Sleeping by the Fire

Riordin by the Fire

Riordin continues to be the most appreciative of the warmth that comes from the fireplace when a fire is driving the coolness from the room.

The other evening he was sprawled out in front of the fireplace keeping watch on the fire.

The cat loves to be warm. I caught him sprawled across the arm of my chair worshiping the fire just a few weeks ago. Whenever we have a fire, Riordin is nearby. When there is not fire, I often find him sitting on a register soaking up the warm air from the furnace.

I, too, love the warmth from the fire. I also love the smell of the wood as it burns.

Obviously, however, I don't love it as much as Riordin.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Star Wars Season

It is that time of the year. Star Wars has returned to the theater with the next installment of the saga which began during 1977.

It is hard to believe that the saga continues and has now begun to grow stronger with each successive movie. The chronological sequence had gotten a bit complex, There were the first three movies, and then three prequels, then another movie at the end, followed by a movie in the middle and now another movie at the end. 

I'm not sure how they are actually numbered, but sequentially it looks like they were released in the following order:
4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 7, 3.5,  and now 8.

I am excited because I will be seeing the current release today!

It is an event, after all. I am excited to be a part of it.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

In the News--the Good is Out There

The holiday news certainly is not uplifting this morning.

Net neutrality has been repealed.

Kim Jong-un may have executed another leader in North Korea.

Another NFL player was carted off the field last night with a potential serious and life-changing injury. 

There is snow and more cold in my forecast.

A woman and two daughters died in a fire in Baltimore. 


So much for tidings of great joy.

I found the Good News Network!

A military Mom has sent 10,000 care packages to the troops. 

A college in Puerto Rico is offering a free semester to help students continue to meet their educational goals despite the recent hurricane induced delays. 

Mexico is protecting the largest ocean reserve in the world.

Sportsmanship is still alive as a boy tried to give his winners trophy to the girl who actually won a golf tournament, but could not be the winner because she was a girl.

Good news is out there. Just look for it. It may not be sensational, but it is important to be aware of the good things happening around us.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Season Slips Away

Columbia Mall Poinsettia Tree
2017 Version

I looked at the calendar this morning.

I shouldn't have!

There are only 11 days until Christmas and for the second time in less than a week we received snow overnight which is dusting the roads and lawns. 

Finnegan and Makayla 

It is the pervasive cold which bothers me the most. I do not enjoy walking through the door and being slapped in the face with the frigid temperatures of winter. It causes me to shiver and mourn the loss of the summer. Where are the palm trees?

Christmas Trees are a poor substitute for the palms that line the warm and sandy beaches where I enjoy the warmth, water and blue skies.

It is still autumn! It is not even winter, yet. Winter does not officially start until next week and then we have at least two months of frigid cold and darkness.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Win for Decency

I'm glad that I was not directly involved in the Alabama Senate election. 

Common sense and decency apparently has prevailed in Alabama overnight as the democrat, Doug Jones, was elected to fill the Senate seat vacated by Attorney General Sessions in the special election as reported by The New York Times.

It has been a very longtime since the democrats have held a senate seat from Alabama. Finally, the impact of presenting a flawed candidate to the voters has backfired. That the vote was as close as it was demonstrates that too many people continue to vote along party lines rather than carefully assessing the credentials of those who would represent them in the Congress.

Despite how we may feel about our party or the opposition, we, as an electorate, must not continue to elect flawed candidates to represent us. Electing flawed representatives continues the pattern of ineffective leadership that we have been experiencing in our government.

The republican candidate was obviously flawed and not suitable to represent Alabama in the Senate.

Maybe now the political leaders will begin to find deserving candidates to represent "we the people."

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Birthdays, Holidays, and Family

Nicole with her Birthday Cake

I was reminded last evening about how family makes the holiday season much more exciting. It is also the middle of the our family's birthday season and so we have our own celebrations to enjoy along the way. 

The Great Looking Haslup Family

We have, in fact, two birthdays to celebrate this week. 

Last evening we celebrated Nicole's birthday. It was a continuation of the celebration we began in D.C. on Friday night. We finally got to enjoy the cake and presents portion of the celebration.

It is fun to get together, especially on a weeknight. That is what families do. Especially when there is a celebration involved. 

Happy Birthday, Nicole.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - December 11, 2017

1. It is two weeks until Christmas. How is all of that shopping going. I think we have returned half of what has been bought.

2. There is something warm and welcoming about a fire in the fireplace.

3. Ethan and Jax began their basketball seasons yesterday with wins! My how the sped of the game has increased for Ethan. It is real basketball.

4. The first snow of the season stayed around to make yesterday a cold, white covered place. It was NOT a wonderland.

5. Winners and Losers. Winners: Steelers, Cowboys. Losers: Ravens, Redskins, Penguins.

Sunrise on the Highway to Work
November 30, 2017

6. Apparently the Yankees believe they can buy a World Series with their recent acquisition. They should ask the Dodgers how that approach is working.

7. I have a heated steering wheel in my truck, who knew that I would like it as much as I do?

8. As the season has deepened closer to the solstice, I am no longer enjoying the brilliant sunrises on my daily trek to work, but this is one from a few weeks ago, 

Headlines

What is the Russia Story? - The New York Times

Liberal Outsiders Pour Into Alabama Senate Race, Treading Lightly - The New York Times

Microbes by the ton: Officials see weapons threat as North Korea gains biotech expertise - The Washington Post

And in the you knew it was coming department:

Lindsey Vonn suffers back injury in World Cup race - Fox News

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"Our country may face enormous challenges, but the great advantage of our democracy is that we do not act from fear or simply respond to threats. We Americans have never been pessimists. We conquer fear with faith, and we overwhelm threats and hardship with courage, work, opportunity, and freedom."

Radio Address to the Nation on Economic Recovery and National Defense, December 18, 1982

- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

First Snowfall for the Pup

Finnegan in His Hat

The first snowfall of the season arrived yesterday with 2.5 inches covering the grass. We received less snow than places south of us, some of which are reporting 15 inches. 

Finnegan in the Snow

The first snow of the season is often considered magical. In my mind there is nothing magical about the snow, it is just cold. 

It was, however, the first exposure to snow for our pup, Finnegan. Of course he needed to be properly attired for his sojourn into the elements. Sometimes I think this dog is a replacement for a doll. At least he does not seem to mind the attention of being dressed up  and paraded about. 

The weather remained wintery all day and we have the snow remaining this morning. I think the pup has a larger wardrobe than I do.

Well he is cute all dressed up in his overcoat and ready for the elements. 

I'm sure there will be additional photo ops for the pup as the winter season progresses.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Images of the Season

Four Seasons Hotel, D.C.
Before Dinner

Ham Solo

I am sitting here warm in my family room watching the news of the impending storm and waiting for the first snow flakes of the season to descend from the sky.

I spent a thoroughly enjoyable evening with Nicole, Mike, Jim and Shannon last evening celebrating her birthday in D.C.  Earlier in the day I drove Patrick and Tina to the airport as they departed for the Florida and a cruise. 

I have come across some interesting sights during the season. 

The one that made me laugh is Ham Solo.

Tree on the back deck

Residing at Patrick and Tina's residence, Ham Solo is clearly a good idea taken to an extreme. The pig is certainly getting into the spirit of the season, even though he will never get off the ground. If he could get off the ground, well, then  we wouldn't be able to say "when pigs fly.!"

My last image is an artistic one that I snapped of the small lighted tree on our deck. Looking out the window in the evening I was able to get the lights coming from the darkness.

I was amazed that an image that I was about to delete actually caught my eye with an impressionistic view of the season.

The images continue.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Budget and Waste

The political games associated with the federal budget are afoot yet again.

The ball has been kicked down the road yet again, although for only two more weeks.

It is a sad statement about the state of our government that our elected representatives cannot, do not, and apparently will not understand the waste and danger to our common defense that is generated by their now almost continual ineptitude at passing a comprehensive budget to fund the government. 

According to Federal News Radio, The Department of the Navy estimates that continuing resolutions have led to the waste of $4 billion since 2011.

That is $4 billion taxpayer dollars because the Congress cannot execute one of its fundamental and most important Constitutional duties.

Given the speed of commerce and communications, our government's approach to the budget is increasingly archaic, wasteful, and dangerous. 

It has also become far too political.

The Washington Examiner has an article about how the continuing resolutions negatively impact the defense of the country and readiness. 

From that article, here is an example of the impact:

For example, America’s long-running wars have depleted the stockpiles of bombs and missiles used to battle the Islamic State and other terrorist groups.

The new budget includes money to ramp up production of high-demand weapons to replenish the inventory, but as long as spending is frozen at last year’s levels, that initiative cannot begin.

We could run out of critical weapons to defend the nation because the Congress cannot pass a fully funded budget.

The continuing resolution situation cannot continue. 

There ought to be a law! 

But wait, there is! Congress just ignores it.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD