In The Eye Of The Beholder...

No pun intended about my current eyesight situation....but I've come to the conclusion that like art.... life, is truly in the eye of the beholder. You can go through your life with all its ups and downs and be constantly worried about what awful thing might happen next to spoil your day...or you can look at everything that happens as an experience to be remembered, good or bad, that is part of a wonderful journey that is all to short and should not be wasted focusing precious time on negative thoughts. I prefer the latter and therefore try and move on with my life in a positive manner every day. Sure there is some really bad crap that can happen, and I'm not saying that you should laugh your way through an extremely bad event in your life, but whether it's a hit to your soul, your heart, or something more physical, the quicker you can move on the better your life will be. That's why I love it so much in our little corner of paradise...people here, most that is, have a happier take on life than I think anywhere else I have ever lived.



When I see a sunset like the ones pictured here or just something as simple as smiling happy friendly faces like the ones of my friends pictured above...I just know that no matter what happens, friends like these and everyone you have seen in previous entries, are there for me. What a fantastic feeling to know that fact....so for all of you I would like to say "Thank You" for being there for me in time of need and for being my friends.



















Speaking about the eye of the beholder...here are two different versions of chalk artwork that I thought you might get a kick out of....one is the second attempt at artwork and the result of my last class with famed artist Carroll Swayze.. she has given me the gift of some of her knowledge of how to begin to develop an appreciation and a talent for art. Not that I'm saying I have any talent...but it is certainly more exciting and enjoyable than I had ever hoped it would be.


The next are 3D chalk drawings that were sent to me of an artist that is truly an amazing talent with chalk ....he draws these in public places and except for the pictures that are taken ....they are gone in a few days...this is true talent and I am in awe of this man...I will acknowledge him if I can get his name. Now that's a Frog....WoW!!!




Went to the monthly car show here on Dearborn Street and as usual...was amazed at how many people collect and care for these classic beauties..it happens every first Saturday of every month...if you love cars..then you should come down next month...









Talk about art....some of these are truly works of art....I'd like to doll up the "Monkmobile" someday so I would be proud to show it at an event like this...it will have to wait until I can get the resources to make it happen.
















Shirley and Flo are going on a road trip...it starts here in Englewood and may lead them to Dallas and beyond...they have been asked to be the opening act once more for Red's next visit to the Elk's Club here in Englewood and then he wants them to go with him on several gigs one of which is in Dallas....I hope they do it...there is some hesitation about getting out into the public spotlight...but like I told them...this could be the adventure of a lifetime and sometimes the road not taken can lead to a lot of "I should of's" later on.....do it girls ....you have a gift, share it.....


Dakota got her first hair cut and the end result is bangs...I'm told that Daddy didn't want a sweet hair on her head touched but common sense won out...look at that before picture ...it was way past time to do something about it...Mom was right ..and how cute is that new look....what a doll.....















Callie is so cute....she is going to end up looking like Dakota's twin sister...I have photos of Dakota at the same age and it like looking back in time at her...

















One last item.....this is how we hunt for Hogs down here...we just send the pet Alligator out and say "Fetch"....this shot was taken not ten miles north of here..."Come on boy, bring home the bacon to Daddy"......










That's All For Now....

Live, Love, Laugh & Dance...

Semper Fi...

Monk

A Pirate's Tale....

As I mentioned in the last posting...I had my first major health issue since coming to this wonderful paradise and I'm better for the experience...my friends came through and it looks like it will all end well....but in the meantime I will be wearing this eye patch for several more weeks.....here is the rest of the story...that by the way is the best I can do for "Arrr Matey"......




Thanks to my friends I have been ferried back and forth for the last couple of weeks...this is a pic of my friend Ingrid...I treated her to lunch after she graciously offered to take me last week...thank you one and all for help....

All I did was get up off the couch several nights ago and noticed that I had lost partial vision on my right side....at first I thought it was just a "floater" but by morning it had not gone away...as I moved into the week-end...it was the busy one with my friend Karen visiting from up north....it got progressively worse...of course..like an idiot...I tried to ignore it...on Monday all but a small portion of my vision in the right eye was gone....now I panicked....I knew I had to use the VA and the closest to me that handled such things was in Ft. Myers....50 miles away...I got up at six and drove one-eyed all the way there only to find out it was closed for the Martin Luther King holiday...more panic....decided not to drive back...went to nearest hospital Lee Memorial,,,and got checked by emergency....yep..detached retina they said and off they sent me to an off site Opthomologist by taxi...they of course only verified the findings and sent me to a surgeon who took one look and said he had to do surgery on it quickly or I might lose it for good...the next day I was back and done by supper time....

On the last trip back we also stopped at a favorite hang-out of ours to watch our favorite local band..."Smoked Mullet".....play their last gig for this restaurant...another casualty of the economy you say....no....a casualty of a greedy partner who ran off with all the money....hope they catch the bastard...Speaking of bands my favorite non-local band is "The Yard Dogs" ...hard to describe their music...but its fun..Brian the guy who plays the "suitcase"..you'll understand if you check out their site....is a Kayak fisherman maniac...has his own blog (click here) is a great place to visit for fun and if your a fisherman.....

Speaking of music....Shirley, Flo and I went to a place called The Bean Depot just up the road in El Jobean....it is a real old Florida hang out with a history as a post office and jail and now as a restaurant as well as a place to hear some great "Blue Grass" and "Country" tunes in a jam session every Wednesday....





Flo played and sang ....












...and Shirley of course entertained with her outstanding voice that included her famous yodeling as well...










Had a great fishing trip with my son Kyle and his friend Will along with Will's dad Richard...I always have a contest with Kyle on number of fish caught...The score was eleven to one and I didn't have the one...Kyle complains because I count anything that gets over the gunwales and most of what I caught wouldn't make a cat's breakfast....but hey Pinfish, Lizardfish, and Whiting all swim in the ocean...so as far as I'm concerned ...they count....He did catch a nice Trout for his one of the day and lost another nice one just as he lifted it out of the water....we're even though... he is a better "Texas Holdem" player than me....and that makes him a lot more money than our bets for a buck....

Richard caught the fish of the day with this nice Sheepshead...the "Old Men" showed the boys how it's done.....










We had a beggar along for part of the time...he came right up to the side of the boat and looked up as if to say "OK, Where's Mine?.....Thanks again to Will and his Dad for a great time.....








Hey kids...see this boat....this is what I want...take up a collection for the old man....










Had another good time at Will's Honky Tonk on Friday nite...of course it was the great company and Smoked Mullet that made it special.....







Superbowl Sunday was special...we all went to Shirleys to watch it on big screen TV...she prepared a feast of munchies and pulled pork...


...Some of us consumed a little more alcohol than others....Hey I live next door...all I had to do was open the door and fall in....besides Pirates have to live up to the "Rep".....Arrrr......







Lots of food and some very good friends....and a Superbowl game that had us all yelling even some of us ....no names mentioned...but most are in this pic...that didn't have a clue about the rules of the game....

...and some that got a little rest between plays...isn't that a wicked little grin on her face...what was she dreaming ....probably something about men in tight pants....












Shirley gave each of us a little souvenir of our Superbowl party....














...She picked up these critters at the flea market and couldn't resist....cute huh....


That's All For Now....

Live, Love, Laugh....& Dance

Semper Fi...


Monk

Arrr..Matey...Break Out The Rum...

That patch on my eye is because over last weekend I developed a detached retina....the operation to fix it was this Tuesday and so far all is well...besides it ain't so bad the black eye patch is kind of cool....although it does remind me of the Hathaway shirt man several years ago in all their print ads...some of you will remember...the rest of you are just way to young for your own good...

We went down to Matlacha on Pine Island (pronounced "Mat..La..Shea") and had a great day visiting the various shops and galleries..there are some wonderful artists represented in those galleries....I made Richard talk to two of them and pass out his card and brochure...his work is so much more superior to some of the work we saw...he deserves to be represented in a place that really gets good traffic...if you don't believe me then just check out his web site..(click here)...

We all went to my doctors appointment in Ft. Myers and then got to see the sights and have some fun with the tourist trap stuff at Matlacha..

A very nice collection of "Rubin'nesk" Mermaids

Lots of wall art to explore...some in very out of the way places...



All the merchants try to make the area a representation of old Florida and Key West...it has some very wild back gardens and displays....don't miss it if you have never been....


We all took Shirley out for her Birthday...It was a Japanese restaurant where they do tricks with your food while they cook it in front of you....I thought I had a picture of our chef..but I don't..his name was Huleo...from Mexico...He was very good but not what we expected...he said that the tattoos on his forearms were his name in some kind of code...do the words former gangbanger ring a bell.....



My good friend and neighbor Karen came down for a week..she stayed with Bob and Kathy who are our golfing buddies from up north...they are staying in Bradenton for a few months and play golf just about every day...





We all had a great time and got in a little golf along with a dance at the local Moose club...













We got to see hundreds of rare white pelicans feeding on one of the ponds at the golf club...they migrate from South America each year to Florida..I didn't get any shots of them in the air but they have very distinctive black wing tips that are displayed when they fly...










Of course grilled steak was on the menu as a special treat in honor of Karen's visit...Bob did all the cooking...he's very good at it...and Harry...another friend...supervised...well actually he held Bob's beer while he cooked....











An added treat for your enjoyment...if you need to carve a watermelon or perhaps an eggshell this is definitely the way to do it....these were sent to me as a representation of what a laser in the right hands can do...all I can say is...."Wow".....




















No match for the laser and certainly no competition for Richard this is my first work of art...I took an art class given by Carol Swayzee ...I never in a million years thought that this could be coaxed out of a brain that up til now... I thought... had zero talent as an artist....I know it's not great.. but before this...my stick figures would have walked off the paper if they had anything that looked like legs....this is what this woman can teach you in just three hours..just imagine the talent she could bring out over a longer period of time....can't wait for the next class....

Here are some pics of the rest of the class ...








There are some very talented people out there just waiting to discover their hidden potential...


A couple of closing shots of the T.W.C.G's. ..








Callie Jean is getting to look more and more like her big sister...




Dakota broke her trike and was upset...







Not for long...Mom and Dad moved up to the next phase with a new Big Wheel...





Boys will be boys...


She can't reach the peddles yet ...but that's what Dads are for...


Uncle Andy came for a visit...looks like he's a natural...



That's All For Now...

Live, Love, Laugh, Fish..

Semper Fi...

Monk