Dinner by the Harbor

Annapolis Harbor, MD
May 14, 2018

Last evening, our friends who live on a sailboat came ashore in Annapolis and Chris and I met them for dinner and conversation.

It was a beautiful evening before the thunderstorms rolled in and covered the land with rain.

Annapolis Harbor looking toward the city
May 14, 2018

We sat and enjoyed some wine and appetizers followed by dinner at a restaurant right on the water where we could enjoy the sights and sounds of Annapolis Harbor. We had a good view of their boat moored not so far away.

We talked about the places our lives had taken them in the months since they last sailed through. 

It is always fun to chat with them and vicariously enjoy their lives. I don't think I could survive on a sailboat. They indicated that it had been four days since they had gotten off the boat. Ugh/ That is a long time. Yet, sitting on the dock beside the water having dinner did not seem to be boring to them. Although they see the water every day, they do not tire of it.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - May 14, 2018

1. May is cruising along and the wild weather ride continues. While it was 87 degrees and sunny on Saturday, yesterdays;' high was 62 degrees under cloudy and generally rainy skies. Today is expected to see the high reach 80 degrees.

Jax Preparing to Tag the Runner
May 12, 2018

2. Action shots say it all. Jackson is about to tag the base stealer attempting to take second out. He has the ball and the bead on the runner. The umpire, however, called the runner safe. Wow. It would have been the second caught stealing runner on the game for the Dodgers on Saturday.

3. The Orioles have won two series in a row for the first time this season. They are 5-2 in their last 7 games and had a 4-game winning streak at one point. Yesterday was a 17-1 victory. I hope they have finally turned the corner.

Finnegan and the Rabbit

4. What to do on a rainy afternoon and evening? Watch movies and series on Netflix. Chris and I finished watching the Netflix series Lost in Space yesterday.

5. The pool is looking swimmable and except for the cold temperature, it is ready to host fun!

6. What does a dog do when separated from a rabbit by a hidden fence? Answer? Look and wait.

7. Enjoy Monday. Just remember that Tuesday is not far behind.

Headlines

Gasoline prices could see summer spike, with prices at 4-year highs and record demand - CNBC

China ‘ready to build bigger warships’ as first home-grown carrier starts sea trial - The Economist

Bloomberg warns of 'epidemic of dishonesty' - Yahoo


Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"For all Americans, we want to open more and more paths of opportunity in education and expanding scientific literacy and fostering new technologies and, through new technology, new jobs for the future; and building a fair, free, and growing world economy that gives hope and opportunity to all Americans, all mankind."

Remarks at a White House Meeting With Members of the Council for a Black Economic Agenda, February 24, 1987

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Hot Saturday

First off, let me say Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers.

Yesterday was a hot Saturday. Although the temperature only made it to 87 degrees, it felt much hotter.

The Pool
May 13, 2018

Despite the heat, which was very nice, a lot of activity was accomplished around the house.

The pool continues to clear and is almost ready for the first splashes of the season. 

The lawn was mowed again and looks good. I actually enjoy mowing the lawn because it means that Springtime is in full swing.

The Deck
May 13, 2018

But, in the real highlight of the day was that the deck was restrained. Fran and Chris got two coats of stain down on the deck with enough time to cure before the evening thunderstorms arrived. It looks very good and is a major springtime project completed. 

And in the sports report for the day, the GORC Dodgers played a tough game against one of the two teams that defeated them last week and pulled out a hard fought 14-12, 4 inning victory. It was exciting especially since the Dodgers were the away team and they had to hold the opposition to less than 4 runs during the last half inning--which they did! The Dodgers now have a three-game winning streak.

The heat was definitely a factor during the entire day. 

But it was a great day.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Pool Opening Day 2018

Pool Opening
May 11, 2018

It arrived yesterday. The annual pool opening day event.

The Pool Cover is Gone
May 11, 2018

I had help this year and the whole process went fairly well. The pool had not fared well during the off season and there was a lot of muck at the bottom from the winter. 

The pool is clearing up nicely and the back of the house looks much nicer from the same with the pool cover gone. I can almost believe that the summer is coming. 

The days have been fantastic and truly summer is getting very close. There is still a lot of work to do on the pool to get it into swimming shape, but it should be ready in a few all too short days.

The Ultimate Selfie Machine, My Drone
A Man and His Dog
May 11, 2018

I have discovered that my drone is the ultimate selfie machine. I God an image of me with Makayla yesterday as I was landing Radio Flyer after cruising the neighborhood and taking images of the pool after the opening event. 

Makayla did not mind the buzzing of Radio Flyer until it got wishing a few feet of us. She accepted it, but was very wary. I am just impressed with the amount of green in the image. I love the green and I firmly believe that the reason that I despise winter is because the green goes away.

But, the pool is now open and almost swimmable. The trees are in full leaf. The grass in growing, probably because I put fertilizer on it so that I could cut it more.

The pool, the grass, the trees. Cue summer!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Redemption on the Diamond

Double Rainbow
Piney Orchard Elementary School Field 1
May 10, 2018

Despite the weather forecast which made it seem as if torrential rains and thunderstorms were imminent, the GORC Dodgers met the GORC Angels for their rescheduled game last evening. 

Martin Pitching, Jax in the Outfield
May 10, 2018

There were some sprinkles off and on at times during the game, but the weather held and we were treated to a an infrequently seen double rainbow towards the end of the game.

The boys played a complete game with solid pitching, hitting, and fielding to defeat the Angels 12-6. The game started off fairly evenly with the score after one being 2-1 Dodgers. Then the scoring began in earnest. The game only went four innings due to time limitations and darkness. The innings were often long and laborious, but the boys played hard and made some good outs in the field. Once the bats got going everyone up and down the lineup contributed.

It was great to have the guys get back into their winning ways and play hard-nosed baseball.

Saturday presents the opportunity to get even with one of the teams that beat us last week.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Azaleas in the Spring

Azaleas in the Spring

It is Springtime and the Azaleas are in bloom. The white one in my yard is magnificent. 

The blooms are fully opened now and the splash of white against the backdrop of green is stunning. 

Although not easy to discern, this image was obtained using Radio Flyer, my drone.

The Springtime flowers are all in full bloom around the house and the neighborhood. It is a great time of the year.

I have determined, from weather forecast that the pool will be opened on Friday. Once opened, then the preparations for the impending Memorial Day Holiday will be complete.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Rough Night on the Diamond

Some nights the baseball just does not seem to bounce in the right direction and the umpire's calls seem to go the other way.

Jax at Third

Such was last evening.

The GORC Dodgers ran into a buzz saw and lost to the Diamondbacks in a game the was tied 0-0 at the end of the first, but ended, because of time expiring, after four hard played innings at 15-5. I really though we were going to end in a 10-10 tie, but that is where the Umpire ripped the boys hearts out with some incredibly close calls at the plate.

To say that it was not our finest hour is an understatement. The hard part was that it wasn't hit balls that were the problem, it was the walks; hence, the game dragged on forever.

To say it was another hard learning experience is an understatement. We really need another practice, but there are none on the schedule.

Oh well, there is another game on Thursday!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Season Ending Loss - Penguins

No Cup This Tear

For the first time in three years, the Penguins will not be playing hockey while other teams continue their playoff runs. The Washington Capitals made a bit of history last evening by overcoming the curse of the Penguin and winning their first playoff series against the defending Stanley Cup champions since 1994. 

I have to say congratulations to the Capitals and I actually hope they can bring to Washington their first ever Stanley Cup. The city deserves it after decades of dashed hopes.

With the dreams of winning three consecutive Stanley Cups dashed, the Penguins get a well deserved off season to lick their wounds and prepare for the next campaign which starts in five short months.

I guess it is time to move onto the next sport--baseball. I hear the Orioles are trying to lose over 100 games this year.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - May 7, 2018

Geese at Oak Creek Golf Course
May 6, 2018

1. It is the first Monday of May. We have already enjoyed three celebrations: May Day, May the 4th Be With You, and Cinco de Mayo! What a great month.

The Leaves Have Returned
May 6, 2018

2. I played golf yesterday and came across this goose family. The adults were very protective of the goslings. I was being watched very carefully as I searched for an errant shot.

3. The trees are really rocking the green. My house is not completely surrounded and the solitude of my back yard has returned. My drone was able to document it yesterday.

4. I took Radio Flyer to a new place yesterday. Troy Park, year my house. I decided to fly up a light pole and examine the lights. They are very interesting as you get to the top. It seemed like a long way up!

Top of the Light Pole at Troy Park
May 6, 2018

5. There is almost nothing better in the world than sitting outside on a beautiful evening and enjoying a glass of wine, or two, with friends.

6. I have mowed the grass now three weeks in a row! Yes, the Springtime is in full force. 

7. The Orioles remain winless for the month of May. The hoped for turn around still has not occurred.

Headlines

Verifying the End of a Nuclear North Korea ‘Could Make Iran Look Easy’ - The New York Times

Yes, It’s Bad. Robocalls, and Their Scams, Are Surging. - The New York Times

Gina Haspel, nominee to head CIA, sought to withdraw over questions about her role in agency interrogation program - The Washington Post

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"Once you begin a great movement, there's no telling where it will end. We meant to change a nation, and instead, we changed a world."

— Farewell Address to the Nation, January 11, 1989

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Tough Outing

Jax Warming Up
May 5, 2018

Entering the day as the only GORC Intramural Team with an unblemished record, the Dodgers faced a determined Orioles team.

The game started evenly, with both teams scoring single runs in the second inning. Then the Orioles scored two runs in the third. Things got away from the Dodgers sat that point. 

Jackson pitched the first three innings. His longest outing of the season. He was tough and had good control. 

The bats were mostly silent during the day. The boys could not seem to string hits together. There were some fantastic moments, to be sure. A bases loaded double in the bottom of the 5th scored two runs, but that was all the Dodgers would manage for the day in a disappointing 11-3 loss. 

The great thing about baseball is that there is another game coming where the team can get back onto its winning ways.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD