Sea Birds on the Beach Jupiter Island, FL October 25, 2026
The weekend storms ravaged the South Florida Atlantic Coastline. The rains swept through but even more impressive were the wind whipped waves, reportedly up to 18 feet, crashing on the beaches.
Jupiter Lighthouse Jupiter Beach, Jupiter, FL October 25, 2026
I had to go out and see them for myself! I talked Chris and Finnegan into joining me.
We walked up the stairs to cross the dune and visit the ocean, but were met with a stiff wind at the top. I stood on the platform and took in the raging ocean and was most amazed by the sea birds. From the time I started watching until we departed, the birds went from flying on the wind to sitting on the beach.
After enjoying the view, we departed and went to DuBois Beach in Jupiter to observe the powerful waves crash into the inlet. We were not disappointed, but again, the birds were the stars of the show. They were flying over the water in front of the Jupiter Lighthouse. Apparently, non-stop!
This video is from the platform atop the dune at Jupiter Island. Wow, what a weather day.
1. It is the final Monday of October 2026. We will say good-bye to October next weekend as we fall back off Daylight Saving Time. The dark times are coming. There are only 9 Mondays remaining in the year.
Looking Out from Jupiter Inlet Jupiter, FL October 25, 2026
2. There is a powerful storm in the Atlantic which is affecting South Florida's weather with rain, strong winds, and huge waves. Chris, Finn, and I went out to see the waves during a break in the rains. The waves pounding the shore were magnificent.
3. Family NFL Results. It was a miserable week for the family teams. The teams went 2-2 for the weekend with the Cowboys playing tonight and the Commanders on a BYE. The teams now post a 18-19-1 record for the season.
Ravens(4-3) against Bengals (4-2), 13-35
Steelers(5-2) overcame Saints (2-5), 16-10
Commanders(1-4-1) on a BYE
Cowboys(2-4) on MNF
Dolphins(1-5) shot down Jets (2-5), 28-28
Chiefs(5-1) scalped by Seahawks (3-3), 3-20
4. Quote of the Weekend:
“What’s with the gold? … He’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory,” - Barak Obama
5. Today in History. On October 26, 1881, the Earp brothers face off against the Clanton-McLaury gang in a legendary shootout at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona.
After silver was discovered nearby in 1877, Tombstone quickly grew into one of the richest mining towns in the Southwest. Wyatt Earp, a former Kansas police officer working as a bank security guard, and his brothers, Morgan and Virgil, the town marshal, represented “law and order” in Tombstone, though they also had reputations as being power-hungry and ruthless. The Clantons and McLaurys were cowboys who lived on a ranch outside of town and sidelined as cattle rustlers, thieves and murderers. In October 1881, the struggle between these two groups for control of Tombstone and Cochise County ended in a blaze of gunfire at the O.K. Corral.
Today is supposed to be a washout. Rain is expected all day and incredible waves of up to 18 feet hitting the beaches! Ugh!
It will be a good day to stay inside and watch football.
I am concerned about the Steelers game from Paris, given the unrest there. Maybe the NFL needs to rethink its international game schedule.
Turning to baseball, I was thinking of heading to St Petersburg for tomorrow's World Series Game 3, but the tickets remain over priced. And then there is the need for a hotel. The whole package is a bit much, I think.
I was reminded that yesterday was the last Pythagorean Theorem Day for this century. I'm glad I didn't miss it!
He is not yet two-years old, but he is fun to chat with and watch his antics.
Beckett seems to really enjoy FaceTime calls. He is a character on the phone and he is precise in identifying the callers. Pop-pop and Granma are clear when each of us is in the picture.
But, he also continues to play mostly undisturbed.
Beck is one of the oldest members of Generation Beta! Generation Beta have birthdays between January 2025 and December 2039. Being born during early-January 2025, Beckett is an early member of this newest generation.
I generally take a few screenshots of him while we are talking. They become true candid shots and are fun to enjoy later.
It is almost like getting a nature shot of, for instance a bird, in its natural environment, undisturbed.
Beckett truly is a character and Chris and I are happy we can continue to interact with him from a long-distance away.
Wall Switch - No Power Tequesta, FL October 22, 2026
The light on the veranda has not worked in a couple of months. I checked the bulb and that was not the problem. Too easy, right? So I suspected there was a wiring issue somewhere.
The other evening, I was cooking on the grill and trying to read the temperature of the meat. I had difficulty reading the thermometer because it was dark--sunset is coming earlier and we will soon be jumping back to standard time which means darkness will envelop us earlier.
Behind the Light Tequesta, FL October 22, 2026
Yesterday, I decided to attack the problem. I started with the switch. I wanted to determine whether it had power or whether there was a loose connection. It had no power! Well that's a problem. Then I had a choice to make. Do I open the light fixture and see if the hot wire runs through it, or do I find the nearest wall receptacle? I chose poorly. I opened the light. Only one wire coming from the wall switch. No other problems noted.
OK, so on to the nearest wall receptacle. Eureka!
Wall Receptacle with Unattached Wire Tequesta, FL October 22, 2026
I confirmed the receptacle had power and then turned the circuit off. Upon opening the receptacle, the problem became apparent. As I pulled the switch out, one of the wires that was supposed to be inserted into the receptacle was almost out and as I pulled the switch out to examine it more closely, it separated from the switch.
I carefully reinserted the wire, ensuring it clipped into place. I turned the circuit back on and checked the connections with my multimeter. All was good. I then turned the circuit back off and reinstalled everything.
I love early voting! I have, in the past, enjoyed standing in the lines to vote. I especially remember the 2020 election during COVID and standing in the lines and being 6 feet from the person in front and wearing a mask. It was, fortunately, a nice day.
Since then, however, I believe we have voted early in every election. It allows us to vote on our schedule. If the U.S. was dedicated to encouraging everyone to vote on one day, then it would be a national holiday with very few businesses or schools open.
I prefer early voting to mail-in voting. I mailed in my ballot for the entire time I was in the military. I missed the act of going to the polls to cast my ballot in person, hence, I like early voting because I can vote in person!
The important thing is to VOTE! (I picked purple because it is a mix of red and blue)
Election day is Tuesday, November 3rd.
Early voting is open in some states and there is also mail-in voting. Get out there and make your voice heard. "We the People" must make our voices heard.
Cold weather arrived this morning in Tequesta. It was the first morning since the early months of the year that I felt a cold breeze when I took Finnegan out for his morning duty.
Tuesday at Locals Tequesta, FL October 20, 2026
It was 66 degrees and low humidity. Really cold. Ha Ha! I am looking forward to biking this morning.
We haven't seen temperatures this low since late-April.
Although last evening was what we usually call Tiki Tuesday, we ventured to a different watering hole last night, Locals Pub in Tequesta. Tuesday is Smashburger night at Locals. Our friend Cody is working there and the the vibe, while very much a pub, is relaxed and believe it or not relatively quiet--even when packed with patrons as it was last night.
Locals is a different watering hole giving us an alternate place to visit when the weather is bad. And the Smashburger is excellent!
We had a really enjoyable evening and it was our third or fourth visit, so we are comfortable in the pub atmosphere. I was surprised to see a very famous golfer and his family were also in attendance last evening.
The Crew, Jeremy, Nicole, Patrick Elkridge, MD October 18, 2026
I realized something yesterday as Chris and I were celebrating the birthday of our oldest--who turned 50.
Ugh! 50 years ago, Chris and I became parents! That, friends, is a half century.
We must be getting older. I suppose we should have realized it since we are both retired and living our best life. But now, we have a half-century old adult child! And I thought I was getting old when I became 50!
It was good to see our three adult children together for Jeremy's birthday, even though we were in Florida. It warms our hearts that they are finding their way together.
So Happy Birthday Jeremy! We will see you all soon for a huge holiday.
1. Happy Monday again. This is now the third Monday of October. Wow! Where is the month speeding off to? There are 10 Mondays remaining in the year. We are down to single digits next week as we close out October!
2. Family NFL Results. It was another mixed week for the family teams. The teams went 2-2 for the weekend with the Commanders playing tonight and the Dolphins on a BYE. The teams now post a 16-16-1 record for the season.
Ravens(4-2) against Browns (4-2), 10-13
Steelers(4-2) overcame Buccaneers (1-5), 26-19
Commanders(1-3-1) face off against 49ers (5-0), tonight on MNF
Cowboys(2-4) were destroyed by Packers (4-2), 13-23
Dolphins(0-5) BYE
Chiefs(5-0) scalped Chargers (0-5), 22-6
New DieHard Tequesta, FL October 18, 2026
3. It was a rough day with the truck. Chris and I have not been driving our truck much, of late. Gas prices are the primary reason, since we have a really nice EV. I try to remember to start the truck and drive it--but driving just to keep the battery charged and the fluids moving does not often make it onto my list of critical things to do. It should have! I went out yesterday to start the truck and drive it. Bad news! Dead battery. And so began multiple trips to the auto parts store. The battery tested good, but never achieved a full charge after two free charging sessions. The voltage topped out at 12.2V and the cold cranking amps made it to 513 of a rated 800. I bought a new battery and installed it. I believe the five year old battery, after consultation with ChatGPT, was telling me it was about to expire when I needed it most. I want to thank the current administration for the misguided tariffs which contributed to the exorbitant battery price of over $260.
4. Abandoning Friend and Ally. Donald Trump did something even more horrific when he signed an executive order waiving nearly all of the new sanctions on Russia under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. This was a law he had signed into effect barely a month ago to honor his deceased friend, the senator from South Carolina. On the cusp of the October 18th deadline to put those measures into effect, Trump paused the sanctions, citing “national interest.” (Hope for America)Apparently, Ukraine is no longer either a friend or an ally as abandoning sanctions gives Russia more resources to apply against them. And now an unwarned Russian offensive is underway.
Lord Cornwallis was one of the most capable British generals of the American Revolution. In 1776, he drove General George Washington’s Patriots forces out of New Jersey, and in 1780 he won a stunning victory over General Horatio Gates’ Patriot army at Camden, South Carolina. Cornwallis’ subsequent invasion of North Carolina was less successful, however, and in April 1781 he led his weary and battered troops toward the Virginia coast, where he could maintain seaborne lines of communication with the large British army of General Henry Clinton in New York City. After conducting a series of raids against towns and plantations in Virginia, Cornwallis settled in the tidewater town of Yorktown in August. The British immediately began fortifying the town and the adjacent promontory of Gloucester Point across the York River.
The forecast was mostly correct yesterday. The morning was nice and I was able to complete an 18-mile ride, but the afternoon was stormy.
The afternoon storms were much more violent.
The rain came down in volumes which the drainage systems could not handle. Many of the streets soon became rushing rivers of water headed for the inlet.
Chris and I enjoy storms and this one was memorable for its intensity and duration. Often, here is South Florida, the storm rolls in and is gone in minutes. Not so yesterday! The storms continued all afternoon in varying intensity.
It was an angry wind that whipped through the palms driving the rain mercilessly into the earth and buildings. While the storms were unusually strong, they were not nearly as severe as those we have experienced from the bands of hurricanes that passed through the area a couple years ago.
I took a longer video that shows the driving rain and wind whipped palms.
This morning, the skies are gray and filled with clouds. It is windy but a cooler 75 degrees with lower humidity. A good day to stay in and watch football.
Birthday Dinner Palm Beach Gardens, FL October 15, 2026
Birthday Flowers and Balloons Tequesta, FL October 16, 2026
Thursday evening, Chris and I were joined at dinner by friends to celebrate her birthday.
We had a great time celebrating, beginning at the house for some Happy Hour drinks before heading to the restaurant.
Celebrating events with friends and family makes it all more enjoyable. The additional people break the routine and highlight the special nature of the event. Our family could not join us for the celebration, but they were present through the flowers and balloons they sent and their encouraging and fun telephone calls.
Throughout the day, Chris was celebrated as she received phone calls and texts.
Friends and family really do make celebrations for fun.
I am amused at the creativity shown in Halloween decorations around the community. Again this year, creative decorations abound. I believe the beautiful South Florida weather contributes to the variety of decorations that I see during my bike rides around the community.
The yard decorations run the gamut from skeletons of all kinds and in many poses, to pumpkins and witches crashing into trees. One that most intrigues me this year is of the tentacles rising from the yard. Two things come to mine, the most obvious might be a kraken rising from the yard to devour the house and those who approach it. I think it can be really creepy. The other possibility that comes to mind is "Day of the Tentacle," a computer game from the distant past.
I think the image came out really well considering that I took it on my Meta glasses while coming around a corner on my bike. I rode a solid 18.5 miles yesterday and the weather was beautiful.
Sitting at dinner last evening, Chris had a good view of some palms across the street as the sun was setting. She convinced me to completely turn around in my chair to capture the scene. Although the image I took was not what she wanted, it shows how the forward palm was already in shadows while the palms to the rear remained in bright sunshine.
We were out for dinner to enjoy another evening of good weather. South Florida has finally broken out of the cycle where the "feels like" temperature is consistently over 100 degrees. The 85 degrees with a nice breeze we were experiencing last evening was very pleasant and we enjoyed dinner al fresco. OK, it was on a veranda, but still was technically open air!
There is something special about enjoying Italian cuisine al fresco, even with the noise from the street.
Afternoon on the Beach Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL October 13, 2026
The weather moderated both in temperature and rainfall making yesterday a perfect afternoon to hit the beach for Happy Hour.
And we did!
We were not disappointed because for much of our time enjoying adult beverages and snacks we were treated to an aerial show compliments of a few pelicans who were diving into the water.
The water temperature was 84 degrees and the air was about the same as we set up our camp on the beach. The are was cleared of the humidity and the clouds were puffy and white until the sin began to set and then the clouds reflected the golden rays.
But it was the pelicans that stole the show. I have never seen so many pelicans diving into the water and for so long a period before.
They were fun to watch. I am glad that I was able to capture some of their activities.
On the Street, 5 miles into the ride Tequesta, FL October 12, 2026
Since returning from our fun-filled and sometimes frustrating Caribbean cruise, I have been riding my bike regularly. I still have not returned to my usual 18 miles a day, but am riding about 14 miles until I get back into shape. I have been nursing a sore back that apparently has become chronic. It does not hurt to ride, but really begins to bark at night when I try to sleep.
Pedestrian Walkway on the Bridge Tequesta, FL January 15, 2024
I realized, yesterday, that my normal biking circuit is going to change beginning Friday when one of the bridges I cross will be closed for a year. I am glad that Martin County is renovating the bridge, but it is going to really change my ride. Sadly, it is through one of the prettier areas of my route and the closure will hinder my ability to do a closed loop ride.
The bridge has a walkway separated from the vehicle lanes which I enjoy traversing. The walkway can be dangerous, however. Although, usually I am the only person on the walkway, I have had a couple close calls and one incident when I actually crashed while avoiding a dog on the narrow path. I have learned stop before entering the bridge if someone is biking or walking in my direction or to dismount if people are stationary on the bridge.
As for riding, I have already exceeded last month's mileage, but am still 260 miles below where I was this time last year. Sometimes I wonder if the apps that track all of this stuff were designed just to make me feel bad.
This morning, the current temperature of 72 degrees is the lowest we have seen in months and I am excited about getting out for a ride.
1. Happy Columbus Day, Indigenous People's Day, or whatever it is called now. It is the second Monday of October! Wow. The month is cruising along and there are only 11 Mondays remaining in the year.
Osprey outside the Window Tequesta, FL October 11, 2026
2. The bird outside our window. Yesterday during a drenching thunderstorm, Chris and I went to the veranda to check on the storm and were startled to see an osprey sitting in a tree very close to our condo. We enjoy seeing ospreys when we are at the beach or boating, but have never seen one perch on the treeling behind the condo. It was easy to assess that the bird was seeking cover during the storm. It remained for a while before flying away.
3. Family NFL Results. It was a another less than satisfying weekend for most of the family teams. The teams went 2-2-1 for the weekend and now post a 14-14-1 record for the season.
Ravens(4-1) soared over Falcons (2-3), 30-23
Steelers(3-2) trample Colts (2-3), 34-22
Commanders(1-3-1) snatched a tie from the jaws of victory against the Giants (3-1-1), 27-27
Cowboys(2-3) were outgunned by Buccaneers (1-4), 16-24
Dolphins(0-5) lost again to Bengals (3-2), 24-31
Chiefs(4-0) BYE
4. Revered or Reviled? Apparently, our President is more concerned about putting his name on everything he can than with how history will remember him. His temper tantrum for not winning the Nobel Prize was classic. I know that I am looking forward to the day when governmental business is no longer conducted via social media. His quest for accolades and awards reminded me of something General Patton is quoted as saying:
“For over a thousand years Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of triumph, a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeteers, musicians and strange animals from conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conquerors rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children robed in white stood with him in the chariot or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting.” (Highlighting mine)
5. Today in History. After sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, Italian explorer Christopher Columbussights a Bahamian island on October 12, 1492, believing he has reached East Asia. His expedition went ashore the same day and claimed the land for Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain, who sponsored his attempt to find a western ocean route to China, India, and the fabled gold and spice islands of Asia.
Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451. Little is known of his early life, but he worked as a seaman and then a maritime entrepreneur. He became obsessed with the possibility of pioneering a western sea route to Cathay (China), India, and the gold and spice islands of Asia. At the time, Europeans knew no direct sea route to southern Asia, and the route via Egypt and the Red Sea was closed to Europeans by the Ottoman Empire, as were many land routes.
Georgia Defeats Alabama 20-17 Tuscaloosa, AL October 10, 2026 (Butch Dill/Getty Images)
As Thursday slides into Friday and the start of the weekend, my autumn attention turns to sports. There are so many opportunities with the NFL, college football, NHL, MLB Playoffs, Premier League. I get overloaded sometimes.
I stay up too late and then cannot get to sleep because of the game's ending.
Things have been crazy since Wednesday night.
The Yankees lost (yay!)
Dallas lost.
Arsenal won.
Syracuse, Maryland and USF lost.
Georgia won in a wild ending.
Ravens play today without Lamar.
Penguins lost twice.
The Dolphins will likely go to 0-5 today.
More MLB playoffs!
And those are just the games I have an interest in!
There is so much!
I am glad that I am retired and do not have to go to work in the morning. And because I was up late last night watching Georgia win, I decided not to ride my bike this morning.
I watched the press conference with Homeland Secretary Mark Mullins yesterday. I was appalled at the shooting in NYC the day before and I wanted to hear the Secretary's spin.
And there was spin.
Secretary Mullins missed the point! He spent time making a false analogy with the stabbing of a NY Police Department a few weeks ago. He spewed factual untruths and frankly, I am really tired of having to fact check everything that our leaders, appointed and elected, spew.
The protests were not about the fact of the arrest. The concern was not about whether the arrest was legal. It was about the manner of the arrest and possible Constitutional issues.
Consider this. I believe the suspect might have been a victim of entrapment. A group of men dressed as construction workers, wearing masks and lacking any identifying information that would indicate their police affiliation, surrounded a person with suspected gang affiliations and with a criminal record, attempting to detain him. I understand the fight or flight response. He attempted to flee and protect his five-year-old child. Furthermore, it was on a busy street and multiple shots were fired.
The problem, fundamentally, is the manner of the apprehension. The optics are bad and the leadership is blind! In a similar position, I believe I would try to flee as well. And that is the standard, is it not? What would be the response of a normal, mostly rational person be facing a possible abduction my unknown individuals with your child in the backseat?
Mullins' Lapel Pin October 9, 2026 Press Conference
If only that were the sole concern raised during the press conference. I am genuinely more troubled by the treasonous pin worn by the Secretary on his lapel. This pin defiles the American flag and apparently shows allegiance to a specific individual. The numeral 47 is prominently displayed on the flag, which is undoubtedly a cause for concern.
I snapped the image from my television and I had to sharpen it to show the pin as I saw it on my TV.
This is scary to me and I wonder, What does it Mean?
This press conference highlights much are bigger concerns than just the Constitutional issues associated with the arrest.
A Calm and Peaceful View Loxahatchee River North Fork Tequesta, FL' October 7, 2026
Yesterday became a disaster.
I did not intend for three dissimilar appointments to create an incredible amount of tension, but they did.
In an effort to get everything accomplished, the resulting conflicts and resulting tension was all my fault.
The two appointments which became most tangled were Chris to the dentist and the Ford dealership coming to perform a software update on the Mach-e to clear a safety recall. In position three was the completion of our impact window installation, a project that started during February.
My Truck Elkridge, MD April 22, 202
I believed that I had deconflicted the events by planning to leave the key in the Mach-e for the Ford technician while we went to the dentist. We would use the truck to travel to the dentist.
Enter the wild card!
I did not plan for the truck to not start because it had remined unused for almost four weeks. That situation threw the morning into disorder.
Initially I thought "no problem," I have a portable battery booster. Which was great, except that I had not checked it in a long while and it was discharged and would not start the truck! Ugh. What to do? Time was critical at this point. We took the car to the dental appointment arriving with five minutes to spare. The Ford dealership had a wide window and I hoped the dental appointment would conclude before their planned arrival.
The good news was the window technician called and confirmed he would be arriving outside of the immediate window. One possible conflict resolved.
But nothing actually works out. Within minutes of arriving at the dentist, the Ford technician called and told me he would be arriving in about 15 minutes. I left Chris and raced back to the house to meet him.
I thought I might be able to use my trickle charger to start the truck and return to Chris at the dentist. Fortunately, the Ford technician had a booster battery and offered to help--something that actually mitigated the crisis. The truck started easily and I was elated. The next looming disaster was--what if the truck does not start at the dentist? Well, I'll call AAA. Since it started with so easily with the boost, I was confident that all of the battery cells were working and it had just discharged because we have not been driving it much due to the cost of gas--and we have a great EV.
Crisis averted, the truck started when we were ready to leave the dentist. Upon arriving home we actually had about an hour and a half before the window tech arrived. Sadly, only one of the two panes could be replaced because it started raining. That project continues unfinished.
When the window tech departed about 1 PM, Chris and I enjoyed lunch and relaxed. We had survived the morning.
It is no secret that I am not a fan of the Infinite Veranda on Celebrity Beyond.
Apparently, there are some measurement differences, maybe in the conversion from metric to imperial, because Celebrity lists the Infinite Veranda for the stateroom in which Chris and I stayed at 42 sq ft. I measured it as just short of 30 usable sq ft. I compared the Celebrity Beyond Concierge Class stateroom we were in to a comparable stateroom on Celebrity Reflection and here is how the comparison came out:
As can be seen from the image, the Infinite Veranda is not a veranda at all. It is windowed area at the end of the stateroom complete frosted glass folding doors. The space is not sufficient for lounge chairs or to comfortably enjoy breakfast. It is not a veranda; it is more correctly a nook.
When the window was down with the folding doors closed, the A/C leaked out of the room. I have previously written about my angst with the window which would not go down when I desired and so I will not plow that field again.
Another problem with the Infinite Veranda is the window shade. It is modern and nice and motorized, but has its own issues. I get up before Chris and like to sit and look out at the ocean or the port as the sun rises. With the screen open and the folding doors closed, it still gets very bright in the stateroom and that disturbs Chris. With the screen closed, I can't enjoy the morning from the nook.
Did I mention that the window was dirty and I could not take images through window? Since the window would not go down reliably, I was very frustrated.
My Opinion:
I paid for a veranda and got a nook. I feel as if I was the victim of a bait-and-switch.
The Infinite Veranda, apparently, is designed for people who like to pay for a veranda, but probably use it once during the cruise. For people who enjoy the outdoors and sitting on the veranda for breakfast in the morning, napping in the afternoon, or staring at the moon and stars at night; the infinite veranda doesn't get the job done because it is nothing more than a window and a nook at the end of the stateroom.
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