Sunday Morning

Morning at the Beach
Hobe Sound, FL
March 9, 2025

 It is Sunday again after another crazy week. 

I think I'll just chill and prepare for the week ahead. 

I went to the beach this morning and it was already busy--even with DST going into effect last night. I just had not been to a beach in over a month and needed a few minutes--but this beach was too busy. It was, however, near the grocery store. 

It looks as if it is going to be a fantastic day. There may even be a bike ride in my future. Of course I have a couple projects to work on around here as well. Finn and I should be busy. 

The high today is supposed to be 85 and so I am pretty sure there is a Happy Hour on the beach waiting for me later. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Cold Saturday

DST is Back Tonight!

The Palm Tree out my Door
Tequesta, FL
March 8, 2025

 It is going to be a nice day. It may become a beach day. But it will have to warm up a bit. The morning started about 54 degrees, but the day is headed for 82 degrees with likely blue skies. 

I have totally been oblivious to the fact that Daylight Saving Time (DST) returns tonight! I am going to lose an hour of sleep. I hope the government finally gets its act together and cancels the return to Standard Time in November. We can only hope. It is funny that the return to DST crept up on me so innocuously. Almost like it was trying to fool me.

In the meantime, I am going to enjoy the bright sunshine and later daylight. The days are longer as well, but that is not a function of DST, it is a function of the Earth moving around the Sun with an axis tilt. 

So I'm looking forward to a great Saturday and Sunday, even if the weekend is one hour shorter. The daylight will at least be one hour later. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Getting Repairs or Replacements

Fuzzy Zebras in Zoom
Pilanesberg National Park, ZA
February 25, 2025

 NO, I am not going to delve into politics and government today. I think rational and informed people who use multiple news sources and watch what's happening live are able to make their own choices. 

I am going to discuss AppleCare. 

I just had a very good experience with AppleCare. My iPhone 14 ProMax that I used as a camera during our recent South African trip developed a problem with the telephoto lens. I could not get a clear image of anything using over 5x telephoto. It was very frustrating because the phone goes to 15X. The camera would lose focus or not focus and had a jitter. I finally resorted to using Chris' iPhone 12 ProMax with a max zoom of 12X to get the images of what we were seeing. 

Upon returning home, I first went to the Apple Store and they recommended wiping the phone and reloading everything from scratch because, after running diagnostics, they could not find a physical problem with the 3X lens and thought it might be a software bug. Well, that took hours out of my life to restore my files and apps. 

And it didn't work.  

So I called Apple Support to report the problem. I was told that they had never heard of this problem. And so I was asked to demonstrate the problem--which was pretty cool. They logged onto my phone and I stepped outside and focused on a Palm Tree. Eureka! They saw the problem. Two days and $99 later, I had a new iPhone 14 ProMax. I couldn't upgrade to a newer model, unfortunately. 

But, the AppleCare plan paid for itself! And the camera works great. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Civilized

Shopping at Doris
North Palm Beach, FL
March 5, 2025

 Chris and I occasionally shop at a market that I consider to be very civilized. The store is Doris Italian Market & Bakery. 

Why, you might ask do I consider it civilized? Simple. The store has a huge wine selection, and not the normal grocery store stuff, but they allow customers to buy wine by the glass and enjoy it while shopping! Civilized!

The store also hosts a huge wine sale a couple times per year. In fact one is coming up this month and in addition to wine a late dinner can also be enjoyed. 

I look forward to heading off to Doris to shop. I know, "shop" is a four-letter word, but it is a lot better than other four-letter words that begin with "S" like snow or, well you get the idea. 

We went to Doris yesterday and while we did not actually purchase much, Chris and I had a very good time.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

And it Rambled

 I felt that it was my civic duty to listen to the President's address to the joint session of Congress last night. 

All of it, to the end. 

It was long--far too long. And rambling.

I was appalled to see a member of the Congress removed for doing the same thing that Marjorie Taylor Green did to President Biden during his last address. Where is evenness? 

I was saddened to see that the small-minded man with the frail ego who was speaking could not get over blaming everything on the last president, but took credit for some things the last president accomplished. 

And as for the economy--his blatant lies that he was handed a sack of feces are just not true, but it plays well to the bandwagon followers. 

It is politics after all. 

But my stomach turned when it was revealed that American citizenship could be bought! Really? People die to get here to become Americans the old-fashioned way--but rich people can just buy their way in? That is wrong!

And the confirmation that Musk is, in fact, in charge of DOGE was interesting considering the recent court case where the DOJ assured the court that he was not in charge. It is all very confusing and it is clear that no one can keep the story straight. 

But at least the news can keep the story straight. I usrge a reading of the Fact Check of last night's address. 

I am worried that someone so out of touch with truth and reality is trying to run the country. 

It all reminded me of an old joke: "How can you tell a politician is lying? Their lips are moving."

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, MD

Final Project Complete

 There never really is a final project, right? It is only the final project until the next project is defined. 

But, I am three for three. All three minor projects which were identified after our trip are now completed: 

The light unit on the veranda

The fill valves on the washer

The new shower head in the bath

Wow!

So I hesitate to even think about what's next. 

There is always something next, that is the spice of life. 

I think I heard something about safety bars in the guest bathroom. 

Time will tell. 

I did get out for a short 12-mile bike ride yesterday! It felt good. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - March 3, 2025

 

Old Washer Fill Valves
Tequesta, FL
March 2, 2025

Monday Musings is Back!

1. Overnight, it seems, March arrived and with it the promise of springtime. This is the first Monday of the month and there are 43 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. I had success fixing a problem that has been nagging us for well over a year--the washer! IT was filling slowly--too slowly. I had taken the hoses off to ensure that they were clean and running freely and I cleaned the screens on the fill valves--but no joy. Yesterday, the new fill valves I ordered arrived and after about a 30 minute job they were installed and, amazingly, the washer now works perfectly. A 27 minute cycle took 27 minutes and not the 1h12m cycle that I measured before we left on our trip. I can even hear the water rushing to fill the tub now! It was a $27 repair and saved about $1500 for a new washer/dryer pair.

3. It was different being an American in South Africa. Questions about politics came up often with the other people I met and I have to say that while I am a proud American, I am embarrassed by the un-American turn in our foreign policy. Many don't realize it, but South Africa has been in the president's sights as he tries to recruit white farmers to come to America because he believes they are being persecuted. One thing I took away from my visit was that while our elected leaders are turning away from diversity and inclusion--South Africa still embraces it and it is working for them. Take note.

4. Where are our elected representatives who support the freedom loving peoples of the world? How can we turn our backs on Ukraine? How can we suggest that Ukraine started the war? How could we vote with Russia on the U.N. resolution? We are seeing, people, the very definition of "high crimes and misdemeanors!"

5. Wouldn't we feel better if J.D. Vance's threats about Harris getting elected and $4 dozens of eggs came true? Look where we are now--and they fired all the researchers trying to stop the bird flu!

6. Today in History. On March 3, 1887, Anne Sullivan begins teaching six-year-old Helen Keller, who lost her sight and hearing after a severe illness at the age of 19 months. Under Sullivan’s tutelage, including her pioneering “touch teaching” techniques, Keller flourished, eventually graduating from college and becoming an international lecturer and activist. Sullivan, later dubbed “the miracle worker,” remained Keller’s interpreter and constant companion until the older woman’s death in 1936.

Sullivan, born in Massachusetts in 1866, had firsthand experience with being disabled: As a child, an infection impaired her vision. She then attended the Perkins Institution for the Blind where she learned the manual alphabet in order to communicate with a classmate who was deaf and blind. Eventually, Sullivan had several operations that improved her weakened eyesight.

Helen Adams Keller was born on June 27, 1880, to Arthur Keller, a former Confederate army officer and newspaper publisher, and his wife Kate, of Tuscumbia, Alabama. As a baby, a brief illness, possibly scarlet fever or a form of bacterial meningitis, left Helen unable to see, hear or speak. She was considered a bright but spoiled and strong-willed child. Her parents eventually sought the advice of Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone and an authority on the deaf. He suggested the Kellers contact the Perkins Institution, which in turn recommended Anne Sullivan as a teacher.

UK, France propose partial one-month Ukraine truce - Reuters

Zelenskiy says he can salvage relationship with US - Reuters

Trump trade threats compound global ocean shipping uncertainty - Reuters

Israel says it will block Gaza humanitarian aid until Hamas agrees to new conditions - CNN

Pope Francis is in stable condition but ‘risk of crisis’ remains, Vatican sources say Mar 3, 2025 - CNN

‘They are harming ordinary people’: Trump’s funding cuts are taking a toll in North Carolina - CNN

Government shutdown looms as Trump tries to assert new spending powers - The Washington Post 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Back to the Real World

New Light Fixture on Veranda
Tequesta, FL
March 2, 2025

 I never left the real world, but there is definitely something different when on a trip. 

On coming home, however, the reality of life kinda hits me right in the face. 

Living in a 20+ year-old home means that things are starting to need repair. 

I knew the washer needed a new fill valve and it should be delivered today. If that doesn't fix its problem then a new washer/dryer combo is in the cards. More money. 

And then while we were away the veranda light decided that 20+ years of exposure to the elements was too much and it failed. Not a problem, I have already replaced the old, ugly, plastic contractor fixture with a new stylish one. 

But wait, there's more.

The shower in the owners suite needs replacing because it decided to leak like a sieve. It is only two years old, but I guess I didn't but a good enough one. So the new one is in the bathroom pending installation. It is not a great problem because it only leaks when it is in use. (get it?)

Welcome home. My homes have a way of penalizing me for being absent!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

South Africa - Reflections on the Trip

Mountains Adjoining Oldenburg Vineyard
Stellenbosch, ZA
February 13, 2025

 I am gonna bore everyone one last time as I reflect on the trip to South Africa. So much happened in the 17 days that I know I have not covered all of the highlights in what I have already written. So much was omitted in the interest of keeping the story interesting and of course I have so many more images to share. 

Ostrich
Cape of Good Hope, ZA
February 15, 2025

First off--I loved South Africa. The wine tour provided ma with a cross section of the Western Cape Province and then the safari provided some insight into the Gauteng (Johannesburg) and North West (Pilanesberg) Provinces.

What surprised me? 

Agriculture! Yes, in addition to the grape vines of the Western Cape Province, the fields of corn, wheat, and other crops in the northern provinces were really astounding. They reminded me of the expansive crop folds of the U.S. midwest. We even saw fields of sunflowers!

Waves Crashing on the Cape of Good Hope
Cape of Good Hope, ZA
February 15, 2025

Abject poverty. There is a dark side to South Africa. An over 40 percent unemployment rate and the large townships of metal shacks that go one for miles where the unemployed live and die. I was told that it is possible to be born and live an entire life without ever leaving the townships. The government provides services, but seeing the townships reminded me that there is still much to do in South Africa and they are still overcoming their past.

Ships in Harbor
Kalk Bay, ZA
February 15, 2025
Photo by Mark Cronin

Stunning natural beauty. The mountains of both Western Cape and North West provinces provide a natural beauty and setting that is breathtaking. And then there is the coastline. The towns and villages along the coastline are every bit as beautiful as those along the U.S. Atlantic coast. And so, I guess you could say I was impressed with the diversity of the natural beauty from the ocean to the mountains, there always seemed to be something new to see and just enjoy. 

Looking Back at Cape Town and Table Mountain 
‎⁨Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve⁩, ⁨Cape Town⁩, ⁨
Western Cape⁩, ⁨South Africa⁩
From the Bus
February 16, 2025

Diversity. I know that diversity has become a bad word here in the U.S., but in South Africa that is how I would describe the people. And they seem to embrace diversity. There are, for instance, 12 official languages. Yup, 12! And they seem to be very OK with that. They are diverse and from diverse backgrounds--that is the model we used to have for the U.S., strength from diversity! Everyone is not the same, celebrate it.

Dessert
Springfontein Estate, Hermanus, ZA
February 17, 2025 

People. We met the greatest people in every place we visited. They were friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and just fun to be around. Whether English was their first or third language, they were understandable and did not care that we didn't speak IsiZulu of Afrikaans, or one of the other 9 official languages. They accepted us and we enjoyed meeting them. 

Protea Flower
Stellenbosch, ZA
February 17, 2025

Food. Wow! So the 10 day wine tour was accompanied by gourmet food--and it was. I enjoyed a widely diverse assortment of foods including antelope, seafood, and almost anything else imaginable. It was all enjoyable and, with only a couple exceptions, expertly prepared. There was a lamb dish that was so tough it could have been being prepared to be shoe leather.

Grapes
Glenwood Estate, Stellenbosch, ZA
February 18, 2025

Wines. How could I not mention the wines? This was one of my biggest misconceptions about South Africa. I knew of Pinotage, but I was not aware of the diversity of the wine industry in the country. They have all of the major varietals but are most proud of Pinotage and Chenin Blanc. And they do these wines very well. But, as we drove around Western Cape Province, the diversity of the wines became apparent and as we tasted over 100 different wines, I am pretty sure we got a fairly good cross-section of the quality--and it is excellent.

Impalas
Pilanesberg National Park, ZA
February 24, 2024

Animals. And of course there are the animals. While wine dominated the tour, the animals became the stars once we mourned to Pilanesberg National Park for the safari. What is not to love about the animals. They were also present during the wine tour especially as we toured the Cape of Good Hope region and saw so many animals right from the start.

And so here are a few images of the trip to just enjoy.

Rhino in the Grass
Pilanesberg National Park
February 24, 2025

 

Zebras at Night
Pilanesberg National Park
February 24, 2025

Wildebeest at Night
Pilanesberg National Park
February 24, 2025

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Safari Day 3 - Morning Ride

Beginning our Last Safari Ride
Chris Riding Shotgun
Pilanesburg National Park, ZA
February 26, 2025

 This was the last safari ride of our journey. The morning safari ride began the journey home which lasted 40 hours. Ugh. I knew it was long but I had not computed it until now. 

Giraffes in the Morning
Pilanesburg National Park, ZA
February 26, 2025

Our final ride was primarily devoted to giraffes and elephants. We had started out heading to find a lion pride, but we came across so many giraffes and elephants that we just enjoyed watching them instead. 

We came across a journey of giraffes fairly soon after heading out. We were concerned that it was going be hard to find animals because we did not see any right from the start like previous rides. Chris had the honor of riding shotgun with the ranger and she has a great time. 

As we were completing our ride and heading for the lodge, we came upon our last animal sighting of the safari. It was a giraffe in the road way. I took a video of it as we came upon it and it moved off the road. 

Baby Elephant
Pilanesburg National Park, ZA
February 26, 2025

Elephant Browsing
Pilanesburg National Park, ZA
February 26, 2025

The exciting highlights of the day came when we happened into a herd of elephants. We had seen the herd earlier on the mountain but decided to they and find an elusive leopard. We spent some time listening to the baboons make warning calls presumably about the leopard, but never saw the leopard. We then book off the leopard search catch up with the elephants we had seen as they crossed the road.

Momma and Baby
Pilanesburg National Park, ZA
February 26, 2025

Chris had one female sniff her and then sneeze at her. It was pretty exciting. And then of course there were babies! The ranger noted that one of the small elephants we were watching was only about 3 months old. They were cure and there were many of them in this herd.

We spent probably half of our almost four-hour ride watching the elephants in this herd and then another grouping that we came upon as we were leaving the park. That is where the second exciting thing happened--we saw two bulls fight. It is somewhat scary when you realize how big they are and we are in a vehicle not too far away. 

The video is long, but I think worth watching. There are elephants doing all sorts of things including a fight between two bulls. 

And that was that. We had four safari rides into the park and we saw lots of animals. The rides were supposed to be three hours each, totaling 12 hours of animal watching, but our ranger was very generous and we had closer to 16 hours of safari animal watching over the three days! 

After the safari ride, we had to checkout of our room and begin the process of returning home. We were awakened at 4:15 AM South African time on Wednesday for the morning safari ride and did not finally make it home until the equivalent of 9 PM South African time on Thursday! Ugh! But more of that later. 

Oh, by the way, I have been up this morning since 2:30 AM, equivalent of 9:30 AM in South Africa! Adjusting to the 7-hour time change is going to be a process.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#pilanesberg #safari