Dream Big for America

Set against the backdrop of 2016 and perhaps the most contentious election in recent history filled with vulgarities and dirt almost never before seen, I visited the Ronald Reagan Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California, yesterday.

Outside the Reagan Presidential Library and Museum

What a change. I think everyone needs to get in touch with how American politics used to be. When Reagan was elected, the Republicans did not control the House of Representatives--but the country still got things done. There was a dedication to America and the country and less to partisan politics.

Ronald Reagan had a vision for America--and it was a positive vision for the future. I saw a video of a Presidential Debate and the the words were firm but polite. Our current brand of politics have become thuggish. Where the 80's the good old days? Certainly not! Reagan took office facing out of control gas prices and double digit inflation. I remember the interest rate of the first house that Chris and I bought was 11.75 percent!!

Me Next to Reagan's Air Force 1
Tail Number 27000

The election of 1980 was not an election where the choice was the lesser of two evils, but rather it was a choice between two visions for America. The election was not filled with personal attacks, but rather it was defined by laying out a path for the future.

I cringe at the thought of the future right now. I wonder if either of our candidates has any vision for America's future other than becoming our next President.

Chris, Riding Next to President Reagan

Visiting the Reagan Library and Museum was almost a religious experience. I truly came into adulthood during the 80's and I grew up immersed in the issues facing America at that time. I remember how President Reagan took America by the reins and changed direction--not with words, but by actions.

In his State of the Union address during January 1984, President Reagan said, "America is too great for small dreams."

We are faced, during this election it seems, with  flawed and small dreams for America. We are faced with the vilest form of partisanism. Who is offering a choice and a vision for America and for everyone and not just select groups?

"I know our people will not fail America. They never have. Our task is to be sure our leaders do not fail the American people."
                                         Ronald Reagan, 1982

-- Bob Doan, writing from Lompoc, CA

Drone Games

Patrick's Karma drone

Patrick showed up on my doorstep the other evening with a great new toy: the GoPro Karma drone.

Nice.

We flew it around the neighborhood for a bit--and it is really nice. Much better than the inexpensive drone that I have. Mine is so light I don't even need to register it. 

The drone flies so easily--GPS and gyro stabilized. 

It was a lot of fun, but a bit scary because of the trees. 

I want one. 

I have no idea what on earth I would do with it, but I do want one to play with. 

I think the gyro stabilized images will be awesome. I'm looking forward to some daytime images of the house from the air!

Boys and toys. How true.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Cubs WIN!

Game 7 did not disappoint. It had everything that baseball has come to expect from a Game 7: drama, homers, rain delay, and scoring, but most importantly it showcased two teams playing some of the best baseball possible ending a season that began seven months ago.


Yes, I was up late last evening. No, I was not awake for the deciding 10th inning because I had to preserve something for work today. The rain delay at midnight east coast time caused me to evaluate my options and choose some sleep and to read about the winners in the morning.

What an inning it was. Two runs scored for the Cubs and one for the Indians. 

The Cubs won their first championship since 1908! That is historic! Even the New York Times documented the occasion with an image on the first page. The movie "Back to the Future" was off by only one year!

The Cleveland Indians now possess the longest championship drought in baseball, as they last won the World Series during 1948!

And so, the 2016 MLB campaign has ended. The boys of summer have struggled since April and finally, a champion has been crowned. 

Tonight, I can go to bed at a reasonable hour! Spring Training does not begin until February!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Game 7--Tonight

Although it did not look likely a few days ago, the Cubs hailing from Chicago will meet the Indians from and in Cleveland for the final and deciding game of the 2016 World Series tonight.

It is going to be a long evening for me as I anticipate watching the game to completion.

Just Sunday evening, it appeared that the Cubs would fall short in their quest to end the championship drought, but game 5 apparently was a turning point. Last evenings 9 runs, in their 9-3 win, propelled the Cubs into the deciding, and final, game 7.

Nine runs last evening in game 6 almost equalled their total run production for the first five games--which was 10. 

Game 7's are magical and heart-breaking. There is no tomorrow and one of the two teams that has been playing for the Championship of the World will go home a "loser." Although, really, by playing in a World Series how can a team ever be considered a loser? There are 28 other teams that did not make the World Series. 

I am not going to make a prediction for the game, because by their very nature, Game 7's are almost unpredictable. Here are some interesting facts:

 -  The Cubs last World Series appearance was Game 7 in 1945 against the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers won, in Wrigley Field, Chicago, 9-3; which was the score of last night's game (how strange is that?). 

 - Since 1991, the six World Series have gone to game 7 and the home teams have won 5 times. In 2014, the Giants defeated the Royals in Kansas City.

 -  The last time that Cleveland was in the World Series was 1997 and they lost game 7 to the Marlins in Florida. They lost 3-2 in 11 innings.

It seems that history is against the Cubs, but still, I want the Cubs to win tonight. 

Let's go Cubs! And then next season I want to be able to use one of those World Series tickets that I get from the Orioles for a home game!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Good-bye Halloween, Hello November

Another Halloween is over and October now is past.
The trees are getting bare and the cold is coming fast. 

The Kids Before Setting off to Trick or Treat

Happy November. It is the season of the turkey! The calendar continues to slip away, day by day, and the end of the year is approaching.

Sunday marks the end of daylight saving time and with it the darkness really begins to take over as the slide towards the winter solstice begins in earnest.

Candidates Trick or Treating

Last evening's festivities were enjoyable observed with the grandsons. They conquered the neighborhood in Odenton and retrieved a major haul of candy from the generous homeowners. There were a number of excellent costumes. And, I even spied the presumptive future President of the U.S. out trick or treating in the neighborhood. Both candidates were out together carrying a baby. I took a picture as proof. I was surprised that "The Donald" was not wearing a red tie, however.

But the fun and games of October has become the serious contemplation of the November national election. It is time, America, to choose our next President. I do not recall a race as tumultuous since the 60's. 

And November has arrived. It is decision time now that the fun times are behind us.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - October 31, 2016

1. Happy Halloween, it is the last day of October.

2. There is something really fantastic when temperatures hit 80 during the last couple of days of October.

3. Halloween decorations are everywhere in our neighborhood. We got a new projector and now have scary stuff on our garage door.

Saturday Evening at the Fire Pit

4. The best evenings are when we can sit by the fire pit and enjoy Happy Hour. Last evening it rained, but Saturday evening it was perfect. And we still have a few leaves on the trees.

5. Chris and I voted yesterday because we are going to be traveling on Election Day. It feels good to be done with the process. I'm glad that Maryland has early voting.

6. I saw the movie Inferno on Friday night. It is OK. The book was better.

7. Italy had another earthquake yesterday. The strongest to date. They have had three in the past week.

8. The Cubs won game 5 of the World Series. Back to Cleveland for game 6 and then game 7, if needed.

9. Thankfully, the Ravens had the weekend off to recover and I didn't have to suffer through another frustrating football loss.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

October's End

It was a spectacular October Saturday. It started cold, with a temperature of 37, but then it warmed to an enjoyable 70 degrees allowing for a multitude of autumnal activities.

The Grasses Around the Pool are Cut

Chris in Costume

First was the annual cutting of the grasses around the pool. 

Another sign of the approaching winter. The grasses are easier to cut when they are green and I can get them all into my truck for transport to the landfill for recycling into mulch. After the winter, once they have dried and are brown they do not pack together as well and it can take two or more trips. 

The grass cutting project took about three hours from start until I was back home after visiting the landfill. Not too bad. 

After cleaning up and some lunch, it was off to to the annual Halloween party. Chris and I decided to don costumes and enjoy the party. Sadly, we were the only adults who felt the pull of the festivities. 

I can hardly believe that tomorrow is Halloween, and then comes the season of the turkey. I am amazed that living life one-day-at-a-time makes the seasons pass so quickly. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

What Happened to the Time?

As the days grow shorter, I am beginning to have more stress about getting the outside activities accomplished in preparation for the winter.

The cold mornings, this morning it was 37 degrees, do not help either. It takes a while to get warm enough to work outside or to play golf.

Grasses Before Cutting
in the Cold Morning Light

As I was getting a bit stressed the other day about time, I realized something that I already knew:

Everyone gets the same amount of time, every day. It is not something you can increase or decrease. It is all a matter of how we choose to use our daily allocation.

Wow. 

So if I decide to allocate my available hours to playing golf, I have to be content with the things that I am not doing--like cutting the grasses around the pool which is actually this morning's project once the temperatures warm up a bit.

It is no fun to hit a golf ball in temperatures approaching freezing. Just saying. 

So I will allocate my time based upon the weather to get the best possible outcome. That is really the best anyone can hope for.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Election Grind

It is hard to believe, but in a week and a half the election season which began more than two years ago will be finally ended and a new President selected.

Then the process of repairing the brokenness of the country will begin. There is an ominous piece in the NY Times this morning warning of violence if Clinton wins. It just shows the level to which the hate mongering has taken the electorate. 

That is not how our country is supposed to react to the transition of power, but the two leading candidates have made the election too personal. It has become about ego and not about plans and programs for governing our nation.

The assertions that the election is rigged are preposterous. If the American people vote, the numbers will be counted. The election can only be rigged if people don't vote. 

I will likely vote early, so that on election day I don't have to stand in expected lengthy lines to cast my ballot. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Frost on the Pumpkin

Yesterday morning arrived and with it, the first frost of the season. It was a light frost on the windshield of my truck, but it was definitely frost.

Freshly Mowed Late-October Yard

The presence of the first frost of the season changes so many things. It is a visible sign that autumn is slipping into winter and the fast approach of the season of darkness. 

The leaves dropping from the trees surrounding my yard created a blanket on the ground. Another sign of the passing season. I attacked them with my tractor yesterday and for a short while the yard was free of leaves--but the bare branches of the trees are clearly visible in the image I took of the probable last mowing of the year. 

I will likely use the mower to blow the leaves back into the forest as they continue to fall from the trees, but I doubt that the grass will grow much more. 

In honor of the season, I researched the poem by James Whitcomb Riley titled, When the Frost is on the Punkin. I had forgotten that it is written in the colloquial dialect of late-19th century Indiana, which makes it a very interesting read. 

For your enjoyment, here are the last four lines of the first stanza:

O, it’s then’s the times a feller is a-feelin’ at his best, 

With the risin’ sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest, 

As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock, 

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock. 

When I reread poems like this one, I realize that in some respects our language has become too homogenized and that we are losing our regional character.

But, the frost is on the pumpkin and the day is getting gone.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD