Blending In

This young BMXer almost blended right into the background the other night at the training course in Sarasota.   I'm always amazed by the diverse age range of the participants:  from 3-years-old to 50+.   One of the 3-year-olds was a sweet little girl sporting pink shoes.  Of course, when I spotted her the lighting was bad.   Yet another good reason to return soon! 

Roll Reversal

Notice anything unusual about these parking jobs?  They're all reverse angle parking.  A few years ago, when the city was studying its public parking inventory,  one block of Gulfstream Avenue in downtown was turned into reverse angle parking.  The theory is that reverse angle parking takes less room and thereby more spaces can be created.  Well, they're a hit.  They're a bit odd to navigate at first, but well worth it when you experience the ease of driving away.

Sunset Moon

The pink and oranges hues of the sun setting in the Sarasota sky were spectacular -- and then the moon showed up.  What a beautiful evening.

September 11

Where were you nine years ago when the terrorist attacks happened?  I was in Tampa and was dispatched to Sarasota, where President George W. Bush was sitting in an elementary school reading to  children.  There are many, many things about that day that I will never forget, among them:  cruising south on I-75 listening to erroneous radio reports about car bombs exploding outside the U.S. Capitol, and looking up at the sky, which was eerily devoid of airplanes until just before the Sarasota exit, when Air Force One suddenly shot overhead in a near vertical incline.  Let's remember what happened nine years ago today...who did it and why.  God bless America.

Tent = Trouble

If you see a tent like this covering a house or any building in Florida, it can mean only one thing:  termites.  Pest companies are hired to cover a structure and fumigate the inside.  During the process, you have to move out  --- definitely not fun.  I spotted this tent in the Golden Gate neighborhood in downtown.   

Pee Wee

There's something about a big helmet on a little kid that's just too cute!   Pee Wee football is quite popular here in Sarasota, with the Ringling Redskins League.   I've driven by the practice fields many times and seen them running drills from afar, so I decided last night to stop by with my camera.  This little guy is part of a team comprised of 8 and 9-year-olds.  Most don't have the attention span to stand still for three minutes, let alone remember where they're supposed to stand and then where to go and who to block or tackle.  So, I give a tip of the hat to Coach Jeff and the other coaches who seemed to be quite patient, but firm, as they positioned these up and coming players play after play after play.   

Watery Wednesday

I encountered this mother and son kayaking on Sarasota Bay near downtown early in the evening.  They were all smiles talking to each other.  What a great way to spend some quality time together.  Click here to see more Watery Wednesday photos.