Monday Musings - November 8, 2021

 

1. Wow, it is already the second Monday of November 2021. Time is certainly flying by. There are just 7 Mondays remaining in the year.

2. Veterans Day is this week on Thursday, the 11th. Thank you for your service to all of America's veterans!

3. Family Monday Morning NFL Report.

    Steelers (4-3) play da Bears (3-5) tonight on MNF

    Ravens (6-2) defeated Vikings (3-5), 34-31 OT

    Cowboys (6-2) lost to Broncos (5-4), 16-30

   Washington (2-6) mercifully was on a bye.

4. There are two divisions in the NFL where every team has a winning record: AFC West and AFC North. That seems strange to me.

View from Old Westminster Winery & Vineyard
Westminster, MD
November 7, 2021

5. It was a beautiful Sunday and Chris and I went out to discover some new wineries within an hour of the house. We went to two wineries we had visited a few years ago and stopped at the Old Westminster Winery & Vineyard for lunch. They were serving outside with heaters but the cold wind made the experience less than optimal, although, the wine did not overheat.

6. Chris and I remarked that we have been enjoying some stunning sunsets the past few days. Sadly, however, yesterday's sunset came an hour earlier than the day before signaling the beginning of the dark season.

7. Today in History. On November 8, 1895, physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (1845-1923) becomes the first person to observe X-rays, a significant scientific advancement that would ultimately benefit a variety of fields, most of all medicine, by making the invisible visible. 

Röntgen's discovery occurred accidentally in his Wurzburg, Germany, lab, where he was testing whether cathode rays could pass through glass when he noticed a glow coming from a nearby chemically coated screen. He dubbed the rays that caused this glow X-rays because of their unknown nature.

To Steer China’s Future, Xi Is Rewriting Its PastTo Steer China’s Future, Xi Is Rewriting Its Past - The New York Times

Antarctica Was Once a Land of Fire and Not Ice - The New York Times

SoftBank Reports $3.5 Billion Loss on China Crackdown - The Wall Street Journal

Natural-Gas Exports Lift Prices for American Utilities - The Wall Street Journal

Court Halts Vaccine Mandate for Private Employers - The Wall Street Journal

Rebels Advance Toward Capital As Ethiopia Moves Deeper Into War - The Wall Street Journal

China builds mockups of U.S. Navy ships in area used for missile target practice - Reuters

'Really, really exciting': travellers head to United States as entry ban liftedThe Great Reboot  - Reuters

Indian capital's dangerous air ruins return to school as pandemic curbs eased - Reuters

“Virtually nothing is impossible in this world if you just put your mind to it and maintain a 
positive attitude.”

---

Lou Holtz

Former Football Player

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Enjoying the Turkey

Homage to the Turkey
Elkridge, MD
November 6, 2021

The last vestiges of Halloween were removed yesterday and the Season of the Turkey replaced them. 

I enjoy the Thanksgiving season because it is so short and well defined being crammed in between Halloween and the ever lengthening Christmas season. But, the start and end points for the Thanksgiving season are well defined. The season begins on November 1st after the Halloween and Day of the Dead Celebrations and ends promptly with the arrival of Santa Claus during the Macy's thanksgiving Day Parade. 

OK--maybe it doesn't end until after the NFL football trifecta on Thanksgiving Day, but retailers are already trying to extend Black Friday. How can there be Black Friday sales already when Black Friday is still about three weeks away? 

Enjoy the Turkey and the Thanksgiving season. Christmas will be here soon enough.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

On the Docks

The Docks off 2nd Street
Annapolis, MD
November 5, 2021

Last evening we went to Annapolis for dinner. The city docks area had been ravaged by the storms a few weeks ago and so we were not really sure what we would find as we traveled through the stifling traffic to the city. 

Sunset out the Chart House Window
Annapolis, MD
November 5, 2021

The city had fared well during the storms and subsequent flooding and we did not notice any perceptible impact to the operations. We enjoyed a marvelous dinner celebration at the Chart House which included a spectacular sunset. 

Dinner with friends is always a good time and we enjoyed a solid wine with a variety of foods. 

Despite the traffic which effectively doubled the driving time to get to the city, it was a great evening and we enjoyed the pleasant, unhurried meal in a stunning location along the harbor. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Autumn Sky

 

Final Light of the Day
Severn, MD
November 4, 2021

The Severn Seminoles 14U conducted their final practice of the Fall Ball season last evening. Almost as if to wish the team well, the sky provided a stunning display as sunset happened.

I took a moment and captured the display in the sky across the sandy infield. It was cold and as the sun continued below the horizon the temperature dropped with it. I think the boys were luckier in that they were at least moving the entire evening. Coaching and not moving around much made it colder. My toes even grew cold.

The practice moved along well with the boys fine tuning some of our plays, but with the cold and the recognition that the end of the season is upon us, it was a bit hard to keep them focused. I understood, I had trouble staying focused upon the plays and the practice and not how cold I was even with four layers of clothing.

The season ending doubleheader is Saturday against two 15U teams. Should be an interesting and fun day of baseball. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Turkeys Arise

Last Year's Turkey w/Mask

 The season of the Turkey has arrived.

No--it is not yet the Christmas season! Hold off on the tacky Christmas ornaments for a few more weeks. It is time to give thanks for the bounty and blessings of the year. 

And what a year it was! 

The deployment of the COVID vaccine has helped us struggle to return to pre-COVID normalcy. I expect an unmasked Thanksgiving this year as the entire family is vaccinated! Anyone who remains unvaccinated is not reading the science and somehow believes their medical degree is superior to those in positions to make these decisions. Wait1 You don't have a medical degree? You are getting you are taking your medical advice form Fox News? OK--let's see how that plays out.

We survived an insurrection. Call it what you will, revise history however you want--it was an insurrection.

The longest war in American history ended. It was an ugly end to an ugly war, but it is over. Frankly, I've never seen so many people unhappy about ending a war, especially one with no end in sight and which was draining the treasury.

We survived the 17 year cicadas. The bugs proved once again which species really owns the planet.

The Orioles got the first pick in the draft!

And so much more. It should be a great Thanksgiving. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Autumn Arrives

Autumn Colors Beginning in the Trees
Elkridge, MD
November 2, 2021

I feel like Autumn's arrival was delayed this year. 

I have this sense that on Halloween the trees should be devoid of leaves, dark, and making scary shadows in the moonlight. As can be seen in the image I took last evening, the trees are still mostly full with leaves and color is just beginning to show. There are places in the area where the rest and yellows of the Autumn colors are on full display, but in my backyard they are still in the early stages of transformation. Of course, it was raining when I took the image.

The cold rain and 40 degree temperatures yesterday, coupled with overnight lows in the 30s should encourage the colors to appear in the trees. 

Sadly, all too soon the trees will be bare and the grays of winter will arrive. But, I will enjoy the transformation.

Another season in the cycle of life which continues.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Game 6

Will it end tonight?

The World Series is an exciting slug fest. I wonder if the Astros can stave off defeat in their home park and force a game 7. There really is not much more exciting in sports than a Game 7 of a 7-game series to decide the champion. It brings everything into play. There is no tomorrow and the teams throw everything and everyone into the game. In baseball I have seen starting pitchers come in a relievers to help win the Game 7. 

I will likely stay up late to watch the game, but probably not all the way to the end. I get up too early in the morning to see the ending of evening sporting events. 

I hope the Braves win!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - November 1, 2021

 

1. Welcome to November! This is the first of five Mondays in the month! The year is sliding quickly to the finish line as there remain only eight Mondays in the year!

Halloween Preparing for the Trick or Treaters 
Elkridge, MD
October 31, 2021

2. I survived another Halloween! The neighbors at the end of the cul de sac gathered in the driveway last evening to hand our candy. The kids were a bit confused, but they received candy from six houses in one stop. I might add, the adult beverages were flowing freely and the trash can fire kept us warm.

Finn Wondering if he is a dog, 
or a plaything
Elkridge, MD
October 31, 2021

3. Sometimes, I don't think that our dog Finnegan appreciates the costumes he has to wear on holidays. Like last evening, for instance. An alligator, really?

4. NFL Family Scores

    Steelers (4-3) defeat Browns (4-4), 15-10

    Cowboys (6-1) defeat Vikings (3-4) 20-16

    Washington (2-4) lose to Broncos (4-4), 10-17

    Ravens (5-2), mercifully on a bye

5. The project for the weekend was the removal of the non-functioning pool heater. It was an interesting project that took most of the day before it was finished. I was most amazed, however, when we went to the scrap yard to sell the metal to learn that copper is being bought for $3.20 per pound and that brass fittings are $.95 per pound. The 300 pounds of sheet metal netted a total of $13.

6. Today in History. The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, one of Italian artist Michelangelo’s finest works, is exhibited to the public for the first time on November 1, 1512.

Michelangelo Buonarroti, the greatest of the Italian Renaissance artists, was born in the small village of Caprese in 1475. The son of a government administrator, he grew up in Florence, a center of the early Renaissance movement, and became an artist’s apprentice at age 13. Demonstrating obvious talent, he was taken under the wing of Lorenzo de’ Medici, the ruler of the Florentine republic and a great patron of the arts. After demonstrating his mastery of sculpture in such works as the Pieta (1498) and David (1504), he was called to Rome in 1508 to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel—the chief consecrated space in the Vatican.

American Airlines’ Flight Cancellations Are Latest to Disrupt Travel - The Wall Street Journal

Shanghai Disneyland Suspends Operations as Visitors Queue for Covid-19 Tests - The Wall Street Journal

Former Afghan Spies and Soldiers Turn to ISIS After U.S. Exit - The Wall Street Journal

At Climate Talks, Biden Will Try to Sell American Leadership to Skeptics - The New York Times

What if Everything You Learned About Human History Is Wrong? - The New York Times

Southwest to probe pilot's use of anti-Biden insult during flight - Reuters

U.S. says it is in talks with allies on getting Iran to agree to nuclear deal - Reuters

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Fire Pit World

Chris at the Gas Fire Pit
Elkridge, MD
October, 30, 2021

Chris and I are blessed with a gas fired pit and a wood fired pit. For evenings when we just want to spend some time around a fire, the gas fired pit is perfect--as in last evening. 

Last evening was one of those evenings. We retreated to our pool deck, surrounded by lights to chase away the darkness and enjoyed the warmth of a fire and some good conversation. We ordered a veggie pizza and enjoyed some wine and conversation basking in the glow of the fire. 

We stayed out until by the fire until it was almost time to retire for the evening. A warm fire, a calm night after the storms of Friday, good pizza, and great wine! Of course there was wine involved. What a great way to celebrate the last Saturday of October.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Tale of Two Fridays

Morning After the Storms
Elkridge, MD
October 30, 2021

The yesterday's rains reminded me how differently days can play out.

Last Friday, I went to work for a few hours and then left for a golf outing on a beautiful Autumn day. The skies were generally clear and the weather was warm enough to golf comfortably in a short-sleeved shirt. After golf, I arrived home and prepared a large fire and celebrated happy hour with friends into the night. As Autumn Fridays go, it was perfect!

Yesterday, however, there was no golf. I remained at work for the entire day and the rain made drive home slow and tortuous. The evening was celebrated with friends around a raging fireplace as the rains eventually subsided. And it was cold! Too cold for a short-sleeved shirt without a jacket. Water was everywhere. The roads were a mess.

How different the two days were--even though both were Friday. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Rain

 Today is a washout.

It is supposed to rain all day and into the evening which will effectively rainout the ballgame scheduled for tomorrow because youth fields do not drain. The water puddles and the field becomes a muddy mess. It can take days to dry out. 

If that happens, it appears we will be playing Tuesday night as a make-up.

The youth baseball season is ending, just as the MLB season is ending. Winter is on the horizon--but, at least I will be wintering in Florida and enjoying the sun and sand instead of the clouds and snow! I had heard, however, in contrast to the woolly worm prediction that I posted during August, that the winter in the Mid-Atlantic region is supposed to be mild!

But today--rain!

A cold Autumn rain that portends the Winter.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Fall Classic

The final MLB games, there are at most 5 remaining, of the season are being played. The series is ties 1-1 between Atlanta and Houston. Each of the games thus far have been full of offense. I am not believing that there will be a 1-0 or 2-1 final score in the series. These teams can hit!

I wish the Severn Seminoles 14U could hit! The team came up short in a game last evening against Crofton 6-4. And it was close, we had the bases loaded and were poised to tie the game when the final out was recorded on a solid play from the outfield.

The fortunes of the Seminoles are a series of painfully close losses. The boys are in every game, but just fall a few runs short. There are three games remaining on the season and I expect that they may soon break out and get back onto their winning ways. 

And the World Series will be over soon as well--and then it is a baseball hiatus until the Spring, when we get to do it all over again. Hope springs eternal at Spring Training when the teams show up and prepare for the grueling 162 game season. 

On to Atlanta for the next games of the Series!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Fall Ball (yup, baseball)

It was cold last evening--in the 50's. Yet, we held baseball practice for the Severn Seminoles 14U, why? Because it is Fall Ball and if it is not raining that means we practice!

The field was a disaster from the torrential rains the night before and so we confined practice to the batting cage. I felt bad for some of the boys because their hands hurt when they hit the ball because the bats were cold. 

Another Example of Fall Ball

The first game of the World Series was played last evening as well and it was a slug fest with 20 hits. I especially likes the statement the lead-off hitter for the Braves made as he hit the first-ever top the First Inning of the Game 1 of the World Series leadoff home run.  I found it hard to believe that no one before. It is also a difficult record to comprehend.  

Sadly, the Astros have now disappointed their faithful fans by losing the last 5-straight home World Series games. My view? At least they are in the World Series--the Orioles, by contrast, have been watching every World Series form their living rooms since 1983!

By the way, I am officially cheering on the Braves in their quest to with the World Series.

Play Ball! Who cares that its is in the 50s and the leaves are falling form the trees?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Rainy Evening

Rain at Night on the Pool Cover
Elkridge, MD
October 25, 2021

The rain rolled in promptly as expected at 6 PM last evening just as the weather forecasters predicted. 

We need the rain. It has been very dry and the lawn is suffering as well as the trees. It is hard to believe how dry it has been. 

Well, the downside is that the baseball field may be too wet for practice tonight. Especially if it rains most of the day. But the field was like a desert dustbowl that last time we played on it, until the rains came then and turned it into a mud bowl. 

I like to hear the rain as it falls. And it fell last evening, long and hard. The new pool cover holds the water on it before it percolates down. The rain also hits the pool cover like it is a drumhead making a pleasing rhythmic sound. I probably should make a recording of the sound.

We slept with the windows open so we could enjoy the sound of the rain falling. I know I went to sleep very quickly enjoying the calming sound and cool breeze under and additional blanket on the bed. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - October 25, 2021

 

1. Welcome to the last Monday of October 2021. There are but 9 Mondays remaining in the year. Next Monday is the 1st of November!

2. In one week we will be able to say that Christmas is next month.

Compass Pointe Golf Course
Pasadena, MD
October 22, 2021

3. We get to celebrate four holidays between now and the end of the year (plus one day).

4. Golf on Friday is something I need to spend more time doing. It was a great way to spend a Friday late-morning and afternoon on a beautiful October day..

5. I saw the movie Dune. It was great--but ended abruptly. A sequel is definitely required. 

6. Drivers in Maryland need to:

    -- learn how to drive up hills

    -- Use signals to change lanes

    -- Be less impatient

    -- Develop courtesy

    -- Merge without stopping in the on-ramp

7. Today in History. October 25, 1929. During the Teapot Dome scandal, Albert B. Fall, who served as secretary of the interior in President Warren G. Harding’s cabinet, is found guilty of accepting a bribe while in office. Fall was the first individual to be convicted of a crime committed while a presidential cabinet member.

As a member of President Harding’s corruption-ridden cabinet in the early 1920s, Fall accepted a $100,000 interest-free “loan” from Edward Doheny of the Pan-American Petroleum and Transport Company, who wanted Fall to grant his firm a valuable oil lease in the Elk Hills naval oil reserve in California. The site, along with the Teapot Dome naval oil reserve in Wyoming, had been previously transferred to the Department of the Interior on the urging of Fall, who evidently realized the personal gains he could achieve by leasing the land to private corporations.

Millions of Workers Stay Home to Watch Young Children as Daycares Stay Dark - The Wall Street Journal

Turkey’s Erdogan Threatens to Expel 10 Western Ambassadors, Including U.S. Envoy - The Wall Street Journal

Inside Amazon’s Worst Human Resources ProblemInside Amazon’s Worst Human Resources Problem - New York Times

An Unexpected Pandemic Consequence Frustrates Florida’s Biggest CityAn Unexpected Pandemic Consequence Frustrates Florida’s Biggest City - The New York Times

Americans abroad search for a first vaccine dose as millions at home get their third one - The Washington Post

More frequent outages afflict U.S. power grid as states fail to prepare for climate change - The Washington Post

Melbourne to ease more COVID curbs as 80% vaccination rate nears - Reuters

Dune' Opens to $40 Million at the Box Office. Strong Enough for a Sequel? - Reuters

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Is there a Simple Repair?

Completed Replacement
Elkridge, MD
October 23, 2021

The Damaged Board Removed
Elkridge, MD
October 23, 2021

It seemed simple enough: remove and replace a board on the deck which had not held up and had become a safety hazard.

OK, Chris put her foot through it on Friday. We used pressure treated lumber when we rebuilt the deck a couple years ago, but it seems that this particular piece may not have been completely treated. I checked all of the other boards in the area for similar deterioration and found none. 

So the project seemed easy, unscrew board, pull it up, measure the replacement and install! Not so fast! The heads of the screws were deteriorated and could not be turned so I had to cut the board on both sides of the support beam and chip the remaining piece out and then use a vice grip to turn each screw out of the beam. I had to do this for place the board crossed a support beam. It was a slog! 

By the time it was done, I was amazed at how many different tools I used. And of course there were two obligatory trips to Lowe's. One for supplies and then another to get the right saw blades to complete the job after I broke the one remaining jig-saw blade that I had. 

I managed to make it an all-day project, but completed it before a late-afternoon downpour drenched everything. 

Another project completed on a Saturday. Next Spring, after the board dries, I will apply the stain and probably stain the entire deck just to freshen everything. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Around the Fire Pit

 

The Fire at 5 PM
Elkridge, MD
October 22, 2021

And another season around the fire pit begins as the days grow shorter. 

The beginning of a good evening around the pit is, of course, a roaring fire. And I was able to build a great fire that continued to warm the immediate area as nightfall descended and the temperature fell. 

Meeting around a hot fire with friends to recap the week behind and just enjoy being with each other. Of course, a couple bottles of wine help to set the mood. 

It truly was the perfect way to end an idyllic Autumn day. I only spent a few hours at work before heading out to play a round of gold under clear skies, low humidity, and temperatures which just allowed me to be comfortable in a short sleeved shirt. 

As Fridays go--this was one of the best. Of course, not being at work on a beautiful day is always preferred.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Autumn Evening

Autumn Sun in the Tree Tops
Elkridge, MD
October 21, 2021 

Chris and I were outside around the gas fire pit last evening enjoying a glass of wine together for the first time in two weeks. We marked the end of the family emergency which began two weeks ago and was the reason for our sudden/unplanned return from Florida after 38 hours there. 

We were also together again for the first time in about two weeks not facing a family crisis. I could feel Chris's adrenaline level dropping to normal. 

We watched the sun move up the trees and I could detect the signs of autumn in the leaves. Chris relayed that Autumn is in full color in Upstate New York with the reds of the Sugar Maples on display. She had completed the 5 hour drive home from there earlier in the day.

Life will, hopefully, return to normal, at least for a few weeks. Sitting tonight sipping a glass of wine together marked the first normal evening in two weeks. 

Here is to normal! May it last.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Here We Go Again

 Another new variant?

COVID-19 is mutating again! A new, and of course more  contagious variant that could replace the Delta variant has made its appearance in Russia according to a report on Reuters this morning.

Russia reports cases of more contagious COVID-19 variant - reports

Like we actually need another variant in the world. 

According to the report, 

It is possible that the AY.4.2 variant will spread widely, RIA quoted the state consumer watchdog's senior researcher Kamil Khafizov as saying.

That could cause the rate of new COVID-19 cases, already at record highs in Russia, to rise even further.

The new variant could even replace Delta eventually, although the process is likely to be slow, he said.

Like we really need more COVID-19!

Hopefully the vaccines will stand up to this new variant. And of course, it is clear that COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sports Junkies

 

The excitement of the mid-week has arrived. 

Mike and his now famous "Hump Day" camel have made Wednesday a thing.

It is a busy week in sports with the MLB playoffs underway, NHL Hockey finding its stride for the long season ahead, the NFL in the middle of the season, and the NBA opening its season last night! We are in that small yearly period when all of four of the biggest sports in America are underway.

And do not forget golf! The PGA is playing as well.

Coupled with college football--there is a lot of sports available to become distracted from the realities of life. 

Who will play in and win the World Series? That is the most immediate sports question at hand. Following that, I wonder are the Dallas Cowboys for real at 5-1?

I am not the sports junkie that I used to be, but I follow teams in three of the "Big 4."

So with sports, there are plenty of distractions, not to mention I am still a coach on a Fall Ball baseball team.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD 

Winding Down in the Yard

Freshly Mowed
Elkridge, MD
October 18, 2021

I spent some quality time on my lawn tractor yesterday afternoon. It felt good to be out on the yard mowing and relocating the leaves which are beginning to fall. Since the year is quickly moving to conclusion, it is likely that I will not be mowing the lawn too many more times. But it sure looked beautiful in the Autumn afternoon light. All of the leaves were gone and I could enjoy the grass again. It was like a golf fairway.

Hibiscus on the Pool Deck
Elkridge, MD
October 18, 2021

I noticed that our hibiscus is blooming like mid-summer. It has burst forth in brilliance with its multi-colored flowers and made me smile as I was clearing the pool deck of the leaf accumulation.

The shortened days of Autumn are clearly here. The darkness arrives almost before I am ready and in three short weeks I will be setting the clocks back and preparing for the dark days. The clocks need to get reset because the school kids can barely be seen walking to their bus stops as I depart for work during the morning. 

And yes, it is Tuesday. I am reminded of the outdoors projects still remaining to prepare for the winter season. Hopefully, the first frost is still some weeks away--but it is colder this morning than last. The arrival of 40 degree nights caused my heating system to kick-on overnight. 

Another day and I'm beginning to get in the mindset of playing out the string.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - October 18, 2021

 

1. Welcome to the 3rd Monday of the month. There are just 10 Mondays remaining in the year! Don't look now, the year is slipping away.

2. Family NFL results:

   Ravens (5-1) defeat Chargers (4-2), 34-6

   Cowboys (5-1) defeat Patriots (2-4), 35-29

   Washington (2-4) lose to Chiefs (3-3), 13-31

   Steelers (3-3) defeat to Seahawks (2-4), 23-20

3. I have a thought--the use of turn signals while driving in is a direct reflection of a community's consideration of others. 

4. The temperature outside as I woke this morning was 49 degrees. The high today is expected to be only 66 degrees. These are sure signs that Autumn has arrived. 

5. The leaves are beginning to turn and fall from the trees. I suppose that even though the lawn does not need mowing, I will have to get the leaves removed so that I an hold onto the last vestiges of summer just a bit longer.

6. Here is a thought for the day:

 “Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve done before.”

---

Bonnie Blair

Speed Skater

7. Today in History. On October 18, 1867, the U.S. formally takes possession of Alaska after purchasing the territory from Russia for $7.2 million, or less than two cents an acre. Indigenous peoples settled the unforgiving territory thousands of years earlier. The Alaska purchase comprised 586,412 square miles, about twice the size of Texas, and was championed by William Henry Seward, the enthusiastically expansionist secretary of state under President Andrew Johnson.

Russia wanted to sell its Alaska territory, which was remote and difficult to defend, to the U.S. rather than risk losing it in battle with a rival such as Great Britain. Negotiations between Seward (1801-1872) and the Russian minister to the U.S., Eduard de Stoeckl, began in March 1867. However, the American public believed the land to be barren and worthless and dubbed the purchase “Seward’s Folly” and “Andrew Johnson’s Polar Bear Garden,” among other derogatory names. Some animosity toward the project may have been a byproduct of President Johnson’s own unpopularity. As the 17th U.S. president, Johnson battled with Radical Republicans in Congress over Reconstruction policies following the Civil War. He was impeached in 1868 and later acquitted by a single vote. Nevertheless, Congress eventually ratified the Alaska deal. 

Global Energy Crisis Shows Strain of Shift to Renewables - The Wall Street Journal

Group of 16 Americans and a Canadian Kidnapped in Haiti - The Wall Street Journal

As Manchin Blocks Climate Plan, His State Can’t Hold Back Floods - The New York Times

Analysis: Is the U.S. in a Cold War With China? - The New York Times

Denver museum to return artifacts to Cambodia - The Washington Post

Fully vaccinated travelers can come to the U.S. even if their doses are mixed, authorities say - The Washington Post

Sydney eases more COVID-19 restrictions as vaccinations pass key milestone - Reuters

Oil prices climb to highest in years as COVID recovery, power generators stoke demand - Reuters

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Cold Autumn Rain

 The rain that fell yesterday afternoon was definitely a cold Autumn rain.

How do I know? I was out in it coaching baseball and I was cold and wet as the rain soaked through my shirt.

Although Severn Seminoles 14U managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in both games, we were able to complete the second game despite the rain beginning during the 3rd inning. The rain stopped and we were able to play the 4th inning. 

I mostly dried out and warmed-up by the end of the 4th where the Seminoles a 3-2 lead and were playing up to their potential.  The rain began again during the 5th inning after the opposing team had taken a lead. Unfortunately as the rain fell harder, the play of the team began to get as sloppy as the field. 

In the end we lost. The rain fell harder and the play got sloppier. I was wet and cold. When I finally got to my car and took my hat off it was dripping and created a huge wet spot on the seat. 

It is Autumn after all and we have been having some really warm and great weather. The low 50s temperatures of this morning and the rains were to be expected some weeks ago. 

Today is crisp and clear! Exactly the weather expected after a cold Autumn rain. All that is missing are the brightly colored leaves of Autumn.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Surging into Saturday

 I made it to the weekend. It was touch and go for a bit, but as I cruised through Friday the reality of the weekend was confirmed. 

I made a scary and stunning realization this morning. While there are 11 Fridays remaining in the year, I will only be working for 7 of them. Two Fridays follow holidays (Veterans Day and Thanksgiving) both of which I am planning to be off, and two more are, themselves, days upon which holidays are being observed: Christmas and New Years. 2021 is shorter than we think! Of the remaining 11 workweeks in the year, two are three-day weeks and two are four-day weeks. So of 55 scheduled work days, I will be working only 49, not counting if I take some time off for travel or, weather permitting, a golf outing next Friday.

Where is the time flying.

Well, if my Saturday is any measure, the time is flying because I am so very busy. Today the Severn Seminoles will, hopefully, return to their winning ways during the scheduled doubleheader. That is the bulk of my Saturday.  And then there is grocery shopping--the cupboards are getting bare so I need to replenish supplies. I have run out of strawberry jam to put on my peanut butter and jam sandwiches! I may be out of bread as well. And milk. And the coffee is getting low. But I have plenty of dog food, cat food, and litter!

A busy weekend to set up for a likely busy week ahead at work.

But--it IS the WEEKEND!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD 

Thursday Night Lights

Severn Seminoles 14U Working Out
Severn, MD
October 14, 2021

 It was Thursday, also known as Friday Eve, and I was out under the lights of the baseball field with the team preparing for the Saturday's doubleheader. I realized that just a two short months ago it would have been daylight at 7:30 PM, but last night the cool evening air had already arrived and the lights were illuminating the field.

I used to enjoy practicing and playing games under the lights. It reminds me of playing high school football in and all of the excitement of a Friday night game. Lately though, it has become apparent that my contact lenses do not work well under the lights at night. I find it hard to see the ball, I remember thinking as a foul ball whizzed by my head.

But the workout last evening was good and the effort should result in some wins on Saturday during the scheduled games. 

At least the games are "day" games!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine

 I wonder about the real reason that the Texas and Florida governors are directing vaccine mandates not be enforced in their states?

Are they thinning the herd?

Are they callous to the suffering that COVID-19 is causing?

Vaccines have become a rallying cry for a vocal minority who have chosen, for some reason, this particular hill upon which to make their stand. I view this hill as being similar to the hill upon which Custer and the 7th Calvary made their stand--and only some of their horses survived.

The arguments do not make sense in the face of staggering numbers. The numbers are so bad that Florida's governor is trying to hide the figures--which we must remember represent people: fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters.

This is not really about the virus--it is about saving lives. And not just the people who become infected with COVID-19--but the other people who need medical care but are finding in some places that the hospitals are appropriate care is unavailable. 

Second and third order effects!

Get vaccinated. The life you save may not be just your own!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Black Walnuts

Black Walnuts on the Ground
Elkridge, MD
October 11, 2021

 It must be a banner year for the Black Walnuts. They are everywhere in my yard and are going to be a real problem when I start my tractor and attempt to mow. 

The side yard has more than a bushel of the noxious nuts lying on the ground. The squirrels are happy and I hope they run off with more of them before I have to deal with removing them or trying to mow over them.  

I remember when we lived in Louisiana and the pecan trees dropped nuts all over the yard and the surrounding park. At least they were edible--although I remember my hands turned green removing the husks from the nuts. We gathered grocery bags full of them. 

While I was outside, I heard the nuts dropping from the trees. I bet they hurt as much as when a coconut falls on one's head. It would be a painful experience. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Grasses

 

Grasses After Cutting
Elkridge, MD
October 11, 2021

Grasses Before Cutting
Elkridge, MD
October 11, 2021

It is that time of year when the ornamental grasses that we use as a privacy screen around our pool need to be trimmed. Originally, I had thought it would be too wet to cut them, but unlike Sunday they dried out by about 10 AM and were ready for cutting.

It is quite a job, cutting the grasses and stacking them in the truck to haul to the recycling center at the landfill. Its takes two trips to get them all removed. All told, with the travel time, it is about a five hour project. And normally it is a two person project, but today, with Chris in New York with her sister, I did it alone. 

OK, I am tired and sore. I wore a short sleeve shirt for the first run, but as I broke out with welts I remembered that I am allergic to the grasses. So a little washing and Benadryl took care of that problem. 

I normally attempt to get the grasses cut on Columbus Day--so since I am not in Florida at least I was able to get a major project completed on-time for another year.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD