4th Of July In Largo

Good thing we all went to Largo Park to see the fireworks this year. We used to go St. Pete's Vinoy Park but since we've been in this god-forsaken part of this god-forsaken state we've been going to Largo. Heard the next morning that the vendor for the pyrotechnics for the past 10 years was late getting set up so St. Pete had to cancel. Bummer for all those people lined up along the sea wall waiting and waiting. The company was canned the next day and I'll bet there were some people let go, too. Anyway, we saw ours, he wrote possessively.

I didn't ask this guy to stop a second while I took a picture of his leg with the Bird sign on it. I could have, too, because he might be the last guy on earth I take in a brawl - small, and wiry. Besides, no one wants to be in a fight and possibly lose to an old guy, anyway. I don't get people who want to use their skin for off-color stuff. Just me, but reminds me of the Vice tombstone in Oquawka - it's there forever, have some class.

Religious people might say God provided a sign for America's birthday. Meteorologists would simply tell you that there was a refraction, a reflection and a dispersion of water droplets resulting in a spectrum of light appearing in the sky.

This is the fam, folks. Kenzie and Drew and Norah and Alfred.

The wagon in the back is mine that I bought just for such events. It carried them both from the parking lot and also provided for bench seating. Well worth it.

Here then are some excerpts from the Largo fireworks show on the 4th.

Hope everyone had a good Holiday this year and Happy Birthday, America.

Comments

Flashback Friday

Class, Or Lack Thereof The Dwight Vice gravestone in Oquawka, Illinois. I bring this old chestnut out every so often just to remind me that class is classless. Dwight Vice was killed in his home near Oquawka in 2001. It was one of those things that can generate crime: two guys thought Dwight had a lot of money stashed at home because of his pot-selling sideline to supplement his fishing job. Not really one of those big drug deals gone-bad things. Marijuana was, according to the trial, about the only stuff Dwight sold. But these two guys barge into the house and killed Dwight and attempted to kill his 11 year old kid, Darryl, before they took off with what money they could find. His son, now 23, was stabbed in the back and left for dead. He survived and is wheelchair bound and has undergone several surgeries to repair his wounds. He will be paralyzed for life. None of this is pleasant. Reading the f...

Philippe Park and The Tocobaga Indian Mound

About ten miles or so north of Bedlam is a place called Safety Harbor. Its the place that has the 300-500 year old oak that the city tried to kill I featured a couple weeks ago on BFE . They have a pretty nice park that has some interesting history, too. Count Philippe landed here and introduced the pineapple and cigar making to the Tampa Bay area. Today, however, I want to mention something else about this area, besides the really nice scenery. Phillipe Park was also the home of the Tocobaga Indians. The Tocobaga occupied the Tampa Bay area from around 600 A.D. to the 1600's. This is a fairly common view of old stately moss-laden oaks down here. This shot was taken atop the only Tocobaga Indian mound in the area. This exact spot is home not only to the Tocobaga until they died out, but then to Count Phillipi who settled the area after the Tocobaga died out. The place is full of oak and ...

The Mary Davis Home - Part 2

None of these pictures were taken by me, they came right from the MDH website. I am posting these so that friends who have never seen inside where I worked can gain access. After 27 years I have many stories, tales and acquaintances. But, I wouldn't know how to express them appropriately in a few paragraphs. I enjoyed 98% of my stay there and hope I made a difference in the lives of a fraction of the kids who entered. The original MDH at this site was just the front part. The large red-roofed area in back was added on in the 90's. This is the Jerry Carlton library. It was unofficially named after one of the counselors who truly loved the place. He passed away around 2002, I think. Mr. Farber looks like he is explaining a few things to a client. The classroom. Activity area with the gym behind the windows. Another shot of the classroom. It was a little different area to teach since we had 2 classes and 2 teachers i...

Existing In BFE

Search This Blog