Existing In BFE

I never wear this shirt.  But today was warm and I guess I just wanted to shake things up, so on with the old Florida novelty shirt.  Being invited to Norah's house is always a worthwhile trip.   Norah and I were doing our usual romping when I saw a couple of nail polish vials on the coffee table.  One thing led to another - isn't that how everything starts?  I asked if she'd like her toenails prettied up and she quickly said yes.   Like an artist with his masterwork, with unbridled concentration and determination to  excellence, I dabbled with as much precision as these old eyes could muster.  I like the look of Norah in this one, as she looks like a pampered princess who has dozens of ladies in waiting helping her.    As I began to show her that I had no qualms about gussying up myself, she came up with an idea of her own.   Turnabout is fair play.  As I did her nails, she now wanted to do mine.    Walking into

1.  I have good news on my Aussie Shepherd Rescue application.  I have received word that my references and past vet have come through with good reports and they will be conducting a home inspection soon.  There is every likelihood that I could be united with my newest best friend by Christmas. 2.  Bedlam had a kind of resident appreciation day last week: they handed out breakfast to people leaving the gates.  I didn't have anywhere to go, but thought that sounded like a good idea, so I hopped in the car and grabbed breakfast at the "Out" gate and swung back into the "In".    Bedlam is a crazy place, but bless their little hearts, danged if they aren't trying to be nice.   They are also sponsoring a Christmas Toys For Tots and some kind of Shoebox for Seniors thing (I'm assuming items seniors need rather than their ashes).   3.  As is usual when I return from Northlandia, a kind of melancholy settles in my bones and brains.  It is a testam

At my urging, dear friends Jeff and Carol took up the brush in one of my "Rah, Rah, Ya-gotta-try-this"  regarding the therapeutic benefits of painting.  And those crazy kids actually went out and got the materials to try it.  I struck up a challenge to Carol to try 4 paintings and she has now done 2.  Jeff has one under his belt and I was tickled to see the fruits of their labor on his website a while back.  I leached onto his pictures and am posting them today.      This does my heart good.  I have known Jeff for several decades now and I can attest to his earnestness when tackling a new project.  He will do his damnedest learn what one must and and then tackle the project with gusto.  More than anyone else I know, he is "All-In" on new endeavors.    Carol has been doing cement stone works and quilts for a long time and has mastered those efforts, so I knew she would do well with a new artistic pursuit.   These are the latest works from the Sutor

Veteran's Day was the 14th and I wanted to honor our Vet's closer to that date, but other things got in the way.  This series of pictures are of Herb while having landed somewhere in the South Pacific with some crew members.  He was the captain of a gunboat during World War II, a 90-day wonder is what they were called.     He joined the Navy while in college and went to Columbia University in New York to take a three month course on navigation and other nautical elements, and graduated a Lieutenant JG (Junior Grade).  When the skipper of the ship was transferred, he became its captain.  His gunboat travelled around the Philippine Islands specifically Mindanao.   These pictures had no information on the back so we can only guess as to what was going on here, but it would seem that they fell amongst the natives wherever they landed and posed for these shots.    Herb is in the middle in what looks to be some lush forested ground.  It almost looks like there is

Last week we examined, photographically, some of my reasons why Florida in my neck of the woods is so durn unlovable. And I didn't even get around to the summer heat.      He re are more examples of Florida in my backyard.    I suspect it helps to be stoned in this state. A pasture that looks oddly like one in Northlandia is right next to 10 lane Rt. 19 - Death Alley. Life, even weedy life, clings to whatever purchase it can.   Imagine the very little soil in this open gate piece of steel, then imagine a seedling that came from somewhere and its subsequent germination and life.   An empty box of condoms I guess is no great thing lying along the sidewalk in the city.  I took a picture of this one since I had passed one previously a block or two back.   A classic example of "Water, water, everywhere, and not a drop to drink."    The juxtaposition of an adult novelty outlet and barbed wire was simply too good to pass up.  

My friend Christopher in BFE likes to go treasure hunting with his metal detector.  I've seen some of the stuff he unearths and a lot of it is really impressive.  Looks like a fun and potentially rewarding hobby.   I learned down here that Floridians are so rich or blind that they throw coinage in the streets and on sidewalks.  It may be one of those "city" things but for the most part I keep my head down to the ground most of the time I'm walking.  I have found many dollars worth of pennies, dimes, and nickels down here; my biggest take at a car wash once was around $3.00 - just left behind on the cement abutment between bays, presumably by someone who didn't want the job of cleaning them from being sticky and stuck around inside their car.  Midwest tightness or borderline poor, I'll be glad to take them off your hands.  Money is money wherever you find it, and I find plenty on the streets and parking lots around here.       Like most folks

1.  I have returned to Bedlam.  My list of "Things To Do"  didn't exactly happen as I had hoped, but then they don't usually, anyway.  The Retirement party was a smashing success.  I crawled out of my self-imposed introvert bubble and tried to act charming witty and self-possessed.  You'd have to ask others if it worked, but a morning-after self-evaluation revealed cracks in the foundation.   My super secret attempt at surprise was successful in all aspects.  Holly was asked several times if I was coming up and she said that she didn't think so; "He'd let me know if he was."  So I have some trust issues to repair.  Many at the Club said there had not been such a party of that magnitude for years.  Congratulations, Mark.  The weather and perpetually cloudy skies prevented many planned activities but other pursuits helped make the trip immensely enjoyable.  The lens I rented to see more of the night sky was barely used.  By my accounting, with

It had been a long time since I'd done any night shooting at the Vinoy and Demen's landing.  In a series of shots of the same subject with some tweaking of the settings here, then, are some early morning pictures of Vinoy park, St. Petersburg skyline and Albert Whitted airport.    These are great places to experiment with the many settings on the camera.  I have tried to get away from using the Auto setting as much as possible, so that I become more aware of aperture, focal length, exposure time and ISO.  I don't have a photoshop program so I do all the experimentation right at the sight, and hope I get some good shots.    As always, thanks for taking the time to read Existing In BFE.  

Existing In BFE is taking a few days off.   I am presently in Northlandia drinking beer and eating all the great things they don't have in Fuckflorida.  I am attending brother Mark's retirement parties like a malt-laden extrovert and will give a full report when I return.  I am also checking in with some friends and family.  We'll return on Monday November 17th.   Until I return, play nice.

1.  Tidbit Monday?  Good Heavens, what's going on?  This is Monday, not Tuesday! Well,  good morning Northlandia.  I have returned, if only briefly.  I am here to attend my Wombie's retirement bash which was on Saturday.  Yeah, I know I said last week I wasn't coming up, but that was a ruse to insure total surprise.  I couldn't miss the Wombie's big week.  Birthday on Thursday, city party on Friday, friend's party at the Club on Saturday.  That's a lot of socializing for a backwards introvert like me, but I'll do my best. From this point forward he will be known as… Aquaman Sum Emeritus (Big Drip Is Plugged)      On the agenda: Take Miss Frump from Henderson over to Burgess for winter storage.  My car guy, Richard, will take care of her over there. Sort through some of the Wombies archives for additional Flashback Fridays pics.   Finally climb the grain bins at BFE. Fire Pit at Neighbor Tim's  

One of the nice things about being a twin is knowing at least one other person will show up at your birthday party.  One time, while the Wombie and I were at college, we had a surprise party with a lot more than 2 in attendance.  This happened to have been a surprise job where we were kidnapped by the fraternity Little Sisters, the spirited members of the Pi Phi sorority.      Being kidnapped by a bunch of pretty college girls is perhaps one of the more enjoyable ways to celebrate a birthday.  I went willingly and acquiesced to all of their demands, such as having a piece of cake.  I'm sure I developed Stockholm Syndrome with my captors.      From left to right:  Rick Perry (Mark's Pledge Son), Mark,  Dan Kolbow (my Pledge Son) and me.   It was an inside job and even our brother Pledges were in on the caper.   We had the sorority and the fraternity all gathered to help us have a fun and memorable birthday.  Three of the four pictured are drinking someth

The second of 4 lunar eclipses in 2014-15.  It was a combination Hunter's Moon (first full moon after the Harvest Moon), super moon and eclipse. As seen from Bedlam By the Bay on October 8, 2014. 6:01 AM  6:10 AM  6:22 AM 6:26 AM 6:31 AM 6:38 AM 6:48 AM 6:54 AM 6:59 AM 7:10 AM The sun was rising, the moon was falling and I was about to lose the eclipse behind a roof and increasing light.  They say that at the perfect place you could witness a phenomenon of the tip of the sun rising and the tip of the moon falling at the same time.  That place wouldn't be here. ADDED ASTRONOMICAL BONUS:   As the early morning hours mean renewed flights from St. Pete/Clearwater Airport I saw this plane cursing pretty close to the moon.  Since I was taking 1 second exposures this plane's lights appear as a streak.  I'll have to work on that in t he futur