Made it to Friday

Moon from Elkridge
July 26, 2018

The rain is back this morning, but I made it to another Friday.

That is a cause for celebration--even with the ever pervasive rain. I had hoped the day would be clear and sunny!

Chris and I have another busy weekend planned and hopefully the rains will hold off.

Moon
July 26, 2018

Last evening as Chris and I were walking the dogs, we noticed that the Moon was especially beautiful.

I now realize that photographing the Moon is difficult. The camera never really captures what the eye sees, especially with a dog pulling n the leash as the hand attempts to snap and image.

But I tried.

The good news is that the skies at the time were mostly clear and it was not raining for the first time in about five days. It had dried out enough for me to cut the lawn and begin to get it back into shape.

I was beginning to feel like I was living in a rainforest.

All of that written, and even with the rain, it is still Friday and we are on the cusp of the weekend!

Why does Friday seem to make is all better?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Rain--Build an Ark

Sun over Cayuga Lake near Ithaca, NY Looking East
From Radio Flyer
July 21, 2018

The rains continued pounding the region last evening and rained out the Orioles baseball game that I had tickets for but decided not to attend because of the storms. Unfortunately, they rescheduled the game during the Troy Whittemore Annual Golf Tournament in August and so I have another group of tickets to exchange. 

Oh, boy!

It has been a tough season. Last evening was the third rain out from my 13 game package.

The rains, which hopefully are ending today, have been wrecking havoc on the area with flooded homes, roads, bridges, and downed trees abounding.

I was beginning to think about ordering some gopher wood, but since no one seems to know what gopher wood actually is, it is hard to order some to construct an ark.

I don't have the time anyway. And who wants to clean up once all of the animals show up?

I am hopeful that the rains will end today and some drying will occur. My lawn looks like a jungle and needs to be mowed! The pool is in good shape, but requires constant attention to ensure the skimmers are clear. Radio Flyer, my drone, has been in its storage case since the weekend. I am itching to get it out and do some flying.

Maybe the sun will shine today, somewhere near where I live!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Dismantling the Team

The Orioles continue to dismantle the team by trading off the best players to in the hopes of creating a winning future.

Last evening my favorite player, Zach Britton, was traded to the Yankees. I cannot believe that the Orioles would do business with the Yankees who are in their own division, but it happened. Maybe he will be back?


Last week the Orioles traded Manny Machado to the Dodgers. 

Who is next? I expect Adam Jones, center field; Brad Brach, reliever; and Mychal Givens, reliever; will also soon depart the sinking Orioles ship.

The Orioles did manage a win over the Red Sox last evening. I know that for many people, their favorite team is whomever is playing the Red Sox and so I am glad the O's could finally manage a win. They are now 29-73, .284 and have fully descended into last place in the major leagues.

The Orioles, with the win last evening, remain on pace to lose 116 games!

I wish there was a way to get a refund for my season tickets. Since the team did not show up for the season, why should I have to pay to watch them play?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Spur of the Moment

Chris with the Sign in the Theater
July 23, 2018

The rains have returned to the region and are drowning out any idea of outdoor activities.

I had experienced a long day at work, getting home much later than normal, and after a fantastic dinner that Chris had prepared I knew that it was going to be another evening in the house. I surprised Chris and suggested that we go to a movie.

She was elated and we headed off to see Mama Mia!: Here we go again!

It was not so much which movie as it was any movie. And I stumbled onto a great deal. Monday was senior night at the movies. For $16.75, we both attended the movie. That is not each, but both!

Parking was easy, traffic was light, the theater was empty, and the rains did not bother us while we were watching the movie. It was a win all the way around.

Yes, I like Mama Mia! and I enjoyed the movie. Will it win an academy award? Probably not, but it was fun and took my mind off the ever pervasive rain for a couple of hours.

We are going to remember senior night at the movies. Both of us attended the showing for the price of one regular adult ticket!

On to Tuesday, and more rain!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - July 23, 2018

View from Four Friends Vineyard
Williamsport, PA
July 22, 2018

1. The month is cruising along. This is the fourth of five July Mondays this year. 

2. Chris and I took a relaxed approach to the drive from Upstate NY back to home yesterday. We stopped at a winery which had a magnificent view and we also stopped to enjoy lunch rather than eat while driving. It took longer but we enjoyed the drive a bit more

Mom and I on the Back Deck
From Radio Flyer
July 21, 2018

3. Although we frequently make the trip along U.S. Route 15 south of Williamsport, we had not stopped at one particular vineyard advertised from the road. Yesterday we changed that and stopped at Four Friends Vineyard. It was a nice respite from the drive and we enjoyed a stunning view along with some very drinkable wines.

Bluebird
July 21, 2018

4. I enjoyed flying Radio Flyer over the weekend and took some very nice images. I am hoping to begin to take some flights into the gorges of Ithaca next time I visit. 

5. If the contractors are replacing Federal employees, is the size of the Federal Government really shrinking?

6. I was able to snap a quick image of a Bluebird on a weather vane on Saturday. I am glad it posed for a brief second.

7. On this day in 1976, members of the American Legion arrive in Philadelphia to celebrate the bicentennial of U.S. independence. Soon after, many began suffering from a mysterious form of pneumonia. Their ailment would come to be known as Legionnaires’ disease.

8. It looks as if it is going to be a rainy week out there. Total rainfall totals are expected to be 6-12 inches. Ugh!



Headlines

Trump Threatens Iran on Twitter, Warning of Dire ‘Consequences’ - The New York Times

Donald Trump Has Endangered Species in His Sights - The New York Times

While federal employment shrinks in D.C., government contractors are on a hiring spree - The Washington Post

Mexican League Umpires Suspended After Making Terrible Check Swing Call - CNN

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

Beautiful Day

I spent most of yesterday at my parents in Danby, NY.

Radio Flyer spent a few minutes touring the area and I snapped this image looking North. Cayuga Lake is just visible on the horizon and the blue sky was welcome.

It was another great July day. This July has seen one great day after another. Although today has seen some much needed rain, the days remain the stuff that great memories are made from.

I was happy to help mom and Dad with a few chores around their house yesterday. It is too bad that the drive to see them eats up the better part of the day.

I am going to be very unhappy when July slips away next week. It has been a month to remember.

— Bob Doan, writing from Williamsport, PA

Danby Sunset

It was a beautiful sunset last evening. It was a work of art to be admired as the colors deepened.

I enjoy the blending of the ending of the day colors.

I just stood there and admired the work.

I will keep a piece of this sunset in my mind for a long time.

— Bob Doan, writing from Danby, NY

I'm Heading to Work, Why?

I had a moment yesterday.

The Sky from the Instrument Console in Cat
July 19, 2018

I was in Cat, my Jaguar convertible, with the top down heading to work on I-95 after playing racquetball at the club. It was early, about 7:01 AM, and the day was beautiful. The sky was crystal clear, the humidity was low, the temperatures were cool. It was going to be an idyllic July day.

And I was heading to work and spend the day in a building with no windows!

Traffic was slow and so I snapped a selfie of the sky and the top of my windshield so that I could remember the day and the moment.

In Bob's perfect world I would be on a beach somewhere enjoying the sounds of the ocean lapping against the sand and watching the pelicans formation fly along the beach in search of breakfast. It is July and that is what I normally do for most of the month of July--but not, sadly, this year. We are waiting to vacation until late-August.

Why do I feel that I am missing valuable beach time?

I'm not really missing any beach time, but the blue sky was calling to me yesterday as the traffic was creeping along I-95.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Broken Glass

Broken Sliding Door Glass

Sometimes I wonder what happens around the house while I am away at work.

Broken Sliding Door Glass form the Outside

Last evening, I came home after a challenging day to face broken sliding door glass!

Yup, Broken, completely. 

Chris was home most of the day.

She was watching two of the grandsons and a friend. 

How do these things happen? Inquiring minds want to know.

Victims of circumstance? The inner pane is intact and the outer pane is totally fractured but not, as of yet, displaced. Chris taped it to provide some additional support until the broken glass can be repaired or the door itself replaced.

Ugh! Summer fun?

I think not.

Now I am looking for a glass replacement/repair establishment. If it is not one thing, it is another.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Pick Up Stix

I remember playing a game, during my youth, called Pick up Stix. 

Yes, the name was intriguingly misspelled! 

I remember that, although I wasn't sure until I found the image on the internet to confirm it. 

I remember the cardboard tube that held the sticks used in the game and how the challenge was finding and retrieving sticks that had been put down in a bundle without moving any other stick.

It was a simple game in theory, but hard to complete.

Spaghetti on the Floor

Last evening, I had the opportunity to play the game for real. Chris and I were making a new dish with pasta and I was in charge of cooking the spaghetti. I had no problem getting the water boiling, but during the intervening time before adding the spaghetti I was helping Chris prepare the remainder of the dish. 

I forgot that the box of spaghetti was already open and picked up the closed end to open it, whereupon all of the spaghetti fell out and onto the floor.

The scene was funny in its simplicity and mess on the floor. 

Chris was not amused, but, hey, it happens. Fortunately we had an unopened box of spaghetti in the pantry and so there was no need for an emergency run to the store for more.

I find it is almost more fun to laugh at myself than to laugh with someone else. 

And I was immediately reminded of the game Pick up Stix. 

In the end, the pasta dish was awesome, even after the short delay to clean the kitchen floor.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD