Enjoy the Outdoors. Love the Planet.
All about Nature, about the outdoors<>I love it, photograph it and protect it.
It’s Saturday and I’m NOT at Silver Springs State Park
I do work on weekends these days. Not sure what it would take to change that. It’s an issue I’m working on.
If you’re mostly an outdoor dog — as I am — there’s one advantage to having your free time falling on week days: it’s easier to book campgrounds and you won’t be crammed in to beautiful natural settings along with 10 bah-jillion other nature lovers.
I understand that but it’s still hard for me sometimes be getting ready for work when most folks are in full-play mode. Heavy sigh…
Here’s a photo I took at Silver Springs State Park just east of Ocala. This was almost exactly six months ago today; it was a very nice outing, indeed. I would so love to be there right now. Or maybe on Monday, when fewer outdoor enthusiasts would be enjoying the sights along with me!
Happy weekend, folks. I’ll be posting again before too long…
“Bulldog Ben” Basile in full-work mode
Photo credit Benjamin Lawrence Basile
Following the Money Could Lead to the Bigger Scandal – Political Wire
Bulldog says: Wow. Just wow! Many of us who have followed the ever-expanding story around tRump’s sickening corruption have been waiting for confirmation that investigators were focusing on the financial part of all of it. So it’s not an unexpected development but it still packs a wallop now to get confirmation that the probe has gone there.
Buckle up. There’s turbulence ahead.
This piece is only available to Political Wire members. Deep Throat never actually told Bob Woodward to “follow the money,” but the phrase, which which was used in All the President’s Men, has become symbolic for getting to the bottom […]
Source: Following the Money Could Lead to the Bigger Scandal – Political Wire : Political Wire
Fave Fotos: hitherto unpublished pix from Wekiwa Springs State Park
Never did get these up here on my blog. It’s time.
These are from my second trip to Wekiva Springs State Park this year. Some of these, I think, show my best work. Not sure why I waited so long to get them up here.
Here in Central Florida, we haven’t had a break from near-constant rains in a while. This Monday was somewhat less wet than most days; we did get to see the sun for several hours. But it’s been dreary weather around here for about three weeks now and I’d love to see it end. Yes, I know we needed it.
I rarely make plans to do outdoor stuff when the conditions are like this, and that’s the main reason I’m feeling this way and whining about it. So my strategy to deal with it is to dip back into the picture box and enjoy some photos from an excursion not too long ago where everything — including the weather — was damn near perfect.
In this second shot I didn’t get quite as close to the terrain. I like the way it turned out. It’s quite possible that the next time I get a chance to scratch the outdoor itch, I’ll be heading back to Wekiwa Springs. Not only is it a first-rate site for shutterbugs, but they recently completed some extensive renovations to the camp grounds and I’d like to see how that turned out.
Some good stuff for nature lovers and folks who like to capture such things with a camera. I hope these pics help to bring a few moments of serenity to you today.
“Bulldog Ben” Basile in dreary O’do
Photo credit Benjamin Lawrence Basile
Go See Wonder Woman
This is not going to be a long or complex posting.
I saw the movie Wonder Woman. It was amazing. Gal Gadot is the real deal. Chris Pine’s male lead is just as good for him as his Capt Kirk role.
Go see it. No, really. Go see it. Take your significant other. Your friends. Your Mom and Dad. Your fifth grade teacher.
Just go.
To see the trailer, click here.
By the way, I do not own the photo. I stole it from the net, just because I liked it. If you’re the owner or an attorney for Warner Bros, jerk my chain and I’ll remove it. But work with Ol’ Bulldog here; I’m trying to get you some free PR!
Go see the damn movie!
Trips to the Beach On Those Cloudy, Overcast Days
Trips on days like that can be nice.
I made it to the beach on one of those days about two weeks ago. I was sure that I’d get wet but my beach jones was so bad that day that I pointed my car towards the Beach Line Expressway and hit the gas in spite of the really, truly dire forecast.
I’m glad I did. I did get rained on but it was less severe than I expected and the rain held off until I’d grilled my awesome Johnsonville Cheddar Smoked Sausages, cleaned up and explored the beach for about 20 minutes with my Canon. Canon Power Shot, to be more precise. (Just for the record, the fine folks at Johnsonville have not offered me anything to mention one of their great products. Nor the folks at Canon, for that matter!)
It was a very worthwhile trip. And I’m grateful to Mother Nature; her timing was damn near perfect.
Here’s my fave shot from this brief outing. I love shots that re-create that feeling of exhilaration I get every time I get to the bottom of one of those ramps and the planks give way to sand. Only sand. It’s like being launched into Neptune’s domain.
As I put together this post today, I’m having trouble pushing away those familiar and persistent beach cravings. I’m overdue. Because today’s my Friday, my chances of being able to scratch that beach itch soon are very good.
I’ll be sure to take some pictures.
“Bulldog Ben” Basile
Photo credit Benjamin Lawrence Basile
Orlando’s Fashion Square, one of America’s struggling malls – Orlando Sentinel
Ben writes: You may have read my posting from May 6th about how the Florida Mall on the south end of Orlando is still doing fine. Orlando Fashion Square Mall is the one whose downward spiral I have noticed most closely. I loved that place. This piece in the Sentinel is right up-to-the-minute and is worth a read by anyone who’s been here in Central Florida for a while and remembers some of our landmarks that have been around for many, many years.
Orlando’s Fashion Square is one of America’s many struggling malls, looking to reinvent itself
Source: Orlando’s Fashion Square, one of America’s struggling malls – Orlando Sentinel
Mr. Gator Hangin’ Around at the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands in Brevard County
Saw this gator playing peek-a-boo among some aquatic plants. Had my trusty camera at the ready, so I got off a shot or three. I’m liking ’em and thought I’d pass some of them along.
Before too long I had a chance to get Mr. Gator up close and personal as we used to say. Here’s one that I think fits into this post quite well.
And, of course, when I say “up close and personal”, I’m talking about the magic of my zoom feature and NOT about me creeping through the wetlands hoping to get much closer to my scaled, reptilian friend…
I got quite a few shots today at this cool spot and some of them are totally blog worthy. I’ll be posting later with more of those.
One of the things that made this trip especially fun is that I wasn’t trying to get to this “new” spot at all. (Of course, by that I mean new to me.) I just happened to stumble across it while cruising on a stretch of Wickham Road which was unfamiliar to me.
Ol’ Bulldog is so set in his ways that he rarely does things in that fashion; but he liked the way it all turned out, so he’s all about spontaneous fun now! Well, okay, he’ll try to do a bit more of that, at least…
I hope you’re doing some outdoor stuff. Here in the Sunshine State, it’s pretty damn hot, but there are still plenty of cool things to do all up and down this state. You just have to make sure you bring along the goofy straw hat, sun block, shades and something to drink. Yeah, that’s the formula!
And, of course, be sure to bring along your camera!
“Bulldog Ben” back home in Orlando
Photo credit Benjamin Lawrence Basile
It’s June 1st and I Have No Idea How We Got Here
It’s a given that the farther we are along life’s path, the more time appears to accelerate. I’m thinking that most of this is a matter of perception. But it still blows ol’ Bulldog’s mind that June 1st is here.
How did we get here so quickly? How is it that 2017 is hurtling by at warp speed? Where does the time go? Where has my life gone?
I know I’m not the lone ranger here; lots of folks who, like me, have survived for six decades or better get into this psychological space with regularity. But still, my head is whirling around and it truly seems like something is terribly wrong in the universe.
I’ll get over it. I’ll most likely be in this space again, though, as we get close to the end of this year. When those year-in-review things begin, I always feel like I’m on some inner precipice, staring into the abyss of time and feeling like I’ll fall over the edge at any moment.
I suppose one strategy to deal with this is to live one’s life in such a way as to make the most of each fleeting moment. And to prioritize our lives so that we spend the most of those finite moments doing the things that matter most. I get it. Doing that each day does not come easily for me, but that is the goal.
Meanwhile, I’d be so grateful if the Chronos and his minions would please, please, oh please just slow the whole damn thing down just a wee bit. Please!
Red Nose Day is Tomorrow! Better Get Your Nose!
It’s just about here. Tomorrow, May 24th is indeed Red Nose Day and remember it’s all to benefit kids.
Many different businesses and people are participating in the very cool fundraising event. Here in Central Florida, folks often associate the well-known pharmacy chain Walgreens with Red Nose Day as they’re doing some great publicity for it and their stores are the easiest way for folks to get their nose.
Some may not be clear on exactly where the funds raised are going. The answer is Save The Children and that’s an org I support without reservation. The specific objective for this promotion is to end child poverty. Yeah, I know; that’s a tall order. All the more reason to support this event.
I first came to support Save the Children from a door to door solicitor. Although I had reservations about whether S.T.C. would raise money that way, they do, and I’m glad I chipped in. (By the way, I don’t know if they still do, but they did in 2014.)
If you’re in Central Florida and you’d like to participate, go to any Walgreens and get your nose on. Literally.
I didn’t realize that they’ve been doing R.N.D. for 25 years now. If you want to know more about this very worthy event, just follow this link.
I’ll see you tomorrow! And if I do, we both should be looking a bit like my friend Alli from Slow and Low Barbecue in Cocoa Beach!
“Bulldog Ben” Basile
Photo credit Benjamin Lawrence Basile
Enjoy the Outdoors. Love the Planet. 
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