the bug man

Mike (the bug man) came this morning with his helper, Matthew.  First thing he asked me was, "You've been havin' trouble with ants?"  I couldn't believe it.  "How'd ya know?"  With his serious smile, he just off handily commented, "I can smell 'em."

"What do ya mean?"

"Nobody believes me, but believe me, I can smell 'em."

And there, outside, running all along the overhang, we had a ton of them little guys "trailing" everywhere.

running into old friends at the supermarket

Sandy and I had just come from her doctor, where she just had installed on herself, a portable 24 hour EKG monitoring system due to an ongoing health issue.  Stopping briefly at Publix Market for a few items, we ran into our old, old friend, Nancy.  It had probably been 15 years.

Both women just sat down and started to talk - while I shopped - which took me not more than 15 minutes.  So patiently, I went outside, smoked several cigs and paced. And, close to an hour later, we were finally on our way home.

Catholic celebration (a sainthood for two)

My wife, Sandy, is a devout Eucharistic minister serving with St. Michael's Catholic Church here on the island.  Today was her special day to celebrate the annual Sacred Heart of Divine Mercy - a very special place in her heart.  But, when I dropped her off for Mass, the focused attention was for the Catholic church's two newly canonized saints - Pope John the 23rd (from my childhood) and for the late, Pope John Paul (lovingly referred to as "Papa" in Latin America).

A somewhat controversial read, on my part, particularily after reading Maureen Dowd's op-ed, in her recent NYT's column.

Today's poster in front of the alter

a collection of heavy candles in the vestibule

Show & Tell

My wife and our good friend Rebecca, together decided, that they both wanted a personal tour of my latest exhibition (41 prints, the official opening being next month). So today we all went down to the county's Terrace Bldg. and did a walk and talk about. Nothing better than sharing. Sandy used her huge iPad to somehow shoot some photos - and somehow miraculously, there I appeared.

tourist season - finally over

Easter Sunday

Desperate, ran out of coffee.  I know it says liquors but, it's our same grocery store. Real hard start of the day, when you've run out of morning coffee.

Newtown's Centennial

A few days ago I attended the commencement for Newtown's Centennial. Growing up locally, Newtown was our own, often neglected and segregated, African-American community at the north end of town.

The 100th anniversary of it's founding is being celebrated this week. For it's opening day, a small crowd had gathered to pay tribute and allow for a little anecdotal story-telling, which I always enjoy.  In an editorial, in our local paper, the Herald-Tribune described the Newtown Community as, "A place where pride has overcome prejudice."

Newly installed plaques at Fredd Adkins Park.

Unlike me, I was just too busy (no photos)

Just finished hanging an exhibition last night that was more than a year in the making - an important personal project of thirty some years of photographic field work - and aptly titled, Florida Portraits.

Supported through Sarasota County Historical Resources and Sarasota's County government, the county took this on as a part of their permanent loan collection and approved this large portfolio for public exhibition.

The odd thing - I forgot to take some photos. Working right along side the exhibition's installer, with his two attending Papillon dogs - and with the county's archivist / curator - somehow I just forgot. Very unlike me. Though last night, I did have a few good laughs and many, many fond memories of all these photographic characters that once stood in front of me - who lent me their personal stories and shared their important family histories. But, last night, no photos were taken.  Just the 41 portraits (with short individual narratives) - all left to view, just hanging there on the walls.

(thanks Caren)

Keelie visiting

And looking at apartments in downtown Sarasota.

waiting for his buddies

..... but, they never showed.

shore lunch

So, I called my good buddy "Mr. A" (Michael) - "Let's go fishing".

Morning tides weren't working, so by mid-day we pulled onto shore and Michael magically produced, from his small cooler,  - our "shore lunch".   Tuna fish sandwiches from 7-11.

We headed back out on the water, on a beautiful day, where we finally ended up with a nice Redfish.  But, my biggest surprise of the whole day, is what Michael had made for me - an old fashioned styled fish "scaler" - from scrap wood and a bottle cap.  By the end of our long journey, it certainly came in handy.

Oh, and I forgot - he also bought me a pack of Camel Blue's.  What a friend.

Florida's scratch-off

It can create long lines at any convenient check-out.  A winner's paradise - A loser's game.  Kinda' reminds me of my smoking habit.

Lent in western Christianity

Wikipedia; A solemn religious observance in the liturgical calendar of many Christian denominations lasting approximately six weeks up until Christ's resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Today, I attended a memorial and was admiring the reflections from the stain glassed windows and the draping of the large cross during this season of Lent.  St. Boniface Episcopal chapel.

social occasions

Not that often that I get out anymore - but when I do, they're is always something special. At a social outing today, I ran into an elder friend of mine, Michael.  He is what I would call a "natty" dresser - sharp, neat and trim. These days, something special.