To the Mall for Shopping and Walking

Parking Lot at The Gardens Mall
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
August 11, 2026

 Where to go on a day when the stress index temperature reaches 106 degrees? 

Well, to the mall of course! 

With school back in session, I have noticed more traffic. That was surely the situation as Chris and I made our way to The Gardens Mall yesterday. There are a number of places we like to go in the mall, among them are Cooper's Hawk, the Apple Store, and a women's shop for nice dresses, Lilly Pulitzer. We also frequent the Tommy Bahama store, but did not visit yesterday.

I had two appointments at the Apple Store, both for watches. The Model 8 I inherited from my Dad died during the cruise. It gets hot on the charger, but does not turn on. My older Model SE battery was down to 68 percent capacity. The SE was covered under AppleCare and after confirming my diagnosis, they accepted it for repair fully covered by my policy. Notice I did not say free--because it isn't free, I pay monthly for AppleCare.

Apple Watch Box
Tequesta, FL
August 12, 2026

My Dad's watch, however, was a different story. It was declared dead: a total loss and not repairable. Since it was not on my AppleCare, I was offered the opportunity to pay to replace it with a Model 8 with the replacement not eligible for AppleCare, OR buy a new watch which could be fully covered for not a whole lot more. I went with a new Series 11 watch and added it to my AppleCare. Upon opening the watch at home later, I was reminded that I have always been fascinated with the packaging of Apple products.

Following the watch adventure, we spent no small amount of time shopping at Lilly Pulitzer's. Chris found some new clothes which she will use to update her wardrobe. 

From there it was off to Cooper's Hawk for Happy Hour. It wasn't quite Happy Hour when we arrived, but who really cares? We are members of the Wine Club and we had wine to pick-up.  Coming after some shopping, time at the bar was a relaxing way to slide into the end of the day before heading outside into the intolerable heat.

The important thing about the excursion was that we were out of the house, but not out in the heat! 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

It Does no Good to Complain

Flat Water but Ominous Clouds 
Loxahatchee River, Tequesta, FL
August 10, 2026

 It does no good to complain about the weather. Weather just is! 

I have been trying to get out onto the streets for a nice bike ride since we returned from the cruise. There have been passing rainstorms nearly every morning along with occasional thunderstorms. 

Yesterday looked different and I headed out. 

Sand Hill Cranes
Tequesta, FL
August 10, 2026

I enjoyed a nice ride or about an hour, and then the rain swept in and drenched me. There was nowhere to hide and I just had to keep riding and suck it up. It was funny as I passed a flag-person directing traffic through a construction zone and remarked to him, "This was unexpected." He smiled as the rain dripped off his helmet.

I enjoyed the ride, but I should have looked closer at the clouds when I snapped the image of the river in Tequesta, about 3 miles into my almost 18 mile ride. Would I have stopped? Not likely, but at least I wouldn't have been so surprised when I got wet. 

Drier weather is coming!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - August 10, 2026

 1. I can hardly believe it, but today is the second Monday of August. We are in luck though because August has five Mondays and will linger for a few weeks yet. Remember though, there are only 20 Mondays remaining in the year. 

Dressed for our Anniversary Dinner
Tequesta, FL
August 9, 2026

2. Thank you for all the kind words about our anniversary yesterday. We headed off to Cooper's Hawk for a great meal to celebrate, even though we celebrated on the ship. It was kinda lonely though, just being the two of us, but we had a great time nevertheless.

Rear-facing Radar on Bike
Tequesta, FL
August 9, 2026

3. I have been trying to modify the attachment of my rear-facing radar to attach to my bike rack instead of the seat post. Patrick was kind enough to 3D print one solution that I found. I got it all installed on the bike, but I also had a flat tire. After replacing the inner tube, I rolled the bike upright and broke the attachment. Yesterday, I blued the piece and added a screw to provide more stability and hopefully make it stronger. Time will tell.

4. The Orioles are a frustrating team. They effectively gave up on this season at the trade deadline and continue to play mediocre baseball. They are 5-5 in their last 10 games, but continue to fall further out of first and also out of the wildcard. I saw this graphic the other day which expresses my frustration with the team and its management. 

Beck
Glen Burnie, MD
August 9, 2026

5. Cutest boy ever. OK, he's not a baby anymore, he is a toddler--and he does. Chris and I were thrilled to spend a week with him and his family during our recent cruise, but yesterday, in a Facetime conversation, he was so busy and cute that I could not help but to snap an image from the screen. I think I caught him.

6. An interesting thought from Heather Delaney Reese this morning: This is the pattern of authoritarian leaders throughout history. They start wars to project strength, discover they cannot control what they have unleashed, and then try to rebrand retreat as triumph. Argentina’s military junta invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982 to rally nationalist fervor and distract from economic collapse at home. The war lasted just over two months. They lost. The junta fell. The Soviet Union spent a decade in Afghanistan trying to project dominance across Central Asia. They withdrew in 1989 with nothing to show for it but devastation, a broken economy, and a radicalized population that would haunt the region for a generation. Wars started by men like Trump are never about the stated objective. It is always about the leader’s need to appear invincible. And when the illusion breaks, it is the people who bear the cost. Not the leader. (Hope for America)

7. Today in History. On August 10, 1977, police arrest 24-year-old postal employee David Berkowitzand charged him with being the “Son of Sam,” the serial killer who terrorized New York City for more than a year, killing six young people and wounding seven others with a .44-caliber revolver. Because Berkowitz generally targeted attractive young women with long brown hair, hundreds of young women had their hair cut short and dyed blonde during the time he terrorized the city. Thousands more simply stayed home at night.

After his arrest, Berkowitz claimed that demons and a black Labrador retriever owned by a neighbor named Sam had ordered him to commit the killings.

Iran ties Hormuz reopening to US concessions on several demands - Reuters

In rural Wisconsin, frustrations over Trump ag policies heat up House race - Reuters

Ukraine kills 13 in drone attack on Russian city of Nizhnekamsk, officials say - Reuters

Trump has a Carter-style Iran problem as the economy drags - CNN

What we know about China’s moon-landing plans and why the US is so worried - CNN

The full cost of Elon Musk’s DOGE tenure is still being tallied — but a new report gives a hint - MS Now

GOP midterm strategy embraces Trump’s ‘communism’ fixation - MS Now

Chris Sale ejected before throwing a single pitch in wild Yankee Stadium scene - FoxNews

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

And it's been 51 years

Surprise Anniversary Flowers
Tequesta, FL
August 9, 2026

 On a sweltering Saturday evening 51 years ago, two 19-year olds gathered in a church atop a hill in Ithaca, NY, along with family and friends and said, "I do." 

The adventure began!

And we are still together. 

Wow!

We have been blessed with three fantastic children and their awesome spouses AND four incredible grandsons!

We celebrated our anniversary during dinner on evening during our cruise aboard Allure of the Seas. Returning to our stateroom that night, we found our door decorated by the staff--which was very nice. I forgot to take an image if it. It was late as I recall. The assembled family celebrated both Jeremy's birthday and our anniversary that evening. It was one highlight of the cruise, getting all eight of us together at one time for a meal. During the entire eight-night cruise, we only gathered all together for the evening meal three times. 

Life has been a true thrill ride. 

And we are not done yet!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Happy Saturday!

 Wow, it is already the second Saturday of August and I really don't have anything on my schedule.

Sweet. 

I have almost exhausted writing about our cruise on Allure of the Seas as I can't think of anything significant and really interesting to write about. I just have two images that I will share today and then I believe the cruise will be a wrap.

Central Park
Allure of the Seas
July 25, 2026

As a side note, I received the graphic at the right from a friend and just had to share it. It makes me smile!

And for future travels, our next adventure will be a trip to Virginia and Maryland during Labor Day weekend. 

The first image I am sharing is a view of Central Park. The ships is so large that there is a park, complete with green living plants in the middle. The park hosted musicians and activities throughout the voyage. Some of the speciality restaurants line Central Park. The wine restaurant is also situated along the park as is one very nice cafe. The park is a relatively quiet place to sit and enjoy a light meal or some coffee and escape the busier areas of the ship. When selecting a stateroom with a balcony, cruisers must be careful not to select a room along wither Central Park or the Boardwalk area in the aft of the ship if they want an ocean view. 

1936 Mercedes Benz 500K Replica
Allure of the Seas
July 26, 2026

The other image I'm sharing is of the antique car positioned on the Promenade Deck.

Each of the Oasis-class ships had a signature car at one end of the Promenade Deck. The one on Allure is especially awesome. The cars on each Oasis-class ship are there for photo ops. And they are all beautiful. We have cruised on every ship in the class except Symphony of the Seas. Purists will note that the actual Mercedes on Allure of the Seas does not have the license tag on the bumper. That was added by Chat GPT when I asked for a specific identification of the vehicle. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Chef's Table - Allure of the Seas

 

The Table
Chef's Dinner, Allure of the Seas
July 31, 2026

Chris and I were fortunate to get a seat at the Chef's Table on Allure of the Seas for a sumptuous dining experience. The highlight of the dinner was, of course, the wine pairings. The wine pairings set the Chef's Table apart from the specialty dinners offered across the ship. Additionally, the explanations of the wines by a sommelier and the preparation of the courses by the chef make this dinner truly special.

Chef's Table
Allure of the Seas
July 31, 2026

This is for all the foodies that I know.

We enjoyed six courses and we also enjoyed the other 9 people seated at the table. We all jelled quickly and engaged in wild, fast moving conversations. 

We also thoroughly enjoyed the wine pairings. I was especially intrigued by the pairing of the Sauvignon Blanc with the Lobster Salad--it worked. Pairing the Leviathian with the Grilled Filet Mignon was also a bit unexpected. 

Scallop Carpaccio
Served with Italian Pinot Grigio

I will try to mention a bit about each course.

Smoked Tomato Soup 
Served with Conundrum

Maine Lobster Salad
Served with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

Roasted Branzino
Served with South African Chenin Blanc

Grilled Filet Mignon
Served with Leviathian

The World
Served with Salted Caramel Espresso Martini

The scallop carpaccio was one of my personal favorites. The thinly sliced scallops on a cold plate worked very well with the yuzu vinaigrette. 

The smoked tomato soup surprised both Chris and I. It was smooth with a lightly smoked flavor. I would not have chosen Conundrum as a pairing, but it worked very nicely. 

The Maine lobster salad was a genuine treat. Even though I am allergic to shrimp, I am fortunate that I can still enjoy other shellfish and crustaceans. Again, pairing a Sauvignon Blanc with the dish was unique, but it worked marvelously.

Roasted Branzino paired with a nice South African Chenin Blanc was perfect. I am not a huge fan of roasted fish, but the Chenin Blanc made this dish more than acceptable. 

The filet mignon was perfectly grilled to medium rare and it was tender and no knife was needed. I would have usually paired a Cabernet Sauvignon with the filet, but the big bodied Leviathian worked nicely. I think I would still go for a nice Cab Sauv in the future. 

And then there was the dessert. I have already described the dessert in a previous blog. But it was divine. The only problem, there was too much of it coming after the other five courses and I could not help myself. I ate it all!

It has been a few years since Chris and I attended a true wine dinner and we had forgotten how much we enjoy the pairings of wine with each course! 

We will likely avail ourselves of future Chef's Table experiences on future cruises! Yes, they are pricey--but worth it. 

 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

I am Diseased

 I can't hold back this morning from political commentary. Get ready.

My Ford Mustang Mach-e EV
Tequesta, FL
July 12, 2025

I learned, from his speech in Vegas yesterday, that President Trump believes that I am diseased because I drive an electric car.

I am truly offended.

What this charlatan continues to offer the American people is similar to the sign that people see upon entering Florida: The Free State.

The true meaning of the sign is that the State is free to tell us how to live, what to read, and what we are not free not to express. We are not free to color outside the predefined rabidly conservative lines.

We are victims of the most elaborate "bait and switch" in the history of America.

It is election season. Chris and I will be voting in the Florida Primary next week, in early voting. We are excited because we believe that in November the American people will begin to throw off the shackles of redefined freedom and restore true inclusive, working freedom for everyone as envisioned by "We the People!" 

Why does Trump hate EVs? I believe it is because he hasn't figured out how to make gross amounts of money from the vehicles and the energy they use. 

So my response to the president?

Yes, Mr President--you are correct, I am diseased! 

I believe in an inclusive America where people coexist in a supportive and environment and countervailing ideas are not labeled communist, socialist, dumocrat, or whatever childish name of the day you prefer. I believe in a America that works for all people, not just the rich. I believe in an America where the president can be questioned about his policies and receive cogent answers. I believe in an America that protects children, feeds the poor, provides medical care to those who need it, respects each individual, and protects natural resources looking to create a future that is better than what we have now. 

If you believe I am diseased because of what I believe, then I'd really appreciate it if you would look for a new job. You are making a mess of our country and, for that matter, the world.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Highs and Lows of our Cruise on Allure of the Seas

 

Allure of the Seas
Basseterre, St Kitts & Nevis
July 28, 2026

Chris and I cruised on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas from 25 July until 2 August 2026, sailing from Ft Lauderdale's Port Everglades. 

Here are my thoughts on portions of the cruise:

Highs:

The main show: Mama Mia

The Aqua Show

Our Stateroom

Morning Room Service

Anniversary Chocolate Strawberries
Allure of the Seas
July 28, 2026

Chef's Table

Service everywhere was excellent

Weather

Bow & Stern Pub

Orient Beach, St Martin

Trunk Bay, St John

Cleanliness of Allure of the Seas

Anniversary Love Birds
Allure of the Seas
July 28, 202

Fellow passengers

Veterans Recognition and Celebration

Breakfast on the Veranda every morning

Chocolate Strawberries to celebrate our anniversary

Towel Animals

Lows:

The Mason Jar food

The Mason Jar Country Band 

CocoaCay

St Kitts Caribbean Railway Tour

Rightway Parking

Bread served at meals - not warm and often hard and stale

Ship's Elevators

Trying to get a table for 8 on the same day

My Time Dining doesn't take reservations

Kinda middling:

Dining Room menu diversity and selection

Giovanni's Table

Observation: The debarkation and embarkation processes for port days was uneven. There were lines to get off the ship and when returning there were also lines because not all of the scanners were in operation. 

It was a wonderful trip and we had a lot of fun. We were busy, but also enjoyed some free time. We logged a new destination in St John. We look forward to our next trip.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Last Day on the Allure

Last Full Day Breakfast on the Veranda
Allure of the Seas, Bahamas
August 1, 2026

 It is my opinion that the saddest day of a cruise is the last full day on the ship. Actually leaving the ship on debarkation day is sad, but there is so much activity crammed into a short few hours that there really isn't time to think about the day until already off the ship and traveling home. 

Our last day began, as did every day of this cruise, with breakfast on the veranda. I read somewhere that is it believed that for most people paying extra for a veranda/balcony stateroom is a waste of money. Why? Because, allegedly, most people only spend about 15 minutes of the whole cruise on the veranda. Well, I spend a lot more time than that on the veranda and so does Chris. We start the day with room service delivered breakfast. On our last full day of this cruise we were able to watch the ship arrive in CocoCay, Bahamas. 

Wonder and Allure of the Seas
CocoCay, Bahamas
August 1, 2026

Following breakfast we headed off the ship to spend time with Beck and his parents on CocoCay. CocoCay is not my favorite stop on any cruise. But, having a grandson or other family to enjoy makes the port call palatable. And we had fun!

As I previously wrote, two Oasis-class cruise ships were ported at CocoCay on August 1st. That meant about 12,000 passengers were on the island. It was a gray and overcast day, which made the weather enjoyable.

Happy Hour at the Bow & Stern
Allure of the Seas, CocoCay, Bahamas
August 1, 2026

After playing with Beck and eating on the island, we made our way back to the ship for showers, nap, and packing. Packing is a necessary evil of the last day.

About the food on CocoCay--avoid if possible! My burger was grossly overcooked and sat in my stomach like a rock for the rest of the day. The corn, well it looked like corn, tasted like field corn. It was terrible. 

The evening began with a trip to the Bow & Stern Pub. The pub was the unofficial meeting place for our family. We got to know the service staff there really well over the course of the sailing. Then we collected for a last-night dinner. All eight of us were able to dine together. It was our third family dinner of the cruise and we had an enjoyable time. 

Dinner ended about 8 PM and we went our separate ways to finalize packing and prepare for the upheaval of debarkation which was yet to come.

It is still hard to believe that the cruise is over. We had been planning for months and it was all done after eight too-short days which rocketed by at hypersonic speed. 

I have a few more blogs to write about the cruise. The highlights and the low-lights are still to come. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - August 3, 2026

 

Our Spot on CocoCay
CocoCay, Bahamas
August 1, 2026

1. The first Monday of August has arrived. July is over and done. There are 5 months remaining in the year, but only 21 Mondays. 

2. Travel day, yesterday, was wild. Getting off the ship and getting home was the easiest part of the day. The weather from Florida across the south and to the northeast was not conducive to air travel and our families from Maryland experienced hours long delays. Jeremy and Julie finally made it to their home about midnight. Patrick, Jen and Beck (PB&J), gave up about 8 PM and they returned back to our house with flight reservations for this morning. It was great having them here for the night.

Patrick, Jen, and Beck
CocoCay, Bahamas
August 1, 2026

3. Perfect Day at CocoCay, wasn't spectacular. It was nice that the sky was cloud filled preventing the sun from baking us. We shared the island with Wonder of the Seas meaning we were there with 12,000 of our new best friends between the two ships. I witnessed a very interesting accident as Wonder was preparing to depart. The ship eased away from the quay while one forklift was attempting to get the last gangway aboard. The gangway slipped off the forks and fell into the water banging against the hull of Wonder before falling. Someone is likely buying Royal Caribbean another gangway. There are a number of videos on YouTube. Gangway falls off Wonder of the Seas.

4. As a fitting end to the cruise, we enjoyed a big family dinner. All 8 of us gathered together and had a great time enjoying the food for our last night together. 

5. I took PB&J plus 1 back to the airport this morning and they made the 7:25 AM flight that took off at 7:42! Yay. 

6. At exactly 2:30 this afternoon [Sunday, 2 August], the President of the United States stopped to share an important message with the world from his private golf course in New Jersey. He had spent the entire weekend there, isolated from the press, but this moment was important enough to break his silence. Donald Trump proudly announced on Truth Social that he had made “The Winning Shot in the Bedminster Club Championship!” He won his own tournament on his own course and needed everyone to know. He went into more detail on this historic win, writing, “Unlike the rest of the field, I’m given very little time to practice, because I’m focused on many other things. It’s called TALENT, and I have it, and they don’t! President DONALD J. TRUMP.” (Hope for America) My thought--does anyone remember when Trump pilloried Obama for playing golf? Also, with everything happening in the world that's his fault, should he really be playing golf. Like Nero playing the violin.

7. Today in History. On August 3, 1958, the U.S. nuclear submarine Nautilus accomplishes the first undersea voyage to the geographic North Pole. The world’s first nuclear submarine, the Nautilus dived at Point Barrow, Alaska, and traveled 1,830 miles under the Arctic ice cap to reach the top of the world. It then steamed on to Iceland, pioneering a new and shorter route from the Pacific to the Atlantic and Europe.

The USS Nautilus was constructed under the direction of U.S. Navy Captain Hyman G. Rickover, a brilliant Russian-born engineer who joined the U.S. atomic program in 1946. In 1947, he was put in charge of the navy’s nuclear-propulsion program and began work on an atomic submarine. Regarded as a fanatic by his detractors, Rickover succeeded in developing and delivering the world’s first nuclear submarine years ahead of schedule. In 1952, the Nautilus’ keel was laid by President Harry S. Truman, and on January 21, 1954, first lady Mamie Eisenhowerbroke a bottle of champagne across its bow as it was launched into the Thames River at Groton, Connecticut. Commissioned on September 30, 1954, it first ran under nuclear power on the morning of January 17, 1955.

How Iran is widening its pressure campaign to force US concessions - ReutersCapital One says it closed Trump Organization's accounts after antimoney laundering probe - ReutersActing US Attorney General Blanche rescinds 'anti-weaponization' fund before confirmation vote - Reuters
About 60,000 ordered to evacuate from fires in Spokane, Washington - Reuters
US military asks troops for ‘creative and unconventional’ ideas to punish Iran - CNN
Another eclipse is coming. Make sure to view it safely with these ISO-approved glasses - CNN

A brutal new poll for Trump shows why Democrats must run against his corruption - MS Now

How Trump just hung nearly 25 million seniors out to dry - MS Now

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL