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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Road Less Traveled

A Less Traveled Road with Finnegan
Odenton, MD
April 18, 2023

 Walking the dogs, Finnegan and Lily, became a daily affair while Chris and I were visiting in Maryland. It worked out great because there is the perfect walking path, an old unused road. I have walked this road for many years, but it was only until this visit to Maryland that I noticed that the lane markings and the road edge markings were still visible in places. The road runs parallel to Strawberry Lake Way off Waugh Chapel Road. I am not sure of the name for the original roadway, but I'm guessing it was not Strawberry Lake Way, that seems to coincide with the construction of the multiple communities in the area.

As Chris and I walked yesterday along US-1 in Tequesta, were very aware of the quiet and beautiful setting for the road in Odenton. The noise of the US-1 morning traffic was deafening and we both noted that walking in Odenton was much more enjoyable than Tequesta.  But, then, we were not at the beach which does beat Odenton for peace and beauty. 

I guess we need to head to the beach more often!.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Crazy Busy Thursday

Turtles near the 16th Tee Box
Jupiter Dunes Golf Course
Jupiter, FL
March 30, 2023

 It could be the title of a movie. 

Yesterday was one of those days that once started; charged along and did not stop until well after dark.

Let me explain.

First, since my bike was in the shop for maintenance I thought it would be a lazy morning. Not so. The first thing up was the annual fire suppression sprinkler inspection. This was an all day event with no scheduled time. Chris and I were responsible for not only our home but another home as well. Chris managed to grab the inspector about 9 AM and we completed both inspections by 9:30. 

From there the day began to spiral out of control.

Looking Back at the 11th Green
Jupiter Dunes Golf Course
Jupiter, FL
March 30, 2023

Since it was early, we decided to head to the local golf course for our weekly dose of frustration. Fortunately this course does not issue Tee times, as it is a first come, first served course and is not usually too busy mid-morning. We hit the course shortly after 10 AM and expected to be home about 12:30, which was important because Finnegan and Riordin had vet appointments at 2:30 PM. 

Well, as it would happen, it was one of those slow-play days on the course and we did not finish until after 1 PM. Ugh. So we headed home with plenty of time to change, eat, and get to the vet.

But wait! At about 1:50 PM as I was eating my lunchtime salad (leftover from the night before) and punching the address for the Vet into my mapping program I realized that the vet was not a 10-minute drive away in Jupiter, but a 35-minute drive away in West Palm Beach. And this was after wasting about 15 minutes locating the cat carrier. We were already late. The remainder of my salad was still on the counter when we finally returned later in the afternoon. 

So we launched into the afternoon traffic. Chris called the vet to tell them we would be 15 minutes late. They were OK with that. No problem, right? Wrong! When I was putting the address for the vet, to which we had never visited, into the mapping program I did not notice that I selected S Military Trail rather than N Military Trail which was the actual address. We were in my truck since the plan was to retrieve my bike after the vet appointments. Upon arriving at the address I had selected in the mapping program we realized that I had erred and it would be another 10 minutes before we would be at the location where the Vet was practicing. The exciting part of this particular road is that it is a divided roadway, I managed to accomplish no less than five U-turns (all legal) getting to the correct address. 

The experience at the vet was great. We really like them and did not feel like we had to mortgage one of the vehicles to play the bill. Of course there will be return visits. Riordin was diagnosed with an infection, which explains a lot, and so he is on an antibiotic. 

From the vet we drove back to Jupiter and retrieved my fully-serviced bicycle. They also cleaned the bike and it almost looks new, except for the over 1800 miles it has on it. And my back brakes work now! They had gotten a bit loose and I knew was going to take the bike in for service so I didn't take time to adjust the brake. 

Then it was home for some relaxation, the time being about 5:30 PM. But wait--we invited the neighbors over for Happy Hour! Yup. So when we arrived home it was time to clear the remains of the unfinished lunch and make apps for Happy Hour, which we had decided would begin about 6PM. 

It was a great Happy hour on our back porch and since the friends we were hosting live two doors down, they wandered in through the screened porch. It was a fantastic time and both Chris and I actually relaxed with a few adult beverages and stimulating conversation. When our time together ended about 8:30 PM, we realized that the day had spiraled out of control into a crazy busy Thursday, but that it had been busy and fun. 

I hope today is a bit less fun.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Rainy and cold

 

Finnegan in his St Patrick's Day Shirt
Tequesta, FL
March 15, 2023

Yesterday's weather, rainy and cold, put a damper on our planned outdoors activities. I had the car loaded with our golf bags and push carts only to realize that a major cold front was moving in at exactly the time we were preparing to depart for the golf course. 

So what did we do? 

We went to the PGA Superstore in Palm Beach Gardens and spent money on golf stuff! If you can't play, then buy! Chris needed new golfing shoes and a few wardrobe items. I found a really great looking shirt with palm trees on it! I am excited about wearing it today if we can manage a round of golf. 

So I did not manage a bike ride--the winds were too strong and the misting rain made cycling more pain that it was worth. The weather remained difficult until about 5 PM when the skies cleared and the temperature rose into the 70s.

One funny thing did happen during the day. Chris dressed Finnegan in a St Patrick's Day shirt and he struck a pose in one of our chairs. I thought it was a great pose and a good image. Cute dog. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Surf's Up

Surfing
Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL
March 10, 2023

 It does not happen often, but yesterday the ocean waves were pounding the beach providing perfect waves for surfing.

I am not sure, but there must be some kind of surfer alerting network that identifies where the best waves are on any given day because there were more than 20 surfers out on the ocean by 8:30 AM in a place where there are normally none. And they were having fun. Some of the waves were rolling in at least 6 feet tall. 

Surfing to Start the Day
Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL
March 10, 2023

The morning was another great South Florida morning and the water is getting warmer with each passing day. As we walked the beach with Finnegan, we enjoyed a cooling breeze, a hot sun, and stood for a long while to watch the surfers in the waves. 

I sometimes wonder why I never learned to surf. Maybe because I lived so far from the ocean for most of my life. But I wish . . . 

It was a perfect dat which day began at the ocean and ended along the Intracoastal with Happy Hour at a new watering hole, Tiki 52, which had great seating and a solid band playing well into the evening. 

It was a great Friday.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

A View of the Beach

Shell Bed
Carlin Park Beach, Jupiter, FL
February 20, 2023

 Walking the beach yesterday morning, Chris and I imagined a scene in our minds of the shell beds weaving into the waves of the ocean and with the horizon in the distance. 

We tried to capture that vision, but alas, I think we were too late in the day and the sun had risen too high into the sky for the colors to be as vibrant as we saw them in our minds. At some point, I guess I will need to head out sunrise when the tide midway between high and low to attempt capturing the scene in our minds with a camera. 

Shell Bed 2
Carlin Park Beach, Jupiter, FL
February 20, 2023

We enjoyed our beach walk, however. The day was beautiful with temperatures moving into the 80s again. The ocean was calm and the surf breaking in the beach was not so violent as it had been.

Finnegan enjoyed walking with us. He does not like the water so much, but enjoys sniffing the seaweed and other items that find their way onto the shoreline. The best part is that it is mid-February and we are enjoying beach time. How awesome is that?

BTW, following the beach walk, Chris and I rode a 16-mile ride, just to get moving for the week. I love sunny and bright weather.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - December 19, 2022

 

1. The third Monday of December has arrived. There is only one Monday remaining in the year! Christmas is less than one week away!

2. Family NFL Report. It was a rough weekend for the family teams. Collectively they went 1-3, ugh, with the 3 likely playoff bound teams all losing! It was a good week to be a 5-8 team.

  Ravens (9-5) lose a yawner to Browns (6-8), 3-13

  Cowboys (10-4) lose to Jaguars (6-8), 34-40

  Steelers (6-8) defeat Panthers (5-9), 24-16

  Commanders (7-6-1) lose to Giants (8-5-1), 12 - 20

3. I am really upset at the NFL. I was prepared to watch the Ravens game on Saturday only to find that I had to buy a subscription to NFLHD. I am beginning to believe that Congress needs to treat the NFL as a monopoly. I dod not, thankfully, watch the game. It is likely that my TV would not have survived.

Finn, Makayla, Riordin
Tequesta, FL
February 11, 2022

Finn and Riordin
Tequesta, FL
December 17, 2022

4. I had a moment Saturday night when Chris and I were sitting on the patio enjoying adult beverages and conversation. Finn and Riordin came to the door reminding me of a scene from earlier in the year except that Makayla had been part of the pack on that occasion. I still miss my best dog.

5. Travel week is upon us. We will be heading off to the frozen northlands to celebrate Christmas. It will be good to see family and friends to celebrate the holiday. 

6. Congratulations to Argentina for winning the World Cup. It was a fantastic game and although I was cheering for the French team to repeat, I am not unhappy with the results. Unlike so many other championship games the two stars, Messi and Mbappe, one from each team, showed up and gave a championship worthy performance scoring 5 of the 6 goals recorded in the game. 

7. Today in History. December 19, 1998. After nearly 14 hours of debate, the House of Representatives approves two articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton, charging him with lying under oath to a federal grand jury and obstructing justice. Clinton, the second president in American history to be impeached, vowed to finish his term.

In November 1995, Clinton began an affair with Monica Lewinsky, a 21-year-old unpaid intern. Over the course of a year and a half, the president and Lewinsky had nearly a dozen sexual encounters in the White House. In April 1996, Lewinsky was transferred to the Pentagon. That summer, she first confided in Pentagon co-worker Linda Tripp about her sexual relationship with the president. In 1997, with the relationship over, Tripp began secretly to record conversations with Lewinsky, in which Lewinsky gave Tripp details about the affair.

U.K. Companies Tested by Fallout From Ukraine War - The Wall Street Journal

Hawaiian Airlines Passengers and Crew Injured During Severe Turbulence - The Wall Street Journal

How Trump jettisoned restraints at Mar-a-Lago and prompted legal peril - The Washington Post

An immortal World Cup final rewards Argentina’s Lionel Messi at last - The Washington Post

What to watch for during the January 6 committee's final session - CNN

Freed Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout visits occupied Ukraine - CNN

5 people killed in a 'horrendous' condo shooting in Canada, police say - CNN

Russian 'kamikaze' drones hit Kyiv as Putin heads for Belarus - Reuters

Vatican dismisses Trump-supporting, anti-abortion leader from priesthood - Reuters

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Friends

Finnegan and Riordin Together
Tequesta, FL
December 6, 2022

 

I love the line from Ghostbusters where the end of time is being described and the character played by Bill Murray says: "Dogs and cats living together."

Actually, dogs and cats can live together and even thrive and like each other. 

Case in point, shortly after our new sofa arrived Finnegan and Riordin napped together. They were trying out the new sofa for sleep-ability. It passed the test. 

Finnegan has been growing into his new role as the primary dog in the house. With Makayla's passing he went from auxiliary dog to primary dog and I have noticed that is behavior has changed. He is more affectionate towards me. 

I can't believe that it is Friday again already. Christmas is creeping up on us.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

50 Degrees

Frost on the Grass, Ice on the Pond
Odenton, MD
December 5, 2022

 

It was a successful travel day. 

The temperature in Odenton was 26 degrees when we woke. A heavy frost covered the land and the water in the holding pond had a thin layer of ice. In a word, it was cold. The sky was clear and the day dawned bright.

The hardest part about travel days is the waiting. We waited to go to the airport, we waited at the airport to board our plane, we waited on the plane to depart, we waited for our luggage after arriving, and we waited for our transportation. 

Finnegan at the Window
BWI Airport
December 5, 2022

Finnegan, however, was fantastic. He was very interested in the luggage loading process going on outside of our cabin window as we waited for departure from BWI. The scheduled 2 hour 25 minute flight was reduced to 1 hour and 50 minutes--which was very nice. When I added all of the waiting time and compared it against the actual flying time, we waited longer than we actually flew. But it was still much less than the 15 hours it takes to drive.

It was good to get back home, although we miss our family and friends in Maryland. We are receiving furniture today that we have waited literally months to arrive. And we are going to enjoy 2 weeks of warmth before returning to Maryland for Christmas. 

Polar Express Wreck
Tequesta, FL
December 5, 2022

Upon arriving home we discovered that there had been a train wreck while we were away. The Polar Express under our Christmas tree was on its side and the track was apart. A serious incident occurred and I attributed it to our robot vacuum, which I had started the night before our arrival. I cleaned the wreck and added some protection around the Polar Express. This morning it was fine and the vacuum had completed it appointed cleaning during the night.

When we walked Finnegan last evening the temperature was 76 degrees. Although it was cool, it was not cold and I noted that it was 50 degrees warmed at the end of the day than when we had begun the day. What a difference a few hundred miles makes. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL