It was a Short Trip

Heading out into Manatee Pocket
Port Salerno, FL
November 21, 2024

 Yesterday was intended as a boat day. Finnegan had a grooming appointment near where we reserve our trusty motored-watercraft and so we decided to check out a boat and head to Stuart for lunch while Finnegan was in the shop, so to speak. 

It was a great plan--but it turned out there were some problems. 

The day was bright and, although one of the coldest mornings of the season, the temperature quickly warmed into the mid-70s by 11:00AM when we arrived to head out onto the water. We planned properly and dressed for the cool breeze--Chris was wearing two layers and brought a coat along. I had a pullover. 

The wind was strong stronger on the water and the waters surrounding the marina, which is on Manatee Pocket, had a nice chop. Chris was not amused and I promised her that if it was too rough on the more open waters of the St Lucie River that we would head in rather than continue on to Stuart. 

We were motoring north toward Stuart into a cold north wind. OK, I know the wind was not as cold as what we saw driving snow on last night's NFL game in Cleveland, but we have thin Florida blood. That was the first problem. 

The second problem was that the chop of Manatee Pocket became 2-foot waves out on the river which occasionally, because of the direction of the channel, broke over the boat and got us both wet. And then there were the occasional 3 foot waves. Chris is a flat water boater and I knew I was pushing it with the 2 foot waves, but the bigger ones coupled with the fact that we were not even into the more wide open areas of the river where the wind could really kick up the waves meant this trip was likely going to be short. 

The third problem was that Chris was cold and she hates getting wet--especially on a cold day. We made it about halfway to Stuart, which is roughly the highway bridge which connects Sewell's Point to the mainland. When I reduced speed to go under the bridge, we made the decision to return to the marina rather than press on. Chris donned her coat to get warmer and we reversed course.

In all, we were on the water about 45 minutes. I got my boating fix in for the month and we decided to lunch in the Port Salerno area rather than driving to Stuart.

I am not sure how, exactly, we are going to survive the upcoming holiday trips north into the cold. It should be an experience. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

As the Season Arrives

 

2024 Christmas Tree
Tequesta, FL
November 20, 2024

It pained me to do the deed. And the deed was removing the turkeys and our Thanksgiving decorations before the actual holiday. 

But, Thanksgiving is late this year and we are going to be away for two weeks; returning in the middle of the Christmas season and wanted the house decorated. Yesterday because decoration day. We have not completed everything and some decorations will not be unboxed this year--but we are beginning to display the festive mood the holiday season brings. 

Tomorrow is actually the earliest date upon which Thanksgiving can fall and this year the 28th, which is Thanksgiving, is the latest and so I rationalized that we are not really jumping the season and my turkeys had a good run--but it was time.

Happy Thanks-istmas!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Bob the Dog Walker

 I discovered, while Chris was away, that I was unable to both walk Finn and get a meaningful bike ride accomplished. 

Finn walks for about a mile-and-a-half. When he and I walk we do it in just under 30 minutes--and that includes numerous stops for his personal business. 

He enjoys his walk and is a a trooper. One would think that a dog of his size would not enjoy such a long walk at a brisk pace, but he definitely does. And it is good exercise for both of us. But by the time we finished Finn's walk, it was getting too late to get my usual 17 mile bike ride in before noon. 

Chris is back now and I was able to get my ride completed this morning while she walked Finn!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Christmas is Closing in

Poinsettia Plantings
Tequesta, FL
November 18, 2024

 I was able to get bike yesterday, even though the wind was strong and in places made me wonder why I decided to head out. I walked Finnegan a mile-and-a-half before the ride and I had failed to eat breakfast. Don't know how that happened. Well, about 10 miles into my ride I realized that I was low on energy and, as it was about 11:30 AM, I shortened my ride and headed home to get some lunch. Coffee is just not good for powering a body into the middle portion of the day. 

Along the way I did see more poinsettia plantings to bring a splash of color to the upcoming holiday season. Most of the usual flower plantings are past their prime and the poinsettias provide as needed kick-start to the gardens. 

Chris and I are about to start our holiday season travel gymnastics. She returns today from the baby shower trip and we leave Sunday to head back for Thanksgiving. We will be there two weeks and then return to Florida for about two weeks before heading back for Christmas and an undefined stay in Maryland while waiting for the arrival of our fourth grandchild, who is also our fourth grandson. Gonna be a wild ride. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - November 18, 2024

 

1. Well, it has arrived. The last Monday before the beginning of the holiday travel season. There are just six Mondays remaining in the year and starting next week the rocket sled ride towards the new year gets into high gear. 

2. Thanksgiving is as late as possible this year. That means---a short Christmas season and more stress. 

3. Family NFL Report. Family teams went 2-3 with the Cowboys playing tonight. The Ravens lost a nail biter to the Steelers, again!.

Cowboys (3-6) tackle Texans (6-4),tonight

Steelers (8-2) survived Ravens (7-4), 18-16

Commanders (7-4) got whipped by Eagles (8-2) 18-26 on Thursday 

Dolphins (4-6) swam past Raiders (4-4), 34-19

Chiefs (9-1) stampeded by Bills (9-2), 21-30

4. For those of you who maintained that Project 2025 was not Trump's plan, see the article in the Washington Post, linked below, about the FCC pick. Project 2025 envisions sweeping changes to economic and social policies and the federal government and its agencies. The plan proposes taking partisan control of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Commerce (DOC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and Federal Trade Commission (FTC), dismantling the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and abolishing the Department of Education (ED), whose programs would be transferred or terminated.^[26][27]  (Wikipedia) I recommend getting familiar with Project 2025 because it seems to be the basis for what is coming to America.

5. Today in History. On a day like today, the first case of a person infected with Covid-19 was confirmed in the Chinese province of Hubei.

On November 17, 2019, the first case of a person infected with Covid-19 was confirmed: a 55-year-old adult from the city of Hubei, China, although at that time the authorities refused to confirm that it was patient zero.

China was able to reach the first known case of Covid-19 in the world, after an in-depth investigation that finally managed to track the patient and map the early contagion pattern, two months before the local outbreak turned into a pandemic.

On December 27 of that year, the doctor of the Provincial Hospital of Chinese and Western Integrated Medicine, Zhang Jixián, had reported to the authorities about new infectious conditions caused by a new type of coronavirus.

Ukraine's allies in disarray as Trump presidency draws near Show all - CNN

Analysis Trump doubles down on controversial Cabinet picks - CNN

India’s successful test of hypersonic missile puts it among elite group - CNN

Long-range strikes against Russia: too late to save Ukraine? - Reuters

US no-frills pioneer Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy protection - Reuters

Oil prices tick higher as Russia-Ukraine tensions escalate - Reuters

Trump picks Brendan Carr, who laid out agenda in Project 2025, as FCC chairman - The Washington Post

As it enters polar night, this Alaska town won’t see sunrise for 64 days - The Washington Post

No, Trump Cannot Run for Re-election Again in 2028 - The New York Times

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Worrisome Choices

 One of the biggest concerns that I had about the president-elect was who would he surround himself with as advisors and cabinet leaders. 

I think the answer is coming in fairly clearly: patsies. 

He is not willing to find experts or even people with experience to run important departments such as defense, justice, and the interior. He is selecting, in at least two cases, people with no experience but who will do his bidding. 

Is anyone else concerned about this? 

On top of unqualified appointees, Trump may be planning to subvert the advice and consent of the Senate by trying for recess appointments--there is something just wrong about that, and also skipping security vetting from the FBI. 

About the announcement for DNI, Director of National Intelligence:

As former Illinois representative Joe Walsh wrote: “Donald Trump just picked someone to oversee our intelligence who, herself, couldn’t pass a security clearance check. She couldn’t get security clearance. She couldn’t get a job in our intelligence community. Because she’s too compromised by Russia. Yet Trump picked her to run the whole thing.” (Letters from an American)

What is happening? Trump seems to be knee-capping Defense, Justice, and the Intelligence Community. 

I saw this coming.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Along the River

Over the Loxahatchee
Tequesta, FL
November 15, 2024

 I realized that my bike ride is generally defined by some body of water. It might be the ICW, or the Loxahatchee River, or even the ocean; but I am never far from water. 

I enjoy riding over the bridges and looking for the tidal level and the wildlife. Even along the ICW and the ocean there is always activity. 

Yesterday's ride was an interesting one. As can be seen in the image, the sky was partly overcast, but there were blue patches. This was just about 2 miles into my almost 18 mile ride. Within the next few miles, the sky becomes completely overcast and at times I wondered if I might get rained on. Fortunately, there was no rain, just an ever strengthening wind that was very cool and at times made the ride difficult. 

But in reality, it was just another great day in Florida. Chris is in Maryland today and she reported the morning temperature in the 40s. It was cool here too, the morning temperature was 67. Too cool to go to the beach, but it will warm to almost 80 later. 

What a difference a thousand miles makes. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

More Festive Decorations

Poinsettias at Publix
Tequesta, FL
November 10, 2024

 I know I wrote about this last year, but using poinsettias for outdoor Christmas plantings is a thing here where we do not get frost. 

The poinsettias are out everywhere brightening up the season with their red festive bracts. 

The splash of poinsettia red makes even the most unassuming garden announce that Christmas is coming!

I enjoy watching the transformation of the gardens for the holiday season and seeing the use of a typically indoors only plant (up north) in outdoors garden plantings. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The Festivities Begin

 

Tiki52 Decorations
Tequesta, FL
November 12, 2024

We went back to our favorite Tuesday evening restaurant which is collocated with a marina. The holiday season's decorations were already illuminated brightening up the uncovered seating area. They added a festive mood to the area. We sat under the Tiki Roof to shield ourselves from the wind, which was not as bad as the previous week, for an enjoyable outing. 

Wall Under Repair
Tiki52
November 12, 2024

I appreciate the Christmas light wrapped palm trees. It is quite a production to wrap a palm tree--sometime they use a bucket lift to also wrap the fronds. 

This was the same restaurant where I pointed out the vandalization last week. Well, I can report that the holes are being fixed, but sadly even the new plaster has been vandalized. I just do not understand the immaturity of some people. 

This is why we cannot have nice things!

Newly Vandalized Wall
Tiki52
November 12, 2024

I worry that as the rails come off our society that there will be more of this needless vandalization. I remember when I visited Moscow during August 1992 that the vandalization was so prevalent that car owners took their windshield wipers off unless it was raining and every gas tank had a lock.

It should be noted that I retouched the image to remove two offensive words which were not consistent with the content of my blog. The subject is the vandalization, not the actual words that were carved into the new plaster. 

Well, at least the holiday lights and the food were enjoyable. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Information Warfare

 It seemingly has become a way of life in America. False news and disinformation are everywhere. The recent election demonstrated the effectiveness of the false news agencies in convincing Americans that we, as a country and a society, are bottom barrel and trash. 

If a majority believe it, it must be true--right? Not so. It remains not true, but the following information does demonstrate how disinformation affected the election outcome.

There is data from a Reuters/Ipsos poll in October that shows just how damaging the information gap is. People who are in possession of truthful, accurate information voted overwhelmingly for Harris. In other words, if you believed violent crime in major American cities was at an all-time high—which is not true—you were far more likely to vote Republican. Voters who knew that inflation had declined over the last year and was close to historic averages were +53 Democratic votes. Perhaps most disturbingly, people who did not have truthful information about undocumented people crossing the southern border were more likely to vote Republican.

(Civil Discourse)

If Americans were making decisions based upon disinformation then who won the election? Well, that does not change, but America will change. 

I am a bit frightened because our president-elect has stated that he will fulfill every promise he made. 

We can't afford them. And I thought Republicans were the party of fiscal responsibility?

Figure 1 summarizes Trump’s campaign promises and their corresponding revenue estimates (collected by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget).

(Forbes)

And so it begins. The sad thing is that the people who elected him will be the ones who may suffer most. BTW, I heard him say something like that in a campaign speech.

Almost every economic policy Trump proposes would, at best, do little for the middle and working classes and, at worst, outright harm them. To take one example, among the random suggestions Trump has made is to make car insurance interest tax deductible. But that would only benefit you if you already itemize your deductions, and only 10% of taxpayers itemize, most of whom are wealthier. The rest of us take the standard deduction, which was significantly increased in that 2017 tax cut Trump wants to extend.  (MSNBC)

Well, the ride into misty future has already begun.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL