Florida Baseball

Back in my younger days I was a decent baseball player.  I think I was getting better as I aged, so it was unfortunate that I had rotator cuff surgery and was never able to recover.  However, along the way I went some great places and met some awesome people and I have fond memories of my baseball days.  Some harsh memories, but fond ones mostly.  Also, if I had continued to play baseball, I never would have gotten to live so many places and teach so many faces.  God's got a plan for everyone, so be grateful for what you have and what you don't have.  You never know what could be a blessing in disguise! Go Gators!!!!

Balloons at the Yahoo! Dome

This picture was taken inside the Yahoo! Dome during the 7th Inning Stretch of a baseball game between the Softbank Hawks and the Chiba-Lotte Marines.  Everyone gets a balloon and releases it at the same moment.  When they go off it's a uniquely interesting sight!  You'd be surprised at how quickly the field gets cleaned up.  The Japanese are a people who value efficiency and diligence and their society reflects this.

Chicken in the Corn

This is Andrew Chin aka Brushy One String.  He is the son of famous Rocksteady singer Freddy McKay.  McKay died when Brushy was young and he grew up poor and illiterate.  He received a break when a filmmaker who was making a documentary about Jamaica filmed this song, "Chicken in the Corn".  Now Brushy is an internet celebrity and it touring in the West Coast of the United States.  Go Brushy, go!

Home is Where the Heart is

This picture was taken in 2009 in Anna Maria Island, Florida.  Florida's Gulf Coast is home to some of the best beaches in the entire world.  Florida is famous for its warm clear waters and white sand beaches. Anna Maria Island is located west of Bradenton, Florida and has over 7 miles of pristine beach.  I've been going to Anna Maria since about 1989 and Mr. Bones BBQ Restaurant is STILL there.

Set Fire to the Rain

This is a short surf snippet that I love.  Garrett McNamara, owner of the world record for largest wave surfed, Joel Parkinson, and the legend Kelly Slater are some of the surfers in this video.  Kelly Slater, from Florida, is an 11 time world champion and still going strong at age 42.  Widely regarded as the best competitive surfer ever, Kelly Slater will also drop in on some big waves from time to time.  Big wave surfing has gained popularity and is a lot safer than it was in the past with the advent of jet skis and sleds, spotters, and inflatable life vests.  Big wave surfing has claimed the lives of big wave legends like Eddie Aikau, Mark Foo, and Sion Milosky.  It is a sport that requires dedication, training, strength, skill, and bravery.