Arriving under Cloudy Skies

 It was strange in that during our two-day drive from Florida to Maryland the only time we traveled under clouds was once we approached D.C. 

I wonder if that means something? Everywhere else was crystal blue skies. I hope the weather is as good as that when we make the trip home next year.

It is, however, cold here this morning. I am showing a nippy 24 degrees. That is a temperature I will not see in Tequesta, nor would I want to see it.

But, we arrived well and only had minor traffic-related delays around the D.C. beltway and on the B-W Parkway. 

This morning the cold had brought clear skies. I am looking forward to the day.

Bring on the holidays. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Out the Hotel Window - Fayetteville, NC

 

Out the Hotel Window
Fayetteville, NC
December 189, 2023

And here we are. 

Nine hours closer to our Maryland destination, but stopped for the night in Fayetteville, NC. 

I wish hotels would think about the view out the windows. Looking over the vast expanse of the conference center is just not that exciting. It did, however, remind me of the beautiful travel day that we had. We traveled in daylight for the entire time and it was a great trip. I admit I was tired as we neared Fayetteville--but, it was nice to stop and not have to press on through exhaustion to our destination.

We enjoyed a nice walk with Finnegan. We stopped in the Cracker Barrel Store near the hotel just to look at the wares, but decided that we did not want to take dinner there. I guess we are not Cracker Barrel people.We returned to the hotel where we settled in the hotel bar for apps and wine which became dinner. We met a few other travelers in the bar and enjoyed conversing with them.

I was surprised that there were not more travelers on the roads. Maybe that is why we got such a good rate for the room. 

Tomorrow, God willing, we arrive Maryland and start finalizing Christmas preps. 

-- Bob Doan, Fayetteville, NC

Monday Musings - December 18, 2023

 

1. Welcome to the penultimate Monday of both December and the year 2023. Christmas is just one week from today. 

2. Family NFL Report.  The family teams worked hard this week, but came up mostly losers with one win and three losses. 

Cowboys (10-4) shot-up by Bills (8-6), 10-31

Commanders (4-10) impaled by Rams (7-7), 20-28

Steelers (7-7) blown-out by by Colts (8-6), 13-30

Ravens (11-3)  smash Jaguars (9-6), 23-7  

Dolphins (10-4) blanked Jets (5-9), 30-0

3.  A trip of 1,000 miles begins with a full tank of gas. 

4. Who are they laughing at? “It shows the rottenness of the American political system, which cannot pretend to teach others about democracy,” Trump quoted Putin saying in the speech. Trump added: “They’re all laughing at us.” (Washington Post)

5. Today in History. On December 18, 1620, the English ship Mayflower arrives at modern-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, and its passengers prepare to begin their new settlement, Plymouth Colony.

The famous Mayflower story began in 1606, when a group of reform-minded Puritans in Nottinghamshire, England, founded their own church, separate from the state-sanctioned Church of England. Accused of treason, they were forced to leave the country and settle in the more tolerant Netherlands. After 12 years of struggling to adapt and make a decent living, the group sought financial backing from some London merchants to set up a colony in America. On September 6, 1620, 102 passengers–dubbed Pilgrims by William Bradford, a passenger who would become the first governor of Plymouth Colony—crowded on the Mayflower to begin the long, hard journey to a new life in the New World.

 

Israel opens aid crossing to Gaza while stepping up bombardment - Reuters

Zelenskiy describes immediate goals for work on EU accession - Reuters

Turkey calls on U.S. to use influence to halt Israeli attacks on Gaza -Turkish source - Reuters

New hard-right leader is making enemies in GOP Show all - CNN

 Israel’s military claims to have found biggest Hamas tunnel - CNN

Guilty verdict for paramedics charged in man’s death could have ‘chilling effect’ on EMTs - CNN

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Kaleidoscope of Colors

Pattern of the Christmas 
Lights through the Screen
Tequesta, FL
December 16, 2023

Rain and wind. . . 

That describes yesterday's weather. Well, add in some gray skies. I haven't seen the sun in over three days. It is very gloomy. 

Chris and I put the covers over our patio furniture for protection. The rain fell so hard and the tropical storm strength winds blew the raindrops into our patio screen. We could not see through the screen, but our Christmas lights shone in a creative pattern for us to enjoy. 

At least we found something interesting despite the poor weather. 

A short while later, there was so much rain that the GFI circuit activated. Too much water at near the outdoors plug I suspect. 

Christmas is just over a week away!

Tomorrow is the first of two travel days. We will be following the storm up the coast. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

A Watchful Eye

Finn on the Bed
Tequesta, FL
December 13, 2023

Finn, sometimes, just keeps an eye on the activity occurring around him. I think he just likes to keep track of our activity to assess whether he is about to be left alone on the house or not.

Often, he perches on the back of the sofa. That allows him the ability to monitor activity across the entire first floor as well as the entry and, if the shades are open, the approach to the house.

Generally, there is some amount of activity for him to monitor. Usually, however, he decides that he needs to be part of what is happening and then he gets underfoot. 

All-in-all, he is great company around the house. And I know he is looking forward to our upcoming roadtrip! How do I know? He keeps positioning himself atop the items we are preparing to pack.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Christmas Shopping

 

Central Area
Gardens Mall, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
December 14, 2023

Chris and I did something really different yesterday. We went Christmas shopping at the local mall. I have to admit, I have not been in a mall to shop for Christmas in a long while. Not long enough, however.

It was weird. 

Actually we went to check out a Christmas gift for me--I actually needed hands-on to ensure that I both liked the item and to get the correct size and examine some of the other options. Since it is a Christmas gift and I'm not supposed to know about it, I won't write anymore than to indicate that I am very excited about receiving this gift.

Not everything can be done on-line. Sadly.

I was amazed at the mall and its festive decorations. Fortunately, most other holiday shoppers were at home, at work, at school, or on-line and so the mall was not too busy.

But the decorations were stunning. I felt sorry for Santa who was sitting alone in the middle of all that opulence. I did not even see an eager elf assistant when we walked by. 

I also didn't hear a cheery Ho-Ho-Ho!

And I survived Christmas shopping at the mall!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Ineffective and Dangerous

 

Have you written to your congressional representative to express your ire at the lack of activity on meaningful critical issues?

I have!

Not that it helped. 

It is frightening that while important bills pertaining to the economy and supporting our allies are languishing that the Republican-controlled House decided to formalize the impeachment inquiry into President Biden. I guess they are too busy taking direction from a twice-impeached, sex offender, criminal, megalomaniac former president who has also committed treason and incited an insurrection?

One writer puts it this way:

In a day that was chock full of political stories in which Republicans were launching attacks on Democrats, Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) made a key point. “We have not passed an emergency supplemental, a Farm Bill, or regular Appropriations,” he said. “The story is not what they are doing. The story is what they are not doing.”  

Schatz was referring to specific, vital measures that are not getting through Congress: the outstanding funding bill for aid to Ukraine and Israel, border security, and humanitarian aid for Gaza; the Farm Bill, which governs the nation’s agricultural and food assistance programs and needs to be renewed every five years; and the regular appropriations bills that Congress must pass and that House extremists tossed out former speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) over because they wanted deep cuts that he had agreed with President Joe Biden not to make.  (Letters from an American) (Highlighting mine)

I did not receive a reply from my Republican representative. I did not expect one. 

We are living with what we elected. Make a note to change that.

Oh yes, with so many important issues waiting for action what are our representatives doing? They are going on vacation! Nice optic.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Relative Calm

 I know that I am enjoying the relative calm before the storm. 

A few deep breaths and some relaxation because the holiday rush begins in earnest next Monday as we depart for Maryland and the frozen northlands. 

My drive weather forecaster is showing about a 40 percent chance of rain for almost the entire trip. Those would be the lime green dots on the map at the right. Hopefully the weather will improve between now and then. We are planning a stopover in Fayetteville, NC, which will be followed by a short jaunt the next day to being us into Odenton and miss D.C. rush hour traffic. 

The app I am using, and have used very successfully in the past, is Drive Weather. I use it to avoid snow, ice, and torrential rains. 

Once we arrive back in Maryland it will be great to be with family and friends to celebrate the holidays. There is so much that will need to be done to finalize the preps--but that, after all, is what the season is about. 

So I'm taking a pause, well also because we are getting thunderstorms today, and getting ready for the fun to begin. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

It's Relative

 

Cold is a relative thing. 

It seemed cold here yesterday with a morning temperature of 63 degrees as I headed out for my ride. I thought that I had properly prepared for the cold by wearing a long sleeve shirt, rather than my usual short sleeve riding shirts. 

I even waited to start later than normal, hoping that the temperature would improve.

It didn't. 

With the cold wind, I knew the ride was doomed right from the start. I could not keep my core warm and so, after about two miles of being cold I decided to head home. The 4.1 miles yesterday was my shortest ride in a very long time, but, on the good side of the ledger, the ride put me across 100 miles for the month. 

I never even crossed my favorite bridge in Tequesta. 

I am going to have to dress warmer for these low 60- and high 50-degree days. I remember last year it didn't seem so bad, but cold is relative. Given the wind and the humidity 60s cam feel refreshing or frigid. 

Next week when we are in Maryland, I will be longing for 60-degree days.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta ,FL

Monday Musings - December 11, 2023

 

1. Welcome to the second Monday of December. Scary thought--there are two Mondays remaining in the year AND Christmas is exactly two weeks away. 

2. Family NFL Report. It was a winning week for the family teams which posted a 2-1 record. Two of the family teams are sporting 10-3 records and sit atop their divisions!

Cowboys (10-3) soundly defeated Eagles (10-3), 33-13

Commanders (4-9) were on a BYE

Steelers (7-6) could not overcome Patriots (3-10), 18-21

Ravens (10-3) ran past Rams (6-7), 37-31

3. I do not understand why Congress is not ensuring that Ukraine has the money and equipment they need to fight the war. Ukraine is not asking Americans to shed blood for them--I think the following quote from our heroic President says it all: “History’s going to judge harshly those who turn their back on freedom’s cause,” Biden said earlier this month. “We can’t let Putin win.”

4. There is no place for hate. 

5. Sometimes doing the right thing is hard. 

6. Today in History. December 11, 1936. After ruling for less than one year, Edward VIII becomes the first English monarch to voluntarily abdicate the throne. He chose to abdicate after the British government, public, and the Church of England condemned his decision to marry the American divorcée Wallis Warfield Simpson. On the evening of December 11, he gave a radio address in which he explained, “I have found it impossible to carry on the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge the duties of king, as I would wish to do, without the help and support of the woman I love.” On December 12, his younger brother, the duke of York, was proclaimed King George VI.

Israeli military says 100 soldiers in total have been killed in Gaza - CNN

News of Zelensky’s visit to Washington got pushback from some Republicans in Congress - CNN

The Math for Buying a Home No Longer Works - The Wall Street Journal

Alarm Grows Over Weakened Militaries and Empty Arsenals in Europe - The Wall Street Journal

Your Cash Is Earning 5% Interest. Is Now the Time to Move It? - The Wall Street Journal

Gazans say hunger is growing, fuelling fears of exodus into Egypt - Reuters

EU set for summit showdown over Ukraine accession talks as Hungary stands firm - Reuters

Ukraine prepares for a long war. Will the West stay the course? - Reuters

The officials weren’t wrong as the Chiefs raged, but does anyone want this? - The Washington Post

--  Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL