Friday, May 31, 2013

Project Complete--Wood Floors Installed

The sense of satisfaction that comes with the completion of a major project has yet to set in for the all consuming wood floor project. But, I installed the last piece of quarter round last evening and we began the slow, tortuous process of reoccupying the office and clearing out the rooms that have become holding areas for the displaced items.

Actually, I do have to reinstall the closet doors in the office, but I hate doing closet doors and decided that I was too tired last evening to attempt to put them back.

The floors shine and add a new dimension to  the house and especially the upstairs. The 12 year old carpet was showing its age and needed to be replaced.

I call this shot the "money shot" because it shows the floor from farthest point to farthest point--across the hallway from bedroom to office.

Thank you to all who helped--Francis, Jeremy, Mike, Patrick, and of course my partner in projects Chris. This was truly a team effort. And thank you to Mary, Nicole, Nicole, and Tina for letting your guys spend what seemed like forever helping me with the project.

And so with a few more minutes to get the closet doors reinstalled and some final touches on moving everything back--it will be onto the next project. Of course, at some point the other two carpeted bedrooms will be converted to wood as well--but not this summer.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Summer Arrives

Yesterday, summer made its entrance onto the scene. There will likely be more springtime-like days, but yesterday the temperature made it above 90 degrees and the smells on the air of summer flowers, including jasmine, mingled with the dark scents of the trees and forest wafted over my yard and it was clear that summer had arrived upon the scene.

Despite the cold of the past weekend, the season has changed. It is daylight now about 5:30AM and staying light until 9PM. The springtime flowers are giving way to the summer flowers and the greens of leaves are everywhere covering the trees and bushes and hiding our neighbors so that I can almost believe I reside on a secluded lot.

I can smell the beach air and surf calling to me already, although there is still over a month to go before I can plans on spending multiple days in a row on the beach.

But, summer is definitely upon the scene. Springtime seemed too short, but hopefully summertime will run its full course.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD


Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Cold Beach Day Activities

Lucas enjoying the cold water
What activities can be done on cold, but not rainy, beach days? Well, it turns out almost anything goes. With the air temperature in the 50's and the water temperature approaching 60 degrees it can make for a short beach day--especially if the boys get wet.

Ethan Mimicking an Entertainer

First, there just has to be a sojourn to the beach regardless of the temperature. That is why the trip was made in the first place. And if boys are on the beach, boys are going to get into the water, no matter the temperature--and that makes for a short beach visit because soon after, chills and cold set in.

Then there is always lunch at a local establishment, in this case Tequila Mockingbird. Ethan decided to steal my Orioles Cap and mimic his favorite musical entertainer.  Don't let his Dad see this picture.
Chris, Ethan, Jackson in the Beach

Following lunch there can be a movie or possibly miniature golf. We actually did both activities during our weekend to the beach. Be careful though, playing a 27 hole miniature golf course in the cold wind can be as painful as being on the beach. Add three boys, short attention spans, and undeveloped skills and my recommendation is not to keep score after about hole 6. I guarantee that at least one ball will be lost during play.

During the afternoons, well, back to the beach for a walk and playing in the sand. Keeping the boys out of the water will make this event last longer and seem more enjoyable.

For evening activity? Get out away from the kids at a local watering hole, or watch an Orioles game on TV. wishing that it was warm enough for a long, romantic evening walk on the beach.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD







Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Out the Condo Window

I enjoy looking out windows in hotels and places where I am temporarily residing to capture images of the outdoors and the view.  Over time, I have captured some interesting views and some not so interesting views.

This past Memorial Weekend, I was in Ocean City at a condo and of course I looked out the window. I have already published an image of the view of the sand dunes and onto the ocean beyond in my blog titled Cold Beach Day.

But on another occasion, I was able to see more than the classic view from the condo window of the ocean. By looking a bit to the left out of the window, I spied palm trees on the beach. I was awed. I have been to this condo more than a few times and only now was I noticing my favorite beach tree. Yet, there they were with their fonds waving in the too cold Memorial Day Weekend wind.

It warmed me beyond belief.

I had almost missed them, save for an additional look.

Sometimes I have to look out the window many times to see what is there.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday, May 27, 2013

Breaking News

I have always wanted to be on  the front lines of breaking news, and yesterday I was. OK, I was within about three miles of the breaking news.

It is not often that I spy black smoke wafting up over hotels on the beach. I could tell there was oil involved from the black smoke.

We heard sirens racing down the main street of Ocean City and wondered what the problem could have been.

It turns out that one of the beach trams burned in the parking lot. We drove by it later in the day, but I was too slow to take pictures of it.

I do have these eerie shots of black smoke rising over the beach with uncaring beach goers playing in the foreground.

Hmmm!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - May 27, 2013

1. I hope you are enjoying your Memorial Day Weekend. Today is, however, Memorial Day. I provide the following link for you to reflect on the holiday. http://www.usmemorialday.org

2. We returned back from the beach Sunday evening to avoid the Memorial Day traffic crush. Last year it took five hours to drive home. Last evening, about 2 and a half hours.

3. My Memorial Day plans include wood flooring.

4. I read an interesting article that shows how out of touch politicians are with the electorate. California, it seems, has a huge budget surplus and they don't know what to to with it. They are looking at spending it on a lot of programs. My thought? Return it to the tax payers.

5. Despite complaining that the daily temperatures are not warm enough, I do not want to appear ungrateful that at least the trees are in full leaf and we are not still in the grip of winter.

6. The pool is open! The temperatures are a bit cool, but I will be in the pool before the end of the day.

7. If I attempt to save a horseshoe crab from being stranded on the beach, does it know it? I think I returned three who survived to to ocean yesterday

8. Storms, flowers, and gardening. The rhythm of summer.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Crazies in the Bar

It was adult night out last evening, and we frequented a watering hole near the condo so that we didn't have to drive. We actually went to two such establishments and engaged in deep conversations that no one remembers this morning.

But, one thing I do remember is a guy named David who walked up and introduced himself and proceeded to regale us with stories and discussion. He was at the same time a former college basketball player, a runner, an entrepreneur, a ranked tennis player and a single guy on the prowl. Staying with him through the twists and turns of his story was difficult because the truth seemed to shift often as each of our queries probed deeper.

As we probed the part about being a West Virginia college basketball player, it turned out that he played fora division three school and not WVU.

Much like online personas, it seems that being out in a bar people can assume whatever fantasy they desire with little regard for reality.

Myself? I'm still me, regardless of how much fun I'm having.

I guess that is why I don't get excited about pub crawling, I don't appreciate the crazies in the bars.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ocean City, MD

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Ocean City Beach on Memorial Day Weekend




This image says I all. The beach is deserted when normally the sand is covered by humans soaking up hot sun and surf. The smell of suntan lotion lingering in the air is almost oppressive.

Except today with the temperature on the beach a warm 52 degrees, if I were a penguin. The beach is deserted.

That written, I did walk the beach in shirts and two shirts topped by a warm hoodie.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ocean City, MD

Cold Beach Day

Being at the beach is awesome. I am sitting looking out the window at the ocean in the morning light. The day is dawning beautiful. But cold.



Still, it is the beach and the ocean and I am in my Memorial Weekend escape mode.

I have not been a huge fan of Ocean City is the past, but lately I have found ways to beat the traffic and the crowds.

Cold weather and rain does put a damper on the crowds.

Memorial Weekend is supposed to be hot as the first holiday of summer. This one is definitely a fizzler in terms of heat index and water activities.

But fun is something we make, not something we experience. Fun and enjoyment I how we approach a problem or situation and not necessarily the outcome alone.

And so, this is going to be a fantastic weekend. I many not sit and bake on the beach, but I will make great memories.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ocean City, MD

Friday, May 24, 2013

Lettuce in the Bread Box

Why was the lettuce in the bread box? We all know where it really goes, right? But somedays, it just doean't make it to the right place. Somedays, I don't make it to the right place in my mind.

It is a sign of an overworked, overtired, cleaning the kitchen after lunch too fast to either get out the door or onto the next project.

I'm not too sure the lettuce appreciated being placed in the bread box--it was all limp and wilted. A sign of our times, I guess.

I wonder what else can happen when the lettuce is placed in the breadbox? Are keys lost, purses misplaced, and cars locked with the keys inside? Can distracted fingers become targets for sharp knives?

I think so.

The remedy?

Remember the old adage, "Haste makes waste." Work in the moment. Be aware.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
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