stanley Cup. The Pens have met the Caps 10 times in the playoffs and hold a 9-1 advantage in series won. The Pens are seeking their third consecutive Stanley Cup.

There are 80 degree temperatures in the forecast for next week! I am very excited!

Despite the warmer forecast, it looks as if we will be playing golf tomorrow in the cold, yet again. The forecast high for the day is 60 degrees!

Hopefully, the GORC Intramural Dodgers will be able to play their game today. It has been a rough week with one practice and two games canceled due to rain and poor field conditions.

Presidential Thought for the Day

Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. - President Thomas Jefferson

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Orioles: Hoping April Ends Soon

The best thing that could happen to the Orioles is that April would end and a new month start. 

The Orioles have won 5 games during April and are finding new ways to lose. The sport the third worst record in the majors at 6-19. 

Hoping the Fortunes of the Orioles change

The season has rapidly gone downhill. It has become downright ugly and difficult to watch. It is as bad as they finished September 2017 when they went 7-20 suffering a total end of the year collapse. Since the beginning of September 2017 the Orioles are 13-40 (.245). There was one game in October last year which was also a loss to end the season.

Last evening was no exception to the terrible string. The Orioles gave up 6 runs in the first 3 innings before finally scoring en route to a 9-5 loss.

The statistics do not look good. They have been blown out 6 times already this season while issuing no blow-outs of their own. Blow-outs in baseball are defined as losing or winning by 5 runs or more. 

The team batting average is a dismal .213. Last night they got 16 hits, but committed 3 errors and could only manage 5 runs. 

Dismal is the worst that comes to mind. But if the bats keep swinging maybe they will string some hits together. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

As the Trees Leaf

Trees in the Neighborhood
April 25, 2018

Looking at the Trees Along the Creek
April 25, 2018

The trees are beginning to leaf out. 

Finally.

I flew Radio Flyer last evening to get some images of the developing leaves. It is very amazing how things have changed in a few short weeks. The trees are greening and are beginning to obscure the flight lines I used during previous flights. 

It was good to see how much the leaves are beginning to burst forth. 

I love the green leaves! I have been missing them for six long months since they changed color and fell from the trees during October. N ow, they have begun to return.

The return of the leaves, along with mowing the lawn on Saturday, is a sure sign that after the far too long Winter, Spring is finally arriving.

There are even some 80's in the forecast for next week! Yes!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

As the Games Get Postponed

Jax on Saturday at the Plate

At least the temperature has stayed warmer.

Now the Spring-time rains have arrived and are playing havoc with the baseball schedules.

Jax Pitching on Saturday

Last night, the Orioles were rained out and the GORC Pirates practice was also rained out.

It was supposed to be an aggressive week of practice and games and we really needed the practice. 

This is the time of the year when almost everything revolves around baseball and the weather plays a big part in whether the games are played or delayed.

It is frustrating to get ready for practice and games only ot have the weather intervene. The weather has been bad enough this year anyway. At least the grass in the yard is growing.

Well, that's the game as they say.

I long to be warm at a game!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Rabbits

Rabbit in the Yard
April 23, 2018

There was a big rabbit sitting in my yard yesterday morning munching on my newly green grass. The spot is right out in front of the house next to the driveway. A very open and unprotected spot for a rabbit.

As you can see, my yard has some rough spots where the rabbits like to graze. 

But in addition to eating my grass, they eat the hostas which are trying to grow and many of the other young tender plants around the yard. 

While I generally like the idea of rabbits, I'm not sure I appreciate the reality of them. 

And then there are the droppings, which Finnegan loves like they are tootsie rolls. Yech. Dogs can be very disgusting when it comes to such things. 

Maybe we need a fox to control the rabbits. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - April 23, 2018

1. It is the next to last Monday in April. The month is screaming to a close.

Violets Blooming in my Yard

2. Wasn't it funny that the IRS was not expecting a large volume of people to file their taxes on the last day and it broke their computers? I'm sure nothing like that has ever happened before.

A Goose-Golf Ball Situation
Compass Pointe Golf Course
April 22, 2018

3. Spring arrived! I found some violets in the yard.

4. Congrats to the Penguins as they move onto the next round of the NHL playoffs.

5. Yesterday, I mowed the lawn for the first time this season. I am glad there is finally enough green to actually begin the mowing process.

6. Golf yesterday morning was actually pleasant. By the end of the round I was able to take my coat off and enjoy the day. It was cool, but not cold! 

7. I did have a close encounter with a goose on the golf course. The goose was very interested in my golf ball and had to be encouraged to move away so that I could play my shot. Geese are much easier to move along than are alligators which we often see in Florida.

8. The cold temperatures of last week affected the grapevine buds. I hope that not too many were lost.

Headlines

China, Feeling Left Out, Has Plenty to Worry About in North Korea-U.S. Talks - The New York Times

Saving net neutrality, one house at a time - The Washington Post

Four presidents come together to pay tribute to Barbara Bush - CNN

'Ethnic purging': French stars and dignitaries condemn antisemitism - The Guardian

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"It's time we tapped the well of human spirit that runs so deep in our land. We'll find more than the strength of numbers and the strength of resources. We'll find the strength of individual courage, know-how, and love of country." Remarks at a Rally for Senator Malcolm Wallop of Wyoming in Cheyenne, March 2, 1982

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD