50 Years

Anniversary Cake
Tequesta, FL
August 3, 2025

 Today Chris and I celebrate 50 years of marriage.

I remember that back during 1975 when two 19 year olds got married that the probability of still being together 50 years later were not that great. But, it happened! 

It was a hot summer day in Ithaca, NY, on August 9, 1975. The wedding was thankfully at 7 PM, but the church was not air conditioned. Fortunately, it was cooler as the day drew to a close and we were not all that uncomfortable during the service. Pastor Degner was mercifully short and soon we were enjoying a modest reception at a local Union Hall. I wish I had remembered to bring some wedding pictures along on this trip to include in the blog, but they are safely stored in albums in our Florida storage room.

After the reception, Chris and I settled into our hotel for the night, but a short while later our wedding party, comprised of our best friends and my sister Pennie, crashed our love nest with pizza and we partying with them until the wee hours of the morning. After the sun rose, it was off to begin Day 1 of a marriage which today celebrates 50 years together. We have been blessed with three great kids, four wonderful grandsons, and many friends and acquaintances over the years.

And writing of friends, before we departed Florida on our current trip to Maryland our friends there gave us a celebratory cake and congratulations. That was very nice and unexpected. Tonight we gather with our family to celebrate and remember. 

Tomorrow, we begin Day 1 of year 51!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

They are not just boring Pinecones

Pinecones
Elkridge, MD
August 6, 2025

 Chris, Finn, and I went for a walk and happened upon a pine tree hanging over the sidewalk. As I ducked under the branch, I noticed pine sap on the pinecones glistening in the sunlight. I had not noticed sap on pinecones before and it added a new aspect to a very familiar object.

 

I had to take an image. 

We enjoyed the walk and in writing this item I learned that pinecone, the word, can be written as an open compound word: pine cone, or a closed compound word: pinecone and that both forms are correct although writers should choose one form and remain consistent throughout their writing. 

BTW, Happy Friday--the weekend is upon us. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Bob - 2, Lanternfly - 0

Spotted Lanternfly

 Living in Florida, I had totally forgotten about  the Spotted Lanternfly, a Chinese import, until yesterday.

I came across two of the invasive insects yesterday and was able to dispatch them both; doing my part for the environment. 

As invasive spotted lanternflies continue moving through the United States, local agricultural agencies have launched “If you see it, kill it” campaigns urging people to kill the bugs in order to prevent any further spread across the U.S. 

(Time)

I wish we could have done something similar to the Emerald Ash Borer and we might still have some mature ash trees.

The spotted lanternfly is a planthopper indigenous to parts of China and Vietnam. It was accidentally introduced into South Korea and has spread invasively to Japan and the United States, where it is often referred to by the acronym "SLF". Its preferred host is the tree of heaven, but it also feeds on other trees, and on crops including soybean, grapes, stone fruits, and Malus spp. In its native habitat, L. Wikipedia

The spotted lanternfly is easy to identify, although some people may mistake it for a stink bug, another Chinese import. 

Is there a humane way to kill a bug? 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Pineapple Boy

Beck watching the Dancing Pineapple
Glen Burnie, MD
August 5, 2025

 We completed a pleasantly uneventful road trip to Maryland. Yesterday, the traffic was so smooth that we arrived in Elkridge sooner than Apple Maps predicted even with two bio stops. That was due to traffic clearing as the morning rush dissipated, but this was a definite change from other trips where we sit in traffic and watch our predicted arrival time move later and later. 

Chris and I spent a last evening with our youngest grandchild and, of course, his mom and dad. We were lucky to be able to synch up with them to reconnect. 

Beck, our youngest grandchild, has grown a lot since our last visit two months ago and is closing in on 7 months old! He is a beautiful, alert, inquisitive boy. 

He also likes a dancing pineapple animation and the associated music. I thought the funniest thing he did was use his hands to clap his feet together while lying on his back. He likes to be held and interact with people, but he also plays with his age-appropriate toys. The entire duration of our visit Beck was a very happy baby--which made the visit that much more enjoyable. 

We are looking forward to seeing Beck a couple more times during our visit. And his parents, too!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Out the Hotel Window - Dunn, NC, Aug 2025

Out the Hotel Window
Dunn, NC
August 4, 2025

 Yes, Chris and I are back in Dunn, NC, along with our trusty dog, Finn. Dunn has become the place where I like to stop for the night as we travel north from our home in Florida. It is about 2/3 the way to Maryland, maybe a bit more, but given the traffic around DC having a short second day is desirable. 

The view for this stay is one of the best in a long time. I have to giggle a bit at the Burger King sign. I believe it has been over a year since the sign was damaged. I wonder if it is ever going to be repaired? 

I enjoy looking at the flags and of course the cloud filled sky. 

The trip, thus far, has been one of the best. The clouds kept the hot sun away for most of the day. We only encountered one brief rain shower and were blessed with no long delay traffic incidents. We lost only 48 minutes during the trip for stops--our best ever. When we left Tequesta, Apple Maps predicted a 2:13 PM arrival time and we arrived at 3:02 PM. Chris packed some power bars, which we decided would be lunch and so we never stopped for food, so only one gas stop and three bio breaks.

Finn was his usual trooper self, once he settled after realizing that he was being loaded into the truck after the suitcases. He is funny when he sees suitcases and makes it a point to be underfoot so he won't be forgotten. 

Well, time to start today!

-- Bob Doan, Dunn, NC

Looking at the Clouds

I-95
Oak Hill, FL
August 4, 2025

 We are on the road north. Looking out the window this morning at the clouds in the sunrise was a spectacular sight. We have been on the road for two hours and completed our first driver swap which allowed me to do the Wordle and write the blog. 

I made the decision to let Chris drive when the driving is usually easiest; through the wilds of Florida. I all too often hand her the wheel just in advance of construction and thunderstorms.  While she drives through them great, it isn’t fair for me to do the easier driving. 

We are headed for an overnight stop in North Carolina before finishing our trip in Maryland tomorrow. 

— Bob Doan, I-95 in Florida 

From Seashore to Marina

Atop the Stairs
Jupiter Island, FL
August 2, 2025

 Saturday was bookended by water. Chris, Finn, and I began the day with a beach walk on Jupiter Island. The sun was hot, the water warm, and there more than a few snorkelers enjoying the day as well. I had thought it was the lobster mini season, but according to my info that ended on Thursday. 

Standing atop the stairs crossing the dune, the ocean was inviting and the encroachment of sand onto the stairs could be seen. There are dozens of turtle nests and it is amazing that some of the turtles actually crawl up the dune to the foliage at the top to lay their eggs. It makes the baby turtles descent to the ocean longer and more treacherous, especially as they have to cross the piles of sargassum. I hope it all works out for them.

Under the Tiki Hut
Tequesta, FL
August 2, 2025

The day progressed normally and we decided, on a whim, to head to Tiki52 for dinner. We had not visited there in two weeks and with our upcoming travel we will not get to enjoy the relaxing vibe for a couple more weeks.

We had a great time, although when we first arrived the live music was a bit too loud. That ended and the noise level returned to normal. We enjoyed chatting and planning, which is something we do when we go out for meals. 

It was a great ending for the day.

Today is devoted to trip preparations and truck loading. Tomorrow the road awaits.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Shooting the Messenger

 We witnessed an example of "shooting the messenger" yesterday.

Trump fires statistics chief after soft jobs report

The firing yesterday of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner is a classic example of shooting the messenger, but portends a more sinister and potentially devastating situation for our nation. 

What happens if, as Project 2025 describes, the federal workforce becomes staffed with people who are loyal to the president over supporting the Constitution? Will we be able to believe anything published by the government? That is my concern. When facts are no longer facts but become twisted to make the president happy while managing reality, the United States will become no better than a banana republic.

It is also clear that businessmen do not make good presidents. The idea that people can be fired because you don't like what they are telling you, if it is based in fact, is not good government. Period! Bad news is just as important as good news.

Trump said something the other day about the declining value of the dollar (down 10 percent since he took office)* that made no sense. 

"Well, you know, I'm a person that likes a strong dollar, but a weak dollar makes you a hell of a lot more money," Trump said in a media Q&A. (Newsweek)

If the dollar is worth less, then he has less economic power at the end of the day. Am I missing something here?

If the dollar is worth less then things like oil and imports cost more dollars and We the People certainly are not earning more. I know that my income has not increased by 10 percent this year. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

 *Note: The article says that the dollar is down 11 percent since the first of the year, but made the point that Trump was not president for the all of that time. I had heard it was down 10 percent since he took office, but I cannot find where I heard that. So, I went with 10 percent. 

Fully Assembled

Fully Assembled Lumin Grill and Stand
Tequesta, FL
July 31, 2025

Happy August!

 The dedicated grill stand arrived two days early. The matching stand was not supposed to arrive until today, but it showed up late-Wednesday and I assembled it yesterday. Yes, there was some assembly required. I actually despised the assembly directions, it was drawings which at times made no sense. But, Chris and I struggled through them and successfully assembled the stand, without injury, and mated it to the grill. 

Last evening, I prepared our second meal, salmon, on the new grill! Mmmm. I'm still learning temperature control, but the salmon was cooked to perfection. 

I found that the Weber Lumin grill cleans much easier than other grills I have owned. The salmon did not create a mess because I cooked it in aluminum foil, but the remains from the steak the other night were easily cleaned. That was way cool. 

In biking news, I finished the month 10 miles short of 300 miles. A good month, but it would have been nice to cross the 300 mile mark for the 5th time since I have been riding. I started out August with a brisk 1.48 mile walk with Chris and Finn. 

OK, now onto August!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Post Hump Day

Aperol Spritz
Lucky Shuck, Jupiter, FL
July 30, 2025

 Wow, what a day yesterday turned out to be.

I have already written about the early morning activity--but wait, there's more. 

Chris and I checked out a new place for Happy Hour. We went to Lucky Shuck to enjoy their Wednesday Happy Hour Special: $1 oysters and $1 wings!

It has been a long time since I enjoyed a dozen oysters and did not feel guilty! I also enjoyed an Aperol Spritz, which is one of my favorite cruise ship drinks. 

It should be noted that Chris does not enjoy oysters, but she did devour a few wings. 

The restaurant sits along the ICW next to a marina and so there is a lot of activity, but with the heat last evening we stayed inside at the bar and I had my back to the water. No matter, there was plenty to enjoy. And in a really freaky coincidence, Chris and I met and chatted with two people from my actual hometown. We compared friends from the past for a short while. It was even weirder because even though I tell people I'm from a small city situated at the southern end of one of the Finger Lakes, I'm truly from a small town without a post office or a traffic light. We went into the city for everything, including school.

Well, today is Friday-eve AND the last day of my favorite month of the year. Tomorrow begins the slide into the end of the year. I can already tell that the days are getting shorter.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL