Across Tequesta

 

My Orange Bike Helmet
Tequesta, FL
February 12, 2026

I managed to get out two days in a row on my bike. I rode 18 miles again yesterday around Tequesta. That has been a feat lately with the cold weather. But the weather is becoming very nice, except for this morning with the threat of showers--it is supposed to be the dry season.

My Ray-Ban Wayfarer Smart Glasses have stopped accepting a charge and so I no longer have the use of the "smart' functions. They are effectively just expensive sunglasses. I miss listening to music and the news during my ride. This is the second pair of Wayfarer glasses that have developed the "will not charge" issue, but now I am out of warranty. there do not seem to be a lot of options to fix a bad battery, I am still researching. 

On a good not, however, I asked for and received a "smart" biking helmet for Christmas. I finally set up the Bluetooth and was able to get all of my media desires during yesterday's ride. I like my new helmet as it is very orange and had lights to increase my visibility to vehicles with which I am sharing the road.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Happy Hump Day

 

View of the Marina
Tequesta, FL
February 10, 2026

We have again hit the hump of the week.

I continue to be amazed at how I wander my way through each week even though I do no longer have a job that requires my attendance. But, the day characterizations continue to help me stay cognizant of each day. 

Yesterday was a more normal South Florida day. The temperature reached a pleasant high of 77 degrees and the morning warmed into the 60s by about 9 AM, which allowed me to enjoy a very nice 18-mile bike ride. It was only my second ride of February, but it was definitely an enjoyable ride mostly because it was not cold. 

Chris and I also enjoyed our Tiki Tuesday last evening. The weather was almost perfect, it began with nice bright sun but it became a bit cool as the evening progressed. The marina was very quiet, probably due to the recent weather. 

Today is hump day! The week can only get better from here!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

A New Sports Season Dawns

 Now that football is over, baseball is ready to spring onto the scene. (Did you catch the double entendre there?)

Orioles pitchers and catchers report tomorrow to Sarasota. Those participating in the World Baseball Classic  (WBC) reported yesterday. Yay. There are more than a few Orioles playing in the WBC this year. Sadly, that usually does not bode well for their performance upon returning to the team. The WBC games and innings add-up when tacked on to a 162 game season.

According to the most current information I have, ten Orioles will be participating in the WBC:

• Henderson will play for Team USA, marking his WBC debut. 

• Kremer returns for Team Israel, his third appearance. 

• O'Neill joins Team Canada.

• Bradfield represents Team Panama. 

• Garcia, Espada, and Vázquez are on Team Puerto Rico, stepping in after key players were denied insurance. 

• Long pitches for Great Britain. 

• Ashman joins Team Canada.

• Cruz, a 26-year-old lefty, plays for Cuba. 

I am still committed to soccer (football in the rest of the world) with Arsenal actually not folding this year. So far! Go Gunners!

Turning to the Olympics--I wish they were a bit more exciting. As of this morning, the U.S. has but two medals--both gold. For such a promising team to get spanked the way they are is sad. It looks as if the team may get possibly earn two more medals today. 

Finally, in high school baseball, Jax is preparing for his senior year at Arundel High. He was rated with the second best curveball among high school seniors in Maryland. I am looking forward to seeing more than a few games. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - February 9, 2026

1. Happy second Monday of February. We should celebrate. There are 46 Mondays remaining in the year. 

Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III

2. The Super Bowl was quite an event last evening. It was a hard game to watch, being a defensive struggle for most of the affair. I was happy to see Seattle claim the crown as the Super Bowl Champion. I didn't do too bad with my prediction of the final score, although the game was not as close as I thought it might be. I predicted 24-21 Seattle and the final score was 29-13 Seattle.

3. I am hugely excited that temperatures here in South Florida are recovering after the freeze. Chris and I saw the remains of a lizard that didn't make it because of the cold yesterday. I believe there are going to be a lot less lizards around the yard for the remainder of the year. 

4. I did some research this morning to determine how the alternate Super Bowl Halftime Show did against the actual Super Bowl Halftime show. That performance [The alternate halftime show] attracted only an estimated 5 million viewers against Bad Bunny’s 135 million, which has otherwise served to mark the Latin musician’s performance as the most watched NFL halftime show in history. (Daily Beast) Seems as if the votes are in.

5. Oblivious to decency and the ability to recognize when there might a be a problem. the President called Olympian Hunter Hess, "a real loser." President Trump wrote this in response to a response Hess gave to a reporter. Hess said, in part, “There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of and think a lot of people aren’t,” Hess said. “If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it. But just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean that I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.” (NY Times) I wonder if the President's ears were burning? 

6. Note: I will no longer be quoting the Washington Post in my blog as a protest against the changes at the formerly venerable newspaper. I have also canceled my subscription. 

7. Today in History. On February 9, 1971, pitcher Leroy “Satchel” Paige becomes the first Negro League veteran to be nominated for the Baseball Hall of Fame. In August of that year, Paige, a pitching legend known for his fastball, showmanship and the longevity of his playing career, which spanned five decades, was inducted. Joe DiMaggio once called Paige “the best and fastest pitcher I’ve ever faced.”

Paige was born in Mobile, Alabama, most likely on July 7, 1906, although the exact date remains a mystery. He earned his nickname, Satchel, as a boy when he earned money carrying passengers’ bags at train stations. Baseball was segregated when Paige started playing baseball professionally in the 1920s, so he spent most of his career pitching for Negro League teams around the United States. During the winter season, he pitched for teams in the Caribbean and Central and South America. As a barnstorming player who traveled thousands of miles each season and played for whichever team met his asking price, he pitched an estimated 2,500 games, had 300 shut-outs and 55 no-hitters. In one month in 1935, he reportedly pitched 29 consecutive games.

As AI enters the operating room, reports arise of botched surgeries and misidentified body parts - Reuters

SpaceX prioritizes lunar 'self-growing city' over Mars project, Musk says - Reuters

Trump repeatedly claims victory over high prices; the numbers don't back him up - Reuters

Russian drone attacks on Ukraine kill four, including mother and child - Reuters

Nancy Guthrie's children say her return is 'only way we will have peace'  - CNN

Trump calls Olympic skier ‘real loser’ after he expresses ‘mixed emotions’ representing the US  - CNN

Kid Rock’s ‘Halftime’ show is what happens when Christianity, celebrity and MAGA collide - MSNow

MAGA is screaming foul over Bad Bunny’s halftime show. Here’s why the NFL doesn’t seem to care. - MSNow

Trump Calls Olympian a ‘Real Loser’ Over Comments on Representing U.S. - New York Times

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Super Sunday 2026

 The NFL season ending big game extravaganza is being played this evening. Finally, the frustrating and less than satisfactory NFL season will come to a close. 

I am excited for the NFL season to be over so that baseball can move to center stage!

The game promises to be a tale of two coasts with the East coast represented by the "been to the Super Bowl too many times" Patriots from New England facing the "we don't get no respect" Seahawks representing Seattle and the West Coast. The Patriots are making their record 12th appearance in the game, while Seahawks are making their 4th. 

I am appalled at how divisive the game has become. While I have not been a huge fan of the halftime shows for the past few years, as they are directed at a generation of viewers other than the one of which I am a member, I never considered an alternate halftime show. But, given everything else happening in the country, this year we have the alternate Halftime Show brought to you compliments of the misguided MAGA/Turning Point movement. 

Well, it should be an interesting Super Sunday. 

I'm glad that I don't have to go to work tomorrow. I had a good friend who always took a day of leave the Monday after the Super Bowl. He was very wise. 

Wait, I didn't make my prediction. I'm terrible at sports predictions which is why I don't bet. Seahawks 24 - Patriots 21. I am actually hoping for an exciting game as my second favorite team is playing. Who is my second favorite team? Any team opposing the Patriots!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

It's a Character Failing

 What is character?

Character refers to the set of qualities and traits that define an individual's personality, including their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It can also refer to a person or being in a story, such as in a book, movie, or play. (Encyclopedia Britannica, Merriam-Webster)

Let me now hypothesize about what we are seeing in the Epstein files as they relate to our president. 

It is all about character--but we knew that. 

Those of us who have worked in sensitive jobs where background checks are required understand that the people with whom we associate can affect our suitability for a position of trust. While DOJ and the White House continue to assert that the Epstein files absolve Trump of any crimes, I am not so sure. 

The Epstein files show, at least, two things:

Trump's friendship with Epstein confirms that he is a person of questionable character because he associated with a confirmed, convicted pedophile. There is also sufficient documentation to allege that Trump was witting of the nature of Epstein's crimes.

Trump, likewise, may have committed crimes. It is apparent he was aware of Epstein's abuse of young women and depending upon the specific's he may have aided and abetted Epstein, which is a crime or had a duty to report him because of the child abuse. 

It is all so icky and I wonder why I am subjected on a daily bias to actions and words that make me shake my heads and hope the damage can someday be repaired. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Finnegan and the Doggie Bed

Finnegan with his Bed
Tequesta, FL
February 5 ,2026

XFinity Router not Connected
Tequesta, FL
February 5, 2026

 Last evening, as Chris and I were suffering through another Comcast tv/wifi outage, Finnegan provided some comic relief. 

About Comcast outages. We have had three significant ones during the past two weeks. By significant, I mean four hours or more! Last night's outage was five hours starting at about 4 PM and running until about 9:15 PM. No TV and no internet. I was able to use my computer through my phone's cell capability for some important stuff, but that was about it. 

During the early part of the outage, Chris and I were in the Reading Room chatting and Finnegan decided to attack his doggie bed with some vigor. It was humorous. 

We watched him play for a long while. I even made a fairly long video of his activity. He was, as you will see in the video, very busy and very engaged. We tried to be very quiet so as not to disturb his activity. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Need a Little Springtime

 Temperatures are recovering here in South Florida. 

I managed an almost 18-mile ride yesterday, but it took over 6 miles for me to warm up and no longer feel as if I was cold. I thought I had dressed appropriately for the outing, but even with the temperature at 60 degrees, it was a cold ride especially when I was biking into the wind. That would be because of the "feels like" temperature of riding about 13 MPH into a 6-10 MPH breeze. Yea, cold! Roughly a feels like of 57 degrees. 

Tulips at Publix
Tequesta, FL
February 4, 2026

It was sad to see all of the annuals which succumbed to the cold in the flower beds along my ride. All the hopes for bright cheery colors lay brown and dead on the ground.  

When Chris and I later headed off to Publix for supplies, I spied some tulips in the flower section of the store. They made me smile. It was just the piece of Springtime that I needed, all the while reminding myself that we are in the middle of Winter. Of course, the temperatures are going to be more Florida-like soon, at least according to the weather forecast I found this morning.

We might even get some boating in next week!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

After the Freeze

Walking Along US 1 in Tequesta
Tequesta, FL
February 3, 2026

 Life is beginning to return to normal here in South Florida as the temperatures have risen to a more normal range. 

It is 51 degrees this morning and we have hopes of reaching 70 degrees this afternoon. 

Chris and I enjoyed the warmer temperatures yesterday by taking a long walk with Finnegan. Finn enjoyed the walk and it allowed him to shake-out some of the "cabin fever" that he has been developing during the past couple of days. 

Tiki 52

The sky was a beautiful shade of blue and, while we wore sweaters and coats, we enjoyed the walk which began to restore some sense of normalcy to life. For our evening, we headed to Tiki52 for dinner. It was a bit cooler under the Tiki hut than we expected, but the portable heater made the experience very pleasant. For those wondering about the signage in the image, Tiki52 is located at Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) Dayboard 52 between Jupiter Inlet and St Lucie Inlet. 

It will be nice to return to seasonable temperatures. I will even look forward to seeing the small lizards running across the sidewalks in front of us.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Manatees, Everywhere Manatees

Statue of Manatees
Manatee Lagoon, Rivera Beach, FL
February 2, 2026

 Yesterday was another cold day in South Florida. 

That meant that it was a perfect day for a trip to Manatee Lagoon in Rivera Beach to view the manatees, because they know how to keep warm when it is cold. 

Manatees
Manatee Lagoon, Rivera Beach, FL
February 2, 2026

Chris and I had visited the Lagoon on one other occasion a couple years ago, but it was the wrong time of year and there were no manatees. Yesterday, however, we were rewarded by viewing almost 200 manatees hanging out in the warm Florida Power and Light (FPL) electric generating plant's discharge lagoon.

It was a clear and cold day. We waited until the afternoon when the temperature crawled into the 50s to visit. It was a good choice. Even though it was cold, throngs of people were in attendance to view and enjoy the manatees in the lagoon and surrounding area. 

Manatees in the Lagoon
Manatee Lagoon, Rivera Beach, FL
February 2, 2026

I had an issue trying to get a good image given the lighting situation. The sunlight was reflecting off the ripples on the water and made getting a good image really tough--even with post processing. Despite that, we enjoyed watching the manatees along with some fish, including a nurse shark, lounging in the warm waters of the lagoon. 

It was encouraging to see the numbers of people who came out to view the manatees. Raising awareness helps to protect them. There were more than a few manatees in the lagoon who displayed evidence of their unfortunate encounters with boats. The scars are deep. One of the reasons that I try to stand when piloting the boats I am captaining is to look for manatees and debris. We have been lucky to see manatees on multiple occasions. 

I highly recommend a visit to Manatee Lagoon during the cold months. It is both fun and educational. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL