Saturday, January 28, 2012

another day in paradise - VIDEO

Its been such a "to die for" beautiful day today I thought I'd reprise this video I shot and put together on a very similar day a couple of years ago.

Enjoy. . .

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Monday, January 16, 2012

working man blues

Even in paradise, everyone has to pull their weight. . .

It's a big job just gettin' by with nine kids and a wife,
I've been a workin' man dang near all my life.
But I'll keep on working,
long as my two hands are fit to use.
I'll drink a little beer in the evening
and sing a little bit of these working man blues.


I keep my nose on the grindstone,
I work hard every day.
Might get a little tired on the weekend,
after I draw my pay.
But I'll keep on workin'
and come Monday I'll be right back with the crew.
I'll drink a little beer in the evening
and sing a little bit of these working man blues.


Sometimes I think about leaving,
do a little bummin' around.
Throw my bills out the window
and catch a train to another town.
But I just keep on workin',
I gotta buy those kids a brand new pair of shoes.
And yeah I'll drink a little beer in the evening,
and sing a little bit of these working man blues.


Hey hey, the working man, the working man like me
I ain't never been on welfare
that's one place I won't be.
Cause I'll just keep on workin'
long as my two hands are fit to use.
I'll drink a little beer in the evening
and sing a little bit of these working man blues.

"Working Man Blues" is a tune by Merle Haggard.
Given all the construction workers working next door that I've met over the past 6 months and my recently out of work state of being, it just seemed right.


Click the link below if you care to hear the real thing.
WORKING MAN BLUES


Tuesday, January 10, 2012

this&that

January in Paradise

So it's January in paradise.
The time of year when the cooler weather kicks in and locals huddle back into their cocoons.

Little by little the festive lights lining the streets and adorning the quaint Old Town homes, flicker out. Then somehow, so does the holiday spark in everyone's eyes.

We hang up our "gay apparel" and once again dawn our hair-shirts with the realization that "o sh*t here comes
tax time again"
.

These are the "grunt months", but there are only four months more to go until we're back on the beach.

Left of Sensible

The Keys, and particularly Key West, have a reputation for being just a little "left of sensible".
(and that's why I like it here)


But when you think about it, it makes perfect sense.
Who was the Spanish explorer who discovered the Keys
back in 1513?
It was Juan Ponce De Leone.
And what was he looking for when he got here?
The fountain of youth. (go figure!)
Our "left of sensible" thing must be somehow genetic.
(or maybe there's just something in the water!)


Monday, January 2, 2012

a new year, a new adventure


For the past 17 years, here in Key West, there has been a newspaper publication called "Key West the Newspaper".
For the last 12 of those 17 years I've been that publication's
Art Director.

During those years, columnists, associate editors and sales people have come and gone, but mostly Key West the Newspaper was a 2 man operation.
Dennis Cooper, the paper's founder and publisher, wrote the news and I made sure it was fit for print.

Early last week, Key West the Newspaper died.

It never paid very well but through the years Dennis and I were successful workmates, drinking buddies,
close friends, brothers.
That for me was, in many ways, more valuable than cash.

For me, Key West the Newspaper was a good gig
and I'll miss it.
But now it's a new year and time for a new adventure.

Stay tuned. . .