Stars and Peepers

Imagine, for a moment, walking in 70 degree temperatures under a clear sky full of stars with a chorus of peepers filling the springtime air.

That was last evening. Perhaps the first best evening of the year.

Springtime is here and I can almost see the flowers blossoming. The trees are full of flowers after only a couple of days without freezing temperatures. It is awesome how quickly it happens. It was a pleasure to walk outside this evening, after a long 11 hour day, and be greeted by warm breezes rather than the cold slap of just a week ago. I even drove Cat in expectation of riding home with the top down and my hair (what's left of it) flapping with the breeze.

And I did.

Except for the glass of dark red Fess Parker wine waiting for me when I got home, it was the best part of the first day back after a week off.

How I wish every day could end this way.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings--April 8, 2013

1. Beautiful days are upon us. I'm seeing forecasted temperatures in the 70's.

Orioles Park at Camden Yards, April 7, 2013
Me, Mom, and Dad

2. Afternoon baseball on a sunny day with my parents and wife. What could be better? Winning.

3. I am amazed how quickly our news media drops stories.

4. The weekend was a wasteland for my sports teams. The Orioles lost two and Syracuse was eliminated from the NCAA tournament after making the final four.

5. Spring Break is over. Ugh! I have to go back to work and face the world again.

6. According to my tax return, my income declined this past year but my taxes, health insurance, and cost of living increased. What is wrong with this picture?

7. I notice that gas prices are falling exactly at the same time that Maryland is planning to raise the gas tax. What a nice way to say thank-you to all of the citizens who have been suffering through rough economic times.

8. Full airline flights and small seats make passengers grumpy--so a study has found. Really? Anyone who flies knows that is true.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Remember the Thresher

One of those sad memorials happened the other day--a remembrance for the 129 crew members of the USS Thresher (SSN-593) which sank during diving trials east of Cape Cod. It was 50 years ago on April 10, 1963, that the USS Thresher sank, taking the lives of all aboard. The crew is now on eternal patrol. I urge you to check out the links to learn more about the tragedy.

It was the Cold War. We knew the Soviets (note: not Russians) were hanging out just off the coast ready to obliterate the United States. Times were tense.

The Cuban Missile Crisis had been resolved only about six months earlier.

I would like to write about how times have changed and peace has blossomed everywhere, but I know that it is not true. During the 60's we had one great enemy. We knew who they were, where they lives, and how they fought. Today, the world has devolved into chaos where the enemy of peace-loving people is right around the next corner or behind the tree ahead.

In these times of sequestration, reducing budgets, increased threat it is important to remember these heroes from 50 years ago who gave their lives to secure peace for the democratic way of life.

From the memorial service:

Vice Adm. Michael J. Connor, the commander of the submarine force, said the Thresher was built with revolutionary capabilities to prevent the Soviet submarines that were operating off the coast of the United States from “doing their deadly mission.” 

“The Thresher helped change the world because she, and ships like her, and the descendents of her, made the Soviet Union realize they could never prevail,” he said. 

For the Thresher families, Connor said, “I know that is probably a small consolation.” But, he said, the sacrifice made by the crew and the civilian technicians on board “will be carried forward by the entire submarine force as we do the nation’s business and the Navy’s business around the world, under the sea.”

The doing the nation's business never stops for the men and women of the armed forces and the Department of Defense. No matter where, no matter when!

 -- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Day at the Ball Park

Orioles opening day was a huge success. The crowds for the pre-game festivities were crushing. We couldn't even get into Pickles--the wait to get in was longer than we had until game time.

We found a street party a few blocks away to celebrate before the game. When it was time we entered the ball park for the first time this year. The first time in the park every year is almost like coming home after being away for a long time. The last time I left, the Orioles had just defeated the hated team from up north in the Divisional Playoffs. That was during early October. It is now six months later and we are ready for another great ride.

The day could not have been more perfect. After a week of depressing weather forecasts for game time, the weather broke clear, cool, and magnificent. It was a glorious spring day in Baltimore when the birds return to their roost to hold court for the AL East.

Even in Camden Yards the crowds were crushing. The lines at the restrooms were almost non-stop and the lines for food and drink were even longer. All of Birdland, it seemed, showed up to celebrate the day and the team.

And the most impressive part of the day was the opening pitch. There wasn't one. The team chose to commemorate the late Earl Weaver with a silent opening pitch. Total class.

Opening Day 2013 Orioles Park at Camden Yards

The most exciting part of the day? Chris Davis' Grand Slam. How can you ever beat a Grand Slam to win the game?

BUCK-le Up!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Spring Break STAY-cation

With the temperatures in the 20's to start the day most mornings this week and highs barely into the 50's some days and high 40's for others, my outdoors activities have been a bit limited. But today, the addition of some morning rain has helped the temperatures remain above freezing for the first time this week and looking at the forecast, I see, for the first time this year, a seven day period with no temperatures in below freezing and the first indication of 70's (Wednesday).

Because I did not head off to the land of warmer temperatures known as Florida, I did get a lot of projects done around the house to get ready for the warmer temperatures which are in the forecast. Yesterday, I even braved the cold and did a good deal of gardening including planting some grasses, two trees, and finishing the garden clean-up. Next up is the mulch! I'm thinking three yards this year.

It is good to take time off to do those projects for which there never seems to be enough time. Some nagging indoor projects were completed as well--for instance a broken shelf in one cabinet was repaired, the rope lights displaced by the winter storms were reattached,

I also assisted as a coach during Jax's first T-Ball practice. It was cold! Football weather not suitable for baseball, but the kids stuck it out like champs. Hopefully Saturday's practice is warmer and more Baseball-like.

Today, however, marks the end of the STAY-cation work and the beginning of the play portion. It is the home opener for the Orioles and that will consume most of my Friday. I hope to be in the crowd in the image by early afternoon. After a successful opening series, the Orioles return to Baltimore and I look forward to the greeting that they will receive.

Do I miss the thought of snorkeling or diving in Florida? Yes. But, that will wait for summer. Did I get everything done off my project list? No. I never rented either the chipper or log splitter--it was just too cold and the ground was too soft to have my truck and equipment driving around on it. More to do during the next couple of weeks.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

When the Field of Dreams becomes a Nightmare

New seasons are filled with hope of unqualified success. Starting off with a win only serves to heighten the expectations for the future. But with 162 games in the season, a loss is bound to happen in there somewhere. Like last evening.

A hotly contested game last evening in Tampa saw the Orioles take an early 4-0 lead which they relinquished during the 6th inning, subsequently falling behind by two runs entering the eighth inning.  After tying the game in the top of the ninth, a walk-off home run by the home team ended the contest.

What when wrong? Two things:

The bull pen had an uncharacteristic meltdown by allowing six runs. None of the relievers did their jobs. Each of the relievers had a job to do and they were not up to the task last evening.

I also fault the "shift" employed against left handed batters during the seventh inning. It seems Tampa's left handed batters are more capable of beating the shift than are the Orioles big guns.

What is the shift? It is a defensive posture where a portion of the field is left uncontested to move a defensive player into another area where a particular batter overwhelmingly hits the ball. In the case of the Orioles last evening, the third baseman moved to right short field in between the first and second baseman, leaving the area down the third base line uncontested.

During the decisive seventh inning, two Tampa lefties in a row beat the shift for singles and were on base when a home run scored them allowing the Rays to take a two run lead.

What went right?

The team battled back. After the initial three runs were scored via home run, the other four runs were scores with timely hitting in each of the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th innings. Still, 4 for 11 with runners in scoring position is a bit low.

So after two games, the Orioles are 1-1. Let's see how resilient this team is.

The bottom line is grab the handle bar and BUCKle UP! The season is underway.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Picking Up Where They Left Off

My blog gets a little boring at this time of the year for people who are not Orioles fans. I'm not sorry, it is just a fact.

Wieters rounding Third after and Opening Day Two-run Homer

I wandered off to a local watering hole yesterday afternoon to watch the first Orioles game of the season. The excitement of the Spring Training and the unsatisfying loss to the team from up north to end the 2012 playoff run were etched in every Orioles fan's mind and we wonder and hope that, no--we are convinced, this season will be even better than the magical 2012 season when Baltimore became the king of baseball towns again.

And we were rewarded during the first inning with a double from team leader center fielder Adam Jones followed by two run shot off the bat of all star catcher Matt Wieters. And the season was on its way!

Scoring in the 7th on an Adam Jones Double

The opening day game in Tampa had it all. Homers, great plays in the field, and even coming from behind after the Orioles has surrendered their lead and were behind 3-2 at the end of 6 innings. A five run 7th, ignited by two teal leaders who finished the season on the disabled list, Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis, put the exclamation point on why the Orioles did not need to make a flashy and expensive move to acquire outside help to cement the lineup.

Another perfect ending from the bullpen, including a save for Jim Johnson last year's league leading closer,  and it was over with a win!

Was it perfect? No. In Orioles fashion they left too many runners on base at the end of innings, they failed to score any runs after loading the bases with one out during, and the designated hitter, didn't.

The end result though was:

One down and 161 to go.

BUCKle Up!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Orioles Opening Day

Although they are on the road in Tampa, it is opening day for the resurgent Orioles who are expected to be a force to be reckoned with in baseball this year.

I am excited, my favorite player, Brian Roberts,  will be in the starting line up--although batting ninth he will be playing second base. I have to believe that the Orioles have one of the best infields in all of baseball. They also have three gold glove winners in the outfield.

It is time to rock the league. I am tired of hearing all about the teams from north of here (who will remain nameless) and their woes or successes during the off season.

I still remember the sound of the assembled masses on during the last home playoff game last season echoing off the buildings as the O's defeated the hated team from the north to even the playoff series.

I long for the excitement and enthusiasm to return. Although the pundits are projecting the O's to finish second in the division and earn one of the Wild Card sport, I am believing, as I do every Spring, that I am watching the next World Series Champion when they take the field.

It is time. Time for Boog's (a Baltimore thing), the national anthem, and the words that get the blood moving through my veins.

PLAY BALL!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - April 1, 2013 Addendum

8. Oops!  I forgot. It is baseball season. Let the good times roll.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - April 1, 2013

1. Yup, it is that day. April Fools Day.

2. I made an interesting connection in the Easter Story yesterday in church. Jesus was placed in a tomb and Pilate had the tomb sealed and guarded. The seal on the tomb was only to be broken on the order of Pilate. I had to giggle at the image of the angel breaking the seal, rolling the stone away and then sitting on the stone--probably on Pilate's official seal. Matthew 28:2 Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. (NET Bible)

3. I have been wrestling with myself over this image, but it is so good, I just couldn't resist. I probably should have. I found it on Facebook. I love B-52's--there is nothing like the raw power of eight jet engines to make your day. When I was stationed a based with B-52's I used to remark that I loved the smell of jet fuel in the morning.

4. The Final Four is set--and Syracuse is still in the mix.

5. The 135th Annual Easter Egg Roll continues on the White House lawn today.

6. 152 eggs were hidden for our annual family Easter Egg Hunt. Held in misty and wet conditions the winner was . . . everyone who participated!

7. The clear skies and sun surprised me this morning. It was a nice surprise.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD