Scary Snowman Down the Street

On a street in my neighborhood there is a very disturbing and scary two story tall snowman. It is supposed to be a Christmas decoration. The snowman is something out of a Tim Burton nightmare movie. Pictures do not do justice to this fear instilling snowman. It's big, it is mean, and it is definitely not a happy Christmas decoration.


I really don't know why this thing is lighted.

December 10, 2013 As the Snow Falls

Meanwhile, I'm sitting here watching another storm blow into the region. The good news is that I don't have to go to work today because of the weather. The bad news is that I will have to do all of today's work tomorrow. But, at least I don't have to risk life and limb on the highways. 

The storm is just beginning and already the snow is sticking to the trees which just shook off the weekend snow. 

A respite from the holiday frenzy.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - December 9, 2013

Heavenly Bamboo Berries in the Snow

1. 15 Shopping days remain until Christmas.

2. The first real snow of the season fell yesterday. I'd like to say it was pretty, but it wasn't. It was cold, wet and I had to shovel the drive.

3. Football can be an incredibly exciting game. Five touchdowns during the final two minutes and five seconds of the Ravens game yesterday is proof positive. Wow! What a ride. I almost fell off.

4. The school closings are happening today due to the weather. While it is frustrating, it is also good that the schools are committed to safety.

5. Riordin seems to have a routine where he runs around the house. I guess it is his morning workout.

6. The fire in the fireplace all day yesterday was a very nice touch. It made the living room a toasty place to relax and watch the stressful football games. 

7. The most dangerous part of driving in bad weather is the other driver.

8. And for my family in Texas--on this date in 1835, the Texan Army captured San Antonio. 

9. Maryland is taxing rain! The Rain Tax showed up in my December tax bill. It is real!

10. Spring is close. My Orioles Partial Plan Season Ticket renewal came in the mail over the weekend!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

In the Path of the Storm

The first significant storm of the young wintery season is taking aim at Maryland. It is the worst and most dangerous kind of storm--some snow and lots of ice are anticipated. 

Already by 8AM this morning the cancelations are rolling in and the region is bracing for the worst winter weather. Stay off the roads is the plea of the officials--yet there is a major Ravens football game today. 

Covered Firewood Ready for the Impending Storm

We are ready. Our load of firewood was delivered yesterday so we are ready for a toasty warm living room looking out onto the frigid scene outside. Some of the wood still needs to be stacked, but most of it is already in its resting place until releasing it warmth in our fireplace. 

It is going to be one of those days. Watching the snow and freezing rain. Worrying about getting to work and school tomorrow. And enjoying being inside with no where that I need to go.

So--let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Difference of a Day

Thirty degrees colder from yesterday morning until this morning. Skies today are bright and cold compared to gray and overcast of yesterday.

The rains have passed, but the snow is coming the weatherman threatens. I wonder if there will be school on Monday.

What wonderful things will happen today. 

Time will tell. 

Perhaps the half cord of wood will be delivered soon and I can spend the rest of the day stacking that. And then we can begin to burn it to ward off the icy hands of the winter which seems to be arriving just a bit too soon.

Of course, winter's arrival is always too soon.

Brrrr. It will be cold as I stack the wood. 39 degrees at 11:30 AM.  Up a whole 6 degrees from the dawn.

Even Makayla wasn't too keen on heading out this morning.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

'Twas the Day Before St Nicholas Day

Unbelievable!

The weather yesterday evening can be described by that one word.

Yes it was overcast and cloudy, but with temperatures in the mid-60's, Chris and I did something that neither of us could remember doing ever before. Eating outside on the back deck under the Christmas lights in December!

Alright, we did light the fire pit for  bit of additional warmth, but we enjoyed a dinner reminiscent of our summer evenings to watch the end of the day darkness fall. Sadly, it was already dark when we dined, but still, the idea of eating outside in Maryland during December was an appealing way to hang on to the dying vestiges of autumn.

It was a quick respite from the hectic holidays right in our own backyard. 

I believe the memory of this dinner will help me through the dark and cold days yet to come. And it happened on the Eve of St Nicholas Day, a holiday not widely celebrated in the U.S., but a big event in many other countries of the world.

Did you remember to put your boots outside the door last evening?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Unintended Torture Device: Automatic Cat Feeder

Gus and the Automatic Feeder

I'm sure the title has your interest at least this far. It really isn't all that nefarious. I almost thought it funny. 

I was introduced to a really cool invention, designed to help our feline friends (in some cases they are more children than friends) who tend towards obesity living in our plush and opulent surroundings lose weight. It is an automatic feeder with metered and timed food delivery. 

Gus is one of my son's cats and he tends towards the heavy side. This really cool feeder was designed to help him find his inner and thinner cat. I was near the device one evening as it was about to meter out Gus's portion. His antics were hilarious as he waited for his portion to drop. Nothing in the world, I am convinced, could separate Gus from the feeder at feeding time. 

Why it is a torture device? Well, the device has no feelings, obviously, and so poor Gus in his enthusiasm does everything he can to get the food to drop earlier--to no avail. Gus is truly tortured while waiting for the food to arrive. He knows the food is in there, but he cannot get to it.

But the automatic feeder is good for Gus as he strives to become the leaner cat of his youth.

Great idea, unintended consequences.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Kennedy Krieger Institute Festival of Trees Review

At the Festival of Trees

Sunday, we bundled up and headed off to the annual Kennedy Kreiger Institute Festival of Trees. It had been over ten years since we went to the festival and I was amazed at how it has grown from a Christmas Tree focused event into a major commercial undertaking where viewing the trees is almost secondary to the sales and activities. I was not fully prepared for the blatant commercialization that confronted me after paying my $13 admission charge to enter the event, now held in the Cow Palace at the State Fair Grounds. 

The Gambler's Christmas Tree

Yes there were Christmas trees--and perhaps there were a lot of them clustered around the gigantic Cow Palace for me to enjoy. And I did. There were come very unique trees that delighted my imagination and the imaginations of my grandsons who accompanied me. But, the event is huge and almost unruly and out of control. 

Oriole Ornament made from Crab Shell

There were numerous vendors selling every variety of item imaginable and it seemed that they were the real reason for the season. The Christmas trees were clumped into manageable sections, but their glitter and creativity was overshadowed by the glitz and activity surrounding them.

Accompanying Decoration

As it was the third day of the event, most of the trees were sold, not that I would buy one. I found most of the trees on display to be sparsely decorated and lacking depth. There were a few outstanding one, but only a very few. 

The City of Baltimore Tree

I found the accompanying decorations around one tree to be very interesting. I was taken away to my personal beach by it. However, the thought of going to Tijuana for Christmas is not appealing in any way. 

The highlight of the event for me was the model railroad display which was huge. I could have sat and watched the trains for hours even though they just go around on the track. They were fun to watch and took me back to my childhood.

RECOMMENDATION: Sadly, I cannot recommend this event in the future. It has lost focus, becoming another overly commercialized Christmas-themed venture by a well meaning not-for-profit institute. The $13 adult admission and $7 child admission seems high. There is a lot to do once inside and many places and ways to spend money, but to call it a Festival of Trees is really stretching the point--a lot.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Where are You From?

Why is this a hard question?

Well, sometimes it is. 

While hanging out tailgating in the parking lots outside M&T Bank Stadium where the Ravens played on Thursday night with my oldest son, I heard that question about origins more than I have heard it spoken in a long time.


And it turns out I had a problem with the question. Sometimes the question is not clear. Really!

Did the questioner mean to ask about what community I am living in right now? Or where I drove into the game from?

Did the person want to know where I was born? Or grew up? Or where I call home? Or some other place that I may have an attachment to? Did they mean country? Or state? Or county?

For some people, I realized,  the answer is relatively easy--they are form the same place where they have lived their entire lives. Not so in my case.

I really started to think deeper about the question when my son answered it with a place name for a town where I had never lived and I realized that the question had potentially many twists and turns in the answers. 

In my mind, he was from everywhere. That is how his childhood was characterized, following me career around the world and moving every two to three years and therefore never really becoming deep in a community. 

I chose to answer the question more simply by indicating the place where I have lived for the past almost 13 years. But, I could have chosen to name another small town in upstate NY as the place where I was from--but the question seemed to be looking for a more local answer. 

There is a need to be FROM somewhere, I realized. 

The correct answer to the question may be "that depends" but that would be a definite conversation killer.

Where am I from? I am from a lot of places with a lot of experiences, but the easiest answer is that I am from Elkridge.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - December 2, 2013

1. December crept onto the scene over the weekend. There are only 22 shopping days left until Christmas. 

2. If someone says it's not a competition, it probably is.

3. Black Friday is black because people shop from before the sun rises until well after it sets.

4. The annual Black Friday family Axis and Allies game ended historically accurately again. My dreams of world domination were crushed by the Allies once again.

5. We visited the annual Kennedy Kreiger Institute Festival of Trees this weekend. My favorite tree was the Baltimore Orioles 60th Anniversary tree. How cool was it that I decided to wear some Orioles gear?

6. How awesome was the last play of the Auburn-Alabama game? Not in terms of who won, but in terms of how a tied score 28-28 factored into an ill-advised Alabama field goal attempt that led to Auburn's thrilling 109 yard run back win. I wish I had seen it live!

7. Read an interesting article about how root rot is threatening Christmas Tree production.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Christmas is in the House

The Saturday after Thanksgiving is our decorating day and yesterday was no exception. With the movie The Santa Clause playing in the background, supplemented by music of the season, we "Christmafied" the house. And somewhere during the day Chris also rendered the former Thanksgiving turkey into a soup.

Of course there was the obligatory trip to Lowe's for emergency supplies, new lights for the tree, when it became apparent to some that my attempt to swap out one string of lights for a non-functional one resulted in two different colors of lights on the tree: yellow-white and white-white. This, I was informed, was a major decorating faux pas. I admit, I never saw the difference. But it worked out because we purchased two Christmas gifts while we were out thereby contributing to the holiday retailer's profit margin.

But the best part about decorating this year was found in two new "toys." The Polar Express train circling under our tree is one and the new remote control lighting switches that we installed to control the lights is the other. No more crawling on the floor to turn on the Christmas Tree and all of the associated lights. 

Columbia Mall Poinsettia Tree

I am sure there will be more decorations to hang before the season is complete. We are undecided about setting up the Snow Village this year. While it will be hard to break an almost 30 year tradition, I'm not "feeling it" this year. Time will tell. 

I did have the chance to snap a quick photo of my favorite shopping mall decoration this year--the Poinsettia Tree in the Columbia Mall. Yes, I was out shopping with Chris on Black Friday for a few short, although seemingly eternal, hours. 

Another check in the holiday checklist is accomplished.

Next up? Shopping. Ugh! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Riding the Polar Express into Christmas

The Polar Express

All aboard the conductor yells and with a clanging bell and a shrill whistle the dreams of Christmas begin and are fulfilled in a young boy's life--so the story goes.

Today is the day after Black Friday and the traditional Christmas decorating day for my family. Trees will be erected and decorated and the Thanksgiving turkey will make its last ride back into storage for another year. 

The Polar Express on the Rails

The Polar Express has become one of the iconic Christmas stories. We have been reading it on Christmas Eve for many years--since 1986 when the story won the Caldecott Medal. We ave loved the story and the magic which it recreates in our hearts every time we read it. Can you still hear the bell?

This year, I finally have my own Polar Express train set to set up under our Christmas tree. I also have these awesome images of a "real" Polar Express riding the rails sent to me by a friend from Colorado. This is the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad version of the Polar Express.

It is time to put away the turkey, make some soup with the leftovers, break out the cocoa and the Christmas decorations and get to work. The Polar Express is ready to ride the rails into my living room and my heart. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Surviving Ravens-Steelers: The NFL Needs to Clean up the Fans

M&T Bank Stadium
November 28, 2013

It was cold. Let me start there. I was prepared for the cold and for the most part, except at the very beginning of the evening, I adapted to the sub-freezing temperatures and enjoyed myself.

The game was good--I have to like the outcome because the Ravens held on, literally, by stopping a two point conversion to secure victory on their home turf. 

Me and Jeremy before the Game

I was lucky enough to attend my first Ravens-Steelers NFL football game in person with Jeremy--a rabid, but reserved, Steelers fan. He had been there before and knew how the evening would unfold. I wore my venerable Todd Heap, number 86, Ravens jersey and Jeremy wore his usual Ben Roethlisberger, number 7, Steelers jersey. 

We had an awesome time tailgating before the game and met up with many other great people who were looking forward to the game. 

But, once we entered the stadium,  things changed. I feel compelled to condemn a significant, but small, percentage of fans who feel that they must abuse those wearing gear from the visiting team. It bothered me a lot. The slurs I heard directed at Jeremy and other Steelers fans were uncalled for--whether children were present (which they were) or not. 

I admit that the slurs and the nasty behavior of a few fans put a damper on my enthusiasm for the game. In one sequence of uncalled for nastiness near the end of the game while the outcome was still in the balance, a man in front of us grabbed Jeremy's Terrible Towel, uttered words about his parentage and how by waving his towel he was disrespecting his wife, threatened Jeremy when he returns next year to the Ravens-Steelers game, and threw the towel towards the edge of the stadium where another fan helped it to fall down from the upper level into the stadium below. 

Jeremy displayed an awesome sense of composure and we managed to get out of the situation without being surrounded by police and thousands of other drunken fans. 

I know how I feel when Yankees or Red Sox fans come into Camden Yards--but I never will abuse them nor do I tolerate those who do. They bought a ticket and they have a right to enjoy the game. I just hope the home team wins and they go home losers. Nuff said.

The NFL needs to get control of the unacceptable behavior. In baseball, there are ushers everywhere who help manage the rowdiness. That may be the answer. I did not see an usher anywhere all evening. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Happy Thanksgiving - 2013

Turkey and the Snowman

The Holiday to begin The Season has arrived. Thanksgiving dawned with clear and cold skies. The season of the Turkey comes to a gut gorging conclusion later today with dinner and football and wine. 

Thanksgiving is the holiday that every American can celebrate--there are no overt religious overtones to divide us from the celebration and it truly is--not a memorial or remembrance type of day. Thanksgiving is the holiday to give thanks to God for his blessings and also say thank you to the ones you love for being there during the past year through the good times and the not so good times. 

Thanksgiving is also a time to remember those from whom we are separated--but to give thanks for them and their love and support.

Thanksgiving is also a transition point. The time when the turkey and harvest decorations give way to the winter and Christmas decorations. The snowman is already trying to push the turkey off its briefly held perch in front of the fireplace. 

Give thanks. Have a great day and don't forget to phone home.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Snarled Traffic on the Rain Swept Roads

Last evening's drive after work was an experience I hope not to repeat soon. My usual 15 minute trip extended to almost 45 minutes because the snarled traffic. The Parkway was jammed and then my next road, Route 100,  was not moving presumably because I-95 was also at a stand still and there just wasn't anywhere for the traffic to go. 

The lights of the cars reflecting off the rain drenched road were strangely fascinating. I took the image while stopped on Route 100--waiting for whatever it was I was waiting for and for which I never discovered. 

The cars and lights were blurred in an almost impressionist painting style, except that I was expected to drive home in the storm. The dark sky of the early evening, it was only just about 5 PM, reminded me that this was winter's calling card.

Storms in Maryland bring out the worst in drivers. As I was waiting in the traffic looking at the long line ahead trying to merge, I was amazed that a mail truck, yup USPS, drove on the shoulder to until where the traffic was joining and then muscled into the lane. My guess is that the driver was late getting back to the post office and wasn't getting authorized overtime. The driver certainly was not delivering the mail.

Dangerous decisions fueled by frustration.

Be careful, its a jungle out there.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

'Twas The Week Before Thanksgiving Storm

The wintery weather is arriving and is already canceling holiday plans. People who had failed to include weather options in their travel plans are not going to be sharing Thanksgiving dinner with the people that had originally planned on seeing.

That is sad and serves to remind us that we need to be smarter and allow for rapidly changing plans. This storm did not just appear out of nowhere. It has been forming for the better part of the week. And we have been watching it come together.

And now it is here!

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Who is the turkey now?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - November 25, 2013

1. Why does cold weather make me ant to move further south? It is 20 degrees outside this morning. 

2. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the study of Apologetics until church yesterday.

3. The football season grown more interesting and complex with a large number of teams in the AFC sporting 5-6 records. Thursday's game between the Steelers and the Ravens promises to be interesting and cold. I will be there, freezing and cheering in the stands.

4. Snow is besieging much of the country. Winter is on the cusp of taking control of our weather.

5. On this date in 1949, "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" appeared on the music charts. Tomorrow, two days before Thanksgiving, the TV adaptation of the song airs on CBS. Although it is my favorite holiday TV special, it is just a little premature.

6. While standing next to Chris's car pumping gas in the frigid, winter-like weather today I realized that no one ever fills my gas tanks. Later during the still too cold day, I had to fuel my own vehicle.

7. Leaves are ubiquitous. I removed them from the yards on Saturday and for a few hour everything looked very nice. Sunday morning, many of them had returned meaning I need to start all over again. It is a vicious cycle.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thanksgiving Sprint

My Thanksgiving Door Topper

It's the week before Thanksgiving and the stress is already apparent. The impending holiday season is no longer something to deal with in the future--it has arrived.

The first presents of Christmas have already begun arriving at the door thanks to the magic of Amazon and UPS. Snow has begun pelting much of the country with not just trace amounts but significant accumulations, just to add to the ambiance.

The Christmas decorations are beginning to shine on some houses in my neighborhood and on my house they are ready to illuminate Black Friday. 

The November race to Thanksgiving is nearly complete and then begins the shortest possible 3 week and 6 day final sprint to Christmas! This has been that unique year where the time between Halloween and Thanksgiving (4 weeks exactly) is longer than the time from Thanksgiving to Christmas! If the shopping hasn't been started, you are already late. There is a depressing thought.

So, let the partying begin! The elves are massing at the front door in anticipation of the season. 

BUT FIRST, take some time to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday full of family, football, and fun! Then let the panic ensue, it is gonna be a crazy holiday season.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Inner Keeshond Appears

Makayla after Spa Day

Spa day was a success. The inner Keeshond has returned and Makayla is ready for Thanksgiving.

She smells better and is walking better on the wood floors. The groomer cuts her nails shooter than I am willing to risk. 

She is not much worse for the wear, I know she does suffer a bit of separation anxiety when she is spending the day at the spa, but they keep her busy.

Keeshond or Norwegian Elkhound?

She is a lot of work! 

My only complaint is that I think they trim her a bit too much and make her look more like a Norwegian Elkhound than the Keeshond that she is. 

But, she looks better and smells better than just a few hours earlier. And the inner Keeshond has returned.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Makayla's Spa Day

Makayla Before her Spa Day

Every few months, Makayla gets a spa day. I'm not sure she appreciates it the same way that many people do, but she gets to spend the entire day getting a make-over. 

Today is the day.

I just returned from dropping her off--she makes it so difficult. She looks at me with her big brown eyes and whines as if to say, "Don't leave me."

Makayla Waiting for Spa Day

Well, as you can see, she really needs a spa day. I've been brushing her, but sometimes I just need professional help with her coat. 

Today is that day.

I expect her to come back home looking awesome. I always love the way her fur bounces as she walks after a spa day. I want to believe she likes the way she looks, too. Almost as if she is saying, "Look at me, I'm beautiful." No anthropomorphism here! (When was the last time you saw that word used?)

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wine Tasting Evening with Laurie Forster

While it may seem boring to some and it may seem I do a lot of of it, the most important thing that happens when I go out to taste wine is that I meet people. Wine drinkers seem to be a group of people who are willing to celebrate life and enjoy the fruit of the vine.

Last evening Chris and I along with two close friends went to a wine event (not entirely a tasting) at a recreational store in Annapolis and enjoyed not only an evening together but rekindled a relationship with a star of the wine world, Laurie Forster.  We first met Laurie about five years ago at the St Michael's Food and Wine event. I must have made an impression because she remembered me. How do I know? She told me where and when we first met! Wow.

Laurie Forster

During the evening, I had the opportunity to play a how good is your nose game--mine isn't very good because blindfolded I confused a banana with an apple and couldn't identify Old Spice aftershave, and wine a book written by Laurie while enjoying an evening of wine and learning. 

Learning about wine is what makes the whole process fun. It is not all about the drinking, but the learning to slow down and appreciate wine. 

Laurie has a great approach to help people learn about wine without that snobby approach that turns so many novices off.

Wine provides a means to meet people and to share experiences. Laurie has developed a subtle comedy act that helps to to educate while also encouraging the enjoyment of wine--and especially moderately priced, good tasting wines. 

Chris and I enjoy learning about wines from new places and even new wines from known locales. The best part is tasting them to appreciate their strengths and to enjoy their complexity.

Good wines, good friends, and meeting new people. What could be better.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Airport in the Morning

I had a unique experience yesterday morning. I was in Teminal C of the Denver International Airport as dawn arrived while waiting for my flight home.

The bright morning sun was pouring through the windows. The day was dawning and the terminal was empty, a prelude to the crowded bustling place that it soon would become.

Outside, the bright skies were changing to gray, snow filled clouds forecast to bring as much as four inches of snow to the area beginning overnight and into today. 

I was shocked at how quickly the terminal filled with people headed for planes and destinations across the country. Maybe, it seemed, they were anxious, as was I, to escape the gathering storm.

I did escape that storm, flying away on the aluminum wings to enjoy sunshine and accomplish some yard work once I arrived home. But, it all started yesterday in Terminal C.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Out the Hotel Window - Denver, again, November 2013

Looking East form my Denver Hotel
November 19, 2013

I come to Denver often it seems. Maybe too much and too often. I would love to go somewhere else on occasion, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards at least until March when I get to return to Sarasota for a few days and enjoy Orioles Sprint Training.

The views out my hotel window from Denver are, however, some of the the best I experience. While they often seem the same and I almost never get a mountain view, they are always different. Yesterday, I sat on my bed and watched the sun begin to rise in the east. It was awesome to witness the birth of a new day filled with hope and promise.

Looking East from my Denver Hotel
November 18, 2013

The day before, after arriving at the hotel I snapped an image out of the window--just in case I didn't find something better. Watching the dawn, however,  is always better.

Although I can see the lights of the airport in the morning picture, I can see the actual spires of the main terminal in Denver in the daytime shot.

Today is another travel day back to home.

But the memory of the dawn will remain.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Denver, CO

Traveling Equals Fitful Sleep

Traveling across time zones really throws off my sleep cycle. I awoke this morning at 3 AM ready to rock and roll. Fortunately, I know that I do not sleep well "on the road." I checked my cell phone and forced myself to remain in bed for another almost two hours. Thankfully. 

I can sleep almost anywhere--just ask Chris. But when it comes to sleeping through the night when I am traveling--even though I stay up until my normal bedtime, it doesn't happen. Some of it may be the bed, the pillows, the new environment--it all adds up to a fitful night of sleep with less rest and more anxiety about not sleeping well. 

Tack onto that, usually when I am traveling that I am confronted with a string of meetings that I have to sit through the next day and the result is that the hour after lunch is a killer. Ugh!

Today should be a lot of fun trying to remain alert amidst some potentially boring discussions. I may be looking for intravenous coffee injections about 1 PM. 

-- Bob Doan, writing from somewhere on the road!

Monday Musings - November 18, 2013

1. Gloomy autumn days are best spent on the couch.

2. Football? I believe it may be on the precipice of a rapid decline into an also ran sport, like field hockey.

3. Politicians are not to be trusted especially with budgets and defense.

4. Why does the sense of reality change when economics are considered?

5. I was able to watch a couple of westerns this weekend. I had forgotten how much I like them. Too bad westerns aren't being madam much anymore.

6. Riordin, the cat, has decided that he must be sitting with me every time I sit down. That is just a little bit too much togetherness.

7. Will suspending the cancelation of health plans solve the problem or just kick the can down the road?

8. I am having a hard time believing that it has been 50 years since President Kennedy was assassinated. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Affordable Care Act Debate

I watched NBC's Meet the Press and the former Speaker of the House was trying to defend what happened in 2009 to get "Obama-care" passed in terms of the current crisis of people receiving cancellation notices for their current policies.

I am struck by a phrase that I have heard in the past: "How do you know that a politician is lying?"  Answer?  "Their lips are moving."

This politician redefined every major point under contention that for which the President has already apologized. Over one million people in California have received cancellation notices for their plans and she maintains that they really have not received cancellation notices. Somehow, the politician maintained that they really weren't cancellation notices.

I guess if the politician wants to say its not true, then it really isn't. I have heard other politicians around the world make similar statements about factually know historic events.

NBC played a clip from the debate to get the Act passed and it went something like: We need to pass this legislation so that we can see what's in it. I found it on You Tube.

Really?

Bob's view: We have the Affordable Care Act. It is not perfect, but we have it. Let's correct the deficiencies and make the act work for the American people rather than allowing it continue being another divisive issue.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Gray, Fog, Autumn's Demise

Frost Nipped Mums

As I sat this morning watching the dawn break, because the cat decided to start knocking things off my night table at 5:30 AM, I realized that successive mornings of temperatures in the 20's had brought the colorful autumn season to a close. 

Crepe Myrtle Tree

The mums were showing signs of the freeze and many of the remaining leaves on the trees were brown and dry, waiting for their inevitable fall to the ground to begin the cycle of life over again. 

The day would be better with blue skies to highlight the remaining color and soften the stark grays and browns beginning to dominate the scene. 

I already long for the greens of summer, heightened by Chris being in Orlando for the weekend enjoying green and, well, rain. But warm.

There remains some color in the autumn berries, but even they are beginning to fade in preparation for the cold winter ahead.

Even as autumn begins its slide into winter, there remains some beauty to be found. I just need to look harder for it. Of course if the sun would shine it would be easier to find.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Another Upgrade--Garage Door

I found out that garage doors wear out. They get old and they begin to separate and not only that, they look bad. New garage doors aside from looking good are insulated and should serve to help mitigate the cold winds of winter as well as the hot summer sun.

For all of these reasons, and mostly because the old door was beginning to come apart as the seams, literally, we had a new garage door installed. Another repair/upgrade/maintenance activity on a 20 something year old house.

The new door looks great. 

I wanted windows because I like the light in the garage. Doors without windows make it so dark in the garage. 

I was amazed that the entire demolition and installation took only about two hours.

And now--we have a garage door that will last for a long while and also looks good!

It is amazing the amount of work and upkeep a home takes to remain current.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Life Without Blockbuster

The stores slipped from the landscape almost unnoticed, until last week when the remaining 300 shuttered their doors and an era officially ended. With the closing of Blockbuster, the era of the movie rental store on every corner has concluded.

I remember driving to the local Blockbuster and wandering the aisles looking for a video to rent. Remember at first they were VHS tapes? And every store had the funky acrid video smell? I even remember the sign that reminded everyone to rewind their tapes before returning them. 

Patrick's first job was at the local Blockbuster--he wanted money to buy a computer and we told him to either share the family computer or get a job. In an exhibition of his entrepreneurial spirit, he talked the local blockbuster manager into hiring him.

Inside of a Blockbuster Store

The people at the local stores became almost like family. The managers knew our family and even when we moved, one of the assistant managers wound up managing our new local store and so it was like old times again. The stores upgraded from VHS tapes to DVDs and then to Blue Rays and they added an impressive array of games for every imaginable gaming system--but it was not enough. Our local store closed over five years ago and is not my our local liquor store. I had even forgotten that it used to be a Blockbuster until writing this article. 

As I think back to the local business landscape, I remember many of the other video and game  rental stores which no longer exist. There may be a few dinosaurs remaining, but I would not invest too deeply in their future. On demand rentals via satellite and cable and even the Red Box videos have effectively terminated a once thriving segment of the market. 

Good-bye Blockbuster, and thanks for the memories.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Philippines Typhoon: A Chance to Come Together for Good

The countries of the world have another opportunity to lay aside their differences for a period and come together to render aid to the devastated Philippine people. The images of the devastation left by the typhoon leave no doubt that aid is needed, and now. It makes me feel good that even with a congress in disarray, the US is in the forefront of the efforts to assist survivors. 

I was appalled to read that the aid convoys are coming under attack even while they are attempting to help the people who have lost everything. But, no matter the location, there are always people who are only looking out for themselves or trying to get ahead at the expense of their neighbors.

Everything I read indicates the situation is dire and getting worse. An article from Aljazeera describes the early stages of the relief effort. It describes the aid efforts of the UN, US, Australia, Britain, Japan, the European Community, and even China. I read another item which indicated that Taiwan also had people on the ground providing assistance. 

The Philippine people are in desperate need and I am glad to see the world mobilizing to help.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Boys, Leaves, and Fun

Jax and Ethan in the Leaves

Proof that fun doesn't have to involve a ball, puck, or electronic device was the joy that Ethan and Jax had in a pile of leaves on Sunday afternoon. 

The leaves have been piling up in the yard and with the help of a blower Chris made a gigantic pile, which still remains, for the boys to play in. 

It is amazing how much fun kids can have in leaves. A number of the local kids joined in for a while. 

Jax watches E disappear into the leaves

And it was wholesome. No electronics were harmed in the making of the fun.

I remember raking leaves into a pile to enjoy when I was a kid. I never was able to get a pile as large as this one. I'm not sure I ever had this much fun in a pile of leaves wither. This was truly a huge leaf pile!

Fun on an autumn afternoon consists of sun, blue skies, kids, and leaves. What could be better?

Oh yeah, a glass of wine.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - November 11, 2013

1. It is Remembrance Day throughout much of Europe. The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month during 1918 marked the end of hostilities during WW1.

2. It is Veterans Day in the US. Kiss a Veteran!

3. The typhoon in Asia represents another opportunity for Americans to care for our brothers and sisters around the world who are facing devastation and destruction.

4. Here's one for the nightmares: Horrific flesh eating platypus once stalked Australia. 

5. The elections are over for this year and already starting for next year. We don't even get time off for Christmas.

6. What happened to Thanksgiving? The stores are already converted to Christmas. I admit, I am putting up Christmas lights today, but only because I have a day off and the weather is supposed to be nice. OK, I do it every Veterans Day to get it out of the way. 

7. I am disturbed by how many Maryland school districts do not celebrate Veterans Day. I tried to get it on the calendar for next year, but it was just too hard to overcome the inertia.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Doolittle Raiders Honored

I read this morning that a ceremony commemorating the Doolittle Raid conducted during World War II was conducted on November 9th in advance of Veterans Day at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Three of the four surviving raiders were present at the wreath laying ceremony. That caused me to pause and remember the heroic actions of those brave men who raised the sagging spirits of a nation that had just suffered through Pearl Harbor and been thrust into the middle of the World War. 

It was April 18, 1942, just four short months after Pearl Harbor, when 16 B-25 bombers launched in heavy seas from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet to lead the US back from defeat and into the war. There is a great website, The Doolittle Raid, which provides a lot of history about the mission. But I also found another website which shows the actual video footage of the bombers launching from the deck of the carrier in rough seas and provides a better view that this mission was no cake walk. The bombers launching from the deck of the USS Hornet look like they are only slowly gaining speed and altitude and could fall form the sky at any moment.

As we cruise into Veteran's Day 2013, it is important to remember the sacrifices of our military members who struggled and died to secure the freedoms that many take for granted.

Thank you Doolittle Raiders, and every veteran as we honor you tomorrow!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD