Ukraine on the brain

OK, it's been a tough year and this whole Ukraine emergency has somehow become commonplace.  It's no longer shocking.  Sure we support the Ukraine, we hurt for them and feel their pain.  But it's no longer the lead story, now the news is talking more about how much it's snowing....   We talk about how much a loaf of bread costs compared with a year ago.  Oh yes, and the Ukraine?  They request more help.  Faster.  The Ukraine is not asking for loaves of bread.  They need TANKS.  Jets.  Money.

What's the cost of the war?  

What do you 'see' when you think of the war?

Do you think of women soldiers?  Do you envision a death masked fire breathing killer?

What does the face of the Ukraine look like?

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I was at the grocery store this week, to buy my very expensive loaf of bread, and saw a tiny little Pixy skipping across the parking lot, holding her mothers hand.  She was noticeable because of her Tutu.  That and the skipping and how darn cute she was.  Anyway, when I was leaving the store with my overpriced food stuffs, I asked the Mom if I could take the little ballerina's photo.  The Mom said it was OK, but she spoke with a very thick-creamy-accent.  I took a photo and asked the little Pixy, 'what is that painted on your face?'

 

She says, "It's the Ukrainian Flag.  We are from the Ukraine."  I was immediately overwhelmed with emotion.  I cant complain about the cost of my bread if cute little Pixies are being killed in the Ukraine.

THIS is the face of the Ukraine!

Dear God, please bless the Ukraine, 

and give them Peace, 

Love and TANKS.          

-skip

Belzer Died.

 

Richard Belzer, Centeral Park Aug. 2006

Mr. Belzer was gracious enough to let me take this shot while he was also out taking photos.  I was in NY on business but managed to get enough free time to run out to Central Park and catch Mr. Belzer out for an early morning walk.  I approached him and asked if I could take his picture.  He smiled, then looked over at the camera for this brief second before turning back away and continuing to walk on never breaking stride.  A true professional and generous actor, to me.

You will be missed Belz!          -Skip

The 'Lunch Bunch'

Every Thursday at The Oaks, where I live, we have a group of us who take the Oak bus out to lunch at various locations.  Last week we visited Tarpon Springs for a boat ride on a sponge boat and then ate at Hellas Greek Restaurant.  Turns out there are a lot of sponges growing along the gulf near Tarpon Springs and in the 1800's the industrious entrepreneurs of the area imported both the Greeks and the equipment, also from Greece, where the Greeks knew how to harvest sponges.  So first the sponge, then the Greeks.  Then more Greeks to help care for first Greeks and now it's a large town of Greeks.  (the sponge boat is run by the 5th generation of sponge divers.  The marina I visited is owned and managed by a Greek family.)  Everyone I met, or asked, "talked funny."  Heck, it's all Greek to me!

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This week we took the bus over to the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa for some gambling and lunch.  I'm not a gambler so I carried my book to read and sat out at the pool deck in the shade, and had a Cobb salad with iced tea for $25. 

One item of note is the Piano in the lobby.  The Piano?  Built in 1928, the W.W. Kimball grand was purchased by Elvis for his mother in 1955, shortly before Heartbreak Hotel hit No. 1. The singer's wife Priscilla Presley had it gilded with gold leaf as a first anniversary gift in 1968. In 2015 the piano appeared at Julien’s Icons and Idols: Rock ‘n’ Roll Auction. It sold for $610,000. The buyer was Hard Rock International and the piano is believed to be their 80,000th piece of memorabilia. The company owns the world’s most valuable collection of such items and exhibits them at its locations around the globe.

We are all having fun and not starving down here.  Two of our group won some at the tables.  Dave won $1,000 and Barb won a $1,200 jackpot.  (i finished my book and got an extra tea to go!)  

I'm Livin Large Baby!        -Skip