Monday Evening Happy Hour

Jupiter Lighthouse
From the Square Grouper, Jupiter, FL
September 19, 2022

 It was a welcome Monday afternoon Happy Hour at one of our favorite watering holes in Jupiter, the Square Grouper. The Grouper is situated along the Loxahatchee River and on a beautiful afternoon it is blessed with a nice breeze and the outdoor tables are shaded by tall palm trees. 

We met our friends for an afternoon adult beverage, or two, and great conversation along the river at The Grouper. I was unable to tarry for long as I had a board meeting at 6 PM. Sadly, the one-hour scheduled meeting lasted almost two hours!

The weather was much less humid yesterday than it has been, although I spent most of the day in front of the television watching the State Funeral for Queen Elizabeth--and when I say most of the day I mean the day began before 5 AM and continued into the afternoon. It was quite an historic event to watch. As a result, I did not make it out for my usual bike ride. And I probably will not ride today as we have an early morning appointment to register our only remaining Maryland-plated car in Florida. 

Busy days!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, MD

Monday Musings - September 19, 2022

 

1. The third Monday of September has arrived! There are only 14 Mondays remaining in 2022.

2. I got up early this morning to watch Queen Elizabeth II's funeral. 

3. Family Football Results. It was not a good week for most of the family's teams. Interestingly, they all are now 1-1.

   Ravens (1-1) lost to Dolphins (2-0), 38-42

   Commanders (1-1) lost to Lions (1-1), 26-37

   Steelers (1-1) lost to Patriots (1-1), 14-17

. . . and the bright spot of the week with a stunning last minute field goal

   Cowboys (1-1) defeat Bengals (0-2), 20-17

Rail to Nowhere
Tequesta, FL
September 18, 2022

4. Tracks to nowhere. Building an additional rail line at an intersection near my house seems to have run amok. The tracks crossing the road connect to nowhere. They are supposed to be in support of a new passenger rail service between Miami and Orlando. A lot of track has been laid, but there seems to be something missing at this intersection.

5. Lazy weekends are the best. I was able to watch two complete football games yesterday and enjoy some relaxing time. I did get some work done in the garage. I found a way to mount the bikes to the wall, which clears some floor space for other uses. It was tough tripping over the bikes all of the time. I still feel as if we are getting 15 pounds of potatoes into a 10 pound bag. There remain more containers to relocate to storage. \

6. Today in History. On September 19, 1957, the United States detonates a 1.7-kiloton nuclear weapon in an underground tunnel at the Nevada Test Site (NTS), a 1,375-square-mile research center located 65 miles north of Las Vegas. The test, known as Rainier, was the first fully contained underground detonation and produced no radioactive fallout. A modified W-25 warhead weighing 218 pounds and measuring 25.7 inches in diameter and 17.4 inches in length was used for the test. Rainier was part of a series of 29 nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons safety tests known as Operation Plumbbob that were conducted at the NTS between May 28, 1957, and October 7, 1957.

live updates The Queen's state funeral is underway in the majestic surroundings of Westminster Abbey - CNN

Analysis: Winter is fast approaching in Ukraine. Here's what comes next for the conflict - CNN

Hurricane Fiona hits Dominican Republic, leaves heavy rain, flooding and power outages behind in Puerto Rico - CNN

Biden says U.S. forces would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion - Reuters

Russia says ready for U.S. prisoner swap talks but scolds embassy - Reuters

Shelling of Donetsk city kills 13 - Russian-backed separatist mayor - Reuters

Stock Futures Fall as Investors Eye Federal Reserve - The Wall Street Journal

U.S. Return-to-Office Rates Hit a Pandemic High - The Wall Street Journal

Putin’s Energy War With Europe Seems to Falter - The Wall Street Journal

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Learning About Tomorrow

 I learned a lesson about tomorrow, yesterday. Yes, I learned it when yesterday was today and today was tomorrow.

Possible New End Table
Stuart, FL
September 17, 2022

Chris and I had a busy day. We were able to sneak out for a short 9 mile bike ride in between rainstorms that got the kinks out. We also took time to drive 22 miles to a furniture store in Stuart, FL. We are beginning the next phase of updating the living room from the furniture that came with the house to something different with more of a coastal theme. 

Maravilla Positioning
Tequesta, FL
September 18, 2022

Then, we decided to join friends on the beach for Happy Hour, but due to the impending storms (which never arrived) we met at our house for the evening. It was an awesome evening of wine and talking and pizza! I even received some much needed assistance in where to hang one of my favorite fine art prints which we brought from Maryland--The Maravilla by John Kelly. 

Because of the time we spent on those endeavors, I was unable to complete some of the projects that I had scheduled. I began to get stressed about the failure. 

Then, it dawned upon me that since I am retired, I have tomorrow. Duh!

So, I will be doing yesterday's projects today. (or is it tomorrow?)

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Phase 1 of Move-in--Complete

The Fully Loaded PODS
Elkridge, MD
August 24, 2022

 

Yesterday was a momentous day in the saga of the move.

Chris and I completed Phase 1 of the Move-in. It may not seem like much, but we emptied the PODS and turned it back over to the company. All of our belongings are now either in our house or in a small storage unit we are renting. 

We are working very hard not to over-stuff the house. I think we had more space for storage than we believed, but we still need the storage unit to hold the overflow. 

A note about PODS. What a great idea. It worked exactly as advertised. Chris and I loaded it at our leisure over the course of two weeks, we got to pick the time, and it was available at the PODS center for our access when we wanted it to be. Had we been moving to a home and not a condo community we could have had it delivered to the house. About breakage--we had only one item break and that was due to poor placement in the PODS. Everything else arrived in great shape. 

I did strap the load every 4 feet to help stabilize it from moving around. 

As the PODS facility was a 30 minute drive each way, we are very excited that it is empty and we no longer need to make the trek.

And now comes the harder part of moving--the assimilation: incorporating the treasures we brought with us into the fully furnished house.

 And that is Phase 2 of the move-in.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

It is Alive! - Finally

Yeedi at Work
Tequesta, FL
September 15, 2022

 Although I know it is an inanimate object, I discovered yesterday that our robot vacuum, it is a Yeedi, is happy to be back in Florida. I write that because I attempted to use it in Maryland while we were there and it stopped working. It would not move and I tried almost all of the troubleshooting techniques to get the machine to work. I even contacted the company and they provided a detailed plan to get the wheels working again. I never had time to follow through on that.

Yesterday, however, I pulled the Yeedi from the box of stuff destined for the trash and gave it one more chance. I found the detailed process provided by the company and was prepared to follow through to see if the little robot could be revived. I plugged it in and activated the iPhone app. Upon doing so, I received a notice that the firmware needed updating. I was excited because I felt this might solve the problem.

I went through the firmware updating process and amazingly the Yeedi came to life, moved, and vacuumed the entire first level of the house. Yay, success. And it was a lot easier than following the process the factory had sent to reboot the wheels.  

It is alive!

I have to admit, having a robot to vacuum during the night is far better than sweeping or vacuuming during the day!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Truth in Advertising

 It is the season for the "elect me" commercials on TV and in my mailbox.

I have noticed that most of the ads deviate significantly from the truth. 

In fact, many of the ads present untruths and twisted facts. It is scary that there does not have to be truth in advertising when it comes to political commercials. If businesses led with commercials containing so many untruths they would be sued and the commercials removed from the airwaves. 

Why are political ads not held to the same standard? I  believe that there should be an independent review of the commercials for lies and untruths before they are allowed to be aired. 

It is no wonder that we cannot elect truthful leaders; they get elected by lying.

Enjoy the commercials until early-November and play a game. See if you can discern who is telling the truth!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Party Crashers

Party Crashers
Carlin Park Beach, FL
September 12, 2022

 

There we were. 

On the beach, enjoying a great Happy Hour with friends. There were a multitude of appetizers and some adult beverages along with spirited conversation while reveling in a glorious beach evening.

And then the party crashers arrived.

The birds. 

Almost like a scene out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie. Birds of multiple species: seagulls, terns, sanderlings, and Fish Crows. They gathered around us in hopes of enjoying a morsel being dropped or provided for their enjoyment. 

We actually enjoy having the birds join us, but sometimes there are too many of them flying around. It was fun to identify the different species, but some of them get a bit too close at times. 

I enjoy the wildlife, they provide comic relief.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Ocean Power

Morning Beach Walk
Jupiter Island, FL
September 12, 2022

 

In a near futile attempt to get back into a kind of normal rhythm, Chris and I attempted a morning walk on the beach yesterday. It was a beautiful morning. Stunningly clear blue sky and moderate temperatures and humidity. A seemingly great day for a beach walk.

Except . . . 

The tide was high and the ocean was strong. The waves were rolling up over the ridge of sand on the beach making ponds along the base of the dunes. The sand was soft and hard to traverse. We managed only about a .8 mile walk, far short of our usual 1.5-2.0 mile walk. 

The ocean was magnificent in its beauty. The rolling waves contained such power as they washed up over the sand. I ended the water as it rushed over my feet.

And we were alone on the beach as far as our eyes could see. 

Is there a better way to begin the day?

I think not. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - September 12, 2022

 

 1. Welcome to the second Monday of September. There are 2 in the month more and only 14 remaining in the year. 

2. It had been almost 22 years since Chris and I last moved, and I can definitely say that even with our decades of moving experience from being in the Air Force, this is the hardest move yet! It is definitely the longest in terms of time from start to as yet unfinished.

Tortoise in the Sun
Tequesta, FL
September 11, 2022

3. Took a short 10-mile bike ride yesterday just to enjoy getting out. It was humid and I was soaked by the end, but I was rewarded by seeing a tortoise along the street. I stopped and snapped this image. I was surprised at how big it was. 

4. Well, the first week of the NFL season is almost in the books and I am reviving the family NFL Monday report for the teams we are tracking as a family. And here are the results from Week 1:

  Ravens (1-0) defeat Jets (0-1) 24-9

  Steelers (1-0) defeat Bengals (0-1) 23-20 TO

  Commanders (1-0) defeat Jaguars (0-1) 28-22

  Cowboys (0-1) lose to Buccaneers (1-0) 3-19

  Dolphins (1-0) defeat Patriots (0-1) 20-7

5. Now that football season has returned, I guess it is time to write the Orioles out of the playoffs. Their poor showing during the past week resulted in them falling to 5.5 games out of the Wild Card race. But it has been a better than expected season. There remains a slim chance they will make the playoffs.

6. Today in History. September 12, 1940. Near Montignac, France, a collection of prehistoric cave paintings are discovered by four teenagers who stumbled upon the ancient artwork after following their dog down a narrow entrance into a cavern. The 15,000- to 17,000-year-old paintings, consisting mostly of animal representations, are among the finest examples of art from the Upper Paleolithic period.

First studied by the French archaeologist Henri-Édouard-Prosper Breuil, the Lascaux grotto consists of a main cavern 66 feet wide and 16 feet high. The walls of the cavern are decorated with some 600 painted and drawn animals and symbols and nearly 1,500 engravings. The pictures depict in excellent detail numerous types of animals, including horses, red deer, stags, bovines, felines, and what appear to be mythical creatures. There is only one human figure depicted in the cave: a bird-headed man with an erect phallus. Archaeologists believe that the cave was used over a long period of time as a center for hunting and religious rites.

Putin's Kharkiv disaster enrages Kremlin allies - CNN

Former MLB pitcher who became police officer killed in crash while on way to 9/11 memorial ceremony - CNN

French President calls for Russia to withdraw from nuclear plant - CNN

European Manufacturers Reel From Russian Gas Shutoff - The Wall Street Journal

Russia Withdraws More Forces From Northeast Ukraine - The Wall Street Journal

Covid-19 Keeps at Least 500,000 Workers Out of U.S. Labor Force, New Study Says - The Wall Street Journal

Joy in northeast Ukraine as residents return following Russian rout - Reuters

Exclusive: Biden to hit China with broader curbs on U.S. chip and tool exports - Reuters

Pakistan races to keep floodwaters out of power station that supplies millions - Reuters

What to know from NFL Week 1: Chiefs are just fine, but Patriots sure aren’t - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Crush of Activity

 I had hoped that as Chris and I returned to Florida, our level of activity would moderate.

I was wrong.

We are incredibly busy unpacking and trying to fit our Maryland belongings into our already complete Florida home. Today's project is to find a storage unit to hold the excess. And there are is lot. I had no idea we were bringing as many wall hangings as we brought. Art prints, mostly. And there are multiple boxes of pictures--many of family historical significance.

And Christmas decorations. I think we have six containers of Christmas. 

We are also blessed with too many plastic containers. Some of them are too large to be fully useful. I wonder what we are going to do with them? 

Maybe I will get to watch some football today! It is opening Sunday. Otherwise, I will be slinging boxes around.

Moving sucks! Just saying.

P.S. It is Patriot Day the remembrance of 9/11. Where were you?  Say thank-you to a First Responder.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Hitting the Streets

 

After making three trips to the PODS during the past two days, about two-hours roundtrip, Chris and I decided to stay home and return the house to a more livable state. 

Bike Route
Tequesta, FL
September 9, 2022

We were successful! But, we still have at least two more trips to make to the PODS to retrieve the remainder of our treasures. I will be getting a storage room today.

One of the things we did yesterday was locate the recycling transfer facility and get rid of the wrapping paper and cardboard boxes that were filling the garage. That helped to reclaim significant space in the garage.

To start the day, however, I went on a long bike ride around Tequesta and Jupiter. I was able to visit some new territory and enjoy the day before it got too hot or rainy. I was amazed that, as I hit the streets, my legs were tired before I even began from racing up and down stairs during the past days. I have been exercising more than I had thought. 

I was dog-tired at the end of the ride. I need to eat breakfast before heading out on these rides! There is a small hill near the end that can seem mountainous, although it is only a slight incline. After 18 or so miles, however, it provides the opportunity to push myself one more time. 

It is great to be hitting the streets again!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Closing a Chapter of History

I am not a Royals watcher, but I have always appreciated the steady leadership that Queen Elizabeth II provided to the United Kingdom and the world.

Through all of the travails, she provided was a constant not only for the United Kingdom, but for the free world. 

I now understand the saying, "The Queen is dead, long live the King."

And history will remember her leadership through seven decades.

A chapter of history is closing and her relatively sudden passing provides an opportunity to pause and reflect upon our own endeavors and direction. I wish the United States had leaders committed to bettering the country rather than forcing their own personal biases upon others.

The next days will allow us to reflect upon our own leadership as we remember Queen Elizabeth II. The world is complex and we need leaders that can work across the spectrum from domestic to international and serve the greater good of the people of both the United States and the world. We must not elect "one trick pony" leaders but rather those who can operate in the world.

Rest In Peace Queen Elizabeth II.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Moving - Garage Stress

Garage Stress
Tequesta, FL
September 7, 2022

I have a severe case of garage stress!

Chris and I have unloaded about half of our PODS and while we are maintaining the house in livable fashion, the garage is a disaster! I am used to having a garage in which cars can be parked. The moving-in mess we have created is causing undue stress. Between boxes which have been collapsed waiting for recycling, and empty tubs along with some wardrobe boxes which still need to be carried upstairs, the garage is unworkable!

Ugh. 

I will work on organizing the garage today before we make another trip to the PODS facility. We are donating a many items which have been replaced by counterparts brought from Maryland. We knew this would happen and so it is not a shock. 

In reality, it is all going pretty smoothly so far, but I  know that the hard part is coming because space is filling up quickly. I have been moving shelves to accommodate kitchenware--we are going from a house blessed with drawers to one with less than the minimum necessary. We are rethinking what we keep in the kitchen. And where are we going to keep the other stuff which occupied our perpetual junk drawer where almost anything could be found? 

First, I need to get a handle on the garage. That is my morning project. Everything comes through the garage and if there is no space to move and stage, there is no way to transition items from the truck to their new home.

The good news? I'm retired and we do not have a deadline! Or rather, the deadline is self-imposed and can slip without consequences. 

Another day dawns! The sun is not yet up an I am already plotting a course for the day.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Happy Hour and Manatees

It was off the the beach last evening for Happy Hour. It had been a successful day and a respite before we begin accessing and unpacking the PODS. I managed to find gas for $3.359/gl and both of the vehicles which made the drive from Maryland were filled and prepped for the travel ahead associated with retrieving our belongings from the PODS. We have been driving our Florida car, the Camry, which had a full tank of gas and was ready to get out of the garage after four-and-a-half months of storage. 

Manatee off Jupiter Island
Jupiter Island, FL
September 6, 2022

As we walked down to the ocean's edge, I noticed large brown shapes moving in the water about 100 yards offshore. There were groups of large brown objects, about 20 of them. They were moving with and against the waves. There were no fins and so I determined they were not sharks or dolphins. It finally came to me, manatees. We watched them off the shore for a while until they moved off. It was amazing how they were spread out but also moving in small groups. It was truly an aggregation of manatees. 

Some excitement to end the day before we headed home to make dinner. It had been years since we had seen manatees off Jupiter Island.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Alle-gator (AG) on Patrol

 

Map of My Bike Ride
Tequesta, FL
September 5, 2022

I managed a Labor Day 17 mile bike ride yesterday. It was good to be back in the saddle on a serious ride. My guide toured me through developments that I have not visited before and in one area the wildlife was active and fin to watch. 

The ride meandered through Tequesta into Jupiter. The most interesting part of the ride was through a large housing development in the initial stages of building but where the infrastructure is mostly in place from a failed development a few years ago. It winds into wild areas and I saw deer, rabbits, many species of birds, lizards, and one alligator hanging out in the pond, or is it large enough to be a lake?

Lake or Pond? You Make the Call
Jupiter, FL
September 5, 2022

I sometimes have difficulty determining the difference between lakes and ponds. 

In this case I think it is a lake, but the gator in the lake thinks that it owns the waterfront. BTW, the object in the image to the left is not the gator, that is the fountain. I zoomed in on the gator could tell that it is searching for its next meal. 

Alligator on Patrol
Jupiter, FL
September 5, 2022

Biking through undeveloped areas is a lot of fun because of the wildlife. I saw four deer race across open fields. I knew that within a few years those fields would be filled with houses--but, for now they were open areas. 

Most of the ride was in neighborhoods where the houses start at well above $1M and go upwards from there because of they are either on the river or lakefront property. Yes, they are nice houses, but way out of my desire for a mortgage. I am looking to be mortgage free by the end of September and so buying a house on the Loxahatchee River, while a pleasing thought, is not in the plan unless I win the lottery. Only problem there is you have to play to win. 

It was a beautiful morning to be out on the bike and I am looking forward to many more. The total time of the ride, with stops, was 1h33m with an average speed of 12.3 mph. I have to admit that at the end of the ride there is a small hill (compared to some I rode in Maryland) and I was out of gas in the tank. I went about as far as I could for the second ride after my return.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - Labor Day 2022

 

1. This is the first Monday of September 2022. There are 16 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. Happy Labor Day 2022. My how the world has changed during the past few years and we are beginning to get back to normal.

New Mattress Installed
Tequesta, FL
September 4, 2022

3. Get your booster!

4. Chris and I took delivery of a new mattress yesterday, our first new one in over 25 years. It was about time. It was one of the first things we wanted to do upon arriving back at our home in Florida, and we did! It was interesting that the installers took pictures of the various stages of the installation for proof of delivery. 

5. Enjoy Labor Day and remember our military and the first responders who are on watch to protect all of us! 

6. Why does it seem that we, as a nation, have lost the concept of tolerance? Everyone seems to be trying to mold everyone else into their vision of life and liberty. 

6. Today in History. On September 5, 1836, Sam Houston is elected as president of the Republic of Texas, which earned its independence from Mexico in a successful military rebellion.

Born in Virginia in 1793, Houston moved with his family to rural Tennesseeafter his father’s death; as a teenager, he ran away and lived for several years with the Cherokee tribe. Houston served in the War of 1812 and was later appointed by the U.S. government to manage the removal of the Cherokee from Tennessee to a reservation in Arkansas Territory. He practiced law in Nashville and from 1823 to 1827 served as a U.S. congressman before being elected governor of Tennessee in 1827.

Dollar Strength Lifts Americans’ Relative Spending Power - The Wall Street Journal

Ukraine’s Zelensky Hails Small Advances in South, East - The Wall Street Journal

Markets Struggle to Walk Tightrope With Focus on Fed - The Wall Street Journal

Manhunt underway after at least 10 killed in Canada stabbings - CNN

Las Vegas isn't betting on Mother Nature to solve its water problems. Here's how it intends to win - CNN

Labor Day 2022: Almost everything will be closed except these retailers - CNN

Britain's Truss expected to be named Conservative leader, new PM - Reuters

Afghanistan earthquake kills eight, more casualties feared - Reuters

South Korea braces for 'very strong' typhoon, businesses curb operations - Reuters

Two Russian embassy staff dead, 11 hurt in suicide bomb blast in Kabul - Reuters

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Back in the Saddle

 

Sun-Kissed Cloud
Tequesta, FL
September 4, 2022

Chris and I managed a short ride bike outing yesterday. It was great to be back on the road again and touring the neighborhoods in our vicinity. We rode some streets that we had not ridden before and enjoyed a relatively short 30 minute ride just to check out our conditioning and reacquaint ourselves with our bikes after riding sparingly for the past four months in Maryland. I have to admit, I enjoyed riding the flat streets a lot more than the continuous hills of my Elkridge neighborhood.

Radar of the Large Cloud
Tequesta, FL
September 4, 2022

We have a respite from unpacking until Wednesday. We cannot access our PODS until then and begin the processes of unpacking, sorting, disposing, storing, and using the treasures we moved from Maryland. 

This morning as I looked out from the patio, I saw a huge sun-kissed cloud heading my way. Dark Skies predicted rain imminently, but that never materialized. The radar image of the cloud was impressive and somewhere very close saw a heavy, brief downpour.

I am glad the storm missed my location.

And the holiday weekend continues. Chris and I have been busy and we have also been relaxing a bit. Good friends invited us for dinner and a swim last evening and it was great fun. 

We are definitely "back in the saddle" with its multiple connotations.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

September and a Deep Breath

 

Evening Storm Clouds
Jupiter, FL
September 1, 2022

It was a strange coincidence that as the new month began, so did the next chapter in our journey. 

It was hard to leave, but exciting to arrive and we have already begun to resume the life we left behind during mid-April when we relocated to Maryland. 

It is freeing and scary. 

I am recovering from my fire ant encounter. The itching woke me during the night, but slathering the spots with cortisone and Benadryl reduced the urge to scrape the skin off my foot to a manageable level. 

The weather is hot, but not as hot nor humid as what we had been experiencing in Maryland. The morning and evening were both comfortable enough to be outside. Chris and I spent the day unpacking, organizing, and obtaining the essential items we needed to live comfortably. We prepared a salmon dinner at home last evening and even our furry family members adjusted to the new pace and relaxed from the past months of continual upheaval.

While I would like to say, "It is over," there remain more than a few tings to accomplish. We need to be reunited with the PODS and assimilate those treasures into the home. We have decided that we will require a storage room even though the weeding process will continue. Many more things will be thrown off the raft, but more than a few will be retained--at least for a while.

Now is the time to take a deep breath and move forward in an unhurried, but deliberate manner. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Moving--Arrived

Happy Hour on the Beach
Jupiter, FL
September 1, 2022

 After a two-day road trip, the two-car caravan arrived safely in Tequesta about 1:30PM yesterday. We spent a couple hours unpacking the cars and moving back into our Beach House which is now home and received some great help from Fran and Mary. 

I was exhausted! I could hardly think when I arrived because Riordin meowed the entire second-day drive and it was all I could do not to open the window and offer him the escape from the car that he was seeking. But I didn't. 

We managed to miss the thunderstorms that have been pounding the South and only had to drive through one significant rainstorm within 20 minutes of our destination. 

My Fire Ant Ravaged Foot
Tequesta, FL
September 2, 2022

The only mishap was my run-in with fire ants yesterday morning in South Carolina. It was dark when I took the dogs out and I did not see a small mound--suffice it to say, I am now itching ferociously my right foot. I probably will not stop for the night again in South Carolina as a result. 

I had forgotten about the low season here in South Florida. I wondered where all the traffic had gone, but was reminded that we were last here during high season. 

I had not, however, forgotten about Happy Hour on the beach and it was a fantastic ending to the trip. We enjoyed the water and the sand and our friends. OK, there may have been some adult beverages as well, but being back on one of our favorite beaches was the perfect exclamation point to the trip. 

Now the work begins. We need to assimilate a lot of treasures into an already complete house and transform it all into a home. 

And so the day begins, bright, sunny, and relatively low humidity as compared with the conditions we have been experiencing in Maryland. 

I realized, just now, that I might never, or only rarely ever, sign my blog from Elkridge, MD again.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Under the Cover of Darkness

Empty and Dark
Elkridge, MD
August 30, 2022

 Chris and I departed our house in Elkridge for likely the last time early this morning. The world was dark as we drove the streets that had been our local neighborhood for more than two decades. The good-byes had been tearful, but we know not permanent. It is sad that sometimes we don't appreciate the people we know until it is time to say good-bye.

The last item that I sold was my tractor and I have to admit that more than a few tears fell as I mowed the lawn for the last time and remembered everything we had done during the past 22 summers. Wow. And it really does seem like just yesterday that we moved into the house that became a fantastic home which is again a house waiting for a family to make it a home.

We are on our way home. Where we are headed is no longer our beach house, but it is our home. Chris and I have spent much of the day talking about transforming our Florida townhouse from a vacation place to our home. We have many plans and ideas. 

We should arrive in Tequesta tomorrow during the bright part of the day to start our lives there. I expect to be on the beach tomorrow night celebrating a new beginning.

-- Bob Doan, Yemassee, SC

Clock Delivery

 

Our Ithaca Grandfather Clock's New Home
Odenton, MD
August 29, 2022

Yesterday marked another point along the journey of relocation. For the first time in over 30 years there are no grandfather clocks in our house. I awoke this morning and the reassuring chimes to which I have become accustomed were not heard as our three (yes, three) grandfather clocks have been re-homed. 

It was no small task and I can report that two of them are happily ticking in their new homes, while the other seems a bit off. I will have to make a quick call on it this afternoon to see if I can straighten out the problem, which likely involves the escapement. This clock did have a bit of a problem in during transit and actually required a more extensive set-up than expected. It is also on a carpet which has a lot of pile and so that may be causing some issues because the clock rocks a bit when the pendulum sways.

We have a busy day planned completing the final tasks before departure. Although our drive-away date is not cast in stone, we have a hotel reservation about halfway because we are caravanning with two vehicles and three furry friends. It should be a challenging two days on the road. But the driving will be easier. We are planning to get over halfway the first day leaving a shorter drive the second.

At least the clocks are in their new homes.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - August 29, 2022

 

1. Monday has arrived again. This is the final of five August Mondays. It has been a long, hot month. There are 18 Mondays remaining in the year.

Closing the Pool for the Last Time
Elkridge, MD
August 27, 2022

2. Things are winding down at our Elkridge house. It is hard to believe we have only a few days remaining here. The pool is closed, which was a sad day's work--but, it is for the best as there will be no one to manage it until the buyers become the owners. I will mow the lawn one last time today. And we will begin removing all of the remaining non-essential items tomorrow. 

The Brothers Working Together
August 28, 2022
ELkridge, MD

3. Brakes again. Ugh. Actually changing a bad brake line that presented a large number of challenges. The brothers got it done. It was fun supervising and watching the brothers work together. I did get my hands dirty as we tackled some of the tricky and potentially disastrous problems the brake line presented. We got it done, even in the heat of the day.

4. The United States is preparing to send humans back to the moon, Hopefully the Artemis 1 rehearsal mission goes well today. To infinity and beyond! I am amazed at how many countries are in a space race to the moon. NASA, South Korea, India and China are currently exploring the Moon and its environs.

5. Because some important people cannot keep their ideas secret, the future pain of fighting inflation has become real pain due to stock market speculation.

6. Today in History. Hurricane Katrina makes landfall near New Orleans, Louisiana, as a Category 3 hurricane on August 29, 2005. Despite being only the third most powerful storm of the 2005 hurricane season, Katrina was among the worst natural disasters in the history of the United States. In the wake of the storm, there were over 50 failures of the levees and flood walls around New Orleans and its suburbs. The levee and flood wall failures caused widespread flooding.

After briefly coming ashore in southern Florida on August 25 as a Category 1 hurricane, Katrina gained strength before slamming into the Gulf Coast on August 29. In addition to bringing devastation to the New Orleans area, the hurricane caused damage along the coasts of Mississippi and Alabama, as well as other parts of Louisiana.

NASA to Launch Artemis I Moon Mission - The Wall Street Journal

Stock Futures Point to Further Losses on Rate Concerns - The Wall Street Journal

U.N. Inspectors Head to Ukraine Nuclear Plant as Safety Fears Grow - The Wall Street Journal

The unexpected impact of Western sanctions on Russia - CNN

Pakistan pleads for international help as parts of country 'resemble a small ocean' - CNN

Mississippi residents are once again fleeing rising river waters - CNN

Analysis: Pain of breaking inflation will reverberate around the globe - Reuters

Dollar hits 20-year high as markets hunker down for higher rates for longer - Reuters

Taiwan says 12 Chinese fighters crossed Taiwan Strait median line - Reuters

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD