Riding and Walking

Flower on the Grass
Tequesta, FL
May 7, 2025

 I pushed Chris a harder yesterday on our bikes. I added a two-mile loop bringing her up to 12 miles on the ride. That she was tired at the end, but she made the ride and is getting back into riding shape.

I enjoy our rides together. They are slower than when I ride alone, but it is nice to be with someone and we stay connected on our cells to communicate during the ride. That makes it nice as we can discuss what we are seeing or warn each other of traffic situations.

The real challenge is after the ride. Finnegan needs to be walked. I have to admit I am not interested in walking the dog after riding for more than an hour. But, it needs to be done and so we do it. We definitely get our exercise in for the day. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Enjoying the Late Afternoon

Florida Crow
Carlin Park Beach, Jupiter, FL
May 6, 2025

 The ultimate form of escapism for me is enjoying the beach on a sunny afternoon. There is something about the sound of the waves and the antics of the birds that erases all of the concerns from my mind. 

Yesterday was no exception.

Kiteboarder with Moon
Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL
May 6, 2025

The birds were exceptionally active. We had an assortment of crows, sanderlings, sand pipers, and a couple of ospreys that kept us amused. Sadly, there were no surfers but a couple of kiteboarders were out on the rough waters of the Atlantic.

One kiteboarder was very proficient and stayed on the water for quite a while. My only concern was when he landed the kite--it seemed like a phoenix and kept trying to rise up into the air. I felt we were within the possible impact zone if he lost control--fortunately, he was able to finally get the kite to stay down. 

A great ending to a nearly perfect day, Happy Hour on the beach with friends. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The 6th of May

 It is the day after the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration. Chris and I usually host a gathering, but this year we didn't have anyone around to celebrate with and so we went out to the local Mexican restaurant to enjoy some food and libations. 

Super Nachos
Rancho Chico, Tequesta, FL
May 5, 2025

It is a short walk to Rancho Chico, but with the threat of thunderstorms in the area we drove and were fortunate enough to find parking in the much-too-small lot. I wondered why the restaurant did not actually close down the parking lot and do a celebration similar to what the Irish restaurant puts on for St Patricks Day. I think having a real mariachi band and tents out in the parking lot would be a lot more celebratory. There would certainly be more room for all of the people who crammed into the restaurant. We were lucky to head over a bit early--before the rush. 

All-in-all, we had a great Cinco de Mayo. We enjoyed margaritas--the ones I made at home were much better than the watered down ones at the restaurant. We enjoyed the music and the food. 

And so, my favorite foreign holiday is over and we move ahead. What's next? V-E Day, of course! Although I fear the name will soon be changed incorrectly because Victory Day World Way II did not actually occur until September 2 when the Japanese formally surrendered. I guess not everyone actually remembers the history they study. I wonder what our president will rename Cinco de Mayo?

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - May 5, 2025

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

1. Welcome to the first Monday of the month of May 2025. Yup--it is time for the May flowers. There are 34 Mondays remaining in the year. 

Sandhill Cranes with Chicks
Riverbend Golf Club, Tequesta, FL
May 4, 2025

2. Yesterday, I played golf on a Sunday for the first time in a long time. It was good to be back on the course whacking my frustrations at the little white ball. I had some great shots, but more not-so-great ones. It was fun and there were lots of animals on the course. I saw a family go Sandhill Cranes, and a family of Egyptian Geese as well as a large turtle.

3. Well, I thought the Orioles had found some answers after taking a series from the Yankees, but they only raised more questions after getting crushed by the Royals yesterday and losing that series. Can we buy some pitching, please? 

4. The government's deportation mess is embarrassing. Too many of the deportees do not strike me as "very bad people." Read the article about the Mom being deported which I linked in the news section and decide for yourself. Oh, and remember the words on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” What have we become?

5. Today in History. On May 5, 1961, Navy Commander Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. is launched into space aboard the Freedom 7 space capsule, becoming the first American astronaut to travel into space. The suborbital flight, which lasted 15 minutes and reached a height of 116 miles into the atmosphere, was a major triumph for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

NASA was established in 1958 to keep U.S. space efforts abreast of recent Soviet achievements, such as the launching of the world’s first artificial satellite—_Sputnik 1—_in 1957. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the two superpowers raced to become the first country to put a man in space and return him to Earth. On April 12, 1961, the Soviet space program won the race when cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was launched into space, put in orbit around the planet, and safely returned to Earth. One month later, Shepard’s suborbital flight restored faith in the U.S. space program.

Israeli leadership votes to expand Gaza ground offensive - Reuters

Trump orders 100% tariff on foreign-made movies to save 'dying' Hollywood - Reuters

Pakistan tests missile amid India standoff, Moody's warns of economic cost - Reuters

Zelenskiy says ceasefire with Russia could be put in place at any moment - Reuters

Trump's power grabs may be blunting his political instincts - CNN

Florida woman deported under Trump immigration policy, leaving toddler and husband behind - CNN

Trump administration backs down in dispute with Maine over trans athletes - MSNBC

Trump orders massive rebuild of notorious prison to house America’s most ruthless - FoxNews

“There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.” —Mister Rogers

Reference: https://www.shopify.com/blog/motivational-quotes

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

May the 4th be With You! - 2025

 

Chris on the Ride
Tequesta, FL
May 3, 2025

And here we are again, coming into some of the most interesting celebrations of the year. 

Today is, of course, Star Wars Day. Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo. I messed up during March and almost missed Pi Day which is another celebration that I enjoy. 

This morning, rain permitting, I am off to play golf. Something I did almost religiously on Sunday mornings a few years ago. I am headed out with new acquaintances with whom I have never played. I haven't swung a club since January--it should be comical. 

Great Blue Heron
Port St Luce, FL
May 4, 2025

Yesterday, Chris and I managed a short 10-mile bike ride. It was the first time I've ridden with Chris in a while. She did very well and we will be working to get her back into riding shape. There are a few trail rides, mostly under 20 miles, that I'd like to do around Florida with her. 

For the evening, we dined with friends in Port St Luce. We enjoyed reconnecting and sharing dinner. While there, I spied a heron around their lake that was just perfectly posed for a picture. I was a good distance from the bird, but I think, all-in-all, the image came out OK. 

A busy and enjoyable Saturday.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Ice Cream Hound

 

Finn with Ice Cream
Tequesta, FL
May 2, 2025

Although I had not intended to continue writing about our dog Finnegan, last evening the funniest thing happened.

Chris and I were cleaning up after dinner and had just relaxed together on the sofa with Finn. We were chatting when Chris casually asked if I wanted an ice cream. She meant a Fudgsicle from the freezer. 

When Finn heard the word ice cream, his head snapped up and he immediately got excited about heading out to the ice cream store. Finn loves ice cream, but we had no idea that he had connected the word with the action. 

Finn, it turns out, likes ice cream a lot more than we suspected. We took him to the local ice cream store and he was rewarded with a few licks from our cones. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Give the Doggie a Bone

Finn Hiding a Bone
Tequesta, FL
May 1, 2025

Finn is a funny little dog. 

Yes, he is lovable--but, at the same time, he is demanding. 

Yesterday, for example, he got into a barking mood. He was unhappy about something and neither Chris nor I could figure out what he needed. As a result he received a walk, more food in his dish, fresh water, a treat, another treat, and then finally a small bone to play with.

Finn at Rest
Tequesta, FL
April 27, 2025

The bone did the trick. He stopped barking and spent time finding the perfect hiding spot for the bone.

We try not to give him too many of the bones because he does not eat them, rather he hides them around the house and sometimes we step on them. We love watching him hide his bone. He engages in what we call "urban renewal" in that he moves stuff around and diligently puts the bone in a "safe" place for future retrieval. Sometimes the safe place is in the sofa. 

After he spends time--sometimes as much as 30 minutes, hiding the bone he relaxes and life in the house gets back to normal. 

Just to be clear, he does not get real animal bones, but commercially available Dreambones made with chicken and not rawhide. Sometimes he does eat the bone--but lately they are more of a soothing plaything. 

It is all just part of the pace of life around the house. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

May Day 2025

 Happy May Day!

Just some disconnected thoughts today. 

It is the first of May, a holiday throughout much of the world. It is a day of planned protests here in the U.S.

Our leaders are so disconnected with the electorate and reality that they discount polls where the people are indicating  their disapproval with the direction things are headed. 

In November, before he was President, Trump declared that the great economy and stock market run-up was all his. Yesterday, he blamed the first quarter GDP decline on Biden. He can't have it both ways. What's worse, his memory is so bad he can't remember anything he says. 

Well, maybe today the voices of the people will break through the sound barrier.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Tiki Tuesday

Looking onto the ICW
Tiki52, Tequesta, FL
April 29, 2025

 I have always had trouble characterizing Tuesday, aside from recognizing that it is the day between Happy Monday and Hump Day Wednesday. 

I believe that I have finally found a name for Tuesday--Tiki Tuesday. 

On Tuesdays, weather permitting, we enjoy going to Tiki52 for their $2 Tuesday celebration. And last evening was no different. We used to enjoy Must Drink Monday at a different waterside bar/restaurant--but they have become a bit too pricey as their fame has increased. 

Last evening we enjoyed perfect weather and decided to sit at a marina-side table. It was very nice.

Costco
Stuart, FL
April 29, 2025

We had finished a busy day which saw Chris and I trek to Stuart to shop at the new Costco. The store is very nice and the shopping was pleasant even though there were more cars in the parking lot than I have seen since the last time I went to a ballgame. Sadly though, the store is a significantly longer trek than the one in Northern Palm Beach and so we likely will not return. I did note higher prices, however. A three-pound can of coffee increased $3 since the last time I bought one. Eggs were down to about $3.30 per dozen which was good. I saw increases on cheese, meat, drinks, and most everything else. It was distressing.

Well, I guess that is the path we are on. 

At least prices remained the same at Tiki52, but for how long?

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Atop the Slide into the Abyss

These are the times that try men's souls. - Thomas Paine

This statement was true in 1776, and scarily enough it is true today as well, almost 250 years later. 

We are facing half-truths, lies, and the outright trampling of the basic rights protected in the Constitution.

The latest "I can't believe they said that," revolves around the right to due process.

I read a statement from a congressman which (this is paraphrased) If they are here illegally they should be deported. 

Marco Rubio our Secretary of State suggested, on Sunday, that illegal immigrants can be deported outside of the protections of the Constitution. He said that immigration law requires deportation and that they are not entitled to due process, I'm guessing, because he feels immigration law supersedes the Constitution. 

“Once you come into our country illegally, it triggers all kinds of rights that can keep you here indefinitely. That’s why we were being flooded at the border, and we’ve ended that,” Rubio said.  

We've ended that--and "that" is the Constitutional right to due process. The Constitution applies to EVERYONE within the borders of the U.S. and territories--no matter how they've managed to get here. That fundamental principle is what has made America Great! And now it is being cheapened and we are becoming a laughing stock.

What happened to "innocent until proven guilty?"

We have begun the slippery slide into the abyss of authoritarian chaos where even the Constitution is subject to reinterpretation. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL