As the Games Get Postponed

Jax on Saturday at the Plate

At least the temperature has stayed warmer.

Now the Spring-time rains have arrived and are playing havoc with the baseball schedules.

Jax Pitching on Saturday

Last night, the Orioles were rained out and the GORC Pirates practice was also rained out.

It was supposed to be an aggressive week of practice and games and we really needed the practice. 

This is the time of the year when almost everything revolves around baseball and the weather plays a big part in whether the games are played or delayed.

It is frustrating to get ready for practice and games only ot have the weather intervene. The weather has been bad enough this year anyway. At least the grass in the yard is growing.

Well, that's the game as they say.

I long to be warm at a game!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Rabbits

Rabbit in the Yard
April 23, 2018

There was a big rabbit sitting in my yard yesterday morning munching on my newly green grass. The spot is right out in front of the house next to the driveway. A very open and unprotected spot for a rabbit.

As you can see, my yard has some rough spots where the rabbits like to graze. 

But in addition to eating my grass, they eat the hostas which are trying to grow and many of the other young tender plants around the yard. 

While I generally like the idea of rabbits, I'm not sure I appreciate the reality of them. 

And then there are the droppings, which Finnegan loves like they are tootsie rolls. Yech. Dogs can be very disgusting when it comes to such things. 

Maybe we need a fox to control the rabbits. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - April 23, 2018

1. It is the next to last Monday in April. The month is screaming to a close.

Violets Blooming in my Yard

2. Wasn't it funny that the IRS was not expecting a large volume of people to file their taxes on the last day and it broke their computers? I'm sure nothing like that has ever happened before.

A Goose-Golf Ball Situation
Compass Pointe Golf Course
April 22, 2018

3. Spring arrived! I found some violets in the yard.

4. Congrats to the Penguins as they move onto the next round of the NHL playoffs.

5. Yesterday, I mowed the lawn for the first time this season. I am glad there is finally enough green to actually begin the mowing process.

6. Golf yesterday morning was actually pleasant. By the end of the round I was able to take my coat off and enjoy the day. It was cool, but not cold! 

7. I did have a close encounter with a goose on the golf course. The goose was very interested in my golf ball and had to be encouraged to move away so that I could play my shot. Geese are much easier to move along than are alligators which we often see in Florida.

8. The cold temperatures of last week affected the grapevine buds. I hope that not too many were lost.

Headlines

China, Feeling Left Out, Has Plenty to Worry About in North Korea-U.S. Talks - The New York Times

Saving net neutrality, one house at a time - The Washington Post

Four presidents come together to pay tribute to Barbara Bush - CNN

'Ethnic purging': French stars and dignitaries condemn antisemitism - The Guardian

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"It's time we tapped the well of human spirit that runs so deep in our land. We'll find more than the strength of numbers and the strength of resources. We'll find the strength of individual courage, know-how, and love of country." Remarks at a Rally for Senator Malcolm Wallop of Wyoming in Cheyenne, March 2, 1982

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Saturday on the Diamond

Jax on the Mound

It was an early morning game for the GORC Dodgers. The temperature at game time was barely 40 degrees, but it warmed quickly to almost 50 degrees. The Dodgers showed up to play and soundly defeated their opponents the Crofton Giants, 14-1. 

The game featured a very rare unassisted double-play by Jackson. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, he caught a pop-up and ran to to catch a runner who left third base too quickly. Had there been no outs at the beginning of the play it would have been a triple play since the runner on second also showed up at third base and Jax tagged him too. 

Jax also pitched three innings of shut-out baseball, including the first inning which saw only three hitters go to the plate.

The rest of the team played strong as well. There was good hitting, including a home run, and smart base running. There were also a couple of other defensive gems. Crofton's only run came on a bases-loaded hit batsman. 

It was an exciting game. The team has a tough week ahead with practice on Tuesday and games on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday! Wow. What a schedule. Thank goodness the team is blessed with six quality pitchers.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Hanging Around

Watching the Twilight
April 20, 2018

The Neighborhood at Dusk
April 20, 2018

During the evenings this week we have had some enjoyable activities including sitting around the fire pit, until it ran out of propane.

I was able to fly Radio Flyer at dusk last evening and got some nice shots as the light was leaving the sky. It was fun to fly my drone and be able to see its lights and follow its flight. 

Earlier in the week, as we were sitting around the fire pit enjoying Happy Hour, Chris and I were amused by the antics of Ted, Jeremy's Keeshond puppy. Ted ran around the pool with Finnegan, but was especially enjoying the water just under the cover. He is a true water dog. 

It was fun to watch Ted run across the pool cover. He is so full of energy. 

I wish I had that much energy. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Cold on the Diamond

The GORC Dodgers played a baseball game last evening.

Jax at Bat on Saturday

It was cold! Too cold. 

It is really hard to play baseball when it is cold and over the course of the game it got colder. According to the weather history for Crofton, where the game was played, the temperature was about 47 degrees when the game started, but the wind chill was closer to 40 degrees. By game's end, the temperature was 44 degrees, but the windchill had dropped to about 37 degrees. 

It was cold, but the guys persevered. It was hard to concentrate on baseball. 

In the end, the Dodgers squeaked by the Crofton Orioles 7-5. It was not a pretty game, but the pitching held up. This game went 5 innings, which is longer than the opening day 4 inning game. Both games were ended due to the time limit.

Jackson, for his part, played a solid game. He put the tag on a runner at third for an out on an attempted steal and had some solid hits. 

It was so cold, I don't think anyone took pictures of the event. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Orioles Collapse

I guess that it is hard to say that the Orioles have collapsed as it appears that they never came out of the dugout committed to the season.

The O's currently sport a disappointing 5-13 record. They have a five game losing streak and face Detroit again tomorrow needing a win to avert another series sweep. 

I had predicted a 7-10 start, but thought they would likely manage to win the Detroit series, hence I was expecting them to be 9-11 after the Detroit series. Since there was a rainout in Boston, they could have been as good as it 9-10. It isn't there yet.

The team has too many holes--pitching, fielding, batting. Aside from that, they are in pretty good shape.

There are still 144 games to play and the O's can turn things around. They seem to be close in most games and have lost many games during the late innings. The only highlight so far is that they have not lost a Thursday game! 

Maybe they will win this afternoon's game!

I can hope. The beginning of the season optimism has evaporated.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Signs of Spring

Bleeding Hearts in Bloom

During the two days of warm weather last week, every tree and plans, it seemed, expended pent-up energy and blossomed forth only to be greeted this morning by temperatures below freezing. The temperature has dipped to 29 degrees this morning.

Weeping Cherry Tree in Blossom
April 17, 2018

Many of the plants don't really care much about the cold temperatures, but I did receive a report this morning from wine country in Virginia that the vineyards were working to protect the grape vine buds due to freezing temperatures. 

Around the house, however, there are the signs of Springtime's arrival. I flew Radio Flyer yesterday to document the greening of the yards and the area around the house. It was encouraging to see the green replacing the brown of winter. The winds aloft were high, but my drone handled them very well.

Aerial Shot of the Greening
April 17, 2018

The bleeding hearts are up and blossoming, there grass is turning green, and the weeping cherry tree is finally getting some blooms, although the weather has certainly reduced the density of the blossoms this year.

I hope the cold breaks soon! It is time to get onto outdoors activity. The GORC Dodgers had practice last evening and it was very cold with temperatures only in the 40's. 

Spring is coming and may even be here. It is just hiding.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Return of the Cold and Wet

It was too good to be true!

The cold weather has returned and the rains have come very strong washing away some of the mulch Chris and I recently placed in our gardens.

I am longing for warmer weather.

Much warmer weather.

In reviewing the forecast I am struck that today's expected high of 49 degrees is almost 40 degrees cooler than last Friday's actual 88 degree temperature.

Who turned off the heat?

10-Day Forecast for Elkridge, MD

While the 10-day forecast does show a warming trend into the 60's, and dryer conditions, it is still going to be too cool to consider opening the pool.

Even worse, we have baseball practice tonight and a game on Thursday! Hopefully the fields will be dry enough to practice tonight after the torrential rains of the past few days. 

Life goes on, it just could be warmer! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - April 16, 2018

1. Tax Day is tomorrow! We all know what that means!

2. The two 80 degree days last week are sorely missed right now. The rain is falling and it is cold.

3. NHL Hockey: Penguins win, lead series 2-1. Capital lose, losing series 0-2.

Blue Mash Golf Course
A gray and cold day
April 15, 2017

4. Baseball: Orioles lose again, will not make my prediction for first 17 games. Currently are 5-11 and today's 17th game of the season is rained out, already.

5. I played a round of golf yesterday. The temperature dropped from the 50's into the 40's while I was playing. It was another raw, cold round of golf. My score reflected my lack of enthusiasm. I took an image of the day. The course is hosting a US Open Playoff Tournament, I don't think I'm anywhere near ready for that, but it was nice to play on a course preparing for that caliber of golf.

6. I wonder what new craziness will emerge from Washington this week? I'm not sure it can top last week.


Headlines

In Interview, Comey Calls Trump ‘Morally Unfit’ and a ‘Stain’ on All Around Him - The New York Times

CALLS GROW TO BOYCOTT STARBUCKS AFTER TWO BLACK MEN ARRESTED FOR NOT MAKING ORDER - Newsweek

Barbara Bush in failing health, won't seek further treatment - CNN


Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"My foremost responsibility is our national security, just as it is the prime duty of Congress to appropriate the necessary resources to keep our defenses strong. This is our duty, not only to America but to the cause of human freedom. It's also our job to make sure that every tax dollar we spend, we spend well."

Radio Address to the Nation on the Defense Budget, March 1, 1986

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD