The rain fell all day yesterday. Despite the weather report which indicated that the showers would end during the afternoon--they didn't. I wonder how weathermen could get it so wrong.
Don't get me wrong--we needed the rain, but rainy Saturdays are a real downer.
There were so many things that needed to be done and what did I wind up doing? Cleaning and rearranging closets.
By the end of the day, every closet in the house was touched, cleaned, and rearranged. Hidden in there somewhere was a trip to Goodwill to donate the no longer needed items.
At one point, the house was in complete disarray because this was not just a individual closet cleaning, but rather, it was total restructuring of the closets in the house. There was even some minor construction involved as we realigned the storage and shelving in the master bedroom closet.
The project was finally completed just after 7pm. About the same time that the rain stopped.
Exhausted, we sat for a moment before beginning work on dinner and a bottle of wine followed by a movie.
I hope I do no have to suffer through another rainy Saturday again soon. Although I won't have to spend the day in the closet, it could be worse--the attic or the garage.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Weather Change
I am sitting this morning on the screened porch enjoying the 63 degree temperature with rain falling to begin the gray cloud overcast day.
OK--I am not really enjoying it. I am a bit chilled after the 100 degree plus days of the recent weeks. We went to a local restaurant last evening for happy hour and dinner, choosing to sit outside, and by the time we left--it was down right chilly. I went into the air conditioned restaurant to warm up.
The rain is frustrating.
The motor on my pool pump burned out during the heat wave--a new one will not be here until Monday. That means I can't even lower the rising water level in my pool--which I suppose I should consider a blessing.
But we need the rain--I haven't mowed in three weeks and the lawn still looks good--except for the leaves which have fallen from the heat stressed sycamore and tulip poplar trees that surround my yard.
The birds are awake. I hear them in the trees, along with the sound of the rain falling on the leaves and the babbling of the over-filled stream that runs behind the house.
If this were September, I'd be ecstatic. But, alas, it is July--and worse, it is the dog days when the weather is supposed to be extra hot and sultry.
Makayla just began barking at a deer who happened to decide to cross the lawn. They are so quiet. And graceful. I am happy that we are within a fence so that Makayla can't chase after the deer. I do not enjoy cleaning her coat after she romps through the wooded area next to the house and crashes through the stream in a futile effort to run with so fleet a creature as a deer. Robert Frost wrote about good fences making good neighbors in Mending Wall. They are also good for keeping dogs within their boundaries.
I suppose that I will not be working on the still unfinished stairs to my deck today. They are so close to completion--too close it seems. Just a few hours more and a few more boards and balusters.
The rain is still falling--one of those light, soaking rains which should restore the trees to the browned trees and lawns. That will be a nice way to slide into August--with renewed, springtime-like greens.
I just looked at all of the vegetation around me and realized that I am happy to live in so green a place.
It is going to be a great day. I am sure of it.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
OK--I am not really enjoying it. I am a bit chilled after the 100 degree plus days of the recent weeks. We went to a local restaurant last evening for happy hour and dinner, choosing to sit outside, and by the time we left--it was down right chilly. I went into the air conditioned restaurant to warm up.
The rain is frustrating.
The motor on my pool pump burned out during the heat wave--a new one will not be here until Monday. That means I can't even lower the rising water level in my pool--which I suppose I should consider a blessing.
But we need the rain--I haven't mowed in three weeks and the lawn still looks good--except for the leaves which have fallen from the heat stressed sycamore and tulip poplar trees that surround my yard.
The birds are awake. I hear them in the trees, along with the sound of the rain falling on the leaves and the babbling of the over-filled stream that runs behind the house.
If this were September, I'd be ecstatic. But, alas, it is July--and worse, it is the dog days when the weather is supposed to be extra hot and sultry.
Makayla just began barking at a deer who happened to decide to cross the lawn. They are so quiet. And graceful. I am happy that we are within a fence so that Makayla can't chase after the deer. I do not enjoy cleaning her coat after she romps through the wooded area next to the house and crashes through the stream in a futile effort to run with so fleet a creature as a deer. Robert Frost wrote about good fences making good neighbors in Mending Wall. They are also good for keeping dogs within their boundaries.
I suppose that I will not be working on the still unfinished stairs to my deck today. They are so close to completion--too close it seems. Just a few hours more and a few more boards and balusters.
The rain is still falling--one of those light, soaking rains which should restore the trees to the browned trees and lawns. That will be a nice way to slide into August--with renewed, springtime-like greens.
I just looked at all of the vegetation around me and realized that I am happy to live in so green a place.
It is going to be a great day. I am sure of it.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Friday, July 20, 2012
NDPH--a question and an update
I received a question through the blog the other day regarding my NDPH. I realized that I had not written about my affliction since October last year after being diagnosed with the syndrome during September last year.
I was afraid to write about it.
NDPH is new daily persistent headache. It is a headache which is always there and varies in intensity from annoying to incapacitating.
I was blessed with the more annoying part of the spectrum of NDPH. Most days I could function at near 95 percent capacity. I was learning to live with it and trying not to let it affect my life. I chose not to make my blog a litany of things that NDPH prevented me from doing or ways my life and relationships were impacted by the affliction.
I did a lot of research on the web and read about many of the sufferers of NDPH who were incapacitated by the affliction--and I thanked God for being one of the luckier ones.
When I received the "official" diagnosis from the neurologist, he believed that my symptoms would likely go away at some point. Whether they would return was an unanswerable question.
I began watching my diet to determine what aggravated the headaches--chocolate seemed to help and wine deadened the pain. I began getting regular massages--which I still continue. But I never found a magical direct link.
And then--one day during December, I woke up and noticed that my headaches were gone and had been gone for a couple of days. While I clearly remember when the headache came upon me it is funny that it took a day or two for me to realize it was gone.
I was, as I wrote, afraid.
Afraid it would return--so I didn't tell anyone. But funny thing, the important people in my life--Chris, my wife; my family; and co-workers all noticed and asked me if the headaches were gone. While I had believed that they were not affecting me much, clearly, they were since so many people noticed the change.
As I write this, I continue to be cautiously optimistic. My NDPH remains in remission. I don't know why except that I have been richly blessed. My heart goes out to all of those who continue to suffer and while I never had to bear the burden that many of them do, I know that they are truly suffering and that it is easy to run out of hope--because the headache is always there.
Thank you, Hilary, whoever you are for asking the question in my blog two days ago. You have helped to remind me how richly blessed I have been and I pray that you too, find relief from the persistent headache. I wish that I could give you some formula for success--but as you probably already know--there isn't one.
I thank God for my healing.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
I was afraid to write about it.
NDPH is new daily persistent headache. It is a headache which is always there and varies in intensity from annoying to incapacitating.
I was blessed with the more annoying part of the spectrum of NDPH. Most days I could function at near 95 percent capacity. I was learning to live with it and trying not to let it affect my life. I chose not to make my blog a litany of things that NDPH prevented me from doing or ways my life and relationships were impacted by the affliction.
I did a lot of research on the web and read about many of the sufferers of NDPH who were incapacitated by the affliction--and I thanked God for being one of the luckier ones.
When I received the "official" diagnosis from the neurologist, he believed that my symptoms would likely go away at some point. Whether they would return was an unanswerable question.
I began watching my diet to determine what aggravated the headaches--chocolate seemed to help and wine deadened the pain. I began getting regular massages--which I still continue. But I never found a magical direct link.
And then--one day during December, I woke up and noticed that my headaches were gone and had been gone for a couple of days. While I clearly remember when the headache came upon me it is funny that it took a day or two for me to realize it was gone.
I was, as I wrote, afraid.
Afraid it would return--so I didn't tell anyone. But funny thing, the important people in my life--Chris, my wife; my family; and co-workers all noticed and asked me if the headaches were gone. While I had believed that they were not affecting me much, clearly, they were since so many people noticed the change.
As I write this, I continue to be cautiously optimistic. My NDPH remains in remission. I don't know why except that I have been richly blessed. My heart goes out to all of those who continue to suffer and while I never had to bear the burden that many of them do, I know that they are truly suffering and that it is easy to run out of hope--because the headache is always there.
Thank you, Hilary, whoever you are for asking the question in my blog two days ago. You have helped to remind me how richly blessed I have been and I pray that you too, find relief from the persistent headache. I wish that I could give you some formula for success--but as you probably already know--there isn't one.
I thank God for my healing.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Palm Trees on my Mind
 |
| Palm in Turtle Bay, Tequesta, Florida |
One morning last week, near the end of our vacation, Chris and I walked through the neighborhood where we were staying and happened upon a palm tree standing tall with gathering storm clouds behind it. It seemed defiant in its anthropomorphic attitude.
Palms are defiant by nature. They stand against the worst weather that hurricanes can throw at them and, for the most part, remain standing when the storm has passed. They may not be unscathed and have lost some fonds--but they remain tall in the storm's aftermath.
I wish I still had that much defiance in me. The storms of life continually attempt to batter me into submission--like the walnut tree which fell into my yard a few years ago. The storms finally tore it out of the ground by its roots. It took me weeks, and a new chain saw, to clean up that mess.
But palm trees stand--often alone, weathering the worst storms. And after the fury has passed--they remain.
I often remark when I am traveling--usually as we cross the South Carolina border, that once I can see palm trees I know that I am far enough south.
Palm trees are not just another pretty face in the crowd--they are strong and ready to face the worst weather imaginable.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Bats and Mosquitoes
Sitting outside last evening as night fell, covered with bug repellant, I marveled at the efficiency of the many bats which were feasting on the burgeoning mosquito population.
They flew in tight turns clearing the sky of the swarms which seemed to be aimed directly at my legs. I am the definition of a mosquito magnet. Any mosquito within an acre of me will make an express run to sample my blood. I would like to think it is my sweet personality--but I am sure that cannot possibly be the truth.
The bats, however, are my defenders. They make it almost enjoyable for me to be out experiencing the evening. I enjoy watching the bats at dusk. Sometimes the pass low over the pool--or make a sudden turn over my head all while dining on the attacking hoards.
I still serve as a meal for some. And executioner for others.
So there I was, watching the bats fly closer to me and swatting bugs.
Was I having a good time? No, not really. But the other option was to head inside and we only have a few months of the year to enjoy our yard and pool--so I stick it out, covered with spray, counting the stars appearing in the lightly clouded sky, and cheering on the bats.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
They flew in tight turns clearing the sky of the swarms which seemed to be aimed directly at my legs. I am the definition of a mosquito magnet. Any mosquito within an acre of me will make an express run to sample my blood. I would like to think it is my sweet personality--but I am sure that cannot possibly be the truth.
The bats, however, are my defenders. They make it almost enjoyable for me to be out experiencing the evening. I enjoy watching the bats at dusk. Sometimes the pass low over the pool--or make a sudden turn over my head all while dining on the attacking hoards.
I still serve as a meal for some. And executioner for others.
So there I was, watching the bats fly closer to me and swatting bugs.
Was I having a good time? No, not really. But the other option was to head inside and we only have a few months of the year to enjoy our yard and pool--so I stick it out, covered with spray, counting the stars appearing in the lightly clouded sky, and cheering on the bats.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
More taxes for people, less taxes for Casinos
There is a funny thing happening in Maryland. I wish that I understood the math behind it--but I don't.
The state is considering lowering the taxes on casinos while at the same time raising personal income taxes on a large percentage of the population.
Really?
Whose bright idea is this?
I am becoming a huge fan of a flat tax. I believe that every segment of the population should bear the burden for providing services and funding the government equally. Everyone--regardless of income should pay the same percentage with no exemptions.
This will never happen because politicians make great points with low income voters by persecuting the higher income earners. This is neither fair nor equitable.
Implementing a flat tax will make it harder to hide inefficiencies and waste because everyone will have an even stake in ensuring that government is run efficiently.
Lower income voter who are in a net get more from tax payers than they pay will now be more interested in supporting efficient government.
Rich voters will be encouraged to earn more and thereby fuel the economy even more rather than trying to find ways to evade the oppressive tax rates which when federal, state, and local bites are added together can exceed 50 percent.
Every American should support the government equally. Every American should expect the same protections ad services.
Therefore a flat tax seems the most reasonable approach. Oh--and keep the taxes high on casinos--they are just stealing money from people legally.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
The state is considering lowering the taxes on casinos while at the same time raising personal income taxes on a large percentage of the population.
Really?
Whose bright idea is this?
I am becoming a huge fan of a flat tax. I believe that every segment of the population should bear the burden for providing services and funding the government equally. Everyone--regardless of income should pay the same percentage with no exemptions.
This will never happen because politicians make great points with low income voters by persecuting the higher income earners. This is neither fair nor equitable.
Implementing a flat tax will make it harder to hide inefficiencies and waste because everyone will have an even stake in ensuring that government is run efficiently.
Lower income voter who are in a net get more from tax payers than they pay will now be more interested in supporting efficient government.
Rich voters will be encouraged to earn more and thereby fuel the economy even more rather than trying to find ways to evade the oppressive tax rates which when federal, state, and local bites are added together can exceed 50 percent.
Every American should support the government equally. Every American should expect the same protections ad services.
Therefore a flat tax seems the most reasonable approach. Oh--and keep the taxes high on casinos--they are just stealing money from people legally.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Monday, July 16, 2012
Monday Musings - July 16, 2012
1. The return home from vacation was a smooth trip except for the portion from north of Richmond to DC where we lost an hour and a half due to traffic, weather, and a particularly ugly accident.
2. I am taking today as the last official day of vacation to get some stuff done around the house before immersing myself back into life full bore.
3. I was amazed at one car on the road yesterday--a Bentley, which kept weaving in and out of traffic trying trying to move forward, they wound up behind me. I guess sometimes the harder we try to get ahead, the further off the pace we wind up.
4. The Presidential election is getting really ugly. I am sure one of the candidates will soon be proposing a way to end the drought in the midwest.
5. I highly recommend the book Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand.
6. Has any one noticed that Pluto--once the ninth planet in our solar system but lately relegated to sub-planet status, now has five moons? Or is it a binary planet with one of its moons Charon? Inquiring minds want to know.
7. Why is the Higgs boson nicknamed the God particle?
8. If this is July, the Orioles must be posting a losing record.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
2. I am taking today as the last official day of vacation to get some stuff done around the house before immersing myself back into life full bore.
3. I was amazed at one car on the road yesterday--a Bentley, which kept weaving in and out of traffic trying trying to move forward, they wound up behind me. I guess sometimes the harder we try to get ahead, the further off the pace we wind up.
4. The Presidential election is getting really ugly. I am sure one of the candidates will soon be proposing a way to end the drought in the midwest.
5. I highly recommend the book Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand.
6. Has any one noticed that Pluto--once the ninth planet in our solar system but lately relegated to sub-planet status, now has five moons? Or is it a binary planet with one of its moons Charon? Inquiring minds want to know.
7. Why is the Higgs boson nicknamed the God particle?
8. If this is July, the Orioles must be posting a losing record.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Good morning from the road
We said our goodbyes to the beach yesterday followed by our last supper in Florida. The car was loaded and ready when we hit the road about 0216 this morning.
I have just finished my driving shift and we are half way home somewhere near mile marker 82 in South Carolina. Traffic is light but our hearts are heavy leaving the beach and our friends behind.
The day is sunny so far. We had escaped the heat by going to Florida. Now it is back to reality and life. I am left with good memories and lots of pictures.
The gps says we'll be home by 4:30pm.
That would be awesome. I'm sure traffic around DC will slow us significantly.
-- Bob Doan, on the road in SC
Sent from my iPhone
I have just finished my driving shift and we are half way home somewhere near mile marker 82 in South Carolina. Traffic is light but our hearts are heavy leaving the beach and our friends behind.
The day is sunny so far. We had escaped the heat by going to Florida. Now it is back to reality and life. I am left with good memories and lots of pictures.
The gps says we'll be home by 4:30pm.
That would be awesome. I'm sure traffic around DC will slow us significantly.
-- Bob Doan, on the road in SC
Sent from my iPhone
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Unraveling Days--Nearing Vacation's End
The days left in my vacation are quickly drawing to zero. Tomorrow I must begin my roughly 15 hour sojourn back to Maryland. Today is effectively my last day in the paradise that I consider Florida.
Yesterday was a day devoted to shopping and happy hour on the beach. We enjoyed a quiet day and a spectacular evening alongside the waves of Jupiter Island. The waves were the roughest that they have been since we arrived. I am always amazed at the many faces that the ocean takes on--from placid and friendly to rough and foreboding.
I did not go out in search of the sharks, but we did see about a 4 foot one racing along the shore in the rough surf presumably in search of dinner. Chris took the cool image of the day. It was an osprey just clearing the water after snagging dinner--a fish. I took some nice images of the osprey in flight as it posed overhead for me--but the fish and the bird are more interesting.
The bird was just beautiful. And as I sat on the beach contemplating the meaning of life, I was fascinated watching such a majestic bird flying and fishing so close to me.
I guess I survived Friday the 13th. And now for my second favorite foreign holiday--Bastille Day which is today. Vive la France!
I do love the beach though.
-- Bob Doan, Jupiter, FL
Yesterday was a day devoted to shopping and happy hour on the beach. We enjoyed a quiet day and a spectacular evening alongside the waves of Jupiter Island. The waves were the roughest that they have been since we arrived. I am always amazed at the many faces that the ocean takes on--from placid and friendly to rough and foreboding.
I did not go out in search of the sharks, but we did see about a 4 foot one racing along the shore in the rough surf presumably in search of dinner. Chris took the cool image of the day. It was an osprey just clearing the water after snagging dinner--a fish. I took some nice images of the osprey in flight as it posed overhead for me--but the fish and the bird are more interesting.
The bird was just beautiful. And as I sat on the beach contemplating the meaning of life, I was fascinated watching such a majestic bird flying and fishing so close to me.
I guess I survived Friday the 13th. And now for my second favorite foreign holiday--Bastille Day which is today. Vive la France!
I do love the beach though.
-- Bob Doan, Jupiter, FL
Friday, July 13, 2012
A Week, Already?
As I was sunning myself on the beach yesterday, I realized that I have been on vacation for a week already. Amazing! And OMG it is almost over.
We headed off to the beach a bit earlier than normal--I wanted to get there before low tide--hoping for some better images of the sharks and other creatures. Although the water still had only about 10 foot visibility--I was rewarded by some good images.
The storms over the ocean were kicking up the sand a bit. But the clouds were magnificent. They were fun to look at and watch off in the distance. The sun came and went and the water became more choppy as the day went on.
We had a visit from a relatively large sand crab--who walked right by me and stopped for a bit to have its picture taken. If it wasn't such a crab, it would have been cute. And I took this with my underwater camera.
I conducted my obligatory shark quest and ran across two at different times during the day. The bigger shark was later in the day, but the water was so cloudy by then I didn't even try to take a picture.
The exciting animal of the day was the squirrel fish I found hanging out near the bottom of a rock ledge. They don't normally visit waters this shallow, so it was a real find. It was nice that it wasn't moving around too much, so I was able to work the shot a bit.
When I am not in the water, I am reading two books--one is about a World War II B-24 crew member that survived over thirty days at sea in a life raft and then was sent to a Japanese concentration camp. The book is named, Unbroken<\i>. The other is about the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier. Both are very interesting. The reason I am reading two is because one is electronic, and I can't read it on the beach--the other is a traditional book.
Nothing is better than a good read for vacation.
-- Bob Doan, Jupiter, FL
We headed off to the beach a bit earlier than normal--I wanted to get there before low tide--hoping for some better images of the sharks and other creatures. Although the water still had only about 10 foot visibility--I was rewarded by some good images.
The storms over the ocean were kicking up the sand a bit. But the clouds were magnificent. They were fun to look at and watch off in the distance. The sun came and went and the water became more choppy as the day went on.
We had a visit from a relatively large sand crab--who walked right by me and stopped for a bit to have its picture taken. If it wasn't such a crab, it would have been cute. And I took this with my underwater camera.
I conducted my obligatory shark quest and ran across two at different times during the day. The bigger shark was later in the day, but the water was so cloudy by then I didn't even try to take a picture.
The exciting animal of the day was the squirrel fish I found hanging out near the bottom of a rock ledge. They don't normally visit waters this shallow, so it was a real find. It was nice that it wasn't moving around too much, so I was able to work the shot a bit.
When I am not in the water, I am reading two books--one is about a World War II B-24 crew member that survived over thirty days at sea in a life raft and then was sent to a Japanese concentration camp. The book is named, Unbroken<\i>. The other is about the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier. Both are very interesting. The reason I am reading two is because one is electronic, and I can't read it on the beach--the other is a traditional book.
Nothing is better than a good read for vacation.
-- Bob Doan, Jupiter, FL
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