The Trip

Drive Weather App for December 28, 2022
Odenton to Tequesta

 

It was a trip to remember, or rather to forget. 

The trek from Maryland back to Tequesta happened yesterday and into the wee hours of this morning. 

We got a late start and ran into horrific post-holiday traffic throughout the day. In total, we lost about three hours. Our planned 15 hour trip turned into 18 hours and our arrival time moved from just before midnight to just before 3 AM. Ugh!

We picked up an additional passenger/driver. Our friend Fran whose Southwest flight fell victim to the cancellation disaster. Although his flight was scheduled for today, he discovered it was canceled and contacted us just before we departed from the doctor's office to begin the journey. 

The weather was perfect! I use an app called Drive Weather to help pick the best window for driving. I did not take an image of yesterday's forecast, but today's weather is nearly identical. It shows that the planned nearly 15 hour drive will be blessed with clear weather. That is critical because Jeremy, Julie, and Luke are following this very route today, well they did not start in Odenton. 

I was amazed at how traffic would just stop yesterday for no apparent reason. And there were far too many accidents and people traveling, in my estimation, over 100 mph. 

But, we arrived without incident. Well, there was no parking in the our community, something that I will need to address. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

 

It is Tuesday, the day after the day after Christmas.

It is a travel day and I always wake early on travel days, sadly. 

I guess the thrill of the road (or flying) just calls to me. Actually, my head gets filled with tons of things that I have to do and remember. Today is no different. We are leaving later than our usual 3 AM roll-out because Chris has a quick doctor appointment and then it is onto the open road and post-Christmas and Snowbird traffic. We are not Snowbirds! Just saying.

The route is pretty easy. 

Get on I-95 and drive until almost home. We take a couple bypasses--like DC and Jacksonville, sometimes Richmond depending upon the time of day. Traffic always is bad between DC and Richmond unless we roll out at 3 or 4 AM.

It was funny that in Maryland we lived between I-95 and US-1 with our most traveled road being US-1. It is the same in Florida--except that I-95 is a couple miles further west than US-1, unlike it was in our part of Maryland.

Here is to another day on the road! Thank goodness for Audible and Sirius XM.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Monday Musings - December 26, 2022

 

1. It is the last Monday of December and also the last Monday of 2022. Next Monday will be the first Monday of 2023. I hope you had a great Christmas.

2. Family NFL Report. It was a good week for the family teams which went 3-1 in their games. Two teams, Ravens and Cowboys, have secured playoff spots and both of the other teams are remain in playoff contention. 

   Ravens (10-5) defeat Falcons (5-10), 17-9

   Steelers (7-8) defeat Raiders (6-9), 13-10

   Cowboys (11-4) defeat Eagles (13-2), 40-34

   Commanders (7-7-1) lose to 49ers (11-4), 20-37

Christmas Morning Breakfast
Odenton, MD
December 25, 2022

3. What is better than a Christmas morning waffle breakfast before opening presents? Almost nothing. Thanks to Mike and Nicole for a fantastic breakfast and morning. And then thanks to Patrick and Jen for a fabulous Christmas Day and feast.

4. Today is a holiday--to celebrate Christmas! Do not expect mail delivery. Nothing will be arriving except late Christmas gifts sent by express mail.

5. The cold weather has reminded me that I can survive in the north, but I do not desire to do so. I am looking forward to warmer temperatures and bike riding. Yes, it was cold in South Florida this week, but 80 degree temperatures return starting on Saturday.

6. The blog may be late tomorrow as we are hitting the open for Florida, depending upon the weather, of course. The current forecast calls for clear skies all the way. Not even the usual afternoon rain in South Florida. 

7. Today in History. Mobster Bugsy Siegel opens the glitzy Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 26, 1946. Well-known singer and comedian Jimmy Durante headlined the night's entertainment, with music by Cuban band leader Xavier Cugat. Some of infamous gangster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel’s Hollywood friends, including actors George Raft, George Sanders, Sonny Tufts and George Jessel were in attendance.

The grand opening of the Flamingo Hotel, however, was a flop. Bad weather kept many other Hollywood guests from arriving. And because gamblers had no rooms at the hotel, they took their winnings and gambled elsewhere. The casino lost $300,000 in the first week of operation.

Storm Leaves at Least 12 Dead in Buffalo, N.Y., Area - The Wall Street Journal

Housing Slump Set to Give Fed an Inflation-Fighting Assist - The Wall Street Journal

Florida Restarts Push to Feed Manatees - The Wall Street Journal

Transgender or devoutly Christian? An Iowa teen refuses to choose. - The Washington Post

Migrants bused from Texas arrive at VP’s house in D.C. on frigid Christmas Eve - The Washington Post

Vandals destroy 22,000-year-old sacred cave art in Australia - CNN

Three Russian servicemen killed after drone shot down at air base inside Russia - CNN

China's COVID cases overwhelm hosptials - Reuters

Taiwan reports China's largest incursion yet to air defence zone - Reuters

South Korea scrambles jets as North Korea sends drones over border - Reuters

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Christmas 2022

Sunrise
Elkridge, MD
December 25, 2022

 Merry Christmas! 

I was out early to take care of Jeremy's dogs and witnessed a beautiful Christmas morning sunrise. The day is full of promise and excitement. The roads were empty. 

The weeks of preparation are over and the big event has arrived. 

May the joy of the season fill your heart and give you hope for the entire year ahead. 

Pause for a moment amidst your celebration to remember the servicemen and women stationed far away from their homes as well as the first responders and medical personnel who are all on duty for us. 

God bless you, everyone!

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Christmas Eve 2022

Icicles on my Truck
December 23, 2022
Odenton, MD

The cold developed everywhere yesterday. The temperature dropped from 43 degrees in the morning to single digits when I went to bed. This morning the reported temperature is 6 degrees!

I took a picture of icicles hanging off my truck yesterday. I had to drive to an appointment during the morning and I experienced a sleet storm and a hail storm along the way. 

Snow Falling in Odenton
Odenton, MD
December 23, 2022

Later during the day it snowed. 

There was thankfully no accumulation, however I did get in my snow-fix for the season. 

I believe the weather for today is supposed to be clear and cold. We are beginning the day with brunch and probably watch some NFL football. The high today is expected to reach 20 degrees. Yay! It is cold in Florida as well. At home, in Tequesta, it is 41 degrees with an expected high of 58 degrees.

And so this is Christmas Eve! I hope that you are where you wanted to be for this holiday season. 

Enjoy the day and Merry Christmas.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

First Full Day of Winter

The View Outside
Odenton, MD
December 22, 2022

The first full day of Winter was, fittingly, a bleak and dreary day. 

It rained almost all of the day. Which was much better than other parts of the country where snow and blizzard-like conditions were the recipe for the day.

We were expecting the temperature to drop overnight, but apparently it did not and things are not too bad here on the southern part of the storm. The temperature is supposed to fall during the day bottoming out at about 9 degrees overnight. Ugh! Hopefully the roads will dry before the freeze arrives. 

We will see what the day brings.

Happy Christmas Eve Eve! That used to be a thing when I was a kid. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Winter Arrived

Tropic of Capricorn Through Australia

Autumn passed not so quietly into Winter yesterday with the big storm working its way across the nation.

The Sun is dancing along the Tropic of Capricorn providing the southern latitudes with their longest days of sunshine while we in the north work to overcome the darkest days of the year.

Here in Odenton, MD, we are experiencing about 9 hours and 28 minutes between sunrise and sunset. Short time. In Tequesta, FL, the daylight is about an hour longer coming in at 10 hours and 29 minutes. It is amazing what difference a a few hundred miles in latitude can make when considering the length of day. Important note, on the Summer Solstice the length of daylight is longer in Odenton (14h35m) versus Tequesta (13h53m). 

At least, the daylight will start to increase from this point on, although only a few seconds per day for a few days. 

And now, for the massive winter storm!

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Dancing Tuba-playing Santa

 

Tuba-playing Dancing Santa
Tequesta, FL
December 20, 2022

When I retired last year, I disposed of most of my collection of toys, many of them were of the singing and dancing variety. I had collected a lot of toys over the years and they adorned my office at work. 

The toys included singing chickens and turkeys and a set composed of a dancing Santa and reindeer. They all made me smile, although I am sure that important guests visiting my office wondered if I had somehow gone off the rails. But, I almost always had fun at work and never thought what I was doing as a job in the negative sense. It was a vocation and an important undertaking. 

Very few of my toys survived my transition to retirement. None were actually tossed into the trash as most were gifted to coworkers, friends, and the children in the neighborhood. 

Chris surprised me yesterday with a new animated toy. Truly a surprise because we had not brought any with us to Florida. It made me smile. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Travel day - Again

 With the monster storm headed through the country, I am glad that Chris and I decided to travel early in the week. The end of the week could be a washout. Although, I believe there is the possibility for the ever dreamed of and seldom seen white Christmas in the Baltimore area. Personally I really don't need snow, ever!

Another relatively smart thing that we did was to travel in the middle of the day rather than one of the "OMG it is so early nothing is open at the airport" flights. The trip from Baltimore to West Palm two weeks ago was actually pleasant and I am hoping the return flight is likewise enjoyable. We are looking forward to celebrating the holiday with family and friends.

It will be a short visit as I am planning to drive back to South Florida early next week. Of course all driving plans are weather dependent and the nice thing about being retired is that I do not have to get back to go to work!

Merry Christmas to all the other travelers and to those who host us travelers.

-- 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