Constitutional Amendment Proposal

"We the People" need to propose a Constitutional Amendment in the wake of the politically charged ineffectiveness of our Congress to enact a budget before the beginning of the new fiscal year. Their ineptitude has resulted in a partial government shutdown which will likely have long term negative United States. 

I am amazed that our elected leaders can let a significant date pass without action. October 1st comes on the same day every year, and except when Congress changes the beginning of the fiscal year as they have done in the past, so does the fiscal new year. Many do not remember, but prior to 1976, the government fiscal year began on 1 July. I know that in the discharge of my duties, I have to meet deadlines.

Article 1 of the Constitution specifies the duties of the Congress, yet, there are no consequences for not faithfully discharging said duties as a body.

I propose that a Constitutional Amendment that provides for and holds Congress accountable, as a body, to well and faithfully discharge their duties especially in terms of establishing appropriations to continue running the government and providing for essential services. In the event that a budget is not passed--and I do not mean a continuing resolution, before the start of the fiscal year the Congress will be dissolved. We will immediately enter an election to elect every member of Congress and previously elected members will be eligible to run and get their jobs back. The elections will happen on the 1st Tuesday of November. 

As for the appropriations to fund the government? The President's budget will become the law of the land and once the the newly elected Congress is in session they will appropriate monies to fund the budget without debate. The amendment will further provide for an automatic continuing resolution to fund the government during the election and subsequent seating of the Congress.

Is my idea perfect? No. But maybe more constitutionally literate minds than mine can devise a scheme to help hold the Congress accountable. And, "We the People" can decide who in the congress needs to stay and who needs to leave in order to continue the business of governing our great republic!

Maybe cooler heads will prevail?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - September 30, 2013

1. Today is the last day of the government's fiscal year. There may not be a tomorrow as the new year may begin in the middle of a budgetary impasse.

2. Birthdays, thankfully, only happen once per year.

3. It takes a village to complete a household move in a weekend. P and T's move is complete and now they can begin living in their own home--congrats to them.

4. Watching three deer eat our flowers in the middle of the night and deciding not to do anything about it left me wondering how effective I would have been trying to save the mums anyway?

5. The regular baseball season ended yesterday. The Orioles did not make the playoffs--but at least it was a winning season and they were in the race until the last week AND took the season series from the Boston Red Sox and the unnamed team from up north. Yes, I'm disappointed with the outcome, I had hopes for much more.

6. I wonder how much money is being spent planning for a government shutdown? Shouldn't we spend money on important things and not planning for the failure of our legislative system?

7. What happened to September? It is gone! Did anything memorable happen?

8. I didn't know that my birthday is on Johnny Appleseed Day! He was born on my birthday in 1774!

9. Avoid the redesigned A320 airline seats--they are small, too small.

10. What am I supposed to do with two World Series tickets to a game that will never be played?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Birthday Present

Riordin with the Polar Express

The first present of my birthday was delivered yesterday amid the chaos of moving Patrick and Tina into their new house. Well, OK technically it wasn't the first present of my birthday, but it was one of those "take me back to my childhood and to shut the world out and play with it all day" presents. 

I have wanted a Polar Express train to circle under our Christmas Tree for many years. I used to have a huge train collection when I was much younger. The Polar Express is special because I have been reading the story to the family on Christmas Eve for many years--like decades.

It seems that Patrick and Tina remembered that I almost bought a Polar Express train last year during the Christmas Season when they are about $300. Through the magic of eBay and Craigslist, they found it during the off season presented it to me yesterday as a  birthday gift. 
Wow!

And it works, too!

The hardest part is going to be taking it apart--maybe I won't. Maybe I'll just put is in the office until Christmas!

At least for a while. 

Autumn Breeze

Autumn Breeze

The cool autumn breeze rushed in the through the open window 

Caressing my face as I slept warm in my bed snuggled deep under my covers.

Summer had passed the baton while the night deepened

The warm air turning cold to grace the leaves and hasten their change

It's arrival not unexpected was just undesired as the joys of summer

Slipped into the memories of places visited like waves crashing on the beach.

I woke to the coolness, startled by its refreshing kiss

Wishing for the sultry breezes which had previously graced my slumber.

I piles the covers high on top of the spot where I strove to sleep 

Preserving my warmth from the breeze which would snatch it away. 

I could feel the summer pass, like a good friend waving goodbye before 

Entering the TSA checkpoint to board a flight headed for some exotic location.

I felt alone and abandoned by the passing season, autumn had arrived and

even the constellations in the sky affirmed the inevitable change

At my feet, even my dog nestled further into the rapidly growing pile of  bedclothes

Seeking to retain her warm nest and catch a few more precious minutes of sleep.

Although still dark outside, the dawn was beginning to grace the eastern horizon

With its brilliant hues of red and orange as if announcing the season's change

Another season in an endless string of seasons had arrived with its challenges

It was time to face the next chapter of the year once I decided to wake

For now, my eyes are heavy and I will return to sleep If only for a few hours.

There is time to find autumn’s secrets, later, before the winter arrives.

Boog's, Baseball, and Beer

Orioles Park at Camden Yards
September 26, 2013

I love Boog's barbecue, baseball, and beer. Last evening I made my last sojourn of the 2013 baseball season to Orioles Park at Camden Yards. It was a great evening, but there was a tinge of sadness in it. The finality of a baseball season that began with so much hope and is going to end with the Orioles just a few games short of qualifying for a post-season playoff spot has set in.

Chris snapped the awesome panorama of me in my seat for the game as a memento.  I was imagining last season as the Orioles closed in on their first playoff spot in 15 years and how the loud the crowds were then--this year, the finality of the the imminent end of the season made both the crowd and the team seem listless as they played through the innings in an eventual 3-2 Orioles victory. There wasn't much for either team to play for, it seemed. The Orioles already had wrapped up their second consecutive winning season and are playing to stay ahead of the team from up north which shall remain nameless.

Last night I enjoyed eating Boog's barbecue for the last time this season. Boog Powell was a great Orioles player from the past and I have had the honor of meeting him a number of times outside his barbecue place in the stadium. I watched some great baseball--OK, not so great, at times with all of the late season call-ups it looked like a spring training game complete with two errors. And, I paid way too much for a beer! Stadium prices!

I stood for a few moments after the game absorbing the atmosphere. I am already preparing for next season. A trip to Sarasota for Spring Training and another playoff run which will culminate in me being able to actually attend a World Series game in Baltimore. But, I'm getting a bit ahead of myself. There are three games left before the Orioles' season is officially in the books. 

Let's Go O's!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Out the Hotel Window - Denver, CO, Late September 2013

Looking towards DIA on September 23, 20013

A return trip to Denver resulted in a different view on out my hotel window on two separate days. 

The first view is of the evening and the setting sun behind me in the west, hence, I am facing east towards the spired of Denver International Airport (DIA). 

It is a stunning scene in its starkness.

Dawn over DIA on September 25, 2013

The second view is the sunrise, with the rays of the sun gracing the clouds. I angled the shot a bit different to capture the clouds but DIA remains hidden there on the horizon.

I enjoy watching the changing day and knowing that I when I head out, I will experience life on the other side of the hotel window no matter the time.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My favorite caution sign

I saw this sign on the access road to Pearmund Cellars in Virginia. I thought it was funny and too true. 

 I need one of my own for my driveway on Friday nights after my friends have been partying.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Colors of Autumn

I was struck by this scene yesterday morning as I walked across the hotel parking lot to my car. Autumn had arrived and with it the green colors of summertime have already begun to change to gold. 

I had seen this field of sunflowers on previous trips and I was struck by the green foliage and the large flower heads of gold chasing the sun as it traversed the sky. 

Now, however, the greens were already fading into brown and the scene was becoming monochromatic. The mountains provided a stunning backdrop set against the blue sky--but the scene was still mostly yellow and gold.

Perhaps the colors were accentuated just a bit by the golden hues of the rising sun, but I think that it only served to highlight the scene.

On previous trips, I have had this view out my hotel window and been able to enjoy the openness, but on this trip my window faced a different direction with a different view of the just as stunning sunrise.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, Co

Sunrise to Sunset

With the available daylight down to less that 12 hours per day (from sunrise to sunset now counting twilight) it is fun to see the different sights along the path of the day. 

Yesterday, I saw sunrise over the Baltimore Washington International Airport, or BWI as we affectionately call it. It was pretty looking out of the terminal while walking to my gate for my flight. The dawn was breaking over the field and it made me stop for a few moments. The field was already alive with activity as planes were arriving and departing. People and equipment were everywhere in the predawn light going about their business on the first full day of autumn.

And then, later in the day, I was walking into my hotel and I spied a small rabbit--totally terrified, less than six feet from me. It did the usual rabbit thing--it froze. The rabbit sat there, terrified, while I got my phone out and snapped his image.

I didn't snap an image of the sunset--although I probably should have. But, then, I really didn't get to enjoy it.

Another travel day filled with transient memories captured digitally.

-- Bob Doan, writing from ?

Monday Musings - September 23, 2013

1. Autumn has officially arrived, even though it has been around for weeks already it seems.

2. I am feeling the hope of baseball season slip away as the Orioles continue to lose critical games. It may all be over except for the math.

3. What do you do about a driver in another car driving with no lights on at night? Scary!

4. Birthday season is in full swing with the arrival of Autumn!

5. Why does the NFL start football games involving east coast teams 8:30 PM? Who watches the end of these games anyway? The only time I see the end of those games is when I'm traveling in a different time zone.

6. Rain, when needed is a wonderful thing. Rain in excess is a catastrophe, like the rains in Colorado right now.

7. Why can't we as a society understand that some people will always be operating outside the established norms?

8. Some people like the cool autumn days. I long for the warm days of summer and the smells of the fields baking in the sun.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD