When Cultures Collide

Grocers in Seville Eating Lunch

Some of my family recently returned from a week in Spain--well actually it was Barcelona, which it seems if you ask the residents in not really Spain but Catalonia. 

As they were telling the tales of their travel, including a sobering view of the Spanish Civil War, not well taught in U.S. schools, one of the customs they noted was the long afternoon siesta time and the late dinners (except on Mondays). It sounds like the perfect place to live. I love afternoon naps and we usually do not eat dinner until later--sometimes after 8PM.

Now for the weird part. This morning's New York Times has an article about how business forces in Europe are causing the Spanish to reevaluate their fundamental approach to life--the afternoon nap and dinners that begin while much of the rest of Europe is thinking about going to bed. 

Interestingly, as I read the article, there is a great deal of resistance to the idea of change, but the truly fascinating part is that some of the changes the Spanish are resisting were instituted by the not well loved dictator Francisco Franco. I would have thought that the people would have been anxious to reverse anything that Franco implemented during his almost four decades of iron-fisted dictatorship. 

On the other hand, I also feel bad, because I am sure that it is the American global business model of 9 to 5 workdays which is colliding with the slower Spanish lifestyle. We continue to force this model onto the world and local lifestyle and traditions are lost in the quest for finance and productivity.

I also find it interesting, just a short week ago I would not have read the article in the Times, nor would I have had any background in the culture, but now after hearing stories of the region from first-hand travelers, I have both an interest and a perspective.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - February 17, 2014

1. Spring begins on March 20th--just 31 days away. Coincidentally, I head off for Orioles Spring Training in Sarasota on that day. Let the celebration begin!

2. Orioles Opening Day is March 31st, which is just 42 days away 

3. Pool opening day is 75 days away now scheduled for May 3rd!

4. I watched the thrilling USA-Russia hockey game on Saturday morning. I saw the Russian President, Putin, in the stands cheering on the Russians on their home soil--but I really missed hearing the  chant that usually accompanies US teams at home or on the road-- USA, USA, USA.

5. I feel like the snowman in the picture.

6. The Olympics seems longer this year.

7. Happy President's Day. We've had some great ones! And, I get a day off to celebrate them.

8. We are not the only ones with snow. An article in this mornings New York Times reports: Japanese car makers including Toyota Motor Corp and Honda Motor Co suspended operations at some of its plants in central and eastern Japan after heavy snow disrupted their supply chains and prevented workers from commuting.

9. I'm not one to want to hurry time along, but February can end anytime it wants and the sooner the better. 

10. I feel the wolf in the image was justified.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Time Lapse Storm

Thursday Morning
February 13, 2014

While reviewing the aftermath of the great Valentines Day storms, I realized that I had taken a time-lapse imagery session of my driveway and the street in the aftermath of the storm.

I am still amazed how quickly the 46 degree day on Friday helped to get the snow and ice off critical driving surfaces. I am also amazed that I was shoveling snow and ice until late in the afternoon. I never finished clearing everything until about 4:30 pm on Friday and was braced for up to five more inches of snow which thankfully never materialized. 

Friday Morning
February 14, 2014

It took time to get the snow removed. But most of all, it took sunshine. And that was the amazing part. For all of the work it took to remove the snow, shovel by shovel, the snow melted it and made the biggest difference.

Friday Afternoon
February 14, 2014

My biggest shock was how quickly the street cleaned up after the plow finally came. The street went from snow packed and icy to wet and very passable is a few short hours. All due to the sun.

And so, another storm has passed and by the end of this week, the temperatures will be in the 50's and maybe we can say good-bye to the snow for the rest of the season.

Next year I'm going to pay off the ground hog so he doesn't see his shadow!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Toby's Dinner Theater Spamalot -- A Review

Chris and I enjoyed Valentines Day dinner at Toby's Dinner Theater in Columbia, Maryland, watching their production of Monty Python's Spamalot, which is a theater adaptation of the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail. We enjoyed the show with a number of our closest friends and had a great evening of dinner and theater.

I am going to state, right up front--I do not enjoy the Monty Python humor as do many other people. But, despite that, I felt that the production last evening at Toby's was a first class production. 

View from My Seat at Toby's

Toby's provides an intimate setting to watch a theatrical event. Being close to the action and the actors increases the enjoyment of being part of the show. However, the seating is tight and uncomfortable similar to a real Broadway show and the buffet style food is just that--standard fare buffet style food.

Toby's Dinner Theater production of Spamalot was excellent. The actors were extremely talented and the musical production was big very well executed. I found that Toby's unique stage area made for a very involving and engaging production. Two actors stood out as worthy of additional mention. Lawrence B. Munsey, playing King Arthur was clearly the star of the show and carried the production.  David James also turned in a spectacular performance playing the Historian, Not Dead Fred, the Nun, a French Guard, Minstrel, and Prince Herbert. There were no weak performances and each of the multiple roles played by most of the actors was enjoyably and professionally executed.

Recommendation: It was an enjoyable evening of theater and friends. If you enjoy Monty Python humor--go see this production.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Two Storms Down, Another in the Way!

Happy Valentines Day!

Just when I thought the storms were over--and I could begin digging out for good with the promise of springtime weather coming soon, another "Clipper" is on the way with 1-5 inches, tonight.

Ugh!

I'm sitting here watching the continuous weather reports, like I could make them change. I wish I could make them change. 

My Street at 7 AM on Valentine's Day

Our street remains unplowed as of 7AM and my driveway is currently more akin to an ice skating rink than a driving surface. The deep ruts in the street make driving nearly impossible. 

Makayla Enjoying the Crusty Snow

What is good about all of this? 

Not much. 

My sidewalk is iced over--and now with the temperatures warming it has a layer of water on top on it. 

It is cold! I think I need a palm tree fix. 

Soon.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thunder Sleet Rocks the House

Rainbow Drive at
5PM on February 13, 2014

I heard it this afternoon. Thunder! During the middle of the sleet storm, it was then that I decided to finish the shoveling before the oncoming additional 4 inches of snow expected this evening followed by the return of the deep freeze.

All of the slush should turn into ice before morning.

What a joy! My street still has not been plowed and if the additional snow arrives and then freezes--it should be a lot of fun tomorrow morning.

Ugh.

Here is a video that Chis took of the Thunder Sleet--although she did not get a thunder clap on the video.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wines from the Texas Hill Country

When I think of the Texas Hill Country west of Austin, Texas, I think of Springtime and bluebonnets. I remember driving through the region many times during the years I was assigned to the Air Force base in San Angelo, Texas, and wondering why the base couldn't be 90 miles east of where it was.

The region is beautiful and I always enjoyed the drive, except for one icy, winter day.

But that written, I never associated the Texas Hill Country with wine! Who knew? I didn't. Turns out, Texas is the fifth largest wine producing region in the United States! Wow! And then there comes along this cool contest, sponsored by Wine Enthusiast, to help people become familiar with Texas and Texas Hill Country wines. I am writing this article to hopefully win a trip to Texas as a wine destination! Who knew.

If I win the contest, I definitely want to experience all the various forms of Texas wines. I am familiar with many other U.S. wine regions--California, Washington, Oregon, Virginia, and New York--but I dearly want to add Texas to the list. Not only that, but if I could travel to the Texas wine country during the springtime, I could take a lot of pictures of the Texas State Flower.

With red wines rated in the low 90's and high 80's--there has to be some excellent drinking. You can review the Texas wine ratings for yourself, but wouldn't it be better to do them in person? I thin the Llano 1997 Signature Red, rated 91 for $9 looks especially enticing!

They do everything bigger in Texas, so they say. Maybe that applies to wines, too.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

From the Eye of the Storm

Yes--it snowed. Get over it!

We were forecast for 6-10 inches and measured 11 inches on the back deck. Well, sadly, the forecasters were mostly correct. Now sleet is falling and later today, just to add insult to injury, we should get another three or so inches. 

Ugh.

What's worse? The neighbor's snow blower is broken. I spent an hour on it last evening and could not get it running. It's not getting gas. It ran fine, for a few seconds, when I poured gas into the cylinder, but I could not find out why it wasn't getting gas on its own. I'm worried the intake valve is stuck closed. 

So this will be a snow removal by hand operation.

It may be a long day. I think I am going to get a fire going in the fireplace and think about shoveling. Perhaps it will disappear.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Snow in the Forecast, Panic in the Streets

It is 12 degrees outside my house this morning as dawn prepares to wake up and start the day. it is supposed to be a cold but fairly nice winter day, right up until the snow begins falling. The news is abuzz again with the threat of a significant storm which is forecast to drop 6-10 inches of snow upon a region ill equipped to handle it. 

I was joking yesterday that now that the Super Bowl is over, the best place to buy TV commercial time is before the local weather forecast. Everyone is watching the weather.

The stores reportedly are already running short of milk, bread, and toilet paper. 

Bread! We need bread!

The hard part about storms like this are the thousands of people who lose electrical power and are forces to stay warm huddled around fireplaces. Some in our area may lose their power for a week or more. Some are only now recovering from the ice storms of last week.


Who knew there are three models used to forecast snowfall? Sadly, I did. It comes from living in Maryland for almost 20 winters. Today, I expect all of the conversation will be about the snow. The storm is so bad already in the south that airline flights are being canceled for today and our region will see many cancellations tomorrow. I just hope the people in Atlanta do better this time than they did during the last storm.

Who wrote that stupid some about "let it snow, let it snow, let it snow?" (Sammy Cahn and Jule Styn in 1945). 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Home is Where my Dog Is

Makayla

I know the old saying is that home is where your heart is, but in my case my heart is where my dog is and so in my case my heart and my dog are one.

That sounds so zen. 

Or even weird. But I love traveling with my dog. The past week we have been living at my daughter's house while they explore Spain and having my dog around has kept me sane.

It is not that she does all that much, but her comings and goings and need to head outside every couple of hours adds a sense of normalcy to a life in upheaval. And I really like having her park herself next to me to be scratched behind her ears and I also enjoy having her lay at my feet.

Today, the expectation is that I will return home to my more normal life and I know that Makayla will appreciate the transition home as well. She is not a huge fan of vacations--I think she has a problem with change, but of course the good news is that she just accepts where we are at and enjoys the fact that she was not left behind.

Home is where my dog is--what could be better?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD