'Tis the Season

The Dining Room Ready for the Season
Tequesta, FL
November 30, 2023

 The turkeys and all remembrances of the harvest season are gone and we are full bore into Christmas. 

The tree is up and much of the house has been Christmasfied! Yup. The season has changed and with it not only the decorations but all of the art in out house. We have a complete set of holiday art that replaces our birds and beach-themed wall hangings. We do have some seasonal birds, mostly geese in the snow.

But, we are not done!

We are only half complete and today is Snow Village day. I will install the Snow Village pieces that we retained during the downsizing of last year into the display case and potentially elsewhere as deemed appropriate. 

It is, after all, the holiday season.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Surviving Air Travel

BWI Terminal C
Baltimore, MD
November 28, 2023

 We came, we saw, we made it home. 

It was not very bad for a post holiday travel. The airport was not empty, but it was not crowded either. The jet owe flew home was full--but then they are always full it seems. 

The Southwest desk was pleasantly empty, but processing for the flight still took a lot of time because we travel with a service animal. Thankfully, we arrived early for our flight.

It was cold in Baltimore as we departed and we looked forward to warm South Florida temperatures. It was in the 70s when we arrived at West Palm Beach. Yay. And palm trees!

I do have some feedback for Southwest, however. Loading and unloading the passengers on the aircraft has become a nightmare. There are multitudes of wheel chair and pre-board passengers. The problem is that they are slow, which is why they need pre boarding--but then they sit in the very front of the aircraft. That makes getting out of the plane an equally slow process. Perhaps the wheelchair and pre-board passengers could be seated in the rear of the aircraft. I know it seems harsh, but putting the them in the rear would allow for boarding of other passengers while they are getting seated. There are also two restrooms at the rear--a convenience issue for many. Having them in the rear would allow for faster unloading of passengers and then allow the wheelchair passengers to receive debarkation assistance without slowing the entire process. 

One other comment from yesterday's flight. The captain had the seatbelt sign on for nearly the entire flight and at least the last 1h30m. The captain and first officer were both able to use the restroom facility--but passengers were not supposed to leave their seats to do likewise. Maybe a bit more consideration for the self-loading cargo.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Tuesday Travel

 Chris and I are at the end of our Thanksgiving visit to Maryland. 

It is sad to be leaving family and friends, but more moderate temperatures await us in Florida. And we will be there for three warmer weeks until returning for the final push to Christmas. 

I had planned this trip to occur just before and just after the traditional travel dates for the holiday so hopefully the airport will not be a disaster. 

We are supposed to fly when we return, but I am beginning to think about driving since we will need to rent a car when we return. I would not attempt a straight through event, but even adding in hotels I think it will be less expensive for us to drive. It is definitely a point of discussion. 

Well, here is for good flying from Southwest!

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Monday Musings - November 27, 2023

 

1. And it has arrived--the last Monday of November leaving just four Mondays remaining in the year. Christmas is exactly four weeks away!

Nicole's Christmas Tree Arriving
Odenton, MD
November 26, 2023

2. Family NFL Report. The family teams did as good as possible during the long series of games beginning on Thursday. They went 3-1, but two of the teams were playing each other.

Cowboys (8-3) shot-up Commanders (4-8), 45-10

Steelers (7-4) outlasted Bengals (5-6), 16-10

Ravens (9-3) held-off Chargers (4-7), 20-10

Dolphins (8-3) swam past Jets (4-7), 34-13

3. Christmas trees are abounding. Yesterday, Nicole's Christmas tree arrived and was decorated. It was a family event and nearly everyone participated. The Christmas season is off and running. 

4. It is amazing how time flies at the holidays. Fast! Tomorrow is a travel day back to Florida for three weeks of warmth and then we return for Christmas and New Years! Wow!

5. Today in History. On November 27, 1095, Pope Urban II makes perhaps the most influential speech of the Middle Ages, giving rise to the Crusades by calling all Christians in Europe to war against Muslims in order to reclaim the Holy Land, with a cry of “Deus vult!” or “God wills it!”

Born Odo of Lagery, Urban was a protege of the great reformer Pope Gregory VII. Like Gregory, he made internal reform his main focus, railing against simony (the selling of church offices) and other clerical abuses prevalent during the Middle Ages. Urban showed himself to be an adept and powerful cleric, and when he was elected pope in 1088, he applied his statecraft to weakening support for his rivals, notably Clement III.

A US Navy ship responded to a distress call from a commercial tanker. Then ballistic missiles were fired toward it - CNN

15-year-old Pennsylvania boy faces first-degree murder charge in shooting of a homeless man - CNN

4-year-old Israeli American released from captivity as an orphan - CNN

Human Rights Watch says rocket misfire likely cause of deadly Gaza hospital blast - Reuters

March against antisemitism draws 50,000 in London - Reuters

Three dead as storm hits Crimea and Russia's Black Sea coast - Reuters

Negotiators Work to Extend Israel-Hamas Truce - The Wall Street Journal

Investors See Interest-Rate Cuts Coming Soon - The Wall Street Journal

Her last puppy died in the D.C. day care flood. Her new one just got stolen. - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

That's What Saturdays are for

 

I did nothing of value yesterday. 

Amazing. I only left the house once and that was to take Chris to the store to get carrots for the fantastic turkey soup she made. 

What did I do?

I watched college football games. Yes, I was happy that Michigan won. It was one of the best played games that I h ave watched this season. Two very good teams in a pitched battle against each other. That game was always hanging in the balance.

And after that, I enjoyed a couple campy Christmas movies. 

It was a lazy day. I'm guessing that everyone needs a lazy day on occasion, especially at the start of the Christmas crush!

Today will be much busier, of that I am sure. 

Here's hoping that you get to enjoy a lazy day, soon!

--  Bob Doan. Odenton, MD

Black Friday Tales

 I apparently have survived Black Friday. 

Axis and Allies as the game begins
Odenton, MD
November 24, 2023

First, from the Axis and Allies front, you should begin learning either German of Japanese. My partner and I failed to save the world. We played the allies. It was a difficult day for us as Russia fell quickly and the UK and USA could not coordinate their activities. At one point the Japanese briefly held San Francisco--and if you know anything about the game there is no way that should happen. Thank goodness it was but a game and not reality.

The leftovers were great! Especially the Apple pie, which I did not get a chance to sample on Thanksgiving.

Happy Hour at or son's house was fun. We watched the last quarter of the NFL Black Friday game where the Dolphins crushed the Jets and then sang along to an impromptu Garth Brooks concert that was live from his new bar in Nashville. We are huge Garth fans.

I confess, I did not purchase anything either online or from a brick and mortar store yesterday. Does that put me in the minority of Americans?

And now the weekend is upon us. I am feeling like Christmas decorations will soon be retrieved from the storage room.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Black Friday 2023

 

Shoppers, start your computers or engines. The time has arrived to break open the piggy bank and hit the stores, be they online or brick and mortar. 

Today is also the day we gather to play Axis and Allies. It is a day when most of the leftovers are consumed along with some adult beverages. Today's field of players is smaller than in past years, but it should be a lot of fun. The women will shop and the guys will play games. That seems to be exactly how it is supposed to be. 

It is great that we have traditions associated with the holiday. I know that many of us look forward to the game, although we rarely finish the contest because it takes over an hour per turn. But it is fun!

I hope that whatever your holiday traditions may be that you enjoy them and are with friends and family.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Thanksgiving 2023

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wherever you may be, take a moment to reflect upon the blessings you have received this year. I know, it may be hard in the face of tragedy and loss, but there are blessings to remember. 

I hope that you can gather with family and friends to celebrate and reflect. 

Here are my football predictions for the day:

Lions over Packers by 7

Cowboys over Commanders by 10

Seahawks over 49ers by 2

If my record holds, I will be 0-3

Happy Thanksgiving!

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Holiday in the Rain

Ready for Christmas
Turf Valley Town Square, MD
November 21, 2023

 I experienced the rain yesterday. It arrived right on schedule and remained through the entire day making driving a lot of fun, especially last night coming back from Ellicott City. 

Chris and I enjoyed Happy Hour with friends and outside the restaurant was their Christmas fireplace and chairs. The only problem was that they were wet. Very wet. A nostalgic scene drowned by the rain. This morning seems nicer, no rain but cold.

Thanksgiving is upon us. 

I wish you and your family the joys of being together and giving thanks for blessings. I know many of us carry hurt and pain, but focus on the living and those we are with while remembering those who have gone on ahead of us and be thankful for the time they were with us.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Preparing for the Rain

Weather Radar 7:35 AM
November 21, 2023
Accuweather

 Apparently, the region is going to received a drought-ending rain soaking during the next two days. I admit I was amazed at the low water level in the storm water collection pond. I remember earlier in the year watching families of Canada Geese in the water, and the water level was much higher.

The rain has not yet arrived, but it is clear from the current weather radar that it will arrive soon. And be everywhere.

I really did not realize the this area was experiencing dry and near drought conditions. Being so close to the Chesapeake I wonder how that could happen. Upon further reading however, I discovered that the smoke from the Canadian fires, which are still not extinguished, affected the rain quantities. Some of the fires are expected to burn through the winter and continue to be a problem next year. 

Well, as for today, I guess I will be confined mostly inside. 

That is not a bad thing, it just is.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD