The forest that I wrote about a couple of weeks ago in the article Forest's Final Spring has ceased to exist.
A broken 10 acre plot of ground, devoid of life and trees, now sits where the thriving woodland community formerly stood.
It is sad and permanent. I have watched the trees be removed during the past two weeks as the plot was cleared. The heavy equipment was ruthless--no living thing remained standing. It was like a scene from Fern Gully or Avatar.
What is even sadder was the realization that in a month or so, the new empty space will seem normal to me. I won't remember the trees and the life which abounded there in advance of the construction project now underway.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Too Cold in the Stands
I went to see the Orioles play last evening. I was hoping to see them win again.
I learned that watching a summertime sport as temperatures approach the mid-40's is not a lot of fun. Frankly, I was freezing and wishing with every pitch for summertime and 80 degrees.
I thought I had dressed for the game--two shirts and a coat. But it was so cold, I didn't even want to finish my beer--because it was making me colder with every sip.
The only thing keeping me there was that the Orioles were winning.
When the lead evaporated during the sixth inning and the game was dragging, I began to think about turning the heater on in my truck and warming up.
So I left--purely for self-preservation.
On the drive home, I finally warmed up. I bet it was over 90 degrees in my truck when I pulled into the driveway of my home.
If I had known it was going to be a winter game,I would have dressed even warmer. As it was the Orioles lost in 12 innings. So I probably made a mature decision.
At least I got warm again.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
I learned that watching a summertime sport as temperatures approach the mid-40's is not a lot of fun. Frankly, I was freezing and wishing with every pitch for summertime and 80 degrees.
I thought I had dressed for the game--two shirts and a coat. But it was so cold, I didn't even want to finish my beer--because it was making me colder with every sip.
The only thing keeping me there was that the Orioles were winning.
When the lead evaporated during the sixth inning and the game was dragging, I began to think about turning the heater on in my truck and warming up.
So I left--purely for self-preservation.
On the drive home, I finally warmed up. I bet it was over 90 degrees in my truck when I pulled into the driveway of my home.
If I had known it was going to be a winter game,I would have dressed even warmer. As it was the Orioles lost in 12 innings. So I probably made a mature decision.
At least I got warm again.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Empty Gas Tank
I hopped into my truck yesterday morning, after the weekend, ready to drive off for a 5:30 AM racquetball match and start the week with some activity. I was shocked when I looked at the fuel indicator and it read: "E." "E" as we all know does not stand for "enough!"
Empty, I didn't recall leaving the truck with no gas the last time I drove it. And I was running late as I had spent an extra minute or so with Makayla. Unfortunately, the gas station is out of the way when I am running behind.
Thankfully, I have other vehicles to choose from, so I moved all of my stuff--no small task when considering my overstuffed racquetball bag to one of my other waiting steads.
There was no way I could risk heading out as I had three stops to make and tight timelines to keep. As I drove out of the drive, I realized it would be 14 hours until I returned. Ad no time for a trip to the gas station to get gored by the unreasonably high prices there.
Why, I pondered was the truck empty? I did not see or smell a leak. I don't leave my vehicles on empty because I hate getting gas on my way to anywhere. I much prefer filling up at the end of trips.
And then I remembered.
I had loaned my truck out. And my generosity was rewarded with an empty gas tank and inconvenience. I admit, there was probably only a quarter of a tank in the truck anyway--and it wasn't that the gas wasn't replaced that really bothered me--it was that it was returned empty and no one told me.
Empty is really a slap.
Yesterday was busy enough that the truck is still empty, so I have to leave earlier today to refill the tank and get over it.
But it still bugs me--just a bit.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Empty, I didn't recall leaving the truck with no gas the last time I drove it. And I was running late as I had spent an extra minute or so with Makayla. Unfortunately, the gas station is out of the way when I am running behind.
Thankfully, I have other vehicles to choose from, so I moved all of my stuff--no small task when considering my overstuffed racquetball bag to one of my other waiting steads.
There was no way I could risk heading out as I had three stops to make and tight timelines to keep. As I drove out of the drive, I realized it would be 14 hours until I returned. Ad no time for a trip to the gas station to get gored by the unreasonably high prices there.
Why, I pondered was the truck empty? I did not see or smell a leak. I don't leave my vehicles on empty because I hate getting gas on my way to anywhere. I much prefer filling up at the end of trips.
And then I remembered.
I had loaned my truck out. And my generosity was rewarded with an empty gas tank and inconvenience. I admit, there was probably only a quarter of a tank in the truck anyway--and it wasn't that the gas wasn't replaced that really bothered me--it was that it was returned empty and no one told me.
Empty is really a slap.
Yesterday was busy enough that the truck is still empty, so I have to leave earlier today to refill the tank and get over it.
But it still bugs me--just a bit.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Monday, April 9, 2012
Monday Musings - April 9, 2012
1. Have you filed your taxes yet? I prepared them but haven't sent them yet. Oops! No refund for me!
2. Easter allows us to live like, "Don't worry, be Happy!"
3. I just recently realized that autumn is springtime in reverse. In the spring the trees start with bare branches, then don many colors and finally turn green. During the autumn, they start out green and wind up robed in many colors before returning to bare branches until springtime comes round again.
4. Blue skies, sunny days, singing birds, and budding flowers--nice!
5. In the deepest darkest depths of despair, hope lives.
6. The hardest thing that I do is to ask for help. I seem to need more help now than ever before. And the funny thing is, people don't mind helping, they just need to be invited.
7. Five bottles of wine--equals Easter dinner for the family.
8. Nerf wars in the house and yard are great for burning off the excess energy associated with holiday activities.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
2. Easter allows us to live like, "Don't worry, be Happy!"
3. I just recently realized that autumn is springtime in reverse. In the spring the trees start with bare branches, then don many colors and finally turn green. During the autumn, they start out green and wind up robed in many colors before returning to bare branches until springtime comes round again.
4. Blue skies, sunny days, singing birds, and budding flowers--nice!
5. In the deepest darkest depths of despair, hope lives.
6. The hardest thing that I do is to ask for help. I seem to need more help now than ever before. And the funny thing is, people don't mind helping, they just need to be invited.
7. Five bottles of wine--equals Easter dinner for the family.
8. Nerf wars in the house and yard are great for burning off the excess energy associated with holiday activities.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Happy Easter 2012
I woke up before dawn, or more precisely as dawn was just beginning to break on this Easter morning.
I read an article yesterday about how the young people in America are becoming disenfranchised with Christianity.
Andrew Sullivan made the following observation: "Appearing on "CBS This Morning: Saturday," Sullivan said the crisis facing Christianity was especially bad today for one reason: "When I go and see young people, their image of Christianity these days is one of judgment, intolerance and to some extent bigotry and politics," Sullivan said. "They associate it with one political party in this country, because of the fusion of evangelical and ultra-orthodox Catholics with the Republican Party. They don't see it as the message of Jesus, they don't see it any more as a message of love and forgiveness. They see it as a bunch of people trying to control their lives through political mechanisms."
I see this. I had a conversation with a younger adult the other day that was precisely about this.
The message if Easter has become lost and strangled in political strife and religious wars across the globe.
The whole idea of Christians greeting each other in love and with the excited statement of so long ago: Christ is risen, He is risen indeed, has become muted and lost as Christ followers try to remake the world.
Maybe we have lost our vision. We almost certainly have lost sight of His vision.
Has Christ's message become confused with our own desires? As we are trying to reshape the world have we substituted our vision for that of Jesus'?
Jesus loved sinners and gave them hope. We should know--we are sinners too. We need to love sinners, too.
I am reminded, on this dawning Easter morning as I replay the events of the first Easter in my head, of the empty tomb, the confusion, the despair, the fear that those who were gathered felt as the miracle began to become clearer to them.
And I am reminded of the words of Titus 3:5: he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit,
As your Easter dawns today amid the celebration of family and friends or whatever form your remembrance of this greatest day in the history of God's relationship with man takes, pause to think about how we are being perceived by those we are most desperately trying to reach. Are we inviting and forgiving, or are we hard and judging by trying to push a political agenda onto people who don't understand it?
Happy Easter.
Christ has risen.
He has risen, indeed!
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
I read an article yesterday about how the young people in America are becoming disenfranchised with Christianity.
Andrew Sullivan made the following observation: "Appearing on "CBS This Morning: Saturday," Sullivan said the crisis facing Christianity was especially bad today for one reason: "When I go and see young people, their image of Christianity these days is one of judgment, intolerance and to some extent bigotry and politics," Sullivan said. "They associate it with one political party in this country, because of the fusion of evangelical and ultra-orthodox Catholics with the Republican Party. They don't see it as the message of Jesus, they don't see it any more as a message of love and forgiveness. They see it as a bunch of people trying to control their lives through political mechanisms."
I see this. I had a conversation with a younger adult the other day that was precisely about this.
The message if Easter has become lost and strangled in political strife and religious wars across the globe.
The whole idea of Christians greeting each other in love and with the excited statement of so long ago: Christ is risen, He is risen indeed, has become muted and lost as Christ followers try to remake the world.
Maybe we have lost our vision. We almost certainly have lost sight of His vision.
Has Christ's message become confused with our own desires? As we are trying to reshape the world have we substituted our vision for that of Jesus'?
Jesus loved sinners and gave them hope. We should know--we are sinners too. We need to love sinners, too.
I am reminded, on this dawning Easter morning as I replay the events of the first Easter in my head, of the empty tomb, the confusion, the despair, the fear that those who were gathered felt as the miracle began to become clearer to them.
And I am reminded of the words of Titus 3:5: he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit,
As your Easter dawns today amid the celebration of family and friends or whatever form your remembrance of this greatest day in the history of God's relationship with man takes, pause to think about how we are being perceived by those we are most desperately trying to reach. Are we inviting and forgiving, or are we hard and judging by trying to push a political agenda onto people who don't understand it?
Happy Easter.
Christ has risen.
He has risen, indeed!
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Reflections of Orioles Opening Day 2012
It was truly a holiday--and the crowds were crushing. I haven't see so many people at Camden Yards in a long time. It was impossible to move at the pre-game party across the street from the stadium. And as it was, that party continued throughout the entire game.
I had been in that crowd only minutes before but decided it wasn't a lot of fun and headed off to the stadium to find my seat for the game.
The day was cool--especially in the shade. The sky was clear. It was Opening Day for the Orioles and expectations for the 2012 campaign were high.
The stadium was ready to begin the 20th Anniversary celebration. And it did not disappoint.
Neither did the Orioles. The game was a gem, with the starting pitcher, Jake Arrieta, going seven innings and giving up two hits and no runs. The relief corps didn't do so well, but the O's still chalked up a win on opening day. With one game down and 161 to go, they are tied for first in the American League East.
As Patrick and I were chatting in our seats, we were trying to determine how many Opening Days I have attended--and I believe it is 10. I had thought they were 10 straight, but I did miss one year when we went to Napa for Spring Break. I guess that was a good trade.
Baseball is back! Next up, the pool!
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
I had been in that crowd only minutes before but decided it wasn't a lot of fun and headed off to the stadium to find my seat for the game.
The day was cool--especially in the shade. The sky was clear. It was Opening Day for the Orioles and expectations for the 2012 campaign were high.
The stadium was ready to begin the 20th Anniversary celebration. And it did not disappoint.
Neither did the Orioles. The game was a gem, with the starting pitcher, Jake Arrieta, going seven innings and giving up two hits and no runs. The relief corps didn't do so well, but the O's still chalked up a win on opening day. With one game down and 161 to go, they are tied for first in the American League East.
As Patrick and I were chatting in our seats, we were trying to determine how many Opening Days I have attended--and I believe it is 10. I had thought they were 10 straight, but I did miss one year when we went to Napa for Spring Break. I guess that was a good trade.
Baseball is back! Next up, the pool!
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
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