St Nicholas Day 2023

Christmas Pyramid
Tequesta, FL
December 6. 2023

Happy St Nicholas Day! Did you leave your boots clean and neat outside your door for St Nicholas to fill with candy and chocolates? 

Last evening, in advance of St Nicholas Day, we lit one of our Christmas Pyramids! Two German-made smokers were standing guard.

The pyramids recount the Christmas Story and the candles make the pyramid turn so the story progresses and repeats.

We have four pyramids that we have collected over the years. That is a bit excessive. The one we enjoyed last evening is the largest. We purchased it in Rothenburg, Germany, at the factory store. 

We enjoyed the patterns of the fan blades on the ceiling as the pyramid turned. And of course there may have been a glass of wine, or two, involved. 

Christmas traditions and decorations help remind me of people, places, and things I have seen.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

A Train Went By . . .

 

Brightline Train
Tequesta and N. Old Dixie Highway
Tequesta, FL
December 4, 2023

How can you tell? 

I can see the tracks!

Chris and I did a short 12-mile ride yesterday, but managed to sit at a crossing to wait for the Brightline to pass. It is exciting to have the Brightline passenger train zoom by at 60 mph and be gone in less than a minute as opposed to waiting for the lumbering freight trains that also pass through our village a couple times per day. They last, it seems, forever as they move long lines of freight-laden cars along the tracks. 

I learned a lesson about my iPhone while trying to video the train. The video will not work when the cell is on! Chris and I establish a cell connection when we bike to stay in communication and chat. I did not know that I could not be on the cell and use the video feature at the same time. 

Lesson learned. 

I at least managed to get a few images of the train as it whooshed past.

And then we rode off across the tracks as the train rolled across the drawbridge just down the way. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - December 4, 2023

 

1. Welcome to the first Monday of the last month of the year. There are three Mondays remaining in the year and, well, Christmas is three weeks away.

2. Family NFL Report. It was a rough week for the family teams with only one win. 

Cowboys (9-3) out-dueled Seattle (6-6), 41-35

Commanders (4-9) were drowned by Dolphins (9-3), 45-15

Steelers (7-5) got pooped on by Cardinals (3-10), 10-24

Ravens (9-3) had the week off (thankfully)

Egret on Post
Tequesta, FL
November 9, 2023

3. Riding through Tequesta and across the bridges, we often see birds perched. The other day, this egret stood out against the green background.

4. I must report that my bike now has over 3,000 miles on it. I crossed that threshold on Saturday during a 23 mile ride. Who knew that I could ride that far in almost two years without really trying. 

5.  I have been watching Christmas movies--they almost invariably have happy endings. I wonder if that really translates to real life. 

6. Today in History. On December 4, 1991, Islamic militants in Lebanon release kidnapped American journalist Terry Anderson after 2,454 days in captivity.

As chief Middle East correspondent for the Associated Press, Anderson covered the long-running civil war in Lebanon (1975-1990). On March 16, 1985, he was kidnapped on a west Beirut street while leaving a tennis court. His captors took him to the southern suburbs of the city, where he was held prisoner in an underground dungeon for the next six-and-a-half years.

Anderson was one of 92 foreigners (including 17 Americans) abducted during Lebanon’s bitter civil war. The kidnappings were linked to Hezbollah, or the Party of God, a militant Shiite Muslim organization formed in 1982 in reaction to Israel’s military presence in Lebanon. They seized several Americans, including Anderson, soon after Kuwaiti courts jailed 17 Shiites found guilty of bombing the American and French embassies there in 1983. Hezbollah in Lebanon received financial and spiritual support from Iran.

Israel kills top Hamas commander, IDF says - CNN

Turmoil at pro-DeSantis super PAC hits at critical moment - CNN

Trump is showing how a second term would rewrite the rules of presidential power - CNN

Western start-ups seek to break China's grip on rare earths refining - Reuters

Morning Bid: Buoyant markets hold near year's highs - Reuters

White House says it is nearly out of money to help Ukraine fight war with Russia - Reuters

South Korea flies solid-fuel rocket amid space race with North Korea - Reuters

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Boat Parade 2023

 

Holiday Sailboat
ICW, Jupiter, FL
December 2, 2023

I love a parade!

Last evening we did something really different. We walked to the Alternate A1A Loxahatchee River Bridge, which has a great view of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), and watched a holiday boat parade. 

Yes--it was after dark. 

Santa and Flamingos
ICW, Jupiter, FL
December 2, 2023

The parade was on the ICW and was preceded by a fireworks barge. The boats in the parade were brightly lit and decorated for the holiday season.

There were hundreds of other people crammed onto the narrow walkway of the bridge watching the brightly lighted boats along with us. One of the boats had Santa being pulled along by flamingos instead of reindeer. 

We were at the end of the parade as the boats went past us and turned around to head home just out of our sight past the US-1 Federal Highway Bridge which is being reconstructed. 

Boats passing 
ICW, Jupiter, FL
December 2, 2023

After a while, there were brightly lighted boats passing both ways in the ICW and it was fun to watch. 

We walked the 1.5 miles to the bridge and back to avoid trying to park where there are few spots. It was an enjoyable nighttime walk and we were surprised at the lack of streetlights and suitable sidewalks along the streets. But, we arrived back home after the parade without injury and having enjoyed the evening festivities. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Yup, the Weekend!

Poinsettias Decorating the Grocery Store
Tequesta, FL
November 9, 2023

Christmas Cactus
Tequesta, FL
December 2, 2023

 Well Saturday has arrived yet once again. 

It is weird because I remember distinctly that last Saturday we were sleeping off the effects of Black Friday and a great family Happy Hour. 

Today, I am back in the warmth of South Florida planning a 20-mile bike ride in the sun leaving in about an hour. 

But, we have decorated the house and the Christmas cactus is even in bloom! I also love the poinsettias that have been planted through out the communities providing a bright entry into the season. 

It is that time of year, I guess. 

I am glad and hope that we can all just enjoy the season without too much drama. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The Season Arrived

Happy December! Overnight November because history and December arrived. 

The Tree and Snow Village
Tequesta, FL
December 1, 2023

The tree is up and the decorations, over 10 boxes of them, have been displayed. We are in full Christmas mode here.

The tree is up, the decorations are in place and all that remains are to bring out the Christmas dishes and return the containers to the storage room until they are needed in January to repack the decorations and hold them until next December. 

It is a process. 

But, it brings a cheer to the house. 

I just noticed that I have not yet laid the track for the Polar Express around the base of the tree. Oops! And the sandpipers and fake plant atop the display case still need to be changed out. 

So much for being done!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

'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