3:30am on Black Friday at Starbucks

The things I won't do for a blog photo! I never would have done this in a million years, but my blog fans are waiting.

It all started out very innocently. I mentioned to John that Mary wanted me to go to Starbucks with her when they open at 3:30am on Black Friday. When he talked to her on Wednesday, he said how much I was looking forward to it. Well that set off a huge chain reaction. Mary talked to Jeff & they decided I would dress up like a giant latte & Jeff would shine a flashlight on me while I alerted sleepy shoppers driving by, that Starbucks is open. My hat was a giant lid. What the hell ... I figured it would be fun. After all, I was working out-of-town on Halloween & wasn't in the office when everyone dressed up. Mostly, I just needed something to blog about.

When I got tired, Jeff stepped in & had a great time. He said he should have done this months ago. He especially liked it when cars honked at him. At one point, Mary called his cell & said, "May I speak to the cup please?" When I left the store at 8am, he was still out there. I think he secretly wants to be a mascot!

The media coverage was unprecedented! It's a good thing "the cup" had a camera too.

Mary has some Alphalams from her Roadtrip & Summertime series hanging on the wall at Starbucks.

In the past, I would have shopped (not because I needed anything, but as a sport) on Black Friday, usually being done by noon. There's nothing I really need & I'm not into that whole "frenzy" anymore.

Nice Sunset

Wednesday in Weston

I picked up Tally in my swanky rental car for a quick visit. It was a brand spankin' new 2008 Toyota Avalon Touring Edition with 312 miles on the odometer & the telltale new car smell. It was pretty sweet ... but then again, so is Tally.

Mary & I went to the new Ikea near Sawgrass Mills mall.

After I returned my rental car at the Ft Lauderdale airport, I was intrigued by these textured walls on the way to the terminal. I was waiting for somebody from the Department of Homeland Security to ask me why I was taking pictures of the wall, but nobody bothered me.

Goodbye Orange Bowl 1937-2007

I'm in South Florida for Champions Tour Q-School. It was perfect timing to see some old friends & colleagues at the last Hurricane football game before the Orange Bowl is demolished. A lot of former players came out for the occasion. Some I hadn't seen since I was the team photographer over 20 years ago (1981-1985).

Ahhh ... the good old days!

Stretching

I was on the field with David, Carol & Karl pregame.

We watched the game from the press box.



Unfortunately, the Hurricanes last game in the Orange Bowl will go down in the record books as the worst shutout ever in the stadium's history.
VIRGINIA 48, MIAMI 0, UGH!

Reality Check

There was a good series on the perception of being a self-employed photographer on What the Duck this week. Here they are ...

On the Range

It was another beautiful day, so Sandy, Larry & I went to hit some balls on the range. I did pretty well considering I haven't hit a golf ball in over a year.

Sandy relaxes while I try her Odyssey putter.

Afterwards, we had lunch in the clubhouse. I can't wait to back to work so I can relax. It's been an exhausting weekend!

Airshow

Sandy & Larry are in town & staying with me for a few days on their way to Pompano. They drove JR & me to the JAX Sea & Sky Spectacular so we wouldn't have a problem parking. It was a beautiful day with a perfect blue sky.

Everybody loved the heart.


There's a woman standing on top of the wing. She actually climbed up there while the plane was flying. Crazy!


The Blue Angels were very impressive.

We were a bit concerned since the website said you couldn't bring a lens over 6 inches long. I told JR we'd reverse our lens hoods until we got on the beach & nobody would probably bother us. I was wrong. With our hoods reversed, John's was 8 inches & mine was 7 inches. Once we started shooting, we put them on properly (which adds about 3 inches). The cop on the left approached John & said, "excuse me sir ... you're bigger than 6 inches. Lenses over 6 inches are not allowed." I was waiting for him to get a tape measure out of his pocket. He was smiling & sort of cracking up. For a second I thought he knew John, but he said he was just busting on us.

This guy buzzed the fisherman on the pier.

Tonight was Chris' birthday party and Dial-9 reunion jam at Spare Time Tavern in Jax Beach.