Friday night in Tampa

Aiport Marriott at night..

I captured this from the TIA parking garage
after shooting the sunset from the other
side!

Largo Nature Preserve

The city of Largo has a WONDERFUL nature preserve!
You can find the entrance at East Bay and Highland
on the south side of the street....Amazing area with
all sorts of wildlife - alligators, birds, fish, butterflies,
snakes and more! Here's a few images from my recent
visit....

Too Busy!

I grew up working and playing around deep sea
fishing boats - my granddad and father were
fishing NUTS and I caught it naturally. Later I
owned a bait and tackle shop and fished all the
time - now I rarely go... Captain Wilson Hubbard
used to say, "If you are too busy to go fishing,
you are just too busy!" Guess I am just too busy..
BUT - just seeing these boats brings up many
wonderful and vivid memories....

My 2 Best Girls!

Linda and Flo!
My Harley, Flo, just had some upgrades on the
engine so we re having to go through another
break-in period. So Linda hopped on the back
and we headed to St. Petersburg for breakfast
and headed out to the beach - here we are
taking a short break (and of course, I'm taking
photos) at Pass-a-Grille.

And you wondered why Charlie was back in town so quick....

Night falls on TIA!

Sunrise Buddy!

Shooter!

Charlie flew back into town on Thursday
and we went to another movie Friday
afternoon and it was AWESOME!!!! I
usually don't go to many movies, but
have been to 2 in the last few weeks
with the Captain and throughly enjoyed
both! Shooter will keep you in suspense
all the way through! GO SEE IT!!!

Play Ball!!!

My daughter works for a generous man that buys
season tickets to support ALL our local sports teams
and occasionally I get a fabulous seat - Tuesday
night was one of those nights as we watched
Godzilla, Jeter and gang take on the Phillies!
Awesome night! Thanks Courtney and Steve!

300!!!!!

GO SEE IT!

FANTASTIC movie!

Bigger than life!

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations.
I may not reach them but I can look up and see their beauty,
believe in them, and try to follow them."

Gator Ball!

When the Gators won the National Championship
in January, there was a ball made with the proceeds
going to the cancer kids at Shands Hospital. They
made 5000 of them - I have #438 of 5000! Charlie
bought this as a memento for me - I told him he
could have it back when he has a house - here
are the 3 sides of the ball - GO GATORS!

Dead End!

Redington Long Pier with an ominous tone....
Many have gone there to fish - How many
have returned????

The Pups have grown up!!!

Harley and Lilly came to live with us as puppies
over 2 years ago and we have a blast with them!
They remain very close and rarely leave each
others' side. They still wrestle and run and play
like pups - but both have grown to gorgeous
animals! I love them both!

I hear you calling!!!

The mountains are calling my name! Now!
As the weather begins to warm, my mind
wanders north to the Smokies and the Dragon!
I think about it and feel myself lean into the
turns - turn after turn after turn - fresh,
clean and crisp air....Flo, my Harley is over
Performance Specialists being "hopped up"
by Cmdr Kelly and Sonny - zoom, zoom!
We have already made our plans and will
arrive at the cabin the afternoon of May
18 and stay for 8 glorious days - OMG!!!!!!!!!!
I CAN'T WAIT!!!! I go there in my mind almost
everyday...Come - go with us!!!!

Happy Chuck!

Here is Charlie and a buddy at the end of SFS - Special
Forces Selection at Ft Bragg, North Carloina. You can
tell by the smile that he is happy that it is over! This
was last December - since then, he has been to Baghdad
and back and will move to Ft Knox in a couple weeks
to complete his Captain's Career Course and then in
September he will move to Ft Bragg to complete the
Special Forces training! And on we go!

Sunrise Fisherman!

I was not the only crazy guy up before the sunrise
on Sunday! Here is a dedicated Fisherman - waiting
for the BIG one - the monster that pulls him over
the rails, drags him around the bay for 2-1/2 hours
and into the Gulf before tiring.... He was still waiting
when I left - maybe next week....

Pay Water Bill Here....

The BIG and lovely St. Petersburg Municipal
Services Building! I wonder why the water
bills have gotten so much bigger??? Someone
has to pay for this building....