Monday Musings - October 21, 2013

1. The World Series starts this week. Baseball will be drawing to a close with the end of the month.

2. By not traveling on a holiday weekend, I found open highways, light traffic, and record setting travel times. WooHoo! 

3. When you mow the lawns for the last time of the year, how do you know it is the last time?

4. It was 39 degrees this morning when I woke up here in Maryland. Who forgot to pay the heating bill?

5. I liked a statement that I heard about running a marathon: There is no way I'm going to run that far unless I'm being chased by a clown with a knife and there are margaritas at the finish line.

6. Life is made exciting by the pursuit of something that I don't have, but want--especially if I have to work hard for it.

7. Sometimes wanting is far better than having.

8. It is hard to say good-bye, especially when the parting was unexpected.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Cold Autumn Morning and The World Series

Autumn Tree with Obligatory
 Upstate NY Deer Target

It was 43 degrees outside as I woke this morning to greet another day. 

I was afraid there might be frost on the leaves, but at least that didn't happen. The day dawned bright, clear and crisp--but no frost. Yet!

The colors of the leaves on the trees continue to deepen and the excitement of the continuing foray into autumn continues. Soon hunting season will be upon the region and the thinning of the herd will begin.

Sunday's can be exciting with all of their promise and the expectation of adventure. My day will find me on the ribbon of highway homeward bound to prepare for another week of high activity.

Turning to sports--

Baseball is poised to begin its final chapter of the year. 

I was a bit disappointed that the World Series is going to be between the St Louis Cardinals (defending their crown) and the Boston Red Sox. While the match-up seems to be a no brainer, the teams tied for the best record in baseball during the regular season,  I would have hoped for almost any other two teams in the playoffs--like the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Detroit Tigers, for example.

Entry way to Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota, FL

But I will watch the series because it is the final chapter of a baseball season that began eight months ago with pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training. The season ends as the Spring Training 2014 schedules are being published and I am planning my trip to Sarasota to enjoy time with the Orioles. It is the circle of baseball, I guess.

I never thought about it, but baseball spans all four seasons. Spring Training begins during the last weeks of Winter and continues through Spring and Summer and well into the first half of Autumn. Until Spring Training begins,  I will be watching Penguins hockey and suffering through what is at this juncture a mediocre Ravens season while waiting for the return of the warmth and the sun. 

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ithaca, NY

Finding Autumn in the Finger Lakes

On NY 414 Heading to Watkins Glen

It took a five hour drive--but I finally found autumn yesterday. On the drive to Ithaca autumn appeared in the hills, known by some as mountains. 

The trees have seemingly found their color as the season progresses. I hope these colors soon find their way to Maryland.

Looking on Seneca Lake from a Winery

The day was perfect. The trip from Maryland to upstate NY was uneventful and punctuated with stops at four new Seneca Lake East Shore wineries. I actually found some NY State red (yup RED) wines worth buying. I'm going to disguise them as being from Sonoma to get people to try them. They were from Silver Springs Winery,  a great new find on the eastern side of Seneca Lake. The Bold Merlot was especially stunning in its depth of color and rich flavor.  It had a solid nose of dark fruit. And since this was the first winery I visited--I'm pretty sure of my assessment.

It was good to enjoy the colors of autumn, but even in the Finger Lakes the colors are muted in response, I believe, to the weather conditions which have been experienced across the region since autumn began. 

I wonder what today will bring?

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ithaca, NY

Gray Skies but Bright Heart

Dark Skies over the Pool House

Although the skies were gray yesterday and threatened rain, I was really excited that our government lurched forward--even if only by three months.

Perhaps there is yet hope!

In celebration, I drove with the top down on Cat to enjoy the warm day despite the impending threat of rain which never fully materialized except for some widely scattered sprinkles.

Cold weather is on the way though.

I had the oil changed in the truck and equipped it with new windshield wipers for the coming winter season. I will hate to back Cat into the garage one day soon knowing that the likelihood of driving it again before springtime arrives is relatively remote. 

Soon, I will be looking for a coat before leaving the house. That will be sad. 

But, as each day passes pool opening day in the spring draws one day closer.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Call to Action -- A Follow-up

Yesterday, following my own advice, I wrote two senators, two members of the House of Representatives, and the President. I received only one email response--from my local representative, so far.

Am I discouraged by the limited response? 

Nope! They were all pretty busy yesterday finally accomplishing their constitutionally appointed tasks. Traffic, unfortunately, should be back to normal for the morning commute.

Today is a new day and it, too, is a day needing renewed prayer and so I will again pray for our leaders.  Even though they finally achieved an agreement to reopen our government--the need remains great. A one time prayer push will not be sufficient. The trials and the tribulations of the day are great.

I urge everyone to continue to be in prayer over this crisis which is not ended, but only delayed until January and February.

I am not going to overload my representatives' email accounts today--but I will continue to pray for them and this country--every day. Maybe next week I will send them another word of encouragement.

I heard the words of a great hymn God Bless America as I was writing this. 

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, 

Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free. 

Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, 

As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer: 

God bless america, land that I love, 

Stand beside her and guide her 

Through the night with a light from above. 

From the mountains, to the prairies, 

To the oceans white with foam, 

God bless america, 

My home sweet home. 

-- irving berlin

When it is the darkest, the arrival of the dawn is most greatly anticipated and appreciated.

We need God's blessing upon the land, this nation, our society, our leaders, and each of us who calls this land our home.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Call to Action

In reflecting upon the fall of the Roman Empire and the numerous empires and countries which have risen and fallen during the history of the human race, like maybe the British Empire, I am stuck by the similarities.

Among them greed, corruption, and selfishness.

Sadly, I worry that we, the greatest force for democracy that the world has ever witnessed, are experiencing the same thing. We have become besieged with special interest groups who define their entire existence upon one limited issue. Their unwillingness to compromise for the greater good of the country is carving a path to destruction and clouding the true mission and purpose for our nation and our society.

It is time for "We the People" to take action! We must let our representatives and leaders know that we are here, we are watching, and that we demand action!

Here is what I propose: Pray.

Yup. Pray. 

In 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Paul instructs: First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. -- NET Bible

Don't know what to pray? 

Try this:

Father in Heaven, I bring before you the leaders of our nation. We are facing troubling and difficult times and I ask You to provide our leaders with the wisdom and understanding they need to lead our nation. Help them to seek your will. Guide them and us through these difficult and stressful times and help this country fulfill the mission that you have laid our for us in this world. I ask this in Jesus name. Amen

Note: instead of just saying "our leaders" you may want to substitute the names of the leaders: President Obama, Speaker Boehner, and your senators and representatives (in my case Barbara Mikulski, Ben Cardin, John Sarbanes)

Don't stop there!

Now write an email (it's faster) to each of the members of Congress and the Executive Branch that you prayed for. Use their web sites because they are all under limited staffing during the shutdown. You can find a listing of their names and addresses at the Contacting Congress website. Let them know that you prayed for them and that you are urging them to seek God's will for this great nation during this difficult time. 

Here is what I wrote in my email though their websites:

I prayed for you this morning. May you seek and find God's will for this nation during these troubling times.

Try it!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Has Autumn Gone Missing?

When I looked outside yesterday at the beginning of the holiday, I was not expecting the sight that confronted me. 

Leaves were everywhere across the yard and my pool! The trees around my yard are losing their leaves and yet have not yet transformed from their summer green into the autumn colors. 

The leaves are just falling from the mostly already barren trees without providing the autumnal display that in some way makes the season special and exciting. 

There are leaves everywhere, But I have not had the opportunity to appreciate and enjoy their burst of color. The mum and the mandevilla continue to brighten the covered pool area providing some small splash of color against the otherwise drab background which is prepared for the coming winter weather.

Many of the trees around my house have already shed their leaves in preparation for winter's howling winds. 

Even the temperatures are confusing. The mild temperatures may have confused the leaves and the trees, stifling their anticipated show. There are pockets of trees which are transforming--mostly small stands of maples it seems. 

But despite autumn's delayed arrival, it is surely here as the leaves are falling in ever increasing numbers from the trees. I need to rake the lawn and move the leaves back into the wooded areas where they can rest more comfortably.

I am sure autumn is not missing, only giving us a respite before handing off the weather to winter. And really, who wants that weather any sooner than need be?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - October 14, 2013

1. Happy Columbus Day celebrated. In some ways this day is really the celebration of the subjugation of the native western hemisphere peoples day. But hey, it's a holiday and a day off.

2. The Government shutdown is about to enter its second week with little hope for resolution in sight. I ran across this political cartoon which aptly expresses how I feel.

3. I was corrected in my blog about the marathon yesterday. The news video shows the guys at mile 13--yes after the first half of the marathon they were still in really good spirits.

4. Some of the best government shutdown political cartoons of the week.
  
  a. The Tea Party strikes

  b. A scary truth

  c. Who is in charge?

  d. And the best of all--former presidents weigh in:

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Races, Marathons, and Life

Did I ever say how impressed I am that two of my sons ran and finished a marathon yesterday? They ran 26.2 miles? I've never even walked that far in a single session. I have walked over 6 miles doing Volksmarches in Germany, but never anything over 10, let alone trying to run 26.2.

It was a great Baltimore day for running. Temperatures in the 60's, a light drizzle to keep everyone cool, and nice crowds lining the race way. The Baltimore Running Festival was awesome.

They guys started in great spirits on their 26.2 mile journey through Baltimore and the ended together--the way they trained and the way the chose to end working through the cramps and the pain to be victorious--together, a true team.

With Their Medals after the Baltimore Marathon

The video is a news clip that shows them competing in the race together at about the 13 mile mark--a half marathon distance--which is how they ended--with exactly the same time crossing the finish line.

Although they say that running is a solitary sport, these guys have proven that running can be a team sport. 

The pathway to yesterday's success began back during March as they trained for the Frederick Half-Marathon and made the decision to go for the Maryland double--completing both the Frederick Half and Baltimore Full Marathons. I remember the cold May morning in Frederick when this dynamic duo of a team conquered the Frederick Half-Marathon and I promised then that I would be there for them at the finish of the Baltimore Marathon. And I was.

I am not a runner--I don't have the right mindset for it, but I appreciate those who do run. I am in awe of their accomplishment. And they indicated that there will be more marathons in the future. 

Congrats to both of them on this awesome accomplishment.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Rain, Traffic, and Taxes

This week has been a difficult week for travel around the area.

Wednesday there was a terrible accident on a major highway near me which closed the road during the morning rush hour and the resulting regional traffic disaster changed my normal 15 minute commute into an hour and forty-five minutes of excitement on the highway. I did enjoy watching the sunrise during my extended commute--but I admit my backside began to hurt a bit from just sitting in traffic idling at about 4 mph on four lane highways where the average speed is normally closer to 70 mph. 

And then, later in the week, the rains came.

Traffic in our region simply fails to move when the rain comes. My commute on Thursday and Friday was tortuous. I mean--really hard, long, slow, and painful. Thank goodness for Sirus Radio in my vehicle or I am sure I would go crazy listening for traffic reports trying to find a way around the mess--etxcept, there isn't any.

We needed the rain. I believe it had been over a month, maybe closer to mid-August since we has seen any appreciable rainfall. Of course, it really didn't need to come all at once.

At least the governor is happy about the rain. He hadn't had the opportunity to tax anything new in a while. And I am serious. Since the governor has been in office there have been 32 new taxes or significant fee increases totaling $2.3 billion!!! And we actually do have a Rain Tax!

At least someone is happy about the rain and the misery it can cause. I have to take more water out of my pool after closing it to keep the level down where I want it for the winter. 

The commute will always be bad during rainy weather, but to tax me on top of that? 

Well, as Benjamin Franklin said:

In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.

And maybe rain.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD