Out the Hotel Window - Schenectady, NY

Schenectady, NY from my Hotel Window

Where? Yes, Schenectady, NY. A city in upstate New York in the vicinity of Albany. It is our first trip to Schenectady, although Chris and I have known of the city for a long time. 

We are here this to celebrate a wedding and completed the thankfully uneventful trip yesterday. Although it looked like rain for most of the day, it was thankfully dry with the exception of a small stretch running through the Catskill Mountains as we were passing an exit marked for something to do with Rip Van Winkle. Aside form that, the weather has been outstanding and beautiful--which is especially important since the wedding is an outdoor ceremony this evening. 

State Street, Schenectady, NY

Our hotel is located in the heart of the business district. Schenectady is an old looking city which is desperately trying to reinvent itself to compete with the Shopping Mall society. 

Overall I have found the city to be clean and efforts to maintain it are evident, but there are many vacant business locations. But, there is an abundance to restaurants and bistros which offer an amazing variety of foods. While we were out walking last evening, we happened upon a small ceremony for one business and the mayor was reading a proclamation of service to the business owner--that was something I have not run across before in my travels.

We are looking forward to exploring the region today and learning more about the history and sampling some of the shopping possibilities. We have already noted that the unique Upstate NY practice of celebrating the Fourth of July on any date other than the date itself is alive and strong here. The small town of Scotia, NY, is having their fireworks display this evening. Scotia, lies between our hotel and the wedding location meaning that an alternate route must be found. Fortunately, I have discovered one.

I love a good adventure.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Schenectady, NY 

Olive Safari Explained

In reference to my posting from last week about trying to find olives in a grocery store, the error of my shopping expectations was pointed out to me.

While shopping for olives, I found three widely separated places in the store where olives were displayed--and of course it was in the third place that the specific type of olive for which I was searching was available. 

It turns out, as was postulated to me, that 3 persons in 100 probably are searching for olives on any given day. And these 3 people have different expectations for where the olives will be found. By placing olives in each of the 3 probable locations, these 3 shoppers will be happy and continue to shop at that store. The other 97 don't care and will buy olives wherever they are.

My problem, it turns out, was that I am a novice shopper and did not have the proper expectation with respect to the marketing scheme. Also, I was searching for a specific olive without fully understanding the marketing behind olives. No one actually goes shopping for olives! I, therefore, had two strikes against me. My third strike, as everyone knows, is that I am a guy and grocery stores are definitely not organized for guys. By placing olives in three unique and separate locations, they are more likely to satisfy the impulse shopper who sees them and thinks--I need olives, but really can't remember for what. 

To summarize,  I needed olives, a specific olive, and well, I'm a guy which is why my results were less than satisfactory.

Note to self--stay out of grocery stores unless accompanied by a competent woman.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Flowers and Bees

It is fun to always have a camera in my phone.

 Sometimes I find the coolest things while walking around and I can image them for use later.

Like the bumblebee on the flower. Not such a strange sight, but I was walking through the outdoor department at Lowe's when I snapped this image. The bee was just there, enjoying the flower on a beautiful pre-summer day. It was a perfect image in my mind--of course it did delay the shopping trip a bit.

And then, there is the Calla Lily in my yard. We have had this plant for  a few years, but this year the weather seems to be good for it because it has grown into a majestic plant with beautiful flowers.

On a normal day, I might notice it and then walk away and tell Chris about it. But the other day, I have my cell phone on me with its camera and I have now captured it for later enjoyment.

Enjoy the day and capture memories. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thrill of the Walk-off

Baseball is an awesome sport. There is no clock on the game. It is played until all of the outs are completed or until one team wins. 

That means that sometimes teams will use less than their allotted 27 outs (9 innings) to win a game and sometimes games will go into extra innings to allow a winner to emerge. Outs are allocated evenly, three per team per inning. In the classic Mensa question: How many outs are there in an inning of baseball--most people answer three, but truly there are six outs in an inning of baseball because each team gets three outs per inning.

The line from last night's game, which I had the pleasure of attending, reads fairly simply: "Davis' pinch-hit, three-run homer gives Orioles the 6-4 walk-off win over the White Sox." To say it was electric and exciting is an understatement.

It was one of those nights where although the Orioles only used 25 of their allotted 27 outs to win the game, they were behind going into the bottom of the 9th inning by one run and needed to play some good baseball to win. And with the team setting the table, so to speak, the acknowledged home run hitter came to the plate and delivered a win for the hometown team.

Early Weaver, one of the greatest baseball managers of all time has two colorful quotes about the situation last evening which sum the game up pretty well. 

Unlike some sports, there is no such thing as sitting on a lead. The other team gets its outs and the ball has to be thrown over the plate to give them a chance to hit it. Friday night, the Orioles lost a game exactly the same way that they won last night--a three-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth! It hurts, but it is baseball. 

Being there in person as Chris Davis, the the power hitter for the team came to the plate to pinch hit after having the night off, with the game on the line, in the bottom of the 9th, and delivered a monster home run is why baseball is the greatest game. Game over, let's go home!

Let's go O's!

And they get to do it all over again tonight.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - June 23, 2014

1. I realized that the summer solstice marked the end of a six month journey--progressively longer days. And now that it had passed, the light is already beginning to wane.

2. I heard this: One difference between dogs and cats is that dogs consider us to be family, while cats consider us to be staff.

3. An open pool, a warm summer day, clear water and bright sun. Add to this a stunning win over the baseball team from up north that shall remain nameless by the Orioles and you have a perfect afternoon.

4. It should be a good day. Partly sunny and highs in the low 80's. 

5. World Cup Soccer can be frustrating. On Sunday the U.S. team snatched a draw from the jaws of victory. 

6. Next holiday up? Independence Day. And after that? Vacation. 

7. Summer is here! Enjoy it.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Politicians and Lies

Election, more specifically primary, season is in full swing in Maryland. On Tuesday we get to vote to select the candidates for the general election in November. We are fortunate to be selecting a new governor, a complete assembly, our congressional representatives, and numerous other state and local positions. It has been a busy election season and my phone never stops ringing with candidate robo-phone calls disguised as surveys. 

The newest wrinkle was a one question survey. I am amazed that the answer I want to give for the survey question never seems to be among the choices. 

In watching the jockeying between the candidates over the tax issue, I was reminded of a joke I once heard:

How can you tell that a politician is lying? Their lips are moving.

Politicians apparently believe they have to tell the populace that they do not want to raise taxes by telling us that once they are elected they will find ways to generate new sources of state income. 

Excuse me--those would be taxes, right?  By definition?

And then there are the politicians that want to generate new sources of tax income but no reduce the individual tax burden in the state. No one is talking about finding new tax sources, for instance legalizing and taxing marijuana like Colorado, and passing the results of that increased revenue onto the residents of the state by reducing the individual income tax rate.

One of the most creative and oppressive ideas that is gaining traction is to put a gps in my car to tax me for miles driven. Why? Well, fuel efficient cars are causing the road taxes to drop. So of course that revenue needs to be protected. 

My answer--OK, but only if the state taxes on gasoline are removed. Period. If we are going to level the playing field, then let's level it completely. Do not implement a new tax source and keep a legacy tax that penalizes other people. On top of that, I am sure that I will wind up being taxed to install the gps in my vehicles, too.

And it goes on.

One new tax generates apparently needs to generate more mini taxes and fees. When is a fee not a tax? Never!

We need candidates that will not conform to the way it has always been done and come up with some new ideas. 

We legalized casinos a few years ago to support schools. How come we still do not have enough money for the schools? Where is that tax revenue going?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Pool is Open

It is open! It is not fully finished, it still needs to be caulked, but the it is full of water and I was swimming in it yesterday afternoon.

After two weeks of work, a project that was supposed to take 2 days is finally complete--mostly. The full final completion is supposed to be Tuesday when the caulking is scheduled around a rainy forecast.

I'd love to scream that "surf's up," but I'll be happy just to jump in and take a nap on a floatie. Oh wait, I did that already. 

OK, I'll do it again. Why?

Easy.

Because I can.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Grocery Store Frustration--Part 2

Not satisfied with one frustrating trip to the grocery store this week, I opted for more fun last evening when Chris had a cooking emergency and needed one onion, two lemons, and quinoa. 

Now some may ask, what is quinoa? Well, it is a grain, but apparently it is more closely related to spinach and tumbleweeds than wheat and rye. That sounds appetizing.  Actually, I do enjoy it and she makes an incredible salad form it.

But armed with the idea that it was a grain I figured, how hard could it be to find a grain that I can't even spell in the store? Three items should take five minutes or less? Right?

Not so fast!

I went to my neighborhood Green Valley Marketplace for this quick event. The time was late, almost 7:30 pm as I sojourned out. 

I quickly found the lemons and the onion--I knew where they were, although they have strategically placed the onions out of sight and I felt  moment of panic as I rounded the last row in the produce section to find the onion display. And then the hunt began. Another safari through the savannah known as another illogically laid out grocery store.

I looked for the quinoa in the grain section near the rice and other grain type products. No luck. So I had the brilliant idea to check out the pasta aisle--because there seemed to be some small glimmer of similarity. Nope, not there either. 

I looked through the grain aisle again--slowly and deliberately hoping for a miracle of revelation. No miracle. Back to the pasta. Nope. I looked down a few other assorted aisles--but didn't find it in the condiments nor the olive section. I gave olives a shot since they seem to be the catchall for everything else.

Panic! This simple, focused expedition to the grocery store was becoming another frustrating event. Arghh!

I went to the counter for help. The response scared me. Quinoa? What is that? I began to fear that I was going to have to drive five miles to the Giant where I was sure to find this grain. But, after explaining that is was a grain-like substance the manager seemed to understand and took me to the sugar aisle. I was thinking, she is clueless--but no--there, sandwiched between the sugar and the flour was a small section devoted to lesser known grains whose names I did not even begin to recognize and after searching this section we found one small row of quinoa! I was saved!

I accepted the bag from her hand, called home to confirm the price and substance and made my way to the checkout, happy to have been successful in my quest, but frustrated again by the illogical shelf management system.

Another happy ending suitable for the movies!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Highway Bumper Cars

I remember that a a kid, I used to enjoy the bumper cars amusement park ride. It was one of my favorites because I could drive a vehicle and hit people. Even then, I remember the ride operator admonishing people not to intentionally crash into each other, although that was one of the intended outcomes of the ride. I remember the electric smell of the ride with the metal floors and the grid above our heard and the long pole connected to the cars which provided the electrical current to people the car in the director desired. It was fun, then.

But that is an amusement park ride.

I have become more and more concerned every day as I ply the highway about competitive drivers engaged in their own version of bumper cars where they almost, but not quite hit the car in front as they force their vehicles into too small spaces and depend upon the drivers around them to make room. I saw a car change lanes yesterday and was convinced it was going to take the fender from the car it was passing with it as it went. 

Too many video games and too little respect for the power of an ensuing collision are, I believe, creating the illusion of invincibility in the minds of overly aggressive drivers. 

A slow moving amusement park bumper car ride is far different that an collision at 70 mph. Impatience is no excuse. I have driven by some horrific accidents lately and it is only because modern vehicles have so many built in safety features that people are walking away with only scratches and bruises. 

I do not believe that more laws or law enforcement is the answer. We have enough. I wonder why, though, I see multiple speed traps on a Sunday morning when traffic is light and not during the times of the day when the overly aggressive drivers are weaving their way through traffic to gain a few yards advantage. It makes no sense to me. Why ticket someone for going too fast on an empty Sunday morning road instead of doing the hard work of making the highways safer?

No, I haven't been stopped, lately--but when the road is devoid of the usual clogging traffic it is easy to coast up to a comfortable road speed which is 15 mph over the unreasonably low speed limit on some of our highways. 

But I never play the real life version of bumper cars. I've been through too many accidents in my life and those are experiences that I do not care to repeat.

Drive smart!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Grocery Store Frustration Overflows

I soloed at the local Wegman's last evening collecting the critical supplies for the house because we have been too busy to actually go shopping for the past almost two weeks. The most critical item was coffee! The day does not start without coffee.

I was amazed at the multiple frustrations that I experienced while at the store. 

Grocery stores are not organized in a manner which makes sense to me.

For instance, why are olives in three separate locations? There is an olive bar, olives in the ethnic food section, and olives in the condiments section near the oils and pickles. I'm not sure of the relationship between olives and pickles. I needed a specific kind of olives for a recipe and the employee near the olive bar looked at me as if I had two heads when I asked for Kalamata Olives. I have no clue what they are, they were just on my list. I did finally find them next to a jar of kosher pickles. That makes sense, why?

And then, there was the excursion into the salad dressing aisle. Sadly, I knew what kind of salad dressing I needed. I also knew it was there, somewhere. And I looked, and looked, and looked for it. I finally found the brand name dressing on the bottom shelf near my feet.

The final straw, or so I thought, came as I was searching for the Sierra Mist. I never found it. I had a conversation with another evening shopper and we both agreed that stores hide popular products so that we will buy something else as we search. That is not how guys work. IF Sierra Mist is on my list and I cannot find it there is no substitute and I'm not going to waste my time trying to find it either. I left without Sierra Mist or any suitable replacement. Don't force me to go on an Easter Egg Hunt for a popular product!

Finally,  I was ready to check out and get home. Not so fast! Few checkout lines were open and so there were at least one, if not two persons already in line. I soon realized why. The checkout personnel were conducting a work slow down. Each item was painfully and meticulously scanned and bagged. A short few minute checkout turned into a painfully long event compounded by the fact that I really didn't want to be there in the first place. 

I noticed the questions. Did I find everything? I responded, "yes and then some," when I really wanted to unload about the Sierra Mist and the safari for the olives. But in the interest of getting out of the store, I gave the answer which allowed me to depart the quickest. 

I thought later about the question on the ATM card machine which asks: "Is the amount OK?" Two choices are provided: Yes and No. NO--the amount is not OK, I am paying way too much for this stuff!

Someone needs to construct a grocery store that makes sense and is efficient. Although I did not require any on this trip, why is the milk and dairy in the farthest corner from the doors? It makes no sense.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD