Fumble Recovery and Yards

I getting into youth football because Jackson is playing. Here is my personal play of the game from Saturday. Number 60 is Jax!

Even though it was early on a cold and rainy October autumn morning, Chris and I were there to see the play. And the game. 

BTW--he is only 6.  

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Down but not Out at 0-2

Yesterday was a difficult day for me, in terms of sport. I watched the Orioles lose two games that they should have won.

The first game was a continuation from Friday night's game in to the wee hours of Saturday morning and the Orioles, uncharacteristically, lost the game in the 10th inning. The Orioles gave up three runs in the 10th inning. In the bottom of the inning they and got one back but the game ended with two men on base and the winning run at bat at the plate. Final score: 8-6.

OPACY October 11, 2014

I attended yesterday's game and the ending reminded me of the classic poem Casey at the Bat. The visitors scored first, but the Orioles came back, on multiple occasions. But with the score tied at 4 going into the 9th inning, again our "lights-out" relief corps couple not contain the visitors and two runs were scored. No panic, the Orioles own the bottom of the 9th inning. Even though the first two Orioles batters in the bottom of the 9th failed to get on base, the crowd remained hopeful. And then, Nelson Cruz, the league home run hitting designated hitter singled and stood on first as Steve Pearce came to the plate. Much like the mighty Casey the battle between the pitcher and Pearce progressed. As the pitch count rose, the fans became more hopeful--but then on the sixth pitch of the at bat, after three foul balls; like the mighty Casey:

But there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.

And the game ended with the tying run striking out at the plate.

The series now goes to the visitor's city and a brash player for the their team made the statement last evening that he does not expect the series to return to Baltimore because they will close it out at home and gain the American League berth in the World Series. While that statement made me cringe, I was happy to have heard it because it showed me how much the team from the mid-west underestimates the determination of the Orioles. 

Orioles Magic plays well on the road. While their noses are bloodied, I believe the Orioles now realize that they are looking at themselves in the mirror and will be ready to win at least two games on the road, if not sweep all three possible games.

Buck in Control as Andrew Miller arrives to pitch

Like Buck says, "I like our guys!"

Down, but not out. Just making the opposition a bit over confident while we revise the game plan.

We Won't Stop!

Stay tuned for Game 3 of the series on Monday night.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday Rescues the Week

I continue to be amazed at how a great Friday can rescue a mediocre week.

I spent the week in a training class and that wasn't bad, but the slower pace of training begins to wear on me after a while. My normal days zip past and I frequently lose track of time. Not so in class--I watch the clock. It is amazing how slowly the second hand moves.

So why was Friday the rescue day of the week? Well, the Orioles were playing baseball in the American League Championship Series (ALCS), although they lost, it was Saturday when the game ended; I spent a great evening at a wine restaurant in Ellicott City with friends; and although I lost the earpiece for my phone this morning--it was returned to me this afternoon. And the training, Oh yeah, it was pretty good too and it ended!

So what is the real importance of Friday? It is the day before Saturday, which is my favorite day of the week. I am now officially in the weekend and I am headed off to the Orioles playoff game today. It should be another great day--because the Orioles will even their series with the Royals today.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

October Evening Enjoyment

Lucas

The best evenings often happen without a lot of planning. Like last evening. 

Chris and I were watching Lucas, the sky was clear and the evening was only a bit cool. We enjoyed a glass of wine together in the backyard as evening began to fall.

Bogle Phantom in the Back Yard

I admired the evening, because I know the number of such perfect evenings will be fewer as the year progresses into November and then December. The wine in the backyard was a nice touch. I was even assaulted by a few mosquitoes, just to remind me that autumn has not fully wrested everything from summer's grasp.

Rain is forecast for today. 

I believe we will not be enjoying a repeat evening tonight and the memory of last night will have to remain as the season continues to evolve into autumn and then winter.

I relish every day and every evening more and more. Especially, the ones which create memories.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Take Charge and Take Control

I have been in a class this week learning about achieving effective results as a leader. I have been exposed to valuable concepts, but one thing I ran across--which is not part of the curriculum, is that some people have a victim mentality.

What is a victim mentality? It is perpetuating the belief that we cannot change our circumstances and that we have no control over what happens to us.

I do not subscribe to that idea. 

I do not want to live like a victim--sometimes bad things happen and we truly have no control over the event, but we can control how we react.

We do not need to react like a victim.

While we are not in control, we do not have to be victims--there are circumstances that we can control, and we should exercise controls appropriately.

One of the things we can control are the stories we use to understand the situations in our life. A classic victim story is the one that goes: "I work hard to give you all of the things you want and I have no time for myself." It is a rationalism--it is a victim story. The rationalism suggests that the person is not in control of their life and that everything that happens, occurs despite their efforts.

One of the hardest things we can do is take control of life because it means we can't blame our decisions on others. It goes back to the classic question: "Does a red light make you stop?" Of course not, it is a suggestion--a pretty good one, but we have to decide to follow the advice.

Stop being a victim and take control in the areas of life where it is possible.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Frost on the Pumpkins

Frost on the Pumpkin

The nights have been getting colder and the days are cooler than they have been. 

With each successive day, we wonder if we should finally turn on the heat and succumb to the fact that summer is gone and the autumn has progressed to a point where coats are becoming the norm for mornings and afternoons.

I knew this time would arrive.  Even if it is too soon.

The Halloween decorations are adorning the stores and my neighborhood homes--we even have decorated our house with the trappings of the season.

Sadly, as I discovered on Sunday morning, the frost is on the pumpkin and Jack-o-lanterns are adorning houses. The harvest season is underway.

Soon, too soon, the heat will have to be on to warm the house.

And then November will arrive.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

New Cell Phone Law

Man on cell with banana

Maryland's new tougher cell phone laws went into effect on October 1st. 

To summarize the new laws, basically, breathing on a cell phone while driving is grounds to get pulled over and receive a ticket.

I have some issues with this law--sure, you shouldn't talk or text, but my cell also serves as a GPS and provides turn-by-turn directions. Sometimes I need to look at it to figure out what it is trying to tell me.

It also plays music. 

Adjusting information in these modes would be no different than using the radio or permanently installed GPS. This law seems to be unenforceable and overly restrictive.

As evidence for my assertion, on Saturday, while Chris was driving, I noted the man in the image driving next to us. He was talking on his cell and eating a banana while driving. He was impeding traffic. I couldn't believe it. I wasn't sure which was more important? Talking on the phone or eating the banana, because it surely was not his driving.

Even more frustrating? No police to show him the error of his ways.

We don't need more laws, we need people to exercise common sense.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - October 6, 2014

Waiting out a Frost Delay

1. Autumn arrived with a vengeance over the weekend. The first frost of the season arrived in many places, including the golf course I waited for two hours to play on yesterday morning. I had never heard of a frost delay before. 

2. I have a bad case of ORANGE FEVER this morning! The Orioles are one of the last four teams remaining in baseball--and the baseball pundits can't figure out why or how!

Cy Young Winners: 1-2-3

3. We held a family October gathering yesterday, not to watch football, but to cheer on the Orioles. It was rumored that at one point someone received a text message telling us to calm down because we were louder than all of the fans in Tiger stadium watching the game.

4. I have to confess, I really didn't care about the scores of the NFL football games being played yesterday. 

5. Baltimore is waking up this morning realizing that it is, and always has been, a baseball town. The only reason that football seemed to be king was that the baseball team abdicated its position for over a decade. They're back!

6. On this day in 1866, the Reno gang carries out the first robbery of a moving train in the U.S., making off with over $10,000 from an Ohio & Mississippi train in Jackson County, Indiana. Prior to this innovation in crime, holdups had taken place only on trains sitting at stations or freight yards. 

7. The frosty morning waiting out a frost delay did provide a pretty picture.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Autumn has Arrived

Falling Leaves

Thankfully, the pool was closed last weekend before the leaves decided to fall off the trees in earnest. I looked out yesterday morning and it was snowing leaves from the trees. I could only imagine the mess and stress of trying to close the pool amidst all of the leaves.

Although the day dawned warm, by evening the temperature had dipped to 52 degrees and was headed into the overnight 40's for the coldest night of the season so far. It was actually 37 degrees when I woke up this morning! I had to close the windows and even considered turning on the heat--but, not yet.

Brrrr.

The leaves fell for most of the day even though they had not yet changed their colors. 

Jax's football game, which started almost two hours late at about 5:30 was downright cold and autumnal. The chilling breeze was most uncomfortable. OK, I was cold even though i though I had dressed warmly. 

Not so, it seems. Autumn took a firm grip on the weather after two weeks of letting summer extend itself.

Pool season is definitely over!

Autumn is in control.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

It's Hard Work being an Orioles Fan

Chris and I at the Orioles-Tigers Playoff Game
October 3, 2014

Orioles Baseball fans are, I believe, the hardest working fans in all of baseball. And our team knows that we are there.

I attended the greatest baseball game of my life yesterday. I have been to a lot of baseball games--I have seen the good, the bad, and the down right ugly. Yesterday, it took a combined team and fan effort overcome a daunting 3 run deficit in the 8th inning to secure victory is spectacular fashion and demonstrate to a national television audience that Baltimore's baseball team and its fans are ready for prime time!

Orioles Fan at the game

The game lasted 3 hours and 41 minutes. The cheering began well before the game amped up when the stadium announcer encouraged everyone to cheer when the national TV coverage clicked in. Joining me in the stands were over 48,000 of my new best friends--mostly wearing orange and black! It was an undulating sea of orange. It was awesome!

Why is being an Orioles fan hard work? Well, thanks to the MLB television scheduling fiasco, we didn't know the time of the game until Wednesday night--and then it was a Noon start! 

There is a lot of preparation that goes into Orioles playoff baseball game from a fan perspective. The orange jerseys and shirts must be clean and ready. Plans for work must be changed to accommodate the daytime game. Coordination with other fans attending the game must be finished. And then there is navigating the highways to get to the stadium. Baltimore constantly finds new ways to frustrate drivers in their quest to arrive anywhere on time with never-ending construction and irrational lane closures. 

All of that is just the preparation. 

OPACY, October 3, 2014
Sea of Undulating Orange

Once in Orioles Park at Camden Yards, or OPACY, the real work begins. The stadium is an awesome place in which to attend a game. The concessionaires were running at full speed to minimize wait times--but face it, 48,000 fans are no small number of people to keep happy.

The real fan work begins as the game prepares to start. An Orioles fan needs to know the multitude of cheers and be ready for the signature "O" cheer during the national anthem. The echoes returning from the surrounding buildings yesterday were fantastic and the stadium literally shook as the Orioles faithful amped up the energy level in preparation for the game. 

Any Orioles fan who is not hoarse the next day, or who does not have tennis elbow from waving their towel--didn't leave it all on the field!

The game was a seesaw affair. The Orioles took a 2-0 lead in the 3rd inning, only to surrender 5 runs in the top of the 4th inning and then get one back in the bottom of the inning. Even though the score was 5-3 until the 8th inning, the enthusiasm in the stands never waned. Having watched this team all season, the fans knew that their moment to secure a victory would soon come--and it did. It was essentially all over for the Tigers when they added an insurance run in the top of the 8th inning, increasing their lead to 6-3. 

Zach Britton, the Closer
Securing the Win!

Down to the last six outs--it was time to play serious post-season baseball. The fans responded and the noise level in the stadium began to exceed that of a jet engine at maximum rated thrust preparing for take off. The cheer "We Won't Stop" echoed off the surrounding buildings as 48,000 plus people were united with their team and the comeback began. Four runs and two Tigers pitchers later--the victory was all but secured. OPACY was rocking! Eleven pitches and three Tiger's batters later--victory was achieved as our closer extinguished any hopes that the Tigers had of spoiling the beautiful October afternoon. 

By the time the win was secured--the fans were exhausted. Like the team, we had left it all on the field. I may not be able to speak for two days because I gave my voice to the throng. 

Orioles fans are called "the best fans in baseball," and I know we are also the hardest working fans in baseball.

Go O's!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD