October Snow

I heard it said on the news--"We'll have more on our October snow in a minute." So nonchalant. Almost with a hint of joy in the announcer's voice as she was discussing the Nor'easter forming off the Hatteras coast.

The weekend is going to be another washout, or maybe whiteout would be a better phrase.

No blue skies in sight as the gray, wet morning dawns.

And the snow forecast is not trivial for our area--2-5 inches. Of snow! In October.

It is clear that autumn has lost its grip even before the trees have finished disrobing. It should make for some really interesting pictures though. Snow on the golden and red leaves.

For now though, rain and 35 degrees cold. The remaining leaves are falling off the trees as fast as they can to cover the ground with their protective blanket from the oncoming assault.

And so, I will be hunkering down again. Maybe some crown moulding work in the kitchen to fill my time. And some images of snow on the pumpkins--a juxtaposition of seasons.

Just a couple of weeks ago I was lounging on a beach in 80 degree October sunshine--and now there is no sunshine, only gray impending snow showers.

Hunker Down

Cold weather and rain or snow. Last evening we hunkered down for the first time of the coming season.

Suffering from developing a head cold, I had to bring in the plants to save them from the expected frost and it was raining. In the process I scared the ferral cat which has taken up residence in our pool area--probably because Chris is feeding it daily. Chris has named the cat "Hope" while I have named it "No Way."

We sat around continuing to learn the wonders of the Apple iCloud and watching some of the funniest TV of the week--specifically Big Bang Theory.

But Friday is upon us and with it the promise of the weekend.

There are sure to be many more nights where we just hunker down and enjoy the light and life of the house to offset the cold and dark of the late-autumn and winter evenings.

The dog kept walking to the windows and looking out into the dark--I am sure she too was wondering why we were all just hunkering down, it ws so unlike us.

But we needed the evening.

What if?

The sky was always blue--would I appreciate it?

The days were always warm, would I long for the cold.

The rains would never turn to snow, would I wonder if there was something more?

My car would always be driven as a convertible--would I dream of rain?

My children were always funny, would I want it any other way?

The wine would always flow--would I long for beer?

The days were always perfect--would I continue to appreciate them?

Yes, I believe I would because the days are perfect, the wine flows, my children are funny, and I even appreciate snow in small quantities.

But I do love blue skies.

Autumn Brilliance

It was stunning last evening as I was driving home from work. The cloudless sky was a brilliant blue and the autumn leaves on the trees were bathed in a golden sunlight that highlighted them in a way that made them almost shimmer of gold.

The road was strategically placed between the trees which were in full color along both sides with the blue sky straight ahead. It was a thing of beauty to remember.

I considered grabbing my phone and trying to capture an image while I was driving in traffic at a relatively high speed. I decided not to risk a serious accident and determined to etch the scene into my memory for later enjoyment.

Ah--but it was beautiful. The last gasp of autumn before the trees become barren and the grip of cold, unpleasant weather moves across the land. I heard that Denver is supposed to get almost a foot of snow as the seasons begin their irreversable change from autumn to winter. Ugh! Too much, too fast. I am very glad that I am here and not there.

I have noticed and enjoyed the brilliant, blue sky more since the weeks we recently suffered through of gloomy grayness. I love it when that orb in the sky, we call it the sun, makes a significant appearance and warms the land.

I truly appreciate the sun and its liffe-giving light contrasted against the cold darkness of the season ahead. Can it still be six months until the pool is open again?

There is so much to do between now and then. Life. Darkness. Cold. Snow. Rain.

But yesterday God gave me a memory for those times--the sight of the autumn robed trees bathed in the golden warm rays of the sun highlighted against the crystal blue sky.

- Bob Doan Elkridge, MD

Too Funny

One of my favorite sayings is from the first Star Wars movie when Obi Wan Kenobi is talking to the storm troopers and says "These are not the droids you are looking for. " This image just made me laugh.

Clearly, this storm trooper has had a bad day!

Hopefully, mine will be better.

I found this somewhere on the net or in Facebook--so thanks to whomever it was who posted it first. Let me know who you are and I'll be sure to give you credit.


- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - October 24, 2011

1. The pool has been closed a month already. Six more long, cold, dark months until we open it for the 2012 season.

2. Kids seem to transition very quickly from well to sick.

3. It is a good time to celebrate democracy with the demise of Qaddafi. The newly freed prople of Libya have a lot to celebrate and must be careful to avoid the forces of chaos and darkness.

4. Autumn trees are in full color and too soon will be bare waiting for the dark days.

5. Cats and dogs. They keep our house from being devoid of life when we come home.

6. Sunday: church, football, family and yesterday a stroll through a corn maze. We didn't even have to call 911 for help getting out.

7. "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our chidren." Native American proverb. I read over the weekend that global warming is rising almost out of control and the temperature in some places may increase by 2 degrees during a lifetime.

8. It is amazing how quickly the leaves have departed the limbs of the trees--almost as if they have an important event to attend.

9. Garbage. Have you ever considered garbage and how we never consider it until we have to clean it up our of our own yard?

- Bob Doan, Elkridge MD

Around the Fire

A bottle of wine and some dinner around a cackling fire in the fire pit as the sun set and the temperatures began to descend was how we spent the evening. It was great to be outside, free of nuisance mosquitoes and enjoying the clear soon to be crisp air.

Grasses around the Pool

We chatted about the passing season and noticed how the trees were shedding their leaves in ever increasing numbers.


The grasses around the pool have donned beautiful blooms which give them a completeness they lacked all season. I was going to cut them down for the season yesterday, but gave them a break so I could enjoy their autumn beauty just a bit more.

It was cold overnight--our first night down in the 30's. October truly is slipping into November and I will appreciate each nice day more and more. I know the heavy clouds that pass by more and more are trying to bring snow instead of rain.

Pumpkins on the Porch

So I want to hold onto summer--just for a moment more before realizing that the pool has been closed already a month.

Yet--we did make a creative Halloween pumpkin stack to celebrate the season.

But it is still autumn, lol.

October Night

Low clouds moved fast across the face of the half full moon
stars as beacons pierced the voids of dark black sky
leaves rained down as October slides into November
wind collecting them into ever increasing piles leaving
bare branches to cast eerie shapes across the lawn.

Calling out in the moonlight, a lonely fox makes her presence known
the slumbering house is awakend by the barking of the dog inside
seeking to answer the fox's quest for companionship
stirring, unkept faces push their noses onto the window pains
trying to understand the commotion and reason they no longer sleep.

From the shadows she yells out again--the dog in the house responds
the moon breaks out for a moment, illuminating the fox in the driveway
baring her teeth as if smiling at the commotion she is causing
they briefly reflect the pale light as it flickers behind another cloud
she stands, glances at the house and moves off into the night's shadows

Casting uneven light across the "middle of the night" scene, the moon flickers
noses move from the windows and disappear into the dark house
quiet now the dog has ceased its barking and moves away from the door
returning to a warm bed, turning around before resuming slumber
the night is again quiet

Leaves contine to pile into mounds in the yard
the fox stalks a rabbit, unaware of the impending doom
life is everywhere, despite the dark and quiet
and the moon continues to bathe the scene in its light
while the newly bare trees reach longingly to the sky.

Friday Down Day

I'm taking today off.

A respite from the frenetic pace of life.

I slept in late--OK until 7 AM, when normally I would already be at work.

A three-day weekend of my own creation.

What a concept. A Bob Holiday!

And so, armed with my coffee and with my faithful dog at my side I am facing the world as the sun peals away the veil of darkness looking at the leaves which are falling to the ground in ever increasing numbers. Unlike snowflakes, though, there are only a finite number of leaves.

Soon the bare branches of the trees will be reaching skyward--straining to leave the bounds of earth, but still firmly rooted into place.

But, it is Friday. And I am at home. For a bit at least. To celebrate life and pretend, vor one day at least, that I am independently wealthy.

Maybe I should play the lottery?

No--the odds are not good enough.

So I will just enjoy the day and try to not consider the condition of my in box when I return to work on Monday.

NPDH - A Periodic Update

Learning to live with the constant headache of NDPH is an interesting and sometimes frustrating approach to life.

I thought things were getting into a good place for the past couple of weeks as the headaches were manageable and, more often than not, I could imagine being almost headche free.

The other day though, for an unknown reson, the hedache decided to really start banging and the intensity has turned up to the levels I had seen when they began. At times, I could not even think.

Fortunately, I was saved a bit by an evening racquetball match which helped me to get ahead of the pain for the evening.

I don't know if it is aggravated by the weather or what--but this week has been bad.

I am beginning to really scrutinize what I am eating, or snacking on, to see if there is a relationship. My acivities are also beginning to shed some light on the aggravators as well. For instance, last evening, while driving in the torrential downpour, it was bad.

Fortunately wine, in small doses, still works to turn the intensity down and dinner really helped.

This morning things seem back to the levels I am more accustomed to--but there is a long day ahead. I will see how it goes.


- Elkridge, Maryland