Time To Catch Up....

Yea, I know I've been a little lax in my blog updates....but I like to get a nice collection of pics together first for the slide show and then do the blog...problem is that by the time I get enough pics it's two months later...

This update has pics from Thanksgiving at my son's house in California, Christmas at Ronnie's house and at Jenny's, birthday parties for my friend David's mom, David and Jenny, New Years Eve with Jenny, a trip to Vegas for the moose Texas Hold'em tournament (don't Ask, it stays in Vegas), the Englewood neighbors picnic, a visit by Jenny's daughter and grandkids and various fish caught and art work done. (Whew)

Hope you enjoy the slides and now that the weather is warming, I hope to do more nature shots and landscapes for the slide shows...



Thats All For Now....

Live, Love, Laugh and Dance...

Semper Fi...

Monk

A New Season Begins....

Down here October brings back the "Snowbirds" and everyone (at least everyone with something to sell) breaths a little sigh of relief and thanks the powers that be, they made it through another summer and are still in business to see them arrive...

For some it's the end of long hot days and humid nights that seem to bother many of the full time residents....

For me it's a good time to once again renew friendships put on hold for by the summer migration northward, it's also a time to change fishing tactics from early and later in the day when it's cooler, to mid-day when the water warms up a little more and gets the fish moving... I guess you might say I'm getting "Floridarized"...65 degrees has become my new "damn it's chilly outside" and lows in the 50's at night is downright cold....water temps are whole nother thing...used to be I'd wade fish in my shorts or swimsuit all winter long...hell the way I looked at it, the temp never got below the best summer day on Canandaigua Lake...so it was always warm water....now it's cold water if it gets below 80 degrees...

This months slide show is a mixed bag of the annual fly in breakfast at the local air field...some great redfish catches that I've had lately, some cute shots of the kids...my birthday party...and the annual Halloween Kids Walk on Dearborn Street, some very cute shots of the kids and the Pirate (Arrrgh)..and some great odds and ends shots with Jenny and my friends...God Bless you all

Hope you enjoy it.... Remember by the time you read the intro the slide show will be half over so make sure you start it again when it stops....

That's All For Now...

Live, Love, Laugh..and Dance...

Semper Fi

Monk

A September to Remember....

This month's slideshow is a little bit of this and that...

Had some visitors to my door...I think they were storks...they were begging for handouts but since my drainage ditches were full of nice juicy new frogs and tadpoles...they didn't need a hot dog handout...they staked out the house and chowed down till they needed a nap...

Had a busy month...did some golfing with friends and fishing with my friend Rodger...

My friend Jimmy got to sing at the coffee shop...so many talented people here...

It finally happened...I inherited my son Kyle's parrot...his name is Riley as in "Life Of"... I knew I'd be getting him when Kyle's new dog tried to have him for an appetiser...it's a lot more peaceful here...I think he appreciates it...he's young only 6 months old...we are getting used to each other but for a while I thought that by Thanksgiving I'd be having him with bread stuffing...it was the only way I could see enjoying him...he wouldn't let me near him without threatening physical harm to my digits...he's coming around now...so I guess he'll be an invited guest instead...

Went to the Keys with Jenny and Jay for a long weekend and had a great time...we stayed at a condo complex that had it's own saltwater lagoon for swimming and snorkeling...lots of fish and it saved the trip because the weather was a little unpredictable...we did manage to get out on the reef one day but I had forgotten my camera...the water was crystal clear and the colors and fish were so beautiful that I wish everyone could get to experience it just once...it was perfection and a memory that I will cherish....but no camera...so you'll just have to think of the best underwater reef shots you have seen on Discovery or National Geographic and that's what I experienced first hand...WOW....did get some shots of the fish in the lagoon so all is not lost...the one in the slide show is one of several Parrot Fish that we fed crackers to...we ate at a restaurant with a glass bottom bar...the underwater lights attracted lots of fish and it really was a treat...

When we got back we decided to have beef ribs and nobody cooks them better than Jen's brother Jay...the secret...Burn'em baby Burn'em til they scream..til the neighbors call 911...when
the fat is burnt off slather them in barbecue sauce....uuuuummmmmm.......

Of course we played a little golf and had our monthly car show...it just keeps getting better...The kids in the slideshow...Alex and Hanna... were visiting Jenny and I couldn't resist a couple of shots...of course no blog is complete without some of my Grandbabies...Dakota and Callie are making their very own play dough..still the cutest ever...

I threw in a nice canvas that I did of the Royal Palm Marina at Sunset...this new direction with the art is a nice change of pace...

Enjoy the slide show....

Well That's All For Now...

Live, Love, Laugh and Dance...

Semper Fi

Monk

Labor Day Weekend Special

It's been a busy few days ...My son Kevin and family visited me on Friday the 3rd and we had a great time at the beach...it was a surprise visit and the first time he has seen my place in Florida and he got to visit his brother Kyle as well...

I got some great shots of the Cardboard Boat Races at Indian Mound park on Saturday and another great group of shots for the Pioneer Days Parade on Monday....

I've included some new photos of flowers etc. and some of my newest attempts at art...

I'm putting the two different events on separate slide shows so be sure to watch both...


For an added treat I've included a Video that I posted on YouTube...soon to be a new Olympic Sport...Ditch Skiing...or Redneck Yachting...had a little shower at my house...these two decided to do a little skiing...watch how skilled he is getting around the corner and accross the driveway into the next ditch...nice job guys..

Enjoy the shows and let me know what you think....










That's All For Now....

Life is not about seeking shelter from the storm,
Life is about learning to dance in the rain....

Live, Love, Laugh, and Dance

Semper Fi

Monk

Lazy, Hazy, and Crazy Summer Days

Mostly Crazy...but still having a good time during my second full summer in Englewood...

Went back up north for a few days to celebrate my oldest grandson Alex graduation from high school and my youngest granddaughter Autumn's baptism...one was on a Saturday and the other was on Sunday..each followed by picnics in the park..great weather and some great food and entertainment..

Also very proud of son Travis he has made Tech Sgt. (E-7) and is probably one of the youngest ones in the Air Force...and just re-enlisted for six more years..congratulations son...

Also have been doing some more work on the canvas print idea...some of which you will see in the slide show...got some great new shots of Flora and Fauna included as well and have re-organized my space at the gallery at least six times since the last posting...I have to my amazement sold several more matted photos and a canvas or two...and my brother Richard back in Canandaigua has sold more copies of my book than any other local entity...not counting my publisher of course..

Have had my son Andy come down for a visit and we all had a great time while he was here..pretty sure he will be the next public servant in the family..looks like he may be getting a job as a firefighter in New York..very proud of him and all the kids...as a father I am a very lucky man...

Well enjoy this installment of the slide show and have a great summer..I'll post again soon..



That's All For Now...

Live,Love,Laugh, and Dance...

Semper Fi...

Monk

Where Has The Time Gone...

I know....I know...it's been a long time between updates...Guess I just got lazy or in the case of this winter in Sunny Florida...to cold to move...what an awful winter...weather wise at least..January through the end of March was some of the coldest weather in 35 years here in this neck of the woods...

Enjoy the slide show and I'll try to keep up....





Rather than try to fill you in on everything since Christmas I'll just get to the meat...Got a brand new Granddaughter ...her name is Autumn Grace and she is a doll..all 8.3 pounds of her....


Got home to see mom a few weeks ago and that felt good...she is 87 and still going strong...Love you Mom...

Went to the Ringling museum...attended a few parties...got to feed the bald eagles again...the artists of Englewood did a fantastic job on benches for Dearborn Street...a little golfing and a lot of living the "Hemingway" lifestyle as one of my friends refereed to my comings and goings...

Been doing some experimenting with photos of landscapes in the area and have gotten a few feet of wall space at the Englewood Art Alliance...but I truly am humbled by the tremendous amount of fantastic art represented by the artists, photographers and sculptors represented in this gallery...come see for yourself...right on Dearborn Street...can't miss it...


Still catching fish but have done more on the photographic side of my life...I'll be catching up on my Gyotako this summer...

That's All For Now...

Live, Love, Laugh and Dance...

Semper Fi...

Monk

Road Trip....& More

This month has been pretty hectic..at least for me anyway....and it's not even Christmas yet..Went to my son and his family in California at Edwards Air Force Base...got some great shots of the grand kids and had a great week just hanging around...they have some crows out there that could carry off a small child ...took a couple of shots of them on the neighbors roof...one crow would be plenty for a dinner for two...baby Callie had her first birthday at Chucky Cheeses...its been so long that I almost forgot how so many high pitched screams can rip your nerves to shreds in just seconds....but I still had a great time..

We played some golf and went bowling...had a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner courtesy of Shannon's great cooking ...she went all out as usual and everything was superb...

You'll see in this months slide show some of that trip and then the following week in New York visiting Ryan, Andy, Kelsey and Kevin and his family...notice Kevin in his very strange but warm hat...I'm so glad that I don't need to keep my head that warm or that funny looking just to be outdoors...lol....

Of course you'll also see some of the great fishing I've been doing down here ...to bad snook are out of season now ...I have caught some beauties...the one in the slide is 30 inches and right in the middle of the very narrow slot of 28-32 inches that you are allowed to keep, in season, of course season doesn't start back up til January first....but what a fight..I just happened to be casting on the dock behind the house when he hit...his first run nearly stripped all the line off the reel...I was lucky to be able to turn him in time and start to retrieve my line....it took another three reel screaming runs and five more minutes to bring him in....I thanked him and sent him on his way...hopefully in January he or one or two of his close friends can join me for dinner....

Got a shot of the local jewelry store all decked out at night in the spirit of Christmas..and some nice sunset shots...threw in the frog shot because it looks like he's smiling at me..he held still for several nice close ups...and then made about a six foot jump just to show off....the bird shots are just a few of the great shots I've been getting of them..I've framed some and they actually look good enough to sell..

Went to my friend Ronnie's annual Christmas party when I got back...brought my now almost famous...crab and shrimp dip...and sampled some very good appetizers and deserts that all the others had contributed...thanks Ronnie ...and it was great to see all my old friends... and meet some new ones...once again.

Enjoy the slide show...remember to run your mouse over the top to bring up the controls and you can always look at the whole thing by clicking in the lower corners...You can save any pic to your computer by clicking on it and then right clicking on it when the Picasa site brings it up ...click "save picture as" and you've got it for all time...have fun.

That's All For Now....

Live, Love, Laugh ..and Dance

Semper Fi

Monk

The New Season Begins...

Traditionally down here the month of October heralds the beginning of the next "Snow Bird" season...the people who come for the winter begin to arrive and each day the number of out of state plates you see increases by what seems ten fold....I'm sure that is not the case ...but we do seem to get our share here in the Englewood area...all the merchants start smiling again and everyone that rides a motorcycle or bike goes on high alert...some of our older visitors seem to have a hard time spotting anything less than the size of Buick (which is what most drive..a piece of knowledge that for the agile, gives you a few second jump on your evasive maneuvers) ...as a matter of fact many of them feel that driving down the center of the road or the bike lane makes it much easier to stay out of trouble...and of course 25 to 30 is the recommended speed to maintain car stability and control....and I'm talking about in a 55+ speed zone....of course the stop lights are another danger zone...for the most part green means go...yellow means go faster and red is just a suggestion....stop signs are not for the faint of heart..if someone waves you through a stop sign while he or she waits....don't do it...it's a trick..it's a game they play...as soon as you move they move ...you stop ...they stop...everybody waves again...and repeat the above...they just love to piss you off...

But I digress...here is the latest slide show from the last few weeks...I had a birthday..don't ask...my friend Ingrid threw me a birthday dinner it was fantastic...had all the ingredients for a good time great people, good food, and booze....thanks to all of you ...I'm a lucky man....of course the WCGK's are just adorable..going to see them next week...caught some fish..did a nice print of my first keeper Redfish of the season...went to the Keys and had a great time..it was Pirate Festival..I wish I had my costume then...I will next year....AAARGH....the two underwater shots do contain fish in them both see if you can spot them...these were taken just before the ocean tried to drowned me once again...I just can't seem to master my breathing technique with a snorkel...if I get water in my mouth I never have enough air left to blow out..then the fun begins as I panic for my next breath while treading water in three foot seas..everything is fine when it's calm..I do great in the pool...of course you don't get much coral or fish to take pics of in the pool...but at least the water doesn't try to kill me..at least not yet...that's why I'm smiling in the pool....

You'll also see some great shots of the local bird life and my friend Jill's fantastic sharks tooth...hard to find one on the beach down here much bigger than a dime...she found this beauty and is going to have it mounted on a chain...My friend David found a way to get his Kayak and dog to the water without spending money on gas and it works just fine...my friend Shirley sang at a local benefit and of course got a standing "O"....she has a fantastic voice and personality to match...the little "peanut" in the car seat is my friend Sara's baby..she is adorable with those big eyes...just had to have a pic...

Don't forget you can click on any picture to get a better view or you can stop or pause the show with your mouse..just pass it over the slide...you can see all the pics at once by clicking on the right or left lower corner and choosing the November link...and you can adjust the music in the box a few blogs down....

Enjoy..

Til Next Time...

Live, Love, Laugh, and Dance...

Semper Fi..

Monk