Out the Hotel Window - Huntsville

Out my Hotel Window
Evening Shot
Huntsville, AL

Traveling again, for the second week in a row! I am in Huntsville, Alabama. It has been a while since I have been here. I love the NASA rockets and museum. 

Looking at the Saturn V, I remember the exciting space flight days of the 60's and 70's when despite all odds, the United States send men to the moon and safely returned them. I have only recently begun to understand the complexity of the task and they accomplished it without the sophisticated computers we have today. 

I decided for a nighttime shot out my hotel window at all of the lights of the region. 

It is a beautiful sight--the stars and the lights of the night sky. I do wish that it were dawn, however. Daylight is so far elusive.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Huntsville, AL

Darkness Falls Early on the Land

Stars of the Night

I noticed the early passing of the day on Sunday. 

The darkness arrived early during the evening. Because of the clouds, the sunset was not visible and it was dark by about 7:30 PM. 

Summer has truly departed.

The long evenings enjoying the additional light has given way to the autumn and shorter days. The end of DST, or Daylight Saving Time, is still over a month away, November 5, but the daylight is becoming shorter and shorter. 

I need to pack more activity into the short daylight which remains between when I arrive home and darkness falls.

I guess that is why we have two fire tables and one fire pit--so we can enjoy the evenings longer as the night falls.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - September 18, 2017

Louis Protesting the Closing of the Pool

1. September is singing the praises of autumn. The leaves are falling everywhere. 

2. I closed the pool yesterday, with some help. I was happy to get it closed because the leaves are already falling from the trees, they look like big snowflakes falling to the ground. 

Leaves Falling on the Closed and Covered Pool

3. Closing the pool makes the ending of summer a reality.

4. Sports from Sunday: Winners: Orioles (not that it matters much), Ravens, Steelers, Redskins. Losers: Cowboys.

5. New puppies are a lot of work. They are cute and playful which almost makes up for the added work.

Our Dogs
Makayla and Finnegan

6. The weekend's 80 degree days were an enjoyable respire from the colder 60s and 70s we have been experiencing.

Headlines

U.S. warns that time is running out for a peaceful solution with North Korea - The Washington Post

Amid Opioid Crisis, Insurers Restrict Pricey, Less Addictive Painkillers - The New York Times

A Potent Fuel Flows to North Korea. It May Be Too Late to Halt It. - The New York Times

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"So, remember, in this vast and wonderful world that God has given us, it's not what's inside the Earth that counts, but what's inside your minds and hearts, because that's the stuff that dreams are made of, and America's future is in your dreams. Make them come true." Remarks at Convocation Ceremonies at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, September 20, 1983

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Scenes of the Day

From the Club House
Patuxent Greens
September 16, 2017

The weather yesterday was spectacular. The high temperature made it into the 80's and the humidity was low.

1st Tee
Patuxent Greens
September 16, 2017

I was able to begin the day on a local golf course and enjoy the sunrise. There were some spectacular scenes as the day arrived. I enjoyed the mist over the course as was preparing to head off to the first tee.


I love playing golf in the morning as the sun rises. I especially enjoy watching the mist rise off the land to reveal the beginning of the day. Admittedly, it can be some difficult golf because the greens are wet an slow. I did have a few three putts while playing the front nine which was frustrating. I made up for it by playing my best nine holes of golf ever on the back nine as the course dried and had no three putts along the way.

Heron at the Golf Course

But, the day was not entirely spent  on the golf course. 

I began work to, sadly, close the pool. It is time. Summer has escaped and the pool is just not going to be used again this season. While the temperatures today might support swimming, the falling leaves from the trees and the cold water temperature remind me that it is time to say good-bye to summer and welcome autumn.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Week with Puppy

Finn Chewing on a Too Big Bone

It has been only a week since Finnegan arrived, but it seems longer.

Cat, not ours, Keeping a Close Eye on Finn

Life at home has changed with the arrival of the small dog. He provides comic relief while also adding additional work to the daily pace of life. Chris is bearing most of the burden, but then she receives most of the attention from the small ball of fur.

My recent experience was not so exciting--or maybe it was. I had to retrieve Finnegan and Makayla from Tina and Patrick's house, they were dog sitting yesterday, and I forgot and drove Cat, the Jaguar. It was an interesting ride home with the top down but the windows up to prevent an inadvertent escape. I was holding Finn and keeping a close eye on Makayla. We made it home without incident.

Looking out the Door for Chris

Last evening we took Finn to Happy Hour with us. He was excellent in his behavior and was the star of the evening. Well, almost everyone, the cat of the house was not so amused to have the small dog running around. Fortunately, he does not chase cats. I fear that would end badly.

I am not sure who has the worst separation anxiety, Chris or Finn.

Call it an interesting week with puppy!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Spoon Dispenser Roulette

The cafeteria at work transitioned to plasticware dispensers a few years ago. These devices replaced the containers that used to hold the metalware, and then plasticware. 

I guess somehow recycling plastic is "more green" than washing metal forks, spoon, and knives. 

Because I often eat chili or soup for lunch, I generally use only the spoon dispenser . 

The spoon dispensers, over the years, have developed some into a lunchtime game for me. 

Here is the game. The dispensers release the spoons so quickly that if not caught, they spoons slide out of the tray and onto the floor. Getting a spoon has become a game of reflexes that requires that I grab the plastic spoon before it slides out and hits the floor. 

I have become pretty good at grabbing the spoon.  

I guess it is just one of the games I play to add some spice to the day. The food in the cafeteria certainly isn't that interesting.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Playing to the Season's End

The Orioles won a baseball game last night over the Toronto Blue Jays by the score of 2-1.

The pushed the Orioles record to 72-74, meaning that with 16 games remaining in the regular season the team is 4.5 games out of the second wild card spot and 2 games under .500.

It is a disappointing spot to be in. The season is coming to a close and the Orioles are ever closer to being on the outside of the playoffs looking in. 

The Orioles head off to New York for 4 games to play the team whose name shall remain unwritten. Following that series, they return home for the final homestead of the year beginning with the division leading Red Sox. 

Major League Baseball currently assesses the Orioles post-season chances at 1.1%. 

Pretty low. 

Very disappointing for a season that began 6 months ago.

I can envision the rain this morning to be the tears of Orioles fans as we come to grips with the finality of the season's end.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Building Ornament

Budweiser Brewery
Saint Louis

Driving near the Budweiser brewery yesterday, in St Louis, I happened upon a gargoyle (for lack of a better word), that caused me to pause. 

I also took a picture of it.

A rat eating and drinking.

It is fairly large as well. 

I am sure there is some connection.

I, however, do not know what it is. 

I am not sure I want a beer that is condoned by a medieval rat. Except, at a Renn Faire, maybe.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Saint Louis, Missouri

Out the Hotel Window - Saint Louis

Out my Hotel Window
Through the screen

I am traveling again. The view out of my hotel window is not too stunning--but the view from the hotel parking lot is a bit more interesting. 

From the hotel parking lot
The Arch

I guess I am used to looking over the tops of the buildings. 

Saint Louis is interesting, however, I arrived during rush hour--and traffic was a bad as expected. 

I was surprised how quiet this part of Saint Louis is at night. I went out to look for food and found nearly deserted streets. 

Today promises to be far more interesting.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Saint Louis

Monday Musings - September 11, 2017

Jax Pitching a Shut-out 6th Inning
September 10, 2017

1. It has been 16 years since the September 11th attacks on New York and the Washington, D.C. Take a moment from you life today to pause for a moment of remembrance.

2. Jax is playing fall baseball. It was good to see him out on the base paths again yesterday, but it was weird that I wasn't coaching. He had a great day in the field and at the plate. Striking out the side for a shut-out final inning was the topping on the cake.

3. Monday Morning Sports: The Ravens win! The Orioles got swept in Cleveland. The Cowboys win. The Redskins lose. The Steelers win!

Deer in the Yard
September 10, 2017

4. Faline, the fawn from last year, was in our yard yesterday. Of course I have no way of knowing if it was her or not, but it certainly did not seem to mind me walking around the yard until I started the blower.

Chris and Finnegan Modeling
 the Puppy Carrier

5. There is nothing funnier, or more comical, that seeing all of the accessories that Chris is getting to support Finnegan, our newly arrived Yorkie.

6. Don't forget to send help to Texas and Florida and the Caribbean in the wake of the hurricanes.

7. Hurricane Jose looks as if it won't become a problem for the U.S.

Headlines

‘People are roaming like zombies.’ Virgin Islands stagger after storm passes. - The Washington Post

Mexico Mourns After Quake: ‘We Have No Idea How We Are Going to Rebuild’ - The New York Times

North Korea threatens 'pain and suffering' ahead of UN sanctions vote - CNN

Ronald Reagan Quote of the Day

"Times have changed. But the basic premise of the Constitution hasn't changed. It's still our blueprint for freedom."

Remarks at the Bicentennial Celebration of the United States Constitution, September 16, 1987

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD