Existing In BFE

1.  This is Tim Minchin.  I know nothing about him and I understand he is Australian.  He looks a little creepy but I guess musicians need some kind of freak-on to be remembered by if the songs bomb.  It is a strange song.  Politically incorrect (not always a bad thing) and religiously untethered, BUT, it has a great message of family, and safety, and love.   Its a song called White Wine In the Sun . You may be tempted to end your Minchin experience at a number of places but hear it through and you will be surprised at how well you like it in the end.     2.  My physical therapy continues with some amazing results.  My range of motion has increased and level of pain has decreased in the past 2 weeks.  I am still experiencing pain at the outer ranges but I can now comb the right side of my head and putting on a belt is now much easier.   Eddie, my humorless therapist, is pleased with me and we are starting some ...

Up early Saturday morning (4:00 AM, December 28th) and I knew I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep.  A few days ago I missed the prettiest red morning as the sun was rising and figured I'd go down to the Vinoy and see if I could get it today.  Sadly, it was too cloudy but took some shots anyway.  Some are familiar sights but how can one tire of such scenes?  Here, then, are a few pictures of a gray chilly morning in Saint Pete at the Vinoy Resort and Park. My first shot of the morning and I left my flash on from previous shooting during Christmas.  At first I thought it was a bad one, but upon second viewing, it might be OK. This sculpture lies in the heart of the southern part of the Vinoy Park.  It is simple, elegant and is called the "Truth" sculpture.  It was created in 1980 by Rolf Brommelsick.   It was about 5:15 - 5:30 AM.  The boats along the marina in the foreground and the skyline of the city in the bac...

Having just returned from my pseudo-tradition of hopping on my motorcycle and heading uptown on Christmas morning,  I was struck by my sheer dumb luck.  I worry about where my forever home will be, my shrinking pension, my bum shoulder, and well, what's going to become of me when I grow up.   These 600-pound gorillas shrank to insignificance when I noticed the night denizens of Saint Petersburg.  Every town has them of any size.  It is an army of people who live on the streets, in Bum Paradise (Williams Park), Gulf-side benches, and wherever the homeless and disengaged spend their time.  These people are not to be confused with the panhandlers who make more than I do who were forced out around here, and all moved over to Tampa.   These are ladies and men whose life circumstances have created a demographic profile of folks on the lowest rung of the class ladder of America.  No addresses, no Internet, no documents, no social or legal contra...

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY UP NORTH MAY YOU ALL HAVE A JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON

  The Bartons Drew, Kenzie and Norah Blythe The McCutcheon's Before After John and Jen The Stage's Patti, Amy and Bailey Mark & Holly I had some technical problems with this year's picture they sent so I put on the 2012 version, instead.  Too bad, because this year's looked really nice in the dark. I just can't get into it so 2 small trees will have to do.  Oh, and that little one on the left:  it has snow flocked on it…my favorite. The Godsil's Tree and Special Guest Elf,  Dorie The perfect winter picture.  The Barton's home.

Final post of the great Christmas light display at the Largo Botanical Gardens.    This is about the only thing I have experienced that almost…almost gets me in the spirit of the Holidays.  Gee, Christmas sucks in Florida.  I see in the stores seasonal stuff that normally would be kind of comforting amidst the snow up north.  I saw a tea that was a winter type thing and the picture on it was a sleigh rolling along in the snow.  Down here it would be rather irrelevant if you sipped in the normally 85 degree summer or the 75 winter temperatures.  Either way its real tough to get the warm cozy wintry feeling down here.   My neighbor planted petunias yesterday and I was so hot I almost turned on the air.  Next year…next year…!    This concludes our stroll through the phenomenal Largo Botanical Gardens.  So very...