Thursday, June 30, 2016

World's Oldest Twinkie


I remember Twinkies!

Apparently there was a science class in Maine, 40 years ago, that was studying the effects of  preservatives in food. They unwrapped a Twinkie and documented the changes as the popular snack item was exposed to air.

The Twinkie still lives. 

40 Year Old Twinkie
According to first hand reports, the Twinkie is mostly unchanged from the original out-of-the-package look, except for some dust.

The preservatives work.

I wonder if that is a good thing or not?

The Twinkie survives despite all of the publicity and the retirement of the teacher that began the science project. It is under glass for all to see. 

Note to self--Twinkies are definitely not health food.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

As the Sky Changes


The sky has shown some stark beauty and ferocity during the past few days. 


Denver, CO
June 28, 2016
Sunset
Last evening, for example, as I was leaving the restaurant where I had dinner, there was both a thunderstorm and a beautiful sunset in the sky. I tried to capture it, but it just doesn't look the same in an image. 

The lightening was actually very close, causing me to head for the car instead of trying for another, better, image.

I had thought about attending the Rockies game, but in a strange moment of mature thought, I looked at the weather and decided against going into Denver. The start of the game was delayed for almost three hours as it turned out. I made a good choice.


Baltimore International Airport
June 27, 2016
Dawn!
I was also amazed at the dawn sky in Baltimore the day that I was departing. The deep colors were amazing, however, the lights reflected by the terminal make the image less appealing. 

If you look deep into the image, you can see my reflection taking the picture.

It was much more beautiful in person.

The sky--I love the cyan of a clear day, but the morning and evenings also lend themselves to a fantastic show.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, CO

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Out the Hotel Window - Denver, June 2016


June 27, 2016 - Denver, CO
The picture out the window is fairly nondescript. The difference from last evening when I arrived until this morning is in the lighting and the angle that I shot the image. 

June 28, 2016
Denver, CO
It is good to be back in the Denver area again. I guess. I am not at my usual hotel and I had hoped the images out the window would have been better, but alas, it was not. 

The weather has been nice--it is supposed to creep into the high 90's today and that will be a true burst of summer. 

I made a trip to Colorado Springs yesterday and looked up to Pike's Peak. It is still magnificent.

Well, as I wrote, the view out my window is not spectacular, but the sun is up and it is another day.

I wonder what adventures are in store for me.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, Colorado



Monday, June 27, 2016

Monday Musings - June 27, 2016


1. I saw a dead black bear along the highway yesterday in Northern Pennsylvania. I had never seen one along the road before.

2. The best afternoon is one where I wind up on a floatie in the pool with a glass of wine.

3. Every time I take an early morning flight, I ask myself, why?

4. I remember I used to like driving for the sake of driving, now I just drive to get somewhere.

5. Did you notice that the Orioles have opened up a 4 game lead in the division? Let's go O's!

6. The best part about traveling is getting back home.

7. On this date in 1967, the world's first ATM was installed--in England!

8. I noticed how green the mountains were yesterday on the drive through Pennsylvania. They were very pretty and I much prefer that color to the gray of winter! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Graduation Party

Graduations are huge events. They are significant life events that foretell change. They mark endings and stand at the precipice of new beginnings.

I had the opportunity to celebrate Trevar's high school graduation over the past few days. I enjoyed golfing with him and watching him walk across the stage to the cheering of his adoring family and friends. Yesterday was the blow out party that saw four generations of family gather in celebration.

And now comes the hard question, what next?

It doesn't need to be answered right away, but the opening sentences in the next chapter are being written.

The morning after the party isn't the time to write too many words of the dawning chapter of life, but after the celebration is over life begins again.

It is the way of life. The ending of one chapter is the beginning of the next.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Route 15 near Mansfield, PA

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Everything goes better with Coke

Ginger with Coke
After a long and stressful day full of visitors and unusual activity, Ginger, the chocolate lab needed some alone time to consider life and have a Coke.

Everything goes better with Coke! Well that's what the ads say.

It was actually humorous because she nabbed the partially full Coke bottle from Chris and took the top off before chewing it up. We are not sure what happened to the liquid, but as she has a history of doing this to water bottles and we expected her to have a reaction when she tasted Coke instead of water.

She liked the Coke. Note to self, don't leave my Coke bottles lying around.

I wonder if she likes Diet Coke, too?

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ithaca, NY

Friday, June 24, 2016

Friday Evenimg

Trevar Teeing Off
June 24, 2016
Newman Municipal Golf Course
Ithaca, NY
Sitting around after a busy day playing some lawn games. It is a idyllic day. I played golf in the morning with the recent (last evening) graduate Trevar and am spending the evening with family and games.

It is nice to be able to get away from the grind and enjoy some time off.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ithaca, NY

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Return of the Mudslinger(s)


After what seemed like a too short respite, the political mudslinging has returned.

Yesterday was particularly vile with multiple attacks form both sides on the other candidate.

There was also the side-show in the House of Representatives as some Congressmen staged a 60's era sit-in. I was a bit appalled, has our government been reduced to sit-ins and demonstrations when votes should be taken and tabulated?

The political section of the New York Times reads like a report from the front lines of Afghanistan with one candidate taking shots and the other returning fire.

It is artificial drama!

While some talk about the race to the White house, it seems more like a school yard brawl.

I wish the personal attacks would cease and some real plans be put on the table to discuss. 

Bottom line? It's business as usual in D.C.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

When the Weather Turns Ugly


The Baltimore region experienced some ferocious thunderstorms which included a tornado yesterday. 

The normally balmy weather turned ugly and the power of the storms was clearly evident.


House Damaged During Storms
June 21, 2016
An EF-0 tornado touched down in the western part of the county causing a lot of damage. Trees were felled, one into a house. The owner of the house, however, put it in perspective by relating that two of his children were in the house at the time, one of them in a rooms that the tree fell into and they both escaped without injury. That was what was really important. The damage was secondary, the safety of his family was primary. 

Keeping loved ones safe is critical.

For my part, I expected the pool to be a mess, but it really was not too bad. The area of the county in which I live seemed to escape the worst of the storm. Yes there were leaves everywhere, but not the kind of damage experienced elsewhere. 

The storms were a reminder of the raw power that they contain. They deserve respect.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

My Take: Who Will Speak Up?


I have been shocked by the apparent mood in America which would condone discrimination and the exclusion of particular identifiable classes of people from the protections of The Constitution.

There are some in the country who want to build a wall, exclude certain religious classes of people from entering the country, and limit other classes of people from access to public services.

This concerns me and as I was turning these proposals over in my mind, I was reminded of a statement that I learned many years ago. 




The words are from by Martin Niemoller, an outspoken protestant pastor.  

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Socialist.


Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— 

Because I was not a Trade Unionist.


Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— 

Because I was not a Jew.


Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

My Take: There are parallels to America today.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

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