Fly Away

 

Chris and I fared very well during Hurricane Ian. We were not in the path and there is only minor damage in our area. 

Chris's Jet at the Gate
Palm Beach International Airport
September 29, 2022

We fared so well that Chris flew to Maryland last evening. The West Palm Beach International Airport was almost a ghost town. We arrived at the airport with enough time for us to share dinner before she had to go through security. Security here takes about 30 seconds. There is almost never a line. 

There were very few people in the airport and we enjoyed a nice dinner at an Irish pub.

We had tracked her flight all day to determine if it would be canceled or delayed. It was not canceled and was delayed a few minutes--but that was expected. 

The route he jet flew was significantly different from most of the flights between Palm Beach and Baltimore. Normally they fly an almost a straight line between the two airports, out over the ocean coasting in over the Carolinas. But, as can be seen, Hurricane Ian was in the path and so on this day the route was over land to avoid the power of the hurricane. 

She is excited to visit family and friends over the next week. I have a list of projects to accomplish. BTW, just to be clear, it is not a honey-do list, it is a self generated project list. 

The hurricane changed the weather pattern. It is 64 degrees this morning and I believe it is the first 60 degree morning since before we departed during April. It is cold outside!

Happy Friday!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Riding out the Storm

 

Palm Across the Street in the Wind
Tequesta, FL
September 28, 2022

What do you do when riding out a hurricane? Well, even being on the periphery of the storm there really isn't much to do. We watched moment-by-moment coverage of Hurricane Ian until it made landfall over southwest Florida. 

I went outside during some of the lesser winds to allow the dogs some relief and videoed a coconut palm tree. I wondered whether I was standing too close if the coconuts decided to break free and plummet to the earth. 

Chris and I did make a short trip to the grocery store, there was no panic buying evident in our area. The store was fully stocked. We then went to a gas station and filled-up so that we have two fully fueled vehicles, although the expectation is that we will not need to evacuate as the storm is already moving away.

Hopefully I will be able to return to my daily bike ride tomorrow when the storm is fully out of the area. It remains too windy this morning. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

From the Sidelines of Hurricane Ian

 

First, an update on my jury duty experience yesterday. I survived and was not selected to serve as a juror on a trial. They released me just before noon and I was able to spend the afternoon at home preparing for the oncoming storm.

On to the storm. Our area of Southeastern Florida is under a Tropical Storm Warning and not expected to experience the full force of the hurricane. We suffered through tornado warnings overnight as the outer bands of the now Category 4 Hurricane Ian passed. Our portion of Florida is where people from the Gulf Coast were directed as an evacuation destination.

It is raining off and on and sometimes very heavy.  We are seeing winds of about 30 mph right now, but are expecting gusts of up to 70 mph as the hurricane makes landfall later today. Chris and I closed the hurricane shutters last night because of the tornado threat and also because we have large trees close to our windows. 

Our area is NOT under an evacuation order and, therefore, we are not evacuating. The truck, 4 wheel-drive, has a full tank of gas with a 500 mile range and is prepared in case we do need to evacuate.

The most difficult part of the storm so far has to do with the dogs. They are not excited about going outside to do their business. On top of that, Makayla has a stomach disturbance which we are treating with Imodium and plain rice for food. Riordin is a bit freaked out and cannot settle. I opened the patio door shutters and he can at least look outside. That seemed to make him happier.

We will ride out the storm. We are fortunate that it is away from us, but we are still getting winds and rain--although not the same as those on the Gulf Coast in the direct path of the storm. The hurricane is expected to pass both west and north of our location.

The TV coverage is similar to that for a major winter storm in Maryland. We are getting moment by moment reports on the storm's progress and well as tornado reporting as warnings are issued. 

We are calm and doing well. Thank you for all of the concerns we have been receiving. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Doing my Civic Duty

 I have been called to Jury Duty in Palm Beach County.

I cannot believe it, I only just earlier this year obtained a drivers license and registered to vote. How can my my Jury number come up already?

The only time during my almost 22 years in Maryland I received notices for Jury Duty, I was not required to report. 

Not so--I actually have to report to the court house in West Palm Beach this morning at 8 AM in business attire. I guess that means no shorts or sandals. 

I haven't worn socks in months, except when I play golf! Maybe sandals are acceptable business attire in Florida--I am going to find out. I haven't worn long pants since April! That is going to be an experience.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - September 26, 2022

 

1. Happy Monday. It is the fourth and final Monday of September. There are just 13 Mondays remaining in 2022.

2. Hurricane Ian is setting its sights on Northern Florida and, fortunately, our little pierce of heaven remains out of the cone of uncertainty. We will still receive 4-6 inches of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday. But, the winds will not be excessive topping out at about 30 mph. 

3. Family NFL Football Results:

    Cowboys (1-1) play Giants (2-0) this evening.

    Ravens (2-1) defeat Patriots (1-2), 37-26

    Commanders (1-2) lose to Eagles (3-0), 8-24

    Steelers (1-2) lost to Browns (2-1), 17-29 (Thursday night)

    Dolphins (3-0) defeat Bills (2-1), 21-19

4. With the major collapse in the 11th inning yesterday to Houston, the Orioles effectively eliminated themselves from playoff contention. I only wish that Seattle and Tampa would stop losing, thereby, keeping our ever growing slimmer playoff hopes alive. 

5. Personal political opinion. I have been reading much about the flying of legally in the United States asylum seekers by Governor DeSantis to Martha's Vineyard. It appears to me to be a misappropriation of Florida tax dollars. The money was appropriated to deal with illegal immigrants in Florida. DeSantis went to Texas and transported the asylum seekers to Florida before flying them from Florida to Martha's Vineyard. See background at: The Washington PostMysteries, legal peril follow DeSantis's migrant flight

6. Makayla had a rough night. Both Chris and I were up at different times attending to her needs and taking her outside. It was much like having a baby in the house again. Not fun!

7. Check out the last headlines entry. Isn't it just like Iran to blame the U.S. for trying to overthrow the regime through the women's protests they are experiencing?

8. Today in History. September 26, 1960. For the first time in U.S. history, a debate between major party presidential candidates is shown on television. The presidential hopefuls, John F. Kennedy, a Democratic senator of Massachusetts, and Richard M. Nixon, the vice president of the United States, met in a Chicago studio to discuss U.S. domestic matters.

Kennedy emerged the apparent winner from this first of four televised debates, partly owing to his greater ease before the camera than Nixon, who, unlike Kennedy, seemed nervous and declined to wear makeup. Nixon fared better in the second and third debates, and on October 21 the candidates met to discuss foreign affairs in their fourth and final debate. Less than three weeks later, on November 8, Kennedy won 49.7 percent of the popular vote in one of the closest presidential elections in U.S. history, surpassing by a fraction the 49.6 percent received by his Republican opponent.

Pound Hits Record Low Against Dollar - The Wall Street Journal

Ukrainian Forces Push East of Kupyansk, Expanding Offensive - The Wall Street Journal

DeSantis Re-Election Campaign Focuses on Florida GOP Base - The Wall Street Journal

Breaking At least 7 children among dead after gunman opens fire at school in Russia - CNN

US warnings against Putin's nuclear threats mark a sobering moment - CNN

NASA spacecraft will reveal first look at asteroid, then slam into it - CNN

NASA calls off Artemis 1 moon rocket launch on Sept. 27 due to Tropical Storm Ian - Space.com

Oil prices fall for a second day on recession fears - Reuters

In China, home buyers occupy their 'rotting', unfinished properties - Reuters

Iran says U.S. trying to use unrest to undermine it, warns of response - Reuters

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Our of the Cone of Uncertainty

 Tropical Storm, and soon to be hurricane, Ian has been generating a lot of interest here in South Florida as the cone of uncertainty fell squarely overtop of the area. 

As of this morning, actually late last evening, the cone of uncertainty no longer includes Tequesta. As the storm drifts westward and landfall northward, my area of Florida has moved outside of the cone. I am very excited about the prospect of not having to endure a hurricane. Sadly, it appears that northern Florida is going to get slammed with a major hurricane with winds in excess of 110 MPH. 

Thank-you for the concern that many have expressed. And also the good advice. I look at preparing for a hurricane much like preparing for a major blizzard in the northeast. Plan for power outages, inability to move on the highways, and being isolated. The difference in a hurricane is that the winds are incredibly dangerous and the water can become a flood. Our house is equipped with hurricane shutters and we laid-in drinking water and some extra food supplies. Our big failing here is that we are totally electric and are not allowed to have a gas grill, which is what our plan was back in Baltimore to facilitate boiling water and, if necessary, cook. We are not even allowed a charcoal grill because we cannot store starter fluid, but I am going to rethink that for the future. I believe for emergencies we need a reliable heat source. 

Chris and I, and our entire community for that matter, remain wary and continue watching the storm track.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Moving on to New Adventures

 

6155 Rainbow Drive
Elkridge, MD
November 11, 2015

It was a significant Friday. 

Chris and I had been looking forward to this day for well over a month because it was settlement day on our Maryland house. 

According to reports, it went smoothly, although with a 4 PM start time it was not over until almost 6 PM. There were only a few questions on some of the unique items we had deployed in the house that they noticed during the walk through. As we had signed our portion on Tuesday afternoon, we were not directly involved in the settlement. 

In all, we owned our little pot of gold at the end of Rainbow Drive for 21 years, 6 months, and 23 days. I know there is a lot of sadness in my family that we sold the house which was a great home--but, sometimes holding too tightly to the past prevents us from moving on to new adventures. 

The memories of all of the good times, parties, Happy Hours, fire pit evenings, celebrations, reunions, and dinners on the screened porch with friends, family, and co-workers will remain. 

Our best to the new owners, may they have many years of happiness and enjoyment at the end of Rainbow and the house is once again transformed into a home!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

 

Changing it Up!

 

Chris in the 10th Fairway
Jupiter Dunes, Jupiter, FL
September 22, 2022

Instead of a long bike ride yesterday, Chris suggested a round of golf!

Wow, I had not even unpacked our golf clubs yet from their travel cases, but I readily agreed. There is a par 3 golf course near the house and it is a good place to work on the short game and get an 18-hole round of golf payed in about two-and-a-half hours. 

I called the course and it was reported wide open. This course does not issue Tee times--it is a show up and play in order. 

We took our push carts and enjoyed a pleasant round of golf. I may have set a record for lost golf balls--initially I was awful losing six balls on the first four holes. I settled down after that by diagnosing my swing problem and actually over the next 14 holes only lost two more balls while carding a string of three pars in a row and playing mostly bogey golf--as I am a bit worse than a bogey golfer, I was pretty happy with that improvement. I guess I need to golf more than once every three months.

Chris did much better. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Riding the Circuit

 

15 mile Ride
Tequesta and Jupiter, FL
September 21, 2022

With the biking that I have been doing, I have developed a basic route from which I can take branches and sequels to increase both the distance and the enjoyment of the ride. The basic circuit is about 8 miles from our home around Tequesta.

North Fork Loxahatchee River
Tequesta, FL
September 21, 2022

Yesterday, Chris and I went for a ride and I determined to push Chris a bit by accomplishing a 15 mile ride. She completed an 11 mile ride on Tuesday and I wanted to push her just a bit more. That was easily done by adding a stretch on what is called Island Way, which is a long connecting street which remains mostly undeveloped and provides a nice ride. 

Chris was game and in the end we enjoyed a nice ride and she accomplished her longest ride to date. I was as pleased as she was to complete the trek. 

I am looking to push her more and get her into the 20 mile range soon so we can do even more difficult rides and she has the necessary confidence to complete them. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Feeling the Stress Evaporate

Across the Sand
Jupiter Island, FL
September 20, 2022

Chris and I made it to the beach last evening to enjoy some solitary time and Happy Hour. I noticed that as I crested the top of the sand upon which the mighty Atlantic was crashing waves and stood looking at the waves that the stress of the past few days melted away. It was magical.

Yesterday was a busy. We started at the Palm Beach County Tax Collector's office registering the Highlander and cutting our last ties to Maryland Department of Transportation. We no longer have vehicles registered in Maryland. We had a 9:15 AM appointment and were happy to be out of there with everything complete and new license plate in hand by about 10 AM. Not too bad, all-in-all.

Then I had more stuff to relocate to the storage room, which is getting full. We have, as best as I can compute, about 400 cubic feet of storage. I believe we have about 300 cubic feet already stored. Of course, there is no way to use all of the space--but as you might suspect--places to put new stuff are becoming hard to find.

The afternoon was taken with an appointment to sign the settlement papers on the house. That process went smoothly, but was long and I have to admit there are some really weird questions and, without the aid of a lawyer, more than a couple were hard to interpret. The notary was very pleasant and we all enjoyed some of Chris's newly baked banana bread upon completion of the signing. I watched the notary scan the signed documents for review on a very cool high speed scanner. I mean, wow--42 pages scanned in about one minute. Chris made a point of noting that while the machine was really neat, I don't need one. LOL. That doesn't mean I don't want one!

And so, after a busy and emotional day, standing there on the sand with the ocean crashing just a few feet away, I could feel all of the stress leave my body and I was refreshed!

I need to do this more often.

-- Bob Doan,. Tequesta, FL

Monday Evening Happy Hour

Jupiter Lighthouse
From the Square Grouper, Jupiter, FL
September 19, 2022

 It was a welcome Monday afternoon Happy Hour at one of our favorite watering holes in Jupiter, the Square Grouper. The Grouper is situated along the Loxahatchee River and on a beautiful afternoon it is blessed with a nice breeze and the outdoor tables are shaded by tall palm trees. 

We met our friends for an afternoon adult beverage, or two, and great conversation along the river at The Grouper. I was unable to tarry for long as I had a board meeting at 6 PM. Sadly, the one-hour scheduled meeting lasted almost two hours!

The weather was much less humid yesterday than it has been, although I spent most of the day in front of the television watching the State Funeral for Queen Elizabeth--and when I say most of the day I mean the day began before 5 AM and continued into the afternoon. It was quite an historic event to watch. As a result, I did not make it out for my usual bike ride. And I probably will not ride today as we have an early morning appointment to register our only remaining Maryland-plated car in Florida. 

Busy days!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, MD

Monday Musings - September 19, 2022

 

1. The third Monday of September has arrived! There are only 14 Mondays remaining in 2022.

2. I got up early this morning to watch Queen Elizabeth II's funeral. 

3. Family Football Results. It was not a good week for most of the family's teams. Interestingly, they all are now 1-1.

   Ravens (1-1) lost to Dolphins (2-0), 38-42

   Commanders (1-1) lost to Lions (1-1), 26-37

   Steelers (1-1) lost to Patriots (1-1), 14-17

. . . and the bright spot of the week with a stunning last minute field goal

   Cowboys (1-1) defeat Bengals (0-2), 20-17

Rail to Nowhere
Tequesta, FL
September 18, 2022

4. Tracks to nowhere. Building an additional rail line at an intersection near my house seems to have run amok. The tracks crossing the road connect to nowhere. They are supposed to be in support of a new passenger rail service between Miami and Orlando. A lot of track has been laid, but there seems to be something missing at this intersection.

5. Lazy weekends are the best. I was able to watch two complete football games yesterday and enjoy some relaxing time. I did get some work done in the garage. I found a way to mount the bikes to the wall, which clears some floor space for other uses. It was tough tripping over the bikes all of the time. I still feel as if we are getting 15 pounds of potatoes into a 10 pound bag. There remain more containers to relocate to storage. \

6. Today in History. On September 19, 1957, the United States detonates a 1.7-kiloton nuclear weapon in an underground tunnel at the Nevada Test Site (NTS), a 1,375-square-mile research center located 65 miles north of Las Vegas. The test, known as Rainier, was the first fully contained underground detonation and produced no radioactive fallout. A modified W-25 warhead weighing 218 pounds and measuring 25.7 inches in diameter and 17.4 inches in length was used for the test. Rainier was part of a series of 29 nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons safety tests known as Operation Plumbbob that were conducted at the NTS between May 28, 1957, and October 7, 1957.

live updates The Queen's state funeral is underway in the majestic surroundings of Westminster Abbey - CNN

Analysis: Winter is fast approaching in Ukraine. Here's what comes next for the conflict - CNN

Hurricane Fiona hits Dominican Republic, leaves heavy rain, flooding and power outages behind in Puerto Rico - CNN

Biden says U.S. forces would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion - Reuters

Russia says ready for U.S. prisoner swap talks but scolds embassy - Reuters

Shelling of Donetsk city kills 13 - Russian-backed separatist mayor - Reuters

Stock Futures Fall as Investors Eye Federal Reserve - The Wall Street Journal

U.S. Return-to-Office Rates Hit a Pandemic High - The Wall Street Journal

Putin’s Energy War With Europe Seems to Falter - The Wall Street Journal

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Learning About Tomorrow

 I learned a lesson about tomorrow, yesterday. Yes, I learned it when yesterday was today and today was tomorrow.

Possible New End Table
Stuart, FL
September 17, 2022

Chris and I had a busy day. We were able to sneak out for a short 9 mile bike ride in between rainstorms that got the kinks out. We also took time to drive 22 miles to a furniture store in Stuart, FL. We are beginning the next phase of updating the living room from the furniture that came with the house to something different with more of a coastal theme. 

Maravilla Positioning
Tequesta, FL
September 18, 2022

Then, we decided to join friends on the beach for Happy Hour, but due to the impending storms (which never arrived) we met at our house for the evening. It was an awesome evening of wine and talking and pizza! I even received some much needed assistance in where to hang one of my favorite fine art prints which we brought from Maryland--The Maravilla by John Kelly. 

Because of the time we spent on those endeavors, I was unable to complete some of the projects that I had scheduled. I began to get stressed about the failure. 

Then, it dawned upon me that since I am retired, I have tomorrow. Duh!

So, I will be doing yesterday's projects today. (or is it tomorrow?)

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Phase 1 of Move-in--Complete

The Fully Loaded PODS
Elkridge, MD
August 24, 2022

 

Yesterday was a momentous day in the saga of the move.

Chris and I completed Phase 1 of the Move-in. It may not seem like much, but we emptied the PODS and turned it back over to the company. All of our belongings are now either in our house or in a small storage unit we are renting. 

We are working very hard not to over-stuff the house. I think we had more space for storage than we believed, but we still need the storage unit to hold the overflow. 

A note about PODS. What a great idea. It worked exactly as advertised. Chris and I loaded it at our leisure over the course of two weeks, we got to pick the time, and it was available at the PODS center for our access when we wanted it to be. Had we been moving to a home and not a condo community we could have had it delivered to the house. About breakage--we had only one item break and that was due to poor placement in the PODS. Everything else arrived in great shape. 

I did strap the load every 4 feet to help stabilize it from moving around. 

As the PODS facility was a 30 minute drive each way, we are very excited that it is empty and we no longer need to make the trek.

And now comes the harder part of moving--the assimilation: incorporating the treasures we brought with us into the fully furnished house.

 And that is Phase 2 of the move-in.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

It is Alive! - Finally

Yeedi at Work
Tequesta, FL
September 15, 2022

 Although I know it is an inanimate object, I discovered yesterday that our robot vacuum, it is a Yeedi, is happy to be back in Florida. I write that because I attempted to use it in Maryland while we were there and it stopped working. It would not move and I tried almost all of the troubleshooting techniques to get the machine to work. I even contacted the company and they provided a detailed plan to get the wheels working again. I never had time to follow through on that.

Yesterday, however, I pulled the Yeedi from the box of stuff destined for the trash and gave it one more chance. I found the detailed process provided by the company and was prepared to follow through to see if the little robot could be revived. I plugged it in and activated the iPhone app. Upon doing so, I received a notice that the firmware needed updating. I was excited because I felt this might solve the problem.

I went through the firmware updating process and amazingly the Yeedi came to life, moved, and vacuumed the entire first level of the house. Yay, success. And it was a lot easier than following the process the factory had sent to reboot the wheels.  

It is alive!

I have to admit, having a robot to vacuum during the night is far better than sweeping or vacuuming during the day!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Truth in Advertising

 It is the season for the "elect me" commercials on TV and in my mailbox.

I have noticed that most of the ads deviate significantly from the truth. 

In fact, many of the ads present untruths and twisted facts. It is scary that there does not have to be truth in advertising when it comes to political commercials. If businesses led with commercials containing so many untruths they would be sued and the commercials removed from the airwaves. 

Why are political ads not held to the same standard? I  believe that there should be an independent review of the commercials for lies and untruths before they are allowed to be aired. 

It is no wonder that we cannot elect truthful leaders; they get elected by lying.

Enjoy the commercials until early-November and play a game. See if you can discern who is telling the truth!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Party Crashers

Party Crashers
Carlin Park Beach, FL
September 12, 2022

 

There we were. 

On the beach, enjoying a great Happy Hour with friends. There were a multitude of appetizers and some adult beverages along with spirited conversation while reveling in a glorious beach evening.

And then the party crashers arrived.

The birds. 

Almost like a scene out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie. Birds of multiple species: seagulls, terns, sanderlings, and Fish Crows. They gathered around us in hopes of enjoying a morsel being dropped or provided for their enjoyment. 

We actually enjoy having the birds join us, but sometimes there are too many of them flying around. It was fun to identify the different species, but some of them get a bit too close at times. 

I enjoy the wildlife, they provide comic relief.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Ocean Power

Morning Beach Walk
Jupiter Island, FL
September 12, 2022

 

In a near futile attempt to get back into a kind of normal rhythm, Chris and I attempted a morning walk on the beach yesterday. It was a beautiful morning. Stunningly clear blue sky and moderate temperatures and humidity. A seemingly great day for a beach walk.

Except . . . 

The tide was high and the ocean was strong. The waves were rolling up over the ridge of sand on the beach making ponds along the base of the dunes. The sand was soft and hard to traverse. We managed only about a .8 mile walk, far short of our usual 1.5-2.0 mile walk. 

The ocean was magnificent in its beauty. The rolling waves contained such power as they washed up over the sand. I ended the water as it rushed over my feet.

And we were alone on the beach as far as our eyes could see. 

Is there a better way to begin the day?

I think not. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - September 12, 2022

 

 1. Welcome to the second Monday of September. There are 2 in the month more and only 14 remaining in the year. 

2. It had been almost 22 years since Chris and I last moved, and I can definitely say that even with our decades of moving experience from being in the Air Force, this is the hardest move yet! It is definitely the longest in terms of time from start to as yet unfinished.

Tortoise in the Sun
Tequesta, FL
September 11, 2022

3. Took a short 10-mile bike ride yesterday just to enjoy getting out. It was humid and I was soaked by the end, but I was rewarded by seeing a tortoise along the street. I stopped and snapped this image. I was surprised at how big it was. 

4. Well, the first week of the NFL season is almost in the books and I am reviving the family NFL Monday report for the teams we are tracking as a family. And here are the results from Week 1:

  Ravens (1-0) defeat Jets (0-1) 24-9

  Steelers (1-0) defeat Bengals (0-1) 23-20 TO

  Commanders (1-0) defeat Jaguars (0-1) 28-22

  Cowboys (0-1) lose to Buccaneers (1-0) 3-19

  Dolphins (1-0) defeat Patriots (0-1) 20-7

5. Now that football season has returned, I guess it is time to write the Orioles out of the playoffs. Their poor showing during the past week resulted in them falling to 5.5 games out of the Wild Card race. But it has been a better than expected season. There remains a slim chance they will make the playoffs.

6. Today in History. September 12, 1940. Near Montignac, France, a collection of prehistoric cave paintings are discovered by four teenagers who stumbled upon the ancient artwork after following their dog down a narrow entrance into a cavern. The 15,000- to 17,000-year-old paintings, consisting mostly of animal representations, are among the finest examples of art from the Upper Paleolithic period.

First studied by the French archaeologist Henri-Édouard-Prosper Breuil, the Lascaux grotto consists of a main cavern 66 feet wide and 16 feet high. The walls of the cavern are decorated with some 600 painted and drawn animals and symbols and nearly 1,500 engravings. The pictures depict in excellent detail numerous types of animals, including horses, red deer, stags, bovines, felines, and what appear to be mythical creatures. There is only one human figure depicted in the cave: a bird-headed man with an erect phallus. Archaeologists believe that the cave was used over a long period of time as a center for hunting and religious rites.

Putin's Kharkiv disaster enrages Kremlin allies - CNN

Former MLB pitcher who became police officer killed in crash while on way to 9/11 memorial ceremony - CNN

French President calls for Russia to withdraw from nuclear plant - CNN

European Manufacturers Reel From Russian Gas Shutoff - The Wall Street Journal

Russia Withdraws More Forces From Northeast Ukraine - The Wall Street Journal

Covid-19 Keeps at Least 500,000 Workers Out of U.S. Labor Force, New Study Says - The Wall Street Journal

Joy in northeast Ukraine as residents return following Russian rout - Reuters

Exclusive: Biden to hit China with broader curbs on U.S. chip and tool exports - Reuters

Pakistan races to keep floodwaters out of power station that supplies millions - Reuters

What to know from NFL Week 1: Chiefs are just fine, but Patriots sure aren’t - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Crush of Activity

 I had hoped that as Chris and I returned to Florida, our level of activity would moderate.

I was wrong.

We are incredibly busy unpacking and trying to fit our Maryland belongings into our already complete Florida home. Today's project is to find a storage unit to hold the excess. And there are is lot. I had no idea we were bringing as many wall hangings as we brought. Art prints, mostly. And there are multiple boxes of pictures--many of family historical significance.

And Christmas decorations. I think we have six containers of Christmas. 

We are also blessed with too many plastic containers. Some of them are too large to be fully useful. I wonder what we are going to do with them? 

Maybe I will get to watch some football today! It is opening Sunday. Otherwise, I will be slinging boxes around.

Moving sucks! Just saying.

P.S. It is Patriot Day the remembrance of 9/11. Where were you?  Say thank-you to a First Responder.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Hitting the Streets

 

After making three trips to the PODS during the past two days, about two-hours roundtrip, Chris and I decided to stay home and return the house to a more livable state. 

Bike Route
Tequesta, FL
September 9, 2022

We were successful! But, we still have at least two more trips to make to the PODS to retrieve the remainder of our treasures. I will be getting a storage room today.

One of the things we did yesterday was locate the recycling transfer facility and get rid of the wrapping paper and cardboard boxes that were filling the garage. That helped to reclaim significant space in the garage.

To start the day, however, I went on a long bike ride around Tequesta and Jupiter. I was able to visit some new territory and enjoy the day before it got too hot or rainy. I was amazed that, as I hit the streets, my legs were tired before I even began from racing up and down stairs during the past days. I have been exercising more than I had thought. 

I was dog-tired at the end of the ride. I need to eat breakfast before heading out on these rides! There is a small hill near the end that can seem mountainous, although it is only a slight incline. After 18 or so miles, however, it provides the opportunity to push myself one more time. 

It is great to be hitting the streets again!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Closing a Chapter of History

I am not a Royals watcher, but I have always appreciated the steady leadership that Queen Elizabeth II provided to the United Kingdom and the world.

Through all of the travails, she provided was a constant not only for the United Kingdom, but for the free world. 

I now understand the saying, "The Queen is dead, long live the King."

And history will remember her leadership through seven decades.

A chapter of history is closing and her relatively sudden passing provides an opportunity to pause and reflect upon our own endeavors and direction. I wish the United States had leaders committed to bettering the country rather than forcing their own personal biases upon others.

The next days will allow us to reflect upon our own leadership as we remember Queen Elizabeth II. The world is complex and we need leaders that can work across the spectrum from domestic to international and serve the greater good of the people of both the United States and the world. We must not elect "one trick pony" leaders but rather those who can operate in the world.

Rest In Peace Queen Elizabeth II.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Moving - Garage Stress

Garage Stress
Tequesta, FL
September 7, 2022

I have a severe case of garage stress!

Chris and I have unloaded about half of our PODS and while we are maintaining the house in livable fashion, the garage is a disaster! I am used to having a garage in which cars can be parked. The moving-in mess we have created is causing undue stress. Between boxes which have been collapsed waiting for recycling, and empty tubs along with some wardrobe boxes which still need to be carried upstairs, the garage is unworkable!

Ugh. 

I will work on organizing the garage today before we make another trip to the PODS facility. We are donating a many items which have been replaced by counterparts brought from Maryland. We knew this would happen and so it is not a shock. 

In reality, it is all going pretty smoothly so far, but I  know that the hard part is coming because space is filling up quickly. I have been moving shelves to accommodate kitchenware--we are going from a house blessed with drawers to one with less than the minimum necessary. We are rethinking what we keep in the kitchen. And where are we going to keep the other stuff which occupied our perpetual junk drawer where almost anything could be found? 

First, I need to get a handle on the garage. That is my morning project. Everything comes through the garage and if there is no space to move and stage, there is no way to transition items from the truck to their new home.

The good news? I'm retired and we do not have a deadline! Or rather, the deadline is self-imposed and can slip without consequences. 

Another day dawns! The sun is not yet up an I am already plotting a course for the day.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Happy Hour and Manatees

It was off the the beach last evening for Happy Hour. It had been a successful day and a respite before we begin accessing and unpacking the PODS. I managed to find gas for $3.359/gl and both of the vehicles which made the drive from Maryland were filled and prepped for the travel ahead associated with retrieving our belongings from the PODS. We have been driving our Florida car, the Camry, which had a full tank of gas and was ready to get out of the garage after four-and-a-half months of storage. 

Manatee off Jupiter Island
Jupiter Island, FL
September 6, 2022

As we walked down to the ocean's edge, I noticed large brown shapes moving in the water about 100 yards offshore. There were groups of large brown objects, about 20 of them. They were moving with and against the waves. There were no fins and so I determined they were not sharks or dolphins. It finally came to me, manatees. We watched them off the shore for a while until they moved off. It was amazing how they were spread out but also moving in small groups. It was truly an aggregation of manatees. 

Some excitement to end the day before we headed home to make dinner. It had been years since we had seen manatees off Jupiter Island.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Alle-gator (AG) on Patrol

 

Map of My Bike Ride
Tequesta, FL
September 5, 2022

I managed a Labor Day 17 mile bike ride yesterday. It was good to be back in the saddle on a serious ride. My guide toured me through developments that I have not visited before and in one area the wildlife was active and fin to watch. 

The ride meandered through Tequesta into Jupiter. The most interesting part of the ride was through a large housing development in the initial stages of building but where the infrastructure is mostly in place from a failed development a few years ago. It winds into wild areas and I saw deer, rabbits, many species of birds, lizards, and one alligator hanging out in the pond, or is it large enough to be a lake?

Lake or Pond? You Make the Call
Jupiter, FL
September 5, 2022

I sometimes have difficulty determining the difference between lakes and ponds. 

In this case I think it is a lake, but the gator in the lake thinks that it owns the waterfront. BTW, the object in the image to the left is not the gator, that is the fountain. I zoomed in on the gator could tell that it is searching for its next meal. 

Alligator on Patrol
Jupiter, FL
September 5, 2022

Biking through undeveloped areas is a lot of fun because of the wildlife. I saw four deer race across open fields. I knew that within a few years those fields would be filled with houses--but, for now they were open areas. 

Most of the ride was in neighborhoods where the houses start at well above $1M and go upwards from there because of they are either on the river or lakefront property. Yes, they are nice houses, but way out of my desire for a mortgage. I am looking to be mortgage free by the end of September and so buying a house on the Loxahatchee River, while a pleasing thought, is not in the plan unless I win the lottery. Only problem there is you have to play to win. 

It was a beautiful morning to be out on the bike and I am looking forward to many more. The total time of the ride, with stops, was 1h33m with an average speed of 12.3 mph. I have to admit that at the end of the ride there is a small hill (compared to some I rode in Maryland) and I was out of gas in the tank. I went about as far as I could for the second ride after my return.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL