September is gone?

 October arrived overnight. Somehow September slipped through our fingers and we are in the final quarter of the year. 

Carton Containing Coffee Table
Tequesta, FL
September 30, 2022

Happy New Year to all of the federal workers out there. Congress once again failed to do their jobs and had to supply a continuing resolution to keep the government funded, but at least they did that and kicked the budget battle down the road until December 16th. 

Coffee Table in Living Room
Tequesta, FL
September, 30, 2022

Yesterday was busy. The dogs took a lot of time, but I did get a few projects completed. The biggest project was in front of my door when Finnegan and I returned home from our morning walk. The new coffee table arrived. All 130 lbs of it! There it was, big as can be, blocking the door. Thank-you Fedex!

I was concerned because upon inspecting the carton I noticed some damage, but once I wrestled the box inside, opened it, and freed the table from the excessive packing I determined that there was no damage. The packing protected the table and the area of the damaged carton was dead space. 

Does anyone else thing we use way too much styrofoam in packing? And the cheap styrofoam crumbles and gets everywhere. 

The new table, however, looks great and there are end tables somewhere in the process of being shipped which will complete the look. 

Today I will be tackling hanging a TV using the new mount which arrived yesterday. The mount for the TV being replaced was not sufficient for the TV I am hanging and so I must remove and replace TV mounts! Ugh! 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Fly Away

 

Chris and I fared very well during Hurricane Ian. We were not in the path and there is only minor damage in our area. 

Chris's Jet at the Gate
Palm Beach International Airport
September 29, 2022

We fared so well that Chris flew to Maryland last evening. The West Palm Beach International Airport was almost a ghost town. We arrived at the airport with enough time for us to share dinner before she had to go through security. Security here takes about 30 seconds. There is almost never a line. 

There were very few people in the airport and we enjoyed a nice dinner at an Irish pub.

We had tracked her flight all day to determine if it would be canceled or delayed. It was not canceled and was delayed a few minutes--but that was expected. 

The route he jet flew was significantly different from most of the flights between Palm Beach and Baltimore. Normally they fly an almost a straight line between the two airports, out over the ocean coasting in over the Carolinas. But, as can be seen, Hurricane Ian was in the path and so on this day the route was over land to avoid the power of the hurricane. 

She is excited to visit family and friends over the next week. I have a list of projects to accomplish. BTW, just to be clear, it is not a honey-do list, it is a self generated project list. 

The hurricane changed the weather pattern. It is 64 degrees this morning and I believe it is the first 60 degree morning since before we departed during April. It is cold outside!

Happy Friday!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Riding out the Storm

 

Palm Across the Street in the Wind
Tequesta, FL
September 28, 2022

What do you do when riding out a hurricane? Well, even being on the periphery of the storm there really isn't much to do. We watched moment-by-moment coverage of Hurricane Ian until it made landfall over southwest Florida. 

I went outside during some of the lesser winds to allow the dogs some relief and videoed a coconut palm tree. I wondered whether I was standing too close if the coconuts decided to break free and plummet to the earth. 

Chris and I did make a short trip to the grocery store, there was no panic buying evident in our area. The store was fully stocked. We then went to a gas station and filled-up so that we have two fully fueled vehicles, although the expectation is that we will not need to evacuate as the storm is already moving away.

Hopefully I will be able to return to my daily bike ride tomorrow when the storm is fully out of the area. It remains too windy this morning. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

From the Sidelines of Hurricane Ian

 

First, an update on my jury duty experience yesterday. I survived and was not selected to serve as a juror on a trial. They released me just before noon and I was able to spend the afternoon at home preparing for the oncoming storm.

On to the storm. Our area of Southeastern Florida is under a Tropical Storm Warning and not expected to experience the full force of the hurricane. We suffered through tornado warnings overnight as the outer bands of the now Category 4 Hurricane Ian passed. Our portion of Florida is where people from the Gulf Coast were directed as an evacuation destination.

It is raining off and on and sometimes very heavy.  We are seeing winds of about 30 mph right now, but are expecting gusts of up to 70 mph as the hurricane makes landfall later today. Chris and I closed the hurricane shutters last night because of the tornado threat and also because we have large trees close to our windows. 

Our area is NOT under an evacuation order and, therefore, we are not evacuating. The truck, 4 wheel-drive, has a full tank of gas with a 500 mile range and is prepared in case we do need to evacuate.

The most difficult part of the storm so far has to do with the dogs. They are not excited about going outside to do their business. On top of that, Makayla has a stomach disturbance which we are treating with Imodium and plain rice for food. Riordin is a bit freaked out and cannot settle. I opened the patio door shutters and he can at least look outside. That seemed to make him happier.

We will ride out the storm. We are fortunate that it is away from us, but we are still getting winds and rain--although not the same as those on the Gulf Coast in the direct path of the storm. The hurricane is expected to pass both west and north of our location.

The TV coverage is similar to that for a major winter storm in Maryland. We are getting moment by moment reports on the storm's progress and well as tornado reporting as warnings are issued. 

We are calm and doing well. Thank you for all of the concerns we have been receiving. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Doing my Civic Duty

 I have been called to Jury Duty in Palm Beach County.

I cannot believe it, I only just earlier this year obtained a drivers license and registered to vote. How can my my Jury number come up already?

The only time during my almost 22 years in Maryland I received notices for Jury Duty, I was not required to report. 

Not so--I actually have to report to the court house in West Palm Beach this morning at 8 AM in business attire. I guess that means no shorts or sandals. 

I haven't worn socks in months, except when I play golf! Maybe sandals are acceptable business attire in Florida--I am going to find out. I haven't worn long pants since April! That is going to be an experience.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - September 26, 2022

 

1. Happy Monday. It is the fourth and final Monday of September. There are just 13 Mondays remaining in 2022.

2. Hurricane Ian is setting its sights on Northern Florida and, fortunately, our little pierce of heaven remains out of the cone of uncertainty. We will still receive 4-6 inches of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday. But, the winds will not be excessive topping out at about 30 mph. 

3. Family NFL Football Results:

    Cowboys (1-1) play Giants (2-0) this evening.

    Ravens (2-1) defeat Patriots (1-2), 37-26

    Commanders (1-2) lose to Eagles (3-0), 8-24

    Steelers (1-2) lost to Browns (2-1), 17-29 (Thursday night)

    Dolphins (3-0) defeat Bills (2-1), 21-19

4. With the major collapse in the 11th inning yesterday to Houston, the Orioles effectively eliminated themselves from playoff contention. I only wish that Seattle and Tampa would stop losing, thereby, keeping our ever growing slimmer playoff hopes alive. 

5. Personal political opinion. I have been reading much about the flying of legally in the United States asylum seekers by Governor DeSantis to Martha's Vineyard. It appears to me to be a misappropriation of Florida tax dollars. The money was appropriated to deal with illegal immigrants in Florida. DeSantis went to Texas and transported the asylum seekers to Florida before flying them from Florida to Martha's Vineyard. See background at: The Washington PostMysteries, legal peril follow DeSantis's migrant flight

6. Makayla had a rough night. Both Chris and I were up at different times attending to her needs and taking her outside. It was much like having a baby in the house again. Not fun!

7. Check out the last headlines entry. Isn't it just like Iran to blame the U.S. for trying to overthrow the regime through the women's protests they are experiencing?

8. Today in History. September 26, 1960. For the first time in U.S. history, a debate between major party presidential candidates is shown on television. The presidential hopefuls, John F. Kennedy, a Democratic senator of Massachusetts, and Richard M. Nixon, the vice president of the United States, met in a Chicago studio to discuss U.S. domestic matters.

Kennedy emerged the apparent winner from this first of four televised debates, partly owing to his greater ease before the camera than Nixon, who, unlike Kennedy, seemed nervous and declined to wear makeup. Nixon fared better in the second and third debates, and on October 21 the candidates met to discuss foreign affairs in their fourth and final debate. Less than three weeks later, on November 8, Kennedy won 49.7 percent of the popular vote in one of the closest presidential elections in U.S. history, surpassing by a fraction the 49.6 percent received by his Republican opponent.

Pound Hits Record Low Against Dollar - The Wall Street Journal

Ukrainian Forces Push East of Kupyansk, Expanding Offensive - The Wall Street Journal

DeSantis Re-Election Campaign Focuses on Florida GOP Base - The Wall Street Journal

Breaking At least 7 children among dead after gunman opens fire at school in Russia - CNN

US warnings against Putin's nuclear threats mark a sobering moment - CNN

NASA spacecraft will reveal first look at asteroid, then slam into it - CNN

NASA calls off Artemis 1 moon rocket launch on Sept. 27 due to Tropical Storm Ian - Space.com

Oil prices fall for a second day on recession fears - Reuters

In China, home buyers occupy their 'rotting', unfinished properties - Reuters

Iran says U.S. trying to use unrest to undermine it, warns of response - Reuters

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Our of the Cone of Uncertainty

 Tropical Storm, and soon to be hurricane, Ian has been generating a lot of interest here in South Florida as the cone of uncertainty fell squarely overtop of the area. 

As of this morning, actually late last evening, the cone of uncertainty no longer includes Tequesta. As the storm drifts westward and landfall northward, my area of Florida has moved outside of the cone. I am very excited about the prospect of not having to endure a hurricane. Sadly, it appears that northern Florida is going to get slammed with a major hurricane with winds in excess of 110 MPH. 

Thank-you for the concern that many have expressed. And also the good advice. I look at preparing for a hurricane much like preparing for a major blizzard in the northeast. Plan for power outages, inability to move on the highways, and being isolated. The difference in a hurricane is that the winds are incredibly dangerous and the water can become a flood. Our house is equipped with hurricane shutters and we laid-in drinking water and some extra food supplies. Our big failing here is that we are totally electric and are not allowed to have a gas grill, which is what our plan was back in Baltimore to facilitate boiling water and, if necessary, cook. We are not even allowed a charcoal grill because we cannot store starter fluid, but I am going to rethink that for the future. I believe for emergencies we need a reliable heat source. 

Chris and I, and our entire community for that matter, remain wary and continue watching the storm track.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Moving on to New Adventures

 

6155 Rainbow Drive
Elkridge, MD
November 11, 2015

It was a significant Friday. 

Chris and I had been looking forward to this day for well over a month because it was settlement day on our Maryland house. 

According to reports, it went smoothly, although with a 4 PM start time it was not over until almost 6 PM. There were only a few questions on some of the unique items we had deployed in the house that they noticed during the walk through. As we had signed our portion on Tuesday afternoon, we were not directly involved in the settlement. 

In all, we owned our little pot of gold at the end of Rainbow Drive for 21 years, 6 months, and 23 days. I know there is a lot of sadness in my family that we sold the house which was a great home--but, sometimes holding too tightly to the past prevents us from moving on to new adventures. 

The memories of all of the good times, parties, Happy Hours, fire pit evenings, celebrations, reunions, and dinners on the screened porch with friends, family, and co-workers will remain. 

Our best to the new owners, may they have many years of happiness and enjoyment at the end of Rainbow and the house is once again transformed into a home!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

 

Changing it Up!

 

Chris in the 10th Fairway
Jupiter Dunes, Jupiter, FL
September 22, 2022

Instead of a long bike ride yesterday, Chris suggested a round of golf!

Wow, I had not even unpacked our golf clubs yet from their travel cases, but I readily agreed. There is a par 3 golf course near the house and it is a good place to work on the short game and get an 18-hole round of golf payed in about two-and-a-half hours. 

I called the course and it was reported wide open. This course does not issue Tee times--it is a show up and play in order. 

We took our push carts and enjoyed a pleasant round of golf. I may have set a record for lost golf balls--initially I was awful losing six balls on the first four holes. I settled down after that by diagnosing my swing problem and actually over the next 14 holes only lost two more balls while carding a string of three pars in a row and playing mostly bogey golf--as I am a bit worse than a bogey golfer, I was pretty happy with that improvement. I guess I need to golf more than once every three months.

Chris did much better. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Riding the Circuit

 

15 mile Ride
Tequesta and Jupiter, FL
September 21, 2022

With the biking that I have been doing, I have developed a basic route from which I can take branches and sequels to increase both the distance and the enjoyment of the ride. The basic circuit is about 8 miles from our home around Tequesta.

North Fork Loxahatchee River
Tequesta, FL
September 21, 2022

Yesterday, Chris and I went for a ride and I determined to push Chris a bit by accomplishing a 15 mile ride. She completed an 11 mile ride on Tuesday and I wanted to push her just a bit more. That was easily done by adding a stretch on what is called Island Way, which is a long connecting street which remains mostly undeveloped and provides a nice ride. 

Chris was game and in the end we enjoyed a nice ride and she accomplished her longest ride to date. I was as pleased as she was to complete the trek. 

I am looking to push her more and get her into the 20 mile range soon so we can do even more difficult rides and she has the necessary confidence to complete them. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL