A Cold Winter's Sun, but Joyful Hearts

 

Cold Winter Sun
Odenton, MD
January 9, 2025

It is cold. 

The temperature has not made it above freezing for two straight days, although we are expecting a high of 33 degrees today! Whoopee!

Although the temperature is freezing, there is joy in our hearts this morning as our newest grandson, Beckett, arrived just after 4 AM this morning weighing in at 9 lbs 1 oz. Mother and father are doing well. He shares a birthday with my Dad who turns 97 years old today. 

Happy Birthday to Beckett and to my Dad!

January 10th must be a good date!

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Allies don't do that to Allies

 I have been reading to and listening to the president-elect's desires to invade the Panama Canal and Greenland, and annex Canada. 

Are we crazy?

Do we not remember that the U.S. is the cornerstone of NATO and that Article 5 stipulates that an attack on one is an attack on all? That article had been employed only once in history--after 9-11 when our good friends and NATO allies supported the U.S.

What is our president-elect thinking? If he takes Greenland by force, as he has suggested, he would make the U.S. one of the worldwide oppressors and the NATO allies would have to defend Denmark employing Article 5. 

Even a tariff war could be considered an attack--an economic attack. 

And then . . . 

Annexing Canada? Really? We invaded Canada once (War of 1812) and lost. We have no business annexing Canada.

And then there is the Panama Canal. Treaties were written and signed. It is estimated that the U.S. has broken more than 370 Treaties over time. It might be construed that our word is not our bond.

Allies don't do this kind of stuff to allies. 

Invading Greenland would make us the same as Russia in Ukraine and China in the South China Sea. 

I don't think this is the mandate that Trump was given. How is he planning to lower gas and grocery prices? I'm not hearing much about those campaign promises from the guy who said he would keep every promise. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Snowy Walk

Finn on the Snow
Odenton, MD
January 7, 2025

Tracks in the Snow
Odenton, MD
January 7, 2025

 The snow stopped yesterday. 

Yay. 

By the afternoon the sky was clear and the paths in the snow had become passable. Chris and I took Finnegan for a walk. The sidewalks were clear, but one area where we walk was fully snow covered, although therefore passable tracks in the snow. 

We stopped along the way and placed Finn atop a snow pile. He was not amused. While he enjoyed the walk, he just did not like being on the snow pile and took every opportunity to return to the sidewalk. 

Chris took every opportunity yesterday to remind me how beautiful is the freshly fallen snow. I responded with "It's cold."

It is cold. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

And the Snow Fell

Snow Falling
Odenton, MD
January 6, 2025

 I shoveled snow yesterday. 

It was the first time in three years that I picked up a shovel and moved the cold white stuff around. 

We received a lot of snow, maybe 10 inches. Ugh!

I had a conversation with a 10yo boy yesterday about the snow. He suggested to me that Maryland had never seen as much snow before and I told him about Snowpocalypse in 2010 and the 30 inch blizzard of 2016. We have been hammered before, but not so much in recent years and so it is easy to forget or not know about the big storms of the past.

Snow Selfie
Odenton, MD
January 6, 2025

Schools are closed for the second consecutive day. I, however, expect to get out into the world today for some reason or another.

I did have the experience of helping a neighbor get his car unstuck. It reminded me of old times. Not fond memories of old times, just old times. It always seems that someone's car gets stuck somewhere.

I do miss my palm trees and warm sun. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Monday Musings - January 6, 2025

 

Percy and Lily Napping
Odenton, MD
January 5, 2025

1. Welcome to the first Monday of 2025. I still have trouble typing the new year. There are 51 Mondays remaining on the new calendar to enjoy.

2. Family NFL Report. The teams we cheer for have finished the regular season. Four teams are in the playoffs, while others failed to make the post-season.  

 Chiefs (15-2) are the #1 Seed in the AFC. They have a BYE. 

Cowboys (7-10) are out of the playoffs. Finished with a loss to the Commanders.

Commanders, (12-5) are the #6 Seed in the NCC and travel to Tampa for a playoff game against the Buccaneers

Ravens (12-5) are the #3 Seed in the AFC. They host the #6 seed Steelers (10-7) next Saturday

Dolphins (8-9) finished with a loss to the Jets and are out of the playoffs. 

3. Who says cats and dogs don't get along. Yesterday Percy and Lily were caught napping together. They seemed very happy.

4. The biggest Winter storm in a few years has descended upon the region. Most everything is shuttered and the snow is falling at a rate of 1-3 inches per hour. This could continue all day. We estimate 6 inches on the ground already.

5. I remember January 6, 2021. I am appalled at how the events of that day have been recounted to fit competing narratives. Police were attacked and, despite statements to the contrary, people died both on that day and later as a result of injuries sustained on that day. In a sanctuary of democracy, the Capitol, Americans attacked Americans with the intent to do harm.

6. Today in History. On January 6, 1838, Samuel Morse’s telegraph system is demonstrated for the first time at the Speedwell Iron Works in Morristown, New Jersey. The telegraph, a device which used electric impulses to transmit encoded messages over a wire, would eventually revolutionize long-distance communication, reaching the height of its popularity in the 1920s and 1930s.

Samuel Finley Breese Morse was born April 27, 1791, in Charlestown, Massachusetts. He attended Yale University, where he was interested in art, as well as electricity, still in its infancy at the time. After college, Morse became a painter. In 1832, while sailing home from Europe, he heard about the newly discovered electromagnet and came up with an idea for an electric telegraph. He had no idea that other inventors were already at work on the concept.

Congress convenes today to certify Trump’s 2024 election win, clearing his way to be America’s 47th president - CNN

Blinken warns Russia is close to sharing satellite technology with North Korea - CNN

Pope appoints Trump critic to be archbishop of Washington, DC - CNN

Canada PM Trudeau is likely to announce resignation, source says - Reuters

European shares, euro surge after report of more targeted US tariffs - Reuters

U.S. Steel, Nippon allege Biden violated constitution in lawsuit over blocked deal - Reuters

Winter storm hits central US, barrels toward Washington - Reuters

Warren Upton, oldest survivor of Pearl Harbor attack, dies at 105 - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Winter Storm Warning - January 2025

 

I guess this is what I get for driving north during December and January--a Winter Storm warning. 

But I was not expecting 7-8 inches of snow. Who dialed that up? 

I think this could be the biggest storm the area has experienced in five years. 

The precipitation forecast for tomorrow is in the image. I am very happy that I did not have any travel planned. I also hope that our unborn grandson does not choose the middle of the storm for his arrival on the planet. 

It should be an exciting time. 

I'm not sure I remember how to shovel snow--just kidding, it is like riding a bike, one never forgets: one shovel at a time. 

I am happy that Ethan made it safely back to Georgia where the snow will miss him, but he will suffer with about a half-inch of cold rain.

I suppose we will be joining the thousands of our new best friends at the grocery store stocking up on consumables. I need to get some ice melt from the hardware store. 

Well, the fun begins this evening. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Snow--duh!

Evening with Snow on the Lawn
Odenton, MD
January 3, 2025

 Break out the ice scrapers--it is 24 degrees this morning and it snowed last night. So not only is it cold, it is also snow covered and likely many ice patches. BTW, I did not bring an ice scraper with me on this trip. I guess I will use one of my metal credit cards as a substitute.

Chris and I were out last evening to dinner with Jeremy, Julie, and Luke. The snow started as we were driving to dinner and it reminded me of everything I do not like about winter. 

I was amazed at the number of vehicles which suddenly decided that driving 10 mph above the speed limit was suddenly about 40 mph too fast. Ugh. I felt bad for the drivers because I imagined their hands clenched on the steering wheel as their arm muscles started to fail from the previously infrequent use.  

And the serious storm is not due until tomorrow night. 

The important thing is that it snowed. Chris loves snow, me not so much. I guess that is why I pushed to retire in South Florida. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

On the Eastern Shore

 

Along the Street
Berlin, MD
January 2, 2025

Yesterday, Chris and I took a field trip. OK, so we aren't in school, but we did make a drive to the Maryland Eastern Shore to visit friends and traveling companions. 

The drive to the Eastern Shore was enjoyable. We saw a huge flock of Snow Geese landing in a field and were reminded of the beauty of the Eastern Shore.

We also were treated to a tour of Berlin, MD, where we did some post-Christmas gift shopping and enjoyed lunch at the historic Hotel Atlantic. Berlin was the setting for the film Runaway Bride in 1999. The Hotel Atlantic was featured in the film. 

It was, as the image shows, a beautiful afternoon--well, it was cold, but bright and sunny.

We spent a very enjoyable afternoon with our friends. It was much too short, but I had an early morning medical appointment and had to get back. I watched the first quarter of the Georgia-Notre Dame game with them before we head to begin the trip back to Odenton. 

It was a very enjoyable day and we look forward to seeing them again soon.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

2025, Day 2

 

Newly Opened US-1 Bridge
Jupiter, FL
January 1, 2025
Photo by Carola Frantzen

Apparently craziness is how 2025 will start off.

Terrorist attacks complete with exploding cyber-trucks and security concerns surrounding the College Football Playoffs were in the news as the year began. 

But, in really fantastic news, the US-1 Bridge over the Loxahatchee River in Jupiter, FL, partially reopened. We have been suffering with congested traffic since March 2023 when the existing bridge was closed for demolition and reconstruction. We are excited to have one more lane each way because that increased the number of available lanes to cross the river from 2 to 3 and removed an excruciating detour. Maybe traffic will moderate a bit. I am anxious to drive over the bridge. The completed bridge will have a nice bike lane, and I am looking forward to biking across the bridge. 

A special thanks to Carola for taking the picture of the newly opened bridge while caught in traffic.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

2025 Dawns

 Happy New Year 2025

Percy and Finnegan Ready for the New Year

As the new year dawns, it is a good time to stop, before the college football playoffs begin, and reflect on 2024 and set goals for 2025. 

I'm not writing that I have any goals for 2025 at this point, but being the half-decade year it would be good to have some since Chris and I will be crossing some significant milestones this year. 

I am not going to do a comprehensive review of 2024 because in many respects it was a great year and I want to remember it that way. Yeah, there were tears and sorrows, but mostly the year provided growth. 

For 2025? 

Chris and I are scheduled to visit South Africa during February to enjoy scenery, animals, and of course wine!

There will be a cruise, or two. None yet scheduled. 

Did I mention that a grandson is expected? Imminently? 

We are both hoping to knock a few things off the bucket lists. I'm hoping to get to my two remaining unvisited U.S states.

And I will ride my bike as much as I can. There are many unexplored trails in Florida I am hoping to try. And maybe I will do the C&O Towpath trail from Cumberland, MD, to Washington, DC. 

It all begins today.

Wishing everyone the best for the new year. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD