Admiring the Decorations

Santa Needs a Cookie
Tequesta, FL
December 16, 2024

 For the first time since my bike accident last week, I was able to ride yesterday. It felt good to be out on my bike again and relatively pain free. My hip pointer remains tender, but otherwise I felt fine. 

I managed just over 17 miles and enjoyed the seasonal decorations along my route. 

One yard decoration stood out as both disturbing and interesting. The skeleton Santa in the image to the right was that decoration. Clearly, Santa is not eating enough Christmas cookies as he is all bones--not even any skin. I actually was looking forward to this particular yard decoration because it has been erected since Halloween. During the Thanksgiving season it was transformed into a seasonal display and now has morphed into a bony Santa. 

I am not a fan of using skeletons for decorations other than at Halloween, but this works on a slightly macabre level. Sadly, this was not the only use for skeletons in Christmas decorations that I saw, it was just the biggest.

I guess it is easy to get tired of snowmen and sleighs. But really? A giant skeleton Santa is not the answer.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - December 16, 2024

 

1. Wow. It is the third Monday of December and there are only two Mondays remaining in the year. I hope that your holiday shopping is complete because Christmas is upon us!

2. Family NFL Report. Family teams went 4-2 during the weekend. The Ravens won and the Steelers lost setting up a battle for the division on Saturday. The Steelers, however, clinched a playoff spot by losing. 

Cowboys (6-8) overcame the Panthers (3-11), 30-14  

Commanders, (9-5) slipped by Saints (5-9), 20-19

Steelers (10-4) were routed by Eagles (12-2), 13-27 

Ravens (9-5) stomped Giants (2-12), 35-14

Dolphins (6-8) were outgunned by Texans (9-5), 12-20

Chiefs (13-1) stomped Browns (3-11), 21-7

3. I'm taking a deep breath this week because once we return to Maryland next Sunday, the pace ramps up and continues into January. The holidays are upon us. 

Self Service Postal Center
Tequesta, FL
December 15, 2025

4. Thank goodness for the post office 24-hour self service center. Chris and I visited our local post office yesterday to purchase some additional stamps for a couple Christmas cards that were too heavy. It was worth it to add 28 cents rather than 73 cents for the additional postage. It was no lines and no waiting.

5. Christmas is nearly in the bag. Our shopping is complete, mostly except of course for those gifts we forgot. The Christmas cards are in the mail and we are cruising into the home stretch of the holidays. 

6. Today in History. December 16, 1773. In Boston Harbor, a group of Massachusetts colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians board three tea ships and dump 342 chests of tea into the harbor.

The midnight raid, popularly known as the “Boston Tea Party,” was in protest of the British Parliament’s Tea Act of 1773, a bill designed to save the faltering East India Company by greatly lowering its tea tax and granting it a virtual monopoly on the American tea trade. The low tax allowed the East India Company to undercut even tea smuggled into America by Dutch traders, and many colonists viewed the act as another example of taxation tyranny.

Netanyahu says he spoke with Trump about need for ‘victory,’ as Israeli government approves plan for Golan expansion - CNN

Considering moving out of the US in 2025? These are the best countries for American expats - CNN

Mayotte cyclone kills several hundred, maybe thousands, in worst storm in century - Reuters

Israel plans to double population on occupied Golan, citing threats from Syria - Reuters

Russian tanker splits in storm, spilling oil into Kerch Strait - Reuters

North Korean troops join Russian assaults in significant numbers, Kyiv says - Reuters

‘Unbearable’: Residents of some small towns, feeling inundated by cruises, fight the industry - The Washington Post

Foreign powers jockey for control in Syria, risking new conflict - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#mondaymusings 

Christmas Movies

 Chris and I have been watching our favorite Christmas movies. It seems that the Holiday Season spawns quite a few movies. 

We watched a new release, Red One, which was a different take on Santa and Christmas. I enjoyed the movie and although it got a bit long, the mythical side of the season made for an interesting story. Who knew that Santa had a brother? And the cast is solid.

I decided today to rank my top 10 favorite Christmas movies, and so here goes:

1. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

2. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

3. The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

4. The Santa Clause (1994)

5. The Holiday (2006)

6. Die Hard (1988)

7. Home Alone (1990)

8. A Boy Called Christmas (2021)

9. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

10. (tie) Christmas with the Kranks (2004)

10. (tie) The Polar Express (2004)

I note that two of the movies are celebrating 20 years of popularity, while another is hitting 30 years old.

Biggest omissions and why:

A Christmas Story (1983) is missing and often ranked #1 on many lists. I just never got into the humor and the family situation. Yes, I can quote lines from the movie--but as a favorite Christmas movie for me it's not a must see. 

Elf (2003) is also missing and ranked high on many lists, but I am not a Will Ferrell fan and so this movie does not do it for me. 

I do enjoy watching new releases and there are many other Christmas movies that I enjoy, but I won't put them on "pause" if I have to leave the room for something. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Just Add Children

 

Christmas Tree
Constitution Park, Tequesta, FL
December 13, 2024

Chris and Finn with the Snowman
Constitution Park, Tequesta, FL
December 13, 2024

The annual Tequesta Christmas Tree lighting occurred last evening. The gates opened promptly at 5:30 PM for families to enter the Christmas displays and activities positioned in Constitution Park. Chris and I were among the first to enter the South Florida version of a winter wonderland as is possible.

There were lots of children with their families racing through the displays. We were a bit underwhelmed by the lack of food options given that it was the dinner hour. 

But, the Tequesta village tree was pretty and the giant snowman was a bit over-the-top. 

Sadly, we wandered the grounds and quickly discovered that since we were unaccompanied by children there was not much for us to do or enjoy. We could have joined the line to sit on Santa's lap, but that would have just been weird. Once we walked around we discovered that there was nothing for adults and so we departed probably 15 minutes after we arrived. 

Some holiday activities need a sign that says, "Just Add Children."

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The Ride and the Crash

Riding on a Beautiful Day
Tequesta, FL
December 11, 2024

 It happens every so often.

I ride my bike a lot. During the past three years I am 70 miles short of riding 5000 miles. Over the course of that time I have been involved in, fortunately, a very few mishaps mostly through my own stupidity, but there have also been times when I laid my bike down to avoid a more serious situation like a car running running through an intersection without looking when I had the right of way. 

My most recent mishap occurred on Wednesday. It came at about the 4 mile point of what became a 22-mile ride. For me it was my most serious spill as I am still, two days later, feeling some pain and recovering. Even so, I rode another 18 miles after the mishap and enjoyed the ride knowing I would be working out the aches and pains later. 

The mishap happened quickly. I was riding with a friend, which whom I have ridden many miles, and a miscommunication between us resulted in me hitting the pavement. He thought I knew we were turning right and I thought we were continuing straight. He was in front and I was in trail to his right. I caught his back wheel and had just enough time to protect myself as I hit the pavement. I remember that when my head thunked onto the roadway I was very happy I wore my helmet. In addition to a few scratches and some light bruising, I tweaked my achilles tendon which is still recovering. I can walk, but not my normal gait yet. The only damage to my bike was that the handlebars and the front wheel needed to be aligned. 

We were lucky. He was unhurt. 

I got up and shook myself off and determined that I could continue the ride. I stretched out my foot so I could pedal and we had a very enjoyable ride from that point onward. 

These things happen, I just wish they wouldn't. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Never-ending Decorations

 

Snow Village Scenes
Tequesta, FL
December 11, 2024

Decorating for  Christmas never ends. 

Chris and I decorated the tree and the house before departing for Thanksgiving. I thought we had completed the seasonal decorating. 

Not so fast, grasshopper. 

Tuesday, we made a trip to the storage facility and retrieved some of our Snow Village pieces along with more Christmas decorations. After cleaning out the display case, we created scenes in each of the display areas. I guess we got the bug to set up some Snow Village after helping Patrick and Jen with their annual village. 

The project came out well and the scenes remind us of the snowy white stuff that I do not enjoy. We also added more festive decorations to the house. 

It seems the decorating never ends until we  put them away after the holidays. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Pelicans Amongst Us

Pelican on a Piling
Tequesta, FL
December 10, 2024

 It was good to be back South Florida enjoying 80-degree temperatures yesterday. 

The sun shone warm and we busied ourselves with holiday preparations. That meant, of course, a trip to the storage facility to retrieve Christmas bins. It was a bit more challenging without the truck, which we left in Maryland pending our return. I could only get five bins into the Mach-e. 

Pelican Posing
Tequesta, FL
December 10, 2024

As evening approached, we met friends at our favorite Tuesday evening establishment, Tiki52, for dinner. It was grand sitting under the tiki hut enjoying great conversation and a meal along with adult beverages. The wind occasionally blew off the ICW and it was cool, but not cold. I was attired in a short-sleeved polo shirt, shorts and sandals. It felt good to not be bundled against the cold, but rather to enjoy the evening outside. 

We were joined by pelicans. We noticed them because they are not usually around when we end the day at Tiki52. I guess they were done fishing for the day and wanted the relative quiet of the marina and Tiki52. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Pets

 Chris and I just completed a two week visit with family and friends, but  the pets in our lives also received a lot of attention. 

Chris and Ethan with Finnegan
December 7, 2024
Odenton, MD

Of course there was Finnegan with his antics and needs. He was so exhausted from the visit that he crashed on the sofa pretty much the entirety of yesterday after we arrived home. Finn can be a party animal. He easily slips into the pack mentality with Lily and Arthur, Nicole's dogs, and even wanted to play with the newly arrived kittens, Merlin and Percy. Finn was lucky to escape one play session with a minor scratch just below his eye, that is the one partially closed in the image.

Percy and Merlin
Odenton, MD
November 28, 2024

Merlin and Percy are the newest arrivals in the house. They are expanding their territory and range on a daily basis as they crash their way into everyone's hearts. There is no other way to describe them--they are just cute. They are growing very fast and will all too soon be cats. Living with dogs is good for them because they are integrating themselves into the family and learning that dogs can be friends, too.

It was a wild time, but also fun to watch the five pets interact--or sometimes not. Nicole has done a good job giving the kittens a same place away from the dogs to escape into if they feel the need. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - December 9, 2024 Travel Edition

 

1. The second Monday of December is upon us. There are but three Mondays remaining in the year 2024! Christmas is a short two-weeks hence.

A Somber Scene as We Departed for the Airport
Odenton, MD
December 9, 2024

2. Today was a travel day. Chris and I, along with trusty dog Finnegan, returned to the warmth of Florida aboard a very nice Southwest Airlines flight after two great weeks in Maryland. While in Maryland visited with friends and family while enjoying a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner. 

Nicole after extinguishing the Candles
Odenton, MD
December 8, 2024

3. Yesterday we celebrated Nicole's birthday. It is not her actual birthday, but fully 50 percent of the family will not be in Maryland on her actual day and so we made it a special and festive day for her. Nicole graciously dropped Chris, me, and Ethan off at the airport before 8 AM this morning so that we could fly to our separate destinations.

4. We were lucky to attend the first game of Jax's basketball season yesterday. While it was a losing effort, it was good to see him on the court getting into playing shape for the upcoming season. He made a few great plays and is definitely a force in the middle. He is tall and when he gets his wings fully extended he can tower over the opposition.

Jax - Force in the Middle
December 8, 2024
Severn Run, MD

5. I had the opportunity to meet Joe Scarborough in the Palm Beach International airport as we deplaned this afternoon. I was surprised to meet him, but he graciously shook hands with me as I told him how much I appreciated his MSNBC show, Morning Joe. I was honored that he took a moment to greet me and shake my hand. I have to admit, that is the very first time in my life that I have stopped someone of consequence to say hello and get a handshake.

6. Airport Horror Story. We arrived at BWI this morning without having eaten breakfast and on one cup of coffee. The idea was that we would get a "too expensive" breakfast at the airport. We ate at Firkin & Flyer and even though I advised the waitress that we had a boarding time which was 25 minutes away (we had already sat with no service for 15 minutes)--breakfast was delivered two minutes before boarding time. I was livid! We asked for boxes and forks and walked very quickly to our gate finding the first half of the B-group already boarded. We had A-group boarding. We ate our now cold and somewhat unappetizing breakfast after the jet reached 10,000 feet.

7. It felt good to get off the plane this afternoon and not be cold! I am relishing the high 70s temperatures! I am barefoot for the first time in two weeks.

8. This being the travel edition, I am dispensing with Today in History and Headlines. Catch them next week. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Fiery Sunset

Sunset on I-70
West of Frederick, MD
December 7, 2024

 Last evening as Chris and I, along with friends George and Sue, were headed to Rohersville, MD, for a winery event art Big Cork, we experienced a magnificent sunset. Since we were driving west we were able to enjoy the sunset for what seemed like forever. 

The clouds were perfectly positioned to reflect the sun's last rays. We were driving west on I-70 just east of Frederick, MD. 

The sky colored as if it were on fire. A patch of blue sky directly in front of us provided some relief. It was a beautiful ride and since I was the front-seat passenger, I was able to get an image of the sunset to remember.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD