Reflection of Patriot's Day

Standing at the Orioles game last evening as the crowd sang along with Lee Greenwood and his classic song "God Bless the USA," it really struck a chord within me of how much has changed during the past dozen years.

Our lives and our country has been transformed. We no longer feel the safety of two oceans separating us from the turbulence that envelopes much of the rest of the world--but we, as a people, a society, and a country now wrestle with the chaos and conflict that lie our brothers and sisters see and live on a daily basis.

For instance, right now we, as a nation, are trying to determine a cogent course of action to respond to the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Before 9-11, there would have been no discussion, I am sure the that President would have already acted and not made the issue of a U.S. response one to be debated upon the world stage. Alternatively, Assad's use of these terrible weapons of mass destruction would never have even made the nightly news, much like Hussein's use of similar weapons against his own people barely made a side column in the papers of his time. 

We have learned that unilateral action can have multilateral consequences. We are also tired of war and conflict, and yet I am not sure the the struggle against the forces of darkness and chaos will ever end. 

Standing at the game last night I remembered that day 12 years ago when our world changed. And I was moved to sing these words along with Lee Greenwood:

And I'm proud to be an American,

where at least I know I'm free.

And I wont forget the men who died,

who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,

next to you and defend her still today.

‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,

God bless the USA.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Dawn for the Morning Commute

September is swiftly slipping away, even though the thermometer reads in the 90's during the mid-part of the day, I have begun driving to work as dawn breaks. The days are shorter. Darkness is lengthening its grip on the world.

The headlights are on now in the morning. I enjoy the rising sun adorning the eastern sky with its rays always wishing that I could stop to take a few images of it as it crawls across the horizon. Or better yet, wishing that I could just stop and watch the day dawn and then go for a walk or a hike in the hills to enjoy the fresh fragrances of the morning hanging in the air.

The weather this week has me believing that it still could be August, but by the weekend, I am told, I will know that October is merely a few short days away.

Autumn is in the air as the leaves are beginning to turn color, more from the oppressive dryness than colder temperatures, but nonetheless, they adorn my pool in ever increasing numbers daily.

I noticed yesterday that there in another critter munching on my foliage. In addition to the deer and the rabbits, we are now hosting a woodchuck who is growing fat for winter on my hostas.

The changes are happening as they do every year and for every season. It is just that the preparations for the coming darkness are not nearly a joyful as watching the first blooms in the springtime.

I will enjoy the dawn, because in just a few more days, the dawn will occur after I am already at work and I will miss the sunrise.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Playoff Run and the Hunt for October Baseball

Chris Tillman

Meaningful September baseball is really hard to stomach night after night when every pitch, hit, and play seems to make a difference. I want the Orioles to win so badly I sometime find it hard to watch every pitch just wishing each game could be an easy blow out and I could watch the game in the pleasure of knowing it was in the bag.

Facing the Orioles last night, the team from the north started their itching ace who was facing the Orioles ace, Chris Tillman. The resulting game had everything.

The game had drama--early between the managers and on the field between the teams. The unnamed team from the north had just come in suffering from losing three of four and scoring more than eight runs in each of their losses--the first time in baseball history that a team had scored more than eight runs in three successive games and lost all three. Most importantly, the game ended with a win for the Birds!

As for the Orioles, a pitching ace has finally emerged--the go to guy, the number one starter: Chris Tillman. The Orioles finally have a pitcher that goes out and wins the big games--I am expecting him to win every time he starts. There was in interesting stat that indicated that he is 7-2 in games he pitches after an Orioles loss--he is the stopper of losing streaks. If only we could put together a six game winning streak!

The playoff push is here--the run down the stretch. This is the exciting part of the baseball season when things begin to matter every night. Nineteen games to go and anything can happen!

Baseball, America's sport! Who needs Monday Night Football?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - September 9, 2013

1. The first football weekend of the new NFL season is complete and things are not off to a good start for some of the family's teams. I admit, we had three TVs set up to watch the games like a good sports bar with the important note that one of the sets was tuned to watch the O's fail to complete the sweep of the White Sox.

2. September's weather has been fantastic. Warm and clear. It has invited me outdoors to enjoy the evenings as they fall, much too soon as the available daylight decreases every day.

3. Dogs are fun to have around--they provide comic relief when things get too tense.

4. With the deck finally completely stained, the next project is removing two dead trees. Why does it always seem that there is a next project?

5. I think this is going to be a long week of work. First I have to catch up from being gone last week and then I need to get ready for everything that is going to happen. It is a vicious circle.

6. I have noticed that changing time zones gets a bit harder every time that I do it.

7. The squirrels have been very busy. They are grazing their way through the oak trees we have in the front of our house. And they are noisy, too!

8. I am not sure which I appreciate more, waking to the Rocky Mountains in the close distance or to the familiarity of my own backyard. I think, like Dorothy, I like my own backyard.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Look--Up in the Sky a B-17 Apears

The Movie Memphis Belle B-17 over Baltimore
 on September 7, 2013

Imagine my surprise as I saw low in the horizon a flying silhouette that I had never before seen airborne. Yet, there it was, flying over downtown Baltimore--a blast from the past. It was almost as if a living dinosaur had come upon the scene.

Actually, Chris saw it first and asked me what it was--I could not believe what I was seeing: four propeller driven engines driving what is truly my most favorite airplane--yes, a B-17 Flying Fortress was flying over the city. Not once, but twice, which is good because the first time I was driving and could not stop to take a picture. The second time I was at the afternoon Orioles game and it flew across the sun almost blinding me.

There it was straight out of World War II. I knew in my heart that it must be operating out of Martin State Airport and I later determined that it was--The Movie Memphis Belle was flying above my head and into my heart.

The droning of the engines was powerful and awesome. I could only imagine the fear created by the raids of hundreds of these fearlessly crewed bombers flying together over Europe during the strategic bombing campaign of WW2. 

I was in awe of this flying piece of history. I was honored to see one of the last survivors of air armadas created during WW2 flying and treating me to a moment of history.

Its excursions over the city were all too short. But it was there over Baltimore and the Orioles game. 

How fitting, how dramatic, how historical. The bomber that was instrumental in winning the war in Europe was flying for me to see and appreciate. And I later learned that for a mere $450, I too could fly in this piece of living history. 

If only!

In the end, I realized that just hearing and seeing this magnificent aircraft in flight was truly a dream come true.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Beautiful Day For Flying

Denver International Airport September 2013

Sometimes, when I look out the windows in airports I am amazed at the scene. Expensive aircraft parked or transiting the tarmac and clear bright skies that I soon will be climbing into surrounded by a hundred or so of my new best friends.

Yesterday was just such a day. I looked out the windows onto the ramp and appreciated the crisp blue skies and white puffy clouds a short couple of hours before my flight. I was happy to be heading home, but would have preferred to be enjoying the great late summer weather. 

Yes, it is still summer!  

The trip home was uneventful--which is exactly the way I like my flying to be. I even had an open seat next to me which was convenient for the cat, in a travel container, that was able to occupy the space instead of being crammed under a seat on the floor.

And I'm home after a short trip to Denver.  Awesome.

As Phineas says, "I know what we're going to do today."

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thursday Night Football -- And so it Begins, ugh!

Despite the embarrassing outcome of the game for Ravens' fans, there were some good things that happened as the NFL season kicked off last night:

1. The Orioles won at home over the Chicago White Sox stopping a two-game losing streak, which is why the NFL opener was played in Denver to begin with.

2. I decided not to go to the game, even though I was in Denver.

3. I left the bar at halftime--when the Ravens had the lead 17-14.

4. I didn't wear my Ravens gear in public and therefore was not subject to childish ridicule.

5. I used to be a Broncos fan many years ago when Craig Morton was the quarterback.

6. Payton Manning did NOT set a new NFL record for touchdown passes in a game--he only tied the existing record last tied in like 1963 by Joe Capp.

7. Although giving up 49 points during a game was the most in Ravens history, they ONLY gave up 49 points. It coulda been worse!

8. There are 15 regular season games remaining.

9. The last time the Ravens lost to Denver during the regular season made them get serious and they wound up beating Denver in the playoffs and winning the Super Bowl.

10. Did I mention that the Orioles are in a playoff run and the outcome of the Ravens game last night doesn't really matter?

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver International Airport, CO

Out the Hotel Window - Denver September 2013

East of Denver looking South

I was back in Denver for a few nights and got to view the mountains again in the distance. Something new happened this time though, I was on a different side of the hotel from the views I normally get. I usually get a window view looking back across the great plains at Denver International Airport or directly west to the mountains in the distance. 

This time, I was treated to a southward view. The rising sun in the east made the day come alive, especially over the field of sunflowers near the foreground. The clouds reflected the dawn creating a beautiful effect.

Sometimes there is nothing to look at outside the hotel window except for a building, a street, or a parking lot. But during this trip, I was extremely lucky--the mornings provided stunning colors and a clear view from the plains to the mountains. Yes, that is Pike's Peak in the distance.

--Bob Doan, writing from Denver, CO

Watching the Dawn

Pike's Peak at Dawn from Denver

Traveling across time zones reminds me that sleep is something to be enjoyed and savored. Whenever I travel west I wake early too early in the morning. While I love to watch the world awaken and shake the darkness, seeing the clock crawl past 4AM can be a bit frustrating. On one hand, I am usually awake by this time in the time zone where I live, but on the other hand, I face a long day ahead an hour further along in my awake cycle meaning I get numb mentally sooner.

But I do enjoy watching the day arrive. The darkness being chased from the sky by the arrival of the light--first the reds and then the golden rays as the sun climbs up over the horizon and into view. It is exhilarating to be present at the start of the day.

Today the dawn provides the beginning to a special day--it is the beginning of the NFL season with the Ravens facing the Broncos. It is too bad that football is so short when measured by baseball. But, it does generate a lot of interest. 

Go Ravens!

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, CO

Traveling Hassles--United Airlines imitates Southwest

I was subjected to more fun with the air transportation network yesterday.

It seems that every time that I fly, there is a new wrinkle just to keep me off guard.

It isn't enough that the TSA is becoming slower and more inefficient as time passes. It seems there are always lengthy lines to get into the terminal during the middle of the day when there used to be none. And they move more slowly. 

I was amazed at the number of bags that were being pulled out for additional screening--it really slowed the process down. I think it is because the packing rules have gotten more complicated and the occasional travelers can't keep up with the never ending series of changes. I was fortunate--I made it through without committing a time wasting transgression.

But then, the change to top all changes, United is imitating Southwest. Really.

I still had an assigned seat--unfortunately in the next to last row of the plane where everyone waiting to go to the restroom congregated. But to board the plane they set up a confusing set of numbered rows corresponding to the boarding group. While that seems simple enough, United found a way to complicate the process. The lines were not straight because the area had obstructions that could not be moved, and there were two gates in close proximity.  

I figured out the game, only to find out that I was in the wrong line for my correct boarding group--being in the line for the adjoining gate. And then, because of the bend in the line, I wound up in the wrong boarding group--a later boarding group for the right gate. Fortunately,  others near me were dealing with the same problem and we collectively solved the problem. The lines were definitely not intuitive and, unlike Southwest, they were confusing and poorly executed. I'm not saying I like Southwest's approach to boarding aircraft--but it seems to work especially if I am in the "A" group!

United's execution of the "line up and wait to board" was a mess. I do not know who came up with this idea--but it needs work. If United is going to imitate Southwest,  they need to do a better job. I am hoping that this was a test of some kind. If so, it is not yet ready for prime time.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, CO