Axis & Allies 2022

 

The annual Black Friday Axis & Allies WW2 game was a success yesterday. This is something the family does annually and each year we find new strategies as we change countries. This year I was responsible for Japan. 

Japan is in a tough position in the game in that it has to keep the U.S. out of the Pacific and put pressure on Russia to help the Axis ally, Germany. I successfully sent the U.S. and British carrier battle groups to the bottom of the ocean on three major occasions and was beginning to pressure Russia by clearing China. We ended the game so we could watch the USA vs England World Cup match. My ally, who was managing both Germany and Italy was doing a great job as well. 

When we ended the game, we determined that the game was still even with advantage to the Axis.

Actually, in thinking back, the World Cup match ended much the same way--even with advantage U.S.


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Woolly Worms and Predictions

 

Woolly Worm
Odenton, MD
November 23, 2022

Again this year I was confronted with an all black Woolly Worm, the predictor of a long and difficult winter.  Based upon recent experience and considering the terrible pre-Thanksgiving weather across the Great Lakes, I am guessing that this woolly worm is making an accurate prediction. 

It is interesting how we turn to animals to attempt to predict the upcoming weather patterns. As if they have any better idea than we about what is to come. We want to know the future, but are still surprised when it actually arrives. As an aside, officially and scientifically, an all black woolly worm does not really mean anything except it is possibly a different species. What a bummer. 

The weather he the past few days has actually been very nice and mild. I walked dogs outside without a coat on Thanksgiving morning. The sun was warm and enjoyable. I don't think the woolly worm predicted that nice weather. But I did enjoy it. 

Here is hoping that you had a nice Thanksgiving!

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Thanksgiving 2022

 

As if it hadn't happened already, the holiday season is careening full speed into the end of the year. 

In the past, Thanksgiving marked the beginning of the Christmas Season, but that date moved earlier this year with Christmas shopping and Black Friday sales beginning immediately after Halloween.

Thanksgiving is a day designated for giving thanks and celebrating the bounty of the harvest with family and friends. We also commemorate the first Thanksgiving between the pilgrims and the Wampanoags. While the traditional Thanksgiving that we generally celebrate occurred during 1621, there was a Thanksgiving celebrated during 1619 in Virginia with the arrival of settlers along the James River, but that celebration did not mark an alliance with the native peoples. 

Today, much of the history gets lost, but hopefully being thankful continues as a tradition around the table. As we watch parades, dog shows, and football games while consuming quantities of food and beverage we need to pause and give thanks for our blessings.

We also must take a moment to honor and give thanks for the First Responders and the men and women of military forces. Many are away from their families on this holiday and possibly alone. I am thankful that our military forces are not actively engaged in combat operations this Thanksgiving, but they are ever vigilant. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

A November Walk

 

Along the Unused Road
Odenton, MD
November 22, 2022

Although yesterday dawned cold, it warmed to a bearable 50-ish degrees by the mod morning due to the crystal blue skies and bright sun. 

It turned into a beautiful afternoon for a walk in the woods along a scenic portion of unused road. It was a November walk to remember. It was just Finnegan and I out for a stroll. There remained leaves on some of the trees which reminded me of the autumnal beauty of the area. The blue sky was stunning. Finnegan was not too excited about the walk because Chris did not accompany us and all he wanted to do was head back to the house where he would wait for her return from a short trip. 

Pine Tree and Airliner
Odenton, MD
November 22, 2022

I enjoyed the blue sky and found a pine tree to capture using the sky as a backdrop. I also, if you look closely, caught an airliner flying overhead. The airliner is the small, very small, white dot just above the tree in the image. It was the contrast between the green tree with brown pinecones against the vibrant blue background that caught my eye. 

It was a beautiful, if cold, day. I am glad that I got to enjoy it, but I do miss having palm trees in my view.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Difference of two weeks

 

What a difference two weeks makes.

Two weeks ago I was on a cruise ship in the Caribbean enjoying 80 degree temperatures and moderate seas while a hurricane was headed directly for Tequesta, which veered north and mostly missed my home.

This morning finds me back in Maryland enjoying the warmth of family while the temperature outside is 27 degrees. At least it is supposed to be sunny again today. We did find our winter clothes and dressed appropriately.

A few words about the trip. We did it! Actually the trip was smooth until the very end when we became entangled in Northern Virginia/D.C. traffic beginning about Dumfries, VA. We lost about 45 minutes threading our way through two accidents and witnessing many more almost accidents. Impatient people are to blame for many of the accidents I believe.

But we made it to Odenton and are safely in place for Thanksgiving!

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Heading North

 On the road and already in South Carolina at 6:09 AM. One gas and one coffee complete and we should be good until well after dawn. 

We found some incredible gas prices in Georgia. It was $2.99 per gallon in Brunswick. It only cost $66 to fill the truck. 

The temperature has dropped significantly from 72 degrees in Tequesta to 39 degrees in wherever we just stopped for coffee in South Carolina. 

Happy Holidays. 

Due to travel there will be no Monday Musings today. 

— Bob Doan, somewhere on I95 in South Carolina 

Deck the Halls!

Christmas Tree with Colored Lights
Tequesta, FL
November 20, 2022

The days have become cooler here, in the 70s. That made Chris and I realize that when we return from our trip north to celebrate Thanksgiving, it will be just weeks before Christmas. 

Christmas Tree with White Lights
Tequesta, FL
November 20, 2022

In keeping with the season of goodwill, I relented yesterday and fetched the Christmas decorations from the storage room, saying goodbye to Elmer, my large turkey and the rest of our Thanksgiving decorations. 

The house has been Christmasfied. 

Yes, the Christmas decorations are up in the house before Thanksgiving, but that means we will be in the spirit when we return from our trip to the frozen northern wastelands. The transformation has taken two trips to the storage room and had caused the garage to become cluttered. And then there was the new tree that had to be purchased as we disposed of our old ones when we moved believing that we would not have a tree in Florida--I knew that was a dream, but our trees were old and shedding more needles than a real tree does at the end of the season.

Nativity Scene in TV Stand
Tequesta, FL
November 19, 2022

It was hard to find a Christmas tree that was not pre-lit! We have lights and we have really cool lights that we can set to white, color, or have them switch between color and white. 

The decor has changed in the house from our preferred coastal to a more traditional Christmas scene and all of the wall hangings were swapped out for the Christmas theme. Even Chris felt that we had brought our home from Maryland south when we finished late yesterday. 

I am usually a stickler for the display of seasonal decorations. Halloween cannot be displayed before October and precisely on November 1st, the Thanksgiving decorations replace Halloween. Following that Christmas must not appear before Thanksgiving; however, this year is a special case and my guidelines needed to be adapted to the situation.

Tomorrow the trip north begins! It is 28 degrees there this morning and we will certainly be in the frozen Christmas spirit when we arrive! Did I mention that it is 75 degrees here this morning?

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The Line-up

 

Pelican Line-up
Jupiter, FL
November 16, 2022

The other evening, Chris and I meandered off to our local watering hole, The Square Grouper, to enjoy the waning afternoon sun and a few adult beverages. It is a great place to meet, situated along the banks of the Loxahatchee River with a view of the Jupiter Inlet and Jupiter Lighthouse. 

As we were sitting there an interesting sight happened on the next pier down river. A large group of pelicans landed and formed what appeared to be a police style line-up along the pier. I'm not sure which of the pelicans was the aggrieved party, but they remained for a long while also enjoying the waning afternoon sun. 

Zebra Butterfly
Tequesta, FL
November 18, 2022

Following this, yesterday as Chris and I were walking Finnegan we rounded a corner and were confronted by a group (do butterflies flock?) of Zebra butterflies. I am not sure what number constitutes a flock. And as I researched it, there is not just one name for a group of butterflies, there are many. I like kaleidoscope, but according to the article I found, What's A Group of Butterflies Called, "Other names include flight, swarm, army, wing, rabble, flock, roost, and bivouac."

I don't want to rub it in, but I am surely enjoying November in Florida. Yesterday the high was only in the 70s and it seemed cool. I rode 16 miles on my bike and thoroughly enjoyed both the weather and the ride.  I will miss the warm weather next week as we sojourn to Maryland for Thanksgiving. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

November Golf Outing

 

Hole 10 from the Blue Tees
Jupiter Dunes Golf Course, Jupiter, FL
November 17, 2022

It was a cool November day, well for South Florida. The temperature was in the low 70s and it was overcast. There was a variable wind, which made some shots interesting, but Chris and I decided to head off to out local golf course to whack at the little ball.

We had a great time. 

We enjoy playing on a par 3 course because we can play 18 holes in just over two hours. And it is a tough course because the greens are small and it provides some nasty water hazards. And bunkers!

Chris Putting on the 10th
Jupiter Dunes Golf Course, Jupiter, FL
November 17, 2022

I had a rough day as I was playing from the beach (from out of the bunkers) much of the day. At one point I told Chris that I was unsure whether it was the wind or my poor shot selection that caused me to wind up in the bunkers, as I did on this hole. She said it was a bit of both.

Chris had a good day and straightened out her drive and began to get some lift to carry hazards. She was especially creative by taking her shot around, rather than over, a water hazard on one hole. It was funny to watch--but effectively accomplished. 

The golf was fun and fast, mostly because we wound up being the only golfers in sight on the course, probably because of the weather. I much prefer golf when no one slowing me down or pushing me to play faster. 

We think we are going to make golf our regularly scheduled Thursday activity. It will be a planned day off from biking.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Cruise Reflections

 

I have been going through the hundreds, literally, of images collected during the cruise. I want to share some of the ones that capture the week at sea on the Nieuw Amsterdam and four ports.

Table 30
Nieuw Amsterdam, Holland America Line
November 6, 2022

First, our dinner table. We chose early dinner, 5:30 PM, so that we could enjoy the evening entertainment on the ship. We were assigned the best table on the ship for dinner every night. Tight at the stern looking out at the sea beyond. And since it was early, we had daylight for the beginning portion of the dinner. 

With the Penguin
Nieuw Amsterdam, Holland America Line
November 6, 2022

Chris and Mary decided to pose with the statue on the Lido Deck. I didn't think the penguin was that cute. 

Gala Dress-up Night
Nieuw Amsterdam, Holland America Line
November 7, 2022

Chris and I on our first dress up night on the ship. We were having a very good time enjoying the after dinner lack of decent entertainment. 

Our Ship at Half Moon Cay
Nieuw Amsterdam, Holland America Line
November 7, 2022

The ship was launched in 2010 and is beginning to show its age, but it is a good looking vessel. Half Moon Cay is one of two stops where we had to be tendered into shore. That is an experience and I much prefer ports where the ship ties-up and we can essentially come and go as we please. The tendering operation takes at least 30 minutes and can really cut into a shore day if something is needed form the ship. The other port where we had to tender in was George Town, Grand Cayman.

Riding in the Sea
Jamaica
November 9, 2022

Ocho Rios, Jamaica, marked the first time that either Chris or I had visited Jamaica. We enjoyed the island and that is where we rode horses into the Caribbean Sea and enjoyed much of the day. We also did a bit of shopping. It was a beautiful day and we thoroughly enjoyed the activity. We were disappointed in the condition of the beach that we rode along. While the view out to sea was stunning, the litter on the beach was less than appealing. 

Well, that is all for now, this is getting a bit long. More later.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL