Monday Musings - May 12, 2025

 

1. Well here we are, it is the 2nd Monday of May 2025. Amazingly there are 33 Mondays remaining in this year. 

2. How 'bout them O's? Sitting on the bottom of the division, but they managed to win their second series of the year after getting swept in Minnesota. They are currently tied for the 26th (of 30) best team in MLB. If this were the Premier League in the UK, they would be facing relegation--maybe not a bad idea. I think Norfolk could do better than they are playing right now. 

3. We enjoyed a great Mother's Day. The day was capped at a local Italian Restaurant, Vulcano's.  for a great meal with friends. The wine flowed freely as did the food. This small restaurant in a local strip plaza was a great find. The evening was great and was a fitting end for the celebration of Mothers. 

4. Trump's trade war with the world is becoming something of a joke and it is fraught with possibilities for corruption. Take, for instance, this morning's announcement of a trade deal with China. The markets surged, but was this information available to everyone or only a select few? There is money to be made, but, I suspect, the system is being games and the small investors are left holing the bag. 

5. Today in History. The body of aviation hero Charles Lindbergh’s baby is found on May 12, 1932, more than two months after he was kidnapped from his family’s Hopewell, New Jersey, mansion.

Lindbergh, who became the first worldwide celebrity five years earlier when he flew The Spirit of St. Louis across the Atlantic, and his wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh discovered a ransom note in their 20-month-old child’s empty room on March 1. The kidnapper had used a ladder to climb up to the open second-floor window and had left muddy footprints in the room. In barely legible English, the ransom note demanded $50,000.

On May 12, a renewed search of the area near the Lindbergh mansion turned up the baby’s body. He had been killed the night of the kidnapping and was found less than a mile from the home. The heartbroken Lindberghs ended up donating the home to charity and moved away.

Latest updates: US and China agree to lower tariff levels for 90 days - Reuters

Kurdish PKK disbands and ends 40-year Turkey insurgency - Reuters

Trump plans to accept luxury 747 from Qatar to use as Air Force One - Reuters

Republicans to reveal whether they will advance tax hike on the wealthy - Reuters

Zelenskiy tells Putin to come to Turkey if he wants talks, after Trump intervention - Reuters

Trump is finally getting his parade — and it's only going to cost taxpayers tens of millions - MSNBC

South Carolina botched this man’s execution. But that’s not the main problem. - MSNBC

Trump travels abroad after talks fail with those who shout 'death to America' - FoxNews

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#mondaymusings

Mother's Day 2025

 Mother's Day 2025

Sidney J. (Fairbanks) Doan 
Columbia, MD
August 16, 2013

It is a blessing that we can take a day to celebrate mothers. In the human experience, having a mother is something we all share. Sometimes the mother we celebrate may not be our biological mother, but to whom we choose to ascribe the title "mother" is, perhaps, the most honorable and important title in all of humanity.  

Today I honor all moms: my mom, my wife, my daughter, my daughters-in-law, and every woman who is a mom. 

Thanks for the love, toil, work, and dedication being a mom requires. You are the keepers of society and future generations.

Today, however, I especially remember, my mom. She passed during December 2021, but she is still very present with both Chris and me. One of the ways she is present is her maiden name. We often bike through a golf community and some of the streets are simply named Fairway with a direction (N, NE, E, SE, etc.). Her maiden name was Fairbanks and the similarity is enough to remind us of her every time we bike the Fairway streets. But more than that, both Chris and I refer to her often and the blessing that she was watching us progress from a couple of love-struck high school kids into who we are today. 

And even today my mom remains a blessing to my entire family for her strength, grace, and wisdom. 

Thanks for being my mom and the embodiment of love.

1 Cor 13:4-8a. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Friday on the Course

Chris Putting
Jupiter Dunes, Jupiter, FL
May 9, 2025

 Chris and I actually got out yesterday and played a round of golf at our favorite local course. We had not played together since January and it was good to be back out on the links. That written, this course is tough. Small greens and some really tough shots. I did not do as well as I would have liked. 

Green Heron
Jupiter Dunes, Jupiter, FL
May 9, 2025

We rode for a change as we normally walk the course. With the hot humid weather moving in, I thought we might enjoy the back 9 more if we were not exhausted from the front 9. And it worked out. It was nice to have the shade of the golf cart to shield us from the burning sun.

Of course, as always we were treated to a variety of animals to enjoy. Fortunately there are no alligators on this course, but I got a very nice image of a green heron. 

We enjoyed our time on the course and were able to get out of the sun just before lunch time to enjoy the remainder of the day out of the heat and humidity. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

As the Weather Turns

Gopher Tortoise
Tequesta, FL
May 8, 2025

 The weather has turned.

Our weather has transitioned from an almost idyllic springtime with low humidity and moderate temperatures to South Florida summer where the temperatures and humidity both approach 90. It is uncomfortable after enjoying the long and luxurious weather we have experienced. But, we knew the sloppy wet heat would soon arrive.

I rode almost 18 miles yesterday before the day became too unbearable. The region is lacking for moisture as can be seen from the image of the tortoise along the roadway that I snapped yesterday. The normally lush green grasses are burnt and brown. We need rain--lots of it, but hopefully not all at once.

In the news, was it a cosmic coincidence that an American was selected as Pope on V-E Day? Yes, Pope Leo XIV is originally from Chicago.

Oh; my tortoise count yesterday was 2.

Chris and I are planning a golf outing this morning. It will be our first together since January. At least the lower off-season rates are in effect.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

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 

Monday Musings - April 28, 2025

 

1. Happy Monday. It is the final Monday of April. The year is about 1/3 over and there are 35 Mondays remaining.

Gardenia Bush in Bloom
Tequesta, FL
April 27, 2025

2. I am very concerned about the Orioles. They are on pace for a 100 loss season and there seems to be no way to get the club into the win column. They were just swept by Detroit and the Yankees come to town tonight! Ugh. 

3. I managed to get an image of blooming gardenia bushes yesterday. The sweet fragrance remains hanging in the air. I enjoyed my almost 18-mile ride yesterday. The traffic is lighter on Sundays although there were many more people out walking. I got out a bit later than normal. 

4. There is no plan! Typically when the U.S. sets a policy or chooses a course of action there is a plan, a playbook, which has both short-term and strategic goals. It becomes clear last week that with regard to Ukraine-Russia, the economy, tariffs, immigration, foreign policy, and whatever else I can think of that there is no plan. We are at the mercy of the gray matter inside of one person's head. We have seen regular flip-flops which leave everyone wondering--what's up? All that I can discern is that a failed 19th century solution is being applied blindly to a 21st century problem and it is floundering just as badly now as it did back then. The world is very different now and more interconnected than it was in the 1800s. 

5. Today in History. April 28, 1789. Three weeks into a journey from Tahiti to the West Indies, the HMS Bounty is seized in a mutiny led by Fletcher Christian, the master’s mate. Captain William Bligh and 18 of his loyal supporters were set adrift in a small, open boat, and the Bounty set course for Tubuai south of Tahiti.

In December 1787, the Bounty left England for Tahiti in the South Pacific, where it was to collect a cargo of breadfruit saplings to transport to the West Indies. There, the breadfruit would serve as food for enslaved passengers. After a 10-month journey, the Bounty arrived in Tahiti in October 1788 and remained there for more than five months. On Tahiti, the crew enjoyed an idyllic life, reveling in the comfortable climate, lush surroundings and the hospitality of the Tahitians. Fletcher Christian fell in love with a Tahitian woman named Mauatua.

Hispanic voters helped Trump retake the White House. Now their support is waning - Reuters

Risk of global economic recession surges on US tariff shockwaves - Reuters

Putin declares 3-day May ceasefire to mark 80 years since World War Two victory - Reuters

Suspected US airstrike hits Yemen migrant centre; Houthi TV says 68 killed - Reuters

Analysis How Trump’s big bet on tariffs went bad - CNN

Canadians vote in election overshadowed by US tariff and annexation threats - CNN

New estimates suggest Elon Musk's DOGE has been a self-sabotaging project - MSNBC

Debt crisis deepens as 1 in 4 Americans forced to choose between bills and basics - FoxNews

Putin thanks North Korea for sending troops to fight Ukraine: 'Will never forget the heroism' - FoxNews

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Cars I Don't Often See

 

Lotus and Lamborghini
Jupiter, FL
April 26, 2025

It has been a great week for car spotting. 

Sure we have seen the usual plethora of Bentleys and Rolls. They are almost everywhere. But, over the past couple days I have been introduced to a few cars that just do not show up often.

Yesterday, for instance, Chris and I pulled into a small shopping area to find a Lotus and a Lamborghini parked next to each other. That was a first, but even more interesting was the color of the Lamborghini--purple. There they were, parked together alone in the lot. I took a moment to admire them and imagine the sound of their engines accelerating. 

1989 Jaguar XJS V-12 rouge Special Edition
Image from the Internet

Late last week, I was introduced to a very special Jaguar. It was a 1989 Jaguar XJS V12 Rouge Special Edition. And it was in our community. One of the residents had borrowed it from his father-in-law to take his daughter and friends to Prom. Wow--it was a beauty with only 28,000 miles on it. Now this Jaguar was not in the same class as the Lotus or the Lamborghini, but it was a really beautiful car. I failed to take an image of it sitting in his drive, but found a few on the internet so I could remember the awesomeness of this classic. He told me how much someone told him it was worth, but that was a bit of an exaggeration. Nonetheless, it was a heart stopping car. 

Later Chris and I got into our 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-e and headed out wishing we were in the Jag and remembering the ones we have owned. At least our Mach-e is red. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

A Night at the Theater

 

View from my Seat, Dreyfoos Hall, Kravis Center
West Palm Beach, FL
April 25, 2025

We went to see a Broadway Across America production of Les Misérables last evening at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. The production began promptly at 8 PM and was stunning.

But there is more to the story.

Our normal roughly 30 minute trip to West Palm Beach took almost and hour due to Friday-night rush hour traffic. The situation on I-95, my preferred route, was so bad that we saved almost 10 minutes by driving US-1, with all of its stoplights, into the city. We made our dinner reservation and enjoyed a relaxed dinner at True Food Kitchen which is a short walk from the Kravis. When I say short walk, I mean short, like less than 10 minutes at a leisurely walking pace. 

But what about the show? 

The show was great. We had less than optimal seats at the very back of the hall, but still had good view of the stage. The sound system was perfect. What bothered me is that the show is very dark--I knew that before hand, but from where sat it was a bit too dimly lit. We could not make out the faces of the actors and actresses. 

The Kravis, however, is a great place to watch live theater. The seats are comfortable and parking is free. I look forward to returning for another show soon. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Happy Hour Returns to the Beach

 

Happy Hour Crew on the Beach
Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL
April 24, 2025

It happened.

We finally returned to the beach to enjoy Happy Hour. It had been months, it seems, since we last enjoyed an evening on the beach. 

Between our traveling, the weather, and some sickness we have been away from the beach--but not so last evening. We returned. It was glorious. 

Pelicans on Patrol
Carlin Park Beach, Jupiter, FL
April 24, 2025

The highlight of the evening was the appearance of two spinner sharks, well it could have been one shark jumping twice. There is almost no way to capture spinner sharks on camera because before you realize it's happening it is over except for the splash.

We enjoyed a few hours of watching the waves crash on a nearly empty beach. Sadly, there were no surfers to entertain us--but we spent time catching up on recent travels. 

We had a great time and are looking forward to getting out tonight to attend a performance of Les Miserables at the local theater. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The Fragrance of Gardenias

Gardenia in Bloom
Tequesta, FL
March 29, 2025

 The fragrance of gardenias was everywhere yesterday during my almost 18-mile ride. 

The gardenias have been in bloom for a couple of weeks now, but yesterday they seemed to be at their peak. The sweet fragrance was everywhere and it was very enjoyable. I enjoyed the sweetness around every curve. 

After my morning ride, Chris and I spent the day restocking the food supplies which we had drawn down during April due to our many travels. We expect to be home for most of May! Yay. 

Due to a dental appointment, I won't be able to ride today, but I am hopeful of getting out again tomorrow and enjoying the gardenias again. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Home Again

From the United Club
George Bush Intercontinental Airport 
Houston, TX
April 22, 2025

 The travel day was executed without incident. That is always great. The flight was onetime and the journey to the airport was without incident. 

Who can ask for more? 

Even Finnegan was at home and greeted us as we entered the house. He puts on an unrivaled display of excitement when we arrive after being away. 

We had left the car at the airport and it was great just walking into the garage, hopping into the vehicle and driving away after traveling. We do not do that too often, but the short nature of the trip meant that parking at the airport was less expensive than getting an Uber or a Lyft. 

We do not have any travel planned for the month of May. It will be good to be home and enjoying the South Florida lifestyle of boating, golfing, and biking for a while. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Finalizing the Visit

Saltgrass Steakhouse
Fulshear, TX
April 21, 2025

 Yesterday was our final full day in the Houston area. We spent time with Dad at his residence while also enjoying lunch with some of the family. 

By the end of the day the weather was spectacular--blue clear sky and low humidity. 

Today is another travel day. We are making our way back to Florida and hopefully will be arrive by mid-afternoon. 

Lunch at Saltgrass Steakhouse was very nice and seemed to be authentically Texan. The weather was so perfect that we sat outside and enjoyed good company and weather. 

Following that, we headed off to see Dad at his residence. I was able to fix a broken wheel on his adjustable tray and we chatted about the state of the world for a few hours before Chris and I said our final goodbye and headed back to Scott and Pennie's for the evening. 

It has been a busy and enjoyable trip, but going home is always a positive thought especially knowing Finnegan will be home in time to greet us as we arrive. 

-- Bob Doan, Weston Lakes, TX

Monday Musings - April 21, 2025

 

1. Today is Easter Monday and the third Monday of April. There are 36 Mondays remaining in 2025. 

Me, Dad, Chris
Easter Sunday in Texas
Weston Lakes, TX
April 20, 2025

2. The news of the death of Pope Francis is the lead story this morning. The 88 year old Pope died overnight of pneumonia. 

3. Chris and I were excited to have spent part of Easter Sunday with Dad. We had a great day and enjoyed a fantastic dinner prepared by my sister Pennie with help from Chris. 

4. I have wondered why the Easter Bunny is depicted with eggs and more importantly why the eggs are decorated. Now mind you, this was not something that I  ever spent much brainpower thinking about, but I mentioned it to my sister yesterday and she offered a potential explanation. It seems that the Easter Bunny stole the eggs from the hens and then dyed them so the hens would not recognize them. The Easter Bunny then distributed the eggs to the unsuspecting. I guess that makes the Easter Bunny a thief! For an alternate reality, Good Housekeeping has a more plausible story. 

5. I am holding my breath concerned about what Executive Branch inspired travesty will occur this week. I would hope for a quiet week where the markets recover, tariffs are terminated, and concern for the hard-working American people outweighs the need for splashy headlines. 

6. What is up with the Orioles? They lost 24-2 yesterday and position players pitched the last two innings giving up 9 runs. The team, which was projected to be in the World Series by multiple sports writers, seems to be sinking into irrelevancy. 

Colosseum
Rome, IT
May 11, 2024

7. Today in History. According to tradition, on April 21, 753 B.C., Romulus and his twin brother, Remus, found Rome on the site where they were suckled by a she-wolf as orphaned infants. Actually, the Romulus and Remus myth originated sometime in the fourth century B.C., and the exact date of Rome’s founding was set by the Roman scholar Marcus Terentius Varro in the first century B.C.

According to the legend, Romulus and Remus were the sons of Rhea Silvia, the daughter of King Numitor of Alba Longa. Alba Longa was a mythical city located in the Alban Hills southeast of what would become Rome. Before the birth of the twins, Numitor was deposed by his younger brother Amulius, who forced Rhea to become a vestal virgin so that she would not give birth to rival claimants to his title. However, Rhea was impregnated by the war god Mars and gave birth to Romulus and Remus. Amulius ordered the infants drowned in the Tiber, but they survived and washed ashore at the foot of the Palatine hill, where they were suckled by a she-wolf until they were found by the shepherd Faustulus.

Pope Francis, whose tenure was marked by turbulence and division, dies at 88 - Reuters

Pentagon chief Hegseth shared sensitive Yemen war plans in second Signal chat - Reuters

Harvard says Trump administration doubled down after sending letter reported as unauthorized - Reuters

As Trump eyes coal revival, his job cuts hobble black lung protections for miners - Reuters

Trump's threat to block international students is a terrible own goal - MSNBC

International students are being told by email their visas are revoked and they must ‘self-deport.’ What to know - CNN

-- Bob Doan, Weston Lakes, TX

Happy Easter 2025

 Easter has arrived. 

Here is praying you have a blessed day. 

Chris and I continue our visit to see Dad. We spent a couple hours with him yesterday at his residence. We enjoyed meeting some of his table mates while enjoying lunch. Yes, they have assigned seating. It was a very enjoyable visit. 

Today the Easter celebration continues and we will retrieve Dad early this afternoon for some family enjoyment.

 

Happy Easter to all.

-- Bob Doan, Weston Lakes, TX

Good Friday Celebration

Dad
Grand Marshall of the Easter Egg Hunt
Weston Lakes, TX
April 18, 2025

Good Friday is not normally a celebratory day. It is more usually a day of remorse and reflection.

Yesterday, however, we celebrated and enjoyed an Easter Egg hunt while spending time with my Dad, whom I have not seen in over a year. He was in good spirits when we retrieved him from his residence and we spent the day interacting with some of our Texas family. 

Preston and Eva
After the Egg Hunt
Weston Lakes, TX
April 18, 2025

We spent a long day enjoying the sounds of children and watching them play. I even got to play catch with a football. Since I didn't bring my baseball glove, and there aren't any other lefties in the family, we couldn't play catch with a baseball--my preferred sports ball. 

It was relaxing and enjoyable to watch the kids play while catching up with the adults. 

It was also nice to focus on family and take some respite from the news of the day. 

-- Bob Doan, Weston Lakes, TX

Arriving Houston

Passenger Pick-up Terminal C
George Bush Intercontinental, Houston, TX
April 17, 2025

 When Chris and I journey to Houston, we mostly fly into Houston Hobby, not George Bush Intercontinental (IAH). It was quite an experience landing at IAH last evening. I have to confess, I have never been as confused about where to go trying to leave an airport before and that includes some really complicated airports like Rome. As we headed to baggage to meet our ride we were confronted with a myriad of avenues through which to exit. There was the taxi stand door, the limo and paid rider pick-up door and later we were advised of the passenger pick-up door, which was a bit hidden. Weren't we all passengers? 

I picked the wrong exit first. We wound up where the Lift and Uber drivers along with limos pick up passengers. Walking around the corner we happened upon the taxi stand. But finding where normal people get rides from family was nowhere in sight. Calling Pennie, my sister who was trying to find us as we were trying to find her, she told me to head back inside and exit through the portal marked Passenger Pick-up. 

We found it. 

They found us!

It was a miracle and then after slogging through grid-locked airport traffic for another what seemed like 20 minutes we were on the road. 

And so the Easter holiday begins. I believe today will be devoted to an egg hunt. We will retrieve Dad from his residence so he can enjoy the fun with most of his Texas great-grandchildren. 

-- Bob Doan, Weston Lakes, TX

Traveling for Easter

 Chris and I are off to the Houston area for the Easter holiday this afternoon. 

It will be good to see my sister and her family and my Dad. It had been a while since we made the trek to Texas. 

We are flying on United, since they have a direct flight from PBI (Palm Beach International) to IAH (Houston -  George Bush Intercontinental). All of the other airlines had layovers and flight changes that, as we all know, can become a problem. It has been a while since we flew United, but the direct flight from PBI is worth the few extra dollars to not have to drive to Fort Lauderdale (FLL).

Finn is not traveling with us. He is spending the weekend with another family and will enjoy himself getting reacquainted with their cats and meeting their new puppy. 

It should be an exciting few days for all of us.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Tax Day 2025

Blowing Rocks Marina
Tequesta, FL
April 15, 2025

Did you survive Tax Day?

 We are experiencing some absolutely fantastic weather. I remember other South Florida Aprils where the temperatures were already in the 90s and the humidity was oppressive. These days, however, the humidity is enjoyable and the temperatures are only now beginning to reach into the 80s.

I rode almost 22 miles yesterday and did not even really break a sweat because of the pleasant humidity. I did a longer ride through some areas that I only infrequently visit. It is nice to note the changes and the route I rode has a very nice wild area which is not unlike the trail I rode last summer on the Great Allegheny Passage. 

For the evening, Chris and I headed off to Tiki52 and $2 Tuesday. I think I am writing too much about Tiki52 because it seems to be getting busier even as the snow birds are departing. After enjoying some adult beverages and wings, Chris and I walked out onto the dock at the marina and stared longingly at the ICW. It has been too long since I was out enjoying it from a boat. 

Well, the big event was Tax Day--and while I had already filed my taxes the small fortune I owed the government was withdrawn from my accounts yesterday. Ouch! I did a little too good in my investments, of course that was before the tariff nonsense which has negated all of the gains on which I just paid taxes. I am pretty sure 2025 will not be a repeat of 2024--we have a long way to go to get back to where the previous president left us. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL