The Math is Wrong

 Alligator Alcatraz! 

Catchy name, but everything else about it is wrong. 

It seems that the governments (Federal and Florida) are excited about the prospect of opening an immigrant detention camp in the middle of the Everglades on an abandoned airfield. 

The worst to operate the facility annually will be $450M to house up to 5,000 immigrants pending deportation. 

I did the math. 

It comes to $90K per year per person (a/k/a detainee) housed at the facility. 

That money comes through Medicaid cuts and other programmatic reductions for Americans! This makes no sense. Are we becoming a country of prisons and camps. 

The airfield was abandoned for a good reason some 50 years ago: to preserve the environment. Reactivating the airfield and housing people there is a bad decision made by people who have no regard for either less fortunate Americans or the environment.

The math is not good for the economy or the environment. 

Who comes up with these crazy ideas? 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Boats and Storms

Chris and Finn at the Helm on the ICW
Heading Back to the Marina
June 26, 2025

Blue Skies Heading Out at 9:52 AM
Manatee Pocket, Port Salerno, FL
June 26, 2025

Boat day was short yesterday. I could write that it was a tale of two hours. The first hour was blessed with blue skies and calm waters.

We enjoyed the 30 minute trip to our favorite boat-only access beach on Peck's Lake. The winds were fair and the water almost smooth. Being a weekday, there were few other boats plying the waters. I enjoy having the ICW to myself.

We checked out a Bayliner yesterday. I like these boats because they have a ladder in the front which makes for easy egress when we slide up onto a beach or sandbar. It does not handle as nice as the Cobias, but I have gotten used to it and it handles a lot better than the Hurricanes.

We arrived at the beach and got set up to enjoy beach time, but when I checked the weather I was amazed at how it had all changed in the short while since we departed the marina. The storm tracker showed a mixed bag of storms, some with lightening, headed our way and already in Stuart, which is where we had planned to enjoy lunch. 

The Storm from Manatee Pocket at 11:22 AM
Port Salerno, FL
June 26, 2025

Stuart is north of the marina and we were on a beach to the south. I estimated we had about 50 minutes to get back to the marina before the storms arrived. We packed up after enjoying about 10 minutes on the beach and started motoring back.

As we were motoring in Manatee Pocket towards the marina, the storm clouds were very threatening. Chris was very relieved when we tied-up and made it to the car before the rains started. And they did. As we were leaving the marina the rain started. 

We beat the storm, but our total boat time was short of 2 hours--not the day that I had envisioned, but safety of the passengers and vessel is the most important aspect of boating. And it is just not fun to boat in the rain and wind.

There will be more days to enjoy on the water. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Grooming Day

 

Keeping a Watchful Eye
Tequesta, FL
June 26, 2025

Yesterday was grooming day for Finn. He hates going to the groomer. I think it is separation anxiety from Chris, but he handles it fairly well. He is becoming used to the process. 

I have to admit, he smells a lot better when he returns. 

They brushed his teeth yesterday. I'm sure that was an experience for him. He hates having things put into his mouth, sometimes that includes food!

This morning, he came down and kept a watchful on the activity of the house. I'm sure he suspects that something is afoot. He does that many mornings and he usually couples that with a few more minutes of shut-eye. 

Today, however, he is getting a surprise. We are going boating and he is joining us! He likes the boat, but does get a bit nervous if the waves are rough. That can be a problem because he gets under my feet for safety. Haha. Right. Safe for whom?

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

At the Marina

Blowing Rocks Marina
Tequesta, FL
June 23, 2025

 It was a typical Tuesday in South Florida. It was hot, but not as hot as north of here where extreme heat warnings were issued for most of the East Coast. We had normal heat and humidity--which can be very enjoyable.

Pelican
Blowing Rocks Marina, Tequesta, FL
June 23, 2025

Chris and I made our usual Tuesday trek to the local watering hole. We enjoy the afternoon breezes coming off the ICW and watching the fishermen return from a day on the water. The sky was blue and punctuated with bright puffy clouds, but there was no rain.

A pelican arrived as we were enjoying the scene and provided some live entertainment before the band began cranking out noise. 

It was relaxing; sitting along the edge of the marina enjoying the scene and the breeze off the water.

I am beginning to really enjoy the idea of Tuesday. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL  

Frost Science Museum, Aquarium & Planetarium

Fish in the Aquarium
Frost Science Museum, Miami, FL
June 23, 2025

 Chris and I agreed to take Jeremy and Julie to the Miami Cruise Port yesterday. We decided to make it a day trip and planned a stop at the Frost Science Museum after dropping them off at the port. The museum is located near the cruise port and it was fairly easy to get from the port to the museum. 

The museum has its own parking garage, which I found a bit expensive at a flat rate of $18. But, the museum is right in the downtown area of Miami and the prices are not that high when considering other cities like Baltimore or NYC. 

Moray Eel
Frost Science Museum, Miami, FL
June 23, 2025

While at the museum, I was able to get a nice image of Freedom of the Seas, Jeremy and Julie's home for the next four nights, from the fifth floor observation deck. But that was just the beginning. The museum if full of exciting things to do and the centerpiece is the three-story aquarium with associated exhibits about Florida environs. Fantastic!! I  one of the Florida specific exhibits, I saw a barracuda that would definitely make me leave the water. 

Three Wheel Enigma
Frost Science Museum, Miami, FL
June 23, 2025

But wait! There is more to the five-story museum. Currently, an AI exhibit is being hosted and the museum also has a planetarium and a dinosaur exhibit titled, "The Dig." We did not explore the entire museum, saving some for a return trip. 

I was very excited about the AI exhibit. Inside of it I found a a three-wheel Enigma machine from WW2. There were also 1951 letters to and from Alan Turing discussing the possibility of a chess playing machine. 

There is a lot to see and experience in the museum. And, there is a very nice cafe to obtain beverages and food. 

It was definitely a great way to make the most out of the two-hour each way trip from home to Miami! Maybe next time I will use the train. 

Recommendation. The Frost Science Museum, Aquarium & Planetarium is a must visit when in Miami. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - June 23, 2025

 

1. It is the 4th Monday of June. The Summer Solstice happened Friday. There are 27 Mondays remaining in the year. 

Jer, Chris and Julie on the Sandbar
Jupiter, FL
June 22, 2025

2. Boating day was a huge success. The weather was a bit touch and go, but I determined that the rain and thunderstorms were going to remain inland from us and so we risked the weather and were rewarded with a fantastic afternoon of boating. The highlight was enjoying time on a local sandbar after which we motored to a restaurant and tied up the boat for lunch. Following that we toured the area before returning the boat to the marina.

3. Is anyone else concerned? The president looks as if he is getting us involved in another Middle East War. The same man who promised to end Ukraine-Russia within 24-hour of being elected. His actions by failing to support Ukraine fully have likely extended the conflict and resulted in the deaths many more Russians and Ukrainians. And now, Iran?

Looking at the New US-1 Bridge
Loxahatchee River, FL
June 22, 2025

4. Chris and I watched the 50th Anniversary showing of Jaws the other evening. This movie was one that she started every summer with while watching the grandsons! We will need to keep the tradition going as Beck gets older.

5. How about the O's? They had crawled up to 10 games under .500, but lost 2 of 3 to the Yankees to fall to 11 games under. And now Adley Rutschman is on the DL. Well at least they are only 12 games out of first and 6.5 games out of the Wild Card. Ugh. There remains a lot of baseball to play. 

6. Today in History. Well, it happened. They changed the website format and I cannot find the stories that I used to be able to access for my weekly history. I will keep looking and maybe return this item for next week. 

Iran issues warning to 'gambler' Trump: We will end this war - Reuters

Hague NATO summit aims to focus on Trump's spending goal but Iran looms large - Reuters

Russian attacks on Kyiv kill seven and injure dozens, Ukraine says - Reuters

Senate Democrats now have regrets about Kristi Noem. If only someone warned them. - MSNBC

Analysis Sweeping GOP budget bill illuminates the central fault line in the modern Republican coalition - CNN

‘Jaws’ turns 50. It changed pop culture and our perception of sharks - CNN

Russia says countries may supply nuclear warheads to Iran after US strikes on key facilities - FoxNews

Texas governor signs MAHA bill to add warning labels to food products - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Sunday Funday

Crepe Myrtle in Turtle Creek
Tequesta, FL
June 21. 2025

 Chris and I are expecting a very exciting day. Jeremy and Julie are scheduled to board an aircraft soon and fly-in for an overnight visit before heading off on a cruise out of Miami. We have a fun day planned on the water followed by a relaxing at the house for the evening.  

I have a boat reserved and we should have fun exploring the sandbars which appear at low tide with hundreds of our new best friends. 

Yesterday, I enjoyed a 17 mile ride through Tequesta. The crepe myrtle are in full bloom and I saw this one that made be take notice because of the deep color. 

Here's hoping you have a great Sunday!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Caught

Chris and Finn
Tequesta, FL
June 20, 2025

 Priceless. That is the expression on Chris's face as I caught her napping on the sofa with Finn. I wordlessly grabbed my phone to catch the scene as she was sleeping, but for some reason she woke up just as I took the image. 

What else is there to do on the longest daylight of the year? Nap, of course. 

We had had a busy morning and had just completed lunch. It was, after all, siesta time! Finn is a great bed buddy. 

We finished off the day entertaining friends and had an enjoyable Happy Hour  followed by a summertime dinner of hamburgers, potato salad, and cooked squash. Somewhere along the way we forgot to serve dessert!

Welcome weekend.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Friday Ride

Crossing A1A Bridge
Tequesta, FL
June 20, c2025

Happy Summer Solstice

It happened quite suddenly. I was reviewing email and the news from overnight when suddenly I was invited out on a Friday morning ride which ended up at over 20 miles.

We rode across a bridge over the Loxahatchee River that I had only ridden once before and then down through Jupiter before crossing back into Tequesta. I realized that I had not fully regained my biking stamina from the nearly two weeks I since I was riding regularly. Yea, I was sucking wind by the time I got home. It was a great training session however. I spent 48 minutes exercising in Zone 1!

For a mostly unplanned Friday morning ride, it was great and it felt good to get a some significant mileage accomplished. Yea, I had to drink two bottles of water when I got home because I didn't drink enough while riding. It was about 86 degrees when we finished the ride. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Friday-eve and Summer

Summer Begins Tomorrow

Remember Juneteenth

 Thursday has come rolling in announcing that tomorrow is Friday! What a calling, announcing that the weekend is near. 

Even though I am retired, I still like to think of Thursday as Friday-eve, especially on a morning like today when it is raining and I probably will not get my mood-altering bike ride accomplished. 

Today, however, Thursday is not just Friday-eve. No, it is also Summer-eve. Yes, for those who have lost track of the seasons, Summer begins tomorrow! Yay!

For the next three months we are set to enjoy long days, hot nights, and hopefully, sunshine. Maybe some boating, travel, and excitement. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL