1. Just for the record--Happy Halloween and it is 28 degrees outside my house this morning as I write this. Whatever you are planning for today and tonight--be safe and warm.
2. The Boys of Summer concluded play last week with a thrilling World Series which saw the St Louis Cardinals defeat the Texas Rangers four games to three. I was lucky enough to have seen both teams play the Orioles this past season. Unfortunately, the Orioles lost.
3. The current cold snap caught me by surprise, I thought it was still autumn, but it appears winter is eager to get control of the weather.
4. I am convinced that the weekend would last longer if it was three vice two days long, or, alternatively, would I just be more tired when I went back to work?
5. I saw a good movie this weekend, Real Steel. It is much better that the trailers because it is a story about people, not robots.
6. I notice more and more than time passes so swiftly when I am doing things that I enjoy, and yet is drags along at a snail's pace when I am watching the clock waiting for an eventto end.
7. I wish I could find joy in everything that I do--but some things just aren't fun!
8. “Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.” ― Dr. Seuss
- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Halloween Weekend
Those who know me know that I am not a huge fan of Halloween. This year, because Halloween is on a Monday, it seems that the celebration has become a weekend-long event. Even I was at a local mall yesterday, escaping the rain and the cold, to watch the young children in their costumes dragging their parents behins as they paraded around to the various shops and stores to partake in the annual tradition of Trick or Treating. In a safe and warm environment.
I posted some images of our youngest grandchild, Lucas, dressed in his lion costume and apparently oblivious to everythiing happening around him but having a great time out with his mom and dad and two of his grandparents. I had fun watching him as we wound our way around the mall with the hundreds of other young Trick or Treaters.
So I found a few hours of enjoyment on an otherwise washout of a day.
And I saw lots of families together enjoying the season. The costumes ranged from cartoon characters to animals--and there really were no ghosts or goblins or any of the darkness associated with the annual celebration.
I guess I just need to lighten up bit and enjoy the family oriented activity. I had a good time wandering aroud visiting the shops and chatting with the family.
Being together as families, that is the most important part of the activity.
I posted some images of our youngest grandchild, Lucas, dressed in his lion costume and apparently oblivious to everythiing happening around him but having a great time out with his mom and dad and two of his grandparents. I had fun watching him as we wound our way around the mall with the hundreds of other young Trick or Treaters.
So I found a few hours of enjoyment on an otherwise washout of a day.
And I saw lots of families together enjoying the season. The costumes ranged from cartoon characters to animals--and there really were no ghosts or goblins or any of the darkness associated with the annual celebration.
I guess I just need to lighten up bit and enjoy the family oriented activity. I had a good time wandering aroud visiting the shops and chatting with the family.
Being together as families, that is the most important part of the activity.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, October 28, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
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
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
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
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
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, October 24, 2011
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
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
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