Christmas Eve 2021

 

Another pandemic Christmas has arrived and just when we thought we had this virus under control, it twists and reminds us that we do not.

I confess, it is easy to get depressed about what we may not be doing and why we may not be seeing as the magical morning arrives, but I think we need to look at the situation through another lens. 

COVID has worked its way into parts of the family, but we are smart enough to change our plans and recognize the potential threat while still maintaining the contact. I think we will be reading The Polar Express tonight via Zoom rather than gathered together around a Christmas tree. 

We have so much to be thankful for and so many plans and expectations. We must be careful not to lose the holiday perseverating about what we are not doing. Sure, there will not be a big extravagant brunch today nor a huge meal and gift exchange tomorrow. And I will miss them. But, I make the best French Toast in the world and I have a lot of bubbly ready for mimosas and so brunch will still be served--just on a smaller scale.

It IS CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas--find a reason to be happy and share the spirit, even if your plans have changed.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Trash Truck, School Bus, and a Crazy Wednesday

 

It was the Wednesday before Christmas and the ice on my windshield caused me to run the truck for a few minutes before heading out. As it turned out I let the truck idle about one minute too long. 

Driving up the street I encountered a trash truck--stopped in the middle of the street with vehicles on both sides of the street and no way to get past. I had to wait, a bit impatiently I might add because I knew that the school bus was due to slide up the cross street and begin its daily rounds of picking up students. When that happens, it adds about 10 minutes to my commute and I was already borderline later than I wanted to be for the day.

Once the trash truck cleared the street and traffic began to move I saw the school bus--right on time, slide through and block the intersection. 

Normally, I would be fuming and working on giving myself an ulcer or a stroke, but yesterday I took the approach, oh well there is precious little I can do about it and tried too find something interesting to listen to on the radio. 

Maybe I was calmer because it was three days before Christmas, or that my retirement ceremony was the day before and I am in the role of "playing out the string."

Well, it was a good day and I'm glad that I was able to contain the eruption which usually occurs and not let it ruin the day.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD 

The Ceremony

 

The Banner Chris Put Up for Me
Elkridge, MD
December 21, 2021

What an emotional day. 

My official retirement ceremony was conducted yesterday. And for the afternoon we met at a local establishment for the "after party."

My emotions during the ceremony were barely under control. I was honored, humbled, and awed. 

It seems almost as if I just arrived at the organization yesterday, yet I have been fortunate to work for the same group for more than two decades--my second career, but my true calling. Due to COVID, I could not invite everyone that I desired to my actual ceremony and I do not have pictures to share--but, and I have been to many retirement ceremonies and I have been part of conducting more than a few, everyone made mine special and it is a send off that I will not forget and one that I deeply appreciate. 

Left to my own devices, I probably would have just slipped quietly out the door on my last day (which is still to come) without much fanfare. A simple good-bye while forcing the tears back is what I think I would have done--but, yesterday drove home something that I have always known--retirement ceremonies are as much for those who remain behind and for those being honored. And I have to admit, spending time recounting the impact of what our team has done made me proud to have been part of it. Not in terms of activities, but in terms of people and lives and creating a work family.

It was pure coincidence that Winter began one minute before the start of the ceremony. 

And then there was the after party where more of my friends and coworkers (past and present) attended and we talked of old times and the future. I am glad I limited the party to a few hours or I likely would still be there not wanting it to end. 

Thank you to all who helped make the day special.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Racquetball

 I got out Saturday for a bit to play some racquetball at the outdoor courts. 

I don't usually write of my exploits on the racquetball court but it had been a couple months since I last played and I have not been golfing either. My game was rough--but it always is rough anymore, I do not play enough since I only play outdoor courts and between the darkness, weather, and schedules finding a time to play has become increasingly difficult. 

It was a cool day and I believe I managed to acquire a head cold from the play--but, most importantly I had fun smacking the ball around the court. The courses at Atholton have been refurbished and it was nice to actually be able to see the ball in the corners. 

The first two games were, in a word, miserable. I lost the two games by a score of 30-8. If you know anything about racquetball you know that games are usually played to 15, so do the math, I sucked. There was one stretch across the two games where I gave up 16 straight points!

The last two games were better. We split--the games and the points. The combined score for the two games was 29-29.

A solid ending for my last racquetball outing of 2021.

One wonders what 2022 will bring?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - December 20, 2021

1. It is the third Monday of December and one Monday remains in the month and the year.

2. It is Christmas week and the final preparations are being made. Be careful not to make your holiday a super-spreader event.

3. Family Sports Report

    NFL

    Ravens (8-6) lost to Packers (11-3), 30-31

    Cowboys 10-4 defeated Giants (4-10), 21-6

    Steelers (7-6-1) defeat Titans (9-5), 19-13

    Washington (6-7) play Eagles (6-7) Tuesday

    NHL

    Penguins (16-8-5) defeat Devils (10-14-5), 3-2

    Premier League

    Arsenal (10-2-6) defeats Leeds (3-7-8), 4-1

4. Omicron is the word of the day and it appears intent on driving us back to draconian measures.

5. For those interested, my Mom's obituary was published in the Ithaca Journal yesterday. 

6. Is the race over yet? 

7. Today in History. On December 20, 1957, while spending the Christmas holidays at Graceland, his newly purchased Tennessee mansion, rock-and-roll star Elvis Presleyreceives his draft notice for the United States Army.

With a suggestive style—one writer called him “Elvis the Pelvis”—a hit movie, Love Me Tender, and a string of gold records including “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Hound Dog” and “Don’t Be Cruel,” Presley had become a national icon, and the world’s first bona fide rock-and-roll star, by the end of 1956. As the Beatles’ John Lennon once famously remarked: “Before Elvis, there was nothing.” The following year, at the peak of his career, Presley received his draft notice for a two-year stint in the army. Fans sent tens of thousands of letters to the army asking for him to be spared, but Elvis would have none of it. He received one deferment–during which he finished working on his movie King Creole–before being sworn in as an army private in Memphis on March 24, 1958.

Stock Futures, Oil Prices Fall on Omicron Curbs - The Wall Street Journal

Himalayan Glaciers Are Melting at Furious Rate, New Study Shows - The Wall Street Journal

Europe Keeps Its Ski Slopes Open Despite Omicron - The Wall Street Journal

Britain is weighing another round of restrictions as Omicron surges amid political turmoil. - The New York Times

Billions in Amtrak Funding Could Modernize Aging Rail System - The New York Times

Moderna says booster dose appears protective against Omicron - Reuters

Europe weighs Christmas curbs as Omicron sweeps continent - Reuters

China says Taiwan is a 'wanderer' that will eventually come home - Reuters

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Christkindlmarkt

Christkindlmarkt 
Baltimore Inner Harbor
December 18, 2021

 If I am voluntarily visiting a Christkindlmarkt, it must be Christmas.

Baltimore has a small, but nice, market right on the Inner Harbor that Chris and I enjoyed yesterday. 

It was the first time we had been in Baltimore in quite a while. With the Orioles tanking through the summer, there really had not been any reason to head down to Baltimore where parking is almost as expensive as it in in New York City. 

We wandered around the market, enjoyed some gluhwein and a pretzel, picked up some candles for our pyramids, and spent too much on parking. Finnegan accompanied us and, with the exception of a nasty corgi, he had a good time as well. 

Arriving before 11 AM there were no crowds and not all of the shops were open, but by about noon the place was fully bustling as can be seen from the image. It was good to be outside doing something different and celebrating the season. Inside of the tent, admission required, was a nicely stocked Kathe Wohlfahrt store with classic German Christmas decorations and pyramids from Rothenburg ob der Tauber. We remembered visiting the store in Rothenburg on two occasions while we were stationed in Germany. 

It was fun to do something different on a gray almost-Winter day. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday--the Last

 Yesterday was a significant day. It was the last Friday that I will be working. The next two Fridays are holidays "observed"--and so the 17th was the last time I will enjoy announcing to my coworkers that it is Friday. 

As a solace, I still retain two opportunities to announce Happy Friday Eve--for the two Thursdays remaining in the month. And I know there are coworkers, and former coworkers, who cringe every Thursday when I attempt to get into the weekend mindset a day early.

Well, it's over now. There are just 8 work days remaining in my career and two of those are likely going to be abbreviated while another one or two will be filled with retirement celebrations. 

People ask me if I'm excited. 

Yes. 

Do I have some nervousness? Yes.

Chris and I have been planning my retirement for two years, so we are executing a plan that we have developed and refined for a while now. It is not like it is a knee-jerk retirement.

The last Friday at work is over and the future is in front of me!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thankfully there is YouTube

Error on the Microwave

The dreaded words were heard uttered last evening: "Bob, the microwave is broken."

Looking up from my computer while seated in my chair I cringed. Ugh. Another broken appliance. Merry Christmas, I thought.

And the troubleshooting began. I tried all of the usual tricks and I even cycled the power to no avail. 

It was a strange fault, when the start button was activated the microwave provided a fault saying "open/close door then press start." Which did not start the microwave. And I admit, I may have tried it multiple times. There is something weird about doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. 

My initial diagnosis? A bad circuit board.

But wait--let's check the internet.

And I am thankful that I did. I found a YouTube video talking through fixing the exact error code I was getting on my exact microwave! Hope was rising. The video was only 2m30s long meaning it was likely a simple fix. I watched the video and could not believe what it was telling me:

The diagnosis: dirty door sensor. The remedy? Damp paper towel cleaning.

Could it really be that simple? 

Turns out it was. 

Crisis averted and the microwave has returned to its previously consistent performance.

Thanks YouTube! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Temporary Goodbye

 

Outside the Hotel
Orlando, FL
December 16, 2021

I am departing Florida this morning. It always makes me sad to leave the Sunshine State and head back north, but on the other hand it is good to go home.

It was another short trip, although longer than my previous 38-hour whirlwind. I am heartened that I will return before the end of the month. And then a cruise to start the new year 

Yay. 

I love the sun in the palms this morning outside of the hotel. And the blue sky. 

I’m in the airport now sitting here staring out the window at the jets, the palms, a water feature, blue sky, and warm sun knowing that I am headed back to cold temperatures and gray. But the sunshine will be in my heart. 

—Bob Doan, Orlando International Airport, Florida

Out the Hotel Window - Orlando

 

Out the Hotel Window
Orlando, Florida
December 14, 2021

I was assigned to the worst room with a view in the hotel. It is right above the lobby looking out over the portico. The view is, well, terrible.

I am staying at one of my preferred hotels, one that includes breakfast. The room is very nice and spacious but the view is, well, less than enjoyable.  

Orlando Airport
December 14, 2021

It really is not an issue, this time because this is a work-associated trip and I will not be in the room very long. In fact I expect to depart today before sunrise and return after dark. At least I can see the sky.

The view from one of the Orlando Airport Hotel rooms would have been much better--at least they had a Christmas Tree to enjoy in the middle of all of the airport activity.

A quick story. As we were landing yesterday the cabin crew on the Southwest flight made the announcement: "Look out the right side of the aircraft, you can look out the left side too, you will see palm trees and green grass and no snow. Welcome to Florida." They made me smile. Their rendition of "Southwest the Friendly Airline" sung to the tune of "Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer" so entertained me that I forgot to record it for posterity.

At least the view from the jet and the entertainment was better than the view out my hotel window.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD