String of "The Last . . . "

I remember as our children were growing that Chris and I at times approached a set of situations and dubbed them, "the last . . . "

I had one of those moments yesterday. It has been quite a while since I felt one, but yesterday as I was attending a virtual conference I realized that I was beginning to experience one of "the last."

I am excited about the upcoming life change which coincides with the New Year. Chris and I have a cruise planned, if Covid allows, right out of the gate. 

I recognize now that there is going to be no shortage of last this or last that as I transition into retirement almost 45 years of going to work every day and doing something that I enjoy immensely. 

So, I will take each day and enjoy it, as I have the days before, but each day draws the end of the year closer and my time shorter. 

But, life on the other side looks equally as exciting and bright--I mean, I really want to lower my golf handicap, and soon I will be able to do just that. 

There just will be too many, "the last . . . "

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Hump

For those of us still employed and working a regular 40 hour schedule, today is Hump Day. 

It is funny how much the days of the week pass when I put them into perspective. Somehow, though, Hump Day, getting over the hump of the week and sliding into the weekend is the most powerful image and the most helpful at dealing with the routine stuff.

I guess this year the passing of days and weeks is a bit more noticeable and necessary. Watching the weeks pass in an endless stream holds the promise of significant change whereby I will no longer need to monitor the passing of the days or weeks, but should be able to enjoy each day on its own irrespective of its placement win the week.

I want to work on my golf handicap!

Happy Hump Day!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD  

Dog Sitting, Again

 

I have definitely decided what I am NOT going to become when I retire--a dog sitter/walker.

I love dogs, don't get me wrong, but they are demanding creatures.

This week we are watching three additional canines again while their humans enjoy time in Aruba. Why am I not in Aruba, you ask? 

A good question and one for which there is not correspondingly good answer.

This week we enjoyed celebrating one dog's birthday. Chris and I sang happy birthday and sent a video to its humans. It was kinda fun and I thought it came out pretty good. Maybe I'll start doing singing doggie birthday telegrams or something.

Well, that's all for now, time to walk and feed the pack.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - August 2, 2021

 

1. And so it has arrived, August. Today is the first Monday of the eighth month of the year. There are 21 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. July was a great month and I am sorry to see it go. From now on the daylight gets shorter and the nights cooler. Autumn is standing in the wings ready to take center stage. 

Finnegan in the Saddlebag
Elkridge, MD
July 31, 2021

3. The Orioles are 9-6 since the All Star Break. That is a solid winning record. They are flirting with not being the worst team in the American League and until they lost yesterday they were the 28th best team in baseball. 

4. Patrick got a new motorcycle and brought it over to take Chris for a ride. Finnegan liked it so much that he wanted to try to go for a ride on it by staying in the saddlebag. Don't worry, he did not close him in the bike. 

Lake Kittamaqundi
Columbia, MD
August 1, 2021

5. As a way to celebrate the new month, Chris, Finnegan, and I went for a walk around Lake Kittamaqundi in Columbia. Although we knew it was going to begin raining about noon, we were able to complete the walk and did not even feel a raindrop. The rain did arrive later in the day and it rained a great deal.

6. According to some in the family Autumn begins on Thursday with the first pre-season NFL game. Well, everyone has their definition of the seasons; however, I am still clinging to Summer.

7. The Delta variant of COVID-19 is upon us. I found an article describing things we should know about this variant. It is from Yale Medicine: 5 Things to Know About the Delta Variant. My take is that we who are vaccinated are being required to mask up again to protect the lives of the unvaccinated. 

8. Today in History. On August 2, 1990, at about 2 a.m. local time, Iraqi forces invade Kuwait, Iraq’s tiny, oil-rich neighbor. Kuwait’s defense forces were rapidly overwhelmed, and those that were not destroyed retreated to Saudi Arabia. The emir of Kuwait, his family, and other government leaders fled to Saudi Arabia, and within hours Kuwait City had been captured and the Iraqis had established a provincial government. By annexing Kuwait, Iraq gained control of 20 percent of the world’s oil reserves and, for the first time, a substantial coastline on the Persian Gulf. The same day, the United Nations Security Council unanimously denounced the invasion and demanded Iraq’s immediate withdrawal from Kuwait. On August 6, the Security Council imposed a worldwide ban on trade with Iraq.

Chile Workers at World’s Biggest Copper Mine Vote to Strike - The Wall Street Journal

U.S. Blames Iran for Drone Attack on Israeli-Linked Tanker - The Wall Street Journal

To Fight Vaccine Lies, Authorities Recruit an ‘Influencer Army’ - The New York Times

A Brain Drain Among Government Scientists Bogs Down Biden’s Climate Ambitions - The New York Times

Senate unveils details of bipartisan infrastructure proposal - The Washington Post

As the Taliban closes in, Afghan forces scramble to defend prisons holding thousands of militants - The Washington Post

You’re going to be asked to prove your vaccination status. Here’s how to do it. - The Washington Post

Belarus athlete 'safe and secure' in Tokyo as Poland, Czech offer visas - Reuters

Oil prices fall on worries over China economy and higher crude output - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

During the last 200 days, you've provided your countrymen with an example of representative democracy at its best. Those of you in the Republican leadership in the face of extraordinary pressures have forged a political unity that has rarely been equaled in Washington, and you did it first and foremost because you believed you were acting in the best interests of the country. And those of you here today who are members of the Democratic Party had the personal strength to put principle above partisan or special interests, and yours has been a special courage.

I think we can all agree that today our bipartisan coalition is becoming a strong and vibrant one. But I think we can also agree that we'll need this strength and vibrancy, because the challenges we must face together are by no means over. The struggle against government's irresistible urge to grow and grow is a continuing one. The fight to control the Federal budget is just beginning. But on this front, I think we can be very clear: There will be no falling back, no call for retreat.

Remarks at a Meeting With Congressional Leaders Following Passage of Federal Budget Reconciliation and Tax Reduction Legislation - August 5, 1981

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Something Different

Concert in Columbia
Columbia, MD
July 31, 2021

 I am not a huge fan of concerts, especially when I don't know the band. 

Last evening, however, our Friday evening Happy Hour group attended a concert in Columbia along the banks of Lake Kittamaqundi and had a great time. 

I was amazed at the crowd that showed. The image I took was just before the music began and as the concert started even more people arrived. We were able to maintain good physical spacing from the other people, but still felt like we were part of the fun. 

What a special day was the last day of my favorite month of the year. I began the day with golf and ended the day with friends enjoying oldies and maybe a few glasses of wine! It was an end to end day where I saw the sunrise and partied at sunset.

Why can't every day be like that? Because then it would become routine and be special.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD 

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