Good-bye April

Another month of the year 2017 is about to occur and the year will officially be 25 percent complete. 

Our Lilac Bush

It is hard to believe how quickly the time is passing. The birds of Spring are singing in my ears where just a short month ago it was gray and cold with almost no birds calling to fill the air with song. 

Lilac Close-up

The trees surrounding my yard are still filling out, but I can say that all of my friends have returned for another season. I realize how much I had missed the green.

The lilac bush is finally in full bloom; filling the air with its sweet and unique scent. 

Thus far, my allergist seems to have managed a miracle and my allergies are under control and I am able to enjoy the Springtime without being drugged into submission.

Sitting on my back deck, with the birds, surrounded by the flowering plants of Springtime I am reminded that these are the best days. I savor them and I need to remember them, especially during the dark days of the Winter.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

On the Deck

In celebration of a beautiful morning and before I hit the golf course, I am sitting on my back deck enjoying the sounds of nature, interrupted by the noise of civilization.

Through the Screen
My Very Green Backyard
April 29, 2017

The trees are leafing and the green has fully returned to my backyard sanctuary. The birds are busy chirping and I hear at least six different calls simultaneously. I wish I was better at identifying birds from their calls. 

Cutting through the sounds of nature, however, are the passing jets flying out of BWI screaming to make altitude and get on their way to their destinations. Additionally, the sound of trucks in the warehouses occasionally drown out the birds songs. 

Despite the unwanted noise, I still enjoy the sounds of life and the rebirth of Spring. 

I just wish, sometimes, that I lived further away from the noise of civilization. But that written, I also need to enjoy what I am blessed with and appreciate my own backyard.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Taxes

I am not a fan of taxes.

It seems that everyone has a new tax plan. I like hearing that at least some of the plans are to reduce taxes.

How can that be bad?

Having just made it through another tax season, the wounds to my personal bank account are still very fresh. I welcome plans to reduce taxes.

I am patriotic and I pay my taxes, but I know that I would be stimulating the economy more if my tax bite were lower.

Why do some people believe we need more taxes anyway?

I was encouraged by the recently proposed tax reduction plan. Sure, it may not make a lot of sense given that we have a wall rivaling the Great Wall to construct, but if the government can get by with less, I'm a big supporter!

Simplifying the tax structure may actually increase revenue by ensuing that everyone pays their fair share and that the highest per capita earners do not get away paying less than middle income earners.

My Take: Let's reform the tax structure and require government to live within its means.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Different Kind of Competition

Jax at 24 Game Competition
April 26, 2017

I attend a lot of sporting events. It is evident from my posts. The events range from professional sports to youth sports and I participate in in two sports on a regular basis: racquetball and golf. 

Last evening I attended my first math event. It was the Anne Arundel County 3rd Grade 24 Game Championship. Jackson was one of two students representing his local elementary school at the County-wide finals. 

Jax in Action
24 Game Competition

Sadly, due to traffic, I was a few minutes late, but let me set the scene when I arrived at the Annapolis Senior High School gymnasium. There were ten tables with four children at each table with a proctor looking at cards using the four numbers on the cards to mathematically total 24. The crowd in the stands, which were full, was absolutely silent. There was no noise. I was a bit eerie walking into a full gym in silence with every eye looking at me wondering why I was late. 

The game progressed much like a chess match. I love to play chess--I do not like to watch chess being played. It can be like watching grass grow.

As the game progressed we really could not tell how Jax was doing. It appeared he was doing great, but after two rounds of the scheduled four round competition, Jax did not make the cut. But overall he did very well. 

It was an interesting event, but it definitely was not a spectator sport. 

Congrats, Jax! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friends don't Tax Friends

Lumber? 

The U.S. is about to start a major trade war with incredible tariffs over lumber? Really? See the article Trump slaps first tariffs on Canadian lumber. 

It was all over the news yesterday about the tariffs ranging from 3 to 24 percent on lumber from Canada. My thought is don't we have enough trouble in the world without picking a senseless fight with one of our closest friends? 

And who is going to pay? 

The American consumer, of course! Our prices will increase while dollars are exchanged by businesses and governments. 

I find it incredible that lawmakers do not realize that businesses do not pay the tariffs--the consumers do! Duh!

Whose prices go up? The consumers prices do!

I do not understand this at all. 

Allegedly, Canada has a high tariff on U.S. dairy products, but wood and milk do not mix. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Two is Too Many

Ethan with Broken Thumb
Thursday, April 20, 2017

I just have to comment today about my Grandson, Ethan. He just turned 12 less than two weeks ago and apparently in honor of his recent age change he has decided to do something that few people attempt or even think about. 

Ethan with Second Cast
April 24, 2017

Ethan has managed to break bones and get a cast on each arm in less than one week. It takes a dedicated person to be able to accomplish a feat of such magnitude. 

Here is the story. 

Last Thursday, Ethan was playing basketball and took a ball off his thumb. It hurt. And in the end it was broken and required a cast for healing and stability. Not too big a deal.

Then, over the weekend he was playing and managed to fall, catching himself with his good arm. Needless to say, the arm hurt and after a trip to the orthopedist, he had another cast. 

I guess you could say that Ethan is "armed and considered dangerous!" To himself!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - April 24, 2017

1. Today is the last Monday of April. The journey into Spring continues although it seems as if April only just began.

2. The rainy weekend washed out Saturday baseball and allowed for alternate activities.

3. The Orioles have the best record in the MLB. They continue to play well even though they lost yesterday.

4. It is five more days until the next weekend. Why am I thinking about that already?

5. Having a connected home could be a problem according to a New York Times article titled Here is Hoe to Fend off a Hijacking of Home Devices. 

6. I played golf yesterday, it was cool outside, but great to be out on the course.

Headlines

7. Showdown looms as Trump demands funding for wall on U.S.-Mexico border - The Washington Post

8. France's election reveals a new political divide - The Washington Post

9. Syria changed the World - The New York Times

Quote of the Week

"The developing world has been told that it's necessary to give up freedom in order to achieve progress. Nothing could be further from the truth."

Ronald Reagan

Remarks to the International Forum of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, April 23, 1986

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Happy the Rains Came

Circular Stairway at
Creek's Edge Winery

Yesterday's rain completely changed my plans for the day. 

The day was scheduled to be devoted to baseball with the annual GORC parade in the morning and another game for the GORC 10U Intramural Dodgers in the afternoon. Both events were canceled due to the wet conditions. 

The cancellations meant that the day suddenly became a blank page waiting to be filled with unscheduled activities. The first was the obligatory springtime trip to the landfill and recycling center. There is always an accumulation of junk that needs to move along and Chris and I managed a truckload yesterday. We were on our way to the dump by 8:30 AM which was the time the parade was supposed to form.

On the way home, we stopped at Home Depot and did some shopping. Being Springtime, there is always yard work that needs to be done and in this case we bought some grass seed to fill in the holes in the yard. We also priced a new smoker as our old rusted one had just been delivered to the metal recycling area of the landfill. 

Now the afternoon, what to do for the afternoon on a rainy day. Visit wineries, of course, was the answer. We hit the road and headed west to visit Big Cork, where we had a wine club distribution to retrieve. We enjoyed a tasting at the winery and then decided to find a winery we had not previously visited. After some work on the cell phone, the decision was Creek's Edge Winery about 30 minutes from where we were, but somewhat on the way back home. 

I will be writing up a full review in my wine blog, but visiting Creek's Edge was a great choice for the afternoon and we spent a few hours watching the rain fall and sampling some very nice Virginia wines in a magnificent and relaxing atmosphere.

I'm happy the rains came. Chris and I enjoyed a great unplanned day!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Surging into Spring

Bleeding Hearts in My Garden

The Spring has fully arrived and continues to deepen. I was amazed by the size of my bleeding hearts the other day. They are huge.

Lilacs are in bloom and the rains are making the lawn green, but unfortunately too wet to mow!

Chris and I on the Beach
April 13, 2017

I was reflecting yesterday that one week ago I had been on vacation in Florida.

The thought of being on a beach with a warm sun and blue sky is very appealing. 

It is rainy and overcast in the Baltimore region today. It is so wet that the Opening Day GORC Spring sports Parade was canceled. 

But that is Spring! And the scene is green! And getting greener every day!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Bird Teams Win

I know the title is a bit strange, but it was a crazy night as I was watching two very different sports teams win their games.

First, it is playoff season in the NHL and the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets to win their opening round series of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Penguins are the defending Stanley Cup Champions! The win was even more exciting because they accomplished the feat by laying their "back-up" goalie. It is important to note, however, that their back-up has helped the team win the Stanley Cup, so Marc Andre Fleury is one of the best goalies in the game. I wish the defense would help him to a bit more because he stopped 49 of 51 shots on goal last evening.

The Penguins are now awaiting their opponent for the second round of the playoffs. It will be either the dreaded Washington Capitals or the Toronto Maple Leafs. That best of seven series is tied 2-2. It will be a few days until the winner is finally determined.

My other bird team is, of course, the Orioles! The Orioles completed a 9-game road trip last evening with a 6-3 record. The Orioles continue to have the best record in baseball, but as the standings show that only makes them one-half game better than the team "whose name shall remain unwritten from up north." I am excited because I have tickets for tonight's game against the Red Sox and it will be my first Orioles game since Opening Day. 

The Orioles are off to a strong start, but then so are most of the other teams in the division. I am reminded that both of the American League wild card teams came from the American League East Division last season. The division remains one of the toughest in baseball. The top three teams in the division are a combined 30-15 .667 right now. 

I guess I like teams with bird logos because my favorite football team is the Ravens (another bird). 

Let's Go O's and Pens!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD