On the Threshold of a Major Project

Basement Family Room
October 20, 2018

I'm sitting here at the beginning of another weekend. The rain has finally stopped, although everything is soaked. That definitely puts a damper on outdoors activities for a while, but no matter, Chris and I are lining up a major remodeling project for the basement rooms.

Laundry Room
October 20, 2018

Today we will be deconstructing the basement family room, laundry room, and bedroom including removing the counter and sink in preparation for painting and installing a new floor throughout. We have already begun to purchase furniture to populate the remodeled room.

It is always a bit daunting at the beginning of a big project. And downright scary. But we are hoping that the results are worth the effort. We have not devoted much energy to updating the basement rooms. They are the only rooms in the house that still have carpet! Both rooms have carpet that was either in place or installed as we moved into the house almost 18 years ago.

Basement Bedroom
October 20, 2018

It is a big project! 

But we hope the end results will be worth it. There will be a new floor all the way through the basement to tie everything together. 

If we can keep focus, I hope to have the project completed before Thanksgiving!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wine in the Finger Lakes

Sunrise October 4, 2018
Senaca Lake in Torrey, NY

Chris and I scooted off to the Finger Lakes region of Upstate NY for a quick get away and to sample some local wines during the early part of October. We had hoped to enjoy the colors of the autumn leaves, but the change had not yet begun. 

The Symbol of Heron Hill Winery

We were treated to some spectacular sunrises, some great white wines, all while enjoying a beautiful house on the shores of Senaca Lake in the town of Torrey, New York. 

The days went by quickly and during the time we were there we visited 13 wineries and sampled an untold number of wines. The white wines were, as expected, very nice and all had a fantastic price point. We were able to obtain a couple bottles of the New York Governor's Cup winning wine for $17.99 from Keuka Springs Vineyard. It was their 2017 Gewurtztraminer. 

While enjoying the wines was certainly a highlight of the visit, the stunning sunrises and and views over Senaca Lake were really the highlight of the trip. 

I enjoyed the sound of the gentle waves hitting the shore and Chris and I slept with the window open to let the sound of the waves provide a peaceful night's rest.

Radio Flyer took to the skies on a couple of occasions to document the sights we were seeing. 

It was a quick trip, but relaxing and enjoyable. 

I highly recommend a repeat visit, next year.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Night Out

Elkridge Furnace Inn
Elkridge, MD

Dinner at the Elkridge Furnace Inn
October 16, 2018

Birthdays provide a great reason to change things up and head off for a nice dinner at a restaurant that we don't usually visit.

Chris and I did just that to celebrate both of our recent birthdays the other evening and enjoyed a great dinner at the Elkridge Furnace Inn. 

The Inn is located very close to our home, yet we do not often head there for dinner. We actually should dine there more often because we had a great dinner with superior service and an enjoyable time. 

It was very nice to get out, alone, and have a chance to talk and celebrate each other. The restaurant provided us with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine to start off the evening celebration and our waiter offered to take the image of the two of us beginning our evening out. 

It was a great evening out and we returned home to enjoy some of the cheesecake that I had made for Chris's birthday celebration.

Mmmm. cheesecake!

It was great evening out at a local restaurant.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Countdown

Russian launch to ISS
October 11, 2018

I have experienced the thrill of watching, in person, the countdown of launches into space. They are far better than watching on television, but the effect is similar.

In person, I have walked out to a beach or stopped on a causeway with a radio near to hear the NASA announcers as they talk about the time remaining to launch. The excitement builds and then t=we hear the final seconds 10..9..8..7..6..5.. all the way to zero and the engines light and the vehicle lifts off the pad and begins its journey into space.

It is thrilling!

Hopes and dreams ride with the ascending vehicle.

My Closed Pool

There are other countdowns that I employ.

How many days until my next vacation or cruise. I have an app on my phone that lets me know how many days remain. It is a countdown. The time always seems so far away--and then it is here.

Some people have the annual Christmas countdown of shopping days left until the big day! One always seems to scream by at almost light speed. But I remember as it kid it was incredibly slow. The days remains until Christmas 2018 are 69 meaning there are 68 shopping days remaining.

I have countdown for the number of days remaining until I open my pool for the next summer season. Currently it is 202. Ugh!

I am currently near the beginning of another countdown. They always seem to go slow at the beginning. I have completed 6 days and have 38 remaining. Mine is based on weekdays with Thanksgiving and Black Friday not included. December 11th will mark the completion and hopefully success!

Countdowns help me achieve goals! I cannot climb a mountain except one step at a time and I cannot reach a goal except one day at a time.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

October's Revenge

Evening Falls
October 15, 2018

I reflected back on the beginning of October and I recall 80 degree days and warm temperatures. 

Things have significantly changed.

Yesterday was cool and gray. Very gray. Like the economy and the stock market.

We are facing another day where the high is going to top out at 60 and the low tonight will be in the 40s. Similarly, the stock market will likely drop again. 

Brrr. Winter is on the way both in terms of the season and the economy.

It has been very cold lately with stocks dropping like a rock. 

That is the fallacy of forcing people to fund their retirement plans through investments instead of pensions. When the market bottoms out, retirement funds evaporate.

In our current situation, the meaningless trade war is really reducing the value of investments. 

Hopefully, change will arrive soon. I long for the warmth of the sun and the rising tide of the markets.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - October 15, 2018

1. We have arrived at the middle of October. Amazing how quickly it seemed to appeared. I felt like it took forever to make it to July and now we are facing the end of October.

2. It is birthday season for the family. We have two this week!

3. Chris and I were working outside yesterday and settling in to put a dent in the downed tree project--and then the rains began. Again.

4. Two days in a row the high temperature has failed to achieve even 60 degrees. Today managed to make it to 55 degrees!

5. Weekend family NFL Team report. It was a good weekend for the family teams.

  Ravens (4-2) defeated Titans 21-0
  Steelers (3-2-1) defeated Bengals 28-21
  Cowboys (3-3) defeated Jaguars 40-7
  Redskins (3-2) defeated Panthers 23-17

md 

Sunrise on MD Route 175
October 12, 2018

6. I wore one of my Orioles hoodies yesterday and was reminded that it was football season. I had to remind the individual that baseball was still being played by four teams as the World Series looms and that the Orioles were intently watching the playoffs from the warmth of their own living rooms.

7. I snapped an interesting image the other morning headed home from playing racquetball. It was the sunrise. It is getting light later and darker earlier. It is very noticeable.

8. Is it un-American not to pay taxes? I wish some of our leaders felt the same way.

9. Today in History. Mata Hari, the archetype of the seductive female spy, is executed for espionage by a French firing squad at Vincennes outside of Paris on this day in 1917.

Headlines

Saudi Arabia says will retaliate against any sanctions over Khashoggi case - Reuters
North Korea leader sincere, must be rewarded for move to abandon nuclear weapons: South Korean president - Reuters

‘We’re back to frontier days’: Michael’s aftermath in Florida - The Washington Post

Kushner Paid No Federal Income Tax for Years, Documents Suggest - The New York Times

Sears, the Original Everything Store, Files for Bankruptcy - The New York Times

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.”

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Now Arriving -- Autumn

Looking towards the Tee Box
13th Hole
Patuxent Greens
October 13, 2018

It was a cold day and I began it on a golf course yesterday. The round was played under cold and wet conditions.

Plugged Golf Ball
13th Hole
Patuxent Greens
October 13, 2018

It was cold in another way as I also learned that the course on which I was playing is going to be plowed under at the end of the year to become another residential development blight upon the world. I will be sorry to lose this course as it is relatively close and easy to visit.

The rain and cold have been rough on the course; it was in terrible condition and it was not a lot of fun to play. To say that it was a struggle would be an understatement. The course was covered with mud and water. Sometimes the ball would go "ker-plunk" when it hit the course and create a shower of water. The course is clearly not being maintained as it preparing for shutdown at the end of the year.

The cold complicated the remainder of the day as well. The temperature never got above 57 degrees and it started in the 40s. 

Fire in the Pit
October 13, 2018

Lights in the Wine Glass
October 13, 2018

The good news, however, was that Chris and I were able to enjoy the fire pit during the evening without being besieged by mosquitos. 

We enjoyed some wine and the fire for a few hours talking about plans for the basement makeover and next year's vacation. It was enjoyable and the fire was warm, hot even, and drove off the cold as it settled for the evening. 

As it was only 44 degrees this morning, it appears that another cold day is on tap. I have a few outdoors projects to accomplish and the cold weather will definitely make them a bit more challenging.

Autumn has suddenly arrived. We have gone from highs in the 80's to highs in the 50's in about 48 hours!

Ready or not, here come the dark days.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Life by the Numbers

I woke up this morning, to the sound of the rain potentially drowning out my planned golf outing, and began to think about, for some odd reason, the numbers that have been important in my life. 

It is weird how some numbers have been prevalent in different aspects of my life.

Take 49, for instance. It was my Boy Scout Troop number and my high school varsity football number. I still like 49 as a number and often choose it when I need a number between 1 and a hundred.

And then there is 19. It is the number of of my relationship and marriage with Chris. We were born 19 days apart--yes, in the same year. We found out that our parents were married 19 days apart--in the same year. We were 19 when we got married and our first son was born on the 19th day of the month. Definitely something going on  there.

These are both interestingly significant numbers from the coincidences that are the fabric of our lives. 

Of course there are other numbers which all have various meanings: 26, 3, 31, 11, 15, and 21, for instance.


The number 21 is interesting in that we were both 21 years old when our first child was born and I served 21 years in the Air Force. I was also 21 when I graduated form college Wow!

A number with some special meaning right now in my life is 44 because something very significant be completed when the the week day countdown from 44 reaches 0. My time with 44 will, hopefully, end on December 11th. I am currently 4 down and 40 to go in the count. Thanksgiving and Black Friday are not included, BTW.

Numbers are how I mark events and I am still amazed, even as I write this about how certain numbers have special meaning in my life.

I just noticed that this is my 3833nd blog post! Now there is a number for you!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Here Comes the Rain Again

The rain returned yesterday afternoon. 

Traffic was snarled and slow. The drive home was interminable.

Baltimore Inner Harbor on a Rainy Day

The sky was gray, again. It seem to be the permanent color lately.

I couldn't even take out the recycling because of the rain last evening.

The dogs did not want to go outside to do their business last evening.

And what is coming? 

Cold! Temperatures in the 40s. It is a cool 59 degrees this morning.

The weekend is going to be highs in the 60s and low in the 40s. Golf tomorrow will be cold. At least we are playing close and early. 

I'm expecting to significantly reduce the wood pile during the afternoon. Maybe there will be a nice fire in the pit to celebrate an autumnal evening.

If it doesn't rain. Again!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Stock Market Down

It is really scary when the stock market has a terrible day!

I think I notice this more because I am older and I hate seeing the value of my investments, saved mostly for retirement, drop like a rock. I believe it is because I am getting closer to retirement and really need the return on the money that I have been saving.

It doesn't look any better for today. Here is a headline from the Washington Post:

Markets across Asia open down sharply, following Wall Street tumble

I have read there are many forces at play, but chiefly, I think it may be due to the developing trade war between China and the U.S.

Of course, the raise in the Fed interest rate may have something to do with it as well.

The real problem is that the decades-long shift from retirement pensions to making people invest in the stock market leaves us all much more exposed to the whims of government leaders and the Fed. 

As more Americans become dependent upon their savings and investments for retirement health, the federal government is going to have to moderate its rhetoric and consider the consequences of both speech and actions.

Surely there has to be a better way!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD