Existing In BFE

Why I Stopped Journaling Sometime over a decade ago I decided to open a Blogger account and start a website that would let my family know what was going on with me, they in Florida and Iraq, and me in Illinois.  It was an innocuous collection of thoughts and photos - insanely shallow and forgettable.  Motorcycle ride pics, garage party pics, maybe some silly text that would let my family, and a growing number of friends see what I was up to.  It grew through the years to a kind of formal daily ritual complete with editorial essays, and frothy pronouncements ranging from housecleaning tips to world events.   This last November or thereabouts I stopped, except for a few comments - let's call them cadaverous twitches.  For the past year I focused, rightly or wrongly on an election I deemed essential to our future.  I guess after all these years I finally found my flag-waving patriotism.   It seemed all the more important, to me anyway, to u...

I think I'll take the rest of the week off from blogging.  Hope everyone had a nice holiday with friends and family and we'll be right back up here next Monday with more from St. Pete.  We've got a strange photo shoot from Vinoy Park, Bald Eagles, dolphins and some Christmas pictures so stay tuned and check back everyday, Monday through Friday for more. I see I have 9 followers, so thanks to you guys for your loyalty and stamina.  For those of you who do not follow but check in regularly, again, thanks for your visits.  I started this as a way to let my family know what I was doing when we were separated by distance, and it has now evolved into a personal journal of my travels, thoughts and those of others I find occasionally on the web.  Thanks again for your time and feel free to comment.  Have a happy and safe New Year and may 2011 be a great one for us all. Mike

Kenzie and Drew hosted Christmas at their place.  The grandkids were back in North Port, and Brendan and Rachel had to work, so it was a smaller crowd.  Drew fixed steaks on the grill and we watched Jean Shepard's A Christmas Story (they played this thing around the clock for 24 hours!!??) and I still don't understand why it is a must-see for many people. Anyway the food was great: peanut clusters, rice krispie treats, steak (perfectly done), baked potato, oysters au gratin, and vegetable platter (for those who like that stuff).    Great steaks. Bishop wanted to be close to the action. After Christmas at Kenzie's, Nancy and I went to the beach for a traditional stroll. The Thunderbird motel is a landmark along Gulf street and the bright neon signage is pure 50's.                                 ...

I had originally planned not to blog anything this week, but since I have too much stuff already to go it wouldn't be till February until I got the Christmas pictures up. So, perhaps a couple of entries this week to get a little caught up. We had the pleasure of a nice Wednesday-before-Santa-day Christmas at Brendan and Rachels's. He fixed a superb Shepherd's pie and unlike the other get-togethers the entire family was present. Mackenzie and Drew, Mike and Nancy, and the grandkidlings, Alhanna and Michael. After all those years of decorating on Chambers Street, it warmed my heart to see Brendan working on his house.  That's Rachel and Nancy on the front porch, perhaps having a hot or cold toddy.                        The blue lights gave off a very warm and pretty ambience.          Tree topper was lame but expected.  R...

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BLYTHE'S Merry Christmas and have a family-filled holiday, from all of us down here in St. Petersburg: Mike, Nancy, Mackenzie, Drew, Brendan, Rachel, Cinnamon, Sorsha, Chance and Bishop.  Also,  I wouldn't want to forget about our little "mystery shopper" due in April. This is the last post for this year.  I'll be back on January 3rd.  Have a safe New Year's.

New York, December 1913. "Christmas tree, Madison Square."                   Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus This is a famous response to a kids question that has turned into the Christmas equivalent of the Gettysburg Address for brevity and succinctness.  It is an answer to an age-old question that concerns children primarily and adults, too, for its peek into a kids mind and world.  It is one of my favorites at this time and I also had the privilege to read it to Mackenzie's grade school class many years ago.  Enjoy. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or w...

I have no idea when these were taken (late 70's/early 80's), but I'm the photographer with a Polaroid. Looking back I wish I'd had a simple point-and-shoot because Polaroids degrade in time and also the film was very expensive.  But it was nice to get the instant results. They feature a Blythe Christmas in Seaton with all the usual suspects. Marj, Herb, Phil, Mark and I think that's Jason and Courtney in one shot. I can't believe I walked around in rags. Anyway, Christmas was always marked by good food, funny repartee, lots of presents, boundless love and sometimes, perhaps a bit too much adult beverage. AND IN A PICTURE TAKEN AROUND TEN YEARS LATER, GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS FUTURE MACKENZIE, BRENDAN, ASHLEY, AARON, AND COURTNEY.  WHERE'S JASON?  

Two nights ago, while most of you were in bed sleeping the sleep of angels your intrepid blog host was out in the crisp Florida air taking pictures of a unique astronomical event.   After a jarring phone call at 2:30 from my lovely daughter telling me what I already knew by reading the papers that morning. I arose from my nice electrically warmed bed to proceed to the dog-walk area to take pictures of this impressive happening.  A total eclipse of the moon coinciding with winter solstice won't happen again till 2095. By then your loyal blogger may have a different perspective. Night photography is tough for me. I don't have the knowledge or equipment for truly startling images, but these seem to be the best I can do. Hope you enjoy it. Now, I'm going to bed. I have learned how to add text to pictures. At this point it was around 4:40 am. The reddish tint in the early pictures is due to the earth's atmosphere draining the usual blues and grays.  Wel...

Here are some pictures I had that didn't lend themselves to individual posts. On the way down to North Port to see another soccer match we saw a lot of old cars and even a VW caravan on I-275. Came up to these two cars no doubt heading to some show and I kind of liked the top roadster. Nice colors and just liked the looks of it. I usually prefer factory stock old cars but I'm starved for old iron I guess. Then we saw this one and it looked nice too until we came up alongside it. I was appalled that this guy would even take his car out of the garage with a big dent in it. God, man, get thee to a body shop. Pathetic owner. This is a house boat that never moves. I'm not sure how this works but he must have some kind of long-term lease for where it sits. Now that would be really cool to have. This wall is adjacent to my ATM. Now what do you suppose made those marks? Bikers? Skateboarders? Shoe bottoms? Got me, but it's a bit weird. These are stills from a...