Christmas Eve Arrives

It's here!

I remember as a child the excitement, almost painful excitement, of waking in Christmas Eve and realizing that after an excruciatingly long day, the most exciting day of the year would dawn.

Christmas Eve is all about traditions in my family. 

We fill the day with family-oriented events to help build the excitement and make the holiday last longer. I know that personally, I usually like to go out shopping on Christmas Eve--but, fortunately this year all of my shopping is complete and all that I really need to do is wrap the gifts.

Let me share some holiday thoughts from the past, from President Reagan as he was lighting the National Christmas Tree:

"May we give thanks for a free America, an America united in the wonder of a season that includes not only Christmas but Hanukkah as well. And as we light this glorious tree, may Nancy and I offer a final wish to all Americans: that every Christmas that follows will be as full of joy as we have these past years to work in your service. May God bless you all."

Remarks on Lighting the National Christmas Tree, December 15, 1988

May the blessings of the season fill you with joy and wonder.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

An Exclamation Point on the Shopping

Poinsettia Tree
Columbia Mall
December 22, 2016

It is finished. 

I sojourned to the Columbia Mall, by myself, yesterday to complete the shopping task. It was relatively easy given that I had a pretty well defined list. I also had the opportunity to view my favorite Christmas decoration--the Poinsettia Tree that graces the center court in the Columbia Mall. I enjoy looking at the tree.

But, more importantly, I have completed my Christmas shopping and I'm ecstatic.  Now all that remains is to wrap the presents in preparation for the unveiling.

Well, I have to decide the order in which they will be opened.

But, at least I can relax now and enjoy the holiday. Not really, it gets even busier from here. 

Maybe on Monday I can take a deep breath.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sliding Past the Shortest Day of the Year

I felt it as it happened yesterday morning at 5:44 AM EST.

Winter arrived with the solstice. Unheralded, but it arrived nonetheless. 

Autumn departed and the shortest daylight day of the year happened. Daylight amounted to 9h23m59s. Ugh!

No one noticed. I had scheduled a holiday party to keep from becoming too depressed about the advent of winter.

I could use a trip south of the equator to enjoy some searing sunshine. 

I know that snow is in the forecast--not for this week, but for very soon. The holidays are coming and they just scream for snow. I hope it holds off. Maybe we can have a winter with less than 1 inch of the fluffy white stuff.

Springtime is about 90 days away, it begins on March 20th.  That means we only have to get through a few short months!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Holiday Mondays

It is the holiday season for sure.

I made an astounding discovery the other day. Three of the next four Mondays are federal holidays.

I was amazed. Here they are:

December 26 - Christmas Observed (Yes, Virginia, Christmas is a Federal Holiday and so you can say Merry Christmas without offending anyone).

January 2 - New Years Observed.

January 9 -Not a holiday!

January 16 - Martin Luther King Jr Birthday.

There are 10 federal holidays each year and three of them are crammed into a four week span. This year they are on Monday, as they will likely be next year as well. That makes for a convenient three-day weekend.

If only the weather were warmer and I could hit the golf course.

If only I were more motivated and could finish my Christmas shopping.

Happy Holidays--there are three to enjoy!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The President is Elect

The votes are cast and the election of 2016 is finally complete. The results will be certified on January 6, 2017 and a few short weeks later on January 20th, Donald Trump should become the 45th President of the United States.

The Electoral college put the exclamation point on the election. The final vote was 304 for Trump to 227 for Clinton with A few others receiving stray votes which is why the votes were not exactly as expected which was 306-232. 

Hopefully, the country can find find unity behind our new leader who clearly is the outsider that many voters desired. He definitely seems to have some unique and unorthodox ideas.

As our newly elected President takes office, I hope that he remembers that as the leader of the free world, every word he speaks is scrutinized for weakness and intent. 

As a nation we need to dream of greatness. 

I am reminded of the words Ronald Reagan spoke during his first inauguration during January 1981:

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are not heroes, they just don't know where to look. You can see heroes every day going in and out of factory gates. Others, a handful in number, produce enough food to feed all of us and then the world beyond. You meet heroes across a counter, and they're on both sides of that counter. There are entrepreneurs with faith in themselves and faith in an idea who create new jobs, new wealth and opportunity. They're individuals and families whose taxes support the government and whose voluntary gifts support church, charity, culture, art, and education. Their patriotism is quiet, but deep. Their values sustain our national life.

The President, is the President of every American and he must never forget that.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - December 19, 2016

1. This is the next to last Monday in 2016! In two too short weeks it will be January 2, 2017!

Jackson Owning the Court

2. In youth basketball yesterday, Jackson played a mean game of basketball, his team won 20-7. Ethan's team salvaged a 12-12 tie after a single overtime period. 

3. I saw Rogue 1 yesterday. It met all of my expectations and then some. Recommendation: See the movie!

4. The weather has become very seasonal, it is cold! Too cold!

Ice on Trees
December 19, 2016

5. Winter begins on Wednesday, December 21st, at 5:44 AM EST! Total daylight for that day in Baltimore will be 9h23m59s. That is 5 seconds less than today.

6. The NFL season continues in its lurching fashion. All of the family's teams remain in play: Dallas has clinched a playoff, the Steelers and Redskins currently possess playoff spots and the Ravens are in the hunt!

7. Today is Electoral College Monday! Will the final be 306-228? The President-elect should be official.

8. The ice on the trees Saturday was pretty in a surreal kind of way.

9. I hope the next two weeks are quiet! I would be nice to end the year on a calm note.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Holiday Sprint

The holiday marathon breaks into an all-out sprint for the finish line culminating with Christmas and Hanukkah next Sunday. It might be a good time to slow down rather than to speed up.

Yesterday's icy weather brought the first reality check to the Baltimore region as there was an incredible 67 vehicle pile-up on I-95 that claimed the lives of two people.

Today, however, the temperatures are already in the 50's. Reportedly, the temperature rose 40 degrees in one hour overnight. By this afternoon, the temperatures will be back into the 30's and there is snow in the forecast. 

I noted that at dawn this morning, the temperature in Elkridge was 56, Ithaca was 40, and Houston was 36 degrees. It is definitely an upside down weather day!

Every day during the coming week had some event or activity connected to it. If I take them one-at-a-time, I will successfully complete the week and be prepared for a fantastic celebration. 

Today's major activities: two basketball (Jax and Ethan) games and Rogue 1. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Slipping and Sliding

Pre-treated Roads

I wrote of the frigid weather yesterday. Today, it is worse. While not colder, it is actually 15 degrees warmer, we are besieged by freezing rain which is shutting down the entire area.


As I have been watching the news this morning about the multitude of accidents, I am thankful that I don't have to travel this morning. The roads were pretreated yesterday, but the volume of rain falling on the frozen roads has overwhelmed the pretreatment.

The airport is canceling flights due to the ice. Accidents are everywhere. It is a good not to have to go to work this morning.

I am looking forward to temperatures which are expected to rise into the high 50's by tomorrow afternoon, even if only briefly.

For now--be careful out there. It is a mess.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Frigid Cold Strikes

Sliding, as we are, into the beginning of winter, I should have expected something like this, but the frigid cold is truly a shock to my system.

The temperature last evening as I finished dinner was a whopping 16.5 degrees and this morning it was 13 degrees. Too cold to even think when I am outside. It was also 13 degrees in Ithaca. It was 73 degrees in Key West, Florida.

I didn't think it was supposed to get this cold in December? What happened to Global Warming? Last Christmas I remember temperatures in the 70's. We even golfed the day after Christmas. 

Frankly, I am nowhere near ready for this weather. The daylight is receding and darkness is enveloping the land. Where are the Druids when we need them?

In looking at the 10 day forecast, it is clear that I will not be golfing before Christmas unless I win an all expenses paid trip south.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Holiday Concert Season

It is the holiday concert season and last evening I was able to attend the strings concert at Waugh Chapel Elementary School.

What do the meanest middle linebacker on the GORC 80 pound football team and one beginning violin player at Waugh Chapel Elementary have in common? They are one in the same: Jackson.

A well rounded life includes an appreciation for music. Holiday Concerts showcase developing talent.

Ethan also had his holiday concert last evening. Unfortunately, for some unknown reason the two schools scheduled their festivities for the same time and I could only attend one.

Holiday concerts are one of the joys of the season. While the music may not be executed like the recordings we are listening to, the enthusiasm makes up for everything.

Happy Holidays. Rather, I mean, Merry Christmas.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD