Enjoying the Drive

 

Rest Area off Route 15
Tioga, PA
April 4, 2025

The drive out of Ithaca and back to Maryland is full of beautiful vistas. It being early spring, Chris and I were able to watch the progression of springtime from just starting to show signs of leaves on the trees into full spring with the flowering trees and bushes adorning yards and roadways. 

I-81
Shrewsbury, PA
April 4, 2025

We made our obligatory stop at a Route 15 mountaintop rest area near Tioga, PA. The views are stunning of the valley below and yesterday the first signs of spring's rebirth could be clearly seen.

As our drive continued south, especially as we drove along the Susquehanna River, we saw many more signs of the deepening season. South of Harrisburg, springtime blossomed. Grasses became green shaking off the brown of winter. The reds and greens of budding leaves added an almost autumn-like hue to the trees along the highway. 

Upon arriving back in Maryland where springtime is fully underway, my allergies kicked in. There always seems to be a downside.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Saying Good-bye

Cayuga Lake from Glenwood Pines
Ithaca, NY
April 3, 2025

 Chris and I are in Ithaca, NY, for what likely will be our last visit. The last member of our families is preparing to depart Ithaca and move south away from the snow. I still have family in the region, but not Ithaca.

We enjoyed a nice early Spring day yesterday with temperatures into the 70s--which was a relief from the cold we experienced in Maryland. 

There are many memories here and the final departure will be difficult, I am sure. 

Last evening we enjoyed dinner on the east shore of Cayuga Lake at Glenwood Pines.  The clouds above the lake were threatening and made for definitely early-Spring scene considering the trees are only beginning to bud for new leaves. 

Today we head back to Maryland for the weekend. 

-- Bob Doan, Ithaca, NY

No. 3 Takes the Mound

Jax on the Mound
Arundel High School, Odenton, MD
April 2, 2025

Last evening, I was privileged to attend an Arundel High School Varsity Baseball game in which my grandson was the starting pitcher. He is a junior and it was his first varsity start. Although it was cold--very cold, both Chris and I were excited to be there. We did not know he was the starter until we arrived just as he was finishing his warmup for the first inning.

He pitched a gutsy and great 5.2 innings. He actually pitched 6 innings, but a dropped ball at 1st base cost him the final out of the 6th and also the win. He allowed 2 hits, 1 unearned run, walked 4 and struck out 2. The team went on to win the game 2-1 with a 7th inning walk-off single to score a run. 

Why gutsy? Well, it was cold and there was a biting wind. But, more importantly, he did not have command of his best pitch, yet figured out how to get outs using his other pitches and that is really tough on a cold day when the team is depending on you to turn the fortunes of the season around. The team has suffered some tough late-inning losses and their record is 2-5.

On the Bump
Arundel High School, Odenton, MD
April 2, 2025

This was his third appearance of the season and he has been solid in the other two. Although he got tagged for a blown save in his first appearance, he was victimized by a nasty error which allowed the go ahead runs to score on what should have been the final out of the game. He was lights out in his second appearance, also in relief, pitching 2.2 innings of 1 hit baseball while recording 5 strikeouts. That game was the team's only other win.

I wish we were staying in Maryland longer so that I could see him pitch again, but the warmth of Florida is calling to me!

Good job Jax! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Blue Sky Day

 

Blue Spring Sky
Odenton, MD
April 1, 2025

I appreciate a blue sky. 

Blue skies without a cloud, or with few clouds, seem to be rare. Chris and I drove from Florida to Maryland under overcast skies and so yesterday's blue sky was appreciated. 

We have been enjoying the early Springtime flowering trees and bushes. There seems to be color everywhere. The white trees and bushes adorning the hills and alongside the roads almost seem like snowballs being prepared for a fight. And then the reds and greens of the budding trees coupled with the yellow of the forsythia add to the texture of the scene. 

I know many people enjoy the colors of the Autumn, but for me the rebirth after Winter with its explosion of colors is more appealing to me. And then to enjoy a blue clear sky tops off the entire experience. 

Tomorrow is another travel day. We are heading for Ithaca in what may be our last ever trek to the area where we both grew up. 

It is a busy trip.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Discovering History

Parker Seed and Feed Co.
Dunn, NC
March 30, 2025

 We stopped for the night in Dunn, NC, during our recent trip north. After about 11 hours on the road, we had departed at 4:45 AM from home, it was good to get into our hotel room and go out for a walk.

Dunn is not a big town, but we have stopped there a couple times before. This was the first stop after DST and so we headed out to explore around the hotel and give Finn a good walk before turning in for the night. 

We came across this abandoned building, Parker Seed and Feed. I could not help but think of the traffic and activity this building had seen in the past. It was likely a hub of activity, but now is fenced and standing alone in the storms. 

I am sure the building is not going to be around much longer as Dunn, NC, seems to be growing and there is a small storage company already encroaching at one end of the lot. 

The building sits right behind the Dunn Hampton Inn and Suites, which is where new stayed. Sadly, we likely will not stay there again because it seems Hilton has rebranded Hampton Inn down a level. Dunn, NC, is about two-thirds the way to Maryland from our Florida residence making it good stopping point for the northward trek. This was our third stay and I even know where to get the least expensive gas in the town!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

        (Wow, I haven't written that location in a long time)

Travel Day

 

Aftermath of an Accident on I-95
Near Yemassee, South Carolina
March 30, 2025

The trip was supposed to be a surprise. Our departure from Florida headed for Maryland to celebrate a significant birthday was a closely held secret. Well, much like attack plans, our travel plans leaked.

Well, it wasn't national security and since even the Secretary of Defense can keep secrets, secret; I am not upset that the secret is out. In fact, it makes life easier. Our family is terrible at secrets, why? Because, from the time the kids were small Chris and I drove home the idea that families don't keep secrets. 

Chris and I are excited that we can celebrate a significant birthday with one of our kids. 

Traveling is always an adventure. Today we were slowed by an accident on the southbound side of I-95. It was a major "looky-loo" event on the northbound side. I have no idea how semi wound up traveling north on the southbound lanes. 

We should arrive in Maryland today. 

-- Bob Doan, Dunn, NC

Fighting the Wind

 

My last bike ride, which was Friday morning, ended with a rough climb up a small hill. I shortened my ride by three miles due to the stiff wind I was experiencing. I wound up only riding just over 14 miles instead of my usual almost 18. 

I forgot to look out the window and check the flag across the street to determine the wind speed before I departed. The first half of my ride was pretty good since I head west. It was not until I began to ride some of the east legs that I noticed the wind.  It was coming from the east at about 20 mph with higher gusts.  I had a lot of fun riding west, but paid a price when heading east. 

The worst part of the ride was the final leg led which is up a hill riding to the east  as I crested the small hill, the wind hit me full on and it almost felt as if I was going to be pushed backwards.  But of course I wasn’t  

— Bob Doan, Tequesta, Fl

Chaos, Confusion, Disaster

 There is so much happening in the U.S. right now that it is almost impossible to remember events are underway around the world. 

I maintain that a myopic, inwardly focused view is unhealthy as it provides fertile ground for strategic surprise. We are so busy dealing with the day-to-day crises that we don't have time to consider the effect of our actions on the other countries and for that matter, to consider how what is happening in places like Turkey potentially affect our country. 

And then there is Signal-gate. How many supposedly brilliant people does it take to realize that admitting to a problem and fixing it is smarter than doubling down. And that begs the question--how many other Signal-chats are there out there which present a clear and present danger to the United States? 

Did I mention that the stock market, which holds not only my retirement savings but many other people's, is falling like a rock due to the insane application of tariffs and the lack of strategic fiscal vision in the White House?

Why do we need a trade war with the world? That is going to help us, how? 

I wonder which billionaire owns stock in bicycle companies since cars are going to be priced out of existence. 

Why are the things Trump was elected to do being left undone?

I'm really looking forward to not paying federal income tax on my Social Security benefits--no wait, am I actually going to continue receiving benefits? But Musk said I would get more! And lower food prices--where are they?

What about Musk?

My thought is he has too much money and no political smarts.

This morning [yesterday], Wisconsin Democrats issued a press release noting that Musk had “committed a blatant felony,” directly violating the Wisconsin law that prohibits offering anyone anything worth more than $1 to get them to “vote or refrain from voting.” Wisconsin Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler said that if Schimel “does not immediately call on Musk to end this criminal activity, we can only assume he is complicit.” (Letters from an American)

And then consider the Presidential Oath of Office. I reread it this morning and I have questions as to whether the oath has been and is being violated. And I don't even mean the part about supporting the Constitution. It is the faithfully part, because it sure seems to me that everything being done right now will improve the financial bottom line of the president while harming the citizens. To me, that does not seem to be faithfully executing the Office of the President. 

How is sending people being evicted for the country to a prison in a country not their own without due process and no prospects for redress a deportation? Doesn't deporting a person mean sending them back to their country of citizenship? And furthermore, if there is no due process who is making the decision to deport? That people, is unconstitutional. Everyone setting foot on American soil has rights despite what certain people would have us believe. The Constitution and our laws do not differentiate between citizens and non-citizens. We are on a very slippery slope.

Finally, I am tired of hearing how much money DOGE is supposedly saving the country, because too much of it is at the expense of the citizens. If they save $1 trillion, but we are left with no healthcare, no research, a broken education system, and a defense industry in tatters I am not sure that is better. And if DOGE is saving so much money, why do we have a looming debt ceiling crisis?

Some much to ponder and so little time. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Enjoying the Evenings

Blowing Rocks Marina
Tequesta, FL
March 26, 2025

 I can't, it seems, write enough about the spectacular weather we have been experiencing. 

Yes, there were thunderstorms the other night, but we really needed the rain--and we got a lot. But, overall the humidity has been low and the temperatures very moderate. I remember the past two years when we were already experiencing 90 degree days at this time of the year. It was not a lot of fun. With the summer coming, I need to enjoy these afternoons and evenings. 

This morning is one of the warmer mornings we have experienced with the day starting around 70 degrees. There is definitely a bike ride in my immediate future. 

But what--MLB is BACK!!!

How about them Os? 

Only 161 more games to go, but at least they got off to a great start with a 12-2 win and crushing 6 homers!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

What is a tooth?

 My new tooth was installed yesterday. 

No, it did not all happen yesterday, the new tooth (crown) was the culmination of a process that began in South Africa when I broke a tooth eating a tough steak.

The dentist said that the tooth's silver filling absorbed moisture over the decades and caused the tooth to fracture. Fortunately, it did not hurt and I was able to finish the South African wine tour/safari and return to the U.S. before having the tooth examined and repaired. 

My worst fears were realized.

They could not just cement the piece that broke off into place, a piece which I had dutifully transported from South Africa back to Florida. I wound up with a moderately expensive crown, but thankfully not a root canal. 

And again, I was very elated that there was almost no pain. 

So, my mouth is almost back to full operating efficiency. 

And as a result I will begin to have routine cleanings again, which stopped because of COVID and which neither Chris not I ever got back onto the schedule due to moving and retirement. 

So the silver lining, hahaha, is that both Chris and I are going to resume regular dental cleanings, something we did before COVID, and I have a new tooth. 

Do you think about your teeth? Probably not unless you have a dental appointment or some pain.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL