To the Pool!

 

Yesterday was a rare late-December day. The temperature crawled up past 50 and I was able to get outside and do some maintenance.

High Water in the Pool
Elkridge, MD
December 28, 2020

A pool owner's life is never without concern and maintenance. I have a mesh cover and that means that the rain adds water to the pool as the season continues. I had reduced the water volume significantly when I closed the pool, but it has been a very wet autumn and now winter.

I checked the pool yesterday and the water was within an inch of the top of the pool. If you look closely at the image to the right, you can see the line where the water was when I started pumping. At this point the water is still too high. I keep the water below the tiles to reduce damage when the deep freeze arrives. I was happy to find the water clear and I also added some mid-winter chlorine to keep the algae growth at bay.

I was amazed at the amount of rainwater we have received. I am also glad that I picked a warmer day to play in the water! It is really no fun pumping water in 30 degree weather. 

In the end I lowered the water to three inches below the tile line. Hopefully, will not have to perform the process again. 

Always something to do. Who knew that when I was thinking "to the pool" it meant that there was work to do, but no swimming?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - December 28, 2020

 

1. The last Monday of the year has arrived. There are just four days until the new year begins! Bring-on 2021 and good-bye 2020!

Finnegan's Christmas Photo
Elkridge, MD
December 20,  2020

2. Even though the Christmas Season is not completely over, I know many people are clamoring to get the decorations boxed and out of sight. Maybe it is because the Christmas decorations started appearing in stores during September.

3. Family NFL Report:

    Steelers (12-3) defeat Colts (10-5) 28-24. Steelers win division

    Ravens (10-5) defeat Giants (5-10) 27-13. Ravens win next week will secure a wildcard playoff spot.

    Cowboys (6-9) crush Eagles (4-10-1) 37-17. Cowboys are still alive to win the NFC East.

    Football Team (6-9) lose to Panthers (5-10). football Team can win the NFC East with a win next week. 

4. How has the return season been going? Fortunately, we do not have many returns and exchanges to make.

5. What are your New Year's resolutions? 

6. There are 23 days until Inauguration Day!

7. How were the crowds in the stores for Christmas shopping? I really did not visit the malls or stores to shop and I have to admit--Amazon, UPS, and FEDEX all did their jobs and delivered my packages on-time. 

8. Today in History. On December 28, 1895, the world’s first commercial movie screening takes place at the Grand Cafe in Paris. The film was made by Louis and Auguste Lumiere, two French brothers who developed a camera-projector called the Cinematographe. The Lumiere brothers unveiled their invention to the public in March 1895 with a brief film showing workers leaving the Lumiere factory. On December 28, the entrepreneurial siblings screened a series of short scenes from everyday French life and charged admission for the first time.

Trump Signs Pandemic-Aid Bill - The Wall Street Journal

France and Germany Retake Reins as Britain Leaves EU’s Economic Orbit - The Wall Street Journal

Refugees Come Under Fire as Old Foes Fight in Concert in Ethiopia - The New York Times

New York Investigates Whether Clinics Ignored Vaccine Rules - The New York Times

Authorities identify Nashville bomber, say his remains found in wreckage - The Washington Post

Your questions about the coronavirus vaccines, answered - The Washington Post

Sweden government to get wider shutdown powers under proposed pandemic law - Reuters

Russia reinforces Syrian area where Turkey-backed fighters have clashed with Kurdish forces - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Gifts and Golf

 

Playing golf makes choosing some Christmas gifts a bit easier. Golfers are almost always in need of consumables, like tees and balls. 

Of course, if balls are gifted it is important to know which specific type of ball the golfer uses. It is amazing how particular we golfers are about the golf balls we use. I'm not sure whether that make that much of a difference with the handicap that I carry--one or two shots a round are not going to show up that much. But, even I am particular about the brand--unless I get a free one from the golf gods while searching for my lost ball. Even then, more and more I am leaving certain balls where they lie because I believe for some reason they are "beneath" me. 

This Christmas I gifted a few dozen golf balls--fodder for the water hazards and forests. 

I also received a tee shirt that completely defines my golf game. Chris often remarks that I never saw a tree on the golf course that I couldn't hit! And I also received a very blue pair of glasses to help find golf balls hidden in plain sight in the rough. I hope they work because I have a devil of a time finding balls that just missed the fairway. 

Maybe that is what I like racquetball as an alternative, at least the ball is confined to the court--well, mostly, unless playing at outdoor courts.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

After the Celebration

 

And it is over . . . 

Grogu, My Party Animal

While I have the feeling that the holiday is over and now the clean-up can begin, it really isn't over. This holiday carries on until after New Years.

We actually handled most of the clean-up from two days of extended celebration last evening and so there isn't much to do today. 

So I will spend time with my new party animal, Grogu, a/k/a/ Baby Yoda. 

I tried to read the newspapers this morning, but really wasn't into any of it. I just need a break from the bad news that makes the news.

Today is Saturday and a good day to catch my breath and exhale after the celebration. The family cycled through in shifts yesterday and we were all COVID conscious. Christmas 2020 was different, but memorable. I hope we can look back someday and say, "Do you remember Christmas during the pandemic?" and wear the statement as a badge of accomplishment.

I hope all of you are enjoying a safe and happy holiday. 2020 will be fine soon--let's try to make 2021 better.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Christmas 2020 Prayer

 

Father in Heaven 

Hope was born a long time ago, too long sometimes it seems

and we have forgotten the promise was made to us.

We are challenged by the darkness and chaos that confronts us on a daily basis and sometimes we forget that all we see is not all that that there is.

We have a promise and hope.

The promise and the hope that you sent to us on that first Christmas.

We have never needed hope more than right now. We are living in a world reeling from pandemic, fraught with discord, suspicion and hatred. Our world has become much like what your Son found at his birth in the lowly stable so long ago.

Yet, we have hope. We believe your promises. We sing Joy to the World and know that despite what we see, there is a joy that we can believe. 

Protect and guard our military men and women on station around the world and all those who stand watch to protect us from the forces of darkness.

Be with and inspire the first responders and the medical professionals who are on the front lines waging war against the ravages of the pandemic.

On this Christmas Day 2020, thank you for our many blessings and for the peace and hope you have given to us in the middle of a chaotic world.  

Amen 

Christmas Eve 2020

Christmas Decorations
Elkridge, MD
December 19, 2020

 Well, the decade of the roaring 20's is off to a difficult start. Who knew what 2020 would have in store as it began some 51 weeks ago. 

But today is Christmas Eve and even with the modified celebrations and travel restrictions, we must not lose the Sprit of Christmas. And from what I can see, amid the pain, suffering, and pandemic people are holding onto their traditions as best that they can. 

At our house, the decorations are in place and everything is ready for Christmas. We are having a modified brunch this morning and a smaller gathering for our traditional Christmas Day meal. We will zoom with other family members and they will all be in our thoughts and prayers. Some day soon we will get to enjoy seeing and conversing with them in person. But not this year. 

My Christmas wish is that next year we can be together and appreciate each other more because of 2020. 

May you find peace and hope amid the noise and dissonance. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Star in the Sky

 

The Christmas Star through the Trees
Elkridge, MD
December 22, 2020

Chris and I finally were able to get a good view of the "Christmas Star" last evening in the western sky after sunset. It has become quite the phenomenon even making the news. It is not a star at all, however, as it is Jupiter and Saturn in conjunction. 

I guess it only happens like this every 800 or so years. Like I would be around to see it again anyway. 

We were surprised at how low the two planets are from out house. Of course that is because our house sits in a low spot. Chris found the two planets hiding among the trees as we waited last evening. We had been thwarted on other occasions due to clouds. 

The Christmas Star
Jupiter and Saturn
Elkridge, MD
December 22, 2020

Since the planets were so low in the sky from our house, we drove to some high ground for a good view and Chris brought her binoculars. It was spectacular. As it was early and the sky still not fully dark, I could not actually see the rings of Saturn, I suppose I should go out again tonight and see if I can find the rings or even a moon of Jupiter with the binoculars.

I am fascinated by the amount of interest this conjunction has drawn, perhaps because it is Christmas and 2020 has been such a difficult year. People are looking for hope and imagining that this might me the fables Star of Bethlehem appeals to their desire to have something concrete and good to believe in. Of course, astronomers say this particular conjunction was not that fable star of old--but who knows? Something similar. 

O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading,
Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Christmas Season Happy Hour

 

Happy Hour
Elkridge, MD
December 21, 2020

Last evening Chris had to go out to finish some shopping and I determined that it would a be good time to prepare a special Happy Hour.

The lack of holiday parties has meant that some of the spirit is missing from the season. It was the first day of Winter and the shortest amount of daylight for the year and so we needed a special celebration. 

I felt we needed to get as little of the holiday spirit back and so I put together a small plate of munchies and had the wine poured and ready for when she returned home. 

It turned out that she returned home quickly because the stores were too crowded. We are being very conscious of the COVID threat and will not tarry in a crowded store.  

We enjoyed a quiet start to the evening with some munchies and a nice wine. It was an appropriate Christmas Season Happy Hour. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - December 21, 2020

 

1. It is the third Monday of December. Christmas is four short days away. Are you ready? More importantly, 2021 begins in 11 short days. Perhaps we will finally be rid of 2020 and the pain and suffering that it has brought.

2. Inauguration Day is 30 days from today! I hope we make it.

3. Winter began today at 5:02 AM EST. We have 9 hours and 24 minutes of daylight today in Baltimore. Now the days will begin to get longer, finally. Can Spring be that far off?

4.  Family NFL Results

     Football Team (6-8) lost to Seahawks (10-4) 15-20

     Ravens (9-5) defeat Jaguars (1-13) 40-14

     Cowboys (5-9) defeat 49ers (5-9) 41-33

     Steelers (11-2) play Bengals (2-10-1) tonight

5. Where is the President? The United States is under a cyber attack from the Russians, the coronavirus is rampaging, and our economy is slipping into quicksand and he is more interested in attacking the very democratic principles upon which our republic is based than preserving the union. 

6. I have heard it said that the president is more interested in having the title than doing the job. 

7. I was looking at images from Christmases past over the weekend and I found it interesting how we continue to make small adjustments to how we decorate the house for the season. 

8. I heard that the baseball season may be delayed until May. It was reported by CBS. 

8. Today in History. On December 21, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 from London to New Yorkexplodes in midair over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members aboard, as well as 11 Lockerbie residents on the ground. A bomb hidden inside an audio cassette player detonated in the cargo area when the plane was at an altitude of 31,000 feet. The disaster, which became the subject of Britain’s largest criminal investigation, was believed to be an attack against the United States. One hundred eighty nine of the victims were American.

Trump Remains Focused on Reversing Election - The Wall Street Journal

Defense Officials Push Proposal to Separate NSA, Cyber Command - The Wall Street Journal

Trump says he spoke with Sen.-elect Tuberville, who has hinted at backing electoral college challenge - The Washington Post

Details emerge on stimulus checks as Congress rushes to finalize deal - The Washington Post

Some European Countries Begin Barring U.K. Travelers - The New York Times

Analysis: A President Who Can’t Put Aside Grudges, Even for Good News - The New York Times

Biden chief of staff says hack response will go beyond 'just sanctions' - Reuters

Flights cancelled, holidays in disarray as Sydney battles pre-Christmas COVID-19 outbreak - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"Is the Christmas spirit still alive?'' some ask. Well, you bet it is. Being Americans, we open our hearts to neighbors less fortunate. We try to protect them from hunger and cold. And we reach out in so many ways -- from toys-for-tots drives across the country, to good will by the Salvation Army, to American Red Cross efforts which provide food, shelter, and Christmas cheer from Atlanta to Seattle.

Radio Address to the Nation on Christmas, December 24, 1983

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Preparing for Christmas

 

Poinsettia Tree
Columbia Mall, Columbia, MD
December 26,2018

I was reviewing my images of Christmases past yesterday and came to a stark realization, it is going be very different this year as we respect the threat of COVID-19 and distance ourselves.

We need to remember the season. We need to find joy despite the upheaval of our lives. As 2019 was ending we never expected to be living through a pandemic a short year later. Everything, it seems has changed. Even travel, we cannot even think of traveling to visit family trapped in remote areas. 

Unlike last year, we do not expect a large gathering. We will be seeing family in small groups. But, the dinner will still be made and in a recent reversal of fortune, Christmas Eve Brunch will be held in rolling shifts. As for Christmas dinner? It will be small. But, we will be maintaining distance and celebrating the holiday in the best way that we can. 

It is Christmas after all. 

Celebrate!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD