Clouds and Birds

Cloud Over Tequesta
Tequesta, Florida
July 18, 2019

They are usually above us, unless we are above them or the sky is clear, that is clouds.

Gray Heron
Jupiter Island, Jupiter, Florida
July 18, 2019

I saw this cloud on the morning of the day before we departed Florida. It was hanging directly over Tequesta as Chris, Finnegan, and I were preparing to walk the beach. It was an awesome cloud in its solitary existence. I took the image looking back across the intracoastal waterway at 7:24 AM. The day was just beginning and it was our last full day in Florida. The walk that morning was beautiful as we watched some storms forming out over the ocean.

I took some pictures of a gray heron that was fishing along the shore. It allowed me to get very close, but even after two tries I could not get a good picture of it taking off as it moved down the beach.

A beautiful day to remember.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

After the Sunset

After the Sunset
Ithaca, NY
July 20, 2019

Saturday evening, after a day of driving to Ithaca, I was outside after the color of the sunset had left the sky and I saw the treelike silhouetted against the waning light of the sky. It was the fitting end to a day which had seen me drive for about six hours, after flying home to Elkridge the day before form Florida. I was engaged in a travel weekend. 

The stark blackness of the trees reminded me of an event 50 years before when two Americans, for the first time in Human history, stepped foot on the Moon and the images were broadcast back to Earth for all of us to witness live. I recall the stark white of the lunar surface and the inky black of the sky. There were no trees, no signs of life except for Neil and Buzz.

Who says nothing good happens after dark?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Calling an Audible

Chris and Finnegan on the Beach with Sargassum
Carlin Park,
Jupiter, Florida
July 19, 2019

Chris and I tried to walk the beach every day while we were in Florida, but some days the sargassum washing ashore just made that impossible, especially with Finnegan.

Unfortunately, our last morning in Florida, that was the case. The sargassum was so thick on the beach and the tide was coming in--there just was no place to walk--and we went to two different beaches to attempt out morning walk.

On a morning like that we were just thankful to be in Florida enjoying the sound of the waves hitting the beach and looking to over the broad ocean. 

Life goes on and so did we. 

NOTE: Due to travel, Monday Musings was not published this week. It will return next week.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, Maryland

Looking out the Window

Finnegan out the Window
July 19, 2019

Sitting in the car waiting for a drawbridge to raise and lower is a time investment with little return. The other morning, while we were still in Florida we caught the drawbridge on our way back from the morning walk on the beach. Finnegan was very interested in the activity occurring in the river and so Chris opened the window for him to enjoy the light breeze. I saw his reflection in the rear view mirror.

We sat there for at least five minutes and he remained transfixed on the activity all while the interminably slow drawbridge raised and then lowered.

— Bob Doan, writing from Ithaca, NY

The Best Happy Hour

Happy Hour
Intracoastal Waterway, Jupiter, Florida
July 16, 2019

People who know me, understand that I love celebrating Happy Hour and especially enjoying the time with friends. 

The other evening, we observed a great happy hour in Florida with friends that was one of the most memorable in a long time. 

Happy Hour Along the Intracoastal
July 16, 2019

Happy Hour lasted about three hours because the water was flat, the day was warm, and the company was inspiring. That was what made it such a memorable Happy Hour. Coming at the end of a busy day which saw a lot of work accomplished to complete the new Key West room of the condo and so it was nice to relax and enjoy the beautiful ending to the day from the shores of a quiet and picturesque spit of sand along the intracoastal.

We were in sight of the drawbridge connecting to Jupiter Island and there were schools of fish of all sizes in the channel. We did some snorkeling, but the current was swift, I thought it was like doing a drift dive in the Gulf Stream.

It is a good memory from a great time with friends. But now, I'm back in Maryland and headed to a golf tournament tomorrow.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, Maryland

Project of the Day

The Sitting Room
July 18, 2019

Today marks the end of our all-to-short trip to Florida. It was supposed to be a mid-summer vacation and while we enjoyed being away from the heat of the mid-Atlantic region by walking the beach, snorkeling, and visiting new places for happy hour; we did a lot more work on our Florida home than either of us imagined. 

Fran Adding a Junction Box in the Master Bath
Note the White rectangle Where the Old Light unit Resided
July 15, 2019

The big objective for the trip was to receive the chairs for the sitting room and which would complete placing furniture in all of the rooms of the house. We successfully accomplished that objective and have created a very nice sitting room off the kitchen as a place to enjoy morning coffee and to write my blog. The chairs arrived yesterday, as promised by the shipping company, and we were ready to position and place them into service. 

The Master Bath is now the Key West Room
July 18, 2019

But there was so much more we accomplished during the trip. A new light was planned for the master bathroom--and we had purchased the light during our last visit to the house. The problem was that the footprint of the new light unit was significantly different from the existing one and that meant the area behind it would need to be painted to match wall. Well, as it turned out, that became a project that transformed the master bath into the Key West Room. 

Chris Installing the Blades on the Ceiling Fan
July 18, 2019

But wait, there's more. Through a series of discussions it was determined that there needed to be a filing fan in the living room to replace a fairly unbecoming ceiling light. Guess what? Yup, a new ceiling fan was installed and the light unit form the living room in the new sitting room. Chris was right there in them mix helping to get the ceiling fan installed and operational. 

To get the projects accomplished there were the obligatory shopping trips which also included finding more wall art and items to soften the look of the house. Chris tells me we are nearly there! Yay! There are only a couple of projects outstanding life under-counter lighting and lighting for the wall unit. These projects will have to wait for an other trip.

There is so much to do no matter which house I am living in at the moment. Projects seem to be a way of life.

But they keep me busy!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, Florida

Cup of Coffee

Why does it take longer to drink a cup of coffee than it does to drink a glass of wine?

Fin began Paw Prints in the Sand
Carlin Park Beach
July 17, 2019

My first, and only, cup of coffee of the day lasts over an hour. Sometimes, longer.

My first, of two or three, glasses of wine lasts at most 30 minutes. Why is that?

I am sitting this morning looking at a cup of coffee that I brewed an hour ago--it is cooler now, but I like it that way, and the cup is just under one-half full. I guess it is like walking on a beach with Finnegan, it just takes time. 

Well, since it is my only cup of the day, I guess I should take some time to enjoy it. 

Maybe I should head to the beach now for a quiet walk with the surf and leave the remainder of my coffee for my return?

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, Florida

Racing to an Accident

America is racing full-speed down a road that narrows until a fatal accident occurs. The person at the steering wheel is navigating a course that appeals to the wrong America.

I read a scary CNN article yesterday about the existence of two Americas: 

There's a sobering truth to Trump's racist tweets that we don't like to admit

It is a thought provoking article and makes a good case for the current state of affairs in America.

The article, in part, states:

But Trump's recent tweets could show that he understands America better than his critics realize. 

These two Americas have long co-existed.

One is the country represented by the Statue of Liberty, and its invitation to poor and tired immigrants "yearning to breathe free."

The other is the one that virtually wiped out Native Americans, enslaved Africans, excluded Chinese immigrants in the late 19th century and put Japanese Americans in concentration camps.

Yesterday, the House passed Resolution 489, Condemning President Trump’s racist comments directed at Members of Congress.

I read the resolution and was pleased to see all of the references to diversity made by the great leaders of America including Franklin, Kennedy and Reagan. 

The Resolution contains the following: Whereas President Ronald Reagan in his last speech as President conveyed “An observation about a country which I love”;

The resolution references and quotes from the speech which were made during the presentation of the Medal of Freedom, I have excerpted portions here:

Yes, the torch of Lady Liberty symbolizes our freedom and represents our heritage, the compact with our parents, our grandparents, and our ancestors. It is that lady who gives us our great and special place in the world. For it's the great life force of each generation of new Americans that guarantees that America's triumph shall continue unsurpassed into the next century and beyond. Other countries may seek to compete with us; but in one vital area, as a beacon of freedom and opportunity that draws the people of the world, no country on Earth comes close. 

This, I believe, is one of the most important sources of America's greatness. We lead the world because, unique among nations, we draw our people -- our strength -- from every country and every corner of the world. And by doing so we continuously renew and enrich our nation. While other countries cling to the stale past, here in America we breathe life into dreams. We create the future, and the world follows us into tomorrow. Thanks to each wave of new arrivals to this land of opportunity, we're a nation forever young, forever bursting with energy and new ideas, and always on the cutting edge, always leading the world to the next frontier. This quality is vital to our future as a nation. If we ever closed the door to new Americans, our leadership in the world would soon be lost.

The Resolution appeals to the America that is represented by the Statue of Liberty. I am appalled that more Republicans did not cross party lines, only four did, and support the resolution. I wonder why so many seemingly intelligent people continue to follow the path leading to destruction.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, Florida

50 Years Ago - Apollo 11

I remember the launch of the Apollo 11 mission to land men on the moon vividly to this very day, even though I was only 13 years old. I was excited about the greatest adventure in the history of humankind. For the first time, humans were planning to set foot on something other than Earth.


Today, we begin a period of remembering what happened 50 years ago. At 9:32 AM EDT, July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 launched and the journey began. 

While it seems like ancient history to some, to many others of us the launch, the risk, the journey to the Moon by the brave trio of Neil Armstrong, "Buzz" Aldrin, and Michael Collins; was as if we were making the trip along side of them.

The hopes and prayers of all Americans traveled together with the three astronauts. 

Take some time this week to pause and reflect about one of the greatest achievements in human history, and something that has been replicated by no other country on the planet. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, Florida

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