Black Walnuts

Black Walnuts on the Ground
Elkridge, MD
October 11, 2021

 It must be a banner year for the Black Walnuts. They are everywhere in my yard and are going to be a real problem when I start my tractor and attempt to mow. 

The side yard has more than a bushel of the noxious nuts lying on the ground. The squirrels are happy and I hope they run off with more of them before I have to deal with removing them or trying to mow over them.  

I remember when we lived in Louisiana and the pecan trees dropped nuts all over the yard and the surrounding park. At least they were edible--although I remember my hands turned green removing the husks from the nuts. We gathered grocery bags full of them. 

While I was outside, I heard the nuts dropping from the trees. I bet they hurt as much as when a coconut falls on one's head. It would be a painful experience. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Grasses

 

Grasses After Cutting
Elkridge, MD
October 11, 2021

Grasses Before Cutting
Elkridge, MD
October 11, 2021

It is that time of year when the ornamental grasses that we use as a privacy screen around our pool need to be trimmed. Originally, I had thought it would be too wet to cut them, but unlike Sunday they dried out by about 10 AM and were ready for cutting.

It is quite a job, cutting the grasses and stacking them in the truck to haul to the recycling center at the landfill. Its takes two trips to get them all removed. All told, with the travel time, it is about a five hour project. And normally it is a two person project, but today, with Chris in New York with her sister, I did it alone. 

OK, I am tired and sore. I wore a short sleeve shirt for the first run, but as I broke out with welts I remembered that I am allergic to the grasses. So a little washing and Benadryl took care of that problem. 

I normally attempt to get the grasses cut on Columbus Day--so since I am not in Florida at least I was able to get a major project completed on-time for another year.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - October 11, 2021

 

1. It is the second Monday of October. Two Mondays remain in the month and only 11 remain in the year 2021. 

2. Happy Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day.

3. I actually was able to get out and play some racquetball yesterday. It was good to be back on the court and I enjoyed taking my pent-up frustrations out on the racquetball. It was my first experience on a three-wall court and I had to learn the modified rules.

4. Family NFL Results:

    Washington (2-3) loses to Saints (3-2), 22-33

    Cowboys (4-1) defeat Giants (1-4), 44-20

    Steelers (2-3) defeat Broncos (3-2), 27-19

    Ravens (3-1) play Colts (1-3) tonight

My Florida Palm Tree
Tequesta, Florida
October 7, 2021

5. We need rain, but I have been trying to perform my seasonal ornamental grass cutting and it just does not work when the grasses are wet! Ugh! But, I don't know why I' m worried about it, I am not even supposed to be here.

6. My palm tree is still standing beside the drive at my Florida home. I took the picture to remind me of what it looks like when I'm not there. I miss it, although parking next to it can be a problem getting the car lined-up so the doors open fully.

7. Enjoy the day--it is the only one we have. 

8. Today in History. On October 11, 2002, former President Jimmy Carter wins the Nobel Peace Prize “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.”

Carter, a peanut farmer from Georgia, served one term as U.S. president between 1977 and 1981. One of his key achievements as president was mediating the peace talks between Israel and Egypt in 1978. The Nobel Committee had wanted to give Carter the prize that year for his efforts, along with Anwar Sadat and Menachim Begin, but was prevented from doing so by a technicality—he had not been nominated by the official deadline.

The Massive and Costly Fight Against the Dixie Fire to battle the nearly one-million-acre blaze - The New York Times

U.S. Navy Engineer Charged in Attempt to Sell Nuclear Submarine SecretsU.S. Navy Engineer Charged in Attempt to Sell Nuclear Submarine Secrets - The New York Times

After the Taliban seized their school, Afghanistan’s all-female orchestra tried to flee. Only some escaped. - The Washington Post

In search for covid origins, Hubei caves and wildlife farms draw new scrutiny - The Washington Post

Oil Jumps Above $80, Turbocharged by Supply Shortages - The Wall Street Journal

China’s Property Market Faces a $5 Trillion Reckoning - The Wall Street Journal

Korea's Kim calls for improving people's lives amid 'grim' economy - Reuters

China rust-belt province warns of more shortages in energy crisis - Reuters

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Winter must be close

Snow Blowers Ready for Winter
Columbia, MD
October 9, 2021

I had to make the obligatory weekend trip to Lowe's yesterday and what did I see? 

Winter!

Lined up in front of the store where, the lawn mowers and tractors used to be, were snow blowers! Ugh!

Could Winter really be that close? It seems as if we only just said good-bye to Summer and are beginning to enjoy the early Autumn.

But the snow blowers were there, almost it seemed laughing at me since I was supposed to be on a beach in Florida and not frequenting a Lowe's in Columbia. 

I am still trying to get the Autumn chores accomplished. Today I will tackle the ornamental grasses around the pool and load the truck for an early morning drop-off at the recycling center. What a great way to spend a holiday weekend. But, at least I have a new battery for the hedge trimmer and it will make short work of the grasses. 

It seems to be a weekend for battery replacement. The truck battery on Friday and the hedge trimmer battery yesterday.

I just did not need to see snow blowers in October!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

I insult to Injury

As if  being back in Maryland after such a short time away was not enough, I had another surprise when I hopped into the truck to retrieve Makayla from my son yesterday. The battery was dead!

Dead!

I put a trickle charger on it and drove the Jaguar to get the dog. It was a nice enough day to enjoy having the convertible top down and the car needed gas anyway. 

When I came back, the charger indicated that the battery should have been fully charged--but it wasn't. The voltage read just over 9 volts. Something bad had definitely happened. I suspected a bad cell--but the battery was only months old. Then I worried about the electrical system of the truck.

I removed the battery from the truck and returned it to the chain where it was purchased, receipt in hand. The battery had a 48 month warranty and it had been purchased in May 2021. Yup, 5 short months ago! 

The agent at the store was a very concerned when I set the battery on the counter and announced that ti was dead. As he retrieved the testing equipment he said it was probably low on charge and that I might have a short or that some small light that was left turned-on. His optimism about not having to replace the battery under warranty was soon dispelled as the machine very quickly showed the symbol with the words "Replace Battery." He was very nice and we discussed that it was only 5 months old and it was one of their more expensive batteries--running $200 (ok, $199.99 for the purists). He handed me the new battery and said, go on, I'll take care of the warranty paperwork. In the end, it was one of the easiest exchanges that I have done in a long time. 

I have a new battery that has 43 months left on the original warranty. I wish they would restart the warranty date when something is exchanged, but I guess that would actually be getting something for nothing. I'm just glad that I had the receipt.

So after wasting the better part of the afternoon, the truck was again up and running with a new battery. I would say that it was at no cost--but that would not consider the time and gas that it took for me to diagnose, remove/replace, and drive to get the replacement battery.

Nothing is free.

And to think, I could have been on a beach in Florida and not discovered the battery was dead until I was getting into the truck to go to work after returning from vacation! That would have been exciting!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

38 Hours

Point of Rocks
Jupiter Beach, Florida
October 7, 2021

 And it was over before it really began. 

Chris and I managed 38 hours in Florida before a family emergency called us back. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. But, I understand.

After all, it is my condo in Florida. I will get back there--possibly, next month. 

It did get to walk the beach and enjoy the ocean, briefly.

I completed some small projects around the condo and I managed to begin stocking the wine fridge. So many good things happened during the short time, it was just over too soon.

But now I am supporting Chris as she deals with the emergency.

I have great memories, albeit short and it is a three-day weekend.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Made it

 

Clouds over the Bahamas
Somewhere over the Western Atlantic
October 6, 2021

I enjoyed my morning coffee on the patio of my Florida condo this morning. 

We made it. The trip from Baltimore to Jupiter was smooth and uneventful. Finnegan seemed to enjoy the plane ride and sat quietly on Chris's lap for the entire trip. 

Southwest had us waiting at the gate after boarding for 25 minutes so they could load connecting baggage. Which was great for the connecting passengers but not so great for those of us strapped in and ready to go. 

I had a window seat for the first time in many flights. I confess that I did enjoy looking outside the plane at the cloud formations. They were especially pretty and the ocean was so smooth that I could see their reflections. The image doesn't show the beauty as my eye saw it because the aircraft window was very dirty. But I still enjoy the memory of the flat Atlantic reflecting the clouds as they floated over the Bahamas. 

Soon, I won't be just visiting my Florida home, it will be my home.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, Florida 

Hump Travel Day

Jupiter Beach
Jupiter, Florida
April 25, 2021

Mid-week travel and an escape to Florida for almost a week, that is the plan for the day.

I will be making my triumphal return to the land of Palm Trees and our condo. Well it may not be a triumphal return except in my own head. It seems as if I have been waiting to get to Florida for a very long time (well, it was April). And yet, very soon it will be my residence.

The travel does provide a way to get away from the pace of life at work, which has been a bit over the top lately. I guess it just goes with the territory. 

And I do look forward to enjoying Happy hour on my favorite beach--maybe tonight? Probably not since we arrive after the happy hour begins. But definitely a walk tomorrow morning. 

I really can't think of a better way to enjoy Indigenous People's Day (a/k/a Columbus Day). Yes, it is a Holiday. WooHoo!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

the Booster

I did it last evening.

I received my COVID-19 vaccine booster. 

Yup, since I'm eligible and it was recommended, due to my advanced age, I am now not only fully vaccinated, but within two weeks I will be fully boosted. 

Chris and I determined that since we are traveling, and much of the travel is to the misguided and poorly led states of Texas and Florida, we needed the extra protection. And we were eligible for the booster. We are also planning on a cruise in January--so additional protection was also desired. 

The person administering the booster shot indicated that since a lot of businesses are requiring vaccinations as a condition of employment, they are seeing a lot of first timers. 

So I will continue to be free to move about the country and the world for that matter. 

Get vaccinated and if eligible, get the booster. The price is right and it is a lot cheaper than getting COVID.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - October 4, 2021

 

1. October has arrived and today is the first Monday of the month. There are three Mondays remain in October and 12 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. NFL Family Results:

    Ravens (3-1) defeat Broncos (3-1), 23-7

    Cowboys (3-1) defeat Panthers (3-1), 36-28

    Washington (2-2) defeat Falcons (1-3), 34-30

    Steelers (1-3) lose to Packers (3-1), 27-17

Tournament Image - Jax at the Bat
Pasadena, MD
October 2, 2021

3. The baseball tournament played by the Severn Seminoles 14U ended in an unsatisfactory manner with a sour loss yesterday morning 11-8. Based upon how the three games win the tournament were umpired, I wonder if there is an unconscious bias by umpires against teams with plain uniforms. Just wondering because it seemed every questionable call went against out boys and the others teams were wearing modern and unique uniforms. And some bad calls were not questionable--like giving an opposing batter a 4th strike, confirmed by video after the game, which resulted in a two run single rather than an out.

4. It was a sports filled weekend: three baseball games and I watched 2 and a half NFL football games. In addition I repaired the pull cord on my gas powered blower. It is amazing how simple instructions can be difficult to understand. Maybe I'm getting older or maybe some additional words needed to be added. Fortunately YouTube came to the rescue!

5. The past week was some of the best weather the region has experienced in a long time. Warm, but not hot and humid afternoons with cool evenings. One evening Chris and I even sat around the fire pit for the first time this season. 

6. Today in History. October 4, 1957. The Soviet Union inaugurates the “Space Age” with its launch of Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite. The spacecraft, named Sputnik after the Russian word for “satellite,” was launched at 10:29 p.m. Moscow time from the Tyuratam launch base in the Kazakh Republic. 

Sputnik had a diameter of 22 inches and weighed 184 pounds and circled Earth once every hour and 36 minutes. Traveling at 18,000 miles an hour, its elliptical orbit had an apogee (farthest point from Earth) of 584 miles and a perigee (nearest point) of 143 miles. Visible with binoculars before sunrise or after sunset, Sputnik transmitted radio signals back to Earth strong enough to be picked up by amateur radio operators. Those in the United States with access to such equipment tuned in and listened in awe as the beeping Soviet spacecraft passed over America several times a day. In January 1958, Sputnik’s orbit deteriorated, as expected, and the spacecraft burned up in the atmosphere.

Broader Inflation Pressures Begin to Show - The Wall Street Journal

Mortgage Payments Are Getting More and More Unaffordable - The Wall Street Journal

Back on the Bench, the Supreme Court Faces a Blockbuster Term - The New York Times

Democratic Voters See Many Losers in Party Schism, and One Winner: Trump - The New York Times

Crisis - what crisis? British military deployed to solve fuel crisis - Reuters

Swedish 'Mohammad' cartoonist Lars Vilks killed in car crash - Reuters

Biden's new China trade plan echoes Trump's, but assumes Beijing won't change - Reuters

U.S. Navy hit by another international bribery scandal - The Washington Post

Why the arrest of an ex-president may be one crisis too many for Georgia - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD