Cheering the Wildcats

Jax and Nicole
Berlin, MD
MAy 10, 2025

 I have not written a lot about the Arundel High School Varsity Baseball Team this season. But, their win over Saverna Park made them a regional champion and propelled them into the Maryland State Class 3A Baseball Finals, it is time to start mentioning the Wildcats. 

It was a tough season, with the Wildcats going 10-10 until the regional playoffs. They won their play-in game and then defeated two more teams, including one team that was a favorite to with the state championship, to get into the finals, where they are now .

Their win yesterday, 7-2 over Saverna Park, was a signature win which propelled them into the States. 

The official final seedings for the State tournament are pending as of this morning but there is excitement in the air as the season continues. One unofficial source has Arundel facing Chopticon. The stats and comparison between the two teams is on the web.

I love baseball!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Tiki Tuesday Again

Blowing Rocks Marina
Tequesta, FL
May 13, 2025

 Tuesday is, of course, Tiki Tuesday. And yesterday definitely fit the description. 

I completed an almost 18-mile ride in the morning and enjoyed sitting at Tiki52 alongside the marina for an enjoyable evening. 

The flags were especially impressive last evening against the ultra blue sky and I felt compelled to snap an image of them. It was a nicely warm evening at Tiki52 and the wind off the water was more refreshing than it was uncomfortably cold. 

My biking adventure earlier in the day was largely unremarkable except for one stretch where the service trucks completely blocked the road and I had to dismount and squeeze my bike between them. I don't understand how the drivers did not see anything wrong with completely blocking the road to unload goods. I should have taken an image of the situation for posterity, but I was too upset that I had to dismount and walk between the trucks to think about anything other than safety. 

Well, we have friends arriving today for a week and I am looking forward to some boating and beach activities. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Summer Effectively Arrives in South Florida

And the Rain Fell
Tequesta, Fl
May 12, 2025

 The overcast gray and rain was perfect for a Monday. That describes our weather yesterday. It definitely was an indoor day. Last evening it rained so hard and for so long that we had a river in the street moving for the storm drains. Fortunately the drains were able to handle the water. Sometimes the can't.

Today, however, is shaping up to be a better day. The much needed rain of yesterday has cleared out and blue skies portend a hot and sunny day. 

The forecast for the rest of the week is sunny with highs in the upper-80s and low-90s. The "feels-like" temperature will be in the high-90s and even low-100s due to the humidity. I'm feeling some bike, beach and boat activities coming on! 

Feels like summer has arrived!

--Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - May 12, 2025

 

1. Well here we are, it is the 2nd Monday of May 2025. Amazingly there are 33 Mondays remaining in this year. 

2. How 'bout them O's? Sitting on the bottom of the division, but they managed to win their second series of the year after getting swept in Minnesota. They are currently tied for the 26th (of 30) best team in MLB. If this were the Premier League in the UK, they would be facing relegation--maybe not a bad idea. I think Norfolk could do better than they are playing right now. 

3. We enjoyed a great Mother's Day. The day was capped at a local Italian Restaurant, Vulcano's.  for a great meal with friends. The wine flowed freely as did the food. This small restaurant in a local strip plaza was a great find. The evening was great and was a fitting end for the celebration of Mothers. 

4. Trump's trade war with the world is becoming something of a joke and it is fraught with possibilities for corruption. Take, for instance, this morning's announcement of a trade deal with China. The markets surged, but was this information available to everyone or only a select few? There is money to be made, but, I suspect, the system is being games and the small investors are left holing the bag. 

5. Today in History. The body of aviation hero Charles Lindbergh’s baby is found on May 12, 1932, more than two months after he was kidnapped from his family’s Hopewell, New Jersey, mansion.

Lindbergh, who became the first worldwide celebrity five years earlier when he flew The Spirit of St. Louis across the Atlantic, and his wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh discovered a ransom note in their 20-month-old child’s empty room on March 1. The kidnapper had used a ladder to climb up to the open second-floor window and had left muddy footprints in the room. In barely legible English, the ransom note demanded $50,000.

On May 12, a renewed search of the area near the Lindbergh mansion turned up the baby’s body. He had been killed the night of the kidnapping and was found less than a mile from the home. The heartbroken Lindberghs ended up donating the home to charity and moved away.

Latest updates: US and China agree to lower tariff levels for 90 days - Reuters

Kurdish PKK disbands and ends 40-year Turkey insurgency - Reuters

Trump plans to accept luxury 747 from Qatar to use as Air Force One - Reuters

Republicans to reveal whether they will advance tax hike on the wealthy - Reuters

Zelenskiy tells Putin to come to Turkey if he wants talks, after Trump intervention - Reuters

Trump is finally getting his parade — and it's only going to cost taxpayers tens of millions - MSNBC

South Carolina botched this man’s execution. But that’s not the main problem. - MSNBC

Trump travels abroad after talks fail with those who shout 'death to America' - FoxNews

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#mondaymusings

Mother's Day 2025

 Mother's Day 2025

Sidney J. (Fairbanks) Doan 
Columbia, MD
August 16, 2013

It is a blessing that we can take a day to celebrate mothers. In the human experience, having a mother is something we all share. Sometimes the mother we celebrate may not be our biological mother, but to whom we choose to ascribe the title "mother" is, perhaps, the most honorable and important title in all of humanity.  

Today I honor all moms: my mom, my wife, my daughter, my daughters-in-law, and every woman who is a mom. 

Thanks for the love, toil, work, and dedication being a mom requires. You are the keepers of society and future generations.

Today, however, I especially remember, my mom. She passed during December 2021, but she is still very present with both Chris and me. One of the ways she is present is her maiden name. We often bike through a golf community and some of the streets are simply named Fairway with a direction (N, NE, E, SE, etc.). Her maiden name was Fairbanks and the similarity is enough to remind us of her every time we bike the Fairway streets. But more than that, both Chris and I refer to her often and the blessing that she was watching us progress from a couple of love-struck high school kids into who we are today. 

And even today my mom remains a blessing to my entire family for her strength, grace, and wisdom. 

Thanks for being my mom and the embodiment of love.

1 Cor 13:4-8a. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Friday on the Course

Chris Putting
Jupiter Dunes, Jupiter, FL
May 9, 2025

 Chris and I actually got out yesterday and played a round of golf at our favorite local course. We had not played together since January and it was good to be back out on the links. That written, this course is tough. Small greens and some really tough shots. I did not do as well as I would have liked. 

Green Heron
Jupiter Dunes, Jupiter, FL
May 9, 2025

We rode for a change as we normally walk the course. With the hot humid weather moving in, I thought we might enjoy the back 9 more if we were not exhausted from the front 9. And it worked out. It was nice to have the shade of the golf cart to shield us from the burning sun.

Of course, as always we were treated to a variety of animals to enjoy. Fortunately there are no alligators on this course, but I got a very nice image of a green heron. 

We enjoyed our time on the course and were able to get out of the sun just before lunch time to enjoy the remainder of the day out of the heat and humidity. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

As the Weather Turns

Gopher Tortoise
Tequesta, FL
May 8, 2025

 The weather has turned.

Our weather has transitioned from an almost idyllic springtime with low humidity and moderate temperatures to South Florida summer where the temperatures and humidity both approach 90. It is uncomfortable after enjoying the long and luxurious weather we have experienced. But, we knew the sloppy wet heat would soon arrive.

I rode almost 18 miles yesterday before the day became too unbearable. The region is lacking for moisture as can be seen from the image of the tortoise along the roadway that I snapped yesterday. The normally lush green grasses are burnt and brown. We need rain--lots of it, but hopefully not all at once.

In the news, was it a cosmic coincidence that an American was selected as Pope on V-E Day? Yes, Pope Leo XIV is originally from Chicago.

Oh; my tortoise count yesterday was 2.

Chris and I are planning a golf outing this morning. It will be our first together since January. At least the lower off-season rates are in effect.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Riding and Walking

Flower on the Grass
Tequesta, FL
May 7, 2025

 I pushed Chris a harder yesterday on our bikes. I added a two-mile loop bringing her up to 12 miles on the ride. That she was tired at the end, but she made the ride and is getting back into riding shape.

I enjoy our rides together. They are slower than when I ride alone, but it is nice to be with someone and we stay connected on our cells to communicate during the ride. That makes it nice as we can discuss what we are seeing or warn each other of traffic situations.

The real challenge is after the ride. Finnegan needs to be walked. I have to admit I am not interested in walking the dog after riding for more than an hour. But, it needs to be done and so we do it. We definitely get our exercise in for the day. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Enjoying the Late Afternoon

Florida Crow
Carlin Park Beach, Jupiter, FL
May 6, 2025

 The ultimate form of escapism for me is enjoying the beach on a sunny afternoon. There is something about the sound of the waves and the antics of the birds that erases all of the concerns from my mind. 

Yesterday was no exception.

Kiteboarder with Moon
Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL
May 6, 2025

The birds were exceptionally active. We had an assortment of crows, sanderlings, sand pipers, and a couple of ospreys that kept us amused. Sadly, there were no surfers but a couple of kiteboarders were out on the rough waters of the Atlantic.

One kiteboarder was very proficient and stayed on the water for quite a while. My only concern was when he landed the kite--it seemed like a phoenix and kept trying to rise up into the air. I felt we were within the possible impact zone if he lost control--fortunately, he was able to finally get the kite to stay down. 

A great ending to a nearly perfect day, Happy Hour on the beach with friends. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The 6th of May

 It is the day after the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration. Chris and I usually host a gathering, but this year we didn't have anyone around to celebrate with and so we went out to the local Mexican restaurant to enjoy some food and libations. 

Super Nachos
Rancho Chico, Tequesta, FL
May 5, 2025

It is a short walk to Rancho Chico, but with the threat of thunderstorms in the area we drove and were fortunate enough to find parking in the much-too-small lot. I wondered why the restaurant did not actually close down the parking lot and do a celebration similar to what the Irish restaurant puts on for St Patricks Day. I think having a real mariachi band and tents out in the parking lot would be a lot more celebratory. There would certainly be more room for all of the people who crammed into the restaurant. We were lucky to head over a bit early--before the rush. 

All-in-all, we had a great Cinco de Mayo. We enjoyed margaritas--the ones I made at home were much better than the watered down ones at the restaurant. We enjoyed the music and the food. 

And so, my favorite foreign holiday is over and we move ahead. What's next? V-E Day, of course! Although I fear the name will soon be changed incorrectly because Victory Day World Way II did not actually occur until September 2 when the Japanese formally surrendered. I guess not everyone actually remembers the history they study. I wonder what our president will rename Cinco de Mayo?

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL