A Sink Crisis

I hate it when simple projects turn ugly.

The task: Replace the kitchen sink with something more modern while at the same time replacing the dysfunctional garbage disposer.

The timing: Get it done before the Mother's Day weekend arrives.

The problem: No good deed goes unpunished.

The Hole in the Counter

So there are now three kitchen sinks in the house. The one that used to be installed in the kitchen, the one that I bought and the one that Chris bought because she liked it more.

Just a note--the one that I bought fits nicely into the hole. The one that Chris bought should fit into the hole in the counter, however, it has mounting rails underneath that are 1/4 inch too big for the existing space in the Silestone (fused quartz) countertop from which the preexisting sink was removed.

I do not feel equipped to cut fused quartz!

The kitchen is a mess with pieces of faucet everywhere!

I had hoped to finish the project yesterday afternoon before going to the Orioles game. That did not happen.

Who knew that there are mounting raise under stainless steel sinks? Why are they 1/4 inch too big for the existing hole when the sinks are the same size??

This has turned into another project gone wild!

I wish I knew how this was going to shake out, however, I fear that I will be on a frantic search for a sink during the next few days.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Flying Gets Worse, If That is Possible

The forecast for summertime travel is not good. 

American Airlines Security
Chicago, IL
March 18, 2016
New York Times/Twitter

I read a New York Times article that suggests that summertime air travelers should budget hours and not minutes to clear security. The article titled Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security. 

I know a lot of people who like to arrive at the airport just minutes before their scheduled flight and think they can slip through the security lines and make the flight. That will be happening less and less it appears.

We pay extra for airport security! There is a $10 fee added to each ticket for security--and this is how TSA responds?

TSA claims the problem is more travelers, but the airports maintain that it is inadequate TSA staffing. From my experience, I think it is the latter. There is no secret how many people are going to be traveling. TSA has access to the travel information well in advance and should be able to plan for increases and busy times. 

The Times article details some of the horrors:

Denver airport telling people to arrive three hours early.

600 passengers missing flights in Charlotte on March 25th because the security line was three hours long! TSA maintains that it was never longer than 1 hour 15 minutes. 

Whoever believes that a security line should be longer than 25 minutes is living in the wrong time zone. Only Disney World can get away with lines that long. 

On my recent trip to Alaska, I must confess that I had planned for security delays, but due to the times of day I was catching flights I did not experience long lines. So maybe catching flights at 5PM and 1:45 AM are a good thing.

One other travel tip--once you clear security and board your flight, don't expect an open seat next to you. Airlines are filling the planes to maximum capacity--yes, even on my 1:45 AM flight from Anchorage to Seattle there were no empty seats!

Flyer beware! It is a jungle out there. If your driving time is 5 hours or less, you might consider driving instead of flying.  Just saying!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - May 2, 2016

1. May arrived over the weekend with the promise warmer temperatures. Despite the arrival, it was unseasonably cold and rainy here.

Geese on Patuxent Greens Golf Course
April 30, 2016

2. Saturday, being the best day weather-wise of the weekend, a round of golf was attempted. Despite the cold temperatures, the course was packed with other golfers and I played the slowest front 9 known to man, taking three hours to complete 9 holes. We decided not to play the back 9.

3. There were a lot of Canadian Geese on the golf course Saturday. 

4. It is beginning to look as if the front runners in the political races are going to secure the nominations. It could be a lot of fun at the conventions this summer.

Gustav Becker Grandfather Clock Repair

5. Our grandfather clock has not been gonging. I took time to examine and repair the problem yesterday. It was fun to be deep into a clock again.

Post Game Celebration with GORC Pirates
April 30, 2016

6. The GORC Pirates, Jax's baseball team, are very good. They won another close game on Saturday by employing some excellent defense.

7. Chris and I took Saturday afternoon, before the rain, to get grass seed down in some of the bare areas of the yard. The rain and warmer temperatures should help the seed to germinate quickly and fill in the yard.

The Green Has Returned
May 1, 2016

8. I completed a number of small projects around the house during the incessant rain yesterday. 

9. I noticed, both on the golf course and in my yard, that the "green" has returned! Yay for the green leaves of Summer!

10. Yesterday was May Day--a holiday throughout much of the northern hemisphere. I hope their weather was better.

11. Did I mention that the Penguins tied their playoff series 1-1 with the Capitals even after a late hit that has resulted in a three-game suspension for one of the Capitals players? Go Pens!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Who is on our Money?

The debate about whose face graces our money rages and I have heard some irrational and just wrong statements.

Presidents and Founding Father's have not always been and are not the only people on our money! Our money has seen generals, mythical gods and goddesses, inventors, famous people, and others. 

Here are some of the non-Presidents or founding fathers who have been on our money:

Salmon P. Chase is on the $10,000 bill right now! Who is Salmon P. Chase and why is he on our money, even if the $10,000 is not in general circulation?

Martha Washington has been on the $1 bill twice.

Susan B. Anthony is on the $1 coin.

Sacagawea is also on $1 coins.

Mercury (yes, the Roman god) has been on dimes! 

Liberty (the goddess) has been on dollar coins.

Indian likenesses have graced both pennies and nickels. 

In addition, the Wright Brothers, Ceasar Rodney, Helen Keller, and John Muir have been on quarters. 

On currency, 53 individuals have been depicted. You might be surprised about who they are. 

Who is Running Antelope? He was once on the $5 bill.

General George H Thomas on $5 bill

General George H. Thomas was on the $5 during the 1890's.



The list goes on.

It is amazing how different reality is from common perceptions!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Pool Opening Delayed

The Pool is Ready to be Opened

Today was supposed to be one on my favorite days of the year: pool opening day! The day when Summer begins arriving.

Not going to happen.

I have reinstalled the motor in the pump housing and the water lines to the filter have been reconnected. The chemicals are in the pool house ready, but the weather forecast is terrible. Rain and highs mostly in the 60's for the next week have factored into the decision. Not the kind of weather that screams for a pool to be open. At least, unlike Denver, Colorado, there is no snow in the forecast. 

10 Day Weather Forecast for Elkridge

Because the event will now occur during May, this will be the latest that I have ever opened my pool.

I am bummed. Summer's arrival is delayed.

The weather forecast is not good for golf either. The courses promise to be wet and soggy. It is also not good for baseball--either coaching youth baseball or attending Orioles games.

At least the leaves are almost fully on the trees and the "green" has returned.

Next Saturday is the rescheduled pool opening day.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Parking Lot Dance

I had the pleasure of visiting multiple parking lots last evening as Chris and I scurried around the county to get our chores done.

People are strange (that's the only way I can say it) about parking their cars. 

Being a Thursday night, the parking lots were generally lightly populated and yet, people waited for my space because it was two or three places closer to the door rather than just driving to an open space and being on their way.

It seemed funny to me that to in order to save 30 feet of walking, people would wait for a few minutes behind my car for me to depart.

It was not raining and so that was not the reason for the waiting. Nor was the sun blazing super heated rays upon the scene either.

People just wanted a closer spot. The trade off was a closer spot instead of the immediate gratification of being able to park a few spaces away.

I don't like to spend time waiting in parking lots and I don't mind walking a few extra feet--I am usually just happy to find a spot in the lot. 

Clearly, however, I am going have to do more shopping on Thursday evenings because not only were the parking lots sparsely populated, but the stores were empty, too!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Election Reflection

I have been reflecting on yesterday's primary election results.

I am not amused by the choices being made by the majority of the voters,  but I think I understand what is happening.

People are voting to remove those who have been obstructionists for the past 8 years. No one who is part of the Republican establishment is likely to get elected. 

I found it interesting the Cruz garnered 3 additional delegates and Kasich received 5. Trump won 109. That qualifies as a landslide.

The harder the Republican establishment campaigns against Trump, the more delegates he receives. The voters are sending a message.

It could be an interesting election in November. 

I, personally, am having a problem supporting someone who uses personal attacks, ethnicity, and gender as a basis for campaign remarks. I don't understand why so many Americans continue to support someone who says the things that he does, except that it is a backlash against the Republican Party establishment.

And then one the Democratic side--I don't understand the appeal of one of the candidates over the other. I look at them totally opposite of the majority of the voters.

My Take--that is why we have elections.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Finding Elections Results

The information age has created the expectation that I can find election results on line in an easy fashion the morning after the election. I need to be able to do this since the newspapers no longer come to my home and they go to print before the election returns are in.

I could not, this morning, find out the complete results for all of the elections I voted in yesterday.

Yes, I knew who won the Presidential Primaries last evening as CNN made the call at 8:05 PM -- but, I could not see the vote tallies. Even this morning, not all of the vote had been tabulated and certified. 

Finding the results of the local elections was almost impossible--I was really interested in the School Board results. I still do not know the outcome.

Life in the information age can be frustrating because I know the answer is out there, somewhere, but I just cannot find it.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Eastern Rat Snake Encounter

Chris and I have a pest company that is supposed to keep the house and pool house free from rodents and bugs.

We are terminating them.

Freed Eastern Rat Snake Leaving the Scene

They recently started using the most inhumane form of pest eradication ever invented--sticky or glue cards. They are terrible--the animals get stuck and starve to death.

Yesterday I walked into the pool house and was startled to see a 3 foot long Eastern Rat Snake trapped on one of the cards. Chris and I spent about 30 minutes freeing the snake from the card--the snake was not entirely helpful, was a bit freaked out and hissed at us a bit--but after a while it figured out we were helping and not hurting.

Eastern Rat Snake Climbing the Bush

It was terrible how the sticky or glue traps ensnare animals.

I did not take a picture of the snake on the card because my save the animal emotions kicked into gear, but I did take some of the recently freed snake slowly leaving the yard. 

I respect snakes, I don't particularly like them but this is a beneficial snake and did not deserve to die. I know I have friends who believe the only good snake is a dead snake, but I disagree. It the snake is not venomous, then it is serving a useful purpose keeping vermin away from the house.

I will not use these sticky cards or glue cards again! 

And I am happy the snake went away after it was freed. I am not sure why it climbed the bush, but it seemed to know what it was doing.

I am going to have to be more aware of the tree limbs above em now.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - April 25, 2016

Oysters for Snack

1. Heard this in a restaurant: "I don't like that, it has too much taste."

2. Saw this sign in a restaurant: "Unattended children will be given espresso and a puppy."

3. Spending a weekend at a wine fest is awesome, except for all of the work that did not get done around the house.

St Michael's, MD
April 24, 2016

4. Oysters--I like oysters.

5. A beautiful morning in St Michael's is a great way to start a day!

Jellyfish in a Boat Channel

6. I wonder what a jellyfish thinks about when it is undulating in a boat channel?

7. Maryland gets to have its turn in the Presidential Olympics this week. It is almost exciting that the outcome has not yet been determined.

8. It is good to wake up on a Monday and feel ready for the week ahead.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD