Saturday, November 6, 2021

On the Docks

The Docks off 2nd Street
Annapolis, MD
November 5, 2021
Last evening we went to Annapolis for dinner. The city docks area had been ravaged by the storms a few weeks ago and so we were not really sure what we would find as we traveled through the stifling traffic to the city. 

Sunset out the Chart House Window
Annapolis, MD
November 5, 2021

The city had fared well during the storms and subsequent flooding and we did not notice any perceptible impact to the operations. We enjoyed a marvelous dinner celebration at the Chart House which included a spectacular sunset. 

Dinner with friends is always a good time and we enjoyed a solid wine with a variety of foods. 

Despite the traffic which effectively doubled the driving time to get to the city, it was a great evening and we enjoyed the pleasant, unhurried meal in a stunning location along the harbor. 


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD


Friday, November 5, 2021

Autumn Sky

 

Final Light of the Day
Severn, MD
November 4, 2021
The Severn Seminoles 14U conducted their final practice of the Fall Ball season last evening. Almost as if to wish the team well, the sky provided a stunning display as sunset happened.

I took a moment and captured the display in the sky across the sandy infield. It was cold and as the sun continued below the horizon the temperature dropped with it. I think the boys were luckier in that they were at least moving the entire evening. Coaching and not moving around much made it colder. My toes even grew cold.

The practice moved along well with the boys fine tuning some of our plays, but with the cold and the recognition that the end of the season is upon us, it was a bit hard to keep them focused. I understood, I had trouble staying focused upon the plays and the practice and not how cold I was even with four layers of clothing.

The season ending doubleheader is Saturday against two 15U teams. Should be an interesting and fun day of baseball. 


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thursday, November 4, 2021

Turkeys Arise

Last Year's Turkey w/Mask

 The season of the Turkey has arrived.

No--it is not yet the Christmas season! Hold off on the tacky Christmas ornaments for a few more weeks. It is time to give thanks for the bounty and blessings of the year. 

And what a year it was! 

The deployment of the COVID vaccine has helped us struggle to return to pre-COVID normalcy. I expect an unmasked Thanksgiving this year as the entire family is vaccinated! Anyone who remains unvaccinated is not reading the science and somehow believes their medical degree is superior to those in positions to make these decisions. Wait1 You don't have a medical degree? You are getting you are taking your medical advice form Fox News? OK--let's see how that plays out.

We survived an insurrection. Call it what you will, revise history however you want--it was an insurrection.

The longest war in American history ended. It was an ugly end to an ugly war, but it is over. Frankly, I've never seen so many people unhappy about ending a war, especially one with no end in sight and which was draining the treasury.

We survived the 17 year cicadas. The bugs proved once again which species really owns the planet.

The Orioles got the first pick in the draft!

And so much more. It should be a great Thanksgiving. 


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Autumn Arrives

Autumn Colors Beginning in the Trees
Elkridge, MD
November 2, 2021
I feel like Autumn's arrival was delayed this year. 

I have this sense that on Halloween the trees should be devoid of leaves, dark, and making scary shadows in the moonlight. As can be seen in the image I took last evening, the trees are still mostly full with leaves and color is just beginning to show. There are places in the area where the rest and yellows of the Autumn colors are on full display, but in my backyard they are still in the early stages of transformation. Of course, it was raining when I took the image.

The cold rain and 40 degree temperatures yesterday, coupled with overnight lows in the 30s should encourage the colors to appear in the trees. 

Sadly, all too soon the trees will be bare and the grays of winter will arrive. But, I will enjoy the transformation.

Another season in the cycle of life which continues.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Game 6

Will it end tonight?

The World Series is an exciting slug fest. I wonder if the Astros can stave off defeat in their home park and force a game 7. There really is not much more exciting in sports than a Game 7 of a 7-game series to decide the champion. It brings everything into play. There is no tomorrow and the teams throw everything and everyone into the game. In baseball I have seen starting pitchers come in a relievers to help win the Game 7. 

I will likely stay up late to watch the game, but probably not all the way to the end. I get up too early in the morning to see the ending of evening sporting events. 

I hope the Braves win!


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD


Monday, November 1, 2021

Monday Musings - November 1, 2021

 


1. Welcome to November! This is the first of five Mondays in the month! The year is sliding quickly to the finish line as there remain only eight Mondays in the year!

Halloween Preparing for the Trick or Treaters 
Elkridge, MD
October 31, 2021
2. I survived another Halloween! The neighbors at the end of the cul de sac gathered in the driveway last evening to hand our candy. The kids were a bit confused, but they received candy from six houses in one stop. I might add, the adult beverages were flowing freely and the trash can fire kept us warm.

Finn Wondering if he is a dog, 
or a plaything
Elkridge, MD
October 31, 2021
3. Sometimes, I don't think that our dog Finnegan appreciates the costumes he has to wear on holidays. Like last evening, for instance. An alligator, really?

4. NFL Family Scores

    Steelers (4-3) defeat Browns (4-4), 15-10

    Cowboys (6-1) defeat Vikings (3-4) 20-16

    Washington (2-4) lose to Broncos (4-4), 10-17

    Ravens (5-2), mercifully on a bye

5. The project for the weekend was the removal of the non-functioning pool heater. It was an interesting project that took most of the day before it was finished. I was most amazed, however, when we went to the scrap yard to sell the metal to learn that copper is being bought for $3.20 per pound and that brass fittings are $.95 per pound. The 300 pounds of sheet metal netted a total of $13.

6. Today in History. The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, one of Italian artist Michelangelo’s finest works, is exhibited to the public for the first time on November 1, 1512.

Michelangelo Buonarroti, the greatest of the Italian Renaissance artists, was born in the small village of Caprese in 1475. The son of a government administrator, he grew up in Florence, a center of the early Renaissance movement, and became an artist’s apprentice at age 13. Demonstrating obvious talent, he was taken under the wing of Lorenzo de’ Medici, the ruler of the Florentine republic and a great patron of the arts. After demonstrating his mastery of sculpture in such works as the Pieta (1498) and David (1504), he was called to Rome in 1508 to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel—the chief consecrated space in the Vatican.




American Airlines’ Flight Cancellations Are Latest to Disrupt Travel - The Wall Street Journal

Shanghai Disneyland Suspends Operations as Visitors Queue for Covid-19 Tests - The Wall Street Journal

Former Afghan Spies and Soldiers Turn to ISIS After U.S. Exit - The Wall Street Journal

At Climate Talks, Biden Will Try to Sell American Leadership to Skeptics - The New York Times

What if Everything You Learned About Human History Is Wrong? - The New York Times

Southwest to probe pilot's use of anti-Biden insult during flight - Reuters

U.S. says it is in talks with allies on getting Iran to agree to nuclear deal - Reuters



-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sunday, October 31, 2021

Fire Pit World

Chris at the Gas Fire Pit
Elkridge, MD
October, 30, 2021
Chris and I are blessed with a gas fired pit and a wood fired pit. For evenings when we just want to spend some time around a fire, the gas fired pit is perfect--as in last evening. 

Last evening was one of those evenings. We retreated to our pool deck, surrounded by lights to chase away the darkness and enjoyed the warmth of a fire and some good conversation. We ordered a veggie pizza and enjoyed some wine and conversation basking in the glow of the fire. 

We stayed out until by the fire until it was almost time to retire for the evening. A warm fire, a calm night after the storms of Friday, good pizza, and great wine! Of course there was wine involved. What a great way to celebrate the last Saturday of October.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD


Saturday, October 30, 2021

A Tale of Two Fridays

Morning After the Storms
Elkridge, MD
October 30, 2021

The yesterday's rains reminded me how differently days can play out.

Last Friday, I went to work for a few hours and then left for a golf outing on a beautiful Autumn day. The skies were generally clear and the weather was warm enough to golf comfortably in a short-sleeved shirt. After golf, I arrived home and prepared a large fire and celebrated happy hour with friends into the night. As Autumn Fridays go, it was perfect!

Yesterday, however, there was no golf. I remained at work for the entire day and the rain made drive home slow and tortuous. The evening was celebrated with friends around a raging fireplace as the rains eventually subsided. And it was cold! Too cold for a short-sleeved shirt without a jacket. Water was everywhere. The roads were a mess.

How different the two days were--even though both were Friday. 


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday, October 29, 2021

Rain

 Today is a washout.

It is supposed to rain all day and into the evening which will effectively rainout the ballgame scheduled for tomorrow because youth fields do not drain. The water puddles and the field becomes a muddy mess. It can take days to dry out. 

If that happens, it appears we will be playing Tuesday night as a make-up.

The youth baseball season is ending, just as the MLB season is ending. Winter is on the horizon--but, at least I will be wintering in Florida and enjoying the sun and sand instead of the clouds and snow! I had heard, however, in contrast to the woolly worm prediction that I posted during August, that the winter in the Mid-Atlantic region is supposed to be mild!

But today--rain!

A cold Autumn rain that portends the Winter.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Fall Classic

The final MLB games, there are at most 5 remaining, of the season are being played. The series is ties 1-1 between Atlanta and Houston. Each of the games thus far have been full of offense. I am not believing that there will be a 1-0 or 2-1 final score in the series. These teams can hit!

I wish the Severn Seminoles 14U could hit! The team came up short in a game last evening against Crofton 6-4. And it was close, we had the bases loaded and were poised to tie the game when the final out was recorded on a solid play from the outfield.

The fortunes of the Seminoles are a series of painfully close losses. The boys are in every game, but just fall a few runs short. There are three games remaining on the season and I expect that they may soon break out and get back onto their winning ways. 

And the World Series will be over soon as well--and then it is a baseball hiatus until the Spring, when we get to do it all over again. Hope springs eternal at Spring Training when the teams show up and prepare for the grueling 162 game season. 

On to Atlanta for the next games of the Series!


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

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