Cute Baby Wednesday

 

Beck Prepared for an Outing
Somewhere in Maryland
August 19, 2025
Image from Patrick

It is cute baby Wednesday. 

To ward off the mid-week blues, I thought I'd share one of the latest images of our youngest grandson. We received it yesterday and it really brightened my day. 

It made me smile!

He is so cute! And I love his expressive eyes. 

So as this week drones on, I am going to hold onto these bright, expressive and happy eyes for motivation and encouragement.

Happy Wednesday. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Tuesday has arrived again

Antenna at the Space Force Station
Tequesta, FL
August 18, 2025

 It is good to be home in Florida. 

The weather is a bit uncomfortable because the stress index was 112 degrees yesterday, but the blue sky was awesome. 

I managed a bike ride yesterday and as I was hitting my last two mile, I saw something I rarely see. One antenna at the Space Force Station was being repositioned. The closest one was swinging almost right over me as I rode by on the sidewalk. It was fun to watch the huge antenna swinging. I don't get to see that often. 

Deer near Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Tequesta, FL
August 18, 2025

I also saw a deer during the ride. While I usually see gopher tortoises, I rarely see deer. It was near the boundary to the Jonathan Dickinson State Park. I have to write again, I really love my Meta glasses. Being able to take an image at a moment's notice is really great. 

Aside from the normal pace of life, we are preparing to head-off Friday for Houston to see Dad. That is a sudden trip due to his declining health situation. We don't normally like to travel back-to-back. It reminds me too much of traveling for work which is just exhausting.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - August 18, 2025

 

1. The third Monday of August has arrived! Wow--we are surely slipping through the month in a wild fashion. There are only 19 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. Too little too late for the Orioles. They have had a couple of great series, including taking 2 of 3 from the Astros over the weekend. With 38 games remaining in the season the O's must win 24 (.632) just to get to .500 for the season. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games. 

NordicTrack S22i Partially Assembled
Tequesta, FL
August 17, 2025

3. One reason Chris and I drove the truck north on our recent trip was to retrieve our NordicTrack S22i Exercise Bike. We had given it to family, but it no longer fit into their exercise plan and so we brought it to Florida to ride on rainy days. It seemed to have arrived in good shape, although I have not fully reassembled it yet. It needs a new control board, which I ordered last evening. I hope to have it up and running by next week. 

4. A commentary on the republican approach to governing as evidenced by the disaster in Alaska is as follows: That’s the kakistocracy part: government by the most incompetent, ill-suited people. If kakistocracy is the shot, then kleptocracy is the chaser (though it might be the other way around; I can’t quite decide). The corruption—the willingness to pursue personal profit and political gain at the expense of principle—that now defines the former Republican Party is just jaw-dropping. (Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance)

5. I hear Putin has a bridge for sale that Trump wants to buy. It is in San Francisco. I also saw a small stand in the background of an image selling Russian Kool-aid.

6. Today in History. On August 18, 1991, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev is placed under house arrest during a coup by high-ranking members of his own government, military and police forces.

Since becoming leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1988, Gorbachev had pursued comprehensive reforms of the Soviet system. Combining perestroika(“restructuring”) of the economy—including a greater emphasis on free-market policies—and glasnost (“openness”) in diplomacy, he greatly improved Soviet relations with Western democracies, particularly the United States. Meanwhile, though, within the USSR, Gorbachev faced powerful critics, including conservative, hard-line politicians and military officials who thought he was driving the Soviet Union toward its downfall and making it a second-rate power. On the other side were even more radical reformers—particularly Boris Yeltsin, president of the most powerful socialist republic, Russia—who complained that Gorbachev was just not working fast enough.

Trump tells Ukraine to give up on NATO and Crimea ahead of Zelenskiy meeting - Reuters

Russian oil flows to Hungary and Slovakia halted after Ukrainian attack - Reuters

Israelis stage nationwide protests to demand end to Gaza war and release of hostages - Reuters

 After exploding in strength at a historic rate this weekend, Hurricane Erin will churn up the eastern US coastline After exploding in strength at a historic rate this weekend,  - CNN

Serbia’s populist leader vows tough response to protesters following riots - CNN

Texas Democrats may have finally cracked the best way to fight Trump - MSNBC

Rubio erupts on CBS host over 'stupid media narrative' about Trump-Putin summit - FoxNews

Russia pounds Ukraine as Zelensky, allies prepare to meet with Trump - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Disappointed and Embarrassed

 All bluster, no follow through.

I am appalled that the U.S. is apparently setting the brave Ukrainian patriots adrift. 

internewscast.com

And I believe it is all because of dollars!

In an interview with Fox News Channel personality Sean Hannity after the meeting, Trump said he would not impose further sanctions on Russia because the meeting with Putin had gone “very well.” “Because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that now,” Trump told Hannity. “I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don’t have to think about that right now.”

Trump also suggested he was backing away from trying to end the war and instead dumping the burden on Ukraine’s president. He told Hannity that “it’s really up to President Zelensky to get it done.”  (Letters from an American)

I wonder what Putin promised Trump to effectively stop negotiating for the end of the war that he promised to end on day 1 of his new term?

Maybe a Trump Tower Moscow? 

Trump always said that he would get it done, it being the end to the war. 

The President of the U.S. welcomed a war criminal with pomp and circumstance, red carpet and a warm greeting. With that single greeting, the blood of over a million dead Ukrainians and Russians was splashed onto Trump and by extension the U.S. 

It seems that our president is as bad at international affairs as he is at domestic policy. We elected him why?

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Like a bad movie

Pyongyang

There are a lot of divisive forces at work in our country right now trying to unravel the protections of the Constitution. 

It is frightening. 

The militarization of Washington, D.C., reminds me of what I read about for cities like Pyongyang. Under strict military control and beautified to portray an unreal vision of the country. By the way, if you look closely at images of Pyongyang, there are almost no cars!

This is all like a bad movie. 

Washington, D.C. is becoming a showcase capital city for a wannabe authoritarian leader. I can't believe they tore up the Rose Garden for a convention hall. 

The targeting of the homeless is another play in the authoritarian take-over playbook. 

Adolf Hitler's regime began targeting the homeless and other marginalized groups in the early 1930s, with significant actions occurring around 1933 when the Nazis came to power. The regime implemented policies that aimed to "cleanse" cities like Berlin, often forcibly removing homeless individuals from public spaces. (Wikipedia) (ChatGPT)

And then yesterday. 

Despite all of the pre-visit bluster--TACO showed up in Anchorage yesterday and the Ukrainians are on their own because Trump met with his mentor.

Show me the money and you will see U.S. policy. There is no honor, no defense of allies only love of money. We all know where that leads. 

I've seen this movie before.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Touring South Carolina

Mount Pleasant, SC
August 15, 2025

 The trip back to Florida for Maryland was unique. We left our usual I-95 in southern North Carolina and headed for Murrells Inlet. Talk about an overland route! Wow! Between traveling yesterday to Murrells Inlet and today's trek back to I-95 to complete our journey to Tequesta, Chris and I traversed a lot of South Carolina.

Upon arriving, we were treated to a great lunch along the banks of the inlet. I guess I just like being near water. It was beautiful day, right up until the afternoon thunderstorm rolled in. I was glad we were off the road. 

Today, we traveled around Charleston and enjoyed the wide wetlands and forests on mostly Route 17. Yesterday it was a number of roads, many of them really small, to avoid Myrtle Beach and get to Murrells inlet. 

What a great place to drive through. Both Chris and I were impressed. 

Today's drive took 10 hours--a full day and we did not get home until just after 6 PM--but we made it home. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Sharing the Course

Geese on the 5th Fairway
Carroll Park, Baltimore, MD
August 10, 2025

 Playing golf, which is a fantastic outdoor sport, usually means that we share the course with the local fauna. 

I have enjoyed many different species over the years. There were geese on Sunday--they are messy and we have a rule that golf balls that come to rest in goose poop can be cleaned or replaced. Geese poop a lot! 

But there are many other animals prowling the golf courses. I have avoided alligators in Florida. We have another rule that a free drop is given for any ball landing within 10 feet of a gator. 

In addition to geese and gators there are sand hill cranes, foxes, turtles, woodchucks, deer, snakes, and lizards. 

It is fun to see all of the wildlife, but some of them require a wide berth.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

2 Days in a Row

Jeremy Chipping onto the 17th Green
Timbers at Troy, Elkridge, MD
August 10, 2025

 I played 18 holes of golf yesterday. Well, actually, the golf course played me for most of the day. It has been a long time since I played golf two days in a row and I remember why. The second day can be both painful and awful at times. Still, a day on the course is better than most things. 

Tiger Butterfly near 5th Tee Box
Timbers at Troy, Elkridge, MD
August 10, 2025

Jeremy and I headed out to Timbers mid-morning when the temperature was still nice. We did not finish until 1:30 PM and it was very hot and humid as we holed out on 18. It was nice to be playing on a Monday as the course was not jammed, although it still took over 4 hour to play the round. There were a couple slow groups in front of us.

As always, Jeremy and I had a great time whacking the little ball. I had a minor success in that I actually had a birdie--they are very rare for me. 

Our time in Maryland is drawing to a close and Chris and I are planning our return to Florida.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD 

Monday Musings - August 11, 2025

 

1. Greetings. It is the second Monday of August. There are 20 Mondays remaining in the year. Labor Day is coming soon and summer will be over.

2. The Orioles snatched defeat from the jaws of victory yesterday. They gave up two runs in the top of the ninth inning and lost 3-2. They are 12 games under .500 again and headed for a last place finish in the division. All hopes of making the playoffs have vanished and the team and fan base are in a "wait until next year" mode.

Woodchuck on the 8th
Carroll Park, Baltimore, MD
August 10, 2025

3. Jeremy, Julie, Chris, and I golfed yesterday. We went to Carroll Park, a nine hole course in Baltimore, and enjoyed a bright Maryland summer's day. The pace was slow and we spent some time looking at diversions, such as this woodchuck on hole 8. 

4. Apparently Washington, DC, is about to become a militarized city. Wait, I thought this was America and we  had police and not military to patrol our streets. What city is next? New York? (Reuters)

5. So, Putin is a wanted war criminal with an international arrest warrant. He is apparently meeting with Trump in Alaska. If the U.S. does not arrest Putin and hand him over to the international courts for prosecution, does that make the U.S. a criminal nation? Apparently not. The U.S. is not a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

6. Today in History. A group of federal prisoners classified as “most dangerous” arrives at Alcatraz Island, a 22-acre rocky outcrop situated 1.5 miles offshore in San Francisco Bay, on August 11, 1934. The convicts—the first civilian prisoners to be housed in the new high-security penitentiary—joined a few dozen military prisoners left over from the island’s days as a U.S. military prison.

Alcatraz was an uninhabited seabird haven when it was explored by Spanish Lieutenant Juan Manuel de Ayala in 1775. He named it Isla de los Alcatraces, or “Island of the Pelicans.” Fortified by the Spanish, Alcatraz was sold to the United States in 1849. In 1854, it had the distinction of housing the first lighthouse on the coast of California. Beginning in 1859, a U.S. Army detachment was garrisoned there, and from 1868 Alcatraz was used to house military criminals. In addition to recalcitrant U.S. soldiers, prisoners included rebellious Indian scouts, American soldiers fighting in the Philippines who had deserted to the Filipino cause, and Chinese civilians who resisted the U.S. Army during the Boxer Rebellion. In 1907, Alcatraz was designated the Pacific Branch of the United States Military Prison.

Israel strike kills Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza - ReutersIn India, Trump's tariffs spark calls to boycott American goods - ReutersTrump escalates crime rhetoric ahead of Washington crackdown announcement - ReutersPam Bondi has a new probe into the handling of 2016 Russian meddling. John Durham already spent four years investigating it - CNNTrump needed an Epstein distraction. A conspiracy theory explains what came next. - MSNBCAfter a deadly shooting at the CDC, shaken scientists demand answers from RFK Jr. - MSNBCHigh-stakes summit with Putin over Ukraine war tops Trump's agenda this week - FoxNews

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Anniversary Party

The Family at Dinner
Fulton, MD
August 9, 2025

 Our family gathered last evening at a local restaurant to celebrate our 50th Anniversary. 

It was a fantastic gathering, but not without some drama as the youngest member of the clan decided to practice some projectile vomiting just as we preparing to head to the restaurant. But, it was handled very well and everyone did arrive, some a bit late, for dinner. 

We enjoyed the evening together talking about our wedding day and some of the things that have happened in the 50 years since. 

One of the things that we get asked is about how we did 50 years. It is a fair question for which there is truly only one answer--one day at a time! Truly, it still seems like yesterday that we married. One other piece of advice that has worked for us is, don't go to bed mad at each other that way we start each morning with a "Good Morning" and mean it. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD