Monday Musings - May 25, 2026

 Memorial Day 2026

1. It is Memorial Day and the final Monday of May. Whew. Where did the month escape to? Heading into June next week, there are just 31 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. It is good that we, as a nation, take a day to recognize the ultimate sacrifice made by true patriots to secure our freedoms and liberty through the centuries. As this country celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of one of the most consequential documents in human history, The Declaration of Independence, we must rededicate ourselves to creating a nation that embodies the spirit of that document. 

Sandhill Crane
Tequesta, FL
May 24, v2026

3. I enjoyed nice ride yesterday, although the winds was a bit strong at times. OK, really strong. I came across the first Sandhill Crane that I have seen in quite a while. That is was alone was also a bit weird. I normally see them in pairs. Perhaps the other member of the pair is sitting on the nest somewhere?

4. The Orioles managed to split a doubleheader yesterday. Yay. There are still mired in 4th place in the division and starting a series with the Rays today that could drop their season through the floor. Ugh!

5. I'm confused. If Iran is totally destroyed, as the administration declares, why do they get to set the terms of the end of the conflict? Stuff like this does not make sense. To the victor go the spoils and the terms of the conflict's resolution. I'm afraid that our president thought he would get a quick win and be hailed as a warrior hero rather than as a mediocre commander-in-chief. We are wasting our military resources and national treasure in pursuit of fleeting glory that will not happen. 

6. Today in History. Four years after the United States won its independence from Great Britain, 55 state delegates, including George Washington, James Madison and Benjamin Franklin, convene in Philadelphia to compose a new U.S. constitution on May 25, 1787.

The Articles of Confederation, ratified several months before the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781, provided for a loose confederation of U.S. states, which were sovereign in most of their affairs. On paper, Congress—the central authority—had the power to govern foreign affairs, conduct war, and regulate currency, but in practice these powers were sharply limited because Congress was given no authority to enforce its requests to the states for money or troops. By 1786, it was apparent that the Union would soon break up if the Articles of Confederation were not amended or replaced. Five states met in Annapolis, Maryland, to discuss the issue, and all the states were invited to send delegates to a new constitutional convention to be held in Philadelphia.

13 US service members have died in the war with Iran. Here are their stories - CNN

Iran and US play down hopes for imminent breakthrough in war - Reuters

Pope Leo urges world to 'slow down' on AI in fervent first manifesto - Reuters

Dollar drifts lower as oil falls on Hormuz deal optimism - Reuters

Missile and drone strikes kill eight in Russia and Ukraine - Reuters

After 250 years, Revolutionary War-era soldiers finally laid to rest in upstate New York - CNN

Polls show many Republicans don’t believe these three facts. That’s bad for America — and the GOP. - MS Now

All charges dropped against ‘Broadview Six’ after feds admit to errors in case - MS Now

--  Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Yard Work Saturday

Freshly Mowed
Tequesta, FL
May 23, 2026

 I know, I live in a condo. How on earth could I have yard work to accomplish?

But we did! Chris and I spent the morning raking, mowing, and laying much--in two different yards. 

Chris Finishing the Mulch
Tequesta, FL
May 23, 2026

We began the morning at the home of friends who are on a cruise in Europe. We raked leaves, magnolia trees lose leaves all the time, and mowed the lawns. It was the second time we mowed since they departed. I admit, I miss mowing just a little bit. I love riding a tractor around a lawn.

After finishing with the friend's yard, we headed back to our home and mulched the path in the back of the condo. We keep the path mulched as it helps keep mud out of the house. It also looks nice and Chris needs an outlet for her gardening spirit. The plants in our yard are still recovering from the hard freeze we experienced during February--but are greening up nicely. 

We were engrossed in our outdoor activities all morning, relishing the pleasant weather. However, we had to be exceptionally efficient at our friend’s house because a significant storm, complete with thunder and lightning, was approaching. As I was finishing up in the yard, I savored the refreshing pre-storm breeze. We promptly left to return home to Finnegan, who is terrified of thunder. Surprisingly, the storm never reached our home. Despite our home being only two miles away from our friends’, the weather can be quite different due to our proximity to the ocean. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

A Day on the Water

 

Heading out of Manatee Pocket
Port Salerno, FL
May 22, 2026

Chris, Finn, and I headed out of Port Salerno yesterday to enjoy a day on the waters of the ICW and St. Lucie River. It had been since March that we had risked life and limb on the water. Much of that has been due to travel schedules and weather. I have canceled at least two boat days because of poor weather conditions.

Path form the ICW Beach to the Ocean
Peck Lake, FL
May 22, 2026

The plan was to head off to our favorite, accessible only by boat, beach and then into Stuart, FL, for lunch. We called an audible, however, upon approaching the beach. The boat did not have a ladder in the bow and that meant, for a beach landing, we would have to go down the stern ladder into the water and walk around the boat to the beach. Neither of us felt like getting wet just to walk to the beach and so, even though we were a few yards from beaching, we decided just to head to Stuart where we can dock and stay dry.

View from the ICW headed for Stuart
Hobe Sound, FL
May 22, 2026

The wind began to increase as we headed for Stuart and the St Lucie River became choppy. I have been reading about how to better trim the engines to help the boat move through choppy waters more smoothly and I was able to implement what I had read. I was very happy with the result. And so was Chris and Finn. Finn parks himself right under my feet if the water becomes too choppy.

We arrived in Stuart without issues, although upon arrival at the Stuart Courtesy Docks we were greeted by a large sign stating the docks were closed. Being inquisitive, we motored closer to be able to read the small print and discovered that the docks will be closed form July 2026-April 2027 for reconstruction. It is going to be a massive project, apparently. As the docks were still open, we were able to tie-up and enjoy wandering around Stuart and enjoying lunch at our favorite cafe, the Osceola Street Cafe on SW Osceola Street in downtown Stuart.

By the time we finished in Stuart, the winds had become strong at 15 MPH or better. That meant the St Lucie River was rough with a moderate chop. The trip back to Pirates Cove Marina was not too bad, despite the conditions. Although we ended our day earlier than planned, we had a good time on the water and wandering around Stuart. It is going to be tough to find a new place to visit while the docks are being reconstructed, but Jensen Beach may be a good spot. I will have to check it out. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Three-Day Weekend Blues

 

The unofficial start to Summer has arrived! 

Travelers, start your engines. 

It is going to be quite a weekend and I am glad that we are not traveling until next weekend, maybe the craziness will subside. 

Today is a boat day. Chris, Finn, and I will be heading out on the ICW for some enjoyment. It should be a beautiful day and we will enjoy some beach fun on North Jupiter Island followed by shopping and lunch in Stuart. 

I was encouraged by some things that happened in the Congress yesterday, especially concerning the $1.8B slush fund that the Acting Attorney General and Trump want to establish. It was reported as follows:

Republicans were angry they had no advance warning about the plan, questioned the legal basis for the fund, were unhappy with Blanche’s descriptions of how payments would work, and said they wanted no part of it. As former Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) put it: “So the nation’s top law enforcement official is asking for a slush fund to pay people who assault cops? Utterly stupid, morally wrong—Take your pick.”  (Letters from an American)

Then, Congress departed for the holiday weekend a day early.

But before they left, the House Republicans managed to cancel an important vote on the Iran War. 

House Republicans on Thursday abruptly canceled a vote on a resolution directing President Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from Iran or win approval from Congress to continue the war, after it became clear they lacked the votes to defeat the measure.

The retreat was a striking setback that exposed fractures within the G.O.P. over the conflict at a moment when the party has begun pushing back forcefully on Mr. Trump and his agenda. (NY Times)

Maybe there is some positive change afoot in Congress.

But then, as I wrote, they departed a day early. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Everglades Elevated Boardwalk

 

Everglades Elevated Boardwalk
Ft Lauderdale, FL
May 20, 2026

Chris, Finn, and I took a day trip yesterday to check out the Everglades Elevated Boardwalk. 

I had read a lot about this relatively new attraction right in the Everglades and I determined it was well within a full-charge of our EV.  So, we headed out on an adventure to discover the attraction. 

View of the Everglades
Everglades Elevated Boardwalk
May 21, 2026

It was about a 90-minute drive, each way, using the Florida's Turnpike. Fortunately the traffic was normal and there were none of the typical traffic disasters to slow our journey yesterday. The boardwalk is located off I-75, Alligator Alley, and we had never driven on this portion the road. I was unaware of the toll, but since we live in a state with no personal income tax, I have come to expect a lot of pay-to-play opportunities.

Finn and the Gator
Everglades Elevated Boardwalk
May 21, 2026

The boardwalk was well marked on my Apple Maps and it directed me right to the parking lot. The boardwalk is located at a large rest stop, which is great because there are restrooms and vending machines available. The site is nicely maintained and almost beautiful. It is not authentic Everglades, however. It borders on the Everglades and does provide some nice views of the real authentic Everglades. Some people think the Everglades is a lot of nothing, but the density of wildlife and plant-life is really astounding.

There were plenty of dragonflies keeping the mosquitos at bay. We did not need bug spray, although we had packed some, just in case. The Everglades can, at times, be overwhelmed by mosquitoes and other biting insects. There is precious little shade, however, and sunscreen is a must!

A view of the boardwalk
Everglades Elevated Boardwalk
May 20, 2026

Walking the elevated boardwalk is interesting and fun. There is signage to help visitors understand the what they might be seeing. It being late-May, the animals were scarce. We saw a small 4-foot gator swimming in the lagoon, but aside from a small turtle and some mosquito fish as well as the usual birds, there was not a lot of wildlife happening.

We were lucky with the cloudy day, which kept the searing rays of the sun at bay. 

I had planned an hour or two for the stop based upon the website. In actuality, we were there for about 45 minutes. And that may include the restroom break.

Recommendation. This is a great rest stop activity while journeying along Alligator Alley, I-75. It is not a suitable as a destination for a drive of much over 45-minutes. This would be a nice stop for people planning an airboat adventure in the Everglades I noted airboat docks in the area. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Champions Again

 I am a fan of many teams that do not routinely win league championships. 

The teams, with the year of their last championship, include the Orioles (1983), Ravens (2012), and Penguins (2017). 

Arsenal fans celebrate winning the Premier League 
Getty Images

Yesterday, due to their principal rival playing to a draw, my Premier League team, Arsenal, broke a 22-year drought and won the league! They had finished in second place a number of times and finally captured the title with one match remaining in league play.

I believe I became an Arsenal fan as they won their last Premier League championship. As I recall, I was in London on business and watched the game on television. I got caught up in the excitement of the fans and have been cheering for them ever since. 

Maybe the Orioles will break their World Series drought soon.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

They Used to Chase Me

 

Dog not Restrained Playing in a Yard
Tequesta, FL
May 19, 2026

I grew up in a very rural area. A two lane road with wide shoulders passed in front of our house and once I learned to ride a bike, the shoulders were my ticket to freedom. 

I loved to ride my old coaster bike. I'm not sure they even make them anymore, but it was a single speed bike and to brake I had to push backwards on the pedals. I often biked on roads where there were no houses for long stretches though the hills of Upstate New York. I learned to change inner tubes and maintain the bike in rideable condition. It is crazy to think that I never even thought about communication although I might be a long way from help. We did not have cell phones then--they weren't even invented. If I broke down I would either fix it myself or knock on a door and ask to use the phone. 

Aside from inattentive drivers, the most dangerous thing that I used to encounter along the roads I biked were dogs. In our 1960s rural area, many people allowed their dogs to be in the yard without restraint. I used to tense whenever I saw a dog because there was a better than even chance that I was going to become prey in a game of chase. I have been chased by many dogs and, in total self-defense, I learned how to motivate a dog to leave me alone with my foot.

I recalled those times this morning as I passed two unrestrained dogs who ignored me because they were properly trained and under their owners control. I realized that times have changed in the intervening almost 60 years since I was riding the roads in Danby, NY. 

Even restrained dogs usually ignore me as I pass their owners. I no longer tense when I see a dog, I expect it to be calm and allow me to pass without more than a glance. 

They used to chase me, but no more. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - May 18, 2026

Mount St Helens Erupting
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Published: February 09, 2010

1. The third Monday of May has arrived. Yup. Only one Monday remains in May and that is also Memorial Day. There are 32 Mondays remaining in the year.

2. Aside from a trip to Home Depot, Chris and I stayed in yesterday and watched movies. None of them were particularly special, but they were entertaining. We tried to watch the Director's Cut of Alien, but gave up after about an hour. I had forgotten how plodding that movie was. 

3. It was oppressive outside. Hot and humid. A true South Florida beginning to Summer. I was encouraged, however, because the high in Odenton, MD, was 86 degrees and we only reached 85 degrees with a nice wind from the ocean. 

4. The Orioles managed a couple wins this past week. They are still playing sub-optimal baseball. They have slipped to fourth place in the division, ten games out of first place. 

5. How interesting is it that a treaty from 1797 provides clear insight into the minds of the founding fathers with respect to the establishment of religion in the United States. The Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the United States of America and the Bey and Subjects of Tripoli of Barbary, signed January 3, 1797, lays out clearly that the current Christian Nationalism push by the administration is not in keeping with the intent of the Constitution's Article 1 regarding the "establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". Article 11 of the referenced treaty makes a very clear statement: 

Article 11.

As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion, — as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen, — and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

6. Today in History. At 8:32 a.m. PDT on May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens, a volcanic peak in southwestern Washington, suffers a massive eruption, killing 57 people and devastating some 210 square miles of wilderness.

Called Louwala-Clough, or “the Smoking Mountain,” by Native Americans, Mount St. Helens is located in the Cascade Range and stood 9,680 feet before its eruption. The volcano has erupted periodically during the last 4,500 years, and the last active period was between 1831 and 1857. On March 20, 1980, noticeable volcanic activity began with a series of earth tremors centered on the ground just beneath the north flank of the mountain. These earthquakes escalated, and on March 27 a minor eruption occurred, and Mount St. Helens began emitting steam and ash through its crater and vents.

How Trump’s crypto venture and Iran’s top exchange tapped into the same industry networks - Reuters

Exclusive: Pakistan deploys jet squadron, thousands of troops to Saudi Arabia during Iran war - Reuters

Global bond rout deepens as Iran war drags on and underscores inflation fears - Reuters

Russia attacks Odesa and Dnipro, Ukraine strikes Belgorod region - Reuters

WHO declares Ebola outbreak an international emergency - Reuters

‘It’s not supposed to look like you’re going to dive in’: Historians criticize Trump’s Reflecting Pool makeover as group sues - CNN

Painful Commute Hits New York as Long Island Rail Road Strikes - The New York Times

A Search for Ways Around Blocked Strait of Hormuz Leads to Syria - The New York Times

Trump’s economy is failing Americans - MSNow

Iran moves to take permanent control of Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping choke point - MSNow

Cheap, healthy food rejected by most Americans as MAHA movement pushes it - FoxNews

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Throwback Saturday

 

Fish in the Lake from the Tractor
Tequesta, FL
May 16, 2026

Yesterday, Chris and I enjoyed a bit of a throwback Saturday. 

Why throwback? 

Well, I went to a friend's house and mowed his lawn. Living, as we do, in a condo I do not mow lawns and it was something that helped define summertime life in Maryland. If the lawn needed mowing, Saturday was the day. Too often, after work during the week I was too tired or distracted by some other chore to get the lawn done and so Saturdays became lawn day. 

I enjoyed tooling around the yard on my tractor. That was a wholesome memory. I remember that until we moved to our house in Elkridge, I owned only a push mower and it was not self-propelled. After mowing the lawn at the house the first time, and it took 5 hours, we realized that a tractor was necessary. Over the course of our over 20 years there, I owned two tractors. 

The Ice Cream Store
Tequesta, FL
May 16, 2026

I was able to tool around my friend's yard on his electric tractor, yesterday. The very one that I wrote about needing the battery replacement a few weeks ago. He got it done and the tractor works fine. They live on a small lake and as I was mowing near the water's edge, I saw a fish swimming by the shore. I also used his self-propelled lawnmower to do some of the trim. A nearly perfect Saturday.

The Lawn
Tequesta, FL
May 16, 2026

During the afternoon, Chris and I enjoyed another throwback activity, we went to the local ice cream vendor. Palm Beach Ice Cream makes the best ice cream in the area and we spend a lot of time talking ourselves out of going there, but gave into our desires yesterday. I remembered that after the chores were done, we used to head off to Cindy's in Elkridge for ice cream. Unlike Cindy's however, Palm Beach Ice Cream is open year round.

Lawn mowing, ice cream, and the smell of fresh cut grass. It was a throwback Saturday.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The Fleecing Continues

 

North Fork Loxahatchee River
Tequesta, FL
May 15, 2026

TGIF was yesterday.

And the weekend began with the passing of the day. 

I began yesterday with a nice 18-mile ride around Tequesta. The Loxahatchee was flat as I rode over the Tequesta Bridge. It was a beautiful and hot day. 

Chris and I ended the day at dinner with friends in Port St Lucie. All-in-all it was a great Friday. 

Reflecting on recent world events including the summit in China I, sadly, believe we are seeing the end of America's stabilizing influence on the world. Democracies are under fire, including ours, and the only bright spot I see is what happened recently in Hungary where the people took control of their destiny after 16 years of extreme right-wing oppression. 

Try as we might, it is hard to escape the cold reality that the current administration is more concerned about increasing their personal wealth than ensuring the well-being of Americans. To consider that the President has increased his personal wealth by $5.1B during the past year is unfathomable. Even worse, is the $10B lawsuit he filed against the government which is going to be adjudicate by his former personal attorney who is not the Acting Attorney General and could substantially increase his net worth at the expense of Americans. 

We continue to get fleeced by Trump, his billionaire cronies, and drained by fighting an unauthorized and unwanted war with Iran and we can't fun health care and food assistance programs, why?

The Republicans scream fraud, but cannot apparently comprehend that the most egregious fraud is happening within the walls of the White House. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL