Showing posts with label Beckett. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beckett. Show all posts

Monday, March 30, 2026

Monday Musings - March 30, 2026

 

Beck and Bubbles
Glen Burnie, MD
March 29, 2026

1. The 5th and final Monday of March has arrived. Whew, we made it, I think. Spring arrived and April is upon us. There are only 39 Mondays remaining in the year--but it is definitely heating up. 

2. How about them O's. It took six series for the team to win a series last season, but this year they won the first series right our of the gate. Hope springs eternal. 

3. Chris and I spent yesterday enjoying the antics of a rambunctious almost 15 months-old grandson named Beck. We had a great time and he made us laugh a lot. We also enjoyed the time we spent with his parents as we always do when we get together. 

4. It just doesn't add up. All along, the Republicans have been trying to blame the Democrats for the partial Government shutdown which has disadvantaged TSA, FEMA and Coast Guard personnel. Yet, when they had the opportunity to solve the pay issue and fund those agencies they chose to go on vacation for two weeks. 

5. Why the SAVE America Act is a sham. The New York Times’ Peter Baker did the math on the solution in search of a problem that is the SAVE Act. Trump and Congressional Republicans maintain that its passage is necessary to keep noncitizens from voting. But the ultra-conservative right-wing Heritage Foundation, the folks who oversaw the creation of Project 2025, found only 1,620 cases of voter fraud from 1982 to 2025. That included 100 cases of noncitizens voting, or as Baker pointed out, “That's about 0.000008% of more than 1.3 billion votes cast in presidential elections in that time.” (Civil Discourse)

6. Today in HistoryOn March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan is shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C. hotel by a drifter named John Hinckley Jr.

The president had just finished addressing a labor meeting at the Washington Hilton Hotel and was walking with his entourage to his limousine when Hinckley, standing among a group of reporters, fired six shots at the president, hitting Reagan and three of his attendants. White House Press Secretary James Brady was shot in the head and critically wounded, Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy was shot in the side, and District of Columbia policeman Thomas Delahanty was shot in the neck. After firing the shots, Hinckley was overpowered and pinned against a wall, and President Reagan, apparently unaware that he’d been shot, was shoved into his limousine by a Secret Service agent and rushed to the hospital.


The president was shot in the left lung, and the .22 caliber bullet just missed his heart. In an impressive feat for a 70-year-old man with a collapsed lung, he walked into George Washington University Hospital under his own power. As he was treated and prepared for surgery, he was in good spirits and quipped to his wife, Nancy, ”Honey, I forgot to duck,” and to his surgeons, “Please tell me you’re Republicans.” Reagan’s surgery lasted two hours, and he was listed in stable and good condition afterward.

Personal note: Chris and I were at a hospital in Shreveport, LA, at the time of the shooting as our oldest son was having tubes put into his ears to reduce/alleviate recurring ear infections. 



Iran calls US peace proposals 'unrealistic', oil rises amid new missile strikes - Reuters

Spain closes airspace to US planes involved in Iran war - Reuters

Ukraine's drone masters eye Iran war to kickstart export ambitions - Reuters

Trump threatens to obliterate Iran's energy sources if deal isn't reached - CNN

Miserably long airport lines begin to ease as TSA workers start to recoup back pay - CNN

The U.S. and Israel say they’re fighting together. On the biggest questions, they’re not. - MS Now

Congress is back to square one on the DHS shutdown after House GOP rejects Senate deal - MS Now

These Airports Don’t Use T.S.A. Your Current Wait: Minutes, Not Hours. The New York Times


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Cutest Grandson in the World

Beck at Play
Glen Burnie, MD
December 7, 2025

 Chris and I are totally enamored with our youngest grandson, Beck. 

He is so cute and on this, our most recent, trip to Maryland we were blessed by spending a lot of time with Beck. 

Beck is both our 4th grandson and 4th grandchild. It seems we are destined to have only grandsons, but no worry, he is the cutest boy on two feet. Yes, he is standing and taking small steps. 

In short, he makes me smile. 

His parents are fantastic and are eagerly exposing him to new experiences daily. That written, his smile is infectious and his eyes are piercing. 

We could not get enough of him on our most recent trip north and we are looking forward to enjoying more time with him over Christmas. 

Simply stated, he is a force of nature!

I guess the 15 year gap between grandchildren is working in his favor. 


-- Bob Doan, Brunswick, GA

Saturday, November 1, 2025

Cutest Little Dinosaur

Grandma with Beck
Hanover, MD
October 31, 2025

 The trip north was principally to celebrate Halloween with Beck, our youngest grandchild. 

We were successful in that endeavor. 

Although it was cold and very windy, we enjoyed a fun Halloween Trunk & Treat at Beck's childcare center. I was amazed at how many children were there, this place is huge!

Cute costume at Trunk & Treat
Hanover, MD
October 31, 2025

Chris got some great quality time with Beck, both during the festivities and later back at the house. I also got some much needed quality time with the youngest Doan. I only wish the winds had not been so strong, but yesterday was definitely a windy day.

There were a lot of cute costumes at the Trunk & Treat. The one in the image is of a toddler wearing a dinosaur but walking. Her feet are in the dinosaur's feet. It was a great costume. Even with the really strong, cold wind we had fun. 

This may have been our best Halloween in years because Halloween in our community in Florida is a bust! 


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Cute Baby Wednesday

 

Beck Prepared for an Outing
Somewhere in Maryland
August 19, 2025
Image from Patrick

It is cute baby Wednesday. 

To ward off the mid-week blues, I thought I'd share one of the latest images of our youngest grandson. We received it yesterday and it really brightened my day. 

It made me smile!

He is so cute! And I love his expressive eyes. 

So as this week drones on, I am going to hold onto these bright, expressive and happy eyes for motivation and encouragement.

Happy Wednesday. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Pineapple Boy

Beck watching the Dancing Pineapple
Glen Burnie, MD
August 5, 2025

 We completed a pleasantly uneventful road trip to Maryland. Yesterday, the traffic was so smooth that we arrived in Elkridge sooner than Apple Maps predicted even with two bio stops. That was due to traffic clearing as the morning rush dissipated, but this was a definite change from other trips where we sit in traffic and watch our predicted arrival time move later and later. 

Chris and I spent a last evening with our youngest grandchild and, of course, his mom and dad. We were lucky to be able to synch up with them to reconnect. 

Beck, our youngest grandchild, has grown a lot since our last visit two months ago and is closing in on 7 months old! He is a beautiful, alert, inquisitive boy. 

He also likes a dancing pineapple animation and the associated music. I thought the funniest thing he did was use his hands to clap his feet together while lying on his back. He likes to be held and interact with people, but he also plays with his age-appropriate toys. The entire duration of our visit Beck was a very happy baby--which made the visit that much more enjoyable. 

We are looking forward to seeing Beck a couple more times during our visit. And his parents, too!


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Frozen Pond

Runoff Pond
Odenton, MD
January 13, 2025

It is cold!

How cold is it?

It is so cold that I have not seen water in the runoff pond next door since before Christmas. 

I think I am getting used to the cold. Yesterday, the temperature crested 40 degrees and I put new windshield wipers on the truck, in preparation for the return south, without donning my coat. I was not cold! OK, so I was not warm either. I was just surviving the too cold weather.

Grandma Chris with Beck
Glen Burnie, MD
January 13, 2025

I also added air to the tires because they were a bit low due to the cold.

The truck is now ready for the 1000-mile  trek to warmer temperatures. 

I'm not so sure that Chris is ready to return south. We were able to spend some additional time with Beck yesterday. It was good to see him again and he is doing very well, as are his parents. 

But, the frozen pond reminds me that we belong a bit further south. It has been cool in Tequesta, but still warmer than here. 


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Sunday, January 12, 2025

WX, Ravens, and Beck

Beck goes Home
Annapolis, MD
January 11, 2025

 An amazing thing happened yesterday--the temperature climbed above freezing. It almost felt warm at 33 degrees. I shouldn't get used to it because Tuesday the temps drop below freezing again.  

Last evening, I was happy to watch the Ravens in their first playoff game of the season. They played their nemesis and division foe the Steelers. The Ravens have not done well against the Steelers in recent years, except for this year when they played three times with the Ravens winning two. And so the Ravens move on with a likely date in Buffalo next week, unless the Broncos can find some magic today. 

In other news, Beck was given a clean bill of health and departed the medical center where he was born yesterday. It is reported that Mommy, Daddy, and Baby Beck all got some sleep after they arrived home. That is good because I am sure they all needed some rest after being in the hospital. It is time for them to begin finding a family rhythm. Chris and I are hopeful of visiting grandchild number 4 today. We will have to see how that all goes. 


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Saturday, January 11, 2025

Welcome Beckett

Me with Beckett
Annapolis, Md
January 10, 2025
 
Chris with Beckett
Annapolis, MD
January 10, 2025

What a time to be alive. And to be born. 


The grandparents were invited to the hospital yesterday to meet Beckett Michael Doan under the watchful eye of his parents. He was about 10 hours old when we were introduced to the newest member of the families. 

Chris and I both enjoyed holding him and hearing the tale of his birth--which was, fortunately, fairly routine. I like routine when it comes to hospitals.

Beck, as he will be called, was very relaxed and a joy to be around. He snuggles really well and I was able to have some time with him for about 20 minutes. It had been a very long time since I held a newborn. Beck likes to have his left arm free--I wonder if he is going to be left-handed? He also seemed to be dreaming while I was holding him. I wonder what newborns dream about?

Both Chris and I are looking forward to getting to know Beckett more after he arrives home. Chris says she will be making monthly trips north to have time with him. Finnegan better get used to spending time with his second family in Florida!


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Friday, January 10, 2025

A Cold Winter's Sun, but Joyful Hearts

 

Cold Winter Sun
Odenton, MD
January 9, 2025

It is cold. 

The temperature has not made it above freezing for two straight days, although we are expecting a high of 33 degrees today! Whoopee!

Although the temperature is freezing, there is joy in our hearts this morning as our newest grandson, Beckett, arrived just after 4 AM this morning weighing in at 9 lbs 1 oz. Mother and father are doing well. He shares a birthday with my Dad who turns 97 years old today. 

Happy Birthday to Beckett and to my Dad!

January 10th must be a good date!


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD


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