Super Sunday 2026

 The NFL season ending big game extravaganza is being played this evening. Finally, the frustrating and less than satisfactory NFL season will come to a close. 

I am excited for the NFL season to be over so that baseball can move to center stage!

The game promises to be a tale of two coasts with the East coast represented by the "been to the Super Bowl too many times" Patriots from New England facing the "we don't get no respect" Seahawks representing Seattle and the West Coast. The Patriots are making their record 12th appearance in the game, while Seahawks are making their 4th. 

I am appalled at how divisive the game has become. While I have not been a huge fan of the halftime shows for the past few years, as they are directed at a generation of viewers other than the one of which I am a member, I never considered an alternate halftime show. But, given everything else happening in the country, this year we have the alternate Halftime Show brought to you compliments of the misguided MAGA/Turning Point movement. 

Well, it should be an interesting Super Sunday. 

I'm glad that I don't have to go to work tomorrow. I had a good friend who always took a day of leave the Monday after the Super Bowl. He was very wise. 

Wait, I didn't make my prediction. I'm terrible at sports predictions which is why I don't bet. Seahawks 24 - Patriots 21. I am actually hoping for an exciting game as my second favorite team is playing. Who is my second favorite team? Any team opposing the Patriots!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

It's a Character Failing

 What is character?

Character refers to the set of qualities and traits that define an individual's personality, including their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It can also refer to a person or being in a story, such as in a book, movie, or play. (Encyclopedia Britannica, Merriam-Webster)

Let me now hypothesize about what we are seeing in the Epstein files as they relate to our president. 

It is all about character--but we knew that. 

Those of us who have worked in sensitive jobs where background checks are required understand that the people with whom we associate can affect our suitability for a position of trust. While DOJ and the White House continue to assert that the Epstein files absolve Trump of any crimes, I am not so sure. 

The Epstein files show, at least, two things:

Trump's friendship with Epstein confirms that he is a person of questionable character because he associated with a confirmed, convicted pedophile. There is also sufficient documentation to allege that Trump was witting of the nature of Epstein's crimes.

Trump, likewise, may have committed crimes. It is apparent he was aware of Epstein's abuse of young women and depending upon the specific's he may have aided and abetted Epstein, which is a crime or had a duty to report him because of the child abuse. 

It is all so icky and I wonder why I am subjected on a daily bias to actions and words that make me shake my heads and hope the damage can someday be repaired. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Finnegan and the Doggie Bed

Finnegan with his Bed
Tequesta, FL
February 5 ,2026

XFinity Router not Connected
Tequesta, FL
February 5, 2026

 Last evening, as Chris and I were suffering through another Comcast tv/wifi outage, Finnegan provided some comic relief. 

About Comcast outages. We have had three significant ones during the past two weeks. By significant, I mean four hours or more! Last night's outage was five hours starting at about 4 PM and running until about 9:15 PM. No TV and no internet. I was able to use my computer through my phone's cell capability for some important stuff, but that was about it. 

During the early part of the outage, Chris and I were in the Reading Room chatting and Finnegan decided to attack his doggie bed with some vigor. It was humorous. 

We watched him play for a long while. I even made a fairly long video of his activity. He was, as you will see in the video, very busy and very engaged. We tried to be very quiet so as not to disturb his activity. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Need a Little Springtime

 Temperatures are recovering here in South Florida. 

I managed an almost 18-mile ride yesterday, but it took over 6 miles for me to warm up and no longer feel as if I was cold. I thought I had dressed appropriately for the outing, but even with the temperature at 60 degrees, it was a cold ride especially when I was biking into the wind. That would be because of the "feels like" temperature of riding about 13 MPH into a 6-10 MPH breeze. Yea, cold! Roughly a feels like of 57 degrees. 

Tulips at Publix
Tequesta, FL
February 4, 2026

It was sad to see all of the annuals which succumbed to the cold in the flower beds along my ride. All the hopes for bright cheery colors lay brown and dead on the ground.  

When Chris and I later headed off to Publix for supplies, I spied some tulips in the flower section of the store. They made me smile. It was just the piece of Springtime that I needed, all the while reminding myself that we are in the middle of Winter. Of course, the temperatures are going to be more Florida-like soon, at least according to the weather forecast I found this morning.

We might even get some boating in next week!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

After the Freeze

Walking Along US 1 in Tequesta
Tequesta, FL
February 3, 2026

 Life is beginning to return to normal here in South Florida as the temperatures have risen to a more normal range. 

It is 51 degrees this morning and we have hopes of reaching 70 degrees this afternoon. 

Chris and I enjoyed the warmer temperatures yesterday by taking a long walk with Finnegan. Finn enjoyed the walk and it allowed him to shake-out some of the "cabin fever" that he has been developing during the past couple of days. 

Tiki 52

The sky was a beautiful shade of blue and, while we wore sweaters and coats, we enjoyed the walk which began to restore some sense of normalcy to life. For our evening, we headed to Tiki52 for dinner. It was a bit cooler under the Tiki hut than we expected, but the portable heater made the experience very pleasant. For those wondering about the signage in the image, Tiki52 is located at Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) Dayboard 52 between Jupiter Inlet and St Lucie Inlet. 

It will be nice to return to seasonable temperatures. I will even look forward to seeing the small lizards running across the sidewalks in front of us.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Manatees, Everywhere Manatees

Statue of Manatees
Manatee Lagoon, Rivera Beach, FL
February 2, 2026

 Yesterday was another cold day in South Florida. 

That meant that it was a perfect day for a trip to Manatee Lagoon in Rivera Beach to view the manatees, because they know how to keep warm when it is cold. 

Manatees
Manatee Lagoon, Rivera Beach, FL
February 2, 2026

Chris and I had visited the Lagoon on one other occasion a couple years ago, but it was the wrong time of year and there were no manatees. Yesterday, however, we were rewarded by viewing almost 200 manatees hanging out in the warm Florida Power and Light (FPL) electric generating plant's discharge lagoon.

It was a clear and cold day. We waited until the afternoon when the temperature crawled into the 50s to visit. It was a good choice. Even though it was cold, throngs of people were in attendance to view and enjoy the manatees in the lagoon and surrounding area. 

Manatees in the Lagoon
Manatee Lagoon, Rivera Beach, FL
February 2, 2026

I had an issue trying to get a good image given the lighting situation. The sunlight was reflecting off the ripples on the water and made getting a good image really tough--even with post processing. Despite that, we enjoyed watching the manatees along with some fish, including a nurse shark, lounging in the warm waters of the lagoon. 

It was encouraging to see the numbers of people who came out to view the manatees. Raising awareness helps to protect them. There were more than a few manatees in the lagoon who displayed evidence of their unfortunate encounters with boats. The scars are deep. One of the reasons that I try to stand when piloting the boats I am captaining is to look for manatees and debris. We have been lucky to see manatees on multiple occasions. 

I highly recommend a visit to Manatee Lagoon during the cold months. It is both fun and educational. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - February 2, 2026

 

Happy Groundhog Day!

1. Welcome to February! Today is the first of four February Mondays. There are 47 Mondays remaining in the year. 

Phil Predicts Six More Weeks of Winter
Gobblers Knob, PA
February 2, 2026

2. The prediction is in from Punxsutawney, PA. Phil predicts six more weeks of Winter! Ugh. 

3. Is America under siege from an internal force? Has ICE/CBP gone too far in assaulting Americans? Has the president lost sight of the fundamental principles that made America great? Is the president abusing his position to get richer at the expense of "We the People?"

4. Next week--the Super Bowl. I am ready for football to be over and baseball to get underway. I wonder how many people will be watching the Olympics and skip the Super Bowl? I believe the Monday after the Super Bowl should be a national holiday. Not a lot of work gets done anyway. 

5. It is cold! Yesterday, I had to switch the HVAC from cool to heat for the first time in three years. The temperature in the house got down to 69 degrees. Just a bit cold. Fortunately, the heat came on and we are enjoying a cool, but comfortable 71 degrees. 

6. Today in History. On February 2, 1887, Groundhog Day, featuring a rodent meteorologist, is celebrated for the first time at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. According to tradition, if a groundhog comes out of its hole on this day and sees its shadow, it gets scared and runs back into its burrow, predicting six more weeks of winter weather; no shadow means an early spring.

Groundhog Day has its roots in the ancient Christian tradition of Candlemas, when clergy would bless and distribute candles needed for winter. The candles represented how long and cold the winter would be. Germans expanded on this concept by selecting an animal—the hedgehog—as a means of predicting weather. Once they came to America, German settlers in Pennsylvania continued the tradition, although they switched from hedgehogs to groundhogs, which were plentiful in the Keystone State.

Groundhogs, also called woodchucks and whose scientific name is Marmota monax, typically weigh 12 to 15 pounds and live six to eight years. They eat vegetables and fruits, whistle when they’re frightened or looking for a mate (they’re sometimes called whistle pigs) and can climb trees and swim.

Slump in commodities rattles global markets - Reuters
Israel reopens Gaza's Rafah border crossing to Egypt, with tight limits - Reuters
Russia does not want a global conflict, Medvedev says - Reuters
Five-year-old boy detained by ICE has returned to Minnesota, lawmaker says - Reuters
Trump says Kennedy Center will close in July for 2-year renovation - CNN
Johnson must sell conservatives on funding deal Democrats pushed for, or risk shutdown - CNN
Where things stand with the government shutdown, and how soon it could end - FoxNews
Kenyan job seekers were lured to Russia, then sent to die in Ukraine - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Below Freezing

Happy February!

It happened over night. The temperature fell below freezing here in Tequesta. 

February 1, 2026

The last time it was this cold, or colder, in Tequesta was December 29, 1894. Yup I wrote that correctly. There was a 32 degree temperature recorded in 

The weather services are saying that it hasn't been this cold in 16 years, but I think we beat that record last night. I used Chat GPT to see when we beat last night's cold. But, I was cautioned that specific data for Tequesta is not fully available. 

It is too cold for here! I wonder how many plants and animals will succumb to the cold. 

So hey, all my friends and family, Take the weather back!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The Lost GFI

Not an Actual Image of the Situation

 It was an adventure and a sleuthing exercise worthy of Sherlock Holmes.

I went over to help a friend determine why one of the electrical outlets in his master bath suddenly had no power. OK, it was because a hair blower/dryer and a portable heater had been activated simultaneously on the same outlet. Poof!

Simple, right? Find the circuit breaker and reset it! 

Not so fast, grasshopper!

He had already checked all of the circuits in his panel and none were tripped. He looked for all of the GFIs in the house, none were tripped. 

Yet, this stubborn outlet refused to come to life. 

So he asked me to come help troubleshoot. He had bought a really cool circuit testing tool to assist in the effort. And we began. 

We started working through the electrical panel and outlets looking for a breaker that had no power. I suspected it was a bad breaker. 

But then, after about an hour, I noticed a breaker labeled Pool Box. Really? Could it be? I asked him about it and he said there was an outdoor box with breakers in it for the pool pump and equipment. I got thinking . . . 

The powerless outlet was on an exterior wall near the pool AND we could not find any other outlet or switch on the same circuit. 

So I suggested, "can we call an audible here and take a look at the electrical panel servicing the pool equipment?" At this point, even though he knew this was definitely a shot in the dark, but had nothing to lose and everything to gain, he said yes. And so we went out to the panel. 

He opened it and I immediately noticed that of the three breakers in the panel that the single 15 amp, GFI circuit was tripped. 

Upon resetting the breaker, the outlet in the master bathroom came to life!

Problem solved and mission accomplished. 

Very weird, but still, it happens. I learned the GFIs can be in strange places from my condo here in Florida. I have an outlet on the veranda which is supported by a GFI in the garage on the other side of the building. Took me days and phoning a friend to solve that one. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Preparing for a Freeze

Sunday Morning Cold Forecast

 Turns out even South Florida is not going to be exempt from the coming arctic blast. We are preparing for extreme cold--temperatures below freezing

Ugh!

According to some news outlets, this level of cold has not graced South Florida in 16 years!

Temperatures are expected to fall to about 30 degrees with windchills in the teens or lower. Inland, where there is no protection from the ocean it will be colder. 

Chris and I are plotting to protect some of our sensitive plants.

I included a map projecting potential snowfall from Tampa to Orlando. The forecasted snow is confined to western Florida. Floridians are not well prepared for the temperatures expected early Sunday morning. I have had to swap my usual short sleeve shirt and shorts with sandals for warmer attire. I realized that I don't enjoy wearing jeans and long sleeved shirts anymore.

I hope the northerners visiting South Florida and expecting sunny warm beach days are not too disturbed. It is still a lot warmer here than in the more northern areas. But still, definitely not good beach or boating weather. 

brrr!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Idaho? Yesterday?

Image of the S22i Screen was I started my ride
Tequesta, FL
January 28, 2026

 It was too cold to ride yesterday, but I needed to get on my bike for a workout. I am lucky because I have my trusty NordicTrak S22i studio bike trainer in my garage. I do not use the trainer as often as I probably should, but given the expected unseasonably cold weather expected for about the next two weeks I think it is going to be getting some regular activity. 

Yesterday's ride was through Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho! That is the really great thing about the S22i, I can take rides through many different places accompanied by a tour guide/trainer. I took an image of the S22i screen just as I began my ride. 

The tour through Craters of the Moon was enlightening. The scenery is very stark. I enjoyed the ride and it made me want to go to Idaho, during better weather, and actually make the ride. The only problem is that Idaho is a long way to drag my bike. But, it would be a fun road trip!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Work at Home Companion

Rex Working at Home
Glen Burnie, MD
January 27, 2026

Photo by Patrick Doan

 Working from home is a great benefit and one not to be abused. Some professions are more able to work from home than others, but even so, there is something called accountability. 

Dogs are often our closest allies in the home setting. Wouldn't it be fantastic to train our dogs to help with the working from home duties so that we might attend to other items, like dripping faucets? And wouldn't it be even better if they would actually do work rather than just keep the keyboard active, as some validation programs check for?

Enter Rex--the perfect Work at Home Companion! Apparently, Rex had evolved into to more than just a play and walking partner. He, apparently, has become part of the active work at home system. Hopefully, his at home working requirements do not interfere with those of his owner or they might need a create a separate home office!

It is a great pic of Rex. He is truly a great dog and Chris and I look forward to seeing him when we visit. I'm sure he is be up to the work at home task!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

It was How Warm?

Weather Forecast
January 27, 2026

 I apologize to the those residing in eastern half of the U.S. for living in South Florida. 

The temperature in Tequesta hit 88 degrees yesterday. Officially, the temperature was 90 degrees in West Palm Beach! It was mostly rainy and overcast--but pleasantly warm. 

Watching Football @ Tiki52
Tequesta, FL
January 25, 2026

We are trending down and, although I cannot believe it, I even see a low in the 20s Sunday morning! I dearly hope it changes.

These temperatures are a long way from our most recent Sunday when Chris and I headed off to Tiki52 and enjoyed watching the Broncos-Patriots game under the open air Tiki. 

There were a lot of people gathered; the mood was festive and we all enjoyed watching the game. There was a good mix support for both teams, although I detected a few more Patriots fans than those of us cheering for Denver. It had been some time since Chris and I watched football with a group of our new best friends at a bar! It was fun, even though the Broncos lost. 

Looking at the weather forecast, it may be a while before we return to Tiki52 to enjoy adult beverages and food. Tuesday is usually dinner at Tiki night, but it looks a bit cold for tonight's visit and we will likely heat to somewhere enclosed and warmer. 

I also will not be riding my bike, unless I head out during the afternoon. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - January 26, 2026

 

1. The final Monday of January 2026 has arrived. It is almost hard to believe that we are cruising through the year and January is nearly complete. Forty-eight Mondays remain in the year. 

2. The Super Bowl teams are set for the 60th of these annual events in two short weeks. The Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots will square off for bragging rights in the NFL on Sunday, February 8th, in Santa Clara, California. 

3. I tried reading a FoxNews item about the tragic Saturday shooting in Minneapolis and was mystified that the writers needed to refer to far left radicals and try, along with a very misguided Vice President, to blame everyone except the shooters for what happened. Seems to me that freedom of speech and freedom to assemble, as well as Second and Fourth Amendment freedoms only apply to those with whom the writers agree rather than all people equally. I have referenced the item in my News section below. 

4. Watching the incredibly large and powerful storm develop across the country during the past week and weekend was amazing. I was very happy to be out of the area and not have to deal with the cold, snow, sleet, and ice. My prayers are with all those who are dealing with the storm's aftermath. 

5. Today in History. On January 26, 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip guides a fleet of 11 British ships carrying convicts to the colony of New South Wales, effectively founding Australia. After overcoming a period of hardship, the fledgling colony began to celebrate the anniversary of this date with great fanfare and it eventually became commemorated as Australia Day. In recent times, Australia Day has become increasingly controversial as it marks the start of when the continent's Indigenous people were gradually dispossessed of their land as white colonization spread across the continent.

Australia, once known as New South Wales, was originally planned as a penal colony. In October 1786, the British government appointed Arthur Phillip captain of the HMS Sirius, and commissioned him to establish an agricultural work camp there for British convicts. With little idea of what he could expect from the mysterious and distant land, Phillip had great difficulty assembling the fleet that was to make the journey. His requests for more experienced farmers to assist the penal colony were repeatedly denied, and he was both poorly funded and outfitted. Nonetheless, accompanied by a small contingent of Marines and other officers, Phillip led his 1,000-strong party, of whom more than 700 were convicts, around Africa to the eastern side of Australia. In all, the voyage lasted eight months, claiming the deaths of some 30 men.

Minneapolis shootings put Trump’s immigration surge at center of election-year fight - Reuters

Russian strike on Ukraine's Kyiv leaves 1,330 buildings still without heat - Reuters

Israel to reopen Gaza's Rafah crossing after search for last hostage body ends - Reuters

Exclusive: India to slash tariffs on cars to 40% in trade deal with EU - Reuters

The far-left network that helped put Alex Pretti in harm's way, then made him a martyr - FoxNews

The real reason Trump and MAGA are so quick to blame Minneapolis shooting victims - MS Now

Trump’s stock market: Worst first year of a term since George W. Bush  - CNN

Venezuela’s acting president says she has had ‘enough’ of US orders - CNN

Trump’s sudden retreat on Greenland shows that limits still exist - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

De-ICE America

Alex Pretti was clearly visible holding
 a phone when agents first
 approached him, before pulling
 him to the ground and
 shooting him.Credit...dangjessie, via Instagram
via NYTimes

Yesterday in Minneapolis, Alex Pretti, a civilian, was killed by ICE/CBP agents while he was legally recording the activities of federal agents. He is the second civilian killed during the ICE/CBP occupation of Minneapolis/St Paul. He was unarmed and subdued on the ground at the time 10 shots were fired into his body during a period of 5 seconds. (NYTimes)

What quickly became apparent, again, was that DHS and ICE leadership do not have a grasp on truth and fact. Their first narratives after the horrific incident bear little resemblance to the facts. Thankfully, multiple citizens recorded what happened so that we can see truth. And who is FBI not conducting an investigation as required when a civilian is murdered by federal agents?

I, sadly, have lost faith in the Attorney General, Assistant Attorney General, DHS, FBI, CBP, and ICE to discharge their responsibilities to the American people in a faithful and unbiased manner. They have forgotten that they work for "We the People."

Let me be clear, I am not against immigration enforcement. 

Immigration enforcement, however, must be done properly, respectfully, and in a manner consistent with our laws the Constitution--all of it. I am tired of hearing the tired narrative about the numbers of immigrants that Biden allowed into the country as if it matters, because it is immaterial; everyone who is here now has legal and Constitutional protections. I am against what appears more and more like a secret police force designed to terrorize people and communities--that is not the job of properly trained and deployed law enforcement. ICE/CPB continue to be seen trampling the rights of citizens. What happened to "Protect and Serve?"

I actually have an idea. 

De-fund ICE and distribute their bloated funding to local and state police authorities. Create an organization under DHS, maybe under CBP, which identifies the egregious immigration criminals, as was promised by the President when he said "worst of the worst", and pass that verified information to the "locals" to execute warrants and arrests. That the locals would execute legal warrants for felonious crimes should appease concerns expressed by sanctuary cities and states. 

Effectively repairing the damage that has been done to the Country requires replacing the heads of DOJ, DHS, ICE, CBP, FBI, and Defense. Replacing them can be easy or hard--they resign (easy) or are impeached (hard). Their leadership is not compatible with the bedrock principles of America as expressed in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and applicable US Titles and laws.

Restore the land of the free and home of the brave--for all people!

De-ICE America!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Back onto the Streets

Crossing the Tequesta Bridge
Tequesta, FL
January 23, 2026

 Between the weather and my lack of motivation, it has not been a good month on my bike. 

I wish that I had ridden more, but the cold weather, rain, and gloomy skies negatively affected my mood and until yesterday's ride. It had been a chore to get out on my bike. 

But not yesterday! I finally had a great ride for the and completed my normal almost 18 mile loop! It was warm! Yes--in the 70s, finally! The skies were filled broken clouds and I hit the streets with enthusiasm. I actually enjoyed the ride because I was not fighting biting cold and I felt good!

The weather is turning cold again next week, but while much of the U.S. is suffering from incredible cold, it is warm and pleasant here in South Florida. I hope to get rides in today and tomorrow. With temperatures expected to be in the 80s tomorrow, I am also hoping to enjoy beach time! That would be awesome.

Bike, Beach and Beer! Now there is a winning combination.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Fabergé Eggs in Stuart

 I mentioned, yesterday, that in addition to the King tut replica exhibit, that Fabergé Eggs were also on display at the Elliot Museum in Stuart. 

Chris and I spent a short while looking at the eggs on display--of which there are many. I did not count the actual number of Fabergé Imperial Eggs in the exhibit, but there are definitely many. They are interesting and I  never appreciated the history of them until walking through the exhibit. 

I mean, OK, so they are decorated eggs, right?

Well they are so much more, as I learned. Some have complications which make them interesting. One was found in a flea market, I believe in Arizona just a few years ago. 

I was also fascinated by Fabregé's replica of Catherine the Great's coronation crown which is part of the exhibit. Of course the crown predates the eggs, but it is a very interesting piece to see in person. Wow!

Plan at least an hour to view the eggs and crown. Take your time--there is a wealth of history on display. And don't forget the King Tut exhibit and then there are numerous other exhibits in the museum as well as the fantastic collection of antique cars. Fortunately, there is a cafe right outside of the museum to take a rest and refresh!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

King Tut Returns to Stuart

 

The exhibit of museum quality replicas of the treasures found in King Tut's tomb returned to the Elliott Museum in Stuart. The display will remain through May, but Chris and I have already made our return visit to the museum. We are members, and any reason to visit the museum is a good one. This display is different than the previous exhibit. I found it easier to spend time with the individual displays and get deeper into the history. 

King Tut's Coffins Replicas
Stuart, FL
January 13, 2025

I very much enjoy Egyptian treasures. I remember my first exposure to authentic Egyptian treasures was at the Field Museum in Chicago during June 1977. I viewed the traveling King Tut exhibit. I had stopped for a day to visit with the Best Man from our wedding, Tim, as I was traveling to Denver to enter onto active duty with the Air Force and begin my career.

My next close encounter with Egyptian relics was during 1989 when we took the family from San Angelo to Dallas to view Ramses the Great. Mom and Dad accompanied us on the very long day trip. But we had a great time. The Ramses exhibit did not disappoint. 

And now here in South Florida, I have, for the third time, been able to spend time exploring King Tut's Egyptian antiquities. True, these are museum quality replicas, but the history and significance are no less interesting. The docent was not busy and we were provided with an in depth experience. Weekdays are good days to visit the museum. We spent so much time with the docent that we never made it to the antique cars and had precious little time to spend with the Fabergé Eggs, which are also on display. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Best Mornings of the Year

Breakfast on the Veranda
Utopia of the Seas near CocoCay, Bahamas
January 7, 2026

  What I treasure most about cruising is the opportunity to savor breakfast on the veranda. Chris and I order coffee, fruit, and pastries delivered to our stateroom and,  weather permitting, we relish breakfast while watching the sunrise, the ocean, or other captivating scene that graces our view.  

It is a perfect way to start the day. 

We sit and chat about the plan for the day and discuss some of the overnight news and happenings. But mostly, we just look out at a scene we only occasionally are fortunate enough to enjoy. 

Back home, our condo has a very limited view from the veranda. Mostly we enjoy a few plants, and ferns and a large green hedge. The occasional squirrel, bird, or lizard often become topics of conversation. 

Shipboard, it is a whole different environment. And we make sure to enjoy it. I fear too many cruisers pay for the veranda but never venture outside of their cabin. I get the veranda because I want to use it! And we do!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Escape the World to Dinner

The Stew, the Morning After
Tequesta, FL
January 20, 2026

I am not a cook and I have never played one on TV. 

 Chris and I tried a new recipe last evening. We found it in a book of soups and stews. The dish was named, Beef, Barley & Butternut Squash Stew with Blue Cheese Croutons. Since it was unseasonably cold here yesterday, it seemed a good time to pull out a feel good recipe and try it out.

Mmmm!

It took almost two hours to prepare and cook, thankfully I started at 4 PM. I had forgotten to plan around a 6 PM HOA meeting and so the dish sat until 7 PM before we were able to enjoy it. It was everything we hoped it would be and went very well with a Washington State red wine.

I discovered something, it is really expensive to cook creative dishes! The cost was over $40 just for the stuff we didn't have in the pantry or refrigerator.

Croutons Ready for Browning
Tequesta, FL
January 19, 2026

But, I guess that is the price for hiding my head in the sand so as not to hear the insane things that our president is saying and doing. Who says things like, since you didn't give me the peace award, I'm going to go to war now? Huh? Really?

A couple things about the dish--first, I enjoyed cutting the leaks. They were fun to joke about because Chris asked me where they were and I told her to look for the wet spot. I also had fun with the croutons. The blue cheese and walnut topping was really good and is a definite keeper for other dinners. 

Well, at least we have enough for lunch today and possibly tomorrow. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - January 19, 2026

 Martin Luther King Day

1. Welcome to the third Monday of January. It is a federal holiday. And that means no bad news in the mail. There are 49 Mondays remaining in 2026. 

2. I realized that it is hard to watch a complete NFL game when teams I care about are not playing. I saw parts of all four games this weekend, but no complete game. I did, however, see the ending of both overtime games!

3. I considered attending the college football championship game tonight. It is about two hours away in Miami. I was serious enough to look for tickets. Silly me, I actually thought I would find some reasonable tickets for the game. I was shocked by the prices! I went onto two resale sites and found tickets ranging from about $4K to $18K per ticket. Ugh. I posted the seat maps from two of the popular resale ticket sites. Who really pays that much for a sporting event? I mean, really? 

4. It appears we are in for another week of crazed things emanating from Washington. It surely has been a wild start to the year. Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of the ascendance of Donald Trump to the presidency and the beginning of his 2nd term. I don't think any of us saw what was coming when he stood on Inauguration Day and lied about everything he intended to do. The text of his address can be found here. A couple of quotes remind of us what he said so we can compare them with what has actually transpired.

Next, I will direct all members of my cabinet to marshal the vast powers at their disposal to defeat what was record inflation and rapidly bring down costs and prices.

After years and years of illegal and unconstitutional federal efforts to restrict free expression, I also will sign an executive order to immediately stop all government censorship and bring back free speech to America.

Never again will the immense power of the state be weaponized to persecute political opponents -- something I know something about. (Laughter.) We will not allow that to happen. It will not happen again.

Under my leadership, we will restore fair, equal, and impartial justice under the constitutional rule of law.

5. Today in History. On January 19, 1809, poet, author and literary critic Edgar Allan Poe is born in Boston, Massachusetts.

By the time he was three years old, his father had abandoned the family and his mother had died, leaving him in the care of his godfather John Allan, a wealthy tobacco merchant. After attending school in England, Poe entered the University of Virginia in 1826. After fighting with Allan over his heavy gambling debts, he was forced to leave school after only eight months. Poe then served two years in the U.S. Army and won an appointment to West Point. After another falling out, Allan cut him off completely and he got himself dismissed from the academy for rules infractions.

Dark, handsome and brooding, Poe had published three works of poetry by that time, none of which had received much attention. In 1836, while working as an editor at the Southern Literary Messenger in Richmond, Virginia, Poe married his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia Clemm. He also completed his first full-length work of fiction, Arthur Gordon Pym, published in 1838.

Trump links Greenland threat to Nobel Peace Prize snub, EU eyes trade retaliation - Reuters

At least 39 dead in Spain after two high-speed trains collide - Reuters

A year into his return, Trump wields executive power with few restraints - Reuters

Iran to consider lifting internet ban; state TV hacked - Reuters

CNN poll finds majority of Americans say Trump is focused on the wrong priorities - CNN

There’s a reason the DOJ wants to stop Minneapolis citizens from filming ICE - MSNow

White House told CBS News that Trump would sue if his interview was edited - MSNow

What Trump’s proposed 10 percent cap on card rates could mean for you - The Washington Post

Trump Has an Offramp on Greenland. He Doesn’t Seem to Want It. - The New York Times

David FrenchAn Old Theory Helps Explain What Happened to Renee Good - The New York Times

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

We need normal!

 

It was a classic, but not unexpected, move. 

In a long screed this morning, Trump’s social media account said the president is placing tariffs of 10% on all goods from the countries currently protecting Greenland after February 1, and that the tariffs will increase to 25% on June 1. The post says the tariffs will be in effect “until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.” (Letters from an American)

And where is the money to purchase Greenland coming from? Congress certainly has not appropriated such funds. Did anyone notice that the residents of Greenland do not want to be Americans? 

Who suffers at the end of the day? 

We do!

Trump has already added more than $2 trillion to the national debt during his first year in office. 

We get to fund that. 

And the increase in prices caused by the punitive tariffs is not going to improve affordability, nor will it encourage American production of exports when the retaliatory tariffs are applied. 

I remember, decades ago, when George H.W. Bush called Ronald Reagan's economics plan: Voodoo Economics--turns out it was. But Reagan got elected and Bush became his VP.

I have a name for Trump's economics plan--Bankrupt Economics. He is, after all, the king of bankruptcies. 

Consider that Greenland, tariffs on Europe, and Venezuelan oil are definitely not America First policies--they Trump First policies. 

I know the phrase was used unsuccessfully by rival presidential candidate, but I saw it scrawled on a protestor's sign in Copenhagen yesterday--we need to be normal again. Make America Normal Again! We need to restore our traditional alliances and trading partners. The insanity has to stop. 

Instead of punishing the American people with tariff wars, suffocating debt, and loss of healthcare access, we need someone who remembers that the president is the servant of the people and the steward of democracy. He is not the king of the world. 

Note to Congress: WAKE UP!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Made me Smile

 Surfing the net, or more specifically Facebook, provides a wealth of information. It is amazing what I find there and sometimes it even makes me smile.

The parody of noxious lawyer commercials did just that. It also caught my eye because the pictured dog is a Keeshond, my favorite breed of dog. 

Check out the name of the law firm. 

It is hard to find humorous items these days without looking hard, but this one just popped up. And every dog lover/owner can relate. 

As an aside, I did not come across and any cold lizards yesterday, they kept to themselves. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The Cold Returns

 It was 39 really cold degrees when I woke this morning. 

Yes, the iguana alerts were out. Beware falling iguanas and don't bother them as they can still defend themselves. (Newsweek)

Chris and I are fortunate in that we do not live in an area where we see many iguanas, but they are around nearby. Given the cold, it is unlikely that I will attempt a bike ride today unless it is later in the day after the temperature had risen and the iguanas have awakened. 

Iguana on Welcome Sand Art
CocoCay, Bahamas
January 7, 2026

We were surprised last week when we were visiting CocoCay to see an iguana on the sand art welcoming people to the island. It was a bit humorous. What was even more amazing was the number of people who barely even noticed the lizard sitting in the sun on the sand art. Totally oblivious. I think it added something to the experience. I enjoyed seeing the iguana hanging out there just looking at all the people.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

It was in the News

 The Verizon outage yesterday made the headlines. Chris and I, although we have service from competing carriers, were affected as we tried to call Lucas and sing Happy Birthday on his 16th birthday. He was finally able to call us after we contacted his Dad, who is on XFinity. 

A major outage attributed to an undisclosed problem is very concerning. Was it a cyber attack? But, even more, an outage like this demonstrated the fragile nature of our communications architecture.

I know that I am very dependent upon my cell phone and Wifi carrier. I am very happy that I do not have Verizon.

And they won't say, why?  Why?

But wait! There is more strange stuff in the news, this time from the White House.

"FEAR NOT, GREAT PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA, THE DAY OF RECKONING & RETRIBUTION IS COMING!" - Donald Trump (Yahoo News)

What does that mean? 

Who talks like that?

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Gray and Overcast

Palms against the Gray
Tequesta, FL
January 13, 2026

 The weather yesterday, here in South Florida, matched the mood in the country--gray and overcast. 

The sun appeared only briefly and I never wore my sunglasses all day. There was a fairly consistent mist during the morning which convinced me not to head out on my bike and to take a down day instead. 

Even the palms at Tiki52 last evening seemed to be suffering from the oppressive gray skies. They did not have their usual vibrance. 

I have notice the daylight increasing significantly. I had to adjust the timer which switches on the outdoors garden lights. The lights were coming on whilst it remained light. I am very happy for the longer days!

I am hoping that today is a better day, but I fear not. The gray skies remain for the morning along with rain. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

It was a Crisis!

 Chris and I had a nasty surprise last evening as we prepared to eat dinner. 

The surprise was the result of traveling a lot since the end of October and not keeping tabs the condiment supplies. We had traveled 39 of 73 days, or 53 percent of the time, since the 29th of October.

We had decided to have burgers for dinner--something we do not often do. In fact we have salmon more than we have burgers, but we were in the mood for burgers from the grill last evening. 

All went well right up until it was time to serve the burgers and we went to the pantry for the ketchup. 

The bottle was empty!

We normally have a spare bottle, but not last night! There was enough for one burger and I gave that to Chris. 

I considered charging out to the store for a bottle of ketchup, but then the burgers would have been cold or dried out if we kept them on the heat. Instead, I used barbecue sauce and mayonnaise on my burgers--but it was not the same without ketchup or catsup!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL