Tampa Taxi Shots

Christmas Morning

This is my little Christmas setup at home. I got to open the three large boxes that were mailed to me (they were not ticking). Thank you so much "Sandy Santa!" I know I have not been good this year, but somebody thought so. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Pennies from heaven on Christmas Eve

In the post below, I said I had won a $50 gift certificate. Wrong. It was a $250 Visa card from Wall Mart. Now how cool is that!

The new owners of United Cab know how to do this right. I heard they gave out ten of these cards. What a good thing to do for guys that could really need it, especially the guys that have children. 

This could have not come at a better time. I am dead broke and this will make my Christmas. I may be able to treat myself to somthing. I may even get some food. 

Merry Christmas to all!

 

United Cab Christmas Dinner

For the second year in a row, Rob Searcy has hosted a massive Christmas dinner. There was turkey, ham, pasta, egg plant, stuffing, salad, cake, fruit and on and on. For dri ers that have been living off gas station food, this was great. I even won a $50 gift certificate, and took a plate home. HOW COOL IS THAT!

James at the gas station

James is a cool young man who ia always in a good mood. He works at the Sunoco on the Macdill ave in south Tampa. We always have an interesting debate when I buy my morning coffee. He ia also a Ron Paul suppoter and aa Alex Jones follower. He believes Paul will win the election. I am not so sure of that.

Lee Roy Selmon - The Greatest

Lee Roy Selmon left the world better then he found it. That is an indisputable fact. It was not just football that made him great, even though without it, we would not have had him as ours.

Lee Roy Selmon was the greatest ever to play in a Tampa Bay Buccaneer uniform. Lee Roy Selmon had the greatest impact on the Tampa community then anyone in recent memory. Lee Roy Selmon leaves a legacy of giving to causes that made us all better. Lee Roy Selmon set an example of how all of us should conduct our affairs. Because of Lee Roy, the bar will be at a mythical height. That is why he will be missed.

He was a mild mannered man. That reflected the wholesome family structure that he grew up in in rural Oklahoma. He was a great football player as a youth, and went on to be the first Tampa Bay Buccaneer inducted into the Hall Of Fame.

He was a beast in the NFL, and one of the only players in football history to have never been called for a personal foul. That reflected his 'gentle giant' nature. He never wanted to hurt anyone. He simply wanted to do his job and make a tackle.

The measure of any man is what they say about him after his passing. The outpouring has been remarkable - what would you have expected. Nobody ever had a bad word to say about Lee Roy Selmon. That is so rare today. Most narcissistic athletes think the world owes them something, and they don't really care about the fans or the community. They are ready to flee for a better contract in any city. We are better for Lee Roy hanging around all these years.

Most people remember his stature as a man, and his humble nature. He did not have to contribute to this community. He could have gone back home to Oklahoma, where he was a hero. He adopted Tampa and we adopted him. All of us are better for him being just who he was.

He was one of those rare people,that when they pass, you wonder how the world will replace him. You can't. All you can hope for is his legacy will inspire others to dream of things they did not think were possible.

When Leroy helped establish the USF football program, they printed a tee shirt that day that said "USF 53 -Notre Dame 0."  The day before he died, it was USF 23 - Notre Dame 20. Dreams really do come true.

Leroy left the world better then he found it.

So long buddy.

Arch Deal An Intrepid Skydiver

Arch Deal Of WFLA

If you are a transplant to Tampa you may not know the name Arch Deal. He was the news anchor at WFLA channel 8 from 1958 - 1976, He pioneered on air interviews during a time of stodgy newscasting. In fact, he had a famous on air interview with President Kennedy when he visited Tampa just four days before he died.

Deal was good about getting people to open up to him.. He was smart, personable, well liked and an overall good guy with a love of life. He did have an exciting passion. Arch Deal loved to skydive.

Deal was a professional sky diver with thousands of jumps under his belt. He was almost as famous for his jumping as he was for being a news anchor with a golden voice. In fact, it was his golden voice that gave him away on the television show To Tell The Truth.

He was on the show in 1971 and the panel had no trouble in picking out because of his voice and his relaxed demeanour under the lights with this sky diving suit on. In 1975 Arch was doing a promotional jump at Cypress Gardens when his main parachute failed to open. He hit the ground after falling 3,000 feet. Nobody had ever survived a fall from that height. That is why rescue took its time in finding Arch. They took over 30 minutes to get to him and amazingly, he was alive.

Rescue workers find Arch Deal in an orange grove alive

He had broken almost every bone in his body. He later accounted a near death experience while laying in the orange grove. He talked about seeing a white light and a calm feeling coming over hm. Perhaps it was just not hiss time.

Arch would later leave WFLA for mostly political reasons. They never liked his passion for sky diving and nobody at the television station ever visited Arch when he was in the hospital. That was just wrong.

Arch moved on to another station and would eventually become a corporate spokesman. He has written a book about his adventures called "Corporate Fall Guy."

There Is Something I Need to Do Tuesday

There is something very important that needs to be done Tuesday. Its nothing bad, or like I'm in trouble or something. It may be in trouble, but I doubt it. I just need to take care of something. Times are bad and Peter needs to be robbed to pay Paul.

I really don't want this, but it must be done. I don't like letting people down, but it is not avoidable. I will let you know more about it soon....a lot more about it. 

I have had real problems in my life before, seemingly impassible rivers in life. Moments when fording ahead cannot be done. The real problems of life involve loss. A divorce or a death of a loved one is something you can only just deal with. There is no way you can buy your way out of it. Problems involving money are not real problems. They can be solved in an instant. 

I'll be glad when the recession is over. I just want to move forward and start back on all the projects that are important to me. Just need some money, that is all. 

Nobody is sick or dead, just this economy we live in. Recessions steal and rob you. They take you spirit if you let it. Sometimes it just beats you down. 

Anyway, I will let you know more soon. 

Tim Fasano Gets An Award From His Blind Students

I am involved in a program with Tampa's Lighthouse for the Blind providing transportation to day programs and their jobs. These teenagers are learning to transition to society by learning critical skills that will allow them to function in society. When the Lighthouse began this program they were not sure what the taxi drivers would contribute. They, however, became very pleased as bonds formed between the students and the United Cab drivers. 

Many of the students view their drivers as mentors and look forward to receiving advice and the camaraderie they receive when riding with the taxi guys. What the students don't know is how inspirational they are to us. I look forward to picking up my kids and share their enthusiasm for life and what they are trying to overcome. All of the students are legally blind; some are totally blind. These kids face things most of us will never encounter. 

They go to school, they go on field trips, go shopping and go to movies. They even go bowling and ride bikes in the parks. I never did all of that stuff when I was their age!

We are trained to not help them out of the car or open doors for them. They must learn to use their canes and perceive the world around them. This does not seem to stop them and their enthusiasm to go to work and school. I consider it an honor to work with them.

Every year they hold a dinner and awards cerimony. There was a great spread of chicken, pork, beans, salad, rolls and sodas. I ws full. The drivers all received awards last night we gave a liitle speech. I talked about self-esteem which I no many of the kids are dealing with. I told them all people struggle with that and to ignore ignorant people who think they are less then what are.

I will Bring Tampa Taxi Shots Back To Its Former Glory

I beleive I have worked out all of the software issues that have plauged this site for months. I've settled on a design I like because of the flash elements involved. Anyway, Tom and I did get to go to the Whitney Bank Club at the Trop for the Boston RedSox vs. Tampa Bay Rays baseball game Sunday night and it went 16 innings. Can you believe that? It was fun by the way. We were not so lucky on Saturday night...

Lose weight now...ask us how!!

There is nothing like getting free tickets to a Tampa Bay Rays baseball game. These are not just tickets, but Boston Redsox vsTampa Bay Rays tickets. In fact, they are too the Whitney Bank Club high price seating. This is where the fat cats and the bigwigs go to watch a game. These $175 tickets include free buffet style food and free booze. There is prime rib, shrimp, lasagna, and everything you could dream of. The wait staff serves your every need, and we Tom and I had tickets.

  My best taxi driver friend Tom Castros took a high-roller to the airport this morning and they businessman said he had the tickets, but his plans had changed and he wanted to just give Tom the tickets for the $25 fare. Tom took them in a heartbeat and called me on my cellphone. I said "hell ya! Lets go!" The game was set for a 4:15 start and we were both hungry. Free drink and food...I'm all over it! We would soon be surrounded by beautiful women and the rich and powerful in the Tampa Bay area. Wait till they get a hold of us.

 Since we are cab drivers, we know how to get within two blocks from the stadium without ever encountering traffic. I am not exaggerating on this. Most people are on the interstate and it is gridlock. We know a parking lot that charges only $10 to park, and you are in the shadow of Tropicania field. How cool is that? We walked right up to the stadium and got someone to take are picture. We were on our way and breaking all the rules We felt like Thelma and Louise. This was going to be awesome.

We walked up to the gate with our expensive, high baller tickets and proudly gave them to the ticket people. The lady scanned my ticket with a light and said, "I'm sorry sir; something is wrong with your ticket" I could not believe that. She did point out that we needed to go to gate 6 and perhaps everything would be all right. Tom and I headed over there. We could not believe that had happened and felt we would be fine over at gate six. Wrong. Now this was something out of a "Curb Your Enthusiasm" episode.

 

Sir...There is a problem Security said that the tickets had been 'forwarded' yesterday to another party. In short, these tickets were no good. There was nothing we could do. Its bad enough to get beat out of a fare, but to go through all this and get your hopes up so high is just cruel. David Shields was pitching and I really wanted to see how good he would be against this powerful Boston batting lineup.

 It was very hot and we just wanted to get to some kind of air condition. We had no water because we were going to get that in the club suite. When we went back to the parking lot, the guy asked us why we were leaving so early. We told him that we had been ripped off and he was good enough to give us a refund of the $10 parking fee. At least something went right.

On the ride home Tom's friend called and said that he has a special who gave him tickets to Sunday's night baseball game between the RedSox and the Rays and he could not go. He wanted to know if we wanted to use the tickets. We told him yes. He then said they were not just tickets - they were to the Whitney Bank Club and they were $175 which included free food and booze. Great! I can't wait for tomorrow night.

Borders Books Is Closing...I Take My Coffee Black

The meter is running and the taxi is in park. Normally I’d be outside of a strip club or message parlor, this time it’s a book store. I’m waiting for my passenger to return. 

The large poster declaring 20% - 40% off looms over my cab parked outside of Borders Books on N Dale Mabry which is closing as soon as they sell all their stuff. This well publicized sale has brought customers to this store in record amounts. The idling of my engine cuts through the conversations of happy patrons leaving with newly prized possessions. 

It’s just after sunset. I’d normally be home drinking beer at this hour - a well ingrained habit since the economy fell apart like a two dollar watch.  Habits are hard to change as you get older. 
I turn the radio down as a motorist asks if I can move up a bit. In over fifteen years of coming to this store I’ve never seen it this busy. I guess I’m not the only one that read the newspaper article about the store closing.

Then it hits me - Why does Tampa (whose economy is supposedly tied to tourism) have so many people that read books. We are not supposed to be Boston? 

I think back over the last decade or so. I have spent a lot of time in Borders. Coffee, reading, chess, browsing, music, liberal lap toppers, this place had it all, a great way to kill a Sunday afternoon and relax. You could have a bit of a repose from the ‘real world’ as books took you to other places and experiences that you one day planed to get around too, one of these days. 

The Seattle’s Best Café. Yes, that was the first thing you saw as you walked in the door. Get your espresso and stare at twenty thousand square feet of wonder, knowledge and entertainment. In the next couple of hours, you would walk out smarter and more at peace with yourself then when you walked in. All of this augmented by a fresh cup of Joe (I take my mine black). 

Coffee in a book store is Popcorn at the movies. Would in not be a shame if one day all things are by Amazon or Kindle? To me it would be like going to a prostitute for love or eating steak with a balloon on your tongue. You would still get the same knowledge and nutrition - so what’s your problem? 

I do think it is a problem.

In the future they say you will just take a pill for everything you need or pick you kids out of a test tube (I prefer the old fashion way).

I once met Jack Harris at a book signing here. I once saw happy kids at Harry Potter night with expressions on their faces not seen since the family trip to Disney World. Do we really want all this to just go away?  It is just all about the discount? What ever happened to smelling the roses? 

Anyway, my fare comes back to the taxi and tells me there were at least eighty people in line with all the cash registers ringing. You hear that Borders….You finally figured out how to get Amazons money.  Perhaps there is hope for Western Civilization. 

Winter Clouds Move Into Florida

There is an old saying about 'mackerel Sky's and ribbons and ties.' That means the high atmosphere clouds of winter have moved in.  The heat has been relentless, and many of us are ready for a break. 

     Autumn is our spring.  That is the time of year when you can open a window, do work in the yard, take your dog for a walk (he even has an extra spring in his step).  I have to admit, it is my favorite time of year. I am still not ready for the Christmas songs that we will soon hear on the radio about 'Frosty the Snowman' and 'Baby its cold outside', but I can get into the mood. 

     Thanksgiving is in a couple of weeks; hell, the Cowboys have a new coach and they are starting to play well again. The clouds I saw this morning had me thinking about the bird in the oven, mash potatoes, green beans and football.  Nobody to really share it with, but my cat does not seem to mind the scraps. 

     Tourist should be arriving soon, just behind the ducks who have their own GPS systems that never fail, and they never have a dispatcher wondering where they are at, and why it took them 20 minutes to cover six blocks. 

     We do have a new management system, or team, in place at United Cab. I guess the change of weather is a metaphor for their arrival.  Perhaps that was as inevitable as the shifting of the Earths axis. Nevertheless, there are many new things coming down the road.  The old ways are gone and some really good new ideas will be put into place which take advantage of the new technologies.  This has been a long time coming. 

The way I look at it, anything that can make me money fits just fine with the change of the season. I wonder what it will be like when things start to get warm again. 

I will be looking to the skies again and wondering what they portent for our future. 

What Ever Happened To Tommy Duncan and Sticks of Fire Blog?

I ran into Tommy Duncan Friday at Sweetbay supermarket in the pasta section.  I was very glad to meet him again since I have not seen him since the blogger meeting at Wings Gone Wild on Bay To Bay about three years ago.  

In case you did not know, the Sticks Of Fire blog is down.  It was once the biggest blog in Tampa and two years in a row voted by Creative Loafing magazine as the best blog in the Bay.  Tommy was the owner of that blog.  I asked him what happened. Many things got in the way. 

The economy has not only affected cab drivers, it has affected normal people, as well.  Tommy, and his associates, went into survival mode when the economy went south, and Sticks Of Fire suffered as well (I would leave a link, but Norton says it is infected with Malware).  Sticks of Fire is no more.  That is a total mind freak to me. 

Tommy is now working on a new project.  He is the regional editor of a sports blog called SBnationtampabay.com.  He goes by the name of Gregg Burrage.  The site is awsome, and I hope he does well. 

It is always a reality check when you hit in the face of how life moves on for everyone. The irony is weather you are ready or not - it will. 

Tommy still has his rock band the Johnny G Lyon Band featuring Tommy Duncan, and they seem to be still putting out hot music. 

 

A New Direction

 We live in politically correct and intolerant times. Things you could do, even a few short years ago, are no more. People are being fired from their jobs for what they post on the internet. 

In light of this, I have reevaluated what I am doing and have changed my format. This blog will now be known as "Tropical Breeze." I have taken my About Me link off of this blog, and deleted some post that might put me in hot water or cast the company I contract with look bad. 

In the future, there will be no reference to what I do for a living or of any of the companies in the industry. It is too bad that we live now under such Bolshevik rules. This is now a personal blog about the places I go and the things I see. 

Sorry it had to come to this. I still hope you enjoy this blog. 

Tim...I have removed my last name from this blog. (in the Process). I still have my email up, so I am not totally anonymous. 

Rob Green Does Not Suck...Sort Of

"...If Britain should survive for another thousand years...this will NOT be known as her finest hour"  "Never have so many Americans owed their World Cup life to so few (one!) - Churchill rolling over in his grave.

I only know American sports. And in our culture shit happens. You have 'go to' guys that you depend on. If they don't perform on any given night, so be it. When you are the manager of a football team and days before a World Cup match you don't know who your starting goalie will be, then there must be flaws in all your goalies.  The fact is that Rob Green was one of the best out of the Premiere league. So why the hesitation by the manager?  Green must be VERY good or he would not have been in the line up. I would not expect another incident. 

American football or soccer has come a long way. Way to go guys. Mr. Green - that was just the breaks of that game. Sorry, but we will take it. 

In our sports we have batters that strike out...kickers that miss easy goals...quarterbacks that miss wide open receivers...basketball players that miss easy shots...things happen. England may still win this tournament, but the world is on notice that the USA can dominate anything we want to. Sorry if that bothers you.

A Strong Cup Of Coffee

Sometimes you just need a strong cup of black coffee. Taxi drivers keep the hours of pimps and we need the extra pick me up that only diner coffee seems to provide.  

This was at POT BELLIES in south Tampa just as they opened.  You can tell I am tired and have been working a lot of hours. 

Get the skillet with eggs over medium.  Add tobasco sauce and its a winner. 

The girls are great, with nice service.  They actually smile and seem to like their jobs. 

WINTER IS GONE

Say goodbye to winter. Things are getting nice right now.  This post was an experiment in moble posting from the field.  I am not at my computer; I am in the field using a cell phone.  Pay your cab bill or I will come to your house.  You do not want that.  This image was from my camping trip last month when it was -1 degrees!

This Can Beat You Down

Sorry, I have not posted in the last week because I have had no energy and have been very weak.  My doctor has recommended that I take vitamin B-50 because helps with metabolism and depression.  He thinks I am chronically depressed but does not want to put me on meds.  Gee, why would I be depressed? 

Don't get me wrong or think I am just feeling sorry for myself.  Florida is a great place to live and many people come down here with big dreams and wanting to start a new life for thimeselves.  Often, that does not work out.  Some of them get smart and go back to were they came; others hang on like me for years on end. 

My friends have all gone away or died, I have not seen a family member in over a 14 years, I am broke and work 70 hours a week for the privilege of staying that way.  That is why the orange vest is looking good at this point.  Slim (a long time cab driver) said that flying a sign would not work for me...people would see it in my eyes and not give me any money.  He is probably right. 

Anyway, Easter has come and gone and now we will see who the survivors will be.  Something tells me come November I will still be doing this.  I really don't think the street corner is were I will go.

In A Five Car Accident And FIVE GOOD DAYS IN A ROW!

I was west bound on Kennedy while stopped at the Dale Mabry light.  There were two cars in front of me and one was a Yellow cab.  While we waited for the light to turn green, the north bound car on Dale Mabry was struck by a east bound car on Kennedy that blew the red light.  The force of the collision knocked both cars into the cars in front of me.  I thru the car into reverse and got out of the way just as the car that had been struck came to rest where my taxi cab had been sitting.  She did hit the front of my taxi, but only some scuff marks - no damage.  My passenger thanked me for taking the evasive action and another cab was dispatched to pick up my passenger (the wreck cost me $20).  You can see the car sitting where I was at five seconds earlier.

The back office was so happy about my avoiding such a bad situation, they gave me a free day!  Now how cool is that.  It goes along with my FIVE GOOD DAYS IN A ROW.

Ears Lowered

For those that thought I was getting a little shaggy - good news!  I got my ears lowered at SuperCuts....

There even seems to be an improvement in tips and I'm not scarring as many children as I used to.

Tim Fasano Takes A Walk On Florida Trail

Somebody told me to take a hike.  so I did!  It sounded like a good idea, so I went up to the Florida Trail portion of the Green Swamp in Polk county on Super Bowl Sunday.  It was really nice.  The cool air felt good on my face.

 

Knights Of The Road

Two of the more interesting guys I have picked up in my cab in some time were hitch-hiking thru America.  They were two young guys from California and spend most of their nights out 'under the stars.'  On occasion, they take a cab to get away from a major metropolitan area.  Today, I got their call and they went up to State Rd 52 and I75 at the truck stop.  They had the $52 for the fare.  Not bad for two guys that ate a squirrel cooked over an open fire last night!

You can see them as they walk away on the on ramp to sr52 in Pasco County.  They are as free as the breeze.

Those That Suffer

In my 53 years on Earth I have never seen suffering on such a large scope.  Words are inadequate to describe this suffering.  All we can do is donate money, time and prayer.  We can just hope that something good will come of this.  Perhaps Haiti will come out as a better nation.  Who really knows.  President Obama has moved quickly to bring help, but the situation is just too hopeless.  Times like this make you wonder if there is a God.  Why?  What did these poor people ever do to deserve this?

That is really all I can say.  If God reads my blog, do something about this.  You are starting to lose credibility with those that need you the most.  If "The way of God is a mystery to man."  cut it out now.  That is getting old to a race that has had thousands of years to figure you out.  You are needed now sir.  It is your time.

The Ghost Of Tom Joad - United States Economy Is Now Killing People

Tony the Itlalian died today.  He was worked to death by an economy that took more than he could give.  Taxi drivers are dying every week now.  They no longer have it in them, and their lives are no different now then Tom Joeb in the John Stienbeck novel The Grapes Of Wrath.

MY COMPUTER WAS DESTROYED BY A VIRUS AND SPYWARE

For years I have not had any form of spy-ware or virus protection.  I only go to safe sites.  I don't serf porn, so I thought everything was alright.  I was wrong.  A spyware called Trojan ate my computer alive.  It hijacked it and I lost total control, and it was destroyed.  Photos, files, software, writings are all gone.

This spyware is loaded on your computer when you go to malicious websites that have the sole purpose of putting this shit on your computer.  There are programmers that work eight hour days like a real job developing this stuff.  You think their talent could be used in a more productive way.

The Geek Squad at Best Buy were able to reload Windows XP.  By doing that, it would erase all of my hard drive...all of it.   I would be starting all over again.  Everything is now gone. 

Get protection.  I will never leave home without now.

NE'ER-DO-WELL....

Enter one Nolan Canova of "gas station attendant" fame.  A former  man of mirth, now just a believer in myth. 

At night, Nolan works at an institute of mass merchandising called the 7-11.  A ubiquitous outpost for the late night wayward and lonely, drawn to the store like moths to a flame.  By day, he is a man of Pop-Culture,studying the ethos and legends of man, not to be confused with science and tech.  Nolan searches for what is noble and valiant about mans quest for his own humanity.  Science and reason are illegitimate tools for this understanding.

Those entering his store late night represent an approaching vanguard of the those who seek his knowledge.  The lonely, the disenfranchised, the destitute, the drugstore cowboys and 7-11 philosophers come to Nolan hungry to know who they are, and what they can be.

Don't be confused by their 'ne'er-do-well' demeanor.  These patrons are here to learn and grow.  Life may need the ambitious.  Life also needs conformity, which cannot be found here. 

Unknown to Nolan, he is the ultimate mythical figure.  He is the  "Old Man In The Cave."  He provides continuity and stability to his minions.  He can, however, only guide you away from life's toxins.  Partake of the radio-active after being warned, and you are on your own.  The philosopher can rarely warn one of the logical consequences of their actions.  Such is Nonlan's task.

If after the midnight hour, you find yourself driving around Tampa and you see an outpost up ahead, with the only lights on for miles.  You stop at your own risk

SAY A PRAYER

One of the four football boaters has been found off of Clearwater Florida.  Nick Schuyler formaly of the USF Bulls was found clinging to the overturned boat, about 30 miles out in the Gulf.  This is wonderful news.  Aparantly his buddies do have on lifepreservers, and may still be floating out there.  The Coast Guard has stepped up the search and they are focusing on a particular area.  Hope for the best.

I cannot imaging what their families are going thru.

NOT MY FATHERS GENERATION ANYMORE

Newport News, Virginia is home of the largest US Navy shipyard in the world. That is were I grew up. My father was a designer of ships, who found gainful and secure employment during the entirety of the cold war. The Fasano family lived for over twenty years in a neighborhood called Ivy Farms. It was a preplanned ‘hood for working class people who wanted a three bedroom home on a budget and expected to raise their children and live there for at least two decades.

Religion and Economics were real to my parents. They grew up during the Great Depression. Times were hard, but our family always had a roof over their heads and food on the table. My father believed that anything beyond that was a gift. They struggled, but they learned character. The Great Depression made a huge impact on the consciousness of them and their peers.

The “Greatest Generation” forged values that are rarely emphasized today and at a detriment to our society, I believe. For example, Mom and Dad were never in debt, they lived within their means and never put their children’s welfare and security at risk. I can say with confidence that everyone in my neighborhood in Newport News was living within his or her means. I never saw a perfectly good home knocked down to build an ostentatious mini-mansion for the purpose of a showy display of wealth. The Bible says materialism will build enmity with God. People used to believe such things as that.

ARM mortgages were non-existent. New cars were rare. People were genuinely happy and the holidays were a special time of year.

Things are not that way anymore, and it is the infestation of nihilism that is responsible.  Do you think this country is better since religion has been removed from schools and most media, that moral relativism has become mainstream, that the natural place of the family has been minimized? 

The seven deadly sins have consequences.  Greed being the most prominent.  Greed is a killer, and it's evil is found only in the hearts of men.  Mortgages became like drugs, and the pusher of $300,000 loans for $69 a month made more money than any Colombian cartel.  It had to come to an end.  It did come to an end.  You cannot escape with impunity.  I remember a time when that siren song would have been ignored.

I entered high school in 1969 at the time of the Vietnam war, then Watergate.  Our country got thru it.  We moved on and excelled.  We elected Ronald as President because he explained that Government, not people were the problem.  I still believed that a good job, a home, a car, and a nice vacation was well within my reach.  I was an American, and it was my Constitutional right.

The only thing people used credit for was a house and a car payment.  My parents had a Master Card for over forty years and never carried a balance.  They made the payment every month. The Government seemed to do the same thing.  There was the recession in 1974-75 which led to Stagflation, but it soon passed and the heady days of the 1980's were upon us and everybody made money.  I did very well during that time.

Now, for the first time in American history you would have done better by putting your money in a Banks passbook savings account, then the Stock Market.  The mattress is not far behind.

The interest on the National debt is now over $500 billion and growing.  The nation is in trouble. It was when Reagan took over and one of the first things he did was hire Paul Volcker to run the federal reserve.  President Obama has hired him as well.  You can't go wrong with him.  He will maintain a stable money supply, and market forces will eventually get us out of this.

The liabilities we face are enormous when you factor in the Baby boomers and Social Security.  Are they going to take a cut?  Not likely. They will though, if we are to survive.

One thing I know for a fact is that when America was attracted on December 7th, 1941, something happened to this nation.  Prior to Pearl Harbor, Europeans thought we were a nation of pansies, who had no real spine.  After all, we claimed Hitler was their problem, and Japan was separated from us by a great ocean, and they were no threat to us.  We were wrong.  Once prodded this country moved toward GREATNESS.  A greatness never seen before on Earth.  The American people made real sacrifices(not just flying a flag on their car, or "we stand united" bumper stickers, seen after 9-11-2001) and we overcame toxic enemies to essentially save the world. 

That is what we will do this time.

We will perserver or enter the 1,000 years of darkness that Regan warned us about.

The stakes have never been higher.

A&P

Remember when every city had an A&P supermarket. I remember as a little kid ridding in the cart while my mother would grind her own coffee-the A&P special 1844 blend. This was way before starbucks and home coffee brewers. She used a peculator, which was about all there was. Fresh ground coffee was a big deal back then and I remember how great it smelled. I did not drink coffee; that was for grownups.

I picked up this man the other day at the airport and took him to his beautiful home on the beach. I turns out he was a writer for the New Yorker and he seemed interested that I had a blog. For some reason I told him that the only short story from school that I remember reading was John Updike's A&P. I told him that Updike's story reached me in an archetype way.

A&P is a story about a young man named Sammy who works at the local grocery store. His job is sort of boring, but the people who shop there are even more boring. One day these three girls in bathing suits walk in to buy some snacks. Sammy notices them, but not in the primitive way that young men look at Girls. These women represent something more profound. Updike details the people and items that are purchased in the store including a record bin with Dean Martin Albums(this story was written in 1961). When the girls leave, Sammy quits his job and runs outside to join the girls, but they are gone.

John Updike is telling use that people follow pre-determined rules, a set path, and similar habits. The individual has no role in this society, and any attempt to escape these set customs will be dealt with. The non-conformist is the one that will change the World. There is very little individualism in society and we behave in ways that are mealy a product of our environment.

They don't drink the 1844 coffee at Starbucks today but the people who go there are no different than the square people in Updike's short story. Their SUV'S look the same, their JCrew clothes look the same, their laptops, bottled water, pedigreed dogs..do I need to go on.

Follow your own path. I always have.   

Back From Camping

"Can you help me with this?" I asked the people in the site next to me as after one hour of trying to set up this tent, I had made no progress. They were very helpful and in minutes, the tent was up.

I just came back from a camping trip to HIllsborough State Park. Wow! That was fun. It does require a lot of work, especially when you have never been and need to learn on the job.

The natural scenic beauty of the park is astounding and many trails offer the visitor the opportunity to experience this first hand. A popular trail is the Rapids Nature Trail. It meanders through oak hammocks to the edge of the Hillsborough River at the point where an outcropping of limestone rocks has created rapids. This area is a popular spot for photographers and outdoor enthusiasts. For enjoying the river by being on it the park has canoe rentals for visitor's convenience. The park offers 111 camp sites set on two loops, the RIVERS EDGE and HAMMOCK LOOP.

I am somewhat familiar with the park and knew the HAMMOCK LOOP area would offer more privacy as the sites on the "Rivers Edge" are smaller and have more mosquito's. The park will sell you fire wood as you go in because they don't want you chopping the Forrest to the ground. They also have fire rings at all the sites because they don't want you burning the Forrest to the ground. Anyway, I wanted to eat meat cooked over an open flame, and enjoy "Camp Fire" coffee in the morning. Since we got there late in the afternoon last Sunday, We got the camp set up in time to start the fire at sunset...

There are things with camping you have to learn the hard way. One is air mattresses don't work all that way. You move, it moves and it is real easy to fall off. A mat would of worked out better. Plus, you need an air pump to fill it up...just another expense.

Apparently, many people go camping during the Christmas season. The park was full and when I went on-line to Reserve America.com there was only one site left...#102. It was the closest to the rest rooms which was good, and one of the largest on the loop. Had no idea why it was left standing.

A friend of mine came with me and she was great. She brought lots of food and cooked like a chef on the fire...I only wanted the chicken but the green beans, red potato's and collard greens were out of this world. Did I forget stuffing, ham and turkey....Yum!

I got in a lot of hiking and that wore me out. I think the other campers appreciated my snoring like a grizzly bear. Speaking of animals. There are deer all over this park...you can see them at night. Of course, every time I saw them, the batteries in my camera went dead. Murphy's law.

Christmas eve the park was beautiful. Many campers had lights strung up and we had a tree with lights. We also set a bond fire that put all the other campers to shame. You know the one with like ten foot flames shooting into the sky. Yeah!

I did take a bunch of photos that I will put in my new album. This is my friend (she did not want her name mentioned...what with a cab driver and all that) by the Xmas tree on Christmas morning

This Is What We Know For A Fact

What we know for a fact will not sit well with some people who want to live in the world of fantasy and "Winnie The Pooh." I can't help them. I can only let you know the facts.

1) Julianne and I were in love. 2) Julianne had given me her ring size and wanted an engagement ring. 3) Something or someone compromised her condo on the first weekend in March. I will find out who was there. 4) Police det. Eric Seltzer never considered a motive. In fact, I gave him valuable information at the outset of his investigation. I identified her and her next of kin as well as her family history and her mental health history. They would not of found her next of kin that day without me. When I called Seltzer back later for some news he could not give me the time of day. Don't worry, I will never cooperate with the police again. 5) A screw driver and a torn screen were there when I arrived to check on her Wednesday March 7th. 6) She was days away from collecting a substantial inheritance. 7) HER BROTHER DOUGLAS LEA NEVER EVEN BOTHERED TO CLAIM HIS SISTERS BODY and she now still lays in a funeral home contracted by the state in a refrigerated drawer waiting money from the State so she can be cremated and buried. 8) Doug Lea and Marge Ellison are having a ball spending Julianne Lea's Father and mothers money. 9) Tim Fasano was the ONLY PERSON ON EARTH LOOKING FOR JULIANNE LEA. 10) Tim Fasano's efforts were noble if not heroic in his attempt to save her life. 11) His efforts resulted in Fire trucks, Ambulances, uniformed police, plain clothes detectives being at her address in minutes...unfortunately in vain. 12) Her so called boyfriend from North Carolina was no where in site. 13) In the last six months that I was with Julianne, she never once mentioned a guy in North Carolina only some "fool" that she needed favors from...like a ride down to Florida. 14) Pf Whitehead who sent me a email with a photo of the death scene from inside the condo is a scumbag. I have started back at the gym lifting weights. My only goal is to have a face to face with this dude when in am in shape. I am not threatening him, but if he does not see reason he will think his face just kissed the express train. You know...snap...snap....I like body shots better...BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA..that is what they will call it. 15) I loved Julianne more than anything on Earth....I am only beginning to get answers to what happened to her.

This is what the medical examiner said...

Mr. Fasano,

The autopsy results for Ms. Lea are pending until all test results and/or information has been obtained.  The estimated timeframe is June, 2007.  As soon as the report is available I will email you a copy.

Respectfully,

Debra L. Lewis

Records Custodian

Pinellas Pasco Medical Examiner's Office

To the north Carolina people TAKE A CLOSER LOOK

New Dispatchers, Gulf Beaches and The Future

We have new dispatchers at United Cab that are the ones that will help you make money. John in the morning was fired last week and Don Pasano is the new day guy. "Bear" is the night guy taking over for "Sleepy." There seems to be a burnout rate of a few years with dispatchers. I don't blame them...a lot of Idiots out there.

I went to the Gulf Beaches today. This shot was from one of my favorite beaches...Upton Beach. This beach was were Julianne and I once spent Memorial Weekend (And you thought I was not going to mention her....Fooled ya didn't I).  PHOTO TIP: Even on a walk on the beach use a foreground reference. Note the two seagulls up front. That is not by accident. I was using a cell phone camera. Also, remember the "rule of thirds." The beach was very nice today but a little cold.

I have been thinking about moving ahead in a positive direction. I owe alot to Julianne. She was the one that got me back into photography; she was the one that diagnosed the cellulites in my leg and begged me to go to a doctor. All she did was direct my life in a positive way and save my life in the meantime. To bad I could not of saved her life and the illness she had. I owe her much. Everything I am today is almost a result of her influence. She will be missed.

I know I need to start exercising again and enjoy the areas treasures more like the beautiful beaches. Sometimes you just need to smell the roses. Juli always said "sometimes there just aren't enough rocks." I never really knew what that was supposed to mean.