Showing posts with label Finnegan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Finnegan. Show all posts

Sunday, March 10, 2024

The Path

 

Our Walking Path
Odenton, MD
March 6, 2024

Walking the dogs allows me the opportunity to view the changing Maryland seasons, get some exercise and converse with Chris. The dogs become almost a secondary aspect of the entire event. 

When we visit Odenton, we walk an old roadway which is closed to traffic, but has become almost as we were passing through a forest with the exception of the new roadway on one side and townhomes on the other. 

November Path
Odenton, MD
November 18, 2023
I would like to say that it is a relaxing walk, but the dogs provide some continual level of excitement, especially when we pass other dogs. It can get very exciting and sometimes a bit physical. Finnegan is well behaved and just wants to meet and greet the other members of his species, Lily, our daughter's dog, takes a more offensive view and sees the others dogs as a potential threat and gets into defensive mode. She is a very strong dog as well as she also has a mind of her own. I sometimes have to fight for control. We have found it easier to terminate the walk early or to slow our walk so as not limit contact between the dogs.

One of the things I enjoy noticing during the walks is the passing of the seasons. For instance, four days ago the trees along the path were fairly barren and from the winter. But, back in November, the path was filled with late-autumn color and leaves were everywhere. Visiting every few months helps me better identify the changes caused by the seasons. I believe I see the changes better than when I lived here and was exposed to the gradual change every day. 

The walk. And yes, I was reminded of the Robert Frost poem, The Road Not Taken. Although there are not two diverging roads here, there are two very different, yet the same roads.


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD


Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Happy Tuesday Travel Day

Finn Sitting on Chris's Backpack
Tequesta, FL
March 4, 2024

 I remember before I retired I always had a problem with Tuesdays. They just didn't seem to fit well into the week. 

Monday was, well,  the back to work day after the weekend.

Wednesday was Hump Day

Thursday was Friday Eve

Friday was Fantastic Friday!

But Tuesday just always seemed to be a sore thumb in the week.

Now that I have retired I have figured out what Tuesdays are good for: travel.

Last week I traveled to Houston on Tuesday, but returned home on Sunday. Today I traveled to Baltimore and next Tuesday I return to Tequesta. So I will have traveled on three successive Tuesdays.

We left Finnegan home last week in the care of friends, but he made it clear yesterday that he was not to be forgotten this time. He was a trooper and we had another great flight with him today. I do have to remember that the 7:10 AM flights are hard on the body. I am gonna need a nap!

But, we have arrived in cold, rainy Baltimore. I miss the sun of South Florida already. This is continuing a string of travel where we suffer with cold, rain, and constantly overcast skies. Last time I was here I attended the final Ravens game of the regular season in, you guessed it, a cold rain! 

But here we are for the next week. Missing the expected 80s of Tequesta.


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Competitive Dog Pooping

 It is amazing, but sometimes the simple things in life can become the funniest. Take for example a dog pooping. Now, Everybody Poops, there is a children's book about that. 

Finn Pooping
Tequesta, FL
February 26 ,2024
Finnegan has taken the act of pooping to a new level, one worthy of a competition complete with required moves and style points. When Finn prepares to poop, first he has to find just the right spot and then comes the act of pooping where he balances on his front paws with his back paws off the ground. Once he is done, there is the obligatory territory marking which often throws grass into my eyes as I stoop to pick up the poop. I have to admit, I have never seen a dog do that before. 

Finn is a true artist when it comes to pooping. 

I put together a short, about 1 minute, video of the process putting together three events just to illustrate the artistry of his complicated pooping process. 



In terms of a competition with points, I gave him a 10 for style and points for the required movements as follows:

Search - 8

Poop - 9

Mark site - 10

It is OK to laugh, I do. And yes, I also feel sorry for him.

Oh yes, and finally, size does not matter as Chris and I always pick-up his poop and dispose of it in an appropriate receptacle.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#yorkie #poop #smalldog

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Capt Finn the Six-Pound Captain


Capt Finn Monitoring Shore Activities
Finnegan (Finn), our six-pound Yorkie, acts like he is the captain of the vessel when he sails with us. He performs many of the duties the captain does, well, except for manning the helm! He is far too short to reach the wheel!
Finn Keeping Watch


One of his favorite activities is standing in the bow directing the activities of the boat and searching the water for obstacles. I admit, the other day he failed to recognize a manatee in the water, fortunately the human captain saw the large mammal and gave it a wide berth. It is likely that he is not aware of what a manatee actually is because Capt Finn never goes into the water.

Capt Finn with the Passengers 
Captain Finn keeps a close eye on shore activities. He monitors the crew and passengers as well as keeping a close eye upon the vessel to ensure it remains safely anchored or tied up. He does enjoy a bit of free time checking out the items on shore or at the waters edge, but he definitely does not like to get his feet wet!

Underway, Capt Finn busies himself conversing with the passengers and ensuring they are comfortable while also checking out the safety equipment. In the image to the right he is performing a life vest demonstration for the crew and passengers.

Capt Finn doing a Life Vest Demo

The passengers appreciate his calm demeanor on the vessel. He exudes an air of confidence that provides a sense of calm to all those aboard. Capt Finn is a dog, however, and he loves to get his nose into the wind and sample all of the smells lingering in the atmosphere.

Capt Finn loves to explore the boat and check out all of the equipment aboard. He is very mindful of personal belongings and does not bother the passengers's possessions.  

Capt Finn taking a nap

Other boaters wave and smile at Capt Finn when he is surveying the water from the bow of the boat. He is a humorous sight, a small six-pound dog standing at the bow acting like he is in charge of the activity. It is exhausting for Capt Finn, being everything to everyone, and nap time soon arrives and he hands his duties off to one of the humans aboard so the he can catch a nap to the gentle motion of the boat.


-- Bob & Chris Doan, Tequesta, FL

#freedomboatclub #freedomboatclubsouthfl

@freedomboatclubsouthfl

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Vet Day

Out the Windshield
Palm Beach Lakes, FL
January 23, 2024
Yesterday was tooth cleaning day for Finnegan. Our vet is about a 30-45 minute drive away, depending upon traffic, trains, and the draconian traffic lights which often seem as if they are doing everything possible to impede the flow of traffic.

The bridge in the image is one of my favorites along our route of travel. I like that it is lined with palms and had that classic Florida "look" to it.

We took Finn to the vet at 9AM and were scheduled to retrieve him between 2:30 and 3:30 PM. Along the route is our only Costco--and we planned to stop there three different times during the day. We never actually made to Costco and that stop is on tap for today's activity. We missed Costco because, first it wasn't open yet on our return trip from the Vet. Then we left too late to do Costco and pick Finn up. Finally, Finn was still pretty drugged when we passed by on our afternoon trip home from the vet and we chose not to subject him to the excitement and chaos of Costco in the afternoon. 

Finn recovered through the evening and by this morning was back to his old annoying self. Ge was funny to watch walk while still under the influence of the anesthesia, his back paws and front paws had a difficult time coordinating the direction he wanted to walk. It was almost like a halloween horse costume with two people inside trying to coordinate from and back. 

I laughed. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta. FL

Sunday, January 21, 2024

As the Day Evolved


 

Chris and Fin Coming Home
Tequesta, FL
January 20, 2024
It was NFL Playoff Saturday and so I knew where I would be from about 4 PM until I retired for the evening--in front of the TV watching the games.
Ibis in a Yard
Tequesta, FL
January 20, 2024

Fortunately, the outcome was to my liking as the Ravens dismantled the Texans to move onto the Conference Championship, one win away from the Super Bowl.

It was cold yesterday, not as cold as the 54 degrees this morning, but it hovered around the 60 degree mark when I rolled out my bike and started a 16-mile ride. I was lucky in that after attending the Ravens game a couple weeks ago in the cold and rain that I bought heated vests for both Chris and myself. Yup, heated vests in Florida! Mine came in very handy during my ride yesterday. There are cold days during January and February. So I was toasty warm during my ride. 

The real great part of the day is how the it evolved and the sky cleared during the afternoon. I have two images from the day, the first from my ride as I spied a flock of Ibis in a yard and the second as Chris and Finnegan were coming home from a walk. Note the sky! The change from overcast to crystal blue was dramatic. I wanted to be outside, although the 64 degree temperature put a damper on my enthusiasm. 

I love the blue sky! Sadly, we are back to clouds this morning, but hopefully the skies will clear as the day progresses.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Thursday, January 4, 2024

To the Dogs

Chris and the Dogs
Odenton, MD
January 3, 2024

 No matter how hard we try to train our family dogs, they remain very interested in meal time. 

Yesterday, Chris was having lunch and she had the company of not only Finnegan, but Nicole's two dogs Lily and Arthur. They were very attentive and watched her every move. 

The presence of dogs within here interpersonal space can be annoying. Despite Chris's best efforts to make us believe that she does not provide the dogs with an occasional morsel, I believe that she must be giving in to their long puppy-like looks. 

She is a softie.

She was able to complete her meal and the dogs were respectful of her space, well mostly.


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Saturday, December 16, 2023

A Watchful Eye

Finn on the Bed
Tequesta, FL
December 13, 2023
Finn, sometimes, just keeps an eye on the activity occurring around him. I think he just likes to keep track of our activity to assess whether he is about to be left alone on the house or not.

Often, he perches on the back of the sofa. That allows him the ability to monitor activity across the entire first floor as well as the entry and, if the shades are open, the approach to the house.

Generally, there is some amount of activity for him to monitor. Usually, however, he decides that he needs to be part of what is happening and then he gets underfoot. 

All-in-all, he is great company around the house. And I know he is looking forward to our upcoming roadtrip! How do I know? He keeps positioning himself atop the items we are preparing to pack.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Thursday, November 9, 2023

Plying the Inland Waters

Finn Keeping Lookout
ICW, Jupiter, FL
November 8, 2023

 Yesterday's weather was not perfect for boating, but it was very nice. 

I write that it was not perfect because we motored into a pop-up rainstorm that vexed us for about an hour in the Loxahatchee River where we got trapped when the railroad drawbridge went down for what seemed like and eternity--at least 45 minutes. I could see that the weather was clear north of us in the ICW, but could not get there, or at least I thought we were trapped in the river. With the bridge not budging, and at Chris's insistence, I decided to attempt to cross under the tracks at an alternate location and found that I had about a foot of clearance, meaning that I am no longer trapped by the railroad drawbridge when entering or leaving the Loxahatchee River from the ICW! Yay. 

Chris and Finn on a Beach Along the ICW
Tequesta, FL
November 8, 2023
Motoring back through Jupiter amid the US-1 bridge construction is always fun because I get a view that cannot be replicated from land. We are about a year away from having one lane of the bridge complete each way! It has been a long time since the bridge was closed and torn down,  but there are still months/years to go before the project is complete. 

We proceeded north in the ICW, past the Jupiter Inlet,  until we found some boat-only access beaches. I have to admit the one that I wanted to visit already had two boats with at least three dogs enjoying the day of broken clouds and occasional sunshine. But I knew that there was another stretch of accessible beaches just a bit further north. The beaches are nice because the water stays deep until just about a boat's length from the shore which makes for an easy landing. 

Small 5-armed Starfish
ICW, Tequesta, FL
November 8, 2023
The exciting part of yesterday's beach day was finding two different species of star fish. We found one moderately large 9-armed starfish and 2 very small 5-armed starfish.
9-armed Starfish 
ICW, Tequesta, FL
November 8, 2023

They were fun to discover right at the edge of the water. 

As we sat along the ICW, enjoying the day and chatting, both Chris and I noticed something. When there were no boats passing and when the waves from the boats stopped lashing the shore, it became very quiet. There was no wind, and no waves and it was so very quiet and peaceful. We have grown so accustomed to waves crashing on beaches that this newly discovered quiet was something which caused us to stop talking and sit quietly to enjoy. 

Finnegan enjoyed exploring the beach. The beach was perfect to allow him off leash because he does not like getting into the water and the beach was protected at both ends by mangroves which pushed into the water. We could walk around the mangroves by going into the water, but we had to carry Finn. He was, therefore, contained. 

It turned into a very nice boating day, even with the earlier rainstorm. It was good to be out on the water again. And Finn kept a great lookout from the bow.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

 

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Checking out the new Starbuck's

Finnegan with Pup-cup
Tequesta, FL
October 2, 2023

We were supposed to be on a plane this morning headed to Baltimore. 

We're not!

It's a long story that needn't be told, except to say that complications arose at the last minute forcing me to reschedule the reason for the early October trip. We will miss seeing the family and friends with whom we had planned to visit. 

Yesterday, Chris and I enjoyed our first visit to the brand new Starbuck's Coffee, which is located all of about 500 feet from our home. 

We are not Starbuck's fans, but we needed to check the place out. Finnegan had already visited the new coffee shop while we were on our Alaskan adventure. He definitely enjoyed the pup-cup they provided for him. 

We enjoyed the visit, but it will likely not be a regular thing. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Saturday, September 23, 2023

Traveling Finn-dog

Finn in a Sunbeam
Weston Lakes, TX
September 22, 2023
Happy first day of Autumn! 

It began while you were sleeping.

Finnegan Outside
Weston Lakes, TX
September 20, 2023

 Finnegan, our Yorkie, is a true traveler. I think he even likes traveling because he knows that he will not bet separated from Chris. 

But, he is very adaptable and generally accepting of new environments. He is even getting used to being parted from Chris for short periods of time. 

Now that he is the only pet in our home, I expect that Finn-dog, as I call him, will have even more opportunities for travel. Most times it is easier to take him with us than it is to find care for him at home. In the past there were other pets at home that could not travel and so they would be cared for together, but now--bring on the travel!

Today is a travel day. I am sure Finn will be happy to get home.


-- Bob Doan, Weston Lakes, TX

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Dog Tired

Dog Tired
Tequesta, FL
September 18, 2023

 At the end of a full day, it is good to be dog tired. 

Finnegan helped me to understand the meaning of dog tired yesterday. He had a full day in cladding a 1.5 mile walk and then walking back to the assisted living center forepart of the afternoon to spend time with the residents. When he got home, he collapsed on the stair leading to the bed. He was too tired to even finish climbing the stairs and curling up on a pillow, as he normally does. 

Stormy Evening Sky
Tequesta, FL
September 18, 2023
It was a good Monday for sports. The Steelers won their game and the Orioles managed to scrape out another victory after blowing the game in Houston. The final inning heroics are becoming the hallmark of the team. It took three runs in the top of the 9th inning to secure the win after leading 3-1 in the 4th inning. The Orioles increased their division leading lead to 2.5 games, because Tampa was idle. The Orioles have played one less game than Tampa and so hopefully the additional game, like last night, will also be a win. 

Well, I was so dog tired that I did not see the end of either game. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Racing the Tide

Chris at the Helm of Sea Bean
ICW off Jupiter Island
September 13, 2023

Boating upon the open water, that was the calling yesterday. The ocean was too rough, but the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) was fabulous. Although our club has a new location very close to the house, I have not been able to get a boat out of there yet, and so we continue to use our Port Salerno location, which has my favorite vessel, Sea Bean, a 22 foot Cobia dual console. 

Fish in the Waves
Jupiter Island, FL
September 13, 2023
We were able to accomplish multiple things in the same out and back trip. Finnegan had a grooming appointment in Hobe Sound, which is on the way to the marina in Port Salerno. We dropped Finn off and continued to the marina to board Sea Bean and then spent a few hours on the water and at a great beach until we were called that he was ready. I kept us within about 30 minutes of the marina so that we could retrieve Finn within the groomers allowed time slot.

Fish in the Waves 2
Jupiter Island, FL
September 13, 2023
We headed for one of my favorite accessible by boat beaches to enjoy some morning sun. I would also have enjoyed one of the local sand bars, but with the fairly recent high tide, they were mostly submerged. It was a great day for watching the waves because the tide was high, but going out, and there were schools of fish visible in the waves. I spent some time trying to capture the scene and got a few usable, but not great, images. We were told, by the one other person we met on the beach, that a large, probable shark, had been seen in the surf, but we did not see it, sadly. I have seen sharks off this beach before.  

It was a great day on the water and the beach. I am believing that because the ocean was so rough, most of the fishing boast did not head out. And because school is back in session, the ICW was also nearly devoid of boating traffic. We had the water and the beach pretty much to ourselves. 

All too soon we received the call from the groomer to retrieve Finnegan. I was just about to propose motoring up to Stuart for lunch, but alas, that was not to be. We will save that for our next boating adventure. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Sunday, September 10, 2023

Two Too Many

Me with Kittens and Finn
Tequesta, FL
September 9, 2023

Last evening, Chris brought over the two kittens that we were watching for the weekend. 

Finnegan loves the kittens and they helped ease the depression he seems to be in following Riordin's departure. Yes, he is still looking for Riordin in all of the usual places. 

The kittens are balls of energy and they ran all over the house. It was fun watching Finn try to herd them. It truly was watching someone try to herd cats. 

At one point, both kittens jumped up onto me and so did Finn. It was a strange experience. Chris thought it was cute and took a picture. 

I was not so amused, but enjoyed the experience. 

Do I want a kitten or a puppy? NO! 

Do I like pets, yes. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Friday, September 8, 2023

And it's Friday

Finnegan at the new Starbucks
Tequesta, FL
August 30, 2023

 I'm not even sure why I know today is Friday, except that it is on my watch. 

I've been aware of the excruciatingly uncomfortable weather in the Northeast. While we are seeing 90 degree days here, the humidity is finally down and we once again enjoy being outside. I am happy to be away from the 50-something degree days of the PNW and Alaska and back into the warmth of South Florida. 

I hope that things begin to settle a bit now that we are back and have addressed the elephant in the room, that being Riordin's failing health.

And then there was one
Finnegan, Makayla, Riordin
Tequesta, FL
February 11, 2022
In an anthropomorphic moment yesterday, I felt as if Finnegan knew something serious was afoot as we carried Riordin, in his carrier, out of the house for the trip to the vet. He made an unusually extraordinary effort to accompany us. Chris had to physically restrain him from charging out the door. I believe he knew something was happening. 

Even after we returned home, Finnegan was strange. He examined the empty cat carrier and immediately began searching for Riordin. It was sad to watch this small dog look in all of the usual places for his pack-mate. He continued looking through bedtime and even made some small noises trying to get Riordin to respond as if they were playing a game of hide-n-seek. I wish there was a way to help him understand. I guess it was easier with Makayla, since she died in my arms at home and both Finnegan and Riordin were there at the moment she passed.

I guess it is the circle of life!

Will there be another cat or dog added to the household? Right now the answer is a solid no. I have the memories of two great friends to sustain me and I always felt bad leaving Riordin alone when we traveled. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Sunday, July 23, 2023

Walking in a Quiet Place

Old Strawberry Lake Way
Odenton, MD
July 20, 2023

 Yesterday was a travel day. Chris and I returned home, ending another adventure. It really was not a vacation, as we both had multiple doctor's appointments, but we enjoyed valuable time with the family.

One of the things that Chris and I manage to do while we are there is to walk the dogs. Not only Finnegan, but Lily and Arthur as well. There is a great section of abandoned road which is covered with a canopy of trees that I especially enjoy walking. I love the way the sunlight comes through the green branches. 

The other thing that I enjoy about walking in Odenton is the quiet. Traffic is relatively light on the road next to the forested area and so we can hear the birds sing and the squirrels scurry. We can think and also talk in low tones trying not to disturb the quiet of the moment. 

It is a walking environment that we do not experience here in Florida. I love the palms, but it is hard to have a palm tree canopy. There are hardwood stands around, but not near where we walk Finnegan. The other problem is the traffic. We live between two major roadways and so there is always traffic, both vehicular and train, noise to content with. 

I was reminded of a Robert Frost poem, The Road Not Taken.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Saturday, July 15, 2023

Thunderstorm Watching

Chris and Finn on the Porch
Tequesta, FL
July 15, 2023

 I hope everyone celebrated wildly for Bastille Day last evening. 

We really didn't do much--the mood just wasn't there to go out and blow things up to celebrate on of the most famous jailbreaks in the history of the world. 

So we didn't.

Today we are watching the thunderstorms roll through in advance of flying to Maryland tomorrow. Chris and Finnegan enjoyed time in the highest and humidity on the porch. But, they made a nice pose. 

And the thunder rolls--to quote a song.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Thursday, July 6, 2023

Beating the Heat

Bridge Road Drawbridge
Hobe Sound, FL
July 5, 2023

 Chris and I have discovered one almost sure-fire way to beat the oppressive heat which has been holding South Florida hostage for the past few weeks: boating!

The stress index has been running 105-112 degrees for the past few days. 

Yesterday, Finnegan has a grooming appointment and Chris and I decided that since we were going to be in the area anyway that we would check out a boat and spend time on the water. The day was perfect for boating with just a light breeze and nearly glassy smooth water. We enjoyed the intracoastal waterway (ICW) and stopped by our favorite beach for a few minutes. I noted that boating on weekdays is much preferable to weekends given that very often we are the only boat on the ICW. 

We have our favorite boat now, Sea Bean, which is a Cobia 220 dual console. Sea Bean is new. It only had 15 hours on the engine when we departed the Marina yesterday and we put about 3 of those hours on it last week. 

When the groomer called that Finnegan was complete, we were about an hour away from the marina. They agreed to kennel Finn for a couple hours and we were able to spend some time on a northern Jupiter Island Atlantic Ocean beach which is part of the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Preserve. 

I was a bit sad when we arrived back at the marina earlier than planned, but we had an enjoyable 3 hours escaping the heat of the day while enjoying the water.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Dog in a Blanket

Finnegan in Bed
Tequesta, FL
June 18, 2023

 Finnegan is a strange little dog. 

He loves to meet people and is a regular at the senior living facility next door. He is also good with the other dogs we meet during our daily walks. 

In addition to walking and meeting other dogs and people, Finnegan likes to sleep under the bedcovers and under a blanket on Chris's lap.

The other day, as a joke, I wrapped Finn in a blanket that was on the bed. He stayed there. All the while that Chris and I were doing some work in the closet, he just stayed under the blanket and slept. 

His biggest problem is that he is a picky eater. Chris is always trying to find a food that he will eat. When she is successful, he enjoys that food for a week or so and then goes back onto his permanent hunger strike. 

He is a strange little dog. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

The Drive

Chris and Finnegan Driving
South Carolina
May 15, 2023

 Chris and I completed another successful trip from South Florida to Maryland yesterday. 

I decided not to try and publish Monday Musings because I had a car strapped to my bottom for roughly 16 hours. 

The trip began at 11:58 PM on Mother's Day and ended at about 3:40 PM yesterday when we made our first stop to drop off Riordin, our cat, who is bunking with Jeremy while we are here in Maryland. I will endeavor to visit him almost every day. It took him almost two weeks to get back to normal after he stayed alone with only daily visits from a friend while we were last in Maryland. 

Both Finnegan and Riordin were great travelers on the trip. Riordin only asked to be out of his carrier on one occasion, to relieve himself, and then was happy to curl up inside of his safe place for the remainder of the trip. 

We made only four stops during the trip. Two were for gas (my truck has great range), one was for lunch, and the other was at a rest area for a break. We stocked the car with snacks and beverages to assist in minimizing stops. I figure the four stops totaled about an hour and we lost another hour from Northern Virginia around D.C. and on I-95 to Elkridge. Even in the early afternoon, traffic was snarled.

Well, the trip is done and we can begin the business of being here in Maryland to visit family, friends, wineries, attend graduations, baseball and whatever else comes our way. We are here until mid-June when we will make the trip south. We are considering a two-day return trip and if so, I want to stop near Exit 102 in Georgia for the night to visit the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

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