1. The colder temperatures of the mornings these past few days are announcing the end of summer.
2. The movies released lately are definitely not summer blockbusters.
3. I am tired of the political phone calls and mail already. Can we vote already?
4. Someday I will retire (again). But I will not stop doing something that I want to do which keeps my mind sharp.
5. I saw a funny sign the other day: We only serve fine wines! Did you bring any?
6. How about the Orioles? Still in the race in late August. I am beginning to feel really good about the team.
7. Heard in church yesterday--The answer to prayer is not as important as is the assurance knowing we are heard!
8. Headline in yesterday's New Your Times: School is Starting Soon, It's Time to Drug the Kids.
9. I felt very conspicuous last evening at a wedding when they did the who is married the longest dance--and Chris and I win.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Monday, August 20, 2012
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Summer Sun Afternoon in the Pool
I can tell that summer is beginning to wind down. I looked at the thermometer this morning and it told me that it was all of 60 degrees outside. Yesterday it was 62 and for some days before it has been running about 64 degrees.
The afternoon temperatures are in the low to mid 80's. It is cooler. The humidity has broken and it is pleasant to be outside working around the house again in the afternoon. Chris and I finished cutting up the tree that we had felled earlier in the week. I also noticed the lawn is growing more slowly--I'm not sure if it needs to be mowed this week or not.
The pool is also beginning to cool in response to the lower overnight temperatures.
And so it was with this pre-autumn, early summer's demise that yesterday afternoon I spent a couple of hours in a floatie in the pool trying to restore some of my faded tan. The water was cooler. But the sky was so blue and the sun was warm--not hot, like it was just a too short month ago.
I read that the grape harvest has begun in Virginia. The first whites of 2012 are being prepared to transform from fruit on the vine into wine.
Summer is winding down.
Autumn is lurking.
I know there will likely be a few 90 degree days left to enjoy before the leaves decide to come off the trees. But every day right now seems cooler than the one before.
But at least for one day, I was in my pool, relaxing with my sunglasses and just enjoying the sun and the afternoon.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
The afternoon temperatures are in the low to mid 80's. It is cooler. The humidity has broken and it is pleasant to be outside working around the house again in the afternoon. Chris and I finished cutting up the tree that we had felled earlier in the week. I also noticed the lawn is growing more slowly--I'm not sure if it needs to be mowed this week or not.
The pool is also beginning to cool in response to the lower overnight temperatures.
And so it was with this pre-autumn, early summer's demise that yesterday afternoon I spent a couple of hours in a floatie in the pool trying to restore some of my faded tan. The water was cooler. But the sky was so blue and the sun was warm--not hot, like it was just a too short month ago.
I read that the grape harvest has begun in Virginia. The first whites of 2012 are being prepared to transform from fruit on the vine into wine.
Summer is winding down.
Autumn is lurking.
I know there will likely be a few 90 degree days left to enjoy before the leaves decide to come off the trees. But every day right now seems cooler than the one before.
But at least for one day, I was in my pool, relaxing with my sunglasses and just enjoying the sun and the afternoon.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Hope Springs - Movie Review
Hope Springs, starring Meryl Streel and Tommy Lee Jones surprised me for its raw honesty and sensitivity. I am not a Steve Carell fan, but even he played a good role in the movie. It was a different role for him and he pulled it off fairly well.
I was surprised because I had low expectations for this movie--a true to life exploration of how marriages become dysfunctional after three decades together. The couple, played by Meryl Streep (Kay) and Tommy Lee Jones (Arnold), had reached a definite low point in their marriage and something had to change. At the insistence of Kay, Arnold is coerced into an intensive week of couples therapy in a small New England town conducted by Dr. Feld (Steve Carell).
I thought the acting was excellent--especially Tommy Lee Jones portrayal of the husband, Arnold, who is more concerned about his career than his marriage. I admit--I found a lot of similarities, too many really, between my own experience and his portrayal.
Meryl Streep, as Kay, was believable as the catalyst for the couple to reconnect through an intensive week of marriage counseling to rekindle their relationship.
I was pleased at the way the subject matter, sometimes sexual in nature, was handled. Professional and definitely not graphic. But this was not a movie about sex between a couple--but more importantly the reconstruction of an interactive relationship.
This movie will not appeal to a wide audience--not should it. But, for couples married for more than about 15 years, it should be mandatory viewing. To retain vibrancy and intimacy requires constant work, and it is the small things that occur in combination which can cause couples to drift apart--and cause the end of a relationship.
I especially enjoyed reflecting upon the breakfast scenes used in the movie to help document the state of the relationship. One strip of bacon and two eggs, perhaps a boring subject but definitely a bell weather of their relationship.
Recommendation: Married couples need to see this movie. Un-married people will not appreciate it. The movie deals with adult subjects and is not suitable for the under 17 crowd--but they shouldn't be there anyway.
I was surprised because I had low expectations for this movie--a true to life exploration of how marriages become dysfunctional after three decades together. The couple, played by Meryl Streep (Kay) and Tommy Lee Jones (Arnold), had reached a definite low point in their marriage and something had to change. At the insistence of Kay, Arnold is coerced into an intensive week of couples therapy in a small New England town conducted by Dr. Feld (Steve Carell).
I thought the acting was excellent--especially Tommy Lee Jones portrayal of the husband, Arnold, who is more concerned about his career than his marriage. I admit--I found a lot of similarities, too many really, between my own experience and his portrayal.
Meryl Streep, as Kay, was believable as the catalyst for the couple to reconnect through an intensive week of marriage counseling to rekindle their relationship.
I was pleased at the way the subject matter, sometimes sexual in nature, was handled. Professional and definitely not graphic. But this was not a movie about sex between a couple--but more importantly the reconstruction of an interactive relationship.
This movie will not appeal to a wide audience--not should it. But, for couples married for more than about 15 years, it should be mandatory viewing. To retain vibrancy and intimacy requires constant work, and it is the small things that occur in combination which can cause couples to drift apart--and cause the end of a relationship.
I especially enjoyed reflecting upon the breakfast scenes used in the movie to help document the state of the relationship. One strip of bacon and two eggs, perhaps a boring subject but definitely a bell weather of their relationship.
Recommendation: Married couples need to see this movie. Un-married people will not appreciate it. The movie deals with adult subjects and is not suitable for the under 17 crowd--but they shouldn't be there anyway.
Friday, August 17, 2012
The Odd Life of Timothy Green - A Review
This is an OK movie to spend time viewing when there is nothing else happening in life.
The character development is lacking, the acting is OK, and the cinematography is great! Filmed in the Northeast during the Autumn, the colorful leaves and hillsides were filed in their full glory. That, however, is probably the best thing that can be said about the movie.
The story revolves around a childless couple relating their history to a social worker while attempting to adopt a child. The story is about their encounter with their perfect child--Timothy Green. One night, after determining that they can never have children naturally, the couple writes attributes of their ideal child on pieces of paper and then buries these papers in a box in the garden.
From there, the story line is predictable. After fantasizing about their perfect child during the night in the middle of a freak a thunderstorm set in the middle of a drought--he appears. But, he is only with them for a short while. We, the audience know that but the couple seems oblivious to the developing story line--until the very end.
The movie is trite and full of overused lines and situations.
That said--it is a tear jerker at the end, even though everyone knows what is coming.
The moral is clearly, enjoy what you have been given today because you never know when it will be taken away. The couple grow as parents during their all to brief time with Timothy, as all parents grow. And of course, then there is the somewhat sappy ending.
Recommendation--If you need to suffer through a chick flick--find something else. I enjoyed the movie and the story, but I am a sucker for these kinds of stories. The movie was a bit long and seemed drawn out. I would not see it again nor will I rent it when available.
The character development is lacking, the acting is OK, and the cinematography is great! Filmed in the Northeast during the Autumn, the colorful leaves and hillsides were filed in their full glory. That, however, is probably the best thing that can be said about the movie.
The story revolves around a childless couple relating their history to a social worker while attempting to adopt a child. The story is about their encounter with their perfect child--Timothy Green. One night, after determining that they can never have children naturally, the couple writes attributes of their ideal child on pieces of paper and then buries these papers in a box in the garden.
From there, the story line is predictable. After fantasizing about their perfect child during the night in the middle of a freak a thunderstorm set in the middle of a drought--he appears. But, he is only with them for a short while. We, the audience know that but the couple seems oblivious to the developing story line--until the very end.
The movie is trite and full of overused lines and situations.
That said--it is a tear jerker at the end, even though everyone knows what is coming.
The moral is clearly, enjoy what you have been given today because you never know when it will be taken away. The couple grow as parents during their all to brief time with Timothy, as all parents grow. And of course, then there is the somewhat sappy ending.
Recommendation--If you need to suffer through a chick flick--find something else. I enjoyed the movie and the story, but I am a sucker for these kinds of stories. The movie was a bit long and seemed drawn out. I would not see it again nor will I rent it when available.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
At Stay-cation's End
It is back to work this morning after completing my stay-cation. That is a hard reality to comprehend.
It had been a great respite at the end of the effective summer. Projects were accomplished around the house, movies were watched, and I even made a journey yesterday to the shooting range to fire some rifles--including my 42 year old Ithaca .22. It was good to hear the crack of a .22 round bursting forth from the barrel of my long time friend again and also for Patrick to be able to finally achieve a dream in firing that rifle.
Most of all though, I was able to spend some quality time with Chris as we worked side-by-side accomplishing the projects or watching the movies.
I saw two movies in their first days of release:
The Odd Life of Timothy Green and Hope Springs. I have not done that in a long while. I actually saw The Odd Life of Timothy Green on its premier day--which was yesterday. I also enjoyed watching Jaws with Ethan the other afternoon--so I also saw a classic from 1975.
I could not believe that Jaws was released in 1975, but it was. My how things have changed--even our understanding of Great White sharks. I saw an clip on Shark Week that suggested that the movie Jaws was instrumental in advancing our understanding of Great White sharks--even though the movie portrayed them incorrectly.
But this morning, it is back to work, albeit only two days this week. I'm glad it is a short week--but Thursdays are the busiest days of the week. Now, frankly, I am wondering why I didn't take the whole week off. And maybe next week, too.
Chris and I did a quick review of the stay-cation and decided that it is definitely a keeper! I will do it again next year. Plan a short vacation to go no where but home.
Dorothy, from the Wizard of Oz said it best: "There's no place like home!"
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
It had been a great respite at the end of the effective summer. Projects were accomplished around the house, movies were watched, and I even made a journey yesterday to the shooting range to fire some rifles--including my 42 year old Ithaca .22. It was good to hear the crack of a .22 round bursting forth from the barrel of my long time friend again and also for Patrick to be able to finally achieve a dream in firing that rifle.
Most of all though, I was able to spend some quality time with Chris as we worked side-by-side accomplishing the projects or watching the movies.
I saw two movies in their first days of release:
The Odd Life of Timothy Green and Hope Springs. I have not done that in a long while. I actually saw The Odd Life of Timothy Green on its premier day--which was yesterday. I also enjoyed watching Jaws with Ethan the other afternoon--so I also saw a classic from 1975.
I could not believe that Jaws was released in 1975, but it was. My how things have changed--even our understanding of Great White sharks. I saw an clip on Shark Week that suggested that the movie Jaws was instrumental in advancing our understanding of Great White sharks--even though the movie portrayed them incorrectly.
But this morning, it is back to work, albeit only two days this week. I'm glad it is a short week--but Thursdays are the busiest days of the week. Now, frankly, I am wondering why I didn't take the whole week off. And maybe next week, too.
Chris and I did a quick review of the stay-cation and decided that it is definitely a keeper! I will do it again next year. Plan a short vacation to go no where but home.
Dorothy, from the Wizard of Oz said it best: "There's no place like home!"
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
And the Tree Came Down
Although the rain in the morning made for some soggy conditions, it dried enough by early afternoon to tackle the dead tree.
It needed to come down as it was becoming green with vines and would soon come down on its own and at a time when we least needed it to wind up in the yard. So off with my chainsaw I went, assisted by Chris and Ethan to fell the tree. It seemed a simple task.
Nothing is ever as simple as it seems.
I surveyed the tree and determined which direction it should fall--not being straight there was an element of deciding the center of gravity and which direction was the natural direction for it to fall. That direction seemed good to me--so there was no need for ropes or cables to attempt to direct the tree to another location. I should have surveyed the scene a bit better.
The chainsaw started and ran better than it has in a long time. I tore into the tree making the notch to help ensure the direction of fall.
Then the chainsaw blade got dull. Ugh! I was making a lot of smoke--which had a nice sweet burning wood odor to it, but not cutting a lot of wood. Off to the garage to change the blade. Yes, I have five blades--but after this blade change I have only one more sharp one. It is time to go off to get the group sharpened again.
After the delay--and the blade was really hot, too hot, it was back to the tree. I finished the notch and then began work on cutting the tree down.
The tree began falling--in exactly the right direction and then the upper branches became caught on another tree. Not a good situation. How to get the tree down.
Use a rope! Great idea. Off to the garage for a rope. After a few minutes the upper limb was roped and we began to pull on the limb to move the tree. Nothing.
What next?
The winch, of course! Thank goodness I have a hand winch. Off to the garage again.
The cable was too short to be of any value. Wait--the tow cable. Back to the garage.
We finally got the tow cable secured to the offending limb and hooked to the winch secured to a nearby unsuspecting tree and began to slowly pull the limb away to allow the tree to continue to fall.
Wait--another tree--a smaller one was now hanging up the entire process. The chainsaw made quick work of this obstacle and then it was back to the winch. We should have taken a picture of this incredible scene--a winch, a tow cable, a tree and a rope--but we didn't.
The three finally succumbed to the force of the winch and fell to the ground, whereupon, I began cutting it into firewood for next winter. Already seasoned, I love the smell of the wood as it is cut.
Success--I was totally drenched in sweat, but survived the project without major injury.
I am going to hire someone next time I need to fell a tree!
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
It needed to come down as it was becoming green with vines and would soon come down on its own and at a time when we least needed it to wind up in the yard. So off with my chainsaw I went, assisted by Chris and Ethan to fell the tree. It seemed a simple task.
Nothing is ever as simple as it seems.
I surveyed the tree and determined which direction it should fall--not being straight there was an element of deciding the center of gravity and which direction was the natural direction for it to fall. That direction seemed good to me--so there was no need for ropes or cables to attempt to direct the tree to another location. I should have surveyed the scene a bit better.
The chainsaw started and ran better than it has in a long time. I tore into the tree making the notch to help ensure the direction of fall.
Then the chainsaw blade got dull. Ugh! I was making a lot of smoke--which had a nice sweet burning wood odor to it, but not cutting a lot of wood. Off to the garage to change the blade. Yes, I have five blades--but after this blade change I have only one more sharp one. It is time to go off to get the group sharpened again.
After the delay--and the blade was really hot, too hot, it was back to the tree. I finished the notch and then began work on cutting the tree down.
The tree began falling--in exactly the right direction and then the upper branches became caught on another tree. Not a good situation. How to get the tree down.
Use a rope! Great idea. Off to the garage for a rope. After a few minutes the upper limb was roped and we began to pull on the limb to move the tree. Nothing.
What next?
The winch, of course! Thank goodness I have a hand winch. Off to the garage again.
The cable was too short to be of any value. Wait--the tow cable. Back to the garage.
We finally got the tow cable secured to the offending limb and hooked to the winch secured to a nearby unsuspecting tree and began to slowly pull the limb away to allow the tree to continue to fall.
Wait--another tree--a smaller one was now hanging up the entire process. The chainsaw made quick work of this obstacle and then it was back to the winch. We should have taken a picture of this incredible scene--a winch, a tow cable, a tree and a rope--but we didn't.
The three finally succumbed to the force of the winch and fell to the ground, whereupon, I began cutting it into firewood for next winter. Already seasoned, I love the smell of the wood as it is cut.
Success--I was totally drenched in sweat, but survived the project without major injury.
I am going to hire someone next time I need to fell a tree!
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Day Off and Rain Changed Activity
I am in the middle of a three day holiday (stay-cation) to celebrate the end of summer and complete some projects around the house.
And it is raining. Really! Wet.
Although I love rain, it makes working outside problematic, especially when one of the projects I had planned on accomplishing was dropping a dead tree. The rain just makes that a bit tougher.
OK-- really dangerous.
So the tree will wait. Until tomorrow!
Yesterday the garage was cleaned--thoroughly. Until I put the lawn tractor back inside we actually could have put two cars into the two-car garage. Miraculously.
The truck is fully loaded for a trip to the dump.
I fear the rain has moved cleaning the attic into the forefront of activities planned for the day. Ugh. I despise cleaning the attic--which is why in the almost 12 years we have lived here the attic has not been thoroughly cleaned. There are boxes there untouched by human hands for a dozen years. The next time they are opened will be when they are tossed into the dumpster at the dump.
Flexibility is the key to fun and the successful completion of projects.
Rain is just an opportunity to find new ways to get things done.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
And it is raining. Really! Wet.
Although I love rain, it makes working outside problematic, especially when one of the projects I had planned on accomplishing was dropping a dead tree. The rain just makes that a bit tougher.
OK-- really dangerous.
So the tree will wait. Until tomorrow!
Yesterday the garage was cleaned--thoroughly. Until I put the lawn tractor back inside we actually could have put two cars into the two-car garage. Miraculously.
The truck is fully loaded for a trip to the dump.
I fear the rain has moved cleaning the attic into the forefront of activities planned for the day. Ugh. I despise cleaning the attic--which is why in the almost 12 years we have lived here the attic has not been thoroughly cleaned. There are boxes there untouched by human hands for a dozen years. The next time they are opened will be when they are tossed into the dumpster at the dump.
Flexibility is the key to fun and the successful completion of projects.
Rain is just an opportunity to find new ways to get things done.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Monday, August 13, 2012
Monday Musings - August 13, 2012
1. Olympics completed. Medals won. The world shrunk a bit for a few short weeks.
2. Completion. That is the exclamation point on the deck project with the final screw being driven into the final piece of wood.
3. Politics heats up as we head into the convention season. Less than three months to go.
4. Mars--the Red Planet seems closer again as Curiosity begins its mission. I know that Bugs Bunny's nemesis Marvin the Martian is hiding there somewhere.
5. I am taking a few days off this week to complete those summertime projects that haven't been completed yet.
6. Check out the Orioles--they are still in the play off race and it is heading into mid-August. Ya gotta believe!
7. Olympics highlights--Michael Phelps, USA Women kicking the world's butt, USA Men's and Women's Basketball, Women's Soccer, Men's Platform Diving, Men's and Women's Swimming. Wow!
8. In 3114 BC, the Mayan calendar started on this date.
9. In 1940, The Battle of Britain begins on this date. I wonder if the Olympics ended yesterday because of this historical remembrance.
2. Completion. That is the exclamation point on the deck project with the final screw being driven into the final piece of wood.
3. Politics heats up as we head into the convention season. Less than three months to go.
4. Mars--the Red Planet seems closer again as Curiosity begins its mission. I know that Bugs Bunny's nemesis Marvin the Martian is hiding there somewhere.
5. I am taking a few days off this week to complete those summertime projects that haven't been completed yet.
6. Check out the Orioles--they are still in the play off race and it is heading into mid-August. Ya gotta believe!
7. Olympics highlights--Michael Phelps, USA Women kicking the world's butt, USA Men's and Women's Basketball, Women's Soccer, Men's Platform Diving, Men's and Women's Swimming. Wow!
8. In 3114 BC, the Mayan calendar started on this date.
9. In 1940, The Battle of Britain begins on this date. I wonder if the Olympics ended yesterday because of this historical remembrance.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Olympic Thoughts--The End is Here
The U.S. is pulling away in the medal take at the Olympics and even has more gold medals than China.
I watched some of the Men's 10 m Platform Diving--which ended with a surprise Gold Medal for an American. Think about it--10 m platform diving is like jumping off a three-story building. I think I am too sane to even try that one. I dove off a 3 m springboard once and thought I was going to die after crashing into the water.
And then there were the track and field events. I had hope that with three Americans in the field that we would get at least one medal on the 5,000 m race. But no. It wasn't to be.
Sadly, the U.S. women--who seem set on conquering the world, settled for silver in volleyball. The men never even made it that far.
The nice thing about the Olympics--there always seemed to be something on tother than the nonsense of the regular TV programming. I mean, how many episodes of some program on HGTV can one person really watch?
We tried to find a movie to watch last evening--with over hundreds of channels we felt lucky to find Moneyball playing on one channel for some evening entertainment as the thunderstorm rained down upon us.
At least the Olympics are entertaining. And they can be mind expanding by watching events that we never even knew were in the Olympics-like mountain bike riding.
As the games close today, we will be forced to choose from the usual mind numbing shows to watch on TV again. Ugh!
Just when you think it can't get worse-it finds a way.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
I watched some of the Men's 10 m Platform Diving--which ended with a surprise Gold Medal for an American. Think about it--10 m platform diving is like jumping off a three-story building. I think I am too sane to even try that one. I dove off a 3 m springboard once and thought I was going to die after crashing into the water.
And then there were the track and field events. I had hope that with three Americans in the field that we would get at least one medal on the 5,000 m race. But no. It wasn't to be.
Sadly, the U.S. women--who seem set on conquering the world, settled for silver in volleyball. The men never even made it that far.
The nice thing about the Olympics--there always seemed to be something on tother than the nonsense of the regular TV programming. I mean, how many episodes of some program on HGTV can one person really watch?
We tried to find a movie to watch last evening--with over hundreds of channels we felt lucky to find Moneyball playing on one channel for some evening entertainment as the thunderstorm rained down upon us.
At least the Olympics are entertaining. And they can be mind expanding by watching events that we never even knew were in the Olympics-like mountain bike riding.
As the games close today, we will be forced to choose from the usual mind numbing shows to watch on TV again. Ugh!
Just when you think it can't get worse-it finds a way.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Saturday, August 11, 2012
A Running Mate for Romney - Yawn
I am sitting in front of the TV, taking a break from the Olympics to focus on something important--the Presidential sweepstakes.
The pundits are gearing up for the stretch run and the Republican candidate is announcing his running mate. The scene is splashed with flags and red, white, and blue bunting. Imaginary excitement, it seems. Whipping the crowd into a political frenzy by touting the record of failures--but never spouting a vision for the future.
I wish the campaign would change into one focused on defining the future in terms other than one candidate is better than the other guy.
So, while I'm watching and listening to the candidate bashing, I wonder what is in store for the winner of the election the day after inauguration? It is like too many marriages--all of the effort is put into the wedding day and none into the day, weeks, and months after that fantastic day.
We need a President who has a vision for the four years after inauguration day.
And so, I wait. And while I listen to the bashing and the blustering, I yawn and wonder . . .
is there any substance to either of the leading candidates, one of whom is our President? Will there be any positive action as a result of the words?
I hope so, because one of them will be leading our great nation come January 2013.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
The pundits are gearing up for the stretch run and the Republican candidate is announcing his running mate. The scene is splashed with flags and red, white, and blue bunting. Imaginary excitement, it seems. Whipping the crowd into a political frenzy by touting the record of failures--but never spouting a vision for the future.
I wish the campaign would change into one focused on defining the future in terms other than one candidate is better than the other guy.
So, while I'm watching and listening to the candidate bashing, I wonder what is in store for the winner of the election the day after inauguration? It is like too many marriages--all of the effort is put into the wedding day and none into the day, weeks, and months after that fantastic day.
We need a President who has a vision for the four years after inauguration day.
And so, I wait. And while I listen to the bashing and the blustering, I yawn and wonder . . .
is there any substance to either of the leading candidates, one of whom is our President? Will there be any positive action as a result of the words?
I hope so, because one of them will be leading our great nation come January 2013.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
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