Back on the Streets

 

Pelican Over the Loxahatchee River Bridge
Tequesta, FL
January 25, 2025

I managed a short 12-mile bike ride yesterday afternoon. The weather warmed enough, into the mid-60s, for me to risk life and limb on the streets. As an aside, the risking part was very real as I nearly got hit by a motorcycle which blew through a 4-way stop--and I was in the pedestrian walk way (which is allowed in Florida) with the right of way. The biker only smiled when I yelled at him to get his attention so that he wouldn't drift into me as I slammed on my brakes. 

I am amazed at how out-of-shape I have become after the Thanksgiving-Christmas-New Years holidays. Too much wine and the snow/ice kept me from exercising. 

As can be seen from the image of the pelican, it was a pleasant day, although the winds got strong at times. 

I believe we are headed into a more seasonal stretch of weather, which means highs in the mid-70s and lows in the low-60s--kind of like today is supposed to be. 

It was six years ago, this week, that Chris and I were vacationing here in Florida and we purchased the condo in which we now reside. I remember the weather wasps bad as this past week has been--that's why we decided to, just for fun, look at some condos. And then we bought one.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Here Comes the Sun, Finally

 It has been a week since the sky was blue and filled with my favorite bright orb, the Sun. 

I had to turn the heat on in our home to keep the temperature at a reasonable level. I am hopeful of switching back to the A/C today or tomorrow. 

By tomorrow our daytime highs will be back into the 70s. Maybe the cold grip is over! Yay. The news had a funny reminder yesterday that it was too cold for sandals, shorts, and short-sleeve shirts. I have to admit--I figured that out on my own. Still haven't donned socks yet, though I am wearing slippers in the house because the floor is colder than normal.

I have not yet happened upon a cold-stunned iguana. I'm not sure I actually want to see one, but I would be very interested if I, by chance, happened upon one. 

I was hoping for a beach day, but the forecasters continue to revise the daily highs downward from the high 70s to the high 60s. 

It is even too cold and rough, because of the wind, for a boating day. 

Maybe, just maybe I can get a bike ride in this afternoon.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

A New Capability

 Chris and I have owned our Ford Mustang Mach-e since March. Ford had promised an adapter to allow use of Tesla charging stations. 

The adapter finally arrived last week. It was originally promised for September, but Tesla had some production issues and a whole bunch of adapters delivered in June had to be recalled. We wanted to have the adapter before trying a long range trip. Adding the Tesla chargers to the network of existing chargers for the Mach-e provides greater flexibility and shorter charging times. Tesla charging stations tend to be better maintained than some of the other charging locations. 

But ours arrived and we were anxious to try it out. We had to wait because we had plenty of charge on the battery when the adapter arrived.

Yesterday we determined that the time was right to check out the adapter. We found a large Tesla charging station, with 16 chargers, and drove there to try out the new adapter. 

We were lucky we were at a busy place with many chargers. It took us a while to figure everything out and to use the correct software. I had thought we needed a Tesla account--and I had one ready to go. But no, we were able to use the Ford charging app. Once we figured everything out and changed chargers ,things worked well. 

We are ready now, to move about the country. 

Interesting note--this was only the second time we had used a public charger. We typically only charge at home. The only other time we used a public charger was right after delivery when the car was down to 20 percent charge and our home system had not yet been installed. 

Next up? A rod trip to somewhere warm, like Key West. It was 47 degrees here this morning and I had to turn the heat on in the house. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The Cold is Everywhere!

 It is cold. 

Everywhere. 

Even here in South Florida, the past almost four days of rain and cold temperatures have Meade being outside unbearable. 

OK, so I'm whining, I know. I at least am not facing temperatures in the teens with snow, ice, and impossible travel conditions; but I wish it were warmer. 

I have not been able to bike ride since Sunday. It is now Thursday. Tomorrow here in South Florida is supposed to be the coldest day yet--temperatures will possibly dip into the 30s. I may have to wear socks!

Hopefully it will warm up soon. For all of us. 

And then I will complain about the heat!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Manifest Destiny - A Short Review

I was concerned by what I heard our president say during his inaugural speech on Monday in reference to Manifest Destiny. I was particularly concerned because he used this concept while referencing his designs on the Panama Canal, Greenland, and he specifically mentioned Manifest Destiny with his plans for the planet Mars.

The concept and application of Manifest Destiny attempts to cover a host of transgressions by believing we have a God-given right to take what is not rightfully ours and eradicating those who stand in our way. I researched Chat GPT for a short history of the abuses of Manifest Destiny, just to refresh myself about what I learned so very long ago. Mind you, I was not taught the abuses of Manifest Destiny in school because I grew up in a time when America could do no wrong. I learned, over time, the reality of the ugly American past and in which our nation had broken countless treaties and committed genocide which many on the far right now want to omit historical fact and hide. 

The concept of Manifest Destiny, the 19th-century belief that the United States was destined to expand its territory across North America, has been associated with several historical actions and policies that many now consider unjust or criminal. While these actions were often framed as inevitable progress at the time, they led to significant harm to indigenous peoples, other nations, and marginalized groups. Here are the main categories of crimes and injustices linked to Manifest Destiny:

1. Displacement and Genocide of Indigenous Peoples

• Forced Removal: Policies like the Indian Removal Act of 1830 led to the forced relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands, most infamously through the Trail of Tears, during which thousands of Native Americans died.

• Land Theft: Indigenous lands were seized without fair treaties or compensation, violating existing agreements and the sovereignty of tribes.

• Genocide and Violence: Armed conflicts such as the Indian Warsand massacres like those at Wounded Knee resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Indigenous people.

• Cultural Erasure: Efforts to assimilate Native Americans through forced schooling, bans on cultural practices, and suppression of languages can also be seen as crimes against humanity.

2. War and Imperialism

• Mexican-American War (1846–1848): Driven by Manifest Destiny, this war resulted in the U.S. annexing a significant portion of Mexico’s territory (modern-day California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and more) through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Many view this as an act of imperialism, with the war itself being provoked under questionable pretenses.

• Annexation of Texas: The annexation of Texas in 1845, a precursor to the Mexican-American War, involved disputes over borders and challenges to Mexico’s sovereignty.

3. Exploitation and Enslavement

• Expansion of Slavery: The push to expand U.S. territory also expanded slavery into new regions, exacerbating the exploitation of enslaved African Americans. Debates over whether new territories would allow slavery contributed to tensions leading to the Civil War.

• Exploitation of Workers: As new territories developed, many marginalized groups, including Chinese immigrants, Mexican laborers, and freed African Americans, were exploited for labor, often under harsh conditions.

4. Environmental Exploitation

• Manifest Destiny often involved the unregulated exploitation of natural resources, such as deforestation, overhunting (e.g., the near-extinction of bison), and mining practices that devastated ecosystems and indigenous ways of life.

5. Racism and Cultural Supremacy

• Manifest Destiny was fueled by the belief in white supremacy and the notion that European Americans had the right to dominate and “civilize” other peoples. This ideology justified numerous acts of violence, discrimination, and systemic oppression.

These actions and their justifications under Manifest Destiny are now widely studied as part of the darker side of American history, highlighting the human and moral costs of expansionism.

OpenAI. (2025). What Crimes are Associated with Manifest Destiny. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Out the Hotel Window - Kingsland, GA

 

Out the Hotel Window
Kingsland, GA
January 16, 2025

As I was mentally sorting out the events of yesterday and trying to get a handle on the new administration, I realized I didn't publish an image out the hotel window from our stop in Georgia last week.

There was not much to enjoy out the window. Principally there was another hotel across the parking lot.  It was a quiet afternoon, but of course Chris and I had managed to survive a flat tire at highway speed and a floppy tailpipe. We were not so calm upon arriving at the hotel. 

Things went smoothly, however. We enjoyed a relatively good night's sleep. I say relatively because garbage trucks descended upon the area at about 3 AM and awakened me from my deep slumber. I had no trouble returning to dreamland, but it was annoying. We suffer with garbage collection here in Tequesta, but at least they wait until about 5:50 AM before the crashing begins. 

We did enjoy our stay and will likely stop there again as we travel south. There are some areas to explore, like for instance the submarine base and a submarine museum. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - January 20, 2025

 

Loxahatchee River Bridge
Tequesta, FL
January 19, 2025

1. The third Monday of January has arrived. It is a momentous day as the 47th president of the U.S. is sworn in. It is also Martin Luther King Jr Day to remember the struggle for equality for all Americans. There are 49 Mondays remaining in the year.

2. Family NFL Report. Two of the three remaining family NFL teams won their playoff games and move on to the Conference Championship games next week. 

 - Chiefs defeated Texans to move to the AFC Championship game next Sunday and host the Bills. 

 - Commanders defeated Lions to move to the NFC Championship game next Sunday against the Eagles in Philadelphia. 

- Ravens fell short against the Bills and are out of the playoffs. It was both exciting and heartbreaking. 

3. I completed my first bike ride of 2025. It was a short 8 miles since I have not ridden in over three weeks and then only lightly during December. It felt very good to be back on my bike and out touring the area. I enjoyed the mid-70 degree morning especially after being so cold in Maryland. I still cannot believe the extreme of temperatures, from 12 degrees Thursday morning to 80 degrees yesterday afternoon.

4. Three weeks from today, Chris and I will be setting off on a significant trip to experience wine, flora, fauna, and scenery. We have so much to do between now and then.

5. Today in History. On January 20, 1981, minutes after Ronald Reagan’s inauguration as the 40th president of the United States, the 52 U.S. captives held at the U.S. embassy in Teheran, Iran, are released, ending the 444-day Iran Hostage Crisis.

On November 4, 1979, the crisis began when militant Iranian students, outraged that the U.S. government had allowed the ousted shah of Iran to travel to New York City for medical treatment, seized the U.S. embassy in Teheran. The Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran’s political and religious leader, took over the hostage situation, refusing all appeals to release the hostages, even after the U.N. Security Council demanded an end to the crisis in an unanimous vote. However, two weeks after the storming of the embassy, the Ayatollah began to release all non-U.S. captives, and all female and minority Americans, citing these groups as among the people oppressed by the government of the United States. The remaining 52 captives remained at the mercy of the Ayatollah for the next 14 months.

Biden issues preemptive pardons for Milley, Fauci and Jan. 6 committee members - CNN

First Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages freed as Gaza ceasefire takes force - CNN

Ukraine opens a new front against Russia – flattering Trump - CNN

Relieved US TikTok enthusiasts hope 'magic' returns as app is restored - Reuters

China's crude oil imports from top supplier Russia reach new high in 2024 - Reuters

US upgrades probe into 129,000 Ford vehicles over hands-free tech - Reuters

What the North Koreans took into battle against Ukraine - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Getting Back into Life

 

It is Sunday the 19th of January and the last full day of the Biden administration. I worry and wonder what our country will become. We will find out during the next few days as Trump 47 becomes a reality. I have already seen some of the chaos and confusion that accompanied Trump 45 and that concerns me. 

I am taking a deep breath and trying not to get too caught up in the political storms. I will watch the inauguration because seeing and hearing for myself is better than getting only a digested version with inherent biases incorporated into the analysis.

On the home front--Chris and I are getting back into Florida life. We removed most of the traces of Christmas yesterday and made two trips to the storage facility. We have a few more items to pack and store and then we will be ready for the coming months. 

We are looking forward to travel and spending time with family and friends. 

I enjoyed the 80-degree temperature yesterday. Being back in shorts and tee-shirts with bare feet or sandals is definitely my preferred attire. Yesterday was the first day that I had not worn socks in almost a month--and my toes were not cold. I even went barefoot to the mailbox. 

Maybe a bike ride today.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Home for a While

Bungees to the Rescue
Tequesta, FL
January 17, 2025

 For our friends and family following the saga of our trip south, we arrived home safely and without further excitement. 

Thanks for all of you for your concerns and prayers. 

Bungees are lifesavers. They worked perfectly to hold the tailpipe and keep it from banging around. There is only one hangar securing the tailpipe and so stabilization was required since it detached from the muffler. I suggested that the tire shop put a clamp on it, but there wasn't to enough metal remaining at the muffler to support a clamp. Since no hot gasses were being expelled from the tailpipe, the bungees were unharmed and held fast. 

I will call my auto repair team on Monday to get a few things done to the truck. It is perfectly drivable now, but I need to get a 4-wheel alignment, two new tires, and of course the muffler/tailpipe issue resolved. 

Chris and I are now focused on taking down the Christmas decorations. We departed the Sunday before Christmas and only just returned yesterday. It was a long visit and we had a great time with friends and family. Thank-you especially to Nicole and Mike for putting up with us and Finnegan for the extended visit.

Looking ahead, we have a short 3 weeks and 2 days (until the Monday after the Super Bowl) before we head off on another long trip. More about that later! But it is exciting and we will be traveling from Winter to Summer! 

BTW, for those of you in the Polar Vortex--we escaped just in time. The temperature outside this morning is 70 degrees!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Travel Crisis

The Hole in the Tire
Brunswick, GA
January 16, 2025

 Driving is supposed to be worry free.

And for almost every trip Chris and I have made that has been the case. 

Until yesterday. 

I noted, as the trip began, that the truck would go over 100,000 miles. I should have suspected that this would not be a maintenance free trip. We were 30 minutes from our hotel for the night when the truck tire monitoring  system advised me that the passenger rear tire was losing air. Rapidly. I was traveling about 75 mph at this point in the left lane of three lanes.

Fortunately we were about a half-mile from the Brunswick, GA, exit and I was able to navigate to a gas station. Sadly, they were unable to help except for giving me directions to a tire company. I filled the tire with air and we made it the additional half-mile to the tire dealership. But wait, as we pulled away from the gas station we started hearing a loud metal banging noise. Upon arriving at the tire company I discovered that one of the tail pipes had separated from the muffler.

I bought two new tires and had them installed, but that left the tail pipe. The tire store was unable to provide any assistance for the tail pipe. After unsuccessfully trying to find a muffler service shop, I determined that I could bungee the tail pipe in place and continue on to Tequesta and have my own mechanic repair/replace it. 

All-in-all we were delayed about 1.5 hours--but the truck should be able to make the roughly 4-hour run to Tequesta tomorrow.

Turns out the tire was in a lot worse shape than I originally thought. It was on the back and I could not examine the tread without contorting myself. It used to be on the front, but was recently rotated and I fear there may be a camber issue with the back tires.

-- Bob Doan, Kingsland, GA