Daylight Savings Excitement

Daylight savings time arrives this weekend for its 2013 run.

I'm not sure how I actually can save time. If only I could bank it and withdraw the daylight during the dark days of winter, I know I would feel a lot better.

But at least the sunset which has been happening shortly after 6pm this week, will "magically" occur after 7pm next week all due to the magic of saving daylight! Even the daily temperature highs seem to be affected by daylight savings--as I looked this morning every day next week is expected to have highs in the 50's or even 60's. Of course, this is always subject to change.

Yesterday I drove to work with the sun in my eyes. I enjoyed the sun and the brightening dawn knowing that it will disappear again next week until about May.

Sunday will be the beginning of the springtime daylight extension and the revival of outdoor life. I have a lot of post winter clean-up work to do and I also look forward to sitting outside sipping wine and watching the evening come.

The dark days have passed.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Weather, Life, and Forecasts

The weather affects many facets of my life. The predicted snows of yesterday changed my plans for the day which created opportunities from the schedule change.

A number of small, annoying projects around the house were completed--or continued. Something which typically would not happen on a normal Wednesday.

Perhaps this same type of scenario played out many times in the region as thousands of other people realigned their normal work-day into a day off to relax and energize other areas of life.

Thank you weather forecasters for getting the storm so wrong!  I was lucky in that although I was expecting to struggle for hours with a snow shovel in my hands, I was spared the opportunity. And I had a day off to reflect and create as well.

I listened to the explanations last evening about why the storm did not materialize as the forecasters predicted--European models. needs for a new super computer, but in the end, for this area, I'm glad it played out the way it did.

I did not have to shovel mountains of wet, heavy snow from my driveway.
I was able to head out shopping to nearly deserted stores.
I worked on projects around the house.
I watched two movies with Chris and even enjoyed one of them.
I recreated, by not having a dozen preplanned things to fill my day.
And Makayla still got her shots--the only preplanned event that happened as planned!

Life is what happens to us while we are busy making other plans! - Allen Saunders

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Snow Event Fizzles

6PM after a Day of Snow

Despite the dire predictions, the inches of snow never arrived.

It definitely did not rival the blizzard of 1962 which produced 10 inches of wet snow in Baltimore.

The image is of my pool area at 6PM after a day of storm.

Lot's of wet and no snow.

I am not complaining--I at least got a day off from work.

And I saw the weather forecast for next week--60's on Monday!!!!!

Spring is on the near horizon. I may have a case of Spring Fever on Monday!  And the benefit is, I don't have to wait for the snow to melt before I enjoy the Springtime.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Still Waiting for Snow-quester

They say the snow is coming.

Waiting for the Snow Event

Where?

I see it on TV nearby, but here, we have rain and nothing significant.

I will continue to monitor, but so far, this is a yawner.

At least I am watching it from the comfort of my arm chair in my own house and on my own computer.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Waiting for the Storm

I'm sitting here, watching the local news which is all about the coming storm, wondering why it is that I am so fascinated with watching the television news report the very same thing that I can watch out of my window?

The storm even has a name: Snow-quester!

When I woke this morning the snow was only beginning to coat the grass and trees. Thankfully, I don't have to sojourn to work only to figure out later how to get home again. I remember the old days--long ago, at Griffiss AFB near Rome, NY. One day I drove the 10 miles to work in about 4 inches of snow only to be released about noon and then had to drive home in 10 inches of snow. It took over and hour, but I made it.

Ugh. I'm glad that sadistic kind of work environment has become kinder and gentler. But then, we were fighting the Cold War on a daily basis back then.

Left to my own devices, I would head off to work. It isn't that bad--yet! Maybe that is why the news fascinates me, the 5-10 inches of snow (according to WBAL TV at 6 AM) they are predicting will shut this area down, possibly for two days! The region is just not prepared to operate during heavy snow conditions.

I am conflicted about the area being paralyzed by snow. Philosophically, the region should be able to operate, but do I really want to pay the extra taxes to maintain the equipment and personnel to allow ensure operations when snow in this quantity is a once or twice a season event?

No I don't. There are enough other things upon which to waste my tax dollars.

Knowing that this weather was coming made me appreciate the exceptionally nice day yesterday even more. It was hard to believe that such a nice day was preceding the storm. The sky was clear, the sun shone, temperatures were in the high 40's. I saw many people celebrating by not wearing coats.

Yet today, the snow comes. A new day brings new challenges.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Two Scenarios -- No Winners, More Winter

With the arrival of March, I had thought the threat of snow and winter had essentially passed.

Turns out not.

They call it Winter Storm Saturn. I call it winter, ugh!  Winter is the season that starts too early and ends too late.

Will we get many inches of rain or six plus inches of snow during the course of the next two days? Inquiring minds want to know but there seem to be no absolutes.

In usual Maryland style, the weather is the central topic of discussion for most people. I'm not sure if it is the prospect of a day off or just an inbred dysfunctional love of bad weather.

I took the image at the right this weekend while in Central NY. Looking out the window was like looking at total desolation. White, gray, and cold.

It is coming, I can read the weather reports.

I was looking for the scenario where the storm misses us. It isn't there. At least I have a new roof and don't have to worry about the winter weather.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - March 4, 2013

1. I expect McDonald's to be fast. That is why they call it fast food! I Waited over 10 minutes for coffee at the McDonald's in Whitney Point, NY, yesterday. Really.  Waiting for a cup of coffee and then it was terrible. 

2. I forgot how bright new fallen snow is even on an overcast day. Break out the sunglasses.

3. The new 10 cent word: sequestration. (BTW, did you notice the old "cent" symbol is no longer on the keyboard?)

4.  Does anyone know why gas prices have risen? It isn't even summertime yet.

5. I am amazed at how quickly time flies when I am researching on my computer at home. It doesn't seem to pass at the same rate when I am doing research at work!

6. Maryland is panicked--a storm is approaching. I am very happy to have a new roof. It doesn't seem to be a snowpocalypse repeat though.

7. There is nothing worse than being away on a trip and having a brake pad decide that it needs to be replaced. I got to spend my first couple hours back at home replacing brakes and rotors on Chris' car. Apparently the pad sensor was improperly set or got knocked off alignment. 

8. I have determined that with the exception of sporting events, there is nothing much worth watching on television. The era of reality TV is a failure for people searching for meaningful entertainment.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sunday Snow in Central New York

Apparently it snowed all night. I woke this morning expecting to load the car and head south to milder temperatures only to find more snow and a delay.

I listened to the local weather forecast and heard one common theme: "chance of snow 30 percent." For the next four days! I am reminded why I live further south.

I actually heard someone exclaim that they were at the point where they did not appreciate the snow and cold anymore. I wholeheartedly concur. Waking up and hearing the current weather being reported as "20 degrees and light snow" is just not conducive to getting outside and being active.



Sadly, I did notice that temperatures were in the 40's this morning in Tampa. So the cold is fairly pervasive throughout the eastern part of the US.

Yesterday it snowed all day and Chris and I found ourselves along the west shore of Cayuga Lake. Chris wanted to take some pictures of geese on the lake and I took a picture of her coming across the road back to the car. The lake is in the background. It looks cold. Too cold.

Who would have thought that I would think that today's expected 42 degree high in Baltimore warm?

Where are the palm trees?

-- Bob Doan, Writing from Ithaca, NY

From Warm to Cold

Leaving Maryland yesterday, the weather was cool, but better than it had been a week or so ago. Along the route we watched the temperature drop degree by degree. We left Maryland with temperatures in the 40's and arrived in Ithaca with the temperature at 27.
Ugh!



We had to take our winter coats out of the back of the car and wear them.

And it was snowing. I despise snow.

This morning the evidence was clear on the car--snow.

On the trip though, the weather was good, even though snow lightly fell from the sky during most of the trip. The sad part was hat this trip marked the end of Mom and Dad's two-month vacation. Even though all good things end, it is still sad when thy do. But we are left with the memories and the promise of future visits.

For now though, the task at hand is surviving the arctic weather of upstate New York.

Brrrrr!

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ithaca, NY

March Arrives

As the government wallows in the self-created sequester crisis, February has ended and March has arrived.

Pool opening day is a mere 58 days away. Hopefully surviving March will be a breeze despite the best efforts of Congress to crash the economy and send us all back into the dark ages of economic disaster.

Or not.

There remains time to fix the budget and the economy.

But it is March and while I find it hard to believe that 2013 is already one sixth complete, I am looking forward to the resumption of daylight savings time in a short 10 days followed by springtime shortly thereafter. That means that green will return as the color of the day. And maybe blue skies will become more the rule rather than the exception as March turns into April and then into May.

Next up--daffodils and crocus.

Bring it on.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD