The Rain Stopped--For a Few Hours

Finally, last evening, the rains stopped and the mystical orb in the sky, better known as the sun, reappeared and the sky turned blue.

Timbers at Troy

I wanted to take a picture of it. 

It felt good to feel the warmth on my skin and see the blue of the sky. 

I took advantage of the afternoon by hitting a golf course for a relatively frustrating round. But, it was good to be out enjoying the day as the clouds cleared and the sun came out.

More rain is on tap for this afternoon and so the string of consecutive days with precipitation continues unabated.

Enjoy the sun while it shines.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sinks--why did it have be a sink?

The saga continued through four, yup four, new sinks! 

Makayla Investigating the
New Sink on the Doorstep

The frustration factor achieved a  maximum value.

The sink of our dreams (I am going to call it, new sink #3) was delivered yesterday--it did not fit the hole. That's right, the most beautiful sink in the world (doing my best imitation of a country song title) did not fit. It was too small for the existing hole because of its elegant styling!

Ugh! I was totally despondent when Patrick arrived to help me install the sink because I had already determined that the sink installation was doomed from working with the template. I could tell that the sink and my existing hole were not a good match. We unboxed the sink and confirmed that the tapered corners did not fit my rectangular hole!

Because of the tapered design, the new sink
did not fill the existing hole

Did I mention that the sink weighed 110 pounds? So it is not something to with which to be trifled. Yet, similar to its two predecessors, sink #3 is now residing in its box awaiting the return process. This one should be interesting because it was delivered via common carrier. 

The sink hole remained and the mood of the house was depressed. Queue our friends Fran and Mary who arrived to assist with the installation. I needed a miracle! Further confirmation that the sink would not fit and that there was nothing that could be done to alter either the sink or the hole was quickly made and a three-pronged internet search began for sink #4. 

A glimmer of hope filled the house when a sink, with similar construction and finish was located at Lowe's. The difference, and why I had missed during my extensive internet search, was that I had been searching for a two-hole sink--but I could make a four-hole sink work! The holes are for the faucets and the soap dispenser. We already had a new one-hole faucet and a separate soap dispenser that had been modified to work with our old four-hole sink. 

Initial Fit-up of the Sink

From the available people a sink retrieval team was constituted and departed to secure sink #4. Those remaining behind ordered Chinese for dinner. It was a perfectly planned operation.

The expedition to Lowe's was a success. It turns out that even though the sink was not on display in the store, they had two of them. This had been independently confirmed by the internet and an old fashioned telephone call before the retrieval team departed. The intelligence was confirmed and sink #4 was obtained and brought to the scene of the installation. 

Patrick and Francis Completing the Installation

The box was opened and the sink placed in the "sink hole." Cheers erupted from the assembled crowd because this sink, unlike the three previous versions both fit the hole and was acceptable!

From that point on, the mood of the house was jubilant and what is usually the hardest part of any project, the installation, actually proceeded smoothly and without any show stoppers. 

It was almost anti-climactic. Everything fit, even the new disposal, and all of the other parts worked. Surprisingly, even during the operational testing of the sink no leaks were discovered. 

Newly Installed and Fully-Functional Sink
With the Sticker Still on it

Clearly, this sink was meant to fill the hole in our kitchen! And the hole in our lives. 

During the past week we have discovered how important kitchen sinks are to the functioning of a household.

Although the project is not complete because I still have to return sink #3, I am glad that the sink replacement project is over.

My recommendation is that if you think you want a new sink, think again. Sinks were not meant to be replaced independently but rather to be installed with new construction or during kitchen renovations. 

Oh yeah, Happy Mother's Day Chris--your new sink is finally installed.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

They Tell Stories . . .

The Sun Still Shines

Stories are told about days that used to be filled with blue skies, warm temperatures and sunshine. 

For the Baltimore region, it has been two weeks since we have seen blue skies and sunshine for an entire day. I remember being so excited about a passing patch of blue sky and sunshine that I took a picture.

It was announced that the region is currently in pursuit of a record stretch of continuous days of precipitation. The record is 18 straight days and we have currently have 15. That is correct--15 straight days which have seen some form of measurable precipitation. It is possible that the string could be broken today.  

It has been almost two weeks since the GORC Pirates were able to play or practice on a baseball field! 

It has been two weeks since Cat (my convertible) left the comfortable confines of the garage and took to the streets for a drive. I may drive it to work this morning just because I can.

In checking the morning weather statistics, there has been no measurable precipitation so far--and it looks good that the string of rainy weather will be broken. Unfortunately, thunderstorms will be in the region for the entire day tomorrow--and I am supposed to play in a golf tournament. Ugh!

Weather is something we deal with daily, but when it becomes newsworthy then it has moved from the dealing into the coping category. 

Here's hoping for sunshine and warmer temperatures. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

That's Why They Play the Game

Despite the gloomy weather forecast, yesterday turned into a good day on the sports front.

Although the skies were overcast and dark when I escaped work with a list of things to accomplish, I made it to the local golf course by about 4:30 and completed 18 holes just before nightfall. I admit that as the sun went down and the temperatures cooled my back tightened up and my tee shots became erratic. But even then it was still fun to be on the course. I was able to par one of the toughest holes on the course despite the gathering darkness.

It felt good to be out playing golf and I met a number of really nice golfers that made the afternoon and evening enjoyable. 

On the professional sports front, the Orioles and the Penguins both went into the last inning or into overtime with the scores knotted at 3. 

Watching the Penguins Stanley Cup Playoff game against the Capitals, I was beginning to doubt that they could win as the three goal lead slipped away into a 3-3 tie at the end of regulation. Three consecutive and overlapping delay of game penalties almost undid the Penguins, but they prevailed with a goal in overtime and eliminated the Capitals from the playoffs..

The Orioles were tied 3-3 against the Twins going into the 9th inning, but a two-run homer by Adam Jones secured the win and continued possession of first place in the AL East. Hopefully that can continue their winning ways today.

All-in-all, a great sports day and evening.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Plans Gone Awry

I used to play in a racquetball league on Tuesday nights. That is something that I have enjoyed, well mostly, for many years. 

This Spring, in a rare moment of forward thinking, I decided to use Tuesday nights for some mid-week golf--which come with reduced rates and fewer golfers on the courses, so that I could work on my game.

Florida Golf Course During March

Here is a recap of my Tuesday golfing experience thus far:

4/19: Trip to Alaska--no golf

4/26: Youth baseball game (I am a coach)-- no golf

5/3: Orioles game (part of my season plan)-- no golf

Today: Nothing else scheduled, but it looks like rain! 

The high temperature today is forecast for the middle 50's! Ugh. 

Well, the weather might clear. The forecast has been wrong before. 

As for golf, I can count the total number of times that I have graced a golf course during April and May on two fingers. And even then the combined number of holes is only 18! At this rate, I probably should go back to playing racquetball on Tuesday evenings.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - May 9, 2016

1. I hope all of the mother's had a good day yesterday and that they heard from those they love. 

2. Rain plays havoc with youth baseball games. Last week two games were rained out and the week ahead does not look too much better.

At the End of Play
May 8, 2016

3. Why did the best weather of the weekend happen on Sunday--which was Mother's Day and therefore a non-golfing day.

4. Guess which team is in sole possession of first place in the AL East? (Answer: Orioles).

5. The grass seed that I put down a week ago still has not germinated. It has been too cold!

6. Did someone turn the calendar back to March?

7. I noticed that I prefer driving down leafy tree lined roads to the bare-branched ones of winter. Green goes well with my mood.

8. Bryce Harper did something that has never before been done in the history of Major League baseball yesterday, he reached base seven times in a game without getting a hit. He was given 6 walks and was hit by a pitch once. 

9. On this date in 1887, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show opened. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Sliver of Summer Arrives

The Pool Opening Begins

Despite the weather forecast, pool opening day happened!

The pool is open and, while not yet ready for swimming, it completely changes the entire look of the yard. For the better, I might add.

Every Job Needs Good Help
Chris at the Pool

The decision to open the pool occurred when the GORC Pirates baseball game was canceled and there looked like a break in the weather to allow the cover to dry. 

As it turned out, the 90 percent chance of rain during the day turned into 0 percent rain and it was a beautiful, a bit cold, day to get the pool open and running. 

Not the desired Color of the Water

Pool opening day is a big event. It takes a lot of time to get everything done. I had already reconnected the motor and the filter which meant that we were ready to start up the entire system once the cover was off and the plugs were removed.

The water had not done well during the winter. It was pretty green! But odorless--which is a good sign. But the good news is that there are chemicals for that!

The Pool This Morning 

By this morning the pool is looking almost ready for action. I am sure the water temperature is only in the high 50's! A bit cold for a swim unless you are a polar bear.

As the Sun is dawning on this Mother's Day, we have drawn one step closer to Summer and the season of outdoors living. Out outdoors living space is nearly ready. I am amazed at the amount of time it takes to get everything done in preparation for the too short summer season. I am convinced that living in the land of perpetual summer, where people wear winter clothes when the temperature falls into the 60's would be much better.

For now, there are a few more minor things to do around the pool, like putting up the rails and power washing the deck to get everything shipshape. 

That is the easy stuff. The hard stuff is done.

Queue Sun and Summer! Let's Party!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Orb in the Sky

Blue Skies and Sun
May 7, 2016

As dawn broke this morning, something unusual happened--the sun also rose!

The gray skies that have covered the region for the past week parted and I saw patches of blue and sun shining on the still new, green leaves of the trees in my backyard.

It was a refreshing break from the gloom.

Azaleas in Bloom

The forecast is indicates that the sun will be seen for only few short moments today. In fact, as I write this the clouds are already beginning to obscure the scene and herald the arrival of more overcast weather.

My azaleas are attempting to cheer up the scene, but it is an almost futile effort in the face of overwhelming odds.

It is supposed to be pool opening day--that remains to be seen. I don't mind opening the pool in the rain, but it will be cold and I may not be able to properly dry the cover before folding it for storage until September.

At least I know the sun is still there. Maybe it will make more and longer appearances, soon!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

It is a Fowl Situation

It appears that the District of Columbia Department of Health picked on the wrong brood (does four really constitute a brood) of chickens when it issued an order on April 27th for them to be removed from a backyard. According to an article in the Washington Post titled, D.C. lawyers are suing the city to keep their four backyard chickens the Health Department received an anonymous complaint. 

The Post article appears pro-chicken because it lays out the logic and the laws which apparently are on the side of the chicken keepers. Apparently, the couple did "due diligence" before introducing the egg producing fowl into their yard by securing the agreement of immediate neighbors. And I noted, there was no mention of a rooster--which would definitely be an annoyance.

This is not the first time that backyard hens have made the news in the region. During July 2013, the Washington Post ran an article about people in some Northern Virginia counties working to allow backyard broods. That article, Backyard hens have residents clucking, describes the work being done to change laws to allow hens but not roosters to be kept in residential areas.

From my experience, children are a lot louder and more destructive than hens! The kids living in the townhouses next to me have knocked down one of my fences and regularly trespass in my yard. They are also extremely loud. I would much prefer a brood next door than the ear piercing screams of one of the children who cannot play quietly. The ice cream truck is another regular evening annoyance as well. 

Limits on the numbers of hens allowed in a residential brood do need to be established because some people just cannot be content not to have too much of a good thing. Additionally, town homes do not seem compatible with chickens either, things are just too close. But, stories abound of hundreds of cats or dogs being found for in homes--which is also against Health Code regulations. And so, with proper care and in limited quantities, I fully would fully support having hens next door!

Especially if they share the eggs!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Scrambled Week

The week is careening by and there are a lot of "on-the-fly" changes occurring on a moment-by-moment basis.

There is still an empty hole in the kitchen where a few days ago there was a sink! We are closer to a new sink, but still scrambling to actually procure one. There is an slim chance that a new sink will be installed this weekend. Using a kitchen without a sink is an experience! I did get the dishwasher hooked up so that it will do its job. One of the excess sinks was returned, I still need to contact the shipping company about the other.

The cold rainy week, while it may be good for the grass, is not doing either my mood or my golf game any good. I am still a newbie at golf and so I was excited the other day when I was practicing and actually was happy to see my club head speed increasing to a reasonable level! Of course I have absolutely no idea what direction the ball would have traveled since I was hitting into a net. 


Tonight's baseball practice for the GORC Pirates has been changed to a game! That is good and bad. The weather doesn't look like baseball weather, the high today is slated to be 59 degrees, but it does mean that we have something interesting to do this evening.

Crazy busy week!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD