Returning to Florida

Our Last Dog Walk of the Trip
Odenton, MD
November 3, 2025

 Our trip to Maryland for Halloween is over. Chris, Finn, and I are currently on a Southwest 737 headed south. I like what Southwest has done with the internet. It is free for Rapid Rewards members. I like free.

We have departed autumnal Maryland with memories of brightly adorned trees still in our heads. We definitely got a taste of autumn, and of course the cold temperatures. I am happy to be returning to warm South Florida. 

Of course, the unqualified highlight of the trip was the time we spent with family, and especially Beck. It was so good that we were able to connect with our entire family this time. While we did not have time to get out with our friends, it was a short trip and we will be back for Thanksgiving. 

I want to recognize the air traffic controllers and the TSA agents and staff for the exceptional service we received during this tough government shutdown. I, being retired Air Force and retired federal worker, understand the calling that makes us want to be in service to America. But, we need to be able to thrive while serving and I only hope that the budget impasse is soon resolved. 

-- Bob Doan, Southwest Flight 1800, over the Atlantic off the coast of South Carolina

Monday Musings - November 3, 2025

1. It is the first Monday of November. We are back onto Standard Time and it gets dark already too early. There remain only eight Mondays in the craziness of 2025.

Beck and Chris
Glen Burnie, MD
November 2, 2025

2. Take one baby boy and add a grandmother who doesn't get to see him that often and you have instant magic. We had an extremely enjoyable morning and early afternoon with Beck. Chris was definitely in her element and thoroughly enjoyed being with him For his part, Beck seemed to enjoy being doted upon by Chris.

3. Family Football Results. The Family Teams had another tough week going 2-3 with one game tonight. The season record is dismal at 21-29-1.

Ravens (3-5) Drowned the Dolphins (2-7), 28-6

Cowboys (3-4-1) host Cardinals (2-5) tonight

Steelers (5-3) stampeded Colts (7-2), 27-20

Commanders (3-6) were beat-up by Seahawks (6-2), 14-38

Chiefs (5-4) run out of town by Bills (6-2), 21-28

Grandma and Beck in the Play Area
Glen Burnie, MD
November 2, 2025

4. The partial government shutdown continues. I am amazed at the ignorance of the republicans who try to spin the shutdown for anything other than what it is: republicans do not want to negotiate with democrats to reopen the government for the good of the American people. Furthermore, the issue is that republicans do not want to provide healthcare for millions of Americans and the insistence that democrats want to provide healthcare for undocumented immigrants is patently false--but they keep spewing it. BTW, how can there be any meaningful negotiation or even a compromise as long as the Speaker of the House keeps the chamber out of session until the shutdown is over? Any compromise spending plan would require House approval before it is implemented but the House won't be able to approve it since they are out of session. Insanity reigns.

5. Today in History. One World Trade Center officially opens in Manhattan on November 3, 2014. The new tower, along with the rest of the World Trade Center complex, replaced the Twin Towers and surrounding complex, which were destroyed by terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

As the city and the nation reeled from the attacks, which set into motion the series of U.S-led military operations dubbed the War on Terror, it was decided that the Twin Towers should be replaced by new office buildings, parks, a museum, and a memorial to those who died. In 2002, after cleanup and recovery efforts had concluded, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation announced a competition to find the chief architect of the new structure. Daniel Libeskind, a Polish-American architect then in charge of a studio in Berlin, won and became the site’s master planner. In reality, however, a number of people and entities, including then-Governor George Pataki, leaseholder Larry Silverstein, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, wrestled over what would happen to the space commonly referred to as “Ground Zero.”

Trump says no Tomahawks for Ukraine, for now - Reuters

US economy at risk of wobble as lower-income consumers get squeezed - Reuters

Afghanistan, Pakistan have been hit by a spate of quakes in recent years - Reuters

Why DOJ election monitors in California and New Jersey are setting off alarms - MSNBC

Trump tells '60 Minutes' he 'won't be extorted' by Democrats as shutdown enters Day 34 - MSNBC

CNN Poll Americans are broadly dissatisfied with the state of the country and the economy - CNN

7 power banks that meet TSA battery rules and keep your devices charged on the go  - CNN

Commanders star quarterback leaves field with horrific injury as playoff hopes fade - FoxNews

Most Americans doubt Trump’s commitment to free speech and fair justice, poll finds - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

A Cold Morning for Golf

12th Tee
Timbers at Troy, Elkridge, MD
November 1, 2025

Did you Remember? 

Turn your clocks back 1 hour!

Yesterday was a golf morning with my son Jeremy. We had a mid-morning Tee-time, but the temperature was still only in the 40's when we whacked our first golf ball of the day. 

Jeremy remarked that this time of year may be the best in terms of golf course beauty. The leaves were vibrant and the fairways and greens completely recovered from the stress of the too hot and dry summer. 

Morning on the Course
2nd Tee, Timbers at Troy, Elkridge, MD
November 1, 2025

Because I am not playing regularly my game was, as expected, ragged. But we had fun. We are paired up with two other golfers who were a lot of fun. We enjoyed making quips about our shots, or miss shots. We played fairly slowly taking 4.5 hours to complete the round. 

I was surprised that we did not seen any wildlife during our round. We usually see deer, woodchucks, and rabbits at Timbers. Maybe it was too cold. 

After golf Jeremy and I enjoyed lunch at Primanti Brothers and caught up on life. 

After lunch I returned to Odenton to watch Georgia come from behind and win again and then it was 11 innings of Game 7 of the World Series. Congrats to the Dodgers!

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Cutest Little Dinosaur

Grandma with Beck
Hanover, MD
October 31, 2025

 The trip north was principally to celebrate Halloween with Beck, our youngest grandchild. 

We were successful in that endeavor. 

Although it was cold and very windy, we enjoyed a fun Halloween Trunk & Treat at Beck's childcare center. I was amazed at how many children were there, this place is huge!

Cute costume at Trunk & Treat
Hanover, MD
October 31, 2025

Chris got some great quality time with Beck, both during the festivities and later back at the house. I also got some much needed quality time with the youngest Doan. I only wish the winds had not been so strong, but yesterday was definitely a windy day.

There were a lot of cute costumes at the Trunk & Treat. The one in the image is of a toddler wearing a dinosaur but walking. Her feet are in the dinosaur's feet. It was a great costume. Even with the really strong, cold wind we had fun. 

This may have been our best Halloween in years because Halloween in our community in Florida is a bust! 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Back to Autumn

Happy Halloween!

Be Safe 

Autumn Path
Odenton, MD
October 30, 2025

There is no season as colorful as autumn, especially in the Northeast.

Chris and I managed a walk in the leaves and trees yesterday. It was a beautiful day with the temperature about 68 degrees. It was comfortable even for us Florida residents. 

I have been having trouble deciding if the leaves are at peak color, past-peak, or still coming to peak. It is the amount of still-green trees that make me think that peak is still to come. But there are areas where it is definitely past peak. We saw some areas definitely past peak as we traveled to Annapolis yesterday.  

Deer in the Distance
Odenton, MD
October 30, 2025

I am having a lot of fun trying out my new iPhone with the drastically improved camera.

Chris called to me when she spied some deer in the distance. I told her it would not make a good image, but decided to try out my improved camera. I was wrong. Instead of the deer becoming lost in the underbrush and being too fuzzy to even realize they were deer, the camera came through with a very nice image. It became a nice autumn scene. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Finn-dog the Traveler

Finnegan on my Backpack
PBI 
October 29, 2025

Finnegan, Chris's faithful service dog, accompanied us on our flight to the Baltimore region yesterday. While we were relaxing in a Palm Beach International Airport lounge, he found a safe spot to rest on my backpack, keeping a watchful eye on Chris.

He was adorable sitting there as we waited about 30 minutes after clearing security to board our flight. However, he became intensely focused on Chris when she decided to use the restroom. He refused to move until she returned keeping a watchful eye on the doorway into which she disappeared.

We embarked on a trip to Baltimore to celebrate Beck’s, our youngest grandson’s inaugural Halloween. Surprisingly, the journey was remarkably smooth and devoid of any disruptions. The TSA officers, who had not been compensated during the partial government shutdown, demonstrated exceptional efficiency, friendliness, and unwavering dedication. I recall a similar situation during the government shutdowns when I was employed as a Federal Civilian employee. Both Chris and I expressed our sincere gratitude for their unwavering commitment and service as we successfully cleared security screening for our flight.

Hopefully, the flight home next week will be as smooth.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Street or Canal?

 

Street or Canal?
Turtle Creek, Tequesta, FL
October 28, 2025

Yesterday, during my 17.5-mile ride, I encountered flooded streets. A torrential rainstorm had hit the area the night before, accompanied by thunder and lightning.

However, I didn’t fully realize the extent of the rainfall because my condo community had recently had its rain gutters cleaned and leaf guards installed. As a result, we didn’t witness the equivalent of Niagara Falls rushing off the roof during the storm. Instead, the water was efficiently directed into the underground drainage system that had been installed a few years ago.  

Blowing Rocks Marina/Tiki52
Tequesta, FL
October 28, 2025

By the time I arrived home, my shirt was drenched from the spray coming from my rear tire.

For the evening, Chris and I headed to Tiki52 for our weekly Tuesday Happy Hour. The weather was windy and cool. Yes, I said cool! It’s incredible how a gentle breeze off the water can feel refreshing even when the temperature is 80 degrees. I didn’t mind the cool, but Chris needed to sit in the sun to stay warm.

We had a great time and returned home to finish packing for our trip today. I received an update from the airline that our flight is already delayed. According to Alexa this morning, the expected temperature of 54 degrees in the Baltimore area upon our arrival should feel like stepping into a walk-in freezer compared to our usual Florida weather. 

Brrrr.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Return of the Dark Season

 The end of October marks the transition to the dark season, with the return to Standard Time this weekend. As a result, sunset moves from the 6 PM hour to the 5 PM hour. This change means that Sunday, November 2, will be a 25-hour day, with the 1 AM hour repeating. While it may seem like we’re getting an extra hour of sleep, the reality is quite different.

I refer to this period as the Dark Season because the early sunsets leave us living our entire evenings in darkness. Before I retired, I recall days when I would go to work and return home in complete darkness, never seeing the Sun.

I remember one Sunday when I was a kid that our entire family was up and out as usual on Sunday morning for church. We arrived to find the facility deserted. It took a bit, but Mom and Dad finally figured out that we had forgotten to set our clocks back for the return to Standard Time. We drove back home, relaxed for a bit and then piled into the car to head back to church at the appropriate hour. I wonder how many other families have similar stories?

In response to the problem of springing forward and falling back, legislation called the Sunshine Protection Act was introduced in Congress. The goal of this act is to keep the U.S. on permanent daylight saving time. Unfortunately, this legislation has yet to be enacted.

As a result, we are destined to endure darkness during the late-Autumn and Winter months. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - October 27, 2025

 

1. The final Monday of October has arrived, marking the end of an enjoyable season. With only nine Mondays remaining, the year is drawing to a close.

2. Family NFL Report: The NFL season continues to be a challenging time for the family teams, who have a combined record of 18 wins, 25 losses, and 1 tie. The Ravens and Dolphins managed to secure their second wins of the season. However, the Steelers squandered their opportunity to lead the AFC North by losing to the Packers.

Ravens (2-5) Overcame the Bears (4-3), 30-16

Cowboys (3-4-1) were stampeded by Broncos (6-2), 24-44  

Dolphins (2-6) swam past Falcons (3-4), 34-10

Steelers (4-3) came up short against Packers (5-1-1), 25-35

Commanders (3-4) visit Chiefs (4-3), tonight

Atlantic Ocean 
Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge
Hobe Sound, FL
October 26, 2025

Yesterday, I decided to deviate from my usual route around Tequesta and embarked on a 23-mile bike ride to the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge. The journey was quite enjoyable, except for the stretch along the busy U.S. 1. After reaching the beach at Hobe Sound, I was captivated by the powerful waves crashing onto the shore due to the strong East wind.

4. How would you feel if a guy living in your house rent free decided to destroy half of it and remodel without your consultation? As on writer relates: Last week Donald Trump demolished the East Wing, forever scarring The People’s House. We didn’t just lose history. We lost the future. Because the East Wing was also the main visitor entrance to the White House, the location people from all over the world entered for public tours of the White House. (Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance)

5. I’ve lost track of the number of days the Republicans have kept the House of Representatives out of session, which means there’s no negotiation about ending the partial government shutdown. Despite the rhetoric, the President now effectively controls the House of Representatives because the Speaker of the House will apparently do nothing without express instructions from the White House. Someone explain to me what happened to Article 1 of the Constitution.

6. Today in History. At 2:35 on the afternoon of October 27, 1904, New York City Mayor George McClellan takes the controls on the inaugural run of the city’s innovative new rapid transit system: the subway.

While London boasts the world’s oldest underground train network (opened in 1863) and Boston built the first subway in the United States in 1897, the New York City subway soon became the largest American system. The first line, operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT), traveled 9.1 miles through 28 stations. Running from City Hall in lower Manhattan to Grand Central Terminalin midtown, and then heading west along 42nd Street to Times Square, the line finished by zipping north, all the way to 145th Street and Broadway in Harlem. On opening day, Mayor McClellan so enjoyed his stint as engineer that he stayed at the controls all the way from City Hall to 103rd Street.

Venezuela condemns 'military provocation' by CIA and Trinidad and Tobago - Reuters

Argentina's midterm election hands decisive win to Milei's libertarian overhaul - Reuters

How China could use DeepSeek and AI for an era of war - Reuters

Fed poised to cut rates this week, with more easing likely on tap - Reuters

Trump said he is open to extending his Asia trip to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but there are no known plans for talks - CNN

Air traffic control staffing problems spiked over the weekend, raising concerns about growing disruption - CNN

Trump keeps making himself the punch line - MSNBC

Iranian women flout law on mandatory veiling as police curtail arrests - The Washington Post

 -- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Sunday used to be

 I was sitting here reflecting upon Sundays past. Like decades past. 

From thefarside.com for October 26, 2025

I recall when Chris and I were first married, I was thrilled about receiving two Sunday newspapers. We would lie in bed, engrossed in the Sunday comics, and then I would devour the business and sports sections. By the end of our reading session, my hands were blackened with newsprint ink.

One of my favorites was The Far Side. Who can resist laughing at the humorous scene of a boy attempting to enter the School for the Gifted by pushing on the pull door?

As our family grew, we would prepare a pancake or French toast breakfast before heading to church. Sunday mornings were always a blur as we rushed to complete our tasks and make it to church on time. Chris and I would often sing in the choir, while the kids attended Sunday studies, leaving us with little time to rest before our 9 AM church service.

Beautiful Florida Morning on my Bike
Tequesta, FL
October 24, 2025

It was a race against time, and we were always out of breath by the time we got home.

As a child, my Sunday mornings were quite similar, except during the summer months, after church, I had to mow the lawn. It was a grueling task that took me five hours to complete with a push mower.

Sundays have become more relaxed. I write my daily blog while listening to the news on TV, as Chris prepares breakfast and also watches the news. We usually sit together for a while to discuss the day’s events or the upcoming week, and we make plans for the week ahead.

The upcoming week is filled with exciting plans. We’re traveling to Maryland to celebrate Beck’s first Halloween and reconnect with family and friends. This will be the first of three trips to Maryland during the holidays. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL