Plying the Intracoastal and Finding History

Former Presidential Yacht Honey Fitz
Jupiter Island, FL
October 19, 2023

 Chris and I took our friends out on a pontoon boat yesterday to see and enjoy the sights along the intracoastal waterway (ICW). 

We checked out a different boat for the day than my usual deck boat. It was a pontoon boat and it was perfect for the six of us, plus Finnegan, to enjoy a day on the water. 

Godfrey Pontoon Boat
ICW
October 19, 2023

As we were exploring the ICW, we came upon a piece of nautical history that has only recently arrived. We passed the former Presidential Yacht, Honey Fitz. There she was, tied up along the ICW for us to enjoy. It is funny that I recognized it immediately. Historically, Honey Fitz, which was given that name by President Kennedy, served five presidents: Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon. It was recently purchased and restored making it post-restoration debut at the Palm Beach Boat Show this past March.

Chris and Finnegan Aboard our Boat
ICW near Jupiter, FL
October 19, 2023

Our vessel for the day was not nearly as elegant, but it provided reliable transportation as we explored the ICW and visited a sandbar in the Loxahatchee River before finally landing on a beach to enjoy the mid-day sunshine.

Finnegan accompanied us for the day and enjoyed being out on the water. He was a very good dog and never needed to use his live preserver. 

I found that the pontoon boat is not nearly as agile as the deck boats I usually check out, but for a group of people to be comfortable and enjoy a lazy day on the water, pontoon boats are the way to go.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Biking and the Beach

Biking Along the ICW
Jupiter Island, FL
October 18, 2023

 Tuesday turned into a very busy and enjoyable day. 

The day began with a beautiful bike ride under a crystal blue sky on South Beach Road which runs between the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and the Atlantic on Jupiter Island. It is also home to some of the most expensive homes in America, one of which is on the market for a mere $55 million. It looks like a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired design. We completed a 17 mile ride and readied ourselves for the remainder of the day. 

Surfer
Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL
October 18, 2023

The next portion of the day was at Carlin Park enjoying the moderate air temperatures, ocean breeze, and rough surf. The crystal sky continued throughout the day. We enjoyed watching the surfers attempt to conquer the waves, but the waves were mostly uncooperative and dod not allow for long enjoyable rides. The beach was uncrowded as it was a weekday with kids in school and the snowbirds not yet arriving.  

We left the beach mid-afternoon and prepared for dinner with friends to complete the exceptional day. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Autumn Arrives in South Florida

 Autumn arrived in South Florida yesterday. 

Autumn Dinner
Tequesta, FL
October 17, 2023

The high temperature for the day was in the mid-70s and for the first time in months, or possibly ever, we had the windows open to let the cooler and low humidity outside air into the house. 

It was great. 

There is a crispness to the 60 degree morning air. I have the patio door open to let the refreshing air into the house. I am looking forward to a bike ride to enjoy the crystal blue skies and cooler temperatures.  

After weeks of oppressive humidity and temperatures in the high 80s and low to mid 90s it is refreshing and invigorating. 

We enjoyed a great dinner last evening with friends to celebrate a visit from the North. The moderate temperatures were welcomed and we even lit the small alcohol-fueled fire pit for the occasion. 

The week promises to be great and tomorrow we are heading out on a pontoon boat to enjoy the intracoastal waterway and a few beaches and sandbars. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Democracy in the Balance

 I am very unsettled about what may transpire in D.C. today. 

The election of a Speaker of the House could spell disaster for not only the U.S., but the world if the narrow-minded, backwards thinking Republicans install Jim Jordan as the Speaker. 

It is frightening to read about him. 

Last week, Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH) called for shutting down the government in November unless Democrats agree to cutting all spending for processing or releasing into the country any new migrants. He says the demand is “non-negotiable.” But U.S. and international law require the U.S. to process asylum requests, even if a migrant arrives in between legal points of entry. 

Jordan, a staunch ally of Trump, was key to the former president’s efforts to steal the 2020 presidential election. He is now gathering votes for a bid to become the speaker of the House of Representatives after the MAGA extremists threw former House speaker Kevin McCarthy out. 

In 2017, former Republican House speaker John Boehner told journalist Tim Alberta: “Jordan was a terrorist as a legislator going back to his days in the Ohio House and Senate…. A terrorist. A legislative terrorist.” In 2021, he clarified: “I just never saw a guy who spent more time tearing things apart—never building anything, never putting anything together.”  (Letters from an American)

And from another source:

Congressman Jordan took the following actions:

1. Suggested Democrats will try to steal the election (starting Aug. 22, 2020)  
2. Suggested and directly alleged the election was stolen (starting Nov. 5, 2020)  
3. Endorsed Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell’s call to investigate Dominion and Smartmatic (starting Nov. 15, 2020)
4. Called for immediate congressional investigations of alleged election fraud (starting Nov. 18, 2020)
5. Endorsed state legislators’ picking their own electors (starting Dec. 7, 2020)
6. Said Trump should not concede (starting Dec. 7, 2020)
7. Started public call to object to certification on Jan. 6 (starting Dec. 13, 2020)
8. Supported call for “special counsel” to investigate alleged election fraud (starting Dec. 10, 2020)
9. Called Jan. 6 the “ultimate date of significance” (Dec. 16, 2020)
10. Met with President Trump and small group of House Republicans to coordinate plans to object to certification on January 6 (Dec. 21, 2020)
11. Raised Trump supporters’ expectations by saying he hoped a majority of Congress will object on January 6 (Jan. 5, 2021)
12. Helped lead the effort to vote against certification on January 6 (starting Dec. 13, 2020)
13. Called for Trump supporters to remain peaceful, but does not say to disperse (Jan. 6, 2021 3:02 PM)
14. Made false claims about Speaker Pelosi and security preparations for January 6 (starting Feb. 15, 2021)
15. Revealed for the first time that he spoke with President Trump on Jan. 6 (July 28, 2021)
    

This course of conduct arguably sets Rep. Jordan apart from every other Republican member of Congress who supported the Big Lie, voted to object to the certification of the election, or engaged in other related activities. 

(Just Security)

Jim Jordan should have been removed from Congress for his actions which clearly violate his Oath of Office. At the very least, censured. 

I am holding out hope that an alliance between 5 or more Republicans and the democrats in the House will offer and elect an alternate person as Speaker.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - October 16, 2023

 

1. This is the third Monday of October! There are 10 Mondays remaining in 2023. Better start thinking about those Christmas decorations!

2. Family Football Results. It was a good week for the family teams. 

Commanders (3-3) defeated Falcons (3-3), 24-16

Cowboys (3-2) play tonight 

Steelers (3-2) had the a week off

Ravens (4-2) outlasted Titans (2-4), 24-16

Dolphins (5-1) sank Panthers (0-6), 42-21

3.  After reporting the weekend scores above, I have to write that I was entirely frustrated with the NFL yesterday. I was so disturbed that I did not watch a single game. I wanted to watch the Ravens play in London, but that was carried only on the NFL network. Turns out my cable plan does not have the NFL network and I did not have any of my streaming services which had access meaning that I had to purchase the network separately. I watch one game per year on the Network, why am I going to purchase the network for one game? So I boycotted the day. 

From the North Fork Loxahatchee River Bridge
Tequesta, FL
October 15 ,2023

4. It was a beautiful morning yesterday and I headed our for a 16 mile ride. I crossed the same bridge that the day before I motored under. I stopped to take an image of the flat water and the solitary boat just outside of the main channel fishing. It was an idyllic scene. 

5. The flooring project is complete with only a small amount of painting to do in the powder room where we tool tile off the wall. I was able to get the wall prepped yesterday and expect to paint it today, thereby putting the exclamation point on the completion of the project. 

6. Today in History. On October 16, 1934, the embattled Chinese Communists break through Nationalist enemy lines and begin an epic flight from their encircled headquarters in southwest China. Known as Ch’ang Cheng—the “Long March”—the retreat lasted 368 days and covered 6,000 miles, more than twice the distance from New York to San Francisco.

Civil war in China between the Nationalists and the Communists broke out in 1927. In 1931, Communist leader Mao Zedong was elected chairman of the newly established Soviet Republic of China, based in Jiangxi province in the southeast. Between 1930 and 1934, the Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek launched a series of five encirclement campaigns against the Soviet Republic. Under the leadership of Mao, the Communists employed guerrilla tactics to resist successfully the first four campaigns, but in the fifth, Chiang raised 700,000 troops and built fortifications around the Communist positions. Hundreds of thousands of peasants were killed or died of starvation in the siege, and Mao was removed as chairman by the Communist Central Committee. The new Communist leadership employed more conventional warfare tactics, and its Red Army was decimated.

Senior House Republican says GOP members are ready to block Jordan - CNN

Conditions in Gaza are deteriorating dangerously under Israel’s siege, and the risk is growing of the long-running conflict spilling over regionally - CNN

The ‘Gaza metro’: The mysterious subterranean tunnel network used by Hamas - CNN

Gaza border crossing set to reopen as Israeli troops prepare ground assault - Reuters

Nervous markets eye Gaza as oil hovers above $90 - Reuters

Ceasefire plans stall as Israel intensifies strikes on Gaza - Reuters

Goldman Wants to Ditch Consumer Lending. Employees Can’t Wait. - The Wall Street Journal

Home Sales on Track for Slowest Year Since Housing Bust - The Wall Street Journal

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Escape to the Ocean

North Fork Loxahatchee River Bridge
Tequesta, FL
October 14, 2023

 I am going to call it like it was, an escape.

That is what I did yesterday, I escaped from the flooring project and joined two friends on the ocean for a day of fishing. 

It was something I have not done for quite a number of years. 

The boat was a 30 foot Cobia a bit larger than the 22 foot Cobia that I normally get from my boat club. Being the same maker, I was pretty familiar with the layout, but this boat had something I can only long for in a boat club boat: autopilot! Wow, That really mage navigating easy and getting to some specific points on the reefs for fishing was incredibly easy. 

Railroad Drawbridge Down
Jupiter, FL
October 14, 2023

We departed from a canal behind the boat owner's home and navigated to the river. I enjoyed motoring in the canals to the river. Passing under the North Fork Loxahatchee River bridge was a really cool because it is the bridge that I have taken so many pictures from while riding my bike. I have to confess, it looks much different from the water.

Traversing under the railroad drawbridge both ways we had the opportunity to wait for trains to cross. All told, I saw three Brightline trains and one freight train cross the bridge from the river. 

The ocean had rolling waves, but was not rough. It was not smooth either. The fishing was fun and over the course of the day the three of us managed to catch enough legal-sized fish for dinner. I had the biggest disappointment of the day by letting a nice Mahi get away. I had the fish at the boat but it made one last desperation run and crossed over the bow of the boat where I forgot the anchor was exposed and the line broke as it passed over the anchor. It was a very nice looking fish and we were disappointed that I did not land it.

It was a great day on the water and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

In other news--the floor project is complete! I was not to there for it the last three hours, but Chris handled the job very well. The house looks great! I am amazed how much larger the new floor makes the living spaces seem.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Unbelievable Turn of Events

 I am shocked that the Republicans are considering nominating Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House. 

I believe that should he be elected Speaker the government will effectively shutdown until January 2025. 

Jim Jordan should have been dismissed from Congress for ignoring his oath to "support and defend the Constitution" by engaging in the conspiracy to steal the election. 

One writer puts it this way:

It remains astonishing that the Republicans would consider making Jordan speaker. The hallmarks of that position are an ability to negotiate and to shepherd legislation through Congress (think of all former speaker Nancy Pelosi got done with the same slim majority the Republicans have). Jordan has none of those qualities; he is a flamethrower who, in 16 years in the House, has not managed to get a single bill through the House, let alone into law. Jordan’s elevation would reflect that for many years now, Republicans have elevated those who disdain government and whose goal is to stop it from working.

Jordan is also a key Trump ally who worked to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Former representative Liz Cheney (R-WY) has been clear she opposes Jordan’s elevation to House speaker. Today she wrote:

“Jim Jordan was involved in Trump’s conspiracy to steal the election and seize power; he urged that [former vice president Mike] Pence refuse to count lawful electoral votes. If R[epublican]s nominate Jordan to be Speaker, they will be abandoning the Constitution. They’ll lose the House majority and they’ll deserve to.” (Letters from an American)

Jordan does not and has not worked for the good of the American people during his time in Congress. He blusters and accuses without fact of evidence. He does not negotiate. 

I am holding hope that sane heads will prevail.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The Flooring Project - Day 3

Living Room Nearly Complete
Tequesta, FL
October 13, 2023

 And so it continues.

The flooring project is now into Day 4. I expect it to be complete this afternoon. All that remains is completing the powder room and installing the quarter round throughout. 

The good news is that the fridge has been returned to its proper place and we have full use of the kitchen. 

The bad news is that there is not a functioning bathroom on the first floor and that means climbing the stairs when nature calls. 

Powder Room
Tequesta, FL
October 13, 2023

Even Finnegan is inconvenienced. The patio has been converted to a workshop and he cannot make his way through the piles of flooring and tools to get out to do his business!   

With the quarter-round remaining, we have not returned all of the items to their proper places because most everything will need to be moved one more time. But, the living room is nearly complete. All of the items for the display cases are safely packed awaiting the completion of the project. 

The powder room is where the majority of the work remains. The flooring needs to be completed and the base boards installed. We took the six-inch ceramic tile off the wall and are going to replace it with a wide base board. 

Expected project completion: Today!

Projects are an inconvenience when underway, but the results are worth it. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The Flooring Project

The Project Begins, Day 1
Tequesta, FL
October 10, 2023

 Today is day three of the flooring project. 

We have been installing flooring. Of course this is a multi-day project, but spanning into day 3 with the refrigerator in the middle of the kitchen made it a bit harder. 

It is going well, but slow. Anyone who has laid floor knows that the big areas are easy, the hard part is getting the cuts against the walls done properly, or going around walls and kitchen islands all while ensuring that the floor meets properly on the other side. 

At the End of Day 2
Tequesta, FL
October 11, 2023

I had hoped the project would be a three-day event, but it is clearly going to take until Friday, or possibly Saturday to complete. There is a major renovation still to occur in the powder room. Ugh. 

Why is the fridge in the middle of the room, you ask. Well, the flooring in its area is laid, but the quarter round has not been installed and we do not want to move the behemoth twice. Once was enough and I'm not sure my back can take too much more abuse from the fridge--which is surely more than an icebox. The floor looks great, right?

There is only a few square feet of flooring remaining, and of course the powder room. But there is tile work to do in the powder room. We are removing the tile which was used as along the base of the wall and replacing it with a more normal base board--but that means we may have to do some wall work as well. 

Projects--always bigger than they seem.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Congrats Orioles

 

The Orioles playoff run ended with a whimper last night as they were defeated 7-1 in Texas and unceremoniously kicked-out of the playoffs. 

It was sad and heartbreaking loss, but we, the fans, need to focus on the incredible season which saw our Orioles complete the biggest two-year turn around in Major League Baseball history: from 110 losses in 2021 to 101 wins in 2023!

They wound up with the best record in the American League and won the tough American League East which sent the Orioles and two other teams into the playoffs. 

While there is sadness in Birdland this morning, there is also much joy and hope. The Orioles got their noses bloodied by Texas and I hope it will be the spark that gets them back into the playoffs and into the World Series next season. 

I predicted that the Orioles would finish with 84 wins and a wild card playoff spot. Well, I underestimated the team way back in March. And the exciting news is that there are more potentially great players in the pipeline to fill the holes. 

Pitching and hitting with runners in scoring position was the Orioles undoing! It was frustrating to see the team which had done so much right during the season fail to execute in the playoffs. I chalk it up to playoff experience. 

I am already excited for next season.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL