The Game is Over--No, Wait--the judges have to make a ruling

We live in a society that is too quick to say, "see you in court."

Here is the latest. In Oklahoma, a high school football game's results are in court because the referees made a bad call. 

A New York Times article describing the situation is titled, After Referee's Blunder, Next Call is a Judge's. In the balance is whether the last 64 seconds of a semi-final high school football game will be replayed to determine which team will play for the Oklahoma State championship.

Wow--mistakes happen all the time in sports. Why? People are involved.

This could be the end of sports as we know them if the courts can become involved. Sure, its wrong if it's wrong; but bad calls are made all of the time.

The problem? Money!

There is too much money involved in sports even at the high school level.

There are serious issues the courts need to address. Sports are not one of them because sports, after all, are entertainment. The problem is that sports have become too much business. I read recently that the University of Alabama-Birmingham terminated its football program because of expenses. And they actually qualified for a post-season bowl game for the first time in many years. Having to retain a full legal team to review the on-field results of every game or match will only increase the costs associated with sports and ultimately reduce the opportunities available for kids to play.

Leave it on the field--no matter how bad the call! Referees are part of sports and they make bad calls--but bad calls on the sports field should not be a reason for a court date.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Shopping Solo

Poinsettia Tree
Columbia Mall 2014

A sure sign of the season is a solo shopping trip to the Columbia Mall. It happened yesterday. I risked car and limb by heading off to the mall to begin finding the special things on my list.

I am not a shopping kind of person. I don't mind shopping if I can accomplish the task by tapping on the keys of my laptop. But, every year I actually have to head out to the brick and mortar stores to find gifts for the special people (or person) on my list.

I feel so alone walking the mall looking into the stores. It is a bit surreal--so many thing to buy in which I have so little interest.

Them most frustrating part of the experience is that I often know what I am looking for, but cannot find the perfect gift. It is unsettling to see hundreds of offerings, but realizing that they are not the perfect item. Then comes the calculation and the compromise. The battle between price and function brings inevitable question, is this the gift for which I am searching?

I walked into one store and the staff asked what I was looking for and how could they help. I replied that I was looking for inspiration, and they understood.

I am not a huge fan of gift cards.They make the process too easy for the gift giver. Gift cards take all of the agony and decision making out of the shopping process. 

I survived my sojourn to the mall, however, I will need to make an additional trip to complete my shopping list.

I CAN shop, I just don't LIKE to.  I can even shop alone. But I like shopping on my laptop best.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - December 8, 2014

1. What an interesting couple of days it has been: St Nicholas Day (6) and Pearl Harbor Day (7). I have never really thought about the positioning of these two days before.

2. I was reminded how exhausting it is to spend two long day with two to three boys under the age of 10!

3. I attended the movie Penguins of Madagascar yesterday. I was disappointed. It should have been so much better than it was.

Tioga County, PA

4. There is a rest stop on the south side of Route 15 in Tioga County, PA, that provides spectacular views--especially in the light of the rising sun.

5. Sadly, I am burned out on all the Christmas songs on the radio. hey just seem to play some of them  way too much. I have decided the worst Christmas song is Santa Baby, followed closely by I'll Be Home for Christmas. But Rudolph and Frosty are beginning to be played too much as well.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Symphony of Lights - 2014

It was a dark and rainy evening. Three grandsons were having an overnight and Chris and I needed a distraction for them. Let me rephrase, not a distraction but rather an event to prepare them for bedtime.

Symphony of Lights immediately came to mind. In the rain? You bet, the lights were on and the car was warm and dry. 

I enjoy the Symphony of Lights in Columbia, Maryland, and although it is not an every year event, the years that I drive through the lights I am reminded of how much fun it is and that I am making a donation to Howard County's only hospital. 

Lucas, Jackson, and Ethan looking at the
Symphony of Lights

I have been by the entrance to the lights an seen cars stacked up waiting to enter for what appears to be an hour or more. Last evening, however, because of the rain, there were no lines and no waiting. Not to self--rainy and dark nights may be the best nights to visit!

It was a fun drive through the lights, listening to Christmas music provided on the local broadcast FM station. All of my old favorites were there. I especially enjoy the cannons lobbing cannon balls over the road as I drive through.

The pictures even came out acceptably this year. The rain added a nice reflection in the foreground and increased the enjoyment.

It was a fun ride and an enjoyable time--especially with no lines and no waiting.

Bob's RECOMMENDATION: Visit the Symphony of Light and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Holiday Season. The donation is $20 per car--cash only.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Christmas Midnight Madness in Ellicott City

Ellicott City during Midnight Madness
in the Rain

Christmas must really be close. Last evening we braved to cold temperatures and the rain, I even wished it was snow, and enjoyed the festivities in Historic Ellicott City, Maryland. This is an annual event--Midnight Madness, and it happens on the first Friday of December every year. 

It is an enjoyable event being out with thousands of other holiday shoppers. The parking is horrendous--but it is worth the effort to wander the historic district and enjoy the crowds and retailers as the kick-off to the holiday season gets underway. 

Midnight Madness in Ellicott City
December 5, 2014

After creating a parking place in one of the lots, we started the evening with happy hour and dinner at Cacao Lane restaurant. After dinner we headed out into the crowds and light rain. 

It was an enjoyable stroll along the bustling streets and the vendors provided light munchies which added to the ambiance and the enjoyment of the event.

I saw one sign along the street that made me smile.

How many calories do they have and are they gluten free?

Bob's RECOMMENDATION: Plan to attend this event next year--and even if you missed it this year, Ellicott City, MD, is a great place to shop no matter the day. Go enjoy the holiday season.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Hey, Orioles--What is the Plan?

To say this off season is not off to a great start for the Orioles is an understatement. 

Nelson Cruz

This week the Orioles, American League East Division Champions, lost two key players: Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis. In my opinion the loss of Markakis, a long-time Orioles player hurt the most. I expected him back in the outfield next season and until the end of his awesome career. Sadly, it is not to be.

Nick Markakis

I don't understand the baseball offseason. Obvious things don't happen and now the Orioles have a huge hole in right field and as a lead-off hitter. 

Last season was a fantastic and almost magical season as the Orioles easily won the division and the first round of the playoffs. They ran into a Royals team in the second round that was not to be denied, but still the Orioles are still champions of the AL East.

Markakis has been arguably one of the best American League left fielders for a number of years now. Cruz came to the Orioles to prove he was still a player to be reckoned with. Together, they held the team together during the crucial losses of Matt Wieters, Manny Machado, and Chris Davis. I thought the Orioles might lose Cruz, but never in my wildest dream did I believe that they would allow Markakis to play right field for any other team.

It makes no sense to me. And the loss of Andrew Miller--the fireball throwing reliever picked up in mid-season is expected to be announced any day now. 

I am not seeing the Orioles replacing these three players. 

But I am willing to show support to the General Manager, Dan Duquette, all I need now is some insight into "What is the plan?"

I surely hope they have one.

In the meantime, thanks Nelson for last year and thank-you Nick for being a classy Orioles player through the bad times (and there were a lot of them) and the good times. Best wishes to you both!

Really.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Three Trees in Three Days

First Tree of 2014 in the Family Room

Yup, it is definitely the Christmas Season. Beginning on Saturday, I assembled three Christmas trees in three days. 

Two were in my house. One in the family room upstairs adorned in the white lights that my family is so fond of and the other in the basement recreation room done in colored lights--just for Chris.

Second Tree of 2014 in the Recreation Room

Christmasfying the house took all day--but I've already written a few lines about that.

Then on Monday, after driving my parents home after the Thanksgiving holiday, I helped them assemble their tree. I don't mind assembling Christmas Trees, but I definitely set a record this year in helping get everyone ready for the season. 

Third Tree of 2014 at Mom and Dad's

I was surprised to learn that the first Christmas Tree display in America was in about 1830. Who knew?

Of my three trees, the image I took of the one at my parents house is very intriguing because I can see myself in the mirror. I didn't even notice that as I was taking the image. Definite proof that I took the image!

This is already a special Christmas Season--three trees in three days. I am sure there are more surprises to come.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Facing the Government

Why, I ask myself, don't the people working in governmental agencies that interface with the public realize that they represent every federal worker and that the general public forms its opinions based upon these exchanges?

I write this after a friend told me about a terrible three-hour telephone experience trying to get information about an application that had not been fully processed. The call ended about 6:30 PM when my friend, frustrated at the ineptitude and being kept on hold for over an hour, hung up and resolved to address the issue again today. 

Federal workers who interact with the public need to be reminded that "We the People" means that the people are the boss!

Who are the most likely federal workers to interact with the American? Social Security, Medicaid/Medicare, IRS, and TSA come to mind. 

Let's do better!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Highways, Traveling, and Holidays

I am in the middle of a round trip to Ithaca to return my parents and officially put an exclamation mark on Thanksgiving. This is my second roundtrip to NY in two weeks. I'm finding that the driving is not so bad--especially when the weather cooperates.

But wow, what a couple of weeks it has been in terms of the weather. The weather has alternated between unbelievably fantastic and horrendous. On the trip north yesterday, I saw signs of the remnants of the ferocious storm that assaulted the Northeast last week--right when everyone was planning to travel for Thanksgiving.


It looks as if it was just plain rotten and I'm glad we got out before it hit. 

I have been traveling a new route to access upstate NY which avoids the hordes of trucks which populate Interstate 81. The driving is easier and fast, now that much of the high speed future interstate has been completed. Some of it has been designated Interstate 99, the New York part. 

My Third Christmas Tree Under Creation

What I have noticed, however, is the impatience of many drivers. They just can't enjoy not being the leader of the cars. The speeds of some drivers is just insane. I am not a slow driver, I use my portion of the speed limit to keep moving along the ribbon of highway. But I like to be safe.

I enjoyed creating my third Christmas Tree of the season with Mom and Dad.

It has been a busy and fun couple of weeks. I'm sad to see it end and slide into the chaos that has become the Christmas Season.

Later today, I'll be back and thrust into the middle of it all--the joy, the work, the craziness, and the excitement all leading up to December 25th. One down and 24 to go!

-- Bob Doan, writing from Danby, NY

Monday Musings - December 1, 2014

1. Blink. November has passed and it is December.

8th Hole at Eisenhower, Crownsville, MD
November 30, 2014
The First Time I Drove a Green

2. I was blessed with good weather enough during the past week to be able to play golf twice. And, in a momentous shot, I drove the green from the tee on a par 3. Then, after I repaired the divot,  I promptly 3-putted for a bogey! Ugh! I still have not carded my first par. I did have 4 bogeys yesterday which is one of my better outings.

3. The house has been Christmasfied. It took an entire Saturday, but we are finally, mostly, ready for the Christmas Season.

4. I read an interesting article about 1 World Trade Center, the new building that replaced the Twin Towers, in the New York Times. Maybe it didn't really need to be built.  

The Christmasfied Family Room

5. The Hallmark Channel is up and running with its continuous supply of sappy Christmas movies. The sad part is, sometimes that are the best things on TV!

6. I had the opportunity to remove the leaves from the lawn again on the last day of November. I wonder what December will bring? But without leaves the green lawn is great to practice my golf swings with practice balls.

7. Interested in a new car that is called a "terrestrial rocket?" Check this one out in the article titled, A Terrestrial Rocket That Defies Gravity. Oh yea, the price is $280K. Who writes reviews about unaffordable cars?

8. December arrived with clear skies and 50 degrees. I wonder when it will happen again? 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD