Project Chris

Top Ten Photos of 2011 (so far)

2011-11-28T22:02:00.001-05:00

July 2011

2011-07-09T21:31:00.006-04:00

FST Improv

Chris planking

4th of July rain

Sunset reflection

Panorama of Sarasota

Fireworks

More Planking

Even more planking

Beach time - Christopher

Beach time - Christine

Roman & Carolynn and dinner

June 2011

2011-07-09T20:39:00.006-04:00

Florida drive

Madison hula hoops!

Bird

Madison's dance recital (far left)

Father's Day

Sarasota One Tower

Hard day at work

I like this crowd

Mr. & Mrs Hopkins

May 2011

2011-07-09T20:17:00.005-04:00

Zan & Chris. Happy moment.

Karen and Moe at breakfast

Chris, Zan and Vincent. Post swim.

The sunset gang.

Christine and the world in her eyes.

Sunset.

Moved a co-worker's desk into a more comfortable office.

I brought Sally to work. She's smiling.

Jeff Beck

Me & Ed

Music pt 2 2011

2011-04-24T01:16:00.004-04:00

The next part of the day led us to Noise Ordinance 2 at the Cock & Bull. Lots of cold beer, people and rock & roll. We left with Elysian Sex Drive grooving in the background.

Music pt 1 2011

2011-04-24T01:06:00.007-04:00

Christine's Bald Chick Ads led us to The Takeover at the
Sarasota Fairgrounds. She taught improv to kids and we
watched skateboarders and some local rock-n-roll.

Lido Sunset 2011

2011-04-24T00:34:00.002-04:00

Went to south Lido beach for some sunset pictures.

Juniper Springs 2011

2011-04-24T00:25:00.003-04:00

Our annual camping trip to Juniper Springs in Ocala, FL was the best yet. Tom & Pam stayed for the first two nights. Raylon and Lauren stayed the 3rd & 4th nights. Vincent stayed 3-nights. We did the 7-mile canoe run without lunch, ate delicious food and spent generous amounts of time napping and not-being-on-the-computer.

Square 1 Burger 2011

2011-04-23T23:56:00.002-04:00

Moe treated us to dinner at Square 1 Burger.
Great beer and vegan selections but the burgers were fantastic.

Relay for Life 2011

2011-04-23T23:30:00.004-04:00

This was our first Relay. We raised $250 for Team Purple Passion and had everything up and running by the time it started. We sold cowbells, pickles and 'walking tacos' with a bag of Fritos, chili, cheese and a spoon. The luminary ceremony was inspirational, featuring a track lined with candle-lit bags and a survivor and bag-pipe player on a lap followed by a silent lap by everyone. Raylon and I walked and walked. I honked my horn until people yelled for it, "honk, honk!" We fell asleep in the 5-6pm hour but got up for sunrise and and the ending ceremonies. Won a $25 gift certificate to Jpan. The Palmer Ranch Relay raised $86,000 for cancer research.

Giving Hunger the Blues 2011

2011-03-27T22:25:00.002-04:00

2011 Cruise

2011-03-07T19:16:00.008-05:00

The cruise started with a quick ride to Miami courtesy of Brent & Sandy. We met the rest of the group at the terminal where my 12-pack of water was thoroughly inspected. Once on board, Carnival does an impressive job of entertaining and cleaning up after the masses. We attended several shows, the best being the comedy shows of Anthony Acosta and, particularly, Frank Del Pizzo. Also, Christine won the crowd over when she sang 'I Will Survive' during karaoke. I won a medal for winning music trivia. We both lost at bingo and roulette though Chris took away some prizes from the quarter machine. Dinner was rich and plentiful and included lobster, prime rib, wild mushroom soup, and an amazing Indian dish. Also of note were the daiquiris which maintained a perfect texture through to the finish. [Specifically Mango]. Paul and Cindy got an upgrade to one of two penthouse suites that overlooked the pool deck and had its own balcony. Nassau was picturesque though the opulence stood in stark contrast to the poverty nearby. We took a couple of interesting cab rides, had fresh conch at a fish shack, strolled through Atlantis and had some refreshments at The Poop Deck. Back on board, the ship featured an Olympic jogging track, miniature golf course, hot tubs, water slides, two theaters, and an army of shops, bars and restaurants. The staff were constantly in motion and the entire ship was pristine each day. The trip ended with the drive back from Miami. We stopped at Versaillis in Little Havana for Cuban coffee; Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery and City Seafood in Everglades City for lunch. A long, lovely weekend with a group of friends that ended far too quickly. Next trip?

Last weekend of February 2011

2011-03-02T23:09:00.004-05:00

A beautiful and wacky day, filming on various locations for Christine's video - a sign language interpretation of "Raise Your Glass" by Pink - followed by dinner at Two Senoritas for the birthday of Herb Booth. He's pictured above, being kissed by Christine aside Billy Elkins.

Drag Queen Bingo 02.2011

2011-02-19T00:54:00.002-05:00

Part 1 - Salvador Dali 02.2011

2011-02-14T00:08:00.004-05:00

The new Dali Museum is both a work of art in its own right and a tribute to the master. We stood in line to get in - one employee said that weekends were busy from open to close. "Come on Tuesday,: he said. Two galleries house Dali's massive collection. I never grow tired of seeing his familiar works or discovering new ones, of which there are now many. An inspection of the gift shop and exterior garden concluded the trip. I look forward to my next visit.

Part 2 - Matisyahu 02.2011

2011-02-13T23:54:00.006-05:00

The Tampa Theater is intimate, dark and ornate. It feels like its 84-years old.
Matisyahu came on stage around 8pm to a sold out crowd with a microphone and some guy named Adam on guitar. Raylon and I were sitting in the back but I took several opportunities to get close to capture him. He played a brand new song, "Sunshine," as well as crowd favorites, "King Without a Crown," and "One Day." He also played my personal favorite, "Jerusalem." He stopped about 3/4 through the show to answer an array of questions. He mentioned doing some future collaboration with Idan Raichel and bumping into Buju Banton in his Tampa hotel. Somebody brought him a Heineken. He ended each song with some of his terrific beat-boxing.

It was a warm and melodic evening. Special thx to Raylon for the Four Loko.

LAzy Fairy Improv 02.2011

2011-02-12T23:47:00.003-05:00

Funny stuff.

Grandpa at FST 2011

2011-02-08T23:50:00.000-05:00

Grandma & Grandpa 02 2011

2011-02-07T21:54:00.002-05:00

What a day! We drove to Lakeland, Florida to visit Jean & Reg Alexander who are staying with friends, Gigi & Tony O'Connor. They live in the spacious golf community of Cypress Lakes and we spied a couple of small gators sunbathing on the banks of scattered ponds.

Reg treated us to lunch at Sorreno's Pizza where Tony met a double amputee who had returned from Afghanistan and invited him to play racquetball. As Tony said, "That guy's a hero." (Tony is missing three limbs, came in third in the previous Vermont gubernatorial race and generally runs circles around most people half his age). Gigi and Tony would later treat all of us with a delicious home cooked dinner.

In between, Chris and I took turns displaying the fruits of our labors, me with printed materials, Chris with various videos on her computer. We caught up on family business and filled them in with our various projects. We fed the bass and catfish in the pond out back. We took pictures and totally blew Jean & Reg's minds with Chris's iPod. Grandpa brought me a tremendous gift in the book: "American Young Man's Belt Companion," published in 1786. The original owner was my great (x6) uncle, Samuel Kendall, whose inscription lives on the last page.

It was wonderful to spend time with people whose knowledge of my life almost exceeds my own. Whose unequivocal love is apparent from the moment we pulled in the driveway. Who laugh with wonder at how an iPod works.

A lovely day.

Last Weekend in January 2011

2011-01-30T14:05:00.007-05:00

Kim, Wayne, Rob, Brad and Joan at happy hour in honor of Brad's b-day.

Zan contemplates the world.

The 6 o'clock hour through blinds.

Some of my favorite people.

Bonnaroo Chris 2011

2011-01-22T22:24:00.004-05:00

Bonnaroo Chris finally takes shape.
Website and Facebook page are up and running.

Farmers Market video

2011-01-22T22:20:00.000-05:00

Farmers Market 01.2011

2011-01-22T12:58:00.003-05:00

The Farmers Market was crowded and blustery. Got some hot cocoa and then fresh veggies, courtesy of www.igrowmyownveggies.com. I like to watch the people that pay no attention to the direction in which they're walking. I need to take some video. Also got to see The Garbage Men, a group of teens playing recycled instruments. Good stuff.

FST Improv 01.2011

2011-01-18T23:08:00.002-05:00

In Memory 01.2011

2011-01-16T00:04:00.002-05:00

Jean Lague ~ March 10, 1928-January, 14 2011
Memorial page

Forget You 12.2011

2011-01-12T23:56:00.003-05:00

Chris just received well over 6,000 views on her sign language video of Cee Lo Green's 'Forget You.' (My video is up to 24,000, 4-years later.) I expect her video will eclipse mine pretty quickly. She is a star waiting to shine.

Celebrating Israel 12.2011

2011-01-12T22:09:00.010-05:00

Tonight, I took event photos at The Jewish Federation's 'A Night to Celebrate Israel.' I got to hang out with Natan Sharansky, a former Soviet refusenik and prisoner, Israeli politician, and human rights activist, which was pretty humbling. A gorgeous sunset and some entertainment from Israeli pop star Noa topped the night. Plus, I love the Van Wezel.

Cowboy Dreams 01.2010

2011-01-09T17:12:00.004-05:00

My favorite photos from 2010

2011-01-03T22:00:00.007-05:00

My ten favorite pictures from 2010. They are in chronological order.

Mount of Olives, Israel

Sarasota Fair

Imelda May

Raylon Smith at Bonnaroo

Christine at the Sarasota Improv Festival

Self portrait

Historic Spanish Point

Ben from Version 3.0

Roger Waters

Ariel®

For Gramom

2011-01-03T21:15:00.005-05:00

Sunshines always remind me of you.

Proof 2010

2010-12-25T21:27:00.000-05:00

Christmas 2010

2010-12-25T19:20:00.005-05:00

Christmas with the Duncan Family was over-brimming with gifts, cheer and some perfectly cooked lamb. (Michael, Karen and Johnny welcome us in their home every year). Madison was soon consumed in Barbie® bliss and I hit it off really well with Ariel®, (above). Special thank you to Jackie! Merry Christmas to All!

Not a fan 11.2010

2010-11-23T23:16:00.004-05:00

But just thought you should know. I do not consider this humane.

Though I'm guessing it is quite effective.
Courtesy of Buzzfeed

The Wall 11.2010

2010-11-17T22:44:00.006-05:00

One of the most impressive shows I've seen. Roger's backing band was precise and nailed each song. The production alone must have cost him a fortune. The actual Wall was enormous and, when completed, felt a bit claustrophobic - which is the intent. But it also served as a giant projection board and provided visuals that were rapid, sinister and in impressive clarity. Huge text and pictures of fallen soldiers changed to video - which changed to seamless 3D animation, including the walking hammers and grotesque cartoon characters from the movie. Two of the characters became huge, inflated puppets that taunted the crowd. Other interactive assaults came from the infamous flying pig, a crashing airplane, machine-gun fire, spotlights, local kids onstage for Another Brick in the Wall (Part II) and a crapload of confetti. This was a theater show as much as a rock show and Waters did a respectful and kick-ass job of bringing it to life. The entire stadium cheered, "Tear down the wall!"

I left stunned. Went outside to find Tampa shiny from fresh rain and low-level clouds getting snagged in the skyline. Seemed appropriate.

Special thanks to Raylon, E-d, Vince and Rick for being part of the experience.

Karen's B-day Sept. 2010

2010-09-13T21:40:00.003-04:00

September 11, 2010

2010-09-11T11:28:00.006-04:00

I will always remember this day. I remember feeling so angry, helpless. I felt sad, yet inspired by those that gave their lives in the service of others. I remember everyone in America polarized and everybody became uber-polite and friendly in what seemed like an all-for-one mentality. I remember the candlelight vigils held by people all over the world. The planet grieved for our loss.

Then I remember America's leadership pissing away the world's goodwill. Leveraging this heinous act into a money making machine that has yet to see an end. On September 11, 2001 I felt outrage. I wanted to punish the guilty, swiftly and mercilessly. I wanted to send Chuck Norris in there kick some terrorist butt. But ultimately I wanted justice. True, American justice.

There were nearly 3,000 deaths on that fateful Tuesday. Yet, almost 6,000 soldiers have died since in the name of fighting "terror." The war has no thoughtful objectives save for continuous destabilization. Most alarmingly, this perpetual war has allowed tremendous expansion of discretionary power to the executive branch of our government. I now fear that mighty America, once embodied by the heroes of WWI and WWII, serves only to develop record-breaking quarterly profits of trans-ocean companies, instead of the people who shed blood and sweat in her name. Something has to change.

In the words of former president James Madison:
"No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual war."

Love 09.2010

2010-09-10T22:44:00.002-04:00

Mote Marine and The Oil Spill 08.2010

2010-08-11T23:44:00.005-04:00

My friend Vincent and I attended the briefing on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill held by Mote Marine. It lasted two hours and consisted of a overview of Mote Marine's efforts followed by a question & answer session with 10 scientists on staff. The bottom line: we know nothing for sure. And that is in the most frightening way. They estimate that more than 50% of the spill remains in the Gulf. And because of that, the worst impact is yet to be expected. They cited the Exon Valdez spill, which killed the fishing industry for Herring as the fish were no longer able to reproduce. [And that was a fraction of the spill this was ...] It took four years to notice. Here, currently, a total of 1024 Sea Turtles have been found to be impacted by the oil. Of those, 50% were already perished, [F*(k!].

There are three levels of oil that are being dealt with. The stuff that floats to the service; that sinks; and that stays suspended, or "dispersed" due to the two-million gallons of dispersant added to the spill. The "dispersed" levels were found to linger at 2,700 feet. Mote Marine uses AUV's (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) to continuously test specific areas for 30-days at a stretch, [pretty cool actually]. The good news is: testing out onto the continental shelf, west of Sarasota, reported no oil present. This was fortunately helped by the short-circuit of the ocean's current loop which - normally draws water up from Cuba and around the Gulf - now cuts immediately east and up the U.S. coast. A scientist further added that it has never been a safer time to purchase seafood as it is "under intense scrutiny from the FDA."

The accident was compared to the Intox I Spill, which contributed 150 million gallons, (compared to Deepwater's 200 million), and whose effects have been felt since 1979. The common thread to the evening was $$$. Mote Marine has done all of its research - independent of direct funds from the government or BP. As stated by Dr. Crosby, "We will not accept any donation that means we have to withhold information or muzzle or scientists." [Applause].

If you are not a member of Mote Marine, I highly recommend it. For $50, you can attend (and bring a guest) for a year. More importantly, if you love life on the water, consider volunteering.

If you encounter oil or an animal that is oiled: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CLEAN or RESCUE. Call 941.861.500 (Local Response)
Mote's oil spill update: http://www.mote.org/oilresponse
Mote's daily beach update: http://www.mote.org/beaches
And if you're pissed about the turtles, visit: http://www.seaturtle.org

Retro Posters 08.2010

2010-08-04T12:46:00.002-04:00

I didn't design them. But I do love them. Advertised as "Famous movies shown in famous places." Thank you Olly Moss.

Sarasota Improv Festival 2010

2010-08-02T23:08:00.004-04:00

The Sarasota Improv Festival at Florida Studio Theater is the funniest weekend, ever. It was pretty funny last year, though it had a mixture of sketch acts mixed in. This year, the acts were strictly improv and were each, damn funny. Available Cupholders from Austin, Tx put on solid performances both nights as did Christine as she performed with the FST Improv Troupe and Lazy Fairy Improv. My cheeks hurt the following day. Below, Chris, in action.

Fathers Day 2010

2010-08-02T22:41:00.003-04:00

Silversun Pickups 06.2010

2010-06-19T14:57:00.004-04:00

Caught the Silversun Pickups show at The Ritz in Ybor. Heard the last song of the first opening act, The Henry Clay People, which was cool. The second opening act was Against Me, a Florida punk band with a lot of fans in the crowd. They sounded like a blend of Meatloaf and Quiet Riot. Stranger still, the lead singer looks a bit like Iron Chef Bobby Flay. They were loud. The Pickups came on stage about 10:00pm and would end up playing a 90-minute set. They offered ferocious energy to a sold-out crowd and I quickly became a fan. Go see them if you get the chance.

Against Me!

The Silversun Pickups

Saturday AM 05.2010

2010-05-16T16:34:00.005-04:00

Had fun on St Armands roaming through 20 different RV's that rangd from the ridiculously huge to a simple tow-behind. Bathroom/shower combos. Half bake ovens. Unique placements of flatscreen tv's. We took a utilitarian approach, judging on kitchen & storage space; windows and airflow; and general fung shui. Had to stop at Ben & Jerry's for a treat, then wandered into R&R Gold Gallery where they had Salvador Dali pieces for sale. The one pictured was only $300,000.

Mother's Day 05.2010

2010-05-16T16:05:00.004-04:00

Surprise B-day 05.2010

2010-05-15T15:06:00.004-04:00

Got to be part of the crowd to surprise Ben Kunkel on his 50th birthday party. Amazing food and some the nicest people on the planet. Looking forward to next year!

Sarasota Fair 03.2010

2010-05-15T15:02:00.002-04:00

Israel 02.2010

2010-02-22T21:31:00.009-05:00

In February, I went on a Familiarization Mission to Israel.

It was a beautiful and fascinating trip.
I created a webpage about it - but be warned that its a long, lovely walk.

Medieval Fair 11.2009

2009-11-22T12:36:00.005-05:00

Medieval Fair

Elephant

A horse and The guy with the amazing mustache

Kendra with a horse

The Flying Debris guy (aka Ted Mase's twin)

This kid loved being on stage

The joust

I should have hired this guy

I walked over to Robarts Arena where the Medieval Fair was being hosted. It was great to see the city so alive on a beautiful Saturday morning. Motorcycle classes were going on in the parking lot next to the Robart's building, (poor bastards were suited up, head-to-toe); the baseball field was filled with practice squads; and the Fair, which was in the fields out by the DMV.

I loved the Fair! The character actors walking around in costume; the jousting; the human combat chess match - it's all fascinating to me. For a couple bucks you can throw a variety of weapons at a wall. Axes, knives, ninja stars ... even arrows. They had a Jacob's Ladder which provided some entertainment, as well as elephant rides and a huge selection of vendors. I barely resisted bringing a sword home. I watched the Flying Debris show, the guy was fantastic, bring kids on stage and incorporating them into his act. Also, he looks and acts a lot like the fabulous Ted Mase. I will look forward to it next year.

St Augustine 11.2009

2009-11-18T19:35:00.006-05:00

Castillo de San Marcos

Chris + Chris at the gate

At the top

Chris took this picture

All of North America was once named Florida. Read it.

219 steps to the top

The St Augustine Lighthouse

James

We arrived in St Augustine on Sunday afternoon. Weekend crowds had beat us there. The Castillo de San Marcos was our first stop. The fortress is massive and pictures do it little justice, (unless you're in a helicopter). We walked through the Spanish Quarter; had dinner at Amici's - not memorable (save for the karaoke and our odd waiter Stephen); and visited the Lighthouse. Bob was the staff guy at the top of the lighthouse and was a fun resource. We took a sip from the Fountain of Youth and visited the landing spot of Ponce de Leon, providing an interesting bit of history. We also took a "walking ghost tour," featuring Julie, who told us scary stories around the city, leading us to several historical buildings, a well and two cemeteries. I snapped a picture of the gravestone (above) of 5-year old James. Do you see anything strange? St Augustine is beautiful and certainly significant in our history but the tourist trap-ness was best summed up by a local who said, "We've sold out St Augustine ... in the name of what?"

Balcar Wedding 11.2009

2009-11-17T22:28:00.006-05:00

The Sheldon Ruins

Carolynn and Roman

The pastor explains the situation

The groomsmen

Roman and his mom, Eva

Chris + Chris Alexander

A tree in Beaufort, SC

After a seven-hour drive to South Carolina, we stayed in a cute house on Lady Island. It got down to 51 degrees the first night and the wind howled across the water. The next day we moved into the Rhett House, with luxuries accommodations like a whirlpool tub, a king-sized bed and gas-powered fireplace in each room. Beaufort is a beautiful and historic town. Of note: The papers of succession for the south were signed in Beaufort, as was the Emancipation Proclamation. The weather would warm up until Saturday provided a clear blue sky and 70 degree weather. The ceremony was held in the Old Sheldon Ruins, about 25-minutes away, and was very sweet and shorter than expected. The whole day was rather dreamy and perfect. (Pictures not yet available) Highlights included: me steeping in poop during pictures and receiving bird poop just 5-minutes into the ceremony; a gorgeous reception with a sparkler celebration and tons of dancing; and my speech, complete with references to surfing; Bert & Ernie and the bride's sassyness. I seemed to laugh so often, my cheeks were sore. Sunday we departed, leaving the newlyweds to their destination farther north while we headed back to Florida.

Halloween 10.2009

2009-11-01T16:12:00.008-05:00

"End of the night" Mike

Chris and Chris

Chris and a bumblebee

Christine and Jim

Josh and Michelle using our cab

Dancers

Mr. and soon-to-be Mrs. Balcar

Roman and Chris dancing

Chris with Mr. and Mrs. Perelas

Christine and Matt Orr

Chris and Sharon Kunkel

Chris getting made-up courtesy Lana Taylor

With tickets to the Safe Sex Halloween Bash at the Van Wezel, we got a ride with Roman and Carolynn to the party. Open bar, food by Micheal's On East, dj and dancing were all summed up with a Micheal Jackson "Thriller" tribute. Dancers relived the entire video almost verbatim. The restrooms were even made up into a morgue and sex shop. A wickedly fun event. We took a cab downtown (Josh and Michelle Wynne used our cab to leave!) to the Urban Reef street party and - after getting in for free - danced our way into the wee hours. We waited for a cab by the fountain at Ringling and Links talking to a self described music promoter named Micheal Fullman. We made sure he got a cab home. What a crazy and wonderfully fun evening.

Sunrise 10.2009

2009-10-25T12:15:00.004-04:00

Roman's bachelor party was perfect. A luxury suite on Siesta Key. 7-hours of limo time. The Hard Rock Casino for some Texas Hold 'Em. (I ended up $18 ahead) After a visit to some Tampa clubs - and a pit stop at a 7-11 for a bathroom break and roadbeers - everyone made it safe and sound back to the suite. Most of the crew passed out while Mike and I hit the hot tub and watched the sun come up. It's fun to be rock stars for a day.

10.2009

2009-10-11T23:18:00.003-04:00

Swimming on Lido Key.

Flying High 10.2009

2009-10-11T22:27:00.007-04:00

Captain Thomas

Co-pilot

Ringling Museum

City Island

Downtown Sarasota

Sunshine Skyway Bridge

Thomas invited me for a flight to Venice, (18 min) where they serve a unexpectedly delicious breakfast. All while watching the Learjets warm up and takoff. We came back up along the coast and did a drive-by on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. I saw two dolphins jumping in the water from 2,500 ft. On approach to SRQ, we had to make way for a Boeing passenger jet. Pretty kick-ass view.

Yom Kippur 09.2009

2009-10-11T22:23:00.002-04:00

Love the Kumba at Busch Gardens.

Stuff I'm doing 09.2009

2009-09-06T21:48:00.004-04:00

Two projects I've put together recently. Fun stuff.

Planned Parenthood: Safe Sex Halloween Bash

Harrison Light, Musician

PSALM OF LIFE 08.2009

2009-08-09T15:52:00.000-04:00

A PSALM OF LIFE

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream! —
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,— act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o'erhead!

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

Green Day 08.2009

2009-08-04T22:39:00.006-04:00

Green Day kicks ass. I say this as a self-proclaimed concert junkie who is somewhat familiar with the concert experience. Though it began a bit more calmly with the Kasier Chiefs as the opening act. They didn't keep my attention. A group of us stood on the floor when Green Day took the stage a little after 9pm. Billie Joe ran into the crowd sitting on the first level and played among them, then brought a young man on stage to sing a verse, all within the first two songs.

The energy continued as Billie Joe proceeded to make rock stars out of several lucky fans. Some 7-year old named Kevin was pulled on stage to take part in a religious experience and induce the crowd into a wave. He took to the part nonchalantly and was told promptly to "get the f**k off the stage." An enamored girl was pulled up to sing. A boy, again later, and he was invited to crowd-dive off the stage.

Meanwhile, the band performed songs from the new album - 21 Guns and East Jesus Nowhere - as well as other stuff like American Idiot, Minority, Holiday, Longview, even a rendition of Shout!. Billie Joe spent several minutes banging out Van Halen riffs. Drummer Tre Cool was a machine - and came out of songs throwing his sicks and grimacing to the crowd. BJ constantly engaged the crowed into waving, jumping and his signature "aaaaaaaoooooooo" followed by a brisk "cmon!" He brought out a gigantic squirt gun which he handed off to a girl he brought on stage; a toilet paper gun which spun out above the stage wildly and he moon'd the crowd twice. Explosions and blasts of fire went off unexpectedly.

Near the end of their set, they secured a young man who admitted he could play Jesus of Suberbia on guitar, and in fact did. The entire song, with BJ's guitar and with minor adjustments once in awhile from the frontman. He exited via a stage dive and I expect him to be firmly bitten by the rockstar bug.

The band played twenty-five songs during a relentless two-and-a-half hour set. After a short encore they blasted the entire stadium with confetti and I left, exhausted and slightly stunned. Special thanks to Dr. Lisa for the beer; Mike for the ride; Brian, Harris, Raylon and Dill: nice to see you there! A truly fun show ...

*Update*

Setlist:
1. Song of the Century
2. 21st Century Breakdown
3. Know Your Enemy
4. East Jesus Nowhere
5. Holiday
6. The Static Age
7. Before the Lobotomy
8. Are We the Waiting
9. St. Jimmy
10. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
11. Welcome To Paradise
12. Hold On
13. When I Come Around
14. You Really Got Me / Eruption / Ain't Talkin' About Love / Unchained (Van Halen cover)
15. Brain Stew
16. Jaded
17. Longview
18. Basket Case
19. She
20. King For A Day
21. Shout (The Isley Brothers cover)
22. 21 Guns
23. American Eulogy
Encore:
24. American Idiot
25. Jesus Of Suburbia
26. Minority
Encore 2:
27. Scattered
28. Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)

7.20.09 Don't let the bedbugs bite

2009-07-20T23:00:00.002-04:00

Me. Sleeping snugly in our brightly colored sheets. I'm butted up to you slightly, facing away. You snooze peacefully, radiating heat like the sun. The air-conditioner blows softly and the bright sheets wrap around me but my arm and leg lay free in the cool air. The light in the room is soft and white, peeking through our curtains quietly. The world lay perfectly still.

[Cut to] Lightning strike, 50 yards from the house; immediate pounding rain.

Me. Crouching from behind the bed. (Can't fit underneath)

2009-06-18T22:40:00.001-04:00

Skydive 06.06.09

2009-06-12T18:35:00.019-04:00

The jumpers at 7am

Me and my buddy Dill are suited up

Pre-jump

Falling out of the sky

A big smile

An amazing ride

Crazy

Me and my instuctor Tim post-jump

After a two hour drive, the group arrived in Lake Wales, FL at the Florida Skydive Center at 9am. It was a large facility, with planes buzzing on the runway and people constantly falling from the sky. We filled out an impressive amount of liability forms before I met my instructor, Tim, who got me suited up and explained the process. I also met my camraman, Chris. All of the staff were perfect examples of physical fitness and Tim & Chris were no exception.

20 minutes later, Tim landed with another student, as did my plane which remained running on the tarmac. I kissed my wife goodbye, boarded and dropped into Tim's lap. The 15 minute flight, (climbing the entire time), consisted of Tim strapping himself to me, (four straps: 2 shoulder, 2 waist) and Chris giving me a final pre-jump interview. We were first out of the plane.

We dropped at 14,000 feet and I free fell for 1 minute 10 seconds. It's actually difficult to describe the experience. I never felt like I was falling. It was more like when you stick your head out of a car moving 85mph. Except no trees are whizzing by, just wind. It was difficult to breathe at first, (possible combination of adrenaline, altitude and moving 120 miles an hour), and my eyes watered a bit, but the view was spectacular and the experience unforgettable.

The chute opened at 4500 feet and immediately the world became utterly peaceful. I imagine this is the silence that birds enjoy most of the time, save for human interferance. Within 6 minutes, Tim brought us over the crowd, (during which I screamed most of the way), and we landed in perfect one-step unison in front of the hanger. I was elated, dazed and grateful to be back on the ground.

I cannot recommend this experience enough, no matter how intimidated you may be.

Special thanks to my friend Raylon Smith for organizing the trip and to all the other jumpers for sharing what will always be an amazing day. Try it once. I dare you.

No Doubt 06.02.09

2009-06-12T16:54:00.010-04:00

We arrived just in time to watch Paramore

Gwen Stefani roamed the stage

No Doubt put on an impressive set

Christine and I arrived in Tampa in the midst of a tropical downpour and bumper to bumper traffic. By the time we got to willcall, we were soaked from shirt to shoes. Having pit passes meant we had to go to willcall, which meant we had to stand in line for over an hour. Not cool. That was the downside. Once we got into the venue, the rain ceased to be an issue and the music rocked the house. Paramore was the first act and did great.

But the real energy came when No Doubt took the stage starting with the song Spiderwebs. Gwen roamed the stage the entire night, occasionally stopping to grab an audience member's camara and take a self portrait. She pulled three people on stage for a song, including one guy who had a No Doubt tattoo across his back; a young girl supremely excited to be on stage: and a woman who had held up a sign saying "Concert outfit: $80 Tickets: $200 Getting to meet No Doubt: Priceless" Awesome. If you have a chance to see this band, I suggest you do it.

Mother's Day 2009

2009-05-13T20:00:00.002-04:00

After a yummy brunch at First Watch, the Whyte/Duncan/Alexander party headed into the parking lot. East Manatee Fire Rescue happened to be passing by and spotted Madison waving. (See picture) The truck promptly stopped and two guys popped out to talk to us and invite Madison (and family) to the station sometime. Very cool.

NIN & Jane's Addiction May 9, 2009

2009-05-10T21:56:00.005-04:00

Chris and Mike return to Tampa for an amazing show. The first act, Street Sweeper Social Club, featured Boots Riley and Tom Morello from RATM. The album comes out in June.
Nine Inch Nails followed with [setlist]: Now I'm Nothing; Terrible Lie; Sin; March Of The Pigs; Piggy; The Frail; The Wretched; Discipline; Head Down; La Mer; The Good Soldier; I Do Not Want This; The Downward Spiral; Non-Entity; Lights In The Sky; Wish; Physical (You're So); The Hand That Feeds; Head Like A Hole; and the encore: Hurt. I hope to see them again someday.

Jane's Addiction was the closing act. Not a huge fan but they played "Been Caught Stealing" and had a big crowd following. The evening was capped off with drinks and spicy asian food at the Hard Rock Casino with friends. Good times.

Seether April 26, 2009

2009-05-10T21:34:00.006-04:00

Chris and Mike attended the Seether and Nickelback concert at the Ford Amphitheater. Through a promotion on Seether's website, Chris got to meet the band. Very cool. Seether had an amazing set that included a cover of "Nutshell" by Alice in Chains, as well as Wham!'s "Careless Whisper."

Nickelback put on a high-energy show that included covers of Garth Brooks, Metallica and Kings of Leon. Highlight: Shaun Morgan joined Nickelback for a blistering version of Filter's "Hey Man, Nice Shot."

Juniper Springs 2009

2009-04-01T22:01:00.008-04:00

We just returned from a weeklong excursion at Juniper Springs in the Ocala National Forest. It was part of Chris and Chris' 7th anniversary celebration. A favorite getaway, we were disappointed to find both major attractions closed.
The spring was closed for reconstruction, (it was built in the 30's), which meant no swimming. And the 7 mile canoe run was shut down due to the 10,000 acre fire started by careless campers. Bummer.
On the other hand, we had beautiful weather, great friends and plenty of food. And they opened the canoe run just in time for us to do a run. Read more about Juniper Springs from our 2008 vist or via Recreation.gov. Just watch out for #%$& raccoons.

Fern Hammock Springs (No swimming but gorgeous)

Mike and Vincent going a little overboard on the canoe run

Chris hard at work

Obamicon 03.2009

2009-03-11T21:49:00.004-04:00

Chris & Chris are now immortalized in the Obama style made famous by Shepard Fairey. You can upload your own picture at Obamiconme.com

02.2009

2009-02-14T14:11:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentines Day!

Friday the 13th 02.2009

2009-02-13T02:04:00.004-05:00

I know you can't believe it. Yesterday, I received a call from my friends at 105.9 The Buzz. I won four passes to tonight's sneak peek showing to ... Friday the 13th. Vincent was the only person to accept my invitation. Respect.

I saw the original movie and maybe a couple of the subsequent sequels. (How many? 10? 12?) They always varied between scary and campy and as the movies progressed the quality seem to diminish. That can't be said for the new version. There aren't any scary build-ups leading to ohh-it-was-just-the-cat. The scary build-ups lead straight to manical slaughter, which is how it should be. Throw in some overt marijuana propaganda; bare, perky breasts and live commentary from the crowded theater and hey - even I clapped when the title screen flashed after the initial sequence.

Certainly not my favorite movie of all time but thanks to The Buzz for giving some socially unredeeming culture followed by a drive home in some spooky Sarasota fog.

Fall Out Boy 01.2009

2009-02-05T19:15:00.008-05:00

Last week I entered an email contest from the radio station 105.9 The Buzz. I won two free tickets to the Pepsi Smash concert at the Ford Amphitheater. The lineup: Fall Out Boy, Rihanna and Lifehouse.

Lifehouse

Fall Out Boy

Rihanna

I took fellow concert junkie Mike. We soon came to realize that [parts of] the show were going to be televised on VH1 as part of a Superbowl promotion. All of the performances were tv worthy. The highlight: Fall Out Boy's cover of "Beat It" by Michael Jackson.

Flight to Sebring 01.2009

2009-01-26T20:45:00.010-05:00

This weekend, my friend Thomas invited me to accompany
him on a flight to Sebring. Tom recently became a certified
sport pilot and has access to a Remos Light Sport.
We met at Dolphin Aviation at 9am for the preflight.

The Remos is a single engine two-seater,
is capable of 160 mph and has a range of 9 hours.

With the ok from the tower, SRQ dropped out of site.
Flight time to Sebring was about 45 minutes.
There were 4 planes in the landing pattern ahead of us.

Once on the ground, we checked out some exotic planes.
Here's me with Dan Marino.

Found an unattended race car. Had some lunch.

We headed a little south on the way home.

Flight time was about an hour.

Captain Thomas made it seem effortless.
We sailed onto the northbound runway at SRQ and taxied home.
I'm not sure I would enjoy a straight 9-hour flight,
but the plane is ultra cool. Thanks for the ride, Tom!

Goose 01.2009

2009-01-04T12:49:00.009-05:00

Everyone knows that Goose dies at the end of Top Gun. When exactly does he die you might ask? The movie clocks in 1:49:38. Goose dies at 67:41. Which means 41:57 remains. But as you can see in the picture above, Goose didn't die immediately from the impact with the canopy. It is actually Maverick's lack of life-saving technique which does him in. As I suspected ...

Oh yeah, and were talking about a movie that came out in 1986.

Flash Fabrica 11.2008

2008-11-29T19:08:00.004-05:00

I found this to be pretty amazing. The site is in Japenese but the instructions are here. Enjoy ~

1. Click 'start'
2. Wait for the 3, 2, 1 countdown.
3. Several numbers will appear in the box randomly. Quickly memorize all the number's on the screen. Click the circles in order of SMALLEST number to HIGHEST number.
4. Repeat.
5. At the end of game, the computer will tell you how old you are.

Flash Fabrica

Advertising 11.2008

2008-11-29T14:41:00.004-05:00

From Sarasota's very own Creative Loafing, (Nov 12-18, 2008)
What is the demographic they're looking for?

Black Crowes 11.2008

2008-11-19T22:33:00.006-05:00

Chris and Ed traveled to Ruth Eckerd Hall for an evening with The Black Crowes. The venue was clean and comfortable, similar to Sarasota's Van Wezel Theater. Our seats on the fourth row were close to the action and the place was nearly full for the second act. Opening act The Buffalo Killers was interesting and the Crowes offered a mixed set, playing covers like Bob Dylan's "Quinn the Eskimo" and "You Don't Miss Your Water" from The Byrds, (thanks Ed). They played several acoustic songs and came out for just one encore. Chris Robinson sounded fantastic and the band had great synchronicity. An excellent show.

November 5 10.2008

2008-11-05T11:58:00.005-05:00

I am ecstatic, amazed, proud and a little tired. The past eight years have been under the control of a greedy man who refused to follow the core values of his own party - a man who was never my president. With the 2008 primaries, we found a wide selection of worthy candidates. Hillary Clinton. Joe Biden. Mike Huckabee. And with the respective party conventions we were given our final choices. Senator Obama and Senator McCain blitzed America in a fierce effort to garner votes. In October, Chris & I saw Senator McCain in Sarasota. The negative energy and barrage of inaccurate information was slightly overwhelming and discomforting. A week later, we attended Senator Obama's rally where we were positively struck with his calm, assertive energy and eloquent manner. It was an honor to shake his hand. Election night was electrifying - and at the moment of truth, I found that Senator John McCain's concession speech was nothing short of, well, presidential. With the election of Senator Obama I feel the world has somehow become re-connected. I feel the collective sigh of relief to have a man worthy of the highest office in the land. Barack Obama. My president.

Barack Obama in Sarasota 10.2008

2008-10-30T19:43:00.025-04:00

Courtesy Daniel Perales Booth Studio

Courtesy Sharon Kunkel Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation

Chris and Chris attended the event held at Ed Smith Stadium. We arrived a little before 9:00am to find the line wrapped around the property, down a side-street and zig-zagged across the parking lot four times. Someone walked by offering World Series Game 6 tickets, kiddingly.

We stood on the field, directly behind the podium, the barricade only two short women away. The stadium cheered when the Obama plane flew overhead. Around 11:20, Barack Obama was introduced by Senator Bill Nelson to a packed crowd, estimated at 12,000. He spoke for nearly 40 minutes, detailing specific initiatives about the economy, healthcare and Iraq. When the crowd began to boo at the mention of Senator John McCain, Obama replied, "Don't boo, just vote!" He finished to a ferocious applause and made his way around the barricade where both Chris's had the opportunity to shake his hand.

We floated off the field, elated with the experience, proud for having seen both presidential candidates and invigorated in the choice we have made.

Behind Enemy Lines 10.2008

2008-10-24T14:22:00.010-04:00

Chris & Chris attended the John McCain rally at Robarts Arena in Sarasota. The venue was full - between 3,000 to 4,000 people with more waiting outside. The crowd was enthusiastic and had a good cross-section of age and gender. John McCain's speech was slightly repetitive and often relied on information that has been debunked. We were grateful to be able to see the man though the experience somewhat confirmed our expectations.

G-forces and Budweiser 10.2008

2008-10-24T14:05:00.007-04:00

Christopher, Vincent and Herb went to Busch Gardens for some roller coaster therapy. Highlights included 10 roller coaster rides, the animal show and some free beer. The weather was sunny but cool and we had to wait in line only for the first two rides. You can see more pictures and some kick-ass video on my Busch Gardens gallery.

Bridges for Obama 10.2008

2008-10-20T22:08:00.006-04:00

The Bridge for Obama Rally was far larger than I thought it would be. It was also incredibly loud. People shouting and chanting, cars honking mercilessly... But the weather was cool and sunny and I got to hang with 5,000 people who happen to feel the same way I do. A great day. See my gallery HERE.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered 10.2008

2008-10-18T19:19:00.002-04:00

Surfs up, brah! 09.2008

2008-10-18T19:00:00.004-04:00

It was five years ago or so that Roman came to everyone and said he was about to take up surfing as a hobby.
Sure enough if he didn't actually do it.
Good job, dude.

I vote for Peg Hughes! 09.2008

2008-10-18T18:54:00.007-04:00

A special kudos to the lovely Peg Hughes who has been relentlessly canvassing for the Obama campaign. She visited over 700 homes, so far. You can find her over on the AnythingArt.com community. Tell her she's awesome.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club 08.2008

2008-10-18T18:40:00.007-04:00

This post was supposed to talk about the Stone Temple Pilots concert that I attended at the Ford Amphitheatre in Tampa, Florida on August 22, 2008. But Stone Temple Pilots failed to show up. Not cool. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, however, put on a fanatastic set.

Scott Weiland - you suck.

Projekt Revolution 08.2008

2008-10-18T18:23:00.002-04:00

Christopher and Mike, after fully recovering from Bonnaroo, decide to venture out to see the Projekt Revolution Tour which included dismal shows from Ashes Divide and The Bravery - but stellar performances by Chris Cornell and Linkin Park.

BONNAROO 06.2008

2008-10-18T18:19:00.001-04:00

Christopher and Mike return for another weekend of punishment at the Bonnaroo Music Festival. Turned out to be the smoothest experience, all written and captured for you in this long article (accompanied with photos and video, natch)

Click HERE and have a brownie.

My day with Barack Obama 05.2008

2008-10-18T18:15:00.005-04:00

Christopher, along with friends Peg & Rick, goes to the St Pete Times Forum to watch Barack Obama in action.
It turned out to be very inspiring.

Story and pictures available HERE

God Bless America 05.2008

2008-10-18T18:11:00.001-04:00

My buddy Roman officialy became an American citizen at a large ceremony in Tampa, Florida. After two long years of work and frustration - it pays off.

Congratulations Roman!

Memorial Day 05.2008

2008-10-18T18:07:00.001-04:00

Chris + Chris head over to friends Steve & Melissa's house for the holiday celebration. The ice cream truck stopped by, the margaritas were cold and strong, and everyone enjoyed a beautiful day.
Read a fictional account of the day HERE

Motorcycle Safety Course 04.2008

2008-10-18T18:06:00.003-04:00

Christopher attends the Basic Rider Safety Course held at Manatee Community College. It involved two long days of circling a parking lot on a Suzuki 250. He learned a lot in the class, such as, manhole covers are perfectly made for practicing an emergency swerve. He passed with flying colors.

Grandma visits FL 03.2008

2008-10-18T18:03:00.003-04:00

Christopher's grandmother, Jean Alexander, came for a week long vist. She stayed with the fabulous Gigi and Tony O'Connor near Arcadia. Tony is currently running for governor of Vermont! See his website HERE
Good luck Tony. And it was great to see you Grandma!

Juniper Springs 02.2008

2008-10-18T17:55:00.004-04:00

Chris and Chris take a long weekend to spend in the beautiful Ocala National Forest.
Specifically, Juniper Springs.
Pack a lunch and apply some sun block - we have a lot of pictures.
But we added a story to keep it interesting.

Read about it HERE