November Golf

I managed to get out to a golf course yesterday.

Compass Pointe
November 19, 2016

It was a beautiful morning and the temperature was in the big 60's by the time we finished our round. 

I do not expect to be able to play a round of golf wearing only a short sleeve shirt during November--but by the ninth hole yesterday, that is exactly what happened. Although I started the round with a jacket, it was off and I was enjoying  the bright sunshine at the turn. 

Compass Pointe
November 19, 2016

We played at Compass Pointe, where we have played before, but yesterday we were on the South and West courses which we had not played. It was a spectacular autumn day with a crystal clear sky and golden sunlight.  The golden and rust autumn leaves remain on many of the trees and provided stunning sights as we progressed along the course. The course is challenging and fun. The greens were very hard--the pins were in very difficult positions. 

It was just good to be outside on such a beautiful day.  And playing golf was even better.

Too soon, the cold and wintery weather will be here and I will be looking forward to Spring golf trips and pool opening day. But, for now I was able to extend the Autumn by one more day.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Around the Fire

It was an amazing evening.

Happy Hour with George and Sue
November 18, 2016

Happy hour around the fire table, outside during late November. It really doesn't get much better. 

The temperature topped out at 67 degrees yesterday, which is warm, and we were able to enjoy friends and a couple great wines together outside before coming inside for dinner.

That doesn't happen often during November, especially late November when parts of the country are being covered by a blizzard. 

It was very nice not to be wearing a coat and still be warm enough to enjoy the experience.

Did I mention that we also enjoyed some great wines from one of our favorite vineyards in Virginia? That would be Keswick? We enjoyed the 2009 Consensus and the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve. 

Great wines, great friends and a great time. What could be better?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Season of the Turkey

Guarding the Fireplace

It is the Season of the Turkey, the short about four week span between Halloween and Black Friday.

I have been neglecting my turkeys this year. They are on display, but with the election and the weekend trip to California, I just haven to been in the turkey mood.

And now Thanksgiving is less than a week away.  The Season of the Turkey will be over and the headlong rush to Christmas will begin.

My favorite turkey guards the fireplace to ensure that the guy in red does not make an early visit. This turkey was actually one of the first in my collection and I still remember the day at the flea market in Center Township, PA, when I found and came home with this turkey. It has been very durable and spends eleven months every year in the attic waiting for the Season of the Turkey when it becomes the centerpiece of the display.

Door Topper

The door topper is a turkey project that I made, with the help of Chris. It was one of the first projects that I did on my Shopsmith. 

I enjoy putting the turkey door topper over the entrance to the house over the protestations of my family because it sets the tone for the season. 

As I approach the last weekend of the Season of the Turkey, the impending season will begin to push into the living space. This weekend is Snow Village weekend, when the village is unpacked and comes to life yet again. 

But, the turkeys will be watching from their safe vantage points as the transition to another season begins and their time in the spotlight begins to wane.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Mountain-man Look

I am noticing it everywhere.

Mountain Man

The youth of America, at least some of them, seem to think the mountain-man look is appealing.

It seems that everywhere I venture, I see the thuggish, hairy, bearded look lurking.

Lots of youth are adopting the look. It is unkept. 

I do not see the allure.


It must be a testosterone thing. Growing all of that hair and beard. But, they don't keep it neat. 

Many sports stars seem to be adopting the look as well--but that doesn't make it the correct thing to do. And of course there is the impact of Duck Dynasty. 

I suppose if these youth were living in rural areas and chopping wood daily for heat, the look would be appropriate, but as this area is definitely urban and civilized, they should adopt a more dignified look. 

For me, it just doesn't work

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Self-absorbed Living

I have the pleasure of driving in dense traffic on most days. OK, it really isn't a pleasure, it is a chore. And it certainly isn't fun.

I have noticed a trend over the past few years that does not bode well for the future--drivers have forgotten how to use turn signals.

The failure to signal planned activity on the roads while traveling at 60 mph or faster is not just an oversight, it represents a self-absorbed living and places others on the highway at risk. It represents a loss of civility. I find myself more and more trying to anticipate what other drivers are planning based upon small changes in their lane positioning. 

There are other examples of self-absorbed driving. The individuals who drive on the shoulders to get ahead of traffic jams and those who aggressively weave across multiple lanes of traffic driving like they were filming a great movie chase scene. These are additional examples where self-absorbed driving puts others arg risk, needlessly.

Aggressive and self-absorbed driving may be symptomatic of where our society is headed. Lack of consideration for others is not only apparent on the highways. It shows up in other places as well. Simple areas, like holding doors open for the person following through an entrance or exit. Seeing that the person behind in line has only one item and allowing them to go in front.

We are losing sense of community and are becoming a society of individuals without ties to the people around us who are also trying to make it through the day. 

We are all in life together, let's try to approach it as a team sport and work together.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Election Reflections

Michigan still has not been officially decided in the electoral college vote whether for Trump or Clinton. New Hampshire was finally decided for Clinton.

It almost seems anti-climatic at this point.

It is hard to believe that the election happened a week ago, it had become an all consuming event in the 18 months leading up to November 8th.

Projected Election Results from Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections

I am encouraged to see that the President-elect is moderating his stand on some of his campaign statements. It gives me a little confidence that reality will soon set in as the process of transitioning power between the administrations continues. 

There is a huge difference between being a candidate and the President-elect and I believe that reality is beginning to set in for the winning side.

The news media is painting an inaccurate picture of the election results. Clinton did not, and has not, win the popular vote, she had the most votes but not a majority. It is incredible, but I could not find the actual results on line for all the candidates, but I found a projected results chart. There were at least four candidates and none of them had more than 50 percent of the vote. 

Because no one had more than 50 percent of the vote, no one won the popular vote. I believe that it is a fine but important point and the general news media is skewing public opinion about the results.

I still am amazed that the election was a week ago and we still can't get over it.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - November 14, 2016

1. November is fast slipping away. The month is half over tomorrow.

Thanksgiving Cactus

2.  Our Thanksgiving cactus thinks the month is farther along acting as if the holiday has already arrived.

3. It is refreshing to be in the post-election environment. The news media is actually having to report real news. 

4. Sunset tonight in Baltimore occurs at 4:52 PM. Wait, that is not tonight, it is this afternoon!

5. I went outside and looked at the super Moon last evening. I couldn't see the cape (super heroes have capes, right?) and it didn't seem so super. But, it was bright.

Point Mugu State Park, California
November 7, 2016

6. During our drive from Lompoc to Los Angeles last week, we made a quick stop at Point Mugu State Park and snapped some spectacular images. 

7. "There is no more striking symbol of democracy than the picture of a citizen casting a ballot, electing a leader,  choosing his or her own destiny." Ronald Reagan 1982.

8. What a wild day in the NFL. The Saints saw the potential game-winning extra point after touchdown turn into two points for the Broncos. And how about them Cowboys winning one of the most thrilling finishes that I have seen in a long time?

9. The world's saddest polar bear is being rehoused in China according to the New York Times. 

10. On this date in 1969 the Apollo 12 mission to the moon lifted off and the United States went to the moon for the second time during the year. If only we still had the capability to put humans on the moon today.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

First Killing Freeze

Frost on my Lighter Amid the Christmas Lights

This morning the temperature was 28 degrees as I rolled out of bed and there was no doubt--the first killing freeze of the season had happened last night.

Heavy frost was everywhere as the sun rose. I suppose this will bring our lengthy and colorful autumn to an end and the trees will rapidly lose their remaining leaves becoming bare trunks and branches prepared to stand against winter's coming onslaught.

Frost on my Windshield

The frost painted rooflines of the houses were a testament to the frigid temperatures. I was glad that I did not have to head off to work this morning because the frost on my windshield was so thick.

I suppose the frosty scene was fitting as I had put the Christmas lights into their place on Friday while the temperature during the day was still in the 60's.

While not complete, the exterior of the house is ready for the on-rushing Christmas season and the colder temperatures that come with it. The interior, however, is still devoted to the season of the turkey! It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is less than two short weeks away and then the sprint to the end of the year takes off.

As I watch the frost begin to melt in the strengthening sun of the day, I see the leaves that I need to move from the yard and a host of other pre-winter projects that need to be completed.

It is going be another beautiful autumn day filled with sunshine and temperatures in the 60's. 

I am going to enjoy the day while I can.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Beaches

Chris on Pismo Beach, California
November 6, 2016

Chris and I love beaches. Ocean beaches are preferred, but we can find peace and serenity on almost any beach.

This past summer we did not have many opportunities to relax on beaches. We did make the quick trip to the Bahamas during late-March and early-April which included all-to-brief beach time in both Florida and the Bahamas, but until last week that was pretty much the extent of our time in the sand.

Chris at Gavitoa State Park Beach, CA
November 5, 2016

Last week during our get away to California, we made it a point to be on a beach for part of every day except for our travel day back to Maryland. We enjoy the sound of the waves and I believe we are both more centered when we look out at the vastness of the ocean. 

We take a lot of images at the beach, mostly of the waves and the water. Only rarely do we catch each other in an image and I was able to get a couple good shots of Chris during our trip. The Gavitoa State Park Beach was interesting because of the train trestle. A passenger train traversed the trestle while we were there, but I was too slow with my camera. 

Seagull at Pismo Beach Pier, CA

I wasn't too slow, however, to capture a seagull as it prepared to fly away while we visited the Pismo Beach Pier.

Capturing wildlife on the beach is always fun. 

The Pismo Beach Pier was especially enjoyable as we spied, in addition to the seagulls, whale spouts in the distance and otters feeding just off the pier. I had never seen ocean otters before and I initially thought they were harbor seals. Silly me, harbor seals don't lay on their backs in the water and eat! Duh!

I know that I probably should be writing about the recent election or discussing the impending Thanksgiving holiday (which is less than two weeks away) but, beaches are far more interesting at this point.

There is plenty of time to write about politics and holidays. I spend far too little time looking out at the ocean and contemplating the vastness of the universe.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Ashtrays in Aircraft

I have taken two trips recently where I flew in an venerable Boeing 737 for too many hours. 

Ashtray in the 737 Facility Door

On both of the trips, that would be two roundtrips, I had occasion to use the restroom. 

I noticed something very strange during these trips. There is an ashtray in the door of the restroom. 

Smoking has not been allowed on US aircraft in 16 years. Yet, they still have an ashtray in the restroom door? 

That seems very strange to me. How difficult would it be to remove the ashtray? Why is it still there?

I guess it is one of those design items that they just can do away with. But certainly the restroom doors could be replaced.

I suppose the ashtray in the aircraft door is like an appendix, it does nothing except cause trouble.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD