Working Harder

I have been retired over five months now. I thought retirement would be a bit more relaxing than it has been these past few weeks.

Getting a house ready for sale is no small task. Trust me! There is always one more thing to do--especially after living in the same house over 21 years. 

Hydrangea Bloom
Elkridge, MD
June 14, 2022

Today is picture day for the real estate listing. Yay!

Chris and I have been busy getting the house into a "Better Homes and Gardens" category of cleanliness and beauty. I think we are at about the 95 percent level. I know of one garden that needs attention--it is not going to get it unless I decide to mow it under!

That written, the hydrangeas are in bloom in front to the house. We planted the Endless Summer variety a few years ago and enjoy their blooms all year. The plants have gotten so bit they have covered the entire garden and I often refer to them as the "hydrangeas that ate Elkridge." We are lucky right now in that we have both purple and pink blooms. It makes them very interesting. The calla lilies are also blooming as we slide into the longest daylight of the year. 

But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully by this time next week we will be under contract and preparing to escape to St Maarten for a week of beach and sun. My beach low-level light is definitely illuminated!

Happy Hump Day, btw!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Tuesday, Tuesday

 I was awakened this morning to the rumble of thunder and the flash of lightning. 

Dining Room Nearly Ready
Elkridge, MD
June 14, 2022

I am thankful I completed my outdoors work yesterday while the temperatures were in the 90s and the sun was shining. I even allowed myself some enjoyment by jumping into the pool. The water was a beautiful 81 degrees. 

Tomorrow is picture day! The house, inside and out, needs to look better than it did when we toured it over 21 years ago. And it does!

On the really exciting side, we already have a scheduled showing for Saturday. Yay!

It is both exciting and frightening. 

From a getting ready for photo day standpoint, we are almost there.

BTW, Happy Flag Day! Go wave a flag!



-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - June 13, 2022

 

1. Look out! It is the second Monday of June and the month is half-over. Summer begins next week. We are nearing the mid-point of the year with just 28 Mondays remaining in 2022.

Royal Farms
Severn, MD
June 12, 2022

2. I filled my gas tank last evening. I was lucky on two counts. First, my 26 gallon tank was not completely empty. Second, I was able to get gas for $4.75 instead of $5.00. I have not paid this much for a tank of gas since I traveled to England during 1992 with our full-size van.

3. I am confused about the Republican positions on guns and abortion. In one they want to protect the rights of Americans to kill children and in the other they want to take away a woman's right to control her body because they say it kills children. 

Rabbit on the Pool Deck
Elkridge, MD
June 12, 2022

4. We had a visitor on the pool deck yesterday. A small, and I mean small, not very old rabbit was munching on something on the carpet right outside the door. It was very cute and I just had to capture an image of it.

5. I realized this morning that in about two months my signature banner will likely never include Elkridge, MD, in it again. Wow!

6. Despite that I could not find many headlines about it, the Russia invasion of Ukraine continues. 

7. Is anyone else tired of hearing about the animosity between actors? We survived Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial and now we have Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Ugh! There are real problems happening in the world today.

8. Inflation. Why is it so hard to understand that the inflation we are experiencing is directly related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine? The invasion is driving up oil costs which underpin everything in the world economy. Additionally, oil is a global market and so despite the U.S. being a net exporter of oil and gas, the demand in Europe and china is driving up the prices and that means that we, U.S., consumers are paying for the impact of the war from our wallets. To reduce oil costs the Russian invasion must end and Russian oil must begin flowing to Europe and Asia.

9. History Today. On June 13, 1966, the U.S. Supreme Court hands down its decision in Miranda v. Arizona, establishing the principle that all criminal suspects must be advised of their rights before interrogation. Now considered standard police procedure, “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can, and will, be used against you in court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed to you,” has been heard so many times in television and film dramas that it has become almost cliche.

3 reforms left out of the bipartisan gun deal - CNN

Fiji says Asia's biggest security threat is climate change, not conflict - CNN

Ukrainian forces pushed from Severodonetsk city’s center; NATO chief to Sweden - The Washington Post

Monkeypox dilemma: How to warn gay men about risk without fueling hate - The Washington Post

Amazon calls cops, fires workers in attempts to stop unionization nationwide - The Washington Post

Futures Put S&P 500 on Course to Enter Bear Market - The Wall Street Journal

Without Cheap Russian Energy, Some European Factories Must Close - The Wall Street Journal

Idaho Police Arrest 31 Suspected White Nationalists Near LGBT Pride Event - The Wall Street Journal

Major crypto lender Celsius freezes withdrawals as markets tumble - Reuters

UAE bans 'Lightyear' film screening over supposed content violation - Reuters

Wikipedia fights Russian order to remove Ukraine war information - Reuters

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

What to do?

 The downsizing and preparation to tell the homestead continues unabated. 

The Paint
Elkridge, MD
May 12, 2022

We are only doing the minimum necessary to make the place look like it is worth what we are asking. Although we did not have any major painting projects on the plan, yesterday we ran into one of those situations that caused us more than a moment of discussion.

Taking personal pictures and mementos down off the walls we discovered som damage behind on of the images. We did not remember the damage, but it was more than just filling the hole. No problem, some Spackle and damage repaired, right? Not so fast grasshopper! I keep paint from every project so we can effect repairs, but in this case I did not have the proper paint. I had more than a few cans of paint that were close, but no exact match.Frustration began to set in!

What to do? Repaint, of course. This wall, however is not a normal wall. It is in the stairwell meaning it is nearly two stories tall! Yay! But, the wall needed to look good, not just to sell the house for for Chris and I. This was a repair that we would have had to accomplish whether the house was going to be sold or not. 

And so, after a trip to the paint store to get a gallon of paint which matched the wall abutting the stairwell,  we were tackled the wall. It only took a couple of hours, but it was time that we had not planned into our schedule. 

Everything looks great now. 

Did I mention that I hate painting? And I hate it more when I am at the top of a ladder nearly two stories up in a confined stairwell. 

I wonder what fun we will have today?

Oh wait, I have a baseball doubleheader scheduled--except, it is raining throughout the area. I may not be able to escape for five or six hours!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

LakeFest Weekend

LakeFest Weekend: Sway
Columbia, MD
June 10, 2022

Columbia Festival of the Arts is presenting a LakeFest Weekend. Chris and I attended the event last evening and enjoyed time sitting along Lake Kittamaqundi listing to music and watching performers. 

There was also a fine arts show included and we toured artisans and explored their creative wares. 

The most creative group we experienced was Sway, three dancers on long poles moving to music. They were not only creative and inspiring but talented and exciting to watch. 

We joined a group of people and made some new acquaintances while experiencing the event. 

The only downside was that the music being presented by the bands was too loud and, frankly, they need a new sound mixer because the vocals were had too much high range and sounded very harsh. We could not hold a conversation during some of the songs and we were not even in front of the stage. I think the noise level may have been above that of a jet engine!

It was an enjoyable evening, however. Relaxing by the lake watching the people and discussing wine and wineries with others. 

The LakeFest continues today and I recommend it as a place to visit and enjoy.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Golden Girls - Review

 

Last evening we took a break from baseball and downsizing. Chris and I escaped to the Hippodrome theater to enjoy Golden Girls!

We last went to the theater while we were wintering in Jupiter, Florida, and saw, Why I Hate Hamlet. I have to admit, I am not a fan of the theater. When I am crammed into the too small seats of the Hippodrome Theater, as I was last evening, I can't help but think that I'd be more comfortable at an Orioles game. At least the theater allowed me to enjoy a glass of wine while seated.

Golden Girls was great. I thoroughly enjoyed the show. Important safety tip--the actors were men doing the parts of the four famous women and they were believable and enjoyable. Second safety tip, the sexual comments and jokes could be considered offensive to some, but may also expand your vocabulary. The show done just like the TV show with two sets: living room and kitchen. All of the action took place in one, or at times both, of the rooms. The audio was clear, I was near the rear of the theater, but could both see and hear without trouble. 

Parking, which can be a problem in Baltimore, was not an issue last evening. I believe it was because the Orioles were out of town. After the show, Chris and I were able to exit the theater, get to the car, and were home within about 30 minutes--and it is a 19 minute drive. 

Great escape and great evening. 

Third safety tip: This show is not suitable for children.

Recommendation: See Golden Girls.

-- Bob Doan, ELkridge, MD

The Sign is Up

 

Marketing the Homestead
Elkridge, MD
June 8, 2022

The downsizing and house selling became very real yesterday. 

The sign went up!

While the house in not officially on "the market" yet, that day is just over a week away. Until the sign went up it was all fun and games and a bit surreal, but now it is serious. 

We are in our 22nd year of occupancy, having purchased the the home at the end of February 2001. We have lived here longer than anywhere during our entire lives. I don't even think about the address when I write it, it is an integral part of me, seemingly permanently inscribed into my brain. 

I inaugurated this blog during December 2007 and looking back through some of the entries I found documentation of the great times that our family and friends have enjoyed in this house. 

The good times and celebrations will not end; the venue will just change.

Changes. The process that began during December last year continues as Chris and I move forward in retirement. There is still so much to do, but we have done as great deal as well. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Downsizing

 Storms moved through the area last evening, drowning plans for outside activity. They also portend increased humidity today and for much of the next week. It is beginning to feel like summer in Maryland. 

Downsizing while also preparing the house for marketing continues unabated. Yesterday the "stager" visited and gave us some tips for improving the pictures that will be taken next week for the listing advertisement. It was very interesting to work with her and understand what prospective buyers are looking for when reviewing pictures before actually visiting a house. Chris did a spectacular job preparing the house and most of the suggestions were tweaks to what she had already accomplished. We both remarked that the house is beginning to resemble our Florida condo in terms of simplicity and lack of clutter.

Downsizing would be easier if we were moving into a new or vacant home, but we are relocating to our fully furnished condo in Florida and so we need almost nothing from our Maryland home which means that we must be ruthless in our efforts. It is hard to be ruthless when dealing with treasures accumulated over a lifetime.

The evening rains caused baseball practice to be canceled last evening. There is a game tonight which hopefully we will be able to play as the Severn Seminoles 14U prepare for the season ending playoffs and need to get one more league game played to qualify.

It certainly feels like summer outside!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Living In-Between

Chris with Finnegan and Rex
Elkridge, MD

 Chris and I are living in the in-between zone--that period of time between when our house is ready to be marketed and when it is sold and the final push to clear everything out begins. 

There are a lot of things "up in the air" right now. We spend a lot of time discussing options and plans for things for which we cannot even plan. 

Now that we have achieved the in-between, I am hoping to actually make it to a golf course. What a concept. It has been since February that I have strode across a fairway looking for an errant ball.

This past weekend we hosted Patrick and Jen along, with their faithful dog Rex, while they too are living in-between. Patrick's house was being marketed over the weekend which is a step toward moving into a house currently under construction later this year. 

There are so many changes afoot right now and many of us are living in-between. A busy summer is ahead. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

  

Monday Musings - June 6, 2022

 

1. June has arrived and today is the first Monday of the month. There are just 29 Mondays remaining in the year as we slide towards the mid-point.

2. Today we remember D-Day, June 6, 1944.

3. Sometimes it seems that in the past, unlike today, we actually were able to identify who the bad guys were.

4. Is anyone else frustrated by the inaction and gridlock in Congress. They are arguing about minutiae while the country is being held hostage by the oil companies.

5. We were treated to a beautiful weather weekend. I worked outside most of the weekend doing odd jobs around the. house--some which have been languishing for more than a year. I even got to spend some time enjoying the pool, although the today's 59 degree morning is going to set that back a bit.

6. Today in History. On June 6, 1944, Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower gives the go-ahead for the largest amphibious military operation in history: Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of northern France, commonly known as D-Day.

By daybreak, 18,000 British and American parachutists were already on the ground. An additional 13,000 aircraft were mobilized to provide air cover and support for the invasion. At 6:30 a.m., American troops came ashore at Utah and Omaha beaches. 

Chinese fighter jet 'chaffs' Australian plane near South China Sea, Canberra alleges - CNN

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will face a vote of confidence today - CNN

Chernobyl Workers Pick Up the Pieces After Russian Occupation - The Wall Street Journal

North Korea Launches Short-Range Missiles Into Sea - The Wall Street Journal

Ukraine’s World Cup Dream Ends With Defeat to Wales - The Wall Street Journal

Senators say gun deal is within reach, but without Biden’s wish list - The Washington Post

Putin threatens to hit new targets if long-range missiles are delivered to Ukraine - The Washington Post

How crypto giant Binance became a hub for hackers, fraudsters and drug traffickers - Reuters

Russia's Lavrov calls decision to block plane 'unprecedented' - Reuters

Nine dead in three mass shootings across United States - Reuters

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD