Monday Musings - July 15, 2019

1. The mid-point of July is upon us and, sadly, the summer is speeding by and an ever increasing rate, it seems. Don't forget to enjoy the best month of the year!

Flip-flops on the Beach
Home Sound National Wildlife Refuge Beach
July 14, 2019

2. Getting away is a definite requirement for the summer. A mid-summer break from the routine to recharge and relax. Except, sometimes I think I am working harder now.

3. Sitting on the beach yesterday, I was napping and enjoying the soothing sounds of the waves hitting the shore. I also spent a lot of time in the water enjoying the undulations of the waves. It seemed that my flip-flops were calling to me to walk to down into the ocean.

Moon Over Our House in Tequesta
July 14, 2019

4. Walking the beach in Jupiter yesterday morning, Chris and I notices that numbers, and I mean a lot, of turtle had come ashore overnight to make nests and lay eggs. We wondered it the bright moon was partially responsible. Last evening, I managed a moderately good image of the moon over our house.

5. The Orioles began the post-All Star game campaign by losing 2 of 3 to the Rays and nearly having a perfect game pitched against them yesterday. Things are not looking any better for the second half of the season. They remain on track to lose 114 games this season. 

6. I wish we could find the way back to a "kinder, gentler nation."

7. It is amazing how hot there sand can get on the beach as it bakes all day. 

8. Today in History. On this day in 2006, the San Francisco-based podcasting company Odeo officially releases Twttr—later changed to Twitter—its short messaging service (SMS) for groups, to the public. Born as a side project apart from Odeo’s main podcasting platform, the free application allowed users to share short status updates with groups of friends by sending one text message to a single number (“40404”). Over the next few years, as Twttr became Twitter, the simple “microblogging” service would explode in popularity, becoming one of the world’s leading social networking platforms.



Headlines

Trump Fans the Flames of a Racial Fire - The New York Times

China’s Economic Growth Hits 27-Year Low as Trade War Stings - The New York Times

Hong Kong leader says protesters in latest clashes can be called 'rioters' - Reuters

Britain sees 'small window' to save nuclear deal, Iran presses Europe to act - Reuters


Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week


The problems we're overcoming are not the heritage of one person, party, or even one generation. It's just the tendency of government to grow, for practices and programs to become the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this Earth. [Laughter] And there's always that well-intentioned chorus of voices saying, ``With a little more power and a little more money, we could do so much for the people.'' For a time we forgot the American dream isn't one of making government bigger; it's keeping faith with the mighty spirit of free people under God.

-- Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on the State of the Union, January 25, 1984


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, Florida

Walk on the Beach

Happy Bastille Day! Just saying. It is my second favorite foreign holiday. 

Chris and Finnegan at Carlin Park Beach
Jupiter, Florida
July 13, 2019

We began the day with a walk on the beach. Chris and I were excited about the beach and feeling again the sand under our toes and hearing the rhythmic sound of the weaves hitting the beach. 

Tacky or Elegant?
You Make the Call

Day one in Florida was spent shopping for items to complete the house. We ran into a quandary in that we found an interesting coffee table and end tables, but were concerned that they might be more tacky than elegant. Nonetheless, they were very interesting and we spent a great amount of time talking before deciding against purchasing them. Even though they were on a fantastic sale! We resisted the urge.

We actually shopped for many hours--driving about 40 minutes from our home to find the special places for the treasures we were seeking. But in the end, nothing made the grade! 

For Day 2, I think we will perform a repeat walk on the beach.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sunset Above the Clouds

Sunset Above the Clouds
Southwest Flight 2418
July 12, 2019

Last evening, Chris and I returned home to Florida. Having homes in two states means that we can wake in our own bed in Maryland in the morning, work through the day, head off the to airport and fly for just over two hours to Florida and then go home and sleep in our own bed! It was great to step through the door to the condo and be home, even though we were almost 900 miles from where we woke in the morning.

End-of-the-Day
Flight 2418
July 12. 2019

During the flight we were treated to a display of color as the day ended and the sunset appeared. The reflection of the setting sun off the clouds was spectacular. I occupied a rare, for me, window seat. I usually prefer aisle seats. The scene outside the window was beautiful and I captured a couple of images to remind me of the splendor of the end-of-day display.

The day dawned here bright, cloud-covered, and humid--a near carbon copy of weather in Maryland. The big difference is that we will be heading to the beach in a few minutes for our morning walk along the shore. 

It is nice to get away from it all by going home and to be treated to such beauty along the way.

And now, it is off the the beach.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, Florida

Flamingo

Flamingos are back! 

Flamingo Sofa Pillow

I am seeing flamingos adorning all sorts of items these days as the lawn objects form the 60's make a resurgence into the mainstream again. I remember, from when I was a boy, that we had a pair of lawn flamingos--they were tacky, but it seemed many people added flamingos to their gardens. 

Flamingos are making a resurgence and just yesterday, I received a gift of a sofa pillow adorned with flamingos. This is not a solitary flamingo item, however, because out Florida house has a while room dedicated to flamingos! It also had a room dedicated to pelicans and another dedicated to turtles!

I love flamingos! They just scream the Caribbean to me and make me smile when I see them. I remember going the salt flats in Curaco and seeing the flocks of flamingos--they made me smile even then.  

And now, I smile whenever I see flamingos--I could go a bit overboard, but Chris keeps my irrational flamingo desire in check, mostly.

Think pink!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Money on the Road

Money Along Atlanta highway
From The New York Times

Money was just laying there along the side of a road near Atlanta yesterday according to a report I saw on the news last night and read about in The New York Times this morning. 

The article in the Times was titled, An Armored Truck Spilled Thousands of Dollars on an Atlanta Highway. What Would You Do?


According to the reporting, about $175,000 fell along I-285, the beltway encircling Atlanta from the back of an armored truck. Drivers stopped and scooped up money and fast as they could, BUT, it is actually theft to keep any money retrieved from along the roadway and the windfall should be returned.

While the skies may have been raining $50 bills, it was not a windfall for those who gathered them from the roadway. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Mid-Season Break

Baseball is taking a time-out for the All Star game which was again won by the American League!

Bottom Five Teams in Baseball
July 10, 2019

The Orioles are the worst team in baseball. They were the first team to amass over 60 losses and are on track to lose 113 games. The Orioles are 31.5 games out of first place in their division and 23.5 games out of the Wild Card spot in the league. With some luck, perhaps the Orioles can improve and become the 29th best team in all of baseball!

No Orioles player actually played in the All Star game on Tuesday night--the only Orioles player, John Means a starting pitcher, was held in reserve. 

Well, now that the mid-season break is over, we can resume watching the wheels come of the Orioles. Maybe I will go to a game later in the season. I have attended only one game thus far--and it, predictably, was a loss. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Fledgling

Fledgling Cardinal on the Pool Fence
Elkridge, MD
July 8, 2019

After another long day at work, Chris and I decided to relax in the pool last evening. Shortly after we began to chat and float in the pool, I noticed a female Cardinal frantically flying around the fence near the pool. I remarked that the bird seemed stressed about something, and then I noticed something moving in the grasses along the pool--yes, it was a fledgling. The cardinal was protecting and caring for the chick which was attempting to fly, walk, and untangle itself from the grasses. 

The male cardinal also appeared and both birds cared for the fledgling by periodically feeding it and trying to get it to imitate their flight patterns. The small bird, for its part, did attempt short flights and made good progress, It rested on the fence for a long time before jumping/flying down and shuffling off into the wooded area. 

All-in-all the entire event took about an hour and we were transfixed watching the small cardinal begin the process of caring for itself and learning to fly. 

Oh the things we can see if we just take the time to watch.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - July 8, 2019

1. It is the second Monday in July and the month is already beginning to speed towards its conclusion. 

2. In an amazing stretch of baseball, the Orioles have improved their record to 27-62 .303 and have lowered their anticipated losses to 113 for the season.

Finnegan
June 7, 2019

3. Hanging out in the pool for the afternoon is one of the best ways to enjoy a hot, July afternoon.

4. Finnegan knows how to relax on a hot afternoon by sleeping on his back on a cushion by the pool.

5. Congratulations to the Women's National Soccer Team for bringing home Gold! As a side note, the men failed to defeat Mexico for their gold medal.

6. Rain. Everyday there has been rain! 

7. Quandary:  There is a nail in the tire of my truck. My tire is not losing air. Do I remove the nail and potentially cause a leak or do I leave it in the tire until it becomes a problem?

8. Today in History. On this day in 1951, Paris, the capital city of France, celebrates turning 2,000 years old. In fact, a few more candles would’ve technically been required on the birthday cake, as the City of Lights was most likely founded around 250 B.C. The history of Paris can be traced back to a Gallic tribe known as the Parisii, who sometime around 250 B.C. settled an island (known today as Ile de la Cite) in the Seine River, which runs through present-day Paris. By 52 B.C., Julius Caesar and the Romans had taken over the area, which eventually became Christianized and known as Lutetia, Latin for “midwater dwelling.” The settlement later spread to both the left and right banks of the Seine and the name Lutetia was replaced with “Paris.” In 987 A.D., Paris became the capital of France. As the city grew, the Left Bank earned a reputation as the intellectual district while the Right Bank became known for business.



Headlines

Iran Announces New Breach of Nuclear Deal Limits and Threatens Further Violations - The New York Times

Florida, the Sunshine State, Is Slow to Adopt Rooftop Solar Power - The New York Times

Greek Conservatives take charge in landslide win, vow more investment, fewer taxes - Reuters

Hong Kong protesters march again, reaching out to Chinese visitors - Reuters



Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week


Call it mysticism if you will, I have always believed there was some divine providence that placed this great land here between the two great oceans, to be found by a special kind of people from every corner of the world, who had a special love for freedom and a special courage that enabled them to leave their own land, leave their friends and their countrymen, and come to this new and strange land to build a New World of peace and freedom and hope. Lincoln spoke about hope as he left the hometown he would never see again to take up the duties of the Presidency and bring America through a terrible Civil War. At each stop on his long train ride to Washington, the news grew worse: The Nation was dividing; his own life was in peril. On he pushed, undaunted. In Philadelphia he spoke in Independence Hall, where 85 years earlier the Declaration of Independence had been signed. He noted that much more had been achieved there than just independence from Great Britain. It was, he said, ``hope to the world, future for all time.''
--Remarks at the Opening Ceremonies of the Statue of Liberty Centennial Celebration in New York, New York, July 3, 1986

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Just add sand, water, and palm trees

Getting ready for upcoming vacations can sometimes be a full-time job. 

Ethan in the Pool
Elkridge, MD
July 6. 2019

Yesterday, Chris and I took Ethan out to acquire a well fitting mask and snorkel for his upcoming vacation. He went with us on our cruise last summer and could not find a correctly fitting mast and that really was a problem during our snorkeling adventures. So, Chris made the promise to get him correctly fitting equipment for his vacation this year.

And we made good on the promise! After he was correctly fitted as the local dive shop, he bought the equipment home to try it out. 

The equipment worked and he looked like a creature rising from the blue lagoon as he checked it out.

Ethan is ready for a snorkeling adventure on a far away Caribbean island--just add sand, water, and palm trees!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Waiting at the Door

Finnegan, Makayla, and Chewbacca Waiting
Elkridge, MD
July 4, 2019 

Dogs wait patiently. No matter when I go outside or for what reason, it seems that my dogs are always waiting to welcome my return. 

This weekend we have a third dog, we are watching Chewbacca for Patrick and Tina. This image was taken on Independence Day just after 10 PM after the fireworks had stopped and as I was cleaning the yard and preparing to go to bed. The three of them waited patiently for my return. Perhaps they knew that it was bedtime?

It had been a long day for the three of them. There were five other dogs that celebrated Independence Day with them. Now as the day is ending it was just the three of them and me and Chris. 

Dogs are an essential part of life, in my opinion. They are always there and at the end of a hard day I have to admit, I appreciate the enthusiastic greeting that they provide to me when I arrive home. 

And, they wait at the door. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD