Michelle, Ma Belle

This is my first-ever great niece. I remember back when I was just kicked out of high school (the second time) my niece Taira (who is 6 months senior to me) was going to have a baby. She said the name would either be Michael or Michelle after her boyfriend. Like a lot of high-schoolers since the 60s, I too was a Beatles fan. I really hoped that Taira would have a girl so I could sing her the Beatles song "Michelle." My dream came true, Michelle was born ... I have yet to come through with the singing.

Mount Suribachi -(Hurricane Charley Revision)

Most people know the Joe Rosenthal's photo of Marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima. I know every single Marine combat correspondent and combat photographer knows the story. My buddy Eason (who just got out of a 4-year stint as a combat photographer) took me looking for a shot I need of a Honda jet ski around Daytona Beach today, no luck. But I did get a drive-by shot of these guys planting a palm tree with their heroic green thumbs. What Luck.

Waxing the Board

This is Miller, my other* old photographer from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Eason, and Miller and I all went down to Daytona Beach's beach today. We were all in Kandahar, Afghanistan together shortly after 9-11. Miller has gotten married, picked up sergeant, and re-enlisted since the last time I talked to him. He and Eason went on another float together after I got out and the unit went to Northern Iraq and Liberia. He'll be stationed in Hawaii with his wife Sandy for the next three years.
*see yesterday's post

Fumble

This is my old friend Eason and his buddy Frank. Eason was one of my photographers while I was in the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Frank was a photographer with Combat Camera at Camp Lejeune. They're both start majoring in photography at Daytona Beach Community College in a couple weeks.

Start My Day with a Bang

Today my sister Patti took me looking for loading dock photos I needed for an illustration in a 2nd grade social studies text. We went to a Cox Lumber in Ocala, Fl. I took a decent shot of their loading docks. We went down the highway a little further until we saw another industrial complex. Inside the office I talked to Ty. He said, "Sure, we can help you out." "What type of distribution center is this again," I asked. "TNT Fireworks," he replied.


Johnny Rocket-Seed

My niece Taira's boyfriend, Johnny, was pulling his Harley Fatboy out for a cruise as soon as we arrived back from the fireworks warehouse. Of course I couldn't ride on the back! ... What kind of man do you think I am!? (Okay, I went for a little ride through the yard.)


Home Clinic

I also needed a photo of disinfectant being sprayed in a clinic or hospital. Because my Mom is fighting cancer she had enough props around the house to play the part of the patient, and to give the kitchen wall the clinical look. My niece Carol (who wishes to pursue a career in the medical profession when she graduates) was getting ready for bed in her scrubs. Perfect.

Beached Ideas

Today I tried to tie together some loose-end photo assignments ... It didn't work. I received permission to shoot a hospital's dietician from their public relations office, but never got a call back from the dietician. Also, I'm in frickin' Florida and I can't find a Honda jet ski anywhere! (It has to be a Honda.)

Punta Gorda vs Hurricane Charley

This in Mr. Burton, resident of Punta Gorda, Fl. Despite the wreckage that lies on top of his car, he considers himself lucky ... to be alive. He parked his car away from his house like many others who expected high waters in their neighborhoods. What he didn't expect was the hotel he parked it next to, to topple over.


Closed!

The window stickers of a Punta Gorda business were placed neatly on the sidewalk by Hurricane Charley.


No-Car Garage

A car sits on a hydraulic lift, apparently in the middle of an oil change, where there use to be an enclosed garage.


Climate-controlled Laundromat

Twenty-four hour laundry? The Laundry Depot in Punta Gorda is as opened as it ever was.


Beans, Bullets and Bandages

Taking a break at the Ice and Water Distribution Point, Spc. Steven Laney and PFC Bill Booher discuss the wreckage they have witnessed during the relief efforts in Punta Gorda. They and other members of the National Guard's 153rd Combat Engineers came to the rescue from Lake City, 200 miles north.

Nicest Post Office on Earth

Today my niece Carol, who received her drivers license less than a week ago, drove me around all over the place. We were in and out all day. At one point we had to evacuate my mom from her house to my sister's because of local tornado touchdowns. After that, but before we drove to a DSL internet cafe in Ocala I had to send a CD of photos to LA. I called the post office in near-by Belleview. "We close at 1 o'clock," said the lady. When I got there a minute after 1pm she unlocked the door for me.

Friday the 13th Luck

Today we got ready for the storm. Putting things away in sheds, taking lawn ornaments out of the ground, going to buy batteries, water, ice and Mike's Hard Lemonade. In the afternoon me and my older niece Becky decided to go to the liquor store for some beverages. When she got back she fixed herself and her husband Bill a drink. Bill drank about two sips before his cell phone rang ... it was his 1st Sergeant telling him their National Guard unit was activating. Bill is on his way to Orlando to help with looters (if there are any) and clean-up efforts. We are still here drinking beverages.

Hurricane Reba

Hello friends! Today I had a great trip out of DC. Caught a taxi that smelt like urine ... I love those cabs. Had a nice flight down. I arrived just in time to see a good part of the region evacuated. The only hurricane I see here in Summerfield is my great-niece Reba.