Lola & Bella came for a visit

The girls are real sweethearts - and Bella had just completed an informal interview with me several days before about our family history - and knows very well what I do for a living. So, on their last night in town, our whole extended family went out for a dinner - a grand occasion. But, Lola and Bella were at the other end of the table, and I with my iPhone camera - I could sense them whispering, "Pa's takin' pictures again." And, those poor girls were trying to hide, pretending to do the same - and just giggling.

Oildale, CA

Knuckles and I passed through Oildale, just north of Bakersfield, in late January. Passing through, the smell of rich crude oil was so intense that Knuckles wouldn't even get out of the truck - but I did. I knew it to be the birthplace of Merle Haggard (1937-2016). His obituary sang sad in today's paper.

ominous

As federal, state and local agencies await a final, controversial environmental decision, a $20 million dollar project to re-nourish South Lido Key by dredging Sarasota's historically natural Big Pass, sits heavy - while idle dredge equipment looms large, stalled in place.

At a recent Commission board meeting on March 23rd, Sarasota County Commissioner, Al Maio was quoted in the local press, "You all just need to set up a series of meetings quickly ... Get in a room and ask questions, and be absolutely polite, but ferociously blunt."

Neve & Dustin came for a visit

And, the day before they flew home, we went to the park to discuss aero-dynamics and the effects of wind velocity on aircraft. And shortly thereafter, the three of us sat down at the cafe next door, and ordered just about everything on the kid's menu. 

And, on their last evening - with the help of my niece Keelie, who purchased a battery powered, "shock" rat trap - Dustin and I got our first kill.

a prime primary

I purposefully pulled over and stopped, out in front of the Supervisor of Elections office in downtown Sarasota - and spoke to several political camps leading up to this coming Tuesday's, Florida primary vote.

Maryellen Kirkwood, out on the curb, was the most vocal of the groups, pushing her campaign literature and quick to grab anyone's attention. In what seemed a prepared statement, she rattled off, "The Trump campaign is a conservative, large, and popular group effort - and 'not' a dirty word. In the US, candidates are 100% politicians - but he (Trump) embodies a much larger group. He has the overall experience to bring the body whole....."  She continued on - but at such a fast rate, I couldn't keep up. Non stop, even after the photo, so finally I had to - just walk away.

And, standing not more than a few feet away from the Trump table, a Bernie volunteer had heard it all. And I'm sure, heard it all day long. She smiled as I approached, but was reluctant to be photographed and merely handed me a pamphlet and several bumper stickers. The quiet, reticent approach - and asked that I read carefully, all the info when I got home.

a peculiar, Florida oriented bumper sticker with a "Bernie" sense of humor

I knew, eventually it would happen

Got the NYT's Friday edition - and there it was. Don't normally read the "style" section, but do keep up with the photography goings on.

I was last in Havana back in 1998, on the visa ruse of photographing Pope John Paul for a magazine, but my real intent on returning, was to document a neighborhood where I was staying with my long-time adopted family. I spent two weeks there - and ten days shooting portraits on the street corner of Calle Cardenas & Apodaca.

The noted architectural street corner (Cardenas & Apodaca) in the art-nouveau style with its unique sculpted columns - where my friend and I set up daily for the neighborhood portraits and interviews.

One of 24 portraits - Jair Barrabia Noa, mechanic on lunch break and long-time neighborhood resident.

Now that Cuba has become hip and trendy, it has become the backdrop for many publications. I recognized the columns immediately - and appears as if they were painted over for the staged fashion shoot. These shoots look simple, but their advertising budgets are high, including - the location art directors, hair and make-up people, the stylists, caterers, logistics people, scouts, security and of course, the models. I don't believe that the residents of this neighborhood, of Jesus Maria in Old Havana, or for that matter, all of Cuba, are ready or prepared for this huge, on-coming onslaught.

Soy Cuba! (I am Cuba)

We had a date, my niece Keelie and I, at a small cafe downtown.  Renesito ('little Rene' from Santiago, Cuba) had relocated to Sarasota and was playing locally. So we went. Had some tapas, but enjoyed the after-sweets more. Keelie ordered the Tres Leche, and I ordered the Guava Cream Cheese cheese cake.