Return to the Flagler Museum

Christmas Tree in the Main Room
Flagler Museum
Palm Beach, Florida
November 13, 2019

I do enjoy good museums and the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach is a good museum. It provides a detailed look into the Gilded Age and how the very upper crust of American Society lived. 

Christmas Tree in the Drawing Room
Flagler Museum
Palm Beach, Florida
November 13, 2019

Unlike when Chris and I visited during out last trip here, the museum is now decorated for Christmas. That surprised me a bit when I first entered, but then upon reflecting a bit, it made sense. The decorations were not lighted--that happens after Thanksgiving. 

It was nice to tour the museum again after seeing it only a few months earlier. I was able to go deeper into some of the exhibits and gain a better appreciation for Henry Flagler and how he created modern Florida in his vision. The key was building a railroad to connect the villages of St Augustine, Palm Beach, and Miami. He then built the Overseas Railroad to connect Key West to the mainland. It was an extension of the Florida East Coast Railway. 

As it rained during most of the day which precluded going to the beach, visiting the museum was a great way to spend time and gain a better appreciation of history as well. 

I recommend visiting the Flagler Museum. It is a must do when in the West Palm Beach/Palm Beach area.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum

A-12 on the Deck of the Intrepid
NYC
September 29, 2019

We took a lot of pictures during our two-day visit to NYC. It seemed harsh to share just four of them in yesterday's blog. So, I decided to do another day on the city and focus upon on specific stop.

Jax and Chris in Gemini Capsule Mock-up
Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, NYC
September 29, 2019

Amidst all of the fun of walking around in the man-made canyons beneath the towering buildings, there were a lot of fun things to see and experience. We had a very busy schedule and there was almost no downtime. 


Today, I am going to focus on the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. I had never been to the museum before, but I will not miss it again. It is definitely on the stop for every visit to the Big Apple with people who have never been there before. First, the view from the ship of the skyline is stunning! But even more important, the aircraft carrier and its history is presented in spectacular form and the ability to wander around the carrier is a second-to-none experience. the museum represents probably the best nexus for sea, air, and space that I have ever experienced. 

Me and Jax
Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
September 29, 2019

Regulus Cruise Missile
Cold War Nuclear Relic
USS Growler
Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, NYC
September 29, 2019

The exhibits are in great shape and they are, most importantly, accessible. It is east to get close--but do not touch. There are many hands-on exhibits for the young people in your life. 

The tour of the submarine and the the space shuttle Enterprise hangar are highlights--but there are highlights around the entire complex. The museum is truly a gem in the heart of the city. 

It is a must see.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Bourbon Brothers Southern Kitchen

Sometimes, I run across unique places when I am traveling, and last night was one of those evenings. 

Lights in the Bourbon Room

We went to a Bourbon Brothers Southern Kitchen complete with a Bourbon Room for after dinner enjoyment. It was a different experience for me. 

Unique and different places give me ideas for decorating, like the lights in the bar which I found to be unique. 

Dinner was good, the conversation was wide ranging. It was a good evening out in a new location. 

The place was decorated in a fun a visually stimulating manner and I definitely enjoyed the bourbon barrels ad decorations and the rustic old barn boards used to cover the walls in part of the restaurant.

I recommend this restaurant as an enjoyable place to share a meal.

-- Bob Doan, writing form Colorado Springs, CO

Night Out

Elkridge Furnace Inn
Elkridge, MD

Dinner at the Elkridge Furnace Inn
October 16, 2018

Birthdays provide a great reason to change things up and head off for a nice dinner at a restaurant that we don't usually visit.

Chris and I did just that to celebrate both of our recent birthdays the other evening and enjoyed a great dinner at the Elkridge Furnace Inn. 

The Inn is located very close to our home, yet we do not often head there for dinner. We actually should dine there more often because we had a great dinner with superior service and an enjoyable time. 

It was very nice to get out, alone, and have a chance to talk and celebrate each other. The restaurant provided us with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine to start off the evening celebration and our waiter offered to take the image of the two of us beginning our evening out. 

It was a great evening out and we returned home to enjoy some of the cheesecake that I had made for Chris's birthday celebration.

Mmmm. cheesecake!

It was great evening out at a local restaurant.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Allure of the Seas - A Review

Allure of the Seas in Cozumel
August 29, 2018

Allure of the Seas is one of the largest ships afloat.  The Oasis class ranks fifth among the longest ships in the world (as a class) after some really large container ship and tankers. There are four ships in the Oasis class: Oasis, Allure, Harmony, and Symphony of the Seas.

Allure of the Seas in Casa Maya
August 31, 2018

We sailed on Oasis of the Seas last year and were excited about cruising on her sister ship, Allure of the Seas. It is a big ship that provides personalized amenities. Despite the number of passengers, we never felt crowded except when first boarding and then again at debarkation.

Allure of the Seas from a Beach in Casa Maya
August 31, 2018

The ship is a grand ship and we always felt comfortable. It is easy to navigate, well if you know fore from aft and port from starboard. There are effectively 16 decks that are easy to access. There are really 18 decks, but the top two are reserved for suites. The expensive suites.

Carousel on Allure of the Seas

The ship is full of entertainment possibilities and of course pool/deckside lounging. The adult area is fantastic and during our cruise we never had any problems finding deck chairs to lounge in, despite the size of the ship. The ship sports a Promenade Deck complete with shopping, food, and lounge opportunities. It has a large theater and we enjoyed a full production of Mama Mia, which was spectacular. There is a Boardwalk complete with carousel and also a Central Park with trees and walk ways. It is a diverse and exciting ship. In a seven night cruise I felt as if I was just earning the ship as the cruise ended.

My favorite spots on the ship were Vintages Wine Bar, the balcony of my stateroom, a deck chair in the Solarium, and singing in the piano bar with my family.

Allure of the Seas with Patrick and Tina in Roatan
August 30, 2018

The ratings:

Ratings note: I rated the boarding and debarkation process at Port Everglades under the Royal Caribbean blog I wrote yesterday.

Cabin and Cabin Service: A

  Chris and I had a balcony. I love balconies. It provides a window on the world. The cabin was clean, quiet, and comfortable.

Entertainment: A

  The shows and entertainment options were varied and provided a full range of opportunities. I most enjoyed Mama Mia, the Comedy Show, and the Texas Tenors.

Central Park on Deck 8 Looking Aft
Allure of the Seas
August 26, 2018

Dining in the Main Dining Hall: C

  The dining was good and solid. The food was well prepared and the servers were efficient and took special care of the boys. The major area for improvement: wine service at the table. The servers did not know the wines and as there were seven adults, it often got confusing when the servers could not remember who ordered which wine and even which red wine they had on the platter. On one occasion, I was served a white wine when I had ordered a red.

Embarkation and debarkation in ports: A

  A smooth operation. We never stood in a long line and towels and water were available in convenient locations either on the quay or in the ship.

Looking onto the Promenade Deck
Allure of the Seas
August 31, 2018

Shopping: B

  I don't go on a cruise to shop, but there were opportunities and the shopping on the Promenade Deck is available. There were generally lines in the one store in which I considered buying a souvenir item, and hence, I did not purchase anything.

Guest Services: A

 They were efficient even with long lines at the usual spots in the cruise. We had one small issue and they took care of it completely and without issue.

Sports Opportunities: A

  Everything is available. A running track, basketball, flow riders, and the fames zip line. I did not get to play miniature golf, although I had a club in my had at one point.

With the Grandsons on the Boardwalk
Allure of the Seas
Port Everglades
August 26, 2018

Ship Maintenance: A

  The ship appears as grand as it is and was well maintained. No areas were closed off for maintenance during the cruise. Even in the busiest places around the pools, the decks were clear and continuously maintained. 

Sailing Characteristics: A

  It is a big ship and it sails smooth. I noticed some gentle rocking only during high winds while in the dining rooms. The ship docks smoothly and I slept through the entire process at the end of the cruise in Port Everglades. 

The Crew: A

 All of the crew were fantastic. Our Cabin steward, our dining hall servers led the group, but every interaction we had with a crew member was professional and most all of them provided a time of day appropriate greeting. 

Allure of the Seas overall: A

  It is a great ship and crew. I highly recommend sailing on the ship and experiencing a BIG ship. It turns out to be much smaller than you believe. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Royal Caribbean Cruise Scorecard - A Review

It has been over a week since Chris's Retirement Cruise was completed and think it is time to do some critical reviews of the cruise and ports of call. I need to get these thoughts out for other travelers and to record what I remember about the various portions of the cruise.

The comments below relate to my experiences sailing with Royal Caribbean on Allure of the Seas from August 26 - September 2, 2018. the ship departed and returned to Port Everglades, Florida, near Ft Lauderdale.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

Pre-Cruise Support - A

 Calling the cruise line is recommended if there are changes or when looking for pricing improvements. The agents on the phone are knowledgeable and helpful. Sometimes the process takes a long time, but in the end they worked to help us get the best deal. This was a complicated trip given that there were four cabins and family units involved. And there were changes. The agents handled the changes and were able to keep the cruise on track for everyone. I was a bit sad that given we were reserving four cabins that we were not offered an upgrade.

Boarding Process in Ft Lauderdale - A

  It was smooth and efficient. I think it took less than 20 minutes from when the taxi dropped us off with our luggage until we were on the ship and ready to cruise. The process was smooth and efficient. It really helped that we had completed all of our required paperwork beforehand. The addition of the picture submission during the pre-arrival registration process made the boarding process smoother.

Royal Caribbean Web Page 

Royal Caribbean Web Site - C

  The site is complex and not user friendly. It was easy to get lost in the site and not complete the proper forms. That written, the site is comprehensive and contains nearly everything to ensure a successful cruise. There are some things that the site does not make clear enough, especially the need to make reservations for shows on the Oasis-class ships. While there is no cost, the need for reservations for some activities needs to be clearer.

Smartphone App

Royal Caribbean Smartphone App - C

  The app has so much promise, but it just doesn't get the job done. I did not purchase wifi for the cruise, but the app was supposed to work despite that. It did have some basic functionality, but it did not display my daily activity and reservations and the ships activities differed from those actually provided.

Debarkation in Ft Lauderdale - F

  On September 2, 2018, this was a disaster. I am sure that there must have been a problem with the computers that Customs was using, but our projected departure time was delayed from 8:45 AM until 10:30 AM. The real problem was the lack of transparency in understanding the problem. The boards just continues to move the projected debarkation times back without explanation. I assess that Royal Caribbean may need to separate domestic from foreign travelers because once we actually got out of the lines and into the baggage and customs app it took only a few minutes to clear and be outside ready to head off to the airport. There apparently was a problem processing international returnees. Mind you, everyone got on the ship in Ft Lauderdale. How hard can it be?

Will I Sail with Royal Caribbean Again?

 Definitely! Overall the experience was great. I have sailed on three other cruise lines and from four other ports so I do have a small basis for comparison.

Upcoming:

I will review the ship and each port of call during the next few days.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Jimmy Buffett in Baltimore

Jimmy Buffett in Baltimore
March 30, 2018

It had been a great couple of days. Thursday was Orioles Opening Day and last evening Chris and I made our first ever visit to a Jimmy Buffett concert.

Jimmy Buffett

The concert, admittedly, was held in one of my least favorite venues, the Royal Farms Arena, but the evening and the music overcame the too numerous to count shortcomings of the location.

The concert, however, was fabulous. Even the opening act, Caroline Jones, was a pleasure to listen to for the 25 minutes she was on stage. 

Inconsiderate Youths

Once Jimmy and the band took the stage, they never relinquished it until the even was, all too quickly, over. They performed for just over two hours and did all the greats. I was amazed when I realized that Jimmy Buffett is about 72 years old and he is still filling concert halls to hear his special brand of music. The age of the concert goers was similar. Most everyone sitting around me appeared eligible for Social Security, with the exception of two inconsiderate young ladies in front of us.  


It is not the money, mind you, but tickets to this concert were not inexpensive. These two ladies stood all evening, even when the rest of the crowd sat. They blocked my view of the stage. It was most annoying and continues to be one of the reasons that I am not a more frequent concert goer--inconsiderate patrons. At a baseball game the ushers take care of such problems, at the concert there was not an usher in sight and the young ladies would not respond to requests to sit and let those behind them see clearly.

Jimmy Buffett concert

Back to the concert, however. The setlist was well constructed and the acoustics were good and the music was not too loud. The songs evoked a summertime feeling that will carry with me until I am in Florida again. I did enjoy especially It's Five O'clock Somewhere and of course Margaritaville. 

This was an old-style concert where the performer stands in front of the crowd surrounded by his band an just plays the songs that made him great! Nothing more was required and there were no pyrotechnics or loud noises. No laser light shows, just big screens so that we could see the concert despite the girls in front of me. The backgrounds one the screens changed and were nicely choreographed with the music.

The test for any event I attend is answering the question, would I do it again? 

Yes! Next time he is in town I expect to be there. It was a great night.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Dunkirk: Movie Review

See this movie!

That, in short, is my review. 

Dunkirk is 1 hour and 47 minutes long and it is a riveting and fully involved story. The filmography is spectacular and the up close and personal look at a select number of the characters provides a unique perspective of the events and the situation faced by the 400,000 trapped British, Belgian, and French soldiers on the shores of Dunkirk, France during May and June 1940. In the end, 330,000 of the troops were evacuated.

It took me a while to understand the manner in which the events were presented because the movie does not proceed in a classic chronological manner. The events are overlaid upon each other and viewed from the multiple perspectives of the participants. 

The movie provides a gritty, earthy, realistic look at the events that are unfolding from multiple perspectives. The action is intense and very personal. 

I had the opportunity to view the movie in a D-Box seat. While is it not as plush as some other movie seats, it transmitted the action including the bombs exploding, the aircraft dogfighting, and the swells of the sea for me to enjoy adding a new viewing experience. I enjoyed the D-Box seat.

Recommendation: See the movie and get in touch with the history of the greatest generation.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Third Eye Blind - Review

It was a hot and sultry Sunday night in Baltimore when Third Eye Blind played at the Pier Six Pavilion. 

It was my first concert at the Pier Six pavilion and I really did not know what to expect. The venue is covered open air and the sights of the city mix with the atmosphere in the concert area to create a unique environment for the show. 

Stephan Jenkins
Baltimore, MD
June 18, 2017

Third Eye Blind presented an energetic and musical show. The highlight was celebrating the 20th anniversary of their first album which was played complete and in order, except for the last song, God of Wine which was the appropriate closer for the show. Full disclosure, I like Third Eye Blind but I do not have all of the music memorized, but the music I have memorized is almost entirely from the first album. 

Shadow in the Lights

The band came on stage just after 9 PM and played a 30 minute opening set of newer music before transitioning to the first album. The setlist from the show shows that 21 songs were played. 

The set for the show was stimulating and bright. Working without the massive big screens of many entertainers, the show was reminiscent of a classic rock concert of two decades ago. I liked a comment that Stephan Jenkins made about being a real rock band with no added backtracks or synthesizers. 

The crowd was nothing short of adoring and clearly knew all of the words to all of the songs.  The band was awesome and the drummer, Brad Hargreaves, of course, stole the show during a couple of sequences which highlighted his abilities. 

This was a great show for a great classically organized rock band. The energy was infectious and most of the crowd did not sit down for the entire show. There were no "slow" songs and only a couple "slower" pieces.

It should be noted that this is an adult band and the lyrics deal with topics that are not suitable for the younger generation. 

Great show, high energy and exceptionally performed music! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Bay and the Lighthouse

Cruising reminds me of my connection to the sea and how much I appreciate a good sunrise or sunset over the open water. I also appreciate the beauty of the day when viewing the shoreline.

Lighthouse at Nassau, Bahamas Harbor

Guarding Nassau harbor there is a small white lighthouse. It provided a great subject to photograph and a great memory. 

It was a stunning scene--right outside my stateroom window. Shimmering in the bright afternoon sunlight, protecting the mariners from the dangerous reefs.

Beach in Mexico

Equally as beautiful was the beach we visited after the  Tulum Mayan Ruins in Mexico. The beach had beautiful sand and a protected harbor. The day was hot, but the water was a refreshing as I ever could imagine.  I wish I had remembered to write down the name of the beach. But, it was enticing and a great place to close out a day of sightseeing. 

I still can imagine the beach chairs and sipping a cold drink against the oppressive heat of the day.

I love going over the memories of a great vacation.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Seahorse Sail and Snorkel Adventure

Since I went a week without the internet, I could not share my cruise vacation adventures. I guess that gives me something to write about this week instead of the terrible state of politics in the U.S.

During one of our shore excursions, Chris and I did the Seahorse Sail and Snorkel Adventure from Nassau though Royal Caribbean. Since Nassau was not on our original itinerary, we were unable to check out the trip before hand, but the price seemed right and without internet we were not able to schedule our own excursion.

The video was taken during the snorkeling and sail adventure. There were three ships in port that day--which was an interesting sight to see. 

Sergeant Major in Nassau
August 4, 2016

Overall, the trip was solid--but uninspiring. I recommend this trip for inexperienced snorkelers who just want so see some fish and paddle around for a while in the cool water on a hot day. The staff on the Seahorse were great and a lot of fun. I appreciated their humor and they were attentive to the needs of the passengers while distributing the snorkeling gear. 

Nassau Snorkeling
People Clustered

Entering the water from the boat was fairly easy, but confusing. People did not understand the instructions. The "reef" was basic. There was a good assortment of fish and corals to view--but it was only an average reef. I was happy to see a safety observer deployed on an inner tube in the area to monitor people, but the area for snorkeling was too small for the number of people. I got hit with many fins and when we tried to get some distance from the group, we were called back into the designated area. 

Getting back onto the boat was dangerous and I was glad no one was lost. They used a single ladder for about 90 people. There was a lot of time treading water in the waves which stressed many inexperienced snorkelers. It also significantly reduced our already short 1 hour snorkel to less than 50 minutes. 

The rum punch on the trip back to shore was enjoyable, but there was no sailing adventure. Although the boat is a fully capable sailing catamaran, the captain only put up the jib and ran under power all the way back to the port--that is not my idea of sailing. 

Recommendation: Best for inexperienced snorkelers who want to see whether they enjoy looking at fish in their natural environment. The reef is not complex enough to hold the interest of more experienced snorkelers. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Reflections of a Golf Weekend

This past weekend I was blessed to be able to play 72 holes of golf on four different Florida golf courses. Three were in Bradenton and one was in Fort Myers. 

Me Beginning my Tee Shot

In the two days since returning home, I have not even unpacked my golf clubs because I have been so busy. 

During our time together away, some pretty funny things were said and some fun situations arose.

Some of the best quotes from the trip include:

"You broke the tee box." 

"Gravity is like Santa, it only works if you believe."

Jeremy Deciding on a Club

"I know the ball had to come down somewhere, because if it didn't we have bigger problems."

"That was a great shot, right up until it wasn't."

"Where's the green? It's not even in the same time zone."

"The van that Budget gave us is like the Tartan Prancer."

Of course the Tartan Prancer is the fictitious vehicle from the most recent Vacation movie. Our Ford van was big, bulky, but surprisingly agile. The problem was that while big, the interior space was not easily reconfigurable and we had trouble getting four people, four golf bags, and associated suitcases stowed.

About the golf courses. 

Eagle Ridge Golf Club, Fort Myers. Well maintained and a tough course. Lot's of water, but generally wide fairways and well maintained greens. Bring extra balls. Club house is nice and the staff helpful. Great location near the stadium and the airport. I highly recommend playing this course mid-Sunday morning as we had the the place to ourselves, it seemed. This is one of the few courses where I was advised to drive the cart on the fairway! Awesome, I can do that!

Waterlefe Golf and River Club, Bradenton, Florida. Well maintained and the greens were great. A beautiful course with nice views and tough but fair holes. Pace of play was good. Some of the fairways were narrow which made for interesting golf. 

12th Green at The Preserve at Tara

Preserve Golf Club at Tara, Bradenton, Florida. I was disappointed in the assistance with getting started. After paying the greens fees, we were left on our own to find the first tee. Never saw a marshall and there was a very slow group in front who finally let us play though on the 12th hole. Admittedly, we did have an afternoon tee time. The greens were in adequate condition, but needed work. 

Rosedale Golf & Country Club, Lakewood Ranch, Florida. This was the first club we played on the trip and it was probably the best maintained. The marshall was everywhere and kept the pace of the game moving--which was great. We felt a bit pushed, but were always right behind the group in front of us. Excellent greens and good tee boxes. Most of the fairways are tight with houses close by. A great course, but probably not the best choose as the first course after not playing for the winter.

And there it is. A quick recap of the courses and our golf experience.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Phantom of the Opera

Chris and I spent the evening at the Hippodrome Theater in Baltimore viewing the traveling production of Phantom of the Opera. 

Hippodrome Interior before the Show

This performance used a redesigned set that adds significantly to the experience. 

Most people know that I am not a fan of the Hippodrome Theater in Baltimore because the seats are tight and the large balcony is a problem. And it was a problem last evening, although we were in the center orchestra seats, the balcony provided restricted viewing of some of the activity.

Chris and I at Phantom

The production, however, was great. The orchestra was well conducted and the actors were on pitch and strong. 

I recommend this performance for Phantom lovers and neophytes. Check the schedule--it may be coming to a city near you.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

An Evening with Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks concert
January 29, 2016
Royal Farms Arena, Baltimore

 I last attended a Garth Brooks concert was almost 20 years ago, during April 1996, at an arena in Landover, Maryland, that no longer exists.

It was worth the wait. Some things, like fine wines, get better with age and maturity. 

The Line Waiting to get into the Arena for
Garth Brooks
January 29, 2016

Garth Brooks is one of those things.

The setlist from last night shows the diversity of the music and the experience. I was amazed that there were 33 songs on the setlist because it seemed to rush by so quickly. During April 1996, according to the records that I can find, there were only 22 songs on the setlist! And they were not so nearly diverse.

Garth is a showman and he connects with the crowd. I felt that he was truly dedicated to ensuring everyone in the arena had a great time with his music. Like he said, he was going to do all the old songs that everyone knew--and he did. 

Garth Brooks
Royal Farms Arena
January 29, 2016

People had lined up well in advance of the concert to get inside and I stood in line for about 30 minutes. I was glad that I was not disappointed. I have read reports of performers who play the setlist while watching the clock waiting for the concert to end. Garth definitely did not do that. He was on stage and fully engaged the entire time, with the exception of when Trisha Yearwood sang a few of her hits,  demonstrating the showmanship the took him to the top of his craft during the late 1990's. 

Garth Brooks
Royal Farms Arena
January 29, 2016

He is back. He has been back for a while now, but last evening was his inaugural concert in Baltimore! I know, he was supposed to perform last weekend but the blizzard forced a reschedule and so I was at his first ever performance in Charm City, AKA, Baltimore.

There are four more concerts left for Baltimore to enjoy. The energy and the excitement are difficult for any entertainer to match and my recommendation is simply--get tickets and go see Garth!

Whatever the cost, the show is worth it.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Star Wars - Review

The wait is over, I saw Star Wars - The Force Awakens last evening. I will not divulge the plot and hopefully this review will focus on my reactions as a huge Star Wars fan to the movie without being a spoiler.

Spoiler Alert--it is almost impossible to discuss the plot without being a spoiler. I'm going to avoid discussing the plot.

What I Liked:

Unlike the prequels, the movie is true to the character and style of the original trilogy. 

It felt like a Star Wars movie.

Yes, there is the obligatory club scene with the assorted characters from around the galaxy--it just wouldn't be Star Wars without a scene like that.

The movie answers the question: "So what happened next!" The Force Awakens is set about 30 years after Return of the Jedi, (1983) during which the Empire was soundly defeated and the was Republic firmly established. The main characters have aged, and a new generation is taking control of the galaxy. The never ending struggle of good against evil continues and is at the core of the movie.

The original characters are more than cameos in the movie, but are integral to the plot and the action.

Chewbacca is--Chewbacca, the lovable, but scary Wookie.

The character development was good. The questions were answered, in most cases, about what has been happening during the past 30 years.

The new characters, as seen in the image on the left, as believable. The new droid, BB-8, is fun.

The trailers and all of the pre-movie releases DID NOT give away ANYTHING!

I liked the ending! 

I wasn't fully satisfied and I want more! 

What I didn't Like:

At times, the movie felt too much like A New Hope, (1977) which was the first movie to be released, but titled Episode IV because of the prequels.

There are a couple of critical unanswered questions--but, these are what sequels are made to answer.

The movie has slow spots. 

I didn't like one particular plot twist--I'm not going to write about it, because it would be a spoiler--but suffice it to say, I understand it, but that doesn't mean that I like it. 

Recommendation:

Drop whatever it is you are doing, take a day off form work and go see this movie. EVERYONE is going to be talking doubt it and if you don't see it soon, there won't be any surprises left.

May the Force be with you!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

William Seward House, Auburn, NY

Statue in the Garden of Seward House
Auburn, NY

During a lull from sampling Finger Lakes region wines, we headed to Auburn, NY, to visit the Seward House. 

Seward, as in William H. Seward, is a name most often associated with the purchase of Alaska from the Russians, but as an able and apt Secretary of State for President's Lincoln and Johnson, he represents so much more.

The house appears frozen in time. The furnishings are nearly complete and the staff of the house were knowledgeable. The one-hour tour went more than an hour and a half, mostly due to my questions and push for more depth and detail in the stories and anecdotes. 

It is one of the few museums where pictures are allowed and encouraged. Turns out that I didn't take many images because I was fascinated with looking at everything in the house. The homestead was converted to a museum before everything could be sold off and therefore everything has a story. The current exhibit regarding the assassination of Lincoln along with the attempted assassination of Seward is excellent and helps to historically align Seward's life and times.

I highly recommend a visit to the Seward house for a fun afternoon of history and connecting the pieces of history together.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD