Monday Musings - August 19, 2024

 

1. Welcome to the third Monday of August. There are 19 Mondays remaining in the year. 

Out the Hotel Window
Dunn, NC
August 18, 2024

2. Chris and I were amazed when we looked at the temperature this morning in Dunn, NC. It was 69 degrees and foggy. I am more used to the numerals being reversed. It was pleasant this morning as I took Finn for a walk. 

3. My take away from driving I-95 yesterday is that drivers proceeding at excessive speed is the most dangerous thing we face on the highways today. Their rapid lane changes and approach speeds mean that I must be almost as keenly aware of what is happening behind me as well as planning for what is ahead.

4. FACEBOOK has not yet responded regarding the post they took down on Saturday. I had expected a response this morning, but they remain silent.

5. We head out on day 2 of our trip this morning. I am hoping for more good weather and no major traffic tie-ups between Richmond and DC.

6. Today in History. On August 19, 1909, the first race is held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, now the home of the world’s most famous motor racing competition, the Indianapolis 500.

Built on 328 acres of farmland five miles northwest of Indianapolis, Indiana, the speedway was started by local businessmen as a testing facility for Indiana’s growing automobile industry. The idea was that occasional races at the track would pit cars from different manufacturers against each other. After seeing what these cars could do, spectators would presumably head down to the showroom of their choice to get a closer look.

The rectangular two-and-a-half-mile track linked four turns, each exactly 440 yards from start to finish, by two long and two short straight sections. In that first five-mile race on August 19, 1909, 12,000 spectators watched Austrian engineer Louis Schwitzer win with an average speed of 57.4 miles per hour. The track’s surface of crushed rock and tar proved a disaster, breaking up in a number of places and causing the deaths of two drivers, two mechanics and two spectators.

Analysis The party will kick off a convention that was hastily reconfigured to try to vault Kamala Harris to a historic presidency - CNN

When and how to see the rare super blue moon - CNN

Ukraine aims to create Kursk ‘buffer zone,’ Zelensky says, as Kyiv’s forces blow up second Russian bridge - CNN

Blinken warns Israel, Hamas of last chance to end Gaza war - Reuters

Venezuelan opposition protests as election dispute drags on - Reuters

South Korea, US kick off annual drills over North's military, cyber threats - Reuters

Trump and Harris Duke It Out on Social Media - The Wall Street Journal

Flash floods in Connecticut, as some towns hit by ‘1,000-year’ rain events - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Dunn, NC

#mondaymusings

Heading North

 

But-ee's Jacksonville, FL
August 18, 2024

Today and tomorrow are travel days. We are on the road north to Maryland and also New York for a golf tournament.  It will be a busy couple of weeks. 

We departed later than normal, at 7:30 am, and made our first stop about 11:00 am just south of Jacksonville, Fl. Yes, we stopped at Buc-ee’s. It was a good stop as we took on enough fuel to get us to our hotel for the evening. We also bought sandwiches for lunch and were able to eat while still driving. We effectively saved a stop. 

Even-so, we will not get to our hotel north of Fayetteville, NC, until after 5pm. 

Fortunately, the day is bright and clear.  The drive has been easy.  That is good. But, we are in SC now where easy driving goes to die. 

Enjoy your Sunday. 

— Bob Doan, I95 in SC near mm 27

Unfit for the Position

 Former President Donald J. Trump on Thursday described the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which honors civilians, as being “much better” than the Medal of Honor, because service members who receive the nation’s highest military honor are often severely wounded or dead. (New York Times)

I engaged in a discussion last evening with someone who was trying to walk this statement back by saying he was only referring to one particular instance. Nonsense. He said it! I know he says a lot and mostly lies, but he has been consistent in his comments about the military and specifically disdain for those who were killed or wounded in service to this great nation.

The almost unintelligible quote follows:

“It’s actually much better [referring to the Medal of Freedom], because everyone gets the Congressional Medal of Honor, that’s soldiers, they’re either in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets, or they’re dead,” Mr. Trump said, using a common misnomer for the military award. “She gets it, and she’s a healthy, beautiful woman.” (New York Times)

I am not sure exactly what he is trying to say, but my take away is that the Medal of Freedom is better because a pretty woman was awarded it. 

Oh yes, and he called it the Congressional Medal of Honor, which is not the correct name. It is the Medal of Honor! Period!

This is not the first time Trump has disparaged those who gave of themselves for our nation:

When President Donald Trump canceled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, near Paris, in 2018, he blamed rain for the last-minute decision, saying that “the helicopter couldn’t fly” and that the Secret Service wouldn’t drive him there. Neither claim was true.

Trump rejected the idea of the visit because he feared his hair would become disheveled in the rain, and because he did not believe it important to honor American war dead, according to four people with firsthand knowledge of the discussion that day. In a conversation with senior staff members on the morning of the scheduled visit, Trump said, “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.” In a separate conversation on the same trip, Trump referred to the more than 1,800 marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood as “suckers” for getting killed. (The Atlantic)

He has no understanding of service, personal sacrifice or even heroism. 

Trump's comments continue to underscore why he is not fit for the office he seeks. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Stormy Day Blues

Finnegan and Me
Tequesta, FL
August 15, 2024

 Although Chris and I got out and managed a 14-mile ride during the morning, the middle portion of the day consisted of almost continuous thunderstorms. It was, therefore, a rainy and noisy day. 

Finnegan does not like thunder. I think he got traumatized during the Fourth of July celebrations in the neighborhood with all of the loud booms. It may not have helped that we took him with us as we wandered out the end of the street to see some of the fireworks and listen to the booming of the retorts. 

Finn Looking Out the Car Window
Jupiter, FL
August 15, 2024

He has developed a near paralyzing fear of booms. Whenever thunder is in the area he glues himself to me. Now, as most of you are aware, he is Chris's dog and generally has prefers her company to mine. But when the thunder crashed he seeks out the "big dog" for protection. That was the scene yesterday as he laid in my lap trying to blend into the chair while the storms were overhead. 

Chris thought it was cute and snapped an image of the traumatized dog trying to become one with both me and the chair. 

Later, however, he was fine after the storms cleared and we headed out to cast our Florida Primary ballots. As we are not going to be in town for the actual primary day, we took advantage of early voting. Finn even got a sticker announcing that he is a future voter--although I am not sure how that is going to work. Well, this is Florida and almost anything can happen here.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Again? Another pandemic?

 And from Reuters this morning:

The World Health Organization has declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years. We take a look at what that means. 

While the current outbreak is mostly in Africa, in our global environment I would not expect it to be confined there for long. 

We do not need another pandemic! Oh wait, you didn't realize they had renamed monkey pox as mpox? Yup they did. 

So here is the description:

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that can spread easily between people and from infected animals. It can spread through close contact such as touching, kissing or sex, as well as through contaminated materials like sheets, clothing and needles, according to WHO.

The current outbreak, Congo's worst ever, has seen 27,000 cases and more than 1,100 deaths since January 2023, largely among children. The disease causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, and is usually mild but can kill. Children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV, are all at higher risk of complications.

Two strains of mpox are now spreading in the country: the endemic form of the virus as well as a new offshoot.  (Reuters article)

I guess we need to be aware.

Oh yea, Happy Friday-eve!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

And He's Gone

Flight 667 to Baltimore
PBI
August 13, 2024

 We dropped Lucas off at PBI yesterday morning. Both Chris and I were able to get gate passes (even though we were told by the staff that they were allowed to provide only one gate pass) to stay with Luke until he boarded. 

We had to pass through the non-TSA-Pre line. Ugh! I had forgotten how long that line could be. We were in the line for over 20 minutes. Fortunately, we arrived about 90 minutes before his flight and we still had time to enjoy a lounge after passing through security. Although I am told the lounge, to which I have privileges, has been there three years I only noticed it yesterday. It was a very civilized way to wait in the airport away from the crowd. And yes, for those of you who have flown through the usually sleepy PBI airport, there were crowds yesterday. I think United, American and Southwest all had flights arriving and departing while we were there.

The concourse was, however, deserted, as we left after Luke had boarded. 

And so our time alone with Luke is over. We enjoyed his stay, but wish we had been able to do more. 

Now we are preparing for our own journey. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

It was just Crabby

Lucas at Dune Dogs
Jupiter, Fl
August 12, 2024

 Our time with Lucas ends today. 

It had been a fun week and we have enjoyed our short time with him. 

He has provided some excitement into our otherwise somewhat routine world. 

Last evening, for his last supper, we went to Dune Dogs and he enjoyed some crab legs. Luke loves seafood. The poor crab didn't have a chance. I don't know why the waitstaff gave him a lobster bib when he was eating crab. Perhaps they don't differentiate. I had ribs because I really like the way they do ribs and I have wanted ribs for a while but have not been motivated to actually buy ribs and cook them. 

Today we take Luke to the airport to return him to Maryland, although we will see him again in just a few days as we travel north on Sunday. 

I don't blame him for not wanting to ride for two days with us in the truck. It can get very long on the road. I would rather fly, but we need the transportation and the flexibility of driving. Our return trip has already changed once and it may change again.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - August 12, 2024

 

1. Summer is almost over. It is the second Monday of August and there the year is down to only 20 remaining Mondays. 

2. Summer is over here in South Florida. Today is the first day of school for Palm Beach County school kids. It seemed as if the summer were too short. Well, since I'm retired, it still remains summer. Drive with extra caution as the school year begins and crazy things can and do happen around school busses.

3. Lucas, our grandson who is visiting, does not report to school for two more weeks. Summer is growing short for Maryland students as well!

4. Florida weather continues to be fairly predictable. Hot, humid, and afternoon thunderstorms. Whew! 

5. Chris and I, along with Lucas, got out to see the hit movie Deadpool & Wolverine yesterday. It is as good as they say. We very much enjoyed the experience. 

Today in History. On August 12, 1990, fossil hunter Susan Hendrickson discovers three huge bones jutting out of a cliff near Faith, South Dakota. They turn out to be part of the largest-ever Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever discovered, a 65-million-year-old specimen dubbed Sue, after its discoverer.

Amazingly, Sue’s skeleton was over 90 percent complete, and the bones were extremely well-preserved. Hendrickson’s employer, the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research, paid $5,000 to the land owner, Maurice Williams, for the right to excavate the dinosaur skeleton, which was cleaned and transported to the company headquarters in Hill City. The institute’s president, Peter Larson, announced plans to build a non-profit museum to display Sue along with other fossils of the Cretaceous period.

Defense secretary orders submarine to Middle East, accelerates arrival of strike group ahead of anticipated Iran attack - CNN

Analysis The former president’s efforts to bring down his new adversary have highlighted his own liabilities more than hers - CNN

Russia orders more evacuations as Ukraine’s incursion into its territory enters its seventh day - CNN

2 dead in Maryland house explosion, authorities say - CNN

Musk embraces Trump and scorns subsidies. But Tesla still lobbies for US benefits - Reuters

Exclusive: Billions in dollar and euro notes reach Russia despite sanctions - Reuters

Israel keeps up strikes in Gaza as fears of wider war grow - Reuters

Investors Borrowed Like Crazy During Rally. Now They’re Paying the Price. - The Wall Street Journal

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#mondaymusings

Sunday Smatterings

Loxahatchee River Bridge 
Tequesta, FL
August 10, 2024

Chris and I rode bikes yesterday. It was sweltering by the time we got out and we managed less than 10 miles, but we did get out on the streets. It was a very easy ride for me, but the heat really took its toll on Chris. It was a beautiful morning with few clouds, which is why we headed out, even though it was later than normal with higher temperature and humidity approaching 85 percent. 

Later that same day, I installed a new Wifi-enabled door lock. I replaced an older lock that developed too many quirks. It took a couple hours to get it installed as some modification to the doorframe was required. I did manage a new set of wood chisels out of the process.  

Our neighbors moved out of their condo and that made us sad. We have enjoyed our time with them and wish them the best in their new home. 

I am reminded that the only constant is change. 

A week from today we will be hitting the highway headed north to visit family and compete, well we really are not competitive, in the Troy Whittemore Memorial Golf Tournament which is being held in Groton, NY, this year. 

Busy times keep us happy. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Celebrating Together

 

Celebrating 49 Years
Tequesta, FL
August 9, 2024

Yesterday, Chris and I celebrated 49 years of marriage. 

No, it has not always been easy or smooth. But, we continue to respect and love each other and have even survived being together 24/7 since I retired. That may be the biggest accomplishment of all!

We took some time last evening to recount the events of our wedding day. August 9, 1975, was a stifling hot day in Ithaca, NY. Our ceremony was not until 7 PM in a church which was not air conditioned. But the sun coming through the windows was as beautiful as Chris had imagined it would be.

The fun of the day, however, began early. In the wee hours of the morning I dropped a window on my head letting my cat into my room from outdoors. Yes, I scratched my face in the process. In those days, living on the outskirts of Danby, NY, my cat would go out for the evening and sometime during the night she would appear on the porch roof at my second story window meowing to be allowed inside. There was a storm window behind the wooden frame window which had to be removed to open the screen and allow the cat inside. I guess, in my somewhat less than sober state after my bachelor party, I didn't manage the window well; it slipped and I tried to use my head to catch it. Not a good move. 

But wait, there is more. Our car, a 1970 Ford LTD, needed a new muffler and tail pipe. No problem. I bought the parts and completed the installation in the yard. Well, turns out there was a problem because the tailpipe was about two inches too short and the hot exhaust went into the trunk when the car was not moving. When my best man took the car to fill it with gas for us, the contents of the trunk caught fire. So after the reception when I went looking for the car to go to our hotel, my Dad told me that I was taking his car on our honeymoon and not to ask questions. I learned the details upon our return. 

But wait there is even more. We got to our hotel, which because of the late ceremony was just outside of Ithaca where the ceremony and reception were held, and nicely settled for our first night as a married couple when what happened? The entire wedding party crashed our door with pizza and we had an after party in our room. Someone squealed about where we were saying. To this day I do not know who it was as we had tried to keep it a secret.

The next morning, very tired, we did get on the road to where else other than Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, for our honeymoon. That all worked out well, the only exciting thing I remember from the honeymoon was watching a buffalo be born at the zoo. OK, there might have been some other things not suitable for mentioning here.

And so, from that less than smooth start, we have continued to overcome obstacles and celebrate successes for 49 years! We especially enjoy our three children, their spouses and their children. We are excited that our merry band of 11 is expected to grow to 12 come January. A dozen Doans, maybe the world is not ready for us.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL