It was in the News

 The Verizon outage yesterday made the headlines. Chris and I, although we have service from competing carriers, were affected as we tried to call Lucas and sing Happy Birthday on his 16th birthday. He was finally able to call us after we contacted his Dad, who is on XFinity. 

A major outage attributed to an undisclosed problem is very concerning. Was it a cyber attack? But, even more, an outage like this demonstrated the fragile nature of our communications architecture.

I know that I am very dependent upon my cell phone and Wifi carrier. I am very happy that I do not have Verizon.

And they won't say, why?  Why?

But wait! There is more strange stuff in the news, this time from the White House.

"FEAR NOT, GREAT PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA, THE DAY OF RECKONING & RETRIBUTION IS COMING!" - Donald Trump (Yahoo News)

What does that mean? 

Who talks like that?

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Gray and Overcast

Palms against the Gray
Tequesta, FL
January 13, 2026

 The weather yesterday, here in South Florida, matched the mood in the country--gray and overcast. 

The sun appeared only briefly and I never wore my sunglasses all day. There was a fairly consistent mist during the morning which convinced me not to head out on my bike and to take a down day instead. 

Even the palms at Tiki52 last evening seemed to be suffering from the oppressive gray skies. They did not have their usual vibrance. 

I have notice the daylight increasing significantly. I had to adjust the timer which switches on the outdoors garden lights. The lights were coming on whilst it remained light. I am very happy for the longer days!

I am hoping that today is a better day, but I fear not. The gray skies remain for the morning along with rain. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

It was a Crisis!

 Chris and I had a nasty surprise last evening as we prepared to eat dinner. 

The surprise was the result of traveling a lot since the end of October and not keeping tabs the condiment supplies. We had traveled 39 of 73 days, or 53 percent of the time, since the 29th of October.

We had decided to have burgers for dinner--something we do not often do. In fact we have salmon more than we have burgers, but we were in the mood for burgers from the grill last evening. 

All went well right up until it was time to serve the burgers and we went to the pantry for the ketchup. 

The bottle was empty!

We normally have a spare bottle, but not last night! There was enough for one burger and I gave that to Chris. 

I considered charging out to the store for a bottle of ketchup, but then the burgers would have been cold or dried out if we kept them on the heat. Instead, I used barbecue sauce and mayonnaise on my burgers--but it was not the same without ketchup or catsup!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - January 12, 2026

 

Baby Pool Water Feature
Utopia of the Seas
January 8, 2026

1. The second Monday of January has arrived. This year is off to a fast start, I can only wonder what will happen next. There are 50 more Mondays remaining in the year.

2. The NFL Wild Card Weekend is nearly over. Most of the games were exciting. I wonder what will happen with the sole remaining Family Team tonight as the Steelers host the Texans. History says the Steelers get blown out, but this year there is the Aaron Rogers wild card in the deck.

3. And turning to other sports, Arsenal had a good week and remains solidly atop the Premier League Table. The draw with Aston Villa did not hurt as much as I thought it might as Arsenal is 6 points clear. 

4. Kamala Harris was right. On October 29, 2024, she told a crowd that had come to hear her speak on the Ellipse, “In less than 90 days, either Donald Trump or I will be in the Oval Office, On day one, if elected, Donald Trump would walk into that office with an enemies list…Donald Trump intends to use the United States military against American citizens who simply disagree with him. People he calls ‘the enemy from within.’ This is not a candidate for president who is thinking about how to make your life better. This is someone who is unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed with grievance, and out for unchecked power.” (Civil Discourse)

5. False Narratives. This past week has shown that there are no lows to which the current administration will not stoop. The facts of January 6, 2021, have been rewritten on the White House website and despite clear evidence from multiple sources to the contrary.(ABC News) Further,  the administration continues in erroneously characterizing Renee Good as a left wing terrorist who attempted to run over an ICE officer. (Bring me the news)

6. I realized that Congress can stop the ICE abuses, defund them in the budget. Pretty simple. 

7. Today in History. On January 12, 2010, Haiti is devastated by a massive earthquake. It drew an outpouring of support from around the globe, but the small nation has yet to fully recover.

Haiti has a history of seismic activity—devastating earthquakes were recorded there in 1751, 1770, 1842 and 1946. The island of Hispaniola, which Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic, lies mostly between two large tectonic plates, the North American and the Caribbean. The Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince practically straddles this fault line. Despite this knowledge and warnings from seismologists that another earthquake was likely in the near future, the country's poverty meant that infrastructure and emergency services were not prepared to handle the effects of a natural disaster. 

Trump White House attempts to rewrite history of Jan. 6, accuses ... - ABC News

Iran says communications open with US - Reuters

Trump team ramps up attack on Fed's Powell with criminal indictment threat - Reuters

Winter pierces Kyiv homes after Russia knocks out heat - Reuters

International law applies to everyone, including US, says German finance minister - ReutersCompletely bonkers’: Trump’s Greenland mining dreams collide with reality - CNNHundreds more Border Patrol officers are headed to Minneapolis, Noem says, as new video shows minutes before fatal shooting - CNNIsolation defined Trump’s first term. Imperialism will define his second. - MSNow‘We’ve lowered our standards’: Former ICE director says agents are being put into situations ‘they are not trained for’ - MSNowMan who grabbed Pelosi’s podium during Jan. 6 riot runs for office in Florida - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

I Have an Uneasy Feeling About This

 

What a week it was!

The boundaries of decency and democracy continue to be pushed by the administration. The most disturbing comment of the week was made by the president. 

President Trump declared on Wednesday evening that his power as commander in chief is constrained only by his “own morality,” brushing aside international law and other checks on his ability to use military might to strike, invade or coerce nations around the world.  (New York Times)

The more my mind turns on this, the more concerned I become. 

Trump is a convicted sex offender. He is also a misogynist, pathological liar, alleged pedophile, narcissist, and terrible businessman. Who else could bankrupt a casino or have businesses declare bankruptcy six times. Counting the United States, that number could grow to seven.

I'm don't trust his "own morality."

And the talk of taking Greenland or attacking Cuba is very concerning. 

Trump does not believe he is constrained by The Constitution, the laws of the land, and probably the Supreme Court. He definitely has nothing but contempt for the Congress. 

Why did the national debt rise by $2.2 trillion last year if tariffs and trickle down economics were supposed to work? (factually) 

We are being spent into eternal debt and apparently the administration is unconstrained by the appropriations approved by Congress. 

This administration has become the Revenge Tour that Trump promised his supporters during the election. 

But the bottom line is that it is all about the Trump crime family getting richer, by billions.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Reflections on the Cruise

Promenade Deck
Utopia of the Seas
January 8, 2026

 The cruise was great, short, but great. We always seemed to be busy doing something. I took a book to read and never opened the cover. 

Beck in the Baby Pool
Utopia of the Seas
January 8, 2026

Chris and I had plans to spend time in a hot tub in the Solarium, the adult pools--never happened. We were too busy enjoying the precious time we were able to spend with Patrick, Jen, and Beck. And we departed yesterday at the cruise port wanting more time with them. We didn't wear it out. Yes, there were good-bye tears amidst the hustle, bustle, and crushing traffic.

Utopia of the Seas is a great ship! The only negative I have is that it is too bad it is sailing the twice weekly "weekend" cruises. I would love to enjoy an 8-night or longer cruise on the ship. We only just began to find our favorite spaces and the cruise was over. There is so much to do, and yes, there are quiet places even with about 8,000 passengers and crew all together.

Together on Shore
CocoCay, Bahamas
January 7, 2026

The specialty restaurants have become a bit expensive, perhaps that is why they were mostly empty the two times we enjoyed their service. But, the service and the food was fantastic! The crew was, likewise, fantastic. They seemed happy and were dedicated to providing the best experience possible. 

Finn after the Welcome Dance
Tequesta, FL
January 9, 2026

I highly recommend sailing on Utopia of the Seas.

We had a great time; too bad that it is over. 

BTW, Finn was VERY happy to see us. So happy that he went to sleep in a chair shortly after we arrived and he had danced at our return for about 10 minutes!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Back into Reality

 The cruise is over, but the memories remain. 

Patrick and Beck at the Baby Pool
Utopia of the Seas
January 8, 2026

We were off the ship by 7:15 AM this morning and ready to head south to home. After dropping off the carseat and cover to Patrick and Jen, who had separate transportation to the Orlando airport, we headed south on I-95 for about two hours. 

Peek-a-boo at Dinner with Beck
Utopia of the Seas
January 8, 2026

We drove the Mustang Mach-e and charged it at the hotel--for free! Yes, I was excited. And it worked. It was very nice to get into the car this morning and know that we had enough charge to get home. We charged it overnight the night we stayed at the hotel. 

It is always sad when a cruise comes to an end. And that was the same this morning. 

But, it was fun. Last evening we enjoyed a rousing game of peek-a-boo in the main dining room during dinner. Beck was in great form and makes the game very enjoyable. He loves food. All kinds of food, but once he is full, well he needs something to do while the adults complete their meals. Peek-a-boo was a diversion. 

We spent time in the baby pool yesterday as well. As it was a sea day, the pools were all very full. Beck loves the water and was all over the pool. 

Last evening, I was sitting on the veranda after dark and notices a large vessel traveling north as we were. I checked my maritime app and determined it was another cruise chip headed to Port Canaveral, as we were. Looking further at the app, I was stunned by the number of cruise ships on the screen. I checked each one, and except for one duplicate, all of the blue triangles are cruise ships! We were effectively in a group of five cruise ships headed to Port Canaveral. I guess, given that there are three major cruise ports on the Florida east coast, it is to be expected that there are so many cruise ships plying the waters of the Western North Atlantic.  

Port Canaveral, FL
January 9, 2026

We made port this morning just before 6 AM. It was dark. I enjoy taking pictures at night when the water reflects the lights.

We made it home safely and now are thinking about planning our next adventure. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Return to CocoCay

Chris and Beck
CocoCay, Bahamas
January 7, 2026

 Chris and I enjoyed a great gift last evening. Patrick and Jen allowed us to spend an evening alone with our youngest grandson, Beck. Yes, we spent the evening in a stateroom babysitting whilst they celebrated their anniversary with an "alone" dinner. Those of us who have been blessed to have children understand how precious "alone" time can be. Babies are demanding. Chris and I both had fun playing with Beck, he enjoyed it a bit too much and didn't want to go to. bed, but that also is how it is sometimes. 

Beck in the Sand
CocoCay, Bahamas
January 7, 2026

Earlier we had fun at Perfect Day at CocoCay. We all enjoyed returning to the scene of the wedding, three years later almost to the day. And then it was off to the beach to introduce Beck to the wide open ocean. OK, it a was smallish lagoon. The waves were very tame. He loved the water, but was not too amused by the soft sand.

I guess, in retrospect, it was Beck day at CocoCay! We had a lot of fun interacting with him, and his parents, from morning until bedtime. 

Chris reminded me that during our evening time with Beck we reconnected with The Wiggles! It has been about 15 years since we viewed an episode of The Wiggles!. If you have been around babies and small children, you probably have been exposed to The Wiggles, and I don't just mean the worm-like body movements they do when protesting getting into clothes or diapers. 

Utopia and Liberty of the Seas
CocoCay, Bahamas
January 7, 2026

CocoCay was busy! Two big ships were there, not three as I thought yesterday. I should have known better as the quay will only support two ships. But that still meant a lot of people on the island. Even so, we found beach chairs available at both of the places we settled. I am still not all that impressed with CocoCay, this being my third visit there, but it is a lot better than Labadee, Haiti, that is for sure.

Today is a sea day as we begin to return to Port Canaveral, although at this moment we are heading south just churning circles in the water. Tomorrow we return to life and will miss the fun of a cruise. 

I have been keeping tabs on the news and decided not to ruin my cruise by dwelling on the first six days of 2026 and the events which have so far transpired. 

Both Chris and I are thankful for the images we have been receiving from our friends caring for Finn! 

-- Bob Doan, North Atlantic near 2559N 07936W

Off to Nassau

Lighthouse and the Entrance to the Channel
Nassau, Bahamas
January 6, 2026

 The first port of call for our cruise was Nassau in the Bahamas. I have read that this port is in the bottom ten of cruising destinations by those of us who cruise. And it is rightfully there. 

Royal Caribbean is trying to upgrade that position with their new island experience, but it is so expensive that Chris and I took a pass. We did, however, wander around the recently upgraded Nassau port facility. It is a huge upgrade from the previous port area and was fun to wander around. There is almost no reason to leave the port complex anymore. But, we did. 

The Pirate Bar Banner
Nassau, Bahamas
January 6, 2026

We walked down to the Margaritaville Resort where Patrick found some space to fly his drone, Popcorn III. He got some great video of the new Royal Caribbean Island and of the six, yes, six ships in port. There were three Royal Caribbean, one Celebrity, one Carnival, and a Celebrity ship. The sheer numbers of cruise ships in port is another reason to avoid Nassau town and stay on the ship. After flying Popcorn III, we walked to our favorite in town hangout, The Pirate Bar, for some overpriced adult beverages.

Beck in the Baby Pool
Utopia of the Seas
January 6, 2026

Once back on the ship, we rested for a while and then exposed Beck to his first water experience. He has been in swim classes and is not afraid of the water, but he had a new experience on the ship. Under the watchful of his parents and the two grandparents present, he explored the water area and made a new friend. Even though he was very tired, he was a lot of fin to watch. When we first arrived at the pool, Beck was the only occupant, but as more people decided that the day was perfect, the baby area filled up. The life guards were very good at keeping the older kids out of the baby pool.

Aqua Show
Utopia of the Seas
January 6, 2026

For our evening we enjoyed dinner at Chops Steakhouse and then took in the Aqua Show. The 80's-themed show was fabulous with lots of water and music activity. I got some video of the action and will publish a short video later. I have seen Aqua Shows on four other Oasis-class ships and I believe this was the best. We were lucky to get reservations when we first boarded. That is one downside to Oasis-class ships--the shows require reservations, unlike smaller ships. 

Beck was beyond tired as the show ended, but still in a great mood. While he and his parents headed off to bed, Chris and I spent another hour at the Schooner's Bar singing songs with a pianist. It was a lot of fun and provided a great way to end the day. 

Today we are at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Been here, done that. There is one other large ship here with us. Ugh! But it will be nice beach time off the ship with the added advantage of the drink package!

-- Bob Doan, CocoCay, Bahamas

Boarding the Big Ship

 

Utopia of the Seas
Port Canaveral, FL
January 5, 2026

We completed our first night aboard Utopia of the Seas. Boarding yesterday was smooth, a bit long because they were boarding about 7,000 of my new best friends, but Chris and I sailed through. A funny thing happened with Beck's boarding credentials, however. Somehow his age got changed from 1 to 100--which caused a bit of a delay. Fortunately it was a Royal Caribbean fat-finger mistake which was rapidly connected.

Birthday Celebration for Beck
Utopia of the Seas
January 5, 2026

The ship is big. It is the third largest cruise ship in the world.

We spent the day exploring the ship and it was relaxing. There was a problem with the reservation system for the speciality restaurants and they offered us a 40 percent discount for Hooked, the seafood restaurant, and we all decided to do it. The restaurant had only a few patrons as we dined and after dinner they threw a small birthday celebration for Beck. He turns one the day after the cruise, we told them that, but they were looking for things to do and partied him anyway. 

Stunning Sunset
Utopia of the Seas in the North Atlantic
January 5, 2026

After the busy day, we were very tired and turned in a bit early. 

Today is a busy day and evening. We will dine at Chops and enjoy the Aqua Show after dinner. It is hard to enjoy everything done on a short cruise. But we will do our best. 

We have received some great images of Finn, who was left behind in Tequesta with friends. He seems to be enjoying his vacay away from us. 

-- Bob Doan, Bahamas near Nassau