Opening Day

Today, summer begins, not officially but in spirit. It is opening day for the Orioles. Arguably, ok probably not, the 30th best team in baseball.

But they are my home team.



And they play the Yankees, a lot.

And the Red Sox, a lot

And the Tampa Bay Rays, a lot

And the Blue Jays, too much!

The Orioles are my home team and I will continue to root for them as I remember the glory days of the 60's, the 70's and the 80's when they were the best team in all of baseball.

I expect to be at the game later today--which coincidently is Good Friday. The game is a sell out--I haven't been to one of those since last year's opening day.

At least there is no way that I could ever be considered a fair weather fan. I have supported this team through 14 losing seasons--always looking for the silver lining in the dark storm cloud of reality.

I have not found it yet, except for the realization that there is always tomorrow and that baseball is a sport--a game, and not a life or death proposition. I can enjoy a game even when we are losing because it is baseball.

I love baseball. The park, the fans, the game, the snacks, the beer.

Summer has arrived.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Evening on the Deck

I love the evenings of the springtime.

Sitting outside, enjoying the beauty of the end of the day with a glass of wine and some dinner. I also enjoy looking at the the leaves as they begin to fill the trees.

The bats gracing the evening air and the sight of the nearly full moon make the setting perfect.

The only thing better would have been to be on a floatie in the pool--but that will not happen for almost a month.

I just sat there for a bit and enjoyed the ending of the day and the gathering darkness--even as the air began to get cool and the clock approached 8pm and there was still light in the sky.

It is time to get out of the house and begin to live.

I even took the top down on Cat this afternoon and enjoyed the relatively warm breeze in my hair as I was racing between doctors appointments. The sun and the sky were something to see and remember.

Friday is Orioles Opening Day and it can only get better from here!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Springtime Blooms

The annual event in our yard is underway. The weeping cherry is in full bloom gracing our lawn with blooms like waterfalls.



It is sad how quickly the blooms pass and the tree becomes green, but for a about two short weeks it is absolutely beautiful.

It is a sight to behold and to ponder the beauty of the springtime.

The tree provides beauty as it transitions from the dormant branches of winter into the green leaves of summer.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Primary Election Day for Maryland - 2012

It is an election day. I enjoy exercising my right--my responsibility as a citizen of this great Republic, to vote.


I believe too many of us have adopted the--"it doesn't matter anyway" approach to voting and ignore the opportunity to cast their vote and make their voice heard. And the voice is heard--even in the dissent or the concurrence.

Even though I am limited in my ability to publically demonstrate support for a particular political candiate by the limits of the archaic Hatch Act, I still retain my right and obligation to vote.

And so I will.

I am following a critical (non-partisian) Howard County School Board race this year in which a member of the board--who sadly is a retired Air Force officer, is seeking reelection but has become such an impediment and distraction to the board that he does not deserve reelection because the only constituents he is representing is himself. I am actually excited to support a 17-year old high school student, who will be 18 before he is seated and therefore is eligible to run. Maybe I see something in him that reminds me of the passion and fire I used to have.

I will be voting, today.

I urge everyone to get out and vote.

Call it an exercise of our rights--and then go do it!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - April 2, 2012

1. Happy April showers designed to bring May flowers.

2. I was definitely spoiled by the warm temperatures from a couple weeks go and my trip to Florida--bring on the heat.

3. I was home alone yesterday afternoon and I discovered what Makayla likes to do on nice quiet days. Sleep.

4. Yard work, in small doses, is therapeutic.

5. Physical therapy, hurts.

6. The O's and the Pens both managed to lose yesterday. Ugh. One is trying to end the season on a high and the other is trying to begin the season and not be the doormat of MLB.

7. There was an announcement of the TV the other day reminding gardeners that the only safe plant to begin planting are pansies. Don't waste you money, I was reminded.

8. An interesting situation occurred the other evening. Presented with two very different wines, a good one and a not so good one, I found that tasting them side-by-side made the good one seem better and the other even less appealing.

9. I have been reading Aesop's Fables, off and on, as time permits. I highly recommend getting in touch with these short proverbs about life.

10. Welcome to Holy Week. I read a book last year that provided convincing evidence and analysis that the Last Supper occurred on Wednesday, April 1, AD 33. The book is The Mysteries of the Last Supper, by Colin J. Humphreys.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Forest's Final Spring

A small 10 acre forest near where I live is coming to life this springtime. The trees are filling out with new leaves and displaying stunning colors of reds and oranges which soon will become green, beautiful leaves. As I look into the woods, I see the dogwoods in bloom--with their flowers bringing joy to my heart while brightening up the the still coming to life forest.

Alas, though, this is the final springtime for this small wooded area. The county has decided to raze the forest and build an elementary school. The work will likely begin before the May flowers bloom.



I drive by this small wilderness, strategically placed in the middle of suburbia, every day. I never realized how much this small patch of trees and wild kept me in touch with my roots until the day I realized it would soon be gone. How sad--trees and brush teaming with wildlife soon to be replaced by brick, mortar, and mowed grass.

So I have been especially noticing the beauty of the trees this springtime as they burst forth in life, before the chain saws and heavy equipment arrive to forever change this small plot into a something tame and sterile.

I mourn the loss and I hope that I will not soon forget the vision of this small forest and the trees and life which it contained.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD