Jeep Mudding

Jeep on the Street
Elkridge, MD
March 18, 2019

While out walking the other day, I spied an older Jeep that looked as if it had been involved in a lot of fun over the weekend.

Yes, it is covered in mud! I remember a few years ago Jeremy and Patrick took their Jeeps, which were new at the time to a Jeep weekend near Ocean City. We had a blast and their Jeeps looked very similar to the one on the street the other day after the weekend of riding through mud pits and traversing an obstacle course. 

Unlike my neighbor, however, we took those Jeeps to a car wash to remove the layers of mud. My neighbor washed his Jeep in his driveway yesterday. I am convinced the mud that came off the Jeep will be slowly going making its way down the street and into the storm sewer system that runs near my backyard for a very long time. 

There is something freeing about getting out and doing some mudding!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Signs of Spring

Signs of Spring - Leaf Buds
Elkridge, MD
March 18, 2019

After working yesterday, Chris greeted me with the offer to go for a walk with the dogs.

It was a much cooler day, but the sun was shining and the sky was blue. We were treated to a police helicopter circling the neighborhood for most of the walk. We have no idea what was happening, but the helicopter orbited above us for some 20 minutes before flying off. We never heard sirens or any corresponding commotion so we continued our walk with the dogs.

The nice thing about the day was that the signs of Spring were everywhere. The trees are budding, the daffodils are about to bloom and there may even be a hint of color on the forsythia. 

Spring begins at 5:58 PM EDT tomorrow!!!!! 

Today is the last full day of Winter. We will finally be able to throw off the shackles of the dark season and enjoy life outside--of which we have already had a taste.

We actually crossed over 12 hours per day of sunshine on St Patrick's Day. Bring on the season!

Cue the sunshine and flowers. 


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - March 18, 2019

1. It is now one week since Daylight Saving Time began. I think I have fully recovered from the loss of the hour of sleep. I hope that everyone else has similarly recovered. There were some pretty groggy people last Monday.

Golf Carts at the Ready
Crofton country Club
March 17, 2019

2. What a fantastic weekend. I played golf for the first time in Maryland this year. It was 18 holes in Crofton and the exciting part is that I made a pretty neat birdie on a 30 yard chip shot during the round! I don't get that many birdies so I got pretty excited. OK, so that was the highlight of an otherwise average round, but I got to play!

3. The 78 degree temperatures of Friday really spoiled me for the weekend when the temperatures just crested 50. I am longing for the return of warmer weather. It is coming. I can feel it.

3rd Fairway
Crofton Country Club
March 17, 2019

4. The baseball team I coach posted six hours of practice last week. I don't think that happened at all during last year's season due to the rains. Here's hoping for another good week of practice this week.

5. Who knew that you can get sunburned during March in Baltimore? Well, you can!

6. Traffic is an amazing thing, a trip that takes 20 minutes early on a Sunday morning can take 35 minutes or more on a Friday afternoon.

7. My chainsaw is enjoying the Springtime weather. It is sawing as much wood as I can feed it. 

8. The blue skies and sun are encouraging me to be outside more and more. It is awesome to be in the sun after such a gloomy stretch of weather.  Next, cue the warmer temperatures.

9. Today in History. Nearly 300 students in Texas are killed by an explosion of natural gas at their school on this day in 1937. The Consolidated School of New London, Texas, sat in the middle of a large oil and natural gas field. The area was dominated by 10,000 oil derricks, 11 of which stood right on school grounds. The school was newly built in the 1930s for close to $1 million and, from its inception, bought natural gas from Union Gas to supply its energy needs. The school’s natural gas bill averaged about $300 a month. Eventually, officials at Consolidated School were persuaded to save money by tapping into the wet-gas lines operated by Parade Oil Company that ran near the school. Wet gas is a type of waste gas that is less stable and has more impurities than typical natural gas. At the time, it was not completely uncommon for consumers living near oil fields to use this gas.

Headlines

Trade Fight With China Enters Overtime, With Tariffs a Costly Sticking Point - The New York Times

Airbnb and Miami Beach Are at War. Travelers Are Caught in the Crossfire. - The New York Times

Sensor cited as potential factor in Boeing crashes draws scrutiny - The Washington Post

No sign of imminent North Korea missile launch: South Korea defence chief - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

I believe we can embark on a new age of reform in this country and an era of national renewal. An era that will reorder the relationship between citizen and government, that will make government again responsive to people, that will revitalize the values of family, work, and neighborhood and that will restore our private and independent social institutions. These institutions always have served as both buffer and bridge between the individual and the state and these institutions, not government, are the real sources of our economic and social progress as a people.

  -- Election Eve Address A Vision for America, November 3, 1980


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

And the Streak is Broken

Happy St. Patrick's Day

May all of your days be green and warm!

Always remember to forget

The things that made you sad. 

But never forget to remember 

The things that made you glad

It was much colder yesterday, but despite the weather, which saw temperatures about 25 degrees below Friday, the day was spent mostly outside.

There were many lawn chores to accomplish, gardens to clear, rubbish to remove, and yes, even the tractor made its first appearance on the yard for 2019! I used it to help remove the winter debris and get the yard greening up a bit as warmer temperatures continue to be expected for the remainder of the month. The yard really looked good after the small sticks and leaves were removed. 

At the Batting Cage
GORC Wildcats (Haslup)
March 15, 2019

I also was able to do some car maintenance and changed the cabin air filter in our new (used) 2006 Camry. It looked as if it had not been changed in many years. The new filter will definitely contribute to a cleaner in car air environment.

And then, of course, there was baseball practice. Another almost three hours of fun in the sun. Despite the colder weather, the sun shone brightly and I got a bit of a sunburn, believe it or not, in March! The boys on team Wildcats worked hard and we are getting them ready to begin the spring campaign, which could be in as early as two weeks!

As the day came to an end, the temperatures dropped into the 40's and the wind picked up. We decided to forego sitting by the fire pit and remain in the warmth of our home to watch the sunset. That meant that our streak of consecutive days celebrating around the fire pit was broken. And so the day ended.

It was a full Saturday of activity! And now, onto Sunday! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Portending Summer

Jackson at Baseball Practice
Odenton, MD
March 15, 2019

As I walked though the workplace yesterday morning, I noticed something different, most everyone seemed a bit more enthused about the approaching weekend. Of course it probably helped that I wore an extremely bright Aloha shirt to help get into the weekend mindset, but I am convinced that the positive energy and mood due to more than my shirt. I believe that it may have been the favorable weather forecast coupled with the great week that was rapidly moving behind us.

Chris at Jeremy's Fire Pit
Elkridge, MD
March 15, 2019

Yesterday the temperature soared to about 78 degrees. Although rain had been predicted for the afternoon, none arrived until almost 9 PM. It was a great evening. I coached Jackson's baseball team practice until about 8:00 PM. It was glorious afternoon and the boys turned in a great practice. 

And then a magical thing happened. When I arrived home, I suggested that we enjoy head into the yard to enjoy the fire pit and the warm temperatures.  Chris and I decided that it was a bit late to start a fire, but Jeremy must have been reading my mind and invited us over to enjoy some fire pit time with him. So, we drove to Jeremy's and made it six days in a row around a fire pit. Although the rains arrived shortly after we settled in, we did enjoy some quality time with Jeremy. 

Friday portended the arrival of summer. Cue the sun and heat! Pool opening is a mere 52 days away!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Five Times in a Week

Fire Pit Warming-up for a Pi Day Celebration
Elkridge, MD
March 14, 2019

It is hard to believe, but the weather has been fantastic now for a week and Chris and I have managed to enjoy our fire pits now for five nights in a row. Even more, we have enjoyed fabulous late-Winter weather that is allowing us outside after being cooped up for most of the winter.

The Wood Pile
March 14, 2019

The best weather of the week was last evening and the fire pit was warming our life until well after dark. The wood pile remains huge, waiting toe be converted into fire pit sized fuel. 

The day was spectacular, in fact, it was a Jaguar day and I drove Cat to work and enjoyed the ride home with the convertible top down enjoying the warm weather and sunshine on my face. It was the first top-down day of 2019 as the temperatures crested 70 degrees for the first time this year, I think!

It was a great celebration for Pi Day!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Four? Four in a row?

Chris at the Fire Pit
Elkridge, MD
March 13, 2019

Chris and I continued our pre-Spring streak of nights around a fire pit although the sky was not nearly as blue, actually it was cloud covered. The temperature was a bit warmer than the night before which contributed to the ambiance of the evening.

Yes, it is now four nights in a row! A truly amazing statistic given the weather of the past months. To have found four evenings in a row when we could enjoy the fire pit seems amazing? And, truth be told, we are expecting to make it five in a row tonight.

The lawn certainly has that Springtime look to it--mottled green with leaves and debris. It is only now drying enough to think of getting the tractor out on it to begin the post-Winter recovery process. We have been focusing our efforts thus far on reducing the piles of limbs from the trees we had felled during the latter part of last year. The clean-up process is providing a lot of very burnable fuel for the fire pit.

I didn't say it was warm outside, just that the hot fire in the pit made the evening enjoyable. And, as an added benefit, we made it an early evening so I still got to watch the later edition of Jeopardy!

Maybe, just maybe Spring is getting closer! Let's keep the streak going!

BTW, 

Happy Pi Day!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Three in a Row

It has been a great week thus far.

For three nights in a row, Chris and I have enjoyed happy hour around a fire pit. We have had a "three-peat."

Notice that I did not write, "the" fire pit. Last evening we sat around the propane-fired pit on the pool deck dreaming of summer, pool, fun, and of course warmer temperatures. 

It was cooler than the previous two nights, but the sky remained crystal blue and the Sun is beginning to grace the Earth with its warming rays more regularly. Hopefully, today will bring more of the same, but even a bit warmer.

Yesterday also marked the official beginning of Spring Training for the GORC Wildcat team that Mike and I are coaching. Even though the temperatures were in the 40's, we conducted our inaugural practice and got to put eyes on the boys on our team on the baseball field.

The field was nicely graded and it was a perfect evening under the lights getting back into the swing of my favorite summertime sport. We have to get used to 70 foot bases, however. It is a longer throw for the boys.

Fire pits, baseball, Happy Hour, blue skies. What could be better? Oh yea, palm trees on . . . 

This champagne shore watchin' over me
It's a sweet sweet life livin' by the salty sea
                            -- Lyrics from Knee Deep by Zach Brown Band

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Last Light of a Really Good Day

Tops of the Trees in the Setting Sunlight
Elkridge, MD
March 11, 2019

Last evening Chris and I sat outside, again for the second night in a row. around the fire pit and watched the evening fall. It was warmer, in the 50's and for a change the skies cleared and blue was the color of the evening. 

It was a nice evening. I was able to get my chainsaw out and begin transforming the wood pile from downed trees into pieces of wood suitable for burning. We had about 5 dead ash trees felled before winter because we were concerned that they might fall on their own and do some damage. Now I get to cut them into logs suitable for burning in a fireplace or our outdoor fire pit. After cutting for a while with Chris stacking the logs, we stopped and started a nice fire around which to enjoy a bottle of wine. Then we ordered Chinese actually enjoyed our first meal of the year outside. Yes, it was cool--in the 50's, but very enjoyable. It actually wasn't out first meal outside as we had eaten lunches and dinners outside when we were in Florida during January--but it was the first of the year for Baltimore. It was quite an evening, we went outside to begin cutting wood about 4PM and by the time we finished dinner and talking and let the fire die, it was dark and after 8PM. 


Yesterday was also my first post prostate cancer treatment follow-up with the radiation oncologist. It was time to get the results from the tests that I had done last week. And the results are: everything looks good. It was good to see the treatment team again, we have formed a unique bond, and they were very encouraged by my results which seem to indicate a successful treatment. I get to visit with them every six months for the next five years before they will be able to certify me as cancer free. I have been participating in a study for prostate cancer patients and follow-up and I was told yesterday that I will be getting paid! Who knew! I had thought I was just a volunteer for the study. The pay is not enough to live on or anything like that, but it will buy lunch!

It was a great way to start the middle week of March!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - March 11, 2019

Maryland Home and Garden Show
Springtime Arrives
March 10, 2019

1. My, how quickly the month is passing. We are already into the middle part of the month. It is exciting and frustrating.

Our Feet
Around the Fire Pit
March 10, 2019

2. Daylight Saving Time began yesterday and it was truly an event. Chris and I were able to sit outside by the fire pit during the evening and enjoy the warmer March temperatures. It did not get dark until after 7PM. Yay.

3. Chris and I went to the Maryland Home and Garden Show yesterday and had a fantastic time. It should be renamed the Home and Wine Tasting Show. There were at least five wineries and one distillery represented. We had a great time and were able to get there early and enjoy the vendors before they got too tired.

4. I am looking forward to a week without too much rain. For a change. I am excited about getting into the yard to begin the Spring clean-up.

5. As the weather warms, so does the excitement of Springtime. Baseball season is underway and that means practice, practice, and repeat!

6. Maybe the last of the snow has visited the Baltimore region for this winter! I hope so.

7. Is there golf in my future? Time will tell!

8. Today in History. On this day during 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Lend-Lease program, which provides money and materials for allies in the war, goes into effect. The Lend-Lease program was devised by Roosevelt as a means of aiding Great Britain in its war effort against the Germans, by giving the chief executive the power to “sell, transfer title to, exchange, lease, lend, or otherwise dispose of” any military resources the president deemed ultimately in the interest of the defense of the United States. The reasoning was that if a neighbor was successful in defending his home, the security of your home would be enhanced. It also served to bolster British morale by giving them the sense that they were no longer alone in their struggle against Hitler.

Headlines

How ISIS Is Rising in the Philippines as It Dwindles in the Middle East - The New York Times

New Images of North Korea Buildup Confront Trump’s Hopes for Disarmament - The New York Times

Ethiopian Airlines flight bound for Nairobi crashes, all 157 on board killed - The Washington Post

U.S.-backed Syrian force attacks Islamic State enclave - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"Our concern must be for a special interest group that has been too long neglected. It knows no sectional boundaries or ethnic and racial divisions, and it crosses political party lines. It is made up of men and women who raise our food, patrol our streets, man our mines and factories, teach our children, keep our homes, and heal us when we're sick—professionals, industrialists, shopkeepers, clerks, cabbies, and truck drivers. They are, in short, "We the people," this breed called Americans."

Source: Reagan's First Inaugural Address.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD