2 Days in a Row

Jeremy Chipping onto the 17th Green
Timbers at Troy, Elkridge, MD
August 10, 2025

 I played 18 holes of golf yesterday. Well, actually, the golf course played me for most of the day. It has been a long time since I played golf two days in a row and I remember why. The second day can be both painful and awful at times. Still, a day on the course is better than most things. 

Tiger Butterfly near 5th Tee Box
Timbers at Troy, Elkridge, MD
August 10, 2025

Jeremy and I headed out to Timbers mid-morning when the temperature was still nice. We did not finish until 1:30 PM and it was very hot and humid as we holed out on 18. It was nice to be playing on a Monday as the course was not jammed, although it still took over 4 hour to play the round. There were a couple slow groups in front of us.

As always, Jeremy and I had a great time whacking the little ball. I had a minor success in that I actually had a birdie--they are very rare for me. 

Our time in Maryland is drawing to a close and Chris and I are planning our return to Florida.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD 

Monday Musings - August 11, 2025

 

1. Greetings. It is the second Monday of August. There are 20 Mondays remaining in the year. Labor Day is coming soon and summer will be over.

2. The Orioles snatched defeat from the jaws of victory yesterday. They gave up two runs in the top of the ninth inning and lost 3-2. They are 12 games under .500 again and headed for a last place finish in the division. All hopes of making the playoffs have vanished and the team and fan base are in a "wait until next year" mode.

Woodchuck on the 8th
Carroll Park, Baltimore, MD
August 10, 2025

3. Jeremy, Julie, Chris, and I golfed yesterday. We went to Carroll Park, a nine hole course in Baltimore, and enjoyed a bright Maryland summer's day. The pace was slow and we spent some time looking at diversions, such as this woodchuck on hole 8. 

4. Apparently Washington, DC, is about to become a militarized city. Wait, I thought this was America and we  had police and not military to patrol our streets. What city is next? New York? (Reuters)

5. So, Putin is a wanted war criminal with an international arrest warrant. He is apparently meeting with Trump in Alaska. If the U.S. does not arrest Putin and hand him over to the international courts for prosecution, does that make the U.S. a criminal nation? Apparently not. The U.S. is not a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

6. Today in History. A group of federal prisoners classified as “most dangerous” arrives at Alcatraz Island, a 22-acre rocky outcrop situated 1.5 miles offshore in San Francisco Bay, on August 11, 1934. The convicts—the first civilian prisoners to be housed in the new high-security penitentiary—joined a few dozen military prisoners left over from the island’s days as a U.S. military prison.

Alcatraz was an uninhabited seabird haven when it was explored by Spanish Lieutenant Juan Manuel de Ayala in 1775. He named it Isla de los Alcatraces, or “Island of the Pelicans.” Fortified by the Spanish, Alcatraz was sold to the United States in 1849. In 1854, it had the distinction of housing the first lighthouse on the coast of California. Beginning in 1859, a U.S. Army detachment was garrisoned there, and from 1868 Alcatraz was used to house military criminals. In addition to recalcitrant U.S. soldiers, prisoners included rebellious Indian scouts, American soldiers fighting in the Philippines who had deserted to the Filipino cause, and Chinese civilians who resisted the U.S. Army during the Boxer Rebellion. In 1907, Alcatraz was designated the Pacific Branch of the United States Military Prison.

Israel strike kills Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza - ReutersIn India, Trump's tariffs spark calls to boycott American goods - ReutersTrump escalates crime rhetoric ahead of Washington crackdown announcement - ReutersPam Bondi has a new probe into the handling of 2016 Russian meddling. John Durham already spent four years investigating it - CNNTrump needed an Epstein distraction. A conspiracy theory explains what came next. - MSNBCAfter a deadly shooting at the CDC, shaken scientists demand answers from RFK Jr. - MSNBCHigh-stakes summit with Putin over Ukraine war tops Trump's agenda this week - FoxNews

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Anniversary Party

The Family at Dinner
Fulton, MD
August 9, 2025

 Our family gathered last evening at a local restaurant to celebrate our 50th Anniversary. 

It was a fantastic gathering, but not without some drama as the youngest member of the clan decided to practice some projectile vomiting just as we preparing to head to the restaurant. But, it was handled very well and everyone did arrive, some a bit late, for dinner. 

We enjoyed the evening together talking about our wedding day and some of the things that have happened in the 50 years since. 

One of the things that we get asked is about how we did 50 years. It is a fair question for which there is truly only one answer--one day at a time! Truly, it still seems like yesterday that we married. One other piece of advice that has worked for us is, don't go to bed mad at each other that way we start each morning with a "Good Morning" and mean it. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD 

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