Arts & Media Day

We toured the WGCU studio and learned how they record with a green screen!


We saw many things that day, including a behind the scene tour of Artis Naples.


Other highlights include: behind the scenes tour of the Naples Daily News and visit to the Baker Art Museum.

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Key West for the day

Why not crack open a beer at 7am when you're taking the boat to Key West?


Mike, Anne, Jason and I made a spontaneous decision to hop on the Key West Express and spend the day on an adventure.


The infamous glasses came along, too.


And made repeated appearances throughout the day and night.


We visited many establishments, but only long enough for a drink. The boat waits for no one.



Good times were had by all.




We even met up with Jason's friends for a quick bit. Small world out there!

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Home for the Holidays-Part III

I met up with Pat and Bill while I was in town. It's been more like 8 years since I've seen Pat! We celebrated with Straub in true Waterford style (followed by an obligatory sightseeing tour of the roundabout everyone is up in arms over with a drop in to Lakeside Tavern!)


Jason and I met up at the Plymouth for quarter drafts (yes, as in $.25/beer) like old times. We last saw each other about 2 years ago.


After a few dollars worth, we schemed up a plan that Jason would drive back to Florida with me!


It was great to have the company! The dogs made themselves comfy and Jason and I blabbed and blabbed all 26 hours.


Maverick was finding new positions in the new backseat!


But overall, the dogs slept nearly every minute.



Except at one traffic jam, where we all took in the screen if mountains of West Virginia.


We made it back in time for a fun New Year's Eve celebration with my Florida friends.



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Home for the Holidays- Part II

There is so much more room in the new car! During short trips, the dogs stay in the way back, but if the drive is longer, they will cry if they aren't close enough for me to touch them. Spoiled!





The snow melted and it was like a (chilly) spring day at the farm!





Then it snowed again. I had nearly forgotten how Erie weather is unpredictable. Emily and I took the dogs running and I froze!





But they love the snow!





Notice all of the dog prints!





After seeing Emily again and laughing about our old times, I decided to dig under the bed and revisit my stamp collection.





It's been many years since I've thought about my collection- I wonder how much it might be worth!





Here is a quick video I made of my book- wow, that's a lot of stamps!

After a while, look who came out to see what was going on! Poor Mags, she's so scared of Mav & Sheebs. At the slightest jingle of their collars, she darts back under the bed!



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Home for the Holidays

My reindeer doggies were happy to celebrate Xmas as a family!


Maverick really does enjoy wearing those antlers, I swear!


Really! Just take a look at him!


Or dressing up in any sort of outfit- he loves them all.


Sheba enjoyed her bone by the light of the tree.


Stocking time is their favorite. On Xmas Eve, Mavie laid next to the fireplace and growled if anyone came too close. I think he could smell his pig ear but knew he had to wait until morning!


There was even a stocking for Maggie, although she spent Christmas under the bed!


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New car for PA surprise

When I took my Honda Civic in for an oil change, and they quoted me a painful amount for a series of repairs I could not comprehend, I knew it was time to upgrade. After 10 years and 158,000 miles, I traded her in for a Subaru Outback!



I loaded up the pups and headed to PA to surprise Mom & Dad, a day before they were scheduled to pick me up at the airport. I knocked on the back door and hid, leaving Mavie and Sheba to announce our arrival. Mom said "Maverick, how did you get here?" And when I laughed from around the corner she screamed!



We all had a lot of fun in the snow!


We hiked through the woods.


Everyone wore winter jackets!


Maverick was in his glory!


And I even ran into Emily! It's been about 5 years (maybe more) since we had seen each other so we had a fun time catching up.



I had forgotten how much taller I am, so to take a selfie took some contortion on my end. She moved to Portland, Oregon and got married since we last connected. We laughed and laughed of our road sign-stealing days and ordering travel guides from around the world. She is still very crafty, and even sells her items at her aunt's store in Erie. Funny how some things change over the years, but much stays the same!

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Sunset wine and fishing

The winter brings the most colorful sunsets and the weather is still warm enough to throughly enjoy a glass of wine on the beach.


And that wine on said beach is even better when getting there by boat. They call it paradise for a reason!


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