Monday Musings - July 15, 2013

1. If I stayed on vacation forever then it wouldn't be a vacation, right? It might be considered retired though!

2. Onto the ocean in a small boat chasing big fish--it is right up there with some of the best ways to spend a day. Catching a big fish and then releasing it is also right up there on the list!

3. How to spend a day when it is raining is one of the great questions I have been wrestling with lately. What a good problem to have.

4. I enjoyed celebrating Bastille Day yesterday. It is, after all, my second favorite foreign holiday. Everyone then asks me what my favorite foreign holiday is, and it is Cinco deMayo of course! Check out the linked Wikipedia article on Bastille Day. There reportedly is a celebration in Baltimore that I have, for some strange reason, never attended.

5. It is amazing how quickly important issues fall from the consciousness of the populace--take the Federal government sequester for instance. A lot of people are suffering simply because our elected representatives cannot do their jobs. The same thing happened over student loan rates when they could not act to precent a rate doubling.

6. It is the MLB All Star Break. The Orioles are hanging tough playing 10 games over .500 and only 1.5 games out of the wild card with the division clearly in their sights for the second almost half of the season. Home Run Derby tonight--will Chris Davis become the fourth Orioles player (Ripken, Anderson, Tejada) to win? Actually, I hope not, it could hurt him during the second part of the season.

7. Regarding the Zimmerman acquittal verdict--the jury has spoken. It appears that we are forgetting that in this country people are innocent until proven guilty of crimes and that the standard of proof is set high to preclude innocent people from being wrongly convicted and imprisoned. Despite all of the issues surrounding the cased which tried to cloud the issues, the jury still rendered its verdict and the system still works despite what any of us would believe otherwise.

8. With two weeks remaining on vacation, I am amazed at how much time has already passed. I was asked, what has been the highlight of the vacation? After thinking for a minute of all of the great things I have done, I think the highlight is getting up every day, assessing the weather and asking--so what do I want to do today with no preconditions or plans already made.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Jupiter, FL

Flying into the Clouds

The flight of pelicans seemed on a journey into the clouds the other day as Chris snapped this image. Almost as if they were flying into the Twilight Zone.

I love the way the pelicans patrol the beach, keeping all in order.

They soar together--seeking food and companionship.

They also provide something to watch and marvel at on beach days.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Jupiter, FL

Finding the Rainbow during the Storm

Double Rainbow

Although I could have considered the evening to be a washout as the storms arrived, it was not. During dinner, as the rain fell, I noticed that sun was shining. I decided to look up at the sky and was rewarded with a beautiful rainbow and then--as double rainbow. I had to do a lot of processing to make the second rainbow visible in the photo I took--but it is there.

Jupiter Lighthouse, July 12, 2013

Every day brings its share of challenges and rewards. Sometimes, like the mythical pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, we just have to search for the up side.

Consider the June automobile accident that I was involved in which resulted in the loss of one vehicle. It was definitely not a good experience but there were a few upsides: no one was injured and after a lot of work the vehicle was replaced something new which will last for many more years.

Similarly, rainstorms can cause destruction and damage--but they also bring the rains which nourish and refresh the land.

Often, during the storms, there are some spectacular sights--like the gathering storm clouds surrounding the iconic Jupiter Lighthouse.

I just need to look to see.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Jupiter, FL

Sometimes the Storms Come

Palm Tree against the Gathering Storm in Stuart, FL

I love Florida for the heat and the sunshine. It is in the storms, though, that I realize how much I really do love the sunshine. Yesterday as we were shopping in the quaint downtown district of Stuart the day went from bright and sunny to dark and stormy.

We had enjoyed a good snorkeling morning on the beach in Jupiter with sun and pleasant skies and decided to spend the afternoon re-exploring a town we had visited a few years ago during a previous trip.

During our excursion, the day changed from bright and sunny to dark and stormy. At least the storms provided some really cool images. I especially love palm trees against a dark stormy sky background.

Walking over to the inter coastal waterway, I was able to see the storm in more completeness. It looked ferocious and foreboding.

I tried to get some images of the lightening associated with the storm, but it seemed to be flashing in the places that I wasn't looking. It was an impressive storm gathering across the waterway.

It was a complete turn around from the idyllic morning on the beach, but I found beauty in the storm.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Jupiter, FL

Two Times Per Day

Jupiter Beach morning July 10, 2013

Beach time is precious when on vacation, especially when the weather is threatening--like this weekends threat of a tropical storm. Yesterday was a twice on the beach day--morning and evening.

The day began with thick clouds hanging over the area--but no significant rain. A decision was made that "by golly we are on vacation to spend time on the beach and we are not going to let a few ominous clouds keep us from our goal. "

I Think Crabs on the Beach are Funny!

It was a great morning and early afternoon--even with the heavy clouds. The winds were light and the water warm resulting in a great beach experience. The clouds were constantly changing and provided an impressive display above the gray water crashing onto the beach. The surf was a bit rough--but fun to watch and enjoy.

Pelican in the Evening Sun

As Happy Hour arrived, the decision was made to head back to the beach. The clouds had broken and the skies were fairer. The decision was rewarded by calmer surf and that allowed for the first snorkeling excursion of the vacation. Although the waters were still cloudy, I enjoyed gliding over the rocks and spying many different fishes during a relatively short, thirty-minute swim.

Back on the beach, life was abounding from small land crabs to birds and of course Happy Hour. How can I not love being on the beach as the day draws to an end?

I dunno.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Jupiter, FL

Birds I've Seen this Week

Bald Eagles at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary

Cameras are awesome things. They allow me to capture images to enjoy and also I often enjoy trying to capture the images. Although, yesterday it seemed that I was more the hunted than the hunter as I was descended upon by a horde of hungry mosquitoes who rather enjoyed the repellent I had applied.

Chris and I visited the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter to view the animals since it was too rainy and cloudy to head off to the beach. Some of them were in the wild, others, like the eagles here, were caged. All of the caged animals were rescued and either in some stage of recovery for eventual release into the wild or were too injured to return to the wild.

Added to the images of birds from other days, we are amassing quite a collection of wildlife images for some unspecified future use.

Shore birds and water birds along with other birds. Maybe I'm a little bit bird brained. Sometimes we even see birds while enjoying happy hour at our favorite watering hole.

All in all, it is great fun watching the birds watching me.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Jupiter, FL

Art on the Beach

Octopus at Carlin Park Beach

Occasionally, I stumble into some fun activities occurring on the beach. Yesterday was one of those days.

Dragonfly in the Sand

Chris and I had been enjoying another idyllic beach experience when we happened upon a family engaged in a unique and creative competition--sand art. This was not your usual sand art competition based around who can build the biggest castle and moat, but rather who can make the best creature in the sand.

Starfish creation

It was fun to chat with the contestants, who were clearly enjoying themselves. The octopus was big, the starfish creative, but the smaller dragonfly was my favorite.

And it was a Monday on a public beach, in Florida, during the summer.

What a great way to spend some time and energy. Sadly though, like all sand creations, at high tide they become just memories. But, at least I have images to prove they once existed and made the transition from the mind of the artist and into reality for me and the other transient beach goers to enjoy.

What a fabulous way to decompress and spend quality time on the beach.

Awesome.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Jupiter, FL

Monday Musings - July 8, 2013

1. Time passes differently while on vacation. My day is measured in terms of before the beach (BB), on the beach (OB) and after the beach (AB). I am currently BB.

2. The Boeing 777 crash in San Francisco reminded me that flying is serious business and that every passenger is responsible for knowing the emergency procedures when they fly. One other thought about the crash--God smiled on them!

3. Standing on the beach watching the waves crash on the shore I imagined that I could be standing, as I have, on many other beaches around the world.

4. I closed my eyes on the beach yesterday and heard the sound of the waves running along the beach as they came ashore.

5. Why did mortgage interest rates jump on Friday? Perhaps bankers and investors are not committed to preserving the economic recovery.

6. I am sitting watching the Today Show wondering why the exploits of the Kardashian family are getting more air time that the news of the day. Are daytime television viewers that shallow and in need of escapism?

7. I love the weather report--for the next few days, highs in the 90's, sun in the morning, passing showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon followed by more sun! OK--so there is a tropical storm in view for Thursday or Friday, that too will pass!

8. My internet connection here is frustratingly slow! Xfinity! Not so fast.

9. I like taking pictures of birds on the beach.

10. Well, it is time to head out and walk almost three miles--I want to return home after vacation still in pretty good shape and the surf has been too rough to snorkel.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Jupiter, FL

On the Beach - Jupiter

Jupiter Beach July 6, 2013

It was a busy day on the beach yesterday. There must have been 30 people in the one mile long beach that we frequent. Crowded! But, it was a holiday weekend.

Still, it was our beach. A familiar spot on the planet where the Atlantic Ocean meets the warm, even hot, sands of the beach where I can relax and enjoy the sound of the waves crashing onto the shore. And they did crash on the beach yesterday.

Goodyear Blimp Flying Along the Beach

I can hardly believe that July is a week old today. Wow--how quickly it has gone and although it is vacation day 3, I am already feeling stressed about the impending end of my vacation--which I have only begun to enjoy. Every great beginning, it seems, has an ending. We considered taking a last minute cruise out of Miami--but while we were deciding, the cruise sold out.

So for now--it is beach time.

We even had a brief visit from the Goodyear Blimp while we were on the beach yesterday. I always enjoy watching the Blimp fly along the beach and imagine myself riding along. There is something magical about Blimps--even though they are becoming a bit more commonplace, I still enjoy their presence.

What wonderful things will happen today?  I guess I will just have to find out for myself.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Jupiter, FL

Surviving the Highway

After fifteen hours on the highway, we arrived alive at our vacation spot in Florida.

I am amazed at the number of distracted drivers on the highway. It seemed that every hour or so we had to take evasive action to help avoid another accident as a distracted driver began to weave or slide into our already occupied lane.

Invariable, each of the drivers was also holding a cell phone.

I have not been a big proponent of cell phone bans--but, after the drive yesterday I could be convinced.

The number of vehicles which sway across the lane as they drive is astounding. I just do not remember seeing so many before. I may be a bit more sensitive to it given our recent accident, but still, we actually avoided being involved in one accident when a driver started to made a lane change into us and saw two other potential accidents as drivers drove out of the driving lane and onto the shoulder. One was towing a trailer that almost went over and then they corrected their vehicle almost into the side of a a tractor trailer--just two cars in front of us.

It was scary.

I wish all roads could be like the one I found in this image. No cars and straight (almost) fun driving.

Be careful out there! Watch out for the other driver because they are not looking out for you.

Drive safe.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Jupiter, FL