Lysa's Central Florida Happenings

Rare Birds Return To Put Breaks On Beach Driving In Daytona Again!

2008-07-22T11:18:16Z

A year ago, August of 2007 I told you about how these 3 rare birds had captured the hearts of people around Daytona Beach and managed to block off the beach to cars in my post: Rare Birds Put The Breaks On Beach Driving In Daytona

That post remained on the first page of Florida Information, Volusia County Information and Daytona Beach, FL Information until just recently. You all loved it that much!

Just recently Mom and Dad returned to Daytona Beach, they must love our hospitality! My hairdresser spotted them in the exact same spot they were at last year and we began to wait for the arrival of the baby.

Sunday evening I received a email that the first baby hatched on Friday and a second hatched on Sunday, however the Mom and Dad were not at the same spot, they were further south! I headed out early Monday morning in search of them.

My problem being I have a foot injury right now and am supposed to stay off my foot as much as possible. My friend told me he hiked 2 miles north to find the birds after parking near the Dunlawton Bridge. I can't afford to do that with the foot injury, so I stopped at two beach approaches and asked the gate person what they knew, and both knew nothing! Giving up I went to work and pulled up the newspaper onlineto see what I could find there.

BINGO! The newspaper told me exactly where I could find the happy couple and their new arrivals! Once again on a beach frequented by cars, they have blocked traffic in the area where the birds have nested (YAY!). Midori suggested I look on the internet and find the closest beach walkover and to my delight the walkover is right at the birds location. Now, to just find parking...

I left my house early this morning, found the address easily, parked at a store which warns anyone parking over 30 minutes will be towed. No problem there, I won't be that long! I then found the walkway to the beach and it is a narrow sidewalk between two tall condos, if you don't know it is there, you'd walk or drive right by it.

As I got to the beach, there they were... the proud parents... one baby was out running around with them, all were inside the area blocked off to keep them protected. It is so funny how they know that the area is just for them.

I took almost 200 photos in the 15 minutes I was there, of course I won't bore you with all 200, I picked out the best and will let you browse through them. The baby you do see I think is the one that was hatched on Friday. I am going to try to go back early on Saturday and see if the other baby is out walking around yet.

Hover your mouse pointer over the photos and you'll see a short description on each.

You're probably wondering how I know which bird is which? I really don't, I am going by what I read in the newspaper yesterday. It said that the male bird is smaller then the female.

I'm so excited I got to see this happy little couple again. This is the 2nd pair of birds (different species) that have returned back to Daytona from last year, that is something I've never been able experience before!

Realtors® & Bikers Working Together..

2008-05-13T14:36:25Z

To help RE/MAX Property Centre raise money for Rose Roberts, one of their Realtors®, who is currently undergoing chemo in her fight against breast cancer.

I met "Team Rose" at the Volusia Home Builders Association Saturday Morning bright and early to get set up for a Poker Run.

By "Team Rose" I mean pretty much anyone from RE/MAX Property Centre that wasn't out showing property on Saturday and AC Coluccio from Professional Title's Port Orange Office.

Sue Morrison was in charge of getting things ready and she had bagels, donuts & coffee awaiting our bikers. The bagels needed to be cut, tickets to be tended too and we had young volunteers visiting who were ready to handle the job!

Big Lots had donated cases of Campbell's Chicken Noodle and Tomato Soups with special Breast Cancer packaging and Sue used those for the center pieces on the tables...

About 10AM our riders began to pull in ready to go..

Once at the Home Builders Association the riders were greeted by Christy Cagle from Bank of America & Ann Dalton, RE/MAX Associate who signed them up and directed them to the coffee, bagels, donuts, the prize table and raffle tickets along with 50/50 tickets ..

About 11AM some friends of mine showed up, the Palm Coast Red Knights. This is the third run in the last 6 months I've worked with them on and am proud to be able to call them friends. They are a group of active or retired firefighters that love to ride.

From the Home Builders Association the riders headed north to Hooligans, then to Hijackers in Flagler County, then south to Hanky Panky's in Ormond By The Sea and from there to the stop I was working, the Main Street Station, formally owned by Bill France the founder of NASCAR. After they left me they went to the Wing House, then back to the HBA.

The Chrome Angels, who rode out from Orlando also met me at Main Street Station. I had already met Becky, but had yet to meet Jessi, AKA Sundancer, their President. We had exchanged a couple emails last year when I did a post for their Pink Ribbons For Life ride.

My biggest thrill of the day was introducing Jessi to Joe Vece, the President of the Palm Coast Red Knights. I think you'll be reading about them riding together in the months to come

Neither Jessi or Joe have ever met Rose, yet here they were riding in a poker run for her. That's what it is all about, isn't it?

Once back at the Home Builders Association a free BBQ put on by Tom O'Quinn from Allstate Insurance, O'Quinn Agency and the raffles...

Radio Bob was there to spin music and call the raffle numbers. If you look real hard, you can see him in the corner of the top photo.

Three Chrome Angels that rode out from Orlando. What a great group of ladies!

Rock Hartley standing with Sundancer who is the President of the Chrome Angels.

We had a total of 91 folks sign up for the event and it raised $2,500 for Rose!

The poker run was actually the 4th event that Rose's friends put on to help raise money for her.

The grand total from all 4 events is just shy of $10,000 to help Rose.

I know Rose will be forever grateful to all the strangers that have come together to help her when she needed it most.

I felt proud to meet all the wonderful people on Saturday that worked so hard to put this together. I also felt proud to be a part of this event too. (Yes, I bought my 50/50 tickets and raffle tickets, even won a couple shirts!)

There is no better feeling in the world then doing just a little something extra for someone else.

If you would like to donate, please visit Helpushelprose.com. They have some beautiful Breast Cancer themed bracelets for purchase, with the proceeds going to Rose.

Hopefully one day we won't have to do these poker runs and benefits anymore...

Until that day you can bet there will be a few from the Biker Community & Real Estate Community pitching in to help.

Poker Run For Daytona Beach Realtor Rose Roberts ~ May 10th

2008-05-02T15:01:17Z

It isn't often my 9-5 life and my weekend life blend in together, in fact this will be the first time ever and I will be hanging out in the Real Estate World while wearing my Leathers!

We are getting together to help this beautiful woman pictured to the left.

Her name is Rose Roberts, a licensed Florida Real Estate Agent who hangs her license with RE/MAX Property Centre of Ormond Beach.

Rose was diagnosed with Breast Cancer earlier this year. She went in for a lumpectomy, but ended up having a complete mastectomy.

Like many Real Estate agents, Rose does not have health insurance to cover the surgery, chemo and every day bills. Rose is a very successful agent, however one just doesn't jump right back into work after having a surgery like the one she's had. There is a lot of healing involved.

I didn't hear about this through my office. I got an email in February from someone I had never met who was referred to me by the editor of Florida Bikers Digest asking for my help. I explained that I was getting ready for Bike Week and then the St. Jude event, as soon as that was done I would assist in any way I could.

The first thing I did was ask around about Rose. Everyone gushed about her, telling me what a special person Rose is. I wondered why no one had told me about this sooner. They had a huge garage sale to raise money for her and were working two other possible events.

A week after receiving the email I was at the Broken Spoke hoping to preregister some riders for our Bikes and Blues for St. Jude event when I ran into a Chrome Angel. The Chrome Angels are a group of woman who raise money specifically to help woman with cancer. I mentioned to her about Rose, she told me that she would talk to the C.A. President and have her contact me, if not I was to contact her. Come to find out Rose was already on their agenda of women who needed assistance with bills.

To give you an idea of Rose's bills could be, Karen George did a post where she included the cost of her chemo on 9/26/2007. She mentions that chemo treatments range between $5,000 and $20,000 per treatment.

Enter the Bikers! A lot of members of the Daytona Board of Realtors®, folks in the mortgage business and new home sales ride so what better way to raise money in our area then a Poker Run for Rose?

Sign Up At:

The Home Builders Association,

33520 W. ISB, Daytona Beach

Registration begins at 9AM @ $15 Poker Hand

First Bike Out 10:30am • Last Bike In 4pm

50/50 • Raffle • Free Food • MusicBest Hand Grand Prize $500

Sponsored by Angie Shull, Remax Property Centre

2nd Place $250 • 3rd Place $100

1st Stop: Houligans, Destination Daytona US1, Ormond Beach

2nd Stop: High Jackers, SR100, Palm Coast, (by the Flagler Airport)

3rd Stop: Hanky Panky's, 1088 Ocean Shore, Ormond Beach

4th Stop: Main Street Station, 316 Main Street, Daytona Beach

5th Stop: Wing House, on ISB, Daytona Beach

Back to Home Builders Association FOR A FREE BBQ

Sponsored by Allstate Insurance, O'Quinn Agency

For Questions Please contact Sue Morrison, 386 290-6737

If you can't attend the Poker Run, there are other ways you can donate, (but you're going to miss a good time and some good food!).

The first way is buy visiting Helpushelprose.com. There is a Paypal account set up on the home page, or you can go to Fundraiser page and purchase a pink ribbon bracelet.

The other way you can help Rose is buy sending your donations to:

“Rose Roberts Fund” Floridian Bank, 1696 N Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32117

But, wouldn't you rather come out on a beautiful Saturday afternoon and play while helping a fellow Real Estate agent? Yeah, that's what I thought! I'll see you there on May 10th!

Bikes & Blues 08 Sends Out A HUGE Thank You To Its Sponsors!

2008-04-11T14:52:26Z

The Mickey Jones 2008 Bikes & Blues for St Jude Children's Research Hospital events last weekend were a huge success!

We don't have a finally tally of the event totals yet, but I can tell you that we passed last years amount of $37,500!

We could not have done this without the help of our all of the sponsors that stepped up to the plate to make our events as successful as they were and I would like to give them each a little recognition.

Where better to that then right here on Active Rain and Localism?

In no particular order, here are some very special people and companies from Volusia & Flagler Counties and even beyond that I am very proud to be associated with:

Cancun Lagoon Bar & Grill Ocean Waters LLC Grand Seas Resorts Daytona Pennysaver

Azinger Golf The Iron Horse Saloon WHTQ 96.5 FM Backstage Pass Mullinax Ford-Mercury

DSPNTV.COM WHOG 95.7 FM Frank & Tracy Hot Action Sportswear Bubba Gump

Legion Riders Post 270 The Red Knights The Christian Motorcycle Association

Ed Williams & Florida Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Florida Bikers Digest Magazine

WNDB 1150 AM WELE 1380 AM Kevin Bowler & Rene Kennedy of Daytona Beverage

Iron Dave Adams Marvin Miller & Miller Real Estate Thunder Roads Magazine

Full Throttle Magazine Cuervo Black The Blizzard 97.7 FM Blue Chip U. S. A.

Robin Hangers Car Shop On The Fringe Leather

Office Depot in Ormond Beach Safe Ship in Ormond Beach Hawkeye Signs

And last but least!

The City Of Ormond Beach,

Mayor Fred Costello

and The Ormond Beach Police Department

Thanks so much to all of you for your involvement in the 2008 Bikes & Blues With Mickey Jones and

The Mickey Jones Golf Classic.

You helped us make it a success for the third year in a row!

In the video that Mickey put together for this years event he ends it by saying..

"Together We Can Make A Difference"

I am posting this to let you and our sponsors know that

"Together We Made A Difference"

Thank You from Gypsy and the 2008 Bikes and Blues Committee!

A Visit With Bubba Baker At "TATTOO THIS!" In Sanford Florida (Professional Photos Updated 3/19)

2008-03-18T15:11:14Z

Bubba Baker is an artist in many ways...

He did his first tattoo in 1976 but he didn't really get into that art until 1982. He bought himself a motor home and started hitting bike events and such around the country tattooing on the road. That quickly grew old for him though and he came back home to Florida.

Bubba once told me if he had to do one more Harley Davidson shield he was going to go nuts. It got to the point where he could do a shield without a stencil he had done so many.

Bubba had an urge to work in film behind the camera and went to film school, graduating in 1989. Instead of being behind the lens though, Bubba ended up in front of it working with people such as Charlize Theron in the Academy Award winning film Monster, Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura, Pet Detective and Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys 2. Of course there is Running Cool about two bikers riding across country. He also made small screen appearances in shows like Walker Texas Ranger, In The Heat of The Night and Renegade.

Bubba is now doing a local T.V. show opposite Gonzo, Crazy Dave & Wide Open Brain called Real American Biker TV which can been seen on Bright House channel 21 in the Orlando area. (Hopefully we will be able to see in Volusia County real soon) Photo Courtesy of REAL AMERICAN BIKER TV

In 1994 he opened Bubba Baker's TATTOO THIS! at Flea World in Sanford, FL. His studio is the longest standing studio at Flea World, and the first studio to ever have a live web cam, although some would like to argue that with him.

One day this huge man walked by, about 6ft 7in and 460lbs, sporting a tattoo on his arm. Bubba yelled at him, "Hey man, I can fix that tatoo for you!" The big man very slowly turned around, (Bubba said he got a tad nervous about that point) looked at Bubba and just said "Really, how much?" Turns out the big guy was WWF Wrestler Big John Tenta, AKA Earthquake/The Shark/Avalanche and Golga.

Bubba and Big John became fast friends until Big John lost his fight to bladder cancer in June of 2006. Bubba has remained good friends with Big John's son who still lives in the area.

While visiting with Bubba on Saturday, Big John's son showed up with his father-in-law Bill to get a new tattoo. Bill gave me permission to photograph the process of getting inked by Bubba.

Bill had decided on a Patriotic Bald Eagle tattoo on his forearm.

The outline..

Adding the blue to the flag.

Now the red in the flag, the yellow and orange to the eagles beak & talons.

The finished product!

If you want to get a portrait done, Bubba asks that you bring the photo of the portrait in to him a week in advance so he can get the portrait ready for the tattoo process. He also asks for a $50.00 deposit from you at that time.

Portraits begin at $250.00 a head depending on the size of the tattoo and where you will be putting it.

All other tattoos vary in price but Bubba will be more then happy to quote you one if you stop by and see him.

I met Bubba thru Bikes and Blues with Mickey Jones for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital last April. He has been a part of Bikes and Blues since its inception and donates gift certificates for our auction at our bike event with the proceeds going to St. Jude.

Come on out on April 5th for our Bikes & Blues event, meet Bubba at the Iron Horse, and now that you've seen his work, bid on his gift certificates and help the kids of St. Jude! (We will have a gal there wearing some of his work too)

Bike Week 08 ~ The Photos (Part 3)

2008-03-13T11:15:44Z

Friday, March 7th arrived bright and beautiful ~ however we were under a tornado watch at 7AM and we had a strong weather front due to move through sometime in the afternoon. Our guests had gone back out the night before, we weren't going to wake them up, we'd let them play on their schedule.

Our original plan was to go to a Motorcycle Swamp Meetat the Daytona Flea Market. As the morning wore on and we watched the front approach, we decided to keep it close to home. Our guests needed Iron Horse shirts so we'd run over there and see how things went.

I checked the radar and the storms seemed a good two hours away as we left the house, well no sooner did we park our bikes at the Iron Horse then the heavens open up with lightning tearing across the sky... Here ~ see for yourself!

Oh, the Iron Horse has a Burn Out Pit right next to where we parked and of course someone had to try it. (Its better to ruin ones tires in the rain) You can't see the bike in the photo but you can see the smoke he causes and boy did it stink!

We don't mind riding in the rain, but we don't want to stand around in it!

The rains gave us break and let us out of the general store so we could go have a beer and walk around a bit.

The band was awesome, they are there every year and I don't know their name :(

Lots of folks dancing!

And yes, the Ice Cream Man From Hell was there..

This was the first time I had actually seen him at the Iron Horse even tho he is there every year.

After we finished our beer we decided to head back to our little local bar.. and wouldn't you know it?

Here came the rain again, only this time it didn't want to let up. We finally decided to make a run for it, it was just down the road. No big deal. My girlfriend the bartender laughed when she saw the first drowned rat (me) walk in the door so I gave her a nice big wet hug :) We had so much fun that afternoon, and here are some of the photos I took there...

Notice the TV is showing a warning for Volusia County? That was just good timing on my part, I couldn't see the TV from where I was sitting. I believe it was for a Tornado Watch or it could have been a severe Tstorm Warning. I was actually trying to zoom in on the TV to see what part of Florida they were showing on the radar...

Little Bit ~ The Babe Magnet!

This is me (GASP!) with one of our house-guests from New Jersey.

We were mistaken for sisters a couple times, so I asked the bartender to get a picture for us. We had never met before Bike Week, but I hope she comes back with our other friend! (and cooks some sauce!)

This was by far the most fun we had during Bike Week. Now, I can't show you a lot of the photos I took either. No one let the 2.5 inches of rain get to them, we just took it as 1 rainy day in the middle of a beautiful week.

Hope ya'll can come and join us next year!

Bike Week 08 ~ The Photos (Part 2)

2008-03-12T13:07:19Z

Steve and I took a four day weekend this year instead of our normal 3 days. We had company from out of state and this way we could spend some time with them during the day.

Thursday, March 6th was beautiful as far as the weather went. Once again we headed to the Broken Spoke to see Big Mike and Ms. Em and listened to a set of some fin Biker Blues.

Big Mike was celebrating the release of his new documentary, Iron City Blues. Its about a town in TN with "No Law" "No Order". He went to Iron City to find out more about it and brought a film crew with him. It's an award winner and a pretty good short film. I've watched it twice :) Go to Ironcityblues.com for more info

After we left the Broken Spoke we headed south to our local hangout with regular beer prices... and we introduced our visitors to a thing called a "Suck and Blow", it's a type of Jello Shot the requires two people to make it work.

Get the idea? He blows on his end while she sucks on her end and gets a double shot of spiked (wiith wine) jello.

It looked like so much fun this couple wanted to have a go at it

They really had a good time with it too!

I'm actually having these photos printed up at Walmart so I can send them to this couple. I believe I took about 5 of them total.

They came up to me with money, I refused the money and took their address. They had the best time at this little joint.

Then the leg wrestling began...

GOOD CLEAN BIKER FUN!

The man pictured below bought the bar a round!

These two were happy not to be back in the 20 inches of snow that they were getting back home!

Everyone had a good time as you can tell...

We had an even better time the next day, Friday.

I'll get those pictures posted ASAP!

Bike Week 08 ~ The Photos & A Video (Part 1)

2008-03-11T13:09:12Z

Things are back to normal around Volusisa County after a semi decent Bike Week.

Hotels didn't do so well I hear, they weren't booked to capacity this year. I heard stories that folks just couldn't afford to come down due to the cost of heating oil up north and high gas prices.

Steve and aren't the type of people that like crowds so we stay away from Main Street, our out town guests did spend some time down there tho, and they had a great time.

My first day of Bike Week I spent at the Broken Spoke with Big Mike Griffin, his lady Ms. Em and the band. I really enjoyed myself, the weather was great and it was neat watching his fans interact with him.

Fun was had by all!

Big Mike with one of his long time fans

You don't have to look far to find some Coyote Ugly Style Dancing around here during Bike Week!

Kickstarting his Shovelhead for the contest

Sweetest Sounding Pipe Contest:

This Shovelhead took the win. In each contest I saw or heard about, either a Knucklehead or Shovelhead won. Nothing new with a Evolution motor.

Nice close up for you of this 60's Era Shovel

Now, click on the Youtube video below and let Big Mike play you on out of my post with some Shovelhead Blues......

I have a lot more photos to share with you so stay tuned!

Retinoblastoma, A Childhood Cancer, Takes A Guitar Legend at 41

2008-03-04T11:03:11Z

Jeff Healey, self taught guitaist, singer, and blues icon was stricken with Retinoblastoma at the age of 1 and lost his eyesight. He lost his fight to this cancer over the weekend. He is already missed by his fans and friends he has made around the music industry.

The Jeff Healey Band had a huge hit back in the 80s with Angel Eyesand Jeff also appeard as Cody in the movie "Road House"with Patrick Swayze, Ben Gazzara and Sam Elliot.

What does that have to do with a post on Localism or Active Rain?

As some of you know I belong to the Mickey Jones Bikes And Blues Committe to benefit St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, Retinoblastoma is one of the many childhood cancers the good folks at St Jude are trying to cure. Retinoblastoma represents only about 2% of the malignant childhood cancers in the US, but that percentage is higher in other parts of the world. St. Jude is making some headway in treating this rare but deadly cancer but it is years from a cure.

This is why St. Jude needs people like you and me to help them out. This is why Mickey Jones comes to Ormond Beach in April of every year to hold his Bikes and Blues With Mickey Jones which benefits St. Jude.

This is why bikers from all around Central Florida join Mickey at the Iron Horse Saloon and form a 3 mile long parade of bikes to ride around our beautiful Ormond Loop.

This is why golfers come out and join Mickey at The Pelican Bay Golf Course to play 18 holes at $100 a person.

And this is why our Bikes and Blues committee works hard to make this big April weekend happen.

St. Jude will turn no child away regardless of ability to pay and one day, no child will die from Retinoblastoma.

This is why I do what I do....

I felt horrible last night at our Committee Meeting when I told everyone of Jeff's passing and of the cancer that began it all. I wanted them to understand how important our work is and that no one is untouchable by these childhood cancers. I didn't realize that our own Big Mike Griffin who is one of our celebrities and was at last nights meeting actually knew Jeff and performed with him. My friend lost a friend and didn't even know, this makes this fight even more personal now.

I found a tribute video last night on youtube... Please take a moment to watch..

Bike Week 2008 Has Begun~How's The Weather?

2008-02-29T09:26:24Z

Welcome to Bike Week 2008! The first weekend of Bike Week looks to be absolutley beautiful for riding, sunny and warm.

Good news after the last couple days of highs in the 40s and 50s.

My favorite WX site to use to check our local forcast is from the National Weather Service but for some reason today they are using New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport for our current conditions.

The weather in Volusia County can really vary from town to town, area to area. I prefer to get my temparture & forcast from no further away then the Daytona Beach International Airport. They may change it back, there may be trouble with the local reporting station?

There is rain in our forcast for the middle of next week and the NWS radar site is great. The closet radar for Daytona is the Melbourne, FL Radar, but it covers a wide area and has a "Loop" mode so you can almost determine when the rain will end.

This radar site will also show you if there are any watches or warnings in effect with watch or warning boxes. If you look at the the left side of the screen you can click on the Tampa Bay Radar to see if the rain is coming from the west and how long it will take to end.

Another site you can check is My Ride On My Fox, not only does it have weather updates, but Event Updates, photos, places to visit and messages boards.

Don't forget, Big Mike Griffin will be at the Broken Spoke in Ormond Beach on US 1 starting this Sunday at 1pm!

Come on down and see us!

Enjoy your ride! And for those of you in a cage, look twice and drive with caution. Make this Bike Week Safe!

Pre-Register For Bikes & Blues 08 During Bike Week With Big Mike Griffin

2008-02-18T13:55:30Z

Some of you know that I am a committee member for the Bikes And Blues With Mickey Jones events that benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Big Mike Griffin is also one of our members!

Being on the Bikes and Blues committee is how I got to meet Big Mike and his lady Miss Emilie last year. I then got to spend a little time with them last Biketoberfest, but not near enough as I would have liked because they were in South Daytona. I'm so excited that they will be in the northern part of the county this year!

This year we are trying something new with our bike event, we are pre-registering riders.

I will be at Big Mike's merchandise table on Sunday, March 2nd pre-registering anyone that prefers to pay in person. (I will also be assisting with Big Mike's merchandise sales)

The first two riders to show up together and tell me that you read about pre-registering for the Bikes and Blues Bike Event in this post will ride for free in the event.

We can't wait to see all of you Bike Week 2008 at the Broken Spoke Saloon!

Remember! Together, We Can Make A Difference!

Big Mike Griffin Is Bringing His Biker Blues To A New Bike Week Venue! UPDATED 2/18

2008-02-15T11:54:12Z

My buddy Big Mike Griffin is headed back to the Volusia County area for Bike Week 2008 but will be playing at different venue this year.

This year you will be able to find Big Mike at the Broken Spoke Saloon on US 1 in Ormond Beach on Sunday March 2nd 1PM-7PM, Wednesday March 5th 1PM -7PM, Thursday March 6th 7PM-12PM and Saturday March 8th 1PM-7PM.

Big Mike and his band will also be playing at the Iron Horse Saloon on Monday, the 3rd from 11PM - 2AM.

You will be able to purchase advanced copies of Big Mikes award-winning documentary, Iron City Blues at each of his shows. I know I'll be picking up an autographed copy!

Just a little tease about Iron City Blues:

"Urban legends tell of an isolated Southern town where the residents ran-off their police department and outsiders fear to tread. To blues musician Big Mike Griffin, it seemed like great material for a song."

I can't wait to see Big Mike and his lady Miss Emilie. Miss Emilie gets up stage and sings a bit with Big Mike, and let me tell you, this girl can sing!

I had the pleasure of meeting them last April at our Bikes and Blues With Mickey Jones Eventfor St. Jude Childrens Hospital. We hit it off very quickly.

I was the one that was supposed to make people from out of town feel like they were at home, and it felt the other way around when spending time with Big Mike and Em. I felt like I was at their house visiting them.

Anyway, don't go looking for them south of Daytona this year!

You'll want to head north on US 1 to Ormond Beach and the Broken Spoke or The Iron Horse Saloon!

The video is a snippet I took at Biketoberfest last year.. enjoy!

Online Videos by Veoh.com
Iron City Blue Movie Poster & Big Mikes Promotion Photo Used with Big Mikes Permission
Show time have been updated as of 2/18/08

The Glide Of The Blue Heron

2008-02-07T18:47:46Z

When I posted Pelican Bay Shenanigans ~ The Video, Carol Smith of Toledo came by with the comment and I quote "But the Great Blue Herons are so pretty to watch. They operate in a stealth mode that the military should study."

How right she is! The grace of this bird in flight with a wing span of at least 6 feet is just a treat to watch. Little did Carol know I had been trying to catch my Heron friend on his final approach of his glide path to me on video. I finally had success!

I really wanted to get the whole thing, gliding over the homes, the golf course, the waterway, but I was in the wrong spot when I caught sight of him. I do know he (or she) watches from high up in a tree for me when he isn't waiting for me close by. When I'm spotted he just spreads those beautiful wings and soundlessly makes his way to where I am.

I'll keep trying, but until then, have a look.. and he even gets lunch!

Pelican Bay Shenanigans ~ The Video

2008-02-04T08:44:17Z

You really liked the photos I took in my post titled Pelican Bay Shenanigans so I thought I would share with you some video I took of my two feathered friends.

Sometimes it is hard to believe what people tell you..

You know.. like when they tell you a two foot bird chases them?

That's almost like the story about the fish that got away right?

Ah, but I have proof.. Not only does that nasty bugger of the Anahinga (AKA Snake Bird) chase the Great Blue Heron, he chases me!

Take a look...

Northern Right Whale Sighting Update 1/19-1/28

2008-01-29T14:37:24Z

I know I am so far behind and I am so sorry! Life has a funny way of catching up to me sometimes!

My dad came in last Wednesday and we had a great time together. We even went in search of Right Whales on Friday but the weather was not very cooperative. It was windy and cold (by Florida standards anyway) our high was about 55º, the windchill, probably about 47º. The wind made the water real choppy with lots of whitecaps. If there were any 50-55 foot whales out there, we sure didn't see them and neither did anyone else.

I have updated my Central Florida Thru My Eyes blog with recent sightings and the recent loss of a newborn calf.

The calf washed up in Ormond By The Sea on Friday night and my friends from the Marineland Right Whale Project believe his death was natural causes, more will be known when test results come back. Luckily they believe he was not one of the babies we've come to know and love.

Come on by and say hi when you get a chance!

Northern Right Whales Arpeggio And Calf Sighting Confirmed!

2008-01-21T09:32:34Z

The Marineland Right Whale Project celebrated it's seven year anniversary of it's first whale sighting on Friday, January 18th with sightings of two mothers and calf's!

The first pair were sighted by one of the Projects survey volunteers who was at her post near "Clicker Beach" which is close to Hammock Dunes in Palm Coast at about 9:30AM.

Joy and the response team arrived soon after and confirmed that the pair were a mom and baby. I mentioned before that when I've seen a mom with her calf, I didn't get to see much animation out of either of them, at the most a wave from the baby.

Read more about the animated calf and the other sighting here

Photo above is of Arpeggio and her calf and was taken by Joy Hampp and is property of The Marineland Right Whale Project, used with their permission.

Introducing Nothern Right Whale Arpeggio And Her Calf!

2008-01-19T06:58:51Z

Last evening I received permission from Joy Hampp and Jim Hain to post a photo of Arpeggio and her calf.

It is the property of Jim Hain and The Marineland Right Whale Project and was taken by Joy at Beverly Beach, FL on December 10th. They estimate the baby was at least 6 days old in the photo.

I was so excited when I got that email! I wish I had the overhead shot of mother and baby that I saw on my visit to The Marineland Right Whale Project office at the beginning of the month.

The photo that is available is just as impressive though, and one day I hope to have a camera that will have a lens to take a photo like the one you can see if you go to my Central Florida Thru My Eyes Blog.

Have Arpeggio And Her Baby Returned?

2008-01-18T10:34:19Z

Up until now, our whale sighting reports have been zero since January 1st.

Nothing, nada, zilch...

I went in search of our famous mother/baby duo on Saturday, January 5th and found nothing.

I even called Jim Hain, Scientist from Woods Hole, Woods Hole, Massachusetts to see if they (him and Joy Hampp, Project Coordinator for The Marineland Right Whale Project) were out watching the whales anywhere.

Jim told me no, no whales had been sighted, but if I made it as far north as Marineland to please stop and say hi.

I did make it that far and stopped to see Jim. I was treated to photographs that Joy had taken from the Projects spotter plane of Arpeggio and her baby.

Read more about the photo I saw and the recent sightings here

Photo used above is a photo I took in 2006 in Ormond By The Sea of a Mother Calf pair. It could be a Right Whale known as Piper with her calf. She was in the area that day along with another Right whale and her baby.

I do not have persmission to use anyone else's photo's of the whales at this time, and will not take anyone's photos without their permission. This is why I keep using photos from the 2006 Right Whale season for my blog. For those of you that don't know, it is illegal to use other people's photos without their permission unless otherwise stated from the photographer.

Pelican Bay Shenanigans

2008-01-16T15:37:53Z

Lately one of my feathered friends here at the Pelican Bay Century 21 Office has ~ shall we say ~ become very "territorial"

Last summer I wrote about him in Lunchtime At The Canals Of Pelican Bay. At that time I thought HE was a SHE. I've gotten a lot closer since then and realized he is a HE by the color of his feathers.

The Anahinga doesn't know how to share or play well with others. When my friend the Great Blue Heron comes gliding in to have breakfast or lunch, it's a good bet that Anahinga will chase him off. This has been going on for a good week solid now.

It started on January 4th... The Great Blue Heron was waiting for me to come out to feed the fish, I grabbed the company book keeper so she could get a good look at him.

He begins to hunt for food and the Anahinga dives into the water from his perch, swims underwater to where the Heron is staking his lunch.

The Anahinga proceeds to chase the Heron out of the water, but that isn't enough! He comes after me next!

That's right, straight out of the water, straight after me with that extremely sharp, pointy beak of his, hollering the whole time.

Our book keeper couldn't believe how nasty the Anahinga was. I chased him back and he'd turn and come back after me. I had on my riding boots but am pretty sure that his beak could puncture them and wasn't taking the chance on finding out for sure.

Do I have my camera outside with me on this day? Of course not!

Since this incident you know I've been bringing my camera out with me every time I go to feed the fish.

This "behavior" has now occured every time my friend glides in for his meal.

(He is so graceful on his final approach.)

Once he's landed he begins to stalk the fish ...

Until, that sharp beak pops out of the water and chases the Heron away...

(I didn't have a good shot of that actually happening, (without a fish involved) however if you look at this shot of him drying his wings in the reflection of the water you can get an idea of just how sharp that beak is.)

The herons feathers literally get ruffled as the smaller, meaner bird chases him away!

I think he looks rather handsome with the ruffled feathers though!

One day last week, the Anahinga was making darn sure that the Heron was not going to go back to the water..

He was so intent on watching the Heron that he didn't care how close I got to him.

I walked right up to and around him talking photos, all the while waiting for him to chase me. He didn't care what I was doing. He'd look at me with those strange red eyes then back at the Heron..

Then he got tired of me and waddled like a duck with his wings still spread back to the water.

The Heron, thinking he was safe to hunt again went back to the waters edge...

Well, it wasn't so safe..The Anahinga was ready for him and once again chased him off, this time more feathers got ruffled...

So what happens next?

The Anahinga pops his head up out of the water with his lunch, and walks on to the grass of right in front of the Heron and me as if to say Na Na Na Na Boo Boo

(Told you that beak is sharp)

The fish almost got away, the Anahinga fumbled it, but recovered it and swallowed pretty quick.

(I couldn't make this up if I wanted to!)

I have taken lots of photos over the last 10 days of these two. I'm sure other shenanigans go on like this all over Pelican Bay and.. Century 21 Sundance's Susan Southerlandhas blogged about her listings that she has in this gated community. Stop by her blog and have a look!

You never know what kind of antics you'll get to photograph in your back yard!

Check out Pelican Bay Shenanigans ~ The Video when you get a chance, it's way better then the pictures!

Baby, It's Cold Outside! Cold Enough For...

2008-01-03T08:56:17Z

It's not that often we have a hard freeze here in the Daytona Beach area..

Maybe a couple times a year in the 5 years (almost to the day) I've lived here.

It's even less often one sees snow in the Daytona Beach area..

Yes, you read right

SNOW...

Here is my birdbath this morning, I went and had a look while I was waiting for my car to warm up. (I don't think I've warmed up my car since leaving Upstate NY!)

See the small white things on top of my frozen solid birdbath?

That is Florida Snow!

Granted this is nothing, a couple little granules of frozen precip. But it is exciting to those of us who never see it anymore.

This is my buddies birdbath, he lives just west of us, it appears he got more snow then me. Or, more precip. fell after I left for work.

Right now the temp is 34 degrees, and I just received a phone call from one of my agents and he told me that it is snowing at the Daytona Board of Realtors.

Of course, wouldn't you know it? It's sunny here! I told him to take pictures!

Happy New Year Daytona Beach!