National Aquarium - Baltimore

The question in the morning was what to do with the dual holiday/inauguration day-off and two grandchildren. Obviously, hanging around the house and shooting baskets was not going to be a good answer--it wasn't going to be warm enough.

Leaf Scorpion Fish

After digging around in the bag of tricks, a trip to the National Aquarium was the chosen destination diversion.

Getting there was easy, parking was expensive--but that is true of almost everywhere in Baltimore, and the day was cold and beautiful. A perfect destination.

It has been a couple of years since I visited the aquarium and some things have changed. Entry remains easy--we decided on becoming members again--so that took a bit more time, but was still quick. There is a major renovation underway which has removed one of my favorite exhibits--the big ray tank is gone and is being replaced by a new reef shark tank. It is all boarded up and cannot be viewed and that has affected the walking through entry area.

I guess the decision to visit the aquarium was shared with many other people because the place was packed with small children. It made keeping track of two rambunctious boys difficult and Chris and I frequently had to change plays on the fly to assure constant coverage given the darkness in many exhibits and the people.

The aquarium has grown and it takes a full day to fully appreciate the varied exhibits--from Australia to the Rain Forest to the Dolphin training area.

I am still awed by the reef tank with its varied fish and animals as well as the current shark tank. It seems as if the number of animals has been reduced--as I know there were less sharks and with the closing of the ray tank, there certainly are fewer of those magnificent animals that seem to be sweeping effortlessly through the water.

Well worth the day, but not without its inherent problems of crowding; I recommend the National Aquarium as a great way to keep busy children entertained while also learning more about our complex and varied world.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - January 21, 2010

1. Happy Inauguration Day. We can argue about the results of the election, but we cannot disagree about the importance of this day happening every four years to reaffirm the viability of the Republic.

2. Just gotta write this: The Ravens are going to the Super Bowl! I was reading the news and the sports people pointed out that the favored teams were 8-2 in the playoffs this year--the only underdog that won were the Ravens, twice. They are already 4 1/2 point underdogs for the Super Bowl--I'm feeling kinda good about that one.

3.  Note to self--never be a hostage in Algeria. The death toll there has topped 80.

4. It is not a good day to be going to London--they are having a snow storm which has canceled more than 10 percent of the flights.  I don't hear about snow in London very often.

5. I found an interesting web site: 10 Things to Know for Today.

6. I didn't realize that President Obama is the 17th President to win reelection.

7. I am sitting here writing and I hear the sound of two grandsons waking in their beds. It is strangely different to have these sounds back in the house again.

8. Who knew that Memphis was the fifth most dangerous city in the US? See the article about the five most dangerous cities in the US.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Club House Tour - Orioles

The highlight of my weekend was doing something that I have never done before--nor, had I even known that it was possible to do--tour the Orioles clubhouse.

Orioles Club House

While leaving Fan Fest, we saw signs for the Club House Tour and followed them--not knowing if there was an extra fee or not. Turns out, it was free and the Orioles open the club house for tours once per year--during Fan Fest.  Wow!

And what a tour it was. Behind the scenes, into the training facility, the club house, the indoor batting cages and onto the field in the dug out!

Adam Jones Locker

Fabulous.

Standing in fron of the Orioles Dug Out

How does one describe the excitement of going through the tunnel from the club house into the dug out where I have seen the team during so many Orioles games that I have lost count.

But to actually stand on the warning track and to sit in the dug out.

Orioles Park from in front of the Dug Out

It was a perspective changer.

Buck's Office

The day was beautiful. The sky was clear. Baseball was in the air.

Line-up Board

What a day!


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Earl Weaver and Orioles Baseball

I took this image during a tour of the clubhouse during Orioles Fan Fest today. Earl Weaver's passing hung over the event--but it was still a celebration of baseball, the season ahead, and the boys of summer.

The quote is:

"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all." - Earl Weaver #4

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Orioles Bird perched for a run

Ready.

Set.

Baseball.

At FanFest ready to soak up some before Spring Training baseball excitement.

Championship, Fan Fest, Hockey--a True Sports Hangover

We've been down this path before--Ravens--Patriots in New England playing for a berth in the Super Bowl.

I love the drama.

It is some of the best I've enjoyed since the Orioles and the Yankees were playing in the play-offs during October.

It is easy to get lost in the hoopla and forget--it is just a game, albeit one I expect the Ravens to win against the seemingly overwhelming odds--again this week.

At least I live in a city where both the baseball and football teams made the playoffs this year.

On top of that--hockey begins again today to help chase the winter doldrums away: Penguins and Flyers.

And then there is Orioles Fan Fest that I'm heading off to in a few minutes! I need my fix of spring.

By the time Monday morning rolls around I should be thoroughly afflicted with a sports hangover.

And did I write that #6 Syracuse is playing NCAA Basketball against #1 Louisville today?

That will come right after Ethan heads out onto the court for his basketball game.

So many opportunities--so little time.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Dark and Dreary

The past week has been an example of dark and dreary, cold and rainy days.

The word yuck comes to mind.

The rain and the chill have affected many people in different ways. Driving around the area has slowed to a crawl. Traffic snarled as drivers navigate rain clogged roads and the resultant accidents.

In a word--awful.

The four letter word associated with winter perception was used today and I think people were almost excited that the skies might be blue at the end of a snow event.

Not me--any snow is too much.

I still have not put the cinder blocks into the back of my truck for added traction. I'm in denial about the snow.

But the darkness continues. Days fade from gray into the black of night
and then back into gray again.

Ugh. Someone called me from Florida yesterday just to tell me that the sun was shining and it was 81 degrees. Definitely not gloomy.

Maybe that weather will make its way here--before July.

I was encouraged this morning though as I noticed stars in the still night sky while walking Makayla. Better weather may be ahead? 99 days until pool opening day (It is under a hundred!!)!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Life We Live After

I read a thought provoking article in the Baltimore Sun the other day. It was about Ray Lewis--the retiring all-pro, all consensus Hall of Fame bound middle linebacker of the Baltimore Ravens.

The editorial was written by Dan Rodericks and recounted the trouble that followed Ray Lewis at the beginning of his career.

Lewis was troubled and associated with people who were not of the highest character; Ray calls his acquaintances thugs.. As a result, there was an incident after the 2000 Super Bowl where two men were killed and Lewis and his companions were implicated. Many people insist that Lewis got away with murder, but Dan Rodericks takes a different view--and e has some first hand information.

Rodericks admits that Lewis made mistakes--but don't we all. He should have cooperated with the police and not obstructed the investigation--a charge which he was convicted of and the only charge that the Fulton County Police were able to get from the entire investigation.

My view? A lot of people remember that situation, but have not taken the time to really examine the circumstances and hold onto to what they want to believe about Ray. I guess I am more willing to forgive. This is not like another NFL personality who was convicted of cruelty to animals--and came back to play. Or another NFL player convicted of carrying a weapon in a crowded night club and ultimately shooting himself. Or even one teams head coach who carried a loaded revolver through airport security without declaring it.

Two men died that night in Atlanta.  After the police investigation and the trial no one was convicted of murder. Ray Lewis made a mistake by obstructing justice--and was convicted on that charge alone. He has turned his life around in the subsequent 13 years to become an inspirational leader of his team and the Baltimore community. 

Perhaps there is wisdom in the line from the movie The Natural that Dan Rodericks quotes:

"I believe we have two lives," says Roy Hobbs' old girlfriend in "The Natural," played by Glenn Close. "A life we learn with and a life we live with after that."

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Society Missing the Boat

The gun debate swirls, taking the pressure off Congress and the President to fix the economy.

Lance Armstrong admits he lied. I'm crushed. I forgive him.

The penalty for allegedly stealing internet information exceeds that for manslaughter. Knowledge, therefore, is more important than people.

Wow, what a wild past few days it has been.

We have lost perspective and become a society run governed special interests.

Guns are not the problem--people are the problem. We are living in a time when people are not well equipped to handle the stresses of life. The media surround them with inappropriate responses to stress and their mental health is compromised enough not to be able to separate imagination from reality.

For right now, given the problems in our economy and society--guns are the problem. At least we are persecuting an inanimate object. Other societies have persecuted ethnic groups.

In the end, the real problems will continue to grow worse until they no longer can be masked.

I guess the next few months will be very telling.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Happy 3rd Birthday Lucas

Last evening I had the pleasure of celebrating Lucas' third birthday. We spent an evening at the local Dave & Busters just enjoying the person that he has become. It was special because I will not be able to attend his blow-out family, friends, and neighborhood birthday party due to a previous out of town engagement.

I am not a huge fan of Dave & Busters, but at least last evening we effectively had the place to ourselves as it was mostly deserted.

The lack of other patrons and screaming children made the evening almost perfect. A nice dinner and some time with the grandson playing games was a good change-up from what I normally do on Monday evenings.

The fun part, after dinner was trying watching Luke decide which toy he wanted from the ticket winnings playing the games. With four adults and one child playing multiple games around the arcade he amassed quite a number of tickets. In the end he decided upon a large snake/dragon. It was funny watching his parents try to talk him out of the selection (with no success) after he had made up his mine. Three-year olds can be very decisive and the stubborn.

I had the honor of riding the victorious hero out of the arcade with the giant snake/dragon in tow. Luke called it a snake, but I think it really is a dragon.

It really doesn't matter what it is, he likes it and it almost fit into the backseat of the car with him.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD