Linear view vs. Masonry View

Tiki Condo

My Texas friends rented this Polynesian paradise for Music on the Bay. Not only was it conveniently located across the water from the event but it was an experience in itself. As you can see in the video below, the owners went all out decorating the space.

Talk about ambiance! They even had island music playing on a hidden speaker and the scent of frangipani wafting through the air (just like the smellitizers at Disneyland). Besides sitting on the balcony and listening to the performers across the bay, my favorite part was the animatronic talking parrot. He was a pretty bird and he knew it!

As charming as those things were, thankfully, they were all on a remote control so they could be turned off when they became annoying. I was impressed and inspired by this themed tiki, kudos to the owners!
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Music on the Bay 2024

I may be a couple weeks late in posting this but I’m still basking in the afterglow of this amazing event. In my humble opinion, the 12th annual Music on the Bay was the best one yet (and I’m not just saying that because I’m friends with the organizers).

The weather was perfect for a long weekend of dancing in the sand with friends new and old. It’s not just a music festival, Parrotheads party with a purpose, the entire goal is raise money for our local Shriners Hospital. Last year’s event raised $70,000!

While volunteering at the registration tent (the entire event is organized and run by volunteers) I learned that we broke the previous attendance record. Hopefully, that means we’ll also beat the fundraising record! It was such a phantastic time, so much phun hanging out with friends from all over the country.

Especially the Texas contingent, I didn’t know a single soul when I moved to Texas in 2019. Before relocating I found the Parrot Heads of Port Aransas club online and joined. I figured that people who love Jimmy Buffett’s music and get together to do good things in the community must be pretty cool. I wasn’t wrong, they welcomed me into their phlock with open arms and it’s been years of shenanigans ever since. Lucky me!

Sand in My Sheets, Wheeland Brothers
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One in Ten

In 1913, thanks to Andrew Carnegie, St. Petersburg finally received enough money to build the city’s first public library. The $17,500 grant was matched by the city and used to construct a Beaux-Arts style building next to Mirror Lake (the city’s original water reservoir).

Of the 3,000 libraries Carnegie funded in the US and abroad, only ten were awarded to Florida. Unlike the one built in my home town of Tucson, this one is still in use as a public library. Though it was almost demolished in the 1980s since it had fallen into disrepair.

Thankfully, the community rallied around the building, in 1987 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The restoration (and a sizable addition) took a decade to complete.

I’ve walked by this building several times over the past four years and only recently took the time to pop in. It was a pleasure to see the striking historic architecture still actively in use. It seems we actually have Colonel James Anderson to thank for this legacy.

When Andrew Carnegie was a poor, hard-working immigrant child Mr. Anderson gave him access to his personal library of over 400 volumes. Apparently, Carnegie took advantage of the offering to educate himself, eventually becoming a successful businessman*.

Carnegie was so grateful for the use of Anderson’s library that he “resolved, if ever wealth came to me, [to see to it] that other poor boys might receive opportunities similar to those for which we were indebted to the nobleman”.

*Though it’s been said he was quite a ruthless one, he’s known as one of the robber barons of America’s Gilded Age.
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Delicately Put

Yesterday evening I was standing in the lighting aisle at a big box store when a young couple approached. The man cleared his throat nervously and said, “Excuse me, you seem to have more experience at adulting than we do. Can you tell us the difference between these light bulbs?”

I laughed, a bit chagrined at the truth in his statement, though honestly, I was quite thankful that he didn’t outright call me old!

We proceeded to have an enlightening conversation about lumens and daylight versus soft white bulbs. As they walked away, the woman (who was very clearly expecting) muttered, “The things they don’t teach you in school…”

I don’t envy the learning curve she has ahead of her!
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Why Would I Try

Music on the Bay (MOTB) kicks off today over at Whiskey Joe’s in Tampa. It’s the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club’s largest annual fundraising event (benefitting the local Shriners Hospital). It also happens to be a fantastic outdoor music festival and the weather this week couldn’t be better (low 80s and sunny).

There are 100 Trop Rock musicians performing over the next five days, some of them I’m familiar with but there are also quite a few that I’m looking forward to hearing. But the best part? Many of my friends from Texas will also be attending, it’s going to be an absolute blast!

In honor of this I thought I’d highlight a song from one of the incredibly talented artists, Eric Erdman. 🎼🏝️☀️🦜🍺😎 Phins Up!
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