Disappointing Trip to a Golf Store

I made my first ever trip to a golf store yesterday after playing an afternoon round of golf.

Blue Angels over Baltimore

The golf was great--since there was rain and it was the afternoon, we had the course to ourselves. It was truly awesome. If only my game was nearly as awesome. 

During our golf outing, we were treated to a performance by the Blue Angels. I am very happy that they are on our side! The roar of the jets brought back very fond memories.

The truth is--I am not much of a golfer. Not much at all. I am still learning the game which is far more complex than I ever imagined it to be.

Even so, I was really disappointed in golf store. Frankly, I felt very discriminated against. 

More blue Angels

Yes, I really wrote that!

I am left handed and apparently, left handed people do not golf. I was looking at racks and racks of really expensive clubs--just because I was amazed at the prices, and then I noticed that there was not a single left handed club in the displays. In fact, I had to ask where the left handed clubs were displayed and was informed that they were in the corner along the wall. There was not nearly the selection that right handed people had. There were row after rows of clubs of all kinds and prices for right handed people. There were fewer than 15 different and much lesser clubs for lefties.

My question was, Why aren't the left handed clubs integrated into the displays with the right handed clubs? If I want to check out a really nice club by a well known maker, why do I have to go elsewhere in the store--which, by the way was as far from the fitting area as possible. And I also noticed that the areas used for swinging and fitting clubs were set for right handed people and did not appear easily configurable for lefties, like me.

Then I went looking for a glove--same story. Three aisles of gloves for right handed people. A small area of about 12 gloves for lefties.

What gives? 

The situation is just wrong!

The store was Golf Galaxy and from what I saw it was less of a galaxy and more of a sand box. 

Do golfers really that discriminate against lefties? Thank goodness that racquetball is a hand agnostic sport.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Fan Says Good-bye

Beautiful Friday Evening Orioles Game
September 12, 2014

Last evening while I was attending the Orioles game against the team that shall remain nameless from up north, I had the opportunity to watch and appreciate the career of a great baseball player participating in his final regular season series in Baltimore.

Derek Jeter at the Plate during an
Orioles Game
September 12, 2014

I have never liked it when Derek Jeter came to the plate during his career which began much the same time I arrived in Baltimore and became an Orioles fan. I have watched him play and cringed when he stood at the plate during a critical game situation. Despite the fact that he played for "the other guys," I cannot deny he has had a great career and been a classy, complete competitor who has avoided the scandals and drug allegations which have felled so many of his contemporaries. 

Derek Jeter was a class act among too many other baseball players who succumbed to the lure of performance enhancing drugs which will forever tarnish their participation in the sport and the records they possesses. Coincidentally, it was on a night when Orioles fans were reeling from a suspension announcement for one of our own whose career will also likely be similarly tarnished.

By the way--just saying, but I will always remember the final time I saw Jeter play that his team was swept in a by the Orioles in a doubleheader for the first time since September 24, 1984! Yes, it has been 30 years since the the Orioles swept a doubleheader from the team from up north. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Football Season Gets Personal

Baltimore from M&T Bank Stadium

The young NFL season entered its second week last night with the Ravens hosting their arch rivals, the Steelers, at M&T Bank Stadium near the heart of Baltimore.

I was there. 

The weather, although thunderstorms were predicted, was warm and very pleasant. It was a huge contrast to the game I attended last Thanksgiving where temperatures hovered just above freezing. Football is much more enjoyable in summer-like conditions.

I was impressed by the view from the stadium looking out across the sea of parked cars in the parking lot. Baltimore is a beautiful city and even more so at night.

Ravens-Steelers, September 11, 2014

But, the main event was in the stadium--the game. The fans, the food, the drinks, and the sport against the backdrop of the media circus revolving around the League's handling of the Ray Rice affair.

The game went on--and the Ravens overcame a stunning loss on Sunday against the Bengals to win handily 26-6. Almost everyone I talked to before the game was convinced that it would be a blow out--we just didn't know which team would be the winner given all of the distractions. 

The Stadium from the Parking Lot while Tailgating

My own personal observation found the Ravens fans much more subdued than the game I attended last year. The vile comments aimed at Steeler's fans, and Jeremy who accompanied me in his Steelers jersey, were far fewer than last Thanksgiving. I noted the mood during the tailgating preceding the game and it continued into the stadium for the game. It made attending the game much more enjoyable.

And the Ravens are in the win column! 

Tonight? Baseball of course as the team which shall remain nameless from the north comes to Baltimore for a doubleheader.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sleeping with the Windows Open

Looking for the silver lining in the autumnal weather which has decided upon us, I have found one. It is cool and dry enough to sleep with the windows open and the air conditioning off.

I am sleeping great!

No residual fan noise or cold air conditioned breeze blowing on me as I try to sleep. 

The sound of the evening critters helps me sleep.

Last evening I was enjoying the sound of the cicadas in the trees, I know they will soon be gone as the trees lose their leaves and the autumn deepens into the Halloween season. But for now, I enjoy their songs enjoying the still warm evenings before the cold descends.

I do enjoy this part of the season--fully loaded up on allergy medicine and enjoying the cool evenings and the sounds of the critters as summer begins transitioning into autumn.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

To Protect and Serve? Wake-up Call on Illegal Police Seizures

I had the opportunity to read the Washington Post yesterday and was appalled by one of the articles I read. It was, in short, about rampant abuse of power by local police departments against citizens who are largely unaware of their rights and who, believing they had done nothing wrong, had allowed police to conduct unwarranted searched of their vehicles.

The Bible is pretty clear--the love of money is the root of all evil (1Tim 6:10)--and this story demonstrates how law abiding citizens can become ensnared in over zealous law enforcement activities and lose their livelihoods and hopes for the future.

The article was part of a three story series in the Post showing how the police are targeting cash. At the heart of the problem is the Civil Asset Forfeiture Act which allows local law enforcement to keep part of the money they confiscate which is believed to be associated with drug activity. One of the articles titled, Stop and Seize describes the process pretty well. 

A blog, called Reason, also provides a view of this practice. 

While most of us do not carry thousands of dollars around--there are people in our society who do not believe in the cashless approach to personal economics. Apparently there is evidence to suggest that the police are identifying and targeting those who probably are in a cash only place in their lives. This is wholly unfair.

I read the article about how lives are wrecked by over zealous police who confiscate cash with no evidence--just a feeling. And, it costs people thousands to defend themselves and get their money returned. That is wrong.

We need to clean up our police forces--especially in the wake of Ferguson  MO--it is time to remember the motto that I grew up feeling about police: "To Protect and Serve!"

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Last Pool Day of the Season

Jake, Ethan, Jax in the pool

Saturday the temperature went over 90 degrees and after a week of summertime weather I managed some time in my pool. I lounged there for a bit enjoying the hot sun and the warmth of its rays.

Since then, the weather has turned cooler--distinctly autumnal! The leaves are falling in greater numbers although the autumn color has not fully begun to grace the trees. But they are making a mess of the pool as the water temperature begins to fall in sympathy with the cooling weather.

I have great memories of the summer and the pool. Family gatherings always seem better around a pool. 

I had hoped to swim into late September--but it is not to be this year I fear. The coolness and the increasing number of leaves are convincing me that I need to begin the process of closing up the summertime fun and prepare for the dark, cold days ahead.. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
#Ilovemypool #family

Monday Musings - September 8, 2014

1. Technically, the season is still summer. I have heard too many people speaking of autumn breezes lately.

2. The NFL season is officially underway, based upon week one results, I am happy the the Orioles are still playing.

Jax on the Bench near the end of the game

3. I went to a youth football game yesterday--Jax was playing in his first organized tackle game. I discovered that this is where football is real. 

4. For those of us old enough to remember, it was on the date in 1974 that President Gerald Ford pardoned disgraced former President Richard Nixon for any crimes committed during his time in office. 

5. There is something comforting about having my dog, Makayla, laying at my feet. Not only that, but she is warm, too!

6. An impromptu dinner out, a horrific rainstorm which left me drenched, and time with family are an interesting way to spend an evening. Thanks P&T.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Walking the Course

Looking to the 9th Green at
Carroll Park Golf Course

I am still trying to understand my newfound interest in golf. 

For now the fourth week in a row, I have played golf on a Sunday morning. My lifetime golf experience now stands at 65 holes and somewhere around two dozen lost balls.

I am finding that golf is a strategic game and that the occasional good shot I make keeps me interested enough to keep trying. I am a morning person and walking a golf course in the morning just after dawn is a lot of fun. 

I love watching the dew dry from the grass and hear the sounds of the world as it wakes. 

And hitting the "small" ball, as I have heard it called, takes a lot of skill and concentration. And luck! Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good. 

I am still learning and with every outing I am learning more about the clubs and how to hit them. Ugh! There is so much to learn.

But walking the course on a quiet morning with the guys is a great way to start a day.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Snow Shovel by the Front Door

Snow Shovel by the Front Door with me in
an Aloha Shirt and Shorts in the
reflection

I was given some good advice from a friend yesterday. 

He imparted some wisdom in an effort to ease my obvious dread of the oncoming dark season and winter. His advice helps me to keep it all in perspective and makes the impending season seem further away.

It was a simple idea--but I like it.

He said that I should get my snow shovel and place it next to the front door. Then, I should touch it every morning on my way out and be happy not to have to use it that day.

How sage is that wisdom?

Thanks, Dick!

You have brightened a darkening corner of the year with a ray of brightness and hope.

A snow shovel not used--is a day that much better!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

September Morning

Now that September has arrived, it seems that summer has decided it had been sleeping on the job. Isn't it funny how September is thought of as more autumn than summer even though it has more summer days?

The temperatures have been warmer--high 80's and even over or almost 90 degrees. Wow! What a change from the cold August nights.

Baseball is heating up as the season enters its final weeks and the hopes of Orioles fans are surging as our team apparently has regained its 1983 form. I am excited to already have post-season tickets to some of the games we hope to host with the prospect of buying more as the reality hopefully arrives.

The warmer temperatures have been welcome. I enjoy them and relish their persistence into next weeks and even until the end of the month. Some of the trees in my yard have already begun to lose their leaves which increases the amount of time I spend on pool maintenance. 

But the pool is warm. That written, my propane company called the other day to inform me that they no longer have a truck with a hose long enough to reach my propane tanks. How did that happen? So I need to pay to move my tanks. Maybe I'll change my propane company. Sadly, there is no natural gas in the neighborhood.

Every September morning that dawns with warm temperatures and the promise of a hot day is a great day. The cool/cold autumn days will be here too soon. And then winter.

Thanks September for giving us the warmth and taste of summer that was missing.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD