Saturday Golf

Clifton Park Golf Course 1st Tee Box
Baltimore, MD
July 31, 2021

I love watching the sun come up on the golf course and having a 6:20 AM Tee Time will ensure that happens. 

This morning Jeremy and I played Clifton Park in Baltimore. It was my first time on the course and I was very impressed. City courses do not have a good reputation, but the greens were in perfect shape and the course was overall excellent shape. Wow. 

Clifton Park 18th Tee Box
Baltimore, MD
July 31, 2021

The course has some beautiful views and tricky holes. There is not water, thankfully, but I still managed to mishit and lose a few balls. It has been almost two months since I played last.

The weather was pleasantly cool and not as humid as it has been lately. 

The last hole of the round was especially memorable because Jeremy made his first ever Eagle putt and it was a par 5. He knocked his best drive of the day and followed that with an incredible shot that went over the group playing in front of us who were hidden in a low spot looking for their balls. When they saw us looking they told us about a ball that just appeared on the green. Wow! And he made the pressure packed shot. I videoed the shot for posterity. 

It was a great morning on the course and a great way to begin the day. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Racing through the Area

 

Rain Crashing into the Pool and Yard
Elkridge, MD
July 29, 2021

Severe thunderstorms and tornados raced through the region yesterday afternoon about rush hour. 

Fortunately, I was home and did not have to stress in the traffic and weather--but, the storms were impressive. Chris and I sat on the porch with a glass wine and enjoyed the sound and light show provided by nature. At one point it was 360 degrees and some of the thunder was almost instantaneous with the lightning. We kept a watchful eye on the tornado warning to ensure that it was not in our neighborhood.

The rain was a hard as I can remember as it poured firm the sky onto the hot, parched lawn. It ran down the driveway like a river. 

It was exciting to watch, but fortunately we did not suffer any damage--just a few leaves into the pool which I was easily able to clean.

If it good to be reminded of the power of nature. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Backward into the Abyss

 New recommendations from federal health officials this week on when vaccinated Americans should don face masks came with a startling bolt of news: People who have had their shots and become infected with the delta variant of the coronavirus can harbor large amounts of virus just like unvaccinated people. That means they could become spreaders of the disease and should return to wearing masks indoors in certain situations, including when vulnerable people are present. (The Washington Post)

We are taking a huge step backwards with respect to mask wearing--even vaccinated people now need to wear masks again indoors. And I have been advised this means where I work. 

Haven't we been here before?

Yes, but the numbers of COVID-19 infections and deaths are forcing us to repeat history after a sweet and too short break. Life is not getting back to normal. There are too many unvaccinated people and they are getting everyone infected.

I cannot begin to explain how excited I am to wear my colorful masks again, watch my investments shrink, insurance rates rise while taxes increase to cover medical expenses. And to think, we have to go through this again because as a society could not achieve herd immunity.

It happened just as they said it would, but I am sure the non-believers are going to remain non-believers and continue to place themselves and their families and neighbors at risk. 

At least the roads should be free of traffic as everything shuts down again.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Rolling Tides of Flowers

Black-eyes Susans 2
Elkridge, MD
July 27, 2021

Black-eyed Susans
Elkridge, MD
July 27, 2021

Lining my neighbor's stairs are waving mounds of Black-eyed Susan flowers. They are in full summertime bloom and are just magnificent to look at and to enjoy. 

And there are so many of them that they almost resemble ca field of Black-eyed Susans. They are so very enjoyable to look at. It makes me smile when I see them.

As my favorite month of the year draws to a close, I am daily reminded why I love July. The flowers and the abundant life. August, sadly, begins the slide into Autumn and the dark months. Even though we are in the middle of the Dog Days, I can daily feel the summer slipping away and the beginning signs of Autumn appearing. 

Enjoy the day.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Looking Up?

 

It is Tuesday--a day that I still cannot figure out how to get excited about. 

Some call it the most productive day of the week, I just try to get through it. 

There are 22 Tuesdays remaining in the year 2021. That means that there are only 22 more times, after today, that I will have to figure out how to get motivated for work. Now that is encouraging. 

But, there days has arrived and I will get on my way and enjoy doing the things that fill up a productive day.

Tuesday is also a special day of the week--I get to put the trash out! Oh boy!

A hot 95 degree day is expected and so, like yesterday, I expect to get into my truck this afternoon and have the temperature gauge read 108 degrees again from baking in the hot sun all afternoon!

Just another Tuesday!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - July 26, 2021

 

1. It is the fourth Monday of July. My favorite month of the year is almost over.

2. How about them Orioles? They are 6-3 since the All Star break. Is there hope? They swept the Nationals!

3. Traffic! Traffic! It is back to normal which means too many cars to fit on the roads. 

4. Message to the Masses: Get Vaccinated.

5. There is nothing better than spending time with family on the weekends.

6. Are you watching the Olympics? I am. It is something different than the usual junk on TV. 

7. Who are Americans? My answer--all of us!

8. Today in History. On July 26, 1775, the U.S. postal system is established by the Second Continental Congress, with Benjamin Franklin as its first postmaster general. Franklin (1706-1790) put in place the foundation for many aspects of today’s mail system.

‘We’re Stuck’: Local Officials Fight Misinformation to Combat Variants‘We’re Stuck’: Local Officials Fight Misinformation to Combat Variants = The New York Times

Analysis: Variant Keeps Spreading, but Vaccine Refusal Is the Real Threat - The New York Times

Global Investors Are Buying American - The Wall Street Journal

The Delta Variant Upends the World’s Pandemic Response - The Wall Street Journal

First came the ransomware attacks, now come the lawsuits - The Washington Post

You got a coronavirus vaccine. But you still became infected. How did that happen? - The Washington Post

Tunisian president ousts government in move critics call a coup - Reuters

Man accused of attempted assassination of Mali president dies in custody - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

It does my spirit good to be among thousands of Americans from our heartland, people with faith in God, the United States, and themselves. And despite the doom-criers that are abroad in the land, I believe that most of America shares your faith. But there hasn't been enough recognition of the part that you play in the lives of all of us. Not too long ago a new, young Congressman from the heart of our biggest city was placed on the agricultural committee of the House -- not exactly a case of a round peg in a round hole. And his first contribution to the committee was a pronouncement that government should confiscate all food and divide it equally among all the people, because food was a natural resource belonging to everyone.

Remarks at the Annual Convention of the National Corn Growers Association in Des Moines, Iowa - August 2, 1982

_-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Enjoying my Favorite Month

Deer in the Yard
Elkridge, MD
July 24, 2021

 It was a normal July Saturday around the house. I worked the pool and ensured it was ready for another week of hard use. We ran some errands and have a few projects to complete today. 

One moment which provided some enjoyment was the deer that passed through the yard. They must have known that they were the objects of interest because they paused at the edge of the yard and posed for my picture. I was even able to frame the animal with our Rose of Sharon bush before it decided to seek the relative safety of the forested area we adjoin.

A quick moment in a busy day that also saw an enjoyable lunch along the banks of the Magothy River. I guess that is why July is my favorite month of the year.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD 

Shiraz and Key Lime Pie

 

Key Lime Pie and Australian Shiraz

A couple weeks ago, while dining at a friend's for Happy Hour I experienced something unexpected. I enjoyed wine, as we usually do, but as we moved onto dessert we put together Key Lime Pie and a very special bottle of Australian Shiraz--Mollydooker The Boxer, 2016. 

I initially thought that this experiment was doomed for failure. How possibly could a fully bodied Australian red wine possible work with one of my favorite desserts: Key Lime Pie. 

But work it did. 

The pie and wine went together exceptionally well and it wasn't to just my opinion, but the opinion of everyone at Happy Hour. The deep rich flavors of the Shiraz blended perfectly with the sweetness of the Key Lime Pie and made a very pleasant and enticing dessert combination. 

I am going to save this combination for the future.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Rabbits--everywhere

Three Rabbits Posing
Elkridge, MD
July 22, 2021

 The yard is besieged by rabbits.

I walked outside last evening and there were no less than five rabbits in my yard. I was able to get a few of them into an image before they ran off.

There are three rabbits in this image. There were two others elsewhere in the yard, but I couldn't fit them all into one shot. 

We have too many rabbits, perhaps the fox needs to start hunting.

The rabbits are doing a great job of fertilizing the yard, unfortunately my dogs like the rabbit droppings. Ugh.

Summertime, but this is the most rabbits we have ever experienced. 

Maybe it will change, soon.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Stopping Traffic

Geese in the Road
Hanover, MD
July 21, 2021

The Parkway, my main route to work, was jammed yesterday. Fortunately, I can bail and take an alternate route to get to my place of employment--and so I did. 

I was excited that I made the traffic light, which is incredibly long at the first intersection after departing the Parkway--and the next intersection is a right turn and so not usually any delay there, but shortly I came across a definite stoppage of traffic--geese crossing the roadway in Hanover, MD.

It is clear why I enjoy taking this alternate route to work, as there is no traffic in sight. There was a car stopped next to me as we both waited for the family of geese to cross the roadway. They were taking their time and despite that I was in my usual hurry to get to work, I actually enjoyed the stoppage to watch these birds cross the roadway oblivious to the danger that was paused waiting for them to complete their journey.

I made it to work, but I was glad that I had enjoyed a brush with nature to start my day.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD